Body mists are invigorating and fragrant sprays that refresh the body, hair, and clothes. They are generally made with lighter concentrations of fragrance than traditional perfume or cologne, usually around 1-5%.
Body mists come in many scents, ranging from sweet floral notes like rose and jasmine to musky, woody aromas like sandalwood and oud. Several body mists even combine multiple notes for a unique aroma profile.
How to use body mist properly
Using a body mist is no rocket science, yet there are several steps you can take to maximize its fragrance and intensity:
They say she is tenacious. But the tenacity of Dr. Sophia Abiri-Franklin, a managing partner of Georgetown Solicitors, is beyond the courtroom. Her passion for women and advocacy on business sustainability and individual legacies earned her the prestigious 2023 Queen Elizabeth Scholar alumnus from Carleton University, Canada. In this interview with EVELYN OSAGIE, Dr. Abiri-Franklin, who is a guest speaker today at the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria, Lagos Branch, speaks on migration, her practice and more.
Being a woman
Being a woman is being me – self-care. It’s being able to look after myself and family – body, soul and spirit. Being confident in all my God given endowment and abilities and seeing my uniqueness as a woman as a gift and not a curse. Knowing that I matter, I have a voice and a role to play, that I can thrive in every space I find myself, from the home front, to the office, to the society, in Nigeria and the global community.
My roots and its impacts
Growing up for me was interesting. I grew up in a close-knit family. My dad, who is a mechanical engineer was a civil servant with the then Delta Steel Company (DSC) Ovwian Aladja and my mum who in the beginning was a teacher, later became a business woman who I saw undertaking various contracts and business ventures in male dominated spaces at the time. I recall attending a court hearing for the first time when I was about 12 years old, during one of my mum’s court cases when a customer sued her to court for demanding for her rightful fees when she was only trying to recover a debt being owed by the company. She won the case several years later and the customer’s assets were auctioned in the court premises and my mum was paid her money. Indeed I am proud to say that being raised by a tenacious woman like my mother prepared me for the woman I have become.
My law practice journey
Being in law practice for 18 years has been an eventful journey. It has been a learning curve for me from one season to another. From the beginning, as a single lady where I started my practice in Ilorin and Lagos; later, after I got married and started having children and in the course of these seasons, investing in my personal development from seating for various professional exams to studying for my masters and later PhD. Every woman needs a good support system to be able to manage the home front amid ones busy schedules. I have been able to navigate these seasons victoriously thankfully as a result of a great support system from my husband and family.
Inspiration behind my passion for business sustainability and individual legacies
It’s a fall out of my PhD thesis. I decided to research on ‘Corporate Sustainability, Succession Planning and Women inclusion in West Africa’ as a result of the many cases I was involved in during the course of my legal and governance practice. As legal adviser and company secretary to some companies, I witnessed situations that prompted me to see the gap in knowledge in the area and I embarked on the quest which has turned out to be an interesting area for me; and earned me a prestigious spot as an alumnus of 2023 Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Advanced Scholars West African (QES-AS-WA) Programme hosted by the Institute of African Studies, Carleton University, Canada, under a special programme tagged, “Her own room to write’. The programme is sponsored by the Rideau Foundation, IDRC, and Universities Canada.
Incidentally, I am also speaking on ‘Corporate Sustainability’ in Nigeria at a workshop of the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria, Lagos Branch, today.
Why women and entrepreneurs should take business sustainability and individual sustainability/legacies serious
There are many reasons why women and entrepreneurs should take business sustainability and individual sustainability/legacies serious. These two concepts are relevant in business and for individuals as it also applies to state government and institutions. When businesses and individuals carry out their plans and activities with the knowledge that the outcomes would outlive them, it would inspire a deeper consideration of their decisions which would result in sustainable economies. There is still more work to be done in the area of business/corporate sustainability in Africa, especially in the small and medium enterprises. Many are yet to come to grasp with what the concept is. On the other hand, Africans, particularly women need to be given an orientation of what intentionally planning individual legacies could mean to them and their families. An individual plans his/her legacy by putting his house in order by a proper planning of his estate, writing a will and or establishing trusts over their assets and family legacies. In many situations, where the patriarch of a family passes on without such plan, it invariably affects the business enterprises.
I had a lot of memorable moments during my visit to Canada. The weather was quite right and the people were really accommodating. Among those moments was the warm reception and audience in an interactive session given to us Nigerian QES delegate by the Nigerian High Commission, Canada when we visited. We had the privilege of meeting with the High Commissioner to Canada, His Excellency Adeyinka Asekun and other diplomats. Also, being a QES broadened my horizon. The global platform enhanced my research experience to be eligible for a career as a consultant and professor of business sustainability and individual legacies to impact local economies and development in West Africa and diaspora. It afforded me the opportunity of working with mentors, professors and other academic staff from Carleton University. I am in the process of publishing a Tool kit for Business Sustainability and two articles in the Nokoko journal of the Institute of African Studies. The programme also gave me the opportunity to share my knowledge with other Africans and nationals from other races by volunteering my services as a consultant/researcher and working with the Newlife Projects Incorporated, a non-profit women-based organisation in Ottawa.
The dinner at the residence of Prof. Nduka Otiono, the Principal Investigator of the QES programme and Director of IAS, Carleton University in celebration of Canada Day this year, where all the scholars and some key staff were treated to a sumptuous local African was an equally memorable event. The love and patriotism of Canadians was truly inspirational.
My advice to the young desiring to Japa
My advice to the youths is to invest more in their personal development (professionally and skills acquisition) as the world is a global village. When you invest in yourself, you become relevant from Nigeria or any part of the world. If you choose to ‘Japa’, you must be prepared to ‘work out your salvation’ 10 times more than what is obtained in Nigeria for you to gain relevance. But should you consider your purpose in life and invest in Nigeria, you might find a space to thrive more. There are a lot of global opportunities available for research collaborations, fellowships and related opportunities for career academics, professionals and even the average business person or youth in the communities, especially for women. But you can begin to research the opportunities and check the eligibility criteria.
My next project
I am currently carrying out a series of activities in four categories as part of my community engagement programme. I am organising seminars and mentorship series in secondary/high schools and universities on leadership, mentorship, research collaborations, fellowships and related opportunities. I also intend to extend the enlightenment drive business men/women and local communities on the importance of the two concepts in the course of my programme this season. I want people, particularly women to know that their dreams are valid! They can get the required support if only they reach out.
My thoughts on beauty
To me, beauty starts first with the state of the mind. I ensure that I am okay, mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. Then when I have completed my secret place regime- meditation and study internally, I can now consider what happens to my outward appearance as beauty without character is vain. I just prepare to look simply great for any occasion.
My fashion style
My fashion style is Afrocentric. I figure that as Africans, we have a great culture and fashion sense but over the years we have abandoned our uniqueness to follow what obtains in the west. I most comfortable, when I am styled in African outfits and I look for creative ways to express this in my fashion style from dresses to accessories.
Fashion item I cannot do without
My wristwatch and scarves – you would always see me with these.
My escape place
I enjoy my fitness programme. I visit the gym and swim often. I also love to take long walks in the early mornings and feel the sun rise on my skin. When I have the time, I like to visit the cinema and see a nice movie.
She is tough. She has got gusts but Nkechi Ali-Balogun is also a lover. This top-notch public relations (PR) expert and chief executive officer of NECCI Consulting has an uncommon passion for people, family, God and Nigeria. And what has love got to do with it? Ask Mrs. Ali-Balogun, a pastor and wife of Nigeria’s acclaimed filmmaker Mahmood Ali-Balogun. And she will tell you love is what has driven her commitment to humanity on all fronts, especially in the last 23 years. For three decades, she didn’t only build a flourishing career in PR, but founded the yearly NECCI PR roundtable which gathers thought-leaders in diverse sectors to brainstorm on the development of Nigeria.In this chat with EVELYN OSAGIE, she shares her passion, journeys and more.
Being a woman
Women are not to be pitied; they are strong enough to perform every role. The patriarchal system that we have and the misogynistic attitude make the woman feel as if she is helpless and useless but they forget that God created the woman specially. I am talking about inclusivity and affirmative action at all levels. Give us that 30 per cent. We’ve never had it and we’ve never even had a female vice president. God created the woman as a helper and gave her the womb. She is the womb that brings life, ideas and creativity. Most women don’t even know anything about the power they have and they trivialise it. It is only the woman that multitasks in a way that no man can.
My thought on beauty
Beauty is a gift from God and if you have it you should nurture it in a way that it blesses everyone. Besides, I value more the beauty that radiates from the inside.
My beauty regimen
I believe every woman should look good within what you can afford, but I don’t lose sleep over it. Control your weight, dress decently. I eat well and do a lot of exercise.
My fashion sense
My fashion sense is more of conservative than otherwise. I believe that one should be modest and decent even when you have to be trendy. You may laugh at me but I also think that styles should be age appropriate. You cannot go with every vogue.
There is no fashion item I cannot do without because I define my own fashion to align with my pocket and my values
My background
I started life as a teacher in Lagos, not just because I wanted to teach but because I couldn’t gain admission into the university to do what I wanted to do. I was offered admission to study Law outside Lagos but for some very personal reasons I couldn’t go outside Lagos then. So, rather than staying at home doing nothing, I went for National Certificate in Education (NCE) and came out as a teacher and I love teaching, again dealing with people. I did my NYSC in 1980 with the likes of Onyeka Onwenu and Shola Omole. I love the fact that I could take a young child and empower the child. From very early in life I have always been a people-driven person. I like finding out how I can bring out the best in somebody. I continued with teaching until free education started in Lagos. I later got admission into the University of Lagos to study Law and came back and started working at NTA where I worked behind the scene as a producer until I went into the banking sector where I started off with the public relations department.
My voyage into the world of PR
It has been a really exciting one. Being a woman, particularly one who is into public relations, is indeed something to be proud of. I think need to know and appreciate their femininity. We are successful, not because we are women but because we are competent and have what it takes to do the job.
I did not know about public relations till I was employed as a public relations person in Nexim Bank. I started the public relations department there from nothing and that is how I started my career in public relations officially.
It has been 23 years now since I started the PR outfit and I’ve never regretted it. It was not easy at all. But God has been faithful – see how far, I’ve come. What I did was that I discovered that there was a training gap in public relations and I knew I was good in that area by virtue of my background; that was what I focused on. Also, beyond the start off capital are your passion and your drive. I started my business from my house, way back then and I did not take any loan and I’m happy I took that decision.
My journey at NECCI PR roundtable
Right from the outset, 23 years ago, the aim of PR roundtable is to bring to the fore topical issues through effective communication to come to the limelight. Most times, why people act ignorantly is because they don’t have information. Information is knowledge, and it’s power. So, being a public relations professional, over time, I have realised the usefulness of communication and how it impacts our businesses and lifestyles. Every year, we look for those topical issues that are impacting on the nation and bring it to the fore – using strategic communication.
I remember focusing the roundtable of a particular year on the Blue Economy: we brought to fore how a nation can benefit from the Blue Economy and how it can actually generate revenue and more jobs. And today, you hear everybody talking about Blue economy. In a nutshell, what we do at NECCI PR roundtable is like blowing the alarm and saying, “Look, these are areas/issues that need attention in our nation”. Through communication, we are able to bring it to the limelight. This year, our focus was the role of communication in the fight against trade in the pharma industry. It had as Director-General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Moji Adeyeye, and chaired by Senator Daisy Danjuma.
My passion towards the fight against illicit trade
A friend I know died from a surgery due to the anaesthetics he was given which was not the right one. How long can the village woman continue to buy Panadol, not knowing whether it’s original or not? I remember way back, people will ask before buying a drug, if it has NAFDAC number. That is communication. Are we still doing it? Is the man and woman on the street or the rural person aware of the things to look out for to recognise that a particular medicine is safe. Does the illiterate or the market woman out there know how to identify safe drugs? Does she even know the implication of taking that cheap medicine? This is the reason we brought this to the fore at this year’s roundtable because our human capital is the most important capital we have. Without the human capital, the economy and all other things we’re talking about will not be useful.
Weathering the storm for 23 years
This is not a money-making thing. This is about passion and patriotism – they have been the driving force behind the PR roundtable. Irrespective of what’s happening in Nigeria today, I love Nigeria. We’ve had a lot of challenges, especially when it comes to funding. For instance, in those days, we used to give everybody three course meals. We don’t anymore: we don’t have sponsors. My husband has been very supportive. Sometimes, we even have to take money out of our own pockets. And that is why today, we are recognising some organisations that have been there for us. Every year, they make sure, no matter how small, they facilitate us and we’re able to start. Really, we could do with support not just from corporate organisation but also government. Even if it’s government intervention: we don’t mind partnering with them. It’s an opportunity for them to come and talk about some of those things they need the public to know.
Combining career, motherhood and marriage
Balancing one’s career and family life, it’s all about prioritising. My primary assignment is my family. My career would not run away and it is not a do-or-die affair. You just have to learn to balance it.
My escape place
I enjoy a lot of social work and evangelism when I can. I do a lot of talk shows on my YouTube channel and I love reading. My leisure moments vary, from getaway weekends or relaxing on my bed a whole day and being waited on with some choice food. I also watch a lot of movies and listen to ministrations.
So you’ve found the bra that fits well, packing up those beautiful you. Great! But you know it doesn’t end there. Your bra deserves attention and should be handled with care. Here are some simple care tips:
Hi ladies! What if I told you I had a dream about Boli yesternight,” said a laughing and cheerful Mummy Fawaz as she made to join us in front of our block that Saturday afternoon.
“I hope it was a hot and steaming unripe Boli with crispy fried groundnut like Mama Yinusa’s to go with it o! If not I would be very crossed,” retorted Tinu, who had a flask of cold water in hand.
“I actually want my own sweet, but I also hope the Boli is as big as my forearm, I won’t settle for anything less,” interjected Barrister Ada with a devious smile, while giving Mummy Fawaz a questioning look as she took a seat besides Tamara under the Ebelebo (almond) tree in front of our block.
“It was actually very big hot and steaming. And the groundnut was really crispy. Funny enough, while enjoying it, I thought of you girls,” our dreamer responded while laughing at Ada’s adult joke. We laughed too.
It was a beautiful and sunny afternoon. The kind that leaves one tasty for a cold tigernut or ginger-tumeric flavored drink. We had a full house; we were all there for a mission, ready to pay Mama Yinusa a visit – a visit constituted by Christabel the fashionista as mandated by Tinu. In our group chat, we had all agreed on what each was to bring. We were just going through what we brought when Christabel walked in.
“Greetings, my beautiful ladies!” It was a happy fashionista that greeted the pack. Perhaps seeing the full house, she smiled from ear-to-ear.
“Greetings, Christabel!” We returned her greeting, and eyed each other as if we had planned it. It was the first time we were seeing her face-to-face since her fainting episode and we were all truly happy to see her. We all learnt a valuable lesson that day. But she had kept us waiting for almost 30 minutes and I know the pack were not happy. Although I saw a suspicious or rather angry look on their faces as she joined us. She must have seen it took as she quickly said, “Sorry to keep you waiting, ladies…”
“You had to take your time to dress…I’m sure…we understand…,” Sexy Jola answered wickedly, with a smile to make light her statement.
“Jolaolu, you done come o! E done do na. Can we go now?” I interrupted and gave Jola a nudge.
“Yes, we can. I’m truly sorry and grateful you all are coming with me. I had to put some arrangement in place with other excos of the estate. We hope to build some rolls of shops by the side of the gate and we are planning to sublet one to her for free for a whole year. But we won’t tell her yet o…”
“Wow”, “Great”, “Beautiful” “Ah, God will bless you guys”, came the shouts from the house and then we moved to Mummy Fawaz. Although Mama Yinusa had already intimated of our coming, nothing prepared us for the kind of Boli and groundnut she welcomed us with. Mama Yinusa shocked us even as she and Christabel made up.
“Just as you all shocked me with your gift. Thank you all… Madam Christabel I was just being human. It could happen to any of us. I too learnt a valuable lesson.”
And they hugged and made up; we descended on the mountain of Boli and crispy bottle of groundnut. And the rest was history.
For feeback: send you comments to evelyn.osagie01@gmail.com
The Senate yesterday constituted an ad hoc committee to investigate all contracts awarded for the rehabilitation of refineries said to have gulped N11.35 trillion in 13 years.
The sum includes $592, 976, 050.00, €4, 877, 068.47 and £3, 455, 656.93.
The Red Chamber also mandated the committee to interrogate the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) and the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) on the best approach to commercialise state-owned refineries.
Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North) who presided over the plenary, named Senator Isah Jibrin (Echocho, APC – Kogi East) as the chairman of the committee.
Bauchi state Governor Bala Mohammed has identified the low number of women in politics and other leadership positions as a major setback to the country’s development.
Mohammed stated this at the closing of the National Women’s Conference organised by the Committee of Wives of Lagos State officials (COWLSO), themed ‘Unleash Your Potential’.
The governor, who was represented by Deputy Governor Mohammed Jattau, said the government has the responsibility to create an enabling environment that encourages entrepreneurship and fosters economic empowerment for women.
He said: “Women remain the bedrock of families, the backbone of our communities, and the driving force behind our Nation’s progress. It is therefore high time we acknowledged the immense contributions they make to build a stronger, more prosperous Nigeria.
“Gender inequality remains a pressing issue, hindering us as a nation. We must confront the barriers that exist and ensure equal opportunities for our women in all facets of life, be it education, healthcare, politics, or – the civil service. Only then can we truly harness the immense potential that lies within our women and create a more inclusive society.
“Prompt action is required to eliminate the various obstacles that women face. We must make quality education accessible and affordable to every girl-child, ensuring they are equipped with the knowledge and skills to excel in any field they choose. By investing in education, we empower women to become leaders, visionaries, and catalysts of change.’
“Access to capital, business training, and mentorship programmes are essential in supporting women-owned businesses and facilitating their growth. By doing so, we are not only empowering women economically but also driving economic development and poverty alleviation within our states.
“It may interest you to know that in Bauchi, our administration is championing the welfare of women and other vulnerable groups. We have collaborated with UNICEF and religious institutions aimed at refining existing systems to uplift the standard of living of the Almajiri Children and others facing harsh realities in the society.”
The governor added that some of the key policy measures taken included passing of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law, domestication and adoption of the National Gender Policy, National Gender Policy on Agriculture, National Gender Policy in Education, Food and Nutrition Policy, Social Protection Policy and United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on the involvement of women in the peace process.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by Secretary to the State Government, Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin, said the progress of Lagos and any society is tied to the empowerment and participation of its women.
He said: “It is not a question of if women should have a seat at the table; it is recognising that they have always been essential to its foundation. As you leave this conference and return to your communities, let us carry with us the spirit of empowerment and the belief that we can truly make a difference. Whether you are a student, a professional, a businesswoman, a mother, or a leader, your potential is boundless. Let us support one another and continue to break down barriers, challenge stereotypes, and create opportunities for women to excel in every field.”
Jennifer Daniel, a product designer/founder, UX Resource Hub, is a firm believer that gender can never stop women from doing exploits or succeeding. Her expertise cuts across the information technology and finance sectors. Daniel, who used to own a fashion brand called ‘Jennifer Daniel’, designed beginner-friendly UX courses for aspiring UIUX/product designers. It is accessible for free. In this interview with EVELYN OSAGIE, she shares her fashion, passion and foray into product design.
It’s been a decisive journey to be honest. When I was younger, I thought I was going to be a doctor. I was all medical and stuff until I found myself in Mass Communications. I worked in a media company then I realised I wasn’t really doing what I truly enjoyed. Then product design came and I instantly fell in love.
My thought on beauty
Beauty is a definition from various perspectives. Very subjective. Maybe physical, mental, depending on what angle. Basically, the simplicity of life.
My fashion style
I’m more of an elegant fashion person. I’d describe myself as a fashionista. I used to own a fashion brand called Jennifer Daniel which I will resuscitate in the future. I have days I wear a whole lot of black and days I wear a lot of colour bust. My go-to outfit will be a body con or a black on black on black pant and jacket shirt.
Fashion item you cannot do without
Jewelry just adds a lot bust to my outfit. Love it!
My special interest in product design
I’ve always loved design. I went from fashion design to doing social media posters and stuff. Then I heard about UIUX and what it entails and I knew that’s what I was supposed to be doing. Design is my core focus. It frames the way we think and approach life in an empathetic form. I have a couple of designs to my credit from my previous works. Right now, I’m working with an amazing team at one of the payment card establishments in Nigeria to rebirth their app to further make payments and services seamless for millions of global users. I now have over three years of valuable experience.
Challenges on my tech journey
One of the major challenges I face often is balancing users and business goals. I have to always put a balance between creating an intuitive user experience and meeting the business objectives. I don’t want to delve right into this because we will sleep here.
Being able to solve complex problems into digital solutions users can interact with is what inspires me a lot. The part of product design I enjoy most is the brainstorming and iteration part. It makes me learn from diverse perspectives and gain new insights into solving user experience (UX) problems.
Gender should never stop a woman from succeeding
I really don’t have any preference working with men or women. They are both unique in their ways. I don’t look at gender differences. I work with a balance of both genders and it’s been the best team ever. In the world we are in, being a woman is more like being a superhero to be honest. In fact, most employers now are seeking female talents because our creativity, strategic thinking level combined with empathy approach is amazing. A whole lot of women are doing amazing things; some have either founded or built some of the best products globally and helped companies gain traction both women in my field and outside of my field. I think 80 per cent of women now have a strong mindset and are goal getters. I can’t wait to see more women do exploits.
My foray into product design
My foray into the world of product design led to my building the first of its kind UX resource hub that allows aspiring UIUX/Product designers learn the field step by step for free. At the beginning, my life was framed by empathy. I have passion for helping others like me because I knew my struggles while I was about to delve into the field. My story should encourage young ones that you can train yourself to become an expert in any field and your age does not matter. Today, my expertise cuts across sectors such as information technology, E-commerce and finance sectors, etc. But it was not always so. I had to research and study widely. For instance, I watched a lot of YouTube videos, took online courses and practiced with real life research to be able to become an expert in design. Currently, I work as a product designer at Interswitch Group, one of Nigeria’s leading Fintech corporations. I actively contribute to the cross-functional collaborative efforts aimed at enhancing the Quickteller app to further make payments and services seamlessly for millions of global users. This is not to brag but to encourage women and young ones that nothing should stop their dreams. And I am happy that I am giving back to the community through the hub.
Inspiration behind building your free UX resource hub
As I’ve said, setting up the UX resource hub was inspired by my passion for humanity. A lot of people have reached out to me about how they struggled. The number of messages I got was already growing high and I thought this was the best way to give back because if I’m being honest, nobody really helped me while I was learning. If I had someone that did what I did, I’d be more than grateful to them. To fully set it up, in two months, I learnt how to use a software called ‘webflow’ on Udemy and kept practicing to build the website; so I can build a website that stands as a learning platform for aspiring and existing UX designers in tech. Today, designers can learn product/UIUX design; find inspiration and guidance in the field for free. I also took an initiative to create a self-study planner that helps them plan their learnings while using my website. The turnover was massive and I knew that I had done something very unique. Our UIUX or products Design give users several options to explore. We made sure to put out all the information and learnings that will help them. Some people might decide they want to specialise in their career as an UX writer, UX Researcher, Ui designer, Product designer, UX designer, Information architect, and so it’s broad. But I gathered them into one.
My escape place
Outside of work, I enjoy exploring new activities and own an online art gallery called Subway Africa. I enjoy watching movies a lot. And definitely having a beach time.
Next place to conquer
Definitely more to conquer. Not just in Nigeria alone but Africa, the UK, a lot of other countries in diaspora. Building and shaping their economies to create products that push wealth and innovation.
Starting a career in tech can be very easy and smooth if you have the right tools. Unlike what most people think, tech is not rocket science. You would be surprised that learning some tech skills can be as easy as learning to make Amala or noodles. Many women feel lost in the crowd because they conclude that tech is for women and they do not belong. You do not have to kill your passion for tech because you don’t know how to start your career. You too can transition into the tech industry and start doing big things in tech in no time. Transitioning into tech might appear a little challenging but with the right guidance, you can nail it!
Let’s look at some of the ways women can easily begin a career in tech:
Advocate for yourself – By Yourself
Personal branding is as important for those who intend to pursue a career as it is for those already in the field. Branding is very important for techies Techies or technology professionals are one of the most highly paid provisions in the labour market today. You should consider branding yourself if you intend to pursue a career in tech.
Setting High Goals
Setting and accomplishing goals are a huge part of achieving big things in our personal and professional life. To start a career in tech, you have to consciously set goals and meet them. By creating big goals and mini-goals in your tech journey, you will be able to keep track of how much progress you’ve made.
Find And Be A Mentor
If you’re just starting in tech, you need a mentor. We highly recommend you get someone to mentor you and hold your hands as you transition into tech. At Heels and Tech, we make sure we are always there for our students, giving them the best advice and relentless support as they take their classes and do their assignments.
Social media is a great tool to push your tech ideas and display your progress so far in tech. It has become overnight, the largest business/branding platform in the world. You can gain more publicity and build your brand on social media.
Give Things Time
Whether you’re an enthusiast, notice, or expert, you will have to be patient with the process. You can’t start now and expect to see big results immediately. Some things take time to build and if you’re going to build to last, you will need time.
Conclusion
Tech has long been an industry where women are underrepresented, but the good news is that’s finally changing. Every day more amazing women are finding and staying on their feet in prominent tech roles. Take advantage of the new wave and make an impact while there are thousands of opportunities around.
Welcome back my sisters,” Sexy Jola greeted the pack with a bubbly smile and excitement as each of us took our seats that evening.
Except for Sola, Jolaolu’s husband, the other men (Daddy Innocent and Daddy Nkem – Ada’s husband) who joined us last week were already seated too. It seemed the men were becoming even more committed – they arrived earlier than most of us ladies and helped with the arrangement.
“Back to our Jollof wahala: between Naija and Ghana Jollof, which do you prefer?” Jolaolu asked and gave Mummy Fawas a sign – the Nigeria-born Ghanaian stood up immediately, taking Tamara with her as she walked to her apartment. And a few minutes later, they appeared bringing with them coolers of rice and Ghanaian famous pepper stew, which they arranged alongside a big bowl of croaker fish on the table behind the seats. The plates and drinks were neatly placed on one corner of the big table. And there was music playing in the background. What better way to unwind?
“Today na today,” Ada whispered to me. I gave her a side smile and pulled my thoughts back to what Jolaolu was saying. “Let’s thank our men for their contributions to today’s meal. And you’d notice some new faces in our midst and more seats. That is because we are still expecting some visitors today. Please welcome our new sisters to our ‘Women’s Corner’ (laughs)!”
“You are welcome to our corner!” The pack welcomed with warm hugs Sweet Stella (a computer whiz), Christabel the fashionista (the one we call the fashion police) – remind me to tell you a couple of things about her in my subsequent write up – and Mummy Judith with the “wicked” generator.
“It’s nice to be able to join this noble house. You ladies have impressed me. I used to think you ladies were wasting time, gossiping as most women do but after reading about your exploits on Evelyn’s column, I was moved to join this house,” Christable said; while Stella nodded her head in agreement, adding: “I too cannot wait to be part of the gist.”
“I am particularly interested in the food,” Ada said with a laugh.
“So back to the matter: which do you prefer, Naija or Ghana Jollof?” came Sexy Jola’s question which was followed by the shouts of “Naija”, “Ghana”, Naija”, “Ghana”.
“Ladies…Ladies! Welcome back to the second part of the Jollof game. Remember last week, we had a fill of the Naija Jollof and we shared it with some of our friends – some of whom are here already…” while she was still talking, her hubby, Sola, walked in with two friends.
“I hope you ladies have not forgotten us,” queried Jolaolu’s husband. “I’d like you to meet Hon. Tunde Aremu and Dr. Thompson Mshelia.”
“Thanks for having us,” both men greeted after the house saluted them with our signature greeting; while Jolaolu intimated them with the game. “Mummy Fawas, Tamara, ladies, it’s time to share the meal.” And so began the evening party.
“If you ask me, I prefer Ghana Jollof, and you will see why after eating this,” Mshelia said after receiving his plate of rice. His statement which seemed to annoy sexy Jola brought smiles to Mummy Fawas face. “I would rather bet my money on Naija Jollof,” Aremu said.
“Thank you Doc. Please, before you make your choice, let us taste the Ghana Jollof. Please, feel free to state your choice. You see, Mummy Fawas and I took a bet to see which of the two varieties would get the most votes,” Jolaolu said as we dug into the meal.
