THISDAY STYLE MAGAZINE 13TH MARCH 2022

...NOT IN THISDAY STYLE? THEN YOU’RE NOT IN STYLE

SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 2022

O J O E D I M U L O U R I K N

!

S E C A L P G N I O G You made a difference

for being a part of the conversation.

Think ...

Break The Bias

CONTENT Society

GOV KAYODE FAYEMI’S “UNFINISHED GREATNESS” PG 6-7

RALPH’S CLUB COMES TO LAGOS PG 8

MUDI AFRICA UNVEILS NEW COLLECTION PG 8

THE DAKORE BEAUTY EXPERIENCE PG 9

Fashion • RUNWAY TO REAL LIFE • FIRST IN THEIR FIELDS PG 20-21

• WHAT IS TRENDING: LADY ON STANDBY • 5 BENEFITS OF APPLYING FACE MASK PG 20 Author, Mentor, Public Speaker and Corporate Executive, Nkiru Olumide Ojo is the multi-faceted superwoman who has held the hands of many young career women trying to juggle finding their feet and achieving growth in a typically male-dominated career world. Nkiru has developed her own way of ensuring she lives her passion of empowering young women for career readiness. This week, she speaks to KONYE CHELSEA NWABOGOR on her work experience across the continent and the need for a HeForShe movement.

THISDAY STYLE FASHION DIRECTOR/EXECUTIVE EDITOR RUTH OSIME

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EDITOR PRINT OLUFUNKE BABS-KUFEJI EDITOR DIGITAL KONYE NWABOGOR

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SENIOR ART DESIGNER MATHIAS ARCHIBONG 07054965500 CONTRIBUTORS ISIOMA USIADE GUEST CORRESPONDENTS AZUKA OGUJIUBA ZINA ANUMUDU JOANNA MACGREGOR SEYI ALAWODE PHOTOGRAPHER TY BELLO DIRECTOR, PRINT PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO 08077092196

5 MINUTES WITH TOYOSI ALEXI PG 22

Even though International Women’s Day has come and gone, the month of its celebration still lingers on…but we all know one month in a year does not do justice to just how significant a role women play in the society. Aside from being mothers, wives, sisters, aunties, the woman is saddled with so many roles to juggle on a daily basis. The pressure women work under cannot be quantified which is why when they excel in their chosen fields it is worth celebrating.

Many mothers try to instill growth, confidence, courage and discipline on their girls like their own mothers did to them. This tradition has continued to today’s generation as many platforms are being put in place to encourage women empowerment. That our voices are being heard louder than ever before is encouraging and a good example of this was the reversal of rulings made recently by NASS when forced to revisit their initial ruling which was not taken lightly by women…and…men who rose against such backwardness in these modern times! What was most shocking was such act in the first place!

This further strengthens womenfolk never to rest our laurels but continue to surge ahead in ensuring every woman reaches her best potential regardless. Gone are the days where being second fiddle was the norm. That is a thing of the past as every girl or woman has the same opportunities as her male counterparts. Naturally, there are things men can do better because they are physically stronger. There are also things women can do better because of the way they are wired.

But for men and women, working together as a team both at home and the workplace delivers much better results. As long as egos can be shelved aside or left behind, the success of such joint ventures knows no bounds.

So all through the month of March especially, we will continue to celebrate women from all walks of life.

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FASHION DIRECTOR/EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Fidelity Bank Celebrates 2022 IWD with Financial Support to Women-Owned Businesses and Girls’ Academy

In what has been termed a major push for breaking the gender bias in Nigeria, leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, in partnership with media entrepreneurLinda Ikeji- celebrated the 2022 International Women’s Day (IWD) with an impressive networking event specifically for women to inspire one another, discuss pertinent challenges they face as well as proffer solutions on breaking the gender biases prevalent in the country.

Aside from celebrating Nigerian women’s achievements in various industries and drawing attention to the issue of gender inequality, the event also served as a platform for the Bank to officially launch HerFidelity, its niche proposition for female customers. The proposition boasts of exciting features such as capacity development initiatives, access to finance, recognition and networking events, health and wellness programmes, etc, all designed to speak to the yearnings of women.

RONKE BAMMEKE

COMPERES: OLIVE EMODI & AYO MAIRO-ESE

NNEKA ONYEALI-IKPE

SHADE OKOYA

OBY EZEKWESILI

FLORENCE ITA-GIWA

TAIWO AJAYI-LYCETT

CSR DONATION TO DREAM CATCHERS ACADEMY

CSR DONATION TO LADY BENZ

DANCE PERFORMANCE BY DREAM CATCHERS ACADEMY

BETTY IRABOR

OJOCHIDE ONYEMA

ICHECHI OKONKWO

FOLORUNSHO ALAKIJA

CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE

CSR DONATION TO LADY MECHANIC

CHIJIOKE UGOCHUKWU

LINDA IKEJI

JOHNNY DRILLE

NNENNA ELENDU UKEJE

CSR DONATION TO MDEE TAILORING

BOLA SHAGAYA

ERELU DOSUNMU

UJU IFEJIKA

EILEEN SHAIYEN

CSR DONATION TO WETLAND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

MARGARET OBI

CSR DONATION TO BCA VENTURES

L-R: LINDA IKEJI, FOLORUNSHO ALAKIJA, OPRAL BENSON, NNEKA ONYEALI-IKPE, BOLA SHAGAYA, MARY AKPOBOME & IFEYINWA IGHODALO

ONARI DUKE

L-R: PATRICIA IKPONMWOSA-AMADIN, NNEKA ONYEALI-IKPE, IBIRONKE ROTIMI-OLAJIDE & JOY AMUCHE OBI

WAJE

NKIRU ANUMUDU & OMON ODIKE

KHADIJA OKUNNU -LAMIDI

TEMIDAYO SAX

COMMISIONER DJ WYSEI

PEJU BABAFEMI

BIODUN OYEBANJI

EUGENIA ABU

MARGARET FAGBOYO

HAMZA LAWAL

LAWAL BATAGARAWA

AYO ADEGBITE

SHARON IKEAZOR

WAZIRI ADIO YEMI ADAMOLEKUN ADESUWA GIWA-OSAGIE NDI KATO

DUPE ADELABU

YUSUF TUGGAR

AYO ARISE

OLUBUNMI ADETUNMBI

DOMINGO OBENDE

LINDSAY BARRETT

PAULINE TALLEN

JOE ABAH

FESTUS KEYAMO

WUNMI OGUNLOLA

NASIRU HALADU DANU

BISI AKANDE

FEMI BAMISILE

BIODUN OMOLEYE

LINDSAY BARRETT

GOV ABDULLAHI UMAR GANDUJE OF KANO STATE

COS IBRAHIM GAMBARI

GOV AMINU TAMBUWAL OF SOKOTO STATE

DEP GOV BISI EGBEYEMI OF EKITI STATE

DEP GOV PHILLIP SHUAIBU OF EDO STATE

GOV BABATUNDE RAJI FASHOLA

HRM OBA GBADEBO

HRM OBA ADEJUWON

GOV NIYI ADEBAYO

ADEBAYO OLUKOSHI

FAHAD AL TAFFAQ

Gov Kayode Fayemi’s “Unfinished Greatness” B Y K O N Y E C H E L S E A N WA B O G O R

Dr Kayode Fayemi, Governor of Ekiti State and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, recently launched his book titled ‘Unfinished Greatness: Envisioning a New Nigeria’.

The public presentation of the book took place at the NAF conference centre in Abuja. The event, which was chaired by a former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, also featured a keynote address by a former Director for Africa and West Asia, International IDEA, Prof Adebayo Olukoshi, and a panel discussion on envisioning a new Nigeria by a member of ThisDay Editorial Board, Mr Waziri Adio; Executive Director, Enough is Enough, Nigeria, Yemi Adamolekun; Executive Director, Dinidari Africa, Ndi Kato and Founder/ Executive Director, Connected Development, Hamzat Bala. The events had in attendance, Governors Babajide Sanwolu (Lagos); Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje (Kano); Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto); Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq (Kwara); Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), while the Governors of Akwa Ibom and Edo were represented by their deputies.

Also in attendance was Ibrahim Gambari, Chief of Staff to the president, who represented his boss, President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to a reviewer, Dr Joe Abah, Unfinished greatness is a useful contribution to the debate about the future of Nigeria at a time when many Nigerians and lovers of Nigeria are wondering whether and when Nigeria would ever fulfil its undoubted potential.

GOV KAYODE & BISI FAYEMI OF EKITI STATE

GENERAL YAKUBU GOWON

GOV DAPO ABIODUN OF OGUN STATE

GOV ABUBAKAR ATIKU BAGUDU OF KEBBI STATE & GOV ABDULRAHMAN ABDULRAZAQ OF KWARA STATE

GOV BABAJIDE SANWO-OLU OF LAGOS STATE

KEN NNAMANI

GOV IBIKUNLE AMOSUN

NORDEN THURSTON

CHINYERE ADOGU

EZINNE ALFA

TARE & TEJIRI ARIGBODI UZOMA ONWUCHEKWA

TADE LEPE CHUKWUDI ONUIGBO

CHICO CHUKWUMA ALIGWEKWE

EFE OMOREGBE

OBI GEORGE

VELYN OKWKE FRANCHESCA ROSSET & MEGHA

LOLA OGUNNAIKE & OZINNA ANUMUDU IFEANYI EZE & OKEY BAKASI

AZUKA OGUJIUBA

EZINNE CHINKATA

FIFE AIYESIMOJU

EUNICE EFOILE

GORDONS

TIMINI EGBUSON RICHARD MOFE-DAMIJO

PAT FANIRAN,KELECHI AMADI-OBI & CHIOMA AGUGWO

Mudi Africa Unveils New Collection

OLUMIDE AKANDE

SHAFFY BELLO

IRETI DOYLE

CHARLES O’TUDOR

The Dakore Beauty Experience

Mudi AFRICA, the premium label for men’s luxury wear, recently unveiled its first collection for the year 2022 at the Labels head office on Mudi Lane in Anthony Village. The new collection was displayed on mannequins for specially invited guests to view and appreciate the intricate details that was put into every piece of design in the collection. Mudi the creative director of the label was also present to give a robust background to every piece on display.

Guests were allowed to pre-order pieces from the collection and were treated to fine wine and canapes to celebrate the occasion. Here are some of the faces at the unveiling.

B Y K O N Y E C H E L S E A N WA B O G O R

MUDI ENAJEMO

FLORENCE ITA-GIWA

STEPHANIE & JOY

Multi-award-winning Actress Dakore Egbuson-Akande recently launched her aroma therapeutic skincare brand Dakore Beauty at an experiential event aptly titled the Dakore Beauty Experience.

The exquisitely curated event held at the newly opened luxury department store RJ4 Lagos was attended by family, friends, colleagues in the entertainment industry, and professionals in the beauty and lifestyle scene who showed up stylish and glamorous.

The wholesome experience, which put a spotlight on wellness and self-care, featured stunning performances of spoken word, dance and magic. Expressing the inspiration behind the brand, the founder, Mrs Dakore Egbuson-Akande, described the products as “where beauty meets wellness”.

Dakore Beauty launched with four items in its product line, which includes: “Cake Butta” - Whipped Shea butter infused with Sweet Orange and Jasmine Oil. , “Revive Plug”- Sugar-based body polish/scrub infused with Vanilla essence and Turmeric, “Sweet Suds”- African Black soap body wash gel infused with Aloe Vera and “Luminous Silk”- Rosebuds infused body glow oil.

DAKORE EGBUSON-AKANDE

DENOLA GREY

IDIA AISIEN

MIMI ONALAJA

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COVER

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9775 Sunday, March 13, 2022

COVER

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9803 Sunday, March 13, 2022

NKIRU

O J O E D I M U OL !

S E C A L P G N GOI

Author, Mentor, Public Speaker and Corporate Executive, Nkiru Olumide Ojo is the multi-faceted superwoman who has held the hands of many young career women trying to juggle finding their feet and achieving growth in a typically male-dominated career world.

As one who has risen through the ranks with numerous awards to show for it, Nkiru understands first-hand, what it means for a woman to win regardless of all the odds society has stacked against her.

And for this, she has developed a template which she shares through her female social development organization – the LightHouse Women’s Network, her weekly podcast - For the Working girl and her social media platform - @nkiruolumideojo.

A one-of-its-kind support network, the Lighthouse, which prioritises sponsorship, mentorship and access, is Nkiru’s way of ensuring she lives her passion of empowering young women for career readiness.

This week, she speaks to KONYE CHELSEA NWABOGOR on her work experience across the continent and the need for a HeForShe movement.

What have you been up to since the Pressure Cooker?

I have been doing various things, still working in financial services on the continent. My work involves helping the country teams stimulate demand for the brand through various actives including social impact management.

Alongside this has been the work I do at the Lighthouse Network, one that I remain so passionate about - which is a marketplace readiness project for young women.

Until we moved virtual following the pandemic, my team and I used to go into various public universities or technical schools to teach marketplace readiness to final year students.

Your work experience has taken you across the continent. What have you noticed are the key issues facing ‘working women’ across?

Indeed it has, I have enjoyed travelling across the continent and meeting many delightsome women - I don’t think I was particularly surprised on my trips to see that our issues are pretty much the same- access to opportunities, a lack of representation in key roles, being able to find the right support system, birthing times being in dissonance with career growth bursts, I think the most bothersome is still speaking with a small voice.

Do you think working women are getting sufficient support?

If you take a comparative view of how many women are being supported vs how many women need to be supported, I would say no, there still is a gap that needs filling.

We need more HeForShe. What more do you think can be done to get women into the board room?

A lot. If you look carefully everywhere that true inclusion has occurred, it has been though deliberateness, of policies, of actions by the leaders.

Rwanda remains the only country on the continent with an equal representation of both gender in the parliament - only a policy could help them get

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have ever got with gender bias.

A few years back, every time I told someone I worked ‘in the airlines’ and mostly men, they would ask me, “What routes do you deal” so the assumption was that I was cabin crew not the captain of the flight. This must have changed but that’s as close as I have ever got with gender bias.

there. The banking sector in Nigeria has made good progress with inclusion at management levels, but only because of the deliberateness of leaders within that sector. So first adjust the policies to include the gender.

I remember sitting in my first board role ever feeling quite intimated unsure of what foot to put forward, I didn’t want a repeat so between that time and the next, I upskilled myself in every lingo of that organization, its books everything. Between that and the support of the board chair, I’d say my contributions were significant, therefore upskilling is an important to do. Being deliberate about upskilling women with the right skills to fill the gaps.

Have you ever experienced gender bias, please share your experience?

To be fair, I have been fortunate to work in multinational organizations who have been quite gender neutral. I’d never forget though, the constant assumption when I worked in aviation.

A few years back, every time I told someone I worked ‘in the airlines’ and mostly men, they would ask me, “What routes do you deal” so the assumption was that I was cabin crew not the captain of the flight. This must have changed but that’s as close as I

Your book The Pressure Cooker: Lessons from a Woman at Work is focused on issues related to women and the workplace. Why the gender related focus?

Between my personal experience and insights from other women, I really wanted every woman to know that behind all those suits are working women with pretty much the same challenges.

Research has shown that women need a little bit more handholding to get to the top.

Another insight I have is that a lot of the things that hold us back as women aren’t always external.

They are internal too, so helping us get out of our own way was another objective of the book So when and how did you become a career coach?

It was one of the outcomes of the pandemic, I thought to myself to make formal through a certification, the support I already provided more women.

I have always thought that using a system and structure gives you a better outcomes.

What would you say is the impact you have had on the women you have coached so far ?

One of them is a successful tech entrepreneur today, another is at top management in her organization, same for another.

To be fair, I think my best coaching work has been in helping a young girl who had been battered by workplace wounds to build emotional resilience.

Emotional resilience is one of the most underdiscussed issues for women at work in my view.

What questions do they usually want answered?

How can they get ahead in their career?How can they get sponsors or mentors? How can they demonstrate their competence at work? All the way to how can they express themselves beyond their work?

Let’s talk about the light house Network.What sets it apart from other female career support programs?

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Despite what these support groups want us to believe, some people are strongly of the opinion that the whole women supporting women trend doesn’t exist. What’s your take on that ?

Only self-aware women support each other.

If you aren’t self-aware, this would only remain a hashtag for you.

If you could advice other female coaches/ mentors on how best to handle a mentor/ mentee relationship, what would you say?

Tell your story often, another woman may find herself in there. I remember listening to a leading lady talking about how she had struggled to find a support system when she was having her babies and eventually ended up leaving her children at her parents and being a weekend mum only, for months. When I asked her why she never told her story- she said she never thought to tell! Tell your story, another may find herself in there.

Give. You aren’t a great leader until you have raised another leader/leader. Give but keep boundaries still as the human nature is wired towards nonstop taking.

Why is it important to have women in leadership and senior positions?

Research has shown that an organization with women inclusion in the decision making/board rooms, had more improved outcomes than those who don’t.

Do you believe a work life balance is achievable for family women who also want to advance their career ?

I think everyone should go with their life flow as practical as they can. Sometimes, it’d be a 60-40 in favour of work to life. I

have found that unless you have debilitating personal habits, the seemingly imbalance is only for a phase.

What are we expecting from you next ?

Another book perhaps?

I have since written a personal branding book, I had seen the many misrepresentation of brand building and felt drawn to correct the notion. Brands are beyond logos and headshots. Brand building is about value building.

I do plan another fiction, but between schooling, working and running the LHN, I am going to need some good time to achieve this.

My true north is in social impact, specifically in capacity building. I am wired to see potentials instead of gaps there is a lot we can do to support economies across the continent if we build capacity.

On my wish list is to have a HeForShe Club, a club of men who are committed to sponsoring women. We do have patches here and there but it’d be powerful to know that we have a ‘pool’ of them, even better, we may be able also to get views ‘from the other side”.

To be fair, I think my best coaching work has been in helping a young girl who had been battered by workplace wounds to build emotional resilience.

Emotional resilience is one of the most underdiscussed issues for women at work in my view.

CAPSULES Friendships in disarray…..was there ever a connect in the first place, we must always ask ourselves this before we promote our relationships to the next level.

I find this particular subject very interesting because so many people are going through horrors without recourse. We were not created to walk alone, aside from union of matrimony, we make friends and these friends are supposed to be a source of support through the tsunamis of life, but alas these are the people who oftentimes push you to the precipice and help you along the crash and burn path….

What is wrong with us and why is loyalty such a strange concept, the kind of knives I see friends thrust into the backs of their supposed “ride or die” is so sharp and deadly that you wonder how they were ever friends in the first place. The worst of the lot are the “born wuruwuru” friendships, they are so mean that you wonder how they can even claim love as the foundation of their faith. Today if you’re looking for the person that will give your enemies the ammunition to drag you, you will find a “frenemy” there.

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Alero Adollo aleroadollo@yahoo.com

I’d say access and support. Even though people have passed through our mentorship programme, they still have access to the people, the programme and benefits. I’d add a support network, I recall a young lady who had joined us from the UK who got connected to another person in the UK for the internship she was seeking

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9803 Sunday, March 13, 2022

What kind of friendships do we make when you cannot help a friend solve a life problem, as you rise, rather than pull your friend up, you “five fingers their faces down” it’s sadistic to say the least.

What are the values we put on our relationships or how then do you sit back and watch your friend suffer with glee, forget the “traditional” betrayals of friendship, pray tell me Christian sister, Moslem brother, how you can sit back and watch you friend sink into depression because of life issues and not intervene, I just don’t get it, there is something fundamentally wrong with us walahi. Do we even know that all of our life relationships are not coincidental or accidental, they are orchestrated to teach us life lessons, positive or negative, we learn nonetheless.

Don’t get me wrong I am not referring to those who have made a job out of laziness and a strong sense of entitlement of what is owed them without loans, no be that type I beg, there is a Yoruba adage that says “Oju ti orę mi, oju o ti mi, ailojuti lohun ję bę”, meaning my friend is ashamed and I am not means I am shameless.

Let us yan each other the truth, many of our so called friendships are at acquaintances level, a real friend gets involved, gets their hands dirty and definitely most definitely hurts when you hurt. The good book showed us a snippet of the requirements of friendship through the Jonathan/ David relationship, Jesus said, greater love hath no man than for him to lay down his life for his friends, that is the importance that our faith attaches to friendships. How many of us can boast of friendships that are truly ride or die? Be a friend pilgrim and stop the hate, life is tough enough as it is, when we leave people in the miry clay in their pain, we continue to promote mental distress which causes social disconnect, ponder.

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9796 Sunday,THISDAY March 6,Style 2022 Vol. 22, No. 9803 Sunday, March 13, 2022

T YYLLE E& D&E SD I GE N SS T SIGN

RUNWAY TO REAL LIFE

BY USIADE ISIOMA

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9796 Sunday,THISDAY March 6,Style 2022 Vol. 22, No. 9803 Sunday, March 13, 2022

SS TTYYLLE E& D&E SDI GE NS I G N

Runway fashions are certainly eye-catching, they give loads of inspiration when it comes to figuring out trendy wardrobe ensembles. They may not be very practical for everyday wear but when styled right, it always come out looking so effortless and cool. This is the best time to be a bit more experimental with your fashion choices after several fashion runways.

MODEL FOR YUTEE RONE

MODEL FOR LANDRE DA SILVA NAOMI CAMPBELL FOR BANKE KUKU

FLORAL CAPE

FRINGE DRESS This patterned fringe dress by Banke Kuku is perfect for those who want to look wonderful without trying too hard. NANCY E. ISIME

FIRST IN THEIR FIELD

BY FUNKE BABS-KUFEJI

In a world marred by prejudice or discrimination, women have long before now, been making their marks, shattering long-standing glass ceilings to become “first in their field”.

This month of March as we celebrate International Women’s Day, we go back to recognise some remarkable women who have stood out in history.

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VIGDIS FINNBOGADOTTIR

Icelandic politician Vigdis Finnbogadottir, a divorced single mother, is the first woman in the world to be elected Head of State in a national election, and she serves as President from 1980 to 1996.

AGNES YEWANDE SAVAGE

Agnes Yewande was the first West African female doctor.

She was born in Edinburg, Scotland on February 21, 1906. Apart from being the first female medical doctor in West Africa, she was also the first West African woman to receive a university degree after graduating from medical school in 1929 at the age of 23.

PLEATS

TOKE MAKINWA rocked the oversize floral cape from Lanre Da S ilva Ajayi’s collection to Mo Abudu birthday party.

Toke totally slayed the look. She accessorized the look with a shi ning gold head clip, and a wine clutch purse.

MARIE CURIE

Polish-born French physicist Marie Curiein 1903 was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, receiving the award in Physics with her husband, Pierre Curie, and Henri Becquerel.

In 1911 she was the sole winner of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry.

VALENTINE TERESHKOVA

Russian cosmonaut Valentine Tereshkova in 1963, was the first woman to go to space.

Orbiting earth 48 hours in 71 hours onboard the space kraft Vostok 6. She is also the first and only woman to undertake a solo mission into space.

ELIZABETH BLACKWELL

Dr Elizabeth Blackwell was the first woman to earn

a medical degree in the United States in 1847.

She was born in England but raised and educated in New York City. Together with her sister Dr Emily Blackwell, she founded the New York Infirmary for Women and Children, which was the first American hospital completely staffed by women. Elizabeth served as the director of the hospital, while Emily served as a surgeon.

Designers like Yutee Rone make pleats look so cool. You can easily ground them with an easy top just as DABOTA LAWSON styled hers for a party.

country, receiving almost 80% female votes after an effective campaign to register women to vote. She was sworn into office in 2006 and served for 12 years.

AMELIA EARHART

BENAZIR BHUTTO

Pakistani politician Benazir Bhutto was the first woman leader of a Muslim country. She was sworn in as Prime Minister of Pakistan in 1988, becoming the first woman to lead a Muslim country in modern history. She served two terms, but was assassinated while seeking a third in 2007.

ELLEN JOHNSON SIRLEAF

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia is the first female President of an African

second

Amelia Earhart is probably the most famous female pilot in aviation history, an accolade due both to her aviation career and to her mysterious disappearance.

On May 20–21, 1932, Earhart became the first woman and the person after Charles Lindbergh, to fly nonstop and solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

success with a history-making nod from the industry, becoming the first solo artist to win Best Rap Album at the Grammys for her debut album, Invasion of Privacy.

BRIGID KOSGEI

In 2019, Kenyan runner Brigid Kosgei, became the first woman to run a marathon in less than 2 hours and 15 minutes. She beat her own personal best by 4 minutes, clocking an astonishing 2:14:04 at the Chicago Marathon, and beating the previous world record by 1 minute and 24 seconds—a record that had stood for 16 years.

CARDI B

New York hip-hop star Cardi B became a household name in 2017 when her breakout hit song “Bodak Yellow” topped the Billboard chart for three consecutive weeks.

But it was in February 2019 that she cemented her

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STYLE & DESIGN

JOIN A BOLD NEW WORLD OF ENTERTAINMENT

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9803 Sunday, March 13, 2022

WHAT IS

TRENDING

BY ISIOMA USIADE

Lady On Standby To celebrate the recent International Women’s Day, Lush hair took their creativity to the streets of Lagos by placing women from all walks of life on the streets of Lagos. What made this outstanding was the height given to these women which represents the lofty heights women can get to if the so desire.

These statue like women were placed all over lagos.

You saw women more than 10ft tall posing like statues.

Their professions were diverse as were their clothes. They represented different professions but had one thing in common, their various messages and their most dominant heights. This height is not just expressed physically but also metaphorically because a woman can rise to any level she wants as long as she is determined to do whatever it takes to get there. Women are breaking the bias and showcasing their skills and ambitions through messages on their placards #breakingthebias #ladyonstandby.

Today, women who engage in male dominated jobs while still balancing their lives as wife and mother. They juggle many balls and multi-task. The creativity of passing this message on was very well executed by Lush hair.

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BENEFITS OF

APPLYING FACE MASK Facial masks, clay masks, and mask sheets are some favourite skincare products. They’re easy to apply, fun to use, and are great at delivering results. Adding face masks to your skincare and self-care routine can do wonders. Here are the top benefits of using face masks regularly.

1. Skincare rituals are relaxing and therapeutic.

Face masks don’t just offer results that improve the overall appearance of your skin, they can also be quite therapeutic. When they’re infused with aromatic essential oils like mint and rosemary, a face mask can lift your spirit by stimulating your senses. You’ll be drawn into a wonderful sensory experience that will not only relax the mind and spirit but will also leave you with fabulous-looking skin.

2. Facial masks are helpful for deep cleansing.

Cleansing each day helps clean your skin by removing dirt, oil, makeup, and impurities from its surface, but proper masking takes the cleansing process to a whole new level.

Only a good facial mask can help draw out impurities that hide beneath the epidermis’ top layers. Masks are incredible at providing this deeper cleansing process, which leads to an improvement in the appearance of pores that you can see and feel.

3. Clay masks help unclog pores.

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Masking with a product that contains Bentonite clay or kaolin clay help to remove dirt and absorb excess oils. It’ll also help to remove the build-up of dead skin cells that accumulate on our skin. When you remove all the debris from the surface of your skin, it’ll help to unclog pores, too, giving you the appearance of smaller, tighter pores.

4. Facial masks encourage glowing skin.

Masks, especially those with tingly mint in the formulation, can help stimulate blood circulation. The process of the mask drying on your skin and beginning to harden, along with removing the mask, causes an expansion in the blood vessels in your skin. This ensures an overall improvement in skin tone. You’ll be left with softer-feeling and smoother-looking skin, and you’ll also notice a radiant glow and a more refreshed appearance.

5. Face masks help your overall regimen.

Masking helps all of your other skincare products work more efficiently. If you want your day lotions, serums, and night-time products to be absorbed by your skin quicker and deeper, then a face mask is necessary. By masking regularly, you can ensure that your toning, hydrating and protecting products will all perform better, providing you with the results you’re looking to achieve at a much faster pace.

FACIAL MASK

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STYLE & DESIGN

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THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9803 Sunday, March 13, 2022

Toyosi

Alexis

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Raising Awareness about Hearing Loss Diagnosed with severe hearing loss at the tender age of four, Toyosi Alexis knows and understands the pains and pressure of growing up with a disability in a country like ours. In finding herself, she has had to deal with stigma, bullying and lack of self-confidence. And it is the lessons gotten from her personal experience that has led her to become an advocate for what she represents. When she isn’t on social media sharing inspiring content on self-love, confidence and her daily experience living with hearing loss, she is working as an ambassador for an international hearing aid brand called Phonak, which helps inspire women with insecurities about their disability to discover the full potential they never knew they had.

To mark this year’s World Hearing Day, she chats with KONYE CHELSEA NWABOGOR on what it is like living with a severe hearing impairment and her several collaborations to raise awareness/ support for people living with this disability.

Tell me a bit about yourself, what do you do?

My name is Toyosi Alexis. I don’t do one thing specifically. I’m quite multifaceted if I do say so myself! I’m the founder of TÀ, and I’m a life coach who teaches women in an unconventional way how to pursue wholeness through purpose. I also work with Phonak, a hearing aid company that aims to encourage young people to own their authenticity regardless of insecurities developed due to disabilities. And I run Keïta Lagos with my sisters, a brand dedicated to bringing Africa to the forefront of the fashion industry.

Following your story on Instagram, I gather you weren’t born deaf. Can you let us in on what happened?

I have no clear answer as to what exactly happened to cause my hearing loss. My mother simply noticed that I wasn’t pronouncing certain words correctly and deduced from my speech that this could be due to a hearing problem that needed to be addressed.

So, are you totally or partially deaf? I notice you wear a hearing aid?

I have severe hearing loss and use hearing aids in both ears, so some might consider me “partially” deaf, but I still identify as a deaf person in general.

What was it like adjusting to the reality of dealing with a severe hearing issue? Did this in any way affect your self-confidence?

It was quite difficult! Owing to the fact that I did not grow up seeing other deaf people my age. I had been bullied as a child in secondary school in Nigeria, which negatively impacted my self-esteem, causing me to withdraw and develop awkward social skills. I was afraid to speak in social situations because I did not want to have to ask people to repeat themselves multiple times or deal with people’s lack of patience with me.

Asides that, my family and friends had a significant impact on how I saw myself by constantly telling me to own my uniqueness regardless of what others said.

This propelled me into a new dimension of showing up for myself and other deaf people who were still dealing with the anxiety that came with their disability.

It wasn’t until I moved to the UK and became a Phonak ambassador in 2017 that I was able to meet other members of the deaf community. Having voices of reason around you, I believe, will always cause you to have a higher perspective!

Could you share with us some of your daily challenges and how you work around them?

Prior to being fitted with Bluetooth hearing aids, I

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awareness about my journey with hearing loss and owning my story, which has inspired other young people to speak up. I have also collaborated on Deaf Awareness Campaigns with charities such as The Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) and worked on projects with my NGO to raise funds for deaf schools in Nigeria that lack infrastructure and funding for the necessary types of equipment.

had to carry a pack of hearing aid batteries with me everywhere I went, which I occasionally forgot.

So, I could be at an event, and my hearing aids would stop working, limiting my ability to communicate with others for the majority of the time. In terms of how I worked around this challenge, I’d always give a pack of my batteries to a friend so that if I forgot them at home, I always had a backup!

Another major daily challenge, particularly with the introduction of masks due to the pandemic, is my need to lipread, which others do not fully comprehend.

While I understand that everyone is doing their best to protect their health, I believe we should all be more compassionate when it comes to speaking audibly because it is challenging to hear people without masks and even more complicated when they are on.

You are doing amazing work as a content creator.

Has this in any way affected your career?

Regardless of the challenges I may face from time to time, I believe that my hearing loss has positively impacted my work because it has created space for me to thrive in a way that is unique to my story. My disability has provided me with numerous opportunities, not only in terms of brand partnerships and collaborations but also internally. It has led me to discover new interests, such as beauty and coaching women, so I’d say it has mostly had a positive impact on my work.

Are you involved in any awareness/ advocacy programs for deaf people?

I am, indeed. For almost three years, I’ve been a brand ambassador for Phonak and Hearing Like Me, raising

What do you believe the government can do to support people with hearing impairment more?

So much more! The government can introduce a programme that gives deaf people access to free hearing aids. I say this because, while collaborating with a Deaf school in Nigeria in 2020 and listening to their concerns, I realised that a large number of Deaf people do not have access to hearing aids. This is a problem because, while they can still communicate in sign language, they should be given the option to explore other options, such as speech.

They can also support Deaf people by hosting webinars that educate people about Deaf Awareness and self-confidence while dealing with the difficulties that come with having a disability.

It is not only about recognising that the disability exists but also about creating an environment that nurtures young Deaf people by encouraging them to accept themselves for who they are rather than just the part society readily accepts.

What do you wish that other people could understand about/learn from your experience?

I wish more people understood that confidence is a journey. Although I present myself confidently on social media, I don’t always feel that way daily, and being a self-advocate can be exhausting. Overall, I understand that being the woman I am today entails a great deal of vulnerability. I have to constantly remind myself and others that being an advocate does not take away from my humanity.

Acceptance is the first step toward embodying freedom and living your purpose out. Growing up, I had a lot of questions about why I had a disability. While I don’t have all the answers, I know there is a bigger mission ahead of me: to raise transformational women in Nigeria and around the world who are driven by authenticity.

If a hearing person wanted you to explain what it is like being deaf, what would you tell them first?

It is like living in your own world. You get to turn off your hearing aids (if you wear them like me) and shut out the noise when it gets too much at times.