Take My Gist

Hauwa Abbas Hadejia is the Founder, Silver Lining for the Needy Initiative (SLNI), an NGO to promote the spread of humanitarian aid amongst the impoverished through its broad spectrum of projects and activities brought respite to millions of medically under-served rural families since 2009. She speaks to TMG in this interview, highlighting the reasons behind the Initiative and the next steps for the NGO.  TMG> Who's Hauwa Abbas Hadejia Hauwa: My name is Hauwa Abbas, I am a visionary with strong standing built on 14+ years experience in supporting and advocating for the improvement of society via the engagement of governments, stakeholders and influential opinion leaders. I am an award-winning humanitarian with an impeccable track record for marrying a global perspective with local experience and implementing high-impact interventions to reduce maternal and newborn mortality in northern Nigeria. I have a commendable history of equipping vulnerable populations: margina...

Usman Nagenu Awal is a Civil Servant/Fish farmer based in Niger State. He talks about the pros and cons of marketing dry fish in Minna and Abuja.  TMG> Tell us about yourself?  Usman> I am from family of Barr. Mohammed Awal Bida and Hajiya Maimuna Larai Awal. I attended Model Islamic Primary School, Minna. I proceeded to FGC Maiduguri then GSS Suleja. I have a Diploma in Financial Studies and HND in Accountancy both from the Federal Polytechnic Bida. I did my national youth service at Oyo state and joined ICA Logistics Ltd Port Harcourt which is a shipping company. I was also a manager at Tagwai Bakery and confectionery Minna for 3 years.  TMG> What made you go into fish farming and marketing? Usman> Personal love for good food and hygiene. I realized that our artisan method of smoking fish is not hygienic and most times the taste of sand, dust and maggots due to flies and other things that settle on the fish made me think of other methods to impro...

Uchenna Onwuamaegbu Ugwu is a person who refers to herself as a STEMprenure and STEM Advocate, a Facilitator/Teacher and CEO of Edufun Technik. She has over 3 years experience on implementation of education for children and youth. She speaks to TMG on what the project's aims are and its benefits to students and Nigeria as a whole. TMG> Tell us about your background and STEM: Uchenna> I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Nnamdi Azikiwe University Nigeria, studied Business and Entrepreneurship at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University Illinois and I'm a Mandela Washington Fellow (MWF). STEM stands for (Science Technology Engineering) with a focus on 3-18 year-olds in underprivileged communities in Nigeria, ensuring 50% are girls. We specifically focus on developing their potentials, skills and talents by providing them with quality training, Hands- On Coding, Programming, Design, Engineering and Robotics, and guiding them to make good...

Tolulope Olaiya is the Creative Director of Soleman Collection, a footwear outfit in Lagos that also specialises in men's shirts and other accessories. In this interview with TMG, she opens up about how her business took shape from dream to reality. TMG> How long did you nurse the dream of becoming a designer before it became a reality. Tolulope> I'm actually a footwear designer and maker, and I specialize in making shirts for men from fabrics like Ankara and Linen. I had always wanted to become a footwear maker since my days at the University of Jos. It took me about 10 years to actualize this dream but I am happy I did. TMG> What is your area of interest: designing or tailoring or both?  Tolulope> I'm interested in both designing and production, but I must confess that the most fulfilling aspect of what I do is when something I have imagined and thought of in my head finally becomes a reality. Seeing the finished product is extremely fulfilling. TM...

Emira Ukuta, a 17- year-old Sickle Cell Warrior granted TMG this inspiring interview on what it is like to live with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), how she is fighting it daily and her hopes for the future. Every year in sub Saharan Africa, more than 300,000 children are born with the sickle cell disease. Sickle cell disease is a genetic blood disorder affecting the red blood cells. It causes the cells to lose oxygen very easily, turning them from round shapes to crescent shapes that cause painful episodes known as pain crises. For Emira Ukuta, life is much better now compared to what she has been through since she had the disease. Spinal fractures in two places due to complications of the sickle cell disease had her hospitalised for a long time. She describes that period as a painful and miserable one. "Upon my discharge from hospital, I was placed on total bed rest for three months. I had to wear a corset, use a wheelchair and missed two years of school. It was a painful...

Abdulrahman Awal wears many caps as the Chairman Nigerian Association of the Blind, Niger state chapter, National PRO of NAB, SSA to the Niger State Government on Physically Challenged Persons, a teacher and the C.E.O of Mashura Investment Company. He talks about living with blindness, how he has forged ahead and all the wonderful things he is doing inspite of his disability. Destiny... It seems that Abdurrahman's destiny was to create awareness that being disabled was not an excuse to become destitute, nor did it mean the end of the world for him or many others with the same challenge. Since he entered the world, his future had already been set - to make something of himself even though he was blind. Born on 29th July, 1983 to the family of Barrister Muhammad Awal Bida and Hajiya Larai Awal, Abdulrahman Awal, the fourth out of fifteen children, was the only one in the family who is blind. "My biography cannot be told without the history of my blindness. Going by w...

Umar Faruk Mustapha is the CEO Faginger, Founder, arewatalent_preneurs and Co-founder arewamarkethub, Kaduna & Abuja. He spoke with TMG about his business. TMG> Tell us about yourself and what you do. Umar Farouk> I'm from Kaduna state. I graduated with Bsc Economics from the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. TMG> What is important about business development role for entrepreneurs? Umar Faruk> There is joy working hard and building your own business, which also creates jobs and improves the standard of living for the society. TMG> What motivates you most about your work? Umar Faruk> I enjoy working in a team- doing a good job and achieving desired results with your team is encouraging and very rewarding. TMG> What is your ideal working environment? UmarFaruk> My ideal working environment is centered around working with others, which allows every member to contribute his/her talent. TMG> How would you ...

Amina Abdulmalik, program coordinator of the FCT Spelling Bee, speaks with TMG on the literacy program which is organised annually with the aim of addressing the increasing number of poor results obtained by students in National examinations, especially in English Language. TMG> Tell us about yourself.  Amina> I hail from Bida local government of Niger State. I studied Chemical Engineering from Federal University of Technology Minna, and I'm presently the FCT SPELLING BEE program coordinator which was founded by Zainab Haruna in 2013.  TMG> Explain more about the Spelling Bee Competition: what inspired you to take up this project? Amina> The FCT Spelling Bee Competition is one of the specialised projects of Decipher Solutions. It is our annual literacy program which encourages students to learn effective pronunciation of words, their meaning and proper context of usage in English Language. Five editions of the competition have been held till date in the...

Egwuatu Ralph   is an Artist and CEO of A Touch By "US", a company which handles in-house designs and construction. He reveals to TMG what his work entails and the height he intends to take the business to. TMG> Tell us about yourself and your business Egwuatu> My name is Egwuatu Ralph and I am from Anambra State. I graduated from Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu.  What we do is all encompassing - it involves everything that has to do with building, from scratch to finish. It is not mere painting by using colours but an engineering type of design that has to do with acid base concrete. TMG> What was your career path? Egwuatu> My career path was actually business administration and management but I am art inclined. My passion for art and designs drove me into exploring more than just pencil, brush and colours, looking for avenues to explore in-house designs and construction. TMG> Where and how were you trained? Did you go to professi...

LA ROBE by Saamaccido is a fashion house located in Abuja. Its CEO, Sa’adatu Lawal Maccido speaks to TMG about her business. TMG> Tell us about yourself. Sa’adatu> My name is Sa’adatu Lawal Maccido and I come from Katsina State. I had my elementary education at Model Primary School Asokoro, Abuja, then I went ahead to do my secondary school at Government Girls Secondary School Dutse, Abuja.  I graduated with a BSc in Business Administration from Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai, Niger State. TMG> How long did you nurse the dream of becoming a designer before it became a reality?  Sa’adatu> I fell in love with fashion and designing back in high school and got the motivation to start designing through sketching and since I was a child. I have always wanted to dress up and look good. My mum and grandmother told me that finding clothes my size was difficult because I'm very petite. I guess spending such long hours with tailors beca...

Fateemah Adamu Suleiman is a graduate of Biological Sceince from University of Abuja and CEO, Saaf Stitches based in Abuja. TMG> How long did you nurse the dream of becoming a Fashion Entrepreneur? Fateemah> For about 10 years now but finally ventured into it in 2013 . TMG> What is your area of interest: designing or tailoring? Fateemah> Both. Actually, they go hand in hand. TMG> Did you attend a professional school to learn the skills and what credentials did you earn through the program? Fateemah> Yes, I did and I was confirmed as a certified 'fashionista' which is what I prefer to be called. TMG> Are you encouraging and creating job opportunities for other youths? Fateemah> I hope to start very soon when I'm done serving my country through the national youth service in shaa Allah. TMG> Tell us how you get your materials and how you create designs that your customers would like? Fateemah> The clients usually bring...

Rakiya Saidu Idris, the CEO of a lingerie boutique called "Kays Bra n Things" in Minna spoke to TMG about working hard to make her dream become a reality. TMG> Tell us about your background and your business... Rakiya> I come from Patigi local govt area of Kwara state and I'm a graduate of B.Tech Quantity Surveying; M.Tech Environmental Management from the Federal University of Technology, Minna. I am happily married with children. Kay's Bra n Things is an European influenced lingerie boutique that provides high quality lingerie in a wide array of sizes and styles with exceptional customer service.  TMG> What made you go into the lingerie business?  Rakiya> My passion for opening a lingerie boutique dates back to my secondary school days when I sold fairly used brassiers to my classmates. They loved the comfort it gave them. With time, I decided to go into the business to solve women's intimate wear dilemma by offering them a wide range of ...

Philip Nyam, despite his busy schedule, finds time to pursue his passion for writing- using his experience as a Journalist of 20 years. The media expert and author of "A House and the People: Tambuwal and the Seventh House of Reps" tells TMG what makes him tick when he writes and where he plans to take his career in the near future. TMG> Tell us about yourself... My name is Philip Nyam, I have a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Language from the University of Jos and a Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism from the International Institute of Journalism, Abuja. I have also completed M.A. course work at the University of Abuja. I have worked for different media houses including the defunct National Interest and New Age newspapers. I was News Editor at Leadership Newspapers and later Assistant Editor at Blueprint Newspapers before joining New Telegraph Newspapers in December 2013 as a pioneer staff; where I have been till today. I have almost two decades' expe...