The Nation Newspaper

Category: Glamour

  • EZINNE AKUDO ‘I can’t wear anything above my knee’

    EZINNE AKUDO ‘I can’t wear anything above my knee’

    Ezinne Akudo, current Miss Nigeria, was at the Lagos screening for her successor. Yetunde Oladeinde met her and she talked about life as Miss Nigeria, her pet project and the things that make her tick.

    FOUR tenure is almost over, with the search for the next queen ongoing. How has it been?

     Life has been interesting, exciting and very informative. Everything is okay and I must say that my tenure has been good. I have had fun, met a lot of people and had so many experiences here and there. It has made me to meet a lot of people, learn from them as well as help to impact lives.

     What are some of the highpoints for you?

     For me, it was launching my foundation. I had always wanted to use the platform to create awareness; a platform for people to access and get help. A platform for people that had been sexually abused. So I think that the highlight of my entire reign as queen was being able to give people a platform for those who have been sexually abused.

     What exactly is the focus of your foundation?

    My foundation is called the Eight Foundation and what we do is to create awareness about sexual harassment. We also render help to victims; we call them survivors. These include medical assistance, legal help, counselling and rehabilitation for some. Everything we do for them is free of charge.

    Why were you interested in this aspect of life?

     I have always been interested and passionate about women and the things that affect them, especially crime. Also because it is one of those things that people do not really talk about and it’s also one of those things that affect lives in one way or the other. So, I figured why we can’t talk about it, why can’t we make it safe without fear of victimisation. It is important to let people know that they can access help, living your life, in spite of the experiences that you are faced with.

    Was there something that happened around you that inspired all this?

     A very good friend of mine was raped when we were in the university. It was a day before the start of our examinations and it was a very horrible time for us and everyone around us in the dormitory. We didn’t know what to do and we just did the hospital test for her and all that. Even at that it wasn’t just okay.

     Did she have an idea of who they were?

    No, she didn’t. It was just one person and she had never seen the person before. She then said that if she saw the person again, she may be able to recognise him.

    There is also the belief that women get raped because of the way we dress. Some men say that we harass and assault them with indecent dressing, what do you have to say about this?

    When it comes to that issue, I would say that I am happy that people are becoming more enlightened. So, many people know that this has nothing to do with rape. It is people that have not been exposed that reason this way. So we need to do more enlightenment in this area.

    Apart from that, some also say that the lyrics of the music that we listen to these days have a way of affecting the way people reason. What do you think about this?

    That actually goes for it. I know that someone had also raised it when we were looking for celebrities to campaign for us and we found that they had been promoting the things that we were against in their songs. So we really need to look into all this to have a better society.

     Is there something that you wish that you had done during your tenure that you didn’t do?

    No, I have done everything.

     So, what next?

     I am a lawyer and so I am going to practice law. Hopefully, I would like to practice in the light of what my foundation is about.

     Let’s talk about your dress sense. What are the things that you like to wear?

     I love wearing black.

     But you are wearing white today and you look good in it?

    I am wearing white because they said I shouldn’t wear black. Guess they wanted me to look different. Interestingly, I didn’t really know that I used to wear black a lot. Even when I go shopping, I always like everything to be in black or white or a combination of the two colours. I don’t like bright colours

     How has being a queen changed your life?

     It has made me more cautious and wiser. Now, I have to think of consequences before I embark on any action or anything that I do.

     For the organisers of the pageant, I would say that I just hope that the next pageant and the pageant after it is as good as or even better than the one they organised when I emerged as the queen. By that, I mean that I went into the competition without knowing I read about the competition just like everybody else. I didn’t know anybody and didn’t have to know anybody to win. So for me the opportunity was free and fair. I just hope that moving forward, the competition would continue to be free and fair.

    What is the fashion item that you just can’t do without?

    Black clothes. I have never been a fan of short clothes. I can’t wear anything that is above my knees. I just do not feel comfortable in them.

    Let’s talk about your diet. Are you watching your weight when it comes to what you eat or have an exercise regimen?

     I am not sure that I can add too much as I am. I just eat what I like. I do not have any exercise regimen.

     Apart from you foundation, is there anything else that you would like to do in future?

    Yes, I would love to have a talk show. A show that would talk about so many issues affecting people. That is what I have always wanted to do. Then in future I would like to go into politics and be able to contribute to the policies that affect the lives of people positively.

     Is there any of these things that run in the family?

    Politics! Yes, I got that from my mum. She is not a politician but she can discuss almost everything under the topic.  She would always bring out issues that happened in the 60s or 70s and compare notes. My dad is a retired civil servant.

     What plans for marriage?

    You would be the first to know (Laughs).

  • ‘Our fashion industry still at cottage stage’

    ‘Our fashion industry still at cottage stage’

    Evelyn Okere is one of the few female ship owners in Nigeria. She is also the Managing Director of St. Eve’s Concepts and the fashion label, Rose di Omimi. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, the history graduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, talks about her passion for fashion, life as an entrepreneur and more.

    WHY did you study history? I studied History at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I was actually going to read Law but they said that because I did Fine Arts, I couldn’t go in for Law but all that has changed now. I moved to Fine Arts and then they said I couldn’t come in because they had taken the number that they wanted and I had to study History. It was interesting reading about everything that happened in every part of the world. It was a good thing for me.

    Did you do anything with the course?

    No, I didn’t. First, I served with a bank and worked in a bank. Then I moved to ECONET, Vmobile now Airtel. I later started doing my own business that is St. Eve’s Concepts. What we do basically is to make people lose weight; make people look better and healthier by giving you enzymes supplements. First, we do a blood analysis to see what your blood cells look like. The reason why many fall sick is that cells can malfunction and a cell that is deficient of the necessary nutrients would malfunction. Gradually, you fall into one of the seven stages of diseases. The body is said to have about 10 trillion cells and if half of that is already malfunctioning, that would be a problem. So we give you supplements to remove the unwanted food residues in your system to make you feel healthier and your cells would be properly nourished.

    How do you put all these things together?

    Amazingly, some of these things are just interests. I have always had the flair for fashion and then you have got to be healthy, no matter how old you are, you should live life and have fun. As a young girl, my mother would make clothes for us at Christmas. Whenever she throws away the pieces, I would sew them together with needle.

    I used t to do needle and craft in school and I would sew and make a blouse, put nice ribbons and mum would ask where I bought it. That was the passion. My grandfather also made clothes and so it runs in the family.

    When did you go into fashion full-time?

    About four years ago, but before that I had told my sweetheart that I wanted to go to the Milan Fashion School. Family life took a lot of time but I woke up one day and said I had to start. I saw inspiration every where and when I am shopping, I look at the details. The inspiration was endless and I went to buy machines. I went into fashion promotion and we hold our fashion show every year.

    Again, I must give kudos to Nduka Obiagbena for his Arise Fashion show. If only he had continued things would have gotten better. Notwithstanding fashion is a business, it is part of glitz and glamour. However, the type of fashion that we do here shows that we are still in the cottage stage. Of course, a lot has changed from when we were young. Now, we have metamorphosed and are sewing all kinds of designs unlike what we had in the past. However, the business side is where we can produce fabrics, have an outlet where you can go to give them your designs and they produce for you to send to your stores or retailers.

    Right now, a lot of things are wrong in Nigeria because we don’t have power. We need the African fabric in different forms like chiffon, organza, Lycra and jacquard. It could be done that way and we need to keep pushing it. That is why I am happy with the current president of FADAN, Funmi Ajila, because she is making a number of changes. It would be great to have

    Nigeria as a fashion city, just like you go to New York.

    What is the focus of this year’s fashion show?

    This year, the focus is on designers and the theme is fashion is art, art is fashion. For us, fashion is really an art. There is a lot that goes with mixing colours and the texture of fabrics.  First, we had the Rick Ross event and in 2012, I brought him to Nigeria. It is expensive doing concerts and I found out that it was really expensive and trying to get another artist became a drag.

     There is a lot of hanky panky in the game, the person bringing them from abroad is cheating you, the chain is too long and we can’t kill the brand. That was how we went into projecting fashion. Everyone was doing fashion show and we decided to have a theme every year to be different. In 2013, the theme was fashion on the terrace and in 2014 the theme was fashion on the Savannah.

    How many designers are you working with for the show?

    FADAN is coming in and we are having 15 designers from them. We would also have designers from West Africa and some individuals are also coming in. There is also a school that called that they want their students to showcase and so we had to change it from one day to two days.

    It is fundamental that the fashion industry have the boost that the music industry had. We may not be as educated as the professors but we also clothe them. Our targets therefore are designers, and we would give them the exposure that they deserve. Our ideology is that one day people would be proud and say I am wearing the Rose di Omimi collection just like you would wear clothes from other big international designers.

    How would you describe the state of our textile industries?

    The problem with Nigeria is that everything that is important is pushed to the side. Everything is a chain and without power, the manufacturers cannot function well. I went to China and when I was discussing about a vessel that we bought, I stumbled into a place where they were manufacturing wool for a certain kind of material.

    It was created by indigenous people, they built it and you need to see the threading. This people get the wool from somewhere and they plait the fabrics together with the wool. It was amazing for me. So, there is a chain reaction; the manufacturers are not going to use their blood to give you material. They need raw materials and the fabric would be cheaper. Instead of importing them, everything can be done here but we kill our industries. We have killed the industry in Aba. Aba used to be like the shopping hub of Nigeria.

    If you needed fabrics, we had a lot of Aba-made but today it’s China-made. The problem with Aba-made was quality and it could have been improved on, not kill it. We have fantastic tailors but they are not fantastic enough. Tailoring and fashion business is more than sewing. It has to sit well, the finishing must be right. Our tailors need a lot of training, in measurement, cutting, because the fashion world has gone haywire. We’ve lost out. Everybody now is more of survival.

    Do you also make accessories?

    Yes. I love to look good and I love jewellery. We make necklace, earrings and bangle.  I love diamonds but I won’t go out of my way to acquire it. I prefer my coloured stones. I am an art person. I believe in young people and I love to train them. A young boy came to me while we were doing modelling casting with some bags that he made. But we can’t go into bags until I know we can get it right.  Our target for the fashion label is to be everywhere. We would have a shop in Dubai, where people can buy things made in Nigeria. We have a magazine called St Eve and the focus is health, fashion and beauty.

  • I’m influenced by selfless people’

    I’m influenced by selfless people’

    Biola Alabi, the managing partner, BiolaAlabi Media Consulting and former Managing Director, MNET Africa, raised the bar in creating broadcast stories made for Africans by Africans. Alabi, who was recently named by Forbes asone of the 20 Youngest Power Women in Africa, speaks with ADETUTU AUDU on her journey to the top as well as her new project.

    WHAT inspired your new project, Grooming for Greatness?

    I strongly believe that African youth possess the power to change the world. I further believe that with excellent mentorship and the right guidance, change can come swiftly. Through the Grooming for Greatness and Purpose Foundation, we are launching our flagship programme Grooming for Greatness. This programme seeks to develop outstanding leadership and contribution in young professionals.

    How do you hope to pick the participants, are there any criteria for them?

    Our ideal candidates are intrinsically motivated to achieve personal and professional success. With great fortitude, they are dedicated to their own growth and empowerment, and to making a positive impact in their communities. These candidates have set goals and will excel, with guidance, moving toward their full potential.

    Candidates will be chosen through a rigorous and competitive application process.  Applicants are expected to have demonstrated leadership achievements and show strong potential in their place of work/business, and/or community. They present strong written and verbal skills, and can demonstrate to the selection team how their participation in Grooming for Greatness will allow them reach their overall objectives and goals.

     Criteria for selection include an established record of achievement and recognition, commitment to community engagement, demonstrated effort toward making a difference, promise of a future career in leadership, special capacity for critical, creative, entrepreneurial, and strategic thinking as well as commitment to participate in a year-long programme that will from time to time meet on weekends. Females or males between the ages of 25 and 35.

    This project will definitely gulp lots of money, how do you intend to go about it?

    We are currently self-funding the project but we have also had inquiries from partners that would like to assist with scholarships for our Grooming for Greatness fellows.

    You seem to be passionate about Africa, what influences this?

    I was raised as a Pan-Africanist and I was also the president of the African Student Organisation at my university in the USA. This gave me an opportunity to fully understand, appreciate and celebrate African similarities and differences. I have also been very fortunate when it comes to travelling across Africa. I’ve had the opportunity to go to each region and I always feel at home wherever I am in Africa.

    You are a woman of many parts. Where do you draw your inspiration from?

     My inspiration comes from many people and places. I’m inspired by my husband who is one of the most hardworking people I know, my parents for their generosity and by the share stubbornness of Nigerians who in the light of adversity are always innovative and inventive and always find ways to rise above it all.

     From your days at Sesame Street,Bigwords.com, Daewoo Motors and later MNET Africa, which is more challenging?

    All these experiences were so rewarding that even the challenges werelearning experiences. I love the fact that they have all contributed in different ways to the person I am today. I’m grateful that I had the opportunity to be challenged and to learn from some of the best professionals in the world.

     How will you describe your management style?

    Collaborative and decisive.

    Recently, Forbes listed you as one of the youngest power women in Africa. What does this mean to you?

     Honoured and humbled but mostly motivated to contribute to the future of Africa and to make sure that the next generation of African women do better than my generation.

    What is your life-guiding philosophy?

    Give without thinking of what you will receive and live your life with no regretsand make sure you always learn something from every experience.

    While growing up, who were those who influenced you early in life?

    Growing up, I had many influencers from my parents to characters like super woman to more recently, lately, I find that I’m influenced by people that are selfless in the way they live their life; for instance, Pope Francis and his teachings.

    As a career woman, how do you juggle your career and the home front?

    Luckily, I’m a woman and that gives me an advantage of being able to multitask. I also make sure that I work with partners and I have also built a very good support system. In the end, I don’t beat myself up if something doesn’t get done; I prioritise and move on.

    Share with us your memorable moments as Managing Director of M-Net Africa

    I was at MNET Africa for almost six years. My team and I really worked hard to redefine the African narrative by creating entertaining and high quality content for Africans by Africans. We were very happy that we improved and created a value chain for independent producers across Africa to monetise their content and most importantly that we created a platform that celebrated African creative entrepreneurs with the “Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards”. These were all memorable moments for me, but, most importantly, they were for the industry.

  • EVA ALORDIAH ‘I’m a strong-willed person’

    EVA ALORDIAH ‘I’m a strong-willed person’

    Rap sensation, Eva Alordiah, aka Eva, has been creating quite a buzz ever since she stepped into the music industry, and the buzz doesn’t seem to be fading any time soon. The songstress and fashion entrepreneur tells ADETUTU AUDU she finds fulfilment in being creative.

    YOU are a rapper, entertainer, make-up artist, fashion designer and entrepreneur. How are you able to combine this talent of yours?

    I haven’t been able to combine things as best as I would, I really just have enough time to focus on something at a time. But I love being all these different things and they all find a home in my career as a music artiste. I supervise the business end of my music. I do my makeup for my shoots and videos. I design and style my outfits with some of the most talented designers across Nigeria. These are just extensions of me being a creative person at heart. So whether it is writing, designing, drawing, creating music or makeup artistry, as long as I am creating something then it’s just relatively natural for me.  So, I guess you could say I am being of service to Eva right now. When I get breaks from music, I exert my creative energy to makeup and fashion on their own. What I do is focus on what it is I am doing one at a time. So if I am at the makeup school teaching for instance, I couldn’t be bothered with what’s going on with my music in the studio and so on.

    You dabbled into makeup artistry at a very early age. Can you tell me more about your start?

    Yes, I did start very early. I was 15 at the time and I just knew I could do it. My first love was eyeliners and it gradually built on from there. I guess thanks to the fact that I could draw, being a fine artist at the time drawing on paper; it was an easy transition for me to draw and paint on people’s faces. I found it amusing, exciting, powerful  just to be able to create different looks time and again and be in control of how something or somebody looks.

    I started from doing my own makeup and having all my friends admire it every time, then I began to do makeup for all my friends and it picked up from there.

    What thrills you the most about makeup?

    That would definitely be special effects. It’s more challenging than the regular beauty and fashion looks, especially if you are working whole body pieces. I have loved horror movies since I was a child. I mean, I don’t even think I enjoy a movie if it isn’t horror or action where there’s a lot of blood and special effects going on. I think that’s where my interest in SFX stems from.

    Special effects makeup is like my getaway drug. Zombies, dead skin, bruises, scars, animated characters, missing limbs, skeletal frames, the works; I just sit there and create realistic life forms and it fuels my creative senses, makes me happy.

    What other celebrities have you worked with asides yourself?

    I have had the pleasure of working with Chidinma, Toolz, Toke Makinwa and Vvonne Vixen.

    All of them beautiful in their own right. I really love Toke Makinwa’s face. She’s like a perfect canvas for any makeup artist. Vixen has cheekbones to die for. I could contour her face all day.

    Which is more fulfilling for you?

    I find fulfilment in just being creative. So whether it is music, movies, makeup, writing or fashion, as long as I am creating something, I am fine. I find them both fulfilling in their different ways. I guess music and makeup both serve their purposes for me. I can’t exactly say this is how much satisfaction or joy I derive from doing music and performing, or compare that to how I feel with make-up artistry. Everything I do satisfies me and fills me in its own way. I’m very grateful to God for being able to do the things I do. Really they are all hobbies. I don’t necessarily treat them like tedious work.

    You’ve had a successful music career, how has the journey been?

     Though it would be nice to know your measurement of success. It has been very challenging but I face it and try to get by without complaining.

    I love music, I love what I do as an entertainer and I would much rather do this than do anything else.

    Beyond the songstress, who is Eva?

    Eva is a laid back, I-don’t-wanna-go-out type of chic. I love to stay home, cook and serve people food. I’m a go-getter, very calm but aggressive with my work. I believe in the gifts that abound from sharing. I believe in the satisfaction derived from personal worship with God. I am a strong-willed person.

    You are one of Nigeria’s fashionable divas, what is the constant item in your wardrobe?

    I love jackets! I’m planning to have a collection of jackets custom-made with every fabric I can find. A jacket, depending on the style, is the quickest way to look sophisticated. When I design the jackets, I come up with most eccentric ideas; the crazier, the better for me.

    Your debut studio album released in January was a hit. What inspired 1960?

     I have put my everything into this album. It is titled “1960”, very synonymous with independence, which is a direct reflection of how I have felt for most of my life.

    The album  allowed me to be raw and expressive in ways I didn’t think I would have wanted, so that is a surprise even for me. The stories are straight off the bat and totally genuine, and I expect a lot of side talk and a lot of speculation about the things I dared to do with the album. It is my first ‘no holds barred’. I worked with two amazing producers “Tintin” and “Gray Jon’z”.

    Female artistes usually have challenges when competing with their male counterparts. What would you say are your challenge(s)?

    I have never tried to compete with anyone. I am just here trying to be the best version of myself every day. Instead of seeing competition, I see people I can learn from, and I focus on my bit.

    Why did you choose rap music?

    It was love at first listen for me, really. I have always been a writer and lover of music all my life. My brothers brought hip-hop to the house and I got hooked on that. Rap challenges my writing process and I guess I like a challenge. I love how so true rap can cut across globally and it is fun to be part of that, maybe even create over here with people who love it enough to keep doing it.

    What would you say is your strongest point?

    My voice. It is a blessing to be able to use that as an instrument to communicate on a global scale. It is even more humbling to have people affirm that they connected to my songs in this way or that. At the end of the day, I think that is what truly counts.

    What’s the experience like working with guest collaborators such as Darey Art Alade, Femi Kuti, Yemi Alade, Olamide and others?

    When great people like that agree to work with you, it is a sign. On my album “1960”, I have gone a whole different path and I needed everyone of these people to align with the vision we had for the album and they all did. It is so amazing. It is not every day you wake up and decide you want to work with Femi Kuti or Darey or Olamide and have that delivered to you. It is a dream come true.

    Despite the huge investment on your education, how did your parents take your decision to go into music?

    My parents are the best. They are very supportive, very understanding. And with what little or more they have they push you whatever way you wanna go. If the kids are happy, they are happy.

    Growing up, who influenced you for the good, the bad and the ugly?

    My mom, Sade Adu, Michael Jackson and Eminem.

    You have a very strong personal style which has come to be accepted as the “Eva” brand. How would you describe your style?

    My style is full of funk and flare. I guess I could say that. I am very edgy, very spontaneous and I like to stay younger and younger with it. I don’t like it difficult. I like it extra creative and well put together. For the most part, I am at my best when a lot of people do not agree with my choices. That’s how I know I satisfy myself.

  • It is exciting having a HUSBAND who believes in me

    It is exciting having a HUSBAND who believes in me

    Tessy Oliseh-Amaize is the brain behind the fashion brand, Tesslo Concept. The kid sister of ace footballer and current coach of the Nigerian national football team, Sunday Oliseh, studied fashion designing at Middlesex University, United Kingdom. Tessy, who got married to Ohimai Amaize, the Special Adviser on Media Strategy to the ex-Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, and Dele Momodu’s Special Assistant for the 2011 Presidential Campaign, tells Adetutu Audu marriage is the best thing that has happened to her. 

    A what point did you decide fashion? I didn’t decide to become a fashion designer. It was a calling. I was born with it. I doubt that I could have been anything else other than a fashion designer. Being the only girl in the house also contributed to nurturing that inborn passion.

    Now that you have relocated to Abuja, what has been happening to Tesslo Lagos?

    Tesslo in Lagos is still very much alive. I left behind a structure that takes care of my already established network of clients in Lagos.

    Will you say relocating to Abuja has affected your business’ client base in any way?

    It has affected my business positively because it has opened new doors and created room for expansion. Relocating to Abuja has kept me very busy and my hands are full already. I coordinated the maiden African Fashion Week, Dubai which featured African designers from South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Egypt and other countries of Africa. It was an opportunity to export the rich cultural heritage of Africa to the Middle East. So, being in Abuja has been fun for me business-wise

    How is marriage treating you?

    Marriage is something like no other. I don’t even know what to compare it with because it is a beautiful new experience. I wake up every morning feeling different.

    What is the best thing about being married?

    The best thing about being married is knowing that you are not alone. On a daily basis, you wake up knowing you have your life locked into someone who loves you; a life partner who takes responsibility for you and you take responsibly for him as well. Money can’t buy that feeling.

    Your designs are mostly modelled by your husband. Would it be right to say you got two for one as some people claim on social media?

    I am so grateful to God for giving me a husband I am very proud of. My husband is a born model. Sometimes he asks me how much I will pay him for modelling my designs and then I ask him how much he will pay for making the designs themselves. It is fun though and really exciting having a husband who believes in me, believes so much in my dreams, loves what I love and complements me in all areas. I couldn’t have asked God for anything better.

    In 2006, you won the Best Fashion Designer award in Paris. How has that impacted on who you are today?

    Well, it didn’t change my person. I’m still my original self. But it opened and still opens a lot of doors for the business. For this, I give God all the glory.

    How would you describe your personal fashion style?

    My personal style is edgy. I’m a risk taker and very adventurous with my style. You can see I wear only one earring. I guess I am the only girl in the world who wears only one earring and I wear it only on the left ear. I buy them in twos but I wear one. The one earring is my most visible trademark.

    Everyone is into fashion these days, what makes you different from the crowd?

     I am not that conventional Nigerian designer. I’m a risk taker and very adventurous. My designs are also greatly inspired by nature. Fashion is art because fashion is about putting your imagination to work; it’s about creating something out of nothing. I believe God is the force behind art itself. He created the heavens and the earth in all their beauty and glory; He created man and then became man’s first fashion designer when he clothed Adam and Eve with animal skins in the Garden of Eden.

    You have managed to infuse local fabrics with Western fabrics. Tell us all about bringing African fabric to the global stage.

    I am one person who believes Africa is the next big thing. You can see that reflected in my designs which are usually a fusion of Western and African styles. I believe in always pushing Africa to the world stage.

    You seem to be a growing global brand. How do you intend to accommodate the needs of women all over the world who might have different fashion sensibilities?

    We have our targets. At the moment, we are concerned about satisfying the immediate environment. We have a phased plan to break into new territories and accommodating the needs of the global market won’t be a problem when that time comes.

    How has being the kid sister of popular footballer, Sunday Oliseh, rubbed on your career?

    I think the biggest name I have had in this journey is Baba God. I prefer to leave it at that.

    What is it like being in the industry especially in Nigeria?

    It’s very challenging knowing that there are many factors you have to contend with as a young entrepreneur. You have to worry about manpower, about electricity, getting the right materials in terms of fabrics, trims, re-inventing yourself because fashion is dynamic and constantly on the move. On the issue of manpower, it could be sometimes difficult to get the right employees who have the right attitude and capacity for the work. So for me, that remains one of the biggest challenges in the industry.

    What is the most exciting milestone for your company?

    For me, that would simply be seeing the brand grow from nothing to a brand that has created job opportunities not just for Nigerians but other African nationals across West Africa. It can’t be better than that. Also, when you understand that where you are now has taken the grace of God considering that not all who started the race have been able to come this far, you just look back and be grateful to God.

    What is the most exciting thing about being a fashion designer?

    When I see my clients wear my clothes with all joy and happiness and seeing the smiles on their faces, it makes me feel great and fulfilled to be a fashion designer.

    And what has been the most challenging phase in your career so far?

    Preparing for the Nigeria Fashion Show (NFS) in Paris in 2006 was perhaps the most challenging moment of my fashion career. I came first in a competition of 126 designers. Preparing for it entailed a lot of research about different Nigerian cultures. I travelled across Nigeria studying different cultures to give me inspiration for my collection. It was my first major fashion outing after graduation in 2005. It was a big test on my capacity and what I had studied. It was tasking and extremely demanding.

  • ‘What I love about Oprah Winfrey’

    ‘What I love about Oprah Winfrey’

    Anita Erskine is a Ghanaian, a broadcasting mogul with a slew of internationally-airing shows under her belt. In her kitty are a number of awards and recognitions like the TV Hostess of The Year award from the City People Awards. Erskine is also a champion for African women, using her company, Brand Woman Africa, to encourage women across the continent and beyond to take back their rights, to tell their own stories and project a new image of a strong, modern African woman. YetundeOladeinde had a chat with her in Lagos during the AWIEF conference where she made a presentation on the media’s power to influence and potentially empower women to achieve greater success in their chosen fields.

    WHAT are you doing at the moment? At the moment, I have started working with organisations in Africa basically on the education of young girls. At first, the umbrella was ensuring education for girls and we also realised that half of the time, when you go in to intervene, whether it’s psychological or emotional issues, we realised that it started from when she was very young.

    Even though our caveat used to be to go to seek for scholarships and talking to girls in the university, tertiary and other vocational institutions, we realised that most times the work is tougher. They either make up their mind that the work is not good enough, that after school they are going to get married or that they are not going to pursue careers or a combination of both.

    So, it was at that point that my team and I decided that we needed to catch them right from the bottom, right from the time that they are young and discover what their passions are, when then are nine, ten, eleven or twelve and then see them through to tertiary institutions. This makes for a better and stronger woman at the end of the day. Even though I am still on with my radio show, the real core of my focus is to ensure that at any point in time, as many girls are getting an education.

    How long have you been doing this particular project?

    I have been working on Brand Woman Africa for the last three years. Primarily, it started when I left the media industry to get married and have my children. I thought it was easy to put everything on hold, go and take care of the family business and come back. Then I realised that men run the industry and by the time you are on your way back, they would decide how much work they are going to give you and you would realise that at that point, you need to commit more time to family and at that point your opportunities have been slashed.

    Then the reality of being a mother is that you are having children that you want to focus on, and so more and more I was unable to accomplish a lot of work. Then the issue in my mind became ‘if I am going through this, how many more women are there, who are really struggling?’ They have the passion; they have the dream and the ability but struggling to breakthrough. But we exist in a world where society had determined what we can do and how.

    That was how it started and initially it started with getting invited to conferences to speak on gender issues and I was working in an industry that was owned and run by men.

    Is that the only thing you do with Brand Woman Africa?

    Currently, I have a radio show from Monday to Friday and it’s on a radio station called Star FM. I am on air from three to six and on Sundays and Saturdays. I have a TV show on a local VIASAT one and I have another show that I do on DSTV. To be fair, I would say that in the last two years, television has been fair. Then this year radio also became part of the pack.

    When exactly did you start your career in broadcasting?

    The career aspect began in 2007 when I was auditioned to feature with studio 53 on DSTV. It was the old format with six presenters and we used to travel around Africa. That was how the career actually began. The casting for television and working around different stations, not as a personality but I just wanted to be in the space. That started when I was about 15 or 16. My father was an army officer and he didn’t believe in summer holidays just for fun, even if he had the money he wouldn’t let you go.

     He believed that for those two or three months, you can do something that would enhance your passion. Professionally and formally, I began in television in 2007 and on radio this year.

    What was it like at the beginning?

    In 1997 when I started my first TV show, it was a hobby. I made no money from it but I loved to do it. It was something I did and took to the next level. As long as it did not interfere with my studies, nobody said anything. Then I went to Canada to study and one thing that hit me was that I applied for a broadcast journalism course but I did not get it. While I was there, I saw a number of women doing a course called women’s studies and I needed one more course and I got interested. The person putting me through said it was about the culture of women and all that. It was new to me because in Ghana nobody was talking about women’s studies. So I took the course and I started seeing a relationship here with my passion for the media. Certainly, it began to open my eyes to a number of issues that affected women, I also realised that the women that I grew up seeing were not there anymore.

     Once in a while you find them at weddings, meaning that they get married and some husbands do not want them to work and they stay indoors. That developed my interest and when I went back to Ghana, it was not the first thing that I started doing. In Africa, you do not start on this note; even some of the women do not want to hear what you want to say. I ended up doing languages, broadcasting but not journalism. I did broadcasting and languages.

    How did that experience help you?

    In the beginning, I didn’t think that it was helping much. In my part of the world, you are a journalist or nothing. So the broadcast thing was new and with women’s studies it was quite confusing. By speaking to some of my lecturers and senior colleagues, they brought direction to what I was doing and things to come in the future. I thought it was to get a job, get some dollars and come back home. But somehow they started talking about Africa as the new frontier.

     They saw where the continent was going such that by the time I finished university, we had all the communications about potential: bring together everything that America, Europe, things other people had done and bring it down to Africa. Initially, I didn’t know who I was going to meet or how I was going to do it, but when I came back I saw that a lot had happened in the last ten years that I was away. A lot of women had come into their own and we had a number of organisations, associations and NGOs for girls. A lot had changed and I realised that we had come to bear.

    Are there people that you saw as role models then?

    I have to be honest, when I started I was looking for the role models but I couldn’t find them. The only role model that I ever thought of was Oprah Winfrey. They said she was a TV talkshow host and then she goes to Africa to educate girls. She was the only one. I respected her so much, loved how she did her show but I wanted something that was unique to Africa. It was difficult to find role models but now you have more women in the local sphere.

    There is a lady called Gifti Afindadzie, who had been gathering women together and supporting single mothers. Then there is Mo’Abudu, who owns a network, but about 13 years ago, it wasn’t there. Now I look at Mo and like what I am seeing. At the beginning, they said this woman needed to do this and that but fast forward to what she is doing now, everybody can be quiet. She is a role model and then you can talk about Malala and others.

  • ‘My background does not restrict my designs’

    ‘My background does not restrict my designs’

    Beautiful Hauwa Liman is the Creative Director of Afrik Abaya, a fashion brand based in Kano which emerged overall winner at The Nigerian Students Fashion and Design Week (NSFDW) sponsored by Winasbet recently.  An indigene of Daura in Katsina State, the graduate of Economics and Development Studies from the Bayero University Kano shares her experience with HANNAH OJO.

    YOU have a background in Economics, what spurred your interest in fashion? I will say my inquisitive nature coupled with the desire to always be different triggered it all. The ways fabrics are cut, twisted, folded and in some cases even pressed to produce outfit really fascinate me. I can say that the consciousness of my present day entrepreneurial pursuit in fashion design was influenced by fascination of class work in the study of Art and Craft back in secondary school and my mother who happens to be a seamstress. While the art-and-craft module exposed me to the early rudiments of patterns, designs, and use of colour, having a sewing machine at home made it easy for me to keep trying to change the style of my sallah clothes each holiday. That was how I taught myself how to sew and have been sewing my clothes since 1998, but I never planned on making a career out of it. As a matter of fact, I never saw myself becoming a fashion designer full-time. My dream was to become an educationist and lecture in the university and I have worked towards that since gaining admission by striving to be among the best in my class.

     At a point, I thought of doing the two but along the line, I realised that it was not possible for me and the vision I have cannot be realised if I continue to see my fashion interest as a mere hobby. The constant demand for my clothes from family and friends, that informal attention to details of tailoring at home coupled with my love for originality, artistic work, African fabrics and above all, that of the Abaya, crystallised the passion for garment-making that today becomes the bedrock of our business at “AFRIK ABAYA” where we focus on Abaya (the traditional Arabian outfit), Kaftans and Kaftan tops by creatively infusing African fabrics and accessories to give it an African touch.

    What made you think up this collection?

     Like most of my designs, I was driven by the richness of two cultures and the quest to merge two fashion trends. Inspired by the way floral patterns are beautifully combined with geometric elements in the Vlisco fabric and some unique fabrics, I thought of creatively incorporating these African fabrics into the traditional middle-eastern fashion trends, thus combining modesty, creativity and style. The Afrik invasion celebrates the stylish modest fashionista.

    What are the major challenges you face as an emerging designer?

    The challenges faced are not different from those faced by virtually all emerging small businesses in Nigeria. Issues of high cost of production resulting from erratic power supply, international shipping of certain fabrics and accessories that are not available locally and inherent tariffs, as well as quality control and the difficulties that come with promoting a new brand as well as the lack of access to existing governmental policies to strengthen entrepreneurial dynamics. Issues of high cost of renting shops, finding good tailors and getting them to bring out the designs the way I want them is not easy at all. Also, I can say that the issue of “Founder Dependence” is really affecting this business.  Maybe because my workaholic nature is rubbing off on that as I find it difficult to let go off some responsibilities. But Thank God, I am gradually adjusting. All the same, we are striving to excel.

    How does it feel to have emerged as the most creative designer at the Nigerian Student Fashion and Design Week and what important lesson did you learn as a brand during the show?

    As a matter of fact, I was overwhelmed.  It was a feeling of excitement that I just can’t express. The fact that out of the about 30 designers that showcased I was adjudged the most creative gives me the encouragement to work harder and remain focused. It has also given me the zeal to go all out and achieve my goals.  The most important lesson I learnt is to always believe in myself and my ideas. When I registered, many people tried to discourage me, saying what are you going to do in a fashion show in Lagos?  I was told to focus my design on Kano, Kaduna and Abuja but deep inside me, I believed in myself and my ideas. I knew what I wanted and I am fully aware of the path I was treading.  I know that my designs can be styled in different ways. A lady in Lagos can style my top without a jean or leggings, a lady in Abuja with a jean and a lady in Kano can wear same top with a skirt and they will all look gorgeous. So also the Abayas. They can be styled in an African way with the ankara head or the Arabian way with the veil, and a lady can rock the Abaya alone as I demonstrated at the fashion week. It was a pointer to me that the Nigerian fashion industry is really thriving and it’s left for us to tap into the gaps as upcoming designers.

    In your estimation, what does it take to establish a successful fashion brand in Nigeria?

    So many things are involved but looking at the competitive nature of the fashion industry, I can say that creativity is one. The ability to come up with new ideas is necessary because everyday many fashion designers come on board. So, to be successful, the fashion designer should be able to deliver something different and unique that will be able to define that brand and make it appealing. Also, Mr Kola Kuddus of Kolakuddus Couture once said that it takes planning, focus and perseverance to succeed in the Nigerian fashion industry.

    Does your tribe and religion restrict the nature of your designs?

    No, my background doesn’t restrict my designs. Though we maintain modesty in our designs, we adopt a liberal definition of the term. What is modest to a Muslim woman from the south may not be so for her northern counterpart and even among the Christians. So, my designs are varied to accommodate the tastes of the diverse population that make up Nigeria. They can be styled to suit all religious and cultural belief as was demonstrated in the just concluded NSFDW and two other fashion shows in Abuja and Kano. Same outfit but different styling.

    Your showcase fee will be fully funded at the African Fashion Week Nigeria in 2016, how does that make you feel?

    I am so excited. It is really interesting and pleasant. In this business, lots of factors always interplay. Growing up from the northern part of the country and being exposed to the elementary rudiments of cloth making, I have always understood that my heart desires are not far away from the glorious heights of industry pioneers and pacesetters such as Mrs. Abbah Folawiyyo, Mrs. Bensons, Zizi Cardow, Tiffany Amber, Deola Sagoe, Lisa Folawiyo, Lanre Da Silva Ajayi and lots of others too numerous to mention. To be candid, I feel so excited that I’m being sponsored for such a huge project and it further ignites the passion for excellence in me. I believe my aspiration of following in the footsteps of the above mentioned industry top-notches is gradually unfolding. I am delighted beyond words knowing I now have the opportunity of being showcased on a bigger and better platform.

    What should people expect from you at the event?

    To be a participant at the African Fashion Week is more likened to the centre-stage of a global fashion event. Of course, that is exactly what it is to me at the moment. It is an opportunity to roll-out a masterpiece collection. Afrik Invasion was rolled out at the NSFDW with lots of mass appeal. Definitely, we are raising the bar with sizzling trends at the Africa Fashion Week because it is time to conquer hearts with the uniqueness of Afrik Abaya with lots and lots of creative and beautiful designs that are a statement of African grandeur and uniqueness.

     What should we expect generally from your brand in the nearest future?

     My desire was to break away from the norm, do something different and certify my brand with originality and appealing ideas that will always create a memorable impression. Therefore, people should expect more creative designs that rock the jingle bell with lots of ethnic infusions. As the name Afrik Abaya implies, we are going all out to explore different African cultures and experiment with them in our designs. We will set a new trend in modesty fashion in Nigeria and beyond in the nearest feature.

    Your words of admonition to aspiring designers?

    They must understand that their chosen profession is a platform that connects globally, thus what you seek, you find. Aspiring designers must passionately strive for excellence and understand that the Nigerian fashion industry is thriving, meaning they must pursue excellence at all times in order to make it. NSFDW gave me the opportunity to reach out to the larger section of Nigerian fashionistas.  As emerging designers, we need a medium to express and communicate our products and services to the larger part of the Nigerian fashion industry and NSFDW are an excellent platform for that. As the biggest fashion week in Nigeria for student designers, the NSFDW is not all about the showcase alone. It comes with so many opportunities that are useful to upcoming designers. As such, I will urge all aspiring designers to tap into these opportunities.

    You pride yourself as working on women empowerment, what is your message to young girls striving to find their voice?

    My advice to them is to believe in themselves and their ideas. At the same time, they should be creative and innovative in whatever they are doing. Irrespective of the business they choose to venture into, they should strive to infuse some things that were not there before in order to have an edge. Also, they have to work hard, be focused and pursue excellence at all times. Lastly, I urge them to look for platforms that promote their kind of business and connect as these platforms contribute a lot by providing guidance and connecting the aspiring entrepreneur with the much needed resources to take their brands to greater heights.

  • ‘Find your niche area and make it work for you’

    ‘Find your niche area and make it work for you’

    It’s a cool Wednesday evening and you are with Wendy Tabansi at Maison Fahrenheit located in Victoria Island Lagos. In a relaxed mood, the singer, poet, designer and fashion enthusiast takes you into her world. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, she talks about her fashion brand, costuming for films and things she learnt from her father, a lawyer, who was the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s running mate in the 1979 elections.

    WHAT is life as a designer like?

    It is hectic.It is busy and the business of fashion is basically time-consuming, especially in a country like Nigeria, where most of the staff you get are at best half educated.But, somehow, it is your life.

    How did it all start for you?

    The brand name is Baroque by Wendy. I was a banker and I was working for Oceanic Bank before I got married. Soon after my first son came, I stopped working. I later found that I had too much time and started thinking about what to do with it. So I started doing lingerie and matching slippers.I used silk for the lingerie and matching slippers and it had dainty lace fabrics that were quite unique.The lingerie business went well. At a point, I decided that I was going to go beyond this and started making clothes. Then there weren’t a lot of good dress-making outfits around.

    Where did you learn the art?

    I didn’t learn it from anyone. It started as a Do It Yourself (DIY) thing and I learnt so much fromBurda, a German magazine. From making the night dresses, I started doing the simple short flirty dresses and people just loved to buy them. From just doing things for friends, family and acquaintances, it became serious and I had to set up the business properly.

    Did you have a launch?

    No, I never did a launch. There was little or no competition at that time. For me, the distinguishing factor was the cut of the bust, skirt-fit and the finishing. People just loved and found them irresistible. My parents were both creative and fashion-conscious.My father, Phillip Umeadi, a SAN, was Chief ObafemiAwolowo’s running mate when they won the controversial 1979 election and they gave it to Shagari.

    Do you remember some of the things that happened then?

    I still remember every single bit. My teachers used to taunt me back in school, put posters on the wall and there was lotof tribalism then. Ibo people were still smarting from the war and my father pairing up with a Yoruba man was not understood. My mother is an industrious woman, very fashionable. One of those who were on top of the fashion scene in her days, I used to tell them that they should have seen mymother doing her thing. My gift of speaking and writing came frommy father. He was one of those lawyers that stood out in his time, from the Queen’s English to his gesticulations. He won most of his landmark cases because of his delivery.

    What are some of the shows and projects that you have participated in?

    I have taken part in a lot if fashion shows. Some recent shows include ECOWAS Vogue Italia Fashion Show, Africa Fashion Week Nigeria. I have also done a lot of shows for Vlisco recently. There is also a show we are putting together under African International Film festival. It is called Costumes for Films. Here, we are focusing our attention on designing for films. The designers would need to do things differently, such as designing for periods.

    How did you arrive at this idea?

    My friend,Chioma Udeh, is the founder of AFRIFF and we came together on this. I had an idea of a fashion show. It is different from what we do usually but because I am a creative person, someone drawn to the film industry. She wanted a show and she wanted someone who could do it. This is the first edition and we are neck-deep in preparation. We understand that there is a need for costuming our films; the sector is getting more competitive. Films like October 1 have shown that there is a need and it would be showcased locally and internationally. This is going to take place at Maison Fahrenheit.

    What were the challenges experienced in putting this together?

    When you are doing what you like, you hardly see the challenges. There is the challenge of understanding the concept by both the corporate world and the other sponsors.

    If you had to compare our designers with their international colleagues, what would you say?

    Nigerian designers are innovative, but we still have the limitations international designers do not have. They just do their designs and have other people take it from there. To produce for your clients in Nigeria, you do not have that luxury. We do not have intelligent staff that workat that level and then you also have the problem of power that is killing a lot of businesses. The frustration that the Nigerian designers experience is the reason why there is a great divide. They go through so much and they wait to get paid.

    What about some memorable moments in life?

    My life has always been memorable. As a designer at some point in all the eleven years, I took a break for about a year. I needed that break. Just while I was desiring to come back, I got a message from a dear friend in Lagos, saying ‘Wendy, you need to get back. Nobody makes clothes the way you do in Nigeria. I mean no one.’ It was a simple text and all the years of the pressure of doing the business was wiped off. In life, the recent memorable event that I remember was the opening of Maison Fahrenheit last year in December, which was successful. Every time I walk in here, I get the feeling that I am somewhere in Miami, everywhere beckons to you. It reminds you of the song, ‘Hotel California’ where you can check in but never leave.

    How would you assess the performance of our models?

    Our models have come a long way. In addition to that, people like Joan Okorodudu, ElohorAisen have it to a remarkably respectable level.

    Tell us about your passion for poetry

    It must have started as a baby (Laughs). Creative writing is something I inherited from my father. My first poetry writing and performance was when I was six and half. Here, I performed alongside with people who were like 13 or 14 years old. My performance was so good that I had a first class, according to the judges. I have always written my own stories from primary school. I studied English and creative writing was one of the courses that I took. I remember then that one of my lecturers said ‘if you must do anything in life, it must be creative writing.’ I have manuscripts which I intend to publish soon. My passion here is actually to create more awareness and interest in poetry. There are different ways to make poetry more exciting. You can listen to properly-performed poetry which is a passion that I have and I am still developing it.

    What are the other things that occupy your time?

    I sing. I do gospel songs and I have a music group called P.O.T.S. I write songs for the group and which we are hoping to release soon.

    Are you from the Tabansi Records family?

    I am related to them by marriage. The recording label was owned by my husband’s uncle.

    Let’s talk about your personal style

    I love romantic fashion with a trendy taste.All understated. For beauty regimen, I watch what I eat, I work out and if I have a hundred dollars, I would rather spend 65 on skincare and the rest on whatever.

    How do you relax?

    Give me a good movie, a fun book or goodworship music.

    If you had to advise young people, what would you tell them?

    To young people, I would say first, you must believe in yourself, even when nobody sees you. What you see in yourself is subjective; the other person may not see it. It is no longer like before when it was most people wanting to be lawyers or doctors. Now, even in the media, there are niche areas and grey lines. They should open their eyes, especially in Nigeria where there aren’t restrictions on the work that you do. So the most important thing is to find the niche area and make it work for you.

  • My husband has a wonderful fashion sense

    My husband has a wonderful fashion sense

    Bishop Peace Okonkwo is the Resident Pastor of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM). In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, she talks about being married to Bishop Mike Okonkwo for about 35 years, how they met, things they share in common and their passion for rehabilitating young girls.

    WHAT is it like being married to Bishop Mike Okonkwo?

    Life with Mike Okonkwo is an interesting one but not without challenges. Since I married him about 35 years ago, God has really been our helper all the way. The Bible says we should look up to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith and because we agree together, we overcame. We agree together, stand in faith, trusting God to help us solve this challenges and He has seen us through. It’s not been all rosy. Anyone telling you everything went so beautifully, it is not true. We just hang in there, there is nothing else you can do, and you can’t run from God.

    When it comes to God, you run to him, even when there are challenges. He is the one that would see you through. I would say it’s been 35 years of God’s helping us in the ministry and in our home. He has helped us thus far to bring up our daughter, and by the next few months, she would be getting married.

    How did you meet your husband?

    A long story. I met him in one of the churches. You know when the war ended, people were seeking God, getting close to God because we lost everything. In one of the churches, we were young and everyone felt that we needed God now. That was where I met him but I didn’t meet him first, I met his senior sister, the woman liked me so much. Bishop at that time was very shy; he can’t talk to a woman. He was a very shy person and it was his sister that said, ‘my brother likes you.’

    I was surprised and asked which of her brothers liked me because she had six brothers. Then she said the one that works in the bank and I said ‘okay, we will talk about it.’ So one thing led to the other, I still travelled abroad and came back.

    What attracted you to him?

    Nothing! The first time, I didn’t see anything. He was so arrogant because of his family background. The first time I said, what is wrong with this young man, why is he all over the place? Gradually things changed.

    How did he convince you to join the ministry?

    He didn’t convince me. He travelled and because we all started the ministry together, we got along. My husband is somebody that is hungry for the Word; he always wants to improve in everything he is doing. So he wanted to go to Morris Cerullo abroad, and he went. When he went, he said God spoke to him. I was very much involved in the work of the ministry. I have been an usher, sang in the choir and had got involved in almost every department of the ministry. I was working somewhere in Adeniyi Jones as secretary to a white man. The company has folded up now. He said, God spoke to him that I should give up the job but he didn’t tell me. He said ‘God, if it is you that is saying it, talk to her.’

    Then, the board came at a time saying that for the input that you are making, why don’t you come full time? I said to them that I would pray about it and I am the first out of many children. I have lots of sisters, a brother and my mother who depended on me because my father is late. So when I was praying, I told God the situation and when I later told my mum she agreed. That showed that the money that I usually send to her for the upkeep, I won’t be able to meet up. When I had my first child, my mum came down and I told her about it, she said the Lord would provide. She said the best thing you can do is to work for God and I threw in the towel. I told him that I didn’t want any allowance for one year, I wanted to prove God.

    What were the first few years in marriage like?

    It’s been 35 years together, what can I remember now? Bishop is somebody that can defend you anytime. He loves you, he stands for you and he is not somebody that would deny you once he knows that you are doing the right thing. One of the two things I know how to cook, he taught me. He is a good cook. It’s so funny because he comes from a family of six boys, few girls and they always have people living with them. I don’t know how he learnt how to cook those vegetable soups. Everywhere we go, people ask what you are giving this man? He is looking younger; it is just the grace of God. His schedule is out of this world. I have begged him to slow down, to reduce his schedule but he said, ‘my friend, all you need to do is pray for me.’

    The other day, my daughter said no, I should leave him because if he reduces his schedule, he may start becoming sick. Today he is not in; he comes back from Ijebu Ode to Abuja. As I was coming back from Aba on Monday, he was coming back from Warri. He is also a funny person. If you play games with Bishop, you would fall on the floor, especially ludo. If he is winning you, just resign because he would play and laugh at you that you would say you don’t want to play again. Bishop is quite interesting to be with. I am a football lover. I love football, love tennis and my club is Chelsea. They won the league last season and I love the manager. I also like some of the players. I started liking the club since Drogba was there. Bishop is Man U, when they lose he gets angry. We watch football together and laugh. When we are watching a match, we sit on the rug in the sitting room and because I like tennis, he now became interested in lawn tennis.

    Some women feel lonely when their husbands travel all the time. How do you balance all that?

    When you know what God has called you to do, there won’t be a problem. My schedule has also increased but before then I knew that he had to do this. He had to be used by God, that is what gives him joy and he has to be happy.

    Are there times you wished he was always around?

    Not that way. There’s been a time I felt somehow, especially the time that we were facing trials. I said ‘God this is too much, you just have to help us with this.’ We got married and the following week he went to Morris Cerullo for six months.

    What happened to your honeymoon?

    We went to Ghana for a few days and came back. The women in my church said they had never seen anything like this, but I told them that he had to go. God needs his attention. I knew I was marrying a man of God and I knew that his time would be demanded. I use this experience now to talk to my pastors’ wives.

    Looking at your experience with Bishop, what is your take on men handling chores in marriage?

    I believe that a man should help his wife. Thank God, for this part of the world, you have people that can help us. Over there, the man does it and the woman does it at home. Even in Nigeria, I have walked up to my pastor’s house and I saw the man cutting okro. They just came back from abroad and the people present were shocked. So, I asked what was wrong with that, if the man can help in any way, but don’t force it on him. Let him help out of his own freewill. I don’t see anything wrong with it.

    How do you handle what Bishop wears?

    He is the one teaching me. He is very stylish. Honestly, Bishop can put things together. My daughter would say, ‘mummy if you want to buy anything for me, let daddy see it first.’ You can see it in the way he dresses. When I was younger, I didn’t really care about looking stylish or corporate. All I know is wear your clothes and be neat.

    Let’s talk about the women’s group. What are some of the achievements over the years?

    A lot. We started with just ten women, but now if you come on the last Thursday of the month and in the mornings between 9 and 12 noon, you would see up to three or four thousand women here. When I turned 60, my women knew my passion. I told them that women are dying of cervical cancer and that project was the gift that they had for me. They planned a conference on this, now we are going from state to state to test women free.

    About 8000 women are beneficiary and for the general screening we had about 12,000 beneficiaries. Then we have the widows empowerment and maybe because my mother is a widow. She is 85 years and still around. At a point, God spoke to me to look at how my mother toiled and that I should start something. That year, I sent some people to some villages and we touched some widows. These women prayed for me even though they didn’t know me. When the schools in Nigeria were facing depression, this gave birth to the Word of Power Group of Schools.

    Everything God used me to pioneer comes out of a burden. We also have the rehabilitation centre for girls and some of them were sent out of the house by their parents or the fact that the person who made them pregnant is nowhere to be found. So what we do is to take them into the home, take them to the hospital and pay the hospital bill. When they have their babies they decide what they want to do with the babies. I don’t get involved with that. My interest is that you must go to school or attend a vocation after giving birth to the baby.

  • ‘I studied theatre arts because JAMB chose it for me’

    ‘I studied theatre arts because JAMB chose it for me’

    Augusta Peter is the Managing Director of Brain and Braces Group, a private security company in Nigeria. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, she speaks on how she started, her initial challenges and how she surmounted them.

    WHAT actually motivated you to do this? I think it is passion for the job. Some people say it is because I am strict, but, again, I have always loved anything that has to do with security. I love protection, being the first born and as the only girl, one has been saddled with the responsibility of taking care of people. Naturally, you transfer that to things around you; lives and property and so it is only natural to do this. I am also surrounded by people in the forces; I have been fascinated with the uniform. A lot of people say that the police are this and that but if you look well, you will find that there are some refined policemen in the force, beautiful men and women and professionals if you get close to them.

    To a large extent, I think that my association with my uncles and late granddad has helped me in developing this interest. Interestingly, I read theatre Arts from the University of Benin. I was also at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ).

    So why did you study theatre arts?

    First of all, I started as a freelance presenter and scriptwriter. My father was a journalist and naturally one would take interest in the media. Theatre arts was not a course that I chose, it was a course JAMB gave to me and that was why I did not toe that line. After waiting for admission for seven years, I had no choice than to take it. I wanted to study Law or Mass Communication. Theatre arts also came in because I was already doing some creative things like acting and modelling. Those were the normal young girl’s fantasy in and out of school, done to make sure that you were not idle at home.

    What makes your outfit different from others?

    We are into integrated security solution and guard services. Like you have your normal guards, it includes domestic guard services and corporate guard services. We actually classify them into three categories that include BB premium, BB edge and BB executive. We created that to take cognisance of the different people, their income power.  It depends on whatever you pay or are willing to pay, provided it is of the minimum wage because they have different categories of trained operatives for you.

    Whatever class it is, you can be sure that our signature is there, which is quality services. We have been in the business for five years. It’s been up and down but with the passion that we have, I would say, it’s been a good outing. We are driven by a passion to deliver and we have a service level all three P’s; passion, performance and professionalism. We believe that whatever anybody wants to do in the world, whether it is in business or even personal, there must be passion. Without passion you cannot do it well. In the business world, if you are not professional, you won’t get the right client. Having this at the back of our minds, we have been able to satisfy our clients and be on top of our game.

    What are some of the challenges ?

    Being in a man’s world, there would be challenges but I would say that the challenges that we had at the initial stage are totally gone. One of the things we are faced with is fluidity of the guards. Many used it as a transit point; when they are out of job and come in. It was difficult to get real professionals come for the job and we gave those who we felt were old, trained them and gave them so much but they still did what they had to do. Non availability of man power, not getting the right people for the job and we were dealing with people with very low set of educational background. It was like dealing with artisans, you had to talk and talk.

    Beyond the fact that the guards were not reliable, it also had to do with the fact that their take-home does not really take them home. We have to be very frank about that. However, the major challenge facing our existence is debts. Some people do not pay for services rendered. When we started, we decided that they should pay three months upfront. I just can’t understand why people buy hair, latest apparatus and gadgets for entertainment but when it comes to crucial things like our security, we do not want to pay. They enjoy services but don’t want to pay. So we have a window period for such people and after that we terminate the contract. I am in business to make money and the changes that we want to see can only come if when you have funds.

    We had that challenge and these problems brought us to create something we would be doing soon. It is the first ever Nigerian guard fair. It would take place in November and we would be looking at how to solve some of these problems. I believe that what you do not give, don’t expect. If we do not go beyond giving this people the facilities they can work with, there is a level of interaction they need to have with people that we must create. They have to talk to your clients, your visitors and you need change. The fair would bring together executives in the sector; we want to bring in fresh minds. Let people know that our industry is not meant for drop outs.

    A lot of people don’t know that there is a career path in the private security sector and you can advance it to an enviable level with fresh graduates who can grow through the ranks. So we are looking at bridging the gaps with people with better skills and better education. Basically, that is what we are having and we are surmounting the challenges. Now we have fresh graduates and some corp members and we train them. There were some that we didn’t even plan to retain; they just decided to stay on their own after the service year. My security officers at the Abuja branch are fresh graduates.

    It is a sector that you do not have lots of women. Are you looking at bringing more women in?

    Women are not many. A lot of them are either occupying positions in corporate organisations and my desire is to see women come in, excel, know the job and multiply in the industry. I flew in with someone last week and when I gave her my card, she said she knew the company; that we had a collection of female guards that she liked. Again, I don’t mean to insult the men, but there is a saying that if you want a job done, give it to a woman. Women are firm, disciplined and focused. They are not easily distracted and they are better because they are firmer. I intend to bring in more women using the existing structure. Peak moments for me are when my gurads are doing well. I am passionate about my operatives and customer service. This week, I was on executive patrol in one of the embassies that we work with and as I was going out, the boss saw me and said that they are very impressed with my gurads, they are doing well and they are really satisfied with the way they comport themselves. I was really happy.

    When did the break come?

    It came from our realisation that customer service is key. There is no way you can do it without good customer service and excellent security protection. So, we introduce soft skills for our security personnel where we teach them customer service, etiquette, communication skills and we started training them. When our clients saw this, they were impressed and that was how our big break came. We believe in excellent service.

    Did you have  some training in this area?

    Naturally, to excel in this kind of profession, you must have the knowledge. We live in a knowledge economy. The information you do not have, you cannot give. The information you do not desire, you cannot get. So I realised this and I know that the only thing I must do was to get knowledge so that they won’t say that girl, she is only selling fine face. When I came, the first thing I did was to go out of my way to acquire knowledge. I have OND in national security. I did a certificate course on terrorist attack, especially at the time when the bombing was so rampant. It opened my eyes to a lot of things. I also went to Israel, the hub of security, and, today, it is a second home for me. I was also able to foster a relationship with some training institutions over there. I have a body of knowledge that I always go to and that has equipped me and my men too. I have people in the industry that I look up to; someone like Dr Ekhomu Ona, who is the grandfather of the private security in Nigeria whom I respect so much. I go to him for advice.