The International Committee of the All Africa Music Awards, (AFRIMA) has withdrawn the hosting rights from Republic of Ghana for the 2019 and 2020 editions of the All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, over lack of capacity by the Host Country to meet the financial and contractual obligations entered to on July 12, 2018, necessary to retain hosting the biggest music event in Africa.
The decision was reached on Monday, July 15 after several months of meetings and consultations with relevant stakeholders to remedy the situation with the expectation that the Republic of Ghana would provide concrete assurances and guarantees to discharge its contractual obligations for hosting the 2019 and 2020 editions of AFRIMA after its disappointing performance on the contract during the 2018 edition of the Awards held in Accra between November 21 and 24 which the organisers successfully put together against all odds.
It would be recalled that decision of the African Union (AU) and AFRIMA to award a three-term hosting right (2018-2020) of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) to Ghana followed the declaration of the President of Ghana, His Excellency, Nana Akufo Addo of his desire to host the AFRIMA Awards in Ghana made on May 21, 2018 during the AFRIMA 2018 Calendar Unveiling Ceremony held in Accra. After initially complying to some of the host country responsibilities, Ghana’s hosting rights for the 5th
AFRIMA was publicly announced by the African Union at the African Union Secretariat Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on September 5, 2018 and a letter signed by the Commissioner of Social Affairs, African Union, Mrs. Amira El Fadil dated September 13, 2018 to effect the hosting rights was dispatched to the Government of the Republic of Ghana through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture, Ghana.
According to the International Advisor, AFRIMA, Mr. Rikki Stein, while thanking the young people and the media in Ghana said; “It was a hard decision for us to withdraw the awards hosting rights for the next two years (2019 and 2020 editions) from the Republic of Ghana. As an awards owned for the African people, it is structured to travel around the continent giving the people the true African experience. We have some fond memories of our time in Ghana immersing ourselves in the lifestyle and music and we have formed great friendships among the Ghanaian people. We look forward to returning to Ghana at a more opportuned time. However, we cannot afford to compromise the standard of the laudable vision of AFRIMA to create a truly African brand that connects Africans and build the equity of Africa. The situation faced in Ghana has the potential to erode the goodwill and giant strides we have achieved in Africa through the awards”.
Mr. Stein, a former Manager and friend of Afrobeat Legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, added that AFRIMA is geared to increase the tourism and entertainment equity of a host country as the host receives an influx of international and Africa dignitaries, AFRIMA nominees, music stars and executives who attend the four-day programme of activities. AFRIMA further offers benefits that would help in raising the continental and international profile of the host country, including an opportunity to tap into the millions of participants and followers of the growing African music.
The African Union had enjoyed a successful and effective hosting partnership with the Federal Republic of Nigeria that won the right to host the four editions of AFRIMA -from 2014-2017.
“The support of the Ministry of Information & Culture, Nigeria with sponsorship from the Government of Lagos State, Nigeria as AFRIMA Official Host City in 2016 and 2017 also fostered the smooth execution of the various AFRIMA events and facilitated the seamless engagement of corporate sponsorship/partnership at various facets of event planning and execution”, Mr. Stein explained.
“Our concerns are genuine and worrying. We must see a commitment from the Host Country government to secure suitable venues in advance for holding the AFRIMA Awards ceremony and events, to provide suitable hotel accommodation in advance for nominees, artistes and guests of the Awards and to provide and process visas -on-arrival in advance and in good time for guests, nominees, artistes, contractors and other relevant stakeholders attending the Awards. If these are not in place, then we have a recipe for disaster on our hands”, he stated.
The International Committee of AFRIMA has said it is working to determine a new host country for the 6th edition of the annual All Africa Music Awards AFRIMA and this will be announced in August 2019. After five outstanding editions of AFRIMA from 2014 to 2018, the 6th edition will continue in the tradition of celebrating the scintillating musical culture of Africa by featuring exhilarating Pan-Africa events through the lifespan of the calendar year in 2019.
The events on the AFRIMA 2019 calendar include the ‘Call for Entry/Entry Submission’ opening on May 15 to end on August 2, a process when African music professionals from across the continent submit their musical works, songs and recordings via the official AFRIMA website www.afrima.org for a possible shot at nomination in one or more of the 36 categories of AFRIMA.
The 6th AFRIMA Main Awards Ceremony, a four-day fiesta of music, glamour, Afrocentricism and entertainment, holds in November in the official awards Host City. The four-day event commences with the Welcome Soiree followed by the AFRIMA Music Village, the Host City Tour, the Africa Music Business Summit, the exclusive Nominees Party and concludes with the live Awards Ceremony. Fans of African music globally can follow along and take part in the AFRIMA 2019 events on social media, livestream on the AFRIMA website, the AFRIMA App and by tuning to over 84 television stations which are AFRIMA partners.
Music diva, Yemi Alade has made history as the first female African artist to hit one million subscribers on video streaming platform, YouTube.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this feat comes months after Alade became the second Nigerian artist to hit hundred million views on YouTube for the song, ‘Johnny’.
The ‘Oh My Gosh’ singer took to her Instagram page @yemialade to announce the feat and reflect on her musical journey of six years.
She wrote, “God is the GREATEST, started this journey six years ago. Thanks to everyone streaming / watching my videos and music. Godbless us all.”
With this feat, Alade joins other entertainers who have over one million subscribers, including the defunct P-Square (1.2 million), Davido (1.5 million) and Diamond Platnumz (2.1 million).
Her debut studio album ‘King of Queens’ was released on October 2, 2014, by Effyzzie Music Group.
Alade collaborated with producers such as Selebobo, Sizzle Pro, Shady Bizniz, Philkeyz, Young D, GospelOnDeBeatz, DIL, OJB Jezreel, Mr Chidoo, Fliptyce, EL Mcee and Beat Nation.
The album was preceded by three singles: “Johnny”, “Tangerine” and “Kissing”. It features guest appearances and skits from Bovi, R2Bees, Phyno, Chidinma, DIL, Selebobo and Diamond Platnumz.
She has performed around the world and shared the stage and songs with the likes of Mary J. Blige, Shina Peters, Wizkid, Becca, M.I, Waje and others.
NIGERIANS are very aspirational. It is the reason that rags-to-riches stories hold a special place in our hearts. These rags-to-riches stories remind us that through perseverance, hardwork, and prayer, anyone can surmount obstacles on the path to greatness and achieve amazing success.
In this age of glitz and glamour, it is quite easy to forget that many of our successful entrepreneurs, actresses, academics, media moguls and the likes started out dirt poor. Nowadays when we see their luxury cars, massive mansions and expensive jewelry, it may look like they have always rolled in cash. But for many of them, this was not so at the beginning. Some had to do menial jobs to make ends meet. Others started at the lowest level in the professions.
Below are a few rags to riches stories that will motivate us into achieving greatness just like they did.
Cosmas Maduka of Coscharis Motors
A businessman and philanthropist, Maduka is the founder, president and chairman of Coscharis Group. Coscharis is an indigenous conglomerate with diverse interests in manufacturing, ICT, petrochemical, auto care and sales and agriculture. He was born into a poor family in the city of Jos, Plateau State, and began his entrepreneurial journey at the tender age of six. He dropped out of primary school two years after the death of his father and started hawking beans cake (Akara) to support his mother.
Through sheer hard work, Maduka escaped poverty to become one of the world’s most successful investors. In 2015, he was featured in Forbes Africa as the man who turned $1 dollar to $500million. His name is synonymous with the retailing of luxury car brands which he sells and services under the famous Coscharis Motors brand.
Patoranking, a musician Reggae-dancehall singer and songwriter Patrick Nnaemeka Okorie, popularly known as Patoranking, was born in Ijegun-Egba, a suburb of Lagos. He started out as a bricklayer. Before he became a successful businessman and musician, he also hawked rat poison and traps on the streets of Lagos. The path to success wasn’t a rosy one for the former bricklayer and rat poison seller.
Actress Mercy Johnson Okojie
Mercy Johnson Okojie is one of Nollywood’s most beloved and versatile artistes. In an interview with a newspaper some years back, Nollywood star actress-Mercy Johnson Okojie, said: “There were times I stopped schooling to hawk pure water, plantain chips and other things. Do you also know I was once a housemaid?” Today, Johnson-Okojie’s past is like a forgotten dream. She is one of Nollywood’s most successful artistes and fame, money and stardom have taken the place of poverty in her life. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah of Capital Oil
Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah was born in Lugbe, a small town in Abuja, back when that district was still poor and teeming with people striving to survive. The first born of seven children dropped out of school-Premier Academy, Lugbe, in Abuja to learn a trade at a young age due to the inability of his parents to cater for the educational and material needs of their children. Despite these obstacles, Ubah triumphed in business. Shortly after he started in business, he moved into the importation of spare parts and tyres doing business across Europe and the West African sub-region. He set up Capital Oil in 2001. Ubah is the owner of a football club, Ifeanyi Ubah FC, and during the last election, he won the Anambra South Senatorial seat under the banner of the Young Progressives Party (YPP).
Joseph Benjamin, actor & OAP
Joseph Benjamin is a Nigerian actor, model, TV presenter, well-known for co-hosting MTN’s Project Fame, a talent reality show. He happens to be one of the leading comperes and reality show presenters in Nigeria. But he had such a tough time in his journey to stardom. According to the handsome dude, who studied computing at the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka, “I have moved from being a bus conductor, security guard, waiter, worked in a bakery, sold shoes at Balogun; then moved into IT before acting.”
Set to premiere his maiden film, ‘Stones’, film editor turned producer Effiong Akan, is confident of his new venture. The filmmaker who has worked for many years as an editor, in this interview with JOE AGBRO JR., talks about why he made the movie, why he thinks he has what it takes to do movies and what to expect from him. Excerpts
So, who is Effiong Akan?
First, I’m a film editor. I started as a film editor. I’ve worked on several projects like Zahra. I edited Cougars, the series. I’ve done Baby Daddy. In fact, most times, I can’t even remember them because they are much. And then, I decided to do production myself, so, I started my company, Oceanmark Studios. This is my first production from Oceanmark Studios.
Why did you decide to do this particular film?
The title is Stones. Why I did so was because I wanted to provoke some sensitive thoughts in the society. I wanted people to think before they leap. Sometimes, you see things and you think you should take them for their face value. But no, I want people to think before they leap. Like in the story, there was this girl who looks helpless. It’s easy to help such a person but unknown to you, you might actually be falling into a trap. It happens in everyday life. It could come in form of friends. It could come like family members. You’ll think it’s harmless and you dive into it. In the end, you just discover that it was just a scam.
So, what is the story about?
Actually, in the case of this story, it’s about a girl who is the epicentre of the story. She wanted to steal some diamonds from her lover who deals in diamonds. So, she wanted a way she could do this without getting attention to herself, making people to think it was actually her who did it. So, she looked for everyday guys, normal looking guys, who she could actually convince to do the work for her. They fell for her, stole the diamonds. In the end, she ran away with the diamonds. The guys were arrested. And then, the only they could do to save themselves was to bring back the diamond and the girl.
How was the experience of shooting this movie, as you’re just starting out as a producer?
Like the story, don’t take people for their face value. I learnt a lot from the course of this production. The people who I worked with, because of the production, I knew who they really were. I’ve also come to realise that it’s easy to criticise producers, Hollywood producers, but when you’re involved in those things, you will know there is not much you can do.
Before, you were at the back-end of the film-making chain. How does it feel now getting involved in the making of this film?
Well, I’m an editor and you know we’re always on the back seat. You’re hardy mentioned. So, being involved in the production has brought me out, which ordinarily I’m the kind of person who does not want to be seen. I love my behind-the-scene. But what would I do? If you have to progress, you will need to do something that you’re not usually used to.
So, what were some of the major challenges you encountered?
Finances, first and foremost. It’s not very easy to get finance when you’re not the well-known name. Sometimes, people need to see what you can do first before they can actually trust you with their money. I think my biggest problem was finance. I’ve worked with several of the actors. Having them on board wasn’t actually a problem.
What’s your plan for Stones?
This is the first of many to come. Stones is like a franchise. We will have another instalment. I think we’ll go to location by September for the second instalment. So, I’m looking at a large portal. I’m looking at something that in the end, we’ll go international with the title.
So when would the movie be out?
It will premiere in cinemas on the 29th of March.
In terms of preparations, what prepared you to transit from a film editor to a producer?
I’ve been long in the industry. I’ve spent several years as an editor. I’ve worked with several producers. Before producing Stones, I’ve worked with Royal Arts Academy. I was the chief editor for a very long time. So, I understand the business. I think my experience has actually prepared me for this.
Would you say the fact that you’re an editor gave you a pass?
Somehow, it did. Because we editors, we see the end picture, which is an advantage. Two, because it allows me to connect with some of these actors.
As an editor, you just take the work that has been done. But as a producer, it’s a different ball game.
Because I’m an editor, I usually am part of the production team because I know how I want the feel of the film to be like. Most times, director will seek advice from me – how do you want the picture to look like? As an editor, you can actually help. So, if as a director, you want a particular feel, I think the best person to call is the editor.
How long did the project take?
On set, we spent ten days. That’s for production. For post-production, about three months. From then to now, it’s about a year.
So, what are the plans going forward?
For me as a person and my company, something big is coming; something Nollywood has not experienced at all, something we will all be proud of.
Nonye Goodie-Obi is a former banker, an Ambassador for Peace awardee and designer. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, she talks about her passion started in school, having an imaginative mind, designing for celebrities like Omotola Jalade Ekeinde and working with bank giants who mentored and sharpened her entrepreneurial skills
WHAT inspired you to go into the fashion sector?
The brand Nonnistics is a coinage from my name by my husband during our dating period, which I immortalised by registering it legally as a business name. Nonnistics is a full-fledged design house operating from Lagos, Nigeria. We design apparels across the full spectrum of apparel design comprising women’s, men’s and children’s apparel, bridal wears as well as costumes. Our designs are inspired by the world around us, the dynamic taste of our ever-expanding clientele and our wacky imaginations.
I have always loved fashion. I have always admired beautiful dressing. I have always been inclined towards fashion without realising I would not just be an admirer but a full part of the process.
As a kid in primary school, I had my first touch with fashion in our extracurricular subject – needle work. I looked forward to it every Thursday. We were given a piece of khaki fabric, needle and thread. I remember clearly how our teacher would make us thread the needle and ensure we hold our practice cloth well so that our stitches are straight. We learnt simple running stitch, chain stitch, fancy runny stitch, tacking stitch. And then we learnt how to use different colours of thread to create different stitches all-round the edges of the fabric and I was always excited seeing the outcome. I practised at home. And I even went ahead to use my mom’s unused scarves to hand cut and sew blouses for my younger sister. I can never forget my giant rosette on one of the blouses I made for her. I wasn’t taught that in school but I had itchy fingers and a very imaginative mind. Beyond needles and thread at this young age, I loved knitting. I knit socks, purses, sweaters, head and arm rests for our sofa set.
Fast forward to my years in the university (1st degree), I loved sketching. I didn’t even know it was called sketching. I just loved drawing clothes designs. They weren’t perfect but the tailors understood them. I also loved combining fabrics and colours. Some of my year mates started pushing their fabrics to me to sketch what I thought would come out good and I’d gladly do them. My reward was the excitement I had when I saw them wear my designs.
I also did beading (beaded jewellery) without formal training. I bought from a fellow student who was never willing to teach anyone. I got home, loosened it and fixed it back. I did it the second time and fixed it back. I went to market, bought plastic beads and created different twists and sizes of beaded chokers. I didn’t sell them. I was so happy to give them to people to wear for free. My kick was seeing my work on people. I remember how my late dad offered to give me money so I could actually get the right equipment for the beaded jewellery and do it well and make something out of it but I turned it down. I told him I wanted to do my youth service and work in the corporate sector just like my friends wanted to do. I became a banker immediately after my national youth service.
At each point in my life, fashion had always drawn me close. It’s something that was there that I fought and failed. I love colours a lot and that’s how I started balloon decoration and moved into full event decoration while I was in banking. I enjoyed every bit of it except packing after the events! It was event decoration that led me to my first real commercial fashion business. A groom wanted me to help rent a wedding dress for the bride but I convinced him to buy a new one and he gave me the responsibility of finding a new dress that would fit into his budget. I hit the internet and got a seller on Alibaba online. We chatted and I chose a design and asked for some adjustments, showed the bride and she loved it and I ordered. The couple were so happy that they told their friends planning to get married to contact me for both decorations and wedding dress. I didn’t have a store. I was a banker. That’s how I started selling wedding dresses. I would get a design, and recreate it by removing and adding different parts and getting an entirely new design. I got someone online who I’d send the design to and they’ll make and dispatch to me via DHL. I did it for a period of one year and closed it because my banking job was so demanding.
I never thought of doing fashion business again till I resigned from banking in 2015. I was running my consulting firm focusing on infrastructure funding. Sometimes, my head gets so full with crunching figures and writing project memos and reports. At such times, I would leave my desk and lay down on my office couch to calm my brain. One day, I thought of opening another soft business that would not involve numbers where I would see a lot of people having fun, and I thought of sharwama kiosk. The mall I asked for a space for the kiosk failed me but gave me a small store for a boutique instead. I wasn’t ready for boutique but I took it. I opened my first boutique on December 10, 2016 in a 17 square metre space. I travelled to Turkey and US on my own and got a few things and started. That was the high point of naira depreciation. I was surprised that I could sell. By February 2017, I got a 30 square metre space in another mall but retained the first space too. By May of 2017, I was tired of the travelling to Turkey and US for retail shopping. I was finding it more difficult to get unique pieces that wouldn’t break the bank. Sometimes, when I travel, especially to Turkey, I’d share my design ideas with some of the stores and they would take them and produce and make a lot of money without giving me discount even when I buy. So I knew I wanted to be an apparel producer. My last retail shopping for my boutique was August 2017. By October same year, I got a place and renovated it and by November 2017, Nonnistics as a clothing brand was birthed.
I would say I was inspired by something innate I cannot describe; the desire to bring my imaginations to life, to see people dress beautifully in my creations and the desire to create something unique, something different and the desire to create jobs and means of livelihood for families. I see job creation as a means of giving back to the society that nurtured me and irrespective of the harsh conditions we live in today, one job created is one family lifted off lack and impoverishment.
What was it like at the beginning?
Becoming an apparel producer, a clothing brand is not easy at all. First was the excitement followed by a huge fear. Yeah, I was afraid. I was scared. I was anxious. I worried about many things – what if I fail? How do I begin to let the world know I now design and create outfits right here in Nigeria? How do I get good tailors? Can I afford all the machines? Will my go-to-market strategy work? These questions and more were burdens on my mind. I did two things; first was to speak to a dear friend of mine, Tope Fajingbesin. She turned my fears around by asking me a question; what if you succeed? And she reminded me of my little success in the few months I did retailing items from Turkey and US and asked me how that happened. Basically, she reminded me and boosted my faith in God and the fact that God will never fail me. I was encouraged. I then sought the services of a consultant to handhold me through the process for my first year. I felt I needed someone else who understood the fashion language and the business language. Part of the services was helping me recruit the tailors and set up for production. It helped a lot. I drew up my business plan and market penetration strategy myself and discussed it with my consultant who also added value to my thought process. I started with one professional tailor, a joiner and a beader. We got our first order the very day we opened and that was a miracle. I got a call from a former colleague who asked for an urgent couture work for her award ceremony. I still do not understand how on earth she knew I just opened a production outfit for apparels. Thankfully, all our first clients were so happy with their orders and I saw it as a good sign. Sincerely speaking, we had a beautiful start and God has sustained it till this day.
What are the challenges encountered?
The first challenge was how to manage the technical staff. Truthfully speaking, managing people at that level is totally different from all my previous experience. It requires tact, patience and good old native intelligence. I had to think back to how my dad managed all the people like that and they loved him and I started putting it into practice. It worked. It still works.
The first technical challenge was finding out that the strategy of having cutter and a joiner wasn’t panning out fine. It slowed down work because of errors from the joiner that had to be corrected again. I was and still am so particular of the finishing of the work done in my factory. I would rather do it all over if it wasn’t rightly done the first time. But doing that often is also costly so it became imperative that we get more professional tailors that can handle my designs excellently. They don’t come cheap but we had to recruit more and work harder to get the business to pay the bills.
Tell us about your designs, what makes your different from others?
I have a mind I am struggling to tame with respect to creations so we are versatile designers. I would consider my designs classy, stylish and timeless although I hear a lot of people say I do dramatic stuff. I love the red carpet and I have always loved the red carpets.
I was always glued to E! in the US, watching Giuliana Rancic host the red carpet and I would just be totally soaked into the whole array of diverse evening wears for all the red carpet events – Oscars, BET, Grammy’s etc. I looked forward to Fashion Police with the late Joan Rivers after each big event to listen to the criticisms and applause on the celebrities and their outfits. I just loved the red carpet fashion world!
So I would say my signature style is evening wears. I love the glam, the attention, everything that great evening wears attract whether on the red carpet, special events, birthday shoots, anniversaries. My designs work for women of all shapes and sizes. I just believe that every woman is beautiful and deserves to wear beautifully made clothes. I am African and most African women are on the plus size or curvy women radar so I feel it is imperative to have a clothing label that is inclusive. When I create my pieces, I think of how that piece will be viewed in the next 20-50 years. Will it still stand out? That is why I do styles and not trend. I love creating timeless pieces that give the customer good value for money. Whether we are creating a pair of shorts, a bikini set, a cocktail dress, a suit or an evening wear, it is very important to us that fabric quality and tailoring excellence are primary.
Tell us about some memorable moments as a designer
My first red carpet outfits I made were Arabian themed designs I made for academy member and Nollywood veteran, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, and radio host and sweetheart, Tolu Demuren, popularly known as Toolz. Both outfits were for the premiere of Mo Abudu’s blockbuster movie, Wedding Party 2. The fact that people doubted that the outfits were made here and actually thought they were imported was exciting to me. It reinforced my belief that my dream is valid and can be achieved.
My next memorable moment was being the lead designer for the 40th birthday ceremony of Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde. She believed in me so much despite the fact that I only had just opened my production less than two months before she chose me. I value that opportunity a lot and will always value it. I was very much aware of the many established names that wanted to design outfits for her for free but she maintained that she wanted to wear my creations. Now, if you understand the intertwine between the fashion industry and the entertainment industry as well as the cult followership and respect this actress has, you would agree with me that it was a huge endorsement of my brand. That birthday put us out there and we are grateful for it.
I love winning and I know we all love winning. AMVCA2018 was a super win for me. Two of the actresses I styled, won the awards in their categories. Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde won the Best Actress for the Year and Lilian Afegbai won the Best Indigenous Movie of the Year and both actresses wore my creations on the red carpet of that event.
The high point of our beautiful first year of operations was our runway show at the Glitz Africa Fashion Show held in Accra, Ghana, in 2018. My brand went there unknown but blew the stage away. I was so emotional as I walked that runway to acknowledge the excited crowd in that hall. It was humbling and super exciting. Again, it reinforced my dreams and aspirations in this industry.
In 2018, my young label received two major nominations – The Most Versatile Designer of the Year from Lamode’s Green October Event and Best Designer of the Year from ELOY Awards. We won the Most Versatile Designer of the Year 2018. potato just watching the wedding channels. I have few close friends and I love chatting or hanging out with them. We discuss each other’s businesses and add value to each other.
Who or what do you consider as the greatest influence in your life?
My parents are the greatest influence on my life. Their love story, the life they lived together and the bond they shared till death separated them provides me with a lot of inspiration in life. I find many solutions to life’s problems by referring to what they would do if they were faced with the same problem.
Then I would never forget my bosses who gave me the opportunity of working under them while at GTBank and Access Bank Plc. Mr. Fola Adeola, formerly of GTbank and board chair of various institutions now; Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imokhuede now of Coronation Merchant Bank; current GMD of the Access Bank Group, Herbert Wigwe and Okey Nwuke, now the deputy managing director of Coscharis Motors. I was allowed to leave my young mind to roam to any possibility and they, especially Aigboje, taught me a lot of things about taking responsibility and leadership. I would say I became an entrepreneur first as a banker under him. I learnt resource management and people management, marketing, strategic thinking and planning, effective self-leadership and a whole lot from these leaders. I will always be proud to say I worked under them.
On an innate consideration, I would say my desire to help people out of poverty keeps me working hard and looking forward to the day my brand will grow to create a thousand good jobs, provide scholarships for indigent children and set up grants for students in creative courses in Nigerian universities. So help me God.
What lessons has life taught you?
Each stage of my life teaches me something. Life is dynamic and we learn and unlearn every day. One big lesson I have learnt is that it is good to be good to others. Yes, you might be hurt, you might be paid back with evil, but it is still good to be good to others. God has a way of repaying everyone – good or bad. I have had my fair share of disappointments from people I treated so well, people I took bullets for, people I considered too close to be allowed to hurt but I have also smiled at favours I received from people I never knew I impacted in any way, people that heard about what I did for someone else, people who never even knew me at all. God’s love is eternal and never judges even though it gets bruised.
Tell us about the people you admire
One close person is my husband. He has a lot of patience. I still do not understand how he remains calm when everything is in chaos and comes out with a banging solution to the problem!
I really admire Michelle and Barak Obama. I got more drawn to them when I read Obama’s book, The Audacity of Hope. I literally saw how a man can become anything if you so much desire it and work for it. I have visited Chicago South Side a few times and I totally understand what that environment could do to the psyche of a child. It’s a place you look back as you drive and shop. I love their love and belief in each other and most importantly their realness.
I admire the tenacity of Nelson Mandela. It takes a lot of love for one’s countrymen to do what he did for South Africa. If we have more Nelson Mandelas in Africa, the world will bow to us.
I admire Oprah Winfrey for turning the lemons thrown at her in life to not just lemonades but lemonades that everyone scrambles for and Serena Williams and her sister Venus. I started watching them in 2001 and they made me love lawn tennis. Being black and competing at that level in a game that is traditionally white, a game that still has racist umpires, and topping the charts is so admirable. Their story creates the can-do spirit.
I admire Fela Anikulapo Kuti. I consider him a prophet. Everything he said about this country in his music still stands true. He carved out a niche for himself in the music industry and his works are evergreen.
On the fashion scene, I strongly admire the brand channel. The story of Gabrielle Bonheur “Coco” Chanel is one that inspires. Despite the ups and downs, the brand remains solid and independent till this day with a market value of about $10 billion as at their 2017 financial reporting.
NOWADAYS, the children of celebrities grow up in the limelight under the watchful eyes of the public and through photos and videos that their celeb parents share on social media.
But many of these sons and daughters of the famous are only known to us because of their parents’ deeds. Without their parents’ accomplishments and names, most of them won’t be known.
But some celeb children are popular in their own right. Some of them are now as popular, if not more popular than their famous star parents. Entertainment is the biggest sector where most of these ‘double celeb’ kids can be found.
Some of them act in the biggest movies, walk the red carpet at topnotch awards ceremonies and have huge following. It appears that this famous superstar families have passed the talent on from one generation to the next.
Examples include the late cinema icon Ade Love’s actor children; the late entertainment guru, Art Alade’s son Dare Art Alade; Paul Ik Dairo, the son of the late highlife maestro IK Dairo; Femi Adebayo of the Oga Bello clan and several others.
So take this journey with us and let us meet these ‘double celebs’ who, in their own, right are as popular as their parents.
Darey Art Alade, son of Art Alade
Multi-talented artiste, Dare Art Alade, popularly known as Darey, is the son of the renowned legendary Nigerian entertainer and iconic Nigerian jazz music pioneer Art Alade. Art Alade was a Nigerian television personality and producer, who was the host of The Bar Beach Show, a weekly variety show on NBC-TV that aired during the 1970s. Darey has won many awards like the Headies award for Artist of the Year.
Falz, Femi Falana’s son
The multitalented artist is the son of renowned human rights activist parents, Funmi and Femi Falana (SAN). Falz’s rise to stardom is quite remarkable because he is not from a family with deep roots in entertainment. But the artiste, one of the industry’s hardest workers, is now a dominant face in music, movies and the arts.
Kunle, Gabriel, Aremu, Moji Afolayan, Ade Love’s children
Kunle, Gabriel, Aremu and Moji Afolayan are the children of the late cinema icon, Ade Love, who dominated the big screen in the 70s and 80s. His children, Kunle, Moji, Gabriel and Aremu are stars in the movie industry. Kunle, a movie producer and director of note, is known to create blockbuster movies. The highly talented and sought-after four have made the world theirs just as their dad did.
Fred, Zack, Ruke, Mena Amata, children of John Amata
The Amata family is like a factory, which has produced some of the country’s biggest producers, actors and directors. The Amata brothers were born into the film industry. Their late, John Amata father was a famous Nigerian filmmaker. The Amata siblings, Fred, Zack, Ruke, Mena, have kept the family’s flag flying.
Samuel Olasehinde, Pa Ajirebi’s (Kayode Olasehinde)’s son
Viewers got to know this father-son duo through acting, which the Law graduate from Obafemi Awolowo University first auditioned for when he was just five years old. Clarence Peters, son of Sir Shina Peter
Ace music video director, filmmaker and cinematographer, Clarence, definitely has his father’s genes- physical appearance and his mother’s love for directing. Clarence is the son of juju superstar, Sir Shina Peters, and screen goddess, Clarion Chukwura.
Linc, Yul, sons of Pete Edochie
Linc and Yul, are the sons of the popular actor and the dominant face in several epic movies, Pete Edochie. The elder Edochie became famous for his perfect translation of the protagonist of Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart”, which has been adjudged many times as one of Africa’s greatest novels.
Linc Edochie, the elder brother of Yul, is a multiple talent- filmmaker, movie producer, actor, and supervisor.
Since he became an actor, Linc has played roles in lots of the Nollywood movies and worked on the production of many Nollywood films.
Fine-boy Yul, Linc’s younger brother, has starred in many hit movies. In July 2017, Yul Edochie joined politics and ran for governorship in Anambra State.
Dr. Sid, Justus Esiri’s son
Justus Esiri had more than 100 TV and film credits before he passed on in 2013. His son, Sidney Onoriode, widely known as Dr. Sid, a singer, songwriter and dentist, is making his mark in the music industry. Dr. Sid has been nominated for and has won several awards; just like his father did years before.
Femi, Tope Adebayo, Adedayo’s Salami’s (Oga Bello’s) sons
Femi and Tope followed in their father’s, veteran actor, Adebayo Salami’s footsteps. They are both A-list actors. Oga Bello, as their father is fondly called by many of his admirers, is one of Nigeria’s most successful and accomplished actors. Femi, a lawyer, is an actor, director, producer and Special Adviser to the Governor of Kwara State on Arts, Culture and Tourism. Femi began acting in 1985, the same year he featured in his father’s first movie, titled Ogun Ajaye. While is younger brother, Tope Adebayo, is also a successful movie director,who studied at the University of Ilorin.
Sola Kosoko-Abina, Bidemi, Jide Kosoko’s daughters
Sola and Bidemi are the daughters of superstar actor, Prince Jide Kosoko. Sola is an actress and director. Bidemi is an actress. Both of them are stars in their own right. The two women, who are both Theatre Arts graduates, have grown into beautiful, mature women and powerhouse actresses.
DJ Cuppy, Femi Otedola’s daughter
Businessman, philanthropist, and chairman of Forte Oil, Femi Otedola, wanted to raise his kids far from the world of showbiz but that wasn’t to be. DJ Cuppy schooled in United Kingdom, but that didn’t stop her from performing and later making her way up in the entertainment world. DJ Cuppy is quite popular on the music scene and has a large following on social media.
Few weeks back, Chief Joseph Akpieyi turned 80 and the celebration has not stopped. That’s because at 80, Chief Akpieyi has too many people to celebrate him. He has children and grandchildren and goodwill that has been built over the years in the corporate world and outside it. In the 80s, Chief Akpieyi was a Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Petroleum Refining Company (now Port Harcourt Refinery Company) and was also the CEO of Warri Refining and Petrochemicals Company Limited. Now at 80, he is still in boardrooms, notable among them being Arco Group of companies where he is the Chairman. In this interview with PAUL UKPABIO, he tells us his story.
HOW does it feel to be 80?
I am grateful to God for preserving me to 80 in good health. I feel fulfilled.
When did you turn 80 and how did you celebrate it?
I turned 80 on February 28, 2019. My family and I went to the 06:30 am Mass to thank God for His manifold blessings upon my life; thereafter, we received family members and some friends at my residence. The formal celebration will take place in early April by the grace of God.
How did your early background influence the person that you are today?
I grew up in a much disciplined environment both at home and in Government College Ughelli (GCU). Certain values like honesty, integrity, striving for perfection, hard work as secret of success, punctuality, humility, kindness to family members and neighbours, standing up for your right, protection and preservation of family name in all circumstances, respect for the rule of law and respect for seniors, wife and friends were all inculcated in me at home and GCU. These values have been the anchor and beacons of my life that have upheld me to being the person that I am today.
You attended Government College Ughelli, what prompted your option?
Government College Ughelli was the secondary school of first choice in our days; it had excellent infrastructure, devoted expatriate and Nigerian graduate teachers, bumper student welfare schemes and it diligently pursued the policies of ‘healthy mind in a healthy body.’ My elder brother, William, who was my role model, preceded me to GCU and he told me numerous stories of how wonderful the college was. So those were the things that made me resolve to work really hard to gain admission into the famous college.
When you decided to study Chemical Engineering, were you targeting the oil industry?
Truthfully, there was no nexus between the study of Chemical Engineering and working in the oil industry. No Nigerian universities were offering Chemical Engineering in 1962, which was why I first obtained a degree in Chemistry from the University of Ibadan, but was sent on an in-service training by my employers, the Petroleum Division of the Ministry of Mines and Power, to study Chemical Engineering in the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom.
At what point did marriage come in?
The marriage idea came in after three years of graduating from the university, securing a decent job in the public service of the federation and being sent abroad on an in-service training, which meant that my salary was still being paid during the period of the in-service training. I got married when I was 29 years old.
Was it love at first sight?
Yes, it was indeed! I had gone with my elder brother, William, to visit his classmate and friend, Mr Joseph Oroye, who was on vacation from Igbobi College, Lagos. Mr. Oroye had arranged a luncheon for the lady of his dreams, Janet Otuedon, my cousin, at his father’s sprawling residence on Macpherson Road, when I sighted Joseph’s sister, Mabel, a slim, very beautiful lady. On first sight, I blurted out, “you will be my wife in the future.” How prophetic!!
At 80, are you fulfilled?
Yes, I feel quite fulfilled: I was educated at the prestigious GCU, premier University of Ibadan and the University of Surrey Guildford, U.K. I am an alumnus of Columbia University Graduate School of Business, New York, USA. I served as the CEO of four key NNPC subsidiaries. I retired voluntarily after 26 years of meritorious service. I have been married to my childhood love for 50 years plus and we are blessed with six lovely children who have in turn given us 14 grandchildren. At 80, I do not suffer from the infirmities of old age and my faculties are still very much intact.
In retirement, I have been gainfully engaged as: the Executive Chairman of TRITHEL International Consulting that has built an impressive client base across corporate Nigeria in the diverse fields of Quality and Environment Management Systems and Services, Human Capacity Building and Executive Search and Selection. I am the Co – Founder and Chairman of Air Separation Nigeria Limited, a wholly indigenous company, which manufactures industrial and medical gases for industries and health care institutions, and now has incredible reach into 30 states of the Nigerian federation, employing many Nigerians.
President Olusegun Obasanjo then, appointed me the Chairman of the Interim Technical Board of Port-Harcourt Refinery on May 31, 2004 to prepare the refinery for privatisation. I have been the Chairman of Arco Group Plc family, a leading player in the oil and gas services business to multinational companies since 2008. I once served as the chairman of another reputable company, SOWSCO Well Services Nigeria Limited, that is into well cementation, well head maintenance and repairs, brine filtration, pipeline and industrial cleaning services.
I was the National President of the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers from 1999 to 2000. My period witnessed the transformation of the society to position it to meet the challenges of the new millennium and successfully integrated the society into the Nigerian Society of Engineers. I was the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers’ Foundation. I have given back to my Alma Materby serving it as president in two branches and as its President – General from 2011 – 2015. I definitely feel fulfilled. I give God all the glory.
Do you miss the public service after you left?
I deliberately decided to retire voluntarily from the public service. Before doing that, I had weighed life in the service and life after service. I knew that there would be a time that every public servant must leave the service and face the future. So, I decided not to let the fear of the unknown deter me from leaving the service ahead of the retirement age. So, I can say I did not have any reason to begin to dwell on whether or not I would miss the public service. Life must continue.
People don’t retire voluntarily in such lucrative sectors as the oil and gas industry. Why did you leave?
I agree that it is not usual for people in the oil and gas industry to retire voluntarily in such a lucrative sector unless pushed to do so. As I had stated earlier, I think what is responsible for that situation is the fear of the unknown. In the Military Governments’ culture of “retirement with immediate effect,” it was evident that one could be retired arbitrarily with no notice for drummed up charges of inefficiency, lack of integrity, lack of productivity and so on. The staff would have to face the unknown with the stain of the cooked up reasons for the sudden retirement. I thought it was by far better to face the unknown with one’s integrity intact. Hence, I opted to retire voluntarily. If I had allowed myself to be retired suddenly, the undertones beneath the retirement would have crushed my spirit and probably hastened my demise.
You retired early but went back to work again, so when will you retire finally?
I will do that now that I have attained 80 years in good health.
How are you spending the latter part of your life?
You mean how I intend to spend the remaining part of my life after 80? Well, I will now really retire from active consultancy works but not from chairmanship that demands my service only once a quarter. I shall plan more holidays internally and abroad to the extent possible. I shall also spend more time with my grandchildren. Thank God we have many internet communication facilities that make contacts so easy.
In your youthful days, were you a lady’s man?
No, I was not. In fact, GCU taught me to be decent in relationships with the female sex. My mother also preached the need for me not to ruin the lives of young females. I guess that I grew up avoiding the ladies.
What is the secret of your longevity?
I think it is genetic inheritance. My dad passed to the great beyond at 103 and my mother at 92.
Are you on special diet or sports or exercise?
I am not on special diet, although my wife ensures that I always have balanced meals. I exercise by walking once a week in our estate, doing exercise on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in my bathroom.
What makes you still stylish and fashionable at 80 and what kind of clothes appeal to you to wear these days?
Thank you for your generous comments. I wear clothes that I am comfortable in and project the positive image of someone who is not oblivious of his environment.
Do you take time off for holidays?
Yes I do. Throughout my 26 years career in the public service, I always made sure that I went on vacation. I never accumulated any leave because I was very mindful of the principle of balanced self-renewal and the fact that no one is indispensable.
Ola Ebiti, a freelance editorial and commercial stylist is into menswear based in London. He’s known for styling the rich and famous. He has shot for international titles like the Sunday Times in London, The Telegraph weekend style magazine. ID, Nataal and Cactus in Milan. He recently worked with Ibrahim Kamara on the New cover of ID Magazine featuring Solange Knowles. A writer, photographer and style consultants to the stars, Ola studied Fashion Communications at Northumbria University, London. He then decided to focus on business of fashion; he built styling expertise when he worked with some of the big newspapers and fashion stores in the world. In this interview with KEHINDE OLULEYE, he speaks about his passion for the style business, family, love and other sundry matters.
HOW did it all start?
I studied Fashion Communication in the University and in A-Levels, I did Economics and Business. My interest in fashion really started as a young child. I always really enjoyed flipping through magazines, particularly Vanity Fair and Sun Vogue but it was more like fashion and culture and every time my daddy travels, I’d ask him to bring magazines, even ones from the airplanes. I was always collecting, I have quite a lot of magazines but I don’t collect as much today because everything is digital now but I still have all the magazines that I have collected from like childhood. And then that kind of went on to consuming quite a lot of fashion content because I think when I went to school in the UK, that was like the rise of fashion on the internet as well. So, I was taking in a lot; I used to read in school when I would have prep time. I would print out a lot of articles from fashion publications and read them in between my books, making me quite obsessed. At that time though, I was studying Economics and Business, doing fairly well in it but my passion wasn’t there. In school here in Nigeria as well, I did the same Accounting and Business really well also but without passion. It was just something that I did because I was expected to and then after a while, I realised I wanted to do fashion and so I got the courage, spoke to my mum about it and she was very supportive because she was very aware having seen me reading magazines with so much interest, admiring the way she dressed, she would ask for advice, then I guess she spoke to my dad about it.
What was your dad’s reaction?
He wasn’t particularly against it but I think he was just shocked because he never knew that side of me at all and I was really good at my courses. So it wasn’t like I failed and wasn’t doing really well. He thought, you know, “he’s doing okay” and it just came out of the blues for him. He didn’t really understand the whole idea of fashion and its lucrativeness. He didn’t really understand it. He wasn’t against it but he was weary though quite supportive. I mean, I remember we went for interviews with universities to attend fashion courses; he was like “I still don’t understand this fashion thing but let’s go ahead and do it anyway.” So, my mom was more in support. It eventually worked out in the end because when I got to Northumbria University, United Kingdom, it was immediate and I did really well. Then, I got a first class and dad got really happy. He even flew in 15 family members there to my graduation. That was why he was like “okay, okay I might not understand but I think he’s doing really well at it.”
From then, I started interning at a lot of places. I remember, there was this magazine called FAB Magazine, they had a London office then and I used to intern there while in university, so I would go in two or three days a week or so. There were only two or three people with a really small office; all I used to do was a lot of online writing for their blogs and stuff like that. Their fashion editor was in Nigeria at the time, so if they had anything that had to do with London, I had to go and represent. After that, I wanted to do bigger; I wanted to get in other bigger magazines, so I interned at MaryClaire for about two months; with this first internship, refference is made to other magazines so I went to The Times…
(Cuts in) Is it as a writer?
At that time, I was doing a lot of writings, yes, especially at MaryClaire; I was doing a lot of writing. From there, they took me to The Times Newspaper, London. I was working at the fashion desk and again, doing a lot of writing. Then, I used to support the fashion editor with her shoots and from there, they took me to The Guardian where also, I was working at the fashion desk and doing the same thing. As it was a really small team as well, I would do the fashion and still write copies for the website while allowing me do the Twitter sometimes but now, they have a social media person that does that completely.
From there, I got a seven-month placement at a design fashion magazine called Wallpaper and that was really when styling took full stage because asides styling, I was working under the men’s wear fashion editor, Jason Huce. It was like a really good fashion magazine. It’s a very European fashion design magazine and he also loves tailoring. From there, I kind of really learnt how a suit should sit on a person and how your body should move in clothes, just how to make an image really good. I think, for me, that was how I learnt. A lot of my work is like reference from his taste and the way I just saw him styling.
After that, I just freelanced and assisted for a long time. I assisted another resident stylist called Jack Bruckett; he now works at British Vogue. I assisted another stylist; she did women wears more but she used style David Beckham, her name was Karby Kastrine and later it was another stylist called Coby Yabes. From assisting all of them, there were opportunities and from then, I started styling on my own.
For how long have you been doing this?
Styling full time, I would say about five years now but assisting while I was in university, it is eight years. So I was working at Wallpaper immediately from university for those seven months and assisted for another two years after until now. I finally got that confidence to work by myself. Also in the UK, they have a lot of e-commerce – where you can buy clothes online and from there, I used to work with a lot of selfridges in the UK because I used to style a lot of their looks for online shopping; that was also very good for me because selfridges have the biggest brands in the world, so that really taught me to merchandize clothes to brands and who their customer is. It gave me sort of a taste level which was really important. So after that, I started reaching out to my contacts and friends. From there, I would get opportunities to work with some people may be like a photographer in a relationship with a musician. So, that was how it started. For someone like Wizkid, I was working for a magazine freelance called Something About and I knew the editor really well. That was at the time Afrobeats were becoming very popular in the UK and they were looking for someone who wasn’t really mainstream but was very interesting to use on their cover and Wizkid had just signed with his label in the UK, SonyMusic.
Obviously from assisting, I knew these people really well; so I was like “oh, why don’t I put you in touch with the people?” And they were like “it was a perfect favour.” Definiyely, I negotiated that I would style him in that respect. So, that was how I happened to style that magazine covers for Wizkid and he was very happy with it;; so we ended up doing another music video together. I’m still in touch with his team but I think Wizkid likes to style himself. He likes that power with himself.
How about the photography aspect?
In the university, I took photography as well and did a lot of them and at the end of my university course, there’s this thing called graduate fashion week where all of the students of all the fashion schools come together and they award Best Designer and so on. I was one of the finalists for Best Fashion Photographer for graduate fashion week. Also, that really helped me get internships but when I started, they didn’t really need me to photograph as much.
Although, when I was in FAB Magazine, I used to take pictures because when we would go for shows, I was writing and taking photographs. That was when I managed to explore my photography and I even managed to photograph some people like Denola Grey. I’m still really good friends with him. I still take photographs and actually, it has helped me because even when I go into a shoot with a photographer, I know what I want.
What does photography mean to you?
A photograph means something that can really create some kind of emotion within you. It has to be able to stop you, like if you’re walking on the street.
Before you go further, you’ve worked with Beyonce’s sister, Solange Knowles, and that was a big one. Can you tell us how it was like?
We styled that shoot under the head stylist Ibrahim Kamara and it was recently for the cover of Ideal magazine. It was back in September because she had just released her new album, so we went to Texas for a few days, met her, prepared all the looks together, started from the cover idea and she was happy with it.
Were you able to meet Beyonce?
Unfortunately, we didn’t get to meet Beyonce but Solange was there and she was really lovely. She remembered every one’s name and even sent Ibrahim an e-mail to say “thank you” that she really liked what we did.
So how does it feel like to be clothing or working with the stars?
I used to be very nervous about it but now, I think the more you do it, the more it is just like another day. And I don’t think about it in that sense, like I don’t think about them as celebrities. I just take them as persons that we are working with; today, it happens that they’re big musicians or something like that.
How lucrative is this business?
To be very honest, particularly for me because I do both creative and commercial; it’s a very hard business.
So you are not smiling to the bank yet?
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Not so much because styling for different people is very different. There are some people that can be just commercial stylists and I’m both a creative and commercial stylist. When you do creative jobs, there’s really no money. You have to put your money in there for creative jobs. I’m thinking more of long term goals because when I used to assist, it was the same thing all those stylists that are really big now used to do. If you want be considered for those big shows, you have to be both a creative and commercial stylist. Hopefully, it’s an investment I want to make for myself. I don’t want to be big now. I am happy to wait because one thing about fashion is that one day, you’re in and the next, you’re out. I don’t want to be a one hit wonder in my 20s and a nobody in my 30s.
When styling a celebrity, do you work with a budget in mind or negotiate with the person?
I negotiate the production with the director before-hand and budget for everybody that is going to be on camera so that everyone is equally catered for. But it depends on the scale of the job. But when you’re working with big musicians like Davido, they know that the budget is an investment and they are always very ready to accommodate you.
For someone who has styled the rich and famous, what does style mean to you?
Style is something that you either have or you don’t. It is innate. It comes from the way you see the world, colours and basically everything. Although with the internet today, you can fake style but you always know style.
What is your style like?
My style is comfortable but tailored. I don’t really wear a lot of jeans except when I am on set. I like to wear button-up shirts and tailored trousers made by Nigerian tailors. My style is also formal. My creative works also reflect on my Yoruba heritage; my mum is the source of information on that for me.
How would you rate Nigerian fashion designers compared to their foreign counterparts?
Nigerian stylists are doing really well considering that there are a lot of struggles here for creatives in Nigeria more than in UK. There are fundings, free fashion schools in the UK but in Nigeria, we don’t have those; even if you want to shoot in Nigeria, there is the stress of being harassed on the streets. So I feel if you are taking all of that and are still able to contend with people in the international fashion market,then I really think we are doing a good job.
Kenneth Eze was just nominated for the MFMH prize in Paris, which is like the biggest young designer prize In the world at the moment and he is a Nigerian. He makes his clothes in Nigeria using Aso-Oke textile but he is still perceived to be as good as the other designers in Paris and New York. One thing about Nigerian people is that we would always make things happen regardless. We are doing a pretty good work.
What inspires you?
Nigeria inspires me, especially in my creative work. People that have a really nice sense of style also inspire me. People who know how to put things together aesthetically inspire me.
For someone who has styled many famous men, do you say you re-invent yourself?
I think they have a specific way they want to look so that is much easier.
And what excites you?
I’m excited by people who put together things I had never thought of. When you work with someone that has a completely different point of view from you and sees the world in a completely different way, it means the opportunity to change things is endless. Watching runways also really excites me.
Which local and international celebrity do you want to work with?
My local celebrity would be Mike Odunti. He’s a great songwriter and musician. For my international celebrity, I think maybe Donald Glover (Childish Gambino) because he is a very creative person. And if he was still alive, I would have loved to work with Fela. He dressed really well. He always had amazing trousers.
You mentioned earlier about what you loved wearing; so what would you not be caught wearing?
Baggy jeans! I also won’t be caught sagging ever. Trousers are supposed to be on the waist but some put them on their hips. It doesn’t sit well with me but I can’t tell people what to wear.
All work and no play make jack a dull boy. How do you unwind?
I hang out with my friends quite a lot. I watch a lot of movies and television shows. I do it for leisure. I read a lot of Nigerian books because I like to read what I can relate to rather than the Shakespeare and the rest. Often times, I go to Oxford and have a good time to chill.
Are you married? What’s your take on love, marriage, and relationship?
I’m not married, although my mother still feels I should be married at my age. I am just waiting for the right person to settle down with. I want a person that gets the kind of lifestyle I want and also the kind of person that has a passion for what she does because I am very passionate about my work in fashion. Even if it is in banking, writing or whatever, I just want the person to be passionate because we would feed off each other’s energy to make us grow. I think we should get married when we want to and not when our parents want us to. As Nigerians, we should understand that marriage is for a lifetime. We need to allow ourselves sometimes to grow as individuals.
Are you particular about race, black or white?
I’m not particular about race but dating in the UK has opened my eyes to many things.
David Beckham has had a statue of himself unveiled in Los Angeles as he attended the LA Galaxy’s 2-1 win over the Chicago Fire on the opening day of the 2019 MLS season.
The former England captain played for LA Galaxy between 2007 and 2012 during the twilight years of his stellar career, leading them to two championships, and he is still held in high regard in California.
During a special ceremony ahead of the game in California, Beckham’s statue was unveiled as he was joined by wife Victoria at a special ceremony.
Anita Nana Okuribido is a renewable energy expert, as well as the national co-ordinator of Association of Nigerian Women Business Network (ANWBN) consisting of 18 member organisations spread across the country. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, she talks about the impact of the coalition on businesses owned by women, the four priority issues, prospects in the renewable energy sector and galvanising a critical mass of women to change the sector positively
LET’S talk about the things your organisation has done in the past
We have done a lot in the past to empower women in business and particularly setting up the business agenda. It’s a great achievement with the four priority issues being addressed. The first is lack of access to finance, patronage of Made in Nigeria goods, harnessing the multiple taxation system that we have in Nigeria and inclusion of women in governance and policy-making. These are vital priority areas that ANWBN has been involved in for advocacy. I am so happy to say that the patronage for Made in Nigeria goods has really been addressed; a bill has been passed because of the advocacy from ANWBN.
You can see that the Ministry of Information going for the advertisement of Made in Nigeria goods. So, I would say that has been achieved about 70 per cent, even though we are still fine-tuning this to make sure it goes beyond advertisement. For the ease of access to finance, the process has started but somehow women still find it difficult to access finance with single digit interest. Some people who have the muscle actually have access to finance but not on single digit. ANWBN would continue to go on advocacy until it is achieved in such a way that women-owned businesses can access finance with single digits or such a time that women can own their own banks, operate our own banks and have what you call zero interest for women-owned businesses.
You will be attending the Commission of the Status of Women (CSW) in New York this month. What are you looking forward to?
I was going through the agenda and what caught my focus is still poverty alleviation. We are also happy to have signed the MOU with the International SheTrades and we are really happy about that. It means that our women can look forward to the capacity building programmes particularly in the Liverpool community engagement that is going on for the next two years. We can do a lot of e-commerce, training, export and some of our women are already on the training.
The global movement for gender equality and women’s empowerment has broken new ground in recent years, making headlines in the media on sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace and putting the business community in the spotlight. From driving the representation and leadership of women in management and investment decisions and from ensuring equal pay for work of equal value, to increasing support for women-owned businesses and entrepreneurs, companies of all sizes and from all sectors play a tremendous role in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment in the workplace, marketplace and community.
In tandem with the emergence of gender equality as a critical corporate sustainability and risk mitigation issue, business action to advance women’s empowerment is also central to the achievement of global multi-stakeholder agendas, such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
These issues set the context for the 2019 Women’s Empowerment Principles Forum, to be held on 14 March 2019. Since its launch in 2010, the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) initiative has been at the forefront of transforming business policies, practices and approaches to advance gender equality and create opportunities for women and girls, engaging more than 2,000 businesses globally to date.
The 2019 WEPs Forum will look to the future and consider how the WEPs can help business, investors, governments and other stakeholders navigate new opportunities and work collectively to ensure that women help define and benefit from opportunities in the future of work. The forum will also explore how to maintain momentum on advancing gender equality, accelerate the pace of progress and position responsible businesses to rise to the challenge.
International Women’s Day 2019 is here, what is your organisation doing to mark the day?
The Association of Nigerian Women Business Network (ANWBN) is an umbrella body of about one million women instituted by the Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) in collaboration with the International Chambers of Commerce, Nigeria (ICN) will be organising a great walk termed Walk for Balance on 7th March, 2019. We are embarking on the walk with the 18-member organisation in the 36 states of Nigeria plus FCT. The premium goal of this walk is to present the ANWBN Charter bill to the governors and speakers. The charter consists of the seven-point priority issues that have come up during the workshop, roundtable conference and some other meetings of the women. We are proud to say that ANWBN member organisations drew up about 250 women to have an audience with the vice president of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osibajo, in February and some of the priority issues were presented to him.
How would you assess the participation of women in the elections?
Honestly, I would really say that I am quite impressed this time around. I belong to so many women organisations and for the past six months a lot of postings have been going on on all these platforms that are encouraging. I am pleased with the large turn-out of women. The awareness has been created and women took the great opportunity to be part of the electioneering process.
You are also the president of the Council for Renewable Energy and Women in Renewable Energy. Tell us about that aspect of your life
I like that. That is my passion, that is my life. Renewable energy technology is my passion because when you think renewable energy, you are thinking green. You are going green and whatever aspect of the value chain that you pick in the value chain, you are mitigating climate change and you are protecting the environm ent. If we do not protect the environment right from now, honestly in the turn of the millennium, you may not have somewhere you call the earth anymore. If the Ozone layer is depleted, there is a global warming, then you will have floods and all sorts of hazardous gases all over the place. And then if there is no oxygen to breathe anymore and we don’t have the cycle of ecosystem, then there won’t be life.
Let’s talk about some memorable moments working in the renewable energy sector
I am a woman of many parts and when I am achieving in one aspect before basking in the euphoria of one, I am already in another. I think that what gives me joy is to see women being empowered, being mentored and getting better life. I have had so many opportunities and one that comes to mind was the first installation I had in a village in Benue State when I got the opportunity at that time to install solar in the local government so that they could communicate with their radio. When we got there, there was no illumination on ground at all. Apart from installing the radio, we also gave them illumination in the night. When we were finishing, the villagers saw the light and they trooped to the local government office. They were so excited and brought all kinds of gifts that included yams, bags of maize and millet. An old woman said she had never seen light in her lifetime. I think that was where the inspiration came from. Also in Lagos, I got a street named after me in Onigbongbo local government for the things I did by illuminating the community.
What are the potential for women in the sector?
When women have access to energy it contributes to poverty reduction. Energy access saves time, when it substitutes manual labour and reduces drudgery of fetching fuel wood and water; tasks women typically are responsible for. It reduces indoor air pollution levels and hence improves health, when polluting energy forms such as wood fuel and kerosene intense stoves are replaced by improved cook stoves. It improves education, as it enables studying after sunset and greater flexibility in the organisation of everyday chores.
Lastly, energy access creates new opportunities for income generating activities, as products or services can be improved, processes made more efficient, operational costs reduced and working conditions improved.
Benefits of a higher income for women reach far beyond the individual. Studies show that women reinvest 90 percent of their income in their families and communities, while men reinvest only 30 to 40 percent
Taking women into account in energy interventions means improved energy access. Female-headed households are less likely to have access to energy than male-headed households. Specifically targeting female-headed households therefore means higher levels of energy access. On the adoption rate side of access, appliances (such as stoves) that have been designed in collaboration with women are more likely to be accepted and used by women.
Women in energy jobs can improve the energy supply chain with great potential for effectiveness.
Women are part of the social networks that differ from those of men and through which they have access to hard-to-reach households.
In decision-making positions at all levels and branches within the supply chain, the voice of women contributes to more balanced and diverse decisions.
Opening up the green energy sector to women in non-traditional jobs increases their chances of higher income generation and empowerment.
s working at the fashion desk and again, doing a lot of writing. Then, I used to support the fashion editor with her shoots and from there, they took me to The Guardian where also, I was working at the fashion desk and doing the same thing. As it was a really small team as well, I would do the fashion and still write copies for the website while allowing me do the Twitter sometimes but now, they have a social media person that does that completely.