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THE ERELU KUTI OF LAGOS abiola DoSUNMU

S a c r i f i c e

In the end you should always do

the right thing even if it’s hard...

exalted ValueS

I look inside magazines, Instagram and several other platforms and I see various beautiful/attractive/sexy women in all shapes and sizes with one prominent

feature in common...not their sultry bosoms, not their mile long legs, not their bewitching smiles but their tiny waist lines! Personally, I’ve always believed this to be the most attractive feature in any woman. Although all the aforementioned features accentuate our femininity, the waistline to me is the most appealing factor. No matter what you wear, once the waistline is well defined, everything else just sits better. No bulges. Just a smooth

defined curvature. Some women have worked hard to achieve this while others are just naturally blessed with it.

Now there are those of us who have never had such luck when it comes to that area. And as such, we are careful to draw attention away from our waistline.

The trick is to wear outfits that compliment you in the most flattering manner without you having to worry about your bulges especially if, like me, you hate spanx! Those struggling

with their weight or waistlines can testify to this. At the same time, you don’t want to keep drowning yourself in baggy tops all the time because at times it even makes you look bigger than you actually are. So it’s all about finding a balance by wearing something loose but still fitting enough to be appealing to the eye. This is where our KIMONO JACKETS feature fits right in. Depending on your figure and size, you can wear the Kimono loose or form-fitting with the belt tightly knotted. The amazing thing about this style is that it elongates your frame because the pants and the kimono are of the same fabric. And because they usually come in silk patterned print, they conceal all your wobbly bits. It sits well on women of all shapes and sizes. The trick is to ensure the pants are loose and flared. It therefore comes as no surprise how it is trending at the moment. So why not embrace the inner you and acquire one of them!

Content

thisday styleFashion Director/executive eDitor

RuTh OSIME

eDitor Print OlufuNKE BABS-KufEJI

eDitor Digital KONyE NwABOgOR

style corresPonDent MOJISOlA AllEN

style corresPonDent SAfINA MOhAMMED

senior Designer MAThIAS ARChIBONg

contributorsRuKy SAlAKO

JulIET AluAyODEJI ROTINwA

PhotograPhersTy BEllO

REzE BONNA

Director, Print ProDuction. ChuKS ONwuDINJO

08111847085

08111847086

08111847087

08116759745

08083960527

08077092196

Fashion Director/executive eDitor

FashionSocietyGBEMI GIWA-OSAGIE TURNS 50 PG 4 & 5

AYODEJI & FIYINFOLUWA WALK DOWN THE AISLEPG 6 & 7

This year marks the 43rd year of Erelu Abiola Dosunmu as Erelu Kuti of lagos an eighteen-century yoruba royal that served as a ranking chieftess of the realm as the ceremonial queen mother, and reigns as regent of lagos upon the death of an incumbent monarch. She also recently celebrated her 70th birthday, which attracted the who-is-who of the society. FunKe babs-KuFeJi caught up with this woman of substance who spoke to her about turning 70, being the Erelu Kuti and more.

TRENDS FOR NOWPG 8 & 9

DEAR WATCHER OF TIMES: HOW POWERFUL CAN MERCY BEPG 9

5 MINUTES WITHTRACY NWAPAPG 17

KIMONO JACKETSPG 18

JEANS ON THE REDCARPETPG 20

LDA X VLISCOPG 22

YOMI BADEJO-OKUNSANYA & SHUPO SHASORE OMORUYI GIWA-OSAGIE , MOTOLA & DJ OMOLAYOLE

FOLLY COKER , ENITAN OSHODI & JIBOLA AFOLABI

BAMIDELE ABIODUN

BIYI & SOLA

ADESUWA GIWA-OSAGIE

DEMEJI EDWARDS

BOLA FETUGA

CHRIS & IJEOMA UBOSI FOLA OMOLAYOLE & BUNMI TEJUOSHO

Recently at the house of the giwa –Osagie’s in Ikoyi, gbemi the beautiful wife of uyi giwa-Osagie celebrated her 50th birthday. The day started with a church service held at their house attended by close family and friends who joined the family to pray with their wife, mother and sister to god for preserving her life thus far. later that evening to celebrate her new age among other achievements, countless successes and riches a party was held to rejoice and dance with the celebrant who had so much to be thankful for and was much attended by her family, friends, well-wishers amongst others. Being the celebrant gbemi had changed from her morning traditional gold embellished iro and buba to an elegant brown jumpsuit comfortable to dance the night away. guest were treated to an array of dishes, fine wine, cocktails and champagne as a DJ played jams from oldies till date and people gathered to dance with the celebrant. It was a joyous day for gbemi as she was able to share her special day with all those she loved.

GBEMI GIWA-OSAGIE TURNS 50

B y F U N K E B A B S - K U F E J I

TOYIN OGUNDAIRI EROSE GIWA-OSAGIE

BOLAJI OGUNDAIRO

GBEMI SHASORE

BUKKY BADEJO-OKUSANYA MOSES & BISI ANITE

RICHARD GIWA-OSAGIE

YEMI & OLABISI

KAREEMA DE-LAURENT JIBOLA AYO-AFOLABIBOLA AYENI & PAT FANIRAN OYINKAN AFOLABI

IBUKUN & CHRISTINE BADEJO-OKUNSANYA

THE OLORI TEJUOSO’SUYI & GBEMI GIWA-OSAGIE

Recently, the son of RTD Major general Samson Owonibi and the daughter of Chief of Defence, general gabriel Olonisakin tied the knot in Abuja. The wedding nuptials took place at Redeemed Christian Church (RCCg), wuse II while the reception was at Old Parade grounds, Area 10.

Needless to say it was a very high calibred ceremony with the prestigeous guests who all turned up to make this day extra special for the lovebirds. friends and family of the couple added so much colour and glamour to this special occassion.

like all parents who have always prayed for such happy occassions for their offsprings, this day was a show of their special love for the newly weds. They left no stone unturned to ensure the day ended with a lingering memory not just for the lucky couple but also for those who attended.

AYODEJI & FIYINFOLUWAWALK DOWN THE AISLE

PARENTS OF THE GROOM: NIYI & ANGELA ADEBAYOPARENTS OF THE BRIDE, GENERAL & MRS ABAYOMIGABRIEL OLONISAKIN ZAMANI LEKWOT MICHAEL ODUNAYO AJAYI. OBA ADEWALE SHOTOBI ALEX BADE HALIRU MOHAMMED BELLO

OBA AWOSLE ADETOKUNBO BABATUNDE

VICE PRESIDENT PROF YEMI OSIBANJO

BURATAIOBA ADEBANJO ADEDINI YUSUF BARNABAS BALA TAYO OGUNTOYIBO LAI MOHAMMED

UDOMA UDO UDOMA

OBA ADEYEYE OGUNWUSI

KABIRU GAYA

FEMI ADESINA

BINTA GARBAOBA MICHAEL AJAYI OGBONAYA ONU

THE COUPLE, AYODEJI & FIYINFOLUWA OWONIBI

PARENTS OF THE GROOM, MAJ GEN (RTD) & MRS FUNSO SAMSON OWONIBI

OBA OLUSHOLA ALA & HIS OLORI

ABIKE DABIRI

TAJUDDEN YUSUF

H. I. & NIKE AYOOLA

MRS & MRS S. J. DAVIES

JULIUS & YEMI OSHANUPIN

OBA ADEBANJO ADEDINI

THE COUPLE, AYODEJI & FIYINFOLUWA OWONIBI

OBA ADEWALE SHOTOBI

ANSWERS NEXT PAGE...For your comments, contributions, connect with me here: @TonyeCole1 on Twitter.

Times…Watcher

tonye cole

Dear

of

hOw POwERful CAN MERCy BE?

I sat silently observing the scene unfold before me wondering just how we got ourselves into this hot pot of bitter brew. I seemed to have been transported back in time to the era when a severe famine had driven the children

of Jacob scrambling to Egypt in search of food and they found themselves trembling in the presence of this one man, not quite the king but yet holding the entire nations resources and revenue in his iron grip. Full of power and second only to the king, he had the power to make or break any who came before his throne. Surely had they known exactly who he was and how he got there, they would never have come that day.

I imagined the turmoil in this man’s heart as he looked upon us as Joseph must have done so many millennia ago, seeing his brothers who had betrayed him so many years before standing repentant before him, needing him and completely at his mercy, helpless to act without his say so. Indeed our story was not so dissimilar for an innocent act of omission coupled with some poor judgment had left him feeling betrayed, abandoned, and cast aside. Days turned to months and then to years, he was all but forgotten with little contact until one day, a surprising change in government swept him into the pinnacle of power. His deep hurt was etched on his face yet his heart ached, just as Joseph’s did, to forgive and love his brothers as he surely must have always done.

The Lord God Almighty is a God of extreme patience and He sets in motion actions that unfold in years to teach eternal lessons. In His class of life we learn the pain of betrayal and the joy of forgiveness, we taste the bitterness of revenge and the exilir of power. We are confronted daily with opportunities to rise above the injustice meted to us as we return evil for good and above all, we come face to face each day with ourselves in the mirror knowing that we must be better today than we were the day before. Revenge can often seem sweet but the greatest joy the heart can know is when mercy is granted where bitterness held long held sway.

Do you have what it takes to forgive?May God help us do so today.

YOUTH ENTERPRISE WITH INNOVATION IN NIGERIA

How Entrepreneur Built Fashion Powerhouse From Selling Boxer Pants

My Business Story

Wh e n S e y i Adekunle was participating in the one-y e a r compu lsory

National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme in Akwa Ibom State in 2001, he knew his N3,600 allowee and an additional N1,000 stipend from his place of primary assignment would never be sufficient to prepare him for life after service.

It's especially so if he had to purchase nice suits and fancy shoes to hunt for jobs in oil companies or banks where he had always wanted to work.

Seyi looked back at that time with a half-smile: “It was during my NYSC that I caught the vision to start something. Initially, it was not for the sake of business but for me to make ends meet, to buy my suits, shoes, etc., in preparation for life after NYSC. So, I started making boxer shorts. There were some tailors opposite the secondary school where I was teaching. After classes, I would go there to fix buttons and do some basic tailoring chores. At that point, I didn't know that was what I was going to do for a living.”

Seyi, a graduate of Geology from the University of Maiduguri, soon found himself shuttling between Uyo and the commercial city of Aba, Abia State, to source for fabrics needed for the tailoring business.

He recalled: “Some of my friends would go to Aba on some days to buy fabrics and I would follow them. Then I found out that I could make a shirt with N200 or N300 and sell it for about N600. However, I still was not doing it as a businessman but just to support myself and have a little extra savings.”

After his NYSC, Seyi left for Abuja to pursue his dream of landing a white-collar job.

“I entered a night bus,” he said. “It was my first visit to Abuja. I knew the city had a lot of organisations where I could drop my CV. Interestingly, I took along a few boxer shorts and shirts I had made for my friends; I wanted to do something by the side while waiting for a job.”

That singular decision became perhaps the most life-changing decision for Seyi. In the days and weeks that followed, it opened his mind to the prospect of fashion designing for the very first time.

He stated: “My first job hunt took me to the then Standard Trust Bank. I had a friend working there, so I brought some shirts for him. While we were hanging out thereafter, some of his friends bought some shirts from me. Two days after, with the little money I made from the sales, I took a night bus to Aba, picked some fabrics from the market and gave them to my tailor.”

From there, Seyi began to express his creativity with fabrics. He was mixing colours, matching stripes and expe r imen t i ng w i t h va r i ous materials. That was how he sowed the seed that would later grow into Vodi Tailors.

“A few months after I came to Abuja,” Seyi recalled. “I spoke to a guy called David, a tailor in Aba, and told him that I wanted to start something in Abuja. It took me several days to convince him as a young man who had never been out of Aba before to come and join me.”

Seyi was, however, still obsessed with getting a white-collar job. He continued to apply for employment even when he had set up his first

tailoring shop at Gwagwalada, a suburb of Abuja, where he was paying a rent of N30, 000 per annum. As he waited for his dream job, his business was growing.

“From saving N50, 000, I began to save N100, 000 and then N1million,” he recalled. “When the business grew to that point, I knew it was the right decision and I didn't have to wait to be called for any paid employment.”

From a small shop in Gwagwalada, Vodi Tailors has grown to become one of the most sought-after fashion houses in Abuja, with over 100 workers. It is now located at t he upmarke t Ade tokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse II.

Seyi confessed that providing creative solutions to customer's needs and observing market trends were vital to his success. His clientele base has grown and he has diversified.

He said: “We are now into dry-cleaning (Vodi Clean) while the tailoring arm remains Vodi Tailors. The reason we went into dry-cleaning was because many of our customers complained about the handling of their clothes. Then the female section of the business came out of the fact that when our male cl ients received their products their wives would start asking how their tailor got to deliver so quickly. Can't they start making for women?”

But, by far, the arm of the business tha t g ives Sey i the most satisfaction is his fashion training school, which has turned out 1,000 graduates in 16 years and brought him face-to-face with the high and mighty, including the Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima.

Now Seyi has even bigger dreams: “I have travelled to over 10 countries to understudy how they produce their fabrics. I have trained in India, China, Austria and Switzerland, and I have seen fabrics being produced first-hand. So, it is my dream that one day we will be able to set up our own textile factory.”

This enterprise education page is an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Finance

From saving N50,000,

“I began to save N100, 000 and then

N1million. When the business grew to that

point, I knew it was the right decision and I

didn't have to wait to be called for any paid

employment

There just isn't enough time for everything on our to-do list—and there never will be. Successful people don't try to do everything. They learn to focus on the most important tasks and make sure those get done. They eat their frogs.

There's an old saying that if the first thing you do each morning is eat a live frog, you'll have the satisfaction of knowing you're done with the worst thing you'll have to do all day. For Tracy, eating a frog is a metaphor for tackling your most challenging task—but also the one that can have the

greatest positive impact on your life. Eat That Frog! shows you how to organize each day so you can zero in on these critical tasks and accomplish them efficiently and effectively.

In this fully revised and updated edition, Tracy adds two new chapters. The first explains how you can use technology to remind yourself of what is most important and protect yourself from what is least important. The second offers advice for maintaining focus in our era of constant distractions, electronic and otherwise.

But one thing remains unchanged: Brian Tracy cuts to the core of what is vital to effective time management: decision, discipline, and determination. This life-changing book will ensure that you get more of your important tasks done—today!

Culled from: Amazon.com

ou opened your

Ybusiness in a small space in a busy city, say Lagos, Kano or Aba. Your hard work paid off and business

started booming. And though you were grateful for the expansion, you suddenly find yourself having to juggle more than one location, a larger team of employees and the needs of hundreds or even thousands of customers. It can seem overwhelming, sure. But with the right preparation, managerial skills and dedicated workforce to support you, you can keep your business running smoothly as it continues to flourish. Let's take a look at four strategies you can take to juggle multiple locations, tasks and people all at once.

1. Check in with locations

You need to witness firsthand how other locations are doing. Don't sit in Kano open a branch in Kaura Namoda and expect it to do well. When visiting your branches, you should be looking at how employees are interacting with your customers and with one another, whether those employees are taking accurate inventory counts, how clean the stores are and whether or not they need renovations and repairs. It's not enough to send an assistant or a manager to do this job. As owner, you know what a successful store should look like. It's also important to check in with your various locations on a regular basis. This doesn't mean you're physically there every day. Once a week or even once every few weeks should be sufficient as long as there are no complaints. If you're simply checking in with employees, set up virtual meetings using available social media networks, especially WhatsApp, FaceTime or Skype. Make sure that at these meetings, you start with the positives first, and let employees know that you value their dedication.

2. Ask for weekly progress reports

Let's say you visit your stores and talk to employees. Everything may seem fine, but you have to know for sure. This is why weekly progress reports are critical. Weekly reports help with goal-setting, show employees who are doing great with sales and who may require more help, and let you put into writing any

needs that certain locations may be lacking. Progress reports are objective and show, on paper, your stores' strengths and weaknesses.

3. Host a party or gathering

Your employees can make or break your company. You want to make them feel appreciated and part of a group effort. A few times a year, then, hold a get-together or party so that you can talk to your employees one-on-one, hear them out if they have any issues and strengthen your relationships. It's also a chance for employees at different stores to get to know one another. Remember to keep things casual; the point of the gathering is to make employees feel relaxed and closer to you and the business.

4. Hold quarterly training sessions

A quarterly training session is where you're able to talk about professional topics with your employees. You can bring in interesting guest speakers like corporate comedians or other successful business owners, do team-building exercises and go over your goals for the quarter. At these sessions, the objective is to ensure that everybody is on the same page, and no one feels as if he or she is lagging behind. It's where employees can get answers to their questions and be motivated to improve their work. To show your admiration for your employees, you might think about handing out awards and gift cards to those who have reached and/or exceeded their store's sales goals. Managing multiple locations can seem overwhelming, but you need to always remember that it's a positive thing. Your business is doing well, and you have the proof to show it.

Adapted from entrepreneur.com

Super Tips for Managing Multiple Locations of Your Business

Academy

Seyi Adekunle ditched his dream for white-collar job and turned his hobby into a cash cow.

Business Brief: Started: 2002Instagram: Voditailorswww.voditailors.com

Folusho (middle), sorting out the fingerlings

Do you know any entrepreneur between the ages of 18 and 40

with an inspiring Business Story?

@youwin_connect youwinconnectng @youwinconnect

BookReview EAT THAT FROG!

– Brian Tracy

Stop ProcrastinatingGet More of the Important Things Done Today!

WITH SEYI ALAWODE

FROM THE

Hi readers! Welcome to the second of many episodes of #FromTheMillennials where I, Seyi Alawode, 19 years old, try to bridge the gap between my generation and my parents’. If you didn’t get to read last week’s, we

touched on Mental Health; the most popular response to my tweet that read ‘What is the one thing you wish our parents’ generation understood?’. After receiving thousands of replies from all over the world, the second most popular response was to do with FEMINISM.

By the frequency of ‘I wish my parents understood what feminism was’ kind of tweets, I can tell that Nigerian parents are almost as ill-informed about feminism as they were about Mental Health, and this is affecting your daughters in various ways you do not seem to comprehend. However, not to fear. I’m here to change that!

Do read on, particularly fathers, brothers, husbands and husbands to be.

What is feminism?Before we tackle what feminism is, let me start by

explaining what feminism is NOT. Feminism is NOT women trying to take over the world. Feminism is NOT radical. Feminism is NOT man hating. Feminism is NOT women being stubborn. Feminism DOES NOT mean women are superior.

From Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s famous definition, feminism advocates for the ‘social, political, and economic equality of the sexes’, i.e. the fact that women are born equal and not inferior. A lot of Nigerians as previously mentioned, seem to misunderstand this concept, at the expense of your daughters. Here are examples of statements I’ve received from Nigerian adults regarding it:

‘At your age. Please what exactly do you know about feminism?’Ah! Got to love the classic ‘I-have-been-on-this-earth-

longer-than-you-so-you-know-absolutely-nothing’ arguments many adults project (something many of your kids complained about, funnily enough). Unfortunately, knowledge or lack thereof, knows no age. It does not take a 50-year-old genius to understand the basic concept of gender equality.

‘But feminism is so radical! Why can’t things be left the same?’See, statements such as these confuse me a lot. Every

single doctrine on the face of this earth has a radical aspect. Christianity can be radical. Socialism can be radical. Liberalism can be radical.

Secondly, things cannot be left the same. If things were left the same, I as a woman, would not be able to vote. Had feminists not fought for our rights, to the Aunty reading this, you would not be able to drive that car that you have. If not for feminism, I would not be educated or be writing this article. I would not have a voice. So yes we have come a long way, but we still have a long way to go.

‘Ah! You’re a feminist? Who will marry you?’If a potential husband was to understand that feminism

simply meant respect and equal treatment for women, yet STILL did not support that, from the responses I received, it is safe to say such a man is not someone your precious daughter would want.

Now hopefully that has been cleared up, so the only hurdle here is application. What are the complaints that your daughters as individuals have projected? What are the issues they’ve aired out on Twitter and wish you understood? Bear with me, as I try and explain how this can be tackled, using the tweets I received as a basis.

Understand that daughter was not created simply to become a Mrs.

TWEET: ‘Stop teaching us [your daughters] to be walked all over, all in the name of raising a good wife’ (paraphrased)

In other words, we as women did not come to this Earth solely to be somebody’s wife, contrary to popular Nigerian belief. It’s worrying to see a lot of parents ‘train’ their daughters to bottle in a lot of suffering because such is believed to be a quality of the perfect wife. That isn’t healthy, and will adversely affect your daughter’s mental health. Instead, why not take a feminist standpoint and teach your SONS as well as daughters to aspire to be good spouses? There is more to a woman than to just be man’s companion, and until parents realise that, many of your daughters will shy away from said marriage. This is already happening in fact, as a 2016 study carried out by TIME magazine showed that only 7% of female millennials prioritised getting married and starting a family.

Additionally, it seems to be part of our culture according to experienced tweeters, to start ‘preparing’ your daughter for marriage as soon as her education is complete. Many daughters find a huge problem with this. Some of your kids have amazing ambitions that they are discouraged from achieving and are instead told something along the lines of ’go and find rich husband, jo!’. Pushing your daughters to be financially dependent on a husband can be extremely problematic, as we will find in the next point.

Please raise your daughter to be independent.

TWEET: ‘It’s not just my husband’s house. It’s mine too!’ (paraphrased).

Another thing many of your daughters worried about

was the notion that they have to leave the authority of their parents only to fall under the authority of a man. yes, it was the norm in the ‘olden days’, but we are in a new era, an era where independence is key for most millennials.

According to the same TIME magazine study, financial independence was a top priority for 40% of 18-26 year olds. This brings me to my next point: please raise your daughters to have a financially independent mindset once they leave education.

Not only does financial independence reflect a sense of responsibility, but it is worthwhile for a number of reasons:

A long lasting marriage isn’t definite. She doesn’t have to stay in an unhappy marriage due

to lack of financial independence.Nobody knows tomorrow. A fallback option is always

necessary.I’d like to believe that as a parent, you have spent

yEARS and yEARS of hard work and money giving your daughter a good education and raising her to be a confident, beautiful woman. Why would you go through all these years of toil, only for the queen you raised to fully depend on someone else’s child?

Lastly, treat your sons and daughters the same way.

TWEET: ‘You have so many sons, yet I’m the one doing all the housework. I am not their maid’. (paraphrased)

This is another thing that frustrates dozens of your daughters! Now, I’m not here to claim that daughters shouldn’t be domesticated. I’m here to argue that ALL children should be domesticated. Cooking, for example, is a basic life and survival skill that EVERyONE should possess, not just women. Imagine a scenario where a wife or househelp are both unavailable for a period of time. Will your son as a husband be unable to survive by himself based on ‘cooking and cleaning is for women’?

TWEET: ‘Parents need to start holding their sons accountable!’ (paraphrased)

This is extremely important! Our parents’ generation is very guilty of letting their sons get away with terrible actions by saying ‘boys will be boys’, which is a rather toxic mentality. It is something majority of your daughters with brothers have noticed, and do not appreciate.

Think of it this way: if you carry on allowing your sons act a certain way simply because they are men, you will be directly responsible for raising a generation of husbands that may not respect your well raised daughters as much.

That wraps up today’s discussion! If you were unable to understand the message, at least take from it these two things:

- FEMINISM IS NOT RADICAL. IT SIMPLY MEANS EQUALITY BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN. - TREAT YOUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS THE SAME. UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR DAUGHTER IS HER OWN INDIVIDUAL AND DOES NOT BELONG TO A HUSBAND.

Stay tuned for the episode where we discuss the third most popular issue your kids wish you understood: ‘That a university education is not fit for everyone’.

** Join in on the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #FTM!**

Twitter – SeyiAlInstagram – Alawode_Website – www.merakigirlhub.com

Think of it this way: if you carry on allowing your sons

act a certain way simply because they are men, you will be directly responsible

for raising a generation of husbands that may not respect your well raised

daughters as much

Feminism: Your daughter is her own individual.

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TRACY NWAPA

L i f e S T Y L e

WITHminutes

Tell us about your different businesses?Ok, I’d start with “Interior Culture”, which is my first child. At Interior Culture, we curate and design full spaces, as well as locally produce and procure furniture and accessories for mostly commercial and residential clients. I have had a genuine passion for interior design and architecture since I can remember and I’m grateful to God (and my brother) for leading me to pursue it seriously as a career. We have designed quite a number of spaces in locations all over Nigeria. My second business is “Trayciees Pieces” or “TP”. It is my wig line that only just started as a stand- alone business in January of 2016. Honestly, the idea of creating a wig line was unintentional. But each and every time I stepped out of my house, I received compliments about my hair. Being naturally entrepreneurial, it only made sense to turn my flair for hair into a business. I also have a passion for beauty, and I am obsessed with making women feel and look beautiful (you can ask my sisters, haha!) So as a plug, to those who desire to own their businesses, start to think about what you are good at, and what you enjoy doing for free. My middle name is Obiageli, which means “came into the world to enjoy”. My Instagram influencer page, @tray_ciee, was pretty much coined after the meaning of Obiageli. And I choose to embody my name by living a life of fulfillment and a life of quality. Quality doesn’t always mean luxury. Rather, to me, it means finding your own happiness and enjoying each and every second of life. I reveal various aspects of my life through certain channels like fashion, décor, beauty and travel, and I occasionally post quotes and offer advice I like to think are inspirational. Due to the deliberate method by which I curated my Instagram page, I have been able to monetize my brand by promoting the products or services of certain companies who wish to use my influence to sell their products or services.

How do you combine all of this? Honestly, I think it’s because I have been able to integrate my businesses into my life. More importantly, I have an excellent team of staff and co-workers who make my life easier. I have learnt, in my 5 years of being a business owner, to delegate properly and manage time and resources wisely and I believe that this combination has helped me run both businesses efficiently and effectively.

What is your typical day like? Hardly any day goes according to plan, but what is important is how I’m able to turn every disappointment into an opportunity and tackle every situation quickly and aggressively. I’m not a morning person. I hate mornings. Even though I wake up very early, I never actually leave my house for the office earlier than 10:30 or 11am unless I have an early meeting; but I’m always working. I usually start my day by responding to emails and phone calls; planning my day with my to-do list; checking/uploading content on my social media platforms; and sometimes I meet with my dad to get a few words of wisdom and encouragement. I do all this before I get dressed for the office. I plan all my outfits

With a growing social media presence, Tracy Nwapa is inspiring her followers not only

with her elegant and exclusive style, but also the seemingly effortless way, which juggles her

different businesses. She recently had a chat with Konye Chelsea Nwabogor and they talk about

her her passion for home interior and what inspires

a week ahead because I’m that organized. In fact, organized isn’t the precise word, I’M ANAL!!! My wardrobe and beauty products are laid out in a way that I can see everything because I suffer from chronic OCD (laughs). I’m not a breakfast person because it makes me slow, so a cup of coffee or green tea usually suffices and then I take a packed lunch to work. Before I leave the house though, I have a mini informal photo shoot directed by my assistant or any of the domestic staff in the house depending on who is available, (don’t judge me). In the car, I edit my pictures and upload them to Instagram/Snapchat. I usually get to the office (which houses both my TP studio and IC demo room and office) at about 11:15am and visit the TP studio first. I brief my staff on what the plan of action is and then I walk one door down to the IC office where the action happens with my ever so efficient team. In the evening, I’m usually handling wig installations or visiting a site. I retire from the office around 9pm or later, and head home to watch my favorite Telenovelas on Telemundo.

Your Instagram account shows your love of travel and fashion, does that influence your interior style?Yes, my Instagram page shows you how to LIVE OBIAGELI, which means how to enjoy your life. I showcase my style, my businesses, beauty tips, travel and most importantly, I motivate women who look up to me for inspiration. Everything around me influences my interior design style. The thing about design is you have to expose yourself to different forms of inspiration and you have to have an open mind. This I try to do everyday and I think it definitely influences my approach to design.

How important do you think social media is when it comes to attracting future clients/businesses?

Social media is an exceptional tool for promoting your business. Luckily my businesses are very visual so it really

helps when we post pictures of our work and clients can actually see our past projects.

Eighty percent of my clients come from social media. In today’s world, social

media is extremely powerful so I would say, use it wisely!

The human hair business seems to be a very saturated one, how have you been able to keep afloat?I have been running TP for only a year and a half, but never in my wildest dreams did I think it would

grow to this magnitude. Over 500 wigs sold, almost

20,000 followers on Instagram in just 18 months? God has

been too awesome. Trayciees Pieces was one of the first illusion

wig lines that started in Lagos in January of 2016. I started this business

with the impression that I will sell 15 wigs per month. That immediately multiplied to 40 wigs

per month and currently our numbers have increased to 70 wigs per month, and rising! I wasn’t experienced in hair types and textures when I initially started, in fact to be very honest, my very first hair quality wasn’t great but I continued to research and tried different vendors until I finally found the best quality.

What sets your company apart from its competitors?I am highly innovative and I don’t believe in doing things that have already been done, especially in this part of the world. For instance, the lace I use for my wigs is completely different. It doesn’t require any form of adhesive. My brand new line, TP 3 in 1 wig, is in a league of its own. I designed this wig personally based on the needs of my clients and visited the factory in Qingdao, China to perfect it. We have a full range of products that just launched, which consist of flat irons, curling irons, hair care products and lifestyle accessories. I believe that TP has to set itself apart from the various other hair businesses not only in Nigeria but also across Africa.

Many influencers tend to move from Instagram to other social media platforms as well. Is that something you would be interested in? Do you plan to create a blog or a YouTube channel?I definitely plan to start a blog and YouTube channel. I’m just pacing myself right now so I don’t get overwhelmed and burn out.

Did you ever think you’d be well on your way to building a brand so soon?I just clocked the big 30. I officially became a registered business owner in 2012 and I never believed I’d be where I am today. I’m grateful to God, my family and friends and all my haters who have inspired and pushed me to do this.

If you were to give a young lady out there advice on finding herself, what would it be? To my young sisters out there who are still trying to find themselves, please know that you are not alone. Everyone had a low before they got to their high. Enjoy being a young woman; take your time to find your passion and your purpose. If you are in tune with it, you will feel it and you must be prepared for it. Harness that passion and start small. I promise you before you know, you will be on the path to success and greatness. It’s not an easy or straight road but it’s worth it.

Any new projects you are working on? Apart from releasing my TP lifestyle products, I recently collaborated with a women’s wear line named Ilare on their pre-fall collection. I’m super excited about it so please look out for it.

To my young sisters out there who are still trying to find

themselves, please know that you are not alone. Everyone had a low before they got to

their high. Enjoy being a young woman; take your time to

find your passion and your purpose. If you are in tune with it, you will feel it and you must

be prepared for it.

S T Y L E & d E S i g nTHISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 8165 Sunday, August 27, 2017

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ERElU abiola

DoSUNMU

This year marks the 43rd year of Erelu Abiola Dosunmu as Erelu Kuti of Lagos an eighteen-century Yoruba royal that served as a ranking chieftess of the realm as the ceremonial queen mother, and reigns as regent of Lagos upon the death of an incumbent monarch. She also recently celebrated her 70th birthday, which attracted the who-is-who of the society. Known for her ageless beauty and her love of wearing white ensembles, Erelu is an epitome of grace and class. Born in Kano into the royal family of Prince Adewunmi and Ajoke Dosunmu of Lagos Island, she studied Business Administration in London before delving into the world of business and fashion that skyrocketed her to the limelight. Not soon after, was she conferred with the title of Erelu Kuti and has since then till date remained a notable figure in Lagos and Nigeria. Funke Babs-Kufeji caught up with this woman of substance who spoke to her about turning 70, being the Erelu Kuti and more.

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For a woman who just turned 70, you look very fit and agile. Is there a secret to you looking this good?

If I had a secret, I assure you I would have bottled it, so I can make a lot of money from it. There is no secret. First, it is the grace of God and my usual mantra: doing things in moderation. I think if you try to do things in moderation and do things right, it is bound to add value to your person: sleep when you are supposed to, eat right, don’t go overboard with your drinks, exercise and try to enjoy a free and less stressful mind.

You are the Erelu Kuti of Lagos until the college of kingmakers chooses a substantive successor. What are your roles in recent times compared to what obtained before in Lagos?

Initially, it was definitely a role for a very strong personality living in a male dominated society. She was into influencing policies, the reins of the king, the market, and the negotiations and dealing with foreign settlers and business people and visitors; it was very strong. And I would say that the position was definitely one that carried a lot of energy and strength in the past. And, of course, with the modern exigencies, you had to exhibit the same trait, maybe slightly different from what it was then, but you are still expected to play your part within the society and the royal house, despite the fact that the populace have moved on from what used to obtain in those days – the total adulation of royalty. In those days there was that aura and you practically lived off the sweat of the people. But today the people expect you to add value to their lives. So apart from carrying out your duties, you still have to be there for the people to be able to answer some of their yearnings. I think the responsibilities are greater now than ever before.

How did you come about being the Erelu Kuti?Basically, it is by bloodline. But also you have to

have caught the attention of the family for them to be able to vote for you and proclaim you as the person who can do the job well. And I think despite my young age, there must have been something that the family saw that made them agree that one should play that role.

At what point will you seize to be the Erelu Kuti of Lagos?

Being the Erelu Kuti is for life. It is like when you have a prince and he’s been appointed to be next in line to the throne. A lot of these hereditary traditional titles are for life. As long as you have breath in you and you uphold the norms and etiquettes that are expected of the holder of that title, you hold it for life.

In comparison to the Lagos you knew and experi-enced growing up, what will you say has changed and what will you like to see take prominence like it used to then?

Definitely, one significant thing has changed about Lagos: we used to be our brother’s keeper. And I am not just saying this in a careless way. In actual fact, we were our brother’s keeper. We would look af-ter one another, one another’s children, help one an-

other. That was the Lagos I grew up in. And definitely, it was a cleaner place. I would love to see that Lagos back again, where everybody is particular about his or her environment. They would make effort to clean it and not wait for government to do it for them. Government can be the overall supervisor or care-taker, but individuals should be seen taking care of their environment. That was what we did in the past. Maybe that was because we had sanitary inspectors who checked houses for healthy conditions. I would like to see that come back. But, of course, with the insecurity of today, one might not want strangers into their homes. But I would really like to see that Lagos again. And it is possible, if we make up our minds to do it ourselves, without waiting for anybody breath-ing down our necks.

Its often said no one is from Lagos and it’s a no man’s land, what is your view on this saying?

I think people who make such statements are not thinking people. Because those who are born and bred in Lagos cannot say it is a no man’s land. Of course it is somebody’s land. It is for everybody.

It’s just that some people were there before others. So when people make statements like that, they are being ignorant and erroneous. It belongs to some people, just like Zamfara, Kano belongs to some peo-ple. All the people who claim Kano are not all Hausas. We’ve had yorubas and Igbos living in Kano all their lives, so they tell you it is their state. So it belongs to both the original and later settlers. I wish they would stop making such ignorant claims.

Now you have to define the criteria that make you a bonafide member of the state: that I accept. But you just have to recognize the hierarchy of Lagos’ owner-ship.

Before you were conferred as the Erelu Kuti of Lagos and restricted to wearing only white, what other colours did you like and which was your favourite?

I’ve always loved and worn white. But growing up, I’ve also worn other colours. Even after I became Erelu, I have worn different colours of cloth. But my favourite has always been white, yellow or any other pastel colours.

But my wearing of white stems from the fact of a very significant event in my life. As a young person, I was obliged to wear black to mourn my late husband, at a very early age, my twenties. And I swore, after that bitter experience, never to wear black again. Then I gravitated towards white. And, of course, being an Erelu also enhanced that. Because the first Erelu ordinarily would wear white on daily basis to adjudi-cate each cases in her palace or go to the market. But on very special occasions, she would wear the most beautiful attire – it can be any colour. We do wear colours if we want to, and I have done that on few occasions when we have very big events. The last Eyo, I had blue.

Lagos recently turned 50 and a series of celebra-tion and activities were held to commemorate the event, what are your thoughts on the celebra-tion and would you have like to see something in particular done which didn’t feature during the celebration?

It was a very successful celebration; varieties of events took place. It showcased Lagos in its true colours. Perhaps, the area of sensitization of the populace and carrying more people along could have been done better. A lot more people could have joined in the celebration. But on the whole, it was a beautiful outing, it was colourful and it brought back a lot of old memories.

You were very active on the Lagos social scene but suddenly took a back seat, is this deliberate?

I don’t know about that. Some people still com-plain that I should slow down. They keep reminding me of my age and say I should slow down. As I said, being visible in society is performing my duty as Erelu. In those days, people wanted the Oba to attend their events. But if he couldn’t go, the next choice was the Erelu. But now, you have white cap chiefs going to some of these events; which is good, because it relieves one of the stresses as one gets older, rather than when one was younger and could go to three to five events in a day. Now, I’ve got to slow down

Being the Erelu Kuti is for life. It is like when you

have a prince and he’s been appointed to be next in

line to the throne. A lot of these hereditary traditional titles are for life. As long as you have breath in you and you uphold the norms and etiquettes that are expected

of the holder of that title, you hold it for life

PhO

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Th

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C O V E R THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 8165 Sunday, August 27, 2017

and let other people take on some of the roles. That’s why it seems like that. But I am not doing anything unusual.

Wearing white everyday must be very tasking, how do you come up with styles and what to wear everyday?

I design most of my outfits. I get tailors to machine them. you know I have always been in the fashion industry. It has become more like a hobby – design-ing my white outfits gives me a lot of joy and keeps me going and anything attractive, I try to see it in the context of my wearing white and adapt it in such a way that it suits my style. Because, being Erelu, you have to stay within a certain limit of dressing. you cannot be too avant-garde. you can be modern, but certain norms are still expected of you that interprets the culture. So that’s the inspiration – thinking about the milieu and designing things that go with it. It’s fun, especially since I don’t want to bore myself or those looking at me. So my brain continues to work, finding different ways of expression.

We thank God for preserving your life thus far. As a woman and mother, what is your view on the increase of domestic violence in our society, what do you think can be done to curb this act?

Well, when I look back in the context of old Lagos, when people were happier and the city was more innocent, you had domestic violence, but not on the scale that we see it today. But I think, for me, it all boils down to the sort of stressful and insecure life that people are living today. Take for instance the way the economy has become so depressed that it has eaten into the earning capacity of people, without any hope or alternatives. People would continue to be frustrated and if as a man, the head of the home, the frustration is double, because you are not able to meet the expectations of your family; you are con-stantly on edge, so if anybody steps on you, you just land on them. Of course, the result of that is domestic violence. And it will continue to be on the increase unless something drastic is done to arrest the econ-omy’s downward trend. It’s unfair. Now, a dollar is about N360. When I started business, the naira was equivalent to the pound sterling. Now it is almost N500. And the earning capacity of the people has not really gone up that much. So it is ridiculous. What do you expect: crime, insecurity, and domestic violence. Unfortunately, everyday when you open the newspa-per, listen to the radio, its wrongdoings by the people who are supposed to be alleviating the suffering of the masses. With a stroke of the pen, they appropri-ate what belongs to millions of others, just for their own private use. So where are we going? What is the end to all of these?

Absolutely. Gone are the days when a man alone can bear the burden of the family. you need the fa-ther and the mother contributing to make the family buoyant. Once one of them loses a job, distress sets in. Before you know, domestic violence sets in. Before you know, divorce is encouraged.

Also divorce rates are on the rise, which wasn’t a norm in our society. What do you feel has changed and what advice will you give young couples about having a lasting marriage?

Of course the economy is playing a major role in the number of divorce we have today. If a man can-not meet his responsibilities, you engage in wrong-doing and land yourself in a mess.

You have remained single till date; do you have any intentions of giving marriage or companion-ship a go at this point in life?

I have been alone this long, so why would I want to change the status quo? It has worked for me. I have a wonderful connection with my children and

grandchildren. I think it would be a disservice to my family to do anything too drastic that would change the status quo of what we enjoy at this time.

What legacy do you want to be remembered by as Erelu?

As Erelu Kuti, what I would love to be remem-bered for is to be the one that loved her people and championed the cause of her people, especially the marginalized and poor societies, to alleviate their suf-fering and bring some succour to them.

You have been opportune to travel far and wide, which is your favourite holiday destination and why?

I love so many places. But I think France would

always be my best destination. When I get into Paris, that drive from the airport to my hotel gives me a lift. I feel like flying, I feel like singing, like dancing, I just feel on top of the world. I love the freedom that Paris gives you, the beauty, the joy, the good food, good clothes, nice music, and good recreational places. Then when I am tired of the hustle and bustle of the city, I want to go the South of France: Monaco, Monte Carlo, where you have beautiful food of the province. And then you have the opportunity to seat at the beach and enter into a world of tranquility.

What five things as a woman cant you do with-out?

I cannot see myself going anywhere without my deodorant, my fragrance, my shoes, and my makeup too. I don’t wear too much of it, but light enough that makes a woman feel feminine. Not the way we wear make up today like we are wearing a mask. And when I say makeup, I mean my powder compact, my lipstick, my fragrance and my deodorant.

At 70 you have seen it all. Who will you say is a complete woman?

I think a woman should know herself, understand herself and do things with confidence. Being a wom-an does not make you a second-class human being. So you must have confidence and be happy with who you are. And, of course, be equipped with good education. Then you can go anywhere, live anywhere, associate with anybody anywhere in the world. you should not be intimidated. We are a group that has been blessed by the almighty, God-given gem to the world. Empower a woman; she would take care of everybody, so why shouldn’t she be confident. At 70, that’s what I would say to the women: be confident, know yourself and be happy with who you are. And, also, you must continue to learn and improve your-self. Then you would feel totally complete.

But my wearing of white stems from the fact of a very

significant event in my life. As a young person, I was obliged to wear black to mourn my

late husband, at a very early age, my twenties. And I swore, after that bitter experience, never to wear black again. Then I gravitated towards

white

C O V E R

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A major preoccupation of overweight, obese, well built, full-figured, fat, chubby, pot-bellied, pleasantly plump individuals is looking for ways of

losing the excess weight. I am an unrepentant believer of the fact that

‘diets don’t work!’ I have a long list of been there, done that impressive diets to buttress this! your list might probably be longer than mine! This is story for another day!

The best way to go about losing weight is to develop a long lasting healthy lifestyle you can cope with and enjoy. That way you would avoid the frustrations of unachieved set weight loss goals, fluctuating weight, save the money spent on the newest diet fad, as well as the yo-yo diet trap.

The Principle of Proper food combining is an approach to eating foods that combine together efficiently which makes it easier for the body to digest food. It postulates that our body cannot effectively digest proteins and carbohydrates at the same time because the chemical processes are anti productive during digestion. When proteins and starches are eaten together, they tend to neutralize each other and inhibit digestion; resulting in discomfort of bloatedness, gassy, tired feeling

after a hearty meal!It is believed that Dr Howard Hay developed

the philosophy in 1904 to treat himself of the very familiar trinity of troubles ranked as the primary source of death; viz combination of high blood pressure, kidney disease and a dilated heart.

By following Dr Howard Hay’s food combining guidelines, food is more easily digested, providing better absorption of food, which ultimately gives the body more energy.

Food can be dived into three groups: Proteins, Carbohydrates and Neutral.

Tips for Proper Food Combining:• Proteins and Carbohydrates should not be

eaten together.• Neutral foods can be combined with either

Proteins or Carbohydrates.• Allow four hours between Carbohydrate

and Protein Meals.

Coming across a program that allows you to eat everything you already eat and lose weight in the process by properly combining your food is well worth it. I like this because it is also easily achievable at parties, during celebrations as well as at resturants.

And yes, you can have your pounded yam with vegetables minus the ‘orisirisi’ (assorted meat); (hopefully there will not be diced beef and dried fish with every mouthful of the vegetable!). Boiled potatoes and vegetables without your chicken? you will acquire the taste and way of eating in no time.

Benefits of Proper Food Combining:• It reduces and eliminates indigestion

problems.• There is better effective utilization and

assimilation of nutrients.• It promotes weight loss.• Helps to jump start metabolism.• It helps with debilitating diseases • you feel fuller longer• Increases your Energy Levels and Vitality• It increases overall health, immunity and

well being.

I wish you Optimum Health and Well Being!!!

@arinolaadeniyi; @venivicispaIG- Venivici Spawww.venivicispa.com

BY FUNKE BABS-KUFEJI

W I T H A R I N O L A

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ERYKAH

OZINNA ANUMUDU

MILLEN

KIMONO JACKETS

BY FUNKE BABS-KUFEJI

TIWA SAVAGE BOLANLE OLUKUNNI

the kimono-style jacket is a great alternative to a cardigan or lightweight jacket, making it perfect for the gorgeous weather we have been having lately. adding a kimono jacket to your wardrobe is an easy and stylish way to update your look this month. lately Celebs have been stepping out in the matchy kimo jacket and trouser set showing us that these matchy sets are all the rage now. these jackets can easily be mixed-and-matched with many items -- from jeans and a tee to a formal lBd -- making them great investment pieces.

NWANNEKA

S T Y L E & d E S i g n S T Y L E & d E S i g nTHISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 8165 Sunday, August 27, 2017

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LDA X VLISCO

BY KONYE CHELSEA NWABOGOR

the Vlisco/ fashion-designer collabos have never been for the faint of heart.

But, then again, neither are bold, mixed prints. indeed the Vlisco brand name is synonymous with pattern and whimsy,

and their s3/2017 collection was no different. this time they collaborated

with industry favourite lanre da silva ajayi to create very feminine looks

while also showing off expertly layered prints-on-prints.

From a slew of international fans to the every day nigerian woman, Vlisco

has definitely captured the hearts, minds, and pockets of the

sartorially inclined, with collaborated designs

that are certainly unlike anything else traipsing

down the runway.

Polo_ThisdayStyle_24_07_17.indd 1 24.07.17 12:01

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