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#WCW: CELEBRATING DORIS SIMEON!

Hello WORriors! It’s #WomanCrushWednesday and our Woman Crush is Doris Simeon!

Doris Simeon is an award-winning Yoruba and English actress, master of ceremony and TV show host. She was born in Lagos, Nigeria, raised and schooled in Ojota area of Lagos, Nigeria. She came to the spotlight via a 2001 Nollywood movie entitled Oloju Ede. She graduated from the PEFTI Institute, where she studied production management.

She started her acting career with a part in three episodes of the Papa Ajasco comedy series. She then had parts in Nollywood films Oloju Ede, Alakada, Ten Million Naira and Modupe Temi. She has also appeared in Eti Keta

In 2010 she starred as Da Grin’s girlfriend in Ghetto Dreamz, and co-produced with Omo Iya kan.

Given her first role by late movie director cum actor, Yomi Ogunmola, Simeon rose to the top starring in over 100 films including Eti Keta, Oloju Ede, Alakada, Ten Million Naira, Abani Kedun, Iseju Marun, Omo Iya Kan, Ghetto Dreams, Silence, Gucci Girls, Alakada, Omo Pupa, Asiri and Modupe Temi.

Some of her awards includes, 2008 AMAA Awards-Best Indigenous Actress, 2010 Zafaa Award-Best Actress Indigenous, Award for Excellence by Okpella Movement in the United State of America (USA), Afemiah Development Group award for Best Indigenous Artist, including others.

Women Of Rubies celebrates you, Doris Simeon!

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In Interviews&profile By

MEET MISAN REWANE , THE YOUNG WOMAN BATTLING YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT IN NIGERIA AND BEYOND

 

 

Not only does the exclusion of young people from the labour force perpetuate generational cycles of poverty, it also breaks down social cohesion and can be associated with higher levels of crime and violence among the youth.

In 2013, Misan Rewane along with other West Africans who were passionate about curbing the rise of youth unemployment, founded the West Africa Vocational Education (WAVE).

WAVE tackles youth unemployment by identifying motivated but underserved West African youth, training them on crucial employability skills and connecting them to entry-level job opportunities.

Admission and training in the WAVE academy is free, as they only charge a placement fee when they’ve secured their students with a job.

Speaking with The Guardian about her driving force, Misan said:

“I have been passionate about helping young people realise their potential for as long as I can remember.

From community service in secondary school to volunteering to tutor children in reading and math during my university years, most of my extra-curricular activities had involved working with children and youth.”

By 2019, WAVE aims to train 25,000 youth annually, having already trained over 50,000 youth in marketable skills – helping them reach their true potential and finding stable jobs.

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In Career Gems By

OMONI OBOLI BECOMES ONE OF TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL’S AMBASSADORS

Nollywood actress, Omoni Oboli has been made one of Toronto International Film Festival’s ambassador for the #SHAREHERJOURNEY CAMPAIGN.

The #ShareHerJourney campaign is intended to champion female storytellers.

Omoni Oboli is to “help shape and advocate TIFF’s message” as well as “advice on determining common challenges and shared needs, which will inform further organizational efforts towards gender parity.”

Omoni, on her Instagram page, shared the news and excitedly exclaimed, that “the world will watch my stories.”

 

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MEET DORIS SAMUEL AKONANYA, THE AMPUTEE WHO WANTS TO CONQUER NOLLYWOOD

Getting your big break in any film industry is no easy feat; and when you’re an aspiring actor in the already overcrowded Nollywood scene, it can seem almost impossible. This is what makes upcoming actress, Doris Samuel Akonanya’s story so inspiring.

Doris Simon Akonanya on the set of Susanna (Photo: Doris Samuel Akonanya/Facebook)

Losing her right leg as a teenager never stopped her from pursuing her dream of becoming an actress; and she just concluded shooting her first lead role in the upcoming movie, Susanna.

As a relatively unknown actress, Doris – a recent graduate of Theatre Arts and Film Studies from Nnamdi Azikiwe University –has struck gold with her role; acting alongside Nollywood heavyweights, Chinwe Owoh, Chiwetalu Agu, and Harry B Anyawu.

Although we haven’t gotten an official synopsis, trailer or even a release date for Susanna, we are still pretty excited to see what Doris brings to the table alongside such strong Nollywood actors.

You can keep up with Doris’s progress on her Facebook page.

Source: konbini.com

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In Career Gems By

14-YEAR-OLD GENDER ADVOCATE, ZURIEL ODUWOLE, HONOURED BY UNESCO

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is an organization that coordinates international cooperation in education, science, culture and communication to create a better future.

In a bid to address one of their global priorities, the issue of gender inequality, UNESCO invited 55 women – from presidents to foreign ministers – to speak at their ‘Soft Power Today’ conference and 14-year-old Zuriel Oduwole made the prestigious list.

 

It’s not even a little surprising that Zuriel was called to speak. At only 14 she has met with over 23 presidents and prime ministers to discuss education policy issues – including the leaders of Nigeria, Kenya, and Liberia.

 She is also recognized as the world’s youngest filmmaker – which explains why she was asked to share how she believes the media can play an active role in changing the negative perception and portrayal of women.

During the conference, she was also honoured by a member of the Global Council of Women Leaders and current president of Malta, Marie-Louise Preca, for her continuous work in speaking out for girl-child education.

Sharing what she took away from the conference, Zuriel said on Facebook:

“Privilege is invinsible to those who have it – because they can’t see they have it, and can’t see how it affects others who don’t have it.” 

Source: Konbini.com

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AZIZAT SADIQ MAKES NOLLYWOOD COMEBACK WITH CHI’S JOURNEY

 

Amstel Malta Box office Reality Show Winner and ‘Wetin Dey’ actress Azizat Sadiq has returned to Nollywood Chi’s Journey.

Produced by the young star who took a break to from acting to focus on her studies and polish her skills in the UK, Chi’s Journey is the story of a young girl sojourn to a foreign land in search of a better life and greener pastures, only to be exposed to modern day slavery, sexual molestation and abuse. A story of false hope, betrayal and resilience of the human spirit to strive and succeed against all odds.

This short film she hopes mark the beginning of her creative investment into Nollywood.

About Azizat Sadiq‎

Azizat Sadiq made her way into the industry by crossing hurdles which has served as her source of inspiration and courage. As a result of her determination to make it in life, Azizat never looked back having lost her mother before the age of 10. She took the first step in the pursuit of her career by signing up for the first ever Amstel Malta Box Office (AMBO) talent hunt reality show in 2005, during which she contested against and beat 19 other competitors.

She won many prizes among which was a contract to feature in the 15 Million Naira award winning film, Sitanda, as well as a coaching session with famous actress, Joke Silva. She also featured in Mnet’s sitcom ‘Edge of Paradise’ and the BBC’s ‘Wetin Dey’ a series  targeted at creating awareness for the deadly sexually transmitted disease HIV/ AIDs.

Azizat later travelled to the United Kingdom to study and horn her acting skills. While in the UK, she featured in a few movies like Shattered, Bukky, Urban Rhythm to mention but a few.

She was nominated for a best actress award in 2014 by the prestigious BEFTA Awards in the UK for Urban Rhythm.

Chi’s Journey was produced by her production outfit, Zee Media unternational, a film production outfit she established in 2005.

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#PROFILE| MEET MARY JACKSON, NASA’S FIRST BLACK FEMALE ENGINEER

Mary Winston Jackson was an African American mathematician and aerospace engineer at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), which in 1958 was succeeded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). She worked at Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, for most of her career. She started as a Human Computer at the segregated West Area Computing division. She took advanced engineering classes and in 1958 became NASA’s first black female engineer.

She was born on April 9, 1921, to Ella (nee Scott) and Frank Winston. She grew up in Hampton, Virginia, where she graduated from the all-black George P. Phenix Training School with highest honors. She earned her bachelor’s degrees in Mathematics and Physical Science from Hampton Institute in 1942. She was a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha , the first sorority founded by and for African-American women.

Jackson served for more than thirty years as a Girl Scout leader. She was noted in the 1970s for helping black children in her community create a miniature wind tunnel for testing airplanes.

Mary Jackson at Work NASA Langley

In 1953, she accepted an offer to work for engineer Kazimierz Czarnecki in the Supersonic Pressure Tunnel. The 4 by 4 foot (1.2 by 1.2 m), 60,000 horsepower (45,000 kW) wind tunnel used to study forces on a model by generating winds at almost twice the speed of sound. Czarnecki encouraged Jackson to undergo training so that she could be promoted to an engineer. She needed to take graduate-level courses in math and physics to qualify for the job. They were offered in a night program by the University of Virginia, held at the all-white Hampton High School. Jackson petitioned the City of Hampton to allow her to attend the classes. After completing the courses, she was promoted to aerospace engineer in 1958, and became NASA’s first black female engineer.She analyzed data from wind tunnel experiments and real-world aircraft flight experiments at the Theoretical Aerodynamics Branch of the Subsonic-Transonic Aerodynamics Division at Langley.Her goal was to understand air flow, including thrust and drag forces, in order to improve United States planes.

After 34 years at NASA, Jackson had earned the most senior engineering title available. She realized she could not earn further promotions without becoming a supervisor. She accepted a demotion to become a manager of both the Federal Women’s Program, in the NASA Office of Equal Opportunity Programs, and of the Affirmative Action Program. In this role, she worked to influence both the hiring and promotion of women in NASA’s science, engineering, and mathematics careers. She ultimately authored or co-authored 12 technical papers for NACA and NASA. She worked to help women and other minorities to advance their careers, including advising them how to study in order to qualify for promotions.

Jackson’s story features in the non-fiction book Hidden Figures: The Story of the African-American Women Who Helped Win the Space Race (2016). She is one of the three protagonists in Hidden Figures, the film adaptation released the same year.

She earned several awards and honors.

Mary Jackson was married with two children. She died on February 11, 2005, at age 83.

 

 

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TBOSS, ANNIE IDIBIA, DAMILOLA ADEGBITE, OTHERS APPOINTED AS BRAND AMBASSADORS OF INSTANT PICK UP

Instant Pick Up, an online laundry service, has been launched by artiste-manager/record label executive, Ubi Franklin. The launch held on Thursday 20th July at Landmark Event Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Franklin, CEO of Made Men Music Group, (MMMG), unveiled the celebrity ambassadors of Instant Pick Up as well as its mobile application.

The ambassadors are TBoss, Selebobo, Mr. Jellof, Annie Idibia, Gbenro Ajibade, Ushbebe, Damilola Adegbite and comedian Senator.

Franklin said the idea behind the Instant Pick Up was conceived out personal inconveniences, adding that the app was fully designed by Nigerian geeks.

The company launched officially yesterday with the release of its app and unveiled new celebrity ambassadors with the caption:

Pictures and sounds from #LaunchingInstantPickupApp coming through! But 1st Meet our brand ambassadors! 
@officialtboss_ @annieidibia1 @selebobo1 @mr.jollof_ @ushbebecomedian @gbenroajibade @senatorcomedian @adedamee 
They just got Laundryfied! 
CEO @ubifranklintriplemg
#beLaundryfied 
#ReinventingLaundrystics 
#IronOutYourLaundryphobia 
#TheNewPhaseOfLaundry
#LaunchingInstantPickupApp

 

See photos of ambassadors below:

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TANA ADELANA UNVEIL AS THE BRAND AMBASSADOR FOR IVORY BEAUTY SOAP

Givanas Industry Nigeria Limited officially unveiled Tana Egbo-Adelana as its brand ambassador for Ivory beauty soap on the 18th of July 2017 at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Lagos.

The successful event was attended by Givanas team, product distributors, winners of the Ivory social media quiz , celebrities, fans of the new brand ambassador Tana Egbo-Adelana and press.

Check out photos from the event:

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59 YEARS OLD WOMAN BLESSED WITH A BABY BOY AFTER 38 YEARS OF MARRIAGE!

59 years old Akosua Budu Amoako and her husband Isaiah Somuah Anim, 59, are finally proud parents of a bouncing baby, after trying to conceive for 39 years without any success.

The US based -Ghanaian woman after undergoing a fertility treatment gave birth to a full-term 7-pound, 4-ounce boy on June 15 at Bellevue Woman’s Center in New York.

Akosua said she and her husband started trying to have children after they married 38 years ago, but eventually stopped trying after she discovered she had a blocked fallopian tube that made natural pregnancy almost impossible.

She told the Times Union, that after learning that a 60-year-old woman in Ghana gave birth to triplets after fertility treatments, she underwent a vitro fertilization at an Albany-area clinic using her husband’s sperm and a donor egg before could get pregnant and have their son.

The baby was named after his father, Isaiah Somuah Anim. He is doing fine, as is his mother.

According to the happy mother, ‘We haven’t gotten much sleep, but I feel fine and I think he already knows our voices. ‘When he’s crying sometimes, my husband will call from work and Isaiah will hear his voice through the phone and calms down and stops crying.’

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