The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Famuyiwa Damilare

  • Complimenting entrepreneurship skills with social media – Cutekimani

    Complimenting entrepreneurship skills with social media – Cutekimani

    Fast rising On Air Personality, Adekeye Esther has expressed her thought about entrepreneurship. Esther, fondly called Cutekimani lamented the lack of effective utilisation of social media among the Nigerian youths. In this interview with FAMUYIWA DAMILARE, Cute Kimani, who is also a Social Media Influencer, affirms that the best way to grow a brand and enhance one’s skill is by making effective use of social media.

    What’s your thought on entrepreneurship? Is it learnt or innate?

    Entrepreneurship is just a polished word for a hustler, and I tell you, no one learns to be a hustler, it is inborn. The first thing you need as an entrepreneur is a drive, before the skills. Even if you didn’t have the skills, the drive will push you to acquire skills. So entrepreneurship is innate.

    What does Estol Props Media do?

    Estol Props Media, a subsidiary of Estol Africa is a media service and Brand Promotion Company that enables the world’s leading brands, publishers, agencies and industry bodies to navigate and succeed in a rapidly evolving media industry while also giving them optimum exposure in the digital space and return-on- investment.

    How did the name Cutekimani come about?

    while in Unilag, I used to work for a campus magazine (Bif magazine) where I would dig up dirty stories, stories about the “bad guys”, molestation, bribery, and social vices in school, so for security reasons, I needed to have an abstract name that could never be traced back to me, also had a radio show where I used to dish out lots of scoop  about the “Under G” activities on campus, I also had a different on- air name, this went on and on till I graduated and went to Port Harcourt for NYSC, at that time my on-air name was Fantasia, so I approached Mr Gibson Lee  who was the then Silver Bird Tv director, he interviewed me, asked for my name, I told him and he said so now that I am in Port Harcourt what name would I like to bear, I started looking up the ceiling, then he gave me 30 minutes to come up with a name. I just told God I wanted something that defined me, that was African, interesting & hip.

    I got on Google and started searching till I found Kimani, an Ethiopian name that means Smart, sexy & successful.  When I told him he said oh cute, and I was just blushing. On my way home that morning I bought my first blackberry phone, after charging for 6 hours I started toying with the apps and there I discovered twitter, tried signing up but @kimani was taken, it gave me different options but I didn’t want numbers so I tried @cutekimani and voila it was up.

    How did you venture into Media /PR

    Started with PR, when I established my own PR Company called Estol Props Media in 2011. The first person who gave me an opportunity to handle PR was Koffi the comedian, who entrusted all of workerman movement to me, this was even before I met Olamide and since then worked on various artistes in the industry; the likes of Olu Maintain, Chuddy K, W4, Harrysong, Olamide , Chidinma,   brands; Airtel Nigeria, Kenya Airways, Bank of Industry,  iPhone, MTN, Slot , P&G, Premier Bet, Visa Card, Supreme Noodles and individuals

    You and Olamide were an item at some point?

    First of all, Olamide is one of the few brothers I have in the industry; he’s so much of a brother that he knows my parents and every member of my immediate family. So if that qualifies as being an item, then yes.

    I am one of the firm believers of Olamide’s works and so it was easy to take up his music and propagate it. It didn’t even feel like work, it still doesn’t feel like work.

     

    How have you been able to gather and maintain your social media followership?

    Hmnn, it took me years to build, and it takes strategy to maintain. When I got my first blackberry, Twitter was one of the inbuilt apps and so I started exploring. I was in Port Harcourt then and I believed it was a Lagos thing so I reached out to a friend who had about 40 followers then to put me through and give me shout outs, follow back Fridays, follow trains and all. I started growing bit by bit, returned to Lagos and every time I was on radio I enjoined listeners to follow me, I sent BCs on BBM, invited my Facebook friends and boom, it started growing more rapidly and that’s one of my strength, I grew from offline to online.

    Which of the social media platforms are your favourites as a Social Media Strategist?

    All of these platforms are first of all work tools for me, so it’s not about me anymore, and as a social media influencer, you need to have your own strengths, you definitely can’t conquer all of the social media platforms so it’s best to own at least 3, and own them well, that’s why when we run influencer engagements for brands we use various influencers per platforms because we realize an influencer might have active 100k followers on Instagram and a little over 5k active followers on twitter. Some are Snapchat lords while some have owned LinkedIn or even their blogs.

    You will always catch me on Twitter and Instagram before Snapchat and Facebook or even LinkedIn, but at the time I figured I needed to also have a platform where I daily inform people beyond social media, I started my website

     

    Based on your experience who would you call a social media influencer?

    A social media influencer is an online brand advocate who talks favourably about a brand or product and then passes on positive messages about the brand to other people, spreading the word through their personal social media pages.

     He is a user on social media who has established credibility in a specific field. Has access to a large audience and can persuade others by virtue of their authenticity and reach. He takes part in relevant conversations across a variety of networks.

    Do you make it a point of duty to post online every day?

    Yes, posts go up on at least 3 of my social media pages every day. In fact, as a social media influencer, you should have at least 2 posts on your Instagram daily, be active on Twitter between 6:00am and 12:00am and be active between 8:00am and 6:00pm on LinkedIn.

    I have account managers who also manage my account especially when I am on a trip or when we have events to live feed from, just as I also manage accounts for brands and individuals, meaning you cannot be off social media for any reason during the work period. It’s so serious that at least one of my account managers travel with me just to ensure we don’t go offline.

  • Beauty making is like forest – Expert

    Beauty making is like forest – Expert

    For Josephine Emmanuels, beauty making is like a forest. The skin therapist and CEO of Beauty Forest has revealed the secrets behind beauty at large. In this interview with FAMUYIWA DAMILARE, she discussed how inner beauty reflects on the outside.
     
     
    As a beauty therapist, what does beauty mean to you?
    Beauty means a lot of things to me, but I love telling a lot of people that beauty starts from inside not outside. Your take-in reflects on your body, so if you really don’t take care of yourself, there is nothing called beauty.
    You can apply lots of makeup and use so many natural organic products, but if you don’t eat quality things, all the organic products won’t work effectively. So beauty starts from inside out, and it is what you take inside that will reflect on your outward appearance.
     
    What actually motivated you into this business line?
     
    Well, I have been a beauty person since I was in secondary school. I can plait hair and also barb it at the same time. So, it’s like passion to me, it’s what I can do for free. I’m not money conscious about it, I do so many things, but talking about beauty, it is what I enjoy doing. I see it as a calling I have to fulfil and I feel good doing it.
     
    How do you come up with the concept of Beauty Forest?
     
    As a woman, I love it when I go to a particular spot and get everything I want in that spot. I hate it when I go to a salon and I have to go to another salon to get my nails done, also to another place to do my make-up. That was how and why I came up with Beauty Forest.
    Aside from being a skin therapist, I’m also a stylist and I’m into bridals too, I do pedicure, manicure and I’m also a make-up artist. So, that is how I came up with the name ‘Beauty Forest’. My place is a place where you can come and get everything, it’s just like when you go to a forest, you will see many trees. As many trees make a forest when you come to my own place, you get to see many things and you will be satisfied.
     
    Talking about Bobrisky, how will you compare yourself and other household names in this business?
     
    Like what I usually tell people every day, the real ones will stand and the fake ones will fall off. When you go on the internet, you will see lots of skin therapist, they are everywhere, lots of adverts. So, talking about the competition in the market, well, what I will say in terms of Bobrisky is that, seeing is believing. If you see some skin therapist, I assure you that you will run away, many people call me that they want to see me, and I always tell them to feel free to come, so when they see me, they will have to check me out first and when they see my skin is looking so healthy, not totally white like some kind of a bleached chemical skin. When they see I have this natural organic glowing skin and with that, I think they are convinced that this person is okay. So that is my own area of where I can compete with them. I’m pretty sure some skin therapist can’t come out and show themselves.
     
    There was a trending picture of Bobrisky on the Instagram with rashes on his face, what will you say concerning that?
     
    Yes, I think I saw the picture, but not just him. I know lots of skin therapist in this Lagos, if you see them, you will run away, even people that go to their stores to get stuff, calls and be like “my skin has been damaged.” why won’t they damage your skin, after seeing how the skin of therapist herself looks like and you decided to trust your skin with that person.

  • Pupils, parents enjoined to end child marriage

    Action Health Incorporated (AHI) during its 23rd Annual Teenage Festival of Life (TFL) has enjoined pupils and parents to totally eradicate child marriage in Nigeria.

    In a bid to end child marriage in the course of the programme, young people from public secondary schools across Lagos State showcased the realities of child marriage using songs, poetry and drama to advocate for the total eradication of Child marriage in the country.

    AHI in its press release noted that “child marriage is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and despite laws against it, the practice still remains widespread.

    “In Nigeria, 43% of girls are married before their 18th birthday and 17% are married before they turn 15. The prevalence of child marriage varies widely from one region to another, with figures as high as 76% in the North West region and 10% in the South East.

    “These child brides are burdened with responsibilities as wives and mothers with little support, resources, or life experience to meet these challenges. Furthermore, girls’ rights, health and development are undermined by the impact of early marriage, including pregnancy and early childbearing which impact on their mortality and morbidity. There are also outcomes of early termination of their schooling which limits human capital and their future productivity which of course affects the lives of their children and families,” the statement observed.

    Speaking at the event, the Director of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Alaba Fadairo lamented the rapid growth of child marriage in the country, saying: “The theme of this year’s TFL is apt, because it is coming at a time where a lot of our girls are getting married earlier than expected.

    “Surveys have been conducted showing that a lot of young girls have been involved in the motherhood of a family.

    “Some of our girls have become mothers when they are supposed to be in school or undergoing trainings to empower them for brighter future. This is quite alarming and worrisome.”

    She further stressed on the involvement of government in ending child marriage in the societal context.

    “There are lots of activities the Lagos State government has been doing to end this menace. The government is also not slacking in the implementation of policy that guards the rights of our children.”

    According to her, “the Lagos State government has zero tolerance to all forms of abuse. Child marriage is an abuse because of it adverse effects on a child; it could be socially, physically, emotionally and can even put a child in a life trauma.”

  • Sex workers protest abuse of policemen

    Sex workers protest abuse of policemen

    A community based organization of sex workers, Ohotu Diamond Women Initiative (ODWI) has called on the Nigerian Police to stop abuse on sex workers.
    In a statement made available to newsmen, the organization laments over the widely misunderstanding status about sex work.
    “The illegal status of sex work in most countries, including Nigeria has not eradicated prostitution. Instead, criminalization has increased sex workers vulnerability to human rights abuses and created fertile ground for police exploitation, especially of brothel and street-based sex workers.
    “Sex workers deserve the basic respect and protection from violence that each nation owes its citizens. But in many settings, police abuse of sex workers receives scant public attention despite its entrenched global reality. Street and brothel-based female sex workers, one of Lagos and Abuja most vulnerable populations, find themselves targeted for arrest by police, and they experience high levels of violence that go unpunished.  Current city and law enforcement policies towards sex workers create a cycle of arrest that does not result in appropriate or long term solutions for the community or sex workers,” the statement reads in part.
    On the challenges sex workers face, it said: “The challenge that we face as 50 participants from different L.G.As are almost similar. Many of us face violence and discrimination on a regular basis. Regardless of which State or tribe we are from, many of us have experienced being raped, verbally, emotionally and physically abused by police, clients and community members. 
    “There is an unfair discrimination from service providers. Sex workers are not protected or defended by the law when they are exploited and abused. We demand that these violations stop immediately and decisive action is taken against perpetrators.” 
    The statement further revealed how sex workers suffer abuse from the Nigerian Police Officers. “Thirty percent of sex workers interviewed told researchers that they had been threatened with violence by police officers, while 27% actually experienced violence at the hands of police. Reported incidents included officers physically grabbing and kicking, as well as beating them; one incident of rape; one woman was stalked by a police officer; and throwing food at one subject. Sexual harassment included fondling of body parts; giving women cigarettes in exchange for sex; and police offering not to arrest sex workers in exchange for sexual services. 
    “Several times the Police have raided our hotels beating, stealing and having sex with us without protection.” 
    In a bid to curtail the abuses sex workers suffer from Policemen, the Executive Director of SafeHeaven Development Initiative, Margaret Onah has criticised the method of which Policemen uses to extort money from sex workers and abuse. 
    According to Onah, the Nigerian Policemen are not mindful of the fundamental human rights that should be accorded to sex workers. 
    “It is dehumanising when Policemen abuses, sex workers the way they do. We are using this channel to voice out our pains in the course of survival. The government needs to do something about it. It is better if sex workers are charged to court than naming them, harassing them, stealing their money, stealing their properties, and having sex with them unprotected.” 
    Speaking on what could be done to end the abuse by Policemen, she said: “the Police needs to re-strategise. The fact that sex work is illegal doesn’t mean that they should kill anyone find doing the job.  
    “Sex workers are citizen of this country first of all, and they need to be respected like every other citizen.” 
    Speaking on harassment faced with Policemen, Esther Eghosa said: “Time without numbers, the Policemen break our doors to start packing us like goats to the station. If you don’t have money to bail yourself, they will say they want to sleep with you unprotected which is very bad.
    Eghosa, who is a sex worker further stress, “As a woman in the brothel, we protect ourselves, we use condoms, but with the Policemen, you don’t have a say.”
  • The desperate Burnaboy

    The desperate Burnaboy

    As many as those familiar with the Nigerian entertainment scene, it is no news that the MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA) nominees has been released.

    The awards, which sparked major controversies so far, has in no doubt been unfortunate for Nigerian pop star, Burnaboy.

    “Really bummed @MTVbaseAfrica didn’t nominate me. I knew I wasn’t gunna win Sh** cuz I never get what I deserve but damn this is quite deep.” He tweeted.

    Burnaboy who recently expressed his dismay at being snubbed for nominations at the MAMA’s announcement, must have gone through a lot before taken it openly how it feels like, not being recognized in a field you feel so so successful.

    Notable individuals have challenged the self acclaimed successful artiste in recent time.

    With the announcement of his deal with Universal Records, Etcetera who is not pleased with how he tends to have deceived people with the deal, shocked many with his column; in fact I’m not exceptional.

    As regards this, he asked some sparkling questions that we all need to consider as well: How many CDs has he sold in Nigeria as an artiste? How many people have his album in their homes? Etcetera queried.

    Oh! Interesting, let me add mine; How many shows has he been bid to perform locally and internationally compared to those who got the nominations?

    Now these are questions that I know the MAMA officials might also not have taken for granted.

    With a huge amount of sarcasm, MTV replied Burnaboy’s tweet. ‘Let’s try again next year. Truce? A tweet reads, with the photo of a submerged boy making the peace sign.

    Despite occurrences in the Nigerian entertainment scene, it is still memorable to many that Burnaboy angrily exited the Headies 2013 after losing out to Sean Tizzle in the ‘Next Rated Category’.

    According to controversial singer-cum-columnist, “This guy (Burnaboy) sounds like he does not want anyone to pick out his lines.”

    At this juncture, to be realistic, Burnaboy is obviously known for being notorious, and the ‘bad boy’ Nigerians can point at in the entertainment industry according to reports.

    He had earlier linked him to a criminal past, which got him banned from entering UK for 15 years as at 2013.

    In conclusion, I won’t point accusing fingers at Burnaboy as the bad boy or the notorious one at that. Rather, I will call him a desperate being, and enough of that because he might not get what he deserves as he rightly stated.