Echoes of Covid-19 lockdown

Covid-19 pandemic has personally forced me to look inwards for creativity-Temitope Olanre-Alade,  Director Of Studies, Ibile Vogue Academy

Story By ADAEZE AMOS

It is true that Covid-19 or Corona Virus came with some health issues or challenges, but if you truly look inwards, it also has some other sides too. Temitope Olanre-Alade,  a TV Presenter/Official Costumier at Orisun TV, a   Director Of Studies at Ibile Vogue Academy says that "Covid-19 pandemic has changed the whole world. Personally it has forced me to look inwards and find creative ways to  have meetings, teach my students, grade their assignments,  communicate with my faculty, run my business, take orders, sell and run the home front too. Before now my use of e-commerce was very passive, but now it has to be the main platform for any entrepreneur who does not wish to loose her clients."
The English Studies graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife recounts the echos of Covid-19  lock down. " In fact, the first three days was a total shutdown for me, all I did was to eat, watch movies and sleep. I slept so well that I could hear my body say thank you. I actually needed it,  but after then came a phase of boredom. So I commenced early morning walks with my family, but then we discovered that the roads were a bit busy with residents of my estate also walking. This made keeping social distancing a bit of a challenge. The truth is most of us weren't walking to keep fit, but rather to kill boredom and get some fresh air. So we decided to do our walks in the evenings which was a lot better."

It's awkward to see rape victims coming out to speak after several years of being raped-Queen Nimat Siaka, Miss Curvy Nigeria Tourism 2015

'If you are raped, cry out  immediately to a confidant  who would help you report to appropriate authority'

Story By ADAEZE  AMOS

• Queen Nimat

Queen Nimat Siaka no doubt is an interesting personality. She is  one patriotic Nigerian who has been impacting lives. She is a graduate of Sociology from University of Ilorin and an Ex-Beauty Queen (Miss Curvy Nigeria Tourism 2015). This amiable lady is currently a Social Entrepreneur and the  Founder of The Evergreen Global Initiatives, a none governmental organization..
Guess what? She has received numerous awards because she loves  giving back to humanity. "Yes, I have received several awards such as The Most Supportive Queen of The Year,  Most Active Queen of the Year, Humanitarian Of The Year among other International recognition.".
Nimat is a beauty queen who used her platform to touch lives during her tenure in 2015. She would slip into jeans and tee shirts and busied herself with helping village women in their endeavours and supporting them financially with the little she had. She did a whole lot and that's the fact. She started her None Governmental Organization (N.G.O) while she was a reigning beauty queen. Wonder what her N.G.O was all about? "Basically, it’s centered on advocating against drugs /substance abuse among youths and teenagers via several campaigns and sensitization programme in secondary schools, colleges and universities.Our activities also cover the society as a whole," she enthused.

'I'm in support of castration as a punishment for hardened rapists -Edesiri Rita Osusu- Ex Beauty Queen cum Model

`If you get to know the trauma those who were raped or gang-raped go through in life  you won't spare any rapist'

Story By ADAEZE AMOS
Bayelsa State born  ex-beauty queen and  billboard / runway model  Edesiri Rita Osusu asserts that rapists deserve to be castrated . "Yes those hardened ones should  be castrated. Those ones who intentionally rape to humiliate someone and cause emotional trauma to their victims and family members should not be spared. Those of  them  who rape and want to kill afterwards should be seriously dealt with. Reason is that if you get to know the trauma those who were raped  or gang-raped go through,  even after surviving the attack you wont  wish to spare any rapist. You won't allow any rapist to  go  free. But here in our society they go free and that is why this crime won't decrease  until government starts dealing with the culprits. "
" Do you know that some people rape and kill their victims after wards so as  to cover their crime? This is unthinkable!  These are the ones that should be seriously punished. Those who find  pleasure in raping and are never remorseful over what they did, so much  that when they have another  opportunity to rape, they would do so without thinking twice. These categories of rapists should be castrated."

Rape victims are still ashamed to disclose their painful stories... but once they are assured of justice and our society becomes less judgmental, they will speak out- Amanda Nwoke, 2015 Plus-Size Beauty Queen

Story By ADAEZE AMOS

• Amanda

Call her a fashionista, you are right. Or a style pundit, you are still in order. Or better still call her a fashion aficionado, you are hundred per cent correct.  Welcome to the world of Amanda Nwoke, a model, a beauty queen, an entrepreneur and the Miss Curvy Nigeria 2015. Although Amanda  hails from Imo state,  but she graduated from Abia State University where she studied Mass Communication.
 "I wont forget to add that  I am a plus size model and a beauty queen.  In 2015, I was one of the five(5) Queens for the Miss Curvy Nigeria Beauty Pageant. I was also a contestant in Miss Nigeria Plus Size in 2016 and late last year I was part of the team that organised the Miss Curvy Africa 2019 Beauty Pageant.  I started modeling in 2015, never intended to be a model anyway, a plus size model at that but a friend of mine that was an agent encouraged me and it's been an amazing journey for me."
Now back to the very reason for this interview. How do you feel about rape especially now that it has become very rampant in our society?
 "Honestly the numerous cases of rape in our society  is really sad and disturbing. This  means that no woman  should sleep with her two eyes properly closed because age is no barrier. It's either that you are taking watch over your female children or watching over your aged mother. It is that bad! Age is no barrier any more.  The fear  that someone may  want to force himself on you and before you say Jesus is Lord, you are raped and  sexually battered is on the increase now. This is  really horrible and terrifying to think of.  It's high time the  government really looked into this issue,create more awareness on the implications and punishments for any one who breaks this law. I also  feel parents should  educate their male and female children about sex and get them to understand the importance of consent in a sexual relationship."

Attention beauty queens and models! Speak up now! Say no to rape!

She is nice, she gets raped

She is funny, she gets raped

She is humble, she gets raped

She is scantly dressed (maybe due to trend/ vogue), she gets raped

She is fully wrapped up like Moi-moi (bean cake) and she is still gets raped

Haba!

• Ada crowning a beauty queen

If you are refusing to talk at this critical stage, feeling it’s not your business as a beauty queen/model to say no to rape, you are getting it wrong.  Who told you that your voice as a beauty queen does not count? Who told you that as a model, you are only meant to wear designers outfits and catwalk down fashion runways without rendering your voice against such an ugly thing as rape?  But when it comes to fashion, trends and beauty topics, you are game! You are ready to grant interviews and talk from now till eternity.Well, in as much as vogue is important, you don’t need to throw your face the other side as if you are not moved or touched by the cries of rape victims.

Don’t get offended by this piece, it is meant to motivate you.

Business owners should be allowed to level their expenses with their output-Omolara Festus, Entreprenuer and CEO Libra Shopping Place

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• Omolara Festus

Corona virus according to experts would stay with us for a while. This is the very  statement so many of us hate to hear especially the front liners. 

They (health experts) also predicted  that life would never be the same after  Covid-19 as so many would loose their jobs and salaries would be halved for some people. Cost of living  would be  on the high side.  This very prediction is what is happening now and one wonders  how to wriggle out of all these.

 Guess what? Omolara Festus,  a delectable beauty expert, an entrepreneur and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Libra Shopping Place somewhere in Lagos concurred with what experts have said. "The Corona virus disease  is without doubt the biggest challenge facing the World today, and I am sure that by now, everyone knows the Economy of the world is going to take a serious downturn and all sectors of the Economy will be greatly affected .