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Appointment

Meet Olu Verheijen and Salma Ibrahim Anas, President Tinubu’s Special Advisers

by Women Times on

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday appointed eight persons as special advisers and two women made the list.

Olu Verheijen as Special Adviser on Energy and Salma Ibrahim Anas, special adviser on health.

The other six appointed who are men are
Dele Alake, Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy; Yau Darazo as Special Adviser on Political and Intergovernmental Affairs; Nuhu Ribadu, Special Adviser on Security; Wale Edun as Special Adviser on Monetary Policies; Zacchaeus Adedeji as Special Adviser on Revenue; and John Ugochukwu Uwajumogu, special adviser on industry, trade and investment.

These eight persons are part of the 20 special advisers Tinubu had asked the senate to approve to achieve the goals of his administration in the next four years.

 

 

Meet Olu Verheijen, President Tinubu’s Energy Adviser 

Olu Verheijen as Special Adviser on Energy to President Tinubu

Verheijen is an energy expert and renewable energy investor with nearly 20 years of experience in the oil, gas, renewables and power sectors across Sub-Saharan Africa. She is the founder and managing director of Latimer Energy, a commercial advisory firm, whose services include advising clients on value optimisation in acquisition, development and management of energy assets.

The energy expert, who has a BA from Long Island University and master’s in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, serves as an advisory council member of the US Millennium Challenge Corporation and also an entrepreneur-in-residence at the Energy for Growth Hub.

 

 

 

Meet Salma Ibrahim Anas

Salma Ibrahim Anas, special adviser on health.to President Tinubu

Anas is a public health specialist with over 25 years of experience in health sector development, policy formulation, and strategic development.

She is currently the director of Family Health Services at the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) where she leads important divisions like reproductive health, child health and gender, adolescent, school health and elderly care (GASHE), nutrition and health promotion divisions.

She was a two-time Borno commissioner of health where she led the state during the region’s humanitarian crisis – her excellent performance attracted awards such as the best performing commissioner in the northeast on polio eradication.

Verheijen was formerly a Deal Lead at Shell where she advised on gas commercialisation, merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions valued at over $5 billion.  She was a member of the governing board of Shell upstream joint venture.

 

 

 

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Appointment

Meet Adesua Dozie Exxon Mobil’s First Female Vice-Chairman

by Women Times on

ExxonMobil affiliates in Nigeria – Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPN) and Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (EEPNL) – recently announced the appointment of Adesua Dozie as the Vice-Chairman of the Boards of the Companies.

Prior to her appointment,  she was an Executive Director and General Counsel for MPN and EEPNL.

 Dozie joined MPN in November 2019, as General Counsel and was elevated to the position of Executive Director on December 30, 2019.

Dozie is a senior Legal Advisor with over 20 years of experience as a trusted leader for multinational companies across Africa in a diverse range of industries.

She holds a Bachelor of Law degree (LL. B.) from the University of Buckingham in the United Kingdom, and a Master of Laws (LL.M) from Cornell Law School, New York.

She was admitted to the New York bar and qualified as a barrister and solicitor in Nigeria.

Dozie has advised on various large-scale transactions across the African continent, drawing on a deep knowledge of the legal and regulatory framework, in turn facilitating regional growth, strengthening corporate governance and compliance cultures across diverse business communities.

She is a passionate advocate for empowering diverse talent and is committed to building and strengthening inclusive working environments.

The ExxonMobil upstream affiliates operating in Nigeria are MPN, EEPNL and Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (Offshore East) Limited. The companies have notable history, proven experience and a strong record of contributions to Nigeria’s development.

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Award

Nigeria’s Simi Nwogugu Named Top 10 Finalist for Africa Education Medal 2023

by Women Times on

Nigeria’s Simi Nwogugu, CEO of JA Africa, has been named as a Top 10 finalist for the Africa Education Medal 2023. Founded last year by T4 Education and HP in collaboration with Microsoft, the Africa Education Medal is Africa’s most prestigious education accolade. 

The Africa Education Medal was established to recognise the tireless work of those who are transforming education across the continent – to celebrate the stories of those who have lit the spark of change so others will be inspired to take up the torch. It is given to an outstanding individual who has demonstrated impact, leadership, and advocacy in the field of education. 

 

Simi Nwogugu is CEO of JA Africa, part of the Nobel Peace Prize-nominated JA Worldwide, one of the world’s largest youth-serving NGOs that prepares young people for the future of work. She was first introduced to JA while working at Goldman Sachs in New York City. Impressed by the organisation, she quit her lucrative job at the age of 24 to bring JA to Nigeria, where it now reaches more than 1 million people, before going on to head up JA’s operations across the continent.  

 

The vital importance of Nwogugu’s work is highlighted by the fact that 60% of the population of sub-Saharan Africa and about 37% of its workforce are under the age of 25. By 2025, Africa will be home to 25% of the world’s youth population. Through the delivery of hands-on, blended learning in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship, her organisation empowers young people to grow their entrepreneurial ideas, hone their work skills, manage their earnings and secure better lives for themselves, their families, and their communities. 

 

For 25 years, Nwogugu has been leading JA’s efforts in various capacities as it embarked on a mission to help young people to generate and effectively manage wealth and create jobs for their communities. Her passion for strategy and innovation led to the development of many impactful programmes that are ensuring young Nigerians have the skillsets and mindset to succeed.  

 

She is a passionate advocate for girls’ education and one of her unique initiatives includes the Leadership, Empowerment Achievement & Development (LEAD) Camp for Girls, which has impacted 1,000 young girls and inspires and empowers them to become high-achieving women leaders in society. Another initiative she has championed is the Venture in Management Programme (ViMP), which is designed to empower young people in the different facets of managing a business, making crucial business decisions and developing skills for general management. She also built digital and out-of-school youth programmes that enabled her organisation to reach underserved populations in the North of Nigeria, even during the Boko Haram crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.  

 

Prior to becoming JA Africa CEO in 2020, she led JA Nigeria to impact the lives of over 1 million Nigerians in 5,000 schools. Among the many JA alumni who have gone on to become job creators and social entrepreneurs is Iyin Aboyeji, the founder of two unicorns: Andela and Flutterwave. 

 

Nwogugu also serves as president of the governing board of the Harvard Business School Association of Nigeria (HBSAN). She is a member of the Advisory Council of the African Capital Alliance Foundation, and of the Global Advisory Committee for Teach For All. 

 

Mayank Dhingra, Senior Education Business Leader, Southern Europe, Middle East and Africa, at HP said: 

 

“My warmest congratulations to Simi Nwogugu on being named a Top 10 finalist for the Africa Education Medal 2023. Her tireless work to improve education stands as an inspiration to us all and I hope many others will follow in her footsteps to become leaders in the field.

“HP has a bold goal to accelerate digital equity for 150 million people globally by 2030. Only by joining forces and aligning with NGOs, government, educators and businesses can we truly improve the education environment. The Africa Education Medal brings together all those who are changing the face of African education, whose vital work deserves to be celebrated.” 

 

Vikas Pota, Founder and CEO of T4 Education, said: 

 

“Africa’s teachers and school leaders, and its leaders of governments, NGOs and businesses, all play a crucial part in unlocking the continent’s potential through quality education.  African education stands at a crossroads in the wake of the pandemic, but if leaders from across the continent in every field can work together then they can build the lasting change needed. 

 

“I congratulate Simi Nwogugu on her achievements in skilling up Africa’s young people and I hope her success serves as a rallying cry for changemakers to come forward and make a difference.” 

 

The Top 10 finalists for the Africa Education Medal are:  

 

  • Mary Ashun, Principal of Ghana International School, Ghana 
     
  • Mohammed Elmeski, Senior Education Adviser, Office of the Head of the Government, Morocco 
  • Laura Kakon, Chief Growth & Strategy Officer of Honoris, South Africa 

     

  • Grace Malthape, CEO of SmartStart Early Learning, South Africa 

     

  • Mary Metcalfe, former policymaker and CEO of Programme to Improve Learning Outcomes (PILO), South Africa 
     
  • Martha Muhrezi, Executive Director of FAWE, Uganda 
  • Sarah Ruto, Former Chief Administrative Secretary of Kenya’s Ministry of Education and CEO of PAL Networks, Kenya 

     

  • Jean Claude Nkulikiyimfura, Executive Director of Agahozo Shalom Youth Village, Rwanda 
     
  • Simi Nwogugu, CEO of JA Africa, Nigeria 
     
  • Snehar Shah, CEO of Moringa School, Kenya 

     

    Nominations for the Africa Education Medal opened in February 2023 for individuals working to improve pre-kindergarten, K-12, vocational and university education who are either educators, school administrators, civil society leaders, public servants, government officials, political leaders, technologists, or innovators. 

        

    The winner of the Africa Education Medal will be announced in July. Finalists will be assessed by a Jury comprising prominent individuals based on rigorous criteria.  

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Career

Women CEO Tops 5% Of Companies Listed On Africa’s 24 Stock Exchanges

by Women Times on

While only 5% of companies listed on Africa’s 24 stock exchanges have a woman as CEO, those that do have a woman CEO outperform financially by a wide measure, a new analysis byAfrica.com has said. 

According to the report, to mark the evolution of Definitive List of Women CEOs, sponsored by Standard Bank Group, now in its third year, the online outfit analysed 2,020 listed companies on Africa’s 24 stock exchanges to compare the performance of companies where women hold the top position as CEO.

Women led companies remain a rarity across Africa in spite of a growing body of evidence that more diverse management produces better results.

Teresa Clarke, Chair of Africa. com, the company that conducted the analysis, said: “Despite difficult market conditions in most sectors and most geographies across the continent, in 2022, female run companies in Africa outperformed most benchmarks,” said

Transcorp of Nigeria, a diversified conglomerate with investments in the power, hospitality and energy sectors run by President and CEO Ms. Owen Omogiafo, ranked as one of the top performers on the Africa.com list gaining 8.27% in share price in 2022.

She joined us on the 19th to talk about how Transnational Corp. was able to outperform its competitors in this environment.

Another top performer was Bidvest Group of South Africa, a diversified industrial services company which has been run by chief executive Ms. Mpumi Madisa since 2020, saw its share price increase by 5.82% in 2022.

To put the figures into perspective, the share prices of the collective group of 93 women led companies analysed by Africa.com outperformed the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (FTSE/ JSE All Share) by 506 basis points, the Nairobi Securities Exchange Index (NSEASI) by 2,712 basis points, the London Stock Exchange (FTSE All Share Index) by 1,202 basis points, and the S&P 500 by 1,714 basis points.

Vera Songwe, Senior Fellow – Global Economy and Development, Africa Growth Initiative joined the virtual event on April 19th for the unveiling of the Definitive List of Women CEOs to share her perspective on why women outperform in the investment arena.

The trend of large, listed, women-led companies in Africa outperforming their male-run counterparts is consistent with trends seen in other parts of the world. Why do women-led firms often outperform? Patricia Lizarraga of Hypatia Capital wrote, “According to McKinsey, women face well-documented additional barriers in today’s workplace.

The few who rise to the highest executive ranks, by definition, must possess additional leadership and performance characteristics versus the average executive, predominantly male, who did not face the same barriers.”

Hypatia Capital of New York designed the Hypatia Women CEO Index, measures the performance of publicly traded securities on U.S. exchanges that have female Chief Executive Officers.

Over the same period, 6678 January 1, 2022 – December 31, 2022, that index outperformed its benchmark by 479 basis points. Patricia Lizarraga, CEO of the Hypatia Womens CEO Index Fund in the US talked more about the “Female Factor,” her term for how women impact investment performance.

One of the caveats to the Africa. com analysis is that the various exchanges on which the companies are listed report share prices in their local currencies.

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Women of SubstanceRating

Onyeali-Ikpe, Olusanya Make Top 10 On 2023 Definitive List of Women CEO

by Women Times on

The third annual Africa.com Definitive List of Women Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) was revealed on April 19.

Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, Managing Director/CEO, Fidelity Bank Plc and Miriam Chidiebele Olusanya, Managing Director, Guaranty Trust Bank made the top 10 list. Both companies are listed on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX).

The list is unique in that it is based on data-driven research. Sponsored by Standard Bank Group, it represents one of the first analyses of the performance of publicly listed companies in Africa conducted through a gender lens.

This year’s list of 93 women represents 17 countries who have qualified based on either large-scale revenue or large-scale market capitalisation.

BusinessDay check shows the list includes 40 women from South Africa, 12 from Nigeria, and 6 from Egypt, Ghana and Kenya respectively.

Africa.com analysed 2,020 companies listed on the 24 African stock exchanges. Of the 2,020 companies, Africa.com screened for those companies with revenue of $100 million or more, or a market cap of $150 million or more, which yielded a list of 787 companies.

The public websites of all 787 companies were examined to identify female C-suite executives. The team then researched each woman to determine those who have a title of chief executive officer or managing director or president AND conducted a review to confirm that these executives have bottom line, profit and loss responsibility for the companies. This resulted in 40 women CEOs on group 1.

The methodology for group 2 is identical to the methodology for Group 1, except that the entities evaluated were the divisions of the 787 companies, such that the divisions themselves have standalone revenue of $100 million or more.

The women running these divisions must have a title that clearly demonstrates that they are the chief executive with profit and loss responsibility for the division. This analysis yielded 28 women division heads.

Group 3 started with an analysis of global corporations with revenue over $10 billion who have operations in one or more countries on the African continent.

The regional heads of these companies were analysed to identify women executives for an Africa region or an African country, with profit and loss responsibility for the country or region. This analysis yielded 25 women. Women in this group are ranked by prioritizing those who run the Africa region ahead of those who run a single African country.

The three groups make up the final Definitive List of 93 women listed below. The 40 women from Group I are: Natascha Viljoen, CEO, Anglo American Plc, a company listed on Johannesburg Stock Exchange; Nompumelelo Zikalala, CEO, Kumba Iron Ore Ltd, also listed on Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Others are: Mpumi Madisa, CEO, Bidvest Group, a Johannesburg Stock Exchange listed company;
Bertina Engelbrecht, CEO, Clicks Group Ltd, also listed on Johannesburg Stock Exchange.

Also on the top 10 list include Nombasa Tsengwa, CEO, Exxaro Resources, listed on the
Johannesburg Stock Exchange; Albertinah Kekana, CEO, Royal Bafokeng Holdings, listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange; Jane Karuku, Group Managing Director & CEO, East African Breweries, listed on Nairobi Stock Exchange; Ntombi Felicia Msiza, CEO, Raubex Group Ltd, listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange,

Africa.com is a media holding company with an extensive array of platforms that reach a global audience interested in African content and community.

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Profile

IWD 2023: Celebrating The Women Making Magic Behind And In Front Of The Cameras

by Women Times on

Every year, we celebrate women – their achievements, gifts, and unique talents on International Women’s Day. Despite shifting cultures and more women taking on new roles, jobs, and challenges, it’s still essential to spotlight women making extraordinary strides.

In the global film industry, women are stepping up and taking on roles as directors, producers, writers, and actors. Interestingly, in some cases, some women have tried all of these roles in one project. This article spotlights five Nollywood women who have taken on the roles of directors, producers, writers, and actors, either on single projects or in different films.

Biodun Stephen always loved telling stories, first as a writer when she was younger and then as an actor in her early years, appearing in popular TV projects such as Emerald and Spider. She took a break from the industry and worked as a Radio Presenter at Star FM and a Copywriter for an advertising agency. In 2010, she left her posh job in advertising to become a Nollywood filmmaker and finally put out her first film – The Visit – in 2014. The film received two nominations at the 2016 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards.

It’s been 13 years since she made the bold move to return to the industry, and she’s still going strong. With several made-for-TV and cinema films like Picture Perfect, Ovy’s Voice, and Joba, she’s unarguably one of Nollywood’s most prominent female filmmakers. This year alone, she’s premiered one Africa Magic original, Smokescreen and has two more premiering this March. She’ll show her brilliance as an actor and filmmaker on The Last Days of Lola Sampson and A Night Alone on the 11th and 12th of March at 9 pm and 9:30 pm, respectively.

Diane Russet is a fascinating name to make this list as only a few year’s ago, she was coming into the spotlight on Big Brother Naija Pepper Dem. She has since gone from the quiet 24-year-old viewers saw in 2019 to a fiery producer. She dipped her toes into filmmaking with short films – Bayi, The Therapist, There Is Something Wrong With The Bamideles, Mo X Mel, and Storm. She then shot her first web series Ricordi, which has become a fully-expanded TV series on Africa Magic Showcase. She’s appeared in most of these projects as an actor, producer, and director. Her most recent project, Ricordi, airs a new episode every Monday at 9 pm on Africa Magic Showcase.

Funke Akindele is the quintessential woman meant for a list like this. She’s had decades of acting since her feature on I Need To Know and charted a path few could dream. She’s appeared in English-speaking movies and Yoruba films, refusing to be caged into any corner of the industry. She had her first lead role and producer experience in Ojo Ketala.

A few years later, she wrote Jenifa, her first screenplay and took on the role of ‘Jenifa’ in the 2008 movie that changed her life completely. Since Jenifa, Funke has acted in over 50 films like Dwindle, Isoken, Maami, Moms At War and more. She has produced films like Omo Ghetto, Double Trouble, and Battle on Buka Street. In 2015, she converted Jenifa into a series in which she scored producer credit. Twenty-three seasons later, the show is still airing on Africa Magic. She’s also created another series – My Siblings and I – for the channel. The comedic family drama series airs on weekdays at 8:30 PM on Africa Magic Urban (DStv ch. 153). She made her directorial debut in Your Excellency in 2019.

Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman is another unlikely name to appear on this list. To most people, she’s just an actress, who had her big break on Tinsel, and still faithfully appears on the show. However, she’s grown her portfolio and is now a filmmaker. After Linda’s breakout role as ‘Bimpe Adekoya’ in Tinsel, she featured in the highly acclaimed The Meeting, earning a ‘Best supporting actress’ nomination for her performance. She has appeared in films like Chief Daddy, Heaven’s Hell, and Flat 3B. She’s currently starring as ‘Millicent Erhu’ in Africa Magic’s Covenant. She also has producer credits on one of the Africa Magic original films featured in the channel’s ‘March Movie Madness’ campaign – Logline. The film will premiere on Africa Magic Showcase on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at 9 pm.

Lota Chukwu is one of the many young people Funke Akindele has helped to make famous. However, Lota has become a talented actress, brilliant writer, and dedicated filmmaker since she first broke out on Jenifa’s Diary. Since her days as ‘Kiki’ on Jenifa’s Diary, the former MBGN contestant has appeared in films like The Royal Hibiscus Hotel, The Arbitration, and The Perfect Plan. She has also appeared in the Africa Magic series – Enakhe and Ajoche.

She started her filmmaking career in 2020 with the short film Small Bant, which she wrote, directed, and acted in. In 2021, she got directorial credit for David. Then in 2022, she took things up a notch, writing, directing, producing, and acting in her short film, 37 To Go, alongside Daniel Etim-Effiong. The film won her ‘best actress’ and ‘best original music’ and received an honourable mention for her directing at the New York Movie Awards. Her 2022 documentary, I’m Not Fine, has also impacted many young Nigerians with mental health issues. Then earlier this year, she made her feature film writer, director and producer debut on the Africa Magic original film, Now That We Are Married. The film aired on AM Showcase on Sunday, March 5, 2023, at 9:30 pm.

These women, at different levels in their profession, have done and will continue to do excellent work. While Biodun Stephen and Funke Akindele have exceptional careers built on years of hard work, the other ladies have only just begun. They embody what it means to have a strong vision, be hardworking and chase dreams. They are inspirations to younger people and are worthy of celebration!

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Appointment

Mabel Adeteye Becomes Wema Bank’s Head of Brand & Marketing Communications

by Women Times on

Wema Bank has appointed Mabel Adeteye, a consummate corporate communications, and public relations expert as its Head, Brand & Marketing Communications. 

 

She will be responsible for overseeing the marketing communications activities of the financial institution and ensuring that it also actualizes its set objectives. 

 

Prior to her appointment, she was the Head, Corporate Communications, PR & Digital of one of Nigeria’s leading broadcast media firms, TVC Communications; owners of TVC News, TVC, and Max FM. She moved from managing a media brand to a financial institution. 

 

Mabel is a trained corporate communications and public relations expert with over a decade of full-time experience and practice covering various marketing communication in customer relationship marketing, public relations, digital media marketing, brand management, event management and branding, corporate affairs, and brand sustainability.

 

She has developed and managed communications strategies for leading brands in various sectors such as Technology, Aviation, Banking, FMCG, Breweries, Automobile, Telecommunications, and Media, among others. 

 

She is a certified Advanced Branding expert with numerous digital certifications with Google and YouTube. She has also managed brands such as British Airways, Ford Motors, MasterCard, Nokia, Skye Bank (Now Polaris Bank), Unilever, Etisalat (Now 9mobile), Coca-Cola, Intel, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Intel, and among others.

 

She is accredited in public relations with the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) UK, and Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), and accredited in Digital Marketing, Integrated Communications, and Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) UK. 

 

Mabel is an alumnus of the Department of Business Administration of the prestigious Babcock University, Ahmadu Bello University, and the Lagos Business School. 

 

 

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Interview

God Prepared Me to Become First Lady –Ekiti Gov’s Wife, Olayemi Oyebanji

by Women Times on

The First Lady of Ekiti State, Olayemi Oyebanji, who until recently, was a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Education Management at the University of Ibadan, tells ABIODUN NEJO about her relationship with her husband, childhood, background and other issues

Not much was known about you until the emergence of your husband as the governor of Ekiti State. How would you describe your childhood?

My early life was just like that of any typical Ekiti girl, who is nurtured to appreciate the core value of ‘omoluabi’ (responsibility) and uphold those unique attributes that single out an Ekiti person. Those attributes include integrity, honesty and self-esteem. My father, the late Prince Samuel Adedipe, was a Christian, community leader and businessman, who did not only want all his children to live Christian lives, but also imbibe basic moral principles that would distinguish us in society.

Our parents also taught us virtues such as integrity, love and being respectful to elders. Like many parents of his generation, my father believed in education and expected good character from all his children. To a large extent, I think those values have helped me tremendously in my educational pursuit, career and as a wife and mother. As I was grew older, I realised that the state being called ‘the land of honour’ was not accidental. That sobriquet is not just a nomenclature, but the truth. Thus, we (people from Ekiti) have to embody the values that the sobriquet connotes. That way, the outside world won’t only see us as a people from a state called ‘land of honour’; but perceive us as people of honour.

That simple philosophy aptly guided my early life, relationships in the workplace, and shaping me into who I am today.

As a child, did you ever imagine that your life would turn out the way it did?

Yes. I had always loved to become a lawyer, because by nature, I am very expressive, and I’m not easily intimidated. However, at the point of gaining admission into the university, the result of my Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination did not meet the cut-off mark to study Law; and, I was advised to change to another course.

I then had to change to Educational Management. Back then, I thought that when I got to 200 level, I would cross over to Law. But, by the time I got to 200 level, I had fallen in love with the course I was studying. That was how I ended up becoming an educational administrator, with my areas of specialisation being personnel management, quality assurance in education, and leadership in education. I actually did not plan it, but providence led me to it. I eventually bagged a Bachelor, Master’s and doctorate in the field.

Of course, when someone’s academic trajectory is along that line, it is natural for one to head towards being a vocational professional. I ended up being a lecturer; not because that was what I planned to be, but because fate led me in that direction. I never thought of becoming a lecturer, but I later enjoyed it.

Did you ever see yourself becoming the First Lady of Ekiti State?

It never crossed my mind that my husband would one day contemplate seeking an elective post. As a child, I had an indifferent view about politics. That was, perhaps because I was already aware of what was happening around me during the 1983 (political) crisis in the old Ondo State, when there was a lot of violence which led to the loss of lives and property. Ekiti was still part of Ondo State then. The fallout from that singular crisis created fear (of politics) in many children of our generation, and I tried as much as possible not to be attracted to politics.

It will also interest you to know that subconsciously, one of the first questions I asked my husband when we were dating was whether he would one day go into politics. His answer was diplomatic, but I followed it up by boxing him into a corner to promise me he would never go into politics. Aside from the experience of 1983, the fact that my husband had his first and second degrees in Political Science also spurred my curiosity (about his interest in politics).

Did he make the promise at that time?

(Laughs) As a lover boy then, who was determined to sweep me off my feet, he made the promise to me. You will agree with me that the question became necessary then because of my level of understanding of life, and how God works in our lives. Also, he made the promise because he was ready to do everything I wanted to win my heart. The rest is history.

What was your reaction when he told you he would be contesting the governorship position in Ekiti State?

Between the time I asked him not to contemplate going into politics and the time he eventually chose to aspire (for public office), my scope had widened, and my experience about life had changed.

Above all, I am a born-again Christian, and God had given me many signs that my husband was being prepared to fulfill destiny in the public service. When God sends His own on a mission, He empowers the person for the work ahead. My husband was a university lecturer, who later had a stint in the banking industry, before the present Minister of Industry and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo, invited him to serve in his government as the first elected governor of Ekiti State between 1999 and 2003. He (my husband) served in three capacities— personal assistant, special adviser and later Chief of Staff.

In 2014, the immediate past governor of the state, Kayode Fayemi, again invited him to become a commissioner, and he also served that government in three capacities, including being the Secretary to State Government. Unknown to both of us but clear to God, he was being prepared (for a higher office). As a result of all these, when God showed me the sign that he would become the governor, I was helpless. I had no option but to support him spiritually, emotionally and morally. We thank God it ended in praise.

How did you feel when the other governorship aspirants in his party, the All Progressives Congress, kicked against his emergence as the party’s candidate?

Naturally, when one is in such situation, one would definitely be concerned. However, I was not in any way demoralised.

In the first place, politics is dynamic and complex. As a result of its complexity and competitive nature, it is expected that there would be disagreements, reconciliation and power sharing. Having spent years as a political spectator, I was experienced enough to know how the APC settled rancour (within its ranks). I was, therefore, not surprised that everything was later resolved, and all parties involved worked for my husband’s emergence as governor.

Coming to the second leg of your question that my faith must have been shaken at that time; that’s to the extreme. As a born-again Christian, my faith in God is ever strong. From day one, my belief was that if it was God’s will that my husband would be governor, nothing would change it.

Now that he is governor, what are your fears, especially looking at the humongous tasks before him, such as the state of Ekiti roads, uncompleted projects, workers and pensioners’ arrears, and other expectations of the people, in view of the limited resources accruing to the state from both the federation account and internally generated revenue?

I don’t have any fear. I know that since it is the will of God for him to emerge as the governor, he would be empowered to do the job. For instance, despite the lean resources and other challenges you made reference to, the people of the state can bear witness to the fact that in the last 100 days, Governor Oyebanji has embarked on rehabilitation of roads, paying monthly salaries to workers, among other activities. However, I may not be able to dwell so much on issues relating to many of these issues because they are not within my purview.

As the first lady of the state, how do you intend to complement the efforts of your husband in impacting the lives of Ekiti people?

Again, God has prepared me for the office and He guided my ways to actualise whatever I plan to do as the first lady. My primary area of focus is to champion the cause of women and children, especially widows and orphans.

However, that does not mean I will close my eyes to issues that concern every Ekiti citizen and resident. To raise the bar, I believe that my upbringing (experience) as a girl who attended public schools all through my educational pursuits will come in handy when it comes to tackling some of the challenges that could come with occupying such office.

I am not just a university lecturer; I have expertise in areas such as institutional administration, higher education, quality assurance in education and human resource development, and leadership in education. Besides, I have undertaken research works, either singlehandedly or with other scholars in many relevant fields that will help me address issues concerning education in Ekiti, especially that of the girl-child. For instance, I have in my library, literary works bordering on work-life balance, and teachers’ job satisfaction in Lagos State secondary schools. I also have materials on sex education and moral decadence among senior secondary students in public schools in Ibadan. This is in addition to works on the funding of higher education in Nigeria beyond the monthly government subvention. All these research findings will, of course, help in my area of focus as the state’s first lady.

 

 

 

 

 

Credit: The Punch

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Award

Tems Emerges First Nigerian Female Singer to Win Grammy

by Women Times on

Nigerian artist, Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems,has emerged the first Nigerian female singer to win Grammy Awards..

The 27-year-old artiste won her first grammy for her part in Future’s hit single ‘Wait For U’ under the award category for ‘Best Melodic Rap performance’ at the 65th grammy award which was held on Sunday at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

Premium Times report that Tems’ is also the first non-mixed Nigerian female musician to win the prestigious award.

Sade Adu, who won the Grammy for ‘Best new artist’ in 1986, and Cynthia Erivo, who bagged ‘Best theatre Album’ in 2017, were British Nigerians

The Afrobeats singer has added this to her list of accomplishments following her Africa Future awards win and her Oscar nomination.

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Three Crowns Mum of the Year: Three Mums Win All-Expense-paid Trip to Dubai

by Women Times on

Three mums have emerged winners of the Three Crowns Mum of the Year, smiling home with an all-expenses paid trip to Dubai.

The Three Crowns Mum of the Year campaign organized by Three Crowns Milk, Nigeria’s heart-friendly dairy brand

The campaign started with a call for members of the public to nominate any mother or mother figure deserving of a much-needed vacation, an all-expense-paid trip to Dubai – an amazing travel destination with exciting attractions.

After weeks of intense and interesting competition, over 300,000 entries were received, screened and narrowed down to the top 6 contestants. These contestants went on to battle for the grand prize of an all-expense-paid trip to Dubai, one year’s supply of Three Crowns milk, and other exciting prizes, courtesy of  Three Crowns milk.

The finale was hosted by the delectable, energetic influencer and host; Bukunmi Adeaga-Ilori, aka Kie-Kie, and judged by Public Health Professional and Nutrition Specialist, Jamila Lawal; award-winning actor and host; Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman; multi-award-winning weight loss expert, Adedamola Ladejobi (AskDamz); and fitness expert, Seyi Olusore (Shedams). It was indeed a beautiful event with celebrities, top government officials and other stakeholders in attendance.

The top 6 contestants were judged based on set criteria, including fitness, smartness, dance moves, and the number of votes by the audience. At the end of the day, Mrs. Joy Obieze won 1st place, followed by Mrs. Ivbade Odigie and Mrs. Oluchukwu Rose Igwe, who clinched the 2nd and 3rd spots respectively, winning an all-expense-paid trip for themselves and two family members to Dubai as well as one year’s supply of Three Crowns milk.

Clinching the 4th, 5th and 6th positions are Mrs. Jane Francis, Mrs. Elizabeth Olanrewaju and Mrs. Blessing Caleb, winning N500,000, N400,000 and N300,000 respectively, and a year’s supply of Three Crowns milk.

For the first time, the Three Crowns Mum of the Year competition recognized and also rewarded an outstanding retailer mum, Mrs. Abiodun Abolade Sodiq, with an all-expense-paid trip to Dubai and one year’s supply of Three Crowns milk.

One of the winners, Mrs. Joy Obiese thanked Three Crowns Milk for being genuinely intentional about caring for mums.

In her words, “I feel so elated and very grateful to Three Crowns milk for making this a reality for me. Motherhood is very interesting and rewarding with Three Crowns milk”.

According to Chris Wulff-Caesar, Marketing Director, FrieslandCampina Sub-Sahara Africa Cluster, “Motherhood can be a thankless job and even when mothers are appreciated, one can never repay them for all they do. Their enormous sacrifices, sometimes to their detriment, put an emotional and physical burden on them. This is the reason we created the Mum of the year campaign to show appreciation for mothers or mother figures and give them their well-deserved rest and pampering.

The Marketing Manager of Three Crowns milk, Gloria Jacobs, noted that Three Crowns milk remains positioned to care for mums because if mums take care of themselves, they can in turn care for the rest of their families. Three Crowns milk will continue to show care to mothers while acknowledging the important role they play in the family.

“We appreciate every family who participated and contributed significantly to the successful execution of Three Crowns Mum of the Year 2022. We congratulate the winning mums. We look forward to another exciting edition later this year,” Jacobs added.

The Three Crowns Mum of the Year campaign debuted in 2015 with Olamide Olaleye as the winner. Nkechi Brayila won in 2016 and Oluwakemi Longe in 2017.

In commemoration of its 30th anniversary in 2018, Three Crowns raised the bar by awarding the grand prize to three winners: Jennifer OtoGod, Pauline Pambolo Daniel, and Adaobi Okonkwo. They were each rewarded with an all-expense-paid vacation to Dubai with two members of their families and a year’s supply of Three Crowns milk.

Three Crowns milk was established in 1988 to provide Nigerians with quality nourishment with great taste, creaminess, and low cholesterol, making it Nigeria’s heart-friendly milk. It has delivered on this promise consistently as it continues to offer low-cholesterol nourishment to millions of Nigerian homes.

It is also enriched with essential vitamins and minerals required for mums to keep fit and live healthy lifestyles.

 

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