THE SOLID WOMAN - ISSUE 1

ISSUE 1|2017
ISSUE 1|2017
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ISSUE 1|2017
ISSUE 1|2017
PUBLISHER
Women4Africa
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Jane Okafor Dereave
Monica Alabi
Mercy Kudakwashe
Sam Onigbanjo
Kemi Tomide-Johnson
PICTURES
Supplied by writers
CONTACT US
thesolidwoman@gmail.com
WE ARE SOCIAL
Twitter: @thesolidwoman
Instagram: @thesolidwoman
Facebook: The Solid Woman
www.thesolidwoman.com
Founder’s note
YOU ARE THAT ‘SOLID WOMAN’
Welcome to the first ‘Solid Woman’ conference and
what can I say but that I am always excited to
start something that I know will elevate women
to higher heights.
‘The Solid Woman’ is the empowerment arm of Women4Africa.
Apart from the Conference which will hold every
year in the month of March to mark International Women’s
Month, we will also run a number of exciting campaigns
and competitions for you to take part in and be a part of
something great that will go on to affect generations to
come.
For today, I just want you to enjoy the conference and absorb
all that inspires, motivates and encourages you. If you
hear anything you like, please tweet us or comment on
Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag #TheSolidWomanConference2017
or #TSWConf2017.
I’ll leave you for now but do remember ‘Have no desire
to be anything else but YOU because YOU are a Solid
Woman’.
Tola Onigbanjo
Founder The Solid Woman
Co-founder Women4Africa
Cover Design and Page Layout by Kenteba Kreations
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Speakers
Dr Fiona Bartels-Ellis OBE is Global Head of
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the British
Council, the UK’s principal cultural relations
organisation. In this role she sets and drives
the strategic direction of diversity across the
organisation’s offices in 110 countries and
territories based on an applied tools informed by international
experience. This and the UK’s approach are frequently shared with
a wide range of external international contacts and stakeholders
including government ministries, NGOs and the private sector. As
a lifelong learner her qualifications include diplomas in advanced
social work and in counselling, a certificate in Mediation, a post
graduate Certificate in Higher Education, an M.Phil in Social
Policy and a Doctorate in Professional Studies. Fiona is a member
of Higher Education Academy, Enfield Race Equality Council, The
Camden Society, Amnesty International and the Premier League’s
Equality Standard Panel and a trustee of the African Gifted
Foundation. In 2002 Fiona received a Mainstreaming Diversity
Award from the European Federation of Black Women Business
Owners and in June 2005 an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday
Honours for her work. In 2009 she received the ORC Worldwide
Equality and Diversity Champions Award. She was named in the
2014, 2015 and 2017 Power Lists of Britain’s most influential
black people and the 2015 Women to Watch USA Profiles in
Diversity list.
Funke Abimbola FRSA is a solicitor and
senior leader for the world’s largest biotech
company. She is currently the most senior black
lawyer working within the UK’s pharmaceutical
industry and one of the most senior globally.
She has been recognised by the Financial
Times as being one of the top 20 BAME leaders across the UK,
Ireland and US (UPStanding100 2016 Powerlist).
A multi award winning solicitor and diversity leader, she has
received both national and international recognition for both her
legal and diversity work. Amongst other awards, she won Career
Woman of the Year at the 2015 Women4Africa awards and
received a UK Recognition award in 2016.
She is a Committee member of a House of Lords-based diversity
recruitment drive and is also part of the BBC’s volunteer team of
world news reviewers, appearing regularly on BBC 1 and BBC
World News.
the law, diversity, education and healthcare, is a regular media
commentator, a keen fundraiser for various charities (including
Cancer Research UK) and has twice served as school governor
and as a board director. She recently founded the Akindolie
Medical Scholarship in memory of her father, Dr. Frank Olufemi
Akindolie. This is a privately funded bursary and leadership
mentoring initiative aimed at supporting future doctors from a
minority ethnic background.
Funke was honoured with a ‘Point of Light’ award by the UK Prime
Minister and the UK Cabinet Office for outstanding voluntary work
in October 2016, recognizing the positive impact of her voluntary
diversity work in improving workplace diversity and supporting the
next generation.
HRH Princess Moradeun Adedoyin-Solarin
is a Graduate of Journalism & Communication
Arts. She is a Broadcaster & Media Specialist
and Grand Daughter of a Nigerian Monarch.
Trustee Chair & Official Spokesperson, Girl
Child Network Worldwide (GCNW).
In 2006, She Created her own TV Talk-Show Platform ‘PRINCESS
OF ARIZE!’ which she effectively uses for her roles in Community
Development, Nation Building, Communication & Media,
Leadership, Mentorship, Empowerment etc within the African
Community & wider UK Society, across Europe, Africa and the
Globe.
Starting her career in 1975 at the tender age of 17yrs with
Nigerian Television Authority Lagos; September 2014 marked 40
years of Princess Moradeun’s Career as a Broadcaster & Media
Industry Professional. Over the years, she has been recipient
of Numerous National & International Awards plus Special
Recognitions, for her Efforts, Contributions & Achievements.
Princess Moradeun worked in the Music Industry Managing Artists
for over 20yrs; she is also a talented Actress of Stage, TV &
Film. She is a Prolific Writer, Analyst & Commentator on Social
and Political Matters. She is also particular about Ethics, Etiquette,
Cultural Values & how one’s carriage.
Princess Moradeun and her Husband reside with their Children, in
the Suburbs of Surrey, United Kingdom.
Funke is a proud working mother juggling the demands of career
and home. An expert mentor and sponsor, she is passionate about
ISSUE 1|2017
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ISSUE 1|2017
Anne Ogunlesi, LLB, is a law graduate,
Economist, teacher and a trained therapeutic
counsellor. Despite her academic achievements,
nothing on earth could have prepared her for
what young love, fate and chance ordeal had
in store for her. Thirty three and still standing is
Anne’s resurrection story. How on earth does a 20+ year old lady
live, love and hope again after own husband stabs her 33 times
and leaves her for dead. Anne’s life is a story of a second chance.
Anne, is the Author of 33 and still standing (To be released in
summer 2017) A book that will move the coldest heart to tears…..
As you read the final chapters in this book you can not but wonder
if Anne is actually a miracle, and more importantly if the same
miraculous turn around can happen in your life.
Anne, the ordinary woman on your street will share on how what
was termed a write off of a life can become your best life ever.
#Thesolidwoman
Kathi Scott is the Executive Director of the
Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund UK and the
Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital Project
for Europe. She helped establish the UK
office of NMCF UK in 1996 and has steered
its extensive contribution to the work of the
Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund since then. With a background
in media, sports management and development, Kathi is also a
volunteer and mentor for a number of UK charitable organisations.
She is a passionate supporter of the Integrated Education Fund in
Northern Ireland and the MissDorothy.com Learning Programme.
In 2007 Kathi was named as a Kids Taskforce Champion with
an award presented at the House of Commons in recognition of
her work with children and young people in the United Kingdom.
Kathi is an accomplished speaker who is often called on to speak
about a range of subjects to very varied audiences. She has
contributed to a number of books, the including “Reflections on
Nelson Mandela Icon of Peace” and has been a regular panellist
on the Arise News TV channel.
Amara Kanu is a creative entrepreneur she
leverages her qualifications in Architecture
and Entrepreneurial Management to channel
her unique brand into a true lifestyle product.
A fitness enthusiast, Amara has an impressive
social media following and is an inspirational
coach to women around the globe on achieving healthier lifestyles
through exercise, nutrition and lifestyle choices.
Amara, has recently, completed her first Book, which includes her
11 tips for staying fit and healthy.
A dedicated wife and mother of 3 children, Amara has a client
base of parents she works with. Amara also shares insights on
raising confident children, achieving work/life balance and
management of the home. Amara’s positive energy, drive and
determination are what keeps her at the top of her game. She is
always keen to connect and help, motivate and support others.
She is the creator of the fitness strategy HIIT® (high intensity
interval) training workouts that will target your belly and thighs
areas to make you look and feel your best possible self.
Amara insists that Women must enjoy Life #Thesolidwoman
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#BeBoldForChange
Take control of your destiny
Jane Okafor
Lusaka, Zambia
challenges misconceptions about disability”. My question now is
if Anne could overcome the challenges that life gave her and be
the solid woman she is today, what is stopping YOU?
Many of us, after experiencing setbacks and failures, emotionally
give up and stop trying. We begin to believe that because we
were unsuccessful in the past, we will always be unsuccessful and
we unknowingly create barriers in our heads, even when no ‘real’
barrier exists between where we are and where we want to go.
Retracing our step and not being afraid to go back to the basics
is the first stage to breaking this barrier.
I
grew up believing that
I was not good enough
and would not amount to
much! Don’t get me wrong
my parents loved me and
provided me with the basic
necessities on life but they
failed to prepare me to see
what a cruel place the world
is and to arm me with the
most important necessity of
life, which is to have courage
and self-confidence.
You see I was born without complications but due to being
administered an expired batch of injections i ended up contracting
Polio and could not walk for the first 2 years of my life and I
grew up being teased and made fun of because I had a bad
limp. I was told that I would never get married and should be
content with step children! But fast forward 27 years later. I am
a solid married woman, mother to three children and have being
able to achieve things that society made me believe that I could
not achieve because I was a polio survivor. I completed my first
marathon in tears and pain, as I approached the finish line, i
was asking myself how did this happen to me ??? The answer
is simple: at a point in my life I just stopped talking NO for an
answer or waiting for destiny. You see I am true believer that
our destiny is not cast on stone but can be changed if we are
determined to never give up and to keep trying.
I recently became privileged to become Facebook friends with
a truly inspiring lady, Anne Wafula who contracted polio at the
age of 2 and decided to play the cards that life dealt her by
embracing disability and refusing to be restricted to what she
could or could not do! “Anne Wafula Strike MBE, provides a
perfect example of courage, commitment and determination that
We can all agree that life can be unfair and can be very partial
but being determined is one of the attributes of success. so my
message today is in light with the International Women’s Day
2017 campaign theme: #beboldforchange. Forget about where
you are coming from, forget that business that went belly up, forget
that idea that did not pan out, forget that relationship or marriage
that ended up badly but look forward and take control of your
destiny.
The poem invictus by WILLIAM ERNEST HENLEY comes to mind:
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.
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ISSUE 1|2017

LIVING
THE
DREAM
By Mercy Kudakwashe
I
am an International Makeup Expert with over 10 years’
experience who specialises in On - Location Bridal and Beauty
Makeup. I’m Zimbabwean but now European based. I grew
up loving anything to do with beauty, I even remember coming
up with different names for my Beauty Salon at age 14! I studied
Marketing but still dreamt of becoming a makeup artist some day
and here we are.
After professionally training in Fashion, Photography, Film and
Television Makeup as well as Special Effects. I became Assistant
Counter Manager for Lancome Cosmetics for nearly two years.
During that period I continued to expand my knowledge in
beauty and obtained became qualified in AestheticTreatments,
Acrylic Nails, Eyelash Extention and also trained to be an HD
Brows Stylist.
I continued to be blessed and worked my way up to becoming
the 1st Black Studio Manager for Bobbi Brown Cosmetics in the
Uk and Ireland a position I held for 7 years .I educated myself
as I perfected my craft and God bestowed the privilege to attend
Master Classes and receive extra training from Bobbi Brown
herself in London, a hands on experience not many have had!
Working for two of the top “ Go to” brands in the Beauty Industry
gave me creative makeup skills and extensive knowledge which
allowed me to have the confidence to set up my own Makeup
Studio Miss Mercy Makeup Artistry where my team and I provide
an awesome service.
Some of my career highlights include being the Chief Makeup
Artist in Uganda, Kampala for a movie project written and directed
by the CEO of Londonollywood Nelson Spyk starring some of
Ugandas biggest stars Abbey Mukiibi well known for his famous
role in The Last King Of Scotland. I have had an Amazing journey
following my dream. From winning the Women4Africa Makeup
Artist Of The Year Award , Divas Of Colour Diva Makeup artist
Of the Year Award and The True African Heritage Entrepreneur
Of The Year Award.
Every day I wake up and get to do something which I love with a
Passion. When a person comes to my studio for a One on One
makeup lesson or a makeover, I feel alive. Then seeing them look
in the mirror and fall in love with themselves all over again, makes
my job heaven sent. My approach to makeup is about enhancing
a client ‘s features, I believe we are all beautiful so why not have
fun with your looks.
If you have any questions or like to chit chat about this you can visit
my website www.callmercy.com or facebook page Callmercy
Dotcom.
ISSUE 1|2017
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ISSUE 1|2017
Woman
The Solid
2017
Before I started writing this article, I thought of all the Women
I know who would read this and curiously wonder what I
was going to write. So I thought that I should start with really
understanding the concept “The Solid Woman.”
Here is what Google says about these two words:
Solid “firm and stable in shape; not liquid or fluid” and
Woman “A woman is a female human; that is, of the species
Homo sapiens. The term woman is usually reserved for an adult.
With these definitions as an outline, I thought of the following as
a value adding gift to this conference.
From 25 to 65 most Solid women will spend their lives in one or
more of these five areas:
• Income ready: Finishing degrees, apprenticeships, or
deciding and switching career paths. A Solid woman
must remember she has to remain “Firm and Stable” as an
equal to anyone else in higher learning or employment.
Part of this is exercising your minds with new Information,
networks and embedding Stable goals. The Solid
woman must not be flaky and indecisive she must go
toe to toe with older women and Men, not behaving
like them but she must glow with an internal fortitude of
100% peaking self-confidence. I always tell members of
my coaching academy Self-confidence is not the same
as arrogance, rudeness or self-centeredness. It simply
means you have goals and you will firmly stick by them
with or without external validation.
• Engaging in Employment/Enterprise: A Solid woman
has a plan, she knows that employment/enterprise must
provide sufficient Income but is not only about Income.
Interpersonal skills, meeting new people, being a
blessing and helping other people, learning, improving
existing systems and developing yourself/mentoring
others are all part and parcel of employment/enterprise.
To keep climbing that ladder, the Solid woman must be
able to effectively communicate this goal to herself first
then to her immediate network, so they understand her
journey and end goal.
• Relationships/Family: The Solid woman will develop
herself as a superb communicator. This is not the same
as a woman that talks all the time, or forever wants
to repeat or express her concerns The Solid woman
must “Firmly” adopt the slogan “People first” the people
in her life, her children her husband, her parents, her
valued network. I must say that in my opinion, this is the
most important and “Stable” of all the Solid woman’s
achievements, although it is not always the most urgent
or pressing(as life has a way of making financial pressure
a priority)
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• Financial freedom: The Solid woman must remember
it’s never too late to start to become financially free firm
and stable. She must remember that even if she doesn’t
meet this goal, it’s not mandatory to be financially
freedom (But it is wonderful). Financial freedom is a result
of effectively transforming and communicating a plan
from dream to reality. Although we must all remember
no matter how much we plan sometimes people and
things just don’t work out. This said, financial freedom
at the least liberates you from compulsive attendance at
work. Financial freedom for the Solid woman means you
can invest your time in Relationships/Family/Personal
dreams.
• Fulfilment/Reproduction: I have chosen these words
deliberately as they are feature words as opposed to
true definitions. Fulfilment occurs when you start to meet
your lifetime goals, raising a great family, developing
a legacy project or business, changing a course in life.
Reproduction, otherwise known as mentoring, helping
other young or older people become firm and stable.
The Solid woman will help them apply energy and
external wisdom to reach goals or dreams faster. Even
as she gracefully passes the 65-year mark.
Over 70% of my clients in 2016 were women. All these women
were either interested in or already rapidly growing as leaders
and business owners.
The number one challenge, most women, faced that came through
my doors was Insufficient Self Confidence. I say insufficient
because they already had demonstrated confidence as Parents,
managers and business owners. Despite these achievements
and knowing what to do for the next level. They still had internal
doubts and doses of unbelief in themselves. Truth be told everyone
including the most successful of men have doubts as well, we just
learn how to deal with them.
So, today, I am hoping people will find this article worthy of their
time and not a waste of time (smile), but hey I choose to knock that
on the head and forward this to the editor to publish.
Sam Onigbanjo
Author 37 Business Thoughts
CEO
Great Business Platforms
www.greatbusinessplatforms.com

Woman
The Solid
and her health
The relationships nurtured and allowed to thrive will affect your
mind. Seek out and nurture relationships with people who make
you better with every interaction.
By Monica Alabi
A
solid woman lives life with no excuses, apologies or
constraints. It is a good time to be a woman in many parts
of the world. We do not forget the regions where women
are limited in their aspirations and bound by societal expectations.
We commend all th e men and women working to ensure that the
rhetoric changes.
We are able to be more and to do more. However in doing more
it is important to remember to keep the mind, spirit and body in
balance.
Being out of balance can have devastating effects on health; a
solid woman is vigilant to any disruption.
Spirituality is affected but not limited to religion/faith. Maintaining
perfect spiritual balance is a personal pursuit however periods of
quiet (meditation), prayer or fellowship with people of like beliefs
helps.
Exercise is the most important way to keep the body in balance.
Just like keeping the mind and the spirit in balance, keeping the
body healthy requires discipline. There is no easy fix.
The good news is that, there is bound to be a form of exercise that
appeals to one’s unique requirements. Exercise varies from high
impact to low impact, cardio to weights and so on.
Whatever you do, keep an eye on your calorie input (food,
snacks) and output (exercise).
Keeping the body in balance also means knowing when to seek
medical advice, get your health checks and to comply with all
medicines prescribed.
Now is a good time to re-evaluate how solid you are. Do more.
Be more. Have fun!
The mind needs to be fed wholesome information. Reading or
listening to material that improve your knowledge and build your
self-esteem and sense of purpose is crucial.
There are endless sources and obtaining relevant material is now
at the tap of a screen.
ISSUE 1|2017
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ISSUE 1|2017
The Chord of Tomorrow
Kemi Tomide-Johnson aka Kemi Klimax
When families do great, societies excel this will impact
on our nation and the global society. The concept of
good family is essential to good global societies.
Human beings love interaction, playing, working, making families.
We always have relations, very pure and precious things that
cannot be replaced by computers or technology. Family units are
a special gift from God, with every link interwoven to the next
family, creating a big society.
The real meaning of family is in the feeling of love, care, affection,
responsibility and kindness we share with the loved ones. The
family is about togetherness, trust and love. The family is a haven,
where love can be expressed at its best. It is a unit where young
one’s look up to elders. Where elders share their love and
affection. In a family unit problems are shared with the entire
family. The family unit is the first school in which a child receives
the basic values of life. The morals and values learnt in the family
become our guiding force. They make our character; they lay the
foundation of our thinking. In the family there is always love for
the relationships without any prejudice and differentiation of rich
and poor. The elements we need to build a peaceful society void
of hates and war where we can all live in peace and harmony.
There is too much loneliness and conflict in our world as a
result of family breakdowns. The world is at war because family
units are at war within their households. Children are growing
into dysfunctional adults because of lack of parental love and
mentoring by significant adults thereby making the societies a
breeding ground for crimes and hates.
The future lies with the family. The family is a necessary good
for the nation, an essential foundation for the society. It is an
irreplaceable good for children, who ought to be the fruit of love,
of the total and generous gift of self of the parents. Proclaiming
the whole truth about the family, the sanctuary of life is a great
responsibility for all and it my earnest dream and desire that one
day, the family units will be great again in unity and love standing
as the bedrock of love to our society and the world.
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10|

Highly Fabulous Women is a vibrant,
compassionate, supportive and powerful
international network created and
founded by Patricia Benjamin of London,
UK. It is a network for the woman who
has decided finally to take control of her
life, having realised that if she doesn’t,
then somebody else will; the woman who
wants to write her own life story instead
of having someone else write it for her.
Patricia saw the need for women to receive
support both practically and spiritually as
they strived for their goals. She also saw
women who had put their dreams on hold
or who had even seen their dreams die.
She felt a deep need to let them know that
their dreams could live again, and they
also had the power inside themselves to
dream a new dream, one that didn’t need
to die. For Patricia, its imperative to give
support to other women as you stand in
your own truth and in your own purpose;
and this essence is at the core of Highly
Fabulous Women.
ISSUE 1|2017
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