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Tag: businesswoman

  • I owe much of my success to Oprah Winfrey -International Beauty Expert Aimalohi Willis

    I owe much of my success to Oprah Winfrey -International Beauty Expert Aimalohi Willis

    Penultimate Thursday, society lady, businesswoman and founder/CEO of Xtreme Brite Skin Radiance Lotion (Worldwide), Aimalohi Willis, turned 50. She flew into the country with her American husband and her two daughters to the waiting arms of her friends in Lagos to celebrate the milestone age. She threw open the doors of her Victoria Island posh home to friends, as she received endless number of goodwill messages from those who stopped by to felicitate with her. But the real event to celebrate her birthday was a dinner that took place same day at Shiro Restaurant in highbrow Lekki, Lagos. It was well attended by an exclusive list of guests who moved with her from home in a convoy of state of the art cars to the event venue by Landmark, Lekki, Lagos. It turned out to be an evening of laughter, fun, banter and merriment. Lady Aima Willis, as close friends fondly call her, radiated joy and beauty as she shared a moment with PAUL UKPABIO to talk about her high moments, particularly how a court judgment in America took her product to number one spot in the American cosmetic market, completely changing her fortune and lifestyle.

    How do you feel now that you are 50?

    I thank God and I feel fulfilled. I am happy; very happy. I am here in Nigeria, to celebrate my 50th birthday with family and well-wishers: It is a good thing to appreciate God and celebrate humanity.

    What has life taught you at 50?

    Life has taught me so many things. Life has taught me to reach out to people, to network and be creative with my business, and to be humble afterwards, even in my state of success. Life is quite amazing. I give God the glory. He has been my ultimate.

    So how would you describe the Chapter 50 of your life?

    For Chapter 50, as you call it, is a brand new experience. Like I said earlier, I thank God for my experience at 50. I thank God for His mercies upon my life, and I return all adoration to Him for making my dream a reality. Chapter 50 is all about striving, seeking, finding and yielding to the betterment of society and humanity. I am grateful to God. I thank my family for the support and I thank my business associates for the understanding. Life is a learning process, and we have not really stopped learning.

    What are those things you are going to stop doing at 50?

    I am going to stop partying and hanging out a lot. I am going to endeavour to be much more in the presence of the Almighty God. I will give Him more of me now. I am more into God now.

    Can you recall any memorable moment of your life that you can say was your happiest moment?

    That was when my husband accepted Christ. That was early this year, and I saw the changes in him and it made me so happy. To be honest, that is my most fulfilled moment in life.

    Can you recall the most challenging moment of your life?

    The most challenging moment was the launching of my product, Fair & Bright (Lotion)’ when I got sued by Fair & White (a lotion company in America) and we were in court for over a year. They sued, claiming we eroded their trademark predominance in the market place. Then I changed the name to ‘Xtreme Brite’ and it took off like wild fire and made number 1 in America.

    As a beauty expert and skin care entrepreneur, how do you think majority of black women can get rid of their stretch marks?

    Well, it is simple; you can look for the ‘Xtreme Brite’ lotion and use. It is an amazing lotion for stretch marks. It is really good. It is our top seller and number one brand in the USA.

    What is the secret of your beautiful looks at 50?

    What else and who else but the Almighty God? He is my beauty secret. Peace of mind is part of it. I think I am a happy, go-lucky person. I strongly believe that the difference between a successful person and others is not lack of strength or lack of knowledge but lack of will. Your will is what drives you to compassion, and your compassion drives you to your fulfilment and in your fulfilment lies your beauty. I am dignified by the fulfilment I derive from my passion. God has given me the will to make a difference and I am happy.

    How about make-up? Your skin seems to have a sparkle. Does make-up add value?

    I use my products. I use the ‘Clear Clean Quick’ line which is quite natural. Most of our products are natural. Majority are organic in nature.

    What is your best meal?

    I eat a lot of rice, especially white rice with vegetables.

    Do you have a role model?

    Yes. Oprah Winfrey.

    Why Oprah?

    Oprah Winfrey inspires me a lot, even business wise, because you think in America that a black person cannot make it. In the cosmetic business, I will say I am the only black person that has manufactured in the USA and I thank God for the inspiration I got from people like Oprah Winfrey. It is a rare challenge, a rare success, a rare goal and a rare achievement. I think a lot of people across board just need inspiration to ignite their hope.

    Did you face some racial intimidation when you started?

    A lot of that. I went through the fire and God used that to mould me into a new level of thinking, and it really added to my reservoir of knowledge.

    Can you tell us how you came out of it?

    Well, I fought it through, because our products are used majorly by the black community in the USA. So, I could reach out to them because I am black. A lot of people used cosmetic products called ‘Fair and White’ everybody used the word ‘white’ and I decided to use the word ‘bright’ because we don’t want to be white we want to be bright.

    I am the first person to manufacture in a metallic can, which preserves the product. I was the first to brand my product in a metallic can before it was copied. We created an identity. We started since 2006 and we are still doing strong in the market. We thank God for our presence of identity.

    What does style mean to you?

    Style is what sits on you nicely and appreciated by all.

    What dress would they never catch you wearing in public?

    Maybe wearing a skirt. That can be indoors (laughs)

    What does leadership mean to you?

    Leadership means a lot. I mean I will advise every young lady to establish a business. Start something, because you can make it. There is nothing you cannot achieve if you put your mind to it. There is a general saying in the business community: keep your eye on the ball and your head in the game. Dare to soar, start something. The bible says those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like the eagle. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint. And a philosopher said procrastination is opportunity’s natural assassin. In life, you must dare to be different. Don’t procrastinate and dare to do something. That is what I will advise young female entrepreneurs. They should dare to reach out and achieve success.

    Do you have any advice for those going into marriage?

    What can I say about marriage? Well, marriage is patience; a lot of patience. Patience and endurance. So, it actually takes a woman to keep her marriage. With prayer, tolerance and focus, you will have a successful marriage.

    Which part of Nigeria are you from?

    I am from Sabon Gida-Ora in Edo State.

    How about family?

    As you can see, I have a handsome husband, Sandy, and my pretty daughters, Tomi and Toluwa. Like I said before, fashion is all in the mind. When I want to go out, I just think of it like, what are they celebrating? The occasion determines what I wear. I don’t like to overdress or dress more than the celebrant. But at the same time, I like to look beautiful.

  • Businesswoman, two others held for alleged visa fraud

    Businesswoman, two others held for alleged visa fraud

    The Special Fraud Unit (SFU), Ikoyi, Lagos has arrested a businesswoman, Modupeola Afolabi, for allegedly procuring fake visas for the United Kingdom (UK) and China.

    Afolabi, 34, also procured fake London Heathrow Airport entry/exit stamps.

    She was paraded by SFU spokesman, Lawal Audu, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), with Sesan Awolola, 31, and Adebayo Ajase, 28.

    The men were described as specialists in cloning visa payment slips and receipts.

    Afolabi, who claimed to be a university graduate, told reporters that she resorted to procuring the fake visas after she was denied United States of America (USA) visa twice.

    She said when she contacted a visa agent, he told her that the US Embassy in Nigeria rejected her visa application because she had a virgin passport.

    Afolabi said: “The agent, Olawale, told me there was something he would do so that when my documents are sent again, the US officials will grant my visa request. He told me that the US Embassy doesn’t verify the authenticity of visas from other countries and so, I agreed to do it.

    “I paid him N70,000 for the fake visas and stamps. I badly needed to travel to America to buy clothes for sale. I usually shop online and I felt if I started travelling to America to buy, it would be cheaper for me.

    “I have a registered business and I think I have enough money in my account but they rejected me twice. They found out when they were asking me questions during an interview that I have not been to the UK and that was how I was arrested.”

    According to Audu, the SFU received a petition from the US Embassy last year lamenting the amount of money it was losing to fraudsters, who use Corel Draw application and Microsoft Word to clone old receipts and present same for use by other visa applicants.

    Following the petition, Audu said the SFU began an investigation which led to the arrest and arraignment of three suspects, including one Ismaila Adefile before a Lagos Magistrates’ Court, Igbosere.

    However, other members of the syndicate, Audu said, continued to forge receipts which they used to book visa appointments for their clients.

    According to him, Awolola and Ajasa were arrested on Wednesday and Thursday after a visa applicant who used one of their fake receipts was detected at the embassy.

    Audu said: “The suspects claimed to be working as online appointment agents to the US Embassy. They specialise in manipulating visa payment receipts by using Corel Draw application on Microsoft Word to edit payment slips in order to use same for more than one applicant.

    “Trouble started for them when one applicant paid N60,000 into Ajasa’s account as appointment/visa fee for his son. Instead of making the payment upon receipt of the money, Ajasa opted to buy an already used payment receipt belonging to another applicant from Awolola for N30,000.

    “Ajasa manipulated the payment slip with the help of Corel Draw application in Microsoft Word and made a booking for his client. The Embassy noticed the irregularities and invited both applicants, who then revealed the names of the suspects.

    “Awolola also revealed that he was working with a notorious document vendor, Ismaila Adefile, who was arrested last year for the same offence and charged to court.

    “Members of the public are advised to be cautious about the activities of visa vendors parading themselves as agents. Their activities are fraudulent. No Embassy or High Commission appoints anyone as visa procurement agent. The Embassies and High Commissions usually notify us of any applicant who submits fake documents in support of their application.

    “The clients and the suspects would all be charged to court at the completion of investigation.”

    Confessing to the crime, Awolola said he had secured visa appointments for about 20 people since he started the trade in 2012.

    He claimed that he bought the visa receipt from Ajasa but did not know it had been used for another client.

    He said: “I have gotten appointments for over 20 persons in the past. I usually collected between N15,000 and N20,000 for each. The clients usually paid their visa fees at the bank and bring the receipt but this time around, the network was slow and Ajasa told me he had a receipt that had not been used. I knew it was a crime. I thought I was smart, but I now know that I am not as I have been caught.

    “I paid him (Ajasa) N30,000 out of the N64,000 I collected from my own client. My client called me when his attention was drawn to the fact that the payment receipt had been used. He was the one who led the police to me before I was arrested.”

  • Businesswoman alleges plot to destroy her

    Businesswoman alleges plot to destroy her

    A woman Ms. Cynthia Audu, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), over what she described as “fictitious, wicked and malicious” accusation aimed at destroying her business.
    In a whatsApp message, Audu was said to be running a fake recruitment centre, with office at 1, Olabisi Close, Mende, Maryland, Lagos.
    At a news conference yesterday in the office of her lawyer, Samuel Adeola Ilori, Audu urged the IGP to preserve the integrity of her business.
    Audu, who claimed she started business four years ago as a partner in Neo-Life marketers, under GNLD, a Multi Level Marketing (MLM) scheme, said her office was into the training of people, who became Neo-Life trading partners.
    She said she resumed work one day to see four of her trainers arrested by policemen from Anthony division. The police were in her office following the dust raised by the malicious whatsApp message, she said.
    “I responded to their summons and appeared at the station, where I wrote a statement debunking all the spurious allegations against me and I was released same day,” she said.
    Audu said two days later, her office was again raided by officers from Zone II, who were acting on the IGP’s instruction to investigate the matter.
    She said she was released on bail two days later after nothing incriminating was found in her office, and her claims of working with GNLD corroborated by the MLM’s Nigerian office.
    Blaming her woes on “dirty competitive intrigues,” Audu wondered why the police swung into action based on “frivolous accusation on social media”, could not track those behind the allegation.
    Her counsel urged the police to get those behind the allegation.
    “It is interesting that up till now, the man or woman who claimed to have escaped being abducted by unknown persons inside my client’s office hasn’t reported to the police. Is it not surprising that the police would swing into action without any one formally reporting to the police?” Ilori said.

  • Businesswoman donates classrooms to Oyo college

    The 2005 graduating class of the Department of Accounting and Finance of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) has held reunion meeting in Lagos, last weekend. The class president and chairman, Planning Committee, Mr Ganiyu Ibrahim, said the meeting was aimed at helping its members realise their goals.

    Ibrahim said the coming together of the class members was an opportunity for them to network and exchange idea on professionalism. He said the class had the aim to register as alumni body in order to help Accounting and Finance students achieving their academic goals.

    He said: “We aim to bring ourselves together as alumni body of our department. We plan to legalise this association so that it becomes a platform that will used to help ourselves, students and our alma mater every year.

    “This association aims to identify members’ needs and render assistance.  Our coming together will help us to interact to know what we needs to become successful professional and how we can help bring about positive change in the country. The platform will be a link between us and our department.”

    A member, Mr Adesina Ojeniyi, said the class members were brought together through a WhatsApp group chat. He said the essence of the reunion was to chart a course for professional development.

    He said: “We need to tell other members, who are not part of the group why we are coming together and our vision for the group. Our activities in the coming days would show what our intensions.”

    The Planning Committee chairman inaugurated the group’s Board of Trustees and sub-committees, including finance, welfare, ethics and drafting committee, to lead the group’s activities.

    Ojeniyi urged members of each committee to give full support to their leaders, urging them to work together. He charged the committees to formulate the implementable visions for the group.

     

     

  • Businesswoman donates classrooms to Oyo college

    Provost of the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology (OYSCATECH) in Igboora, Prof Gbemiga Adewale has hailed the Managing Director of BOVAS and Company Limited, Mrs Victoria Samson, for the donation of classrooms to the college.

    The provost expressed appreciation to the businesswoman during the ceremony held to lay the foundation of the six classrooms valued at N11.08 million.

    Prof Adewale said Mrs Samson’s gesture would impact positively on the standard of the college, noting that the classrooms would help realise the institution’s vision food sufficiency through knowledge and innovation.

    The provost said the government alone could not provide quality education needed to drive the economy, saying the gesture demonstrated the need for partnership with private sector to enable higher institutions realise their visions.

    He urged indigenes of Ibarapa area of the state in private sector to follow Mrs Samson’s example by donating to the college.

    The Librarian and chairman of College Project Committee, Dr Olatunji Olaojo disclosed that the donor had released 75 per cent of the funds needed for the construction of the six classrooms. He added that the balance would be released when the project is about to be completed.

    Dr Olaojo assured the donor that the project committee would support the contractor working on the project to ensure it is completed in three months.

    The foundation laying was performed Mrs Samson’s representatives, Mr Babajide Olomola, Legal Officer and Mrs Mobolaji Ogunnaike, Corporate Affairs Services. They were joined by Prof Adewale and members of the college’s management team.

  • Danfo driver, conductor assault businesswoman

    Danfo driver, conductor assault businesswoman

    A PASSENGER has paid dearly for challenging a commercial bus driver and his conductor, who allegedly attempted not to take her to her destination.

    The danfo driver and his boy were said to have injured the passenger, a fabric dealer, in the eye, following an argument over their alleged attempt to change route during the trip.

    Miss Kafayat Rabiu boarded the Toll Gate-bound bus at Ikeja along last Thursday, but on getting to Abule Egba around 6.27p.m, the bus changed its route to Alakuko.

    Miss Rabiu, who was going to Ifo, and some other passengers challenged the driver, but he, his conductor and another motor boy picked on the way, resorted to abusing them.

    The driver reportedly slapped her, pulled her head with her scarf and tore her dress.

    She was further assaulted when she attempted to take pictures with her phone before other passengers intervened.

    “The driver hit her severally to ensure she was unable to capture his face and the bus number. She managed to have some pictures,” a sympathiser said.

    The driver and the conductor reportedly attempted to collect her bag in order to destroy her phone.

    Following her complaint at Alakuko Police Station, an officer followed her to the bus stop, but the driver had fled.

    Yesterday, the businesswoman described the incident as “total madness.”

    She said: “I was coming from Ikeja going to Ifo but the bus was loading for Toll Gate. I was told that the bus fare was N200 and I paid. When we got to Alakuko, the bus conductor, seeing that we were not many in the bus, told us to get down that he wanted to turn because, according to him, there was traffic gridlock and he does not want to be held up in it.

    “I left my seat and moved forward to the seat behind the driver and told him to talk to his conductor to address us properly. The driver then looked back and said, ‘Nibo ni won ti gbe oloriburuku yi wa?’ meaning where is this unfortunate person from?’ I asked him who he was referring to as unfortunate and then he started insulting me. The next thing was slapping. Immediately he slapped me, I took my phone to take a picture of him and alighted from the bus.

    “When he saw that, he slapped the phone away from my hand but I struggled to get his face in the picture and I was also guarding my bag from being stolen. When he saw that I had gotten his picture, he pulled my clothes. He used my headscarf to pull me. He tore my clothes. They were also trying to grab my bag but I made sure I guarded it very well. I was saved from them by other women in the bus and passersby coming from Abule-Egba.

    “Immediately I left there, I went to report what happened at the police station. They told some of their men to follow me to where it happened but when we got there, the bus was nowhere in sight. One of the policemen said I should have held on to the driver and I replied him that I was just lucky to be saved by other passengers in the bus that the driver hit me in the eye. Until that day, my hair has never been exposed in public and it was like stripping me naked. That was why I went to the police station that day. I have called one of the sergeants at the station after the incident, and he told me that they have not seen the bus since that day. I want this to end and I will make sure it gets to court. The same thing almost happened in a bus I boarded today (yesterday) where the driver almost punched a woman.”

     

  • Herbalist ‘dupes’ businesswoman of N7.5m

    •Victim also ‘raped’

    THE police have arrested a 45-year-old herbalist, Ifatade Ademola, for allegedly raping a businesswoman and duping her of N7.5 million.

    The suspect was arrested after his victim, who claimed she was hypnotised, raped and defrauded of N7.5 million between 2011 and 2014, reported the matter to the police.

    He was said to have used the money to build two bungalows in Lagos and Ado Ekiti. He also bought two vehicles. The vehicles have been seized by the police.

    According to the 31-year-old victim, the suspect told her she was being hunted by spirit husband and needed spiritual cleansing so that she can get married.

    The suspect was said to have posed as a cab driver and taken the victim’s mother, an international businesswoman, from Iyana Ipaja bus stop to their residence.

    In his discussions with the woman, he was said to have advertised his other businesses which include supplying domestic workers and spiritual cleansing.

    According to the victim, Ademola wormed himself into her mother’s heart after telling the old woman that all her children have been programmed to die untimely, using one of her late children as an example.

    The victim claimed that when the suspect saw that the charm he used on her was no longer working, he conspired with two other men to rape her in his shrine.

    She alleged that she became traumatised and psychologically unstable for about a year, adding that she decided to fight for justice after being treated by her family.

    “I am a young woman and into oil and gas business. This issue started after the suspect carried my mother one night at Iyana Ipaja and brought her home.

    “In the course of their discussion, he told my mother that he was an herbalist and has his shrine around Olode in Iyana Ipaja. He also told my mother that he can supply sales rep from Ekiti State, since the Cotonou people she usually employed have gone.

    “That was how they exchanged numbers and before long, he started telling my mother some very private things in my family and that all her children will die untimely if nothing was done. He told her that through spiritual findings, he saw that she lost her first child at the age of 33.

    “He also told her that day that I was having spirit husband problem and that it needed to be taken care of urgently.

    “My mother was afraid and told me of it. He now gave us the address and description of the shrine. My mother insisted that I should escort her to the place because she did not want to go alone.

    “He started spiritual consultation and again, he started saying things about me and my business and that people were after my life. He said that spiritual husband was the reason why I was not yet married.

    “The man said I will need to go and bath in a stream at Command Road Ipaja, beside a white garment church. That once I do that, the spirit husband will leave me alone.

    “I went there and paid N100. He was already there with some other people. He gave me three sponges to use and bath.

    “I used the first and second one nothing happened. But when I was about using the third one, it sparked fire. After the fire, I heard a woman’s voice calling my name and telling me things about my life and how some people were after me.

    “I screamed and ran out naked, then he came and calmed me down and that day, they told me to deposit N500,000 for the cleansing. Between March and June 2011, he has collected N1.8million from me.

    “They told me to not tell anyone, not even my mother what was going on, or I will die. Then, I travelled and when I came back, they continued to collect money from me until I started asking questions, then him and two others raped me at the shrine.

    “I was under a spell. He is an occultic man and he uses charm on people. I became mentally unstable for almost one year, it was after I recovered that I said I must fight for my right,” he said.

    However, the suspect denied collecting any money from the victim, insisting that he only assisted her in spiritual work.

    He claimed that the victim approached him to help her get a husband, adding that being a herbalist who treats all kinds of diseases and problems, he decided to assist her.

    The command’s spokesperson, Oladapo Badmus, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said the police swung into action after the victim petitioned the commissioner.

    She said investigations were still on to arrest the others, warning Lagosians to be wary of those they associate with.

    Badmus said the suspect was not a registered cab driver, adding that he would be charged to court after investigation.