THISDAY STYLE MAGAZINE 30TH AUGUST 2020 by THISDAY Newspapers Ltd

...NOT IN IN THISDAY THISDAY STYLE? STYLE? THEN THEN YOU’RE YOU’RE NOT NOT IN IN STYLE STYLE ...NOT

NGOZIJOOKONLA IWEA

SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2020

TIJANI MMADMUHAE BAND

MI U W N I AK NA ADESI

S ’ P I A I H R S E R E G NI AL LEAD B O GL AMINAMMED MOHA

S E IM T N I A T R E C N U N ...I

OKEY AH ORAM

We are faster, closer and safer With our scale, expertise and deep desire to satisfy your needs, we will deliver exceptional experiences for the moments that matter the most to you.

CONTENT

Fashion

Beauty

360 ON THE POSITIVE PG 4

HOW TO ADD VITAMIC C TO YOUR SKIN-CARE PG 22

MY COVID-19 STORY - SEGUN AWOLOWO PG 20 • CAPSULES • COLOURS OF LIFE PG 21

• 5 THINGS TO DO TO ACHIEVE AN EVEN YOUNGER SKIN PG 22 THINGS YOU SHOULD ADD TO YOUR NATURAL HAIR ROUTINE PG 23

THISDAY STYLE FASHION DIRECTAOR/EXECUTIVE EDITOR RUTH OSIME

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EDITOR PRINT OLUFUNKE BABS-KUFEJI EDITOR DIGITAL KONYE NWABOGOR

08111847086

08111847087

SENIOR ART DESIGNER MATHIAS ARCHIBONG 07054965500 CONTRIBUTORS RUKY SALAKO ISIOMA USIADE IYANU AYODELE PHOTOGRAPHER TY BELLO DIRECTOR, PRINT PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO 08077092196

Since we have had this Covid 19 pandemic thrust upon us, people have had to think outside the box to settle into the new norm of today. Many palliatives and policies have been created by people in government, the private sector and Nigerians in other international bodies to enable us deal with the harsh realities the effect of the virus has created. Many businesses have taken a huge hit with the uncertainty of today’s times and those who play a role in the economic stability of our nation and Africa as a whole, have had to come up with ways to cushion the financial pains imposed upon us. Naturally, in dire situations like this, the nation looks to Nigeria’s Global Leadership In Uncertain Times to see what roles these global leaders are playing to make a significant difference in the life of the common man. We want to know what they have put in place to ease our burden. We want to know how befitting the roles they play on the global stage is to us. They are world renowned and highly acclaimed for their robust and impeccable records of services to their nation and beyond. The good news is that these notable men and women with intimidating resumes have displayed their mettle with their innovative policies designed to benefit the common man in time of crisis and billions in both local and foreign currencies have been raised and spent on different palliatives to help the masses who are worst hit with the Corona virus in the African continent. Their positions, though highly placed, comes with a price - to empower the common man and also better their welfare. These steps are all part of cushioning the inadvertent hardship we face. But as much as these measures are being taken, to whom much is given, much is expected. We, as a people, and beneficiaries of such largesse, also owe it to ourselves to adhere to the dictates of today by staying safe as much as possible. Our global figures are doing the best they can to help boost the badly affected economy and we should also do our best to stay alive so as to reap the benefits of their sweat. Not at any given time should we get carried away and let our guard down in our fight against this virus because no matter how careful you are, you can still be caught unawares as is the case with Segun Awolowo who followed all the rules but still caught Covid! He lived to tell his story, some were not so lucky.

FASHION DIRECTOR/EXECUTIVE EDITOR

STYLE & DESIGN

360

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9243 Sunday, August 30, 2020

THE POSITIV E

Living A Phenomenal, Healthy, Happy And Fulfilled Life.

DR IFEYINWA NWAKWESI

The Phenomenal Woman (TPW) I am very excited to write about THE PHENOMENAL WOMAN - a community of women who have decided and committed to becoming the best versions themselves by God’s grace. This is an initiative birthed by the passion of two phenomenal women, Hajia Lami Tumaka and my humble self I am particularly excited and happy because we are on course to helping our women live their best lives no matter the challenges they face. Also help them build phenomenal families, phenomenal society and phenomenal Nigeria. God prepared me for this passion by helping me become a stronger person, after suffering from years of depression, anxiety, panic attacks and digestive dysfunctions. In the quest of trying to recover I came to the realization that depending solely on conventional medicine to help me recover was not the best decision. I searched for alternatives and was introduced to integrative medicine Which looks at diseases, well-being and performance in the context of the individual’s total social existence. It looks for the root causes of life challenges either in the spiritual, mental, emotional and physical life of the individual. When I was sick I was not living my best life. I was always moody, got upset by the littlest of things. My role as a wife, mother, business and professional woman suffered a great deal. The interesting thing is that people will see me and comment “Iffy you are very beautiful and you look amazing “, I wish they knew the chaos in my inner being. This is the case with many people who look alright externally but are dealing with all sorts of issues internally. My life’s passion is to give people especially women knowledge and life skills that can help them balance their inner beings with their outer being, so they can happily achieve their dreams and aspirations without compromising their well-being, relationships, marriages, family and societal roles. THE PHENOMENAL WOMAN Women are unique beings, they are mothers, wives, girls, daughters, sisters, aunties entrepreneurs, career women all in one. They are strong, hardworking, determined, focused and are able to multi-task. Their stress coping skills are generally

better than that of men. Many women are the anchor on which a lot of families rest. Women are ordinarily loving, dependable, trustworthy and loyal. Many women who are leaders of their countries and organizations are doing excellent jobs. Among phenomenal women are single mothers and widows who have navigated the challenges of life to bring up successful children in different fields of endeavours. Women strive to nurture their sons and daughters to grow up to become good husbands, fathers, wives and mothers helping to impact society positively. Many women focusing on the needs of their families hardly find time to proactively manage their health so many women are walking around with multiple body dysfunctions and nutritional deficiencies which the doctors are not able to identify because they are focusing on identifying disease states. HEALTHY LIVING SERVICES, a health enhancement company passionate about health and well-being see a need to set up an all-women community known as THE PHENOMENAL WOMAN. ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE :Monthly live and online seminars on selected topics that will help the phenomenal woman achieve holistic health, energy and well-being and be the best version of herself. The email helpline will be available to answer questions on any challenges in the life of the Phenomenal woman. Phenomenal women in our society who have excelled in their various fields will be showcased as role models to impact other women. Spiritual, moral and financial support will be given to phenomenal women who lose their husbands. Speakers in the areas of wellness, health and energy will be sought and our programs will be structured to have the maximum impact on the phenomenal woman. The phenomenal woman who is going through any health challenge will get information on referrals to the best medical practitioners that can best manage the condition. These referrals can either be for conventional medical doctors or other natural practitioners like integrative, functional or holistic Practitioners We will also recommend sciencebacked 100 per cent natural products that can help the phenomenal woman

Phenomenal women in our society who have excelled in their various fields will be showcased as role models to impact other women. Spiritual, moral and financial support will be given to phenomenal women who lose their husbands. The phenomenal woman who is going through any health challenge will get information on referrals to the best medical practitioners that can best manage the condition

achieve vibrant health and enhanced energy. The phenomenal woman will be taught ways to glow from inside out, look and feel years younger with the energy of a much younger person. Relationship, marriage seminars counselling will be available for the Phenomenal woman and her sons and daughters. Discounted fees will be paid by the children. Mental and emotional management seminars, and one on one Counselling will be provided. Above entitle the phenomenal woman to yearly seminars. Free and Email services Free monthly informative newsletters Free referrals, 10 per cent discounts on Products Purchased 10 per cent referral bonus if you refer any phenomenal Woman to the community Benefits: 1 Achieve vibrant health 2 Enhanced energy, creativity and productivity 3 Improved sense of well-being 4 Live to a ripe old age by God’s Grace 5 Reduce the risk of suffering from chronic preventable diseases 6 Reduced medical bills 7 Better stress coping skills 8. Look and feel the younger, glow from inside out 9 Develop a more positive mindset 10 Enhanced spiritual well - being 11 Make more empowering decisions 12 Learn how to be in love with yourself, develop inner peace, happiness and be a positive force in your marriage and relationship. 13 Prepare for leadership if that’s your goal 14 Make a more positive impact on society 15 Be the best version of yourself, live

your best life, be Phenomenal and live like a Queen as ordained by God for you As an Integrative health care practitioner, I see so much human misery, pain and lack of fulfilment not only in the sick patients we treat but also in the apparently healthy, successful people I meet along my path in life. There are so many people dying untimely with shattered dreams, hopes and aspirations. So many others are suffering from chronic preventable diseases. Many others lack energy, are moody and depressed. Many people look dehydrated and lack youthful glow. There are many troubled relationships and marriages. Many lack financial stability and so many are inwardly unhappy in spite of an outward show of happiness and riches. The most effective way for people to live their best lives is to imbibe the TPW - lifestyle which is Constant And Neverending Improvement in their spiritual, mental, emotional and physical lives on a regular and consistent basis. TPW - lifestyle is a minute by minute lifestyle working on improving your spiritual life, reprogramming your mindset to be positive enabling you to make a good relationship or marital partner. God has given human - beings an amazing gift, the ability to chose how we decide to react to events in our lives. We At TPW, believe that once our women become phenomenal, we will have phenomenal families, phenomenal society and phenomenal Nigeria by Gods grace. In the next two weeks, I will write on the concluding part of THE PHENOMENAL WOMAN ( TPW) Live your best life Become the best version of yourself Be phenomenal To Join the TPW call 08026084733, 08033688808. Dr Ifeyinwa Nwakwesi - Stress , cell - revitalization, integrative medicine and Cani specialist

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L A B GLO IP IN H S R E D LEA AIN TIMES T R E UNC

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9243 Sunday, August 30, 2020

BY ENIOLA

Covid-19! That’s been the health crisis global leaders in public and private sectors have been battling with since the beginning of the year. The coronavirus pandemic has caused the death of close to a million people, resulted in economic meltdown, disrupted social lives, and created fear in countries across the globe. Since the coronavirus has no precisely determined form of treatment, nor is there available vaccination, yet, to prevent its transmission, global leaders have faced the unknown since February this year, unsure how long the pandemic will last, confused about the nature of the disease, doubtful about the right medication, and walking in the shadows of the unknown towards the future. This is the uncertainty of the times. Leadership in such a time makes the difference between survival and collapse, future prosperity and poverty, and life and death. The leadership of different countries are daily struggling to manage the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on their economy, and their people. And the degree of success varies in accordance to each country’s understanding of the ambiguity, their flexibility, and adaptation of plans. Difficult as it is leading in uncertain times, there can be no hard and fast rules. Russell Reynolds Associates, however, highlights 10 enduring lessons: communicate, communicate, communicate, and then communicate more; help others lead; plan for long and short terms; focus on core values; look outwards; create order from chaos; engage early, with purpose and humility; know when to pivot; exude realistic optimism; and demonstrate grit. What is certain though is that leaders, at whatever level, shouldn’t, in this time of uncertainty, be gripped by paralysis; they should find a way of establishing stability in the chaos.

BELLO

It is interesting that at such uncertain times, some Nigerians are walking the tight rope of global leadership and thriving. Dr. Akinwumi Adesina was a few days ago unanimously reelected as president of African Development Bank for another 5-year term, surviving spurious allegations of misdemeanour, having been cleared after an internal investigation and an external review of the probe report. Dr. Benedict Okey Aramah has been President and Chairman of the Board of African ExportImport Bank since September 2015. He is still leading Afreximbank in this turbulent time. Ms Amina Mohammed was appointed the 5th Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations in January 2017. She is helping the UN work with other global organisations and world leaders to find solutions to the Covid-19 pandemic. Mallam Tijjani Mohammad-Bande has been president of United Nations General Assembly since September 2019, an office he’s still occupying in times uncertain as this. Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is a top contender as Director General of the World Trade Organisation. With her academic background and international pedigree, the general expectation is that she would have little problem emerging as WTO chief executive. Therefore, at this time of general uncertainty, Nigerians are not hiding. They are standing up abroad, and they are thriving. Their successes and achievements on the global stage are not theirs alone; the Nigerian government and people are walking proudly in their shadows. They represent the positive side of a country which the Hushpuppies of this world have flamboyantly presented as that of scammers; they are the symbols of our national pride. It is their kind of leadership, the quality leadership that our people make available at the global stage, that we sorely miss back home. 7

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THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9243 Sunday, August 30, 2020

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THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9243 Sunday, August 30, 2020

BY FUNKE BABS-KUFEJI

Dr Akinwumi Adesina, is a distinguished development economist and agricultural development expert with over 25 years of international experience. He was the 8th elected President of the African Development Bank Group(AFDB), a position he was elected to in 2015 and was re-elected for a second term in 2020 and is the first Nigerian to serve as President of the Bank Group.

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Prior to his position at the AFDB, Adesina served as Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in 2010, until his appointment in 2015. As a minister, he turned the agriculture sector of Nigeria around within four years. Under his tenure, Nigeria ended 40 years of corruption in the fertilizer sector by developing and implementing an innovative electronic wallet system, which directly provides farmers with subsidized farm inputs at scale using their mobile phones. Within the first four years of launch, this electronic wallet system reached 14.5 million farmers, dramatically transforming their lives. A firm believer in private sector led growth; he changed the perception of agriculture in Nigeria from that of subsistence to a viable business undertaking, which successfully attracted $5.6 billion in private sector investment commitments. Before he re-election Adesina’s first term as President, restructured the bank and refined its focus through a High5 strategy that has directly impacted the lives of millions of Africans. This was through strategic investments in energy and electricity, agriculture technologies that significantly improve food security, access to private sector finance, improved transport infrastructure, and water and sanitation. Before his re-election he was accused of a certain

number of allegations of appointments and departures deemed questionable and several contracts approved under his leadership that were in violation of the bank’s statutory and ethical rules. This made the U.S Treasury Secretary, Steven Mnuchin, call for an independent probe into the allegations made by a group of whistleblowers against the AfDB President. Adesina insisted on his

innocence and has since been cleared by the bank’s Ethics Committee of all charges brought against him. It is an acknowledged fact that Akinwumi Adesina is a global player of impeccable character who has helped mobilize billions of dollars for Africa and helped accelerate the continent’s development. It is why the Executive Committee of the Africa Union, speaking for 55 African countries, unanimously endorsed him as the sole candidate for re-election to a second term. This was vital for Africa’s continued economic growth, infrastructure and investment. Adesina led the Bank’s bold and decisive COVID19 response with a $10 billion COVID-19 Response Facility to cushion economic and social impacts of the pandemic on the continent. This, is in addition to the successful launch of an oversubscribed $3 billion Fight COVID19 social bond on the London Stock Exchange, making the largest US dollar denominated social bond ever in world history. It also worthy to note he is Vice President of Policy and Partnerships for the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and Associate Director (Food Security) at the Rockefeller Foundation in New York, where he worked for a decade (1998-2008) in senior leadership positions, including as Regional Office Director and Representative for Southern Africa. Adesina was born to a Nigerian farmer in Ibadan, Oyo State. He attended a village school and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Agricultural Economics with First Class Honors from the University of Ife, Nigeria in 1981, where he was the first student to be awarded this distinction by the university. In 1988 he completed a PhD in Agricultural Economics at Purdue University in the United States, where he won the Outstanding PhD Thesis Award for his research work. He also won the prestigious Rockefeller Foundation Social Science Post-Doctoral Fellowship in 1988, which launched his international career in global agricultural development and has received a number of global awards for his leadership and work in agriculture. In 2010, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon appointed him as one of 17 global leaders to spearhead the Millennium Development Goals, along with Bill Gates, the Spanish Prime Minister and the President of Rwanda. He was named Person of the Year by Forbes Africa magazine in 2013. Akinwumi Adesina, 60, is also a charismatic speaker known for his elegant suits and bow ties and speaks Enlish and French fluently.

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BY RUTH OSIME

Born in 1954, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is an economist and international development expert. She spent a 25 year career at the World bank scaling the ranks to Number two position of Managing Director. She also served two terms as Finance Minister of Nigeria 2003 - 2006 under President Olusegun Obasanjo and 2011 - 2015 under President Goodluck Jonathan.

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THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9243 Sunday, August 30, 2020

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Her primary education was at Queen’s school Enugu, from there to St Annes’s School Ibadan and International School also in Ibadan. She then proceeded to Harvard University where she studied Economics and graduated in 1976. She earned her Ph.D in Regional Economics and Development from Massachussets Institute of Tecnology. She also received an International Fellowship from the American Assosiation of University Women. Iweala has received numerous recognitions and awards all over the world some of which include the Top 100 Most Influential People in the World (TIME), 50 Greatest World Leaders (Fortune 2015), the Top 100 Global Thinkers (Foreign Policy, 2011 and 2012), the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in the World (Forbes, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014), The Top 3 Most Powerful Women In Africa (Forbes 2012), the Top 10 Most Influential Women In Africa (Forbes, 2011), the Top 100 Women in the World (The Guardian, 2011), the Top 100 Most inspiring people in the World Delivering for Girls and Women (Women Deliver, 2011). This is just a tip of the iceberg as there are way too many other awards that have been bestowed upon her so it is safe to say she is definitely one of the most respected women of the world when it comes to her work and the global impact she has made on economies. Her latest venture, vying as a candidate for the position of Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has assured member-countries that if given the job, she will rejuvenate WTO. According to her “The WTO DG has no direct decision-making authority. But the WTO DG can work to make things move along with influence and that influence can be proactive”. Being a woman of many firsts with her track record, one of them being a two-time Finance Minister in her country not to mention the intimidating measure of her success in various endeavors, Ngozi says no African or even a woman for that matter has become a DG of WTO which she feels should be acquired on merit not gender or origin. With the emergence of the Covid 19 pandemic, she noted that many business enterprises, especially the smaller scale ones, have been badly affected by the pandemic and emphasized the importance of creating better and newer ways for business to survive in these times stating that they need adequate liquidity to keep their business going. Iweala voiced her concern about developing countries who have not or cannot make this achievement possible. She stated that one of her roles as a member of the African Union envoy is to find ways to facilitate resources to enable MSMEs sustain their businesses. “I think it is a very important sector and the WTO would work hard to make sure such types of enterprises are supported” she reiterated. Ngozi believes that e-commerce and digital economy are tremendous and the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed this now, more than ever, as people are now doing so much more online. Never has operating online been more proactive than this period of the pandemic. They are buying, trading and even schooling online amongst many other things. This, Ngozi believes is the new normal and the digital age has to be embraced by developing countries to progress and a way to take care of this need has to be addressed urgently by those who can make this happen. Should she become the WTO DG, finding resources to address this problem will be top on her list of priorities by working together with multinationals institutions to help countries build infrastructures so

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they can work with e-commerce because this is the wave of the 21st century. Ngozi is quick to concede that the world is yet to know the trajectory of the Corona virus and as such, stresses the need for the WTO to have a leader whose contribution in multilateral trading systems can begin to take effect as soon as possible which in return will contribute to the recovery of the world economy.

Ngozi also acknowledges that her experience at some global bodies has taught her ways in which to deal with the impact of a pandemic such as this. She also believes trade is crucial for a nation’s economic survival. According to her “Fair trade, through trade liberalization and exchange, is what nations, especially the economically vulnerable and weak nations need to keep up and running. There is no point pretending about this if the economically weak and vulnerable nations, who constitute the majority in the Global South, collapse, trade – the very essence of WTO – collapses.” Iweala stresses that we should not be complacent about where Africa is as the number of cases is still doubling every two weeks and that is with very minimal testing. She acknowledges the pandemic’s impact on Africa and its people, and the difficult decisions facing governments trying to balance their population’s health with economic need. “Although the number of COVID-19 cases in Africa is quite low compared to other regions, the true extent of the pandemic’s impact remains unclear,” she says. Still, she believes the crisis presents Africa with a chance to set new priorities and address a range of challenges in a new way. She emphasizes that Africa needs to re-strategize and use this as an opportunity to overcome the crisis and make many positive things happen - just like when life throws you lemons, you make lemonades.

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THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9243 Sunday, August 30, 2020

BY AYOMIDE OLUFAWO

Tijjani MuhammadBande, born on 7th December, 1957, has had a distinguished career as a scholar and diplomat spanning over 40 years. Currently he serves as the President of the United Nations General Assembly, leading the UN and its member countries through the 74th session of the UN General Assembly.

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Bande attended Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria where he obtained a B.Sc in Political Science in 1979; he then headed to Boston University, USA where he obtained an MA in Political Science in 1981; and capped his academic expedition with a PhD in Political Science from the University of Toronto, Canada in 1987. He began his career at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria, where he rose from the role of Graduate Assistant in 1980 to full Professor in 1998, and eventually to ViceChancellor, in 2004, holding the position for five years. During his time as Vice Chancellor, he oversaw about twenty thousand fulltime students spread across various faculties, focusing on raising the accreditation of academic programmes in the University. Between 2000 and 2004, prior to his role as Vice-Chancellor, Muhammad-Bande worked in Tangier, Morocco as the Director-General of Le Centre Africain de Formation et de Recherche Administratives pour le Dèveloppement (CAFRAD), a centre founded by African nations in 1964 to encourage administrative reform. The centre is the continent’s premier intergovernmental Centre for governance reform. During his time there, Bande led the Organization to improve on necessary training for senior African public servants, and also carried out specialized researches on African governance issues, working with a variety of partners, notably the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). From 2010 to 2016, he held the position of Director-General for Nigeria’s National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies. The institute is the country’s most respected policy institution for training leaders from the public and private sectors, including high ranking officials of Nigeria’s Armed Forces. During his six-year tenure, he is accredited for bringing stability and focus to the Institute, leading the Institute to witness giant strides in both intellectual and physical development. He also inspired a marked improvement in the quality of the Institute’s programming and activities, and one of his initiatives in particular, was the establishment of the Political Parties Policy and Leadership Development Centre. Muhammad Bande is no stranger to the innerworkings of the international forum. As Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, he worked with colleagues from all regions of the world to achieve common objectives. In 2016, he was vice-president of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly and has served as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN from 2017 until his election to lead the UN General Assembly in June. He also

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remained active in several fora, including as Chair of the United Nations Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, Member, Advisory Board of the United Nations CounterTerrorism Centre and Chair of the ECOWAS Group (2018-2019). In September 2019, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande took over from Ecuadorian Maria Fernanda Espinosa as President of UN General Assembly and led the 74th session. He will be handing over the position next month, to Volkan Bozkir of Turkey who will lead the 75th session of the UN General Assembly. In light of the Covid-19 Pandemic, the General Assembly has been carrying out its work via novel means to guarantee business continuity and mitigate the spread of the disease. Leading the General Assembly through the pandemic, MuhammadBande endorsed the Culture 2030 Goal statement entitled ‘Ensuring Culture Fulfills its Potential in Responding to the Covid-19 Pandemic’, which is an initiative to mobilize cultural communities and sectors in support of Covid-19 relief and recovery

efforts. Though common efforts to implement the 2030 Development Agenda has been put in serious jeopardy in many parts of the world, as the pandemic is disrupting billions of lives with far-reaching effects on the health and livelihoods of people, his office is ensuring that the General Assembly is able to continue its vital work and perform essential functions under these extraordinary circumstances. Muhammad-Bande has travelled to over forty (40) countries and consulted for Institutions and Governments over a variety of governance issues, from higher education to security and international relations and organizations. He has been an Assessor for the National Merit Award and for professorial positions in universities. He has won merit awards and honors from institutions and Governments, including the United States and China. He is also a recipient of Nigeria’s Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR), one of Nigeria’s highest honors. He is married with four children and his hobbies include swimming, soccer, field hockey, farming and music.

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THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9243 Sunday, August 30, 2020

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THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9243 Sunday, August 30, 2020

BY KONYE CHELSEA NWABOGOR

“Like no other time in recent history, women are on the frontlines of COVID-19 and bearing the brunt of this human crisis. They are the first responders in hospitals and clinics, leading in science and research, and on the frontlines of politics and communities. I’ve been truly inspired, and I know others will be too. It is time for us to rise as women leaders taking action to conquer the pandemic and come out stronger.”

D E M M A H O M A N I AM

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has generated an unprecedented global health, humanitarian and development crisis, it has also revealed the power of women’s leadership. Our very own Amina Mohammed, is one of those we can proudly say stands out with a new type of leadership which primarily involves resilience, courage, flexibility, listening, empathy, collaboration, caring and recognition of collective contribution. Recently she convened women leaders from all over the world under the “Women Rise for All” initiative. The platform which was launched on social media in April, was aimed at shaping women leadership for Covid 19 responses and recovery and also to support the UN Secretary-General’s call for solidarity and urgent action during the pandemic. Amina has always stated that she is inspired by the upcoming generation of women leaders who in the face of disasters, conflicts, and health emergencies prioritize their education and use their platforms to advocate for the right of all girls and young women to a quality education. For this reason alone and particularly at this time, advancing gender equality and amplifying the voices of young women is at the center of her work. Foremost at the moment are issues surrounding sexual harassment, exploitation, abuse and violence all of which have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 lockdown and the current socio-economic crisis . Amina Mohammed began her career working on the design of schools and clinics in Nigeria. She served as an advocate focused on increasing access to education and other social services, before

moving into the public sector, where she rose to the position of adviser to three successive Presidents on poverty, public sector reform, and sustainable development. Mohammed has been conferred several honorary doctorates and has served as an adjunct. Prior to her current appointment, she served as Minister of Environment of the Federal Republic of Nigeria where she steered the country’s efforts on climate action and efforts to protect the natural environment. She first joined the United Nations in 2012 as Special Adviser to former SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-Moon with the responsibility for post-2015 development planning. The 5th Deputy Sec Gen of the UN, Amina is one of the women giving Nigeria a voice in the global development space. From being recognized as one of the ‘World’s Greatest Leaders’ by Fortune magazine, to Climate Warrior’ by Vogue magazine, she is an inspirational global woman leader who has dedicated her life to service. Not many will forget the huge role she played in assessing how the Sustainable Development Goals and Millennium

Development Goals would impact not only Nigerian but African women in general. Amina’s leadership style displays a truly remarkable talent for bringing people together. She is convincing in her call to action, and inspiring when it comes to making a difference. According to her, “Even in the midst of this “devastating crisis”, there is an opportunity to build a better world that works for all”.

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Y E OK

H A M A OR BY AYO AROWOLO

Dr. Benedict Okey Oramah was born in Nigeria on 24 July 1961. He holds MSc and PhD degrees in Agricultural Economics, obtained in 1987 and 1991 respectively from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. He obtained a BSc degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria in 1983.

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9243 Sunday, August 30, 2020

COVER

Oramah assumed the position of President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export – Import Bank (Afreximbank) in September 2015. Prior to his current role, he was the Executive Vice President responsible for Business Development and Corporate Banking, a position he occupied from October 2008 to September 2015. As Executive Vice President, Prof. Oramah supervised Trade Finance, Project and Export development finance, Syndications and Specialized Finance, Corporate Finance and Advisory Services as well as the Research and Knowledge Management Functions of the Bank. Further, he assisted the then President of the Bank in overseeing the Bank’s Strategic Planning and International Cooperation functions. Prof. Oramah joined Afreximbank as Chief Analyst in 1994 and was promoted to the position of Senior Director, Planning and Business Development in 2007. Prior to join Afreximbank, he held the position of Assistant Research Manager at the Nigerian Export Import Bank (NEXIM) from 1992 to 1994. Prof. Oramah holds an Advanced Management Certificate from the Colombia University obtained in 2015, M.Sc. and Ph.D. Degrees in Agricultural Economics obtained in 1987 and 1991 respectively from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. He obtained a B.Sc. degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria in 1983. Prof Oramah has numerous publications to his credit and recently published a book titled Foundations of Structured Trade Finance. He has written over 35 professional/scholarly articles in a wide range of African economic, trade and trade finance issues. He is a regular speaker at several trade and trade finance conferences around the world. Prof. Oramah is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA). He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Sustainable Development Goals Center for Africa (SDGA), a member of the practitioner Advisory Board of the Institute for Trade and Innovation (IfTI) of Offenburg University, Gengenbach, Germany, a Member of the Emerging Markets Advisory Council of the Institute of International Finance (IIF), an Executive Committee Member of the Factors Chain International (FCI)/International Factors Group (IFG), a member of the Consultative Board on the World Cocoa Economy of the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) and a Fellow of the Institute of Credit Administration (ICA). He also serves on the Editorial Boards of Trade and Forfaiting Review (TFR) and the Journal of African Trade (JAT). Prof. Oramah has won many awards, including Afreximbank Outstanding Staff Award (2010), African Banker of the Year (2017) and African Leadership Award of the New York University (2019). Not too long ago, African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) announced a $3 million grant to complement efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic across African countries. Oramah, who made the announcement in Cairo, recently, said the fund was in response to a request by African heads of state, through the auspices of the African Union Chair Person, Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa, for the mobilisation of resources to address the pandemic. He said a significant proportion of the grant would go to the COVID-19 Special Fund set up by the African Union (AU) as well as to the African Center for Disease Control (Africa CDC). Oramah humbly states that he hopes the contribution will help to address some of the immediate needs and he encouraged

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9243 Sunday, August 30, 2020

other African banks, funds, corporations and charitable organizations to also contribute to the relief effort. He stated that Afreximbank is working with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the AU to help mobilise grant funding for the COVID-19 mitigation responses. Highlighting the need for wide institutional support for the COVID-19 response effort, he stated that no one country or institution will be able to rise to the challenge of the pandemic on its own. Afreximbank’s grant support comes in addition to

several initiatives the Bank is taking to support the effort in fighting the pandemic, such as the $3 billion Pandemic Trade Impact Mitigation Facility (PATIMFA), which it launched in March, to help African countries deal with the economic and health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bank has also set aside an amount of $200 million for use in financing the production of COVID-19 equipment and supplies within Africa. Oramah, said the resource constraints and urgent nature of interventions on the ground required significant grant financing to ensure timely support for emergency interventions in combating the pandemic. Afreximbank have always supported African countries in times of crisis. For instance, in November 2014, the Bank contributed $1 million to the effort to combat the outbreak of the Ebola virus disease which affected several countries in West Africa. Also, in 2019, Afreximbank donated $1.5 million to countries in Southern Africa to support relief efforts fo According to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, African markets urgently need $100 billion to provide fiscal support for the response to COVID-19. Raising this sum will require a global effort, but the African ExportImport Bank (Afreximbank) is leading the continental response with innovative solutions. But even these interventions, as meaningful as they are, will not be enough to soften the blow felt by the average African. Additional innovation is needed, including assistance to the informal sector and creative industries—with Afreximbank’s $500 million fund to support the production and trade of creative goods serving as a laudable example.

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9243 Sunday, August 30, 2020

STYLE & DESIGN

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, 9243 Sunday, August 30, 2020

STYLE & DESIGN

Segun Awolowo

SEGUN AND WIFE, BOLA AWOLOWO

It all started on a Saturday morning when I woke up to go for my usual walk, I got dressed and went downstairs and was consumed by extreme fatigue. I sat down, drank some water and watched TV wondering what was wrong with me. Then I ate a banana and drank more water trying to muster enough energy to go for my walk. I suddenly became a bit feverish, so I was compelled to turn off the air conditioner. At this point I knew I had to call the doctor, who arrived promptly and took my vitals and blood sample to run a few tests, he advised I take Panadol, eat well and have a good rest. Alas that was the end of my day.... No walk for me. The next day the doctor informed me that I had Malaria and prescribed Coartem - a very powerful Malaria drug that knocked me sideways, I used it for 3 days and felt a bit better but still weak. Strangely enough, my temperature never went beyond 37° and I didn’t have a cough or breathing difficulties and my taste buds were fine. But the body fatigue was something I had never experienced before in my life. I was completely weak and lethargic. I decided to go home to Lagos and on arrival, I tried to isolate myself from the rest of the house, which was not possible because I was so ill and weak my wife had to take care of me.(for my dear wife of almost 30 years it’s for better and for worse ) Another doctor came and administered a drip as I had started to lose weight from not eating and had severe diarrhea, a lethal combination l daresay! Finally, we decided that I simply had to go to the hospital as I wasn’t getting any better. My wife was apprehensive because my hospital is First Cardiology Consultants, and they have not been too popular in the media recently, as the media has chosen to highlight the unfortunate losses of several high profile personalities while failing to document that they have an 82% survival rate which is higher than most hospitals in the United Kingdom. However, I insisted on going there, as both Dr Adeyemi Johnson and Dr Kofo Ogunyakin have my medical history and my greatest confidence. All the while I was not afraid, I just knew I was ill and wanted to get better. Then the shocker! We both tested positive for COVID-19, my wife was asymptomatic while I was already ill. The doctor looked worried as he gave us both diagnoses. Looking at the doctor’s somehow downcast and gloomy mien coupled with my brother Sola Braithwaite’s demeanour who had insisted on accompanying us to the hospital was the moment the

I honestly can’t pinpoint how or where I got it. I thought I had been very careful observing all the rules and regulations but as a public officer, at some point, we had to go back to work and one is really exposed to the numerous high profile meetings one attends, entourages of people swanning around you, files and letters you come in contact with etc.

fear came down on me! I strongly believe the fear of this coronavirus is the real killer. Doctor sent us off to perform a CT scan, to ascertain the extent of the damage. The ride to the lab was the longest, my wife drove and I was collapsed in the passenger seat, we were both worried sick about ourselves and our children & domestic staff who had by now reported to the hospital to get tested. Thankfully they all tested Negative). I tried to lighten the mood with some dry jokes but these, of course, didn’t work! We took the test results back to the hospital and for the first time both Doctors smiled while expressing their satisfaction on the results of the scan. Thereafter we were placed on medication and were told to isolate ourselves at home and return in a week. He prescribed the following drugs: Colchicine, Azithromycin, Vitamins C & D and Rivaroxaban and added that it was important to eat. We were advised to *treat food as medication* and this was a Herculean task as I had no appetite whatsoever. We went home relieved that I was not admitted or taken to any Isolation centre or placed on Oxygen as my blood pressure and oxygen levels were okay. We isolated ourselves in a wing of the house and did our best to eat as advised by the doctors. We received numerous advice from friends and family to experiment with all sorts of herbal remedies (Our Nigerian way). We however succumbed to the inhalation of the traditional DogoYaro leaves (the bark, leaves of the

They say the solution lies in a vaccine but in the interim Mask Up, build your immunity, observe social distancing, stay safe, FOR YOUR LOVED ONES not just yourself. If you feel like you are being careful already, DOUBLE YOUR EFFORTS.

Neem Tree) but also stayed the course of the recommended treatment by the doctors and by the 5th day I was feeling much stronger. At the end of the week, I got the all-clear and my wife took a little longer to get better, so we switched roles and I had to take care of her. (remember it’s for better for worse) After another week we went back to the hospital and we both got the all-clear check. The Total timeframe of our ordeal was about Four weeks. I knew I was better when I went to see my mother on her birthday, and I ate all the birthday goodies heartily! I knew my appetite and strength were back, she was excited to see me as she had been so worried. We observed strict social distancing protocol.

How did I get Covid-19? I honestly can’t pinpoint how or where I got it. I thought I had been very careful observing all the rules and regulations but as a public officer, at some point, we had to go back to work and one is really exposed to the numerous high profile meetings one attends, entourages of people swanning around you, files and letters you come in contact with etc. I believe my symptoms didn’t become extreme because I had built up my immunity, with vitamins C, D, zinc and lots of exercise. (That’s my belief) I thank God for life, and I decided to tell my story because COVID-19 IS REAL. It is important to try and stay safe, as no country has the solution yet. They say the solution lies in a vaccine but in the interim Mask Up, build your immunity, observe social distancing, stay safe, FOR YOUR LOVED ONES not just yourself. If you feel like you are being careful already, DOUBLE YOUR EFFORTS. I give special thanks to God for the grace of healing. I thank family and friends for their love and concern for me and my wife which was expressed through numerous phone calls and messages. I must also mention my boss and brother, the Minister for Investment, Trade and Industry, Otunba Niyi Adebayo for his kindness throughout this ordeal. I thank my colleagues at work for their support especially Sidi Abdullahi for holding the reins during my absence. Finally to my doctors at First Cardiology Consultants, Dr Yemi Johnson and Dr Kofo Ogunyakin thank you for taking good care of my wife and I. It is my fervent prayer that the Good Lord will continue to watch over you and all frontline health workers during this period. I must thank our numerous unofficial doctors as well. Once again, I thank God for life May the Good Lord in his infinite Grace deliver us all from this noisome pestilence. AMEN #StayHealthy #ProtectYourselfandOthers #Covid19Isreal Segun Awolowo is the grandchild of Late Obafemi Awolowo and the Executive Director of Nigerian Export Promotion Council

Alero Adollo aleroadollo@yahoo.com

MY COVID-19 STORY

CAPSULES BY FUNKE BABS-KUFEJI

Hey Neighbour, how market .....listen, carpe diem my friend, it’s time to get up and LIVE your life intentionally by ignoring the market noise, and trust me, that noise is loud, you cannot continue to be chained down by life’s extra, you have got to junk the crap and LIVE...not a zombie like existence where each day drives you nowhere and before you can say Jack, it’s sunset and the trumpet call. Let me yarn you small “tori”, don’t let life use you to catch cruise oooo, whilst you are drifting without a plan, hmmmm, I remember a friend who got a first class in procrastination from the “university of I too know” until she realised she was not in charge, she cried over the wasted years and her frozen dreams because the defrost button stopped working when she needed it most. I beg you need to start learning how to DO YOU. Don’t mind all the oversabi people who will tell you how it ought to be done, they honestly don’t have a clue, because they are also learners. Our so called agents of socialisation have become toothless bulldogs that we allow to fill us with dread whilst feeding us with their brand of muck. The foundation of life starts from the family and many damage in the name of discipline, they believe their children are plasticine and they mould them by slapping them into shape in the name of love. I once had a friend whose mother told her at every given opportunity that she was an unwanted child, she grew up believing she was a mistake of destiny and became cold and withdrawn, thanks to the foundational agent of socialisation.....the family. We cannot continue to allow dysfunction to stop our growth but grow we must despite our background. These experiences must not make us bitter but better as we need to convert the stumbling blocks strewn our way to stepping stones. We must not stay stewed in other people’s mess. Many are also good parents who struggle to ensure that they do not misdirect the gifts that God has given them by partnering with him in their nurture of these innocent souls, to these I give a standing ovation. The 2nd agent of social conditioning is the church, the mosque et al, from this many take away religion rather than faith, they end up churning out scriptures like recorded robots, without understanding. There was this Omo Jesu whom I used to know, she ended up in the bed of her Pastor, her Choir master and by the time they were both done with her, they dumped her like a worthless rag, meanwhile the Pastor was all the while “catching his fun” with his PA and who knows who else. She was further damaged by those who were supposed to protect her and give her succour because she did not realise that only God loves without conditions precedent to drawdown. Then comes the final nail in the coffin, the peer group, these ones bite you deep and many become rabid. They over hype you and you become delusional in your arrogance or they under hype you and mess with your self esteem, because their power of persuasion is subliminal, you struggle not realising what they are doing to you. You may need to change your circle of influence and utilise a confluence of your own ideas as a springboard to the next level. The process of growth is usually painful but in season it rewards the patient. Whatever deck of cards life deals you, your response must differentiate you from the throng. The agents of socialisation have a role to play in moulding you no doubt but you also have a role to play in the assimilation of what you are fed by them. You need to doggedly draw a line in the sand and impugn all plans to deconstruct you by reconstructing you to a pliable “dum dum” who will end up spending the entirety of his or her life kowtowing to the whims and caprices of societal dictates. You will one day wake up and find yourself in a self constructed maximum prison wondering how you got there.

Colours of Life with Koko Kalango

Tell-Tale Signs That Your Faith May Have Suffered Shipwreck Shipwreck: the destruction of a ship at sea by sinking or breaking up, for example in a storm or after striking a rock. We are likening our faith to a vessel at sea. We have left the harbour and set sail towards a distant shore which, for the Christian, is heaven. Like every journey, we are bound to meet obstacles along the way. How we respond to them may determine if we make it safely to the other side. Some common indicators that our faith has been derailed and possibly destroyed are: PRACTICING IDOLATRY An idol is anything that takes the uppermost place in our life. For an indication of what may constitute an idol in our life, we just need to take a look at our bank statement and our diary – what we spend our resources and time on the most are pointers to obsession. An idol is usually the first thing on our mind when you wake up and the last thing before you sign off for the day. Where this is anyone or anything but God, we need to do something about that. God expects to take the place of priority in the life of His children. Someone rightly said He would rather be either Lord of all or not Lord at all. HERO WORSHIPPING MEN AND WOMEN OF GOD Hero worshipping is excessive admiration of a person. We are told to hold those who serve God in high esteem, to honour them and pray for them. It is also fine to admire God’s servants. But sometimes we cross the line and we nearly give them the place of God in our lives. Here are some pointers this is where we are: if we hold on to the word of our pastor above the word of God, or talk more about what our church or pastor is doing than what God is doing, if we care more about what our pastor thinks of us than what God does. Where we have crossed that thin line from harmless admiration to hero worshipping, we must retrace our steps, because God is a jealous God who wants our undivided love and adoration. WATCHING BIG BROTHER Our senses provide a gateway into our soul. What we give attention to (with our eyes, ears and mind) can be a snare. As committed Christians, if we are comfortable consuming profanities, promiscuity and pornography, then we are dancing on a field of landmines. Scripture says if our right eye causes us to sin, we should pluck it out and throw it away. In short, we should have zero tolerance for anything that could impede our spiritual growth. A litmus test for what we take in is to ask ourselves ‘if Jesus were seated beside me, would I be comfortable watching this show?’ BEING COMPLACENT As we strive to make progress at school or at work, we should do the same spiritually. If we cannot be bothered to put in that extra effort in our spiritual life, there is cause for concern. When we no longer thirst after righteousness or hunger for the Scriptures; when our soul no longer pants after God; we should be worried. When we get to a point where we have become desensitized to what is right or wrong, or become so ‘loving’ that we subscribe

to a Gospel of inclusion, we are treading dangerous grounds. God is love and the greatest commandment is to love Him and to love others. This is the very reason we should love people enough to tell them the truth. If our niceness takes people to hell then we need to exercise tough love like Jesus did. FOLLOWING QUESTIONABLE INFLUENCERS Everyone follows someone, consciously or subconsciously. We usually follow a person we admire and aspire to be like. The people we follow reflects what we hold dear and where we are headed. As Christians we should follow people from whom we can get information and learn lessons that will enable us serve God’s purpose for our lives. We should also follow people who follow Christ. The fruit of a person’s life shows what they have to offer. PURSUING SUCCESS AT ALL COST The pursuit of success is a legitimate thing. No one wants to be a failure in life. But as Christians we should seek ‘good success’ – success before God. The parameters for defining success with God are sometimes the opposite of what the world calls success. Success before God is simply being where He wants us to be and doing what He has called us to do. God’s will does not always bring us fame or wealth. In fact, it may do the opposite. The devil told Jesus that if He bowed down to worship him, he would give Him the whole world. So, ‘worldly prosperity’ may just be an indication that we are outside the will of God. We must be careful what we do just for fame and success. BEING A FANATIC A fanatic is filled with excessive zeal for an extreme cause. While our passion for God should be unquestionable and our commitment total, we should have a balanced existence. Even if we are spirits, we have a physical body and we have a mind. We need to exercise all of them to function effectively. That means we must take care of our bodies (including the way we look), and build our minds (through continuous learning). Our faith should not make us weirdos. A spiritual hermit is not much good. Jesus was sociable. He was holy enough to attend a wedding, hang out with sinners and lodge in the home of Zacchaeus, a corrupt official. While we are heaven bound, we should be earthly relevant. --------------------------------------------------------------------------Every child of God has a responsibility to check their spiritual compass every now and then to see how they are faring on the journey of faith. And where we have geared off course, we need to retrace our steps and get back on track. Jesus said: ‘Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.’ Matthew 7:13,14 it! Koko Kalango is author Colours of Life devotional and host, Colours of Life show. contact@coloursoflife.org

VITAMIN C SKIN-CARE REGIMEN

HOW TO ADD TO YOUR

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9243 Sunday, August 30, 2020

BEAUTY

For brightening up a dull complexion and erasing sunspots, vitamin C is the gold standard of ingredients, especially as the years go by. As such, getting familiar with the powerhouse antioxidant is essential for any robust skincare strategy. Vitamin C is the most potent topical antioxidant. It neutralizes free radical damage and protects the skin against UV light and other environmental aggressors, as well as blocking abnormal production of pigmentation to even skin tone and fade dark spots. And while it’s best known for brightening, it can also be instrumental in skin firming. Here are some tips on how best to utilize the hero ingredient for a brighter, smoother, and plumper complexion. BY KONYE CHELSEA NWABOGOR

Choose the Right Concentration

to sunburn. That being said, the most potent forms of vitamin C are vulnerable to light exposure, and therefore Identifying the right concentration for your skin type the use of vitamin C must be in conjunction with broadis essential to how effective your topical vitamin C will be. Begin with a low concentration of 10% and increase spectrum UVA/UVB coverage. The good news is that, when layered underneath sunscreen with a minimum of to 15% or 20% as tolerated. For oily or normal skin, L-ascorbic acid is the most potent form of vitamin C and SPF 30, vitamin C protects the skin even further. Think of it as a safety net to help neutralize free radical damage can be the most beneficial, while for dry and sensitive that can occur from UV light penetration despite our best skin, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, a water-soluble protection efforts with sunscreen. vitamin C, is less irritating.

Pay Attention to pH

OBAGI VITAMIN C SERUM

Absorption of a vitamin C is largely contingent on its pH level. If you have normal skin, look for one with a low pH of approximately 3.5 for optimal absorption. If you have sensitive skin, you should use a formula with a pH of 5 to 6. This is the skin’s natural pH and will not be as irritating.

Go with a Serum

Designed to deliver a high concentration of actives, serums are the most common form of delivery for vitamin C. They keep that ingredient stable and enhance penetration through the outer skin layer. As far as complementary ingredients are concerned, vitamin C works NATRIUM best in combination with vitamin E, ferulic VITAMIN C Acid, vitamin B, and hyaluronic acid.

SKINCEUTICALS C E FERULIC

TRUSKIN VITAMIN C

THINGS T H I NG S T O D O T O YOU Achieve Better And SHOULD Younger Looking ADD TO YOUR Skin This quarantine period has given us enough time to pay more attention to our skin. This is also a great time to consider your beauty routine and change or develop some new habits although some of these tips perhaps are already a part of your daily routine – which is even better as you are just a few steps closer to more beautiful and younger looking skin! SPEND ENOUGH TIME IN BED Sleep is one of the most wonderful gifts that you can give to your skin. A good night’s sleep actually helps your skin to support regeneration processes and overall improves skin’s conditions. So basically, you can improve your skin’s health and look great just by simply sleeping!

DRUNK ELEPHANT C FIRMA

Start Slowly

To keep skin happy, take a gradual approach when adding vitamin C to your regimen. With any active, it’s important to start slowly when incorporating ingredients into your routine.

ALWAYS REMOVE YOUR MAKEUP BEFORE SLEEP It shouldn’t be super surprising to learn, that removing all your makeup before going to sleep is one of the most important parts of the day. During the night, the makeup you left on your skin can exacerbate the condition of the skin and cause a variety of infections, further

LA ROCHE-POSAY VITAMIN C SERUM

Store It Safely

Vitamin C serums come in two broad categories: Water-based and anhydrous (which literally means “without water”). The former is more unstable and very sensitive and is typically held in opaque or amber coloured bottles for that reason, while the latter tends to be more stable, even in the presence of sunlight. No matter what kind you opt for, ensuring your vitamin C is stabilized and kept airtight in a dark, cool space is essential. If the colour becomes dark or cloudy it has already oxidized.

Layer It Under SPF

Unlike hydroxy acids or retinol, vitamin C does not make the skin more vulnerable

TATCHA VIOLET C

AYANDA THABETHE

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, 9243 Sunday, August 30, 2020

BEAUTY

BY USIADE ISIOMA

increased acne or clog the pores of the skin. Although frequent washing of the face can also cause problems, especially if you scrub your face in the process. In this case, your skin can dry out even more. STOP EXPERIMENTING WITH FACIAL CREAMS If you are still trying to find the “One” face cream and always experiment with various brands, you might be taking a risk of doing more harm to your skin, rather than helping it. Infact, very often, interchangeable facial skin creams may cause irritation and redness. Some creams contain allergens or skin irritating ingredients, so you should not jump from one cream to another every time you finish up the bottle. STOP SMOKING IN EVERY SENSE Direct or passive smoking, even if it is done on rare occasions, it eventually changes the colour of your skin, makes your teeth yellow, damages nails, promotes the appearance of wrinkles and, of course, can cause cancer. Smoking costs tons of money, and that is just not healthy at all! So, try to quit and change your life radically both improve your health and beauty! USE SUNSCREEN NOT ONLY IN HOT WEATHER One of the most important skin-care items should be sunscreen. But not only during hot weather, you should also apply sunscreen always. Regular use of sunscreen, as various scientific studies showed, reduces the risk of skin cancer by up to 50 percent. Moreover, skin protected from harmful sunrays usually retains its elasticity, natural colour and stay brighter a lot longer.

NATURAL HAIR ROUTINE Being black is high maintenance and part of being black is having a mane of luscious curls, but you can’t have this without going the extra mile. Here are ways to keep your curls happy and healthy. BY MEYIWA KPIASI

ORGANIC HAIR MAYONNAISE

CANTU LEAVE IN CONDITIONER

APHOGEE PROTEIN TREATMENT

PANTENE SHAMPOO

1. Pre- poo: The process of applying a series of oils to your hair before shampooing to restore the moisture and to prevent the shampoo from stripping your hair’s natural nutrients and oils. It’s best to pre-poo for at least an hour before washing your hair. 2. Co-wash: This is washing your hair with conditioner alone to keep your hair moisturised and clean without stripping the natural oils. This can be done more frequently than shampoo washing. 3. Oil is a sealant for hair, so use oil to seal in the moisture of your hair after applying a moisturizer or leave-in-conditioner. Don’t put oil on dry hair to prevent sealing in dryness

COCONUT OIL

which will lead to breakage. 4. Do a protein treatment at least once a month to increase strength. Hair mayonnaise is a very good option for this. 5. Do a hot oil treatment where you put slightly heated oil on your scalp to prevent protein loss in the hair and promote growth. Coconut oil is the best oil to use for this treatment and you shouldn’t microwave the oil for more than ten seconds. 6. Lastly, use cool water to rinse your hair after washing to close your cuticles, this would promote lustre and shine.