THISDAY STYLE MAGAZINE 0RD OCTOBER 2021

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2021

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3 SIMPLE WAYS A household name in the ancient city of Benin, Nigeria and the world over, Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion is one of those men whose larger than life status would always keep people in awe. The Esama of Benin, his title Esama traditionally means the “Son of the people”, with responsibilities including assisting the less privileged in medial, monetary and private venture forms. A title that is reminiscent of his philanthropic nature.

Those who have met him can attest to his astute business sense, love for everything family, happy go lucky nature and childlike zest for life. It is for these reasons and more that we at Style celebrate the legacy of this great man. KONYE CHELSEA NWABOGOR reports…

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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

The plan for anyone in life is to be their utmost best and ultimately leave a good legacy. Most people have fulfilled that already, some better than others. Their lives are usually full of intrigues and milestones. Their names resonate far and wide locally and globally. They are household names and usually leave very big shoes for their offsprings to fill.

Highly respected in society that when such people advance in age, it is only proper to celebrate them while they are alive to receive their deserving accolades after decades of hard work and humongous success in their lives.

The ESAMA OF BENIN, CHIEF GABRIEL IGBINEDION is no doubt a larger than life personality. He is one of Benin’s illustrious sons that has added colour and prestige to his state. Having fathered a Governor himself, Igbinedion continues to play a strong pivotal role in the advancement of his state and his empire.

His most prominent trait is his philanthropic quality and what he does to better the welfare of his people. His support has always been most welcome and appreciated by the recipients.

Speaking of which, our WOMEN SUPPORTING WOMEN article also writes about the need for us women to support each other more. Never a time as now, has this been more important. Truth is, there is greater camaraderie amongst men. That is, men have an invincible bond. An ‘us-against-them’ brotherhood they instinctively feel towards each other. When faced with a business decision that is mutually benefiting to both parties, men are quick to sheathe their swords and focus on the job at hand.

Women, on the other hand, though more nurturing, are way more complex. This reflects in our actions and reactions concerning other women. But like men do, we women should understand more that a stick is breakable but a broom is not.

Together as one voice, we are much stronger and as such, learn to speak in tandem for the same cause…sisterhood!

We act and say it all the time: this show of sisterhood. We try to encourage and help each other. We become advocates of unity and support for women through our various platforms. That notwithstanding, we should still, very much so, continue to strengthen our resolve to do more for each other until we can drown negativity and segregation in our midst and become beacons of hope for others.

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THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9642 Sunday, October 3, 2021

STYLE & DESIGN

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9642 Sunday, October 3, 2021

Alero Adollo aleroadollo@yahoo.com

STYLE & DESIGN

CAPSULES

BY FUNKE BABS-KUFEJI

Why is there so much despair in the world? Too many people are suffering and it is heart wrenching to watch even though many pretend not to notice. Why is life a war zone with many mangled spirits limping? There surely must be purpose to this madness because if not, then we don enter one chance I beg, e choke oooo.

Tell me, who we offend wey vex so tay e throway the baby with the bath water? E get as e be o fellow pilgrims as street no dey laugh rara, it is mega cold out there, dem talk sey cow wey no get tail na Baba God dey help am chase flies…..these days many are challenging our convictions by asking if our God is on siesta, they jeer at our unwavering faith and call it stupidity.

In pain we cry out remembering that it is written that the Lord shall fight for us and we shall hold our peace, the peace that seems to elude in the world we live in today as so many revolving doors slap our being and steal our calm.

It is so dark out there, and light continues to struggle to pierce the darkness, but seriously why is there a struggle though if we have not through our free will ceded territory, the power we carry is way bigger than that which daily challenges us I tell you.

I look back at my personal journey and I shiver as I did not know I could make it thus far, that the ballistic missiles set on my path of travel did not destroy me was purely by grace. My eyes have “seen” and my ears have “heard” but if I am still standing and can still stand and move forward on this journey so can you, broken, tired and weary, but move we must. At every trial, I gave up, at every crisis of faith I fell apart, but God truly loves me and despite my foibles, he picks me up, cleans me up and cheers me on, and his unconditional love keeps me going, how does anyone forgive so much….name it, I blame it on God. I honestly cannot join the throng in chanting that there is no God ooooo, I have lived him, tasted him, experienced him in divinity, but what can one do when faith fails and trust seems to be laughing at you, and you then crash and burn, broken toys and all…

I remember the day I was called that my brother in law had passed, I got to my sister’s house and held the feet of the dead and called life into him, sebi Jesus did it and all I needed was a mustard seed of faith….I was carrying a mountain load, and he refused to wake up, I thought he died so that we could wake him up in faith, but alas, he remained dead and it broke me.

How do I continue in hope and exercise faith. When my faith is not activating process, I mused, then I remembered calvary when Jesus said, “My God, my God, why hath thou forsaken me” Jesus felt abandoned….Jesus is God, but he also felt the distance between him and the Master at that critical point when he had to fulfil destiny….

I paused to ponder further, we really must learn discernment or ask for the gift so that we then know when to hold on and know when to walk away….

God will never leave us nor forsake us but oftentimes he has to allow the script written about our individual lives to play out, he can of course change things in his sovereignty but it will affect the balance of things, imagine if Jesus did not die on the cross that day and God had intervened, then what….eternal damnation? It is critical that when we have done all that we know to do, we leave God to do what “HE” wants to do and trust that what he does works together for our good…..it’s not easy but honestly when we come to Calvary surrendering all, we truly must surrender all, we must become God dependent and trust his answers.

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with Koko Kalango

Jesus in Songs of Solomon

“My lover is mine and I am back to marry us. Isn’t that so In the Old Testament romantic? his…” Song of Songs 2:16 Israel is His wife, and I The Song of Songs, or Song I think it is. There are many thus God laments of Solomon, features a bride earthly analogies that Jesus time and time again used to explain how we and groom romancing each that she has been other. Whether it was written for should relate to Him. He is King Solomon about him and the master and we are His unfaithful and his bride, or by King Solomon committed adultery servants. He is the Good about himself and his bride, or Shepherd and we are His with other gods. In simply written from Solomon’s sheep. He is our brother and the New Testament, imagination, is unclear. Either friend, and together we are Christians are way, the couple in the book children of God. outrightly told we literally spend eight chapters God didn’t have to include are the bride of using similes/metaphors to a romantic comparison, but Christ and that He describe how attractive their He did it because He wants is coming back to spouse is and talk about how that level of intimacy with us. marry us. Isn’t that Physically speaking, you can’t much they love each other. so romantic?

That makes this article quite be more intimate with anyone easy for me to write. Even than someone you have sex before reading the book, I knew what I would with, and while our relationship with God is not see of Jesus in it – He’s the bridegroom and we, erotic, that closeness is meant to be a shadow the Church, are His bride. of the fulfilment and satisfaction we can get I do want to make a few caveats before we from a personal relationship with Jesus. begin though: It’s not about religion. It’s not only about First, the Song of Solomon is probably the obedience and service. The foundation of the only book in the Bible that I believe, when Christian faith is love. To be a follower of Jesus is taken at face value, was written about us, not to be in love with Him. It is to be as passionate God. Simply and plainly, it is a song expressing about Him as the couple in this story are. It is to erotic love within the God-given covenant know Him, and to be known by Him, as well as of marriage (between a man and a woman). they know each other. And because we are the Whilst we can draw parallels to our relationship bride, it is to be sought out by Him, wooed by with God from it, those parallels do not Him, valued by Him, crowned by Him… the list disqualify or supersede the literal meaning of goes on. the song. You might’ve heard it said that the Jesus loves you.

Bible is a manual for life; life includes sex. So it That is not a flippant statement. It is not an follows that the Bible has to teach us about sex. idle, redundant, passive love. It is a love that It is for this reason that I, along with many gives its all knowing you will never be able scholars, think God included Song of Songs in to do the same. It is a love that made Him our Bible. Its inclusion and content show us that lay down His life so you wouldn’t have to lay sex was God’s idea, and He wants us to have it. down yours. It is a love that crowns you with Many of us were not introduced to it with this lovingkindness and tender mercies. It is a love understanding. Instead, sex was demonised in that forgives an infinite number of wrongs, that efforts to keep us from misusing it. But I believe stands by you through thick and thin, that sees the godly way to teach about sex is how my you at your very worst and still thinks you’re mum put it to me: “You should have sex – just worth loving. have it God’s way.”

We’re all searching for that love. We look for I could preach a sermon on how the world it in friendships, family, romance, hobbies, pets, and sadly, the Church, have corrupted our view and so on. But we’ll never find it there because of something God created to be beautiful, but I’ll they can’t give it to us. Only God can. [This is leave that for another day. Right now I’m going to something 2020 taught me. I place such a high get back to how this book shows us Jesus. value on my friendships and expect so much This book is also an analogy of our from them but I realised I was expecting far more relationship with God. Throughout the Bible than any human would be able to give me, or God uses marriage as a comparison [to] His that I could even give myself.] The unwavering relationship with us. In the Old Testament Israel commitment, loyalty and support you want can is His wife, and thus God laments time and only come from the lover of your soul. time again that she has been unfaithful and “He has taken me to the banquet hall, and his committed adultery with other gods. In the banner over me is love.” Song of Songs 2:4 New Testament, Christians are outrightly told we are the bride of Christ and that He is coming Tarari Kalango

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STYLE & DESIGN

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360

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9642 Sunday, October 3, 2021

THE POSITIV E

Living A Phenomenal, Healthy, Happy And Fulfilled Life.

STYLE & DESIGN

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9642 Sunday, October 3, 2021

DR IFEYINWA NWAKWESI

A Letter To Women I am inspired to send all women in Nigeria, Africa and the world this message to check up on you and find out how you are doing .

I pray you and your entire family are great .

I want to congratulate you for your commitment and role in your families and for your labour of love for your children, spouses, patners and parents.

To every woman that is hurting and not in a good place God is your anchor and I have your back .

I suffered from depression, anxiety, panic attacks and indigestion and I know how it feels not to be living your best lives .

Do not despair .

I am passionate about you and truly care about your happiness and wellbeing hence this message.

To all the women who are doing amazing things i am proud of you but I want you to create time to take care of your health holistically so you will live long enough to reap the rewards of your labour by Gods grace It’s my pleasure to remind you to do a self - evaluation to find out areas of your life you need to work on to turn those areas into strengths YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE Check and make sure you have a deep personal connection with God .

Realize that the spirit of God in you is healthy and wholesome so command your mental , emotional, physical bodies, your relationships, marriage, and finances to be wholesome as your spirit.

Prayers are very vital to your wellbeing.

Be more spiritual than religious .

MENTAL& EMOTIONAL WELL- BEING .

Many of us have challenges here because we have not adopted growth mindsets that will help us intentionally adopt positive mindsets and attitudes so we live with empowering mindsets Negative thoughts bombard us very often but we must stand guard at the door of our minds and sanitize the thoughts that we allow to enter.

Interrupt disempowering beliefs , thoughts, feelings, decisions, words and actions for they just distort our lives and make us live below the standards we should be living .

It’s not the events of our lives that determine our reactions but our perceptions, how we choose to interprete the events that determin how we feel and what we do .

Many people look good externally but their inner beings lack harmony, contentment, peace, love. Many have inner envy, bitterness, depression, anxiety, anger,

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and most of their behaviors come from these negative emotions .

Prayers , mindset reprogramming, attitudinal and behavioral changes can help someone balance her inner being to be as good as their outer beings .

This will lead to more love, kindness , respect for one another, happier families, communities and societies.

PHYSICAL WELL- BEING This is of great concern to me. Our over reliance on conventional medical care while neglecting preventive measures , life- style modifications, and healthy life choices is causing a lot of problems for us Many people who look apparently well may actually be having multiple organ dysfunctions which go on for several years and then turn into crises of diseases.

Why do we need to wait for a crises before we begin to take action? .

As integrative care medical doctors we look at diseases in the context of the individual’s total social existence not just on the signs and symptoms of the disease .

Those headaches , depression , anxiety,aches and pains , low energy are some of the tell- tale signs that dysfunctions are already existing in the body .

Sexual dysfunctions can be due to poor blood circulation so I advise any one who is having any form of sexual dysfunction especially men having erectile dysfunctions to see a medical doctor especially a cardiologist.

I see signs of dehydration in many people, black discolorations may be sign of yeast over growth.

Many are also having mineral and vitamin deficiencies.

The good news is that we can use the QUANTUM BODY ANALYSIS MACHINE to identify the early body dysfunctions, expertly evaluate them and recommend healthy diets life- lifestyle modifications and research - backed 100 percent effective nutritional supplements that can reverse the dysfunctions and prevent them from progressing to disease states .

The challenge is that many of us do not have the determination and commitment to decide to be proactive about our lives .

We are focused on making money, building our businesses and careers and we do not pay adequate attention to our bodies forgetting that when HEALTH FAILS ALL ELSE FAILS .

Women should be the advocates of healthy life choices as they are the greatest influencers of family units, the communities and societies.

RELATIONSHIP & MARRIAGES Our relationships and marriages are very vital to our well-being as no one wants to

It’s important you build a healthy relationship first with yourself, know who you are, know your purpose and passion so you can have inner harmony and be a positive force in your relationship and marriage.

succeed and be all alone .

It’s important you build a healthy relationship first with yourself, know who you are, know your purpose and passion so you can have inner harmony and be a positive force in your relationship and marriage.

We need to adequately prepare our young ones to learn that they must continuously improve their lives, read books, watch videos and attend masterclasses in self improvement, and learn how to build blissful relationships and marriages.

Let’s encourage others to grow and be better. Let’s all be more accommodating, patient and do not focus on our patners weaknesses but focus mostly on their strengths.

Let us not be enslaved by our egos and learn how to stoop to conguer .

Our young people should not be anxious about getting married and choose unsuitable patners abinitio .

Parents especially mothers should not be putting pressure on their children to get married so they do not make mistakes in the choice of marital patners .

Not all marriages work but couples should learn to minimize negative energy around their separation or divorce to avoid deleterious effects on the children of the marriage.

I salute single parents who are toiling day and night to provide a peaceful home for their children .

FINANCIAL WELLBEING. Poor finances significantly contribute to unhappiness , stress and disease.

Everyone is blessed with innate resources they can use to turn around their financial status . Young people need to learn how they can utilize their innate resources to work on earning a living .

There is however the role of credible leadership to create a viable economic environment that promotes growth and hardwork.

The leadership should also create employment opportunities for the youths but the youths should not wait to be spoon- fed , they can focus on what they can do to change their finances COMMUNITY INPACT AND

EMPOWERMENT We all need to collaborate to impact the lives of the needy in our society and empower our women and youths to learn skills that can help them erk a living .We can also pool funds together to make impact In our communities . We can all collectively use our creative and financial resources to change the lives of people in our communities CREDIBLE LEADERSHIP We must all get involved in making sure Nigeria gets a credible performance- driven result- oriented leadership.

We must move from our dreaming mode to a determined and committed mode , collectively put in place objectives and pool funds together to get women , men and youths that can work with Nigerians to change the narrative of our country.

This is a divinely inspired message and I pray that it impacts many women and others and get women to decide to take actions to work on their areas of weaknesses and turn them into strengths.

Let us stop discussing the signs and symptoms of our societal challenges but focus on the root causes . I advise we include: • GROWTH MINDSET AND SELF IMPROVEMENT • TRAININGS IN OUR EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM RIGHT FROM PRIMARY SCHOOL so we can bring up self actualized, self - transcendent adults who will be more interested in giving back to our society because they are passionate.

Love to hear from you all WhatsApp 07034406780 To get details of the link to subscribe to our HLS - ONLINE NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTATION TO ACHIEVE VIBRANT HEALTH VIRTUAL HLS - ONLINE UNLEASH YOUR INNATE RESOURCES PROGRAM VIRTUAL HLS ONLINE - BUILD BLISSFUL RELATIONSHIPS AND MARRIAGE PROGRAM Dr Ifeyinwa Nwakwesi Integrative medicine, Life, Health, Relationship & Marriage Improvement Specialist

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G N I L Y T S S I N N E T T R R YOU I THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9642 Sunday, October 3, 2021

STYLE & DESIGN

STYLE & DESIGN

FUN FACTS

SK

Dresses

photo credit : Dr. Ikemba Iweala

D E T A PLE

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9642 Sunday, October 3, 2021

fortable. and very com because le y st to sy . It’s ea winds nnis anymore ther is it ideal for strong ch incidents. te g in y la p r ape. Nei ot just fo ers in su d skirts are n is that it isn’t for every sh en many colourful knick The nature of this te a le p is n en T t. se irt an A-line skir yle, but legs! We have nside of the sk The only dow ou reveal more than just ing in pencil skirts than ting into your personal st re on er y su tt ra in such cases, would also look more fla t not be used to incorpo the trend. If you’re not so h ig le en k m c m o u t. ta Some w nis skir able to e that yo a preppy vib and styling tips, you’ll be u could try with your ten ff o es iv g t ir s sk yo w ideas that t counterpart with the righ to style them, here are fe how

Understanding the history of fashion helps to inform a fashionista’s sartorial choices and influence her personal style. So, if you are a dress person, it helps to learn about its history and evolution to find the style that fits you best. Current fashion trends consistently borrow from previous fashion trends, giving them a modern update and creating new classics. The dress is one of the earliest pieces of clothing in women’s fashion, and its versatility and comfort have made it popular among women all through the ages, from the Victorian era to the 21st century.

JENEE

MA

BY USIADE ISIO

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Clearly, cowboy boots are a favoured shoe choice when it comes to the pleated mini, and thanks to this polo-andpurse ensemble, we have a new way to wear the duo.

BY ISIOMA USIADE

Dresses were not originally a trend amongst women. In many cultures all over the world years ago, dresses were worn by men. It was later that women appropriated dresses, and men ceased to wear them.

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In the 19th century, dresses took on a dramatic shape: the hoop-skirt and crinoline-supported styles were typically worn during the early 1800s.

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Dresses were very much influenced by the social climate of the time. In the early 1920s, they took on more masculine styles.

Menswear-inspired fashion was all the rage even back then, as women tried to appropriate menswear fashion to achieve equal social status.

These dresses featured strong angles and were made from sturdy materials. It was only later in the 20s that shorter, flirtier hemlines came into vogue, and dresses returned to a more feminine ideal.

CYNTHIA NWADIORA BANTSE VANESSA

DAMILOLA

Another sexy way to make your tennis skirt look hot is wear it with panty hose. Go for a cropped white shirt that will make you look trendy and sultry. This look is great for casual home parties.

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KERRY

Go monochrome by matching your favourite boots to your miniskirt. The look will read casual and spicy at the same time.

If you are aiming for a more formal look that is still sexy and playful, then pair your skirt with a nice top and a stylish coat. The result looks comfy and preppy.

If you want to wear your tennis skirt on casual days for a street walk, then how about adding a graphic top. This is a playful look that is both simple and classy, don’t forget to add few accessories.

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The 60s was sartorially characterised by the mini-mod dress, where hemlines shrunk, and the mini shift dress was popularised by waifthin model Twiggy and was typically paired with doll-like makeup and teased hair.

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Dresses in the hippie seventies, however, went long, as loose, flowy maxi dresses came into fashion.

These days, dresses are a throwback to these decades; maxi and mini dresses are popular styles given a contemporary revamp with architectural details and modern lines.

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THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9642 Sunday, October 3, 2021

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THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9642 Sunday, October 3, 2021

METAMORPHOSIS OF

GABRIEL

IGBINEDION 7 @8 !

SON OF THE PEOPLE

A household name in the ancient city of Benin, Nigeria and the world over, Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion is one of those men whose larger than life status would always keep people in awe. The Esama of Benin, his title Esama traditionally means the “Son of the people”, with responsibilities including assisting the less privileged in medial, monetary and private venture forms. A title that is reminiscent of his philanthropic nature.

Chief Igbinedion started working at an early age, and some of his earliest jobs were assisting his uncle in block moulding and trading rubber and timber in Benin. He also served in Ogbomosho as a police officer in the early 1940s. He left the police force in 1963 and began his entrepreneurial journey building a great business empire that includes sectors like transportation, education, health, and banking, to mention a few.

Those who have met him can attest to his astute business sense, love for everything family, happy go lucky nature and childlike zest for life. It is for these reasons and more that we at Style celebrate the legacy of this great man. KONYE CHELSEA NWABOGOR reports…

NF BERTS CO OR AL RO

THE ESAMA OF BENI

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ERRING

IGBINED DR. G.O. CHIEF SIR

ION

N KINGDOM IN 1974

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THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9642 Sunday, October 3, 2021

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THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9642 Sunday, October 3, 2021

CHIEF IGBINEDION AND THE OJORAS

SIR CHIEF GABRIEL AND LADY CHERRY IGBINEDION LUCKY IGBINEDION, MABEL AMADI AND SIR CHIEF GABRIEL OSAWARU IGBINEDION

SIR CHIEF GABRIEL OSAWARU AND GOVERNOR OBASEKI

SIR CHIEF GABRIEL OSAWARU AND LADY CHERRY IGBINEDION

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L-R , LATE IBRAHIM MANTU, FORMER PRESIDENT OLUSEGUN OBASANJO, LADY CHERRY IGBINEDION, CHIEF GABRIEL IGBINEDION AND FORMER PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN

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THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9642 Sunday, October 3, 2021

TRIBUTES TO IGBINEDION AT 87!

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THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9642 Sunday, October 3, 2021

TRIBUTES TO IGBINEDION AT 87!

F R O M T H E FA M I LY

F R O M T H E FA M I LY

LADY CHERRY IGBINEDION ( WIFE ) I was born in the beautiful island of Jamaica (West Indies); but had my upbringing in the United Kingdom since I was five years old. During my teenage days, I had always told God in my little innocent way during my prayers to please bless me when I grow up with a husband who has respect and passion for womanhood and humanity.

After 42 years of blissful courtship and marriage, I think my dearest husband, His Excellency, Sir Chief Dr Gabriel OsawaruIgbinedion, CON, CFR is an answer to my simple prayer of faith. During these years we have been able to build trust, credibility and friendship in our marriage.

My husband is very industrious, meticulous and infact handsome even at 87. He is a true Nigerian who loves this county passionately. He is every woman’s dream but much

more important he has respect for womanhood and humanity. A great family man who treasures his family very much. He has trained all his children academically to the university level. What an incredible achievement for an African Chief. I am truly proud not just to know him but to be known as his jewel. Our union is blessed with four remarkable and resourceful children, Honourable Omosede, Ivie, Amenze and Orobosa, who are doing very well in their various choices of careers.

Together, my husband and I have worked very hard to fulfil our matrimonial dreams and aspirations. We have moved mountains together and in the process, built a great business empire which encompassed; a. Okada Air b. Igbinedion Education Centre c. Igbinedion Montessori Teacher Training Centre d. Igbinedion University Okada e. Igbinedion Hospital & Medical Research Centre(Igbinedion University Teaching Hospital) f. ITV/Independent Radio etc.

Really, it is not just the wealth creation and wealth transfer over the years, what gladdens me most is his spirit of patriotism and love that drives him towards the poor and needy in the society. He sees philanthropy as his sacred call from God. I pray that the Almighty God will continue to strengthen him. Most assuredly ours have been a testimony of life, hope and grace.

FRED IGBINEDION (SON) LUCKY IGBINEDION (SON) My Father has been a pillar of support and has taught me in words and deeds, the essence of hard work, honesty and integrity. A pioneer in many sectors. A man of style and culture.

MABEL IGBINEDION (DAUGHTER) Throughout my life I have always trusted my fathers counsel and leaned on his wisdom when making decisions. The value of family ties was instilled very early on , things such as eating meals together at the dinner table was prioritised , though at times it turned out to be lectures on rules and regulations with stern warnings to not bring the family name into disreopute . Unlike many households with patriarchs in my fathers generation , I was always given the respect due as the first daughter , my father always made sure of that. I have fond memories of my father visiting my British boarding school in the early 70’s , even with his busy schedule he always made time for myself and my siblings, prioritising our education and making sure we got the best available. Through his exemplary philanthropy I have learnt how to have an open heart and hand . Through his respect of womanhood I have never doubted my abilities .

Through his tenacity I have realised any and everything can be done with hard work. Through his relationship with God , I have learnt to always show gratitude and give glory to my Creator .

My greatest desire is that the Lord will yet lengthen my fathers days, and will be strong up until the end like Moses.

BRIGHT IGBINEDION (SON) What a privilege to be the son of the great Esama of Benin. The wisdom and knowledge he has impacted on my family and I, cannot be taught in any university. He is indeed, an inspiration. He has instilled the importance of acquiring a name full of integrity in his offsprings. He believes in the blessings of God and pure hard work. May he live long the great Esama, my father, my mentor.

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I imagine when many draw up images of their father or are told to comment on him, the account will be filled with cliches of the level of love and support their father has shown them through the years, stories of fond moments from times past, and perhaps their admiration for him being such a hard worker, of great intellect, high achiever and so on.

For me, my father has been all of the above and much more.

My father has always been at the very centre of my universe, as ever. Since I was a child there was an innate feeling of having been born into a very special situation. Not special simply because of his wealth and opulent living, but more the understanding of being born to a man who exemplified success through sheer grit and hard work, while demanding nothing less from his children. From a very young age, I was made to understand that very much is expected of me, and there were no ‘free rides’. I had to ‘put in our shift’, whether at school or in my chosen profession or venture. My father exemplified hard work and I was thought to embrace this. While he was a true and steadfast pillar of support to me and my siblings, he was also an ever-present enforcer of his core values of success through hard work and dedication, being of strong upright character, and having deep respect for others.

All said, and pardon my inevitable cliches, my father is an absolutely caring, highly supportive and lovable person. An ever-present provider, who’s family is at the very core of his being. He is the patriarch of the very large House of Igbinedion, with numbers akin to a small town. He is a unifier who is highly protective of the unity of his family. He is a stern and loving father, and a doting grandfather and great grandfather.

So, beyond his standing in society, the very many pioneering achievements (which are all well documented), the many accolades and tags, such as; style icon; force of nature; glitz and glamour, etc. my father is a highly conscientious man who has a deep sense of responsibility for both family and society at large, fully committed to doing what is right and ensuring his life goals serve his fellow man.

OMOSEDE GABRIELLA IGBINEDION (DAUGHTER) Being born into the House of Igbinedion, is to me not just a privilege but also a blessing. From a very young age I knew that I had an exceptional and wonderful Dad. Any man can father a child but it takes a great man to be a “Dad”.

I grew up in London, U.K, attending Primary School in St.Johns Wood, later went on to Roedean School, Igbinedion Education Centre, Cambridge College for Sixth Form Studies, University of Kent to study Law, University of Westminster to obtain a Masters Degree in Diplomatic Studies and finally back to Nigeria to attend NYSC and later Nigerian Law School.

I have wonderful childhood memories, I remember when I was about 4 years old at Primary School, the Headmistress asked to see my Mother as I was always busy on the class toy telephone ordering aeroplanes (obviously copying Daddy). My Dad took out time to always be at my school plays, ran in my parents races at school, making sure he was always present, even though it took him flying into London all the way from Nigeria.

Later on in life, I would say he has contributed greatly to the drive and passion I have for Business and Politics. Therefore, it did not come as much of a surprise when I became one of the youngest and youngest female to be elected into the Federal House of Representatives in 2015.

More than anything my Dad has taught me, humility,love and empathy, he is the greatest Dad and philanthropist I know. I wish him long life in good health and many more years to contribute towards the Nation and World.

IVIE NATASHA IGBINEDION (DAUGHTER)

AMENZE PRECIOUS IGBINEDION (DAUGHTER)

My Father is my rock, my inspiration and my mentor.

Each day with Esama has been a beautiful journey which I wouldn’t change for the world. As a child, time with Dad was always a colourful and exciting adventure. His generous, humble and majestic aura allowed me to experience multiple cultures and traditions through his lens over the years, which has been very enlightening. My Father is a true man of the people. A father to all.

My Dad taught me the virtue of love, kindness, forgiveness, selfrespect and acceptance. Choosing to live a life through the windshield, not the rear-view mirror, I admire his unique ways of always seeing the good in people, understanding what’s misunderstood and caring as no one else could.

He reminds me that in each moment, I’m loved, worthy and created for a purpose. I know that sometimes when my world seems to hold nothing but worries and problems. I only need the one person who cares about me unconditionally and is always there for me, my Dad. No matter how many obstacles that may come my way, he is and will always be, my hero, my protector and my first love.

One of the earliest memories of my childhood is dancing with my father. I remember the intensity of the dance, the colours, the joy, excitement, the cheers, singing, praise and the absolute beauty of the occasion that would remain indelible in my life. Those memories of the dance I shared with my father as a child helped to form a healthy sense of my identity as a woman in the world today.

Picking me up from school was a scene to behold, especially for my friends who would witness daddy coming in his Rolls Royce rolls in like a military convoy of the Commander in Chief, parking in front of my catholic school. The driver would open the back door and out pooped my dad, larger than life resplendent in his Benin regalia.

I loved his visits but my friends loved it even more. His visits evoked excitement and curiosity about the Benin kingdom and Africa that would last for weeks in my school. Whenever my daddy visited, he would invariably take me and my friends out for lunch at the royal China restaurant St John’s Wood. He would equally give us a little treat on our way home. The generosity and love of my father I have taken into childhood. I don’t know any other way than to give, to love and be the best version of myself. During our studies up to the university business affiliations, recreational pursuits, my charitable causes, friends and family, my mother and father have taught me the gift of humility. There is not a single arena that I now live that my father’s influence has not touched.

I love my father aka Papa Bear, the Lion of Okada and the Esama of Benin Kingdom because “NO’’ does not exist in my household. “Impossible” does not exist. With the security, solid foundation of which my parents gave us, the sky is just the view. My siblings and I are beyond privileged to be able to call him Daddy.

I thank God Almighty for him wooing my precious mother with the same heart of love and generosity.

Baba God has done me well.

SA’ADIYYAH OROBOSA MANTU (DAUGHTER Growing up with my dad brings back a lot of fond memories, he was surprisingly playful and quite involved, be it attending Netball Games or Poetry Competitions at Cheltenham Ladies’ College, nearly three hours out of London, when he was in the United Kingdom.

I do not believe there has ever been an occasion when my father has made me feel anything short of loved, respected and secured, and this genuine show of love, care and concern has been extended to my husband Alhaji Dr. (Barr.) Umar Ibrahim Mantu and our children Umar Khalifa and Ayaan Nasir. He leaves no stone unturned for

those close to his heart, just as much as he does for strangers.

We may not say it often enough, but he is and has always been truly inspirational and aspirational; there are countless reasons for many to want to emulate his good character, his faithfulness in God, his tenacious work ethic, his values, most charismatic personality and many more qualities that make him the enigmatic icon that he is.

There can and will ever only be one Sir. Chief (Dr.) Gabriel Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin Kingdom, he is quintessentially HIM and that is his super power, and he most definitely knows how to harness it. He has fulfilled his dreams and surpassed and exceeded all expectations.

His graceful ageing is a testament to the glory of God, as he enthusiastically continues to serve His purpose and do His work on Earth.

Undoubtedly, he is one of God’s chosen ones and for that we celebrate him, we treasure him and we continue to lift him up to throne of the Almighty, for His divine strength and grace upon his life.

...IN HIS SON’S WORDS In this exclusive interview with KONYE CHELSEA NWABOGOR, Michael Igbinedion, businessman and son of Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion lets us have a peek into the everyday life of his father.

Away from the public eye, what is Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion like?

Wow!!! Interesting question. He is difficult to define even from a personal perspective.

He is many things to many people. A colourful, unpredictable and amazing character. A benign conundrum. His daily lunches are legendary, always a spread, always ready to accept friends and strangers to the table.

Those who sit close to him will be usually served by him and overfed. As a father, he was extremely strict and brought us up almost like soldiers. An overboard disciplinarian. A stickler for no-nonsense behaviour. He shouted a lot and used colourful metaphors to drive home his point(s). Gosh - the conks, the Kung Fu that made you see a thousand stars and recalibrated your default settings. All this did not preclude his tough love and kindness. Once a situation is done, it is done. He does not hold things inside him and is quick to forgive and forget. To his grandchildren, he is a different ballgame. Extremely loving, caring and playful. If he had an Achilles heel, they would be it.

Though, as children, we disliked the iron-hand nurturing, in retrospect, it has paid dividends in making us who we are today. It drove most of us to be disciplined, ambitious and relentless go-getters and fiercely independent because we wanted to break away from the iron hand sooner than yesterday.

(Laughter). When we see him with his friends, he is witty, charming and playful. Across the board, he is a kind person and hates any kind of human suffering, especially lack of sustenance and injustice. He thoroughly enjoys giving and making a good impact in people’s lives, both private and publicly. In hindsight, his hard exterior in private was really to protect his empathetic qualities.

He is many things to many people.

A colourful, unpredictable and amazing character. A benign conundrum.

His daily lunches are legendary, always a spread, always ready to accept friends and strangers to the table.

It is a known fact that he achieved success the hard way. What are some of the values and principles behind his success that he passed on to you and your siblings?

His values and principles are way too numerous for the length of this article.

It is a whole library. One can write volumes on this. Nevertheless, here are a few fundamental ones. He firmly believes that if you are to be successful, either you work very hard for yourself or somebody else worked hard for you. There is no substitute for hard and smart work. Free yourself from mental shackles and encumbrances to achieve set goals. If you fail at something, never give up. You must keep chipping away at it or try different methods. You learn more from failure than success.

Yes, it is an excellent attitude to have that failure is not an option but know when to move on and try something else. Life is dynamic. “In three words, I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: It goes on.”

What he has passed on to me is spending sleepless nights and sacrificing for your goals. Focus on focus!!! Have tunnel vision attitude, eye of the tiger persona, mental and physical gladiator spirit, drown out internal and external noise, obliterate debilitating fears, eliminate bad habits that impede, dent or halt progress. Protect your health, defend your sanity and do everything to ensure your peace, especially as you get older.

Above all, believe in yourself and strongly believe in God not by mouth or touting the Bible but by deeds. Put God at the centre of everything you do.

Do not just pray for what you want but pray that your wishes align with what God wants for you. With God on your side, everything will be well, and if it is not, it is not yet over.

Did you at anytime, feel under pressure to live up to his larger than life status?

Naturally, but in time and with common sense, you learn that it will be hard. The larger than life status is God’s gift to him.

He is an extraordinary anomaly and a benign conundrum.

His type or personage comes perhaps every once in a century.

Yes, there is pressure as a son always to cross your T’s and dot your I’s.

You realize who you are and thus must always comport yourself appropriately. You also realize that you are constantly under the microscope. Greet somebody wrongly, and you are arrogant etc. Humility must be part and parcel of your DNA.

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THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9642 Sunday, October 3, 2021

LOOKS OF THE MONTH

STYLE & DESIGN

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With the return of red carpets, parties, and Fashion Weeks taking over the internet, STYLE has combed through every celebrity outfit from the past weeks and featured the single most conversation-worthy ensemble. As we welcome a whole new month, take a closer look at the best of September’s Celebrity Style and steal their look for yourself!

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9642 Sunday, October 3, 2021

STYLE & DESIGN MO ABUDU’s birthday dress was a statement piece and it turned heads at her party. She was all wrapped up in an Ivory Delta Feather Slip/Wrap Around Dress by Banke Kuku.

BY USIADE ISIOMA

LISA FOLAWIYO stunned in a fringe-trimmed look to the official launch of Shade Thomas-Fahm’s Legacy project, an historical walk into Nigeria fashion.

CHIOMA IKOKWU glowed in this highlighter twopieces cocktail outfit. Anyone who steals this look perfectly is definitely hitting the fashion skies. This outfit is sultry perfection and she killed it.

TOKE MAKINWA looked like pure sunshine in this bright orange dress. She showed off a sophisticated Self-Portrait dress in a gorgeous hue.

We hardly have words for this show-stopping look NANCY ISIME wore to the Global Citizen Live show. We’re in love with the whole moment from prints to fit to head wrap all in perfection.

LILIAN AFEGBEI outfit for a birthday party themed “a touch of orient” gave us all the romance in this simple but glamorous Erica Moore dress. The look was just enough to knock us over.

This is ideal transitional style. If you look up glamorous in the dictionary, we’re pretty sure you’d find this snap of TIWA SAVAGE in Veekee James dress.

TINICKA gave us a lesson in a vibrant hue that lands between blue and green at NYFW show. The blouse makes an amazing statement without doing much.

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