The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sunday Interview

  • Zelma Tatua: I admire runway models like Imaan Hamman

    Zelma Tatua: I admire runway models like Imaan Hamman

    Tall, bold and beautiful. These words aptly capture Gold Ezennaya, model and  winner of the 2022  Face of Zikel Beauty contest. Looking cool and trendy, she stood out and beat about 20 other contestants. In this encounter with Yetunde Oladeinde, she talked about the challenges, determination to excel in whatever she does and her expectations for the future.

    Tell us about your experience winning the recent African Fashion for Peace world pageant?

    I would say that my experience during and winning the pageant has been awesome.It opened my eyes to so many things with some lesson s learnt in the process. Also amazing was the support that I have received and the opportunities that have come with. It truly feels like an out-of-body experience.

    What does the crown mean to you?

    It may seem absurd, but just seeing the crown I feel like I experience a million-and-one thoughts and emotions simultaneously. To me, it showcases the support I’ve gained from so many people, the effort and work that I have put in to my modeling career as well as the milestones I can accomplish in the future.

    How did you prepare for this and what do you think gave you an edge over others?

    In all honesty, I had struggled a bit at start but I gradually progressed. I think my advantages stood at the fact that I am at such an early stage in my life.

    Your mum is also a very creative person, how did she inspire you?

    I could tell you all the ways she has inspired me but that would probably take up the whole page. Not only has my mum been very supportive throughout my career, she’s also pushed me to do my best

    while I was at my worst. Knowing that she also at some point participate in these kinds of events creates a connection that is unique to us, and that invigorates me to work harder.

    Tell us about your experience as a teenage model. What are some of the things that you have done?

    Being a teenage model is pleasant for the most part. Although, there are definitely some drawbacks, I think it’s a cool experience. I mostly do runway shows for fashion designs. This is the first time I’ve had exposure to this type of event. I am thankful for winning and hope to be involved with other-such events.

    What are the things that inspire you ?

    I have a lot of inspirations and aspirations, but I mostly find myself being fueled by the idea of

    making change in the world. It might be banal, but the vision of making an impact on someone’s life is enough to make me want to do more.

    Let’s talk about some of the memorable moments ?

    The most memorable moments were probably finding out that I won and receiving the crown. I was teeming with so much excitement but I still maintained a cool appearance. I was over the moon, it gave me a renewed air of confidence and satisfaction.

    What are the challenges you encountered ?

    I would say that the biggest challenge was overcoming my vote deficiency which was a result of my last minute application. I had genuine doubt about how this would play out, but ultimately, I am glad with the outcome.

    What lessons has life taught you ?

    So far in my life, I’ve learned that being a hard-worker is the most fruitful out-look. At a point in your life, you will realize that not everything can be handed to you on a silver plate. Sometimes, you need to be the one to carve your path for people to see you.

    What are some of the other things that occupy your time?

    Usually in my free-time I’m studying some of my passions, like psychology, linguistics and anthropology. I enjoy collecting semi-trivial knowledge about miscellaneous topics like medicine, history, arts and likely everything in-between.

    Tell us about the people you admire?

    I admire many run-way models, like Gigi Hadid, Anok Yai, Imaan Hammam. It is a nerve-wracking process to walk in front of so many people, so I admire their courage to do that.

    Who or what do you consider as the greatest influence in your life?

    The greatest influence in my life is my mum. She is a constant support system and she is always trying to help me improve on my vision, mission, projects and style.

    What is your definition of style?

    I think style is any kind of self-expression through clothes and accessories that are influenced by the way people see the world around them. It is ever changing and it is unique to each individual.

    What are some of the new things that you will like to do in future?

    In general, I’d like to focus on school but I will continue to pursue modeling as an extra-curricular.

    What advice do you have for young people who want to go into the sector ?

    If you feel that it’s your calling then you should pursue it, but I would also advise that you have consent from a guardian to avoid any form of exploitation or negligence in the industry.

  • Folakemi Fatogbe: I am passionate about creating jobs

    Folakemi Fatogbe: I am passionate about creating jobs

    Folakemi Fatogbe is the creative director and founder of the recently launched fashion brand, OYAATO. She is also CEO and founder of The De-Risking Lab, immediate past Director of Risk Management at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde she talks about growing up, what she is most passionate about, and her foray into fashion entrepreneurship.

    What are the things that you are passionate about?

    Anyone who knows me well knows just how passionate l am about Project Nigeria.  Project Nigeria is what brought me back home to contribute to. I am heaven-bent on pushing for a change in the Nigerian narrative.  In my lifetime, l want to see Nigeria achieve a level of economic development and a GDP per capita that is commensurate with her God-endowed resources.  Project Nigeria is what l came back home to contribute to. It is tragic that young Nigerians and even the less young feel that they have to ‘japa’ to get a decent quality of life.

    We need to put mechanisms in place that will allow the best of us to rise to the top – this is not currently happening.  We see first-class graduates roam the streets for years in search of jobs partly because many of our institutions recruit without advertising, thus killing the

    Nigerian dreams of some of our most competent and deserving. This is one of the key reasons why I am particularly passionate about good corporate governance and risk management – which, by their very tenets, espouse strong ethical standards and processes within institutions.

    I am also passionate about the need to address the political and economic inclusiveness of our youths and women and believe that entrepreneurship is a route towards achieving this.  That said, l must also say how saddened l am by the needless sexualisation of competent women in their areas of endeavour in Nigeria – it discourages competent women from achieving their full potential and striving into positions in which they will be able to contribute even more meaningfully to Project Nigeria.

    How do you push these your ideas.  Do you have a non-governmental Organisation?

    No, not through an NGO because I believe that we  already have a large number of NGOs. Hence, I try to share my ideas through other avenues, such as through my writings, speaking at events, business advisory/training, or through mentoring. Last month, for example, I was in Ghana to provide corporate governance training to one of their key financial institutions. I have written a  leadership book called, ‘Inspiring A Generation’ which has been used alongside leadership greats such as “The Five Habits of Highly Effective People” to train and mentor – from fresh graduates to board executives.

    What is your book about?

    It is a leadership cum motivational book woven around the election campaigns of President Barack Obama.  I wrote the book at a time in my life when I was in dire need of inspiration. I looked around and found Barack and his journey to be a particularly huge source of inspiration.

    What was the inspiration behind your brand name, Oyaato?

    I was looking for a Nigerian word or name that would be easy to pronounce for anyone in the world.  I also wanted something that was meaningful and that could drive the brand’s aesthetic and make it something that we could build a story around and use as a source of competitive advantage. The feedback we have received to date confirms that we are already on the right path: We constantly get feedback on how unique and fresh our pieces are. This is encouraging, Our brand name is spelt with a double ‘a’ and not an elongated ‘a’.

    How did the idea of designing start?

    When l was in university, we established a sorority (female club) called R’Avis.  R’Avis is a short form of the term “Rara Avis”, Latin for a rare and exceptional person or bird.  R’Avis was known for doing things with great style, e.g., we threw the best parties, and invitations to our events via our monochrome IVs were always highly sought after. I was the R’Avis Peak, i.e. head of this group of extremely driven and fashionable women.  We have maintained our R’Avis sisterhood and passion for fashion over thirty years later.  A number of my R’Avis sistafriends were at hand to support me at the launch of OYAATO with a number of them taking to the runway to get applause, in support of one of their R’Avis own – on the catwalk that day we had such fun even though we are all 50+. My Oyaato Supermodels included H.E. Bamidele Abiodun, Kemi Balogun, Dayo Benjamins-Laniyi, Funmi Lanre-Phillips, Funsho Olusanya, Ifeoma Ricketts and Bolanle Oduyale.

    During our university days, we regularly supplemented our summer wardrobes with our ‘tailored’ wardrobes.  I remember deriving much joy from trawling through any fashion magazines that l could play my hands on to create designs.  I remember how on one occassion, my friend Funmi and I were stepping out to lectures in these navy-type skirt suits in navy blue adorned with brass buttons that we had designed and how  our fellow Queenites hailed us: “You guys look like you just stepped out of Vogue!”  We rarely wore jeans back then, and looking back, we were probably guilty of overdressing back then did not wear trainers. How times change!

    At university, there were parties literally every weekend, it was commonplace for me to be asked by my friends and roommates to design a dress for them. I was particularly good at designing party dresses. The other day, H.E. Abiodun told Mr Tunde Lemo, one of my former bosses at the CBN, how I would rush off to the tailors, armed with my newly curated designs, as soon as I received my monthly allowance. Hilarious!!

    So, I guess my creativity and love of design have always been there within me. It just manifests in different ways depending on the season in which I am in.  Whether it is writing, property design and development, photography, or fashion.

    Did you get this stylish side from your mum or dad?

    Certainly not from my Dad. My dear late Dad, had little or no interest in fashion.  I used to tease him about his unique take on fashion-forwardness, i.e., keeping his suits until they came back into fashion.  If it is possible to inherit style-consciousness, l definitely inherited it from my maternal grandmother, who would never be knowingly caught without her ‘atike” or “tiró (Yoruba for powder and eyeliner respectively).  My mother and daughter too.  I remember hosting a party at home in the UK when my daughter  stepped out fully decked and colour coordinated at age two.  My friends were quite taken aback at how she had managed to pull her whole ensemble together without help from anyone.  So I guess one could rightly say that I met the style-consciousness ‘at home’.

    How would you describe your journey with brand OYAATO so far?

    It’s been an interesting and exhilarating despite the hiccups that come from the most unlikely of places from the seemingly most simple of things like renting a business premises – where people think that they can distract you to the point of inertia. However, OYAATO is a brand whose time has come. If the feedback from our clients is anything to go buy, Team OYAATO is on to a good thing, with succession planning already built in to our business model, so press ahead, we shall – with much excitement for that which is to come for brand OYAATO.

    How did you get into the CBN?

    One of my friends from Business School, Mr Alfa Barry, then a partner at Deloitte Nigeria told me that he had seen my CV and that a number of people were very interested in speaking to me. Mr. Folusho Phillips was also helpful. They sent my CV to six banks and four banks called

    me within 30 minutes that they wanted to see me. Then another good friend told me to consider CBN, but I declined. A number of my contacts argued that I should give the CBN further consideration particularly as it had a new governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who they felt I would be able to work well with. I came across his interview in the Financial Times and when I saw that his brand of central banking was not going to be just about inflation management but also economic development, my interest was piqued.  Unbeknownst to me, a number of friends/ business contacts had also mentioned me to the CBN Governor.

    All of this culminated in my leaving the UK and resuming at the CBN in October 2009 as the Special Adviser to the CBN Governor on Banking Reforms & Risk Management a role which I combined with that of being the Bank’s pioneer Director of Risk Management.  Aside from the reforms, one of my key roles was to set up a new risk function for the Bank, as approved. The work Governor Sanusi and the team did to mitigate the risks arising from the Global Financial Crisis won the Bank considerable acclaim, including an invitation by the United States Congress to share with them how we were able to successfully shield depositors and stave off a financial system meltdown in Nigeria. We did a lot that we can be proud of till date. I had a great team at the CBN. It remains a big family.

    What were your aspirations when you were young?

    I was interested in being Nigeria’s president when I was young. I used to review political party manifestoes and engage in deep political discussion with my parents and my uncles that were in politics. At that time, I had two uncles who were gubernatorial candidates in major political parties and they would say, ‘Let’s listen to Kemi.’, even though I was only in form one. I wasn’t brought up in a family where the girls were taught to be seen and not heard so it was par for the course for me to speak my truth and engage in such discussions armed with my facts. Furthermore, our mother was always a working career person, so each of my sisters have followed suit.  Each reaching for the stars in their respective fields of endeavor.

    Why didn’t you pursue a career in politics?

    The Second Republic killed all my political ambitions. Specifically what played out between the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in the old Ondo State and the violence that erupted in the immediate aftermath. We lost a number of family friends to that mindless violence. I swapped my dream of political participation with a dream of contributing my skills to Project Nigeria, hence my time in public service via the CBN and my current reincarnation as an economic gap-filling and job creating double entrepreneur.

  • Beauty queen Gold Ezennaya, praticised walking for hours with six inches shoes

    Beauty queen Gold Ezennaya, praticised walking for hours with six inches shoes

    Tall, bold and beautiful. These words aptly capture Gold Ezennaya, model and  winner of the 2022  Face of Zikel Beauty contest. Looking cool and trendy, she stood out and beat about 20 other contestants. In this encounter with Yetunde Oladeinde, she talked about the challenges, determination to excel in whatever she does and her expectations for the future.

    For Ezennaya life is what you make of it. Challenges she explained has also inspired her to do more seek new opportunities and be a game changer. Winning the crown, for her is therefore a dream come true and

    happily she takes you into her world and the transformation that she is looking forward to.

    “Life has been quite different because it is a title that comes with responsibilities. So, it’s been good but a bit stressful. There are activities that you must prepare for; I have a couple of shows, interviews to grant and all that”.

    That Ezennaya explained has taken her into another phase and she is super excited about the opportunities and potentials. “In all I am really excited for this journey and I hope I make everyone proud as the face of the brand”.

    Now you want to know what made her win and stand out and she responds this way: “Asides from being pretty, I am really smart, thorough and confident. In addition, I was very intentional about everything that I

    did. We camped for about 10 days and the experience was awesome. I really wanted this and also another thing was God’s favour and grace. I am a strong believer of God”.

    Ezennaya goes on to talk about some of the things that inspire her to do the things she does. “The things that inspire me definitely would be the people that I look up. They include to my mum, a few beauty influencers and some experiences from other people around me. In general, I would say music and the few people that I admire and look up to”.

    Memorable moments ? “I would that this contest is very memorable especially when I was announced as the winner. It is something that I really hold dear to me because I didn’t really see it coming and all

    the support that I got from my friends. Also how everything just turned out in the end”.

    She also goes on to talk about her preparations for the competition with excitement.  “It was a very exciting period for me and some of the preparations that I made include my dresses, shoes, hair, accessories, and the rehearsals. Then I made some research for the question and answer sessions. I made a budget for my outfits because I knew that this was where most of my money would go to. I made five dresses, also my hair, nails and make up. I love to look good and like everything to be done effortlessly”.

    Strutting the runway was very interesting, she recalls but she confessed that she had some challenges with that. “This is because I don’t really wear heels all of the time. However, I had to practice and walk for hours on six inches, it was quite tough but I enjoyed every minute”.

    For young ladies who want to become queens or contest in beauty pageants, she advised must be prepared. “I would say that once it is something that you want, you should definitely go for it. Have a plan, have a budget and surround yourself with positive minded people that would really support you on that journey. Also you must be confident, make a plan that would give you an idea of what you need to do, how to achieve this and make your dream a reality”.

    What are some of the other things that occupies Ezennaya’s time you ask? “Some of the other things that occupy my time include my education. I am currently a three hundred level student of the Nnamdi Azikwe University and I am studying Soil Sciences and Land Resources Management and it is taking a lot of my time. I go for practicals, excursions, I have tests, assignments and all of this adds up. It is really time consuming and I have to be available”.

    All work and no play would certainly make her a dull and so relaxation is something that she does not joke with. “On a good day that I want to relax, I watch documentaries, Youtube or Netflix and then I sleep, eat and do some skincare and beauty routine. Sometimes, I just relax to ease off stress and tension. I also love to spend time with my friends and sisters, where we are all talking together, bonding and catching up with different things. I also pray which is something that has really helped me very well”.

    Speaking on the sole objective of the event, CEO of Zikel Cosmetics, Mr. Kelvin Ezike said the idea is to empower young women with interest in the beauty industry. “For me, it is about changing the narrative by

    engaging young girls to be self-reliant, while also erasing the negative perception about pageantry.” he said.

    He noted that the girls were selected based on their looks, intelligence, confidence and charisma.

    This year’s event also recognised and awarded some personalities including Nollywood actress Linda Osifo, Kingsley Okonkwo aka Kcee, designer, Trish O, amongst others who have contributed to the growth of the nation in various capacities. Organised by Zikel Cosmetics International, a leading cosmetic brand, the event was an opportunity for aspiring models to achieve their dream as it was not a winner takes it all event. It awarded 10 other queens with different portfolios such as; Face of Zikel Tourism,

    Universe amongst others; they were also named brand ambassadors for the brand in the coming year.

    Asides being the brands ambassador, and representing the brand locally and internationally, the new queen Ezennaya carted home prices that included a brand new car, a luxury trip to Dubai, one year supply of Zikel cosmetics amongst others.

  • CHIOMA OGAMBA IFEDIATA: Why I switched from robotics to immigration services

    CHIOMA OGAMBA IFEDIATA: Why I switched from robotics to immigration services

    Chioma Ogamba Ifediata is the CEO of Kisha Global Group, Immigration Services consultant , Robotics automation expert and entrepreneur. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, she takes you into her world, coping with the challenges after losing her father early and travelling in search of greener pastures as a teenager. This opened up her life to different opportunities, she got education in four countries with a first class, now an immigration consultant, helping other people to survive.

    Tell us about life as a CEO Kisha Immigration. What inspired you to set up the Business?

    My life as the CEO of Kisha Immigrations has been fulfilling because I’ve been able to build something that I once considered a dream, and I’ve been able to do that with my team of amazing people.

    The desire to want a better quality of life and access to the basic needs one should have, came from an experience I had as a child. When I was five years old, my father passed away. I remember hearing about how he was diagnosed with cancer and how he needed a second opinion and treatment abroad. Sadly, his first visa application got rejected, and when the visa application was eventually approved, every necessary preparation had been made for his travel, but unfortunately, he did not make it. We would never know what the outcome would have been if he had global access when he needed it.

    Years later, my mom was diagnosed with a terminal illness but had a different outcome. She had the opportunity to seek a second opinion outside the country, which turned out to be different from what she had been diagnosed of in Nigeria. If my mom hadn’t had that opportunity, her case might not have been different from my dad’s.

     Is it possible for cases like that to turn tragic in developed countries?

     Yes, but the chances of a fatality are much lower.

    The driving force behind starting Kisha immigration is seeing how transformational having a second residency and now citizenship has been for me and my family. As a result, I wanted to create that ripple effect and enable more individuals to transform their lives through getting a second citizenship or residency, because, when done properly, it is truly a gift that never stops giving. The amazing thing about Kisha Immigration is that we recognize the different avenues this can be achieved and help our clients through them; they are through investments, entrepreneurship, skilled work experience and education.

     What was the experience like at the beginning ?

    It was a lot of pro bono work in the beginning, and I worked solo for a long time while building my career in Artificial Intelligence – Robotic Process Automation at the time. It was challenging and fulfilling at the same time because I did it as a hobby that I was passionate about. Before establishing Kisha Immigration, I helped a lot of friends and family who wanted to relocate abroad like I did. I could spend hours on the phone guiding them through the right procedures to follow. The joy they felt when they got their residency in addition to the excitement I felt was indescribable. This is the main reason why I named the company ‘Kisha Immigration’ – ‘Kisha means Great Joy!’

     Tell us about your experience at 18 years going to school and helping your sister, family, and friends?

    At 18 years old, I was an undergraduate in the department of electronic engineering at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, when ASUU embarked on a strike that later became prolonged. I’ve always loved school, and I did not want a break in my education, so I had a conversation about going abroad to further my studies with my mom. She consented to it but insisted I take my younger sister along since she had just finished secondary school at the time. I handled both of our applications, and without realizing it, she was my first immigration client at the time.

    How has getting a degree in Immigration Consulting helped you?

    My diploma and license in immigration consulting distinguishes me as a professional. I am subject to regulation by the College of Immigration Consultants in Canada (CICC), which implies that while dealing with clients, there is a code of conduct and ethics that I must abide by. My diploma has given me a systematic way of understanding the right thing to do and providing clients with the best services when they come to us.

    Let’s talk about getting a first class, a perfect CGPA three times and being educated in four different countries?

    It all started with my mindset as a young girl. I have always been a high achiever, and I’ve always aimed to attain excellence in all my endeavors. I also held unto God’s promises and prayed a lot about my academics and every other aspect of my life growing up. I literarily saw God as my dad growing up; so praying was like talking to my daddy about anything.

    I started at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, but due to the ASUU strike back then, I had to relocate to Malaysia to start a new program at Nilai University. From there, I transferred to the University of Sunderland, UK, where I finished with a first-class degree in Applied Business Computing. I went on to get educated in different disciplines afterward, and I ended up graduating with a perfect CGPA of 4.0/4.0 in 3 more programs: Business Intelligence and Data Analysis Reporting as well as Canada Immigration Consulting, both in Canada. Then my MBA – Masters in Business Administration from the Jack Welch Management Institute in Strayer University, USA.

    My education (degrees, licenses and designations) helped me transition from Information Technology (IT) to Finance, back to IT, specifically in Robotic Process Automation and then to building my passion for global access into an immigration firm. It has exposed me to different domains, industries and a wide variety of skilled professionals on a global level. I achieved all these by having the right mindset and backing that up with hard work and prayers.

     What was the turning point in the business and your career?

    Anyone that has known me very well for the last decade will know that I have been very passionate about being a global citizen. For me, that meant having global access to anywhere in the world. Apart from my passion for travelling and seeing the world, there’s also the desire to have access to basic needs a human should have and also global opportunities. Marrying that with my desire to help people in this line also meant that my goal wasn’t just to help people relocate to a particular country (for example: Canada) but also to help them unlock their global access to the world without having to relocate.

    Regardless of the pathway we deploy depending on a client’s profile and resources, whether it’s through business immigration programs, citizenship/residency by investment programs, having sought after skilled work experience or study abroad options, the ultimate goal for us is to help them unlock their global access and have the doors of the world open up to them. In this regard, we’ve been able to grow our list of services with programs in over 20 countries, each of which contributes towards achieving that mission of helping them unlock their global access and having the doors of the world opened to them.

    What are the challenges you encountered?

    Sometimes people trust you because you’re the embodiment of the kind of life they want; other times, they are scared of being duped perhaps because they have experienced that before. When clients who have been previously burned by fraudsters first approach us, it can be a daunting task to get them on board. Eventually, we overcome this  hurdle when they recognize the value that we offer.

    It’s also been challenging getting people to understand that having a license is more important when it comes to keeping a professional and licensed immigration consultant accountable. Working with a licensed consultant or an immigration firm that is at least partnered with a licensed consultant is a more important factor to consider especially when one wants to relocate to Canada.

     Let’s talk about some of the memorable moments in your life and career?

    My most memorable moment was when I relocated out of Nigeria for the first time; that ultimately set the motion for everything else. Other memorable moments include relocating to Canada together five days after our church wedding. The most recent memorable moment is being Canadian! Recently, I received my Canadian passport, and getting that after the amount of hard work and dedication I put in was pretty memorable and joyful! I now have access to over 180 countries, and I even went on a recent trip to the Caribbean without needing a visa. That was a whole new level that is better experienced than explained.

     You got married along the line, how would you describe the experience and how it affected your relocation journey?

    I got married while working on my immigration journey. So, my husband was the first beneficiary of all the hard work I had put in this journey, followed by my son that was born as a Canadian. It was a privilege being a blessing in that regard especially since he could have also gotten his permanent residence himself later down the line. However, being further along the process myself saved us a lot of time doing it together and avoiding the decision to consider long distance relationship or marriage to sort things out. As a young lady, go for your dreams while you wait for your own man to come along. There’s no benefit to keeping your life on hold. Live fully while you are still breathing.

    What inspires and motivates you as an entrepreneur?

    I get inspired as an entrepreneur when I see the impact and difference we make in people’s lives. What we help them achieve is absolutely life-changing! It totally transforms their life, the lives of their family members and future generations to come. That keeps me going in the tough times because my team and I are making a difference that will echo and create ripple effects even when we are gone.

    Who or what do you consider as the greatest influence in your life?

    God and Jesus Christ are the greatest influences in my life. Losing my dad early meant that I had to rely on God to fill in the gap as my earthly father in addition to being my heavenly father, protector, provider and anything a father should do for their child. Till date, He has never let me down.

    What advice do you have for young people who want to go into the sector?

    I’ve had young people come to me and express interest in doing what I do when they move to Canada. My advice to them is to focus on being passionate first, learning as much as you can, giving value, and then positive impact. Money will follow when you are solving a problem and delivering that solution in the right way to the right people that need it.

  • BEATRICE ENEH: Engineering, logistics background critical to my success

    BEATRICE ENEH: Engineering, logistics background critical to my success

    Beatrice Eneh is a beauty entrepreneur and supply chain expert. She has multiple experiences across different industries ranging from engineering, statistics, oil and gas, construction and beauty. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, she takes you through her achievements, new opportunities, challenges and more.

    What inspired your passion for beauty?

    Reflecting on it, as children we do things that form a niche without knowing that it might actually be something pointing to the future or what the future holds. As a young girl, below the age of ten, I was one child that would ensure that I look at my mummy’s face, would say mummy your eyebrow is old school, want to sharpen it a bit. So, looking back I did those things without realizing that and pouring my interest to even investigating more. Even after studying engineering, worked as an engineer, highly paid as a global supply chain advisor for Shell Chemicals in Houston, that innate passion kept on urging me to go on and back in Nigeria made me to do this.

    Did you go on to do things relating to fashion or take part in beauty or school pageants?

    I never did that. Actually I was more of the further mathematics champion, loved the area of technology. You will really look at me as the strategic and innovative, the engineer involved in the things behind the beauty industry. That is where I played a critical role. But right now, the kind of things that is happening within the population, and Nigerian demographics has changed and I am really now interested in the soft side of  beauty, which is the soft skills, the service side, attitude required to deliver the excellences that beauty demands. So that people don’t just see beauty industry, as just something that is for people that are not educated. But, to take it to the next level, towards developing industry standard for Nigerians to really desire and inspire their children to create a professional career in the beauty industry.

    That is my goal and to do this, we have different initiatives. If you go to hall three of the West Africa Beauty fair exhibition, there is a new arts competition, the first of its kind in Africa, which we started several years ago. What we do is to get applicants to apply each year and we got over 7000 applicants this year. Out of the 7000, twenty are shortlisted competing for the grand prize of one million naira. Over the years, we have awarded this and gotten the industry to help them set up their beauty business. Meaning that with practically people from grass to grace, from employee to employer becoming a trainer from a trainee and we actually have one of the award winners who has set up his own business becoming a judge in this year’s exhibition, and he shared his success story.

    Why did you abandon all this for Beauty?

    Beauty for example, although not known to many is actually identical to technology. Beauty is really evolving and the evolution right now is on a monthly basis. The issue at stake right now in Nigeria and Africa as a whole is that the global industry world is moving faster, so people cannot really identify with technology that supports the innovation with the beauty industry.

    For me having a background in Engineering and Logistics and supply chain has been critical to my success as a beauty entrepreneur. I look at it as being vertically integrated and with experiences from manufacturing to distribution, retail and even the service arm of my several businesses has made it such that I can fuse this together, put the pieces together and identify what the industry needs.

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    What has changed in the last ten years in the sector?

    A lot has changed in the last ten years. Many people can affiliate to the changes in the make-up industry more than the hair, the spa, the skincare and the distribution arm of the sector. We still have a long way to go. Nigeria and Africa’s beauty industry is not where it should be but there is a lot of growth because Africa loves beauty. A lot of people love to be beautiful but the question we should ask is if it is standardized. And we as professionals should be because there is a lot to be done and we are getting there gradually. I would say that so many sectors of the industry, which is segmented still has a lot of work to do. The nail, hair care, spa and so many are so fragmented and unstructured. There is still a gap in the retail industry and not getting standardized products. That is why we are here to showcase and introduce our brand on behalf of the L’Oreal active cosmetic division from Paris. We also have their global lease and we have doctors who are members of the Nigerian dermatologist association here to train people on skinatopy, skin issues with pigmentation, acne and typical skin disorders that occur in Nigeria.

    There are so many products in the market, what makes yours unique and different?

    In the Nigerian industry, we have been able to create a name that any partnership with me is coming from the source and of quality. We have been able to set that standard and to stand out, we ensure that we investigate the product from root, deal with manufacturers, affiliated to the Lab and the research behind the scene. We look at the efficacy and scientific research that back up these products, analyse it and make sure that they are evidence based. Not just for the Caucasian skin but African skin, tried and tested on African soil by Africans. There are two different pigmentation and the differences in pigmentation has to do with the formation of the melanin. But typically, skin is skin.

    How can we guide against quacks in the sector?

    Where we are right now is that the beauty industry has been researched with several statistics to exceed over a billion dollars. Currently, we see that doubling in the next three years. As for fake products, that is what you see when an industry is unstructured.

    As an individual with collaborations from several stakeholders who we are hoping would be inspired by what I am doing to come up, raise our voices to say we are Nigerians, we deserve quality and get people to realise that sub standard products is actually very expensive and go for quality products that is good for their skin because the skin is the largest organ in the body. The skin goes to your hair follicles, it goes to every part of your body.

    That education is what we are starting today with the two presentations.

    How did your parents react when you told them about plans to go into the beauty sector?

    I can tell you that the rejected stone has now become the cornerstone.  I know what comments I received from people and you don’t blame them because that is their world view. You talk about things from the vision of what you see. I actually did not realise myself that it would be worth it. It is education that I have been exposed to, studying at MIT and Boston, where I got to see advance industry as well as being a key member of American professional beauty Association and seeing what they do. That inspired me to say that this thing that we look down on in Nigeria can truly be number one and you can develop career from it.

    You can develop an industry and really change the narrative from what it is in my country, to what it is abroad. That is the journey that we are embarking on.

    Tell us about life as an Engineer and working in construction?

    If we see the booths, that has been constructed for my products, Cere Ve and LaRoche Posay, my design input and engineering background came a lot to play. No knowledge is wasted, there is a vision for everything that happens in this world.

    My Engineering background, being a statistics expert, data expert, supply chain expert makes me a better person because I am able to distill issues, present issues and look at the numbers while doing part of the Business.

    Do you have young people that you are Mentoring?

    Yes, I have a lot of people who I am mentoring.  From my workers, security men, drivers to a lot of young women in Networks, members of WIMBIZ because I am passionate about Women’s empowerment.  I am not part of WIMBIZ but they nominated me to mentor some of their members. I also volunteer to schools Associations and everybody who is interested in learning from my journey.

  • ‘Less wastages, leakages can curb corruption-induced poverty’

    ‘Less wastages, leakages can curb corruption-induced poverty’

    Professor Rahamon Adisa Bello is former Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos. In this interview with Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf, the renowned engineer shares interesting insights on how Nigerians can get out of the poverty trap. Excerpts:

    According to the latest report of the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS) over 133 million Nigerians are terribly impoverished. Given the fact that other countries rely on diaspora remittances to cushion the effects of credit crunch, how can we bridge the poverty gap working with Nigerians in the diaspora?

    The situation is beyond what diaspora deposits can take care of considering the enormous socioeconomic challenges confronting Nigerians. We have a lot of deficits and that is where the economic programme of the government has to be treated properly to suit what we have in Nigeria. We have a large population and as such, we need to be able to see how to bring up people to a level where they can become self-sufficient. Number one, those within the country; if you don’t really plan for them, then we are going to be getting worse and worse by the day. Those outside are few compared to those of us inside the country presently. Come to think of it, how much are they putting in really? Of course, those in the diaspora still have to live their own lives; it is the extras that they have that they can send back home. So, what they are sending is pittance compared to what we need. It is small but it is helping, I’m talking in terms of the foreign exchange. But the issue is that the government needs to have a programme for those that are within the nation. The youths particularly, need to be engaged. How many jobs are being created? The problem of unemployment is there. The guy who goes to school after his parents have spent money on him to go to school whether he is properly trained with a skill or not, if he doesn’t have a job, what difference or benefit would it make if he can’t bring anything to the table? So how does he survive and help those who have been spending money on him or her all these while? How does he really maintain himself and all that? So, these are the real issues that predispose society to poverty as we have seen in Nigeria today. So, we need to be able to lay out programmes that take care of the people that are here, particularly, the youths to ensure that they are taken care of and can create employment. And that’s where the issue of entrepreneurship in schools have been emphasised. If it is taken properly, things can improve. As I have always said, the University of Lagos has a potential of creating a minimum of 10 companies a year. If we create 10 companies every year; after about 10 years you know what that means. In fact, we won’t be asking for the government to come and fund it because there would be partners in those companies and when they become international companies that’s a lot of money for them. That’s how other places develop and that’s how you create employment and jobs for all. So, we need to put in money to risk funds, where people that have ideas can borrow money and try their ideas. If they fail, well, the government would have to absorb it and if they succeed it’s still the government benefitting ultimately. So, these are the kind of things that have to be looked at in large quantum to ensure that we have enough for those that are inside. It is when those inside are at a minimum level that the diaspora thing will now be a good top off for us. That’s the way I see it.

    What do you say of policies of the government that tend to stifle commerce and trade?

    It is not that they stifle. You see, what you have to look at is that governance is hard when resources are not there. The first thing is that the government should be able to make enough resources. Look at how long it has taken to deal with the problem of oil theft and all that. Unfortunately, we left it hanging. If that had been curbed long ago, by now we will have far more resources to take care of all our needs. These are the issues. So, if we don’t have enough resources it won’t make any difference in the end.

    You mentioned earlier that UNILAG has the potential to create at least 10 companies. How is that possible?

    Yes it’s possible and they are already doing it. If you go to the Entrepreneurship Centre you can ask them there. They are registering them. I can recall that the VC mentioned how many of such businesses the university has registered so far. They have registered companies for young entrepreneurs that have ideas and concepts and then they just have people to mentor them to develop. Not all of them succeed but for those who are able to succeed once they keep at it that’s lots of money for the future. You don’t look at what would happen immediately. No. All you have to do is to look at those with potential and they would now put them on a track to succeed.

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    For those who don’t have the opportunity of going to the four walls of the university, especially the under-skilled, does UNILAG have some form of apprenticeship programme for them?

    I think the Federal Government has an agency tackling that specifically. For example, there is a body called the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI). They have funds for people that have ideas. These days, you see people that can do drones on their own and they are not in the four walls of the university, they pick them up now. They didn’t have funds before but now there is funding for them now. So if their activities now spread all over the country, I am sure they will cover these kinds of people that are not within the university system. But most institutions now are supposed to be developing entrepreneurs in line with the vision of the Federal Government.

    In the midst of plenty most people believe that the country has no business with poverty but then corruption is a major drawback. So, in your view is there any linkage between corruption and poverty?

    There is nowhere in this world that there is no corruption. It’s the volume that is the problem. The volume compared to what is available. So, if the volume of corruption is high compared to what we have available, then we will run into problems and sadly that is where we are now as a country. It (corruption) has to be stepped down and fought to the minimum so that at least those remaining resources can be released for development. But if we keep working at it, I think we will get there.

    What do you think the incoming government can do to get Nigerians out of the poverty trap?

    Government is a continuum. I urge the government to be able to look at raising revenues in whatever format they will take. Again, they must be ready to address the issue of wastages in governance, especially the wastages through corruption and the wastages through all other leakages has to be blocked so that we can have those resources for necessary programmes that the government would want to do. That’s the first thing and then they can now think through the box to be able to know how to get more revenues to be able to really fund their programmes. As I said, employment creation and generation is key. These days, human knowledge and knowledge economy is what we are dealing with. There is nothing wrong for people going abroad or to the diaspora for that matter; but they have to be the ones that have something up there; those who can deliver value. Those are the kind of people they want. There are countries that are exporting skills abroad and are making money from it. For instance, the Philippines and all the rest of them; that’s what they do. So, we can do it but we must do it properly by ensuring that our education system is not bastardised. That is one of the major things. So, we need to fund education because a strong education is the highest priority for the development of any nation. Once we put this into consideration, gradually things would fall back into place.

  • EMEVWO BIAKOLO: Why we should pay attention to mental health of couples

    EMEVWO BIAKOLO: Why we should pay attention to mental health of couples

    Emevwo Biakolo is a writer, family therapist and professor of Communications at the Pan-Atlantic University. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde he talks about the things that inspire him, mental health, increase in suicide rates and his books on relationships.

    Tell us about life as a lecturer?

    Life as an academic is simple. We teach, research and serve community in various ways, areas and interests.

    What inspired you to go into family therapy?

    I have been interested in marriage and family issues for decades. While in The Guardian I wrote more about family than about politics. I came to realize over time that families need emotional care and mental well being as much as they need physical and material health and sustenance or any policy or ideological debates.

    How can this help to build better relationships and homes?

    Material and physical problems trigger mental health problems and these in turn lead to mental and emotional difficulties. It’s a case of recursive causality. We need to pay greater attention to mental health challenges of couples and families.

    Many are finding it difficult to handle disappointment with suicide and depression on the increase.  What are some of the lessons learnt?

    As I said, families and society in general need to pay more and more attention to mental health issues.

    Let’s talk about your books on relationships?

    So far I have written just two books on the subject: The Meaning of Marriage (2010) and the recent book, Withness Conversations (2022) which is on the subject of communication in marriage and couple systems. The first book was based on my experience of marriage. I went into my first marriage at 23. Before our 30th anniversary, I wanted to document my experience of and reflections on marriage. The second book, Withness Conversations: Love and Commitment in Couple Communication is more professional, more about couple communication and relationship, more oriented towards clinical work in marriage therapy. My core thesis in it is that the affective element in marriage is not enough. Affectivity is critical at the beginning for sure, but that moral and spiritual factor called commitment is ultimately what will sustain the marriage. Commitment is love that does not shout or wear the red colors of sexual attraction.

    What are some of the challenges encountered in the sector?

    Mental health is a broad field. Just as there is a variety of physical diseases, so there is a variety of mental health problems. Depression, which in its extreme state as in Major Depressive Disorder, is only one of many issues, but it seems to command public attention recently particularly because of some high profile cases or media focus. It is possible that given the economic difficulties of the last seven years, and attendant social consequences, cases of depression may have increased. Unfortunately, I do not have access to governmental data (if they exist at all) or to some other database to make any definite statement about the incidence of depression in our country.

    However, depression is just one form of mental health problems. Substance addiction is probably also on the rise, but again we need valid data and data collection procedures to say anything worthwhile. What we have is merely anecdotal information. From a professional point of view, you cannot make any proper judgment based on that level of information.

    There is also some trending media reportage on marital and relationship distress, especially if this leads to divorce or separation, but again the data evidence is slight or non-existent.

    Finally, the serious mental health problems such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder often tend to occupy the attention of psychiatrists, because this is primarily what they are trained for and we have mental health facilities in Nigeria devoted often to these areas. Marital and family therapy is a particularly new field in our country, and what I see is that the professionals who attend to marital issues, professionals  such as psychiatrists, social worker, clinical psychologists  etc,. do the best they can, but this is a specialty area that they are not specifically trained to handle. That for me represents a real challenge in the mental health field that no one seems interested in talking about.

    Tell us about some of the memorable moments in life and your career?

    I have had so many, but a few standout moments would include getting the School of Media and Communication of the Pan-Atlantic University off the ground, and up and running in 2008, just a year after my resumption at the then relatively new Pan-African University. I also enjoyed working at The Guardian and writing a weekly column from the late 1980s to the mid-1990s. Starting the NAFACEN ngo has been important too.

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    What or who inspires the things you do? 

    I am passionate about human development: the well being and growth of individuals, couples, families and of course society as a whole. I think of my career as an academic or indeed my earlier years as secondary school teacher as one of involvement in developing human beings. As a therapist, this care for people’s well being, for their growth and thriving is also a major motivator. I believe that in serving people and society, I am serving God. So you may say it is love of God and humanity that pushes me forward.

    Let’s talk about the National Family Counselling and Educational Network which you started with your late wife, Dr. Margaret Biakolo?

    Well, the NAFACEN, which is the acronym for this organization is still very much work in progress. We have not yet realized our potential. Sadly, Margaret is gone, so I am left to soldier on with the vision we shared. Luckily, my present wife understands the passion that drives me on and recognizes that I shall persist with the effort to bring this dream to reality.

    What are some of the other things that occupy your time?

    Basically, teaching or lecturing, research, counseling, reading, writing, journalism and running my family.

    Tell us about the people you admire/role models?

    I have many people whom I admire; most have passed away but a few are around. The first on the list of those whom I admire would be my parents, both my father and mother, who were individually very different personalities. My father was a man of great wisdom and character. In a culture and society, the Urhobo culture, that was prevalently non-Christian and polygamous in his time, he was a model Christian and faithful husband of one woman. My mother was a serial entrepreneur, energetic, restless, fearless, and incredibly hardworking. She manifested her faith in work and caring for her family.

    Growing up I had a school principal, the Rev Father Stephen Ogbeide, who taught me Latin, and the value of the classics and of learning. He was a disciplinarian and a faithful priest. Then at the University of Ibadan, I admired the late Prof Isidore Okpewho, a real scholar and writer, and a good family man. There are many others also, but you would have to wait for my autobiography, ha ha!

    What would you consider as the turning point in your career? 

    Getting my first appointment as a lecturer at the University of Ibadan in 1984; it was Prof Dan Izevbaye who gave me the chance. He thought that I had an unusual analytical mind. He himself was a master analyst in the field of literary criticism and justly famous in that discipline. Secondly, going to work at The Guardian in 1989. It was Prof Godwin Sogolo who introduced and brought me to The Guardian. Thirdly, coming back home from abroad to start the School of Media and Communication in 2007 was an important move. Finally starting the NAFACEN in 2010. These represent my academic career, career in journalism, in management, and in therapy.

    Did you feel like quitting at any point?

    Whenever I have considered quitting, I have quite simply quit. For example, when I could no longer continue as lecturer in UI, I quit. When I felt that my work abroad was done, I left. When as Dean of the SMC, I recognized that the best thing for the institution, for my family and mental well being was to quit, I simply resigned. Being stuck in a place out of say financial consideration is anathema to me. Professionally, I need to be happy at what I do and where I am, and if that proves impossible, I get out. Money is usually the last thing I think about when I consider professional work. Money is undoubtedly important, but professional fulfillment is not primarily about material satisfaction.

    What are you looking forward to in the next few years?

    Taking care of my family, providing therapy for couples and families, lecturing, journalism, writing.

    What advice do you have for young people who are in relationships or planning to go into one?

    First, prayer; second, prayer; third, prayer. If you do not know how to pray, or have no God to pray to in your life, I have no advice for you, but I can provide therapy if you need one.

    What lessons has life taught you?

    Love is the hardest thing in the world. That is why as St John of the Cross says, “in the evening of our life, we will be judged on love.” Since we are basically self-centered beings, our ego gets in the way of self-giving. Yet we have no identity without the ego. That’s the human conundrum…the struggle with the self as egoist. This ego-worship tells us we are the center of the universe; reality tells us something different, that we are just one out of 7.2 billion humans. And we also have the Ego of egos to consider, to contend with, namely, the Ego of God.

    So if we want to be truly happy, we have to battle the ego to serve others in self-sacrificing love.  You see, life is a testing time, a time allotted to us to see how much we have trained and fought ourselves to triumph in the battle of love. Most people erroneously think that success, materially or socially or professionally or in business, is the most important thing. These are goods, but not the ultimate good. Love is.

    The commonest testing ground of love for most of the human race, of course, is the institution of marriage and family. For, your first neighbor is your spouse, and if you cannot love this neighbor who shares your bed and table, to the point of giving up your ego for her or him, how can you love God whom you do not see, or your other neighbors who are far from you, physically or metaphorically?

    Who or what do you consider as the greatest influence in your life?

    Next to my Christian faith, that would be my parents. My father was a praying man. He woke up every day since I knew him at 4 am in order to pray for some two hours before he went to Mass or to work. My mother on the hand was a prayer-on-the-go sort: she woke up, said a short prayer, did household chores, took her rosary and went to her business praying her beads. Different models of prayer – one daily meditation, the other constant vocal prayer. I have now lived combining both. I consider prayer the most important thing in my life.

  • Our love lives, by men on wheels

    Our love lives, by men on wheels

    Two physically challenged men share their stories of survival seeking alms in the ever-busy Lagos traffic. They also spoke of their unbelievable love life, battle with government officials, family life and challenges with Gboyega Alaka.

    THEY are almost everywhere in Lagos. Maybe not exactly, but from time to time, you can’t but notice these ‘little men’ rolling on little wheels and seemingly having fun, as they seek alms from motorists in the ever busy Lagos traffic. What manner of men are these, who, in spite of their conditions, seem unperturbed and carrying on with life as if all was perfect with them?

    Looking at them from afar, some of the questions that come to mind inclusive: how they became disabled? Why do they always seem excited? Do they have family life? Love? Marriage? What are their challenges as men with disability?

    In Ikeja, along Oba Akran Road, two of such men: Muhammed Abdullai and  Abdullai Shuaibu, have become regular spectacles. For anyone who plies that road, it is not unlikely that you would have encountered them, as you wait for the green light at the Adeniyi Jones junction. Gentle, smiling and greeting you in rehearsed English, these men day-in, day-out, inundate motorists, hoping that their physical situation will move them to doll out ‘something’.

    Speaking to this reporter after serious persuasion and a promise to compensate for their time ‘away from their duty post,’ Muhammed Abdullai, 42, from Jigawa State, said he became disabled after he was involved in an auto accident back in his home state when he was 11 years old.

    He recalled in his smattering English mixed with pidgin and Hausa language, that his parents did their best to keep him alive by taking him to a hospital. In the end, he said, “I survived, but this is the outcome of their effort.”

    In spite of his predicament, he said he managed to finish his primary school education but could not go further. “I can read small small,” he said.

    As he grew older and increasingly began to have needs, Abdullai said his people put him in a hummer bus and sent him to Lagos in 2003 to hustle.

    When asked ‘why Lagos?’, Abdullai retorted, “Why not Lagos?” According to him, Lagos has always had a reputation of illustriousness, of a city where money flowed, where the people are kind, give freely and where as a beggar, you could always make enough to take care of yourself.

    ”Lagos people dey pity well well’, he reiterated for emphasis.”

    Asked why he hasn’t got himself a wheelchair, rather than this roller with which he prods himself around, Abdullai said he wished he had one but said he has never been able to put together the kind of money that could get him one. “That chair is expensive, wallahi.”

    He however said he is okay with the roller, as it serves its purpose.

    On why his group looks to be always happy and excited despite their visible disability, Abdullai said, “What I’m I supposed to do? What are we supposed to do? Life has to go on. If you want to be sad because of your situation, that means you will be sad forever. Yes I am disabled, but I know those whose cases are worse than mine. At least I don’t need anybody to push me around, I have eyes to see and move about without anybody’s help. Why then will I not be happy? Walahi, life must to go on.”

    Abdullai however gave this reporter the biggest surprise of the day, when he revealed that he is married and has four children.

    On seeing the surprise in the eyes of this reporter, Abdullai smiled shyly and said, “It’s true, I am married. My wife is in Jigawa and we have four children; they are going to  school.”

    Asked how he was able to woe his wife in his condition, the 42-year-old smiled again, shrugged and said, “I simply told her I wanted to marry her, and she agreed. She’s in my village in Jigawa. She is a full complete woman, no disability. From time to time, I go to Jigawa to see her. I was in Jigawa two months ago; in another month, I will go and see her again.”

    Asked if he is indeed able to satisfy his wife sexually in his condition, Abdullai laughed and said, “I told you my wife has four children for me and you’re still asking me that question. Let me tell you, It’s money that I don’t have, I have power, I am a strong man.”

    Asked if he has any woman in his life in Lagos, he said, “No, I don’t have any woman here in Lagos, I don’t womanise. Once I finish with begging, I retire to my house in Agege. I live in a rented room in Agege. It is from this begging that I pay the rent, feed, pay my bills and send money home to my wife and children.”

    Agege by the way, is a suburb of Lagos with a huge population of Nigerians of Northern extraction.

    Say Asiwaju

    Abdullai also took out time to speak about his face cap, on which the trademark Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu logo is boldly emblazoned.

    “Asiwaju Tinubu is the next president In sha Allah. He is a good man. Very generous.”

    I have two beautiful wives

    If Muhammed Abdullai’s love story is a surprise, that of his compatriot and friend, Abdullai Shuaibu, is shocking, as he told this reporter with pride that he is married with two wives and five children.

    The over 50 year-old, who also hails from Jigawa State, Wiri Local Government, precisely, said he became disable after he was given an injection as a little boy. He relocated to Lagos in 1999 and has been married for 21 years.

    Unlike his friend, Shuaibu’s wives and children are in Agege, where they all live in  rented rooms.

    Asked how he manages to meet up with the emotional needs of two women in his condition, Shuaibu laughed and said, “It’s God o; not by my power.”

    Do his wives work or does he make enough money as a beggar to pay rents, bills and other monetary needs?

    “No, my wives are fulltime housewives; I take care of all their needs. And to answer your other question, I do not make enough money, but I have to come out and hustle to take care of them.”

    Waxing philosophical, Shuaibu who proudly disclosed that all his children are in school, said, “You know it is easy for people to say ‘Oh he enjoys begging,’ but how does a man enjoy begging? The need to meet up with the daily demands of our family is what pushes us into the streets. Look at me now, I have two wives, I have children; my children will go to school; from time to time, I will have to meet up with their monetary demands- bring one thousand, bring two thousand. How do I meet up, if I don’t come onto the streets to beg? That may mean the school sending them home. I couldn’t get enough education, would I also not do all I can to make my children get education in this age and time?

    “Apart from school demands, I live in a rented house. I will pay rent, I will pay NEPA, I will pay for toilet, pay cleaner; how will I be able to meet up with these daily challenges if I don’t come out? So it’s not as if we enjoy begging or that we don’t want to work. What manner of work can I do in my condition. It’s a different thing if I learnt some work while growing up, but I didn’t. Government would not give us money, so how do people like me meet up with these daily and monthly challenges? If you ply this road regularly, you would have noticed that we are always here. Sun will beat us, rain will beat us, but we have to be here to seek the favour of people, good Lagos people. So I am not begging to do big man or because I’m lazy, but to survive. And most of the time, the kind of money we make here are daily money. That was why during the lockdown, people like us suffered. I have also heard people saying begging is business, no, it’s not. As a human being who has dignity, I do not enjoy begging; I am doing it because there is nothing else I can do to survive. The truth, if you must know, is that even I am tired of begging. If I had the money, I would have gone into business – at least that is dignifying. But the money we make is daily money.”

    Shuaibu also spoke of how he has been arrested by government officials on several occasions for street begging and taken to Alausa, the seat of the Lagos State government, but said he always returned because it is the only means of survival he knows.

    “When they arrest me like that, sometimes, we beg them and the officials release us; and sometimes, we give them small something.”

    His colleague, Abdullai corroborated his story of arrests.

    Proud father

    Shuaibu also spared time to speak on his children whose progress he obviously is very proud of.

    “In Sha Allah, my kids attend Olusanya Primary School in Agege. And when they come back from school, they go and earn tailor work. This is because I don’t want them to turn out like me but to be better. My first child is in JSS, my second is in primary six, while another is in Primary three.

    Like Abdullai, Shuaibu confessed his love for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu: “He’s a good man. That’s why I want him win.”

    Proudly, he regaled this reporter of how he has given birth to a child during the tenure of each of the Lagos State governors since Asiwaju’s days.

    “Since 1999, I have been supporting Asiwaju Tinubu. I have given birth during the time of all the governors of Lagos State. I gave birth during Tinubu’s eight years, I gave birth during Fashola’s time, and also during Ambode’s time. Even during Sanwo-Olu’s time, I have given birth to another child. So you see, I’m a proud Lagosian.”

  • My dream for Remo Land, by Akarigbo

    My dream for Remo Land, by Akarigbo

    By all standards, Oba Babatunde Adewale Ajayi, the Akarigbo and paramount Ruler of Remo land stands out as an intellectual. With a double bachelor’s degrees in Social Sciences (University of Ibadan) and Law (University of Calabar) respectively, a master’s degree in Law (University of Lagos) and a legal practice that saw him solicit up to the Supreme Court; he certainly is in a class by himself. As the monarch, who is also a chartered accountant, an expert in insolvency and restructuring, and a former managing partner at Babington Ashaye & Co marks his 60th birthday and five years on the throne this week, he took time out to speak on the journey so far and his expectations with a select journalists in his palace in Sagamu. Gboyega Alaka was there.

    CONGRATULATIONS on your fifth coronation anniversary. How has the journey been; especially administrating the 33 communities that make up the Remo federation?

    Thank you and let me welcome you to the palace. So far, so good, it has been wonderful and a good experience. How time flies! Even if you get into a university, after five years, it is expected that you would have gotten your degree. It has been a stimulating experience; not something that one would regret. So, I just look forward to many more years, and to things I want to do for our community. And to correct you, the communities are no longer thirty-three (33); that was the initial number, but of course, it has gone beyond thirty-three now. It’s now over forty (40). Remo has been a federation; most of these communities all have their kings; the Akarigbo just happens to be the head of all, the first amongst them. By and large, it has been challenging, no doubt about that. I never knew it would be this challenging, but we have coped so far.

    Also, congratulations on your award of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) by President Muhammadu Buhari; how would you gauge the progress since your ascension to the Akarigbo throne in terms of some of your subjects, who are now in high places and development within the Remo Nation?

    We’ve been very lucky. Good fortune seems to be following us everywhere. The current number two citizen of this country is from Remo; the current governor of this state is from Remo; but they’ve always been good Nigerians and good sons of Ogun State. We try not to look like we’re labeling them as Remo leaders, because we want them to be fair to all. And they have indeed been fair to all. In all, our sons and daughters are doing well; not only in Nigeria alone; even overseas. And we will only continue to pray for them. As far as the community is concerned, a lot has been done. However, we don’t want to start counting the little things that we have done, because we want to see them as challenges to do more. The icing on the cake was the conferment of a national award by the president of the Federal Republic, and we felt humbled. That was the first time an Akarigbo would get to that level. Of course, we’ve always had Akarigbo getting national honours, but this was the highest ever conferred on an Akarigbo, which is something we take with pride. And we are very grateful. All I can say is that our best is yet to come. We will continue to try. Something I always tell people is that we would not be accused of not trying. We will continue to give our best. We’d give our soul and our lives to the development of our different communities.

    As a young prince, did you at any time envisage that you would be king of Remo?

    As a young prince? No. And I have said that a million and one times. I never described myself as a prince; I didn’t even know I was one. It was all overwhelming. I knew my dad had something to do with the palace but I didn’t know how close. It was not until my predecessor passed that I knew this thing could happen. Initially we said no; and somehow, we changed our mind. The competition was tough, and here we are.

    Sagamu is a cosmopolitan town; how have you maintained a healthy relationship with all the ethnic groups, and among all the other obas?

    The significance of your question is that I am the current chairman of Ogun State Council of Obas. Of course we all have our differences but I think the key thing is ability to listen to all sides of a problem. We all have our issues from different communities. Even at the larger state level, anywhere I go, the respect is there, because they know that anything they put on my table in terms of what they want, I would go out of my way to ensure that it is looked into. So far so good, even beyond Sagamu, beyond Remo, the kings have extreme confidence in me when they talk to me. Of course we’re not promising that everything they ask us to do, we would do, but they know me that I’m not afraid or reluctant to push their course. And we have a very fantastic governor who happens to be from Remo. Of course it’s not just because he’s from Remo; he’s just a good man and he listens to us and pushes our case.

    What would be your strong message to your subjects and to Ogun State in general as you mark this twin celebration?

    First is to express our gratitude and appreciation to God and to them for their cooperation. We want to also assure them that patience is still required, and that our best is yet to come. We will also need their patience with the government; the whole world is going through challenges; and Sagamu cannot be an exception, Remo cannot be an exception; Ogun State and Nigeria cannot be an exception. So we need that patience and cooperation with the people in authority, to ensure that even the little gains that we have had, we do not destroy with impatience.

    A lot of Remonians are quick to make a distinction by insisting that they are not Ijebus. However, the general perception out there is that people from this axis are all Ijebus. I’d like you to explain that. Is there really a dichotomy between Ijebu people and Remo people?

    The word dichotomy is relative, but the bottom-line is that overtime, Remo is Remo. I’m always reluctant to dabble into that issue. But be that as it may, I know that at a time, we were Remo; and at a time, we were Ijebu-Remo. But I thought for the purpose of distinction, every community wants to assert itself. They don’t want their identity to be submerged or emasculated, so Remo evolved as a separate entity. But that is not to say that we don’t have affinity with Ijebu people. We have do. We’re like brothers. The language is similar, the culture is similar; but having said that, the fact is that Remo is distinct from Ijebu.

    Sagamu as a town has a rather negative reputation for cultism and youth restiveness, what are you doing to stem or stamp it out?

    Thank you very much (general laughter). Maybe if you had asked this question about a month ago…. But you would notice that it is now on the ebb. But having said that, I think it’s a national problem; and it’s not fair to single out a town or Sagamu. You need to see what happens in Lagos – Somolu area, Fadeyi, Ikorodu and co; even in Ogun State, Abeokuta, Ijebu-ode. So rather than pinning it on a community, we should start identifying solutions, like we have in Sagamu. We just hope it’s a thing of the past. Really, really, it is on the downward trend. As we speak, it’s not even happening. Of course no society is crime-free but we’ve tried to talk to the youths about the problem. Unfortunately, and I keep saying it, there is this thing about education. Irrespective of what your child or children want to become, education is very important. Don’t forget, it was when uneducated and illiterate people got involved that the whole cultism thing went haywire. We used to have it in the universities and other higher institutions but we never had people cutting people’s arms and heads and displaying them. So, we’ll continue to educate our people. I am glad that it is currently on the downward trend. We just hope it’s a thing of the past.

    Where do you see Remo in the next ten years?

    Huge. In the next ten years, I see Remo as the industrial capital of Ogun State, the industrial capital of Nigeria, and a place where everybody would want to live in peace and harmony.

  • AISHA YUSUF: I stay focused, rejuvenated with yoga and martial arts

    AISHA YUSUF: I stay focused, rejuvenated with yoga and martial arts

    Aisha Yusuf is the CEO of Hayche and founder of the Network of hospitality, tourism and lifestyle professionals. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, she takes you into her world, opportunities in tourism, human Resources, hospitality and more.

    TELL us about life as Hayche’s CEO?

    It is a constant roller coaster ride. I have to play multiple roles, juggling daily activities that involve coordination of our projects in different countries.

    What has been your experience in the Hospitality industry?

    My experience in the hospitality industry has been both challenging and rewarding. I have been fortunate to travel to many countries, which has afforded me the opportunity to explore different cultures and appreciate the diversity. I have also mentored and supported many young people to start careers in hospitality. I am very passionate about hospitality.

    Take us into your world and your experience working with donor Organizations?

    Through my engagement with the West African Health Organization (WAHO), I entered the world of international development as a researcher in the area of communications and advocacy. Since then, I have gone on to work with the World Bank, USAID, and the ECOWAS commission. Prior to working with WAHO, I had worked with the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) as a researcher/analyst.

    What are some of the lessons learnt working as a researcher with Open Society Institute of West Africa (OSIWA)?

    At OSIWA, my focus was on political governance, voter education, and economic governance. While working in the OSIWA “situation room” during the 2015 election, I had the opportunity to engage with numerous political analysts from different parts of Nigeria, including the Chairman Human Rights Commission. I got to understand what the commission was about and the role it plays in society, which led to my writing the article ‘My Baby Step To Change’ in which I shared my experience from being in a bubble and completely oblivious to how government works to becoming more informed, and in turn, educating younger people on governance and the role of government. My article was published in Premium Times.

    What are some of the memorable moments in life and in your career?

    Celebrating 10 years in the hospitality industry is at the top of the list. I am also excited that I have been able to diversify into media and communications.

    How did you get the big break?

    Working with the Ramada brand management team in Sharjah, UAE marked the beginning of management consulting for large international hotel chains, which is the mainstay of my business.

    Let’s compare the experience when you started and now. What has changed?

    Of course, when I started, I did not have the experience, and insights that I have today. I have gained a wealth of experience over the years, which allows me to work more efficiently, and to provide better tailored solutions to our clients.

    How would you rate the hospitality industry in Nigeria?

    It has tremendous untapped potential. Employees below management level still see working in the industry as temporary or transitory, which leads to an unsustainable high staff turnover. This is what has led me to launch our very successful “start a career in hospitality” initiative.

    What are the challenges?

    Human resource is the biggest challenge for the industry. Attracting and keeping skilled staff remains a persistent challenge for the industry.

    How has been a communication and PR specialist influenced what you do?

    I’m a natural communicator. I see communication as a tool, which I apply effectively to all my engagements.

    What are some of the changes that you would like to see in the sector?

    I would like to see improved customer service. Also better retention of staff in the industry.

    What was the experience during the COVID-19 lockdown?

    The industry suffered tremendously during the lockdown. We like most businesses in hospitality experienced a significant decline in revenue. We are slowly making a comeback by being more efficient, and innovative, and trying to anticipate any future potential shocks to the industry.

    Tell us about relaxation with martial arts, yoga and music?

    This is how I’m able to stay focused and rejuvenated. My typical day begins with prayers, meditation, and yoga. With my busy schedule, I try to practice martial arts at least three to four times a week. I love music, and dancing; I try to dance at least once a week. Music is a constant in my life.

    What is your definition of style?

    Style for me is comfort, and elegance. I believe that style is personal, and should project my personality, and femininity. I love to experiment with colors.

    What are the other things that occupy your time?

    Reading, listening to inspirational messages, music, and dancing. I also love exploring restaurants and discovering exciting cuisine. I occupy my leisure time with fine dining, and travel to exotic locations.