Women of Rubies
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BILLBOARD’S 2017 WOMAN OF THE YEAR IS SELENA GOMEZ!

Award-winning singer and actress, Selena Gomez is Billboard’s 2017 Woman of the Year. The announcement was made in a statement on Tuesday by the president of The Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Media Group, John Amato.

“Not only is Selena soaring on the charts, but she continuously inspires young women everywhere to be authentic, give back and to not be afraid to use their voice.”

“She is never afraid to speak her mind and has used her platform to advocate for the needs of others. We are thrilled to be able to honor her as our Woman of the Year,” the statement said.

The singer will be honored with the award at the Women in Music dinner at the Ray Dolby Ballroom in Hollywood on Nov. 30. The event will be held in conjunction with the release of Billboard’s Women in Music issue and also honor the most powerful female executives in the industry.

Over the years the American singer dominated the charts with Top 40 hits including “Bad Liar,” “Fetish” (featuring Gucci Mane), and “It Ain’t Me,” a collaboration with Kygo that became one of 2017’s biggest international hit songs with over half a billion streams since its release.

Selena Gomez will join an all-star cast of the previous Woman of the Year honorees including Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Pink, Katy Perry, Fergie, Beyoncé and last year’s winner, Madonna.

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Invest in yourself and increase your value so you can be valued – Uzoamaka Okorie

Uzoamaka Letticia Okorie serves as the Managing Director of the bespoke cleaning servicing company, Nikolasjay Global Services Limited. Uzoamaka is a result driven, self-motivated and resourceful MD with a proven ability to strengthen management teams in order to maximise company profitability and efficiency. Possessing excellent communication skills and able to establish sustainable and profitable relationships with customers and stakeholders. With her Human Resources Background she has served in various executive management roles from Fine and Country (International) West Africa, MTN Nigeria Communication where she was the Human Resource Advisory Executive to three departments in one and two Divisions within the Business. Her more than 15 year career spans from HR Management with Lotus Capital Limited and Quantum Communications Limited, Program/Administrative coordinator with FATE Foundation to her Customer Service skill delivery in the Airline Industry.

 Uzoamaka holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Botany from the University of Lagos and certified HR courses with Cornell University, USA. She is Happily married with kids. She shares her story in this interview.

 Childhood Influence

 I would say yes. I grew up watching my Dad excel in the corporate world even as he sought ways to make a difference, add value and give back to his community. He did not just talk the talk but he walked the walk. He started successful multiple entrepreneurial ventures and had a balanced family life. 

Meet Uzoamaka

 If I have to describe myself, I’d say, dynamic, relentless, and unapologetically a lover of the most High.. 

 Nikolasjay Global Services Limited

Nikolasjay Global services ltd was born out of a need to add value and impact my generation. We are a multi faceted boutique company catering to the environmental services industry. We offer a wide range of services, from janitorial and cleaning services to the manufacture and retail of consumer products. 

Challenges

line of work? – A constant challenge in the industry is Human Resources. Sourcing and retaining competent staff is a continuous balancing act. 

 Other project and activities

 At NikolasJay, we have many projects in the pipeline that we are very excited about. We just launched a line of Multipurpose liquid soap that comes in different fragrances. We also have other projects that would be ready by next year God willing. Truly exciting times for us.

Greatest Reward

 There is an old saying that referrals are the best complement. It is truly rewarding when I get referrals from a satisfied client. 

 Where do you see your brand in the next five years?

In the next 5 years, by His grace we plan to establish ourselves in the industry as the one stop shop service provider for everything related to janitorial, environmental and Dry cleaning services.

 Was there ever a time you felt like giving up?

 Oh yes… dare I say every other month lol, however, it’s a feeling that lasts but a moment. Giving up is NEVER an option.

 Who and what inspire  you to be better

My children inspire me to be better. I want them to see that through hard work and perseverance, they can achieve and accomplish their hearts desire.  

 What makes you a woman of Rubies

My desire to see other women grow and flourish in their respective fields, supporting each other and making a generational impact. 

 Any final word for  young women all over the world?

Invest in yourself and increase your value so you can be valued…


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JOHN OBIDI : CHOOSE YOURSELF 

Some years ago, a gospel rapper came to perform at my church. He wasn’t a big name but I’d come across his songs somehow and I LOVED THEM.

I’m a HUGE FAN OF RAP MUSIC, so when I love a song, I memorize the lyrics. When he performed that Sunday, I didn’t rap along though, because packaging. I just nodded to the beat and smiled while he did his thing.

After church, I didn’t talk to him or anything. I went home.

Weeks later, this rapper posted a contest on his Facebook Profile. He dropped a line from one of his best singles and promised a recharge card to any fan who knew the next line.

Excitedly, I dropped the lyrics to THE ENTIRE SONG from memory.

What should have been a WOW moment soon degenerated as he began insinuating that I must’ve googled the lyrics in order to cheat at the contest.

At first I was furious and yelled (in my heart), “Dude, you’re not even big enough for any website to have your lyrics. Don’t hype yourself”

And then the still small voice that I’ve come to recognize over the years said, “Think. Why do you think he’s so adamant? What if he doesn’t think he’s good enough for his ENTIRE SONG to be memorized by a fan?”

In that instant, entitlement was replaced by understanding. And then, empathy.

Thankfully, my angry retort hadn’t yet made it from my brain to my keypad, so I sent him a DM calmly explaining how much I genuinely admired his music.

He sent me the 200 Naira recharge card, but I wasn’t the only winner that day.

Many people think that money and fame will solve their problems. But I can tell you for a fact that there are wounds and insecurities that cannot be covered by mere currency.

The billionaire you envy, secretly feels insecure about his big belly.

The runway model whose body you want, hates the way her eyes are positioned.

The public speaker you adore is pissed at his receding hairline.

That successful businesswoman and philantropist is afraid to find love because she might be taken advantage of financially.
Insecurities will always be around us, but they don’t have to be yours.
Be kind to yourself. Be your own biggest fan.

You can learn this for free. Watch Donald Trump.
Love yourself first, for you cannot pour out of an empty cup and you can only truly give (love) of your overflow.

CHOOSE YOURSELF.
– J.O.

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AWIEF 2017: MARY OLUSHOGA, FOUNDER OF AWP NETWORK WINS EMPOWERMENT AWARD

Mary Olushoga, Founder of the African Women Power (AWP) Network won the empowerment award at the recently concluded AWIEF conference, which took place in Cape Town, South Africa. AWIEF, which stands for the Africa Women Innovation & Entrepreneurship Forum is a Pan-African initiative and platform created to bring attention and focus to the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit the African woman possesses while exploring obstacles that may stop her from breaking down barriers and prevent her from reaching her maximum potential in society.

Irene Ochem, Founder of AWIEF states,

“entrepreneurship is indispensable to the economic development of a nation and innovation is a key factor for business growth. Having an innovative approach creates more opportunities for business success. Entrepreneurship when combined with innovation creates a powerful tool for unlocking potentials that will foster the financial and economic empowerment of the African woman. We are indeed delighted and honored to present this award to Mary Olushoga for her work towards supporting and empowering the African woman.”

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16-Year-Old Mo Odegbami Creates “Childishzine” Magazine For Her Peers

Given how amazing millennials are as a generation, it should come as no surprise that the next generation are following suit. 

People are really about the ‘for us by us’ movement, and when you want something that is not made available to you, the solution these days is to just make it yourself. This is why 16-year-old, Mo Odegbami, with a team of friends – Aima Aig-Imokhuede, Molly Johnson, Tolu Faromika and Yasmin Birch – got started on Childishzine, a magazine that caters to their demographic. Childishzine is a platform created to showcase the work of different creatives from poets to photographers. On their website, they spoke about why they created the magazine:

“We created this in order to showcase the photography, poetry and the general art of young people who may not be well-known in the arts community.

We work to discover the most unique and talented people to feature in the Zine creating a fresh atmosphere to enhance the experience for our readers around the globe.”

This group of teenage girls believe very strongly in the beauty and relevance of art. Through Childishzine, they would like to help other young creatives like them get their work out there. The first issue is available foe download and purchase. 

Follow @childishzine on On Instagram for more info. 

Source : Konbini.com



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Nollywood Actress Nse Ikpe-Etim Is Taking Her Talents To Hollywood

Best known for her roles in Nollywoodblockbusters such as Fifty, The Meeting and Phone Swap, Nse Ikpe-Etim’s talents are about to be exposed to an even wider international audience.

She is set to star alongside Oscar nominee, Eric Roberts and other popular actors in upcoming political drama Lone Star Deception. Directed by Don Okolo and produced by Nkem DenChukwu, the movie tells the story of a politician, Stuart Sagle (Eric Roberts) who is leading in the race for Governor of Texas. A fling he had with a prostitute threatens to derail his campaign, which puts a second candidate, Tim Bayh (Anthony Ray Parker) into play, and Tim finds himself as the first black gubernatorial candidate in Texas’ history.

It is not typical to have Nollywood actors in Hollywood movies, and following Genevieve Nnaji’s role in Farming alongside Kate Beckinsale, this is another big win for Nollywood. We hope that this pushes the entire film industry to strive for even more growth.

The movie is set to be released in the US by August 2018. We don’t know if or when it will show in Nigeria but we will keep our ears to the ground.

Source: Kobini



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The Hollywood reporter lists Mo Abudu among 25 most powerful women in global television

The Hollywood Reporter has released its annual list of the 25 Most Powerful Women in Global Television and Mo Abudu is the only African woman listed, amongst those from North America, Europe, Asia, South America and Australasia. The Founder and CEO of EbonyLife TV is being recognised as an influential woman in the media industry for the second time.

The category recognises female executives from around the globe who are rewriting the rules of TV, during a time when “women have to work twice as hard for the same recognition” as men. The article describes Abudu as a woman who “has been at the forefront of media innovation on the continent and whose goal for the coming year is to successfully produce Africa’s first sci-fi TV series.” The first time she was included in this list was in 2013, immediately after the launch of EbonyLife TV.

Since those early days, EbonyLife TV has created over 4,000 hours of original, high-quality content, including landmark drama series The Governor, Sons of the Caliphate and Fifty (the series), along with the first pan-African talk show, Moments, with different versions hosted in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa. EbonyLife Films made its debut in 2015 at the 59th BFI London Film Festival with Fifty, the highest-grossing Nollywood movie that year. In 2016, EbonyLife co-produced The Wedding Party, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and went on to become the biggest movie in the history of Nigerian cinema.

Ms. Abudu does not take the recognition from the renowned entertainment magazine for granted. “It’s an honour and privilege to be acknowledged again by The Hollywood Reporter. I am proud to represent Nigeria and the thousands of women in Africa, striving to make their mark in a male-dominated industry,” she said.

The Hollywood Reporter publishes its list of Most Powerful Women in Global Television annually, with luminaries deemed by its editors to have made a significant impact on what audiences are watching worldwide and how women are represented on TV.

To see the complete list, click here: https://goo.gl/Xghfas

In this article:

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Active projectile empowers 100 women with training, seed grants

The Award winning organisation, Active Projectile, recently held the maiden edition of its Women Empowerment Programme, which was free for women of all levels and backgrounds.

Held at the Royal Event Centre, Obafemi Awolowo Way Ikeja, Lagos for one week, it featured a round-up online training on setting financial goals and the need to have a business plan, facilitated by Mrs. Sodeke, a self-proclaimed serial entrepreneur, the creative director of Every Wear and Accessories and the founder of Indispensable Woman Academy.

Participants also got soft skill training on entrepreneurship, building self-confidence and health and safety tips from the director of the group, Adesola Oyinloye-Ndu and Femi Dasilva of Safety Record.

The women were also taught various skills such as make up artistry, gele tying, crocheting, introduction to cloth beading and stoning, introduction to sewing, tie and dye, making of coconut oil and so on.

A WhatsApp group has been created to accommodate 20 women who are being targeted for support with seed grants and further training.

Future projects of the organisation include commissioning of a permanent vocational centre for skills acquisition to include vocations in science and technology to learn coding and Robotics across Nigeria, with Lagos as the headquarters.

The founder Oyinloye-Ndu said it is her hope and dream to train about 1000 women in various vocations across the country over a period of five years and at no cost to the participants.

Lagos DSVRT, GabLotto, Funtuna Water, Safety Record and Busy Bees Travels Deals supported the event and the next session will take place December 18 to 20, 2017 in Lagos. It would be a two-day free baking training for 100 women with a one-day family funfair.

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RIHANNA CHANNELS EGYPTIAN QUEEN NEFERTITI FOR VOGUE ARABIA

 

 

Rihanna wows on the cover of Vogue Arabia as she channels Queen Nefertiti on the cover of the mag.

The 29-year-old singer had on Nefertiti’s iconic blue headpiece for the shoot. She also modeled a striking reptile print jacket and in another shot, she had on a semi-sheer embellished dress, which she paired with a sophisticated blue coat.

The incredible shoot channeling one of Egypt’s most-celebrated figures was done by Greg Kadel.

It is believed that the shoot was inspired by Rihanna’s tattoo of Nefertiti, who ruled Egypt alongside her husband Pharaoh Akhenaten, almost 3,500 years ago.

Rihanna channels Egyptian Queen Nefertiti for Vogue Arabia

Despite her reign dating back thousands of years, Neferneferuaten Nefertiti remains one of the Middle East’s most beloved icons. She was known for her unmatched beauty, and had a very active role in the country’s political sphere. It is believed she gave mankind an early lesson in women empowerment.

Speaking about the exciting shoot, Vogue Arabia editor Manuel Arnaut said: “We are dedicating the issue to strong and dynamic women who are changing the world.

“Rihanna, our cover star, is one of them. Not only is she one of the most successful pop icons ever, shaping the entertainment industry with her powerful tunes and unique sense of style, she is also an advocate for diversity.

“With a crown designed by Faeth Millinery, Rihanna pays homage to this unforgettable queen, who still reigns as one of Ancient Egypt’s most celebrated figures.”

 

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PROFILE| MEET SANDRA AGUEBOR, THE FIRST FEMALE MECHANIC IN NIGERIA

Sandra Aguebor is the founder of the Lady Mechanic Initiative (LMI) and the CEO of Sandex Car Care Garage. She is the first female mechanic in Nigeria.

A native of Benin city, Edo state, The first lady mechanic in Nigeria was born in the 70s into the family of late Mr. & Mrs. R.A Aguebor. She is a graduate from Auchi Polythenic and she also has a degree from The Goethe Institute, a German school based in Lagos State.

Sandra who has been a mechanic for 32 years started her own garage, Sandex Care Care Garage 22 years ago.

Against the will of her mother, who thought it shameful for a woman to be a mechanic, Sandra started training to be a mechanic at the age of 14 with the support of her father. He had been out of the country a couple of times and had seen female aeronautic engineers, hence he didn’t see why his daughter couldn’t be an automobile mechanic if she wanted to. So he took her to the workshop where he fixed his car and, according to Sandra, once they arrived the workshop, she immediately fell in love with a dismantled car engine and refused to leave. Thus began her training. And although she was still in secondary school, everyday she would leave for her mechanic training after school hours.

In an interview with Aljazeera, she said;

“When I opened my shop, my name was all over town, “If you go to the Lady Mechanic, your car will be well taken care of …” I started getting [so many] jobs, I could not cope anymore, I had to employ somebody.  That birthed the idea of an empowerment programme, I thought why not start empowering women to be mechanics so that they can open up their own shops”.

Sandra started her empowerment programme training 7 girls and a boy; and overtime, successfully built a network of female mechanics that is fast spreading from city to city in Nigeria.

Her lady mechanic Initiative is dedicated to training orphans, former sex workers, school dropouts, single mothers and victims of trafficking to become mechanics. According to her,  “Lady Mechanic focuses on the poor.”

Sandra and her trainees usually embark on campaign drives where they spread the gospel of the initiative, speaking to young women and encouraging them to become Lady Mechanics.

Just recently, the executive Governor of Lagos state, Akinwunmi Ambode announced Sandra as the inspirational woman award recipient, for her continuous effort in empowering many young ladies.

Several international organizations like BBC World News, The New York Times, The South Africa Broadcasting Cooperation, The CNN World News, the Voice of Africa, etc have shown quite a number of documentaries on her.

 

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