NOT IN THISDAY STYLE? THEN YOU’RE NOT IN STYLE · PDF filesunday, m ay 14, 2017...not in thisday style? then you’re not in style ie amos as ! t ruth& re a s o n

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Valerie AmosCelebrating 100 years of soas!

TRUTH & REASON

When I read our five minute interview with a lady who sells hair and I also read ways in which to maintain your weave on our beauty page, I sighed with

relief that that part of my life is finally over! Cutting my hair short is truly the best thing that I did in my 50s! Not having to deal with the hassle of weaves and hairdressers is something I now have the luxury of enjoying. But I’m one of the lucky few truly enjoying going au naturelle because for those whose natural hair is not that short, maintaining it is just as cumbersome as the weaves they have shied away from. To keep the moisture and texture healthy also comes with its own high demands.

This maintenance culture also extends to our skin and makeup. But much as I appreciate the effort required to keep our skin and face flawless, I want

to use this platform to appeal to women to go easy on the makeup. Day in day out, night in night out, I see so many plastered faces, while most look nice,

some are just overkill! This is more pronounced when it comes to eyelashes especially. Some women look like they have black metal fans as lashes...long enough to brush a carpet with! And as for the supposed contouring...let’s not even go there. At the end of the day, such women look like drag queens. I am not saying we should not wear makeup but there must be a cut off point otherwise it borders on cartoonish or looking like masquerades. Many men have complained that when women they know come to greet them at functions, they barely recognize them. Makeup is supposed to enhance whatever nature has blessed you with not totally change your face beyond recognition. I hope as time goes by, women will become confident enough not to plaster too much makeup on their faces. Looking beautiful but real should be the ultimate goal. Nothing too exaggerated with everything in moderation. If I must say, H.E Toyin Ojora Saraki is a prime example of how to look elegant and stylish with just the right amount of makeup. Nothing too flashy and yet you cannot but give her a second admiring glance. I hope the younger generation will take a leaf from her book.

Content

In September 2015 Amos was appointed Director of SOAS, University of London, becoming the first black woman to lead a university in the United Kingdom. Recently Valerie visited Lagos for the SOAS Centenary Campaign dinner hosted by H.E Toyin Ojora Saraki (an alumni of SOAS) and also the SOAS Centenary Celebration reception hosted by Funke Oladitan-Oduwole (another alumni). RUTH OSIME spent a morning with her to share views on the institution and also other issues concerning the empowerment of Africans and specifically the women.

style PiCKs...Pg 8 & 9

Print and PatternsPg 10 & 11

that City you didn’t Visit…Pg 18

a new online store Created by the youth for the youth!Pg 20

Fashion Director/executive eDitorRUTH OSIME

eDitor Print: OLUFUNKE BABS-KUFEjI

eDitor Digital: KONyE NWABOgOR

style corresPonDent MOjISOLA ALLEN

style corresPonDent AyODEjI ROTINWA

style corresPonDent SAFINA MOHAMMED

graPhics/ProD. heaD ALExANDER OVIAzEE

graPhics/ProD. ADEgBOyE OLUWASEyI

contributorsEDIRIN OKUMAgBA

RUKy SALAKOyEMISI DADA SERIKI

jULIET ALU

PhotograPhersTy BELLO

REzE BONNAyETUNDE AyENI-BABAEKO

Director, Print ProDuction. CHUKS ONWUDINjO

thisday style08111847085

08111847086

08111847087

08116759745

08116706878

08052552552

08111813064

Fashion Director/executive eDitor

FashionSocietygtbanK food & drinK fairPg 4 & 5

the turbaning of alhaji nasiru haladu danuPg 6

Recently gTBank held its second edition of their annual Food & Drink fair. The two-day exhibition and sales event projected the diverse angles of the food industry. In this year’s fair, there were over 140 small businesses in display with over 40,000 people in attendance. Beyond the ability to bring people together, the fair possesses immense potential as a major source of economic upliftment for gTBank customers and the country at large. People from all works of life turned up to witness the unparelled food experience, which also provided free business platforms for small businesses to thrive. This yearly event has fast become a ‘must-attend’ for everyone!

PhotograPhed By Mubo Peters

GTBANK FOOD & DRINK FAIR

derin & segun agbaje

Kunle aKejusegun sebanjo

Pat faniran, debbie oghene & ayona triMnel

haKeeM fashinro

graCe osiMe, toPe edu & delores odogwu

Koye edu

toyi Pinheiro

alfredoMuni shonibarebola ayeniuChe MajeKodunMi

ijeoMa nwogwugwu

MiChaeligbinedion

bayo adeola & osaretin deMurein

yoMi edu

haVriCio alarCon & luisa diaZadedolaPo aKinreledeMola aKinreleClara ogunbanjoCollins ChiKeluba

duni aKinrele; titi ogunbanjo; shola CoKer; raPhael; laPe adebayo & eno olafisoye

bola shagaya

onoMe oloyede & furo hartKehinde ebie & nKiru anuMudu

eKua abudujide CoKer

lanre dasilVa ajayi

ade laoye; feMi fowora & folabi balogunsegun olugboyegun

Koye edu

Recently , the city of Dutse , the jigawa State capital stood still for the turbaning of Alhaji Nasiru Haladu Danu as the Dan Amanar Dutse. The event which took place at the Emir’s palace had in attendance lots of dignitaries including representatives of President Muhammadu Buhari and his wife Hajiya Aisha Buhari, Hon yakubu Dogara (Speaker house of reps) and the Ooni of Ife. The two day event which included a gala night which took place at the Royal golf Course was concluded by the turbaning and a dinner was hosted by the jigawa State government at the government House Dutse.

The TuRBANING OF AlhAjI NAsIRu

hAlADu DANuB y K o n y e C h e l s e a n w a B o g o r

the dan aMana taKing oath of offiCe at the PalaCe of the eMPire of dutse

gaMbo ali, ibrahiM bagudu, noble abe & Magnus abe

Mai bala buni, ologun aKogun, ibrahiM tanKo, tunde adeboye & tunde ajibolu

Md abubaKar

eMeKa nwajiuba india garba

alh Murtala danu & rotiMi aMeChi

the ooni of ife with alh badaru abubaKar goV. of jigawa statesiMon lalong goV. of Plateau state

the galadiMa dutse King oweiPa jones, ere ibenanaowei of ogboin aMassoMa of bayelsa state

sen. sanusi dagashthe ere ibenanaowei of ogboin aMassoMa of bayelsa with his brother PrinCe oPus jones

alh danjuMa danu, alh MuKtar haMisu & oKai obono-oblathe eMir of dutse & the dan aMana

THISDAY Style Vol. 20, no. 7355 sunday, June 14, 2015

THE

ONES

THE

COOL GIRLS

TO WATCH

With a knack for quirky ensembles that still look

effortlessly polished, these ladies definitely have the It-

factor.

RULE BREAKERSFeathers, sequins, denim, chain

mail, anything is fair game for this crew of avant-garde

dressers and forward thinkers, showing that sometimes a dose of daring is the best accessory.

When they hit the carpet, expect the unexpected.

They may be new to the style scene, but what they lack in experience they more than makeup for with cutting-

edge couture choices.

MODERNMEGA STARSThe style-setters of the instagram

era all have two things in common; they’re everywhere,

and they know how to turn heads. Whether they’re baring

some skin or dressed in head-to-toe sequins, flashbulbs are sure

to explode.

INDUSTRYMAVENS

THEMOVIE STARS

The biggest names in Nollywood are no ones to shy away from a little shine. These leading ladies make the world just a bit glitzier,

be it with haute couture or classic piece.

When these women aren’t running some of the most

successful businesses in fashion/media, they’re making their

mark with personal style in chic noir looks and a dash of stylish accessories for good measure.

MUSICPOWER HOUSES

It should come as no surprise that song birds are also masters of

personal style, whether it’s with glamourous sex appeal or rock

edginess. And with a penchant for unpredictability, these songstresses

keep fashion fresh.

style PICKS...style brings the leading fashionable ladies from the social

scene replete with stylish and outstanding women who love to stand out whenever they step out and never seize to turn

heads with their gait, poise and unique style.

S T Y L E & d E S i g n

by Mojisola allen

HIGHSOCIETY

A lesson in looking chic, whether for a presidential gala

or a meeting with nations’ leaders. These ladies sizzle in many of various very upscale

designer garbs.

THESUPERS

The world’s top models look just as good off the runway as they do on

it. The ultimate fashion chameleons, they’re capable of pulling off disco

glamour, demure feminity, or futuristic frills with a personal style that merges in right proportions of class which we can’t seem to get

enough of.

oluChi orlandi

latasha ngwubei

eZinne ChiKata

toKe MaKinwa

rita doMiniCsoMKele iyaMa

MiMi onalaja inid

iMa

oKo

jie

Mo abudu

betty irabor

lisa folawiyo

nKiru-anuMudu

tiw

a s

aVag

e

ton

i to

nes

yVonne nwosu

teMi dollfaCe

ad

eola

ba

li

agba

ni d

areg

o

PRINT AND

PATTERNS

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, no. 8060 sunday, May 14, 2017

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, no. 8060 sunday, May 14, 2017S T Y L E & d E S i g n S T Y L E & d E S i g n

Pushing fashion to the limit is not for everyone, but if you eagerly embrace bright colours, big florals and bold graphics, these guaranteed attention getters are for you. inspired by a passion for retro, the energy of the art world and advances in digital printing, these patterns let you celebrate your individuality.

The easiest way to try print is with

a maxi dress. They are easy to throw on and are usually a perfect fit, regardless of how bold the pattern is.

A lot of wom-en shy away from

prints, thinking they are too loud. But if you write them off, you are missing

out on an opportunity to add life to your

wardrobe.

go with neutral or dark

prints, until you feel confident enough

for colours.

Patterns come in all shapes and

sizes as do the clothing they are printed on. Tired of painting the town red in a mini? Try on a print

jumpsuit then.

Startling visuals are most flattering in

a silhouette with a relaxed-not tight fit. Separates contrast best with black, and accessories must take a back seat. Red lips

are welcome, but nude is nice too.

by Konye Chelsea nwabogor

adeniKe adebola

ann ogunsulire

stel

la je

an

stel

la je

an

stel

la je

an

MiChelle dede

bolanle oluKanni

feMi da-silVa

burberry

C o V e rC o V e r THISDAY Style Vol. 22, no. 8060 sunday, May 14, 2017

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, no. 8060 sunday, May 14, 2017

BARONESSVALERIE AMOS

taking your history in politics, do you think there is still as much passion in it now as when you first started?

I absolutely think there is still passion in poli-tics. But I think that it’s very different today to the way it used to be. I don’t think that politics is just about party politics, it’s more than that, it’s about the way we live our lives, the way we relate to each other. All of these things have, for me, have a political, with a small ‘p’, dimension. In the United Kingdom, when I was first politically engaged, it was very much around campaigns. I grew up in a family that was very outward looking, very en-gaged in what was happening in the world. And I remember growing up with a strong sense that there were parts of the world where we were not seeing equality and justice. What was happening in Apartheid South Africa, for example, was al-ways a big debating point around the table; what was happening with post-colonial movements in West Africa, in East Africa and Southern African countries like Mozambique, it was very much part of the context I grew up in. I was also campaign-ing around equality and women’s rights with a certain kind of activism. I became engaged in party politics more directly when I went into the House of Lords in 1997, and I think that today, for a lot of young people, it’s much more about the activism around issues, rather than being about engagement through a political party. And I think it’s interesting to watch. For example, if you look at what young people are involved in in a country like Nigeria, there are people who care passion-ately about the environment, there are people who care passionately about what’s happening to girls, and there is, to a certain extent, less engage-ment and also less tolerance of party politics in the sort of traditional way of engaging with politi-cal elites. But the passion is still there; I just think it’s taking a different form.

Do you feel there is less connection be-tween the elitist political parties and the people that they serve like what happened in america with hilary clinton losing the election?

I think there are several things happening. There is a perception that the political elite is out of touch with the views of people on the ground. We’ve seen it in the UK; we are now seeing it in the U.S.; and when you look at countries on the African continent, it takes a slightly different form, because the idea of democracy as elections is something that is more recent. And there is a concern that those parties have been, historically, overwhelmingly male elitist and are not neces-sary for the people.

in the african continent, there seems to be a disconnect between the politicians and the people. a lack of trust of their leaders as history has proven.

There is definitely a lack of trust, a perceived lack of engagement and the perception that people get into politics for their own ends and not for the people. I was out of direct political engagement, day to day contact, in the UK from 2009 till last year. I went back to the U.K. in 2015 and I say to people that now, even before I left, when I went out to campaign and talk to people at their doorsteps, you could see that people were feeling that the things that they cared about were not the things that the political parties were engaged with. And one of the challenges is that there are contradictions in the things people care

about. you can worry about immigration and you can vote for the Labour Party and not see that as a contradiction. So if the Labour Party in the U.K. is not acknowledging that some of its members worry about immigration, then people are going to feel that there’s a disconnect. If you don’t ap-pear to be dealing with what’s happening in the nation, to housing, to social services and other policies and, political rhetoric that are made – if those policies are not delivered on – then that trust gap gets much wider.

are you not tired of hearing about africa’s potentials when most of it has been lost by the inactivity and lack of direction by af-ricans themselves, isn’t it time we took re-sponsibilities for or actions or lack thereof?

I don’t agree with the premise of your ques-tion, in the sense that I think that the situation is multifaceted, that there are a number of different dimensions to it. One of the things that I have al-ways been amazed by is the energy, the creativity, the innovation that we see by people in different countries in Africa, almost despite the efforts of governments and others, despite the creation of enabling environments to facilitate that in-novation and development. So I would not look at Africans themselves and say that they have not engaged in a constructive way in seeking to move forward the development of the continent. I think it’s very different when you look at some of those who are engaged in leadership and in political positions, where it is not clear that they are engaged in those positions, or that they want to be Ministers or Presidents, to actually improve the lot of the people in their countries. And there are many examples we can point to where that has not happened. But I think that there are also many examples that you can point to, of people who are doing the opposite of that and do have a commitment. So I think the situation is more nu-anced than headlines sometimes demonstrate.

I also think that it is really important to re-member that situations in countries don’t just happen, they have a history, a context, and there are relationships. There are many examples of

It is very important for Africans themselves to invest

in their countries and continent. When you look at the figures, you cannot necessarily expect direct

investment from outside if you are not prepared to do that investment yourself.

BARONESSVALERIE AMOS

Baroness Valerie Amos was the eighth UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. Before her appointment to the UN, she served as British High Commissioner to Australia. She was created a Labour Life Peer in 1997, becoming Leader of the House of Lords and Lord

President of the Council. When Amos was appointed Secretary of State for International Development in May 2003, she became the first black woman to sit in the Cabinet of the United Kingdom. In July 2010, Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon announced Baroness Amos’s appointment to the role of Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. She took up the position

in September 2010 and remained in post until May 2015. In September 2015 Amos was appointed Director of SOAS, University of London, becoming the first black woman to lead a university in the United Kingdom. Recently Valerie visited Lagos for the SOAS Centenary Campaign dinner hosted by H.E Toyin Ojora Saraki

(an alumni of SOAS) and also the SOAS Centenary Celebration reception hosted by Funke Oladitan-Oduwole (another alumni). RUTH OSIME spent a morning with her to share views on the institution and also other

issues concerning the empowerment of Africans and specifically the women.

BARONESSVALERIE AMOS

C o V e r THISDAY Style Vol. 22, no. 8060 sunday, May 14, 2017

Success is not just about hard work. Sometimes, it is about

being at the right place at the right time so there’s an element of that in all of us. But my sense is

that women, on the whole, do have to do better to achieve a similar

level of success as the men.

We at SOAS have a knowledge base, a research base, a

partnership and collaboration with the African continent,

which is deeper than any other university. We have been doing

it for the past 100 years. We have the largest number of

academics working on Africa than any other university

outside of the African continent.

C o V e rTHISDAY Style Vol. 22, no. 8060 sunday, May 14, 2017

interference in the affairs of countries from other more powerful countries across the world. I look at some of the conflicts on the African continent which have gone on for a very long time. you look at countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo. Look at what has happened in South Sudan, Iran and many other examples. There are many ex-amples of people working to tackle the problems of corruption, neurotic bureaucracy, and environ-ment. And I feel very strongly that the picture across the continent is a much more complicated one than is sometimes painted.

Whether we like it or not, corruption does play a major role in politics especially when it comes to leadership in most african coun-tries. We are rich in culture and growth and if led in the right direction, we can be like Dubai. but sadly when you look at some of these african countries, they are very lacking in terms of growth. how do you think we can encourage the younger generation to fight corruption and be less financially dependent on foreign countries that sometimes exploit them under the guise of assistance?

Absolutely! Let’s remember that the under-standing of the African continent, the complexity, the richness, the differences and the diversity is something that is not understood across most of the world. And I think we sometimes forget that. This understanding is something we have not re-ally talked about and people have not necessarily wanted to understand it.

and why is that?I think it’s because there has been a long his-

tory of a perception of people of African origin as being somehow ‘lesser’. I know that we no lon-ger think of Africa as the ‘dark continent’, but that history of thinking about the African continent in that way is something which is deeply embedded in the psyche of a lot of people around the world, and has also had an impact in the way that we are perceived in countries where we are not the majority. So dealing with that perception of us, our peoples, our history, and now, how they are gov-erned, is something that we need to remember. It is very important for Africans themselves to invest in their countries and continent. When you look at the figures, you cannot necessarily expect direct investment from outside if you are not prepared to do that investment yourself.

Make yourself an attractive bride so to speak...

But if you look at major investments in Nigeria today, Nigerians themselves make it and there has had to be a lot of work done to attract outside investments. That’s why I challenge the perception that just talks about corruption; yes, you have to tackle corruption, yes, you have to create an en-abling environment, rule of law and a judicial sys-tem that works, but I think we also have to remem-ber and acknowledge that this is a continent of 53 countries with a diversity of peoples, economies and economic growth. yes, mistakes have been made, but every single minute of every day, you can point to achievements, successes; progress, which is not necessarily discussed.

Which do you think is the best way forward...aiding africa or trading with africa?

If we are talking about economic growth and development, it’s always got to be about trade enabling environments. There’s a responsibility we have if we are the richest countries in the world,

conflict where men use women to get at the men that they are fighting against. They use sexual assault, violence and rape against women, as a means of trying to weaken their opposition. And when we talk about the history of conflict and war, we think that this is something that happened many years ago, but it is hap-pening now. What makes that acceptable? What is it in the relationships between men and women and the prior relations between men, where there is a perception that if you violate the woman, you are somehow gain-ing an upper hand over another man? These are deep-seated and deep-rooted prejudices and discrimination. So I don’t think it’s just about what’s happening in the African continent; it’s about what is happening to women across the world.

in war-torn villages and countries around the world, the women and the children are worst hit. they some-times even get abused in their refugee camps which leads me to my next ques-tion...is there a solution to the world’s refugee crisis?

Refugees are from crisis-ridden societies. So if the war and conflicts stop, then you would begin to halt the number of people who are fleeing, either internally because what we need to remember is that the majority

of refugees live internally first. What they then do is go across the border from the source of violence internally, sometimes they move several times, and then when they get really desperate, they move to a neighbouring country, and when they begin to lose all hope, they start to move even further afield. So dealing with the sources of violence and conflict and trying to bring those conflicts to an end, in the first place, will be a major solution.

But that in itself, does not then deal with the second and third order of innocent people. The second being people who move from countries where they feel that their rights or their abilities to enjoy a degree of economic freedom and growth is not available for them anymore. So we see move-ment of people from countries like Eritrea, where there is no necessary war, but where people feel constrained by the situation in their country. Then there is the natural movement of people that hap-pens around the world, which is something none of us would want to see cut out. The concerns that I have sometimes, is that politicians terribly conflate these three things, because there are different solu-tions to them.

Do you think there will ever be equality?

Well, I’m an optimist. And I’ve spent a lot of my working life in a variety of different ways working for equality and social justice. So, yes I have to be-lieve that. But I have to say that I get knock backs all the time. Power brings with it responsibility, but we also see how power is abused in societies. There are personal dimensions to discrimination and prejudice, which we don’t sufficiently con-

front. So it’s something I would be working for throughout my life. I won’t see and end to it in my lifetime, but I would hope that at some point in the future, there would be equality. That doesn’t mean there won’t be differences between people, but that people are able to judge themselves equally.

regardless of the great strides women have taken in various professional ventures, do you feel there is still prejudice against wom-en especially in politics; which might explain why we haven’t had more female leaders?

I think that’s true. If you look at when women are campaigning for public office, the ways in which they are charged, there is no doubt that there is a difference with the way men are charged. But women in politics accept that it is tough. I don’t think there is a single woman who is success-ful who won’t say to you at some point that she has had to be better at what she does. Success is not just about hard work. Sometimes, it is about being at the right place at the right time so there’s an element of that in all of us. But my sense is that women, on the whole, do have to do better to achieve a similar level of success as the men.

Who tells the truth?

That’s a great modern question and it’s one of the questions we at SOAS are asking in the context of our ‘Questions Worth Asking’ campaign, because in our centenary year, what we are saying to the world is that there are some really tough and dif-ficult questions out there, and there is not always an easy answer to it. I think in terms of who tells the truth, it has become, with greater communication. Social media, for a lot of people, has become their particular worldview and how they see it; and the worry that I have is that facts and the importance that we used to give to having evidence based information, for the decisions that we make, has gradually eroded.

So, for me, it is about recognising that we have to put evidence squarely in the picture, but also recognising that we would bring our own political

in the world, talking to students who have gone through SOAS, they all say they can recognize a SOAS alumni elsewhere.

since your stay, have you visited any tourist sites?

Not yet. We have been very focused on the SOAS centenary events and we have some won-derful alumni. We at SOAS have a knowledge base, a research base, a partnership and collaboration with the African continent, which is deeper than any other university. We have been doing it for the past 100 years. We have the largest number of aca-demics working on Africa than any other university outside of the African continent. So we want to remind everybody of that. That has been my focus over the past couple of days. I guess I just have to come back and do the sightseeing another time although I have been here several times in the past.

you also run an ngo called amos bursary, where Michael Prest is one of the patrons. tell us about it.

Let me say I’m also a patron. It’s my sister that runs the NgO. Together, we founded it in memory of our parents, who were both teachers, passion-ate about education and who died within nine days of each other. We wanted to create a char-ity in their memory. It is nearly ten years old and focuses on spotting young men of African and Ca-ribbean heritage in the UK, London focused at the moment. We found out that the dropout rates in universities were higher in this group. So what we do is to mentor, support, do skills development, give them access to national and international opportunities through internships to help them through their A levels into university, and eventu-ally, help them get jobs. We also want them to be able to give back to their communities. We started with seven young men; we now have over 90. We are a charity, we don’t get funding from govern-ment. We have some important partnerships. Some support through scholarship, some with internship, others with sponsorship and funds.

to think about how we support, particularly sup-port countries that are not at a point where they are able to invest in some of their social services to the extent required, where there is a need to have development support. So I don’t think it’s abnor-mal. But there is no doubt that inclusive economic growth is critical.

Do you think african women need sexual revolution or a revolution of self-awareness?

As a woman of African heritage, I would say that I don’t think it’s so much that women need a sexual revolution. The women I talk to are very conscious of who or what they are about. In every country across the world, there is discrimination against women. There is something we have to address, which is a deep-seated discrimination that exists against women. you look at situations of

emotions and other perspectives to the way that we read those facts.

as a Director in soas, what would you like the soas students to leave with after their tenure?

Most of our students are undergraduates and are here for three years. Our post-graduate students are here for a year or two, our research students for longer. A lot of students come to SOAS because they want to see how they can be able to influence our world. They are also passionate about what they can do to help to change it, wherever they end up. Students who come to SOAS want to have an experience which they cannot have any-where else. We take great pride in our diversity. We currently, on campus, have students from over 113 countries. Our staff comes from over 90 countries. So that worldview, that recognition, academic and intellectual excellence comes from this kind of rich environment for debate. I want that ability to ques-tion, challenge and be confident in the way one can engage and question conventional orthodoxy in the world; I want that to remain at the heart of what a SOAS student is about. And anywhere I go

host for soas Centenary Celebration reCePtion, funKe oladitan-oduwole & Valerie aMos wole soyinKa & host for Centenary CaMPaign dinner, h.e, toyin ojora-saraKi

5% Get OFF your Groceries

A LIfEWELL LIVEDTHAT CITy yOU DIDN’T VISIT…

By BaBatunde OlaOluwa JeJe

New york. Chicago. Los Angeles. Las Vegas. Boston. Houston. Dallas. Miami. Washington DC. Raleigh. San Francisco. Delaware. Salt Lake City. Columbus. One can keep going as Nigerians have been to all and many more not mentioned. In fact one only has

to throw a dart at a map of the United States of America while wearing a blindfold and Nigerians have likely visited any state the dart lands on. Except for Portland, Oregon. you wouldn’t be blamed for going to google right about now as it is actually quite hard to meet a person who knows about Portland, talk less of visiting the city. Well, except for this writer that is, and recently a friend who visited on business but more on that later.

So what have you missed? Portland, official nickname being the City of Roses (or Rose City) due to an ideal climate for the growing of the classic flower. The city is the headquarters of Adidas in the United States from where they plot their battle against Nike with the help of stars like Kanye West — yeezys anyone? Also known as Silicon Forest due to the presence of over 1200 technology companies. The consulting firm Mercer ranked Portland as the 42nd worldwide in quality of living in a 2009 survey. Portland’s location is beneficial for several industries. Relatively low energy cost, accessible resources, north–south and east–west Interstates, international air terminals, large marine shipping facilities, and both west coast intercontinental railroads are all economic advantages.

All the above is the technical stuff. So what is the good stuff? What makes Portland attractive to the reader of this column who is used to the good life? Portland is recognised as one of the world’s most environmentally conscious cities, and for sev-eral reasons. Firstly, it is a highly walkable city unlike most cities in America where you need taxis or have to drive to get from one place to another. Ergo, great for your health. Secondly, it is one of the most bicycle friendly cities on the planet where motor vehicles actually have secondary right of way. Of course there’s a large community of cyclists. Indeed, Portland is very, very good for your health. There’s a large network of transportation options so you can get from one place to another with ease. There’s also over 10,000 acres of public parks meaning you are spoilt for choice with regard to where to take that romantic walk with

your significant other.And now for the piece-de-

resistance… Portland is also well known for its farm-to-table dining. Let me say that properly. Portland is one of the biggest foodie destinations on the plan-et. In 2015, a Washington Post critic set out to rank America’s top ten food cities, visiting more than a dozen destinations and taking in each location’s restau-rants, bakeries, farmers markets, cocktail bars and more. The clear winner was Portland. The name

of the critic is Tom Siestema of the Washington Post and we will reproduce his comments as published in The Oregonian below.

“Most of all, I love the ingredients here — 300 kinds of truffles, berries so delicate they don’t leave the state — and what a small contingent of talented chefs does with them. One of the scene’s few missing ingredients: fine-dining establish-ments. “Portlanders prefer places where they feel comfortable in their hiking boots and fleece,” says Michael Russell, the restau-rant critic for the Oregonian. Personally, I’d pick first-class farmers markets or some of the country’s trailblazing Asian retreats (hello, Pok Pok!) over a place that charges triple digits for dinner. Admittedly, I picked summer to visit, when Portland’s flavours are peaking. But superb coffee, wine and bread - crucial building blocks of any gastronomic destination - know no season. And it doesn’t hurt that everyone, fellow customers and servers alike, is Minnesota Nice. In one week, I never once heard a car horn.”

The commentary needs no further interpretation and if you are a proper foodie, I imagine the glimmers of a travel itinerary slowly forming in your mind as you read. However, we are not done yet, so hold those horses just a bit. Cointreau filled dough-nuts happen to be on a list of the Portland Food Bucket List: 50 Things you Need To Eat Before you Die. Published in 2016, this list was published because there’s so much great food in the city and icons can easily get overlooked. you can google the list if

you are planning a visit.For even more foodie indulgence, you will definitely need

to try street food as sold from food carts / food trucks. There are over 500 of them available at any one time. They also have their own website aptly titled foodcartsportland.com. There really is no excuse for not eating well in Portland, regardless of your dietary preferences ranging from fresh street food to amazing cuisine.

A brief segue to talk about this writer’s visit and my friend’s visit. Needing some serious R & R, I chose to go to Portland on the basis of some reading I had done some time back. I was attracted to this destination for its foodie credentials along with the very friendly cycling culture. I easily rented a bicycle at the hotel with a helmet (safety first). Finding my way around was pretty easy as the city is laid out in a grid format. It was certainly a surprise to see motor vehicles stopping to give me the right of way on a bicycle! I will confess to spending a large part of my visit sleeping as the visit was during winter, but I managed to get to a few foodie destinations that were indoors. One in particular, Salty’s, was quite memorable for its world famous clam chowder. It was a great trip that was too short and that was a couple of years ago… So I was having a conversation with a friend over a month ago who informs me that he is going to Portland on a business trip. As he spoke I realised he was not in the know, as many people aren’t, about the delights to be had in the city. So I gladly inform him. Some days later, I get a mes-sage with a caption “you should be here!” He had chosen to go on a wine tasting trip — yes, that’s the next thing we look at — and he had found some amazing wines. The particular picture he chose to share was a bottle from the types accompanying this article. A glass of this Pinot Noir is apparently sold for $500 in japan (I checked via google and it is a fact).

The first winery in Oregon was established in 1933 shortly after prohibition was repealed. It is still around. Oregon boasts some of the best Pinot Noir vineyards in the world. yes, the world. Even though the State of Oregon ranks third in the num-ber of wineries in the US (905 vineyards, 545 wineries), it took a pioneer like David Lett to plant the first Pinot Noir in 1965 and establish the Eyrie Vineyards. But it was only in 1979 at the Wine Olympics in Paris, when a blind tasting with French judges won Eyrie the first place in the Pinot Noir competition, that the world acknowledged the quality of Oregon Pinots. There was no look-ing back after that. Today, the most expensive Pinot Noir from the region is the incomparable Domaine Serene Monogram at $275 per bottle.

Now if only one can get a visa…

babatunde olaoluwa jeje believes in filling each moment with the very best experiences possible. writing from lagos, babatunde is an entrepreneur, a foodie, a lover of great music, and a practitioner of sprezzatura. babatunde will be writing about a life well lived.

A LIfEWELL LIVED

tell about yourself.My name is Doris Nkrumah Nwanneka. I’m an

indigene of Ebonyi state. Amasiri local government/town to be precise. I’m married and blessed with two beautiful kids. I’m presently studying Mass Communication in a reputable university in Nigeria.

What do you do?I’m a serial entrepreneur. I’m the CEO of Wanneka

Virgin Hair and Accessories, a luxury hair boutique which is also known as Hair by Wanneka. I’m currently launching my collection, Wanneka Luxury Abayas, which caters to women in society who need comfort but still want to look classy in what they wear. And I’m also a celebrity stylist.

Why this line of business?

Well, I have a passion for beauty. Making people feel

Miz Waneka as she is popularly called is a mother, wife and serial entrepreneur. she started off just selling human hair and failed at it several times. But the ability to keep trying again has earned her a sit among the big luxury hair retailer in nigeria and beyond. Wanneka did not stop there as she now has a beauty parlour located in lekki 1. Wanneka has in the last six months, empowered at least 200 young entrepreneurs by helping them start their businesses. the young mum revealed she is currently working on something entirely different in the beauty industry. in an interview with style Correspondent Ruky Salako, she let us in on the journey so far.

challenges in terms of some difficult customers especially in the first phase of my business where I even had to sell on credit just to get customers who would eventually tie down my money. So I was spending a lot but was making little or no profit at all. And I was also newly married then and had to cater to home duties, my baby and still run the business. It was not easy at all.how lucrative is the business?

It’s highly lucrative if you know your market well and how to take advantage of it.

What is your sustainability plan?Delving into other areas that would further increase

and improve the productivity of the Wanneka. Brand keeping customer satisfaction is a priority.

there are numerous people in the hair business today, what makes you different?

I would say my marketing strategy for one. Secondly my prices, as I endeavour to provide quality

at an affordable rates so that individuals and upcoming businesses, that is those who intend to start the hair business, can also benefit from Hair by Wanneka. And I always come up with something new and different from the norm.

What advice do you have for people who want to tow this path?

For those who want to start or are already into the business...for no reason should you give up. If you have the passion for it...keep going. No one completes a journey without facing obstacles. Don’t let anyone tell you you can’t make it because others have been in the business before you. There’s a place in the stars for everyone who wants to get there. If you fail the first time, try again. Keep going. Update your skills. Learn new ways of attracting clientele. Market your product the way no one else will because truthfully no one will do it better than you. Most importantly, pray fervently.

S T Y L E & d E S i g n THISDAY Style Vol. 22, no. 8060 sunday, May 14, 2017

a neW online store Created By the youth for the youth!

INTRODUCING GARMSPOT!

LOOK STYLISH INTHE PERfECT TEE

Garmspot is one of Nigeria’s fastest growing online retail stores specialising in the marketing and distribution of new age urbanwear and contemporary brands in Nigeria with the aim of becoming the leading online store for best brands Nigeria and Africa have to offer. “Our dream is to create a platform that bridges one of the many gaps in the Nigerian fashion market - variety. We hope to provide easy solutions through our wide product offering that gives the customer access to streetwear, formal wear and fashion accessories sourced from local and international brands alike as well as our in-house brand’’. Their lookbook gives an insight to the wide variety of clothing and accessories the company has to offer.

MoDels: TOMI THOMAS, LERIQ, BROOKE, DONALD, AND zENAANI PhotograPher: BLACKPRINTviDeograPher: KENEUMEOKAFOR - RED TOWN DIgITALstyling & creative Direction: SAMANTHA ADEBAyO

by Mojisola allen

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, no. 8060 sunday, May 14, 2017

the throw-on-and-go graphic t-shirt is about to get all dressed up with these simple five basic tips:

get the right fit.Choose the right colour.Select the right fabric.Wear your T-shirt in style.Know the function of the T-Shirt.

Paying careful attention to the style of your t-shirt is just as important as any other part of your wardrobe. Style influencers have been pairing tees with quirky phrases, and perhaps a sassy French word or two, with pencil skirts, culottes, and even pantsuits for a high-low look that can go from the corporate catwalk to late-night cocktails.

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11minutes withMiz Wanneka

and look beautiful. At one point in my life I actually got trained in make up artistry but hair has always been my first love. just the way some people want to be Lawyers, Accountants, Make up artists, Producers and all of that. I’ve always wanted to be a successful hair dealer. Not because there was nothing else to do but because I had and still have a deep passion for it.

Who are your ideal clients? People who know good hair and want to look

good. People who want to stand out from the rest, as that’s exactly what Hair by

Wanneka offers you: uniqueness and class.

how long have you been in the business?

For three years.

What are the challenges you face?

When I started, I had to deal with wrong suppliers and

competition as I am not the only one into hair business. I also had

weaR It wItH StylelaDies:Wear it like a blouse.Use it to dress down an outfit.Swap out the ironic tee for something artsy.If you’re going to get wordy, keep it simple.Let a solid tee highlight totally glam makeup.Have fun with it. guys: Pair solid-coloured white or gray tees with dark denim or khakis.Pair navy/blue tees with khakis.If the dominating colour of a graphic tee is dark, pair with a lighter bottom.Layer with care.Don’t tuck your tees in.

MiZ wanneKa

MakeuptRendS

tO tRy nOw!Gone are the days when ‘to-match’ was a thing and you couldn’t wear a bold lip on a dark eyeshadow, we are casting those myths away as the world continues to evolve and we with it. With these changes come trends that hold and enthrall us. Here are a few beauty trends to inspire your next makeup look!

natural broWsSay goodbye to those carefully drawn brows as today’s women don’t mind bushy brows. In fact,

they’d go to any extent to acquire them if they could. So, these days, the bushier your brows the better it is for you. you better keep those brows growing!

elegant shiMMer Dull-caked up faces are a thing of the past. These

days, women show up looking like a drop of sunlight with shimmers and highlights all over the face!

By RIcHaRd akuSOn

bolD liPsWith lippies these days,

you can either go big or really go home. Literally! Nobody has time for anything natural toned or subduing, the world is shooting for the stars

and you got to head the pack!

DraPing (Pink all over)It isn’t enough that you blush, these

days, Insta-girls have taken it a step fur-ther with draping - wearing your blush high up on the corners of your cheeks

and to the sides of your eyes. This to us, feels like the new “contour-

ing.

MakeuptRendS

tO tRy nOw!

MakeuptRendS

tO tRy nOw!

Petal PinK looK at adaM selMan

MaKeuP by @Vugo24MaKeuP by saMMy Mourabit

H E a LT H & B E a u T Y