Fly Fitness Factory recently partnered with Rubies Ink Initiative and Women of Rubies to empower women with basic skills. The women were trained online in different skills such as; Content Writing, Make-up and gele, and skincare.
Fly Fitness is one of the most popular fitness and wellness organizations in the ancient city of Ibadan. Their offerings includes but not limited to personalized training programs, wellness management, supportive community, group training sessions, nutritional guide, diet plans and lots more
Philanthropist and multi-award winner, Bolarinwa Kashif O who founded the company alongside his wife supported the women in a bid to strengthen their goal for wealth creation through poverty alleviation programmes.
Asides running his companies, the duo also give back to the society by supporting vulnerable persons, empowering the youths and organizing sensitizing workshops such as his; “School Is Not Scam” project.
An initiative aimed at fighting miseducation, and helping to reverse the trend that education isn’t ultimately profitable, especially amongst children of low-income homes, In a bid to restore hope, educational value and create a better Nigeria.
Their Fly Fitness Factory gym has become a safe haven for pregnant women, where they are assisted with stressless delivery through healthy exercise, the gym boasts of world-class equipment and it is one of the most visited in the ancient city of Ibadan.
Speaking on the why they supported the empowerment skills acquisition programme, the couple had this to say; “We love to see women excel in their chosen field, we believe that when these women are empowered, life becomes easier for them, we look forward to partnering with Rubies Ink and Women of Rubies for future projects beneficial to humanity”, they said.
Follow Fly fitness factory on social media to know more about their activities
This amazing and extremely fascinating edifice was built in the honor of Captain Robert Lister Bower who was appointed as the minister for Ibadan city between 1893 and 1897 by the British Government. The tower building itself is 60 feet high and 11 feet square. Two entrances leads into it and in the inside is a spiral staircase that leads to the top of the tower. It is strategically located on the summit of Oke-Are, the highest hill in Ibadan, and from this tower, you can get a great view of Ibadan City.
The University of Ibadan Zoological Gardens
Established in 1948 initially with the purpose of serving as a menagerie supporting teaching and research, The University of Ibadan Zoological Gardens became a full fledged zoo in 1974. Home to a wide array of animals comprising mammmals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians, the zoological garden is open seven days a week, all year round from 8 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. Many guided tours take place in the zoo, mostly by schools for educational purposes.
Agodi Gardens
You can choose to call it Agodi Botanical Gardens, it still does justice to this beautiful scenery. Agodi Gardens is an exquisite flora enclave in the center of Ibadan. The serene and calm garden has a mini zoo, lush gardens with different types of vegetation, and water parks and a lake. It also provides facilities such as swimming pool and play areas for children and spaces for picnics. The garden is open to visitors throughout the week. You can decide to chill at one of the several ‘huts’ where you get served ’emu’- a local wine tapped from the palm tree- and ‘asun’
If you’re a lover of nature, serenity and solitude, you’ll fall in love with this garden as quickly as you can’t imagine.
Mapo Hall
Built beside one of the prolific palaces of the old Olubadans, in between Oja Oba (the King’s Market) and Beere, the Mapo Hall is located on the Mapo Hill and it was built to serve as the main town hall for Ibadan. It was commissioned during the colonial era in 1929, The hall is renowned for its seven columns, probably depicting the seven hills upon which the ancient city was built on (who knows?). The hall was the venue of the coronation of some Ibadan kings, and it is also quite famous for being the site of political campaigns of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Mapo Hall has a mini-museum where visitors can see chains which were used on tax evaders.
The Ventura
Located at Old Aerodrome Road, Along Sango-UI Road, Samonda, GRA, Ventura mall is one of the shopping malls in Ibadan, the others being Jericho Mall (along Jericho GRA), Palms Mall (Ring Road), Heritage Mall and Cocoa Mall (both located in Dugbe).
The Ventura is a place to enjoy many fun filled activities, if you’re one that loves bubbly activities. It has a children’s game arcade, cinema, food courts and shopping malls. Recreational activities including watching movies, games such as bowling, and shopping can be enjoyed at the mall too. Standing regally and strategically at the main entrance to the mall is an artificial fountain that you’ll not but fall in love with.
Enjoy amala
Your visit to Ibadan is not complete if you leave this beautiful town without eating amala, a popular Yoruba food and the main dish of Ibadan people. You can have amala in places such as Iya Adijat at Adeoyo State Hospital Road (Popular Nigerian Hip Hop Artiste Davido visited this place on his tour of Ibadan and he attested to the savoury taste of the local delicacy) Ose Olohun on Bodija Road, Inastraight on Cultural Centre Road in Mokola, the legendary Àmàlà Skye at Agodi and Iya Dunni Food Canteen at Challenge Roundabout Oluyole, Ibadan.
Enjoy the nightlife
Whether you love noisy and bubbly atmosphere or a cool and serene environment, Ibadan conveniently combines these so that you can have all the fun you choose. Apart from sights to see and places to visit, there are several night clubs in Ibadan to enjoy the nightlife. You can have a relaxing evening with friends and enjoy drinks and music in places like Kokodome, close to Cocoa House, Apollo’s at Palms Mall, Switch on Ring Road, GQ Lounge, Option 24/7 at Ikolaba, Platinum nightclub at Awolowo junction, Bodija amongst several others.
A
wonderful poet once said ; You will face many defeats in your life, but never
let yourself be defeated.” I bet she had Odedina Abimbola in mind.
Bimbo was singlehandedly raised by her hardworking mother who sells foodstuff and charcoal at Ipodo market, Ikeja. She lost her Father at a tender age in 2009, for her growing up was a very challenging experience, she , her mom and younger sister Adepeju had to take refuge in a room and parlour apartment in the ancestral home of her maternal grandfather in Ipodo, Ikeja where she hustled through life to make a living; selling charcoal and taking up different jobs to save towards her education and also support her family. Her story went viral a month ago when she posted her laundry Business on Twitter, a tweet that has now been shared over ten thousand times and reposted on other social media platforms, Giving Bimbo leverage for her business, showing the ripple effect of determination and doggedness and also reminding us of the power of social media. The young budding entrepreneur shares her Inspiring story with me in this interview.
Growing
Up
Despite
my humble background, I was determined to do what it takes to change my
family’s fortune. Immediately after Secondary school, I started taking up
several jobs to assist my mother to fend for the family and saving towards
sponsoring myself to the university. In
2012, I gained admission into Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba, Akoko to
study Business Administration, while in school I made several trips to Lagos to
do promotional ushering jobs during weekends and I took up part time jobs
during every semester break working with Wrangler as a sales representative at
Ikeja Mall, while still studying hard in school, eventually graduating with. (
CGPA) second class degree.
In
2017 after graduation, while waiting to be posted to serve my Fatherland
(NYSC). I took up several jobs part time
jobs, saved some money to start dealing in charcoal business having learnt the
trade from my mother, I started selling in small and large units to food
vendors, restaurants around Ikeja axis. But eventually had to quit the trade
due to constant pressure to join Charcoal dealers pressure group.
In
November 2017, I was posted to Adamawa state for the mandatory NYSC scheme,
spent 3weeks in camp for the orientation exercise and eventually redeployed to
Ibadan, Oyo state due to insecurity in the North. As a Corps member in Ibadan I was posted to a
secondary school where I was to resume 8am and close by 2pm, I decided to look
for another part-time job to raise extra money for my upkeep and increase my
savings. Lucked smiled on me and I got a
sales activation job with British American Tobacco, Ibadan sales unit. There I
was required to work between 5pm to 10pm on Tuesday’s to Thursday, 5pm till 2am
during the weekends. Though stressful, the pay was good and I was able to save
the BAT salary towards starting a business. Eventually, the 3month contract
with BAT ended and I had to make a decision on what business to do. As a member
of WINNER’s Chapel I’ve always heard Bishop Oyedepo emphasize on the importance
of seeking divine direction, so I prayed to God to show me the business to do
and miraculously I got divine direction to start a laundry business in a dream.
Thereafter,
I had to seek wise counsel from friends and I was directed to see a young man
(Mr. Falade Ayomipo Oluwaseun) who also owned a laundry service here in Ibadan.
I was told he also started as a Corps member and he was willing to teach me how
to start and manage a laundry and dry cleaning shop at an affordable fee. I was
able to learn within 3weeks while my PPA was on break. Few days later with the
assistance of my Boss, I used all my savings to buy a washing machine,
generator, industrial iron and other materials, equipment and items needed to
start a Laundry and Dry Cleaning service.
On 10th May 2018, I started business washing 15shirts, 7 trousers and some under wears. Today I’m a proud owner of a booming Laundry business (CRYTALZ EXCLUSIVE CLEANING SERVICES) that is registered with the CAC, I have 4 employees; 2pressers, a washerwoman and a delivery man. On the long run I intend to engage in large scale laundry and dry cleaning service and also perform Janitorial services.
Abimbola doing her thing
Inspiration behind Crystalz
Laundry
Crystalz Laundry was God inspired. During the service
year, I did a contract job with Benson and Hedges Ibadan sales unit. I was
required to work between 5pm to
10pm on Tuesday’s to Thursday, 5pm
till 2am during the weekends. Though stressful, the pay was good and I was able
to save my salary towards
starting a business. When the contract
job ended. I had to make a decision on what business to
do. I prayed
to God to show me the business to do and miraculously I got divine
direction to start a laundry
business in a dream.
What inspired me to advertise
my business on Twitter
A friend of mine
(Juba Adeola) told me about how Twitter has helped many entrepreneurs
(e.g Dolapo shawarma) increase sales at no cost. He suggested we take
professional pictures of me at work, summarize my story while tagging
Influencer’s and praying to God to help make the post go viral. And it did go
viral by God’s grace.
Crytalz Exclusive Cleaning Services is
registered with the CAC. On the long run I intend to engage in large
scale laundry and dry cleaning service and also perform Janitorial services. So
far, I have trained and assisted 2 people to set up their laundry business. I
have a vision to periodically organise skills acquisition training and
empowerment programs for people with a major focus on women. I may also
diversify my business based on the ever changing business environment.
Challenges
Unstable power supply, I spend a large amount of money on petrol monthly. I use a motorcycle rider to do my delivery and we have survived 2 terrible accidents. The unstable cost of buying materials is also an issue. Getting new customers usually require extra effort.
Abimbola Odedina at work
On giving up
I had a rethink after I survived 2 terrible accidents in the course of doing pick
up and delivery. The scars are still visible on my body but I eventually
overcame my worry and resolved not to give up
Being a Woman of Rubies
My strong determination to succeed. I sponsored myself
to the university. As an undergraduate in Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba, I
made several trips to Lagos to do promotional ushering jobs during weekends. I
took up part time jobs during every semester break/strike working with Wrangler
as a sales representative at Ikeja Mall. Before going for NYSC, I did charcoal
business but had to quit due to pressure and debt. Despite all odds, I’m self-employed,
an employee of labour and my story has inspired many.
Advice for women who want to
go into the laundry business
The business world is not the exclusive domain of men,
women have what it takes to own, run and manage businesses. What is required is
a determination backed by a strong resolve to succeed in your chosen field; despite
the odds and the heavy burden society has placed on women.
