What are your plans for the big Love Day? Are you expecting any grand event?
Five women share their expectations for Valentine’s Day:
“I would like a lovely dinner after work. I would also like to receive bank alert. Afterwards, I would like to be left alone to sleep in a hotel for the rest of the week.” – Arin Davies, banker.
“I want an engagement ring. That’s what I want. I’m 32 and I want to move to the next level of my life as a woman. I dated someone for three years and he broke my heart. I’m seeing this guy but it’s not a serious relationship. I can’t think of anything I want more than to find a man ready to settle down and get engaged.” – Blessing, stylist.
“I will like a trip to Seychelles or Maldives or Zanzibar. A nice Valentine get-away, sipping Champagne and having mind-blowing sex. Those are my wishes.” – Ndidi Ugwoke, copywriter.
“I would love to receive flowers and gift – a wristwatch and a perfume delivered to my office. The idea that my colleagues can see that I am loved would make me feel really special.” – Pelumi Oyerinde, customer care.
“I’m a new mother and I’ve been married for four years, I have never been treated like a princess. I would like a full day at a spa. I would like a full day of doing nothing. Let someone else stay up at night while I grab some sleep. That’s all I want. Oh! And some chocolates. I love chocolates!” – Tricia Udom, digital marketer.
PS: Readers, share your expectations for Valentine’s Day.
On October 6, 2019 – 35 year old Jessica touched down in Seychelles. This destination marked her record as the first black woman to travel to every country in the world!
The daughter of Ugandan immigrants, Nabongo live-streamed her accomplishment on Instagram to her 130,000 followers, at the time, from six continents.
It is
important to note that there are less than 500 people who have travelled to
every country, which makes Nabongo worthy of attention, especially as she is
the only documented black woman to have achieved this.
Her feat came with some priceless lessons you should know:
“Most
people are good,” she says.
“We have more similarities as humans than we have differences,” she adds.
Nabongo
emphasizes the need for every race to experience the world, first-hand, because
seeing the world through the eyes of the “white man” may not be accurate.
Achieving
this exploit, Nabongo states on her Instagram page: “I will never forget swimming with whales in Tonga, a late night road
trip to Guinea, drinking fermented horse milk in Kyrgyzstan, all the late
nights in the streets of London, walking across the bridge into Afghanistan,
seeing the pyramids in Sudan, the cattle camp in South Sudan, roads trips
through eastern Europe and southern Africa. There are just so many fun
memories!!”
We think Nabongo has lived an incredible life even before hitting 40!
For every black woman out there contemplating whether to make 2023 more
colourful by fulfilling a bucket list, this is the motivation you need. You may
not travel the entire world, but let this inspire you to do something
interesting in 2023.
Jessica Nabongo captures her incredibly rich and meaningful experience in her book, ‘The Catch Me If You Can’, published by National Geographic.
PS: Dear readers, what exploits do you plan to do this year?
“How
am I going to cope with being a mother to toddlers and running a business?”
“Should
I listen to people and have another baby?”
“Will I be seen as aggressive if I share my
opinions?”
“Can
I make good friends regardless of the stereotype of women hating on one
another?”
The
difference between failing and winning is in DOING regardless of FEAR.
This February do not give room for fear.
Here are 5 of our favourite quotes on fear:
“Each of us must confront our own fears, must come face to face with them. How we handle our fears will determine where we go with the rest of our lives. To experience adventure or to be limited by the fear of it.” – Judy Blume
“You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
“Fear is the path to the Dark Side. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering.” – Yoda
“Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.’ – Marie Curie
“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.” – Frank Herbert in Dune
People love to make New Year’s resolutions that they will end up breaking in just two weeks into the new year. If you want to avoid putting yourself under pressure, here are a few tips to help you maximise your work this year.
1. Set specific, achievable goals for yourself. This will help you to stay focused and motivated.
2. Create a schedule and stick to it as closely as possible. This will help you manage your time effectively and ensure enough time for all your tasks and responsibilities.
3. Take breaks when you need them. Working non-stop can be counterproductive.
4. Learn to say no. It’s essential to prioritize your task and not take on more than you can handle. It’s okay to turn down opportunities if they don’t align with your goals.
5. Delegate tasks when possible. If you have too much on your plate, consider delegating some tasks to others. This will allow you to focus on the most important tasks that will help you work more efficiently.
6. Stay organized. Keep your workspace clean and organized, and use tools like a to-do list and calendars to keep track of your tasks and deadlines.
7. Stay Focused. Avoid distractions like social media and emails when you need to be productive. Try using tools like the Pomodoro technique to stay focused on your work.
My love, we celebrate you on this day to let you know how much we love, admire and appreciate you. You are not only a father to us but to many people that you mentor. You put your family first in all your decisions, and you hold us together with your love, strength and tenderness.
We feel secure about how passionately you express that love, especially to your sons. We will always be here to nurture and care for you. I am happy to call you my husband and the father of my children.
With thanksgiving and gratitude to our Heavenly Father, we are delighted to share with you the announcement of the birth of our second son whose arrival has immersed us with unspeakable joy. Indeed, the Lord has blessed us beyond measure and our hearts are filled with eternal gratitude.
Glory be to His name.
Stephanie & Linus
And God fulfilled his word…sitting pretty under his grace. It’s a boy!
Award winning actress, director and producer Stephanie Linus, met with Ambassador Ketil Karlsen, the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and his delegation over the weekend in Abuja to discuss issues of mutual interest.
Stephanie Linus with Amb. Ketil Karlsen, The EU Ambassador to Nigeria and his delegate.Stephanie Linus discussing with The EU Ambassador to Nigeria
As part of the activities for the UNFPA Nigeria 50th Anniversary Celebration, I was a keynote speaker at the Young Innovation Leaders Fellowship bootcamp which took place in Lagos recently. The bootcamp which brought together young people who have distinguished themselves in their quest for solutions and commitment to excellence had several facilitators and mentors teaching them in a series of lectures, plenary sessions, workshops, and demonstrations.
While speaking at the bootcamp, I charged the participants to apply creative innovation in solving Nigeria’s problems. I also encouraged them to take bold steps and stretch out of their comfort zone in order to achieve the extraordinary.
The Young Innovation Leaders Fellowship is a social enterprise aimed at promoting innovation across sectors in Africa. It is a four-month annual leadership immersion programme in innovation management designed to empower young professionals to attain their ultimate career dreams and inspire innovation in their spheres. Its chief aim is to unleash human potentials and scale up excellence.
As the UNFPA Ambassador for Maternal Health in West & Central Africa, I advocate and raise awareness on maternal health issues, whilst encouraging policies and laws that protect the rights and dignity of the girl child, and the critical investments needed for young people to fulfill their potential and for Africa to reap its demographic dividend.
UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. UNFPA expands the possibilities for women and young people to lead healthy and productive lives.
The most intensive hands-on film making programme for aspiring professionals and filmmakers is here again!
Del-York Creative Academy will be hosting it’s biggest training program, and this program is to inspire a few selected people from Africa who will cause change and also be the hope of positive change in this Era.
This program will run from May 10th – June 10th, 2019.
The Del-York Creative Academy is proud to be partnering with award-winning instructors from Hollywood for an intensive month-long workshop to provide young African prodigies with the skills required for working in today’s film industry.
In partnership with the University of Southern California, students will enjoy an extensive menu of filmmaking courses and the best graduating student will even receive a GA3S sponsored by GAC Motors!
Isn’t this exciting? If you believe in changing the Nigeria narrative and even Africa’s at large, then this is for you.
For more information and to Register, visit www.delyorkcreative.academy
