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GROWING UP AS A CHILD, I WANTED TO GET MARRIED EARLY SO THAT I COULD HELP MY MOTHER – OLAJUMOKE ORISAGUNA

Model Olajumoke Orisaguna has said that her childhood ambition  was to get married early so as to help her mother

She made this known Tofarati Ige, saying acting is one of her talents.

See excerpts:

What are your childhood experiences?

I remember mostly the birthdays and the Christmas periods. My mother made an effort to make them memorable for the family in her own way with the little that she had. It was fun growing up with my family even though we struggled as well. I also remember there were times we had to go hungry. However, I thank God for where I am now.

What were your childhood ambitions?

Growing up as a child, I wanted to get married early so that I could help my mother. I also fancied being an actress even though it seemed way out of my reach. Several times, I would imagine myself on TV screens.

On the morning of the day you photobombed Tinie Tempah’s photo shoot, what were your original plans for that day?

My plan, as usual for the day, was to go out and sell all my bread and probably restock to sell some more.

Can you take us through what actually happened from the moment you walked into the photo session to the point where the picture became popular?

I was going about my business selling bread when I walked past the photo shoot and went my way; I didn’t regard it as anything extraordinary. Days later, as I was hawking on the street, I heard someone call out omo oni buredi (bread seller). I turned around quickly, hoping it was a customer who wanted to buy bread. The man who called me then told me that a woman had been looking for me and he directed me to TY Bello’s office. As I approached the office, millions of thoughts rushed through my mind because I wasn’t sure why a woman I didn’t know could be looking for me. A part of me was scared and another part of me hoped she would buy all my bread. I got to her office and she was so excited to see me. She told me she had been searching for me even as she gave me food and told me to feel at home. She spoke with me in my mother tongue and that put me at ease. She asked if I didn’t mind if she took pictures of me. I didn’t know why she wanted a picture of me but I told her she could. She then said I should discuss with my husband that she would like to help me build a career as a model. My husband was sceptical at first as he was concerned about my safety but he later gave his consent. She had my shoot for ThisDay Style magazine and that was how the journey began.

What talents and skills do you have?

I’m very good at acting and modelling is now part of me as well.

If you are to establish a company, what kind of business will you like to invest in?

Truthfully, I think I’ll go into confectioneries.

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VETERAN ACTRESS EGO BOYO COVERS GUARDIAN LIFE MAGAZINE’S LATEST ISSUE

Best known for her early Nollywood roles, Ego Boyo has emerged from acting to producing, to becoming a society lady. She is a mother of three and most recently became the President of the International Women’s Society (IWS).

Following her new set of responsibilities, will she return to Nollywood? Or is this a chapter closed for good? Ego Boyo invited Guardian life into her home, to talk about her background, her future in the Nollywood and unveil her plans for the IWS organisation.

Credit
Stylist:@ms_fumz
Words: @beatriceporbeni
Makeup:@eyesome_beauty
Hair: @Beautyface7

Grab a copy of The Guardian and Guardian Life Magazine today to read more.

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FOUNDATION ORGANISES CHARITY COMEDY SHOW TO EMPOWER WOMEN APRIL 30

As part of efforts to alleviate the conditions of widows, single mothers and struggling women in the nation, a non-governmental organization, Ivory Whetstones and Mentors Foundation is set to hold a fundraising charity comedy show to raise money to empower and restore hope to needy women in the country.

The comedy show tagged: The Red Moment, Restoring Everything Damaged, is scheduled to hold at the SEE Event Centre, Leawood Hotel, Oko-Ado, Lekki, Lagos on April 30.

Comedians slated to perform at the event include DJ Bobby, Owen Gee, Lepacious Bose, Koffi, CeeY, DVD, De Oracle, Eboh Bomb and Aboki.

According to the Founder and Director of the Foundation, Dr. Lawretta Ogrih, from the proceeds of the show, 50 women are to be trained and empowered with life’s and business skills to enable them take care of their children, so that they do not end up constituting a menace to the society tomorrow.

Speaking on the selecting process, Ogrih stated that the foundation usually accept recommendations about needy individuals from churches and, on the strength of such endorsements, put these individuals on a waiting list of those slated for empowerment.

She said: “ There are some churches that can not adequately fund them and these women have been committed to the church. But we screen them to see who actually have needs for what we are giving them, because it is a lot.”

The director noted that as part of their empowerment programme, they trained the beneficiaries for a week for what particular skills they need, mentor them and follow up on their progress to see that they are actually applying such skills, making income and getting better.

Speaking on the decision to use comedy for the charity event, Ogrih said the economic situation in the country has led to depression for many people, therefore, the foundation wants Nigerians to laugh, relax and unwind.

She said: “We are looking at lightening their mood. We want them to laugh away their stress and relax. There will be a lot of music in the house aside the comedy. That is why it was slated for the Workers’ Day weekend, because the next day is work -free”.

She also revealed that they are trying to get workers, business individuals and the public generally to support the cause by getting tickets to the show.”

Appealing to well meaning individuals to buy tickets, the director said that such action would impact on a beneficiary.

“That same tickets they bought will be impacting a woman out there, a struggling woman, a single parent, a widow,” she said.

Ogrih revealed that as part of the foundation objectives to give back to the society, lucky participants stand to win a return ticket to Dubai, an all expense-paid night at the prestigious Leawood Hotel, Lekki and a head to toe wellness hamper.

The director also revealed that the foundation has done empowerment in the past without the comedy angle.

“For me, it is a need to lend a helping hand and give to people,” she said.

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MEET LUBEE ABUBAKAR, THE LAWYER TURNED ACCLAIMED PHOTOGRAPHER

24-year-old lawyer turned photographer, Lubee Abubakar, is definitely a talent to watch. After graduating in 2015, Lubee worked as a lawyer, a photographer and an art director before deciding to focus solely on photography and art direction.

Now working mostly with portraiture and fashion photography, Lubee’s visual style is striking and inimitable – rightfully landing her work on the likes of Vogue Italia and The FADER.

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BO7qk9jFtcS/

Speaking with Okay Africa about leaving law to become a full-time photographer, Lubee continued:

“I decided to fully immerse myself into growing as a photographer and art director because I have a genuine, raw passion for visuals.

That kind of passion is rare and I reckon it’ll be a disservice to myself if I don’t utilize it.”

Lubee’s passion is definitely paying off since she now shoots lookbooks for major fashion brands like Orange Culture and recently won the 2016 award for fashion photography at the Nigerian Fashion and Style Awards.

You can check out her work on her Instagram and her website.

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BN7WqyVhEhR/

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BPNmz-yliuy/

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BMhd0NmBVIZ/

 

Source: Konbini

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OZI MORDI : KNOW YOUR PARENTING STYLE

A woman I know thinks she knows what works better for her; she tells her story: “With my children, nobody can tell me what to do or tell me how to bring them up. I understand them and I think they know me, too. They know that concerning some of their behaviours, that I would never give in to their wishes. Still, my objection does not prevent them from trying to do just those things.

“I have three of them; two girls and one boy, ages six, nine and 12. Bringing them up is not easy, not when you are worrying or feeling tired then one or three of them decide to annoy you.

“Mummy, she pinched me so I have to beat her. We have a fixed time within which they could watch television, but it does not stop them from switching on between the time they have to do home work or help with housework.

“Sharp scolding works sometimes but many times when they have decided to have it out with you, you might just be speaking to the wall. When threats and shouts don’t work, that is when you take the final resort to drive home your point. I match to the sitting room and switch off the television myself.

“But that is a problem sometimes, normally, when I have taken this step, they feel ashamed and try to make up by playing with me or plead that I should “aw, mummy! Give us 30 minutes, now.”

“When I throw my ‘tantrum’, I wanted children who felt ashamed and guilty enough to try to make up to me. Sometimes, however, the reactions I get worsen my already frayed nerves. The result is sulky children; my daughter, the oldest would lie flat on her stomach, closes her eyes and refuse to listen to me; she switches off entirely. My son walks disconsolately to a corner and sulks while my youngest sheds silent tears.

“Do I give in to their wishes when I need their help? Should I allow them to disobey rules without permission because they have to see a favourite programme?

“I have used beating as discipline without success. I have concluded that children would always want to do what they want. I tell them that, but I also tell them that if all of us were to do what we wanted at the wrong time that chaos would be the result.

“What I do? I know it is time to look at the cause of the rebellion. In normal and happy times, one of them would be in the kitchen helping me while the others are hitting each other playing in a friendly way if home has been done. If I told them to put off the TV, they never needed to be told twice.

“When they resist, I know there is a problem somewhere; it may or may not have to do with school. One of them may have lost money or something valuable and feels bad and they want to discuss it with me but don’t know how to start.”

“How do you deal with it exactly?” we asked her. “I keep quiet and stare at them, I have not used words but my body language tells them that I am really angry with them. By the time I am ready to talk with them, they are calmer, too, and very willing to talk.

This mummy told us her story after we witnessed a scene between another mother and her 13-year-old daughter. We were sitting with the mother when the girl bounded in from outside-nose in the air and partially blinded with fury. “Mwn…mwn…mummy…mummy”, she wailed then stamped into a corner and yanked at an electric cable. All the appliances in the room went blank.

Before her action, she had been asking to use the mother’s phone which she refused her. The girl was remorseful and tried to put things in order again without success. She knew she had annoyed her mother but she did not leave the room; she went to her mother and stood wordlessly by her side. It was plain that she was imploring and asking for forgiveness.

The mother on her part had reacted to the disaster by drawing in her breath; she carried her head in her chest to show her distress. Mother and daughter stayed wordless for a few moments more, and then the mother went and put her connections back again and spoke kindly to her before she left.

Our summary is that you can get there by following your children calmly. Try to understand what is behind their actions; you may find it difficult if you think that children should obey you all the time. You should not always expect them to know that you feel stressed and expect them not be children.

Irrespective of your being worn out by them, children will make demands on you and they will fight or play roughly sometimes to your annoyance. But that is the truth.

Source: Guardian

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SUPPORT GOOD NUTRITION AND GET A COPY OF “CHILD NUTRITION” TODAY

Nigeria is the country with the 3rd highest absolute number of children who are stunted( a condition that affects a child’s cognitive; mental abilities).

41% of children under the age of five are stunted, 23% are underweight, and 14 % are wasted.

Dowlan Concepts has continued to be at the fore front of sensitizing parents on how to give proper nutrition to their children, our nutrition advocacy campaign has yielded beautiful results, but we are not satisfied. Each time we see malnourished children, our hearts bleed.

Dear parent, can u please join this worthwhile campaign of “good Nutrition” to end hunger, stunted growth, wastage for our children.

We are counting on you parents. Get our newest book on “children nutrition” today and save the lives of the children God has given you and the lovely kids around you.

To get a copy please talk to Joy on:  07064442274 or Seyi on: 08084619284.

This is for our children…..
Dowlan Concepts, our children’s health, our goal

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MEET FLORIDA UZOARU ,THE WOMAN USING TECHNOLOGY TO BREAK THE SILENCE ON SEXUAL HEALTH

Sexuality is a rarely discussed topic in Nigeria. When it is discussed, it is in hushed tones or cloaked in shame and guilt, especially among young people. Making matters worse, many health-care practitioners bring their biases onboard when dealing with clients, which has led people to make poor choices with lifelong effects. Florida Uzoaru, a public health and policy graduate and the founder of MerDroits, is leveraging the power of the internet to address these issues.

MerDroits — an amalgamation of the French word merde, which means “sex” and droits, meaning “rights” — began officially in February 2016, when Uzoaru opened a Twitter account. Now, every Friday at 6 p.m., different hosts share their stories on sex and sexuality. Some write anonymously, while others reveal their identities.

Uzoaru hopes for a time when everyone can speak freely about sex. With the byline “Destigmatising all conversations about sex,” her Twitter account now has more than 1,000 followers and over 13,000 tweets. MerDroits sparks conversations on “taboo” subjects, such as anal sex, abortion, domestic violence, rape, child sexual abuse, sexual assault, consent, birth control, vaginal atrophy and more.

Through regular conversations on Twitter and Facebook, MerDroits creates safe, judgment-free spaces where young people can talk about their sexual and reproductive health. #MerDroits60 focuses on personal sex stories, and #WhatResearchSays debunks sexual myths with research. Uzoaru believes that technology is central to the key goal of disseminating information about sex rights, as it is affordable, accessible, and provides anonymity.

“Technology has made things easy, cheaper. Being online, you can reach far more people than you would have offline. What about safety? You are not thinking of the dangers associated with long-distance travel,” says Uzoaru.

She also points out that in a society with a weak medical infrastructure, access to sexual and reproductive health is a double burden.

“Many ‘traditional’ healthcare spaces are clogged with cultural bias that considers some subjects taboo, and this jeopardizes access to quality treatment,” she says, adding, “Breaking through the wall is hard because many Nigerians are still uncomfortable to talk about [their] sexual and reproductive health.”

Uzoaru is busy working on a strategy for MerDroits to have an impact offline as well. With three facets to the business — an online shop for contraceptives; access to qualified, unbiased sexual and reproductive health practitioners; and access to laboratories for tests — MerDroits hopes to improve the availability of quality sexual and reproductive health care without stigma.

Composed of six doctors and a pharmacist, the MerDroits online store has kicked off in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, and Uzoaru looks forward to further growth.

“In five years, I hope we can operate nationally. I hope we can have about 100 doctors, 100 pharmacists and many nurses. There are a lot of things they can do for us, particularly some contraceptives that medical personnel can insert for us,” she says. “Many say that they had always wanted to be part of a group like this. People are also now confident to ask almost any question without that fear of reproach.”

Beyond the internet, Uzoaru looks forward to eventually running a sex clinic where all of these needs can be met.

Source: http://www.radianthealthmag.com

 

 

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GOODNEWS! PARENTS OF QUINTUPLETS DELIVERED IN ABUJA TO GET A HOUSE FROM FG & PROVIDE JOB FOR DAD

The Head of Service of the Federation Winifred Oyo-Ita has promised to give a house to the couple who newly delivered quintuplets at the National Hospital Abuja.

Oyo-Ita made the promise while visiting the children on Saturday in Abuja.

She said that the house will be given under the Federal Integrated Staff Housing (FISH) Scheme.

She also promised Imudia Uduehi, father of the quintuplets who is a graduate from the University of Ilorin, Kwara state a job with the Federal Civil Service. Uduehi, at the moment is unemployed.

She described the children as great blessings given to the couple by God on a platter of gold. She said the job offer to Uduehi will enable him cater for the children.

“I am very happy for you and I am standing here this afternoon representing the entire civil service of Nigeria. Today is a day of joy for all of us. Indeed you are a couple that has been so blessed by God. You have been married for just two years and God has blessed you with five children at once. I want to tell you that the Federal Integrated Staff Housing programme will be made available to you, we will give you a house that can accommodate you your husband and your five children,” Oyo-Ita said.

Oyo-Ita also presented cash gifts and diapers to them, thanking the doctors for their efforts in ensuring the babies and mothers are alive.

She applauded the medical team for taking care of the mother through the period of pregnancy and delivery.

Oluwakemi Uduehi, mother of the children who spoke on behalf of her family thanked the Head Of Service for her kind gesture. She is a staff of the National Population Commission.

Dr Bunmi Ladipo who delivered the babies said they were delivered through caesarean section and there was no complication.

He added that the mother had some challenges before delivery but was managed very well by the hospital. Oluwakemi gave birth to the babies when the pregnancy was eight months.

Ladipo added that this was his first time of delivering a set of five children.

Also Dr Audu Lamidi, Head Neo- Natal Intensive Care Unit, National Hospital said that the babies are very tender and more time is being devoted to their care.

According to him, many hospitals in Nigeria do not have the capacity or facility to cater for such multiple births.

He also called on government to provide the hospital with more specialised facilities and equipments to care and monitor this kind of birth.

“These babies are seen as blessings from God and we need more specialised facilities to enable us monitor them effectively in the first few months of their life. We need equipments such as incubators, ventilators and so on to support them. Though we have the basic tools for now, we need the specialised ones as these multiple births require more attention, time and care.’’

Also Yemi Adelakun, Permanent Secretary Common Services at the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation said that the house would be immediately given to the couple as directed by the Head of Service.

He added that the urgency was necessary to help them settle down and take care of their babies adequately.

The five children, all girls were born on April 12, 2017.

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FORBES WOMAN AFRICA LAUNCHES FIRST TELEVISION SHOW

Against The Odds With Peace Hyde”
Forbes Woman Africa, the continent’s first-ever women’s interest magazine from the highly successful FORBES stable, launches its very first television show through FORBES AFRICA TV, in partnership with Ecobank.

On Friday, April 28, Forbes Woman Africa’s Against the Odds with Peace Hyde will premieres on CNBC Africa, adding another thought-provoking and inspirational lifestyle show to their arsenal. The show will feature women who are trailblazers in their respective fields of business and who inspire younger women to be bold and break boundaries, contributing to the narrative of growing female power on the African continent.

FORBES WOMAN AFRICA has teamed up with leading Pan African bank, Ecobank to launch the 12-part series celebrating the achievement of exceptional women in business.

Award-winning presenter and journalist, Peace Hyde, joins Editor of FORBES WOMAN AFRICA, Methil Renuka, in the premiere episode to discuss the vision behind the series.

Commenting on the importance of having a strong platform like FORBES WOMAN AFRICA translated from a print to a television platform Renuka noted: “Why only talk about the glass ceiling when you have ceiling-crashers who have done it all and can show the way. They may be very few, but they have had significant successes and a discerning show like this will be lessons from those who made it, to those who would like to scale those same heights and more, very much in line with FORBES WOMAN AFRICA’s own rich content philosophy.”

“The essence of the show is to really celebrate exceptional women. It’s about women who have tapped into their courage and persistence, and chosen to keep going in spite of all the hurdles. I think that in order for you to do that you need to have a very strong understanding of your purpose,” explains Peace Hyde.

“Against the Odds with Peace Hyde” premieres on CNBC Africa, Canal Plus Channel 171, DStv Channel 410 and StarTimes Channel 309 later this year.

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