Following eight years of working in the bank, Bukola Popoola took the brave decision to go into catering. Just three years after, she shares her steady success story with Gboyega Alaka
A food vendor and caterer, Bukola Popoola has said transitioning to catering from being a banker remains one of the best decisions she ever made.
Sharing her success story in an interview with The Nation, Popoola said she became a food vendor after eight years in the banking industry.
“The transition was not an easy one, but God has helped me thus far. I have so many supportive bosses and colleagues who took it upon themselves to do status adverts for me.
“Though I did not leave banking voluntarily; I was among those that were disengaged after their job contractas expired three years ago. The good thing, however, is that as a food vendor, I have been able to take ownership of my life, take decisions on my own and I am also an employer of labour to the glory of God.
“Income from the job also meets my needs adequately.”
A mother of two, Popoola, 31, said it took the help of God and dedication, as well as integrity and consistency on her part to achieve the level of success she has attained in the three years since she ventured.
“I started my food business from running market errands, which I termed, ‘Market Runs.’ Then I used to help busy career women to navigate home, office, family, career, business well without having to affect their lives.
“My task was to make life easy for my female clients by helping them source groceries and healthy foodstuffs for their kitchens. Sometimes, I even go as far as helping them to do 75 per cent of their cooking by boiling or frying their meat or fish.”
For her very busy clients, the caterer said she offers complete package of making purchases and cooking meals that could last them a whole month.
She added, “My being educated has also enhanced my business – I have a Second-class upper degree in Psychology from the University of Ibadan. It has made me to have in-depth knowledge of the internet, thereby making it easy for me to capture my target customers. In addition, I run an online food catering business leveraging on technology.”
Popoola said the tremendous support of her spouse has also aided her immeasurably.
“Everyone has an in-built talent; all you need is to discover it and zoom into action.
“While waiting for your dream job, please learn a trade you have passion for because you will eventually need it,” Popoola said.
She advised that youths need not continue waiting for white collar jobs; rather, she said they should encourage themselves, be resilient, hardworking, and patient.
The Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, is the only female lawmaker in the leadership of the National Assembly and one of the three women to have been privileged to climb to that height. TONY AKOWE writes on how she has managed to beat her male counterparts to the seat on four different occasions, using two different political platforms, and the role she has played in the emergence of the leadership of the House.
Says Ninth Assembly not a rubber stamp
‘Ikpeazu’s threats prompted my defection to APC’
Since the advent of the current democratic dispensation and perhaps in the country’s democratic history, only Mrs Patricia Eteh amd Hon. Mulikat Akande are the female National Assembly members to have risen to leadership positions. Unfortunately, Etteh’s leadership as the Speaker of the House of Representatives was short-lived as she was soon edged out in a power play she appeared not to have prepared for.
And after the exit of Eteh, no other woman was part of the leadership until Nkiruka Onyejeocha came on board as the Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives. Today, she is the only woman sitting in the midst of men when the leadership holds a joint meeting.
Incidentally, both the Senate and the House of Representatives have 10 principal officers each. In the House of Representatives where Onyejeocha holds sway as the Deputy Chief Whip, there are the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, House Leader, Deputy House Leader, Chief Whip, Deputy Chief Whip, Minority Leader, Deputy Minority Leader, Minority Whip and Deputy Minority Whip.
Apart from Patricia Eteh who became the Speaker of the House of Representatives and Akande who once held sway as the House Leader, Onyejeocha, a trained Lawyer and former commissioner in Abia State, is the only woman to hold a principal officer position as the Deputy Chief Whip of the House.
The fourth timer and one of the ranking members of the House said: “I was in the Sixth Assembly of 2007/2011, where we had the first leadership which was imposed, so to speak. And it is very regrettable because it was the first time a woman would become the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
“But the men came with tricks and accused her of things she didn’t do, which they eventually came out to confess that she didn’t do. It is unfortunate that she had to be blackmailed to be removed.
“The point is that after Eteh, Dimeji emerged, and that assembly was unique in its own way because members believed they brought their own. And, of course, in bringing their own, there were some issues because the party felt their choice was removed.
“Of course, there was a gap in communication, which affected one or two things.”
Speaking further on her experience, Onyejeocha believes that the Seventh Assembly was a time when the lawmakers really had their way in spite of what the party and the executive wanted. The House Deputy Chief Whip gave an insight into the emergence of the current Sokoto State governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal as Speaker of the House against the wish of the PDP leadership.
She said: “The Seventh Assembly, which was under Tambuwal, was a different ball game altogether. The opposition came and they wanted their own. I am from the South-East. We worked for the party and gave it 100 per cent support.
“This was the first time in the history of the Igbo
Nkiruka Onyejeocha
nation that we didn’t bargain for what we were given. We didn’t even ask what was in it for us, and we gave everything, returning 100 per cent members of parliament to the Seventh Assembly, yet we were given the position of Chief Whip.
“We protested and said we would not take that. The Speaker was zoned to the South West, and we said no. Having disagreed on the zoning arrangement, we decided not to follow the way of the party to elect either Hon. Muraino or Hon. Mulikat Adeola as Speaker.
“The CAN, who were in opposition, rallied support from among us, brought Tambuwal and offered us the position of Deputy Speaker. That was how Tambuwal and Hon. Emeka |hedioha emerged as Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
“The relationship between the executive and the legislature was a bit freaky after that, as they never saw him as their Speaker. But he held his ground as the Speaker of the Parliament, and Tambuwal was able to shine because he had our support.
“During the Eighth Assembly, the party had their own candidate and then the parliament did what they thought was best for them.”
Onyejeocha is however not comfortable with the tag of rubber stamp placed on the Ninth Assembly by Nigerians because of their resolve to work closely with the executive.
She said: “We have been here, and so we were able to compare what the gain will be if we decide to partner with the Executive. And that was how people started saying the 9th assembly is a rubber stamp. No! We are not and we can’t be.”
Offering explanation on the decision of the House, she said: “What happened was, having seen the friction between the parliament and the executive, we asked who is gaining and who is losing?
“If you know you are not gaining anything and the nation also isn’t gaining anything, what do you do? We decided to do the best we could; to say yes.”
She explained that the position of Speaker, having been zoned to the South West and also micro-zoned to a particular state, it was left for the members to pick an experienced person for that position, hence the decision of many of the lawmakers to back the current Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, one of the most experienced lawmakers in the National Assembly, having served as Minority Whip, Minority Leader, Majority Leader back to back; to be supported by Ahmed Idris Wase, another experienced lawmaker and a fourth timer in the House.
Incidentally, Wase was deputy to Gbajabiamila when he served as House Leader.
She said: “We decided to do so accordingly in order to prevent friction. This was what gave birth to the tag: Nation Building a Joint Task, which is the motto of the 9th House of Representatives. One thing we had in mind was that if you have Buhari as President, who is saying I want to transform the nation, I want to fight corruption, I want to build bridges across board, I want to make sure that the projects that were started by the previous government are not abandoned, I am going to continue with it, then this kind of mindset needs a parliament that is willing to work hand in hand with you to make sure you deliver on all the proposals that you are bringing to them; to make sure that you deliver your dream, which is for a greater Nigeria. That is why we did what we did.
“And having done that, how do we now keep this house together? We resolved therefore that there will be no partisan politics; there will no PDP, there will no APC. We are all representatives of the people, and this is the first time it is happening.”
She believes that the decision of the 9th Assembly has paid off so far, saying: “So far, it has been good. And if you check the number of bills that have been passed in the last one year, we are not lagging behind.
“Cross-check the number of motions that have been passed, we are also not lagging behind. Preventing coercion between the executive and the legislature, we are not lagging behind.
“Unfortunately, some ministers don’t realise that the members of the parliament are not their councilors or their appointees but representatives of the people. That is why you see one or two face-offs.
“Yet it has not derailed our commitment to nation-building, which many of us are trying to preserve. In my opinion, the Ninth Assembly is doing extremely well.”
Her foray into politics, she said, was not something she planned but destiny had something in store for her.
She said: “I was somewhere in America when l was informed that my family would host the governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, who is now my senator. I came back to join them and as God would have it, I became one of his commissioners.
“However, on the day we were sworn in, he said something that struck a chord in me. He said that what we were all given were political appointments which were different from being a business person, where you have to be at your business.
“He was even talking particularly to those of us from Lagos. He advised that every weekend we should go home and tell our people what we are doing in order to know whether we were doing the right thing and get feedback from the people.
“Being a new person in politics, I took it like I was given an assignment. Every Friday, I would go to my village and call a meeting of stakeholders, including women, youth and widows, and interact with them.
“It is instructive to say that before I was appointed a commissioner, every August, which is the traditional month for South-East women to go back home for the August meeting, I used to attend these meetings as a young married woman.
“Whenever I went to the village, I would take clothes, salt, sugar and share to my extended family, the less privileged, the widows and other people in the community who had nothing.
“I wasn’t doing this because of politics, because I had no interest in politics back then. But I was one with them and shared things to them.
“After a while, I established a scholarship scheme to help the less privileged. I was not even a commissioner when I established the scholarship scheme.
“After serving as a Commissioner, I went on to become a Local Government Chairman.
“In 2007 when the then governor of Abia State moved to the Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA), I stayed back in PDP. Since I was used to the people, staying back without the former governor’s support wasn’t a problem. I wasn’t selling them any lies or false hopes.”
So, how did she get to the House of Representatives?
She said: “The traditional rulers came to me and requested that I had to represent them in the House of Representatives. I had finished serving as a commissioner and as local government chairman and was back to Lagos. I had resolved not to go back to my state and had gone back to my work, but they insisted.
“When I agreed, the issue of PPA and PDP came up. I wasn’t going to go to PPA anyway, so I stayed back in PDP. At the end, it was easy for me because it was the people themselves that called me out.
“I didn’t just come out to run. The traditional rulers from different zones in my local government came to Lagos to ask me to run for House of Representatives. I had their support because when I was local government chairman, I touched their lives.
Nkiruka Onyejeocha
“When I was commissioner, I touched their lives. As a commissioner, I established skill acquisition centres across the zones and I connected with the traditional rulers.
“After the community service I rendered to them, they believed that if I went higher, I would be able to represent them.
“It will interest you to know that in all my elections, there has been no time the government in power supported me. I tell my people that when someone has gone to the primaries with you and you emerged elected, many of those you defeated naturally becomes your enemies.
“Somebody who ran against you in an election will like to de-market you. Those people I ran against in the primaries leading to my first tenure always find a way to go back to the government in power to say, ‘It is not her; it has to be us.’
“But they are not the people who chose me. It is God, through my people, who put me in this position, so I’m not going to listen to them. I will still go to the same God, and God will use my people to vote me back.
“I did not sell any brand to them and yet I am part of them. I had been part of them even before I came into politics. I didn’t just start identifying with them because I wanted a seat in the House of Representatives; I’ve been like this all my life.”
Having won election to the House on three previous occasions on the platform of the PDP, she decided it was time to move to another party, apparently on the prompting of her people who still believed in her and gave her another ticket on the platform of the APC, which then was considered a no party in the state.
She explained that “in 2018, the present Abia State governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, swore with his life that I would not make it; that I would not come back to the House and that a fourth term for me would be a taboo.
“Thankfully, today, we have a senator from Abia State who is a fourth term member: Senator Aberibe who is Minority Leader of the Senate. We have Hon. Abonta who is also a fourth time member, yet the governor was adamant about me coming back to the House.
“My people observed that in his own zone, he was giving his people tickets for fourth term and in our own zone, in our village, in our community, he was against their daughter. That was how I was convinced to leave them and join the APC.
“At the time, it seemed like APC was not a strong party, and some of my colleagues even wrote me off. Some were of the opinion that I should have reconciled with my governor, but I stood my ground, believing that it is God and God alone that decides what happens to me.
“I am a destiny child and nobody can dictate what happens to me. So I joined the APC and today, I have the House of Assembly member for my constituency from APC, l have a senator who is from APC, l have Hon. Ben who is also from APC; the same party they said was not strong enough. It is about the people deciding and it is about God.”
PRINCE Hameed Adejoro Ajijola is the Chief Executive Officer of Hobs –OOF Health Systems Ltd, a Lagos-based health management organisation. In this interview with KUNLE AKINRINADE, he spoke on his lifestyle especially his love for wristwatches, issues affecting healthcare delivery in the country among others. Excerpts:
What are your hobbies?
I love reading, listening to music and traveling. I like seeking knowledge, so I read extensively on research works and history.
What does fashion mean to you?
Fashion means a lot to me because it says a lot about who you are. There is a popular saying that you are addressed the way you dressed. I like to dress moderately but always make a statement with my look.
Do you have a particular fashion style?
Well, I dress according to my mood and time. If it is casual, it has to be designer. My key designers are Polo by Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Giovani, Giogio Armani andVan Heusen. If I am on native wear, it also goes with accessories to compliment my looks.
How do you unwind?
When I was a bit younger, I loved going to clubs because I love dancing. But now I just sit at home and listen to music with red wine or a bottle of champagne. Once in a while, I do visit my friends at Ikoyi Club, Country Club or Polo Club.
Do you have a particular hangout spot?
Polo Club Ikoyi, Farm city, and Ikoyi Club.
How much time do you spend with your family?
Most times, we travel out of the country for vacation. Sometimes we visit resort centres in Nigeria for the weekend. We regularly visit Four Point Hotels and Eko Hotels for swimming.
What are your most prized fashion items?
My most prized fashion item is the wristwatch. I have a collection of top-range wristwatches 25 pieces in number. I love shoes too. I have Louis Vuitton, Tom Ford, Gucci Princetown, Versace, Salvatore Ferragamo, Polo by Ralph Lauren. I also have perfumes too.
As a healthcare management expert, what are your plans for your community?
There are about 15 public health centres in the whole of Ibeju-Lekki. What can the number do for the mass of people living in the area comprising over a hundred villages? We have just one health centre each in Eleran Igbe, Akodo, Iberekodo, Magbon Alade, hence, my plan is to inaugurate and upgrade existing health centres to cater to the medical needs of the teeming population in Ibejuland. I will do these by bringing in development partners to turn around health care delivery.
Also, I intend to empower people through proactive skills acquisition centres to make people self-sufficient by acquiring crafts and providing them with job tools. I will also try to provide scholarships for brilliant indigent students and subsequently fix them up for jobs. A lot of people hinge unemployment on government, but the private sector also has a role to play in providing jobs in the society. These are some of the issues I intend to address not as a political leader but as a monarch.
We can create fish farms and markets for people to buy from fish sellers and other products, and that will help in developing Ibejuland. I also intend to influence the construction of major roads, especially in Eleran Igbe area. I intend to bring on board a microfinance bank to assist locals with funds to start up or expand their business. This would no doubt discourage people from joining the bandwagon in land grabbing activities to the detriment of their future and the community at large.
How close are you to tradition and culture?
I am a lover of culture and tradition. I know a lot about my community and even the Epe Division where we belong to. If people don’t manage their cultural artifacts well, such heritage would be destroyed in no time. We have the Ibeju Agbe site which is the spot where the founder of Ibeju first stepped his foot when he came to the town. We also have a place where the crowns worn by our forebears are kept as well as the burial sites of past monarchs of the town and all of these heritage sites would be preserved.
What roles should traditional ruler play in governance?
Kings must be non-partisan in order to ensure fairness in dealing with people of various backgrounds in society. On the other hand, the government should carry monarchs along in developmental initiatives, especially in the provision of basic amenities, because doing so would enable the government to know the people better as well as their needs, instead of carrying out projects that may not sit well with residents.
However, being a king is a call to serve the people, and that is why I am not so desperate to become king because it’s a call to serve. For example, a monarch should have a say in the siting of projects in his domain so as to further dissuade any misgivings on the part of residents. It is my vision to push Ibejuland to such a point that it would compete favourably with other major towns and communities in terms of industrial development.
What do you think should be done to promote healthcare delivery in the country?
It is sad that only five per cent of the country’s population is captured under the healthcare delivery system we are currently operating in Nigeria, leaving the rest to their fate. The five per cent belong to government workers and a fraction of the private sector, leaving other people uncovered. The funniest part is that those uncovered are the ones who need the healthcare service more than anyone else. If I am working and I am collecting a salary, definitely when I fall sick, I will be able to go to the hospital and afford to take care of my medical bill. But those who don’t have jobs and the retirees, who would take care of their health?
But the health management organisations (HMOs) are there for people to access
Even the established HMOs and those coming up in the private sector, what they are doing is just poaching clients among themselves. If a company signs up with HMO A today and later feels uncomfortable with the firm’s service, it would move to HMO B and might even leave HMO B tomorrow for HMO C without giving their workers an opportunity to make choices.
A healthy workforce is a healthy nation. There should be a paradigm shift from HMOs focusing on firms at the expense of workers for whom their services are meant for. This is the reason I intend to put in place community health insurance for residents of Ibejuland when I succeed in becoming a monarch. I will do this by identifying prevalent health challenges in the area as well as the age distribution of people in order to know how best to attend to their healthcare needs.
Why are you contesting the Onibeju stool?
I am an indigene of Ibeju, Lagos State. I am from Bade Osa Oniwonlu Royal Family and I am one of the major contestants for the Onibeju stool in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area. A committee is already handling the selection of candidates. I believe that I have what it takes to manage the affairs of my community. Apart from being a prince and lover of culture and tradition, I possess the educational qualification with a BSc in Economics and MSc in Business Administration as well as a member of the Institute of Management and a public health management practitioner, among others. Besides, I am running a company with hundreds of employees, so I know how to manage people.
Do you think you have an edge over other contestants?
My chances are high and I believe in transparency. I have tried my best to visit the kingmakers in Ibejuland just to introduce myself and share my vision with them as a contestant and not to buy them over. The visit was just to share my plans for our great community with them.
What are the plans you have in mind for the community if you become the monarch?
I have always been more passionate about adding value to the people of Ibeju even right from the time of the deceased monarch, Oba Salami. I think that people still do things in old fashion way. I have looked at the education and health sectors and how our community is still lacking in these areas. How many Ibeju indigenes work in the federal and state civil service? I have been to Eleko and Amen Estates where residents of these eyebrow estates get whatever they want within their environment. But how many of those living outside of these estates can have access to such facilities like the estate residents?
We have more than 100 private estates in Ibejuland right now and others like the Dangote petrochemical company and deep seaport coming up.
So the question is what do the indigenes or residents stand to gain from the presence of these companies in Ibejuland? Therefore, the wellbeing of indigenes and residents of Ibejuland and what they should benefit from hosting these private firms and industries and development going on there is my primary concern and will definitely be topmost on my plans if I am chosen as the new monarch of the town.
Over two decades after relocating to the United States of America in pursuit of a better life, Ilesa, Osun State-born Dr. Silas Olayiwola Falokun, says he has no regrets, confessing it was the best decision he ever took. Today he does stuffs of legends, superintending over prisons in the State of Texas and championing prisons reform across Africa, volunteering as coordinator, Prison Rehabilitation Mission International (PREMI) in North and South America. He spoke on these as well as his other roles which include teaching, counseling and serving in the Lord’s vineyard as Minister with Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf.
When and why did you travel to America? Was it to pursue the Golden Fleece or to achieve the much hyped American Dream?
Let me begin by saying that any decision I made, I prayed about. By the time I took the decision to leave the country, nothing seemed to be working. The policies and programmes were stifling the economy. I found that I had fewer opportunities to be successful in Nigeria, hence when the opportunity presented itself; I decided to leave the country in 1998. Talking about living the good life and the American Dream, I think we have to define what the good life really is. What I can tell you is that compared to what I would have been back home, I think I’m living the good life here, all thanks to God’s grace and favour. The decision I took to leave the country when I did was a lifesaving one. Today, I’m living comfortably well in my country of sojourn with my entire family. The concept of the American Dream is that in this country, there is regard for the welfare of the people; the people come first. I have friends whom I left in Nigeria; who after the mandatory 35 years retirement age don’t have anything to fall back on. For those in service, their salaries are being owed, just as those entitled to pensions don’t get paid, while some die in the struggle to get it, following long waits on queues. Whereas the International Labour Law says that people should be adequately remunerated when they work, it is an irony of fate that in most African countries you may not even get paid after doing an honest work. But it is a different ball game here in the US, where you’re guaranteed of the good life. You live in your dream house, you have a car, and you don’t have to worry about where the next meal is coming from and all. I’m really blessed to have all these things here. But more importantly, I think we need to realise that when people are no more in active service, we need to put the right programmes in place for them, so they can have something to fall back on? I love my country Nigeria and wish for things to really get better, but looking back in time and with the fate that has befallen a lot of my contemporaries back home, I shudder at their misfortunes and wonder what would have become of me too if I had stayed back. Right after graduation I joined the Kwara State government employment, teaching at Offa Community School, in Kwara State, where I worked for about 12 years. I know a lot of people who have worked all their lives but ended up not getting the stipends paid in form of pensions, which cannot even take care of their needs. I’m not trying to delve into the realm of politics but I think there must be a long lasting pension scheme to cater for people who have put in years of meritorious service in the system.
Of all the lucrative jobs overseas, how did you end up working in the prison in the State of Texas?
First, every job I have done in the United States has been lucrative. When I first got here, I worked as a clerk at a gas station. I later got a job as a social worker at the State of Texas, where I worked for nine years and rose to the position of a Unit Manager. But when I found out that the job I was doing was no longer fulfilling for me, I decided to pursue further studies and in 2012, I was led by the spirit of God to work in the prison as an instructor. In the school here, I work as a College Professor and Counselor, which is an administrative position. Here, most prisons have their own schools. I can tell you that with my experience as a prison counselor and student advisor, I have been able to get some skills set that equipped me to be able to standardise any prison facility by helping them generate revenue, work out reasonable rehabilitation plan for inmates, which enables them to be self-reliant, helps to reintegrate them into the society and helps them get behaviour intervention. As I said earlier, to prepare myself for the onerous task of the assignment at the prisons, I got certification in Applied Behaviour Analysis from Brandman University in Irving, California in 2014 and also became an Approved Provider of Drug Offenders’ Intervention and Anger Management Intervention in Texas before capping it up with my doctoral degree in Behaviour Health from Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, Arizona in USA in 2016. In my work in the prison, I feel fulfilled and I can tell you for a fact that working in the prison could be one of the most self-fulfilling and rewarding job you can find anywhere in the world. At least, I can attest to that.
How did your family come to accept your new role as a prison worker?
I worked in two public school districts as regular and special education teacher until 2012 when I applied to work at the prisons. When I went for the interview and was considered suitable for the job, I came home and told my wife about it. None of my family members objected to the offer.
Texas is seen as home of gangsters and cowboys prone to crime. How has this impacted on your job? Have you ever been threatened by inmates?
Let me start by saying that your own definition of who a cowboy or cowgirl is a bit misplaced. It’s true that some movies may have depicted them as gangsters but in reality this is not the case. Cowboys and cowgirls are very hardworking people. Among them you have the whites, blacks and Hispanics. If you look at the history of black cowboys, especially those born during the struggle, a lot of them have become successful with vast interest in major commanding heights of the economy such as Information and Communication Technology, oil and gas, ranching, and several other businesses. We have third generation of these sets of blacks today who have continued along the success trails of their progenitors.
Texas is generally a peaceful place, even Houston, the biggest city in Texas, remains a melting pot of commerce and industry. Texas is the second largest population in the USA. As much as one cannot deny incidences around the prisons, I can tell you for a fact that since I joined the employ, I have never had such fears – whether real or imagined of a protest anywhere near the prisons. Neither have I been threatened with attacks of any sorts. I have never witnessed any form of attacks. The inmates are good people ordinarily before they fell on the wrong side of the law because they lacked the right information, advice and whatnots at the time. If they got timely assistance from relations, families and friends, things would have been different for them. Besides, here we have well-trained personnel who can deal with such matters of threats. What I can say is that when the inmates realise that you have their interest at heart, they are able to see you as their friend and confidante and can indeed be dependable. That has been my experience thus far.
The perception out there is that there are too many blacks holed up in prisons in the USA compared to whites. What is the true situation? Has there been any incident of prison breaks?
To answer that question, we have to look at the population of people in certain locations where the prisons are located. Take for example, if you go to any typical prison in Southwest, Nigeria, chances are that you will find more inmates in those prisons populated by people from the southwest and vice versa. The same applies here. I don’t have the stats and may not want to make any conjectures at this point. But all I can say is that the system follows the law clearly on what should be done to any felon. Regardless of your race, you get prompt punishment. The popular refrain, ‘if you do the crime, you’ll do the time’ applies to everyone here. Texas is a no-nonsense state. The State of Texas has prisons that are well-secured. I can talk better about Texas prisons because I work here. When you visit the prisons, you have more checkpoints than normal and every prison in Texas is largely monitored both remotely and onsite. There are lots of gadgets to do this just as you have more than enough manpower in place physically too.
As the Coordinator for the United States chapter of the Prison Rehabilitation Mission International, Inc. (PREMI, USA), in charge of North and South America, what exactly is your role?
My role as the Coordinator of the Prison Rehabilitation Mission International (PREMI) in North and South America is to set up a volunteer committee carefully select the board of trustees, and register PREMI as a chapter. This adds to the international influence of PREMI because there is an active chapter of PREMI in the United Kingdom under the leadership of Reverend James Ademuyiwa. Today, the North and South America’s chapter of PREMI has eight other very experienced prison experts currently working in various Texas correctional facilities. They are Mr. Oliver Obi (MSW) (Correctional Officer at TDCJ/Education and Vocational Training), Mr. Ezekiel O. Laleye (Sergeant at TDCJ/Food Services), Dr. Johnson Olusanya (Nurse Practitioner/Medical Services at TDCJ), and Mr. Alfred Ekemezie (Agriculture/Supervisor at TDCJ). Others are Dr. Norbert Nkwelle (Captain at TDCJ/ Administration and Security), Sergeant Adebayo Quadri-Shitta (Alternate Captain at TDCJ/Food Service), and Sergeant Oki. Mr. Ayo Sopitan and Mr. Akin Akanni are free-world volunteers with several years of experience in business management and accounting respectively.
Could you expatiate on the mission of PREMI?
The Prison Rehabilitation Mission International wants to partner with the people and government of Nigeria and other African countries to reform the prison and penal systems by helping to add more vocational, academic, and life skills classes to every prison and transition facility, build PREMI Transition Village that will provide vocational training to released offenders in many trades. Released offenders will partake in the programmes and get paid. This will discourage recidivism. We will engage transitioning tenants in mechanised agriculture, installations and repair, hospitality programmes and academic training. We will produce, assemble, manufacture and provide services to the government and people of the country.
PREMI proposes to build the African Institute for Corrections for the purpose of training and developing correctional officers, conduct international workshops, lectures and seminars for correctional officers and Expo for released offenders. PREMI will build and operate the Centre for Behaviour Intervention for anger management, drug and alcohol addiction intervention, effective parenting, and domestic violence for all prisoners and the public. We want to partner with the government of Nigeria and other African countries to introduce standardised medical assistance to all prisoners and keep them and their environment healthy and clean.
PREMI will introduce effective parole and probation programmes to complement the amnesty programme in use for serving inmates and implement other programmes such as Mandatory Supervision, The Innocence Project, Second Chance, Bonding Programmes for Parents, and Mental Health and Mental Retardation Programme.
What is your perception of the management of correctional centres in Nigeria?
Prisons in Nigeria have not got it right all. I recall that the 2005 prison reform did not travel far before failing, and the change of name from prison to correctional facilities by President Muhammadu Buhari is not enough. PREMI has skilled volunteers working in Texas correctional facilities that effectively manage their departments at the units where they work. They are ready to help Nigeria and every country in Africa to implement the proposed reform.
If you compare prisons in America and the rest of African continent, do you think they’re ever going to get it right?
I deign to admit that prisons across the continent have the same malady, which is under-funding, inhuman treatment, poor living conditions and what have you. Most correctional institutions in Africa are not implementing the recommendations in the Doha Declaration, The United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (The Nelson Mandela Rules), and the recommendations by the Amnesty International that state that prisoners are to be provided the opportunity to further their education and get trained in profitable vocation and academic classes, and that prisoners are entitled to working in the capacity that will not enslave or afflict them. The late nationalist and former president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, said that a person can know a nation when he visits their prisons and see how their prisoners are treated, not the affluent. The African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Article 5) states clearly that every individual shall have the right to the respect of the dignity inherent in human being and to the recognition of his legal status. These are not being religiously practised in correctional institutions in Africa. To this end, I urge leaders of nations in Africa on the need to partner with the Prison Rehabilitation Mission International (PREMI) to reform and rehabilitate serving prisoners, and reintegrate and resettle released ex-offenders. As change is susceptible to hostility, PREMI assures every worker in correctional institution that any change we propose will not render a single correctional officer unemployed. That is, the change we propose will keep the job of every correctional officer and promote their job satisfaction. Besides, officers at State of Texas prison conduct international workshops, lectures and seminars for correctional officers and expo for released offenders. The change will give opportunities to correctional officers to eat freely in the units three times a day because prisoners can grow food and keep animals for food in abundance and for sale. The proceeds go into the coffer of the government and the correctional institutions as required. The reform will give opportunities to inmates to use modern mechanised agricultural equipment to farm and rear animals. This will help them to establish their own after release. For released offenders, these same training opportunities will exist in the proposed PREMI Village.
Will you be willing to speak about the national leadership of PREMI?
Certainly. First and foremost, I wish to say that I draw my inspiration and encouragement from God, His people and His creation. I think deeply every day and appreciate the love that Bishop Kayode Williams has for my family. It was a phone call in August of last year that connected us and since then, he had made me his son. My wife, Sijuwade, speaks highly of him daily and we all call him “Daddy”. We speak daily about the problems facing the correctional system, detainees, the unemployed youth, and the safety and security of African countries in the light of growing crimes every day and seek lasting solutions. Bishop Williams is the founder of the Prison Rehabilitation Mission International (PREMI). He is a constant voice that calls for the reform of the system of correction in Nigeria and other African countries. He gives me the needed inspiration to live a selfless life.
The work of General William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, is also my source of inspiration. He lived for other people and when he died in 1912, his work lived on, and still lives on. PREMI is led by its life patron and former president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the founder of the Afe Babalola University, Aare Afe Babalola, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Adedapo Tejuoso, the Osile Oke Ona Egbaland, Retired Justice Seun Shogbola, and Dr. Hannah Adegbola, among others. It was founded by His Lordship, Bishop Kayode Williams. Since its foundation, our message has been constant and our mission is to overhaul the administration of correctional institutions in Nigeria and other African countries without necessarily losing any officer. We must reform the prison and rehabilitate every prisoner now because the next convict released from that prison may be your next-door neighbour and if nothing was done to rehabilitate him; he will be back in your community to wreak more havoc.
You must have a very busy schedule joggling different roles – being a life coach, student advisor, minister; you also have a bit of something for music.
Oh, yes I try to get by somehow but let me just say it’s God’s grace upon my life. It’s not by my own making really. I have gotten to a stage of my life now where all that matters to me is service to humanity and to God ultimately. The driving force for me as I said is God Almighty. When I minister in the church as Sunday School teacher, which is the Christ Apostolic church founded by the late Obadare, what is uppermost in mind is service to God. You know we’re nothing in the sight of God, but just vessels to propagate His cause. In my church, for instance, I’m also a member of the choir, where I play percussion instruments and drum sets. I write books too amongst other hobbies. I believe I’m serving my purpose and continue to hope on God for divine directions as He orders my steps in life.
Seun Ajila is a corporate leader and she currently serves on the Executive Management of Linkage Assurance plc as the Chief Internal Auditor. She is also an author a book the Diary of a Corporate Survivor, which portrays many of the struggles faced by the working-class in navigating the complexities of career progressions, mental sanity, and self-actualization. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, she opens up on her experience, motivation, lessons learnt and recovery journey.
Tell us about your experience in the corporate sector?
It has been a very exciting journey of learning, relearning, growing, impacting and much more collaborating.
What inspired your book, ‘The Diary of a Corporate Survivor’?
The passion to write this book originally stemmed from my previous personal experience of a toxic job, which I had underestimated in various capacities and I did not realize the impact it had on my health and relationship. In my recovery journey, I came across diverse other survivors’ stories which I believe are too impactful and must constitute a compilation of ‘lessons learnt’ carefully put in a piece for humanity to leverage on in overcoming their career challenges.
What are some of the memorable moments in your career?
My transition from an Audit and Risk expert to emerging as the Managing Director/CEO in 2015 was quite phenomenal for me. Considering that my specialization is often perceived as conservatives and deal breakers, but my special interest in strategy and business development strategically spotted me for that role.
What are some of the challenges?
I do not think the challenges are peculiar to me. They are like what other corporate executives pass through on daily basis; work-life integration, keeping heads up as a woman in the corporate room, managing diverse stakeholders’ interest, delivering outstanding values for shareholders in the face of difficult business terrain and host of others.
What was the experience at the beginning?
Two things were key for me at the inception of my career, survival, and focus. I graduated from the university as an Orphan so, I did not have a luxury of being a liability on anyone. In addition to my bachelor’s degree, I pursued a professional designation which placed me under personal pressure and quest for more knowledge, skills, and experience to emerge into a better version of myself. I believe I could achieve whatever target I set for myself and I put in extra efforts in every task that I was assigned. These were the attitudes that shaped me.
What are some of the other things that motivate you on the job?
I have other things that motivated me, but I will say having fantastic role models to emulate and shape my career and life after is a key factor. I matched their strategies, articles, attend their speaking engagements and read their books. I however, allowed a margin for my distinctiveness that defines the real essence of me as an individual.
What advice do you have for Nigerian workforce now, looking at the Post COVID-19 experience?
In the present time, diversification is key. Diversification of career, income, and risk. You cannot survive post covid era as a mono skill professional, for example you can be an Accountant, but you need skills like data analytics, forensic, digital marketing, information security and others to really stand-out and remain competitive. A reference to page 63, paragraph 2 of my book, “The Diary of a Corporate Survivor” clarify that it is too harmful to grow too comfortable depending on single income and to stop experimenting other income streams. Professionals should take advantage of diverse platforms that the covid era has opened for virtual skill acquisition, virtual and flexi working and investment opportunities.
Tell us about your role models, people you admire in your career or in life?
I have over the years been influenced by the teachings and ethos of Dr. Cindy Trim, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika and Mrs. Toyin Sanni.
What are some of the principles that guide what you do?
I am a great believer of handwork, positivity, Integrity, collaboration, and mutual respect.
What are some of the things that you would like to do in future?
I am looking forward to having an NGO that finances and partner with vulnerable individuals trying to establish a commercial venture.
If you had to advise Nigerian Corporate youths starting their career, what would you tell them?
I will say that they should have a clear goal for themselves and should always give an extra effort on whatever assignments is given to them. Do not think that a task is too small for their rank. He who is diligent in small assignment, will be recommended for greater ones. Be ready to stoop to conquer.
How do you relax?
Tough one though, I recently developed a lifestyle of wellbeing and exercise. Like I stated on page 85, Paragraph 2 of my book “The Diary of a Corporate Survivor”, it is a worthy way of destressing and constant renewal of strength.
What will you describe as the turning point in your career?
The turning point in my career was when I took a much-deserved career break, it was a tough decision but I am glad I did because it was a defining moment in my career till date. It assisted me to realign my life goals, clarify my career objectives and see life from a wider spectrum.
What lessons has life taught you?
Do not make benefits the reason for choosing a job over another. Some things are more valuable than money when it comes to employment. At different stages of life, your needs are different. At some stage of life, you might trade making more money for more family time and peace of mind generally.
Her fans can’t get enough of her. Not only has she wowed the globe with her striking beauty, indubitable curves and deft acting skills for 17 years, she has recorded successes upon successes, reinventing her brand. UK based Chioma Toplis has had her fair share of fame, controversies and of course, unforgettable moments since she delved into acting and yet, how she has been able to sustain her brand remains a mystery to her fans. The multi-talented and likable red carpet stunner who shot into limelight in 2004 when she starred in the popular movie, the “Stolen Bible” has also carved a niche for herself in interior designs, fashion, cosmetics as well as acting with over 50 credits in Nollywood. In this interview with Sam Anokam, she speaks about the journey so far, what makes her so great and how she reinvented herself as a global brand. The adorable mother of three, married to renowned UK engineer, Andrew Toplis also opened up on the secret of her successful career, why she has been on and off the movie industry, her many controversies among others.
How has the journey been so far?
I will say it has been sweet and sour. The sweet side is the good things that come with fame. The sour side is the bitter taste of being in the public eyes where one is restricted to a certain kind of freedom. I have learnt how to enjoy the company of myself and it is peaceful.
Having spent 17 years in the entertainment industry, would you say you are fulfilled?
Yes, I feel fulfilled. I have paid my dues in the entertainment industry but still feel that I am not yet where I want to be. I am a work in progress. Although I don’t put in all my time into acting because of my other engagements coupled with the stress of shuttling from London to Nigeria since the past 17 years, nevertheless, I remain grateful to God.
When you made your Nollywood debut, did you ever think you would reach this height?
The Truth is that when I came to Nigeria in 2004 to shoot the movie “Stolen Bible” I never thought it would be a big hit, though it is every business person’s prayer for his or her market to sell. That my first movie brought me fame and honour was a big surprise to me. And as a result of that, I got hooked till date. Who wouldn’t?
You seem to be more visible in social functions than in the movies these days. What is responsible for that?
Me, a lot in social functions? No! It’s not true. I am more like a seasonal actress because I am not based permanently in Nigeria and I run other businesses as well; therefore I am not expected to be in every movie or in 20 movies a month. I take movie jobs if it comes especially when I am in Nigeria and when it is convenient for me. I also take jobs in UK and U.S. but it all depends on my location at a particular time. I programme myself like that to enable me accommodate my other roles at home and businesses and fortunately for me it has been working well for me. I have done four jobs already. “Mad Preacher”, Crazy Widow”, “Amaka My Love” and “Dangerous Battle”. For now, I am in Asaba where we are working on a new movie that will soon hit the market.
What motivates you when you are on set?
What motivates me when I am on a set of a movie are mostly working with positive people. People who encourages each other not the “I too know” (ITK), types.
Moreso, for the fact that acting brings joy and smile to people also inspires me to put in my best whenever I am working.
What’s your selling point as an actress?
My selling point is just that my hidden unique talent. That is the first impression I leave on the memory of anyone who hires me to do a job, be it the movie or any other thing.
Can you recall when you had your breakthrough in the movie industry?
I don’t know about breakthrough, but I can remember vividly when I became a household name in the movie industry. It was my very first movie in Nollywood entitled “The Stolen Bible” in 2004.
At what point in life did you discover you have talent and future in acting?
The dream started while I was taking my children to drama/dance school in UK. That was where the inspiration came from.
How do you get into character when you see scripts?
I get into character naturally depending on the story. I am always myself; hence, I do not need to take alcoholic drinks to get high in order to bring out the best in me.
Is your husband in support of you being an actress?
Yes of course! If he isn’t, I would have left the industry a long time ago. He is 100 percent solidly behind me.
How do you combine acting and business and at the same time make out time to play your role as a wife and mother?
Women are naturally multi-tasking. Although it was not easy in the beginning; but as time went by, it became a routine and by God’s grace a lot easier. More so, my children are grown and a lot more independent now.
What has stardom robbed you of?
A lot, especially my privacy. I don’t complain anymore these days because I am used to it even though I never knew it will be so bad like this especially here in Nigeria where majority of people do not commend well done jobs or even encourage you to do better but rather prefer to look for unnecessary flaws in order to bring you down. Even where there are no loopholes, they will still find a way of twisting it and make an unnecessary issue out of it. It’s unfair because it is discouraging. I think it is rather pure hatred and sheer envy. Sometimes, I ask “why are people so full of so much hatred and bitterness?” But God is forever faithful.
What is the craziest thing you have done as an actress?
I don’t think that I have done anything crazy yet. Of course I can do something crazy if it enhances the story line. May be I will do so in the near future. You never can tell.
Who is really Chioma Toplis?
Chioma Toplis
Chioma Toplis is an actress and entrepreneur. She was born in Ohuhu,Umuahia North Local Government Area, Abia State. Chioma lives in London and partly Nigeria. She is a down to earth person, easy going and fun to be with. I am also a caring person and carry peoples’ burden on my head which explains why I have deep interest in Charity and passionately involved in the project Home For the Elderly. With me what you see is what you get. Simple and real. I hate fake people.
Do you party a lot?
I used to party before but not a lot. It’s not that I have become anti-social, but because I have grown up so much. I have no tolerance for drama and fake people. In other words, I choose where I want to be, who I want to be with and do not let people choose for me.
You used to be so gorgeous in short wears, but you seem to have changed your dress code nowadays. What is responsible for this?
I dress according to occasion.
If I am going to the beach I will not be expected to wear iro and buba.
The appropriate cloth is beach wear. I do not dress to please anybody but myself, so long as it is appropriate for the occasion.
However, as I get older, I do not wear skimpy wears a lot again because I do not go to occasions that require that very often – night parties and night clubs.
But I still wear fitted clothes that bring out my shape because I cannot hide my God-given gift. When you have it, you have to flaunt it.
How do you cope with rumours?
It hurts a lot. It is natural that it makes you feel sad especially when it is coming from your fans. I used to get really angry and depressed but with time I became matured and overcame it.
Because I am used to it so I know how to handle it as well as control my feelings. But I listen to the advice of my loving fans who find better medium to relate advice and criticize me constructively.
There is no perfect being on earth and I am not an exception. We are all human so we learn every day. Nobody is perfect except God Almighty.
You are married to a Briton, how much does he love Nigerian food?
Ironically my husbands do the cooking at home so the question on whether he likes Nigerian dishes is not necessary.
What has been the most challenging role you have had to play as an actress and what made it memorable?
What I find most challenging in a movie role is kissing. It may sound funny but that is the simple truth because I don’t like kissing in real life. So when I get kissing roles I find it difficult to do because acting is all about make believe. I am most challenged when I had to kiss, some people may say it is easy but for me it is a tough assignment. On my most challenging movie, I will pick “Irak & Iran directed by Theodore Anyanji of blessed memory. This is because there was a lot of kissing and you must act according to the script, no twisting. I acted as a live-in lover to a gigolo which was played by Ken Eric. As a matter of fact, every role I had played has been memorable and challenging.
How about your most trying moment?
If I can recall, my most trying moment was when I had an accident in 2017 and another in 2019. It was a very terrible experience for me. I had to undergo series of bone surgeries on my legs. I was scared it would bring an end to my acting career. But by God’s grace I am back to my feet doing what I know how to do best.
As an ambassador and role model too many, what message do you have for your teeming fans most of whom are the youths?
My message as always is never to box yourself into a situation where you will feel so pressured and desperate that you will not want to crawl before you run. Step by step, no jumping. My motto is, “If you try you do not succeed, try and try again.”
Founder, Down Syndrome Foundation, Rose Mordi speaks on how the centre came to be; her battle to help the children get trained, accepted and employed.
Why did you found Down Syndrome Foundation?
It’s the other way round; it found me. The lady you saw at the reception, Awele, is my last daughter. She is 34. I was shocked when I first saw her with all the features. She had all the stigma tags. I knew because I had my elder children in the United Kingdom and one of the things they taught us during antenatal were the features of Down Syndrome. I didn’t realise that ten years down, I would have a child with the condition. I called the attention of the nurse to the features but she did not recognise them. She just said ‘She’s pretty.’ I told her ‘I believe this child has Down Syndrome;’ but she apparently did not even know, and that was one of the best teaching hospitals in the country. There and then, I realised there was no hope. I also decided I must do something about it. But it took me nearly 13 years to get it started. I didn’t actually set out to start a foundation. I wanted to start a support group to bring parents together to share ideas.
Did you have a medical background?
No; I trained as an administrator. I had to go back to the UK to study and train to become a caregiver and know the things to put in place.
How did you take it when you found that your daughter had this condition?
Like every other mother, the first thing was denial. You go through all sorts of emotional stages. Then you become depressed; and then you move to acceptance. I thank God that I had a very supportive husband. My husband never accepted that our daughter had any challenge; so we brought her up the same way we brought up our other children. I was working as general manager in an organisation, but I had to resign. I told them I needed to look after my child. During training in the UK, they advised me to start a support group in my country – because we never had any? Very few people knew about it then but I’m glad that if you ask two, three people now; you would find one that knows about it. I started very strongly; my advocacy was more or less very aggressive. I begged to go on radio, TV; gave newspaper interviews…. This caused a lot of parents to begin to bring out their children. Before then, they were hiding them because of the stigmatisation. As a matter of fact, my next door neighbour had a child with the condition, and all the years we lived together, I never saw the child – until I began to talk about it. We started as a support group and graduated to a day centre to bring respite to the parents; and to what we have now. In the past, such problem was the mother’s, because the father either drove the mother away or took a walk. But now I’m glad that families now handle it together because they’ve come to realise that it’s not anybody’s fault and anybody can have a child with Down Syndrome. When families work together, the child thrives more.
How many children do you have at the centre?
Now we have little under 40. At a point we had over 60 but we had to cut down the number because of this coronavirus and need for social distancing. In our Ibadan centre, we have about 20. We’ve had thousands pass through us since we started 20 years ago. We operate across the country; those who are far off like the North and East that can’t bring their children, we offer them support services and counselling as to what they should put in place for the child.
You’re saying it’s not a peculiar case.
No. They have always been there, just that they’ve been locked away. Some have been killed outright. We’ve heard stories of them being killed because their parents think they are demons or that they are snakes. Because of their low muscle tone, people feel they come from the river. We have heard stories of them being dumped in the river. They believe they’d swim back to where they came from. And this is not peculiar to Nigeria. I’m presently the chairperson of the Africa Down Syndrome Network, so I know that we have similar culture across Africa. A member from Cameroon said they would hold a ceremony, put the child in a canoe and push him into the river to go back to where he came from. It’s similar in Botswana, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, even South Africa.
How well has a setting like this impacted or improved their life in terms of social interaction?
I think the parents are in a better position to answer that question. We’ve impacted them so well and our children are doing us proud. You just need to put the right structures on ground and they would do even better than the regular children. A lot of them have represented this country and done very well. Taking care of them needs a multi-disciplinary team that must have been trained holistically. Living here also helps us to train them holistically. We train them on self-help skills, independent living skills, social skills, academics and vocational skills acquisition; so they are able to do things with their hands. We also apply what we call IEP – Individualised Educational Programme; because you can’t train them like the regular children. You must find out where their strengths are and where their weaknesses are and then balance it. Our early social integration programme helps to integrate them with their regular peers and socialise, so that they would be accepted and also build their confidence. If you see our children, you will see that they are so full of confidence; they are not timid and can’t be intimidated.
How well are you pushing for these children to get employment?
We have been on it. In all fairness, Lagos State has been trying. They are the first to sign the disability bill into law; they also have the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA). I was on the board during the Ambode administration as a trustee; I represented the intellectual disability group. We tried to push to get them employed but you know, they play politics with everything. They said they would give employment but they were waiting for those with degrees. But were they even given opportunity to go to school? Our children may not have degrees but they can read and write and most of them can operate the computer. They are very versatile, just give them that opportunity of quality training and they will even do better than their regular peers. We have Solomon Umere, who is a caterer, dancer and actor. He even played a lead role as a young man with Down Syndrome in a play by Wale Adenuga, Godwin, which starred great actors like Zark Orji, Ninalowo and co. There is also Eyinna, who featured in another star-studded movie, which was premiered before the lockdown. We have the Jideonwor twins who are good models and have been on the catwalk. They are also good at hair-making and make-up. My daughter Awele, is a trained photographer. That’s what she trained in over there in the UK before I brought her back. She also worked in MacDonalds.
The textile industry is a money spinner because it is very important for the fashion world to thrive. Bisola Olukoya is a fabric designer and key industry player, in this encounter with Yetunde Oladeinde, she takes you into her world, challenges and new opportunities.
For a lot of small business owners, the past few months have been tough. Innovation, determination and a desire to reinvent their businesses.
Many have had to adapt to new strategies and adapt to the markets. In spite of the challenges, a number of entrepreneurs have move ahead with business models with better delivery at and breakthroughs.
One of such people is Bisola Olukoya,a fabric designer with a great sense of style.
Happily, she takes you into her world as the co-owner of KB Fabrics and life churning out exclusive designs for clients locally and in other parts of the world.
Initially many kept wondering why Bisola, a University of Lagos Chemical Engineering graduate left her nine-to-five job to venture into fabric designing, having proved her mettle over the years it no doubt an experience in the right direction. Bisola is always ready to tell anyone that her creativity and experience working with her mum motivated and inspired her at the beginning.
“My mum was a very creative woman and she was passionate about designing fabrics. My sister and I watched her while we were growing up, she stood out and excelled tremendously.”
The experience was awesome and she knew this certainly was the way to go. “So, whenever we were on holidays from the University, we worked with her, learnt a couple of things and helped her deliver fabrics to clients in different parts of the country and it was a wonderful experience”.
Those moments were quite memorable and it actually brought out a number of skills that they didn’t know that they had at that point. “There were times when the business took us outside the country and we went to some African countries like Ghana, Togo, those experiences were great. This exposed us to the way things are done and it obviously took us to another level.”
She continued: “After graduation, we worked for a while and decided to go into fabric designing in 2014 when our mum was very ill. Sadly, I lost my husband that same year and it was a turning point in my life and career”.
It was at that point that her elder sister, Kemi, suggested the idea of coming together formally and setting up a business. That interestingly was a very interesting beginning and it took them to heights that they never imagined. “I bought into it because I knew the opportunities available would be inspiring. I also knew that it was going to be a great way of advancing the business in different ways”.
Bisola added: “We did a lot of research together working with the contacts our mum gave us before she passed away that same year. That was how we started the business. It was a very beautiful phase and we explored options that made us to be sought after by our clients.”
Going down memory lane, she talked about their unique selling point and how they carved a niche for themselves. “We didn’t want to do the regular kind of fabrics and we thought of how to build our brand and add that unique touch to the fabrics we were producing. This was what made us to stand out.”
Apart from designing fabrics, they also became consultants for individuals and groups. “ People always come to us to advise them on what to wear and how to combine colours for events. It was quite fulfilling and always gives me joy helping people and offering solutions to a problem.In addition,whenever people commend my work, I feel happy that KB Fabrics has been able to satisfy or put smiles on the faces of our esteemed clients. I love my job.”
There were also a number of challenges but that did not deter them.
“I’ve always had a flair for fashion. Success in business comes when you are doing something that you love doing. My sister and I actually thought of something we loved doing. Someone said follow your passion, be focused and then the money will come. Though we faced some challenges in the process, but by the grace of God and through hard work, we managed to pull through”.
She continued: “We don’t make outfits for people but we design fabrics, buy and sell for people to make clothes. Getting our brand out there was quite tough for us. We were determined and we used social media platforms to push it out and it helped greatly. Apart from the fabric business, we also shop for people abroad and deliver to Nigeria.”
The name of the brand, she informed was coined from the initials of their names (Kemi and Bisola). “Our mum fondly called us K and B. So, we added fabric to it because we trade in fabrics. As fabric designers, we are generally in tune with the arts and use our talents to create designs on fabrics. A fabric designer must have a proper understanding of the fashion world, colours and be creative. Our siblings have been very supportive because they understand our vision and run along with it’.
The fabrics they use are sourced from Switzerland, Paris and Korea because they get good fabrics from their sources. “Our fabrics are quite affordable depending on the client’s budget. There is a fabric for everyone. I am also working on other things which I will unveil soon. We hope to be a bigger brand and give our clients utmost satisfaction. I want to have a one-stop shop for anything authentic,” says Bisola.
She admires and look up to Nigerian designers like Lisa Folawiyo and James Branden in the fashion industry, strongly believes that the industry in Nigeria is growing in leaps and bounds with our designers churning out wonderful outfits.
On the lessons she has learnt on the job, Bisola said: “I’ve learnt to follow my passion, put my trust in God, keep striving and be the best l can be. I have also learnt to be diligent. I would advise anyone who want to be a fabric designer to be passion driven, focused, study the market, creative, know their customer, learn to think outside the box, walk their way to the top and most importantly put God first in whatever you do.”
Esther Ijewere is a woman of many parts; writer, author and brains behind Walk Against Rape, an advocacy initiative created to lend a voice for victims of rape.
In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, she opens up on her passion, inspiration, challenges and life as a Fellow with Vital Voices Global Leadership USA; an organisation founded by Hillary Clinton and focused on empowering young women change makers all over the world.
Tell us about your experience working on your initiative Walk Against Rape?
It is wonderful when you can lend your voice to the voiceless victims of Rape, help them demand justice, make sure it is served, and follow up the case to a conclusive end, that pretty much explains the joy of being an advocate, and working on the initiative.
What inspired you to go into this?
At the time I started the anti-rape campaign, I realised a lot of people were scared of reporting cases of rape out of fear of being stigmatised and judged. The number of reported cases was very low. This propelled me to start the sensitization awareness and lend my voice while complementing the work of the Government, and stakeholders in curbing rape and other forms of sexual violence. Being a mother of two girls also deepened my passion for the cause, as I cannot imagine any of them having to go through such ordeal in life.
What are some of the achievements and challenges?
One of the biggest achievements is creating awareness and sensitizing the society through our workshops and outreach programme. Another achievement is my information handbook on Rape “Breaking the silence”, endorsed by the Lagos State Government and Ministry of Women Affairs respectively. This has been donated to several secondary and tertiary institutions. Another achievement for me is engaging Celebrities to lend their voice, and use their platforms to encourage victims to speak up. We’ve signed over 50 celebrities since inception of the initiative, and their input helped in driving the message home. One of the biggest challenges associated with advocating for Rape victims is the culture of silence, and the fear of speaking up, a lot of victims would rather remain silent to avoid stigmatization.
There are still people who also still believe Rape is non-existent, this class of people make the job hard, but with technology, access to information and education, we are gradually making progress with this challenge.
You are also a Social activist. What is your assessment of the sector at the moment?
I am immensely proud to see more women becoming social activists, and lending their voice to the cause. We need more people with passion to rise up, and make their voices count where it matters. When I started out over a decade ago, I used to say; “We have a long way to go”, but now I can confidently say we are getting close, and things are a lot more different.
What has been the experience with Vital Voices on Leadership?
Vital Voices shaped my career and gave me clarity on how to navigate my passion to make my voice count in the society. Being selected at that time for the exchange programme as one of the 50 women by an organisation founded by Hillary Clinton was such an honour. The experience is still a vision board I consult when I need re-direction. It literally made me realize that I deserve a seat at the table, and I should never settle for less.
How would you describe women and Leadership roles in Nigeria?
We’ve seen a paradigm shift in the spaces women occupy, and the leadership roles they hold in the society. We are gradually getting what we’ve been advocating for; Nigerian women are not only breaking boundaries, but also leading by example, and making their voices count in any sector they are.
What are some of the other things that occupy your time?
Parenting: that’s like a lifetime job, but also one that presently occupy most of my time as a single parent. It is the best job I have ever had. Spending time with my kids, learning from them daily, and setting them on the right path in life. My work also takes my time, but I make sure to try and have a healthy work life balance.
What are some of the changes that you will like to see in the country today?
I would like to see more women in leadership position. I’d also like to see a safer country where people are not scared to air their view and voice their concerns freely. A country with good infrastructure, where everything works, and the lives of the citizens matter.
Did you have mentors at the beginning? What has been their impact?
I had a mentor when I started; Mrs. Titi Akinlade, she helped me discover my path, and gave me the support I needed in my field. The impact of the mentor-mentee experience is the reason why I am still standing till this day; through her I learnt the difference between being “relevant” and “Popular”. She also taught me the power of standing in my light always regardless of the stumbling blocks. In all honesty, I can’t measure her impact in my life, I am truly grateful for her support, and guidance.
Tell us about your Women of Rubies platform?
I started Women of Rubies in 2015 to celebrate, empower and lift women up. Since inception we have celebrated and showcased over 1000 women globally through my column and our social media platforms. It is a project that is very dear to me because I started it at a time, I was going through a dark period. Instead of going down spiral, I used it as a torch for clarity, the stories of the women inspire me to be better and never give up.
Let’s talk about your initiative known as Get Talking with Esther?
“I am very expressive, I love to write and read from people. I love to celebrate people and give them hope, I love when I can feel people’s thoughts through words, and “Get talking with Esther” is just about that. “Basically, using my platform, years of experience, and skill set for social good to give everyone a voice. We are going to be fixing broken tables, bringing “under the table” conversations to the front burner for positivity. It is also about sharing life experiences, healing, and learning“.
If you had to change something in the sector what would it be?
I would like to see more victims speaking up, demanding for justice, and following up the case to a conclusive end. A lot of victims back out mid way into their cases, thereby wasting resources of NGO’s, and stakeholders in the GBCV sector; this can be very frustrating, especially when an advocate has gone all out to stand in gap. I hope victims who come forward will have total trust in the organisations and allow them to do their work without interference. I also wish we had more shelters for women who flee abusive relationships, if these women know they have a place to go, many of them won’t manage such relationships, but rather run to safety.
What advice do you have for young people about the current challenges in the economy?
Don’t focus on the problems plaguing the economy, rather focus on your strength and have a positive mindset. It is truly a tough period globally, but we must be thankful for life. There is always light somewhere, find it, hold on to it, and let it guide you.
Who or what do you consider as the greatest influence in your life?
God is the greatest influence in my life, I have lived a very tough life, but God has never left me for one day. When my strength fails me; HE is there to lift me up. When I cannot see the light at the end of tunnel, HE shows me his light through HIS words. God’s influence in my life is unquantifiable. I am who I am today because of the love and compassion of God, and everyone HE has used as a vessel to support me through my magnificent messy, but still blessed life journey.
What lessons has life taught you?
Life has taught me to believe in myself, no matter how hard things get. Life has also taught me to avoid people who respect my mountain top and disrespect my rock bottom.
Tobi Ayodele Keeney is an entrepreneur and Managing Director of Quincy Herbal Slimmers. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, the daughter of the celebrated herbal slimming specialist takes you into her world, challenges after going through a caesarian operation that almost killed her as well as how this opened her eyes to a number of opportunities.
Tell us about your experience working on herbals?
It has been awesome but challenging experience working with medicinal plants for healing. Currently, it is quite a rigorous process in preparing herbs for use in a preparation that is sustainable, easy to measure the dosages and measure progress in an objective manner.
However, I must say that I tend to see problems are opportunities for improvement, knowledge gaining, transfer and success. Another major experience that is challenging but rewarding is having to integrate traditional medicine with our currently westernized but outdated healthcare system.
What has been the experience since you took over from your mum?
It has been a great experience especially with the wealth of knowledge gained through my apprenticeship with Dr Mrs Quincy Ayodele. As you can see, I do not call her mother in this context due to professionalism at work. As people, especially as women, we must wear many hats depending on the situation we find ourselves in. We have both evolved in our work with each other, and in keeping with the challenging health situations of our ever-changing environment. Luckily for her, I am a very patient person and luckily for me, she is extremely flexible for a middle-aged mother from Ogun State.
Tell us about some of the memorable moments in your life and career?
I would say that opening our integrative clinic and laboratory in Ikoyi in the middle of the COVID pandemic was a great accomplishment for me and my company. Other memorable moments for me would include seeing our products on Amazon.com and getting great reviews from people of all races purchasing our products from different parts of the world. As we were formulating some of the products several years prior, we didn’t imagine it reaching Amazon.com in the United States. The best part is our selling point and this is because they are made in Nigeria.
Finally, a global marketplace gave us the platform to list a Nigerian brand selling made in Nigeria products without fear of people thinking its fake or substandard.
What are some of the challenges?
The current global pandemic has been a major challenge. This is because the virus has affected all strata of the society in many ways. It made things and processes harder and more stressful for good reasons. A second challenge includes needing to educate the public on the importance of going back to our roots in terms of traditional medicine as a means for achieving better health.
It has been challenging having to change the mindset of our people to begin to develop a sense of pride and trust in our identity in general which extends down to our healthcare. I would add that Nigerians have forgotten or have been trained (brainwashed) against understanding the infinite benefits of medicinal plants for treating a lot of diseases that we are currently being plagued with.
In addition, we have rejected our food, our herbs, our cultural beliefs and value systems, our pride as Nigerians and have replaced it with diets, beliefs and ideologies that are foreign to our spirit, soul and bodies and it’s reflecting a lot in our health and wellness.
I would also add that some chronic illnesses, formerly seen as foreign such as cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, fibroids and even auto-immune diseases are beginning to become resident and even pestilent in our country.
The third challenge is basically finding a balance in standardizing traditional medicine and practicing it in a scientific and modern way. There needs to be more research and development for African traditional medicine. It still amazes me the kinds of medicinal plants and remedies out there and the vast number of conditions just one plant can treat.
So basically, a single plant can have 20 or more alkaloids. An alkaloid is pretty much an active ingredient. Each active ingredient can have its own unique medicinal properties. For that reason, a single plant or root or leaf can treat a variety of conditions depending on the dosage and mode of extraction and preparation. Hence the need for more research and developing of this indigenous medicinal plants. There are more challenges, but I will stop at these three.
What or who inspires the things you do?
I have a deep passion to solve the problem of inaccessible, ineffective, and poorly managed healthcare of the Nigerian populace. I experience fulfillment seeing my patients ‘graduate’ from a state of constant sickness to a state of constant, conscious, and intentional wellness and health. That graduate becomes a micro or even major healthy living influencer and begins to also transform the health of others around him or her. That is what inspires me.
What are some of the other things that occupy your time?
I am a very busy person, but I try to catch up on current events especially relating to healthcare and beauty. I also like to watch documentaries, or just random knowledge stuff. In my truly spare time, I enjoy shopping for a good deal.
Tobi Ayodele Keeney
Tell us about the people you admire?
I would say I admire my parents a lot. I admire their simple way of life, humor, work ethic and the way they raised us. They were not strict parents but did an awesome job in guiding us through our lives. Additionally, they gave us a lot of guided independence which I feel made us be more responsible to ourselves. They were also inspired by my dad’s mother and my mother’s dad who also inspired my siblings and me. Those people were the most caring, generous, and truly genuine people I knew. May their souls rest in perfect peace.
What would you consider as the turning point in your career?
That turning point, would be when I fell ill because of this unfortunate complication of having my kids via cesarean section, and western medicine failed me. They told me to go home to die as my intestines and abdominal organs were all fused together, and I could not digest solid food. I went back to traditional medicine and nutrition medicine and I was able to escape death, discover true wellness and achieve more things that I didn’t know about before I fell ill.
That was the turning point in my career. It made me realize the need to switch to integrative medicine, the true meaning of eating healthy and living a healthy lifestyle both physically and emotionally. That illness totally changed my world view and my attitude towards life in general. I feel that no one must go through the stress of fibroids, infertility, pain or whatever it is I had to go through and if I know the key to avoiding or reversion of those issues, then everyone should be given the opportunity to know as well.
Did you feel like quitting at any point?
I am not a quitter, so I always find ways to pull through challenging situations especially with the situation of the country that we live in. I am a patient person and know that nothing good and lasting comes easy.
What are you looking forward to in the next few years?
I am looking forward to expanding Quincy’s Wellness’s model of integrative approach to health and replicating this model all over Nigeria and beyond. We have a standard laboratory on site with rapid diagnostic test results, a healing spa, home care medical and laboratory services and we are experts at reversing chronic diseases and obesity. We are also experts in skincare and specialize in bringing out a more vibrant and youthful version of yourself. We are basically a one stop shop for all your health and wellness needs.
What advice do you have for young people who want to come into the sector?
My first advice is this; If you do not have a passion for healing people despite all (meaning you don’t mind giving your arm to make sure a patient gets well), then please do not go into the sector in the first place. In traditional medicine especially, you find yourself having to treat many people for free just so their lives are saved. Secondly, if you do have a passion for this sector, then make sure you get the right education and apprenticeship. Always have it at the back of your mind that you are a problem solver and keep finding ways to take initiatives and make a difference. This sector is for forward thinkers not a place to be cashing in.
How did COVID 19 affect your business?
It was a blessing in disguise. It made us expand our minds and look outside the box. I mean in terms of business model, customer service, services offered and more. COVID was part of the reason we decided to expand to a full integrative and wellness clinic complete with a laboratory. I thank God for clearing our eyes in the middle of the storm to become solution providers to a major problem.
Do you have young people that you are Mentoring?
Yes, I do. My clinic team is full of young people, so I mentor daily at work. I am also a teen church teacher, first born, first granddaughter on one side of my family and my parents are one of the oldest among several. By reason of my birth alone and combined with my responsibilities, I mentor a lot of young people.
