tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32837632163500688042024-03-13T11:53:19.031+01:00Òmòté Rò Dhé .....Women inspiring and supporting each other as they own their journey to successAkpo'Diddie Patricia Uyehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11744790175774967230noreply@blogger.comBlogger255125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283763216350068804.post-3958744866704927002024-03-09T21:26:00.003+01:002024-03-09T21:26:43.875+01:00Esohe Ekunwe: Purpose comes with consistent effort and time<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUlSEMTr0i8kjrTbY6hbqSp8Vrre1AKGBRoHknXl7mPV8DxZjlLBGfaX4iUgvShxend-AHDA2hCioeEZvESeNIQd9IiWY0rxhA42xU3IY69dPvXWAZ9qlYpPzTpfc23pL6m2rcmUQ4VD2tCAWYPD6OQ_JpuPUN6-y2JVaJzLzcjsTJv0q1ynGIiXnGlrw/s800/1674550219956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUlSEMTr0i8kjrTbY6hbqSp8Vrre1AKGBRoHknXl7mPV8DxZjlLBGfaX4iUgvShxend-AHDA2hCioeEZvESeNIQd9IiWY0rxhA42xU3IY69dPvXWAZ9qlYpPzTpfc23pL6m2rcmUQ4VD2tCAWYPD6OQ_JpuPUN6-y2JVaJzLzcjsTJv0q1ynGIiXnGlrw/w640-h640/1674550219956.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;">A leader is not known by the title, she creates a safe haven for people to be empowered. This describes <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/esoheekunwe/">Esohe Ekunwe</a>, a Member of the Board of Trustees at Tech Herfrica, an organisation that provides digital access to rural African women and girls engaged in trade and agriculture. She is also a Marketing and Communications Strategist who helps build reputable and renowned businesses and brands. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;">It took a LinkedIn message to Esohe to let us into her space as she spoke about how she transitioned from business to pursuing a career in digital strategy to branding. There is more to this lady than meets the eye. Unashamedly, she professed her love for Christ in whom she found purpose. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;"><i><b>Omote Ro Dhe</b></i> was captivated by Esohe's profile and the impact of her work. We called and Esohe answered. In a chitty-chatty conversation, Esohe opened up more about herself, her love for digital marketing and what she stands for. Read excerpts of the exclusive interview below:<br /><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><i><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Can you walk us through your journey from starting a business catering to ladies with big feet to becoming a reputable digital strategist?</span></b></i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In 2018 when I decided to start my business, I couldn't afford to rent a physical store. At that time, businesses were using Instagram, so I tried that approach. Even with little experience, I successfully sold products to customers across Nigeria from my house.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
This sparked my interest in digital marketing - a way to reach broader audiences. I took Google's Digital Marketing Fundamentals course and started managing social media for other small businesses. I supplemented this with more courses and an internship at a digital marketing agency. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">From those humble beginnings operating solely online, I've continuously developed my digital marketing skills and experience over the years. What started out of necessity became a passion for leveraging digital platforms to drive business growth.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><i><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">What motivated you to transition from running a small business from home to pursuing a career in digital strategy?</span></b></i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I fell in love with digital marketing. I also realised at the time that I didn't have the capacity to sustain the business.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><i><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Could you share with us some key strategies you implemented to turn your small business into a well-known brand within your community?</span></b></i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Hmmm. My niche was very specific and unfamiliar to people at the time. To gain my audience's trust, I implemented the "Know, Like, Trust" strategy. Building trust required letting customers get to know me and my brand first before expecting them to make purchases.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
Providing a great customer experience was also crucial. Beyond just buying products, customers need to feel comfortable with your brand. That's how you get them to become willing brand ambassadors.
I led by example as the first brand ambassador, constantly talking about and promoting my brand everywhere I went. Years later, people recognize my brand name more than my own name because of this consistent effort.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
Building trust takes deliberate work when offering something new. But investing time to let your audience know, like, and trust your brand pays off through loyal customers who actively advocate for you.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><i><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Can you tell us more about Tech Herfica and what some of her ongoing projects seek to achieve? </span></b></i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">At Tech Herfrica, we are providing digital access to rural African women and girls who are engaged in trade and agriculture, to promote their digital and financial inclusion. Women and girls in rural and underserved communities are the most excluded from the digital world. We are helping to bridge the digital divide, break the cycle of poverty and enable wealth creation for these women. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some of our initiatives include the EquipHer4Growth, Access to Markets, ScaleHer, Access to Finance, etc. The EquipHer4Growth initiative empowers these women with both digital and financial knowledge and skills in their local language and context, while also facilitating access to internet-enabled or feature-rich mobile devices based on their specific needs.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This digital access empowers women to enhance agricultural productivity, embrace smart agricultural practices, mitigate the effects of climate change, reduce post-harvest waste, connect with a broader society, increase income by at least 50% through e-commerce, and access financial services. Beneficiaries are introduced to innovative farming technologies, such as precision agriculture tools, and are taught how to build resilience in the face of climate change by leveraging technology.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Leadership starts with leading oneself. In your own opinion, what are the key attributes every leader should have?</span></i></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Strategic thinking, empathy, communication skills, decisiveness, integrity and ethics</span></span></p><p><b><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2px;">What advice do you have for young girls pursuing purpose but seem confused if they ar</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2px;">e on the right path?</span></span></i></b></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Whoosh. I've been in that uncertain phase! A key thing for young girls is that clarity comes with time. As a believer, I found my purpose through my faith in Christ.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
While searching for purpose, don't stay idle. Keep active - try new things, and explore options. Purpose isn't found by sitting still. Keep doing something, and clarity will eventually arrive.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
The main points are:
Uncertainty about purpose is normal, especially when young
Don't wait around idle - stay active, keep exploring
With consistent effort and time, your purpose will become clear
The core message is to be patient yet proactive in the journey of self-discovery and finding one's true purpose in life. It doesn't happen overnight but arrives through persistent action over time.</span></span></p>Akpo'Diddie Patricia Uyehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11744790175774967230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283763216350068804.post-74839432035802046272024-02-29T10:50:00.001+01:002024-03-04T16:07:30.858+01:00Opemipo Ogunkeyede: Acquiring digital skills are gateways to dynamic mindsets<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis08HGsJq0bQ6M7GIbctDe6AVcykCGUaPyhXUrRNAa39aRFkfuZb-mJtWFdAYI8xO2zUFBJkvBnapoIShyphenhyphenFpTELFoNxw35E8hBx7cQHljkoCR56nGF7I0DOuIneQv6FGIfW6M-Ck8RrbOEzaANQEVFTPbaELPRSxU8qDPhAELgi7KvsNaAD8wUzpMavd8/s1004/temp_image_20240222_200908_e53aa8d1-093f-4a22-bb93-650da61faf3e.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1004" data-original-width="1004" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis08HGsJq0bQ6M7GIbctDe6AVcykCGUaPyhXUrRNAa39aRFkfuZb-mJtWFdAYI8xO2zUFBJkvBnapoIShyphenhyphenFpTELFoNxw35E8hBx7cQHljkoCR56nGF7I0DOuIneQv6FGIfW6M-Ck8RrbOEzaANQEVFTPbaELPRSxU8qDPhAELgi7KvsNaAD8wUzpMavd8/w400-h400/temp_image_20240222_200908_e53aa8d1-093f-4a22-bb93-650da61faf3e.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/opemipo-ogunkeyede/"><br /></a></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/opemipo-ogunkeyede/">Opemipo Ogunkeyede</a> is a beacon of hope in the world. She is a bright shining light that refuses to go dim. In her own sphere, she is making a global impact. When many tend to shy away from Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), she stands as an ambassador for this worthy cause.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Young, talented and intelligent, Opemipo is the Founder of The Eco Emissaries, a Non-Governmental Organisation focused on climate action and action on plastic pollution, advancing circular economy, environmental sustainability, projecting the beauty of the environment and its resources across Africa, grassroots and globally. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">There is more to Opemipo, she is not the average female or a <i>lazy Nigerian youth</i>. With a knack for creating positive social change, she has many achievements to her credit. <b>Omote Ro Dhe</b> was fascinated with Opemipo's personality, her work, her projects and all she stands for. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Read excerpts of the no-hold-barred chat we had with Opemipo below:</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Can you tell us more about your journey into environmental activism and what inspired you to become an environmentalist at such a young age?</span></i></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My journey into Environmentalism has been part of me right from childhood but commenced fully long ago in my secondary school days, Grade 11, being appointed as a health prefect of my school, however prior to then,I have been engaging in activities directly related to Environmentalism. However, that was a platform to be a change on a wider level and also drive a behavioural change in numbers of others within, being named the health perfect.
After graduation, the journey didn't end there. As a young girl passionate about Health - of the planet, the public, the environment, its inhabitants, etc; the journey was spurred by the evident visible negative impact of these actions and wastes; Polluted oceans, threatened ecosystems, death of marine creatures, mass extinction of marine biodiversity, extreme waste dumping, clogged drains, flooding, poor air quality, polluted streets, poor waste management systems/policies, the harsh effects of the above on vulnerable communities I could see around. The journey of environmental activism spurred from knowing myself it's not just about identifying the problem but taking action and responsibility to address the problem.
I further continued as I navigated an education phase with the World Health Organisation - one of the organisations which I bagged many certifications from - of my achievement as an 18-year-old girl with 121 Certifications, Badges and Honours from different internationally recognised organisations in the world; building and stacking up knowledge, knowing more and more about this cause, and a professional launch into the field spurred up from here, I launched myself into advocating for this cause.
It has been 3 years since I got to know about the Sustainable Development Goals, and it has been 3 years since I started working professionally on my SDGs of interest - 4,5, 13,14 and 15, however, little was I aware I've been contributing long ago (about 6 years ago) to advancing the sustainable development goals; numbers of them - Quality Education, Life on Land and Clean Water and Sanitation majorly.
A few years ago, I founded my NGO, The Eco Emissaries, a youth-led organization focused on climate action and action on plastic pollution, advancing circular economy, environmental sustainability, projecting the beauty of the environment and its resources across Africa, grassroots and globally, of my other 1 NGO and a Company addressing other social issues.
One of the things that make my environmentalism journey really effective aside from research, innovations, projects, advocacy, education and communications, is due to another hat I wear, being a girl in tech; a girl in tech with 19+ digital skills and still upskilling, using technology to tackle some of the complex global issues including her passionate cause most especially- environmental pressing issues of plastic pollution, climate action, ocean protection, etc in the world. Recently, I had the honour of being featured with the Voice of the West Nigeria, named an African Voice and an extraordinary 18-year-old environmentalist and tech advocate making waves in the global change, among many other features.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
Technologies such as geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, and drones have been a great practice contributor to my environmentalism journey.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">How do you envision the impact of digital skills in preparing young individuals for the challenges of the digital era?</span></i></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The pace of technological change is faster than ever, and each new generation is born into a world more deeply integrated with and reliant on digital technologies. Being able to understand, navigate, and leverage these technologies is becoming essential for young people to fully participate in society, access opportunities, and reach their potential.
Beyond just using devices and platforms, truly developing digital literacy and skills empowers young individuals with a crucial set of tools to shape their own futures. Learning how to find, evaluate, and synthesize information online allows them to make more informed decisions and think more critically about the increasingly digital world around them while grasping concepts like algorithms and AI gives them insight into the forces influencing the information they consume. To truly thrive in the digital era, young people must cultivate competencies far beyond swiping screens or passphrase commands. They must develop higher faculties of discernment, ethics, and wisdom in a realm where the very nature of truth and reality are being reshaped.
Firstly, acquiring digital skills is not merely a technical pursuit; it's a gateway to cultivating a dynamic mindset essential for success in a rapidly evolving technological environment.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
As digital technologies rapidly evolve, having technological fluency and a growth mindset allows young people to more readily adapt and learn new skills as they evolve. Those comfortable with technology may have an easier time pivoting as demands shift in the job market. As it'd be, in the professional realm, digital skills are instrumental in bolstering employability. Proficiency in areas such as coding, data analysis, and digital literacy opens up a plethora of opportunities across diverse industries. The digital era demands a workforce that can harness technology to drive innovation and efficiency. Young individuals armed with these skills become indispensable contributors to the workforce, navigating and thriving in roles that were once inconceivable.
Core digital skills around using devices, software/apps, and understanding the internet open doors for pursuing passions, education, jobs, and exposure to new ideas. Those lacking access or skills face steeper barriers to entry.
In a nutshell, prioritizing digital skills helps empower youth with agency and opportunity in determining their future, while enabling participation as active digital citizens who can help advance both local and global communities. A comprehensive digital education sets up young people for long-term success.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Being featured on various media outlets globally, how do you handle the attention and responsibility that comes with being recognized for your achievements?</span></i></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Having the privilege to be featured globally over and over on media outlets, receiving a global recognition for my achievements and my being brings a greater responsibility - one I neither take lightly nor let overshadow my driving purpose. With more attention comes greater responsibility - to my fields, to the causes I represent, and to continuing to serve as a role model and mentor to both young, adults, men, and women from all walks of life. I strive to handle the spotlight thoughtfully and channel it towards a greater meaningful impact.
When interviewed, I aim to broaden crucial yet nuanced conversations happening in my areas of expertise. The opportunity to share my stack of knowledge on a bigger platform allows me to educate and inspire positive change.
Accolades like the awards received, certifications of achievements, invitations from esteemed individuals in the world and in my country, esteemed opportunities reached out to for, etc validate me, but the work does not stop there. I stay grounded in the understanding that the recognitions are a means to keep driving progress, not an end. It recharges my commitment to excellence in others and social impact.
While proud of the records I've set and honours from the world so far, I know I have much more yet to do for the world and contribute. The legacy I continue working towards is one of raising and building others- the now and next(future) generation of young leaders of the world.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">What challenges have you faced in your journey, and how have you overcome them?</span></i></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Raising funds for my initiatives, Leading Ladies for Impact, The Eco Emissaries. I have a company "The SkillsBeyond" (registered) and two organizations. The SkillsBeyond is a digital skills training academy I founded in 2020, driven by a strong desire to pave the way for young people who are clueless and in dire need of the skills to survive in this digital era. "SkillsBeyond"; a company I founded as a young girl then who has acquired and upskilled on 19+ digital skills. The academy's mission is to redefine the traditional concept of education and learning by providing young people with skills that go beyond what is taught in the traditional academic setting, while The Eco Emissaries, is a youth-led organization focused on climate action and action on plastic pollution, advancing circular economy, environmental sustainability, ocean protection and projecting the beauty of the environment and its resources, and Leading Ladies for Impact is an organization raising the next generation of young female leaders in the World🌎 "Global Female Young Leaders", raising ladies into "Leadership", "Personal Development", "Tech", "Closing the Gender Digital Divide" and making Quality Education across all spheres accessible to every female.
The challenges often faced is raising funds for my NGOs. This is to help the initiatives realize their full potential and amplify their efforts on a wide scale. I currently address that by applying for grants and other ways with my team while being expectant to secure one. However, currently, I fund the organizations with my personal funds as my passion for social impact irregardless, however, it's not enough to amplify the impact on a wider level as we would love to.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><i><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">With an impressive list of certifications and honours, how do these achievements contribute to your advocacy and environmental initiatives?</span></b></i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The certifications and honours empower me to further my advocacy impact and environmental initiatives in tangible numerous ways.
Most importantly, the spotlight is being utilized effectively; channelling the increased influence to accelerate even greater impacts, education and awareness.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Success is relative, what does it mean to you?</span></i></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Success to me has a diverse definition
It's about the difference I make in people’s lives and the world at large. Social impact. Success to me means leaving the world better than I met it.
To me, it has diverse definitions which I can't exhaust all. However, success is a moving target. If you think you have achieved your greatest success, you clearly have decided to stop pushing yourself.
Bringing significant impact in the world; a level of contribution that could help the human race to understand and live a better life. In the past, people from various fields have made immense contributions in terms of inventions in science & technology, medicine, literature, art etc. Because of them is what we are now and we should take the legacy ahead and make it better. The higher goal is the contribution to the human race which could help the next generation to define themselves much better.</span></span></p><p><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">What advice do you have for young girls pursuing purpose but seem confused if they ar</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">e on the right path?</span></span></i></b></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">God has carefully crafted you with unique talents and dreams and He desires to guide your steps. Seek Him first, before all else. Spend time resting in His presence and soaking in His Word. Ask Him to light your way with His truth and wisdom.
Hold onto Him. Pray. He alone has carefully crafted the right path for you and has the definition of what a right path is. However, here is one of the practical steps to knowing if you're on the right path. Identify your abilities. Understand that those abilities He has given unto you are pointers to your purpose.</span></span></p>Akpo'Diddie Patricia Uyehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11744790175774967230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283763216350068804.post-44897249207625038502024-02-22T16:00:00.003+01:002024-02-22T20:24:56.850+01:00Muji Bekomson: Visualise your highest self and show up as HER<p><span style="background-color: white;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjD5H_dlxHIjkZeKEQdm6IWOc2_zETAZ4N_iDYvG0uLL-PW7M6PPJP1LlYHU5bfmwAlyvFvRJ0Or36AUvximhFrjtrJnxgI7b6COZbCUBM9O7_Nuu8xEG_2M1wnz-eePBL16V8ueI8lOaiJ1Due8BLMjXpjlrJ7W5hOfeW8Scc_kQcyHoB0dAJRnEW9NE/s540/DSC_1297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="434" data-original-width="540" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjD5H_dlxHIjkZeKEQdm6IWOc2_zETAZ4N_iDYvG0uLL-PW7M6PPJP1LlYHU5bfmwAlyvFvRJ0Or36AUvximhFrjtrJnxgI7b6COZbCUBM9O7_Nuu8xEG_2M1wnz-eePBL16V8ueI8lOaiJ1Due8BLMjXpjlrJ7W5hOfeW8Scc_kQcyHoB0dAJRnEW9NE/w640-h514/DSC_1297.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Just like the proverbial goldfish that has no hiding place, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mujibekomson/">Muji Bekomson</a>'s tentacles spread wide for all to see as she positions herself as an innovative change agent. She is passionate about causes that are solution-oriented and bring change. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Being a creative storyteller, she also loves to be part of other people's stories. She believes the world would be a better place if we create and share more stories. Her brainchild- iLIVE Digital Health was built to bridge the gaps in accessibility to quality healthcare delivery services.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Muji stands as the Founder and Creative Director of EQUALZ, another of her impactful initiatives that help women shatter the glass ceilings above them. This last part mostly caught our interest because when it comes to women's empowerment, <b>Omote Ro Dhe</b> is excited to collaborate, partner and do everything possible with game-changers such as Muji.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">With an impressive profile and life of impact, we reached out to Muji for a feature and she obliged us. In the interview, Muji opened up about her passion for innovation and change, her initiatives, the challenges she encounters running her projects and more. Read the excerpts below:</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Can you tell us more about your journey and what led you to become passionate about innovation and creating positive change?</span></b></i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'm a Medical Laboratory Scientist by profession, but I always wanted to make a greater impact in healthcare outside the walls of a hospital. And I realized there's so much more that people need to support their well-being, and the traditional health structures cannot offer that.
The health systems and professionals are overburdened, so they can't give us the intimate and holistic attention we need to sustain the quality of life.
So I'm building iLIVE Digital Health to complement traditional health systems and fill the gaps in healthcare support and delivery using technology.
And we're on a mission to create positive and transformative change for everyone, no matter where they are, or who they are.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">But my passion for innovation and creating change goes beyond health tech, I am equally interested in women's empowerment and sustainable societal development.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Congratulations on your new appointment as Founder and Creative Director at EQUALZ, another impactful initiative. Can you elaborate on its mission and goals, particularly in helping women overcome barriers in various fields?</span></i></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There are so many women who have what it takes to excel in different fields but have no one to look up to, get advice, or ask questions.
And in our already male-dominated industries, it's important for the few successful women to hold up the ladder for rising ambitious women.
But there's an invisible gap between these groups of women, and our free mentorship hub at EQUALZ connects women to female mentors and role models they can learn from, and lean on.
Aside from the mentorship hub, we want to educate and empower organisations and workplaces to be more gender inclusive and support women to thrive.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">What do you see as the biggest hurdles in achieving global healthcare access and delivery, and how do you envision addressing these challenges through your initiatives?</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Addressing the inequalities in global healthcare access isn't a one-size-fits-all.
Many factors like technological literacy, gender or economic status should be considered.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So, at iLIVE Digital Health, we strive to be fluid with our approaches, products, and services for specific needs and demographics.
In Africa and other underserved demographics, fancy and complex health gadgets would only broaden the gap between rich and poor, tech-savvy and non-tech savvy etc.
So we're not obsessed with fancy tech, but with creating simple, inclusive, and relatable solutions that an average person can access based on their needs.
And while most people think of digital health as a complex phenomenon or something from a sci-fi movie, it's just about taking health care and support to the people and places it's needed.
And I think a big challenge in global healthcare access is that we overcomplicate the concept of digital health, which has led to a slow adoption of the concept by the average person.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">How do you stay inspired and motivated in your work, particularly when faced with obstacles or setbacks?</span></i></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Trust me, staying inspired and motivated is a daily requirement. I've had my fair share of fears and sometimes struggled to acknowledge my own capabilities.
But the picture of a world where everyone has equal access to health support, and every woman equally has access to opportunities, keeps me going.
And I've decided to create the change, rather than sit and wish for it.
So when there's not enough change, how could I stop working?</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Success is relative, what does it mean to you?</span></i></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Success is also realizing my mistakes and pivoting when necessary.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
Success is overcoming my fears and making that pitch or sending that proposal.
Most times, we complicate the idea of success, put ourselves in boxes, and deprive ourselves of the joy of living in the moment.</span></span></p><p><b><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2px;">What advice do you have for young girls pursuing purpose but seem confused if they ar</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2px;">e on the right path?</span></span></i></b></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">If you're pursuing purpose then you're definitely on the right path.
It's a long journey of learning and unlearning, so gird yourself with a quality network and invest in useful resources.
And if it seems that your methods, tools and approaches are not right for you, there's always room to pivot and reevaluate.
But never take your eyes off the path of purpose, visualize your highest self and show up as HER.
You can do it!</span></span></p><p><br /></p>Akpo'Diddie Patricia Uyehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11744790175774967230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283763216350068804.post-56401757110104778432024-02-15T11:42:00.001+01:002024-02-15T14:28:40.616+01:00Kehinde Alabi: Clarity comes through exploration and experience<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYIgQnU6e2L-O-g-xq925XcSjhxvLcegXWl-AAY2wCb8FSMas6JLDTefpXOR6gC0O-KcwSRNf_ROjI-aKpVLkb12gXq9C45hGQ_fyCkZu7soOo_Z0bE4dlS2xuFLRbHtgtz78CfP8-t9rLG-pc9nH_C2assEqh9wJMj7XqB-__ACEfG3bieUqAQzSns-g/s592/1686500378427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="592" data-original-width="592" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYIgQnU6e2L-O-g-xq925XcSjhxvLcegXWl-AAY2wCb8FSMas6JLDTefpXOR6gC0O-KcwSRNf_ROjI-aKpVLkb12gXq9C45hGQ_fyCkZu7soOo_Z0bE4dlS2xuFLRbHtgtz78CfP8-t9rLG-pc9nH_C2assEqh9wJMj7XqB-__ACEfG3bieUqAQzSns-g/w640-h640/1686500378427.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: white;"><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kehinde-alabi-363a40241/"><b>Kehinde Alabi</b></a> is on a mission to empower students with skills for life. She is a transformational leader who advocates for quality education for the youth. Setting up the art club, she uses Science, Technology and Mathematics (STEAM) methodologies to create an environment for creativity, innovation and confidence. With tentacles extending beyond the education space, Kehinde has developed 12 motivating mantras turning her students into changemakers. Through her influence and mentorship, many students have discovered purpose and are making impacts.</span></span><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Omote Ro Dhe</b> could not resist Kehinde for her giant strides in education. In a chat, Kehinde opened up about her projects, what success means to her, finding purpose and what she is all about. Read the excerpts below:</span></span></div><div><b><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Can you share some specific examples of the impact your performing arts club has had on the students in the Ijora-Badia slum? How do you believe creative outlets contribute to their overall development?</span></i></b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></i></b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As the visionary behind the Art For Life project at Gaskiya Senior College in the Ijora-Badia slum, witnessing the transformation of my students through the performing arts club has been incredibly rewarding. One particular student stands out to me - someone who was once involved in hooliganism and street fights. Through the creative outlet provided by my project, he has found a positive channel for his energy, leading to remarkable personal growth and a redirection of behaviour.
My innovative teaching approach, centred around STEAM methodologies, aims to nurture creativity and confidence in my students. This approach encourages them to think outside the box, express innovative ideas, take ownership of their learning, and collaborate effectively. Through activities such as writing songs, poems, and plays, as well as producing theatre performances on real-world issues, my students gain a deeper understanding of societal challenges and learn to address them creatively.
I believe that creative outlets like the performing arts club not only enhance my students' artistic abilities but also equip them with vital life skills for the future. By engaging in these activities, my students not only develop their artistic talents but also improve their communication and collaboration skills, preparing them for success in both their academic and personal lives.
Overall, my performing arts club has had a significant impact on my students' personal growth, creativity, confidence, and engagement in education. It's truly fulfilling to see the positive changes in my students and to know that I'm making a meaningful difference in their lives through the power of the arts.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Your focus on STEAM methodologies is intriguing. How have you seen these methods influence your students' creativity and confidence? Can you provide a specific success story or project that showcases the effectiveness of integrating science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics in their learning?</span></i></b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></i></b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The integration of STEAM methodologies in our curriculum has been instrumental in nurturing creativity and boosting confidence among my students through the Art For Life project at Gaskiya Senior College.
When we embarked on this journey just a year ago, we faced numerous challenges such as low self-esteem, tardiness, and language proficiency issues among our students. However, by leveraging the power of STEAM education, we have witnessed remarkable transformations.
Over the past one year, we have engaged in a variety of STEAM-related activities, including writing songs, poems, and plays, creating dance steps, and embarking on sustainable projects. These activities have provided my students with opportunities to think critically, collaborate effectively, and express themselves creatively.
One particular success story that highlights the impact of integrating STEAM into our learning is the ongoing project where our SSS 3 students are currently in the process of shooting their first movie. This project not only involves technological and engineering aspects in terms of filming and editing but also incorporates artistic and mathematical elements in storytelling and production planning. Through this project, my students have gained valuable interdisciplinary skills and have grown in confidence as they see their ideas come to life on screen.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></i></b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Collaborating with NGOs to develop life skills is commendable. Can you share a specific partnership or initiative that has significantly impacted your students' personal development and equipped them with essential life skills?</span></i></b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></i></b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One specific partnership that has significantly impacted my students' personal development and equipped them with essential life skills is my collaboration with the Crown Troupe of Africa, led by Segun Adefila, and the support we've received from the Pollination Project Foundation.
From the inception of the Art For Life project, Segun Adefila and his team have been my pillars of support, playing a crucial role in nurturing my students' development. Through their expertise in performing arts and their dedication to empowering young individuals, they have helped us build confidence, develop creativity, and express ourselves effectively.
Additionally, the Pollination Project Foundation's immense contributions have been instrumental in realizing my goals. Their funding has enabled us to acquire the necessary resources to keep the project running smoothly. With their support, we have been able to organize workshops, training sessions, and events aimed at developing life skills such as communication, teamwork, and leadership among my students.
Overall, the partnership with the Crown Troupe of Africa and the support from the Pollination Project Foundation has been transformative for my students, providing them with invaluable opportunities for personal growth and development. I am grateful for their unwavering commitment to my cause and their dedication to ensuring that my students reach their full potential.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">According to your beliefs, education is a powerful weapon that can change the world, what do you have to say to those who say school is a scam?</span></i></b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></i></b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">While some may argue that school is a scam, I believe that education, in its broadest sense, holds immense value and potential to transform lives. Education encompasses not only formal schooling but also self-directed learning, skill-building, and personal growth. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It equips individuals with the knowledge, skills, and critical thinking abilities necessary to navigate the complexities of the world. While traditional education systems may have their flaws, dismissing the value of education entirely overlooks the opportunities it provides for personal and societal advancement.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Success is relative, what does it mean to you?</span></i></b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></i></b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Success is a deeply personal and subjective concept that can vary greatly from one person to another. To me, success is not solely defined by external achievements or societal expectations but rather by the fulfillment and meaning I derive from my endeavours. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It is about setting and pursuing meaningful goals aligned with my values, passions, and aspirations. Success is also about continuous growth, resilience in the face of challenges, and making a positive impact on others and the world around me.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></i></b></span></div><div><b><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">What advice do you have for young girls pursuing purpose but seem confused if they ar</span><span style="color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">e on the right path?</span></span></i></b></div><div><b><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></i></b></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For young girls navigating the journey of purpose and feeling uncertain about their path, I would encourage them to embrace the process of self-discovery and trust their inner wisdom. It's normal to feel confused or unsure at times, but it's important to remember that clarity often comes through exploration and experience. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Surround yourself with supportive mentors, peers, and role models who can offer guidance and encouragement. Take the time to reflect on your passions, strengths, and values, and allow yourself the freedom to explore different paths and opportunities. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Remember that the journey to discovering your purpose is unique to you, and each step you take, even if it feels uncertain, is a valuable part of your growth and development. Trust in yourself and your ability to create a fulfilling and purposeful life journey.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><br /></span></div>Akpo'Diddie Patricia Uyehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11744790175774967230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283763216350068804.post-41454481451393138592024-02-08T09:00:00.002+01:002024-02-10T12:13:07.115+01:00Stephanie Arimokwu: Mentorship helps one gain clarity and a higher sense of purpose<p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjtOpTjJoQAl3P89VYPXSXtwdfNrtTKSewn5S6ZOosHVe6O6rBMPCEHXIQ6OOoHmRbuznKB5MuVjf-MfepTaMCmcud2_dyM_xhvCyKKZpJQdxd0rn-9DhytvvzsjWTv4gGqYbMy-Vo1eZYrcX0JWgYuNPe5FrtkLFRbGYxjA40-rX3VYNZe7o_gTU8lw/s800/1703329953114.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjtOpTjJoQAl3P89VYPXSXtwdfNrtTKSewn5S6ZOosHVe6O6rBMPCEHXIQ6OOoHmRbuznKB5MuVjf-MfepTaMCmcud2_dyM_xhvCyKKZpJQdxd0rn-9DhytvvzsjWTv4gGqYbMy-Vo1eZYrcX0JWgYuNPe5FrtkLFRbGYxjA40-rX3VYNZe7o_gTU8lw/w640-h640/1703329953114.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">There is a twist to today's feature as we delve into the nursing field. Drums roll as we bring to you- <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-arimokwu-0aa4b61b5/">Stephanie Arimokwu</a>, a nurse intern and health content creator. Her expertise lies in aligning content with organisational goals and services. She fosters a deep understanding of health and wellness by crafting engaging and informative content. There is a lot to Stephanie that meets the eye. She is not just a beauty with brains but also a stickler for excellence in the health sector. <b><i>Omote Ro Dhe</i></b> had a great time engaging Stephanie in a chit-chat where she opened up about herself, mission, expertise and more. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Read excerpts of the mind-blowing interview below:</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Can you share more about your journey in the healthcare field and what initially inspired you to become a public health nurse, midwife, and registered nurse?</i></b></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">I have always wanted to be a major partaker and play a major role in the care and well-being of patients and people in general.
About 6 years ago before I decided on nursing, the nursing profession seemed like the perfect career amongst other medical/health professions for me to play that major role.
Up till this moment, I do not regret it at all.
The other certifications like midwifery and public health offer wider areas of practice asides bedside nursing and add greatly to my knowledge base and career opportunities as a nurse.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><i>What aspects of working in different healthcare institutions have contributed most to your professional growth?</i></b></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Actively participating in and performing different clinical procedures such as client education, wound dressing, catheterisation and so on, during clinical postings has contributed greatly to my professional growth in the nursing profession.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><i>How do you stay updated on the latest advancements and best practices in the diverse areas of nursing care you specialise in?</i></b></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">One of the ways I stay updated about the latest advancements in nursing is through platforms like <b>LinkedIn</b> where I get to interact with my colleagues and professionals from all over the world.
I also do research as research is one of the best ways to stay updated on recent developments and to be informed about evidence-based practices.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Nursing often comes with challenges. Could you discuss a specific challenge you've faced in your role and how you approached and resolved it?</i></b></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">One of the challenges I’ve come across in my role as a nurse is in the aspect of understanding the job description amongst different health professionals who are collaborating to deliver quality care to patients.
Whenever I notice that a colleague has acted in ways that show he/she does not understand his/her role/duty and limitations, I communicate properly.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Success is relative, what does it mean to you?</i></b></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Success to me, means a balanced life. It implies balance in spiritual, social, professional, physical and physiological regard.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">My advice to young girls pursuing purpose but seeming confused if they are on the right path is that they should seek a mentor.
Sometimes, confusion can result from a lack of guidance and not knowing how to go about achieving one’s goals.
Mentorship helps one gain clarity and a higher sense of purpose.
Another important advice is to check if they are passionate about the course they are pursuing. If there is no passion, then that answers the question.</span></span></p>Akpo'Diddie Patricia Uyehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11744790175774967230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283763216350068804.post-28755419828644582452024-02-03T15:03:00.002+01:002024-02-03T15:03:36.518+01:00Ramota Yetunde Oladejo: Finding your purpose is a journey, not a destination<p><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9);"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwo3Nfsy4Hz56nN-yS5St408mDtSc4XZ5faYX4_E3vxuvYa5de7SRUZsPAPnKEWyAb7qyEhKs916tuskIcXAkkCL1dU-ld8ZdJJ5pzz793sHjglIUWOtgtXINt7H4JlHQPSHCw19UI2PUj_emwJPJRXvFztUF3008GYxwqfiMxOqlDaAnhv0EBukBMXsg/s800/1681239868631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwo3Nfsy4Hz56nN-yS5St408mDtSc4XZ5faYX4_E3vxuvYa5de7SRUZsPAPnKEWyAb7qyEhKs916tuskIcXAkkCL1dU-ld8ZdJJ5pzz793sHjglIUWOtgtXINt7H4JlHQPSHCw19UI2PUj_emwJPJRXvFztUF3008GYxwqfiMxOqlDaAnhv0EBukBMXsg/s320/1681239868631.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9);"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9);"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Shinning the spotlight on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramota-oladejo-b89ba0223/">Ramota Yetunde Oladejo</a>, an artist and social entrepreneur, who found her purpose and path early. She is on a mission to positively impact both the environment and society. Her deep passion for sustainability, mental health and innovation led her to be the co-founder of The Green Fashion Factory, an organisation that transforms businesses into sustainable ones. Through her organisation, she revolutionises the fashion industry by promoting eco-friendly practices and raising awareness about ethical fashion. <b><i>Omote Ro Dhe</i></b> had a no-holds-barred discussion with Ramota and she opened up about what she is all about, her mission, vision, projects and more. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9);"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Read excerpts of the exclusive interview below:</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Can you share with us what initially sparked your passion for sustainability, mental health, and innovation, and how it led you to co-found The Green Fashion Factory?</span></i></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">The mother organization is Grace and Grit Social Enterprise which is an NGO- a non-profit organisation for combating human trafficking and gender-based violence, the Co-founders thought about how we sponsor Grace and Grit Social Enterprise. That was what brought about the idea and inspiration of The Green Fashion Factory which is a social enterprise for both profit and impact
Ramota Oladejo(Co-founders/Creative Director): Ramota is a talented designer with a deep understanding of sustainable fashion. She manages the brand and leads the creative direction of our product range, ensuring that each piece embodies our brand's values of style and sustainability.
Dr Foluke Badejo (Co-founder): with her background in social entrepreneurship and sustainability and her passion for creating a positive impact on the environment, she brings expertise in business strategy and sustainability.
Abiodun Oladejo(Co-founder/Production Manager): is the production manager and is responsible for translating creative concepts into functional and innovative designs. Her expertise in sustainable design principles and garment construction ensures the quality and uniqueness of our products
My journey towards co-founding The Green Fashion Factory was ignited by a confluence of passions for sustainability, mental health, and innovation. Early on, I became acutely aware of the environmental challenges our planet faces, witnessing the detrimental effects of waste and pollution.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Simultaneously, a growing concern for mental health issues and the need for innovative approaches to well-being captured my attention.
<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">The intersection of these concerns led to the realisation that there could be a symbiotic relationship between environmental sustainability, artistic expression, and mental well-being. The concept of upcycling waste materials into fashion and art emerged as a powerful way to address these interconnected issues. This approach not only mitigates environmental harm but also provides a platform for creative expression, positively impacting mental health.
The decision to co-found The Green Fashion Factory was grounded in the belief that sustainable practices and artistic innovation can coexist to create a positive impact on both the planet and individuals. By transforming waste into aesthetically appealing products, we aimed to challenge the traditional notions of fashion and art while advocating for a more sustainable and mentally enriching lifestyle.
Our commitment to innovation extends beyond the products themselves. We seek to pioneer new ways of thinking about waste, encouraging collaboration with other sustainable industries. This collaborative spirit is driven by a shared vision of a circular economy, where waste is not seen as a problem but rather as a resource waiting to be transformed.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">As a Climate Champion Award recipient, could you share some key aspects of your experience in the Climate Actor Accelerator Program and the impact it has had on your work?</span></i></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">As a recipient of the Climate Champion Award, my journey through the Climate Actor Accelerator Program, and my experience so far in the innovation journey was superb. I could understand and have a deeper knowledge of sustainable development goals. Climate Actor Accelerator Program
(CAAP) exposed me to have deeper knowledge of climate change, environmental issues, upcycling and sustainability through our sessions with expertise in climate line.
I learnt and have more insight into business model Canva, pitch deck, climate tech and application for grants. I was able to network with like-minded Climate Champions in line with climate change and environmental activists. The assessment given to us build my leadership skill, team work and collaboration, I now have more courage to advocate in public about the effects of climate change and waste management.
It has been instrumental impacted, empowered and reshaping The Green Fashion Factory into a leading force in sustainable fashion in many aspects
The Co-founders of The Green Fashion Factory benefited from personalised advice, refining our sustainable fashion approach and upcycling practices through sessions with leaders in the field of sustainability, climate change, business and how open to global opportunities which we are applying to our social enterprise.
Engaged with mentors who provided invaluable insights into market dynamics, sustainable sourcing, and circular economy strategies that helped improve the work of The Green Fashion Factory.
Actively participated in collaborative projects with other CAAP participants in my states fostering innovation and sharing sustainable practices with industry peers which impacted our work in our organisation.
Established meaningful connections with environmentalists, industry leaders, and potential collaborators through purposeful networking events helps The Green Fashion Factory gain more recognition in the field of sustainable fashion.
Training sessions, deepen our understanding of the latest trends in sustainable fashion.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">
Impact on The Green Fashion Factory
Artistic Upcycling- Elevated our upcycling initiatives, turning waste materials into not only fashion items but also distinctive art pieces, setting our brand apart.
Expanded our product range to include accessories, utilising innovative upcycling techniques for more diverse and sustainable products
Integrated more sustainable sourcing practices, prioritising eco-friendly materials and reducing our supply chain's environmental impact.
Infused educational outreach elements into our brand messaging- turning waste into wow, raising awareness about upcycling, sustainable fashion, and environmental stewardship.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">How did it feel to receive the Climate Champion Award in 2023, and how has this recognition impacted your work and initiatives?</span></i></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Receiving the Climate Champion Award in 2023 was an incredibly gratifying and humbling experience for The Green Fashion Factory and me personally. It served as validation for the dedicated efforts we put into making sustainable fashion a reality, particularly in our commitment to upcycling waste into artistic and fashionable creations.
The award recognition opened doors for educational initiatives. We were invited to share our experiences and knowledge, contributing to educational programs and events focused on sustainability in fashion. It validated our mission, filling the team with a sense of pride in contributing meaningfully to environmental sustainability through our unique approach to fashion.
Impact on The Green Fashion Factory
The Climate Champion Award significantly enhanced our credibility within the sustainable fashion industry.
Winning the award provided us with a heightened level of visibility. The media coverage and promotion associated with the award brought our sustainable initiatives into the spotlight, reaching a broader audience.
The recognition facilitated new partnerships and collaborations. Other eco-conscious brands, suppliers, and even artists were more eager to align with us, fostering a network of like-minded contributors to the sustainability cause.
Consumers increasingly value sustainability, and the Climate Champion Award became a symbol of trust. This trust translated into enhanced customer loyalty and a growing customer base, as individuals sought out our unique, environmentally
The recognition served as a morale booster. Team members felt a deeper sense of purpose, knowing that their work was making a tangible impact and receiving external acknowledgement for their dedication</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">What challenges have you faced in addressing gender-based violence and human trafficking, and how have you overcome them?</span></i></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">While The Green Fashion Factory primarily focuses on sustainability in fashion, addressing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and human trafficking is a broader societal issue that requires a nuanced approach.
My team and I acknowledge the gravity of these challenges and understand the need for a comprehensive response- The mother organization- Grace and Grit Social Enterprise is an NGO that combats one the most pressing global challenges we face today- Human trafficking and gender-based violence.
Addressing gender-based violence and human trafficking often begins with raising awareness and educating both the team and the community. The Green Fashion Factory collaborate with the mother organisation- Grace and Grit Social Enterprise in organising trainings for students in government schools specialising in combating Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and human trafficking.
Supporting Vulnerable Communities
To address the root causes, The Green Fashion Factory consider initiatives, engaging in skills acquisition training
Grace and Grit Social Enterprise in collaboration with The Green Fashion Factory spread messages of empowerment and solidarity against gender-based violence, through school outreaches and volunteerism.
We the Co-founders engage Grace and Grit Social Enterprise in collaboration with The Green Fashion Factory in advocacy efforts to promote policy changes that address the systemic issues contributing to gender-based violence and human trafficking.
We faced challenges of-
<b>Limited Resources</b>
We seek diversified funding, forge strategic partnerships, and leverage volunteer support to maximize impact.
<b>International Collaboration</b>
Build networks with other NGOs through volunteering and collaboration, international organisations, and governments to share best practices, and resources, and coordinate efforts on a global scale.
<b>Victim Rehabilitation and Support</b>
We establish support systems through a partnership including counselling, and training, to facilitate survivors' reintegration into society.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">What message would you like to convey to individuals and organizations who may be interested in joining you on your mission to make a difference?</span></i></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">In joining hands with us, you become more than a collaborator; you become a contributor to positive change. Together, let's transform waste into art, fashion, and a sustainable future. The Green Fashion Factory is not just a brand; it's a movement, and we welcome you to I extend a heartfelt invitation to individuals and organizations who share our commitment to making a meaningful difference in the world. Our mission, rooted in sustainability and the transformative power of upcycling, is not just about fashion; it's a collective endeavour to reshape the narrative of our relationship with the environment and society.
To Potential Collaborators and Teams
We invite you to embrace sustainability not just as a practice but as a guiding principle. Join us in reimagining how business and creativity can coexist harmoniously with environmental impact.
Collaboration amplifies whether you are an artist, a fellow entrepreneur, an NGO, or an individual passionate about sustainable living, your unique perspective and skills contribute to the collective strength of our mission.
For organizations considering collaboration, prioritise ethics in your practices. We believe that sustainable business practices are inherently ethical, and together we can set industry standards that prioritize both people and the planet.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Success is relative, what does it mean to you?</span></i></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Success is not a destination but a continuous commitment to making a difference in the world. success achievements of and extends into the realms of environmental impact, societal contribution, and the realisation of our social enterprise mission- leaving the planet better than we found it.
My own way of thinking of success is our ability to empower communities. It means providing employment opportunities, especially to marginalized or vulnerable groups, and contributing to the well-being and development of these communities. Success involves creating a sense of pride and purpose among our team and those we impact.
Success involves being a catalyst for positive change, sparking a shift in mindset towards conscious and responsible living. As a sustainable fashion company, success is synonymous with leadership in the industry. It involves setting standards for ethical practices, influencing policies that promote sustainability, and inspiring other businesses to integrate environmental consciousness into their operations. Success means being at the forefront of a transformative movement within the fashion landscape.
Success is reflected in the awareness and choices of our consumers. It involves them understanding the value of upcycled products, appreciating the artistry behind sustainable fashion, and actively choosing products that align with their values. Success in this context means contributing to a growing community of conscious consumers who drive demand for ethical and sustainable products.
It means staying ahead of industry trends, continually improving our upcycling processes, and embracing new technologies that enhance our sustainability practices. Success involves being agile in the face of challenges and proactively seeking innovative solutions.
On a personal level, success is intertwined with a sense of fulfilment and purpose. It means finding joy in our work, knowing that every piece created tells a story of positive transformation. Success involves a deep satisfaction in knowing that our efforts contribute to a larger, meaningful change.</span></span></p><p><b><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">What advice do you have for young girls pursuing purpose but seem confused if they ar</span><span style="color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">e on the right path?</span></span></i></b></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">My humble advice to young girls navigating the journey of pursuing purpose and feeling a bit lost along the way
Try to understand that finding your purpose is a journey, not a destination. It's okay to feel confused or uncertain at times. Embrace the process, and remember that discovering your true calling takes time and self-discovery. Allow yourself the freedom to explore different interests and passions. Trying out various activities and experiences can provide valuable insights into what truly resonates with you. Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone.
Listen to your inner voice. Pay attention to the activities and pursuits that bring you joy, fulfilment, and a sense of accomplishment. Trusting your instincts is a powerful guide to discovering your purpose.
Reach out to mentors or those who inspire you. Their guidance and insights can offer valuable perspectives and help you navigate the uncertainties. Many successful individuals have faced similar doubts in their journeys.
Understand that setbacks and challenges are an integral part of growth. Instead of seeing them as failures, view them as opportunities to learn and refine your path. Each experience, whether positive or challenging, contributes to your personal and professional development.
Clarify your core values, knowing what truly matters to you can provide a solid foundation for aligning your actions with your purpose. Reflect on the kind of impact you want to make in the world.
Networking can expose you to different perspectives, opportunities, and potential collaborators. Building a supportive network can provide encouragement and open doors to new possibilities. Understand that challenges are a natural part of the journey, and your ability to bounce back from setbacks is a testament to your strength. Keep pushing forward with determination.
Take care of your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Finding your purpose can be demanding, and self-care is essential for maintaining balance and resilience. Make time for activities that rejuvenate and inspire you.
Acknowledge and celebrate your achievements, no matter how small. Recognising your progress reinforces your confidence and motivates you to keep moving forward.</span></span></p>Akpo'Diddie Patricia Uyehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11744790175774967230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283763216350068804.post-91167360788878294352024-01-24T15:32:00.002+01:002024-01-24T15:32:41.109+01:00Gabrieline Reece: On challenging the stereotype of the "Angry Black woman"<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAgatSL2pMiji9kOeulGtZRMpcTomTS5pHRol2mMSdTnlGl-QKt0aKn-lkN8RxZDNKOj6wPUeS8RBf2XKfFxtLb8oDDeoEy8s3Solo2eCWipi4bJ0S7pSJ8YLEZ8XBRhfzLPTyri7KgPTznkK6YlDTFHhu6x9oIzhvRhZdiHhArML-IHGGTfCqFTlHHV0/s2245/BWSC-%20CROWDFUNDING%20FLIER%20%20(2)%20(1).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2245" data-original-width="1587" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAgatSL2pMiji9kOeulGtZRMpcTomTS5pHRol2mMSdTnlGl-QKt0aKn-lkN8RxZDNKOj6wPUeS8RBf2XKfFxtLb8oDDeoEy8s3Solo2eCWipi4bJ0S7pSJ8YLEZ8XBRhfzLPTyri7KgPTznkK6YlDTFHhu6x9oIzhvRhZdiHhArML-IHGGTfCqFTlHHV0/w452-h640/BWSC-%20CROWDFUNDING%20FLIER%20%20(2)%20(1).png" width="452" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;">Meet Gabrieline Reece, a distinguished film producer and director. She is the founder of Women Who Influence and Brand Experience. She has over 8 years of experience managing celebrity PR/events relations-clients in the public relations industry</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;">, including Hollywood A-List, TV Personalities & global brands. Right from childhood, Gabrieline became clear about her purpose. She had stood apart as a girl wonder and her father helped harness her gifts. Back then, she would play news anchor with the neighborhood kids capturing what was happening in our neighborhood and share it with her parents. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;">Gabrieline is the brain behind the '</span>Black Women Surviving Corporate documentary' which highlights specific discussions with executive professionals. The documentary outlines the measures that companies should adopt to ensure fair treatment and equal opportunities for Black women and women of colour in terms of learning, growth, and leadership.<span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The documentary explores the disparities in reporting managerial assistance among Black women, addressing issues such as navigating organizational politics and achieving a work-life balance. Its goal is to raise awareness by challenging the stereotype of the “Angry Black woman.” Contrary to common misconceptions, Black women are not more predisposed to express anger than any other demographic in the United States. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.rideedy.com/"><b><i>Omote Ro Dhe</i></b> </a>caught up with Gabrieline in an exclusive interview where she opened up about childhood, profession, the purpose of the documentary, her projects and more. Read the excerpts below:</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Can you share more about your journey in the public relations industry and how it led you to become a distinguished film producer, director, and founder of organizations such as Women Who Influence and Brand Experience?</i></b></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">With eight years of experience in Public Relations, I've had the privilege of collaborating with talented creatives globally, assisting them in sharing their stories and presenting their ideas. Working with diverse clients during various phases inspired me to become an advocate for myself as a Black woman and for women in general. This journey led me to utilize my writing skills to craft compelling narratives through press releases. Recognizing the power to engage and capture the audience, I realized the need for a more in-depth narrative. This realization ignited my passion for filmmaking, which has since grown and flourished.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Can you share a memorable experience or project where your expertise in managing celebrity relations made a significant impact?</i></b></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One standout experience that showcased my expertise in managing celebrity relations was a project with Adidas. In this endeavour, I had the opportunity to bring together like-minded fashion experts, collaborating to create a captivating experience for the audience. The project aimed at providing people with a once-in-a-lifetime fashion presentation, allowing their creative minds to flourish and bloom. The impact of this collaboration was truly remarkable, leaving a lasting impression on those who attended and elevating the overall fashion experience to new heights.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>What inspired you to start Women Who Influence and Brand Experience, and what are the key missions or goals of these organizations?</i></b></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The inception of "Women Who Influence" began as a singular event with the intention of uniting women to share their stories, fostering growth in both personal and business aspects. To my surprise, it evolved into something beyond my initial imagination, bringing together hundreds and thousands of women worldwide through exclusive social events. The vision for "Women Who Influence" is to continue its expansion, transforming the platform into a membership-based community that connects individuals with opportunities for growth and success.
"Brand Experience" marks my initial foray into the business world. This venture sprouted from my fashion internship in California, where the desire to contribute more to the event/PR industry led me to embark on my own journey. I delved into working with private clients, seeking to carve my path and make a meaningful impact.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>You mentioned a childhood realization about your gift for shifting narratives. How has this gift influenced your work in the film industry, particularly in documentary filmmaking?</i></b></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My childhood realization about my gift for shifting narratives has profoundly impacted my work in the film industry, particularly in documentary filmmaking. The unique narrative of my childhood, as a 3-year-old foreigner arriving in the US and being adopted by my white teacher in 3rd grade, while my dad tirelessly worked to provide for my siblings, serves as a powerful example of narrative transformation. This personal story has been a wellspring of creativity for me, inspiring a desire to shape the world for individuals with experiences similar to mine.
In documentary filmmaking, I leverage my gift for narrative shifting to bring untold stories to the forefront. The ability to weave compelling narratives allows me to capture the essence of diverse experiences, fostering empathy and understanding. Through the lens of my own journey, I strive to create films that resonate with audiences, sparking conversations and challenging perspectives. My childhood realization continues to be a driving force in my commitment to telling stories that empower and bring about positive change in the world.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Your documentary explores the challenges faced by Black women in the corporate world. What motivated you to address this specific topic, and what do you hope the impact of the film will be?</i></b></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The motivation behind exploring the challenges faced by Black women in the corporate world in my documentary stems from my own personal experiences dealing with poor leadership and toxic work environments, both from white and black leaders. These encounters have fueled my determination to shed light on the unique struggles that Black women often face in professional settings.
Through this documentary, I aim to initiate crucial discussions that address various aspects of the issue and lay the groundwork for systemic changes. One key focus is on highlighting the often-overlooked topic of black mental health. I am particularly excited about fostering conversations that bring awareness to the fact that black individuals also experience mental health crises, an aspect frequently misunderstood by the world.
Ultimately, I hope the impact of the film extends beyond awareness to tangible changes in the workforce. By showcasing the challenges faced by Black women, I aspire to inspire leaders and organizations to provide better support systems. This includes not only promoting healthy work environments but also ensuring that leaders themselves receive the necessary support to effectively manage and support their teams. The overarching goal is to contribute to a more inclusive and supportive corporate culture for everyone.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The documentary aims to challenge the stereotype of the "Angry Black woman."</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Can you elaborate on the impact of this stereotype and how it affects the professional lives of Black women in corporate settings?</i></b></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The stereotype of the "Angry Black woman" has a significant and detrimental impact on the professional lives of Black women in corporate settings. Being labeled as an angry person carries negative connotations and implications that can be particularly harmful. This stereotype often leads to preconceived judgments about Black women, even before they speak or react.
The consequences of this stereotype are far-reaching. Black women labelled as "angry" may face challenges in being perceived as approachable, teachable, or easy to work with. These biases can result in unfair treatment, limiting opportunities for career advancement, raises, and professional growth. The stereotype not only affects individual perceptions but can also influence decisions made by colleagues, superiors, and the broader corporate environment.
The "Angry Black woman" stereotype contributes to a toxic cycle where Black women may feel compelled to suppress their emotions or modify their behaviour to conform to prejudiced expectations. This can lead to a stifling of authentic expression and hinder the potential for true professional collaboration and success.
Addressing and challenging this stereotype is essential for creating a more inclusive and equitable corporate culture. By debunking these stereotypes, we can work towards fostering an environment where Black women are recognized and valued for their skills, contributions, and leadership qualities without being unfairly burdened by harmful stereotypes.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">What advice do you have for young girls pursuing purpose but seem confused if they ar</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">e on the right path?</span></i></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">1. Self-Reflection: Take the time to reflect on your passions, interests, and values. Consider what truly brings you joy and fulfillment. Understanding yourself better will help you align your pursuits with your authentic self.
2. Explore and Experiment: Don't be afraid to explore different areas and try out various activities. This experimentation can provide valuable insights into what resonates with you and what doesn't. It's okay not to have everything figured out right away.
3. Seek Mentorship: Connect with mentors or role models who have experience in fields you find interesting. Their guidance and advice can provide valuable perspectives and help you navigate your own journey. Learning from others' experiences can be incredibly insightful.
4. Embrace Challenges: Understand that the journey toward your purpose may involve challenges and setbacks. Embrace these as learning opportunities and stepping stones toward personal and professional growth. Persistence and resilience are key.
5. Stay Open-Minded: Be open to new possibilities and unexpected opportunities. Sometimes, the path to discovering your purpose may take unexpected turns. Stay curious and adaptable to change.
6. Network and Build Relationships: Connect with individuals who share similar interests. Building a network can open doors to new opportunities and collaborations. Surrounding yourself with supportive and like-minded people can provide encouragement and inspiration.
7. Set Small Goals: Break down your larger purpose into smaller, manageable goals. This can make the journey less overwhelming and help you track your progress. Celebrate small victories along the way.
8. Trust the Process: Finding your purpose is a journey, not a destination. Trust in your abilities and the process of self-discovery. Be patient with yourself and allow the journey to unfold organically.
Remember, it's perfectly normal to feel confused or uncertain at times. Trust that with time, self-discovery, and a willingness to explore, you will gain clarity on your path and purpose.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p><br /></p>Akpo'Diddie Patricia Uyehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11744790175774967230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283763216350068804.post-81265502531044898082023-12-29T14:03:00.002+01:002023-12-30T18:22:56.701+01:002023 in Review: Against all odds<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1JUS4ITbP1BFrL0SW8KvglmjDBHQZKJl0IQUu5zyjLd-P2IQjaD3b9F4CAtlkG-AjdiiNlM0iWT7VHWKulVz7g1gDmYFjWCcz4oQw2le0tQNGiiQNem-I1xiCkJa8UHZyhQJO3rHxXU5ws1LW7_UR8_53pWvBc35SBEaVF8DVYwZp42H-HfN7Pxb0vk/s6000/DSC_0238.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1JUS4ITbP1BFrL0SW8KvglmjDBHQZKJl0IQUu5zyjLd-P2IQjaD3b9F4CAtlkG-AjdiiNlM0iWT7VHWKulVz7g1gDmYFjWCcz4oQw2le0tQNGiiQNem-I1xiCkJa8UHZyhQJO3rHxXU5ws1LW7_UR8_53pWvBc35SBEaVF8DVYwZp42H-HfN7Pxb0vk/w640-h426/DSC_0238.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;">At the stroke of 12:00a.m on January 1st, 2023 it was the new year! Goodwill messages poured out. The knockouts in the air were almost deafening. There were loud greetings of Happy New Year all around. We all love new beginnings, don't we? </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: verdana;">It was the dawn of a new beginning.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: verdana;">I entered the new year with expectations hoping they would all be met. This New Year's Day was spent indoors. I prepared a sumptuous meal to mark the New Year celebration and made a toast to a glorious year.</span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br style="outline: none;" /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">January is a very special month for me given that it's my birthday month. I did a photoshoot and spent the rest of the day in church. This month I got a feature online that was putting in the spotlight women-owned businesses. I almost clinched a deal as a blogger but it didn't go as I wanted because of some data analysis problems.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br style="outline: none;" /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">February came with its own opportunities. It was going to be a great month. I usually dread Valentine's Day being a single lady for the time being but it was not as bad as I thought it would be. As a church girl, the day was spent in the house of my father. I didn't feel alone rather I felt loved. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br style="outline: none;" /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In March, I got nominated for the Nigeria Magazine International Women's Day Award 2023. I couldn't attend because of the distance barrier but was glad for the nomination. I also got featured as African Women in Technology's Woman Crush. These were big wins for me. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br style="outline: none;" /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">April started on a bright note. I attended the Ladies Breaking Boundaries meet-up. It was a great opportunity to serve as a mentor to Secondary School students. The meet-up provided a platform to network with like-minded ladies. I also got an invitation to cover the Catholic Youths of Nigeria event. I also got an invitation to cover Charis School, Magodo's graduation ceremony. I met Joe Praize and was happy to 'famz' with him there. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">In between June and September, no solid activity, I seemed to be existing with nothing to show. Things were moving too fast yet so slow. I have been silent this year even on social media, very unlike me. Lest I forget, I started a coaching program in April that lasted for three months courtesy my coach, Ikeoluwa Akano. The experience was about personal development and self-discovery. At the end of the coaching session, I realised it was not a destination but a continuous journey to a better me.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br style="outline: none;" /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The year started on a bright note but somewhere along the line, I appeared to be lost in between. I do know that in October I got scammed of a huge amount of money and I am still recovering. How it happened is still leaving me in shock. Contentment and hard work were the lessons I picked up from that encounter. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br style="outline: none;" /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In November, one goal got ticked off my list. I finally got my international passport after months of procrastination- thanks to my sister. I am so happy about that. I can start planning to travel as it is one of my hobbies. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">December had me attend the Black Tie Christmas concert. What could be better sitting in an ambience of good classical music and good food?</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br style="outline: none;" /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This year tested my faith in God. My trust in Him had been shaky as the year was winding down. However, the year ended on a brighter note. There was a particular scripture of the bible I kept noting that says: The Lord crowned my year with a bountiful harvest and hard pathways overflow with abundance. In all honesty, the year 2023 has been a trying year for me, though some goals were not achieved, I refuse to be held down knowing that it can only improve. Here is to a prosperous and glorious 2024...Happy New Year in advance!</span></div>Akpo'Diddie Patricia Uyehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11744790175774967230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283763216350068804.post-2097078890323558822023-11-25T21:05:00.005+01:002023-11-30T18:19:07.721+01:00Dr. Claudine Hingston: Adequate information clears confusion<div><span style="background-color: white;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzhMhXiWNiSUZ9fUWs7bBS0Sm-MulFg3rUzXZdu27QMR4rVfytRKzAxe_7IVn2ozvnGgKzBSYghJYJb4lvMy5XE1Kpw5yfI1NNTnzZr4q-u_mVr-N9X7Qt_QiMeVs4tDfcH7bHoiNvkf81Aa4WbKOfcQzypSAodCPFrCTEhoBsvKQk3rMw-qy1EEwksY/s1024/temp_image_20231123_113036_eaca0127-5907-49af-83ac-8925a124452d.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzhMhXiWNiSUZ9fUWs7bBS0Sm-MulFg3rUzXZdu27QMR4rVfytRKzAxe_7IVn2ozvnGgKzBSYghJYJb4lvMy5XE1Kpw5yfI1NNTnzZr4q-u_mVr-N9X7Qt_QiMeVs4tDfcH7bHoiNvkf81Aa4WbKOfcQzypSAodCPFrCTEhoBsvKQk3rMw-qy1EEwksY/w480-h640/temp_image_20231123_113036_eaca0127-5907-49af-83ac-8925a124452d.jpg" title="Dr. Claudine Hingston" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div>Scrolling through LinkedIn, you are not likely to flip past <b><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudine-hingston-803b7577/">Dr Claudine Hingston</a></b>'s profile. She is not only a goal-driven, focused and objective woman, but also tolerant and responsible. It was easy to bond with her because we share similar interests when it relates to women's rights and female empowerment. All the way from Sierra Leone, we collaborated on this interview to share her story that would be an inspiration to every woman out there.</span></span><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Having a doctorate degree in Gender studies, Dr Claudine Hingston has been involved in causes that promote women walking in purpose. She is a true definition and testament that an educated female is an empowered female.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://www.rideedy.com/"><br /></a></b></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://www.rideedy.com/">Omote Ro Dhe</a></b> could not resist her and all she is all about and <i>giving</i> that we got chitty-chatty. Read excerpts from the exciting and explosive interview below:</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Can you share more about your journey from being a Senior Information Officer at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in Sierra Leone to becoming an academic with a focus on gender studies in South Africa? How did your experiences shape your academic and professional trajectory?</span></i></b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I started as an Information officer at the Ministry. To progress in my career, I undertook a one-year Diploma in Mass Communication programme at the University of Sierra Leone to back up my first degree which was a Bachelor of Arts. Juggling work, study, and family life, I not only completed the course but also got a distinction. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was invited thereafter by the department to teach part-time at the department. Better still, upon attaining the diploma, I was promoted to Senior Information Officer at the Ministry. At some point, I decided to pursue a Masters in Gender Studies degree and so enrolled for the course at the University. This also involved juggling work, family, and studies but I was determined. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I am happy to state that I completed with a distinction as well. At this point, I left Sierra Leone for the United Kingdom with my family, and we settled in Leeds where I started working for the Leeds City Council. Seven years later, our family (my husband, children, and myself) relocated to Durban, South Africa and I later enrolled for a PhD in Gender Studies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fast forward, I graduated in 2015 and started working as an academic. My experiences of living in three countries, working in different institutions and with various groups of people helped to shape my trajectory path. For instance, had I not relocated to South Africa and interacted with researchers and scholars, I would maybe not have pursued a PhD qualification and gone fully into academia.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><i><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></b></i></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><i><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Your areas of research interest include gender, women’s empowerment, leadership, feminism, media, and Africanism. Could you elaborate on a specific research project or article that you are particularly proud of, and how it reflects your passion and commitment to these topics?</span></b></i></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I am very proud of all the research articles that I have written and have published. Choosing just one therefore is hard. I will however choose one of my recently published articles titled - Sexism and Language: An Analysis of Sexist Idiomatic Expressions in Sierra Leone’s Lingua Franca. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Most times, people use sexist language without even being aware as it is so normalized. Thus in this article, I looked at idiomatic expressions in Krio (the lingua franca of Sierra Leone) and examined how some of them embody sexism that promotes discrimination, objectification, devaluation and violation of women. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This article is also an awareness call to both Sierra Leoneans and non-Sierra Leoneans to be more mindful of their use of language. This article reflects my passion for advocating for women's and girl’s empowerment by calling attention to factors that hinders it. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In most of my research articles, I tend to examine structures and practices that stifle women and explore ways in which women’s lives can be enhanced. I cannot help but also mention one of my older publications –- When Religion Becomes Violent: an exploration of gender relations among Nigerian migrants in Durban, South Africa. This is also an article I am very proud of as it examines how religion can be used to disempower women.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></i></b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">You have been actively engaged in mentoring girls and women to help them achieve their dreams. Can you share a specific success story or memorable moment from your mentorship experiences that highlights the impact you've had on someone's life and aspirations?</span></i></b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I would like to share the story of Esther. I met Esther at a hospitality and catering institution in Freetown, Sierra Leone. I was invited to give a motivational talk to the students (all women). </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">During my interaction with the students, I got to know more about Esther. She was struggling in many ways, unable to pay her fees and on the verge of dropping out. I requested mentoring her and she agreed. Fast forward, I was determined that she should not drop out. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Even though I was not financially strong myself, I reached out to several friends and managed to raise enough money to pay her fees and cover other financial needs. I was also there for her every step of the way, supporting her in many other ways and ensuring that she focused on her studies. Esther eventually graduated and luckily for me, I was on holiday in Freetown during that period. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was therefore able to attend the graduation. In fact, I was the guest speaker for the graduation. When Esther came on stage to receive her award, it was a very proud moment for me. Esther is now working in the hospitality department of a renowned hotel in Freetown and she is doing very well. She is also aspiring towards further studies. I am very proud of her.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></i></b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Education, especially for girls, seems to be a central theme in your advocacy. Could you share more about your passion for girls' education and any specific initiatives or projects you're involved in to promote educational opportunities for girls, both in South Africa and Sierra Leone?</span></i></b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></i></b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My passion for girls’ education stems from my observation while growing up as a young girl in Sierra Leone. I observed that girls and women with little or no education lived a poorer quality of life and were often abused and exploited as compared to their educated counterparts. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">T</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;">hus, I grew up with the realization that education was critical for women and made a personal commitment to advocate for girls’ education. I started by going around in my community and speaking to parents about the need to send girls to school and support them in their educational journey. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;">One thing that I cannot stand to see is a girl not going to school and because of this, I have found myself personally bearing the financial costs for the education of several girls. I also believe that girls should go as far as they want in education and this has also led me to render financial assistance in this venture.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;">However, as I do not always have the financial capacity, I often ask for help from friends and family to help me support a girl to either go to school or undertake tertiary studies.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
I am affiliated with several organisations that promote girls' empowerment both in Sierra Leone and South Africa and work with them in promoting and supporting the education of girls. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I believe girls that for girls to thrive in academia, they need more than just financial assistance. They need to be well-informed and knowledgeable on certain topics and also develop critical skills. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I therefore conduct workshops for girls on menstrual hygiene, sexual health, confidence building, leadership, public speaking and other relevant topics. I also offer mentoring services, motivational sessions and empowerment workshops to various girls/women’s institutions and organisations at no cost.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></i></b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">You have recently received a Humanitarian Goodwill Award. What does this recognition mean to you, and how do you envision leveraging this acknowledgement to further your advocacy for women and girls?</span></i></b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The award serves as a source of inspiration to me, and it has reinforced my commitment to the values that underpin humanitarian work. It inspires me to continue to make positive impacts in the lives of others. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In short, it serves as a catalyst for me to work towards a more compassionate and equitable world. With such recognition, the only way is FORWARD and I will use it as a motivator to further my advocacy for women and girls.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Success is relative, what does it mean to you?</span></i></b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></i></b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For me, the phrase -success is relative means that success is based on personal or societal expectations. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thus, success is relative because it is subjected to expectations which may differ in other contexts. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My understanding also extends to the understanding that success is relative because it is benchmarked against failure.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><b><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2px;">What advice do you have for young girls pursuing purpose but seem confused if they ar</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2px;">e on the right part?</span></span></i></b></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It is common for young girls to be confused about whether they are on the right part. It is therefore important for them to find a mentor who will be able to suitably advise them. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Mentorship is important for growth. I will also advise that they seek career guidance and counselling. This will help them to determine if they are on the right path. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Finally, I will advise that they learn to make informed decisions. This means that they have to research and find out as much information on the path they have taken or want to take. When armed with adequate information, it can assist in clearing the confusion.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span face="Roboto, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><br /></span></div>Akpo'Diddie Patricia Uyehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11744790175774967230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283763216350068804.post-17286693167680356482023-11-10T20:37:00.011+01:002023-11-10T20:47:09.781+01:00A Visionary Leader: Meet Chigozie S. Paul, CEO and Driving Force Behind Vighpa<p><br /></p><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicf9htbQRr-Db9GYWVUORfruJ7xQDEanq7ZDj5vP1FUJzL61lrTAl1vCsPTAyEbFc1n4YyOEDoCFud66XKPZpLfZybNbmVXFwS5dOQa2j7t2IzlXtC-TTXXYF0fXSuG4NbXHT6oKvOIK9XQqE0tHP-gjrN0z-ecLgXFhuWsn6hfsZumQb53eYPc3WbcKk/s1280/99fb7bad-b410-4879-9393-1b92ebe055ce.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicf9htbQRr-Db9GYWVUORfruJ7xQDEanq7ZDj5vP1FUJzL61lrTAl1vCsPTAyEbFc1n4YyOEDoCFud66XKPZpLfZybNbmVXFwS5dOQa2j7t2IzlXtC-TTXXYF0fXSuG4NbXHT6oKvOIK9XQqE0tHP-gjrN0z-ecLgXFhuWsn6hfsZumQb53eYPc3WbcKk/w480-h640/99fb7bad-b410-4879-9393-1b92ebe055ce.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Epilogue, sans-serif; line-height: 1.45em;">Introduction:</h2><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Epilogue, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;">Welcome to <a href="https://www.vighpa.com/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #fa242b; text-decoration-line: none;">Vighpa</a>! As CEO and founder, I am excited to introduce myself and share my journey as a visionary leader. I have dedicated my career to building and nurturing an innovative company that serves as a catalyst for growth and success. Allow me to take you on a journey through my professional experience, values, and commitment to driving <a href="https://www.vighpa.com/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #fa242b; text-decoration-line: none;">Vighpa</a> forward.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiK2nmq5YPUeCBT7wkDSZzwUL0_cfDD9wTygH4Sm9CK_7ka8hX7tDYhFZ2gEjg_PTIARd2P3Sr0UHN70-iCQg4tuHV-KusHn0sb7Yva7ovhZHodZYtxd_kOIIB9iEgkVi5gaI9gNwm06wZwLttxXTCsnI4_wVcqx50f0wCA9I8GfiqG_Jc-cnKFIynPq0/s1290/brandmark_-_make_your_logo_in_minutes-removebg2545216399854829530.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1290" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiK2nmq5YPUeCBT7wkDSZzwUL0_cfDD9wTygH4Sm9CK_7ka8hX7tDYhFZ2gEjg_PTIARd2P3Sr0UHN70-iCQg4tuHV-KusHn0sb7Yva7ovhZHodZYtxd_kOIIB9iEgkVi5gaI9gNwm06wZwLttxXTCsnI4_wVcqx50f0wCA9I8GfiqG_Jc-cnKFIynPq0/w640-h438/brandmark_-_make_your_logo_in_minutes-removebg2545216399854829530.png" width="640" /></a></div><h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Epilogue, sans-serif; line-height: 1.45em;">A Passion for Innovation:</h2><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Epilogue, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;">From a young age, I have been driven by a passion for innovation and a desire to make a difference. This passion led me to establish <a href="https://www.vighpa.com/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #fa242b; text-decoration-line: none;">Vighpa</a> with the vision of providing groundbreaking solutions that address the evolving needs of our customers and the market. I firmly believe in the power of innovation to drive transformation and create a positive impact on industries and society as a whole.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIb8aW1aYQ-29b4IgPB_pQFkDwN9Obi3UBrL08hXEXzpt4Hdl4p6alS07d2j0-IqgKUC1znIQB2mOXku-lzwQJe-88PndhKBHjBX-eDHWZJ7nOnrArlRGQGN0oNF7IXy-lsZrOFHINXMw9W5kKxrEml4YxpdsyOgFp8aWaZjk-HjVHveNVd1MOMkpB7dk/s1200/59967f40-94cb-4bc6-bd44-8b4b42e83ca74306962748043400247.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIb8aW1aYQ-29b4IgPB_pQFkDwN9Obi3UBrL08hXEXzpt4Hdl4p6alS07d2j0-IqgKUC1znIQB2mOXku-lzwQJe-88PndhKBHjBX-eDHWZJ7nOnrArlRGQGN0oNF7IXy-lsZrOFHINXMw9W5kKxrEml4YxpdsyOgFp8aWaZjk-HjVHveNVd1MOMkpB7dk/w640-h362/59967f40-94cb-4bc6-bd44-8b4b42e83ca74306962748043400247.png" width="640" /></a></div><h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Epilogue, sans-serif; line-height: 1.45em;">Strategic Leadership:</h2><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Epilogue, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;">As the CEO, I provide strategic leadership to the entire organization, ensuring that our goals and objectives are aligned with our mission. I firmly believe in fostering a culture of collaboration, transparency, and continuous improvement. By empowering our talented team of professionals, I encourage innovative thinking, enabling us to stay at the forefront of the industry.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0pWTs0PeDzdv2FshbuVYpqwE1BYs5VttlbDWKL_Mz-JZ_kjC_kduR9dMg_MK_7mJtb1Frh8WuIY-znPrxzbgnfm4MHZhZXzbqqlfwwkddw2oG0M9NgtFMRequrlDPohF1OhS33haDAjqy_uTK0ZEeqLDXx8xZkCJ9s09x6ysGob5YfM4l20s2t6fCFq8/s1080/791c6818-724b-41ec-bb53-fe61e020bbe06126322184094427654.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0pWTs0PeDzdv2FshbuVYpqwE1BYs5VttlbDWKL_Mz-JZ_kjC_kduR9dMg_MK_7mJtb1Frh8WuIY-znPrxzbgnfm4MHZhZXzbqqlfwwkddw2oG0M9NgtFMRequrlDPohF1OhS33haDAjqy_uTK0ZEeqLDXx8xZkCJ9s09x6ysGob5YfM4l20s2t6fCFq8/w640-h640/791c6818-724b-41ec-bb53-fe61e020bbe06126322184094427654.png" width="640" /></a></div><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Epilogue, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;"><br /></p><h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Epilogue, sans-serif; line-height: 1.45em;">Customer-Centric Approach:</h2><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Epilogue, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;">At <a href="https://www.vighpa.com/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #fa242b; text-decoration-line: none;">Vighpa</a>, our customers are at the heart of everything we do. I strongly believe in building long-lasting relationships based on trust and delivering exceptional value. By understanding our customers’ pain points and challenges, we strive to develop tailored solutions that not only meet their needs but exceed their expectations. Our commitment to a customer-centric approach fuels our drive for excellence in every aspect of our business.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbif0CWoA3t0yokEWkWsA8CwdNUECihXVzAZlQPOS73tx2fbZ_rQxJ3VvfNXXDs0nC0K1ZH92glESkf09B055YpwLLwPb-_7AK7Fp7ZQuEIcoQ4QWISOMTZmTDsDmFNZa2MA0X8ikVhEhhxsmLNdMxuOhL6ZoDi3dax9HDlY3y1C5yrO2zUpsrj7PUe74/s1080/cb7f4582-74ca-4c0a-ad0f-86d662c6e6f12296045837385078252.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbif0CWoA3t0yokEWkWsA8CwdNUECihXVzAZlQPOS73tx2fbZ_rQxJ3VvfNXXDs0nC0K1ZH92glESkf09B055YpwLLwPb-_7AK7Fp7ZQuEIcoQ4QWISOMTZmTDsDmFNZa2MA0X8ikVhEhhxsmLNdMxuOhL6ZoDi3dax9HDlY3y1C5yrO2zUpsrj7PUe74/w640-h640/cb7f4582-74ca-4c0a-ad0f-86d662c6e6f12296045837385078252.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Epilogue, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;"><br /></p><h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Epilogue, sans-serif; line-height: 1.45em;">Building a Talented Team:</h2><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Epilogue, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;">I firmly believe that a company’s success lies in its people. At <a href="https://www.vighpa.com/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #fa242b; text-decoration-line: none;">Vighpa</a>, I have assembled a highly skilled and diverse team, each member bringing unique perspectives and expertise to the table. I foster an environment that encourages collaboration, creativity, and personal growth. By nurturing and empowering our team, we create a dynamic workforce that is enthusiastic about driving our company’s vision forward.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3EqWx4OIgEgI08RW9GeLC1Ah1DEgCc-mtc5bJhFktJxuRfd3TTl5gNam5coG7-UxrRs4jG_K0h5bwVwdwEr20ULPvcdYv-mT-mf1AD5Ds8n3JkcAF0jMaQzNjEZFLw-jRC_555FX9ze3mIxg3z83dUX_ZpRBU029PqTXtI2vW68sRRfdDPdjfU7sb-7I/s1080/c9d01425-e6a7-4ab2-a4bf-ef25aa633c4e7292607156278466009.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3EqWx4OIgEgI08RW9GeLC1Ah1DEgCc-mtc5bJhFktJxuRfd3TTl5gNam5coG7-UxrRs4jG_K0h5bwVwdwEr20ULPvcdYv-mT-mf1AD5Ds8n3JkcAF0jMaQzNjEZFLw-jRC_555FX9ze3mIxg3z83dUX_ZpRBU029PqTXtI2vW68sRRfdDPdjfU7sb-7I/w640-h640/c9d01425-e6a7-4ab2-a4bf-ef25aa633c4e7292607156278466009.png" width="640" /></a></div><h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Epilogue, sans-serif; line-height: 1.45em;">Continuous Learning and Adaptability:</h2><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Epilogue, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;">In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, adaptability is key to success. I emphasize the importance of continuous learning and staying ahead of industry trends. By embracing change and remaining agile, we can proactively identify opportunities and adapt our strategies accordingly. This approach enables us to consistently deliver innovative solutions that address the evolving needs of our customers and maintain our competitive edge.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyLq4SgGa-eawYHbPsjophRj5O3bZJMnRw7tMIcQCx47vhKHwc-J5-fi8bAoaqiWVQRi2M34Auzyk6MM4eZNPirfJeafW4VAYeGnQ5KefJiMtpkDbA5ngl8bHl7gI1KR6MEW3NljI2K-Nc7amYKx0KufBa_EfyCOMKi9qoUPAY35_IMPlww3FvxSeOY78/s1920/f685ea99-1502-4cbe-a659-7fdbfa6e1a894626403258208194251.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyLq4SgGa-eawYHbPsjophRj5O3bZJMnRw7tMIcQCx47vhKHwc-J5-fi8bAoaqiWVQRi2M34Auzyk6MM4eZNPirfJeafW4VAYeGnQ5KefJiMtpkDbA5ngl8bHl7gI1KR6MEW3NljI2K-Nc7amYKx0KufBa_EfyCOMKi9qoUPAY35_IMPlww3FvxSeOY78/w360-h640/f685ea99-1502-4cbe-a659-7fdbfa6e1a894626403258208194251.png" width="360" /></a></div><br /><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Epilogue, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;"><br /></p><h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Epilogue, sans-serif; line-height: 1.45em;">A Commitment to Social Responsibility:</h2><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Epilogue, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;">Beyond the realm of business, I am passionate about making a positive impact on society. At <a href="https://www.vighpa.com/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #fa242b; text-decoration-line: none;">Vighpa</a>, we prioritize social responsibility, striving to create sustainable solutions that benefit not only our customers but also the communities we serve. We actively engage in philanthropic initiatives, environmental sustainability efforts, and ethical business practices, aligning our actions with our values.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Epilogue, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;">As the CEO of <a href="https://www.vighpa.com/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #fa242b; text-decoration-line: none;">Vighpa</a>, I am dedicated to driving innovation, fostering a customer-centric approach, and building a talented team that shares my vision. Together, with our commitment to continuous learning, adaptability, and social responsibility, we are poised to achieve remarkable success and make a lasting impact in our industry. Join us on this exciting journey as we shape the future and transform industries through our groundbreaking solutions at <a href="https://www.vighpa.com/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #fa242b; text-decoration-line: none;">Vighpa</a>.</p><h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Epilogue, sans-serif; line-height: 1.45em;">Empowering Businesses through Seamless Payment Solutions: Vighpa Payment Gateway’s Mission</h2><div><span face="Epilogue, sans-serif" style="font-size: 17.6px;">As the CEO and Co-founder of </span><a href="https://www.vighpa.com/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #fa242b; font-family: Epilogue, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px; text-decoration-line: none;">Vighpa</a><span face="Epilogue, sans-serif" style="font-size: 17.6px;"> Payment Gateway, I am thrilled to share our mission of revolutionizing the way businesses handle financial transactions. At </span><a href="https://www.vighpa.com/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #fa242b; font-family: Epilogue, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px; text-decoration-line: none;">Vighpa</a><span face="Epilogue, sans-serif" style="font-size: 17.6px;">, we believe that every business, regardless of its size or industry, should have access to secure, reliable, and user-friendly payment solutions. Our goal is to empower businesses by providing them with a comprehensive suite of payment services that streamline operations, enhance customer satisfaction, and drive growth.</span></div><div><span face="Epilogue, sans-serif" style="font-size: 17.6px;"><br /></span></div><div><h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Epilogue, sans-serif; line-height: 1.45em;">Secure and Reliable Payment Solutions:</h2><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Epilogue, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;">In today’s digital age, securing sensitive financial data is of paramount importance. <a href="https://www.vighpa.com/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #fa242b; text-decoration-line: none;">Vighpa</a> Payment Gateway takes data security incredibly seriously. We have implemented state-of-the-art encryption technologies and comply with industry-leading security standards to safeguard transactions and protect our clients’ information. By partnering with us, businesses can rest assured knowing that their customers’ data is safe, fostering trust and credibility.</p><h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Epilogue, sans-serif; line-height: 1.45em;">User-Friendly Interface:</h2><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Epilogue, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;">We understand that simplicity and ease of use are crucial when it comes to payment solutions. Our team of experienced developers has designed <a href="https://www.vighpa.com/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #fa242b; text-decoration-line: none;">Vighpa</a>’s payment gateway with a user-friendly interface, allowing businesses to seamlessly integrate our solution into their existing systems. Whether it’s through web applications, mobile devices, or point-of-sale terminals, our platform ensures a hassle-free payment experience for both businesses and customers.</p><h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Epilogue, sans-serif; line-height: 1.45em;">Global Reach and Multi-Currency Support:<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></h2><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Epilogue, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;">In an increasingly interconnected world, businesses need to cater to customers from various regions, cultures, and currencies. <a href="https://www.vighpa.com/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #fa242b; text-decoration-line: none;">Vighpa</a> Payment Gateway offers multi-currency support, enabling businesses to accept payments from customers worldwide without any hassle. By expanding their reach and accommodating diverse payment preferences, our clients can tap into new markets and boost their revenue streams.</p><h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Epilogue, sans-serif; line-height: 1.45em;">Customizable Payment Solutions:<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></h2><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Epilogue, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;">At Vighpa, we understand that every business is unique, with its own set of requirements and goals. To cater to these specific needs, our payment gateway offers a high degree of customization. Whether it’s creating personalized payment pages, integrating with third-party plugins, or setting up recurring billing systems, we provide businesses with the flexibility to tailor the payment experience to their exact specifications.</p><h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Epilogue, sans-serif; line-height: 1.45em;">Seamless Integration and Efficient Support:<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></h2><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Epilogue, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;">We believe in making things as easy as possible for our clients. Our payment gateway seamlessly integrates with various e-commerce platforms, content management systems, and other business applications. This ensures a smooth transition and minimizes disruptions during implementation. Additionally, our dedicated support team is available 24/7 to address any queries or concerns, guaranteeing that businesses receive prompt assistance whenever needed.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjga-AYSgGGnrDvkddxbRx2-748WLJCnqrwfxX1XCwNS2VMdr6ZRQsX9Fai4nVpWBdgod5Lm77f0J2v8O6FEoinI1wjQtcep888K8Y1ArJU79EhmHxvYfhDL3V7EXecxL0bZdTN2r6vQFKRTnFrKnx8KQcyxnF0pjduZgmH1Bz0JH0nwCRZaEg_XSIWdeg/s2000/purplemodernairobott-shirt2473507918940912608.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1556" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjga-AYSgGGnrDvkddxbRx2-748WLJCnqrwfxX1XCwNS2VMdr6ZRQsX9Fai4nVpWBdgod5Lm77f0J2v8O6FEoinI1wjQtcep888K8Y1ArJU79EhmHxvYfhDL3V7EXecxL0bZdTN2r6vQFKRTnFrKnx8KQcyxnF0pjduZgmH1Bz0JH0nwCRZaEg_XSIWdeg/w498-h640/purplemodernairobott-shirt2473507918940912608.jpg" width="498" /></a></div><br /><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Epilogue, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;"><br /></p><h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Epilogue, sans-serif; line-height: 1.45em;">Conclusion:<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></h2><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Epilogue, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;">At <a href="https://www.vighpa.com/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #fa242b; text-decoration-line: none;">Vighpa</a> Payment Gateway, we are committed to empowering businesses by offering secure, reliable, and user-friendly payment solutions. Our mission is to simplify financial transactions, enable global expansion, and fuel growth for our clients. By partnering with us, businesses can focus on their core competencies while leaving the payment processing to us. Join us on this transformative journey as we revolutionize the way businesses handle payments, one transaction at a time</p></div>Akpo'Diddie Patricia Uyehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11744790175774967230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283763216350068804.post-29084952959353892822023-11-01T21:54:00.061+01:002023-11-07T12:36:11.833+01:00Unveiling Global Soundscapes: Camilla Lubatti's Journey from Italian Roots to New York Beats<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3744" data-original-width="5616" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBfjYYPYRIFNvL2xej27trCyJnqW5vlQiULiRmuWBMCfD1hIOTeTwVWyMgjFql6cUYED9DBWDMIMbqqhPXyZeJgp0vM6bwK0x68-qZUpYyKp13kQcUcDXH1jdujAWL6WjWjuA2RUZ_Vlu9bUItzAbaKUUPQBwlGmvKURz5bm41XK8TlOvL6vb0Qkj8tU/w640-h426/IMG_8530.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camilla Lubatti</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBfjYYPYRIFNvL2xej27trCyJnqW5vlQiULiRmuWBMCfD1hIOTeTwVWyMgjFql6cUYED9DBWDMIMbqqhPXyZeJgp0vM6bwK0x68-qZUpYyKp13kQcUcDXH1jdujAWL6WjWjuA2RUZ_Vlu9bUItzAbaKUUPQBwlGmvKURz5bm41XK8TlOvL6vb0Qkj8tU/s5616/IMG_8530.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the world of music, some simply play tunes, and then some craft experiences. <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/camillalubatti"><b>Camilla Lubatti</b>,</a> a true cosmopolitan spirit, belongs to the latter category. Born Italian but driven by an insatiable love for sound, she has spent her entire lifetime collecting and sharing music from all corners of the globe.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Uzu01-VEciFH7HY8y_8qdGCB6MY-W2GG5msnYZmeEPh4k9UXJua-Ggwk39vOVPPm8G6d7wKDZ2mCSUOMwvFLZOIPH8WMjcMCrLoLlGCJ_CF64v3_LpldybzFUolGygQE0bq7qvApmje4JAa6emvvO2yTjRHB3azwHMekoa2vXEG73YqEb7Djnk-SP_E/s1440/Camilla%20Vinyl.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Uzu01-VEciFH7HY8y_8qdGCB6MY-W2GG5msnYZmeEPh4k9UXJua-Ggwk39vOVPPm8G6d7wKDZ2mCSUOMwvFLZOIPH8WMjcMCrLoLlGCJ_CF64v3_LpldybzFUolGygQE0bq7qvApmje4JAa6emvvO2yTjRHB3azwHMekoa2vXEG73YqEb7Djnk-SP_E/w640-h640/Camilla%20Vinyl.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">https://ra.co/dj/camilla<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Camilla's passion for music was deeply rooted in her family tree. Her father, <b>Bruno Lubatti</b>, was a respected guitarist in the Italian Progressive Rock scene of the 70s-80s, and his musical spirit has left an indelible mark on Camilla's artistic journey. This influence is evident in her eclectic musical style, which seamlessly weaves between <b><a href="https://www.mixcloud.com/camilla-lubatti/listens/">classic old-school records</a></b> and the newest sounds of today.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmXqJQjEr1yAelZ9-vadZk04XhTeAiNxoXiSm8Z7R6DpNjUR88MUvVG3e75MTB1rSefa1-BaBLljSG6rj6mQWDd-BPP-IJQT_UOfTGEd-UXYDfx8qtNHiXBsRE-xqXi1N18_Tdy2QGHfphaQuRtMcnJcFlkksgrQZiIJB42F4eiUIdyoQRdxZVVcFb3Kw/s1600/Camilla%2033mm.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1074" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmXqJQjEr1yAelZ9-vadZk04XhTeAiNxoXiSm8Z7R6DpNjUR88MUvVG3e75MTB1rSefa1-BaBLljSG6rj6mQWDd-BPP-IJQT_UOfTGEd-UXYDfx8qtNHiXBsRE-xqXi1N18_Tdy2QGHfphaQuRtMcnJcFlkksgrQZiIJB42F4eiUIdyoQRdxZVVcFb3Kw/w430-h640/Camilla%2033mm.JPG" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">What makes Camilla truly exceptional is her ability to immerse herself in the vibrant music scenes of various cities, from the alleys of Turin to the streets of Lisbon, the clubs of Boston, and the heart of <b>New York</b> and <b>Brooklyn</b>, where she now resides. Her performances have graced stages in cities all over the world, leaving audiences spellbound with her spacey and acid-heavy sets, punctuated by bass-driven, <b>uplifting beats</b> at just the right moments.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0GuU6biGZe-j5AL3YnmT2xLruFIjbEgfPAZT3WVJjIHDSwJOiQbldfvN1-1IcUAxd-kzt_dw4sUwigHU8kgF3srX4AkBAf-p_vX5ioPLoQd8haXjuZCiQs7g7jmJRM9ECdGTJOxgP9mK0fu-dEWszBQ-qrKeGqLNlajPPPSLXepP53yCy9hnhKh0Ey0/s4192/IMG_8534%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2795" data-original-width="4192" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0GuU6biGZe-j5AL3YnmT2xLruFIjbEgfPAZT3WVJjIHDSwJOiQbldfvN1-1IcUAxd-kzt_dw4sUwigHU8kgF3srX4AkBAf-p_vX5ioPLoQd8haXjuZCiQs7g7jmJRM9ECdGTJOxgP9mK0fu-dEWszBQ-qrKeGqLNlajPPPSLXepP53yCy9hnhKh0Ey0/w640-h426/IMG_8534%202.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But Camilla's contributions to the <b>music world</b> go beyond her live performances. She has generously shared her passion for music by recording podcasts and <b>DJ sets</b> for collectives spanning the globe, from Peru to Canada, Lebanon to the United States, and of course, her beloved Italy.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDa2D_E-oJppMMyIrc7iHSvcYEUiO6AJba1KlrJVL2NesP0NLzt1lD2xJK6_6FJAatSIGAAGEvNKmAXneyqrUkCRtcyuiTS3Is9mG1ag9Ni2mupFxI9B90sIVFa5OA3jgCT8icK-tt6zVTogx-B-awjFy1CzUMw71YbkCDBgXyHUZF9ERoelWaTM8t754/s823/IMG_4676.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="823" data-original-width="823" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDa2D_E-oJppMMyIrc7iHSvcYEUiO6AJba1KlrJVL2NesP0NLzt1lD2xJK6_6FJAatSIGAAGEvNKmAXneyqrUkCRtcyuiTS3Is9mG1ag9Ni2mupFxI9B90sIVFa5OA3jgCT8icK-tt6zVTogx-B-awjFy1CzUMw71YbkCDBgXyHUZF9ERoelWaTM8t754/w640-h640/IMG_4676.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In 2021, Camilla achieved a remarkable milestone in her career with the successful launch of "<a href="https://soundcloud.com/encrypted-ny"><b>Encrypted</b></a>," a series of music events in New York that quickly gained recognition for its unique atmosphere and international musical talent selections. This initiative served as a turning point in her musical journey, paving the way for the impending launch of her own <b>record label</b>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Camilla Lubatti's <b>unwavering dedication</b> to her craft continues to inspire music enthusiasts worldwide. Her ever-evolving creativity, unique energy, and cosmopolitan spirit make her a true trailblazer in the world of music. Stay tuned for more of Camilla's adventures and discoveries as she takes us on a journey from her Italian roots to the heart of New York's <b>pulsating beats</b> via:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/camilla-lubatti">SoundCloud</a> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/encryptedparties.ny/">Instagram</a> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://ra.co/dj/camilla">Resident Advisor</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Akpo'Diddie Patricia Uyehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11744790175774967230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283763216350068804.post-42528046386971227292023-09-18T17:37:00.004+01:002023-09-18T17:37:40.946+01:00Marina Terry: Embrace life's journey with curiousity, resilience and self-belief<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDWu9k9eMmN7upcaJ-aiClGXQyJRBxh-JU9ar3UrKb65nFyYJpuCFKAyNCML6oryni7pDj0ayvZwMoVRM8MFk8xN5pg10FgeFntnmO95B7_x1uLsioCQ6l9tcChikrFYYPZd3xP_6A2WawEcreHk_cUASxB2Rc8diyZHGBO4rTq1Q3ecByiV24Gp3938/s800/1688818629721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDWu9k9eMmN7upcaJ-aiClGXQyJRBxh-JU9ar3UrKb65nFyYJpuCFKAyNCML6oryni7pDj0ayvZwMoVRM8MFk8xN5pg10FgeFntnmO95B7_x1uLsioCQ6l9tcChikrFYYPZd3xP_6A2WawEcreHk_cUASxB2Rc8diyZHGBO4rTq1Q3ecByiV24Gp3938/w640-h640/1688818629721.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;">Scrolling through LinkedIn, I came across <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/marina-terry-26b43117a/">Marina Terry's captivating profile</a>. First I was drawn to her professional headshot and her powerful short biography. I sent her a request for an e-feature on Omote Ro Dhe and she quickly obliged. Interestingly, we both belong to the Communications field.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;">Marina Terry is a seasoned broadcast journalist and a Communications/Public Relations Expert from Sierra Leone. Marina has a loaded profile from being one of the regular faces of the popular TV breakfast show on AYV — Wake Up Sierra Leone to being one of the anchors for the AYV Prime Time News and News Brief.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9);">Aside from serving</span><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9);"> as coordinator for the AYV Internship program, she is a prolific producer of the AYV Prime Time News. </span><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9);">Before now, she worked in Africa Young Voices Media Empire. She was also featured on a popular TV magazine show for young people called Wetin Now?!? at Concept Multimedia, the Jimmy B show and Shake Ed Dae Extra Plus on Air radio. </span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9);"><b><i><a href="https://www.rideedy.com/2023/07/thesevenseries-7-business-lessons-we.html">Omote Ro Dhe</a></i></b> got chitty chatty with this ace Broadcaster and Communications Specialist where she opened up about her mission, interests, work and more. Read the excerpts below:</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; text-align: start;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Can you share with us the journey that led you to become a prominent figure in the field of broadcast journalism and communications?</span></i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; text-align: start; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My journey to becoming a prominent figure in the field of broadcast journalism and communications has been marked by dedication, continuous learning, and a passion for storytelling. It began with a strong interest in current events and a desire to inform and engage audiences. Over the years, I honed my skills through education and hands-on experience, working my way up from entry-level positions to more significant roles. I embraced every opportunity to learn, adapt to new technologies, and build a strong network in the industry. Through hard work, ethical reporting, and a commitment to quality journalism, I gradually gained recognition and respect, ultimately becoming a prominent figure in the field.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; text-align: start;"><i><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">You served as the coordinator for the AYV Internship program. What inspired you to take on this role, and what do you believe are the most valuable lessons that young journalists can gain from internships in the industry?</span></b></i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; text-align: start; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I took on the role of coordinator for the AYV Internship and volunteer program because I believe in the power of mentorship and nurturing the next generation of journalists. Every year we receive applications from various universities across Sierra Leone, where we get to see young, vibrant and energetic students. The inspiration behind this role stemmed from my own experiences as a young female journalist and the guidance I received from mentors who helped shaped my career. I wanted to pay it forward and provide aspiring journalists with similar opportunities for growth and learning. In my opinion, young journalists can gain several valuable lessons from internships in the industry:
* Practical Experience: Internships offer hands-on experience in a real newsroom or media environment, allowing interns to apply what they've learned in the classroom to real-world situations. This practical experience is crucial for building skills and confidence.
* Networking: Interns have the chance to connect with professionals in the field, including senior reporters, editors, and other journalists across other media institutions. Building a strong professional network can open doors for future job opportunities and collaborations.
*Learning the Industry Dynamics: Internships provide insights into the inner workings of the media industry. Interns learn about editorial processes, story development, and the day-to-day operations of news organizations, which is vital knowledge for success in journalism.
*Developing a Portfolio: Through internships, young journalists can build a portfolio of published work, which is essential when applying for future jobs in the field. A strong portfolio showcases their skills and demonstrates their commitment to journalism.
*Ethical Standards: Internships often include exposure to ethical dilemmas and decision-making in journalism. This hands-on experience helps young journalists understand the importance of ethics and responsibility in reporting.
*Adaptability: The media industry is constantly evolving. Internships teach young journalists to adapt to new technologies, platforms, and storytelling formats, preparing them for a career in a rapidly changing field.
*Mentorship: Many internships provide opportunities for mentorship from experienced journalists. Mentors can offer guidance, feedback, and valuable insights into the industry, helping interns navigate their career paths.
*Teamwork and Collaboration: Working in a newsroom or media organization emphasizes the importance of teamwork and collaboration. Interns learn to work with diverse teams to produce high-quality journalism.
*Time Management: Meeting deadlines and managing multiple tasks is a fundamental skill in journalism. Internships teach young journalists how to prioritize and manage their time effectively.
*Building Confidence: Internships can be challenging, but they also build confidence. As interns tackle assignments and interact with professionals in the field, they gain the self-assurance needed to excel in journalism.
In conclusion, serving as the coordinator for the AYV Internship program was driven by my desire to empower the next generation of journalists. The valuable lessons gained from internships not only help young journalists develop essential skills but also prepare them for the dynamic and rewarding world of journalism.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; text-align: start;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">As a producer of AYV Prime Time News, what are some of the challenges you've faced in delivering high-quality news content, and how have you overcome them?</span></i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; text-align: start; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Certainly, as a producer of AYV Prime Time News, I've encountered several challenges in delivering high-quality news content. Overcoming these challenges has been essential to ensure our viewers receive accurate, informative, and engaging news broadcasts. Here are some of the challenges I've faced and the strategies I've employed to address them:
* Breaking News Pressure: One of the most significant challenges in news production is the pressure to deliver breaking news promptly while maintaining accuracy. To address this, we've established a well-defined protocol for verifying information from multiple sources before airing it. This involves cross-referencing details and confirming facts with reliable contacts.
*Resource Constraints: Newsrooms often have limited resources, including staff, equipment, and time. To overcome this challenge, we prioritize story selection and allocate resources strategically. This ensures that we focus on stories that matter most to our audience and maximize the impact of our reporting.
*Maintaining Objectivity: In today's media landscape, maintaining objectivity and avoiding bias is crucial. We've implemented editorial guidelines and regular training for our news team to uphold journalistic integrity. Fact-checking and providing balanced perspectives are integral parts of our reporting process.
*Diversity and Inclusion: Ensuring diverse voices and perspectives in our reporting is a priority. We actively seek out diverse sources, viewpoints, and stories to reflect the richness of our community accurately.
*Competing with Social Media: Social media platforms often break news stories before traditional news outlets. To address this challenge, we've integrated social media monitoring into our newsroom workflow. We verify information from social media sources and use these platforms to engage with our audience and disseminate news updates.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; text-align: start; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; text-align: start;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">In addition to your professional accomplishments, can you share any personal philosophies or principles that have guided your career in journalism and communications?</span></i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; text-align: start; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In addition to my professional accomplishments, a few personal philosophies and principles have been instrumental in shaping my career in journalism and communications:
*Truth and Integrity: Above all, I believe in the paramount importance of truth and integrity in journalism. My commitment to factual reporting and ethical practices is unwavering.
*Empathy and Compassion: I strive to tell stories that resonate with people on a human level. Understanding the emotions and experiences of others helps me connect with my audience.
*Continuous Learning: The world of journalism is constantly evolving. I embrace lifelong learning, staying updated on new technologies, trends, and perspectives to remain relevant and effective.
*Diversity and Inclusivity: I value diverse voices and perspectives. I aim to give a platform to underrepresented voices and highlight issues of importance across various communities.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; text-align: start; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
*Impactful Storytelling: I believe in the power of storytelling to inspire change. Whether it's shedding light on important issues or celebrating positive stories, I strive to create content that resonates and makes a difference.
These philosophies have not only guided my career but have also enriched my experiences in the field, allowing me to connect with audiences and make meaningful contributions to journalism and communications.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; text-align: start;"><i><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Can you mention some women who you look up to that has helped shape your life and decisions?</span></b></i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; text-align: start; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">*<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malala_Yousafzai">Malala Yousafzai</a>: Her advocacy for girls' education and unwavering courage reminds me of the importance of standing up for what I believe in, even in the face of adversity.
*<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_Angelou">Maya Angelou</a>: Her wisdom through words and poetry has taught me the power of self-expression and resilience in the face of challenges.
*<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christiane_Amanpour">Christian Amanpour</a> is a renowned CNN journalist known for her extensive international reporting. Her fearless approach to covering global events and her commitment to journalism have made her a respected figure in the field. Amanpour's dedication to bringing important stories to the forefront has inspired many aspiring journalists and viewers alike.
* Basita Michael, former President of the Sierra Leone Bar Association; has continually challenged the government on grounds of unconstitutionality, violations of democracy and breaches of the rule of law. She has been insulted, harassed, and threatened by the male-dominated government, but she continues to speak out in favor of her fellow citizens’ rights and in support of the disadvantaged and marginalized.
* Naasu G. Fofanah is a gender and global public policy expert. She is the Deputy Leader of Unity Party and Board Chair of the Sierra Leone Rugby Union. Naasu was the Special Gender Adviser to the former President of Sierra Leone and Vice Chair of UNECA Bureau on Women and Development.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; text-align: start;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Success is relative, what does it mean to you?</span></i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; text-align: start; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Success, to me, is about achieving personal goals and finding fulfillment in the journey. It's not solely measured by external standards, but by the sense of purpose, growth, and contentment I experience along the way. ☺️</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; text-align: start;">What advice do you have for young girls pursuing purpose but seem confused if they ar</span><span style="color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; text-align: start;">e on the right part?</span></span></i></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; text-align: start; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I’d like to say this to every young girls out there navigating the path to purpose can be challenging, especially for young girls who may feel uncertain about their direction. Here's some advice to help them gain clarity and confidence in pursuing their purpose:
*<b>Self-Reflection</b>: I want to encourage every young girl to spend time in self-reflection. It’s our right to consider their interests, passions, and values. What activities make them feel most fulfilled? What issues or causes do they care deeply about? This introspection can provide valuable insights into their purpose.
*<b>Set Small Goals</b>: Break down the pursuit of purpose into smaller, achievable goals. This can make the journey less overwhelming. Help them create a roadmap of steps they can take to explore their interests and gain clarity over time.
*<b>Seek Inspiration</b>: I encourage them to seek inspiration from role models and mentors who have found their purpose. Reading about the experiences of successful women who have overcome similar doubts and challenges can be motivating.
*<b>Experiment and Explore</b>: It's okay to try different things. Young girls should explore various hobbies, activities, and fields of interest. This experimentation helps them discover what resonates with them and what doesn't.
Most importantly, the journey to finding one's purpose can be uncertain, but it's a process filled with self-discovery and growth. I encourage every young girl to embrace this journey with curiosity, resilience, and the belief that they have the potential to make a meaningful impact on the world.</span></span></p>Akpo'Diddie Patricia Uyehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11744790175774967230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283763216350068804.post-13637114535245942012023-07-23T21:51:00.001+01:002023-07-23T21:51:45.321+01:00TheSevenSeries: 7 Business Lessons we picked from Beauty Entrepreneur, Tara Fela-Durotoye<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFc6g00aGmffVcJx9tylMNzJ6XN8pAnin4sKRpGZkzL36LREP5VAzrBduLqKeYbZKpr9l0mjb7zQMYLG8JNXXFOaBZmnlg-23AxSQ3glDqJz4qC6klZiSlOlZ155mlDmXu28QHCVzCfd7mm6na9uklt0mhs02gVJWr8tq4nX5JMhn2wlVohSW0eX3PMo/s1080/332813427_932783987904429_6756366548529805911_n%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="775" data-original-width="1080" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFc6g00aGmffVcJx9tylMNzJ6XN8pAnin4sKRpGZkzL36LREP5VAzrBduLqKeYbZKpr9l0mjb7zQMYLG8JNXXFOaBZmnlg-23AxSQ3glDqJz4qC6klZiSlOlZ155mlDmXu28QHCVzCfd7mm6na9uklt0mhs02gVJWr8tq4nX5JMhn2wlVohSW0eX3PMo/w640-h460/332813427_932783987904429_6756366548529805911_n%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This month, we deviate to our Seven Series as we shine the spotlight on trendsetters and amazons- one of such people is Beauty entrepreneur and lawyer, Tara Fela-Durotoye. There is no way we would mention the bridal makeup profession in Nigeria without mentioning her name for she was the pioneer in launching the first bridal directory in 1999. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Tara went ahead to establish international standard makeup studios and the first makeup school in Nigeria. As the founder and CEO of House of Tara International, she has created the Tara Orekelewa Beauty range, inspired perfume and the H.I.P beauty range of products. In 1999 alone, her brand House of Tara had 270 products, 23 stores, 14 beauty schools and 10000 representatives spread across Africa. The multiple award-winning beauty entrepreneur has been listed by Forbes as one of the "20 Young Power Women in Africa" in 2013 and "Africa 's 50 Most Powerful Women" in 2020. An alumnus of the Lagos Business School Chief Executive Programme, INSEAD Abu Dhabi, Yale University, The Stanford SEED Transformation Programme and the Harvard Kennedy School, she is also a member of the France/Nigeria Investment Club which was incorporated by French President, Emmanuel Macron in 2018.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here are 7 business lessons we picked from Tara Fela -Durotoye:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">1. Developing leadership traits</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Right from an early age, Tara developed the desire to lead with the desire to succeed. She was made the Snaitary 6 Welfare Prefect in Form 5. She did not run away from leadership opportunities. She saw them as an opportunity to harness her skills and become a person of influence. As a leader, she was able to groom her social skills. She resolved to be independent and build her own life lacking nothing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">2. Going the extra mile</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">When Tara started her beauty company, she decided she would go the extra mile by offering her services to as many people as possible. Sometimes she would go as far as not charging a dime for services offered. When people saw that she was consistent and persistent, they complimented her work. The more she offered probono services, the more people talked about her and the more referrals she got.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">3. Taking risks</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">According to her, entrepreneurship is for the bold and daring. It involves a lot of risks taking. Entrepreneurship comes with taking a lot of unknown steps that one is unsure where they made lead to. For this reason, entrepreneurs need a strong support system and encouragement from loved ones. Her business decisions were influenced by her Christian faith. She saw her business as a channel for propagating the kingdom of God.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">4. Applying biblical principles</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Her business prospered because she was applying biblical principles of hard work, tithing, focus, and first fruits among others. All these formed the core of her business value system. They were indicators that anyone can apply to ensure success in business or any endeavour in life. These were her recipe for a successful business.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">5. Having a big vision</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Tara had a big vision, one that impacts, empowers and develops people. She looked beyond herself and thought of how to invest in people. Her vision was not all about making money but creating wealth. If her focus was all about making money, she would be where she is or where she does not want to be. Her business was empowering, enabling and developing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">6. Investing in people</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">She realised that business expansion is a function of the kind of people you have. So her focus was on finding people and ensuring there were systems in place that they can run wherever they are.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">7. Leaving a legacy</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Tara is leaving her imprints on the sands of time as someone whose story was an inspiration to many people; someone whose life was worthy of emulation.</span></p>Akpo'Diddie Patricia Uyehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11744790175774967230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283763216350068804.post-62879023965233342602023-07-08T20:01:00.006+01:002023-07-09T16:58:54.537+01:00Precious Greg: Invest in your growth<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ--jnlcEZw5IiMd8LjAUAvwDIXkFkC-fl3BUulEhh1592g2T9YCebhmylvYcYJS8wKE2ozEaud6TTz9-79AMgjqI8MhL6aecsok4XxIkh7mvTZ_Js4_jznhcshCwqhEQb1V-w62g-ZTFug9htjdfDLGHEDc0ym9Wd-83WZwcp2qWpAii-tjyLtgI_zHM/s592/1685947665929.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="592" data-original-width="592" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ--jnlcEZw5IiMd8LjAUAvwDIXkFkC-fl3BUulEhh1592g2T9YCebhmylvYcYJS8wKE2ozEaud6TTz9-79AMgjqI8MhL6aecsok4XxIkh7mvTZ_Js4_jznhcshCwqhEQb1V-w62g-ZTFug9htjdfDLGHEDc0ym9Wd-83WZwcp2qWpAii-tjyLtgI_zHM/w640-h640/1685947665929.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><b><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/preciousgreg/">Precious Greg</a></b>, a Brand Copywriter, Marketer and Storyteller is in the spotlight. Right from time, she has an entrepreneurial spirit. Imagine she started a business at 13. Though she did not succeed at it, she was able to pick herself up, learn from her mistakes and forged ahead again. </span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">There is more to Precious for she has the Midas touch in Copywriting. Over the years, she has worked with different brands across 7 countries and over 12 industries. When it comes to Brand messaging and everything Copywriting, Precious is your go-to person.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was a time well-spent with Precious as she got to open up about her work, interests, role models and more with <b><i>Omote Ro Dhe</i></b>. She talked at length with wise and deep words based on experience, expertise and knowledge garnered over the years.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Read excerpts from this 'explosive' interview:</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 16px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">It is obvious you are passionate about your work, what do you enjoy about Brand Copywriting, Marketing and Storytelling?</span></i></b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Well, the fact is, I've always loved storytelling. As a child, I started telling stories to my friends and neighbours that left them spellbound, hanging on every word that spilled from my mouth. Every day, they'd all gather in one place waiting for me to come and fire up their imaginations with more stories. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Doing this just made me see the power of influence and persuasion play out in real-time and how it made me feel? So powerful!. I also loved writing; I wrote poems, stories, articles, and anything you could think of. I love that my thoughts and imagination could take flight on the wings of creativity and I considered it pure bliss. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then in 2020, I discovered Copywriting during the lockdown and I went for it and ever since I've never regretted it, even though it would get pretty tough, especially in my first year but it's easily one of the best things that have happened to me. Plus, it gets even more exciting infusing storytelling into what I do as a Copywriter.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So, my love for storytelling, branding, etc has made me niche down to Brand Copywriting which is easily the combination of Direct Response Copywriting and Brand positioning. So what I enjoy about Brand Copywriting, Marketing and Storytelling is the influence I command with these skills. The ability to influence the actions of other people, what we call 'Persuasion'. The ability to keep people reading or listening to you and this can be applied in not just written but verbal communication.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 16px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">You have graced platforms as a Public Speaker to educate people about your craft. What is the hardest part of Public speaking and how did you get over it?</span></i></b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Speaking in public hasn't always been this seamless for me. I remember back in Secondary school, I'd rather die multiple times than stand in public to speak. The funny thing is, I would know exactly what to say and how to say it but saying it in front of people was a terrible war. Then, my friends would commend me on how well I knew how to influence people with words, I knew what to say and how to say it. I did this effectively when having private conversations with people. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So, I'd say the hardest part of public speaking for me is the 'public' not the speaking because I've always loved to talk as much as I love to write. I knew I had to work on this because I have always envisioned myself speaking on global platforms and making a great impact and effective public speaking was an important skill I needed to have to make this possible, so I joined the Literary and Debating Society in my first year in senior secondary school. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The first time I tried debating, I literally wished the ground would just open up and swallow me. I fumbled so badly that I was embarrassed to come to school the next day. But one thing I'm glad I didn't do was to give up until I was eloquently casting news to the entire school as the Secretary of the Literary and Debating Society, I was also elected the Library Prefect and as a result of the roles I held, I was always addressing the entire school at least once a week. I did it so effectively and became one of the best orators in my school. Even in the University, I became a spoken word artist and on several occasions did spoken word presentations in school in gatherings of thousands of students. So, I'd say I overcame my fear of public speaking by challenging myself to do what I feared the most. I would always engage in activities that demanded public speaking, and I pushed myself to always speak in public.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was consistently doing this to build myself and the rest they say is history. And something else about public speaking is, no matter how much you've mastered public speaking and how experienced you've become every time you're about to speak to a different audience, there would always be this sort of anxiety but it just disappears the moment you pick up that microphone and start speaking, that should prove to you how much of an illusion fear really is.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 16px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">It is commendable that you graduated with a 2:1 in Educational Management from the University of Benin. Would you say you are applying what you studied in your current job role?</span></i></b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Yes, I graduated with a 4.40+ in Educational Management from the University of Benin. Although I never imagined studying that course, that wasn't the course I intended to study but God knew what he had prepared for me. And aside from the Marketing and Communications industry, there's so much I want to do in the Education sector, especially in Digital Learning. So to your question, most certainly, I've been able to apply some of the knowledge I gained from Educational Management to my work in the Marketing industry. One of the knowledge I gained from studying Educational Management is Research and Statistics, as Educational Managers, we're taught how to conduct research in the sector and measure results, ascertain the feasibility of projects, etc.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I've been able to utilize this knowledge in Marketing and Copywriting which also involves conducting Market research to understand your target audience before selling to them. Also, one of the key things we learned as Educational Managers is Human Psychology, understanding learners' psychology, why they behave the way they do, what makes them tick etc. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Marketing is also largely dependent on understanding human psychology, it's been quite interesting applying this knowledge to my current field. Lastly, for now, I've also been able to apply the knowledge of School Business Management (which is basically Business Management) into my craft. The knowledge from this has helped me take my skill as a business. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One thing I always tell skilled people is this: "Always treat your skill as a serious business, it's not a hobby. Learn how to manage your skill or what you do as you would if you had a company, that's only when you'd see the results you seek."</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 16px;"><i><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Can you mention some women who you look up to that has helped shaped your life and decisions?</span></b></i></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124;"><i><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></b></i></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/moabudu/">Mo Abudu</a>, she's one woman I greatly admire, I love her tenacity and how much work she puts into what she does to be where she is today. Another woman I love so much is <b><a href="https://www.rideedy.com/2020/09/thesevenseries-7-business-lessons.html">Ibukun Awosika</a></b>, I admire her for so many reasons one of which is her love for God and impact. I also love <b>TriciaBiz</b>, she's my superwoman in the marketing industry. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some other inspiring women are <b>Ngozi Okonjo Iweala</b>, <b>Chimamanda Adichie</b>, <b>Joke Silva</b> and so on. There's a lot of them actually but I'll just stop here. Actually, I see a reflection of a part of my future self in all these women. There's something they're doing that I want to do and so much more.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></i></b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 16px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">What keeps you motivated on those days your drive is low?</span></i></b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 16px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></i></b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For me, giving up is not an option no matter what happens because it is certain I have absolutely nothing to gain when I do but if I keep going no matter how tough the going gets, there's a 100% per cent chance of gaining something even if it's not exactly what I was chasing after. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There's a quote by Norman Vincent that says "Shoot for the moon, even if you miss you'll land among the stars". I love that quote so much and I can say it's my mantra. Just be ruggedly ambitious, I always tell people 'Don't be modest with your dreams,' there's no reward for the most modest ambition and to crown it all, be rugged in your actions while chasing after your dreams even if you don't get exactly what you want, trust me, you'll achieve a lot that you'd be grateful for. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Another thing I'd like to add that has kept me going is my circle of friends. When you surround yourself with growth-minded people, they push you to do more both directly and indirectly. Sometimes when you're beginning to slack, just one glance at what they're doing just rekindles the fire within you again because you don't want to be left behind. That's why joining a community of like-minded people cannot be overestimated and one of such communities I love is <a href="https://web.facebook.com/groups/663897922223343">Create4Buzz</a>, it's a community for creatives in Marketing and Communications; you can find it with a quick search on Facebook.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Success is relative, what does it mean to you?</i></b></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Success for me, Precious Greg, is GROWTH in one word. You're successful when you're growing. You're successful when there's a difference between where you were yesterday and where you are today. Actually, success can't come if there's no growth. Successful people, we see and celebrate today like the women I mentioned earlier are who they are today because they are committed to growth in their careers, business, personal development, etc. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">How successful you become now depends on how much you're willing to grow, that is the height of growth you want to attain. For example, I was reading Mo Abudu's back story some time ago about how she started and all. She started with this TV show, 'Moments with Mo' before creating the foremost Pan-African platform we know today, that is EbonyLife TV and other amazing things she's doing. We know and celebrate her today because she grew, this is the same for every successful people.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The driving force behind their success is that they grew and are still growing, they didn't stay where they started, they grew, they evolved, they expanded and they're still doing so. And Growth comes with a lot: success, relevance, opportunities, recognition, the dough (money) of course and so much more. So my advice? Invest in your growth, keep growing and you'd be shocked at your success.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 16px;">What advice do you have for young girls pursuing purpose but seem confused if they ar</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 16px;">e on the right part?</span></span></i></b></div><div><b><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></i></b></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My advice for young girls or anyone pursuing purpose but confused about being on the right path would be to put a hold on whatever you're doing and seek clarity because clarity comes with conviction and originality. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Get clear with what you want out of life, what God wants for you, I'll never leave out the God factor, speak to Him to lead you to the path He has predestined for you. If you're on a path and confused as to whether that's where you should be, you can't function maximally, it becomes hard to believe in yourself, and you'll always struggle with impostor syndrome. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">Stop trying to put your head into something that's clearly not for you because you see people doing it. Carry out self-assessment, you can do this by jotting down everything you're passionate about, what you love doing, what people commend you for, where do you function properly, what are your innate strengths, etc. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">You'll see that your path in life is one way or the other connected to these things.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My parting words would be, don't live life blindly, seek clarity always. And even when you start to function on the right path, don't get distracted by the journey of other people, and don't measure your success with others, be you! You're different, Your destiny is different, so just focus on you! </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">With that, I take my bow. Thank you so much for having me Patricia and thank you to you who's reading. I remain Precious Greg.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div></div>Akpo'Diddie Patricia Uyehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11744790175774967230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283763216350068804.post-62818367165752301742023-06-23T17:41:00.005+01:002023-06-24T13:14:19.417+01:00Linda Adeyemi: You don't have to know how the big picture unfolds<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLOaR3L683vf_aBmJ71Nsi8sVCrkkrVmbyTxTIGIwqTIZxka5ZoFaG2CBI5C_5fEXGJX7fK8OiLjD1C8Jac0hycMQZROXuFkViAM8GGFnQolpXoCww1PZgLQ16sf06I8nibutHnG1VpL4DwZm72PHozd4fxqyuo65maEPSBM2h3kXUGcYb9WLXj3KGa-c/s2000/IMG_0218.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Linda Adeyemi" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1301" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLOaR3L683vf_aBmJ71Nsi8sVCrkkrVmbyTxTIGIwqTIZxka5ZoFaG2CBI5C_5fEXGJX7fK8OiLjD1C8Jac0hycMQZROXuFkViAM8GGFnQolpXoCww1PZgLQ16sf06I8nibutHnG1VpL4DwZm72PHozd4fxqyuo65maEPSBM2h3kXUGcYb9WLXj3KGa-c/w416-h640/IMG_0218.jpeg" title="Linda Adeyemi" width="416" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindaadeyemi/">Linda Adeyemi</a> stands out as a lady who understands her craft as an interior design professional and entrepreneur. She is dominating the interior design industry by offering cutting-edge solutions. She is the Principal Designer at Kay Elan Designs Limited, a company that does not only provide decor services but also interior architecture.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Omote Ro Dhe</i></b> was drawn to her profile. A quick message to Linda for a feature was met with positive feedback. Digging deeper, we found that we both have Isoko roots and similar interests. There is more to her, and in a chat, Linda uncovers women's issues regarding the workplace, leadership and others. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;">Read excerpts from the interesting chat below:</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><b>You are the principal and CEO at Kay Élan Designs Ltd, what is the idea behind this company?</b></i></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I would say the idea has always been to provide unique and professional interior design value to discerning clients who are looking for truly bespoke interiors for their residences or commercial spaces. Interior design is a passion I've always had, and the establishment of the company has given flesh and wings to that passion.
Kay Elan Designs is an interior design services firm I founded in 2016. My role as Principal Designer entails overseeing the overall creative direction and design vision for our projects. Our projects cover interior architecture, interior renovations, furniture and furnishings sourcing and manufacturing, etc. As CEO, I also oversee the business and financial operations of the company.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>From experience, are there benefits for women in leadership positions in Nigeria?</i></b></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">From a personal standpoint, more women in leadership positions have shown clearly that nothing is impossible. Almost by default, society puts a cap on how far women can aspire or attain. However, as more women shatter the "glass ceiling", and exceed expectations, it sends a clear message that we are not to be limited, overlooked, or underestimated. This has emboldened more women to come out of their shells and be everything they aspire to be.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>As a woman, what is your leadership style? How is different from your male counterparts?</i></b></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Based on the feedback I have gotten from people I have been privileged to lead, and the personal values that I espouse, I would say I'm the type of leader that ultimately seeks to maximize the potential of everyone around me. I don't know if there's a name for that leadership style, but that's how best I can describe it. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">On my office desk, I have a quote I framed by Ronald Reagan that says</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"> "The greatest leader is not necessarily the one that does the greatest things. He is the one that gets people to do the greatest things". I've had this quote on my desk for years because it is what I believe, and it is something I want to be reminded of daily so that I don't lose track of it. In terms of how I implement this, I try to be as empathetic as possible, display exemplary leadership, and ensure that people are carrying out responsibilities from their areas of strength. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I don't know how this differs from my male counterparts because I believe that everyone can choose the kind of leader they want to be, whether male or female. My own leadership choice is to be as humane and transformational as possible.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>How do you balance your career, personal life and passions?</i></b></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Delegate, delegate, delegate. Lol! Actually, to be honest, I'm not sure I have cracked this balance code yet, but I think I have gotten better over time. It starts with realizing that I am neither Superwoman nor Ms Omniscient, even though it seems to the outside eye that I am.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I consciously identify my weaknesses, focus on my strengths, and enlist help as much as it is available, or as much as I can afford for my weak areas. In running Kay Elan Designs, I am pretty big on processes and structure. So I have developed clear systems that ensure clarity in responsibilities for both myself and my staff. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">When everyone knows what to do and how to do it, it reduces strain on any one person and ensures that the business works like a well-oiled machine as much as possible. Hence, apart from focusing on my strengths, and delegating, teamwork has been an incredible tool on the work front for me.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>What is one thing you wish more people knew about women in the workplace?</i></b></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In this day and age, where more women are doing many great things, it can be tempting to overtask women and label them superheroes. Interestingly, when push comes to shove, most women can exert themselves and indeed be superheroes. But in the workplace, there must be a fine balance between the unique strains of womanhood, viz-a-viz the immense capabilities of women.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I don't believe that women are a monolithic socio-cultural group that can be characterized across the board. Hence, a woman can be well-organized, without society summarizing that all women are well-organized.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">On the flip side, a woman can be talkative, without summarizing that all women are talkative. What matters in the workplace gender discourse is for increased opportunity and reward for women who show themselves to be deserving of it both by character and track record... and not merely just because "they are women".</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Success is relative, what does it mean to you?</i></b></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Success to me means fulfilling the dream of your heart. Of course, the dream of my heart is a big dream that will not be fulfilled in one day or even in a few years. Plus it's not a dream that involves only me. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">But every day that I see myself inching closer, or achieving aspects of it, I count that as success. To the outside or untrained eye, some things are not worth counting as success, but relative to the vision that God has placed in my heart, it might be everything. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And that's why I do not gauge success in comparison to anyone, or for instance, to a certain amount of money in my bank account. We are all on different paths and called to different assignments in life.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;"><b><i>What advice do you have for women looking to grow either their own businesses or in the workplace?</i></b></span></p><p><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;">You don't have to know how the big picture of your life will unfold in exact terms</span><span style="background-color: white;">. Just stay true to the dream of your heart, give your all to whatever you are currently committed to (whether it looks like the dream or not), and you will find that life has a way of ensuring that everything will eventually fall into place. Finally, comparison is truly the thief of joy. Stay authentic and dream BIG!</span></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Akpo'Diddie Patricia Uyehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11744790175774967230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283763216350068804.post-36650847591610217022023-06-01T18:37:00.015+01:002023-06-04T12:21:22.555+01:00Yetunde Badmos: Surround yourself with positive influences<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0sGX4vSWDIi_LDznxDxhq0dvn0dzgNRHwhoJF7vYJO5COigDoypvEmG-wxrGz6x4mvmp0L4tMROaHfdpYaYU4PJA7vGjqBNLasYQlwKvTNnKrkTByxaDuyZRdHyv1RvBeYZ8GF21EMH1TbCyOZ8yeRh-o6LWCxpgUhGfNVynT5QBAovkxsveS9sPG/s1024/1685307386641.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0sGX4vSWDIi_LDznxDxhq0dvn0dzgNRHwhoJF7vYJO5COigDoypvEmG-wxrGz6x4mvmp0L4tMROaHfdpYaYU4PJA7vGjqBNLasYQlwKvTNnKrkTByxaDuyZRdHyv1RvBeYZ8GF21EMH1TbCyOZ8yeRh-o6LWCxpgUhGfNVynT5QBAovkxsveS9sPG/w640-h640/1685307386641.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Back from a brief hiatus, this edition focuses on women in leadership. In the spotlight is Yetunde Badmos<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156;">— </span>your not-at-all-average lady. She has so many things going on in her portfolio that show she is a good multitasker. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/yetunde-badmos-531b871b5/">Yetunde Badmos</a> is a dedicated GIS Analyst, an Honourable member of the University of Ibadan Student Representative Council, a Mental Health Advocate, a Social Scientist, a Humanitarian and a Volunteer.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Omote Ro Dhe </i></b>was drawn to her profile based on the common interests and education we share together. We got 'chitty-chatty' on all Yetunde is all about especially regarding the leadership role she plays in the institution of learning. She had a lot to share regarding the challenges women face in leadership and more. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Read excerpts from the interesting e-interview below:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">What do you do as an Honourable Member of the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">University of Ibadan Students' Representative Council (SRC) 9th assembly?</span></i></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As an honourable member of the Student Representative Council (SRC) of the University of Ibadan, Queen Idia Hall constituency, I am typically responsible for representing the interests and concerns of the 100 students in my hall of residence. I serve as an advocate for students, voicing their opinions, needs, and concerns to the school administration, faculty, and other relevant stakeholders. Also, as a member of the transport committee, I am responsible for coordinating various transportation services provided by the school so as to ensure efficient and timely services. I also advocate for the transportation needs and interests of the students in my constituency to the university administration or relevant stakeholders. As a team, we raise concerns, suggest improvements, and work towards enhancing transportation services based on student feedback and requirements.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span class="myXFAc RjsPE" data-questiontitle="729650717" jsname="tbOalc" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 24px; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0%; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>As a woman leader, what are some challenges women face in leadership and how can they overcome them? </i></b><br /></span></span></p><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Gender bias and stereotypes
Women often encounter biases and stereotypes that assume traditional gender roles or underestimate their abilities as leaders. To overcome this challenge, it is crucial to focus on showcasing your skills and competencies. Build a strong network of supporters who can advocate for your capabilities and challenge gender biases.
Also, women are still underrepresented in leadership positions, which can lead to a lack of role models and limited opportunities for advancement. It is essential to seek out female mentors and leaders within one's field who can provide guidance and inspire you</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>What are the major skills needed to be a woman leader?</i></b></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Being a woman leader requires a combination of skills, qualities, and attributes that are essential for effective leadership. While the specific skills needed may vary depending on the context and industry, here are two major skills I feel can contribute to success as a woman leader
Confidence and assertiveness: Women leaders often face gender-based stereotypes and biases that question their abilities, competence, and authority.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;">Confidence helps counter these biases by projecting a strong sense of self-assurance, proving their capabilities, and commanding respect. Assertiveness is also important in expressing opinions, setting boundaries, and advocating for oneself and the team.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Emotional Intelligence: Women leaders often face unique challenges and experiences, and having emotional intelligence allows them to understand and empathize with the emotions and perspectives of others. This empathy helps create inclusive and supportive work environments where diverse voices are heard and valued.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Success is relative, what does it mean to you?</i></b></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">To me, the concept of success being relative means that it varies from person to person and is subjective in nature. Success cannot be universally defined or measured in the same way for everyone, as different individuals have different goals, values, and aspirations. What one person considers as success may not hold the same significance or meaning for someone else.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>What advice do you have for younger girls pursuing purpose?</i></b> </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Embrace your passions
Explore the things that genuinely excite and inspire you. Take the time to understand your interests, whether they are related to arts, sciences, sports, or any other field. By pursuing your passions, you'll be more likely to find a sense of purpose and fulfilment.
Be open to learning
Embrace a growth mindset and never stop learning. Seek out opportunities to expand your knowledge and develop new skills. Education can come in various forms, including formal schooling, online courses, books, mentors, and real-world experiences. Stay curious and be willing to explore different subjects and perspectives.
Surround yourself with positive influences
Seek out role models and mentors who inspire and support you. Surround yourself with people who believe in your potential and encourage your pursuit of purpose. Build a network of individuals who share your values and can provide guidance and advice when needed.
Pursuing purpose often involves facing challenges and setbacks. It's important to develop resilience and perseverance to overcome obstacles. Remember that failure is a natural part of growth and learning. When faced with setbacks, view them as opportunities to learn and grow stronger.
Also, not to sound too religious but trust me, putting God first in all you do opens a lot of doors and unmerited favours. So put God first and trust him to crown your EFFORTS (YOU NEED TO MAKE EFFORTS).</span></span></div><p><br /></p>Akpo'Diddie Patricia Uyehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11744790175774967230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283763216350068804.post-75388789783897100422023-03-19T17:46:00.004+01:002023-03-22T21:16:19.754+01:00Oluwaseyi Kehinde-Peters: Actively seek out and create opportunities for yourself<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOolS41jBOmYQvc1WnuZjh9tdCqsZgD73fxk4jyNPhG_14vhuSXoeCLS7VTOGrYtBLauLfTUqzWRBTdxjNS9PCFxyomUpWG_jWvqQUxCFlprWRh8mNbqYZD8-42-e6Ip-IhjEryD1liHnCrtZDWUxyN7LuvhHus_k6PKmC45UIJ36oaf28qfdZVciC/s800/1658985999349.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOolS41jBOmYQvc1WnuZjh9tdCqsZgD73fxk4jyNPhG_14vhuSXoeCLS7VTOGrYtBLauLfTUqzWRBTdxjNS9PCFxyomUpWG_jWvqQUxCFlprWRh8mNbqYZD8-42-e6Ip-IhjEryD1liHnCrtZDWUxyN7LuvhHus_k6PKmC45UIJ36oaf28qfdZVciC/w640-h640/1658985999349.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/oluwaseyikp/">Oluwaseyi Kehinde-Peters</a>, an A.I and Digital Transformation Consultant, is a woman of many parts that I look up to, especially in the tech space. I was privileged to learn from her in Women in Leadership The Covenant Nation Community where she served as one of the group leaders. Through that avenue, she has inspired me to be a better version of a leader and our relationship has waxed stronger.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Oluwaseyi is the Founder of PAWEN, a charity organisation empowering African Women with the Competence, Confidence and Connections they need to succeed in Business. PAWEN has made business easy for African businesswomen by successfully launching initiatives and providing innovative solutions to drive growth, financial inclusion, gender equity and poverty reduction.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">As a learned entrepreneur, Oluwaseyi has a Bachelor's degree in Accounting, a Master's degree in FinTech and Financial Markets, an MBA degree in Management plus several certifications in HR, IT Sustainability and Project Management.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Just like the proverbial golden fish with no hidding place,<a href="https://www.rideedy.com/2023/02/jolaoluwa-adegbite-spot-gaps-dare-to-do.html" target="_blank"> Omote Ro Dhe</a> caught up with this amazon and got chatting with her. Oluwaseyi opened up about her business and how she is using that platform to transform lives, her values, her interests, her life lessons and more. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Read excerpts:</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">What inspired you to develop and start PAWEN?</span></i></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">PAWEN was inspired by a deep passion for equality and the belief that women have the potential to drive significant positive change across Africa when empowered with the right Competence, Confidence, and Connections.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
The network was founded on the proven fact that when women are empowered, they create a ripple effect that lifts up their families, communities, and entire countries. I saw this personally growing up in the life of my mother and PAWEN was birthed to connect, inspire, and empower African women to harness their collective strength and bring about meaningful change.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">What are some of the career challenges you faced and how have you been able to overcome them?</span></i></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have faced several career challenges, including Unequal Pay and the tendency for unconscious bias in male-dominated environments. However, I have been able to overcome these challenges by staying focused on my goals, being persistent and confident in my abilities, and seeking out mentorship and support from other successful women in the field.
One specific challenge I faced was the lack of female representation in senior leadership positions, which can make it difficult to find role models and access the same opportunities as my male peers. To overcome this, I made a deliberate effort to build relationships with female leaders and seek out mentorship opportunities, and I also became involved in organizations that support the advancement of women in the industry.
Another challenge was the lack of work-life balance, particularly when working on high-pressure projects or tight deadlines. To address this, I have learned to set clear boundaries, prioritize my time, and delegate tasks when necessary. This has allowed me to maintain a healthy balance between my personal and professional life, which has been crucial for my well-being and overall success.
Ultimately, I have learned that the key to overcoming career challenges as a woman is to have a strong support system, maintain a positive attitude, and never give up on my goals.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Knowing what you know now, is there anything you would have done differently when you were first starting out?</span></i></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Looking back on my journey, there are a few things I might have done differently if I had known then what I know now. One of the things I would have focused on earlier is self-care and taking care of my physical and mental well-being. I would have made a conscious effort to prioritize rest, exercise, and healthy habits, as these things are essential to maintaining the focus and energy needed to succeed in a demanding career.
Another thing I would have done differently is to seek out mentorship and networking opportunities earlier in my career. I have found that these relationships have been invaluable in helping me grow as a professional, and I wish I had taken advantage of them earlier.
Finally, I would have been more assertive and confident in my abilities from the start. I have learned that by being bold and speaking up, I have been able to showcase my skills and contribute to my field in meaningful ways.
Overall, while I am proud of my accomplishments and grateful for the experiences that have shaped me, I believe that by focusing on self-care, seeking out mentorship, and being assertive, I would have been able to build an even more successful and fulfilling career from the start.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Can you list some women who have influenced you into the woman you have become and what endeared you to them?</span></i></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">1. Oprah Winfrey - Oprah's resilience, determination, and commitment to helping others have been a source of inspiration for me. I admire her for her ability to overcome adversity and use her platform to make a positive impact on the world.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
2. Ibukun Awosika – I am inspired by Ibukun Awosika's journey from when she started Chair Centre Limited to being Chairman of First Bank Nigeria and now a member of the Binance Global advisory board. Her fearless and unapologetic role-modelling of doing business God’s way or not at all has been a source of motivation for me. I admire her for her commitment to making a positive impact in her community.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
3. My mother - I am incredibly grateful for my mother, who has been a constant source of love and support throughout my life. Her strength, wisdom, and unwavering belief in me have helped shape the person I am today. She taught me the importance of perseverance, resilience, and the power of community. She raised me to believe that women can accomplish anything they set their minds to and that the support of others can make all the difference. Seeing her own struggles and those of women in her community sparked in me a desire to create a network that would empower and uplift women across Africa, and I am grateful to have had her as my guiding light.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">What is the most unique thing about your business and how does your brand stand out from the norm?</span></i></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">PAWEN is a not-for-profit or a charity as it is called in other parts of the world. All our programs and initiatives are provided at no cost to our beneficiaries and we hope to continue getting support from institutions and individuals to ensure that we will never have to charge for our programs. What stands us out are three key things</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
- Execution Excellence, we deliver our programming with unusual excellence ensuring that we deliver the best experience for our beneficiaries within available resources
- Impact: We are happy to have a tangible impact and several testimonies from women across Africa that speaks to the impact of our programs
- Innovation: We are constantly learning, evolving and innovating to ensure that we continue to provide real impact for our beneficiaries. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Would you like to share some projects you are working on or what to expect from you in the new year?</span></i></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Last year we provided 385 scholarships under the TechUp Africa Initiative, and we hope to triple that this year. Currently, We have a partnership with Datacamp which will provide scholarships to 500 young Africans to learn and start a career in Data Analysis, Business Analysis Data Engineering, and Data Science.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
We would be launching more projects under our Women in Business Programming to empower more young girls to start their own businesses and empower our current entrepreneurs to access funding and scale their businesses.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Success is relative, what does it mean to you?</span></i></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Success is a personal journey, and it means different things to different people. To me, it is a holistic and fulfilling experience, not just about material wealth or recognition, but also about inner peace, happiness, and having a positive impact on others.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
Success also means continuously growing and learning, setting and achieving personal and professional goals, and having a positive work-life balance. It is about living a life aligned with my values and purpose and feeling a sense of purpose and meaning in what I do.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></i></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">What advice do you have for younger girls pursuing purpose? </span></i></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">1. Seek God: God is the Good God and is the good father. As a good father, He has given you all you need to succeed. If you seek and align with His plans for you, He makes all things work in your favour.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
2. Know yourself: Take time to understand your values, strengths, and interests. This will help you identify what truly matters to you and what you are passionate about.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
3. Set goals: Set achievable, meaningful goals for yourself and work towards them. Celebrate your achievements along the way.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
4. Act: Don't wait for opportunities to come to you, actively seek out and create opportunities for yourself. Be proactive and don't be afraid to take risks.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
5. Believe in yourself: Have confidence in your abilities and trust in the journey you are on. Believe that you are capable of achieving your goals, no matter how big they may seem.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
6. Surround yourself with positive people: Seek out individuals who will encourage and support you, and who will challenge you to grow. Avoid those who bring negativity or discourage you from pursuing your dreams.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
7. Be persistent: Pursuing purpose can be a journey filled with challenges, but it's important to stay the course. Keep working hard and stay focused on your goals, even when things get difficult.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
8. Never stop learning: Continuously seek new experiences and opportunities for growth, and don't be afraid to step outside your comfort zone.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> 9. Give back: Giving back to others can bring great satisfaction and meaning to your life. Find ways to use your skills, talents, and passions to make a positive impact in the world.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
Remember, pursuing purpose takes time, effort, and dedication, but the journey is worth it. Stay focused on your goals and believe in yourself, and you will reach success in your own way.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p><br /></p>Akpo'Diddie Patricia Uyehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11744790175774967230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283763216350068804.post-73729315309099931042023-02-04T12:48:00.011+01:002023-02-05T15:18:28.699+01:00Jolaoluwa Adegbite: Spot the gaps, dare to do more and break free from limiting beliefs<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB3DLWeIiDF_gqRNSu0Wj3aQ1i4m_f8e1p-lCUReNfSnPTjfxP3B1vW-p7pFJFlNort5JDG5rtD1INVvDcw6627iQDDmrI82C-Qs1N-5F7zK4OMGzudiUKwye6WTSDcOLdJmTL6Y-hjlXdsDmDQtLAyD5MN7CFJoDuUi5IJqA_DHRS9N-k-BmFxyzD/s883/temp_image_20230204_195024_6c9d1dbe-51a0-454c-a81b-7b961b937c22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="883" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB3DLWeIiDF_gqRNSu0Wj3aQ1i4m_f8e1p-lCUReNfSnPTjfxP3B1vW-p7pFJFlNort5JDG5rtD1INVvDcw6627iQDDmrI82C-Qs1N-5F7zK4OMGzudiUKwye6WTSDcOLdJmTL6Y-hjlXdsDmDQtLAyD5MN7CFJoDuUi5IJqA_DHRS9N-k-BmFxyzD/w522-h640/temp_image_20230204_195024_6c9d1dbe-51a0-454c-a81b-7b961b937c22.jpg" width="522" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;">What caught my interest in Jolaoluwa Adegbite's profile was that we both attended the same University(There are only two Universities in this world- The University of Ibadan and others...*Smiles*). Sliding into her direct message, I made a proposition to her and Jolaoluwa did not reject my request for a feature. This made her a more endearing personality who is devoted to the cause to tell her story to inspire others.</div></span></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="background-color: white;">Adegbite Abosede Jolaoluwa describes herself as a </span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="background-color: white;">multifaceted professional with experience in various fields.</span><span class="white-space-pre" color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="background-color: white; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); white-space: pre;"> </span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="background-color: white;">She is passionate about making a difference in the community and helping others. This is evident in her work as a Humanitarian Aid Worker.</span><span class="white-space-pre" color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="background-color: white; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); white-space: pre;"> </span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="background-color: white;">She is the go-to person in matters that relates to global health and environmental issues.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="background-color: white;">She is a lady of many parts. One of them is as a Realtor. In this role, Jolaoluwa provides her clients with the information they need to make the right decisions when it comes to real estate investments.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="background-color: white;">Just like the proverbial goldfish that has no dining place, <b><i>Omote Ro Dhe</i></b> connected with Jolaoluwa who shared her story of what she stands for and is all about. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="background-color: white;">Read excerpts of the interview below:</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>As a Humanitarian Aid Worker, Realtor, Executive assistant, Educator/ Educational Administrator, how do you juggle wearing multiple hats?</i></b></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">With a unifying trajectory, even the hardest rock could become easy to break. With a solid structure and a good support system in place, God has been helping me.
However, I would like to clarify a misconception that has lingered for a while. When people say they are multi-faceted, it does not necessarily translate to an individual who does diverse things all at a time.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
For instance, I work as an executive assistant remotely. My physical presence is not required.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
Our customer care representative is open to inquiries about real estate from Monday-Saturday, but inspection takes place only during the weekend.
Working as a volunteer for the Nigerian Red Cross and a couple of other organizations is not something I do on a full-time basis either.
I do not travel to remote places, visit displaced locations/ slums to select the children we want to enrol in school or set up temporary clinics every time.
I provide basic first aid only when there is an emergency or when we visit places where there are casualties to rescue.
<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One does not interfere with the other.
The same goes for my job as an educator/educational administrator too.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><b>You are quite prominent in the real estate sector, was this always where you wanted to be?</b></i></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">If my work experience as a teacher and customer support associate is anything to go by, I would say working in these roles moulded me into who I am today.
I have always been a person who is passionate about giving back to my community as much as I can, but real estate wasn't part of the plan.
I only decided to join the industry when a close friend got swindled while trying to purchase land in 2019.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
The experience really left her shattered. It took her a while to get over it.
Seeing how that experience left her broken was what made me diversify into real estate.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
I said to myself that "I would ensure no one I know ever have to go through this traumatizing experience in their quest to become a landowner/landlord..."
I saw the help people needed with getting land and houses, so I thought to fix it by learning how to provide expert guidance to prospective landowners which would help them navigate the complex and ever-changing real estate market in Nigeria easily.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">You are passionate about raising talented individuals who have what it takes to excel but are struggling. Please tell us how you are going about this?</span></i></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Whenever people ask me if there is anything I am very proficient in, I always tell them that it is spotting gaps and facilitating initiatives to fill in spaces.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
I realised early in life that talent is universal, but opportunities aren't available to all. Hence, the goal is to bring scarce opportunities to people who truly deserve them, so they can find their place in the world.
I am on a mission, and the mission is to become a Star who raises Stars.
I know I can't possibly meet everyone's needs, but if I can help change the world, even if it's a world of 30 people, then I have done something remarkable.
In the year 2017, I collaborated with a friend to spearhead a non-governmental organisation whose objectives revolve around providing aid to talented youths.
As the state coordinator, I was able to lead a team of Five(5) to solicit funds from well-meaning Nigerians. By so doing, we identified close to 400 struggling youths in Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
With the funds, we gathered, we empowered them and improve their standards of living by 30%.
Furthermore, as an operation team member in YALI Africa, I use all the resources at my disposal to fish out talented youths within and outside my locality and connect them to life-changing offers/opportunities.
I also facilitated a couple of training/seminars on personal development and how to land the right jobs fit for their skills, for young people within and outside my locality.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
Providing mentorship and guidance is not left out too.
All these are snippets of what I have done, but I hope to do more this year with God on my side.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">In your opinion, what are some issues that women in this clime face in achieving their dreams and what are a few things you would suggest can be done to help them?</span></i></b></span></p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">To start with, how many women do we have in top managerial positions in Nigeria? How many women do we have in places that matter?<br /></span></span><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><br /></span><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;">The last time I checked, proof abounds which testifies that women in this clime still experience discriminatory practices while seeking employment. If you are now married, that's on another level.</span><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Furthermore, women are really underrepresented in politics.
In 2018, only 24% of national parliamentarians were women.
In the 2019 general elections, only five of the 73 candidates who contested for the presidency were women and even after the election, women made up only 4% of the elected officials.
Our political space lacks gender-focused inclusion.
Cultural and religious beliefs have also helped in solidifying certain theories which restrict women from participating in certain activities or holding certain positions.
Solutions?
I think gender-based issues are best tackled by developing a comprehensive framework for women's protection in this country.
The government can put a system in place that would encourage the public and private sectors to promote the interest of women in the workplace.
Policies that promote gender equality could suffice too.
Encouraging the participation of women in politics and decision-making processes is another.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Addressing cultural and social norms that discriminate against women and support gender inequality, would be helpful, too.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Can you list some women who have influenced you into the woman you have become and what endeared you to them?</span></i></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One of the women who shaped me to become who I am today is the former U.S. first lady, Michelle Obama.
Her doings as a true revolutionary who used her position to demand equal rights for women are the reason I try as much as I can to contribute my quota to the growth of people in society.
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is also one of my daily sources of unending inspiration.
In a country where women are stereotyped to play at a certain level, she's breaking barriers and smashing the status quo unapologetically.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
Her emergence as Director-General of the WTO makes me believe that there is absolutely nothing I cannot become. As long as I want it and I am working towards it, I will surely get it.
Prof. Ibukun Awosika who was the former Chairman of First Bank of Nigeria Plc is another. The grace and the energy that she exudes are admirable.
With their pictures and doings engraved on my mind, I believe the world is my oyster, no matter how hard it gets.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
I know life is not always butterflies and rainbows, but their lives are proof that no matter how thick the clouds become, I can always sail through as long as I am determined.
If they can wade through life with all its challenges just to get what they wanted out of it, I believe I can do the same.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Would you like to share some projects you are working on or what to expect from you in the new year?</span></i></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> I have a couple of projects I am working on. Part of it is working on an initiative that would help me spread the tentacles of my humanitarian work to other parts of the country.
Furthermore, my team and I are planning to collaborate with developers who erect and sell low-cost houses such as “Boys' quarters” and 2-bedroom flats with a payment plan in place(spanning 5 years). This is to help ease issues surrounding property acquisition for low-income earners. The goal is to ensure many Nigerians can boast of a property of their own by age 45, at least.
There are others too, but I would rather not unveil them yet.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Success is relative, what does it mean to you?</span></i></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The phrase “success is relative” can be loosely translated as what success means to different people at different phases of their lives.
For instance, a person who graduated from the university may consider himself successful when he graduates, but if he struggles hard to secure a job upon graduation, he might not consider himself successful again. Hence, the phrase; “different phases of their lives.”
What constitutes success varies from one person to another, and it is dependent on an individual's perspective.
But something is constant. What makes success "relative" are mainly 3 things;
Personal goals, societal expectations and individual circumstances.
Marrying right is what makes some people feel they are successful. To some, it is having a certain amount of money in their accounts. To another, it is to become a prominent politician.
For me, success is what makes me feel fulfilled even when my account balance reads zero.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">What advice do you have for younger girls pursuing purpose?</span></i></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My advice would be that they should take cognizance of the fact that money is essential, but it is not all that it is to life.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
Using their energy to pursue something they are passionate about is likely to earn them a place in the sands of time than chasing money.
As a black woman, genetically, you have more variations in your genetic makeup than any woman on planet Earth. It is now left to you to tap into your inner power. You are made of black. You are more. Dare to do more and break free from the shackles that society uses to hold you back.
Break the damn table! Break the status quo. Let go of beliefs that do not serve you. You cannot detox metals using weak principles.
That thing in you that can benefit the world, that you've been running away from, it is time to start manifesting it.
Don't see limitations, don't see challenges, see opportunities in everything. Your only limitation is the extent to which you dream.
The world is waiting.
You can't afford to disappoint.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p><br /></p></div>Akpo'Diddie Patricia Uyehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11744790175774967230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283763216350068804.post-33008288341067898052022-12-27T22:48:00.018+01:002023-01-04T23:10:35.103+01:002022 in Review: Everything worked together for my good<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGc2yeAgYzqdHcehi3pVoCWC7Tfyt_KhGJFpS5jjyK1_dLRwUJw3KfODivI3sWbYCvu_fNzNWEmy32_deqWI7NtCX6R5m8Ta09Dn1QHPp-xaMj4qAuhvt1d7HdtJJUzH8tBJHAU7wHNvescymL-7sBNdiRinIFVtw-L48Ibf9_22dU6vmedMbwAp4q/s1386/320653346_532391628612649_8234913835610951539_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1386" data-original-width="780" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGc2yeAgYzqdHcehi3pVoCWC7Tfyt_KhGJFpS5jjyK1_dLRwUJw3KfODivI3sWbYCvu_fNzNWEmy32_deqWI7NtCX6R5m8Ta09Dn1QHPp-xaMj4qAuhvt1d7HdtJJUzH8tBJHAU7wHNvescymL-7sBNdiRinIFVtw-L48Ibf9_22dU6vmedMbwAp4q/w360-h640/320653346_532391628612649_8234913835610951539_n.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Compliments of the season! *<b>E-hugs</b>*</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">2022...</span></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Entering into the new year with high hopes and dreams, I could only expect nothing but the best. This year was so fast, wasn't it? (<b>Smiles</b>). After the "happy new years' and the prophecies, charged and wired to win, 2022 started on a sure footing. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Six days into the new year, it was my birthday and I got the best gift from God-a job offer that my pay was not even negotiated, it was given to me as I asked for it. This was God's favour at work.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I wanted a remote job but got one that made me move daily Monday to Friday, resuming 8a.m. to close at 5p.m. Trust me, it was not easy but I had to stay disciplined to achieve that feat. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The new job was in a new conservative sector. It afforded me the opportunity to meet new gifted and competent people. The job was not a walk in the park but it was on a platter of gold...with many juicy benefits free lunch daily inclusive( can I forget as I am a foodie*<b>grinning</b>*)</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In February, I attended MANUAL conference and met one of the men of God face to face I hold in high esteem. He signed an autograph of one of his books I bought. It was an honour to take pictures with him. It was also a starstruck moment for me. Thankfully, February 14th was a working day so I was engrossed with office work but later that day there was a Valentine's party organised for staff so it was a fun day that I rarely felt being <i>booless</i> again*<b>pretending to sob</b>* </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">March came with its activities chiefly among them was the globally celebrated International Women's day. I was glad to have been part of a team that organised the commemoration of the day at the workplace. Having written the script for the International women's day mini-documentary, it was a delight to watch it play out in a short video and it was a success- thanks to the team. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was also part of the team that organised Webinar for the organisation I worked for as part of its content and marketing strategy. We organised our first Webinar and it recorded massive success. The month of March ended with salsa dancing, I needed to get that jingling and wiggle wiggle. I was happy to mix with other salsa and fun-loving dancers at a new location somewhere at Victoria Island. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">April started with Karaoke night. After work on the first Friday, we( Other employees and myself) let our hair down and attended karaoke night. I mimed one of my favourite songs-<b>Ten over ten by Naeto C</b>. Can I forget the sharwama that night? At all. After the singing, the drinks and sharwama that night added to the fun. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">On Easter, it was another getaway at the alte festival, which I attended as a press woman. The ambience and deviation from the normal music I am used to make the day a memorable one. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Stormed the first wedding invitation of the year feeling like a million bucks, got complimented for my outfit, congratulations to the couple of that day by the way. I was thankful for the invitation to seize the opportunity to '<i>famz</i>' with a senior musician in the person of Uncle TeeMac. My respect grew for him because of our LinkedIn relationship. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">May is a special month for me. My father is May born. Though he is away, I celebrated the day like Papa, as I fondly call my dad, like he was close by calling him and sending him all the love and prayers. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">While I was working on the regular monthly Webinar, I was also focusing on growing my network and featuring leading ladies on my blog. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">June is my Sister's and Mother's birthday. It was a great time to celebrate family and reminisce about memories we shared together. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">During the public holiday in June, I think it was a Muslim holiday or so, I attended a burial ceremony all the way somewhere at Lekki-Epe. I can't forget how a bouncer wouldn't let me attend the <i>owambe</i> after the church service, it took the effort of a colleague to convince the bouncer to let me in. The <i>amala</i> and <i>gbegiri</i> I was served at the event made my sulking go away after that not-so-nice ordeal. The next day, it was a hangout at Upbeats centre. It was <i>Up Up Up</i> in the air at the world-class trampoline park with new connections. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Another spectacular event of the month of June was reconnecting with my cousin all the way from abroad. It was a proudly UYEH moment. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In July, I woke up one day and decided to give my current place of worship a break. I started visiting other churches, getting to know their pastors and mode of worship. It was fun for the time being a 'church <i>ashewo</i>'.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">To be honest, in August things went awry. I started the month wearing black all through because I sensed in my spirit that something was going to go amiss and it did. Before I knew it, I was admitted to the hospital deprived of my freedom, and no mode of communication and movement for three weeks! </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">At last, was out of the hospital better and stronger at the beginning of September. I got my groove back at the Just Us Girls conference. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Yass! It is official...10 years of blogging. I shared my takeaways and learnings on the blogging journey in an exclusive post. To add to my joy, I finished a McKinsey course just like that after months of serious drilling.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">October was about S.A.L.T and WIMCA events, I was happy to make new connections even though I was uncertain about my next move. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">How would I forget the movie night with WISCAR where it was a light bulb and fun moment watching The Woman King.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Flashback to September I attended an award ceremony courtesy of a mentor and this led me to a relationship that changed my life in a second. </span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">November was busy with work overload and you know what came with that. Your guess is as good as mine. By the end of the month, levels had changed and I was able to make a big investment. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">December... </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I got certified as a bona fide WISCAR. I got another opportunity to witness <b>Chimamanda Adichie </b>speak in the same room. My big bros added another year to his years and it was delightful to celebrate the pacesetter that he is.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">But...</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">There were disappointments this month, however, God made up with the 11th hour miracle. It's been a productive and busy year. I am thankful for the happy and sad, the good and the bad, beautiful and ugly, everything worked perfectly for my good. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Just as <b>it is written</b>, <b>the path of the righteous shine brighter and brighter, I am pretty sure 2023 would be brighter and better for us all because we serve a Living God</b>!...</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Happy new year in advance <b>xoxo</b></span></div></div>Akpo'Diddie Patricia Uyehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11744790175774967230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283763216350068804.post-16797727565982284342022-11-24T17:15:00.003+01:002022-11-24T17:16:21.503+01:00[Interview] Jennifer Feaster - Speaker, YouTube Creators Festival <p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2PuFpyzpkp4t_ZOq6Z8cdvuQZ0kjBBzoBcLeyC48T8HA2T1JiejT_CiLyWfR8IDvHzcMy5OZHWHSEK3yzjIbyV8y3GmJ1FwZ6lzO5Bpp4ke1kK7-bnNJGwvuPA0zQ1n3nTozav1jX2iLjn5Jw5IJ-ds8aWwtL50_y7JhYJDXn8WRTBYYqdkcjAC60/s600/mail.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2PuFpyzpkp4t_ZOq6Z8cdvuQZ0kjBBzoBcLeyC48T8HA2T1JiejT_CiLyWfR8IDvHzcMy5OZHWHSEK3yzjIbyV8y3GmJ1FwZ6lzO5Bpp4ke1kK7-bnNJGwvuPA0zQ1n3nTozav1jX2iLjn5Jw5IJ-ds8aWwtL50_y7JhYJDXn8WRTBYYqdkcjAC60/w640-h480/mail.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px;">Jennifer Feaster is a Managing Partner at</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px;"> </span><strong style="color: #1d2228; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px;"><a href="https://mail-studio.nl/tl.php?p=2ay/26y/rs/z8m/t3/rs//https%3A%2F%2Fageafricaagency.com%2F" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="color: #196ad4;" target="_blank">Age Africa</a></strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px;">, an agency that combines data and creativity to develop performance driven YouTube channels, with unique content optimized for success. The agency works with the next generation creators, brands, publishers and artists in Africa.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Jennifer is one of the speakers at <b><a href="https://mail-studio.nl/tl.php?p=2ay/26y/rs/z8m/t3/rs//https%3A%2F%2Fytcreatorsfestival.com%2F" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="color: #196ad4;" target="_blank">The YouTube Creators Festival</a></b>, a three-day convention that will bring all content creators across the region to engage, educate and inspire in the global YouTube community.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The conference will be climaxed with the Creators Awards night & Concert, which will recognize hard working and influential content creators in Ghana. The festival is powered by Entamoty With several local & international partners.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">You are one of the speakers at The YouTube Creators Festival Accra. Why is this event important to you?</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b></b>We see a huge opportunity for the creative video community in Ghana to earn a living by sharing their stories on YouTube. We’re very excited to be a part of this movement.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">As a speaker at the festival, what are you going to tell about Age Africa Agency?</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b></b>At Age Africa Agency, we say it’s better to show than to tell. We have a lot of great examples of creators from different walks of life, each with their own message and their own goals, who are using the YouTube platform to reach new audiences and create revenue. Sometimes YouTube is the catalyst, sometimes it’s the main money-maker. Whatever the goals, we can help shape a strategy that works for the creator and their business. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Can you tell us a bit more on Age Africa Agency and about some recent developments?</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b></b>Age Africa Agency has been founded by some companies with a long track record in Africa and with YouTube. One of the founders is AfricaWeb, a big online publisher in Africa, and ia hosting Ghanaweb.com, the biggest website of the country and CamerounWeb, the biggest news site of the country, has started a mobile TV station in Ghana, GhanaWebTV and opened its news platform to bloggers and creators through its feature GhanaWeb reporter. As such, we are building a large online video presence, very attractive to advertisers. Another founder is Age Media, that operates world wide and supports more than 1,300 Youtube channels. The third founder is Africa Business Communities with its in house agency Africa Influencer Agency. Africa Business Communities is the biggest influencer on LinkedIn as to Africa.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Age Africa is a young company with mature stakeholders. We have shown some good results to our iniial clients, such as the Ghana Football Association and StarTimes and some individual artists. We are now talking to agencies and advertisers to include these channels in the regular TV planning.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Age Africa Agency is part of the Age family? What is the expertise of Age and can you tell us why you make YouTube creators happy?</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b></b>Our team includes experts in SEO, data, content creation, copywriting, graphic design, talent management, music and rights management. And they’re all very much into YouTube. It’s a powerful combination and it means we can help creators thrive in all aspects of their business. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">What has been the experience of your most recent clients in Ghana working with you? what are you proud of? Name one example.</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b></b>Ghana Football Association - views doubled and earnings tripled just a month after optimising and coaching their media team.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px;"><strong><span style="font-family: verdana;">GhanaWeb TV is supported by Age Africa Agency as a YouTube MCN. What did the cooperation learn you?</span></strong></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><strong></strong>GhanaWeb TV is a media powerhouse with a very talented team of professionals. We’ve learned a lot about how to integrate the YouTube into the media strategy, as well as how to hand over our skills and knowledge to the local team.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">What in your opinion are the most obvious opportunities for content creators on Youtube in Ghana?</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b></b>YouTube monetization, brand deals, live streaming. But partnering with online publishers such as GhanaWeb TV and GhanaWeb reporter has the most immediate impact in expanding reach and growing revenue.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Statistics indicate that YouTube represents 69.7 percent of the total internet usage in Ghana with the number of registered users growing rapidly by the day. How can content creators leverage this penetration to commercialize their content?</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b></b>That’s something you can’t ignore. YouTube really is the key to reaching just about everyone with an internet connection. But it’s also a very sophisticated platform with countless options to optimize content for performance. It means that in addition to creating content, you also need to have a broad range of skills (from graphic design to data analysis) to make sure your content gets discovered.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">If YouTube creators are interested in order to become a client with Age Africa Agency, what should they do?</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b></b>Please fill out our contact form on <strong><a href="https://mail-studio.nl/tl.php?p=2ay/26y/rs/z8m/t3/rs//https%3A%2F%2Fageafricaagency.com%2Fcontact%2F" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="color: #196ad4;" target="_blank">ageafricaagency.com</a></strong></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px;"><strong><strong><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://mail-studio.nl/tl.php?p=2ay/26y/rs/z8m/t3/rs//https%3A%2F%2Fageafricaagency.com%2F" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="color: #196ad4;" target="_blank">www.ageafricaagency.com<br /><strong><strong></strong></strong></a><strong><strong><a href="https://mail-studio.nl/tl.php?p=2ay/26y/rs/z8m/t3/rs//https%3A%2F%2Fytcreatorsfestival.com%2F" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="color: #196ad4;" target="_blank">www.ytcreatorsfestival.com</a></strong></strong></span></strong></strong></p>Akpo'Diddie Patricia Uyehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11744790175774967230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283763216350068804.post-11710422431208320222022-10-20T02:14:00.008+01:002022-10-22T14:26:28.845+01:00Eunice Naffie Mustapha: Never allow life beat you, get up and show up<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiomlg_nhsg-YLRVKw35jD9So5GcUAX2evN0nJcqKWpGIMA_RbWo_15fDJ-ZeRluagllltKWwI0tdV_HN3SmdS1ekCVZbKdXbSrsM7naxOzQgQgCI_uJ3t2enQDSArQrXuOwz35FZU3ew7fZ905wceUacl8D8CeYPtojDLcEqI1AxSQe8Ot1PPCeYPS/s800/1626898688477.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiomlg_nhsg-YLRVKw35jD9So5GcUAX2evN0nJcqKWpGIMA_RbWo_15fDJ-ZeRluagllltKWwI0tdV_HN3SmdS1ekCVZbKdXbSrsM7naxOzQgQgCI_uJ3t2enQDSArQrXuOwz35FZU3ew7fZ905wceUacl8D8CeYPtojDLcEqI1AxSQe8Ot1PPCeYPS/w640-h640/1626898688477.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Eunice Naffie Mustapha and I have a common interest which is the passion for the development of young females. Her artistic profile picture on LinkedIn endeared me to draw close to her. She has a profile that shows there is more than what is on the surface.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">With a First Class LL.B degree, this Sierra Leonean-born amazon is doing what she loves to do best <span style="background-color: white; color: #202124;">—</span> telling stories and working on personal development. She describes herself as a writer, one who authored Girlz Planete. She is also a social activist on a mission to make lasting impact and influence people positively. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><br /><a href="https://www.rideedy.com/2022/09/demilade-akintola-there-is-never-best.html">Omote Ro Dhe</a></i></b>, in her usual manner, got mesmerised by Eunice's unique story. In a chat, Eunice bares it all. Read the excerpts below:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><b><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">Finishing with First class in Law is commendable, have you deviated or </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">would you say you applying the knowledge now based on what you do presently?</span></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><br /></span></i></b><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;">My legal background made me a better sexual reproductive health and rights Consultant in Sierra Leone and also created the foundation for my acceptance into the LL.M National and Global Health Law program at Georgetown Law.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i>As the Founder of Strong Girls Evolution, can you shed more light on what this is all about?</i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;">The vision of Strong Girls Evolution is to build a network of young female leaders that are able to manage limitations and beat insecurities in order to occupy strategic positions in society. We work on getting them to embrace Evolving into better versions of themselves.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i>What are the major challenges you face and how have you overcome them in the course of your work in Strong Girls Evolution?</i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;">Consistency has been the biggest challenge. We started Strong Girls Evolution with zest but a knowledge gap and had to grow into the leadership space and are currently rebranding and restrategizing. We also struggle with access to funds which has also led to inconsistently implementing initiatives.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i>You described yourself as a writer and social activist who tells stories and work on personal development of young females. What grew your passion for these?</i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;">I grew up in Bo Town right next to a swamp. Growing up in a rural setting inspired my writing skills. I stammered a lot as a young girl & writing was an easier means of communication & I had so many stories in my head. When it comes to social activism Sierra Leone is full of social vices inclusive of sexual violence, teenage pregnancy, child marriage etc., and as a teenager, I decided to do something about that by adding my voice to campaigns. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;">Nonetheless, I still saw the gap and inequalities in society; as a solution, I started Strong Girls Evolution to champion personal development initiatives for young female Sierra Leoneans. The truth is we struggle a lot in a patriarchal society. I am still unlearning insecurities & evolving by exploring my interests/strengths & working on personal development initiatives is about doing it collectively with others.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i>Can you list some women who have influenced you into the woman you have become and what endeared you to them?</i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;">Her Excellency Mrs. Nyama Koroma former 1st lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone hosted the 1st personal development platform I participated in (National Girls' Camp), my mom, Lois Eunice Mustapha(as a girl I saw her going to work as a PR & later HR which was unusual where I grew up, she was a professional woman), my elder sister Lois Simche Lebbie who's full of so much love, she consistently made me see the light in others.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;">Saramba Kandeh, the amazing female Lawyer from Sierra Leone who rocks as an international human rights Lawyer and selflessly guided me, Aminata Kamara HR of Sierra Rutile, Naasu Fofanah, Hawa Samai, and Fiona Kai-Kai.<br /></span><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;">Sierra Leonean women that are consistently investing in building the capacity of young female Sierra Leoneans, showing the way and reminding me that I have to pay back by lifting as I climb. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;">Recently Sarah Bosha, the Director of Capacity Building for the National and Global Health Law Program at Georgetown Law, who is an African woman occupying an authoritative position in a foreign land; I like talking to Sarah as she challenges me alot to think critically.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i>You authored Girlz Planete, can you tell us the motivation behind writing this book?</i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;">Growing up I wanted to read a teenage-focused book that felt relatable, that is Sierra Leonean. Something fun but that could educate me. Writing Girlz Planete was about filling that teenage gap. I want young girls to read & feel connected. I want parents & those working with girls to get insights into their world. I wish I had access to more resources to have framed it more, but I am happy I still got to tell the story and it inspired me to push harder to get access to resources to send out well-designed stories.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i>Would you like to share some projects you are working on or what to expect from you in the nearest future?</i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;">Her Evolution Project is focused on creating relaxed girls' circles where personal development topics would be discussed in an edutaining manner. I also hope to revamp the Her Story Salone Series which is a Project focused on visiting girls in deprived communities including rural areas to tell their stories. I am excited to also continue implementing grassroots and round table programmes on sexual reproductive health and rights in Sierra Leone.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><i><b>Success is relative. What does it mean to you? </b></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;">Success for me is feeling fulfilled by doing the things I love. It's seeing positive changes in the lives of others whenever initiatives are implemented.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><br /></span><b><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">What advice do you have for younger girls pursuing purpose?</span><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"> </span></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><br /></span></i></b><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;">Don't be scared to dream. But don't stop at dreaming, learn to ask questions about how things can be done. There are days you'd be exhausted and it's okay to take a break when you feel tired, but never allow life to beat you, get up & show the world how amazing you are.</span><b><i><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><br /></span></i></b><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><br /></span></span><span face="Roboto, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><br /></span></div>Akpo'Diddie Patricia Uyehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11744790175774967230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283763216350068804.post-85011494577188489222022-09-25T18:45:00.013+01:002022-09-29T19:28:45.056+01:0010 lessons I learnt from blogging for a decade<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLEqlHBu301szS79CAvNhnJSM6wngWHW56k8D7F7OFJBEXb4Sf03qwpujdEX8bevJ2GYDj-ERo1UxKx8bnaSafUVF5goQLPLBVLhrmBNXgy-kIiDFPdzIKcyt-s6V6C5chJHbE_bQ8EQb5t0p540fwc5vxFEkSad-xV2Op0pjJuSQQZsd8YWq9CYw9/s1080/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-09-25%20at%206.39.16%20PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLEqlHBu301szS79CAvNhnJSM6wngWHW56k8D7F7OFJBEXb4Sf03qwpujdEX8bevJ2GYDj-ERo1UxKx8bnaSafUVF5goQLPLBVLhrmBNXgy-kIiDFPdzIKcyt-s6V6C5chJHbE_bQ8EQb5t0p540fwc5vxFEkSad-xV2Op0pjJuSQQZsd8YWq9CYw9/w426-h640/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-09-25%20at%206.39.16%20PM.jpeg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Yass! It has been a decade of blogging... Imagine, how time flies. When I started blogging in September 2012, it was a hobby. I never thought it would be like a 'full-time' job! </p><p>How did I start? In the beginning...</p><p>I stumbled into blogging from another blog. I was going through another blog and came across an icon that read 'start your blog', I clicked on it and that was how I started blogging. It was unplanned. </p><p>Being adventurous and curious got me to own a blog. I have always loved to journal my experiences. I did this with paper and pen. With the introduction of Blogger, I decided to go with the flow.</p><p>To celebrate my 10th year in blogging, I would share 10 lessons I learnt from blogging. Let me digress a bit, it has not been a walk in the park. There were times I had no content ideas and I left the blog empty but my passion and 'why' for blogging got me going.</p><p>Okay, so let me share the lessons I learnt for the past ten years as a blogger with 10 Cs below:</p><p>1. Creativity</p><p>Opening a blog allowed my creative juices to flow. I was everything in the blog- its designer, website manager, content creator, editor...you name it. I experimented with different blog designs and settled for one based on the feedback I got. The colour theme of my blog represents what I want to push out. Orange is boisterous and optimistic. This is why I chose it as my blog theme. </p><p>2. Collaboration</p><p>Through blogging, I collaborated with different people majorly females. It was a situation of scratch my back, I scratch yours. Initially, the blog was about everything and anything about me but that was selfish. Now, it has a better focus which is all about women empowerment. Women from far and wide have collaborated with me as I share their stories using my blog platform. That is what collaboration is all about. It is a win-win situation.</p><p>3. Cost-effective</p><p>Blogging is a cost-effective venture. It is one of the ways to make money online. As a blogger, I have gotten people to advertise or partner with my blog. This came with a price tag. There were times I would get emails of partnerships of such nature and the result got me smiling to the bank.</p><p>4. Community</p><p>My blog has a fan base. This is its community. People from all walks of life receive and get to see the blog whenever there is a new post. They follow the blog activities. From being my number one fan, there are others who follow the blog. This is not only encouraging but supportive. The community is not only for females but males too. They engage with every blog post and stay 'woke'.</p><p>5. Consistency</p><p>There were times I wanted to give up blogging but I learnt the virtue of consistency. It would be a waste of time to throw away what one has built. Despite the ups and downs that come with blogging, being a consistent blogger has kept me on my toes. The reason I am still here is because of 'my why' for blogging and that is my driving force.</p><p>6. Conspicuousness</p><p>Blogging has been added to my portfolio. It made me more visible. This is not about clout chasing or popularity but it is about brand visibility. People can easily relate to me as the blogger behind Omote Ro Dhe. A quick search on Google using my name would describe me as a blogger and this is good for branding.</p><p>7. Chance</p><p>I have been privileged to speak on blogging as a thought leader and expert because that is what I do. The ripple effect of these speaking opportunities had added to building a strong brand for me; one that is relatable and known. It was no struggle in speaking about blogging because of the lessons I have learnt.</p><p>8. Capacity</p><p>In a bid to be better, I have taken up more pieces of training, subscribe to more blogging teaching sites and attended more workshops. The world is changing. New innovations and technology spring up every day so I cannot continue to rely on old methods and thinking patterns. It is wise I increase my capacity which contributes to my personal development. As we know, learning is continuous. To learn more, one has to make space. This is where increased capacity comes in.</p><p>9. Change</p><p>Initially, I was using my blog to share my thoughts but change is inevitable. Now, blogging has opened the door to other related ventures-vlogging, podcasting, voiceovers and others to pursue. There is no need in being stuck in something when you can have more. </p><p>10. Continuity</p><p>Ten years no be beans. I don't intend to slack or stop. As mentioned earlier, my 'Why' is bigger than what I stand to gain. So no matter the obstacles and challenges on the road, blogging continues to pave the way to greater possibilities and opportunities. </p><p><br /></p><p>Cheers to another decade of blogging, I will be back to share 20, 30, 40, 50( ...as the Lord tarries) lessons I learnt from blogging.</p>Akpo'Diddie Patricia Uyehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11744790175774967230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283763216350068804.post-20916813594331995462022-09-18T23:59:00.005+01:002022-09-19T00:00:47.013+01:00Oluchi Ikechi-D’Amico: Consider the legacy you want to leave behind<p> </p><div><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; white-space: pre-line;"><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2hDF3laNNVTDZ7nTDl5iQ2E8Mu6Fuht-bnemOs7GRxvo-bQ1QWyfmnft6eY34rw87pdQfU36hjDAVw44KLataYiNb9_atLz8KOhtqvJf8b5ghnH0Y68MWxkFCrl3JJt1Ytotacbut5Y48wbeuX2h5qTNP2lNi9jB6_83QySOkyfEGYLDgo3Kyo5N/s3936/pastedImage.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2624" data-original-width="3936" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2hDF3laNNVTDZ7nTDl5iQ2E8Mu6Fuht-bnemOs7GRxvo-bQ1QWyfmnft6eY34rw87pdQfU36hjDAVw44KLataYiNb9_atLz8KOhtqvJf8b5ghnH0Y68MWxkFCrl3JJt1Ytotacbut5Y48wbeuX2h5qTNP2lNi9jB6_83QySOkyfEGYLDgo3Kyo5N/w640-h426/pastedImage.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="-apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-line;"><b>Oluchi Ikechi-D’Amico</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></b><b><br /><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; white-space: pre-line;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; white-space: pre-line;"><b><i>"Highly curious. Thirst to explore. Necessity to improve. A big believer that organisations must constantly re-evaluate their purpose, client/market needs and how they do business, in order to stay relevant and impactful" These are the words that<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/oli-ikechi/"> Oluchi Ikechi-D' Amico </a>used to describe herself from her LinkedIn profile. She was named Management Today 35 Under 35 in 2019.</i></b></span></div><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; white-space: pre-line;">
<b>Omote Ro Dhe</b> was endeared by Oluchi's rich and impressive profile and how she is using her platform for social impact, that we had to chat Oluchi up.
Read excerpts below:
<b><i>
You have a rich profile, one that shows you are intentional about your purpose and mission. Can you tell us more about Fully Bossed is all about as the Founder?</i></b>
Thank you!<a href="http://www.FullyBossed.com" target="_blank"> Fully Bossed</a> is an ethos and movement. I founded it to help career professionals have better tools to succeed in their careers, no matter who they are. We focus on helping career starters and professionals advance in their careers using soft skills; 4 soft skills: Mindset, Brand, Storytelling and Orchestration. It’s far easier when you know how and this is what we aim to show!
<i><b>Hitting the Management Today 35 Under 35 is no small feat. What were the steps you took to meet that mark and how are you using that recognition to make an impact?</b></i>
Thank you! Lots of hard work and commitment to my vision to have autonomy in what I do. Yes, I developed great technical skills as a Management Consultant specialising in transactions like mergers and acquisitions, in Banking, though I believe the secrets for me were the four soft skills I mentioned above! That meant I was able to climb through my career to Partner, quickly, and achieve a number of business outcomes which helped secure me that award, and others.
<b><i>Can you list some women who have influenced you into the woman you have become and what endeared you to them?</i></b>
Interestingly, from a work perspective, it was also about not seeing much representation in my industry, in terms of senior females advocating for change, DEI, authenticity, entrepreneurialism or encouragement about advancing a career. I wanted to be that change for others.
<b><i>"Curiousity killed the cat" is a popular idiom but you described yourself as 'Highly curious'. When do you draw the line so that being curiousity does not land you in trouble or destablise the information you already have?</i></b>
I think it’s about gauging your audience. I like to think about many sides to a perspective and ask questions to better understand and therefore be better knowledgeable. I also push boundaries sometimes with my questions but never with what I would not be prepared to share myself. Showing your audience you have empathy and reasoning behind your questions is important.
<b><i>I was drawn to your article on motherhood. This is something I believe every woman looks up to but this changes her entire life. How can women manage motherhood well without letting go of their other ambitions?</i></b>
I cover a lot of this in the article but for me, it was about identifying and accepting my motherhood journey as the right one for me. That meant balancing motherhood with personal and business commitments and ensuring I only say yes to the really important things. Though preparation to balance all the roles is key! As is ensuring you have support from others to help you. I’m lucky to be in a position where I do have or can access, support from others.</span></div><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; white-space: pre-line;">
<b><i>You are a big believer that organisations must constantly re-evaluate their purpose, client/market needs and how they do business, in order to stay relevant and impactful. Can you share some tested and proven strategies to actualise all these?</i></b>
Covid… BLM movement… just look at how companies altered services, products and/or their values to respond to these events, and not be mute. Business, macroeconomics, consumers and communities are constantly evolving. Organisations must constantly re-strategise, engage with consumers and re-brand.
<b><i>You are very passionate about inclusion, equality and diversity. Why is this so?</i></b>
I'm passionate about helping others unlock their potential! I feel in my role it’s important to be a voice for others and advocate levelling the playing field.
<b><i>Success is relative. What does it mean to you? Who are some women that are your yardstick of being successful?</i></b>
Happiness. From a career perspective to me it means autonomy and freedom.
<b><i>
What advice do you have for young women pursuing purpose?</i></b>
Consider the legacy you want to leave behind and be committed to that mission and impact others.</span></div></div><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; white-space: pre-line;"><br /></span></div><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; white-space: pre-line;"><br /></span></div><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; white-space: pre-line;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-line;">Connect with <b>#FullyBossed</b> for more via the platforms below:</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium; white-space: pre-line;"><a class="app-aware-link" href="http://www.fullybossed.com/" rel="noopener" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.08); border: var(--artdeco-reset-link-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: var(--font-weight-bold); margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); text-decoration: var(--artdeco-reset-link-text-decoration-none); touch-action: manipulation; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);" target="_blank">www.fullybossed.com</a></span></span></div><div><span face="-apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: medium; white-space: pre-line;">Instagram: @getfullybossed
LinkedIn: @fullybossed </span></div><div><span face="-apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: medium; white-space: pre-line;">YouTube: @fullybossed</span></div>Akpo'Diddie Patricia Uyehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11744790175774967230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283763216350068804.post-43669499679567126292022-09-12T11:24:00.007+01:002022-09-14T17:51:21.293+01:00Demilade Akintola: There is never a 'best time' for learning and growth<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3CITpb9ULxfNRcUa04uBhKP3I-RaCu_v4b2E6vjoXMLNePU7dxOD_4cnJNCM2ZlPl9GBzKFxiQeXdQQ_QiGtKaOcyAu4FtE6T_fPc8g8C4oH_dZBkZg6VTlowvNaFVSfoc2ivhWK9VjwZS7NDnJ1EgPhdn8EEaxnhk23NToW3l8iP5T_bmJJ3OGJa/s724/1660044120479.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="724" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3CITpb9ULxfNRcUa04uBhKP3I-RaCu_v4b2E6vjoXMLNePU7dxOD_4cnJNCM2ZlPl9GBzKFxiQeXdQQ_QiGtKaOcyAu4FtE6T_fPc8g8C4oH_dZBkZg6VTlowvNaFVSfoc2ivhWK9VjwZS7NDnJ1EgPhdn8EEaxnhk23NToW3l8iP5T_bmJJ3OGJa/w636-h640/1660044120479.jpg" width="636" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="background-color: white;">Demilade Akintola describes herself as a quirky lover of sales and geeky tech. She is also</span><span style="background-color: white;"> a writer, one who is in love with using proven methods and a keyboard to increase your sales and reach.</span></b></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>A software developer who is so into Java and currently working on a titration app with Python, Demilade is the techy everyone definitely wants to connect with. <i>Omote Ro Dhe</i> had to catch up with her to find out more about her and all she is all about in a no holds barred chat. Read excerpts:</b></span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit;" /></span><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>First of all, it is very rare to have a 17-year-old on LinkedIn. You find them on Snapchat, TikTok or other cooler social media platforms. What is your motive to be on LinkedIn?</i></b></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">When I started looking for online opportunities, anything I could do when I wasn't in school at 14, I didn't have any mentor, I didn't know what I was doing, and I was practically lost online.
I was invested in writing my second book and fortunately, I found an editor for the book but didn't spend much time on it before I bumped into software development.
That was when I found my first mentor online and he led me through different paths including Digital marketing.
When I found out that LinkedIn could get me more mentors, I joined the platform.
Other social media platforms are great for engagement and outreach but LinkedIn is powerful for finding mentors and making inspiring friends like Olorunfemi Prosperity, who is currently preparing to take Lagos by storm with TEDxJibowu and Denu Bon, a young investor and publisher.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>You helped over 2000 digital creators to earn at their own pace. This is remarkable and commendable. How and why did you do this?</i></b></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">When I got a leeway at 16, I found out that there were others who wanted an opportunity, a chance to impact people online and become independent but like me when I was 14, these people don't have a mentor, they don't have a clear focus of what they could actually do online, and they are not sure how they could go about setting strategic plans.
So, I organized free sessions and programmes and was able to reach 2000+.
These free sessions were centred around learning digital marketing skills and preparing for growth.
I had a program early this year with another mentor, Fortune Nnamdi, an Entrepreneur who has impacted thousands and the impact of that program was heavy.
I currently have another free session in place for those looking to get their first client off LinkedIn.
It's something I try to do as often as I can to reach more people.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Can you list some women who have influenced you into the woman you have become and what endeared you to them?</i></b></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I've been inspired and pushed by important men and women around me but when it comes to females, I would start with my mom. She's a beautiful hardworking gem and the first person that made me start looking for opportunities at 14.
The story of Oprah Winfrey inspires me and is something I still refer to till this day.
Other women include Virginia Woolf, Marie Curie, and Anna Freud.#</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>As a 'techy', one who is a software developer that is into Java and currently working on a titration app with Python. What is the app all about and what problem does it solve?</i></b></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The idea was from a friend. The purpose of the app is basically to help the life of chemistry students and make titrations easier while performing calculations that arise.
It's almost there but there are still improvements to make.</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is on strike and Nigerian students are at home. What skills would you advise them to have to stay empowered and useful in this period?</i></b></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There are several skills that could fetch you money and give you a little bit of Independence but one thing I will tell other people to learn is how to actually invest. How to discover bad and good investments so your money does the work for you.
These investments should not be necessarily too easy and loaning money to someone to get a little interest later is not an investment.
A good investment yields for a long time!
The online space is growing rapidly too. Whatever talent or skill they have could and should be brought online and they could learn a bit of Branding, Copywriting, and Sales.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><b>Can you tell us what DC marketing is all about and some challenges faced while running the company and how you overcame them?</b></i></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">DC Marketing got its ground when I was 16 and it's been growing ever since.
I faced some challenges at the start and wasted a lot of time and money trying to get things right.
The first challenge DC Marketing faced was Branding. It was during that time I paid attention to learning that skill.
After that, it was building a stable client base and community.
We now have an actively growing community of 'beyond-the-norm' Copywriters and we keep creating high-performing email campaigns, amazon listings, web copy, social media content, and blogs for our growing client base.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><b>Success is relative. What does it mean to you? Who are some women that are your yardstick of being successful?</b></i></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Success is quite personal for me. Hence, I don't measure my success to any other person or have a yardstick.
As long as I am happy, can take care of others around and impact others, then I've found success.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><b>What advice do you have for younger girls pursuing purpose?</b></i></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><b>Keep going. Keep the 5-year journey in mind and how you want things to be then. A lot can happen in 5 years.
</b></i>
Take your time to learn what you have the opportunity to know because there is never a 'best time' for learning and growth.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span face="Roboto, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><br /></span></div>Akpo'Diddie Patricia Uyehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11744790175774967230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283763216350068804.post-593122978877374662022-05-28T10:50:00.053+01:002022-05-28T11:57:44.264+01:00Sandra Adeyeye Bello : 'The Different woman' is a symbol of change to other women<p><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It is easy to spot a woman on a mission. <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandra-adeyeye-bello-01aa1773/">Sandra Adeyeye Bello </a>AKA The Different Woman is a clear example as she is driven to use her feminine power to make the desired change.</span></span></p><p><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="background-color: white;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ab7u7Rgbk1W432KkxwsJ1f-PT5WmNtAAMlBPD5BZgPSQikNHRaVjRru1qejmwjQRSbvOtpuAYQ3mSzWOlikCqYsUQGQXiNntAO9h63fObtp4MgNHS2RGdIEj8OpVmQVFONngOkJB1vwR6FO0mv6iDILtjhipQO0EUoG34LPJHej6nYNUV4JM8sCO/s1024/1652871488346.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ab7u7Rgbk1W432KkxwsJ1f-PT5WmNtAAMlBPD5BZgPSQikNHRaVjRru1qejmwjQRSbvOtpuAYQ3mSzWOlikCqYsUQGQXiNntAO9h63fObtp4MgNHS2RGdIEj8OpVmQVFONngOkJB1vwR6FO0mv6iDILtjhipQO0EUoG34LPJHej6nYNUV4JM8sCO/w640-h640/1652871488346.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sandra Adeyeye Bello</td></tr></tbody></table><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="background-color: white;"><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sandra Adeyeye Bello is a woman of many parts. She is a writer, content creator, producer and a social entrepreneur. As the Founder of The Different Woman Network(TDWN), she has helped merge her career in media and passion for gender advocacy. TDWN Media is a multimedia company that focuses on using the media (especially drama) as a tool for social change.</span></span></p><p><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="background-color: white;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje3HSCl88hbjPRjINUpUrbPQiwGoisgb4ozt0CKj72JW5waVin1Um2MzPY_bMz_-V9RhyycUiNuftyhjwGeq3prnBelAiuHfNhmlCd_JdWSZy9K5wcVCuD3AGJvTw69MUrDkaYMGmjuy9h-FWDUH-RpopkoVEte38csWp3D72e8LXIwrLMH-YpUyUz/s1024/1652871480021.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje3HSCl88hbjPRjINUpUrbPQiwGoisgb4ozt0CKj72JW5waVin1Um2MzPY_bMz_-V9RhyycUiNuftyhjwGeq3prnBelAiuHfNhmlCd_JdWSZy9K5wcVCuD3AGJvTw69MUrDkaYMGmjuy9h-FWDUH-RpopkoVEte38csWp3D72e8LXIwrLMH-YpUyUz/w640-h640/1652871480021.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="background-color: white;">In 2018, TWDN was borne out from venting on Instagram. Being a </span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="background-color: white;">secondary survivor of domestic violence, she could easily</span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="background-color: white;"> connect many women with similar stories. As it became more depressing reading more stories of hurt and abuse, Sandra rebranded the idea to empower women through storytelling. She started suggesting solutions - like therapy and financial literacy - through these stories.</span></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="background-color: white;"><b><a href="https://www.rideedy.com/">Omote Ro Dhe</a></b>, inspired by Sandra's work with women, caught up with her in chat where she shared more about her project, mission, values and more. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="background-color: white;">Read excerpts below:</span></span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOms25fJuIU0NZO4dt0zc_5vcbnm45ka7WoobF8qwWBdYd6PzmKaf2XnApwcTdKA8ahCvr9Flbj0RCh7yr04v-hDdubdjBUDkSdr6qQ2Waw-i3Vgqj5oFRlpUloORFJDE0TlWPflYLYR0FapEEkZ2fTqCEYAEXWTFXgvEV0vjR1mr6lxOvBNtcptc0/s1024/1652871494082.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOms25fJuIU0NZO4dt0zc_5vcbnm45ka7WoobF8qwWBdYd6PzmKaf2XnApwcTdKA8ahCvr9Flbj0RCh7yr04v-hDdubdjBUDkSdr6qQ2Waw-i3Vgqj5oFRlpUloORFJDE0TlWPflYLYR0FapEEkZ2fTqCEYAEXWTFXgvEV0vjR1mr6lxOvBNtcptc0/w640-h640/1652871494082.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.901960784313726)" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.1px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>We are so much in common, especially on women empowerment. Why do you have African Women Mobile International Film Festival - AWMIFF - a film festival dedicated to promoting and celebrating female-centric stories?</i></b></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.1px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Oh wow, it's nice connecting with you, Queen. I'm all for women's rights as these are fundamental human rights. We all stand against issues like slavery, segregation, terrorism etc; yet, a lot of women, unfortunately, encounter worse because of their gender; and no one seems to see the "big deal". When you cry out, you're immediately branded with one tag or another.
In her matrimonial home, she is emotionally and physically abused by her husband and/or his family who believe they have acquired a new slave to wash, cook, clean and be subservient (under the pretence of submission) to everyone because they married her. Secondly, for being born or succeeding, (or any other reason you can think of) her personal space and boundaries are broken. She is stripped and violated to prove a point.
African Women Mobile International Film Festival - AWMIFF - is a bridge for the unrepresented and underrepresented female voices. We believe those stories of the woman's struggle and success which have gone unnoticed or purposefully ignored by those who write history need to be told through film.
The importance of the media in shaping our society cannot be overemphasized. And because I believe that the woman has been taught how to do everything - from how to sit, stand, laugh, dress, cook etc - but, never how to be celebrated or own the spotlight to tell her own stories, AWMIFF was born to teach her that it is okay to speak up, to cry out, to tell her story, and be whoever she wants to be because only when she does will the world adjust.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
Yes, we realised that filmmaking is an expensive business and many women won't be able to afford it; but, we now hold an annual online workshop to teach women how to tell their stories using the most accessible tool to them - their mobile device - it is on this premise that our festival is born to showcase films about women, shot on a mobile device. More information about our film workshops and festival can be found on our Instagram page <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tdwnetwork/">@awmiff</a></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNu8iIXflk5PAMVz4K73Z6-ZMlDAiqKRORB1foVDVm2pi1F8e6jhZycaOBdu7rrrJMC_A4a7_SgviqnLu57tuBYyTiEikTuO_RHdZHv3Cr9Zjt61fKJZMIkC2QEfP109RRPMqBJhybu3ucYmTzocDzuKhImPME36WHVD_l4MMN-52bALd4Mcr0uhFc/s1024/1652871505666.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNu8iIXflk5PAMVz4K73Z6-ZMlDAiqKRORB1foVDVm2pi1F8e6jhZycaOBdu7rrrJMC_A4a7_SgviqnLu57tuBYyTiEikTuO_RHdZHv3Cr9Zjt61fKJZMIkC2QEfP109RRPMqBJhybu3ucYmTzocDzuKhImPME36WHVD_l4MMN-52bALd4Mcr0uhFc/w640-h640/1652871505666.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.1px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>As the Founder and Creative Director of The Different Woman Network, a multimedia company that allows you to merge your passion for gender advocacy and career in media productions, can you share some of your high and low moments in this cause?</i></b></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.1px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Let's start from the Lows...
Due to lack of external funding at the moment, my organisation can only do so much, especially in terms of fixing up a woman who needs badly to get away from a toxic partner or environment.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
We've had women challenge the idea of domestic abuse during sensitisation exercises. Some will say, "nobody bad finish" meaning "there's no perfect person anywhere"; in essence, they use the manageable days of the abusers to compensate for worse days. I have also watched women return to their abusers or never leave due to a lack of monetary support. It breaks my heart every time to see how women are being taken advantage of for lack of finances to make liberating and life-changing decisions for themselves.
The highs for me would be getting anonymous messages once in a while from women who I impacted unknowingly. Women who have taken some bold steps they never dreamed possible and are amazed at what they could do for themselves and also most importantly, it's encouraging to be recognised for the effort my organisation and I put into gender advocacy through the media.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOLD7nv8QLSCa6V-mRKx5kReSEj59VAa-E13bRLcFsMUppjxbBTariqRRrymLqvid9tbAatRLntQEjjNW5D3iYFj3CdCjnEEj2ZaFFhROD54qt1XNFCrAj8GukLoieF9NE8G3pb5aFqOf69GhPc0FJqfn5Q9XGbGBfAESn9HTaGcSPkzNHnySAH4ji/s1024/1652914384509.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOLD7nv8QLSCa6V-mRKx5kReSEj59VAa-E13bRLcFsMUppjxbBTariqRRrymLqvid9tbAatRLntQEjjNW5D3iYFj3CdCjnEEj2ZaFFhROD54qt1XNFCrAj8GukLoieF9NE8G3pb5aFqOf69GhPc0FJqfn5Q9XGbGBfAESn9HTaGcSPkzNHnySAH4ji/w480-h640/1652914384509.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.1px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Can you list some women who have influenced you into the woman you have become and what endeared you to them?</i></b></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.1px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My mother would be top on the list for showing me the kind of life I should never settle for through her life's experiences. She suffered several years of domestic violence from her partner after losing my father some years earlier. You can only imagine the traumas. That's why I would like to thank her for activating in me the fire I needed to seek solutions and to constantly dream and push through those dreams no matter what.
Next on the list, would be Mrs. Enobong Ime. I was just a little girl going to her cyber cafe to search for writing opportunities online when she discovered me. She offered me my first professional writing job in Radio Nigeria Enugu, Coal city FM and yes, they paid me. For spotting my tiny sparks, picking me up and fanning the embers of my passion when she didn't have to, I am always grateful because her belief in me, made me believe in me.
To the few female friends who have stuck by me as sisters, my support systems whom I run to on days I am unsure and those who have lent their shoulders and pockets at one time or the other, thank you.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.1px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Since you promote the different women, what is her differentiating factor and how well can she use it to change her world?</i></b></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.1px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I am The Different Woman.
I don't know whether to say, it's my alter ego or a nickname but, it embodies the totality of who I am and becoming.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
When I chose the name, I wanted something that truly represented my core value and helped me never forget who I am. 'The Different Woman' stood out to me as It allows me to be different - not better or more real than anyone - but DIFFERENT! In essence, I can be me, and you can be you and we're both fine.
The Different Woman comes at a time when women have been told a lot of 'don'ts'. It's possible those don'ts were meant to keep the woman safe but, they have become cages and still, those don'ts have not been reviewed. Today many women are coping with anger, anxiety, depression and even thoughts of suicide. I chose to stir up those uncomfortable conversations women would rather not have 'for peace to reign'.
The Different Woman has become a symbol of change for a lot of women. The idea is to question the status quo and see how we can be, do and have a healthier and safer society for the girl child to grow up in. Any woman can be a different woman, but, I am THE Different Woman.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.1px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Most times, the focus has been on empowering girls/women. How do we raise boys/men to support empowered girls/ women in our society?</i></b></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.1px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Funny this is the theme for our film festival this year... He4She.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">mothers Let's start by saying, women need to start seeing themselves as HUMANS deserving of respect to be able to demand it. Yes, I'm talking to mothers who intentionally and unintentionally teach their daughters to stay in toxic environments and relationships. It has to stop. Girls are no less human than boys. Please protect them.
Next, new generation mothers need to break the cycle by raising ALL children the same. No child is easier to raise than another. Every child needs to be taught responsibility and accountability - EVEN BOYS. When you raise godly girls, the badly raised boys will eventually marry them... Then the cycle restarts.
Lastly, right-thinking men need to start holding their brothers, friends, colleagues and fathers accountable for treating other humans badly. As a reminder, women are HUMANS not dogs or carpets or things to be used and disposed of. Women are humans with flesh, blood, feelings and flaws just like men.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.1px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>You have a background in Theatre Arts and Mass Communication from the University of Benin. Are you practising this? How well has this shaped you into the woman you are?</i></b></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Let me start with your last question upward.
I'm not sure I could have done better in any other course. I have always said that God gave me the course of my dreams. The theatre was my first encounter with therapy. I was just coming from a place I can't call home and wasn't even sure of my place in the society; so, I was mostly mute as I had been taught; but, the theatre opened me up. Theatre gave me a voice. My eyes opened to other forms of expression not just writing which I had been used to as my go-to outlet. Broadcast media is the best thing that ever happened to me and yes, I am practising to date.
I now own a digital media company - The Different Woman Network - TDWN. We are a multimedia and events company based in Abuja, Nigeria.
We specialise in creating impactful audiovisual content that promotes mental mind wellness and women empowerment in Africa. We also create summer programs for teens using the media (performing arts) to teach our basic human values like respect for diversity and the need for healthy relationships. The next comes up from the 8th - 20th of August 2022. More info can be gotten here: tdwnmedia.business.site/ or download TDWN Media App from the Google Play store to get all our information in one place.</span></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYVn6_03YxuLrnhsa4YnKC1S6yqi8CYI3vsZk6MYEnpxmnIqmwltCnApDJJG3hMkEk7X0R35gH4CPJIz-_E4zvfzjI2puBXx2Ig3mU6GbETZ0zR3JZSOKA99KWpGImRUsuvyds9RmY_q0ClVBDNtU138mkQazzvOTEZ4JrRlDriCE2163Fuq46Zeqa/s1024/1652870794646.jpeg" style="background-color: #f8f9fa; font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: 0.2px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: pre-line;"><img border="0" data-original-height="649" data-original-width="1024" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYVn6_03YxuLrnhsa4YnKC1S6yqi8CYI3vsZk6MYEnpxmnIqmwltCnApDJJG3hMkEk7X0R35gH4CPJIz-_E4zvfzjI2puBXx2Ig3mU6GbETZ0zR3JZSOKA99KWpGImRUsuvyds9RmY_q0ClVBDNtU138mkQazzvOTEZ4JrRlDriCE2163Fuq46Zeqa/w640-h406/1652870794646.jpeg" width="640" /></a><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
Our platforms are also open to impactful and profitable partnerships with other brands within and outside Nigeria.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.1px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Can you shed more light on the WEmpower project? What led to its formation and what does it seek to achieve?</i></b></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I coined WEMpower from the term Women Empowerment.
The program seeks to empower women through real estate within Abuja, Nigeria by helping women buy affordable lands through group contributions as investments. The plan is to help women invest for the rainy day and give her a voice in her own life.
The idea came to me while hosting my Tuesday night show on Instagram back then. I had been sharing my own story of being a secondary survivor of domestic violence and other women were drawn to me with more pity stories. I needed to turn the party from a pity party to an empowerment party so, this was how I did it. We created a group and contributed little amounts together monthly to secure full plots that were then shared amongst members.
We started buying and flipping lands when the price was just 250k per plot. Today with more people and development in the area, land is 1.2M naira and more people are moving there as more women are joining our groups depending on the payment plan they choose. Women can pay from as low as 37,500 currently to become landowners in Abuja.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.1px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>You got certified by YALI network and became a Mental Health First Aider which is commendable. Understanding that mental health is a big issue that many people shy from, how can we change the stigma attached to mental health issues?</i></b></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I took my first certification course under the leadership of Aisha Bubah Abdullahi, (a certified therapist) to be a lay counsellor (a mental health first aider). I got certified in YALI Network. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">T</span></span><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;">he issue of mental health has been trivialized or spiritualized because people don't understand the difference and unfortunately some don't want to. The way to change the stigma around the term mental health is to keep talking about it from an informed point of view - like we're doing now.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Everyone has got mental health just like our physical health. Mental health is mind health like physical health is body health. When your physical body is down with one challenge or the other, you have a physical illness, that's why there is mental illness. And just like you have minor injuries like knife cuts and major injuries like bone breakage or others, mental illnesses also vary. You can treat some and cope with others; but, the diagnosis should be done under proper professional supervision.
It is unfortunate that a lot of people prefer over-the-counter treatments that land them in more problems than seeking professional help from organisations like The sunshine series and mind wellness and Lysi Regimen and others who are readily available to support help seekers with the right programs to attain mental balance.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.1px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Success is relative. What does it mean to you? Who are some women that are your yardstick of being successful?</i></b></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.1px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I never really measured my success by anyone's standards. I've always just set goals that led me in the right direction. When I'm done I set another. For what success means to me, I'll say having some sort of balance and comfort on all fronts... Family, work and life.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHn5MRWV_6sXaYGSEpFTgki23B2uhqEWnZ3SEvNl53NX3rboD1Pxh0sJDVWeg7lFnxvDetnWLkfG3FoQEOnzAOPe6OGsctzSqdoHhTJF5tFXGrAp5OnhltEc3HgAwbiHbISg-wixnfX1c2NZGi6ngEV-ltbFQ1dd0Ybc0x2tQrkUw8XspWVaZhXQV7/s1024/1652871525462.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHn5MRWV_6sXaYGSEpFTgki23B2uhqEWnZ3SEvNl53NX3rboD1Pxh0sJDVWeg7lFnxvDetnWLkfG3FoQEOnzAOPe6OGsctzSqdoHhTJF5tFXGrAp5OnhltEc3HgAwbiHbISg-wixnfX1c2NZGi6ngEV-ltbFQ1dd0Ybc0x2tQrkUw8XspWVaZhXQV7/w640-h640/1652871525462.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.1px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>What advice do you have for young women pursuing purpose?</i></b></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">You need to understand that it's not going to be a walk in the park. Nothing will be handed to you just because you're a woman. In fact, you may have to work ten times more than your male counterpart to prove God-knows-what to people who care less; so come prepared. Stop expecting to be treated with some extra fairness if you truly seek equality and equal pay. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Am I justifying being treated badly as a woman? Hell no! I'm saying, you're stronger than you even imagine. Don't believe the lies that have been sold to you for ages. Times have changed. Women are bulldozing doors, shattering glass ceilings and building their own tables. You can only do this when you stop second-guessing yourself. Don't be scared to reach within and rediscover yourself. You'll be amazed at what you'll find and that's all the power you need. Keep dreaming and pushing the limit Queen I'm rooting for you.</span></span></div></div></div></div>Akpo'Diddie Patricia Uyehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11744790175774967230noreply@blogger.com22Lagos, Nigeria6.5243793 3.3792057-21.785854536178846 -31.7770443 34.834613136178845 38.5354557