womenofrubies Archives

In Interviews&profile June 25, 2018 By Women of Rubies

“WITH THE BCC WE WANT TO SHIFT CONVERSATION TO BOYS” – DR. KEMI DASILVA-IBRU

During the second quarter of 2018, the Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF) implemented the Boys Conversation Café (BCC) a project sponsored by Diamond Bank PLC. The interactive session involved a set of students predominantly male between the ages of 13 and 17 years old, in SS1 and SS2 levels. Experienced male mentors interacted with the students using a guided curriculum for four consecutive weeks. The discussion centered around sexual abuse, boys as protectors not perpetrators, peer pressure, responsible behaviour and the law on rape. The objectives include changing the attitude and mindset of boys about rape and sexual abuse, to educate boys to participate as protectors rather than bystanders or perpetrators and to equip young boys with the knowledge and the tools to assist in the prevention of gender-based violence with the provision of the services provided by WARIF Centre. In this interview with WARIF Founder, Dr Kemi Dasilva-Ibru, she talks in length about this project and what she aims to achieve with it.

You recently launched the Boys Conversation Café. Tell us more about this?
The WARIF Boys Conversation Café is a new initiative launched by the Foundation which is designed to educate young secondary school boys between the ages of 12-16, on the prevalence of sexual violence in Nigeria and aims to change the attitudes, perception and behavioural pattern that exist amongst these group of boys, towards gender inequality and sexual violence against women. The WARIF Boys Conversation Café runs a series of informal sessions with cohort groups of these young school boys, with vetted male volunteers, recruited from different organizations who facilitate as mentor’s /role models at these café sessions. On the issue of sexual-based violence in Nigeria, there are no existing curriculums in schools and elsewhere that directly address these topics for boys and so specific guidelines have been designed by the Foundation and are used as the basis for the topics and issues discussed at the Café sessions. These conversations also highlight already existing issues of gender disparity that exist between the sexes in our communities and the potential for violence against women that occur as a result. It teaches young boys to become protectors of women and not potential perpetrators as these boys reach adulthood.

What does WARIF aim to achieve with this feat?
We spend most of our time discussing how many women are raped in a community, how many school girls are harassed or whether or not consent was given and not enough time asking how many men rape women in that community and how many school boys harass young girls. This initiative plans to shift the focus of attention from educating girls and women on the prevention of sexual violence and rape and how to protect themselves, to teaching boys and men about positive masculinity and standing up for women and changing their mindsets so we prevent them from becoming perpetrators in the future.

How many schools/boys do you hope to reach and in what time-frame?
The goal of the initiative is to reach as many boys as possible across Lagos State. Following the conclusion of the first session sponsored by Diamond Bank in Surulere in May 2018 and the positive measured impact the initiative had in this school district, the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) has recently entered a partnership with WARIF where the Boys Conversation Café will be introduced into secondary schools across all six school districts in Lagos State from the next school calendar year in 2018. Through this partnership I believe we will be able to achieve this.

What other activities have WARIF been involved in recently?
The Foundation effectively tackles the issue of rape and sexual violence by working under its three main pillars. The WARIF Centre: a Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Yaba offers free treatment, counseling, accommodation and legal aid to all beneficiaries that visit the Centre free of charge. There is also a 24-hour confidential help- line available to all in need of services, but wish to remain anonymous or are located too far away to reach the Centre. The Educational Pillar of the Foundation has in addition to the Boys Conversation Café – two other initiatives being carried out across the State; the WARIF Educational School Program (WESP), is a preventative initiative where the identification of the signs and the prevention of sexual violence and rape is taught to secondary school girls between the ages of 12 and 16 through a specifically designed curriculum by the Foundation. The WARIF Through the Arts Program is the initiative targeting tertiary level male and female students in universities and colleges across the country. Using the performing arts as a tool for social change, a short powerful skit depicting scenarios of abuse is shown to large audiences of these young adults in these schools and used to create awareness, encourage dialogue and educate and prevent sexual violence amongst this target audience. Under our Community Service pillar, through sponsorship from the ACT Foundation, we have successfully trained 500 traditional birth attendants from several rural local government areas across Lagos State on the signs and prevention of sexual violence under the WARIF Gate Keepers project. This was the first time traditional midwives had received any training in this area and are now equipped to becoming first respondents in the prevention of gender based violence and related issues in their different rural communities. All cases are logged for data collection and referred back to the WARIF Centre for continued care. Advocacy, awareness and sensitization programs are also carried out in more urban areas where public spaces such as market places and known brothels are visited.

Would you say you have recorded increased success in the war against GBV, Sexual Violence and rape since you started and how?
With regards to our various initiatives, the WARIF Centre has attended to over 470 beneficiaries since December 2016; The WARIF Educational School Program has educated 300 girls so far and will continue in the next calendar year with an additional 500 secondary school girls. The recently launched BCC Boys will be introduced throughout all six school districts across Lagos State in the next school calendar as well; impacting on the lives of as many young adolescent school aged boys as possible. With the Gate Keepers Initiative we have trained 500 traditional midwives and have attend to 132 cases from different local government areas and we intend to continue our training with an additional 400 midwives in August 2018. We have also addressed over 550 beneficiaries in the urban areas. Our strong advocacy and awareness programs and campaigns through online social media platforms, radio and TV as well as in traditional newspapers has also reached a significant number of individuals in the thousands; so I would say we have certainly recorded a significant number of beneficiaries we have had a large positive impact on in the war against GBV. There is, however, so much more to be done.

What do you think the government can do in helping to address the problem of GBV?
The Lagos State government has set up a Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) made up of a select number of ministries and related regulatory organizations such as law enforcement to address all aspects of sexual and domestic violence in the State. As an official member of this regulatory body, WARIF works hand in hand with other qualified representatives to reduce the number of these cases in Lagos State. I believe this unprecedented level of collaboration created by the Lagos State Government among these professionals all working towards ending sexual and gender-based violence is seeing positive results. The Police Force are also sensitizing more police officers to tackle this problem in some police stations; Gender desks with trained sensitised officers are now available to address these cases. This must be encouraged and emulated in all police stations across the country.

What would you tell survivors and how can they seek professional help?
It is very important for a survivor of a sexual attack to immediately visit a rape crisis centre such as the WARIF Centre located in Yaba. We have specialised qualified staff and offer readily available services that offers an all-round holistic approach to her care. For forensic medical examinations to be carried out, a 72-hour window from the onset of the attack in when specimens for DNA evidence in a rape kit can be retrieved. When a woman is seen at the Centre, she is walked through the event in a very sensitive and least intrusive manner; all the necessary tests are carried out and professionally trained medical personnel examine her. It is the most natural thing to feel the urge to wash away all signs of the attack as soon as it happens, as most women immediately feel dirty and used; but it is important to emphasise that important forensic evidence may be lost in this event; so she must visit the centre prior to washing/ bathing. She must also bring along with her the clothing that was worn during the attack. Other tests and medication also need to be administered to her within this 72-hours period, including the post – exposure HIV drugs to reduce the incidence of HIV. She is also seen by a trained social worker for counseling as her psycho –social needs must also be met. This component of abuse is as traumatic as the physical attack suffered. Before leaving the Centre, her social welfare needs such as accommodation and legal aid are addressed where necessary.

By; Tobi Awodipe for Guardian

In Career Gems June 25, 2018 By Women of Rubies

SKELETON ATHLETE, SIMIDELE ADEAGBO IS INSPIRING AND GROOMING NIGERIA’S NEXT GENERATION OF SKELETON ATHLETES

Skeleton athlete, Simidele Adeagbo has teamed up with non-profit organization, Youth Empowerment and Development Initiative (YEDI) to organize ‘SimiSleighs Leadership and Sports Masterclass’ for secondary school girls in Lagos State.

As a part of YEDI’s SKILLZ Girl project, 100 schoolgirls took part in a skeleton clinic led by her. Since the masterclass was also a means to teach the participants leadership skills, the Olympian took them on demonstrations, drills and activities centered around teamwork and the skills needed to be a champion.

Speaking about what the clinic means to her, she said:

“The students at State Civil Service Senior Model School are the future leaders of Nigeria and I’m honored to have the opportunity to share this unique experience with them.

Sport is a powerful tool to create change and I hope that I’ve empowered the girls and cultivated future leaders in the classroom and community.”

See photos from the masterclass below:

Credit: konbini.com

In Career Gems June 25, 2018 By Women of Rubies

NIGERIA HAS THE HIGHEST RATE OF EXTREME POVERTY GLOBALLY

In a new report by the World Poverty Clock, Nigeria has overtaken India as the country with the most extreme poor people in the world – 86.9 million people, with the number increasing by six people every minute.
The report added that the Democratic Republic of the Congo could soon take over the number 2 spot.
By the end of 2018 in Africa as a whole, there will probably be about 3.2 million more people living in extreme poverty than there are today, the report added.
The report stated that with the rate people living in extreme poverty is reducing, it’ll be extremely difficult to achieve SDG 1 – No Poverty.
According to Brookings Institute:
Each April and October, the World Poverty Clock data are updated to take into account new household surveys (an additional 97 surveys were made available this April) and new projections on country economic growth from the International Monetary Funds’s World Economic Outlook. These form the basic building blocks for poverty trajectories computed for 188 countries and territories, developed and developing, across the world.
See the top nations below:
Nigeria – 86.9m
India – 71.5m
Democratic Republic of Congo – 60.9m
Ethiopia – 23.9m
Tanzania – 19.9m
Mozambique – 17.8m
Bangladesh – 17m
Kenya – 14.7m
Indonesia – 14.2m
Uganda – 14.2m
Photo Credit: Brookings Institute

In Interviews&profile June 25, 2018 By Women of Rubies

MEET LAUREN SIMMONS, THE YOUNGEST AND ONLY FEMALE FULL-TIME TRADER NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE

23-year-old Lauren Simmons is the youngest and the only female full-time trader on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

Lauren is a graduate of Genetics with a minor in Statistics and she works as an equity trader for Rosenblatt Securities.

According to CNBC, Lauren described her experience as “surreal” adding that when she tells people what she does for a living, “they are always surprised.”

Her plan had been to pursue a career in the medical field, but after discovering it wasn’t for her, she started applying for positions in finance.

Before her employment was made permanent, Lauren said she had a month to take the exam all floor brokers must pass, the Series 19, and, she said:

When I tell you a lot of people did not think I was going to pass, they really did not think I was going to pass.

But she passed! And now, she’s breaking boundaries.

Watch her tell her story below:

Credit: fabwoman.ng

In Interviews&profile June 23, 2018 By Women of Rubies

“I AM A BORN ARTIST, ALL I DO IS CREATE- ESTHER TOM

Esther Otomi (popularly known as Esther Tom), is the lead stylist and CEO of Game Of Fros natural hair hub. She has a Bachelors Degree in Choreography and a Maters Degree in Media Studies but chose to focus on her passion
fornatural hair styling.

In this exclusive interview with Women Of Rubies, she talk
s about how she left Calabar for Lagos to chase her dreams, the interesting name ‘Game Of Fros’, and how meeting Mo Abudu changed her life..

Childhood
Did my childhood prepare me in anyway for what I do now? Not in a million years! Growing up as an average Nigerian female child, the time line was the usual… It had to be, get a university degree in medicine, law or journalism, or a number of other jobs that were considered “professional”, finish your NYSC, get a job, get a husband, have babies, and you have lived life. I would never have imagined myself in this position and without a care in the world.

Meet Me
My name is Esther Otomi, I’m 26 years old, the last of a family of 5. I majored in Choreography for my Bachelors degree and proceeded to Media Studies for my Masters degree. I’m a born artist by nature. All i want to do is create! I live very simply and try to keep a low profile (i think…Lol). I hate to dress up, I’m not your typical “ladyish” lady. I dress for comfort and keep it true to my personality. I’m a lover of myths and legends, I love Rock ‘n Roll, animation and books!

“Game Of Fros”
Game of Thrones! Yes! Hahahahahahaha…Pardon me, I just couldn’t hold that in! Obviously that’s where Game of Fros came from. We are passionate about Natural Hair Styling. We believe in natural hair as a voice, as a mark of identity, as a crown that needs to shine. For too long we have seen our natural hair as a burden, as an unkempt load of rubbish that we must constantly hide under weaves. Not that wearing weaves is a problem, but when you spend and cater more to your bundles than what is under, then we have a situation. The purpose for which Game of Fros is designed for is to showcase how versatile and sophisticated our Kinky /Curly hair is capable of being, and also to make your natural hair journey stress free.

How I met Mo Abudu…
Big shout out to Aunty Mo! I came to Lagos 2nd week in November, 2016. Frankly, my intention was to work here for the whole December and return to my base which was Calabar. Coming with two pairs of jean and 4 shirts, you could tell how unassuming i was. I would go to Ebonylife Studios to style hair for Arit Okpo. When i count my blessings, I count her thrice. She’s the reason I packed my bag and left Calabar without a second thought. She would say, “Esther, don’t be a whale in a pond”. I would style hair for a couple of other ladies as well in the studio. One day, Emily (works at the studio) called me saying “my M. D. said she likes my hair, ” and there I was saying
“Which MD?” She goes, “Mo Abudu”. And I let out a loooonnng laugh of disbelief. Emily calls again after some days saying the same thing, my reaction was the same. Then Mo Abudu’s personal assistant called me to book an appointment on her behalf. At that point, my legs went limp and I had to hold on to something, all the while thinking, “Is this really happening???” This was a lady i grew up watch on TV with my mum. I was about 16 then. Now I’m going to be working with her?! I didn’t know what to expect. But i gradually eased into it. Aunty Mo is a one strong woman. I watch her make things happen and I think to myself, how much willpower can one person have?! She is inspiring and one heck of an amazing client.

My experience on the set of the movie Wedding Party2…
To be part of the crew of a record breaking movie , not only was I honored, it expanded my work experience. From waking up early, closing late, getting barely two hours of sleep, to eating food you’ve never seen before! You’re not only dealing with hair, you’re dealing with personalities from a different race, a different country. It opened my eyes to realize that experiencing different cultures is wealth in itself.

What and who inspire me
I really cannot say who because alot of people inspire me in different aspects of life. But as for what inspires me, I’m certain it is fear of not fulfilling why I was made. I strongly believe I live for a purpose, and everything I do, everywhere I find myself, are all a means to an end. When i say a prayer, I always ask that whatever it is that will be a hindrance to fulfilling my purpose be taken away from me. When you’re 6 feet under, what matters is the lives you touched regardless of how little it was.

Challenges…
Just when you think you’ve seen it all, challenges pop out behind you like VOILA! Being that we offer home services exclusively, challenges include traffic, weather condition especially when it rains, impossible clients who think you have an attitude or who think you’re a fraud when you tell them you’re policy of down payments. I totally understand. It is human nature to be skeptical especially when your environment does not offer anything different.

On giving up…
Hahahahaha was there a time I didn’t?! Entrepreneurship is hard! I rephrase, Entrepreneurship in Nigeria is hard! You must have a plan, a model, a policy that you must stick to. This is important when building a brand reputation. It doesn’t matter who calls you rude or arrogant. Consistency is key. No one gets to see the tears alot of us shed behind closed doors, the fear in taking a business decision, how we calculate our gains and losses, letting go of the people we once called ‘friend’ or ‘lover’ because you realize how much time you wasted being unproductive with them. Still we go to sleep and wake up with high spirits ready for the chase!

I am a Woman of Rubies
I believe I have impacted people in my own little way. It could be one, could be two, I have no idea, but I believe it didn’t come from a place of plenty. It came from that little criss-cross of my fingers. It got better from every trial and error. It grew from every constructive criticism encountered. I never had it all figured out. I’m human. At times I procrastinate, at times I take impulsive decisions. When the chips are high or low, passion keeps me going.
Advice to women
Dear Woman out there, I haven’t walked in your shoes, I do not know where it pinches, but do not kill your dreams because of what people will say. People never stop saying. You will not always get what you request, sometimes you have to disobey, you have to break hearts, you have to go against the norm because you know where your happiness is. Until you grow into this awareness of self, you will continue to live other people’s lives and on your last day on earth, who you are will meet who you could have become. Cheers!

In Career Gems June 21, 2018 By Women of Rubies

WIMBIZ HIGHLIGHTS FOUNDATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

For any society to thrive and attain a level of profound development and constant growth, investment in human capacity has been identified as the way to go. Hence the drive for Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), an NGO, to platform 2018 CEO/Policy Maker Interactive Series, themed Innovative Investment in People -The Multiplier Effect, to lay the foundation for sustainable development in Nigeria.

Chairperson, Executive Council WIMBIZ, Olubunmi Aboderin-Talabi, said the ideology of the event is to draw attention to the value of human beings, for CEOs and policy-makers to come up with ideas on how best to invest in people in order to help them meet all their physiological needs, so that they can be more proactive citizens.
“As an NGO, our focus is to use our platform to shed light on diverse issues with the aim to impact on people who would in turn, make a change in their organisations and the country as a whole.

“So we hope that the ideas we platform will cause them to think about ways they can innovatively invest in people” she said.Aboderin-Talabia further explained that each community in the country is more likely to be proactive and productive if the basic needs of people are met through proper healthcare, education, shelter, clean air, security and housing.“So if we can take care of these basic needs, people would be more focused, productive and less stressed, with self-actualisation that would benefit the development and growth of the nation,” she said.
Catherine Bickerseth, the Founder and Co-Director of Strategic Education Advisory Services Limited anchored the event, which took place at Wheatbaker Hotel in Lagos, where she staged panelists who headlined education, healthcare and agriculture as the primary areas that must be massively invested on for sustainable development in Nigeria.Kehinde Nwani, a Social Entrepreneur said, the importance of education to a country’s growth and development couldn’t be overemphasized, as the multiplier effect itself is education.
“Without education, we’re going nowhere close to development as a country. We need to invest in education for improvement.“Most importantly, we need to improve rural education in Nigeria because children in the rural areas barely go to school” she said.Nwani further said that stakeholders must focus on teachers training and development, in order to enhance education in Nigeria, as the quality of teachers determines quality of education.

Yaw Nsarkoh, Executive Vice President of Unilever Ghana and Nigeria, said the starting point to growth and development in business and the country at large is to make available everything that contributes to growth by erecting proper incentive system.
“The biggest transformation in the world is to provide a child qualitative education.“It is very important to focus on everything that attributes positive change and growth to make a difference in the society because, when you’re successful as an organisation or nation, the numeric impact is higher,” he said.
Adepeju Adebajo, Ogun State Commissioner for Agriculture, opines that food security aids national security and at such there must be provision for input at subsidised level.“We should address issues of land, input, organisation of farmers and other factors to stimulate agriculture.“As a country, we must be able to grow what we eat, and eat what we produce” she said.

In self development June 21, 2018 By Women of Rubies

KEMI AMUSHAN: BE A PRIORITY

There are rules and regulations when it comes to dating and relationships. Some are more important than others, like being honest and faithful. But there is one common mistake that people make that kills a relationship: Becoming an option.
In the beginning, when a guy is into a woman, he will go out of his way to get her. He will pursue her persistently. He will call, text, and try to spend as much time with her as he can. He will do his best to impress her and make her want him. He will act like he is the luckiest man in the world to be with her.
For the woman, life is great. It is an amazing thing for a woman to see herself through the eyes of a man who wants her. She gets her hopes up and eventually lets her guard down. And just when she thinks the relationship is taking off, the guy pulls back. Why is that? Because he knows that he got her. He doesn’t have to chase her anymore. She has made him a priority, so she has become an option for him. And the relationship begins its slow death.

For a relationship to be successful, each person involved needs to make the other a priority. It is impossible to be a happy couple when one person sees the other as a choice. I’ have been in a relationship where I was the choice, though I did not know it at the time. It did not end well, but I learned my lesson. Be a priority, not an option.Women make excuses for men treating them like options all the time. It is silly and exhausting. Instead of making excuses, we need to look at the big picture, read the signals, realize we deserve more, and get the hell out of that relationship.Here are a few signs that you have become an option in a relationship instead of a priority:

He has Become Distant
He used to text you every morning or every night like clockwork. Now, not so much. Now, your conversations are few and far between and not nearly as happy and fun as they used to be. He stops asking about your day. He stops flirting with you. If you do not initiate the conversation, you could go days without speaking. He takes forever to respond or forgets to answer all together. He says he has been busy and he is always in a crappy mood. However, you can’t help but notice that he still has time to keep up his presence on social media e.g watsapp etc. without complaining.

He Stopped Making Time For You
Unless you are in a long distance relationship, spending time together is important. If you often go more than a week without seeing the man you are dating, but he still manages to grab beers with his friends, you have become an option. Life gets hectic, but people make time for their priorities.If you used to see each other often, but now face time is rare, something is wrong. If a guy wants to be with you, he will find a way to be with you. He will go out of his way even if it means only spending an hour with you and not just to have sex. If he is not making an effort to see you, he does not really care about seeing you.

You have Got A Bad Feeling
This is the most important of the signs. It is so important to trust your instincts. If your gut is telling you that something has changed, that something is off, then something is definitely wrong. There is nothing worse then feeling that pit in your stomach. It sucks to worry and wonder about where you stand in a relationship.
So what do you do if and when these things happen? There are a few things, but what is more important is what you do not do. Do not complain or nag. That will only push him farther away and make you look and feel pathetic. Again, if a guy wants to be with you, he will be with you.
So, if you have got a bad feeling, speak up. Ask him what the deal is. Make it clear that you are not cool with the way the relationship is going. The easiest way to understand what is going on and stop worrying, is to talk about it. If a guy cares about you and your feelings, he will stop doing things that upset or worry you. If having a conversation about what is bothering you does not lead to any change, then you should move on because you are not a priority.

If he has become distant or stopped texting, you should become distant and stop texting. Stop reaching out to him and see what happens. If you feel like you are doing all of the work, stop trying to make plans and initiate conversations. Do not coddle him or listen to him complain if he is giving you nothing in return.
Give him two weeks. Think of it as giving yourself two weeks notice and a guy the benefit of the doubt. If he is into you, he will notice the shift in your behaviour and try to compensate. He will try to fix things. He has two weeks to get his crap together, and if you do not hear from him in that time, If he does not reach out to you, well take it as a sign that you are no longer dating.If he stops making time for you, find something else to do. You had a life before him. Do not stop living it without him. Make plans and hang out with your friends. Start dating other people again. Do not drop what you are doing whenever he calls. Show him that you have a life without him. If he does not try to be more present, then you have your answer. You are not a priority.
Do not play games. Do not act like you do not care when you do. Just stop putting in more effort than he is and see what happens. If he disappears, oh well. You are better off getting rid of him now than spending another however many months being a choice. Everyone deserves better than that. Be a priority, not an option.
To our happiness, cheers.

Written by: Kemi Amushan

Pic credit: https://www.google.com/search?q=black+woman+feeling+happy&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj3qb3b8ePbAhUI74MKHeDVB8QQ_AUICigB&biw=1518&bih=723&dpr=0.9#imgrc=7I0olUubZhnomM:

In Interviews&profile June 21, 2018 By Women of Rubies

MEET 23 YR OLD LAUREN SIMMONS, YOUNGEST AND ONLY FULL-TIME TRADER AT NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE

23-year-old Lauren Simmons is a graduate of Genetics with a minor in Statistics, and has become the youngest and the only female full-time trader on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

Lauren described her experience as “surreal” to CNBC, adding that when she tells people what she does for a living, “they are always surprised.”
Lauren works as an equity trader for Rosenblatt Securities, despite her educational background.
Her plan had been to pursue a career in the medical field, but after discovering it wasn’t for her, she started applying to positions in finance.
Before her employment was made permanent, Lauren said she had a month to take the exam all floor brokers must pass, the Series 19, and, she said:
When I tell you a lot of people did not think I was going to pass, they really did not think I was going to pass.
But she passed! And now, she’s breaking boundaries.

Source: Bellanaija

In Career Gems June 21, 2018 By Women of Rubies

AFRICAN WOMEN IN MEDIA CONFERENCE KICKS OFF TODAY

African Women in the Media 2018 Conference, which has ‘Visibility’ as theme will host female journalists delegates from around the world at University of Ibadan Conference Centre from June 21 through 22, 2018. The event is organised by award-winning Nigerian journalist based in Birmingham, U.K., Dr. Yemisi Akinbobola. It promises to empower delegates through panels, workshops and networking.

Delegates will experience keynote presentations, industry panels with leading names like Eugenia Abu, Lola Shoneyin, Funke Osae-Brown, Ijeoma Onyeator, Ayobami Ojebode, Yinka Ibukun, Funke-Treasure Durodola, Stephanie Busari, Aisha Mwilu, Gabriela Torres, Hannah Ojo, Kunle Afolayan and much more, as well as academic panels and numerous training workshops.
“There are three tracks running simultaneously at any one time during the conference,” saidAkinbobola. “We don’t want to just talk about the issues, but through the workshops, pitch zone and networking opportunities, we are putting actions into place to empower attendees.”

The African Women in the Media group aims to impact positively the way media functions in relation to women, both in the industry and media’s representation of gender issues.

“Action is key here and we are so grateful to all our sponsors for their support,” adds Akinbobola. “We are particularly excited to launch the AWIM/NRGI Award, which comes with a $1,000 cash prize.”Among AWIM18 Conference highlights include CNN’s Nima Elbagir as keynote speaker, Prof. Abigail Ogwezzy as academic keynote speaker, three industry panels – Gender, Security and Election Coverage, Women in Media Leadership, and Role of Fictional Content on Society’s Perspective of Women in Leadership. Three academic panels: Break the Silence: Health, Violence and Media, Women Behind and In-Front of Camera, Women in Media: Participation, Advocacy and Youth. Ten training workshops: Data Journalism, Digital Marketing, Reporting in Conflict Zones, Newsroom Leadership, Vlogging for Change, Oil and Gas Reporting, PR, Rethinking Content, Self-editing, and How to listen, engage and tell stories on social media to grow female audiences.
The pitch Zone, hosted by BBC and the Natural Resource Governance Institute which is funding the AWIM/NRGI Award, where delegates can win £1,000 to produce their gender-focused natural resources story. Dinner parties and networking on both nights and roundtable discussions with speakers.

African Women in the Media (AWiM) is a Facebook group that convenes annually. The first convening event took place in Birmingham, U.K. with panels from both academia and industry. The AWiM17 keynote speaker was Minna Salami. The group wants to challenge the way media functions in relation to African women, and seeks to inspire, support and empower its members.
Conference convener, Akinbobola, is an award-winning journalist, academic, and media entrepreneur. A Nigerian living in the U.K., her work is Africa-focused, covering stories from rape culture in Nigeria, to an investigative and data story on the trafficking of young West African football hopefuls by fake agents. The latter won the CNN African Journalist Award 2016 (Sports Reporting). Yemisi holds a PhD in Media and Cultural Studies from Birmingham City University where she is the Course Director for MA Global Media Management, and her research interest is in digital journalism and African feminism.

She is the founder of Stringers Africa, which connects freelance journalists in African countries with newsrooms worldwide, and she runs the African Women in the Media group. Founder also of IQ4News, a multimedia production company, she has freelanced for publications, including UN Africa Renewal magazine. Akinbobola she has several years’ experience in communication management for charities.

In Interviews&profile June 19, 2018 By Women of Rubies

GSC ACADEMY GRADUATES 30 FEMALE MOBILE WEB DEVELOPERS

…announces registration, date for GSC Hackathon 2018

Thirty female mobile web developers are ready to grab opportunities in the market after graduating from GSC Academy Batch A program held at American Corner-CCHUB, Yaba.

The graduants are now officially part of GSC Community- Her Code Network.

Speaking to Esther Ijewere on the aftermath of the training ….the Founder of Tech4HerAfrica, said that it was all about life impacting and empowerment of women-in-technology to leverage opportunities inherent in the digital world.She said that out of the world’s 2.8 billion Internet users, only 1.3 billion are women hence women account for fewer than 20% of ICT specialists in developing economies and has been estimated that, by 2020, 90% of formal employment across all sectors will require ICT skills.

“GSC2018 is a program is designed by Tech4her Africa in partnership with Microsoft & American Corner-CCHUB. We are passionate about increasing access of women and girls to technology tools, skills and mentoring leading to financial liberation.
“Our MISSION is to increase the number of women in the digital space by empowering girls of ages 15 to 35 to become Innovators in STEM fields, Leaders in their communities, and Builders of their own futures through exposure to Computer Science and Technology”.
The platform has a vision to train 5,000,000 girls in Nigeria, Ghana, Kigali, South Africa on how to build web + mobile apps + games with Python, JAVA & C++ by 2030.

“There’s a lot to learn when it comes to coding. How do you know where to start?“Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. We have something for everyone, whether you’re new to coding,
or a long time learner, explore the options below for #HourOfCode with #Tech4her. In 1 hour, with a network of experts you will be able to master any programming language”.

GSC Hackathon 2018
Meanwhile, the registration has commenced for GSC Hackathon 2018 being organised by the Body in partnership with American Corner-CCHUB.Registration Deadline: June 29
When: July 12, 2018
Where: American corner- CCHUB Yaba, Lagos & Online
Training Theme: GSC2018 Batch B: Jumpstart A Career in Web & Mobile Apps Development + Get Microsoft Certification (Tuition Free).
For more details visit the link: www.tech4herafrica.com/GSC2018b

womenofrubies