Take My Gist

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...