THEWILL DOWNTOWN MAY 16 EDITION

VOL 1 NO.14 • MAY 16 – MAY 22, 2021

FASHION

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VOL 1 NO.14 • MAY 16 – MAY 22, 2021

EDITOR’S NOTE

Photo: @HairByUgo

CONTENTS

T

he month of May is said to be filled with hope and energy.

If there’s any truth to that, I cannot say, but personally, I’m clinging to any crumbs of positivity because one really cannot afford to dwell in the dark.

8-10 COVER STORY:

Chike Ogeah : Setting The Marriott Standard In Nigeria’s Hospitality Industry

Our Cover personality Chike Ogeah is leading the charge to upgrade the hospitality space with the introduction of The Marriott’s first ever SubSaharan Africa hotel. This is great news for Nigerians as more jobs will be created, new skill sets will be learned and an even higher standard of doing things is incorporated.

Speaking of high standards, we explore corals and the symbolism within the traditional space as objects of adornment, while we also examine fashion and style through the sartorial offerings of celebrity pairings. Want to learn how to stay healthy with exercise throughout your pregnancy?

Then checkout out the fitness column with Ihuoma while Uzo’s column with leave you regaling in laughter as she keeps your tummy rumbling with her delicious recipes.

As usual, it’s a great edition and excellent work from the team. Take care and you’ll see us next week.

LATASHA NGWUBE @latashalagos

AUSTYN OGANNAH

PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Editor: Latasha Ngwube Editor-at-Large: Chalya Shagaya Beauty Editor: Onah Nwachukwu @onahgram Contributing Editor: Odun Ogunbiyi @oddbodandthecity Senior Writer: Chisom Njoku @inchisomwetrust Contributing Writer: Boluwatife Adesina @bolugram Uzo Orimalade @uzosfoodlabs House Photographer: Rachel Seidu @rachelseidu Graphics/Layout: Olatunji Samson Digital Media: Oladimeji Balogun Interns: Kehinde Fagbule, Tilewa Kazeem Guest Art Director: Sunny Hughes ‘ SunZA’ www.thewilldowntown.com thewilldowntown thewilldowntown

ODDBOD & THE CITY

Family, Art & Lockdown Isaac Emokpae’s In My Father’s House THE EDIT

Let’s Talk Coral Jewellery FASHION: Is your Couple Style Game this Strong?

WORDS TO EAT BY Rising THE SCENE DOWNTOWN

Accelerate TV’s New Web Series – ‘The Olive’ Premieres

BEAUTY:

Fat-Free Forever!

04 05 6-7 12 13 14-15 PAGE 3

VOL 1 NO.14 • MAY 16 – MAY 22, 2021

ODUN OGUNBIYI

ODDBOD & THE H C CITY TY TY

Family, Art &Lockdown

– Isaac Emokpae’s In My Father’s House

L

ast Saturday afternoon found me adulting hard—I took myself off to check out an art showing from one of my favourites, Isaac Emokpae.

I have said it once and I will say it again: I am positively fascinated by the workings of the creative mind. The ability to innovate, initiate, open hearts and minds to new perspectives and evoke emotion is surely up there with a Marvel superpower.

When I asked Isaac when he knew he was going to be an artist, AKA a superpowered being, he responded, “being a second-generation artist, I would say from day one. My father had a wonderful saying which I reiterate anytime I’m asked, ‘I didn’t choose art; rather, art chose me.’ I had an epiphany at the age of two when I saw my dad sketch something and I realised then and there that this was what I would always be happy doing.”

Anyways, back to me making my way to the new space, Gallery at The Landmark. I had a quick look around and Isaac has put together a powerful, strongly emotive collection for his fourth solo outing. I thought it best in the name of columnist matters to go straight to the source for further information about his work.

Tell us about this collection?

The exhibition is titled In My Father’s House. It’s a collection of 18 mixed media pieces that loosely tell a story of nostalgia for me centred around my memory of God my Father, my earthly father [the] late Chief Erhabor Emokpae, OON, and the highlights of their inspiration in my life.

Why did you create this artwork with these particular media?

a way out of the deluge of sorrow and foreboding that this pandemic brought.

I wanted to fuse the various materials I have been widely associated with. I used oil on canvas, stained plexiglass, aso oke, gilding paint and acrylics in varying quantities. I believe that each piece had to be told in a way that best highlights the subtle nuances that inspired the work.

What is your favourite piece in this collection and why?

Most of us are languishing in this post-lockdown world. How did you find the inspiration to flourish?

This took a while and like so many of us, I had to deal with a surge of negative media, and it was quite hard to channel anything through all the noise of 2020. The solution for me was to look inwards and cast my mind back to a place of joy and safety. The memory of what I truly considered valuable was

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I don’t have an outright favourite.

However, I will pick The Basis of Everything. It is a set of abstract figures that represents a family secluded in unity. This season has shown us the value of the family unit as a vital aspect of hope and stability.

Why did you choose to work with this gallery?

It was kismet. It came as providence and I responded. The Gallery at The Landmark is a brand-new space with a wonderful ethos for what art should be and I’m excited to be associated with them and have their maiden show.

VOL 1 NO.14 • MAY 16 – MAY 22, 2021

THE EDIT BY C H A L’

Let’s Talk Coral Jewellery “The coral has the beauty of the rose, the colour of blood, the clear nature of crystal, the heat of the fire.”

Oba of Benin

C

oral is the external skeleton of a tiny, plant-like marine animal called the coral polyp. The structures that result from generations of these creatures growing as colonies on top of each other can be quite massive. Since time immemorial, coral has been used for carvings, cabochons, and other jewellery pieces.

Coral jewellery has become very much part of Nigerian traditional ensemble, despite corals not being native to us - they aren’t even harvested here. Many people of royal descent, monarchs, and the like adorn corals in various forms. In some parts we find that they are worn stacked around the neck, wrists and even the ankles. Brides on their wedding day also wear them to compliment and accessorize traditional attire.

Harvested coral is usually cut and polished into cabochons, shaped into beads or carved. The part of coral that is used for jewellery is actually not the living organism, but rather its carbonate secretions, which form the structure that the polyps live on, and although it is not the living part of the animal, it is essential for its survival.

Gogo and Ifueko Karibi Whyte

Hundreds of years ago, coral was thought to be a protection against magic spells. These beliefs were especially thought of in regards to children. From Spain to Italy in historical portraits, infants are shown holding coral branches. The Italians have always been known for their exquisite jewellery, and their use of coral is no exception.

Coral growths come in many shapes.

The coral commonly used to make gems is branched and treelike. The largest sections of a coral’s trunk are used for carvings, which can be quite valuable. The determining value factors are the size and colour of the piece as well as the skill of the artist.

Red, pink, orange, and black are among the most sought after colours of coral used in jewellery. These colours are typically found in the Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Hawaii, near the Strait of Gibraltar, at the Cape Verde Islands (located off the coast of West Africa), off the coast of Portugal, and around Japan and Taiwan.

The world’s coral reefs are threatened by pollution, overharvesting, and climate change. Several species of coral have been declared endangered and are now regulated, and more than 180 countries restrict the export of red coral harvested after 1969.

Today, the use of coral in jewellery is controversial. Coral jewellery is still popular, and vintage pieces fetch

astronomical prices at auction.

Coral values are based on hue, saturation, size, cut, and polish.

Top values for calcareous coral go to red, pink, and orange pieces. Other colours are graded separately. Highest values for conchiolin coral go to black, then brown. Gold colour has additional value, especially if it shows a sheen. When polished, the colour may shimmer through a transparent layer.

The Edit by Chal’ Award for Tried and Trusted in Nigeria for Coral Jewellery goes to, The Coral Factory (IG: @ thecoralfactorylagos) for authenticity, integrity and quality.

Anita Paul Okoye in white Coral Head Dress Ooni of ife Oba and Olori Elegushi

Oba of Lagos

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VOL 1 NO.14 • MAY 16 – MAY 22, 2021

FASHION

BY CHISOM NJOKU

Is your

Couple Style Game this Strong?

W

hen celebrities get involved in some capacity, whether as BFFs, romantic partners, or just in some form of situationship, the attention of fans is usually drawn to how good they look together.

Their personal style intersect and in a few cases, you see a burst of colours, carefully curated outfits, and pairings that make you just want to find your significant other and do the damn thing too!

These highlighted celebrity couples or linkups make sure to look their best, presenting a united fashion front that is always camera-ready and Instagram worthy. Below are seven of some of our favourite celebrity duos who have their style game on lock. We challenge you and your better half to rate your style game and draw some inspiration from the pros.

Beyoncé & Jay Z Beyoncé and Jay-Z are arguably one of the most well-known husband-wife duos in the world and other than their amazing music, their style game is another reason they stand out.

From their first official date at Nobu in 2001 to their secret wedding, this couple have been very conscious of their public appearance together due to ever-lingering paparazzi so they stay ready for the cameras at all times.

Wizkid & Naomi Campbell

Michael B Jordan & Lori Harvey Creed actor, Michael B Jordan officially went public with model Lori Harvey, via Instagram.

He posted two grainy photos of the pair on Instagram, one in which they look into each other’s eyes. Ever since the announcement, they have been delivering endless style inspiration and serving looks.

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American supermodel, Naomi Campbell, and Nigeria’s very own Wizkid are very good friends. So much so that their friendship sparked relationship rumors multiple times which they both refuted. They served their fans friendship goals and looks for days.

VOL 1 NO.14 • MAY 16 – MAY 22, 2021

FASHION

Ciara & Russell Wilson Ever since their secret wedding and epic pregnancy announcements, the couple have maintained their love for theatrics and included it in their personal style.

Burna Boy & Stefflon Don

Ciara and Russell own a production company as well as a soccer team called the Seattle Sounders but asides from business, they work well together in other ways.

Although singer Burna Boy’s relationship with Stefflon Don has been at the forefront of a social media storm amid allegations of side chicks, the couple definitely compliments each other well when it comes to style.

They’ve stepped out together several times including the 2019 BET awards and each time it was something different.

2face & Annie Idibia

Tracee Ellis Ross & Anthony Anderson

Fun fact, the pair got engaged on Valentine’s Day and perhaps, it is their intentionality that has landed them on this list (along with admirable personal style of course).

Better known as Bow and Dre Johnson from the hit tv show Blackish, the onscreen pair may be a fictional couple but their amazing onscreen fashion has earned them this spot.

Nigerian actress Annie Idibia and her hubby, musician 2Baba Idibia have a reputation for tastefully coordinated outfits that work well for the both of them. Sometimes simple casual, and other times couture.

In the series, they play upper class African American characters and that allows them to fully explore and experiment with various designer options including Gucci, Versace, and a ton of other brands. However, the tags do not make them stylish as both Tracee and Anthony have amazing style in real life.

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VOL 1 NO.14 • MAY 16 – MAY 22, 2021

COVER

CHIKE OGEAH

Setting The Marriott Standard In Nigeria’s Hospitality Industry Class and luxury living has often been affiliated with Nigerians especially those of a certain tax bracket and that is because of the attention to detail we pay to our comfort. We enjoy being able to recline our seats, kick back, and be catered to.

The Sifax Group through MacFolly Hospitality Ltd has gone above and beyond to ensure that Nigeria’s reputation for luxury living is maintained by erecting the first-ever Marriott hotel in sub-Saharan Africa.

The Lagos Marriott Hotel Ikeja is setting a new standard with this premium business hotel showcasing inspiring and contemporary décor within the capital of Nigeria’s commercial hub, equipped with the same amenities as other Marriott Hotels around the world- this is a true testament to what is achievable in Nigeria.

Chike Ogeah is the man at the forefront of this groundbreaking innovation, he is the managing director of MacFolly Hospitality, a subsidiary of the Sifax Group, and responsible for overseeing the development process of the hotel to this point and beyond while ensuring that the global gold standard of The Marriott is maintained.

He sits down with Downtown’s CHISOM NJOKU to discuss his involvement in this impressive feat, his previous accomplishments, and unfortunate memories of war.

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VOL 1 NO.14 • MAY 16 – MAY 22, 2021

COVER

W

ho is Chike Ogeah?

I’m a relatively young man (I’ll be sixty later in the year), a lawyer by training but I’ve worked extensively in government and governance. I started in 1999 working in the Presidency with Chief Philip Asiodu as a special assistant. I also worked with Charles Soludo who was at the National Planning Commission with me, they were the chief economic adviser to the president at that time then, I became the national coordinator of a program in the National Planning Commission (The S.E.E.D.S program) and thereafter I moved on to aviation and I was appointed the Chief Executive Officer/ Managing Director of Skypower Aviation Handling Company Ltd (SAHCOL) in 2006 during the tenure of Chief Fani Kayode as Minister Of Aviation and by God’s grace we did the most successful privatization program ever and I must commend especially the crop of the Nigerian Airways professionals that helped me to transform and turn around SAHCOL. When I got to the company, it was valued at three hundred million and all the equipment was obsolete but thankfully I got the contract for Arik Air which was responsible for about 80% of the domestic activity in the country (eight out of every 10 takeoffs were Arik Air) at that time. I started rebuilding the company and getting it ready for privatization and after five years, it was valued at 1.2 billion Naira and eventually sold for 5.6 billion through an open auction and arguably the most open privatization ever done in Nigeria.

Where are you from and what was your childhood like?

I’m a true Nigerian because there’s every part of Nigeria in me. My father is from Asaba which is Igbo but I’m from Delta State which is South-South, my mother is from a town called Ogori but she’s from the Yoruba speaking part of the town and that’s in Kogi State which is the North.

I had a very happy childhood, I was the only son and also the last born so I had it all good. I remember when I got into Unilag in 1979/80 at age 19, I went with a

brand new Honda Accord. I basically always had three mothers (my two sisters and my mother) doting over me, my late father was a medical doctor who had his own hospital and my mother was an educationist and businesswoman.

We lived in the Western Region, from Ondo where I was conceived to Ibadan where I was born, also Ilaro and Badagry as my dad was a young medical doctor in the employ of the Old Western Region at the time and was moving on transfer from station to station before we moved to Benin in 1963 with the creation of the Midwest Region.

I started my early school in Emotan Primary School, Benin City in 1964 but spent my early childhood in Asaba and Ibadan where my mother’s parents lived because we actually went into the civil war (Biafra War), my father was very involved in the Biafra struggle and so he took me (5 years), my sisters (6 and 7 years) and my mum in two cars and for thirty months we were running all over Biafra hiding from bombs and attacks.

When the war ended in 1970 we came back first to Asaba and my father tried to resettle while I finished up my primary education in Regina Mundi Primary School, Asaba, and then proceeded to start secondary school at Saint Patrick’s College, Asaba before my sisters and I moved to Ibadan where my maternal grandparents lived. My sisters got into Queens College in Lagos and I got into International School in Ibadan and we tried to make up for time lost during the war.

Can you narrate some of your memories of the war?

I have a vivid memory of the experience, it was very horrible! You could not see a lizard at that time because children playing

outside would dive at it and in no time they’re dissecting and roasting it and that would be the most protein they would get for some time. We were a bit privileged, we stayed with my father’s friend Chief Don Nwosu in Awka then both families fused and we started running together, we always rented houses but there was so much deprivation, hopelessness, and suffering, children with kwashiorkor were everywhere, due to malnutrition children used to just fall down and die, it was terrible.

This experience is why I look at people clamoring for war as just clueless. One of the prayers I say to God is that I cannot see two wars in my lifetime.

How did you get into the hospitality business?

The Chairman had informed me about an audacious project that turned out to be the five-star Marriott hotel which would be the first in Sub-Saharan Africa and he showed me the land on which the edifice is standing now. I remember saying to him “Chairman don’t you have any better way of investing your money?” After I had seen all the work that would have to go into it but my trust in his vision was unwavering. That was how we started seven years ago and we’ll be officially opening the

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VOL 1 NO.14 • MAY 16 – MAY 22, 2021

COVER We have brought elements of The Marriott from all over the world and set up the first five-star premium classic brand of The Marriott hotel in Sub-Saharan Africa. “ shipping, aviation, oil & gas, financial services (they own banks across West Africa), real estate, haulage and now we’ve gone into hospitality.

gates in about one week.

Kindly break down the partnership you currently have with The Marriot?

The Marriot is a global premium classic brand of hotels and what we’ve done is as a company from the Sifax Group, we have built a first-class property on which the hotel is currently situated on.

We could’ve built the property and called it Sifax hotel but we built it in conjunction from scratch with The Marriott hotel so we can conform with all their high standard and values because they have an ethic and operate at a very high level. If you don’t have the finances to deliver on that kind of promise, they won’t give you their brand or go into partnership with you.

I am the managing director of the company that owns the hotel and we have brought elements of The Marriott from all over the world and set up the first five-star premium classic brand of The Marriott hotel in Sub-Saharan Africa.

We brought in professional staff from around the world, some of whom have been with The Marriot all their life and they’re here to ensure that the standard remains the same across board.

How did a degree in law and psychology prepare you for your current position?

I originally wanted to study law but due to the high cut-off marks, I studied psychology as my first degree but I always knew I would still study law.

The combination of law and psychology was very helpful to me especially during the period I used to go to court, albeit shortlived. My background in psychology helped me to carefully analyze the facts when they were presented to me and it helped me see the gaps in people’s stories.

What is an average day for you like?

I’m winding down now because I’m not that much of a young man anymore. Because of this massive 45 billion naira investment (The Marriott), it is my duty and work schedule to wake up every day from Monday to Sunday and go to the hotel and make sure that everything is working optimally.

What is your grand vision for the Marriott brand in Nigeria?

The grand vision has been accomplished as we’ve given Nigerians and Africans a five-star Marriott hotel and the idea is that people should come and enjoy it for us to deliver on the brand promise and prove that Nigerians can pull off audacious projects. There are loyalty programs and services in place to ensure that every visit is worth it.

What motivated this huge investment in the hospitality sector?

I would like to commend the courage and nationalism of our group chairman and executive vice-chairman Dr. Taiwo Afolabi.

He is the one that birthed this vision because he’s always seeking to do great things. The Sifax Group has extensive interests in

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Was the positioning of the hotel on the mainland (Ikeja GRA) strategic or coincidental?

It was very intentional to situate the hotel in Ikeja GRA. The whole idea was to enable us to marry aviation and hospitality. When travelers arrive in a new country or city, the next thing they do is go to their hotel so we wanted to create a nexus using the airport as a hub to connect aviation and hospitality.

In our company, we handle a lot of international airlines and they have ten to fifteen members of the cabin crew including the pilot who would occasionally need accommodation during stopovers so we have a dedicated crew lounge which isn’t common in hotels.

Maybe later on when our return on investment on this has been guaranteed, we can think of putting another Marriott on the island if there’s a need for it.

What sets The Marriott apart from other hotels?

Without trying to put any other brand down, The Marriott is a cut above the rest.

A lot of painstaking effort was put in to ensure that we deliver on the premium service the hotel is synonymous with.

In regards to fine dining, we have an array of restaurants ranging from Japanese, Northern Indian, Chinese, continental meals, traditional Nigerian meals, we have outdoor dining as well and even at the pool terrace (which is like the deck of a ship) where the pool is, we have all sorts of grills and bars and these are amenities that aren’t in regular hotels.

On the fifth floor, we have specialized executive suites for special customers who want additional comfort. We have two vice-presidential suites and a presidential suite that is absolutely beautiful. We have two underground

floors for parking that can take almost four hundred cars, a ballroom that can seat about one thousand two hundred people. We’ve essentially built a smart hotel in 2021 so you’re rest assured of the best.

You’re a maverick in your industry, what advice do you have for someone looking to get started on their journey?

The most important thing is your God, you need to have a relationship with God and be aware of your own calling, discover those talents that have been deposited in you, and build on those things you do effortlessly but handle so well.

I remember a conversation I had with an old friend of mine Jay-Jay Okocha, he was narrating how he used to get beat up by his mother as a child for playing football and staying out late but as an adult, he started playing football professionally and making a lot of money. That’s the definition of finding yourself, doing what you love, and getting rewarded for it.

You need to find what your passion is and then key into it so you can impart lives positively and whatever is presented to you, do it diligently and bigger things will come. I know Nigeria hasn’t been kind to the youth and honestly, this isn’t the Nigeria I grew up in but I implore young people to keep hope alive and live a life with structure.

You’re obviously a religious person, how does your faith steer you?

My faith steers me because I fear God. Every morning I’m aware of everything happening around me and I fear God. I would never do to anyone what I don’t want to be done to me and that’s what regulates my relationship with people as I go along.

I try my best to read my bible and keep God’s sacrosanct rules but being a human being I fall short every day so I go on my knees and beg for forgiveness.

Tell us about your family, do you have any children?

I met my wife while in university and we dated for ten years then got married, we’ve been blessed with three children.

Are they in the same industry as you?

No, my first and only daughter is thirty-one and she’s a chemical engineer with Exxon Mobil, my two sons are twenty-nine and twentyseven, the older one is a financial expert with HSBC and my last son is a computer wizkid and he works with a tech company.

What’s the next career move for you?

Right now I have to work to stabilize The Marriot but I work in a structure of The Sifax Group and I know that definitely more things will come.

I’m sixty now and I would love a different challenge but what it would be, I don’t know; maybe we’ll decide to build a university to impact the education sector in Nigeria. There’s a lot in store and only time will tell.

VOL 1 NO.14 • MAY 16 – MAY 22, 2021

BY BOLUWATIFE ADESINA Scan this with your camera to access the playlist (Apple Music)

Movie Review:

Violated: A Short Film Starring: @chidinmaifunanyachi as ‘Cassandra’ @iamshody as ‘Femi’ @twixdajims as ‘Gun Seller’ @msamaka_o as ‘Sonia’ @checkoutaj as ‘Therapist’ /‘Dr Olivia’. @mckoreydey as ‘Young Femi’

Scan this with your camera to access the playlist (Spotify)

Walk Out That Door: A Playlist

Flawless Remix:Beyonce & Nicki Minaj

Q.U.E.E.N - Janelle Monae ft.

Erykah Badu

I will survive - Gloria Gaynor

Since U Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson

Feelin’ Myself -Nicki Minaj ft Beyonce

The Worst - Jhene Aiko

Un-Break My Heart-Toni Braxton

Small Poppies - Courtney Barnett

Directed by @alex_ayilara Written & Produced by @chidinmaifunanyachi Screenplay by @alex_ayilara Co-Produced by @kreglexproductions Director of Photography @adekolaamosa Assistant Camera man @mckoreydey How far are you willing to go for a friend? When is enough, enough? Could you live with yourself if stepping in went horrifically wrong? These are some of the tough questions Violated asks it’s audience. The new film from Kreglex Productions is timely, weighty and thought provoking, all in a brief runtime of 21 minutes.

Written by Chidinma Ifunanyachi (who also stars in the film) and directed by Oluwatosin Ayilara, the film follows the relationship of the two leads, played quite well by Chidinma who plays Cassandra and Ogbeleje Chiamaka who plays Sonia and how it is affected by the deteriorating relationship between Cassandra and her boyfriend(Kunle “Shody” Glover, in his acting debut) . I really like how they showed that sexual abuse in a relationship can start so innocuously. From a romp that got “too hot” to full on physical abuse, this film brings to our attention that the origin of sexual abuse is not always sudden, but in degrees.

The finale of this movie will leave you thinking. We all have our breaking points. Rape should never be tolerated, but is the resolve to do what may need to be done present? And if it is, could you live with the trauma that would cause?

With nearly every woman in the world having some experience with sexual assault, Violated is a surefire conversation starter and a great entry into a genre that must surely be further explored by Nollywood.

IDFWU - Big Sean

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VOL 1 NO.14 • MAY 16 – MAY 22, 2021

WORDS to EAT by

DOWNTOWN EATS

UZO ORIMALADE

RISING ‘Good morning C’s mummy’ I force a smile on my face. It is too early for this s**t.

‘Hi there’, I respond.

The morning school run. 7am. I just dropped my little munchkin off at school.

I am not a morning person. This morning school run is an exercise in inner strength every day. I wake up at 5.30a.m to get the school lunch bag packed. Wake C up which is a battle with the blanket, the shower and a very cranky little human.

Getting dressed is the last thing on my mind and a typical morning outfit for me consists of joggers and a raggedy top or a loose kaftan, head scarf (not the fancy designer kind) and flip flops. I would go without a bra but you know…

Every morning, I look at this gaggle of giggling mummies – dressed in cute outfits complete with wigs and lip gloss and think to myself- these women are not real.

I know these mommies think I am – let me think of the words to use. Difficult. Anti-social. Unfriendly.

Snobbish. A real b***h. Conclusions reached because I refuse invitations to morning coffee, mommies that walk, playdates, PTA elections and things of that nature. The truth is- I am cranky in the mornings, I do not know these women from Adam and I simply do not want to be drawn into a club of women bound together by the fact that their kids go to the same school.

‘How are you?

I recognise this mummy. She belongs to P who is my little one’s friend.

She has me cornered. Pressing the button to raise the window will trap her face so I have no option than to continue this conversation.

‘I am very well thank you’ ‘Good. I am glad to hear that. So seeing as you are on my team for the baking competition…’

‘Wait a minute. Baking what now?’ I am confused ‘You know..the baking competition that was agreed on during the last PTA meeting. To raise money for the orphanage down the street. We are on teams and we have to make spectacular desserts. There will be judges and everything. Friendly competition.

The winning team gets an additional N1million from the school to donate to the orphanage.

Separate from what we donate individually’ ‘Oh’ well isn’t this a thing. This is news to me. I assume this was in an email or a letter or something that I missed.

‘Never mind. We have decided to make bread.

Different kinds of bread. You cannot go wrong with fresh from the oven bread right? We only have tomorrow to get ready and since you have not attended any planning meetings, it is only fair that you buy the ingredients we need. The other ladies are taking care of the baking pans, packaging, kitchen space to use. All of it’ ‘Oh’ Again, it is too early for this. I think to myself – charity, only buying ingredients and showing up. I can do that. Think of the children in the orphanage.

‘Okay. You can send me an email with the list of ingredients’ ‘Oh I have the list right here. Written on paper. We know how things can get lost in email inboxes’ I take the piece of paper from her.

‘You need to meet us at this address at noon tomorrow so we can get baking and be done by 7p.m. I have included the quantities as well so no guesswork for you’.

She waves at me and saunters off to join the other ladies. As I start my car and pull away from the school gate, I notice the mummies looking in my direction.

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Crusty Dinner Rolls You need:

• 2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour

……………………………………………………………

I am at the grocery store. Putting things in my basket. Flour. Butter. Sugar. Dried fruit. Cinnamon.

Cloves. Yeast. Wait. So many types of yeast. I do not have the time to ask any of the store attendants what type to get. The objective is to make big loaves of bread. So, I choose the big block of yeast. It is called super yeast so that should do it. …………………………………………………………… …………......

Baking day. The team of mummies are in aprons and have been assigned tasks by P’s mummy. I am part of the knead the dough mini team (apparently I look like I have a lot of pent up energy to exert).

Batches of dough are rising in every dark cool place we can find. Inside the microwave. Inside the oven.

In cupboards. There was a question about the yeast.

Apparently, I was supposed to get yeast in sachets.

I got a big block and we had to cut pieces off the block and blitz. All sorted.

I hear something. Like a creaking sound. I ask if anyone can hear it too. No one else can hear it.

I join the washing up efforts. Listening to the ladies talk about fashion, the Kardashians and other topics that make me roll my eyes. I hear the creaking again. This time, a few ladies say they hear the sound too. We set out in different directions to find the source of the sound. This is a pretty nice kitchen and I know I do not want to pay for damage to anything here.

P’s mummy says ‘It is coming from the oven’. I spin around and watch her approach the oven. Is it my imagination or is the oven door moving? I have not had any alcohol today so….I stare harder. The oven door opening slowly. I see P’s mummy get closer, I see the oven door. My mind puts it all together and I scream ‘Nooooooooooooooooooo’. I am too late.

P’s mummy gets to the oven at the same time that the door flings open and there is an explosion of white sticky dough.

Super yeast!!!

• ½ teaspoon dried yeast • 1 tablespoon caster sugar • 1 teaspoon salt • 1 tablespoon olive oil • Extra flour for dusting

How to: • Mix flour, yeast, sugar and salt in a bowl • Add the oil into 280ml of warm water and add to the dry ingredients • Mix until the ingredients come together • On a clean surface, sprinkle a little flour and turn the dough onto the surface • Knead the dough gently for about 10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic • Lightly oil a bowl and place the dough inside. Cover the bowl with cling film and keep in a cool dark place to rise for 2 hours (Inside the cold oven or microwave is perfect) • Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 minutes.

• Divide the dough into 12 pieces • Shape the pieces into bun shapes • Lightly oil a baking sheet and arrange the dough pieces on the sheet • Cover with cling film and leave for 1 hour • Remove cling film, slash the rolls with a sharp knife and dust lightly with flour • Preheat oven to gas mark 6- or 400-degrees F • Bake the rolls for 15 minutes or until the rolls sound hollow when the bottoms are tapped • Cool on a baking rack Enjoy!!!

VOL 1 NO.14 • MAY 16 – MAY 22, 2021

THE SCENE DOWNTOWN

Alistair Englebert Preston Jite Ovueraye, Head of Operations & Marketing & Colette Otusheso, Head of Accelerate TV

L-R Ibrahim Suleiman, Theresa Edem, Angel Unigwe, Debby Frankson, Mike Afolarin, Segilola Ogidan

Accelerate TV’s New Web Series –

‘The Olive’ Premieres

Chidinma Igbokweuche Serie Co-producer

BY KEHINDÉ FAGBULE

R

ecently, Accelerate TV released their first-ever drama series, ‘The Olive.’ Directed by Yemi ‘Filmboy’ Morafa, the new web series centres around the life of a grieving widower left to raise his three children after the untimely demise of his wife.

Oluwayomi Abiola

With Ibrahim Suleiman as the lead character, The Olive boasts of a pretty strong cast including veteran, Joke Silva alongside Chico Aligweke, Theresa Edem and a host of other seasoned actors as well as new faces. The screenplay was written by Dami Elebe and Cheta Chukwu.

The Olive Director- Yemi Morafa & Director of Photography, Lawrence Adejumo

New episodes of ‘The Olive’ air every Friday at 4 pm on Acceleratetv.com and are powered by Access Bank.

Oluwayomi Abiola

Here are some of the looks from the premiere.

Esse Akwawa Series Producer

Beediesel

Debby Frankson

Bolaji Kekere-Ekun

Anee Icha

Edith Nwekenta

Ibrahim Suleiman

Tolu ‘Toolz’ Oniru Demuren

Taymesan Emmanuel

PAGE 13

VOL 1 NO.14 • MAY 16 – MAY 22, 2021

BEAUTY

Cool sculpting procedure

beyondclassicallybeautiful.com

COOLSCULPTING CoolSculpting or fat freezing treatment is a procedure that uses controlled cooling technology to destroy fat cells that do not respond to diet or exercise by freezing them; this process is called cryolipolysis. The fat is later naturally eliminated from the body; usually through the same process that we remove waste.

With CoolSculpting, you must not be far off from your ideal weight but should have enough fat for the applicator to hold on to. When it comes to expectations, you should expect an improvement as opposed to perfection from this non-surgical treatment.

This treatment may be just what you need if you have unwanted fat in the following areas of your body: abdomen or stomach, love handles, inner or outer thighs, underneath your chin, and bra area.

How It Works

FAT-FREE FOREVER!

Your treatment area is marked, and then a sheet is placed over the area. The applicator is then placed on your skin. Once the fat cells reach a certain temperature, they crystalize and die FOREVER! (Yes, once the fat cells are gone, they never come back. How amazing is that?). The process is repeated until all of the unwanted fat from the problem area has been targeted.

Number Of Sessions Required The consultant recommends the number of sessions you will need and this will depend on a number of factors such as the treatment area and the desired results. You start to see results in about three months.

BY ONAH NWACHUKWU

O

ver the last year, I have packed on a staggering nine kilograms, which means I am two dress sizes up; not very flattering for someone who has been a UK size eight for the most part of her life. While the next best thing would be to start a workout routine, I just haven’t gotten the motivation to begin. So before getting back to my TurboFire (you should check it out, your body resembles that of a Greek god or goddess with this workout routine), I thought to myself, “a little help removing these love handles wouldn’t hurt; a non-surgical procedure that can give me a boost.” Just then, I remembered reading an article five years ago about CoolSculpting; a procedure that gets rid of unwanted fat from certain parts of the body. Researching more about this body contouring system led me to discover two more methods that tackle belly fat in some cases, and in other cases, fat from other parts of the body. Naturally, I thought to share them with you.

Cool sculpting

PAGE 14

VOL 1 NO.14 • MAY 16 – MAY 22, 2021

BEAUTY

Sculpsure Machine

SCULPSURE

EMSCULPT

Think of it as you would CoolSculpting but the opposite.

Instead of freezing fat cells to kill them, heat is used to achieve the same result. It can treat the stomach, love handles, back, thighs, and double chin.

A very important point is that you must maintain a healthy lifestyle such as working out, and eating nutritious-portion-sized food after your SculpSure session because if you gain weight after your treatment, the remaining fat cells will increase in size and this could destroy the results you had achieved.

While this procedure does not work on as many parts of the body as CoolSculpting does, it targets and strengthens the muscles in your abdomen and gluts (butt). The machine works by using electromagnetic energy to contract your muscles. Think of it like doing sit-ups over and over again; in fact, it is said that a 30-minute session with this machine equals 20,000 muscle contractions.

For the butt, the aim is to build the gluteal muscles to a round, well-shaped effect without destroying any of the shape-enhancing fat in the area.

How It Works Emsculpt constricts the muscles, targeting fat loss to that area. As the pulses occur, the muscles release chemicals locally that then signal fat cells in the area to break down their contents and release them as free fatty acids. The fatty acids overwhelm the fat cells, causing them to malfunction and die, then, they are metabolized by the body and excreted as waste.

How It Works Applicators are placed over the treatment area and a laser is used to heat up fat from that area to a point of irreversible damage. Once the damage is done, the fat cells are swept away by the body’s lymphatic system. Results start to become visible after three months.

Emsculpt Machine

Number Of Sessions Required Usually four sessions, spaced a few days apart.

You actually start to see results within two days of your first treatment.

PAGE 15

VOL 1 NO.14 • MAY 16 – MAY 22, 2021

COLUMN

Self Fitness IHUOMA NWIGWE

Be Pregnant & Stay Healthy with Exercise E xercise is good for your physical and emotional well-being. When it comes to having a baby bump, you should never skip exercise. Staying fit and keeping your body in top shape should be one of your foremost priorities before and after pregnancy.

Being fit enables you to easily go through the stages of pregnancy and cope with any complication you may encounter. Here is a tiny guide on the benefits of exercising before and after pregnancy.

EXERCISE BEFORE PREGNANCY If you and your partner have decided to have a baby, there is a possibility that you might give up exercise.

That is because you probably don’t know that working out and eating healthy can increase your chances of conceiving. Women who are overweight tend to suffer from the dilemma of infertility due to irregular menstrual periods, which disrupt the reproductive cycle. Once your body has gained healthy weight, there is the likelihood of your ovaries releasing an egg during ovulation every month.

Therefore, you must exercise for about 30 or 60 minutes five days a week, so that you can maintain a healthy weight and give your libido an extra boost.

EXERCISE AFTER PREGNANCY

If you’ve had a normal delivery, you can start exercising a few days after giving birth. However, if you’ve had a Caesarian Section or complicated birth, then you must ask your doctor for recommendations as to when to start.

Since your body changes after giving birth, you should always start with lowimpact exercises, which strengthen your abdominal and pelvic muscles.

After labour, most women struggle with the challenge of losing weight.

During this period their biggest concern is usually how to get back in shape. It certainly was great fun flaunting that baby bump while it lasted. Unfortunately all you have left, after nine months, is nothing but flabby flesh. To get rid of it, all you need to do is to start exercising.

Regular exercise will also help to improve cardiovascular fitness, fortify your core muscles, enhance energy levels, release stress, relieve depression and improve sleep.

You can begin by joining a local gym or a community centre for the purpose of working out regularly. You can also start going out on walks. Do this for about 30 minutes every day. If you’re fond of working out at home, you can try pelvic tilts, baby yoga poses, leg extensions and toe taps, etc, for starters. You can also try pelvic floor exercises where you sit on the floor and slightly bend forward with a straight back. Hold the position for about 8-10 seconds, then relax and repeat 12 times. Other than these, you can give a try to yoga, pilates, lowimpact aerobics, cycling, or swimming.

PAGE 16

IS EXERCISING DURING PREGNANCY HEALTHY FOR THE UNBORN CHILD? One of the most commonly asked questions is if it is safe for expectant mothers to exercise during pregnancy. Although this seems challenging, exercising during pregnancy is always encouraged by doctors. It is good and safe for both mom and unborn child. With regular exercise, a pregnant woman will be at peace in her mind and body. Her chances of suffering discomfort in form of constipation, swellings and body ache, will be reduced. She’ll be able to manage stress and pressure in a better way and prepare her body for labour. For this, she must exercise for at least 2 hours and 30 minutes each week. Here are some low-impact exercises that you can carry on during your pregnancy: •

Brisk walking

•

Yoga

•

Low-impact aerobics

•

Pilates

•

Stationary bike

•

Strength training