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...NOT IN THISDAY STYLE? THEN YOU’RE NOT IN STYLE
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& RE A SO
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SUNDAY, September 18, 2016
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Cover Photos by TY Bello
Content
Society
Fashion
Suprise Birthday Party for
Evelyn Okunbo @ 60
Pg 8&9
Wapic Insurance partnered
to Premiere 93 Days Movie
Pg 10 & 11
Pg 4 & 5
You Be the Judge
The Handbag Guide
Your Personal Wealth
7th series of Business Day
Inspiring Woman
Pg 6
Pg 18
All FLAREd UP!
Pg 19
Five Minutes with
Bisola Dejonwo-Tokan
Pg 20
US-born Nigerian Jidenna Theodore Mobisson has the world of
music raving about him at the moment. Not only is the stylish
31-year-old’s debut album, Long Live The Chief, expected to
surpass the phenomenal success of his award-winning single
Classic Man, his recent tour in Lagos, Enugu and South Africa
suggests a budding love affair with his African roots music wise.
During his visit, he caught up with Konye Chelsea Nwabogor
and they talked about his early influences, ‘‘Classic man’’, Janelle
Monae and Jollof rice!
Thisday Style
Fashion Director/Executive Editor
Ruth Osime
08111847085
Editor Print: Olufunke Babs-Kufeji
08111847086
Editor Digital: konye Nwabogor
08111847087
Style CORRESPONDENT MOJIsola ALLEN
08116759745
Style CORRESPONDENT Ayodeji Rotinwa
08116706878
Style CORRESPONDENT Safina Mohammed
08052552552
Graphics/Prod. Alexander Oviazee
08111813064
Graphics/Prod. Adegboye Oluwaseyi
Contributors
edirin Okumagba
RUKY SALAKO
YEMISI DADA SERIKI
Juliet Alu
Photographers
TY Bello
Reze Bonna
Yetunde Ayeni-Babaeko
DIRECTOR, PRINT PRODuction. CHUKS ONWUDINJO
STYLE CRUSH
Pg 21
BEST BEAUTY BUY
Pg 22
It is not everyday we get to celebrate one of our own on the global platform.
And when there is cause to, we embrace the opportunity to do so with so much
gusto! Our cover subject in this edition is Jidenna Theodore Mobisson simply
called Jidenna. His song, Classic Man, was nominated for Best Rap/Song
Collaboration at the 58th Grammy Awards. He also received an award for
Best New Artist at the 2015 Soul Train Music Award. This is by no means a
small feat. From his interview, it is clear that this young lad has an old soul
which I found rather intriguing. This just goes to show that when you have
a dream, and are blessed with the talent to pursue it, it also pays to have
some depth of wisdom within to guide you in your chosen path. I pray that
with such success at an early age like his, he will be wise enough to maintain
his relevance whilst managing to find a balance between what stardom
provides and the perils that can also come with it. Most artists tend to fall under
the sometimes, negative influence of the superficiality of success and thereby, often
derail from their dreams and lose the plot after a few short years. Talent then becomes a
far second to the fast-paced lifestyle. But fortunately, others have stayed focused and are soaring even
higher regardless of such distractions. And although many parents prefer their kids to pursue more conventional
careers that they understandably feel would provide better security for their future, the truth is, times have changed.
So many other more exciting sectors have opened up and though these terrains are far from the conventional path,
they have grown big enough for the younger generation to erk a living from comfortably. And like with every other
profession, success is a slippery slope. While others are blessed with divine fate and sometimes, luck, others have
to work twice as hard to rise above mediocrity. So parents should try and support their children’s dreams but more
importantly, ensure they have the security of sound education so that if all else fails, at least they have that to fall back
on. There is nothing like too much knowledge when it comes to academics. In fact, empowered with that armour
also plays a role on how well these youths can better manage the business
aspects of their careers.
Once again, let’s continue to celebrate and encourage our youths as they
blaze the global stage with their uniqueness and distinctive Nigerian flavour.
Fashion Director/Executive Editor
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Kelechi Amadi-Obi
Adeola
Akinrinmade
Aderonke
Fadahunsi
Some Cast crew of 93 Days: Megege Love, Zara Udofia-Ejoh, Osegba Cokerson, Tina Mba & Francis Onwochei
Sade Tunde-Phillips
Tolu Majekodunmi
Wapic Insurance partnered to
Premiere 93 Days Movie
Debola Williams
By Mojisola Allen
Abieyuwa, Fatima & Onyeka
Barnabas Olise, Ifeyinwa Osime & Bode Ojeniyi
EUNICE EFOLE
VICTY HELDAN
PATience UDE-UMAnta, UDY UMondak & ALERO EDU
BENSON ONUWAJE
JUNIE BELLO
MAuREEN REECE
AISHA IMAM
TINU NUNU
MARY GARIEL
A penultimate weekend was full of spice as Wapic Insurance Plc, a leading
West African multi-line insurance company providing solutions covering
life, general and special risks hosted its members of staff and prospective
clients to view the screening of the 93 DAYS movie. The movie is a
countdown official certified repertoire given to Nigeria by the World Health
Organisation (WHO) to note how the country was free of the Ebola virus
brought into the country by a Liberian diplomat. Wapic Insurance Plc is
part of the teeming sponsors who made the filming of the 93 DAYS movie
a success. The evergreen evening also featured some cast crew alongside
some Wapic officials at the Genesis Deluxe Cinema in Lekki, Lagos. The
leading insurance company was established in 1958 and listed on the
Nigerian Stock Exchange since 1978 and it’s mission is to transform into
a diversified financial services institution, delivering value in a sustainable
manner to her customers and stakeholders while playing a lead
role in the transformation of the industry.
Yinka Adekoya
GLADYS LASILA
BRIDGET IYASErE, Deborah Benjamin & Biodun Sanni
CELEBRANT with CHILDREN CUTTING BIRTHDAY CAKE
IKENNA & JENIFER UKWA
ADESUA OKUNBO & NICK RHODES
Suprise Birthday
Party for
Evelyn Okunbo
@ 60
By Ko n y e C h e l s e a N wa b o g o r
Recently, Princess Evelyn Okunbo was
treated to a surprise birthday dinner,
hosted by her four children at the
Red restaurant in Eko Hotel & Suites in
Lagos. The event which was to mark
the celebrant’s 60th birthday was well
attended by the celebrant’s dearest
friends and family and chaired by her
older brother; Mr Sunny Asemota and
his lovely wife Ireti Asemota. It was a
night of thanksgiving, and her children
each took time out to express their
appreciation and love for their mother.
Many of the attendees also took turns to
say kind words about the celebrant and
their experiences with her.
6
the CELEBRANT,
EVELYN OKUNBO
SUNNY
ASEMOTA
IRETI ASEMOTA & IVIE EJIWUNMI
KEMI ASEMOTA
GLADys
Ndubuisi
KANU
TENIdade AOFIYEbi &
DEWUNMI AYANBULE
SANDRA Aguebor
JOYce TAYLOR & MOPE ROSIJI
OSAhon OKUNBO
OLABODE ISIJOLA
PHILLIP ISAKPA
MAYMUNAH KADIRI
YEMISI RANSOME-KUTI
INI ABIMBOLA
AISHA COKER
IZEGBUWA ADEROGBA
FOLASHADE ODUSANYA
ZAINAB SHINKAFI BAGUDU,
FIRST LADY of KEBBI STATE
KEMI AJUMOBI
7th series of Business
Day Inspiring Woman
By Ko n y e C h e l s e a N wa b o g o r
Recently Kemi Ajimobi , played host to special guests at the
7th series of the Business Day Inspiring Woman. The event
which was held at Oriental hotel Lagos was tagged “Gender
Matters Arising”, and it saw several gender advocates
highlight contemporary issues militating against the
craving for gender parity, representation and role playing.
The Business Day Inspiring Woman is an annual event
which is an offshoot of her enlightening column “Inspiring
Woman” which features in the BusinessDay, showcasing
activities and profiles of women who have played positive
roles, affected others positively and contributed to the
development of women in Nigeria.
OLAJUMOKE ODUWOLE & JOE ODUMAKIN
OLUFEMI KAYODE & AISHAHA AHMAD
THISDAY Style
Vol. 21, No. 7816 Sunday, September 18, 2016
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STYLE
THISDAY Style
Vol. 21, No. 7816 Sunday, September 18, 2016
& DESIGN
BY Funke Ba
THISDAY Style
Vol. 21, No. 7816 Sunday, September 18, 2016
STYLE
& DESIGN
The Nutrition
Do’s and Don’ts
of Getting a Six
Pack That Lasts!
bs-Kufe ji
Konye Chelsea Nwabogor
Babafunke Babs-Kufeji
A lot of people ignore that half the work of getting you into the shape of your life, is now how
much iron you pump at the stomach but quite
simply, what you put into your stomach. Here’s
a guide to make sure you are not working out
in circles with no results to show…
Do: Keep ingredients simple
and prepare meals in batches so
you can assemble them easily
each evening. Keep to organic
or free-range if possible.
Do: Alternate proteins
throughout the day: red meat,
fish, chicken etc.
Don’t: Replace food with
protein shakes. They will never
give you the results you get
from eating good, healthy
meals.
Do: Weigh carbs before
cooking and protein after
(protein shrinks when cooked
so allow for this when weighing
your portions).
Do: Make friends with your local butcher and fishmonger or if
you don’t do the shopping yourself, make sure whoever does,
does this. Let them know you’ll expect good rates - you will be
visiting them often.
Do: Eat at the same time every day. Consistency is key.
Sample: breakfast at 7.30am and 10.30am, had lunch at 1pm,
ate again at 4pm and 7pm, and had dinner at 9.30pm.
Do: Drink water. Lots of water. At least four litres a day.
Don’t: Stress. It produces a hormone called cortisol. This
reduces testosterone levels, which makes it harder to gain
muscle and can even reverse the gains you have made.
Bidemi
Zakariyau
Benita
Shuluwa
BISOLA BORHA
RUKY SANDA
SARAH OFILI
Do: Sleep at least seven hours a night. This is the second most
important thing - after diet - to make gains. Sleep is when
your body produces human growth hormone and you will be
much bigger after a work-out if it’s followed by a good night’s
sleep.
Do: Buy yourself some good digital scales and lots of food
containers. 750ml are the perfect size.
Don’t: Beat yourself up if you miss a meal or a session. Just
refocus and move on.
FUNKE Babs-Kufeji: I absolutely
love the dress but I think it’s just a little
too small for Sarah because you can
see a few bulges here and there which
could have been avoided with the
right undergarments but still looks
good. 7/10
KONYE NWABOGOR: Managing to
dodge being labelled as tacky due to
the tight and short fit of the dress, trust
Sarah to pull off this sultry look with so
much style. 6/10
8
FUNKE Babs-Kufeji: I do
love this this three quarter length
body con dress and its bang on
trend hanging on her shoulders. I
would have loved if she had been
a little more coordinating with her
accessories and shoes but her nice
soft make up, her pony tail and with a
body made for the dress she pulls off
the look somewhat effortlessly. 8/10
KONYE NWABOGOR: This is proof
that you don’t have to flash oodles of
skin to turn heads on the red carpet.
7/10
FUNKE Babs-Kufeji: It’s
very important to wear the right
underwear when wearing bodycon
dresses and it evident here that
this dress could have fitted way
better if she had the right ones on.
Nonetheless she looks well put
together and her mega watts smile
completes her look. 6/10
KONYE NWABOGOR: She would
have looked just as chic off the red
carpet as she does on it with this
dress if only she had remembered
to wear her Spanx. Brownie points
for efforts made . 5/10
FUNKE Babs-Kufeji: Bidemi
in this cold shoulder bodycon
dress is a sight to behold. She looks
effortlessly classy and stunning and
her minimal accessories makes
sure you keep your eyes glued to
her hourglass figure. 9/10
KONYE NWABOGOR: Letting
a statement dress speak for itself
is a definite do . Love, love , love .
10/10
FUNKE Babs-Kufeji: I totally
love the colour orange on Bisola, it
complements her skin tone nicely and
the dress is a perfect fit. Her hair nicely
pulled up off her shoulder is a good idea
because it gives you a good view of her
dress, also I like how she has matched her
bag and shoes to the black lines on her
dress, simply beautiful. 8/10
FUNKE Babs-Kufeji:
Monochrome is always a good idea.
Ruky Sanda is matchy matchy from
head to and I love it. 8/10
Do: Remember lots of small changes to your lifestyle will
result in one huge one. Only you will know what they should
be. It can include switching off your phone Friday evenings so
you are not tempted to go drink.
Don’t: Give up.
KONYE NWABOGOR: This dress
could have been made for Rukky.
Beautiful! I love that she didn’t play it
safe with her heels, either. 8/10
KONYE NWABOGOR: This bright
coloured cold shoulder dress is the cool
girl’s alternative to the slinky LBD. Perfect
way to turn a few heads . 7/10
9
STYLE
THISDAY Style
Vol. 21, No. 7816 Sunday, September 18, 2016
& DESIGN
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INSTAGRAM
GIVEAWAY
This week we are giving
away a sumptuous leather
handbag from of-theinstant handbag
label Florian London.
The versatile hand
painted Vienna
tote is just the right
size to carry all your
everyday essentials,
and has a classic tophandle style, as well as a
longer strap for extra versatility.
The bag retails for N270, 000 and comes courtesy
of the Polo Avenue, a multi brand luxury retailer
located at Victoria Island Lagos.
Head over to your Instagram app and follow
@duchesskaykay and @thisdaystyle for
more details.
Pic- Florian London tote bag
Price- N270, 000
Cross body bags
If keeping your hands free
and your belongings secure
is important to you, you’re
probably a cross-body bag
girl. Perfect if you’re on
the go, this handbag style
can go from day to night,
depending on the size.
by Konye Chelsea Nwabogor
It’s hard not to crave a new handbag every now and again, but finding the right one is a surprisingly
personal and often difficult task. There’s much to consider: your bag should fit your lifestyle, your
sense of style, and of course, there’s the budget to consider. From totes to clutches, consider this your
education for when you inevitably embark on a hunt for the perfect bag for you.
The Hobo
Queen of the shoulder bags, this
characteristically slouchy handbag is one of
the most popular shapes. Known for their
aesthetically pleasing and easy-to-tow crescent
shape, hobo handbags are perfect for an
everyday wear.
Anita rajis
The Satchel
The satchel is defined by
its structured shape and
made from leather or
other durable, canvas-like
fabrics. This boxy unisex
bag eventually reached
cult status amongst the
trendy young fashion
lovers after 2008 and can
still be found in every style
lover’s repertoire.
Favor
Dakore Akande
Idia Aisien
Chika Nwankwa
Tote
Top Handle satchel
The most ladylike of all bags, it’s also
quite versatile, given the different
carrying options. It’s a great choice
for the girl who doesn’t have time to
change her bag often, as it seamlessly
transitions from day to night and
work week to weekend.
Day Bag
Temi Doll Face
This is the bag you need to take with you to work. Buy
a large one if you have to carry tablets and laptops and
files and papers. Buy a medium-sized one if you’ve got
your basic cell, makeup, magazine stash, etc. Get it in
classic colors and you’ll never have to worry your bag
doesn’t match your look.
The tote is the best
option if you like to throw
everything in your bag and
go. This style is also ideal for
travelling, as it will fit your
electronics, magazines,
cardigan—you name it!
Clutch
If you only need a few essential
items to get you through your
day, we recommend a clutch.
Didi
THISDAY Style
Vol. 21, No. 7816 Sunday, September 18, 2016
THISDAY Style
Vol. 21, No. 7816 Sunday, September 18, 2016
COVER
THISDAY Style
Vol. 21, No. 7816 Sunday, September 18, 2016
THISDAY Style
Vol. 21, No. 7816 Sunday, September 18, 2016
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US-born Nigerian Jidenna Theodore Mobisson has the world of music raving
about him at the moment. Not only is the stylish 31-year-old’s debut album,
Long Live The Chief, expected to surpass the phenomenal success of his awardwinning single Classic Man, his recent tour in Lagos, Enugu and South Africa suggests a budding love affair with his African roots music wise. During his visit, he caught up with Konye Chelsea Nwabogor and they talked
about his early influences, ‘‘Classic man’’, Janelle Monae and Jollof rice!
Styled By – Yummie Ogbebor
Outfits from – Kamsin TCharles and Bosi & Charles
Cover Photos: TY Bello
14
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COVER
How did growing up in a Nigerian household
influence you as a person?
Growing up in a Nigerian household shaped
my entire experience and perspective on life. First
of all, education has always been at the forefront
of my life. Academic excellence is at the core of
nearly every single Nigerian household especially
when you grow up in a place like Enugu, which
is heralded for its scholarship and innovation.
Nigerians are also some of the most hospitable
people on the earth. I learned how to emcee
shows from watching my parents host guests at
our house. Finally, I believe that our greatest asset
as a country is not our oil but our work force. We
know how to hustle and be extremely persistent
and resourceful. I would not be successful if I
wasn’t raised with a Nigerian work ethic.
Did the rap career initially go down well
with your parents?
Of course not. My father was not excited
about my rap career initially. He continually tried
to veer me into the path of Engineering. Once
he realized that I was serious about pursuing a
career in music, he changed his attitude. Instead
of pushing me away from it, he encouraged me
to be an innovator in how I designed my lyrics,
music production, and visual style. He taught me
to approach music as he approached computer
science: as an engineer and an inventor who is
designing a masterpiece for the world. My mother
was always supportive, but she was worried that
I would be a starving artist all my life. She was
actually the person that bought me my first music
production software. She always made sure that
I had the tools I needed to experiment with my
interests as a child.
Did you ever doubt yourself?
Of course. I still doubt myself even nowadays.
Sometimes I feel on top of the world; other times,
I feel like the world is on top of me. The fear of
failure is a natural feeling that comes with the
territory. My faith in a higher purpose is what
has kept me motivated. I have a very clear vision
for who I am and who I want to be. Even with
faith and vision, however, you need a team that
believes in you so they can carry you through the
times when you can’t carry yourself.
Were you ready for the success of Classic
Man?
I believed that Classic Man would be as big as
it would be. My whole team believed it too. It’s
amazing how you can manifest your destiny with
the right focus and execution. The year before
Classic Man was released, we literally wrote down
what we wanted to do with only one song in the
marketplace (such as work with Kendrick Lamar
and Stromae specifically, perform and dine in the
White House, begin promo of the album in Africa,
etc.) and it all happened.
When did you first look in the mirror and
think, “Christ, I’m famous”?
When I started to travel through airports or
walk around the neighborhood and I couldn’t
travel 10 feet without someone asking for a
picture. These were moments when I realized I
was gaining notoriety, but the moment that I fully
understood that I was a “celebrity” was when I saw
The Game dressed as me for Halloween!
Which of your works has meant the most to
you, either for its personal significance or
the impact on your career?
THISDAY Style
Vol. 21, No. 7816 Sunday, September 18, 2016
The promo tour that I just completed was a
historic occasion. I’m the first U.S.-based recording
artist to ever begin an album promo tour in
Africa. Although I would have loved to spend
more time in Nigeria and South Africa and to
visit other countries in Africa, I was proud of my
team for executing our vision. Lagos, Enugu, and
Johannesburg showed me an abundance of love.
In true Nigerian hospitality, we were given a royal
welcome. The trip was more than we could have
ever imagined. I want to thank L.A. Reid, Sylvia
Rhone, and Epic Records/Sony Music for making
this dream come true alongside my team from
Fear & Fancy and Wondaland Records.
How has the diverse musical influences
you’ve experienced from artists like Janelle
Monae impacted how you approach music?
Janelle Monae has paved a way for me to
embrace my eccentricities. I’m not an artist who
tries to make the same song 14 times on an
album. My life experiences and emotions are way
too diverse to do that. She has pushed me to be
myself at all costs.
How would you define the power of music
and what is the message you aim to impart
through yours?
Music is the most powerful art form in my
opinion. It’s invisible, so it’s clearly a divine
medium. I approach music in a very sacred fashion.
I know that it is a gift from the higher powers that
reshapes cultures around the world so I proceed
with care. My aim is to create more harmony
between people around the world. Music is often
composed of harmonies, which occur when two
or more notes are played or sung at the same time.
The magic of music is that with all the notes that
are played at the same time, somehow, a beautiful
moment occurs that stirs the soul and moves
the mind and body. I believe that as the world
becomes smaller and more like a village, we will
need to live in true harmony or humans will never
survive.
What is your view on the Nigerian music
scene today?
I love the Nigerian music scene right now. It’s
a historic moment. I have been talking frequently
with the artists that I believe are building a bridge
between Nigeria, the African continent at large,
and the rest of the world. We have finally found
a fusion of sounds that blends our influences,
I have been talking
frequently with the artists
that I believe are building a
bridge between Nigeria, the
African continent at large,
and the rest of the world. We
have finally found a fusion
of sounds that blends our
influences, both local and
foreign, into a sound that is
still distinctly Nigerian.
THISDAY Style
Vol. 21, No. 7816 Sunday, September 18, 2016
COVER
both local and foreign, into a sound that is still
distinctly Nigerian.
Who is your favourite indigenous Nigerian
artiste? And why do you like his/her
sound?
I don’t have one single favourite Nigerian
artist. I just love artists that are bringing the
Afrobeats sound to the world.
Do we hope to hear of a collabo soon? And
who do you have in mind?
I have already collaborated with a couple of
Afrobeats artists and producers that are based
in Lagos and London. It’s just a matter of time
before we release something.
Kanye West recently said that he now
spends “80 per cent of his time on fashion,
20 per cent on music”. Are you branching
out, too seeing that you obviously have a
flair for fashion?
I am focused on music right now. After my
album is released, I will definitely look more
closely into fashion.
What is the weirdest fan experience
you’ve ever had?
There was a guy who was talking to me in a
public washroom while I was literally urinating.
He was going on and on about how he was my
biggest fan and he wanted to take a picture.
That’s just not the time to be asking for a
picture.
Are you dating at the moment?
I’m married to my career for the moment. I
would love to date, but I haven’t found time. I’m
hoping that next time I come to Nigeria, I’ll build
some time in the schedule for dating.
Would you rather a Nigerian woman to a
foreigner?
I’ve dated both Nigerian women and foreign
women. At the end of the day it’s about my
connection and chemistry with that woman.
However, regardless of her nationality, I don’t
think I could be with any women who did not
know how to run a business and cook jollof rice.
Is it easy to spot the difference between
wife material and groupies?
Extremely easy. The women I usually go for
are usually behind the eager groupies after the
show. They don’t have to try to scream or wave
down my attention. They never ask for a picture
and usually just want a conversation. Just by
the way they carry themselves when they walk
in the room, I know that we are in need of a
moment.
To someone who’s never heard your music
before, how would you describe what you
bring musically and what your sound and
style is?
I refer to my music as Swank, but when I was
writing and composing the album with my
production partner Nana Kwabena, I shared this
sentence with him: “I want the album to feel
like a sacred, romantic magic carpet ride that is
driven by the African James Bond and powered
by Tesla Motors.”
Where do you see the Jidenna brand in the
next 5 years ?
Everywhere.
Your Personal Wealth
LifeSTYLE
Watcher
Dear
of
with Ononuju Irukwu
WHEN THAT PLAN GOES
ALL WRONG
TONYE COLE
Times…
What are
you sowing?
H
urrying out of the lounge,
I heard my name called by
a distinctly familiar voice
belonging to an old friend
I hadn’t seen in a while. As
we bantered and caught up with each
other’s travails in the recent past, he told
of a conversation he’d had a few days
earlier. Upon informing the caller he was
in London, he was asked if he had gone to
inspect and secure his shop there. Confused
and unsure of what was going on, especially
as he was not in the market for any shops,
he didn’t know what response to give and
so his caller went on to elaborate.
“Have you not been to Edgware Rd and
seen all the shops and cafes there?” he
asked. “They are owned by Lebanese, Syrians
and Iraqis immigrants. All former millionaires
and billionaires who lost their fortune
because of troubles in their homelands.
An ailing economy, persecution, civil strife
and wars drove them all out to become
shop owners in London.” he said. “You had
better secure a shop quickly as very soon
we will have erstwhile Nigerian millionaires
and billionaires selling suya in London” he
concluded. The joke was on me and after a
hearty laugh, we went our separate ways.
The Almighty is a God of order who set
in place a law of harvest which invariably
brings to bear a reaping in multiple folds of
whatsoever is sown. Later on, as we settled
into our cruising altitude, that conversation
played back in my head as I reflected
upon the underlying truth inherent in not
learning from the experience of others. Truly
nations who have not made peace with her
citizens and have permitted the destruction
of their social, moral and economic fabric
are paying a steep price for it. The inordinate
celebration of the travails of its citizens, rich
or poor, in any society invariably leads to a
reaping of hardship for all. The time is now
to sow the seeds of peace to reap its fruits
of righteousness and prosperity in our land.
Are you a peacemaker?
May God gives us the grace to love one
another.
“You have to understand that when things
go wrong in your life, it doesn’t mean you
need to quit. It means you need to get
stronger and change your plan.”
I
n every plan, strategy document or venture, there is
an element of risk. The risk of failure.
Plans can and do fail, supposed sure bankers turn
out to be an error of judgement or a decision based
on very faulty and inaccurate information. Market
situations may change without notice and you are left
with a huge loss or worse, your business totally wiped
out. What do you do when your plans seem to have
fallen through and failure is a reality staring at you?
Let’s first look at the reasons why a plan can go wrong.
1. Inadequate Information: This is the biggest cause
of failure. Starting a venture with only half the story. You
heard someone opened a shop and is totaling sales of
500k every week and you jump into the business without
asking what the associated costs are. OR you hear one
company paid a huge dividend last year and your friend
encourages you to purchase the shares and sell in two
months not taking into consideration the underlying
financials of the company and your own financial needs
at the time. Three months down the line, the share price
has plummeted and your 500k is now 285k...
2. Poor decision making skills: A lack of exposure to
situations will limit you in decision making. Reading,
sharing experiences and listening to experienced
people will always help to broaden your perspective.
Furthermore, you get better at making decisions, by
making decisions!
3. Lack of experience/ sense of discernment: Starting
a venture /investment without studying those who has
done it before or learning the ropes of the venture. This is
tied to poor decision making skills.
4. Lack of preparedness: Most of us are guilty of this
as we take for granted our residual knowledge of certain
areas and thus fail to prepare adequately.
5. Failing health /Sickness- No one I have spoken
with in the last five years has ever shown me a plan
that includes an ‘in case I fall ill buffer’. Our expectation
is always of robust health and strength to do the things
we like and enjoy no matter the age. The reality is that
your lifestyle could change in the event of a debilitating
illness. Not only does the illness rob you of strength and
workable hours, it reduces your earning potential and
drains your life savings
6. Job Loss- With the economic changes worldwide,
losing a job can happen to anyone. It could be due to
a cost cutting drive by your firm, a merger or just plain
winding down of a whole business unit.
7. Death- when a parent, benefactor or spouse passes
away, there is an almost immediate change in financial
circumstances.
8. Separation/Divorce: The failure and break up of
a marriage is a major cause of financial stress as plans
prepared based on two incomes will have to be revised.
9. Single Parenting: Whether a deliberate choice or
unplanned, single parenthood has its own challenges
that can put a strain on financial goals.
10. Carelessness and slothfulness: This is typified
by a failure to pay attention to details and a general
sluggishness in attending to and making decisions
More often than not, our emotions get amplified
when there is a failed plan. We feel anger, betrayal,
self-pity, denial, shock, social withdrawal and finally
depression. These emotions further drive home the
– Keke Palmer
sense of hopelessness and futility associated with bad
plans.
Is the failure of a plan, a business venture, a marriage
or an investment insurmountable? What can you
do when all your financial plans come to absolutely
nothing or when you put all of your savings in a project
or investment and it goes horribly wrong? I would like
to share some of my thoughts and some insights I have
done on dealing with failed plans:
• First of all, review your original plan and check for
lapses or errors of judgement that can be corrected.
Sometimes we call this a plan B but the truth is you
should always have a worst and best case scenario for
every investment and a tipping point at which you exit
or invest more. Go back to the plan and review critically.
• Following from this is a preparedness to take action
immediately you notice a downward trend or change
in your projections. For example: If you have an equity
portfolio and you read market news that suggest a down
turn in the market, immediately advise your broker to
sell down the portfolio and move into a fixed income
or money market product until the market stabilizes or
rebounds. Delaying action could cost you some of your
investment.
• This ensures you reduce the impact of the losses you
will incur in the long run. Another example is if you start
a business and after three or more years, you are unable
to reach breakeven point. Be sure to review the business
model, the internal processes, customer acquisition and
complaint resolution process. Where there is an obvious
error, be sure to take immediate action.
• For investments, speak to your financial advisor
or personal banker to explore other asset classes or
investment instruments that you can switch to.
• Make every effort to keep your emotions out of
investment decisions especially at this point. You must
be ready to take swift and decisive action no matter how
painful it is.
• Where you are in debt, reach out to your creditors
and restructure the loans. Make sure you commit to a
regular repayment no matter how small.
• Change your execution style. If you relied solely on
word of mouth, did absolutely no research or reading on
your own before making decisions, then consider doing
the opposite (and vice versa if all you did was read and
research without talking to people to get a human angle)
• Learn from your mistakes. Be it a failed relationship
or a failed business venture, learn from the mistakes you
made and take steps to ensure you do not repeat them
(within reason)
• Draw up a new plan putting into effect all the lessons
you have learned from the past mistakes.
• Finally, ensure you build in a review step in your plans.
It could be monthly, bi- monthly or quarterly. Having a set
review period keeps you proactive as you can interpret
early warning signs and take remedial action.
Ononuju Irukwu is the Managing Director, Chapel Hill
Denham Management Limited and the Chief Promoter,
Women’s Investment Fund, an investment vehicle for
women and Nigeria’s first gender mutual fund. She can be
reached via email to ononujui@yahoo.com and twitter @
ononujui
THISDAY Style
Vol. 21, No. 7816 Sunday, September 18, 2016
STYLE
& DESIGN
All FLAREd UP!
BY Juliet Alu
Peplums are usually linked to being the bottom flared part of various
tops in all shapes and sizes but sometimes, they spring out in dresses
too. And when this happens, the look goes a few notches higher than
their expected slots in the style stakes and these two damsels have
proven that right with their ‘flared bits’. What is also interesting is
proof that no matter what size or shape you are, if used right, the
peplum part can be a delight to watch on the wearer. A touch of ‘flare’
any time any day is sex appeal at your fingertips!
5 Ways To Make
Your BLACK DRESS
Standout!
Black
You may find this quite obvious but
there are some girls out there who think
charcoal, dark grey, grey, white with
a tint of black all qualify, but they
don’t. Make sure your dress is
stone cold black. You don’t
want to fall into the fiasco of
“is it black and blue or white and
gold” type of situation.
Modest
Remember why you are buying this dress. It
is not for a night out on the club when you want to
almost bare it all. It is for the formal and close-to-formal
occasions that a black dress would be needed. If you can
find the perfect combination of funeral and wedding
you’re getting close.
Able To Be Dressed Up Or
Down
You should be able to pair this dress with heels, flats, a
statement necklace or a simple gold bracelet. This should
not be an ensemble that has its very own shoes, hair-do,
jewelry collection and makeup look. It should be able to
pull of any fancy or modest look that you want to pair
with it.
Comfortable
Believe me if it’s not comfortable you are not going to
wear it. Don’t try to lie to yourself and say you’re going to
wear it because it is so cute. No! Picture yourself standing
in front of your closet looking for something to wear, an
uncomfortable dress is never the one you jump to.
Taje Prest
Timeless
Your LBD should be a staple piece that is in style no
matter the year or the style trends of the season. Do not
buy the black dress that is different but “so in style this
season”, because guess what, come next season you
wouldn’t be caught dead wearing it. So don’t buy it.
Picture yourself in five years, can it still be worn? Will is still
be in style? If your answer is Yes, then grab it!
Bolanle
Olukanni
THISDAY Style
Vol. 21, No. 7816 Sunday, September 18, 2016
LifeSTYLE
minutes with
11 12 1
2
10
9
3
4
8
7 6
5
Bisola
Dejonwo-Tokan
Everyone loves a good food festival: eating too much, trying new things, talking to people who make a living
producing things you’ve never heard of, and generally just having a good time. If you know anything about food
festivals (or even if you don’t) you’ll know that the king of the festivals is the TASTE OFF LAGOS FOOD FESTIVAL:
a glorious over-indulgence festival held in Lagos annually in October and everyone wolfs down the latest food
trends! We look forward to it with the same excitement as a child waiting for Christmas. However, we all know
that it’s a small dedicated team that brings such festivals to live. Funke Babs-Kugfeji caught up with Bisola
Dejonwo-Tokan, who is the mastermind behind the event, to talk about the journey thus far.
What is the inspiration behind the Taste Off
Lagos Food festival?
My love for food was a major influence and also the
fact that it was a new concept in Lagos and Nigeria as
a whole, this made it more exciting to explore the
possibilities.
Food was never the highlight of events four
years ago when we started. Nigeria is blessed
as a whole with a rich cultural heritage
and food plays a major role in our society,
defining who we are as a people and why
not a food festival to export and educate
people about our rich foods’ cultural
heritage. Also, exploring the international
food scene here in Nigeria to sensitize
people of the variety of foods available in
the country.
at it, this year is a win- win situation for anyone who
gets involved. We are also working on a partnership for
this year’s event to make it a mega food festival.
What were and some of the challenges
you faced bringing to life and
organizing such an event?
Sponsorship! At the time I started, everyone
said food was not a thing that an organization
would consider sponsoring, in fact no one saw the
potentials. For them it was either Fashion, Music or
Sports. Also in the area of participation, established
restaurants would not even give us a listening ear.
But I was determined and decided to bare the cost
for the initial start up and thus carved a niche for
ourselves in SME development as small businesses
patronized us.
So far what has been the biggest
success with your festival? What are
you most proud of?
Faith in the growth of the event and a
good Support system. Miss. Safiat, Mr. Taofick,
TheSocialyte PR, BDX and I have worked tirelessly
to ensure the success of each and every event,
without all their support I would not have been
able to get were I am today with the food festival.
With so many food festivals popping up in
Lagos and Nigeria what makes your food
festival different from others?
My food festival was the first ever before
anyone else even thought that food events
could be a success in Nigeria. So the
originality sets us miles apart from others.
We have a larger audience and it’s one
event per year so people don’t get bored.
All vendors in the past can testify to sales
and patronage even after the event.
Generally it has been positive response
since we kicked off in 2012.
How do you measure success? By profit
earned? Cultural impact? Sheer popularity?
Cultural Impact and sheer popularity, the fact that
people recognize the brand and want to associate
with it is a huge success to me.
Over the years the Taste Off Food Festival
keeps getting bigger and last year was a
huge success what do you think was the
biggest contributing factor to this?
People can now see the vision and the potential of
a Food Festival. It has become a cliché where people
can hang out with family and friends at a reasonable
cost and have a good time.
What should we expect from this year’s
festival?
A bigger and better organized food festival. A wider
selection of food vendors showcasing both local and
international cuisine which would be on display for
tasting and sales. Also this year we anticipate a bigger
audience and an unavoidable involvement of the
international community.
What are the benefits for food vendors who
sign up to be a part of this year’s festival?
Better visibility, 100% sales with maximum profit
because our booths are affordable. They will have
a wider audience to cater to which will give them
accessibility to a larger clientele to grow their
businesses. Its also a great launch pad for new
products or existing products. Whichever way you look
How can people be a part of the festival this year?
You can contact us on via email info@tasteoffng.
com Or you can register via our website at
ww.tasteoffng.com or call us on 070082783633.
Do you attend any other food festivals in a
professional or personal capacity?
Personal capacity, I have been to different food
festivals around the world and I see the huge growth
potentials. So we will continue to be consistent in what
we do and be original.
Currently we have a database
of over 200 food vendors in
Lagos state and most of whom
we have a relationship with
and we plan to expand this
database across Nigeria.
What do you see in the festival’s future? Can
you see it expanding even further?
We plan to have a Taste Off Food Festival in Major
cities around Nigeria.
The festival is also evolving to be a Food Festival
Brand where we partner with state governments or
other events i.e food, cultural, sports etc.
These events do not necessarily want to handle the
food festival aspect of their event. Currently we have a
database of over 200 food vendors in Lagos state and
most of whom we have a relationship with and we
plan to expand this database across Nigeria.
THISDAY Style
Vol. 21, No. 7816 Sunday, September 18, 2016
STYLE
STYLE CRUSH
& DESIGN
Noble Igwe
BY FUNKE BABS-KUFEJI
Taking it to the men today, our
style crush of this week is the dapper Noble Igwe. One of Nigeria’s
best-dressed men and the Editorin-Chief of Style Vitae. Noble is one
fashion influencer who has put his
stamp on modern day style fora
street savvy man in love with fashion. He is a fearless front-runner
and isn’t one to care about the
opinions of others, which is why he
is this week’s Style Crush. Check
out his style in pictures.
Take it from us Noble never
compromises when it comes to
fashion, be it sartorial look or a
traditional look, this stylish dude
knows how to make anything
look damn good. Did I hear you
say YAAASSS to this look?!
I’m sure by now you will all
have noticed Noble’s love for
sunnies with coloured lenses
but lest we digress, he looks
every bit a gentleman in this
one button checkered suit.
Excuse me sir!
I know this look
might not be
everyone’s cup of
tea, but he sure
rocks this outfit
with confidence
and I love love
love his white
and brown
brougues.
Not one to conform to the usual t-shirt and
jeans look, Noble puts a spin on it by putting
a kimono kente jacket over his tee and
wearing a traditional cap and retro sunnies
to give a cool kid vibe to his casual look.
On the streets of New
York city, Noble rocks
a blue overcoat on
a grey turtle neck
shirt and army green
pants. He finishes off
the look with bright
yellow sneakers and
for someone who
has so many colours
on at the same time,
the look does comes
together nicely.
White is so clean and
fresh when you wear it
right. Here Noble spots
a white and blue striped
shirt on white pants
with brown slippers.
This look is definitely so
fresh and clean.
THISDAY Style
Vol. 21, No. 7816 Sunday, September 18, 2016
BEST
BEAUTY
BUY
BY MOJI ALLEN
Browse the best makeup
products on the market from
the top brands in the beauty
game.This is more than just a
list but a manual to revamp
your makeup routine. From
expert-approved concealer,
foundation, blush, powder
and more from designer
brands like M.A.C and Nars, as
well as affordable drugstore
finds, here are some of our
beauty editor’s pick for the
week, these pro-picks will earn
your die-hard devotion.
MAKEUP BY FLAWLESSFACES BY JANE
M.A.C PRO LONGWEAR
CONCEALER
A lightweight fluid concealer that
provides medium to full coverage
with a comfortable, natural matte
finish. Colour-true formula lasts
up to 15 hours. Helps conceal
and correct the look of under-eye
circles, and discolourations. Comes
in a clear glass vial with a matte
black pump.
MAC PREP + PRIME
NATURAL RADIANCE
Formulated for oily and combination
skin, delivers weightless hydration for
a radiant, healthy look. The silky gel
emulsion acts as a primer, improving
the appearance of foundation and
powder. The translucent formula
smoothes on easily, featuring
illuminating pearl powders that
transform dullness into a healthy,
natural glow.
M.A.C STUDIO
WATERWEIGHT SPF30
Ultra fluid formulation, elegantly
thin, elastic gel serum texture.
Stay-true colour, sheer medium
buildable coverage, blurs
imperfections such as fine lines &
wrinkles, moisture fusion complex
for immediate & all day hydration,
soft, supple, silky finish.
M.A.C POWDER BLUSH
BURNT PEPPER
NARS LARGER THAN LIFE
LONG-WEAR EYELINER
M.A.C BLOT PRESSED POWDER
NARS HIGHLIGTHING BLUSH
POWDER
Burnt Pepper is described as
Warm Rich Terracotta with
matte finish. Burnt pepper
as the description says is
rusty reddish peachy brown
shade with warm tones to
it, absolutely fabulous to
look at and as it is matte it
is great for all skin types. It is
super soft and gorgeously pigmented.
A unique pressed powder designed primarily
to provide shine control without adding any
noticeable colour or texture. Sets
foundation, finishes faces.
For use in professional
situations and for frequent
touch-ups. Blot Powder
contains Mica and
Silica to adsorb excess
oils and reduce shine
on the skin’s surface.
NARS Larger Than Life Long-Wear
Eyeliner takes liner to the next
level. Rich, creamy colour that
glides on smoothly with a
completely budgeproof finish.
Incomparable 12-hour wear
with no smearing and no
caking.
This truly versatile highlighting product may be
worn on its own or layered over other colour
products for added
highlight and dimension.
The soft shimmering
colour will add instant
radiance to any
complexion, and may
be used on the face and
body.
NIVEA MEN POSTSHAVE BALM
M.A.C LIPSTICK TWIG
Twig is a brown-nude colour
with a semi matte finish. This has
been rated a must have lipstick!
Yes, it work so well as a primer! It contains
Glycerine as one of the main ingredients. It is very
lightweight so perfect as a primer as
it doesn’t leave the skin packed with
products. It is also colourless so
great for any skin tone. It also has
very good anti aging ingredient
which is all we want, evens out skin
well so it hydrate patches and help
temporarily fill in fine lines.