Celebrity Jeweler, Godson Umeh is the brain behind GODSONTHEPLUG; an independent British-Nigerian Jeweler. In this interview, the young and successful entrepreneur shares the inspiration behind starting his jewelry business and other issues.
If we were in the 90s, would you still take the bold step to invest in the jewelry business?
Yes. Jewelry business back then was the main thing and at that time, you would hardly come across fake jewelers but today, it’s a whole new story.
What inspires you?
Everything about fashion and putting smiles on the faces of my clients around the world inspires me. When I sleep at night, my dreams would always be about the piece I should make next. I love what I do because getting to see beautiful and stunning things almost all the time is wonderful and satisfying. Getting to start my own brand as an entrepreneur definitely wasn’t easy and I wasn’t expecting it to be, but thinking of the freedom that comes with it and being my own boss is awesome, nothing inspires me more than this.
What’s your target market in the jewelry fashion industry?
My target is conquering the world in general with my brand name. But first of all, we start from my immediate space.
At what point did you figure out you would go into jewelry business?
When I was much younger I always loved to sell unique pieces or anything at all to my friends, this combined with my passion for fashion made me go into the fashion industry.
Being a jeweler, what is your major goal?
My main goal is satisfying my customers and making sure there is a sense of satisfaction when they see what I have made for them. Making sure my clients look exquisite is part of my deal, knowing how to produce what your client wants is key to successful business. I definitely have bigger plans for my brand. I have plans on going global; especially in the United States, Nigeria and other parts of the world. You’re never fully dressed without a piece of accessory here and there.
What has challenged you the most since you joined the industry?
I wouldn’t really call any challenge “Major”.
Are you a big risk taker?
Yes, I love to take risks, I don’t always mind the outcome because to me, no regrets, only lessons.
How would you say the general economy has affected the fashion industry and vice versa?
The economy has greatly affected Fashion due to the situation of the country. You virtually pay for everything you do and to my greatest knowledge that is not what it’s meant to be but I put everything to God to take control. The fashion industry has at least been a source of employment for many, thereby reducing unemployment rate around the world.
What was your growing up like?
I was born and raised in Reading, United Kingdom, though my parents originally hail from Anambra. I also schooled in the UK and I left school at 16. I am the second of three siblings and both my parents are alive. As at 20, I had already started selling stuff to my friends, anything at all they needed they called me for it, that was how my brand name ‘Godson The Plug’ came about. I’ve always had the zeal to be in the fashion industry, especially jewelries. I work round the clock, that is I do not have a particular time off, I just keep working because I love what I do.
What’s your history with football?
Yes, I did have a history with football but I had to follow my heart which is to become a celebrity jeweler. Notwithstanding, I still love football.
What’s your relationship with your customers, especially the major ones you have worked with?
I have a very wonderful relationship with them because I tend to satisfy and make them really happy. Sometimes we even have fun together. I have had the opportunity to work with a couple of prominent individuals and we have built a good relationship base from the onset. I’ve worked with the likes of Lateysha Grace, Raheem Sterling of Manchester City Club, Eva Apio, Jayden Bogle, Owen Otasowie, Jonathan Panzo and Trevor Chalobah. They have always trusted and believed my delivery.
What’s your prediction of the fashion economy in 5-years?
The fashion economy is growing, trust me, in the next five years we will even have more major jewelers around the world. But then, 5-years for me, I know my brand will be one to be reckoned with all over the world.
What are your last words for people around the world?
Like Burna Boy’s mum did while representing him at an international award show, she said; “Every black person should remember you were Africans before becoming anything else.” I also wish to encourage every young individual to keep striving because the end of the tunnel is brighter than the road leading to it. The business experiences and lessons I’ve gotten so far have brought me massive growth. So, wherever I see myself tomorrow, I know God placed me there. My dedication and sacrifice to work, plus grace, keeps me going.
Youths of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State have vowed to resist alleged financial inducement being made by Deputy Governor of the State, Agboola Ajayi, to woo party members to support his aspiration.
Hon Ajayi, last Sunday, resigned from the APC and joined the PDP where he hoped to contest for the governorship election.
But the PDP youths under the auspices of Democratic Reformation Force (DRF) said it was shameful that some aspirants were already losing supporters Ajayi.
Coordinator of the DRF in Ondo State, Prince Ojo Olatunji, said Chief Eddy Olafeso, Barr Eyitayo Jegede and Banji Okunomo were leading PDP aspirants before the Deputy Governor joined the race.
Prince Olatunji said it was unimaginable for youths in the PDP to endure pains and hunger for four years only for the Deputy Governor to want to reap where others have laboured.
Olatunji stated that the Ondo PDP youths would rather joined the campaign train of Okunomo than deputy governor as a way of rewarding party loyalty.
He urged the party national leadership to provide a level playing field for all the aspirants.
According to him, “We have remained loyal and committed to this party for the last four years. The party’s leadership must not allow money politics to wish away our seat.
“Anybody is allowed to support any aspirant but the method of using money to woo supporters of other aspirants is highest level of deceit.
“Those of us in the DRF of the Ondo PDP have pledged to support Okunomo and we have also begun mass mobilisation to counter any move of Ajayi.”
Spokesman of Hon Ajayi, Babatope Okeowo, declined comments on the issue.
As the country and the world in general slumps into the doldrums of the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19), a new solution that eliminates the external impact of viruses, bacteria, and fungi, awakens hope and assurances of safety for people as the Nigerian Economy gradually re-opens.
This disinfection solution, manufactured by Diversay Solutions Limited, is a combined supply of Diversay Disinfection Tunnel (DDT) and the Diversay Disinfectant. Built with aesthetics and global standards, the DDT as it is now fondly called allows for flexibility in its features to fit existing premise branding.
One unique quality of the DDT is its disinfection solution which can be used to sanitize people in high traffic areas; private and government offices, banks, malls, hospitals, religious centers, markets, motor parks, schools, parks, factories, construction sites, farms, hotels, quick-service restaurants, cafes, saloons, amongst others.
It is also ideal for quarantine areas, housing estates, and other crowded locations.
The DDT main unit has a hand sanitizing basin and automatic sanitizer dispenser on entry and misting nozzles that spray the disinfectant liquid over the entire body to eliminate all viruses, bacteria, and fungi. The floor is also manufactured with a material that allows the soles of the shoes to be disinfected along with the entire body upon entry.
DDT is designed for persons sanitization and so the size of the tank from which the disinfectant is pumped will be proportional to traffic flow.
Other features include; cost-effectiveness, three months warranty, easy installation, low maintenance, and ease of use at high-risk locations where fast and efficient disinfection is required.
Nigerian Afro-Cyborg singer, songwriter and producer, Bright Ukpabi, better known as Mr. Dutch is giving away a whooping 5 million naira to the less-privileged to mark his birthday which comes up today June 26, 2020. The “Keys To My Heart” crooner, who has been alive to challenges occasioned by the Coronavirus pandemic said instead of spoiling himself with any form of luxury or throwing a lavish superlative party he would instead be bringing smiles on the faces of people who are having it rough as a result of the pandemic.
The singer started the giveaway five days ago in a countdown to the D-Day of the birthday, which is today.
In a statement issued by him, he said, “In the spirit of my birthday celebration on the Friday 26th June which is exactly 5 days starting from today amid this Coronavirus pandemic and social distancing era instead of throwing parties and pampering myself with gifts I would be giving out 5 million naira to help people that are really in need of goods, water, cloth, visiting the orphanages, and also to help people revive their businesses. Massive giveaway within these 5 days into my birthday starting today (5 days ago).
“Believe me, the best birthday gift that I really want is to put a smile on people’s faces, this is way more satisfactory to me than throwing a birthday party for my family and friends to celebrate me. Feel free to convert your packages for me and join the cause. The management of my Mr Dutch Foundation would take full responsibility for the action plan in making all this happen.
“My legacy is an act of generosity without expectation I would continue to leave these footprints to help make the world a better place. Remember, we don’t own the planet, we are just curating it for future generation.”
This is not the first time the singer is reaching out to the less-fortunate people in the society. He was reported to have responded to the distress call of an old widow who declared in a viral video that she could sleep with any man for 500 hundred naira as a result of the COVID-19 lockdown. He gave the woman a lump sum of money and the evidence could be seen on his Instagram page.
Last St. Valentine’s Day, the singer also sponsored some lovers who could not afford a hangout or gifts by coming to their aid.
Mr Dutch is an accomplished singer with hits like ‘Antidote’, ‘Better Soup’ and ‘Eno Finish’ featuring Burna Boy. His first song of 2020 is “Keys to My Heart”, a song dedicated to lovers on St Valentine’s Day.
Mr Dutch is the owner of his own record label known as Dutch Dreams Records and the top dog of his own management called Mr Dutch Empire.
Rotary club of Eko Atlantic in partnership with Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) held a sensitisation on waste segregation to accelerate action on the Environmental discomfort of Nigeria.
The RCEA Blue “Bin Recycler Project” led by Rtn. Pallavi Kaurani and supported by Rtn. Shweta Srivastava with the collaboration of WASTE POINT and Alkem, saw residents of LSDPC flats at Adeola Odeku being educated on the need for waste segregation and its importance in the environment.
Speaking about the project, the President, RCEA, Rtn Dr Sunit Deb Roy, explained that effective segregation of wastes means that less waste goes to the landfills, which makes it cheaper and better for people and the environment.
He said it is also important to segregate waste for public health, especially hazardous wastes that can cause long term health problems, adding that it is very important that they are disposed of correctly and safely and not mixed with the normal waste.
The Managing Director, LAWMA, Mr Ibrahim Odumboni with his team were at the LSDPC flats and awarded five best Recyclers.
Odumboni highly appreciated the work done by Rotary Club Of Eko Atlantic and extended his complete support for RCEA to spread the awareness of waste segregation beyond the pilot estate.
Ajebe Gladys’ glimpse wanders as she admits there is truth to the quote “different strokes for different folks”.
40-year-old Gladys lost one of her limbs about 17 years ago in an accident while on her way to work in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
“I was on my way to work in 2003…. when I had an accident on a motorcycle,” she recounts the fatal accident.
While her right limb is halved as a result of the accident and can only walk with the aid of an old pair of crutches, the mother of two now faces hurdles every month when her menstrual period starts.
“I don’t look forward to my menstrual period,” Gladys said of the hardship she undergoes during that natural phenomenon.
The US Office on Women Health (OWH) describes menstruation as a woman’s monthly bleeding, often called your period.”
Menstruation is a natural process, without which human existence would be threatened but it is a nightmare for many women across the world who lack access to basic hygiene and sanitation during their periods.
Although Gladys knows it is a natural process, she says it is also a constant reminder of the many troubles she needs to contend with.
There are basic rules or procedures to follow during menstruation which are difficult for women in Gladys’ condition.
The OWH recommends that menstruating women should try to change or rinse their feminine hygiene product before it becomes soaked through or full.
But for the mother of two, to use sanitary pads during that period is a luxury she cannot afford.
“Due to financial constraints, I rarely use sanitary pads. I fold a piece of clothing sometimes with tissue paper to absorb my menstruation,” she said with a wide defiant smile that seems to betray her condition.
“During this period, I avoid going out to prevent being stained and making a mess of myself.”
With an income too meagre to cater for her needs and that of her two children, Gladys says, buying sanitary pad takes a backseat on her scale of preference where feeding, clothing and shelter prominently features.
Being unable to walk on her two legs compounds her case. A former showroom attendant earning N7000 monthly as salary before the fatal auto accident in 2003, she also detests going out during her monthly period due to lack of a safe place to change her improvised sanitary pads.
Back then, when she walked on her two legs, she says she could afford sanitary pads but has since been financially constrained.
Gladys however, complains of poor access to the toilet. With obviously outgrown prosthetics, she says accessing toilet facilities in her house or public is often difficult and inconveniencing.
Women, girls still haunted by period poverty
Like Gladys, Amiru Najatu, 20, shares the same fate every month whenever she is menstruating. Her limbs were paralysed when she was a child due to a polio infection. This she says compounds her access to basic menstrual hygiene and sanitary products.
For close to five years that she has been experiencing menstruation, Najatu who lives off almsgiving says she has never used a sanitary pad.
National Coordinator for Nigeria, Water Supply Sanitation Collaborative Council, Elizabeth Jeiyol, presenting menstrual hygiene kits to Najatu Amiru one of the beneficiaries, during the recently celebrated World Menstrual Hygiene Day in Kado, Abuja.
Her physical disability and means of livelihood underscores the level of period poverty she faces.
“I use the money from begging to buy food and water to clean myself but I cannot buy sanitary pads from the money because what I realise daily is not enough,” Najatu says of her proceeds from alms-begging.
Described as the inability of menstruators to afford proper menstrual hygiene products including tampons and sanitary pads during menstruation, period poverty, has been a nagging issue in Nigeria.
Experts say this usually predisposes menstruating women and girls to unhygienic practices, like using rough newspaper, fabric, or cloth napkins in place of pads.
Period poverty is very serious in our time. Working with vulnerable women and children in several communities has opened my eyes to a lot, says Wanda Adu, Executive Director, Wanda Adu Foundation (WAF). The Foundation takes care of vulnerable women and girls.
Adu said women who are not sure of a meal in a day for their children cannot afford to buy sanitary towels. “There is extreme poverty in Nigeria and so pad is seen as a luxury in communities.
“They are left with forgone alternatives. Should they buy food or pads? There and then they conclude that food is more important than pad. Hence they improvise,” she said
With a staggering statistics of 82 million people living below the poverty line of N137,430 in a year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), purchasing menstruation sanitation products becomes a tall order for most women and girls.
Undoubtedly, the impact of poverty is widespread affecting both men and women but its effect on women and girls is disproportionately high.
A report by UNICEF in 2017 said menstruating school girls in Nigeria faced many challenges which affected their ability to manage their menstruation in a dignified and hygienic way.
Availability and adequacy of WASH facilities, adequacy and flow of information on menstrual hygiene management and access to materials for hygienic management of menstruation all impacted girls’ experience of menstruation, UNICEF said.
Janet and her friends checking menstrual hygiene kits they received during the 2020 Menstrual Hygiene Management Day in Kado village, Abuja.
Danjuma Janet, 18 and a former student of Government Secondary School, Jabi in Abuja recalls when she started menstruating at the age of 16 and she was shocked. She was told by her mother to shrug the shock off, as it is an indication that she is now a woman.
Her mother provided her some sanitary pads but it didn’t last long because of the financial implication. Janet says her parents who run a shop of daily needs experience recession in their business and could not afford to provide her pads.
Janet went to visit a friend when she first experienced her menstruation and was given a rag to clean up.
“I went to visit my friend and I was told that my cloth was stained at the back. Initially I was scared but they offered me a rag to clean up. My mother later gave me a pad to use,” she says of her first experience of menstruation.
Janet resigned to fate ̶ making use of pieces of unused materials or rags each month she menstruates. But this has brought her shame and ridicule, as her friends mock her in school whenever she gets stained.
She said a sanitary pad costs N300 depending on the brand and size. This is difficult for her to get since she is not working and cannot afford it.
“It’s not easy to buy a pad everyday,” she says. “Sometimes I use rag when I cannot afford to buy a pad because it costs between N300 to N400.”
She recalled how she was embarrassed on a day she got stained in school at the age of 16.
“I left school early that day, because I felt so embarrassed when my friends called my attention to my stained skirt,” Janet recalls.
Light at the end of the tunnel
The UNICEF in the 2017 report recommended that there should be facilitation of accurate and sufficient
information on menstruation hygiene management to disabuse minds of people on the myths and taboos and encourage safe, hygienic and dignified management of menstruation.
Other key recommended actions were provision of appropriate and adequate water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in schools; support to access affordable reusable sanitary pads and mobilization of policy and decision makers to promote open discussion of menstrual hygiene management to reduce stigma.
Recently, Nigeria’s Ministry of Women Affairs flagged off the distribution of one million sanitary pads to women and teenage girls across the country as part of government’s efforts to address period poverty among women and girls.
“This project is hinged on the fact that girls’ and women’s choices of menstrual hygiene materials are often limited by costs, availability and social norms,” said Paulen Tallen, Minister of Women Affairs at the 2020 Menstrual Hygiene Day observed in Kado village, Abuja on May 28.
“Therefore, providing access to feminine hygiene products will go a long way to solve the problem to a great extent.”
At the event which was organized by the ministry with support from Water Supply Sanitation and Collaborative Council (WSSCC) and other stakeholders, 4000 sanitary pads were distributed to women and girls at the village. Each beneficiary received at least four packs of sanitary towels.
Elizabeth Jeiyol, WSSCC National Coordinator for Nigeria believes poor knowledge and understanding of menstruation may lead to unsafe hygienic practices for women and girls.
Jeiyol says all stakeholders must team up to change the negative social norms surrounding menstruation.
“Poor knowledge and understanding of menstruation may lead to unsafe hygienic practices for women and girls,” she said.
“It is not a gender thing – but a basic human right issue – and together we can empower all women and girls to realize their full potentials everywhere in the world.”
She maintains that effective menstrual hygiene has direct and indirect effects on the overall well-being of women and girls – in the context of education, empowerment and health.
According to her, women and girls face continuous mental, physical and health traumas during their periods – as a result of discriminatory social norms, cultural taboos, supernatural beliefs, gender inequality, and limited access to basic services such as WASH facilities in private and public spaces which leads to ‘Period Poverty’ for women and girls across the world – especially in developing countries like Nigeria.
Chizoma Opara, acting Coordinator of the Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet Campaign says it is important to iinstitutionalize menstrual health and hygiene management at all levels in Nigeria.
This, Opara said can be achieved by putting an end to open defecation in Nigeria through the provision of hygiene facilities for the populace particularly women and girls during their menstrual period.
Wanda Adu says every woman and girl deserves a free sanitary pad every month, saying “teenage girls will not go to school for fear of stigmatization and shaming if they happen to be stained.”
On the occasion of 2019 international women’s day she says her Foundation while giving out sanitary products to 150 women and girls in several communities in Abuja witnessed struggle by the women and girls to get the products.
Teenage girls, women may be considered for cash transfer to boost access to menstrual hygiene management
If the government acts by its words, there may be relief for women and teenage girls regarding period poverty.
Sadiya Umar Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development recently said the Ministry would find a way to incorporate teenage girls and poor women in the country into its Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme to support them in purchasing all the necessary hygiene materials for their monthly menstrual period.
Farouq spoke in Abuja on May 28 at an event marking the 2020 World Menstrual Hygiene organized by the Ministry of Women Affairs with support from Water Supply Sanitation and Collaborative Council (WSSCC) and other stakeholders.
Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Paulen Tallen and Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya Umar Farouq distributing menstrual hygiene kits to women and teenage girls during the flag-off of distribution of one million sanitary pads to mark the 2020 Menstrual Hygiene Day at Kado Village, Abuja recently.
According to her, the Ministry was ready to collaborate with the Ministry of Women Affairs to support the vulnerable groups especially women and teenage girls, using the CCT scheme.
The CCT scheme is designed to benefit poor and vulnerable households with a monthly stipend of N5000; and beneficiaries are trained and provided financial and technical support to start small businesses.
“We have a programme in the ministry, it is called Conditional Cash Transfer. The programme is specifically for farmers that need this kind of support and it is being given to women heads of families. So that they can take care of themselves and other members of the family including teenage girls in the family,” the Minister said.
“We are going to find ways to tinker with this programme to see that the teenage girls are also incorporated by giving them monthly stipends to support them and so that they are able to earn something that they can use to buy all the necessary hygiene materials that they need during this period of their lives.”
She lamented that most teenage girls are subjected to all forms of hardships when they menstruate. Moving forward, poor and menstruating women and girls who cannot afford to purchase menstrual hygiene products when on their menstrual period can heave a sigh of relief, according to Farouq
“Some of them are not able to go to school or participate fully in society, always at home because of the hardship that they go through on days that they observe their menstrual period,” the Minister said.
Farouq further lauded efforts made by the ministry of Women Affairs led by Dame Pauline Tallen in addressing period poverty in women and girls.
Rotary Club of Eko Atlantic has launched Project Ominira to address the issue of absenteeism in schools due to menstrual issues and promote hygienic practices at Girls Junior Academy, Marina, Lagos.
The club also donated hand sanitizers and three dispenser machines to the school which wad installed in the toilets to promote good hygiene habits for prevention from deadly viruses like Covid-19 and Ebola.
The Club President, Dr Sunit Deb Roy explained that the project Ominira, which means Freedom in Yaroba, was launched with the aim to distribute sanitary napkins and hygiene kits such as soap, detergent, toothpaste and handwash to the girl students between the age of age 11- 17 at the Girls junior academy every month.
He said the club proudly possess the highest number of female rotarians in District 9110 and has always promoted gender equality and active female participation in all club activities.
The Club President added that he strongly believes in equal opportunity to be given to all genders and feels that girl students should not miss school, as it hinders their performance in studies, while their opportunity to excel is compromised.
“Initially the project has started with students of Junior section II, but the club targets to commence the distribution in all the sections of school, after getting some support from sponsors,” Roy said.
Meanwhile, the Project Chair, Rtn. Shweta Srivastava supported by Rtn Mamta Deb Roy, had an interactive session with the school girls during the launch and explain to them the importance of menstrual hygiene and hygienic practices for good health from an early stage.
The school authorities applauded the project and expressed their willingness to partner on a long term.
Rotary Club of Eko Atlantic has adopted Tinubu Methodist Primary School in Lagos Island & has successfully completed the first phase of the project which includes painting & renovation of class rooms.
Project Leader Rtn Mamta Deb Roy commented that It’s a long term project taken up by RCEA with a vision of equipping the school with better class rooms, cleaner environment, waste bins, safe drinking water, toilets & a library.
Attaching few pictures which shows before & after the first phase of the project. These young students are the future of Nigeria and we should nurture them in a prim and proper environment, so that they turn out to be responsible citizens says the President of the Rotary Club of Eko Atlantic Rtn Dr Sunit Deb Roy.
The Edo State Governorship Election Committee on Tuesday submitted the result of the June 22 All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Primary to the National Working Committee at the National Secretariat in Abuja.
Secretary of the committee Senator Ajibola Basiru presented the result on behalf of the Chairman of the seven-man committee, Governor Hope Uzodinma to the National Vice Chairman Southsouth, Hillard Eta who stood in for the acting National Chairman, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi.
In a time where content has grown to become a huge revenue chain, the entertainment space is in need of cutting edge solution providers and content creators and entities.
Prince OJ Music Word in its two years of existence has created the much needed platform for budding entertainers to showcase their craft.
Home to music sensation Ayobishii the brain behind the viral masterpiece ‘Confirmation’ that has been topping chats and enjoying massive airplay. The entertainment company is a 360 solutions arena, with Business Focus areas ranging from RECORD LABEL, TALENTS MANAGEMENT, EVENTS MANAGEMENT, PROMOTIONS, CELEBRITY BOOKINGS, DJ SERVICES, PRODUCTIONS and CONSULTANCY.
The company is led by a team of combined experience in media, music and events production, with loads of successful projects to its credit. The management future mentions plans of championing high-tech movie and comedy contents that would flatten the curve and showcase the black race in its beauty and cultural richness.
The company recently has been keeping social media users engaged with their Confirmation video giveaway with loads of winners emerging daily on their social media platforms Instagram: Pomwentertainment, Twitter: Pomwent, Facebook: Prince OJ Music World. The giveaway is a way of showing appreciation to the fans for making Confirmation by Ayobishii a huge success and also promotes the new video.
The video was shot by multiple award winning Cinematographer Matt Max, the quality of the picture is top notch and we would be looking forward to getting reviews and comments as its set the drop in the next few days.
This is just the beginning as POMW entertainment is set to raise the bar with numerous top notch projects in the pipeline.
