Allure 10 November 2018

November 11, 2018
Quincy Ayodele &
Tobi Ayodele-Keeney:
The Mother-Daughter Transition

Contents - 11/11
email: allurefortheworld@vanguardngr.com
Editor’s Letter
Once upon a time, Quincy Ayodele was a regular on
television, particularly, on NTA. Her herbal remedies to
quick weight loss and the everyday use of plants for
wellness quickly made her a household name. Having
helped many women(and men) get back in shape, Quincy
has taken a back seat and has brought in her medical
doctor daughter, Tobi Ayodele-Keeney to run the Herbal
clinic. But, how does one transit from orthodox medicine
to alternative medicine, Tobi Ayodele-Keeney, knew
exactly what to do- she drew a bridge across, and the
marriage of the two is thriving far more than many
marriages. Alure’s Temitope Ojo spoke to the mother and
daughter duo, on the transition, and she got helpful
tips, yes, you got it, herbal remedies for diabetes. See
PP. 8-11.
The plus-size fashion Show held at the weekend,
Yemisi Suleiman reports that it was quite a show. See
pp. Colours are vibrant these days; this is not the time
for dull, sombre colours. So, see our compilation of
bright colours to wear now. Colours compiled by Jemi
Ekunkunbor.pp 6-7.
It’s the World Diabetes Day; a day set aside by the UN
to draw attention to the condition.
Diet plays an important role in controlling hospital visits.
What should you be eating
and drinking, that would
not spike your sugar level.
Yemisi Suleiman compiled a
short list of healthy foods
and drinks. pp. 12
Have a great week!
Enjoy!
EDITOR
REMMY IFUEKO DIAGBARE
DEPUTY EDITOR
JEMI EKUNKUNBOR
ASST. EDITOR
YEMISI SULEIMAN
CONTRIBUTORS
TERESA ALIGBE
LINDA ORAJEKWE
FUNKE AJOMALE
FUNMI AZIKE
ADESUWA EWOIGBOKHAN
BAMIYO ISELEMA EMINA
R .
Remmy Diagbare
TEAM
COPY EDITOR
DODOIYI WILLIAM-WEST
CONT. EDITOR
LATASHA NGWUBE
LAYOUT / DESIGN
OLAYIWOLA AJAGBE
PHOTO
OSCAR OCHIOGU
(08034746487)
HEAD MARKETING
DOLAPO MAJEKODUNMI
HEAD OF PRODUCTION
CHARLES KAMMA
Printed and published by Vanguard Media Ltd
Vanguard Avenue Kirikiri Canal; P.M.B 1007 Apapa, Lagos.
FASHION
3
6
15
Warri Fashion
and Style Week
Dress Up Bright and
Beautiful
Street Style...At the Heineken
Lagos Fashion Week ‘18
FEATURE
13 Sexmatics: Sexless
Marriage And What To Do
HEALTH
12 Best Foods for Diabetes
13
6
15
Quotes
“Happiness is nothing more
than good health and a bad
memory”.
- Albert Schweitzer
“Blood, sweat and respect.
First two you give. Last one
you earn”.
- Dwayne Johnson
“If you don’t design your own life
plan, chances are you’ll fall into
someone else’s plan and guess
what they have planned for you?
Not much”.
- Jim Rohn
quincy
ayodele
and Tobi
ayodele-
Keeney
8 ON THE
COVER

FASHION
Warri Fashion
and Style Week:
The Report
By - Jemi Ekunkunbor
The maiden edition of Warri
Fashion and Style Week 2018,
took place recently at the Delta
Mall and Wellington Hotel, Warri
respectively.
Organized by Arhecal Synergy Limited, in
collaboration with Fashion Designers
Association of Nigeria (FADAN), the
two-day event, saw 16 designers partner
with 30 models both regular and plus size,
to walk the runway in garments designed
to suit the theme, “Shades Of Culture”.
Sponsored by laundry soap manufacturing
giant, Canoe and Da Viva, day one kicked
off with a street catwalk and carnival at the
Delta Mall. Models walked the mall in
colourful costumes as well as accessories,
creating excitement for the runway show
the next day.
Day two kicked off with a competition for
young designers, from where Mrs Tosan
Emume emerge as winner. Lagos- based
designer, Modela Couture opened the
show, that saw 10 designers putting their
creations on the runway. Other designer
who showcased their collections include;
Ejiro Amos-Tafiri, Ara-Ewa creations, Enro
Wendy fashion, Auleve Nigeria, Gudy
Lagos, Regal By Fuoma, Ighogele
Arts,Rudavson Creations, Da Viva
Apparel and Hair Collections by Twins.
The high point of the event was the
presentation of awards to outstanding
Delta State indigeness who have excelled
in their chosen careers, and now serve as
positive influence to the youth in the state.
The awardees include: Hon.
Commissioner for Culture and Tourism,
Emmanuel Basin Chinye, Men’s wear
designer, Mudiaga Enajemo of Mudi Creations,
and Lagos-based blogger, OnoBello. The show
also featured exhibitors from both the fashion
and corporate world; Glo Nigeria, Swarovski, Da
Viva, Coastline Microfinance Bank, Basojemy’s
world, Lanrez_Beauty, ighogele make up and of
course, Canoe detergent by PZ cussons with a
very coulourful and prominent stand.
The two-day event was brought to a
resounding close by designer, Ighogele who left
guests wanting for more with his beautiful
collection. The novel show which took warri
by storm, was watched by the
representative of the Delta State
Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr.
Steven Odogun, representative of the
Uwvie Youth Council, Mr. Patrick Ogaga,
President of FADAN, Mrs. Funmi
Ajila-Ladipo, the coordinator of FADAN
Delta State Chapter, Emeremgini Uche
Genevieve and other dignitaries.
Initiator of the Warri Fashion Week
Project, Carol Arhere-Obih says: “The
aim of the fashion week is to discover
new talents, provide Platform to
showcase and empower up coming
designers, and established designers
within the fashion industry. We want to
provide a synergy between designers
and fashion illustrators, models,
make up artist, fashion
photographers and other areas in
the fashion industry”.
November 11, 2018 / 3

FASHION
Highlights from Plussize
Fashion Week Africa 2018
By - Yemisi Suleiman
It was a display of curves as the
2nd edition of the Plussize Fashion
Week Africa held last weekend, in
Lagos. For two days Saturday and
Sunday, plus size models strutted the
runways at the Oriental Hotel Lagos,
in elaborate couture and ready to
wear pieces, designed by some plussize
designers, and some mainstream
designers who support the body
positive movements.
Designers .Ejiro Amos Tafiri and
Agatha Moreno sent models down
the ramp in ultra-feminine colourful
and beautifully designed day and
evening frocks that showed off
curves, showcasing only their best
features. For VonRay, the focus was
on projecting the hips of curvy ladies,
in ripped jeans and cropped tops.
4
/ November 11, 2018
Modern bag designer Morin O was on
hand with bags of all shapes, structured,
envelope, evening and work bags to
complement any outfit. The runway was lit
up with a beautiful glittery collection, from
jpkoutoure and golden curvy models, in
a collection made up of sequins dresses,
high slit skirts, metallic tops.
The swimwear segment of the Africa
Next Plussize Model was the high point of
the show, well toned and curvy models
took to the runway in black swimwear
with lots of curves and bums on display.
At the end, Abara Nita Ijenna was declared
winner of the Africa Next Plussize Model.
The night was also one of awards as
some personalities including, Public
Relations Expert Yetty Ogunnubi and
actress Eniola Badmos were given
awards for their unflinching support for
the body positive movement.
Preceding the runway show was
the plus size Fashion Week Africa first
Edition of its Masterclass themed ‘Glow
up and Flawless’. The Masterclass aims
to help plus-sized women see beyond
their body size and to help them cultivate
an attitude of positivity in every facet of
life. During the Masterclass, there were
talks on different topics with seasoned
panellists on board, moderated by Temi
Aboderin Alao , founder of the Plussize
Fashion Week Africa.
For Temi Aboderin Alao , the Plussize
Fashion Week Africa birthed out of
the need to stop the stigmatization and
body shaming of the plus-sized woman;
“we believe that every woman should
be comfortable in her skin and body
regardless of what the society thinks, as
long as they are healthy.”
The theme for this year’s Plussize
Fashion Week Africa was #BeautifullyMe
and it was all about self-awareness.

FASHION
November 11, 2018 /
5

FASHION
Dress Up
Bright
&
Beautiful
toke
makInwa
Orange
We see Toke Makinwa every
now and then at events slaying
in different eye- popping dresses.
However, we find this orange floor
length dress very different.
Orange is the colour of vitality,
warmth and flamboyance. As
a result, it could be attention
demanding. If it is, who else can
pull it off better than the OAP
herself?
bonag matHeba
By - Jemi Ekunkunbor
With the party season upon us and the
various fashion weeks taking place one
after the other, it’s been a season of great
designs with colours bright and beautiful.
And the colours are never too much, as
long as they are bright and beautiful. It’s
been a season of colourful prints and
floral blooms. However, your dress
could also be in one plain colour, like
these lovely dresses adorned here by
our favourite celebrities.
Purple
Although Bisola
Aiyeola may not be
royalty, this lovely
satin dress confers
on her that honour.
Purple stands for
royalty, nobility,
wisdom. It is also
believed to connote
arrogance. On the flip
side, purple stands for
mystery and magic.
bIsola
aIyeola
Yellow
6
/ November 11, 2018
rukky sanda
What a joy to behold a yellow colour! It
signifies joy, happiness, imagination, hope,
and sunshine. What a sunshine Osas
Ajibade looks here! Yellow also symbolizes
summer, friendship, and on the flip side,
cowardice, deceit and hazard.
osAs
ajIbade

FASHION
Green
Pink
Child like innocence
is one of the
many things that
the colour pink
symbolizes. It
also stands for
love, romance
tenderness and
calm. It is a girl’s
colour and so,
it symbolizes
femininity. Doesn’t
Omawumi I look it?
Rita
dominic
Rita
dominic
Green is lively and
radiant, the colour
of nature and the
environment. Green is
a colour of elegance
and beauty and it is the
colour most associated
with springtime,
freshness, fertility as
well as envy.
omawumi
Red
Hot, hot red!
Red symbolizes strong emotions; love,
desire, passion and danger. It is the colour
of war as well as the colour of Valentine. Very
exciting, it is believed that a girl in red looks
not only looks prettier, but also gets easily
noticed than one in any other colour. Would
you have missed Stephanie Okereke Linus in
this elegant red dress?
Blue
Blue is the colour of
peace, confidence
and security. Blue
also symbolizes calm,
peace and spirituality.
On the negative side, it
symbolizes depression.
In this blue, thigh high
slit dress, our model
sure oozes confidence.
anto lecky
stephanie linus
okeReke
November 11, 2018 /
7

REPORTAGE
Quincy Ayodele & Tobi
The Mother-Daughter Transition
Words By - Temitope Ojo
Once upon a time, Quincy Ayodele
was a regular on television,
particularly, on NTA. Her herbal
remedies to quick weight loss and the
everyday use of plants for wellness quickly
made her a household name. Having
helped many women(and men) get back
in shape, Quincy has taken a back seat and
has brought in her medical doctor
daughter, Tobi Ayodele-Keeney to run
the Herbal clinic. But, how does one
transit from orthodox medicine to
alternative medicine, Tobi Ayodele-
Keeney, knew exactly what to do- she drew
a bridge across, and the marriage of the
two is thriving far more than many
marriages. Alure’s Temitope Ojo spoke
to the mother and daughter duo, on the
transition, and she got helpful tips, yes,
you got it, herbal remedies for diabetes.
Photography: Bamiyo Emina
8
/ November 11, 2018

REPORTAGE
Ayodele-Keeney:
Quincy Sumbo Ayodele
Quincy Sumbo Ayodele needs little or no introduction
in herbal medicine practice. Aside from pioneering
herbal slimming in Nigeria, she is the pioneer Secretary-
General for traditional medicine in Nigeria and an
adviser for the development of African traditional
medicine to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Was it a conscious thing on your part for your children, especially Tobi,
your first, to come into your business?
Yes. I have always told my children that it doesn’t matter what their
educational discipline is, they will eventually join the family business – Quincy
Herbals. My children grew up with me and had told from day one when they
started hearing words that, I will send them to school,: ‘You can become
whatever you want to because that’s your own choice, but when you finish
with your education, you’re coming to join me in this business’. So thank God
that Tóbi graduated as a medical practitioner, which is so relevant and useful
for the business.
What are those things you did to prepare her for this role she has taken
on?
Right from her childhood, she has always helped me in the factory, making
medicinal plants preparations. I usually take her with me to fetch raw medicinal
plants from the bush, telling her their names and uses, including dosage. I
also taught her how to identify different medicinal plants.
Do you sometimes nurse any fear that your shoes might be “too big” for
her to wear, in terms of what you’ve been able to achieve?
My shoes “too big” for her? Not at all. Growing up, Tobi has always been a
very active and energetic child. She is my firstborn, so I brought her up for the
leadership role ahead, to enable her to take up the huge responsibilities in the
family. With the help of the Almighty God, during my absence, she was
responsible for the upkeep of her younger siblings throughout their school
years in the United States.
What was her growing up days like?
A very active child, very brilliant in school (she was an A student),
inquisitive, restless and very creative.
Describe Tobi in three words?
Tobi is Creative, inquisitive and hardworking.
When she first told you she was dating a white man, what was your
reaction? and did you think it would end in married?
When she first told me she was dating a white man, my initial answer was
‘no’. But with prayers and knowing Tobi with her right judgemental qualities, I
later agreed to give her hand in marriage, to the loving white American guy
November 11, 2018 / 9

REPORTAGE
she brought home to marry. It’s been 10 years being an in-law to him.
What’s been the experience?
I thank God that he is in our family for the past 10 years. Trevor is a very
loving husband to my daughter and a caring son-in-law to us. He loves
everything in Nigeria, and has since relocated to Nigeria and settled fully. He
eats Nigerian foods, especially Ewedu and Eba. He loves our culture. He wears
Nigerian clothes, and above all, he is a born-again Christian and an Usher in
church. I love him so much. He is my son from another mother.
What would be your advice for parents whose children want to go into
interracial marriage?
My advice for parents is to commit their children’s decision to God’s hands
and give their full parental support, to make the marriage a lifetime success.
You still have a radiant skin at your age. What do you eat to maintain your
skin and keep fit?
I’m a natural person to the core. This gum I am chewing is a herbal chewing
gum. I’m attracted to natural things. I eat a lot of vegetables and take a lot of
selected fruits, because it is not all fruits that should be taken by some people.
But vegetable should be taken by most people. And I’m very active because I
still do my housework with my house girl. When I have the time, I exercise. I eat
healthily and I don’t buy food from eateries. Thank God I have my daughter with
me, she doesn’t allow me even eat off guard. She’s natural person, even more
than me. She makes sure everyone eats healthily, and she makes us drink a lot
of water at a stipulated time. In our house, we must finish eight bottles of water,
whether you like it or not. And we have all gotten used to it.
Tobi Ayodele-Keeney
Tobi Ayodele-Keeney, is the Managing Director of Quincy
Herbals, a natural weight loss, skin care and natural
health firm. After training as a conventional medical
practitioner, the mother of two took over the running of a
business which her mum, Mrs. Quincy Sumbo-Ayodele,
started over two decades ago.
How did you get into this trade? Did you actually train as an alternative
medicine practitioner?
I actually studied conventional medical practice; that is what I have my degrees in.
Was your course of study influenced by your mum’s practice?
No. Everybody knew that I always wanted to be a doctor. From the age of 3, I’d
always loved to take care of people and make them feel better. However, my mum
started Quincy Herbals when I was about 12 or 13 years old. Even before then, she’s
always been involved in herbal medicine practice. So, from an early age, we were
incorporated into the business.
As children, we helped her to source, prepare and do research on herbs.
Especially, when she became World Health Organisation expert on African traditional
medicine, I helped her to do research because my major in my undergraduate days
was Biochemistry. I was responsible for looking for evidence-based research and
writing journal articles on African traditional medicine. It was around that time that I
took interest in it. But, I still continued with my conventional medical education with
passion for natural medicine.
Now, what really made me go into it was when I started having children. I had my
children through C-sections and my pregnancy periods were tough with
complications. To be honest with you, what worked for me and really made the
difference was herbal medicine. Conventional medications were just there to mask
symptoms and they had their side effects. But when I followed herbal medicines and
diets that were good for me, I just realised all my health problems subsided and
pregnancy went on smoothly; breast feeding was like breeze. I then thought it was
time to focus more on the business and find ways to incorporate my own learning into
what my mum was doing.
So, when did you join fully?
I joined fully after my second child’s birth in 2014.
And, how would describe the experience?
I’ve found it a worthwhile venture because even at the World Health Organisation,
they are pushing for more collaboration between African medicine and conventional
medicine to improve the health of people and make the world a healthier place.
What are the new innovations you’ve incorporated into the business since you
joined?
Joining the trade was one thing but revolutionising was a different thing. It wasn’t
easy because at the time I joined, digital technology and media had become hot and
we were still engaged in the traditional way of doing things. So, it was a very big
transition to go into the digital method. We had to build a website and improve on
information dissemination, educate and even reach out to clients, in terms of creating
awareness. The other thing we did was to get the products beyond the Nigerian
border because we knew that traditional medicine is valued more abroad than in
Nigeria. It’s easier to sell products (abroad) once they are sure that you are verifiable
and the products are true.
We started selling on Amazon.com. We sell in five global market places: UK, US,
Japan and so on. Our shea butter and detox range are top sellers. And, all the
materials are 100% from Nigeria. We write this on the packets and people appreciate
it. We, sometimes, have problems stocking because as soon as we stock, they are
gone.
Why do you think traditional medicines are not valued here?
Unfortunately, I think that’s because Nigerians still think highly more of imported
things than locally made ones. We value humans from abroad than we value
ourselves, talk less of products. Another thing is that in the past, our standards were
not that high. When I was younger, imported products obviously looked better than
local ones. But that is changing now. We have to start supporting our own brands to
make them better. Nigerians need to realise that we are a valuable asset to the world.
We do our own packaging here; everything is locally sourced and we just sell to the
outside world.
Where do you think government can come into this?
Obviously, government isn’t doing much to change the perspective because most
of the consumables available to Nigerians are imported. That is because many
people want to make money through our borders. I understand that it is more labourintensive
because we don’t have adequate energy to power production but that can
be worked upon if the government is willing. Government needs to address the
energy crisis. If we address that, business owners will not be running solely on diesel
and this will, invariably, bring down prices of products and we can then produce more.
I am a small business owner and I know how much it costs to run the business.
There is no subsidy on anything and no incentive for local production. For exports,
there should be some sort of subsidy to make it easier to import machines or even
fabricate machines here. We actually fabricate our machines here because we want
to grow the system. We would love to get better machines but the taxes are too high.
Another problem we face is transportation. All our materials are sourced outside
Lagos and so they have to be transported down here. By the time some of these
products get here, they are damaged or spoilt because of bad roads.
You have a skin care range. What are some of the skin problems you’ve
noticed are prevalent among Nigerians?
When we started, we started as a slimming centre. As most people lose weight,
their skin become saggy and dull and they want to firm it up. Another thing is that a lot
10
/ November 11, 2018

of people come to us with damaged skin from the use
of harsh chemicals. We realised that skin lightening is a
huge market in Nigeria as 80% of Nigerians use skin
lightening products. And if we say they should desist
from using these chemicals, we will just be deceiving
ourselves. So the best thing was to offer a better way,
which is the natural method, with no side effect.
The truth of the matter is that the sun is responsible
for sun burn, premature aging and hyper-pigmentation.
So people will always look out for things to even out
their skin. But with the use of chemicals, they come
down with thin and burnt skin. A lot of products used for
eczema are meant to be used for a while, cure the
eczema and stop. But people know that if they continue
with any of those products, it lightens them up. So they
continue. And when it is combined with tube creams
that have hydroquinone, they come down with stretch
marks on feet, wrists, neck and so on.
We also have men who request to lighten their skin.
Thirty per cent of our male clients also want to bleach
their skin. Men bleach because they perceive women
like men that are light skinned…
… I thought it was the other way round.
Yes, but I am telling you, based on our experience
here, that we’ve had men also bring in their darkskinned
wives for us to make them lighter-skinned or
they will divorce them. Some even bring their children!
What we do is to work on their psyche; that they
don’t have to subject their children to making the
children grow up thinking less of themselves. There are
natural ways to make a child’s skin glow instead of
bleaching. So we offer advice on that as well.
If a woman comes and says she wants to change
her complexion and we do not see a reason for it, we
find out what is responsible for her mind set, work on
her mind and offer products to make her glow instead.
Some say it is to get bank jobs, acting roles and so on.
The thing is, we have to train ourselves to be
comfortable in our skin.
We have so many unqualified ‘skin care’ experts
out there now. How do we regulate them so we
don’t have rising cases of skin cancer in the
nearest future?
I call them mixologists. But, it is high demand that is
bringing about increase in their number. Many of them
claim to have a secret formula that they don’t want to
disclose and you find Nigerians believing them. I think
the only way to curb it is for people to develop selfconfidence.
And, if they want to alter their skin, they
should buy from licenced vendors that offer
standardized products with information about the
content clearly written on it. An average Nigerian needs
to change his or her mind set and care about safety
and not immediate results.
November 14 is World Diabetics Day. From your
interactions with clients, what is the prevalent rate
of this disease in Nigeria, symptoms a sufferer
presents and how do you manage it?
There are two types: Type 1, which usually is an
auto-immune disorder. The pancreas is not working
well and the cells are not producing enough insulin.
That one happens in childhood. It is not due to anything
done or undone by the child or young adult.
Type 2 is called adult on-set diabetes,and is caused
by the inability of the body to produce insulin to manage
glucose in the body. Usually, this is caused by stress
from diet (eating wrong things); the body starts to have
glucose intolerance.
People don’t see symptoms until they go partially or
fully blind or they have a wound that does not heal. But
early symptoms could include frequent urinating,
always thirsty, regular weakness and low blood sugar.
Diabetes Type 2 is familial. However, that familiarity
is caused mostly by diet. If it runs in the family and
someone in that family decides to eat vegetables more
and other healthy foods, that person cannot come
down with diabetics.
Eating healthily is relative. A lot of people tell me some
foods they consider healthy and I tell them that they are
not, especially for those who have family history of
diabetes. Seventy five per cent of clients who come in
for weight loss here are diabetic and are on diabetic
medication. However, we found out that when we treat
them of obesity, they end up not being diabetic again.
They change diet and the herbs they take helps the
pancreas to function better, the body becomes glucose
tolerant and they get cured.
Can you list some foods that a sufferer must
abstain from?
First of all, let’s know that, at least, 5 million people
in Nigeria are living with diabetes and it’s probably 10%
prevalent in the cities. So, it is safe to say that we have
many sufferers in Lagos and other cities. In areas
where yam and cassava are a staple, many of them
start to come down with diabetes once they get to the
age of 50 or 60. The original notion is that one should
avoid carbohydrate foods. This made a lot of people to
become straight with their diet in a wrong way, with
many taking only beans or wheat. That is not right. We
tell people to stick to a diet full of vegetables – green,
leafy vegetables more - and low starch vegetables. We
don’t tell them ‘don’t eat this or that’ because a lot of
people do not know about portioning. If you tell
somebody not to eat yam but plantain, the person will
now go and buy a bag of plantain and rush it. The
sugar level will come out very high because plantain
has high sugar level as well.
We tell them to focus more on vegetables and very
little on highly starchy foods. We also teach them about
portioning. A diabetic person should not eat three times
a day. They should eat six times a day because the
body cannot tolerate the glucose as it is coming in. So,
if you eat a full meal, it will spike the glucose in the
system and insulin is not being produced enough to
bring it down. So you start having high sugar in the
body. But if you are introducing the meal in little
portions, then the glucose is able to manage it through
the day. We tell them, eat small meals, six times a day.
No fasting, no large meals.
They also need to do constant check-ups,
especially the first few months after being diagnosed.
Before and after meals, you check your sugar level so
that they know what food is spiking the sugar level and
they can avoid them. If people stick to green, leafy
vegetable, low animal protein, high fibre foods, lots of
water and their medications, they will be able to
manage their condition well. We have herbal
medications that we give too but we tell them not to
think it is magical; they have to work on their diet, take
water and exercise regularly. Over time, they can be
free from it.
How do you source your herbs?
My mum belongs to the Eleweomo Association
(local herbs sellers). In fact, she is their matron. We
work with them to create job opportunities.
When you are not attending to patients, how do
you relax?
I like to go shopping; even if it’s once in a year. I call
it retail therapy for myself. I buy something for myself
and I’m happy when I do. I also cook something new
that I’ve never cooked before that may be a challenge. I
also like watching documentaries. I’m a young mother
now. Relaxing all the way is not so feasible.
You’ve been in an inter-racial marriage for 10 years.
What has been your experience?
It’s become part of me but when I think of when we
first started, I will say it involves a lot of communication.
Both of you need to engage in proper communication
so that you are always on the same page.
Most people have the notion that Whites love to
marry and in a few months or years, they are heading
for divorce. They say the man gets tired of the marriage
and even the woman has to change her food and so
many other stereotypes. Some think it’s because you
are so loose or spoilt and that is why you can’t get a
Black man to marry. We are under that pressure and so
we know we can’t afford to fail. And so, we talk to each
other that this has to work out.
It also involves a lot of compromises and sacrifices.
There are some things you both may never understand
about your culture and so you have to let it go. What
made mine a lot easier is that both of us are Christians.
That common factor is the greatest of them all. We go
by the same rules and doctrines in the Bible. The good
thing is that you get to learn a lot about yourself and the
REPORTAGE
other person and it makes your relationship stronger.
What does style mean to you?
Style means something that identifies you and
makes you unique.
How would you describe your style?
My style is very fluid. I dress for the occasion; in
something comfortable, yet classic. I don’t like to follow
the trend. I like to be able to pick up something after five
years and it still looks good on me. I believe in taking
care of myself. I don’t believe because one is married,
you start to look ‘mummyish’. You must appear as good
as you possibly can. I don’t believe in designers either.
If it is a local tailor that can make something fit for you,
go for it.
How have you been able to maintain your shape
over the years, even after having children?
I engage in yoga a lot. I don’t have time to go to the
gym like I used to do before. So, I do yoga every day
for one hour, be it in the office or at home. It helps me to
relax, stretch out my back and pelvic area. Yoga is
good, especially for mums who have gone through
C-sections. It helps strengthen your back, abdominal
muscles and opening the pelvic region. It’s very good
for the mind too.
What would be your word of advice for young
mothers like you on how to manage their career,
with marriage and motherhood?
Prioritise and delegate. Don’t think you can do all
alone. If you do that, you will fail. Realise that when you
start micro-managing, you will just break down and end
up giving 0% to all that you have to do. Make people to
be responsible for certain things and supervise.
November 11, 2018 / 11

Best Foods for Diabetes
Compiled by - Yemisi Suleiman
As the world marks this year’s World Diabetes Day November
14, with the theme The Family and Diabetes, it is important to
take into consideration the foods of diabetic patients in the
family. Food choices matter a lot when a person has diabetes,
the foods below will help meet the nutritional needs as well as
lower the risk of diabetes complications such as heart disease.
*Starch
Whole grains, such as brown rice, oatmeal and millet
*Proteins
Plant-based proteins,
such as nuts, beans,
fish and seafood are
ideal, as well as
Chicken and other
poultry (Choose the
breast meat if possible.)
low-fat dairy.
*Boiled unripe plantain
with Vegetable Sauce.
12
*Vegetables
Choose tasty, low-carb
veggies, like mushrooms,
onions, eggplant and
tomatoes,
Carrots: Cooked or
raw, carrots are a healthy
addition to any meal
plan.
Walnuts: Walnuts can
help stop and reverse the
progression of chronic
conditions such as
diabetes and heart
disease.
/ November 11, 2018
Don’t forget that the beverages you
drink can also have an effect on your
system. It’s important to stay hydrated
and water is simply your best choice, but
besides water, here is a list of some
alternative drinks for any diabetic.
* Orange Juice
Orange Juice tastes good, but
with 26 grams of carbs in one
cup, you’re a lot better off eating
a whole orange instead. The
fibre will help keep you full. If
you really want to drink it, try
an orange-flavoured light fruit
drink.
*Lemonade
Nothing says its hot, like this
drink. But 16 ounces of a
popular brand served at
restaurants gives you 60 grams
of carbs. Your best bet is to
make lemonade at home. Mix
water, fresh-squeezed lemons,
zero-calorie sweetener, and ice for a truly refreshing
beverage without a single carb or calorie in sight.
*Apple Cider
Though it may be farm-fresh, the
cider packs the same amount of
carbs per serving as plain-old
apple juice -- 26 grams per cup.
Chicken And Sweet Potato Chili
For Diabetics Ingredients
• 1 to 2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into
1/2-inch chunks
• 2 teaspoons canola oil
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 3/4 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts,
cut into 3/4-inch chunks*
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons chilli powder
• 1 can (14 1/2 ounces) diced fire-roasted
tomatoes, undrained
• 1 can (16 ounces) no-salt-added kidney beans
or pinto beans, drained
• 1/2 cup chipotle or jalapeño salsa
Directions
Place sweet potatoes in large saucepan and add
enough water to cover. Bring to a boil. Reduce
heat; simmer 5 minutes or until almost tender.
Drain sweet potatoes; set aside. Heat oil in large
saucepan over medium heat. Add onion; cook
and stir 5 minutes.
Add chicken, garlic, and chilli powder; cook 3
minutes, stirring frequently. Add tomatoes,
beans, salsa, and sweet potatoes; bring to a boil
over high heat. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered
10 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
Besides Water, Drinks To
Take If You Are Diabetic
Instead, choose a light apple juice cocktail, and you’ll
cut the carbs and calories in half.
*Hot Chocolate
It’s the ultimate in decadent drinks.
Coffeehouse-style versions of this
classic are packed with carbs. A
typical medium hot chocolate made
with low-fat milk has 60 grams.
Good news: You can make your own
satisfying mug for less than half that.
Mix 1 cup of low-fat milk with 2
squares of 70% dark chocolate, 1 teaspoon of vanilla,
and a little cinnamon. Melt in a saucepan, and enjoy
it for only 23 grams of carbs.
*Fruit Smoothie
One 12-ounce mangoflavoured
smoothie from a
popular chain, for example, has
58.5 grams of carbs. Substitute
a homemade berry smoothie,
with half a cup each of
blueberries, strawberries, and
banana. Blend with some ice and enjoy for about
half the amount of carbs.
*Ginger Ale
A 20-ounce bottle can have 60 grams of carbs. You
can have more of the zesty flavour with none of the
sugar or carbs by adding a spoonful of finely grated
ginger to a glass of seltzer water. Add a bit of your
favourite zero-calorie sugar substitute, and enjoy.

with Adesuwa 07011289316 | adesuwaewoigbokhan@hotmail.com
Sexless Marriage And What To Do
Sexual intimacy is what makes your marital life more
than just a platonic friendship although some couples
may fall into habit of letting the physical part of the
wedlock fall by the wayside. There might be some
normal drop-off during the early stage of marriage
within the first few years of marriage especially with
the arrival of children still we shouldn’t allow it dry up
completely as this can cause a major marital problem
that must be given attention to. A married partner can
become more or less roommate even when both
seems to be okay with it but the truth be told , this is
hardly the case, as one or both mates are
significantly frustrated or hurt by such circumstance.
Couples hardly admit that sex is lacking in their
union, the reality is that about twenty percent of
partners say they find themselves in this situation of
having sex less than once a month, though there is
no magical number of times, having that little can be
really worrisome, as this can cause lack of emotional
connection, resentment and can also lead to adultery.
Here are some examples of little sex in marriage is
not the same for everyone as what works for both of
you can be considered okay. Experts agree that
couple who have ten or fewer sexual intercourse in a
year tend to have more problems in their marital life.
Here are some ways to identify if you are in a sexless
marriage.
Rare sexual intimacy, the real issue of a sexless
marriage phenomenon is whether you are having
some sexual intimacy or not. If you hardly touch in a
sexual way the matrimony is not only sexless but
more likely to suffer because of it.
Little or no sexual interest, some people don’t
even bother about having sex as they don’t even care
whether they make love or not as a result of which
one partner is usually happier with the situation than
the other. Most wedlock usually have one of the
partner with a higher libido or sex drive and one has
less sex drive. As many as 30% of men and 50% of
women admit to having little or no interest in sex.
What stand this statistics out is the fact that, men are
so strongly socialized to be highly sexual that they
are less likely to admit when it is true for them.
Low quality of love making for some mates, the
question is not about how many times rather how
good enough was it in terms of satisfaction, this is
when sex becomes boring and mechanical even if it
happen regularly as longer as it doesn’t fulfill its goal
of mutual sexual satisfaction then it’s sex is less.
Low sex drive, quite a number of couples simply
have low libido as they never show much interest in
love making or the lack of interest might be due to
medical/psychological reasons. These group of
couple usually have problem with not initiating sex
hence your sex drive is bound to suffer, note that
there is a difference between having low libido and
not being interested in having intercourse with your
partner in particular. But if you happen to desire sex
with other persons rather than your spouse, then you
don’t have a low sex drive, what you have is another
problem in your marriage.
Medical challenge such as high blood pressure,
diabetes, the medication you take, vitamin
deficiencies, hormonal deficiencies/imbalances,
smoking, obesity and thyroid dysfunction are just
some of the issues that can have a bearing on your
libido or your enjoyment of sexual experiences.
Emotional Disconnection can cause a rift
between couples sexually as you no longer feel
emotionally close to your mate hence you end up
having less sex often. This particular circle can make
sex diminish more and more over a period of time,
this can continue on its ever-increasing path until you
no longer want to copulate with your spouse.
Having children can lead to dissatisfaction with
your sex life as women are very particular about their
body while they are pregnant, having the baby
afterwards coupled with breastfeeding can make
hormones get out of their normal balance as such
lovemaking can become painful and she might
remember it for a long time even after the child is
weaned.
Unresolved anger is at the root of problem in many
sexless relationship, most times people in this kind of
unions use divorce as citing sexual problem as a
major factor even though anger may be the real issue
that causes the lack of sex.
Mental disorder such as depression and anxiety
can keep one or both mates from having fulfilling sex
life to meet their satisfaction. The use of antidepressant
can cause erectile dysfunction or vaginal
dryness while anxiety medication can slow the
metabolism,
decreasing your
level of excitement.
The spouse with the
mental health
problem often times
concentrate too
much on the
experiences of their
illness that they have
little attention left to
give to their mates
and on the other
hand, the other may
not feel attracted to
their mates anymore.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Talk
SPOT
By - Yemisi Suleiman
What some of your favourite
celebrities said and we listened.
“Happiness is Free when
you work towards it, don’t
sleep on your hustle.”
Words from COOL DJ
JiMMy JaTT.
“Think about it....That
small voice that speaks
to you...You find out that
when you ignore it, you
regret it instantly.”
Nollywood star kaTE
HENSHaW says learn to
listen to yourself..
“If good people are not
available, bad people will
always lead. So make
yourself available. Join
politics.”
advice to Nigerian
youths from actor and
Producer yUL EDOCHiE.
“Today 8 years ago,
I won Big Brother
Africa ALL STARS. I
got a second
chance to redeem
myself , my family
my supporters and
my country and I
WON. I promise you
there is no better
feeling than this...
I will always remain
grateful no matter
what....
8years on and God
has used this
platform to create a
successful career
path for me.”
UTi NWaCHUkWU
expresses gratitude
as his Brand just
keeps getting bigger
and better.
”.
November 11, 2018 / 13

WITH
By - Linda Orajekwe
After an experience with a lifethreatening
ailment, Temitope
Fesobi took upon herself to
research and educate people on
living right and healthy through
her company, Top Joy Health. To
Fesobi, what you eat can go a long
way in helping you live healthier.
She is on a mission to ensure that
everybody is aware of healthy
living options.
In this interview, the founder of
Top Joy Health, an information
and training institute, revealed that
she is ensuring that Nigerians get
top information on how their diet
affects them and inform them on
how to make better diet choices.
What’s Top Joy Health about?
It’s about training people on the right way
to eat and to enlighten them on the different
kinds of diseases which different foods can
resolve rather than going to the hospital
regularly. If you’re eating right, you’ll find
out that you’ll fall sick less often than when
you’re not eating right. Top Joy Health creates
awareness for people to be cautious about
how and what they eat and to appreciate
foods that God created, including herbs.
How did you start this?
I read Microbiology and I did a little of
Dietetics in school. I went further to study
kinds of food and their nutritional values
so that once you know the kind of food,
you know the nutritional value; then, you
understand the lack of one thing or the other
that is causing one disease or the other. For
example, for cancer, people say cancer doesn’t
have any cure but I realize that cancer has a
cure because the presence of cancer in your
system is due to lack of vitamin B12. Once you
get vitamin B12 into your system in the right
dosage, it’ll suppress cancer.
Now, besides what I studied, I went into
this fully when I had fibroid and I was asked
to go for surgery. At first, I didn’t want to go
for the surgery but later, I went for it because
I felt I had no choice. That was when I started
14
Temitope Fesobi
/ November 11, 2018
TemITope FeSobI
studying and learning a lot of things. At the end
of the day, I was able to know the cause and
how it can be cured.
What I found out during my research is
that fibroid has different causes and one of
the causes is emotional trauma but people
don’t even know that aspect. When you’re
emotionally down, it affects the system. If you
do not have a family history of fibroid, it might
lead to breast cancer but if you have a history of
fibroid, since it’s hereditary, it’ll form a tumour.
Although I’m still studying this to know
much more, during my studies, I realized the
possibility of this by using myself as an example
because I live as healthy as possible. I stay away
from sugar, red meat, white flour even though I
bake and I still had fibroid. I was able to trace it
back to a particular time in my life when I was
emotional down.
I had a primary cholesterol problem as a
child, which means it was hereditary and that
affected my eating lifestyle because I don’t
digest fat easily. What that means is if I eat
fatty foods, it’ll remain in my blood stream and
might clog the heart which might lead to heart
diseases.
What are some of the success stories
that have come from Top Joy Health?
I’ve received great positive feedback from
people who have done exactly as I asked
them to do; I know that not everyone follows
instructions. I know a cancer patient at a time;
the lady told me what she was going through. I
studied her diet, told her what to take and what
to stop taking. After some time, she came back
to tell me she’s getting better. I’ve seen cases
like that and that makes me feel great whenever
it happens.
How receptive has this venture been to
family and friends?
Most members of my family love what I
do, especially my brothers and cousins but the
women in my family aren’t too keen on it. They
feel it is not financially promising despite the
time I invest in it. I try to not be bothered by
such thoughts because I am finding happiness
and fulfilment in it.
Doing all of these as a
woman, what have been the
challenges you’ve faced?
I really can’t say there have
been challenges. Although there
are people who won’t listen to
me, I don’t let them bother me
because I know there’s a strong
possibility of the next person
listening. I don’t interpret their
not wanting to listen as something
wrong with the information
I’m giving. It’s just them. They
have the problem; not me or my
information.
Any plans to make this
information-based company
into a product?
Yes, there are plans on that.
We are planning with my friend
to start making almond bread,
healthy pastries, non-polished
flour like wheat flour, coconut
flour and any healthy food that we
feel people need to be healthier
and enjoy better foods.
How’s your personal diet like?
My children will always say I’m a
vegetarian (laughs) but that’s not true
because, occasionally, I still eat fish, egg and
meat. A lot of fruits and vegetables are a
major part of my diet.
How important do you think it is for a
woman to stick to a diet?
There are some fruits you eat and you
feel happy - like watermelon (laughs). But
seriously, if you eat right, you’ll fall sick less
and there are some foods that improve your
mood, especially when they’re healthy and
your favourite. Now, when that happens,
you’ll realize that you’re not stressing your
muscles so much. That doesn’t only make
you healthy, it makes you age less than you
should.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently doing a study on cholesterol.
We have high and low cholesterol and people
die from them. Sometimes, we hear things
like - there’s cholesterol in people’s heart
and it’s clogged. So, I’m currently studying
to be able to let people know how they can
easily avoid that from happening through
understanding their diet. For those suffering
from it, I can proffer medicinal and natural
solutions for them but in most cases, I advise
people to go for the natural aspect because
the natural aspect and living right will
definitely keep sickness at bay.
If you’ll ask women to do anything
about their health, what would it be?
I’ll tell them not to worry about anything
because even with their worries, what would
happen will eventually happen. As women,
we worry too much about the husband,
children and our home. And when we worry,
it causes headache. Put your trust in God, eat
well and watch yourself flourish in health.
After all, even the Scriptures say that a merry
heart is healing to the bones and ‘bones’ there
sounds like arthritis to me. So, let God take
charge of that while you concentrate on how
healthy what you eat is.

FASHION
Allure Reminiscence:
STREET STYLE
From HEINEKEN LAGOS
FASHION WEEK ‘18
By - Linda Orajekwe
Pics By Beckylu Photography
It is no news that fashion lives on
the street when it comes to fashion
weeks, and every year at the Heineken
Lagos Fashion Week, fashion lovers
put their best forward to turn heads
and get lensed. This year was no
different.
The street saw looks from classy, chic
to athleisure.
Although the street setting for this
year’s show was different from the
previous years, it was well organized
with strategic photo props and
locations created for photos and the
gram, and every bit was maximized by
the fashionistas.
November 11, 2018 /
15

INSTAGRAM
MOMENTS
With Yemisi Suleiman
in case you missed, these were the most interesting pictures and
stories on instagram last week, as posted by your favourite celebrities.
VimBai mutiNhiri
athLeisure Look
TV personality Vimbai Mutinhiri shows us
how to rock the athleisure wear in style. The
tv host looks classy, in this cool orange pants
and a stylish white blouse with statement
sleeves, for a casual day out, and we are
loving the look.
NuciaNo Luxury Bags
LauNched iN Nigeria
Nuciano luxury handbag Label recently
launched in Nigeria with a grand cocktail
party in Lagos last Thursday. The
sophisticated luxury handbag label, founded
in Seattle, United States, by Nigerian
designer, Joy Egbejimba will be making its
debut in the Nigerian market. With the rapid
growth of the Nigerian fashion industry and its
demand for more indigenous fashion brands,
there couldn’t have been a better time.
The Creative Director and founder, Nuciano
shared “We have always wanted to bring
Nuciano back home, but we weren’t sure
if the Nigerian market was ready yet,
considering that it was already doing so well
abroad. We are excited to be launching here
finally, and we ca n’t wait to see how well it
does.”
Ranging from clutches to satchels,Nuciano
collections features an elegant variety of
fierce colour options leaving you spoilt
for choice. Egbejimba noted that there is
something for every woman, especially one
who is not afraid to express herself through
her style, in an uncompromised high quality
and luxury handbag, without the usual high
price tags.
toke makiNwa
ceLeBrates
her Birthday
with a suLtry
photoshoot
16
/ November 11, 2018
Stylish on-air personality
Toke Makinwa broke the
internet last week with
her exclusive and sultry
photoshoot poses to
mark her 34th birthday.
Toke, one of Nigeria’s
most talked about onair
personalities, who
turned 34 years old some
days ago, went ecstatic
with her new age, as
she took pictures on a
beach in sexy swimsuits
and lingerie showing off
her well-toned skin and
curves. Toke rounded
off the celebration with
a birthday dinner parity,
where she hosted close
friends to a night of fun.
LiNda ejiofor is hooked
Nollywood actress Linda Ejiofor announced her engagement last
Sunday, in a cryptic post, hiding the face of her fiance.
The Tinsel star shared two photos of herself and her man, his face
hidden behind a hoodie, with the caption: #Approved. Later the
same week, pictures of what looks like the engagement ceremony
of the new couple Linda Ejiofor and Tinsel co-star Ibrahim Suleiman
emerged from the actress with the caption ‘’three down one to go.
My Approved.” We absolutely wish them all the best.