SHEHIVE LAGOS ROCKED THE LADIES - by Pat Obilor

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/shehive-lagos-rocked-ladies-pat-obilor-pat-obilor?published=t

There is no such thing as over ambition. Your vision, dreams, goals, purpose, career, interest etc are all legit and it is not too late to start, so don’t limit yourself. This and more were the things I learnt after spending my weekend with these beautiful ladies doing Africa and the world proud with their giant women networking initiatives @afuaosei and @JasmineOsagie , founders of @sheleadsafrica . These are beautiful ladies who are rocking the world with their women empowerment and networking innovations? These days, I am beginning to enjoy the sublime feeling of spending my time with purpose driven women who understands that there is more to life…  

Nigeria’s Jasmine Osagie and Ghana’s Afua Osei are two humble and beautiful ladies living in the mantra of Myles Munroe’s quote: “Your purpose is not in marriage, it’s in you”, they know that it is profitable to build up oneself for the society and for their partners and they have through the @sheleadsafrica initiative preached the concept of the importance of making money and making impact simultaneously in all their networking / business ventures.

Over the weekend, the 5days long #SheHiveLagos event which boasts of a parade of teachings, mentoring, networking and fun between young entrepreneurial minded ladies and speakers who passionately shared their all came to a grand slide with the presence of powerful women personalities who spoke on the need to make money and make impact, how to raise funds for your goals, and growing your dreams one step at a time.

One of the speakers, Bunmi Lawson, the MD of Accion Micro finance bank who is said to have been instrumental to the successful growth of the company in over a decade said: ”The reason why I am against poverty is because i can’t stand it” and that informs the reason she has so much drive to help others through the microfinance loan schemes. She spoke extensively about loving what you do and being good at it, to her, having the right supporters click or people who believe in your vision is key. You must maintain good relationships with people because it is people who build the business.

On business growth, she said, your vision and a good foundation will translate to growth if you don’t compromise it. Have good mentors, build partnerships, leverage on social media and get the technical ‘know how’ for your business, you have to make a list of the top 10 organs that must always work in your business, what is the brain, heart and lungs that defines your startup? Identify and master them well, and don’t forget to create a legacy in the lives of people.

Another beautiful lady in the cosmetics beauty industry and founder of Olori cosmetics, Toyin Odunlade also enlightened the #Shehive participants when she stated that “ as a startup, you must get up and set up relationships for your brand, ensure your products don’t get out of stock, be humble, tenacious and persistent and always build your brand awareness daily in all the available social platforms” she also hinted on the need to be more detailed in business ventures such as having  a lawyer, knowing  your market reach, working out your product pricing  and getting feedbacks from people.”

Meanwhile, the chairman of Lafarge Africa, Mrs Peju Awobajo who spoke on the need to be well equipped with the right people and experience before you start your business said: “It’s okay to keep working while you are working on goals, but have a positive attitude in such that your colleagues can recommended well in the future”. She said good education, integrity of character and relationship management is paramount because education gets you to the door, but experience and character keeps you there. On purpose, she said: “life is best understood when you look back to know how far you have come, it is never too late to start anything, all you need to do is take a mental photograph of where you are now and where you wish to be in next five years then create that future one step at a time.”

On the question of funding, the two women, MD of Aciion bank and MD of Larfarge Africa seems to have same ideologies about approach to raising funds when they said: the first source of your capital is not in the bank or in your friends, it’s with you, to start a new venture, it is pertinent to sow your seed capital and throw your passion into it because your capital is like your blood flow. What that does to you is to reignite your spirit when you are on the verge of giving up,  because it reminds you of why you started in the first place”- Bunmi Lawson, MD Accion

Another way to raise funds for your business is to come up with a killer business plan and share it with family and friends, angel investors and network with others as well, also make use of your social media contacts by asking them to partner with you or becoming one of your board of directors. When you do all that, your business would gradually grow to a stage where you can now approach banks and other wealth sources- Peju Adebajo, MD Lafarge Africa

Finally, the event ended with the #ShoptheHive, a free for all open shops where everyone traded their products and services. By the way, I had a very delicious cake and I also picked a nice casual evening dress, but while leaving the venue, there was a word used by one of the speakers which resonated in my mind as I found my way home “Don’t be afraid to think big, let your dreams scare then get to work”- Toyin Odunlade, founder Olori Cosmetics

There is an ongoing revolution towards global empowerment for women, Africa is up to this call and She leads Africa amongst other women enriching organization are growth platforms where African girls turn to great women and emerge as Mogulettes in their chosen fields.

Will you continue to brood over your dreams or go to that boring job you wish to quit? Or would you rather join hundreds of amazingly beautiful ladies doing their bits to become the next motherland moguls? The next #Shehive is going to Joburg in South Africa… Join the train!

@cnn @cnbcafrica @forbesafrica  @olorisupergal @genevievemagazine @womenworking @pulseng @standoutwithpat @wfm @twmagazine @mogulettesmag @wimbiz @awief @leapafrica @faithfoundation @africanwomenhonors @amazingamazonsinitiatives  @women4africa #Sheleadsafrica #SheHiveworldwide #Ladieswhorock #Womenofpurpose #MotherlandMoguls #MogulettesAfrica #womensupportingwomen #Wedothisforourgirls

THE INSIDER SUPPORTS #WOMENARISING EVENT

Hello great women, Its 4 days to the #WomenArising networking event. This is to introduce some of our media partners.

The Insider is a new and exciting media channel guaranteed to captivate the interest of readers who are passionate about business, personality development, lifestyle, events and more. One of our key objective is to captivate the mind of young readers who aim to be pioneers, professionals, experts and entrepreneurs in their various fields; with this in mind, we are constantly excited in engaging and working with young ‘trendy’ minds. Check them out on www.theinsiderng.com for latest news and interesting updates. #Africanwomenhonorsisland #Supportourwomen

AFRICAN WOMEN HONORS NETWORKS

What do we do when #Africanwomen make us proud, we simply celebrate them as we count down to...

#WomenArising2016

Theme: The need for Women empowerment in our society.

Come Shop, Network and be empowered.
Date: 24th Sept 2016
Venue: 33A Oyibo Adjarho Street Lekki Phase 1
Time: 12 pm
Goodie bags for 1st 20 ladies
For Vendor stands and Sponsorship : 0809 400 8492 , 0706 653 0131, 0705 632 2464
Powered by African Women Honors & Empowerment Island Chapter

ABOUT US
The Black Women Awards & Empowerment is a global initiative to celebrate, showcase and empower women in several cities worldwide. An opportunity to celebrate our stories, our journey and our future. Black women and all women of African descent are more than what is commonly portrayed, so it's important to ensure we come together and highlight how far we have come and how far we hope to go, leaving a legacy for generations to come.

Our Vision
That women of African descent have the same opportunities, respect and protection as any other race or gender
Our Mission
To unite and empower women of African descent and to promote policies focused on eradicating barriers.

#AWHElsland #womenarising #sisterhood #womensday #MogulettesofAfrica #letsdothisforourwomenanddaughters #Womensupportingwome

Domestic Violence: Amazing Amazon Initiative Presents ‘Lagos And The Woman’ Conference

The spate of domestic violence reported (as thousands would go unreported) since the beginning of the year has been alarming. There has been a prevalence of spousal abuse and violence resulting in some women being badly maimed while others lost their lives. Everyday we wake up to terrifying headlines that leaves you not only gob smacked but completely distraught and agitated.
In view of this, The AMAZING AMAZON INITIATIVE a support group for women from all walks of life living in different countries across the world, dedicated to their empowerment, enhancement, uplifting, personal growth and development, is putting together a conference to educate women on domestic abuse, its signs, causes and help available.
The conference is themed “LAGOS AND THE WOMAN”. In Partnership with the Lagos State Ministry Of Women Affairs, the programme will educate women on the provisions of the law in Lagos State for the victim of domestic violence and sexual abuse.
“We would also hear from women who are survivors of domestic abuse and how they rose above their situation'” said Mercy Makinde, founder of Amazing Amazon Initiative and the convener of the conference.
“Other issues affecting women who are resident in Lagos that would make them well-rounded individuals, help them live a fulfilled life and compete favorably with their contemporaries in other parts of the world would also be discussed,” Makinde added.
The Commissioner of Women Affairs Lagos State, Honorable Lola Akande will be delivering the Keynote Address. Other Speakers include Nigeria’s foremost advocate against domestic violence, Mrs. Josephine Effah of Project Alert, Mrs Ini Onuk, the Founder/Group CEO, Thistle Group – a leadership, change management, projects and innovations management icon.
Omotola Jalade Ekeinde one of Nigeria’s foremost Actor; exemplary wife and mother will be also be one of the speakers at the conference amongst other notable women leaders and captains of industry.
The date for the event is Saturday, September 24, 2016 and will be held at Best Western Hotel, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Lagos And The Woman Conference is proudly supported by Helping Hands International, Unity Bank, Beko Electronics and of course the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs.

Media Partners are Guardian Woman, Nigerian Women Diary and Iaspire Radio.

Story by: Ayobami Ladipowww.porscheclassy.com

Mogulette in Media : CNBC Africa's Didi Akinyelure wins BBC Komla Dumor Award

Didi AKinyelure

I met Didi in February 2016 when i had the opportunity to be a production intern with CNBC West Africa for 6months. Didi is a loving personality, outgoing, friendly and passionate about what she does on and off air and she makes you settle in.  One thing i admire about Didi is her childlike nature and the way she presents her shows. I once told her "Didi you make broadcasting easy and fun". Business shows sometimes could be very boring but when Didi is on air, you don't remember boredom! she has the fire, the beauty and the brains to be all she can be...No holds barred Didi, God bless you and keep flying...

my #Mediamogulette, #WomeninJournalism #Africanwomenontherise #Standoutpersonoftheweek #MogulettesinMedia

The rise of Mogulettes in Politics - by Pat Obilor

The ideal woman every society needs is a woman who is not afraid to lead, work, to excel, to love, to laugh, to cry and to dance and those are the qualities of a Mogulette woman. You will agree with me that we are in a time when women are coming out to be more than housewives or just exist. In 2015, it was reported that: We are currently living under a record-high number of simultaneous female world leaders. For several years now, the stable status quo has been around 20 female world leaders at any given time. For much of 2014, the number was 22, a record high.” - Rulers.org
 

It is also true that the current on-going global female empowerment trend has inspired women to become business moguls who thrive in both their careers and their homes. No doubt, the innovative leadership and the entrepreneurial strength of the 21^st century women in politics have continued to rise and has motivated a lot of the womenfolk to rise up against many favourable and unfavourable backdrops they had been exposed to; this of course is a passion that have developed from the share passion to speak up and stand up for other women, who probably cannot speak for themselves.

In politics or cooperate service, for every woman aspirant the world has recorded, there is always an innate passion for service, families and for her nation.  We find such qualities in many women leaders of the world from time past down to the current rise of Theresa May, British prime minister and Hilary Clinton, the first female democratic candidate for President of the United States in the 2016 election.

So far, Hilary has held on to her faith in channelling the path of women politics in this era of gender wars, her testament in this political race is the strength of every ambitious woman out there who needs to win. For Theresa May, her assumption of office as British prime minister is what i will describe as a case of when: “opportunity meets with preparation” the Britain referendum to exit the EU and the resignation of David Cameron was strategic in speeding up the process of another woman’s dream to lead her country in solving the economic and social issues that arose as a result of the Brexit outcome.

British political Mogulette, Theresa May just like Hilary had always wanted to become the first British prime minister, she is said to also possess a steady and serious leadership qualities that has made her a role model for aspiring female MPs and she once told prospective candidates before the 2015 election that "there is always a seat out there with your name on it". Now she has a seat which she had always nursed in her heart as one of her university friend once said about her on BBC: “I cannot remember a time when she did not have political ambitions. She did want to become the first woman prime minister and she was quite irritated when Margaret Thatcher got there first”- Pat Frankland. 

Furthermore, in the cause of this whole global women activity in governance, America and Britain seems to be the two major continent of the world that has channelled the cause for women in global politics and since both nations have a huge influence in major parts of the Africa continent and if Nigeria is still the giant of Africa, then I foresee this women political revolution in Nigeria too.

Let’s cast our minds back to the 2015 election, and let’s capture a Nigerian woman who has such ambition as Hilary and Theresa, Remi Sonaiya, I do not know her personally but I met her through her manifesto of what she hopes to achieve for Nigeria and how she captured the situation of the Nigerian youth in her book, ”Daybreak Nigeria” where she said: “A Nigerian nation where every single citizen truly belongs; where no individual suffers avoidable exclusion; where the common good is pursued by all; where the citizens live dignified lives in a clean, orderly and safe environment, not subjected to needless deprivation due to the actions or inactions of their leaders I envision a Nigeria where all the available resources, both human and natural, work to enhance the international standing of the country and cause the African to walk tall on the global scene.”

For the Nigerian youths, she said: “You could have had a better life growing up, but we completely impoverished your parents.  Your dad was laid off when production almost ground to a complete halt at the factory where he worked because there was no electricity to keep the machines running. He lost his job, and you lost your dad.  Because he could not find another job he began drinking and staying out late.  One day he simply disappeared, and the next thing you knew his corpse was brought home for burial. At such a tender age you had to start hawking bread in the mornings before you left for school and as soon as you got back.  You had no time to play anymore. I apologize.” - Sonaiya

Again, Sonaiya has displayed the true essence of being a mother in the face of domestic and societal upheaval. With this development, and with a clear cut honour for African women and the residual respect for our menfolk, it is almost certain that Remi Sonaiya is more than ready to do it again in 2019, not because of suiting her feminine ego but to deploy the multitasking spirit of a woman’s strength in taking our nation to places we only see in the history of political manifestos.  Are we going to permit Remi  Sonaiya or other aspiring women in politics to come back again and answer the question of proper leadership from the womanist angle, the purpose of education, human development, youth inclusion and the communal creativity our nation has been trying to attain?

Conclusively, the dogged passion of Hilary Clinton’s 2016 presidential ambition and the preparedness of Theresa May’s recent role as British prime minister is a vivid proof of women going beyond campaign talks to actual actions and  the world needs to probably  envisage more the from womenfolk.  Now that, Theresa May is the new prime minister in Britain, if Hilary Clinton hopefully becomes American president come November 2016, and in 2019, Nigeria as the giant of Africa produces the first female president, then the top world leaders will be women.  If you can’t remember all I have said, don’t forget to use this caption- Mogulettes in political leadership…Britain is on course, Americans decide, will Nigerians beckon for a female president in 2019? www.standoutwithpat.tv/mogulettes-mag

Investment Guide for Nigeria’s Q3 – Pat Obilor

Nigeria has yet again seen one of its toughest moments as the year 2016 has been a most controversial and challenging financial year for its economy which came first with the new change in governance and various structural financial policies etc. Despite the fact that Nigeria is growing at a GDP of 2% and giving the challenging business environment that we are in and the decline in the three consumer confidence indicators from the previous quarter, Global Investment report has confirmed that People generally tend to save more in an economic downturn owing to uncertainty about the future of the economy.

Speaking about the attitudes of Nigerians to spending in these economic times, Nigerians continue to be some of the most optimistic consumers on the continent, that's according to Nielsen's West Africa Managing Director, Lampe Omoyele who joined CNBC Africa to discuss consumer spending in Nigeria. “I think it’s going to be with cautious optimism because of the slowdown in the Macro economy of the country, also a certain measure of uncertainty, there has been a rising inflation.”-Omoyele.
With the understanding that things gets worse before it gets better and the general notion that recession always usher in a new boom in the economy at the end, it is therefore advised to make positive moves in investing wisely now to things that will yield profitably on the longrun. Thus, there are yearnings at this time from investors who wish to know investment secrets that propels long-term returns on their investments. As Nigerians take initiatives to invest in various products and services in some major sectors, others are looking at are bank shares and equities market, Agriculture and daily products.
Meanwhile, Michael Oyebola, a wealth management expert eased the air when he shared insight on how to manage and invest ones finance in this competitive and uncertain times, he told CNBC that: “Wealth management is not just about investing, it is a process and you look at your investment portfolio, protection and insurance, and investment components which includes fixed income securities, cash, real estate protection, equities investment, sometimes you buy gold or arts, arts is for the professionals though, you also look ahead towards retirement because you are not going to be young forever, so you need to have a retirement plan and put money away”- Oyebola .
In the same vein, Tosin Osunkoya, Head, Trading, Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria says: “you need to preserve your wealth, save more and invest wisely, take less financial risk especially in an environment that is uncertain; people have lost confidence in the financial market, the best thing to do is to keep your money in cash. You can also invest in treasury bills, it is less risky and one of the ways to find high returns on investments”-Osunkoya.
In the midst of all these challenges and with a high record of inflation figures, a weaker naira and fuel shortages, it is almost impossible not to invest but let us all remember to save for the rainy day knowing that tough times don’t last but tough people do. With a positive and savvy attitude, we can face the Q3 and expect a friendly economic outcome for Nigerians
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