Tambari by Daily Trust Tambari

A PUBLICATION OFF

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1ST, 2019

a r t x E

Zainab Marwa

‘Be content, even if your dreams don’t come through’ Hi there!

his week, Tambari offers many interesting topics for your reading pleasure. Our Culinary segment has some tips on how to cook a delicious pumpkin soup. Also, check out our

Etiquette corner, where we will be talking about what to do when you move to a new neighbourhood. In the Health section, we will be educating you on the dangers of eating late at night. We will also be giving you tips on how to protect your skin this harmattan season in the

Beauty segment. Our cover personality is Barr. Zainab Marwa, a lawyer and founder of the Aspire Women Forum, through which she promotes gender equality. – Amina Alhassan Editor CALL: 0818 7703733 EMAIL: tambari@dailytrust.com

C U L I N A R Y CO R N E R

ETIQUETTE

What to do when you move to a new neighbourhood by MOYOSOLUWA OLORUNSOLA

oving into a new neighborhood can be tedious and worrisome. It can be worrisome because you are moving to a new place where you have to make new friends. And making new friends can be hard. It is quite easy to offend your new neighbours by doing something unknowingly. But there are ways you can assimilate yourself into your new community without stepping on toes. Here are things to do when moving to a new neighbourhood. Introduce yourself to your neighbours: Do not wait for your new neighbours to ask or wonder who you are. Some people are very cautious of their environment; and they might end up calling the police on you. So, it is better to meet your neighbours. That makes you and the neighbour feel at ease. It also doesn’t hurt to make new friends that may eventually help you in

the h future. f Check out local establishments: You would need to know your environment very well. You need to walk around to know the nearest gym, market, petrol station, hospital, police station, supermarket, pharmacy, bank and other important establishments you may need. These may come in handy in emergencies. Know the rules that govern that environment: You need to be aware of the rules that govern your new environment so as not to step on toes. Ignorance, they say, is not an excuse. If bikes don’t come in at a certain time, you need to know so you don’t get stranded. You could ask your neighbours to fill you in.

WORTHY OF NOTE: TREAT EVERYONE WITH RESPECT, YOU DON’T WANT TO MAKE ENEMIES IN YOUR NEW NEIGHBOURHOOD

How to make pumpkin soup by MOYOSOLUWA OLORUNSOLA

umpkin is very useful as it can be used to do different things. You can use it to make porridge and even decorations. It is used during Halloween for decorations. In addition to the above, it can be used to make soup. Here is how to make pumpkin soup. Ingredients • 2 tablespoons of olive oil • 1 medium yellow onion (very finely chopped) • 3 cloves of garlic (grated) • 1 can of pumpkin purée (about 2 cups) • 2 tablespoons of fresh thyme leaves, plus more for serving • 3/4 teaspoon of kosher salt • 1/2 teaspoon of ground cumin • 1/4 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper • 1/8 teaspoon of ground ginger • 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper

• • • •

2 cups of low-sodium vegetable broth 2 tablespoons of maple syrup 2 tablespoons of heavy cream Toasted pumpkin seeds and flaky sea salt for serving (optional)

Directions Heat some olive oil in a pan over medium heat till it simmers. Add chopped onions and garlic to it and leave to simmer for about four minutes. Add the pumpkin puree, salt, thyme, ginger, black pepper and cayenne pepper to the olive oil. Leave to steam for about five minutes. Add the vegetable broth to the mixture and cook for four minutes, while stirring. Do this until the mixture starts to bubble. Put off the heat and add heavy cream and maple syrup to it. Stir properly after adding. You can blend this mixture by transferring to a blender. You can use immersion blender to blend to desired consistency. Garnish with toasted pumpkin seeds if you like and your pumpkin soup is ready.

ZAINAB M MARWA // CO V E R

‘Be content, even if your dreams don’t come through’

Interview by AMINA ALHASSAN

Barr. Zainab Marwa, a philanthropist and politician, is a cofounder and trustee of the defunct The Beehive Initiative. She is passionate about building people and the nation. She also founded the Aspire Women Forum, a non-governmental organisation designed to promote gender equality. The mother of five children, who has been married for 11 years, shared her life experiences with Tambari. Educational background I graduated with honours from the University of Buckingham in the United Kingdom, with a degree in Law at the age of 19. In my quest for more knowledge, I returned to Nigeria to complete my Bar Part 1 studies. Being an avid scholar, I returned to my alma mater, this time to obtain an MSc in Service Management. Upon completion of the Bar Part 2 studies, I was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2004. Career background The milestone career moves I made was first to work in one of Nigeria’s foremost home-grown consulting firms called Phillips Consulting Limited, where I worked in the Human Resource Department. I went on to work with Albarka Air Services as their service quality expert. Being passionate about the field of service delivery, I secured employment at the Presidency and was posted to SERVICOM Unit (an acronym for Service Compact with all Nigerians), an initiative of the Department for International Development (DFID) of the British government set up in Abuja, which seeks to improve the quality of service delivery of various ministries,

departments and agencies in Nigeria. In SERVICOM I served in a triple capacity as the special assistant to the national coordinator. I also served as a trainer and facilitator for ministries, departments and agencies for the DFID in the SERVICOM institute. I also headed the complaints department of all SERVICOM units nationwide, which I built from the ground. Being immensely zealous about service to God and mankind, I moved away from the corporate world and founded a non-governmental organisation in 2006 with headquarters in Abuja, called Zawram Islamic Global Foundation (ZIGF). ZIGF’s track record centers on expansion initiatives to raise funds in seeking to cater for the less fortunate, bring relief to those in need, reinitiate peace through interfaith and cultural dialogue, knowledge sharing and ultimately improving the quality of life of the needy. I am a cofounder and trustee of the now defunct The Beehive Initiative. Furthermore, in 2019 I launched the Aspire Women Forum, a socio-political institution with keen focus on promoting gender equity, financial

inclusion for women and girls, and motivational behavioural coaching for good governance and sustainable development for women. It is a nongovernmental organisation aimed at inspiring women to achieve selfactualisation by equipping them with soft tools.

YOU CANNOT PLEASE EVERYONE, NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU TRY, NOR ARE YOU MEANT TO DO SO. AS LONG AS YOU ARE FOLLOWING GOD AND DOING YOUR BEST, YOU WILL BE FINE

In a bid to achieve political participation for more women in Nigeria’s politics, I ran for a seat in the House of Representatives for AMAC/ Bwari federal constituency in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja in 2018. Albeit unsuccessful, I believe I made some impact in the political space and became the national coordinator of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Female Aspirants Forum and the national woman leader of the APC Aspirants Forum. I was a member of the 2019 Women and Youth Presidential Campaign Team of Dr. Aisha Buhari, wife of the president of Nigeria. I was also a member of the Presidential Campaign Council. Challenges The main challenge I am facing now and have been facing for the past year or so is balance. I spent 10 years being a housewife and stay-at-home mom, stepping out only at my own time to implement interventions for my nongovernmental organisation. To go from that world, where I run my life at my own time and pace, to being in a world where oftentimes you have to be at the beck and call of others and appear at meetings at a moment’s notice, is earthmoving for me. I am still trying, as I am sure most women do, but my family remains my top priority. And with five kids, I must say it is quite challenging to achieve total balance. What was growing up like? Growing up was an adventure, we moved around a lot. It was fun meeting new people and seeing life from different perspectives. My mother is Igbo from Imo State and my father is Fulani from Adamawa State, and I got the best of both worlds. I grew up in a home surrounded by love and laughter. We had a lot of fun and games in our house Life lessons You cannot please everyone, no matter how hard you try, nor are you meant to do so. As long as you are following God and doing your best, you will be fine. Secondly, you don’t always get what you want. As John Lennon said, life is what happens when you are busy making other plans. Pray hard, work hard and be open to your dreams. In the same vein, be content with the idea of not getting your dreams as you dreamt; be open to God dreaming a different dream or indeed a bigger dream for you than you dreamt for yourself. The last is gratitude, which goes a really long way. Being grateful to be alive is a starting point, then take it from there. Things can always be worse. Fond childhood memories I look very fondly at my childhood days, when we, as a family, would play volleyball or basketball in the backyard. We would often get in the car and take long drives with my parents on Sundays. My parents were young when they had us, so we had a lot of adventures, driving around America and discovering new places. We took a lot of trips and I really enjoyed that. I spent my last years of secondary school in Kaduna and made lifelong friends there. What is the most rewarding part of your career? The most rewarding part of my career has been to see the small impact and changes I have been able to make in my tiny corner. What were your aspirations growing up? My aspiration growing up was to be a mother. I always wanted lots of

TAMBARI SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2019

ZAINAB Z AINAB MARWA // CO V E R kids, and by God’s’s mighty grace, I have five absolutely ely gorgeous little d has been faithful. bundles of joy. God Alhamdulillah! hood Joys of motherhood The joy of seeingg the kids thriving and doing well is enormous. rough their As they pass through growing pains, we surmount every challenge, by the grace of God. When a child is born, a mother ther is born, so we are learning rning and growing together. ther. These kids are the love of my life, and I see motherhood od as an honour and nd privilege, which ch no human deserves. ves. You are their superstar. erstar. When you come home, they rush to you like you are this mega star, r, and it fulfils me and feeds my soul. Motherhood is full of unspeakable joy. Top 5 things on your wish list I have a huge project I have been working on for years with my non-governmental organisation, the ZIGF. I want that to come to fruition. I wish to build my dream home. I also wish to achieve my economic, political and social ambitions. Again, I want all the kids to graduate with first class from an IV League university. Finally, I want selffulfillment and actualisation. Favourite music on replay 90s R n B First app you check in the morning/bedtime? WhatsApp or Instagram Favourite fashion items My veil Flats or heels? Heels that feel like flats Most expensive fashion accessory Mine is priceless, Confidence. What wouldn’t wouldn t you be caught wearing? Anything ing that shows more than my face and hands. Best travel ravel destination and why? My best st travel destination right now would be Sambisa Forest in Borno State because I know that the day I go there, the menace nace of terrorism in the North-East ast would be a thing of the past. May God show us that day soon, amin How do you relax? I relaxx by watching the kids ds play and have conversations. nversations. It still blows ws my mind when I see them forming thoughts and conversing, ng, especially my 6 and d 3-year-olds. What is your favouritee quote or saying? A journey urney of a thousand d miles begins with one step. Favourite rite food I like two wo very different foods, one ne is dan wake and another her is lasagna Your definition of style I thinkk style is more than whatt you wear. Style embodiess your whole aura, how ow the mood shifts when hen you walk into a room. om. Your style is the way you dress, move, act, talk and even walk. lk. Everything comes together ogether like a symphony, ny, you are the conductor. or.

TAMBARI ARI SUNDAY, DE DECEMBER EEC CEEM MBE BER 1, 1, 2 2019 01 0 19

Favourite fashio fashion designer I love this ve very talented lady in Abuja called Damilola Elemo; she owns Dam Sidaglo. They make everything I wear. My clothes are very simple cl though. She designs and executes works of art. She execu is ex extremely talented and you yo all should check her out ou at the city center mall m on Gimbiya Street in Abuja. Favourite perfume, designer bag and d shoes s I love Hypnotic Poison by Christian P Dior. My favourite bag D is the Louis Vuitton Epi Speedy 30. For shoes I Sp don’t look at designer do labels much; I look at lab comfort. I have a pair I com used to campaign with my pregnant and swollen feet, and it served me so well, but I don’t even know the designer. Mum’s advice that stuck with you over the years Be kind, do things for the sake of God. Favourite sport, colour, car and weather My favourite sport is shopping, colour is purple, car is Audi TT, and weather depends on my mood, but breezy and cool. Favourite day of the week and why? Wednesday because I was born on Wednesday Beauty routine I clean my makeup with coconut oil, then I wash my face with black soap and turmeric and cleanse with rice water. I use Factor E oil from Forever Living under my makeup. Role models My parents, Chief Mrs Zainab Marwa and General Mohammed Buba Marwa (retd) are my role models. Looking back, what would you tell a younger you? Keep away from people you think are bad. Disloyal and bad friends can destroy frie lives. Also, travel more. What advice do you have ha for women? Keep pushing, it is aan uphill climb, sometimes it seems impos impossible to do it all. Taking care of everyone else e is important. I encourage women tto grow each day to find ways to be better themselves, to rest also and an take care of themselves. You can’t give what you don’t have, so women h need to be b full in their own cups so as to pour for others others. It’s all about balance. I also encourage women to mentor, help, talk to, inspire insp and love one another.

WHEN A CHILD IS BORN, A MOTHER IS BORN, SO WE ARE LEARNING AND GROWING TOGETHER. THESE KIDS ARE THE LOVE OF MY LIFE, AND I SEE MOTHERHOOD AS AN HONOUR AND PRIVILEGE, WHICH NO HUMAN DESERVES

SOCIETY NEWS

Compiled by MOYOSOLUWA OLORUNSOLA

VP and wife celebrate 30th wedding anniversary

he vice president of Nigeria and his wife celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary on Monday, 25th of November, 2019. Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo shared a picture of her and the vice president in their wedding attire. She said, “Hand in hand on the 25th November 1989. It’s our 30th wedding anniversary to the glory of God. #WeddingAnniversary #ByGodsGrace.” She also shared another old school picture of her looking at her husband lovingly.

Olori Aishat Lawal celebrates birthday in grand style

lori Aishat Lawal celebrated her birthday on the 24th of November, 2019. She celebrated it by posting regal pre-birthday pictures of herself on her Instagram page. She also shared beautiful pictures of herself on her birthday alongside a message to herself. She said, “Today is your birthday sweetheart, the day you waited for. Take blessings, celebrate, and have fun more and more Darling.”

B E AU T Y

TRENDS STYLE FASHION

How to protect the skin this harmattan season by MOYOSOLUWA OLORUNSOLA

armattan is a season we mostly experience in December. It can sometimes last for three months. During this time, the skin gets really

sensitive. Some people spot white scaly skin and dry, cracked lips. This only happens if you do not protect your skin during this season. Here are some tips on how to protect your skin during

DID YOU KNOW... THAT YOUR SKIN HEALTH CAN INFLUENCE YOUR MOOD?

harmattan. Hydrate: The importance of hydrating the body cannot be overemphasized during this season. The more water you take, the more the body is able to flush impurities and keep the skin fresh and radiating. Moisturise: This can be said to be the most important tip of them all. You cannot afford not to moisturise your skin. Failure to do so would cause the skin to be dry and have a whitish appearance. We can use natural oils and butters to moisturise the skin. Care for your lips, scalp and hands: It is not only the skin that needs care this time. Use a lip balm to keep the lips moisturised at all times. This keeps dry and chaffed lips at bay. The hands and scalp should also be taken care of. You can use shea-butter to keep the scalp and hands moisturised. Take lukewarm baths: Using hot water to bath during this period is not advisable. It strips the skin of natural oils that would naturally help in moisturising. Lukewarm baths are better.

With additional information from t internet the

H E A LT H Y L I V I N G

Dangers of eating late at night By MOYOSOLUWA OLORUNSOLA

ood is important to humans for survival. But it is also important to know when not to eat. We eat mainly to have enough strength to go about our daily activities. This is why we feel very weak when we haven’t eaten all day. The body stores any extra food it doesn’t convert to energy. Overtime, this becomes fat when we keep eating more than the body

needs to survive. But we have a better chance of burning fat during the day because that is when we are most active. Eating at night does not only increase one’s chances of adding weight, it also puts a strain on the heart and makes it hard to sleep properly. It could also cause one to have acid reflux, which can be very uncomfortable. Dr. Jemimah Maryam

TAMBARI SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2019

of Pillars Hospital, Lagos said, “Eating late at night is not a good idea at all. It can cause a number of health problems. It can cause obesity, acid reflux, heart problems and other diseases. It can even cause one to have night eating syndrome. So, it is advisable not to eat later than 8pm.”

With additional information from the internet

Dr. Nathaniel Adewole,

MOBILE: 0803 8039182 EMAIL: nadewole2013@gmail.com

HYPERTENSION & HIV

I am 37-years-old and hypertensive and have been on medication for four years. I want to undergo an invitro-fertilization due to infertility. Is it possible? - Jovita, Abuja Yes, a hypertensive patient can do invitrofertilization (IVF) but some things must be done first. The anti-hypertensive medication you are taking must be changed. This is because there are some of the anti-hypertensive that is used when a woman that is pregnant but are not advisable in pregnancy because of the adverse effect on the foetus. These effects have more severity especially at the early stage of formation or organogenesis. Also before the IVF, the blood pressure must be well controlled. If you are not on medication you need to start because uncontrolled blood pressure harms the foetus and results in poor pregnancy outcome and serious complication for the mother. Women should attend what we call prenatal care before conception especially women with preexisting conditions like hypertension, diabetes, renal disease among others. Though organized prenatal care is not well established in our environment You will need to see an obstetrician and also co-management with a physician.

DEPRESSION AND LOSS OF LIBIDO

I was diagnosed as being depressed at a teaching hospital. I’m on drug right now. My problem is, in the last couple of days I have experienced decreased libido. What could be the problem? -Ahmed from Zaria. A decrease in libido could result from depression itself, some drugs used in the management of depression can also cause depression and the loss of libido may be an independent thing and not related to the depression or medications. You need to see doctors preferably a psychiatrist and also, a physician to determine the cause of your loss of libido for appropriate treatment. Meanwhile, on your part, I will suggest that you look inward if the cause of you been depressed was due to an unpleasant event that happened, just remember that life has its ups and downs. Rise above that situation and look forward to a better life ahead and depression may be a thing of the past without the use of drugs.

CAN I BE PREGNANT AFTER TWO ECTOPICS?

I have undergone two ectopic surgeries first in 2014 and the second last year, can I still conceive? I have only one child. What do I do? - Nneka, Enugu. As we have explained severally in this column, there is always a way out when it comes to fertility nowadays. The fact that you have had two ectopic surgery does not mean you cannot get pregnant. For natural conception, the chances are low depending on what was done while conception by an assisted reproductive method is very feasible. If the two ectopic surgeries were on the same side, that is on one tube and the other tube is healthy and patent then the chances for natural conception is bright but if on different sides that is, both tubes had been operated on then assisted conception like IVF will be advisable. The exception to this will be if conservatice surgery was done in case of unruptured ectopics who met the criteria but in this environment, this is unlikely because most patients present very late. I will suggest you meet the doctor who did the last surgery, he will be in a better situation to tell or know what the pelvic findings were and what he did and give appropriate counselling.