YOUTHVILLE ISSUE #84 4
Sometimes it’s the smallest decisions that can change your life forever. - Keri Russell
...young at heart
Friday, June 24, 2016
Fatima Amma began fashion design work at the tender age of six, making little sun dresses for herself out of her older sisters’ scarves. Years later, she taught herself to sketch and put her ideas on paper. That hobby turned into a business venture at the age of 16. The 23year old first class graduate of Interior Architecture and Design from the Art Institute of Atlanta, in this interview spoke about her journey into the fashion world.
Text by Latifat Opoola @LatifatOpoola
H
ow did you begin this venture at such a tender age? At 15, I realized I could make clothes for people on demand, so I started off making one dress for a random person I don’t even know. She just wanted the same thing I was wearing so I took the money, made her dress and got profit off of it, with that I was able to make a second dress. After that I was able to make seven dresses and more; so I started with no financing. When I left for the University, there was a lot of family pressure to drop “Le Rouge” and focus on my studies, but I worked hard both ways and my goal was to graduate with first class which I did. I read Interior Architecture and design
because I wasn’t allowed to study fashion, I figured out a way for my dad to let me be in the creative arts. I believe you don’t have challenges running this venture? [Laughs] My major challenge was combining school then with work because I had to supervise my work even from overseas where I studied, and I bet that it was quite challenging. Sometimes the tailors couldn’t get what I try to explain over the phone; even when I would make a sketch they wouldn’t understand so it got to the point where I had to make a sample myself and send it to them so they can see it physically and then produce it. It has been easier since I came back. What is your staff strength so far?
Why I turned my
hobby into BUSINESS at 16 — Fatima
I have about 10 staff working for me, I had to get staff to help out when the orders started flooding in and I couldn’t handle it on my own.
Who are your target customers? I have got Russians, French English and so on and at first I told them I don’t ship but they were willing to pay anything for the African attires that have western twist to it, so I started shipping occasionally when I was in school. Do you have some words for other youth? Follow your passion. So many times parents say you have to study medicine or law, I am one of 20 children who is actually in the arts today because I fought my way through it. My father wouldn’t take no for an answer but I still did it on the side anyway.
Eating healthy during Ramadan Text by Eseohe Ebhota @sleek_diva88 With long hours of fasting and a variety to choose from, eating healthy meals can sometimes be seen as a dream. But that shouldn’t be, because it is quite easy to eat and keep your weight during this holy month. YOUTHVILLE got to know this when we spoke to some on what they eat to remain healthy during this month. They also spoke on the importance of remaining healthy during this period mentioned and ways they are keeping their health
in check to avoid falling ill. Musa Baba said “One of the first things I do before eating anything is I take some fruits like Watermelon or banana or dates. After that I eat the meal that has been provided but I also ensure that there are vegetables too because they help in regulating the blood”. Na’ima Musa added that fruits are also part of her diet when it’s time to break her fast. “I actually love fruits because they contain a lot of vitamins the body needs to keep working during this period”.
Plight of IDP on TV spurs ‘ZAKAT’ Text by Judd-Leonard Okafor @judd_leonard The plight of thousands living on Abuja’s camps for internally displaced people pushed the Lagos-based Zakat & Sadaqat Foundation to donate food, clothes and consumables estimated at more than N2.5 million. The foundation’s name stands for “charity and alms”— both requirements in Islam. “Going by what we see on television every day from our end in Lagos, we feel we can’t wait any longer,” said
Suleiman Olagunji, executive director of Zakat & Sadaqat. “Coming here ignites us to do more. What you see on TV is not like coming here and seeing physically.” Donated items include battery to power the camp’s water supply, which is routinely hampered by electricity outage. The camp also needs “temporary structures to educate their children,” said Olagunju. “What they are using now is not proper. When it rains, there won’t be any studies that day.”
The foundation’s name stands for “charity and alms”—both requirements in Islam.
She added that it is important to remain healthy during this period because "it will help you remain focused on the significance of the season because this is a time when you have to focus on how to improve your relationship with the Almighty. Any slight ill health can make you lose that". So in addition to fruits, all you have to do is prepare and eat meals made from fresh ingredients, cooked in a healthy manner for a nutritious Ramadan meal thereby making this holy month a truly pleasant and healthy one for you and your loved ones.
Moral decadence killing young’ talents — Experts Text by Joshua Odeyemi Experts have said Nigerian youth have not been able to tap into their unprecedented talents as a result of their immoral behaviors, saying urgent actions must be taken to reduce the increasing level of moral decadence in the country. The chairperson of Women in Technical Education (WITED), Federal Polytechnic Bida chapter, Dr. Mrs. M.O. Alabi in a seminar titled, “Moral decadence in the society” held in Bida, Niger state recently, called for a complete reorientation to turn
the situation around. Noting that moral decadence includes rape, cultism, sexual harassment, violence, stealing, visit to pornographic sites, examination malpractice and corruption, she said such behaviours have eaten deep into the Nigerian society and could lead to total collapse of the system if not urgently addressed. The Executive Director, Daughters of Sarah and Sons of Promise Ministry, Jos, Dr. Mrs. Ekaete Etang in her address attributed moral decadence in schools, institutions and the nation to faulty thinking and wrong
identity. “I used to sell groundnut and bread on the street in order to avoid prostitution,” she disclosed. “I became a house maid to go to secondary school but today am I a house maid? Today, I am a proprietress of schools not only in one state.” Another speaker, Hon. Rachael Yisa, Permanent Secretary, Niger State Ministry of women affairs, identified peer group influence, wrong choice of friends and the media among others as some of the factors responsible for youths’ involvement in immoral behaviours.
DAILY TRUST, Friday, June 24, 2016
YOUTHVILLE
How I started fashion design in Kannywood — Zainab
BIZ WIZ
Henna designs: ‘It takes practice to be a professional’ Text by Latifat Opoola @LatifatOpoola All professions require dedication, patience and lots of practice to excel so also in my field says Fatima Lawal, a Henna Artist based in Abuja. The CEO of “Ummie’s Henna World” started her Henna journey last year after she enrolled for a class to learn the basics in Henna Designs. “I realised I love Henna. Not necessarily on myself. I love looking at it especially its intricacy and neatness. It’s beautiful in my eyes, so I told my family that I would learn how to do it and I did, and that was how my business started,” she said. The young entrepreneur started with just N3,000 but found it lucrative, adding that “I make back how much I put into buying a batch of materials
By Simon E. Sunday @SimonEchewofun
H when I do henna (at least 2 parts) for 3 people,” Fatima who became a professional through constant practice, said she attracts customers via social media. Finding the right schedule for clients is her challenge as this not her full time job. “I also face another challenge which is rolling a henna cone. I am still not great at it sadly,” she admitted. She called on job seeking youth to find alternative source of income which they are interested in, while still searching for the job. She hopes to be a household name to be reckoned with in five years. Her lessons, “Having friends, strangers, family and loved ones supporting you can go a long way, never take it for granted,” Fatima said.
23 youth receive training in Abuja, Kaduna on reproductive health Text by Simon E. Sunday @SimonEchewofun The Association for Reproductive Family Health (ARFH) has said 23 youth have been trained in Abuja and Kaduna on reproductive health advocacy among peers and older ones. Its representative, Mrs. Titi Abolade who spoke in Abuja at the stakeholders meeting on advocacy review for the promotion of three United Nation’s Family Planning Commodities said “We trained the youth and engaged them in promoting the use of female condom along with the two other commodities – emergency contraceptive and implant.” In 2013, the Civil Society for Family Planning (CSFP), Pathfinder International Nigeria, and the Association for Reproductive & Family Health (ARFH) began promoting the use of the three commodities. The Coordinator of the
Reproductive and Family Planning arm of Pathfinder, Dr. Habeeb Salami said, “If I am to assess all the states, I will say less than 10% of them in this country are the ones working hard on family planning, the rest are not. We have been working with various stakeholders to ensure that states get a budget line for family planning and ensure that the money is released.” On the poor funding for family planning, the National Coordinator for CSFP, Mr. Adeleye Adewale said the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) report of 2013 puts maternal mortality rate at 576 deaths per 1,000 live births. “If these three commodities are used, pregnant females will not be dying because family planning is said to reduce maternal mortality rate by up to 30 per cent. Nigeria has its implementation plan and that is why we are here today to see what the partners have done since 2013 so we can scale it up,” Adewale said.
ow did you get into fashion design? My story of how I got into fashion design is the same as any other fashion designer. I like to think of myself as a fashion entrepreneur. About four years ago, one of my friends asked me to make a few things for her to wear after her wedding. So I started making things for family and friends based on orders and that’s how I got into it. How did you meet them some of your Kannywood clients? I have only designed clothes for Rahama Sadau for now. She is Pink Fleur’s brand ambassador. We met on Instagram and became quick friends. How often do they (Kannywood) patronize your clothes? They only patronized the brand once, Pink Fleur. My brand name did the wardrobe for a movie called Rariya of which Rahama Sadau was the producer. Are the materials imported or home
grown? All our garments are made in Nigeria. We buy everything in Nigeria. How would you drive more patronage beyond this movie y industry? Right now, the brand just aims to be better. We ocking in are stocking three cities in now: Nigeria Kaduna Abuja, gos. This and Lagos. e get to way, we expand to many people more across Nigeria. We are planning king in Kano on stocking and this will bring in even more clients for us. mo What motivates you to hang on?? e who seek Those fashion advice and ce always assistance e me, they motivate make me feel like I ng something am doing y husband, right. My always he is g me to pushing r. be better.
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In Kannywood, production and behind the scenes are activities are evolving. A professional fabric designer was engaged to design costumes for the yet-to-be Sadau Pictures’ movie, Rariya. The designer, Zainab Salihijo who spoke to Premium Times bares some line about her career. Excerpts:
Disco, foundation donate books to 35 eastern schools Text by Simon E. Sunday @Echewofun The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) and the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation (SEOF) have donated books and computers to 15 tertiary institutions and 30 secondary schools across the South East states. Making the donation recently at Oraifite, Anambra state, the Distribution company (Disco) said 3 tertiary institutions and 6 secondary schools from each of the five states benefitted from the scheme. SEOF Coordinator, Hon. Tony Obi in his remarks stressed that the books and other educational materials that were donated must be used for the purpose it is meant for. Managing Director of the Disco, Mr. Robert Dickerman said, “We know the importance of education, we have an obligation and responsibility to our communities,
Let us live for the beauty of our own reality - Charles Lamb
our business is not just to provide electricity, our job is to help and support the communities which we are a part of.” He said the Foundation already has a platform to drive such initiative including international partners like Book For Africa (BFA). Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Dr. Mrs. Beatrice Okonkwo said that, “government alone cannot accomplish all that is needed in the education sector, and it is usually a great relief when corporate establishments like EEDC come out to boil up the effort of the state government.” Both the students and teachers of the benefiting schools expressed their appreciation to EEDC and SEOF for this wonderful initiative and promised to make proper use of the books, a statement from Enugu Disco spokesman, Emeka Ezeh said.