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PAGE 28—SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 20, 2022
I suffered depression,
contemplated suicide
but didn’t give up on
my dream to succeed
—Deji-Ayodele, CEO of
Savers World Ventures
By Temitope Adegbola
ODeji-Ayodele, luwatoyin
the CEO of Savers Mercy
World
Ventures, Veggies Farm Market and Co-
Founder/CEO/Creative Director of Merc-
Dees Garment Hub, is a certified coach and
member of several bodies such as Daystar
Leadership Academy, National Business and
Technical Examinations Board, National
Institute of Training and Development),
Industrial Training Fund), Women in
Management and Business, NECA’s Network
of Entrepreneurship Women, Lagos
Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Africa
Fashion Development and Empowerment
Centre) and Ready to Wear Pioneer. In this
interview, the Convener of Ruby Sisters’
Platform speaks on her interests, how she
made it to the top of her career, the challenges
among other issues. Excerpts:
What’s your take on fashion?
My interest in fashion started when I was
growing up when I found that fashion is life
NIMC DG features at Tony Blair Institute
Tech Policy Accelerator Programme
The Tony Blair Institute
for Global Change has
invited the Director-General
of the National Identity Management
Commission
(NIMC), Engr. Aliyu Aziz, as
a key participant in the institute’s
Tech Policy Accelerator,
a tech policy programme for
leaders. The inaugural of the
Accelerator programme
takes place in London, the
United Kingdom on Monday
November 21st, 2022.
Giving the background to
the Tony Blair Institute Tech
Policy Accelerator programme
in the invitation letter
to Engr. Aziz and personally
signed by Sir Tony Blair,
the institute observed that “the
technology revolution is the
central issue of our age”
which is set to present “some
profound challenges.”
According to the institute,
“too often” however, “the debate
around technology is focused
on narrow, short-term
issues rather than the wider
long-term implications.” It
stated that “the political leaders
willing to grasp this complexity
and harness the opportunities
will be those who
shape the future.”
Blair wrote: “At my Institute,
we have built a practical programme
to equip current and
prospective leaders to master
it. This includes new ideas, but
also new coalitions between
those who are at the forefront
of innovation and those shaping
policy. Through such
thinking, the idea is to build a
new platform for prosperity in
the 21st Century.”
The former British Prime
Minister (1997-2007) went on
to inform Engr. Aziz that “we
believe you are an important
part of making this happen,
so I want to invite you to join
our inaugural Accelerator”
which is for “a select group of
leaders in policy and politics
to reimagine the role of state
in harnessing tech-enabled
progress.”
Methodist Church gets new Prelate
By Kennedy Mbele
ethodist Church Nige
Mria, MCN, has invested
its Prelate elect, Dr. Oliver
Ali Aba, as their 4th Prelate
and 9th head of the church in
Nigeria. Aba, 62, succeeds Dr.
Samuel Emeka Kalu Uche,
JP, who retired at the age of
70
Ȧccording to a statement by
Secretary of Conference, Dr.
Babatunde Taiwo, the investiture
was in line with the provisions
of Section 23 (iv) of the
Constitution of the Methodist
Church and also in accordance
with the resolution of
the 48th Biennial Conference
of the church, held August 15,
2022 at Methodist Cathedral
Unity, Wuse Zone 3, FCT, Abuja
Ṡpeaking at the solemn and
divine service held at Methodist
Church of the Trinity,
Tinubu Lagos, during which
the new Prelate and his tenure
were handed over to the
hands of the Almighty God,
From left: Out going Secretary
of Conference, Methodist
Church Nigeria, Dr.
Michael Akinwale, with the
out -going Prelate, His Eminence,
Dr. Samuel Emeka
Kalu Uche, inducting the new
Prelate, His Eminence, Dr.
Oliver Ali Aba, at the Methodist
Church of Trinity, Tinubu
Lagos, recently.
because everyone has an experience of fashion.
Everyone wears a fashion product be it outer
wear or under wear. So, growing up with this
mindset gave me a good foundation and that
has helped me to be in the fashion industry for
about five years now. Fashion gives me the
boldness and courage to say that it is crucial to
the social economic development of every
nation, though it could be challenging at times
as every sector also has its challenges. Fashion
can be used to curb unemployment and to
create wealth. Fashion ranges from garment
making to accessories, cosmetics, etc. We can
use fashion to create jobs and wealth to sustain
socio-economic development of our country.
Has there been any transformation in
terms of the olden and modern days of
fashion?
Transformation for me in fashion goes
beyond just coming up and saying “I want to
be a fashioner, a stylist or whatever”. My
transformation began when I had an encounter
with importing because I had always been in
•Deji-Ayodele
the manufacturing industry
and my experience which
started in 2016 began
when I travelled to
China. I gathered that
garment materials can
be massively produced
and done within the
shortest period of time with
a number of people.
Can you share with us the
challenges you have had in the
fashion industry and if you ever
felt like giving up?
I started with N400, 000 and nice
equipments. All went well and
interesting but two years into
the business, I ran into
some difficulties. It started
with challenges on quality
control, outfit log and not
putting in fitting in
customers’ attires etc. and
I see entrepreneurship
as
something that
can be taught
and learnt. But
it’s better to do
what you have
passion for
I lost about 84% of my clients. Many of all our
customers were residing outside the country.
Then I realized that on every success ladder
such is bound to happen and I had to manage
it. But in 2018, things became tough. I got
depressed and almost took my life. I almost
took a bottle of Sniper, but, just at that moment,
a pastor called and that was what saved me. In
the last five years, I have been depressed,
rejected and worried but, with God’s purpose
in my life to fulfill, He kept opening doors for
me and the grace has kept me going, impacting
and valuing people with purpose to which I
have been called.
As you celebrate your birthday, can you
share with us what life has actually taught
you?
For every painful experience there is
always a light at the end of the tunnel. Life
has taught me to mentor, educate,
empower, inspire and encourage others.
Life has also taught me never to give up in
the midst of the storm. While growing up
in a polygamous family, I was brought to
the level of a slave, and that has built my
resilience in life.
What’s your take about
entrepreneurship in this
kind of economy?
I
see
entrepreneurship as
something that can
be taught and learnt.
But it’s better to do
what you have
passion for.
Everyone can be an
entrepreneur but
there must be
passion for what you
do. Fashion is my
brand of business
because it has so many
values attached to it, from
training to textile and
lifestyle.
Ndiomu's position on Amnesty programme commendable ----- EVAH
C
By Dapo Akinrefon
OORDINATOR of the
Ijaw Monitoring
Group, IMG, Mr Joseph
Evah has commended the
new Interim Administrator
of the Amnesty, Gen. Barry
Ndiomu, retd, for convincing
President Muhammadu
Buhari and the National Security
Adviser, NSA, Mohammed
Monguno not to
terminate the Presidential
Amnesty Programme.
Evah, in a statement, said
Ndiomu’s commitment to
peace, stability and progress
in the region is not in doubt.
He said: "It is not easy to
convince and change the
mind of any authority appointed
to carry out a specific
task under military
fashion like terminating a
programme or project. Only
those who have the people
at heart can go the extra mile
the out-going Prelate, who
handed over the church’s symbol
of authority, including a
staff of office to his successor,
urged him to be bold, courageous,
focused, and to always
call a spade a spade. Recalling
how members of the
church, whom he said he
knows, attempted to kill him
with poison during his tenure,
Kalu noted that challenges
would come and advised Aba
to put on his ‘thinking cap’, to
be prayerful and most importantly,
make holiness his
watchword. He also recounted
his ordeal in the hands of
kidnappers, a few months ago
and thanked the church for
their prayers and the manner
in which, they raised the
N100m ransom that enabled
his release, within 26 hours.
Speaking briefly on politics,
the clergyman eulogized
Governor Babajide Sanwo -
Olu for what he described as
his good work and assured
him of his support to his bid
for another tenure. He cursed
any politician that sheds
blood to get into office, saying
such politician will die in
office.
and will do what General
Ndiomu has done.
“We are proud of the Ndiomu’s
patriotic effort to further
bring the Amnesty programme
to global attention
by seeking international aid
to strengthen the programme.
This has con-
firmed our confidence in his
ability to add value to the
lives of our people by any
means necessary.
"We urge our people to cooperate
with the Amnesty
Boss to make things easier
for him to actualize his vision
for our Homeland and
the Nigerian nation.."
The former Publicity Secretary
of Ijaw National
Congress, INC, also stated
that Ndiomu’s appointment
has received the blessing of
the people of Niger Delta
when the announcement was
made.