Women From Nigeria

"In my humble opinion, my greatest achievement to date is that I am still a force to be reckoned with in the fashion industry. Trust me, building these relationships within and outside the industry hasn’t been easy. I believe this is partly what has gotten me to where I am today. This is my 17th year in the fashion industry, and it has been quite the journey. I am thankful to God for the many accomplishments and accolades I have received through the years and to my loyal customers for their continuous patronage."

"I will serve as custodian of culture and heritage while providing leadership to the community. Another important thing I will be directly involved withis conflict resolution, especially among women, ensuring peaceful coexistence and upholding traditional values"

"'Success, as we all know, is a learning curve that comes with patience, perseverance, hard work and endurance."

"I am a people person with excellent communication skills. This goes a long way with the business side of fashion. This has helped me build more relationships that have been converted to a wide range of clients over time. I tell you it is true when they say business is all about relationships. It makes a huge difference."

"As a culturally preserving agent in the community, I will play an important role in participating in cultural festivals, ceremonies, and practices that preserve the community’s identity. I will also serve as an intermediary between our community and the government, ensuring our people’s voices are heard in policymaking and implementation.These are the key things I will focus on at the moment"

"I have always been a well-dressed lady who respects my cultural ethics"

"The title will further permit me to now wear royal attire especially on public outings or traditional festivals and since I am a fashion designer, I can be creative about it to further beautify my culture. I strongly believe that when I’m at work in my factory or having meetings with clients in respect of my fashion business, I may not have to wear the royal attire"

"true leaders are able to empower others to be better than what they thought they could be and to see in them what they never saw in themselves."

"I guess people only believe in using sport to win or lose, but for children it can develop really the right character, discipline, and leadership needed to succeed in life and I wanted as many girls as possible to have that opportunity to learn that."

"Never sacrifice your faith, culture, or beliefs for fashion and beauty. Losing your identity follows. However, do not let religion and cultural beliefs stop you from pursuing your dreams and achieving them. The key is finding the right balance between it all."

"I don't think about race before I start drawing. I think about how to make that mark to fit whatever purpose I need it to fulfill."

"The social media bit is really about documenting process. I like the dialogue if it's constructive, but I'm now at a crossroads. I've accumulated a lot of followers, and it's great, but I'm also at that teetering point where people are feeling themselves a little too much, commenting a little too much."

"My identity is not based on performance; it's based on something that's pre-determined by someone else, and I don't even understand what that is because I'm an African who came to America."

"Dressing modestly is like a religious art for a Muslim woman. It is an act of devotion and submission. Modest fashion requires looser fits, but not baggy clothes. You can be stylish and keep up with the latest trends by choosing waist-defining pieces with gathers, sash belts, or tie fronts."

"When I was in school, I conceptually didn't want black people to have context, to take it out of all that history. I wanted nothing to indicate where they are or what time it is, to place them anywhere."

"I'm really interested in independent publishers and memes and mini comics. But even before that, I was interested in Japanese manga and anime."

"I moved around a lot when I was a child; two of the houses I grew up in have totally disappeared. One was burnt in a riot, and the other was pulled down."

"I kept wanting to push my image as validity; I wanted to see my portrait on a wall and know it was okay."

"I am a creative designer that love to educate and impact others especially Teens to unleash their potentials and be a resourceful leader."

"Anyone who remembers the stories of Ruth Ogbeifo and Glory Alozie will see how injurious this ICON injustice is. Ruth possibly could have won the gold but for an injury she was treating months to the games. An NGO, HOPE Worldwide Nigeria, not the NSC, assisted with funds for her medicals. She lifted 245kg same as Colombian Maria Urrutia who won the gold medal because of her lower body weight. Now her medal is treated with indifference."

"I must say this in defence of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation that a list of past and present lifters were submitted as requested and Ruth Balofin (Ogbeifo)’s name was No 1 as the first African to win a silver medal in weightlifting at the Olympics. As a matter of fact, she finished with the same lift with the eventual gold Medalist but lost due to body weight. Some of us were present at the Sydney Olympics in year 2000. We were therefore surprised that her name did not feature. Perhaps, there are other criteria used."

"If Ruth isn’t there, then there’s a problem. I’m seeing so many Olympics bronze medallists on the list, what criteria did they use in dropping her and others?"

"I hold no grudge not been among the 60 Nigeria Sports Icon but it is painful that after spending 8 hours everyday while training, getting injured and recovering, becoming an All African Games Champion, African Champion, World Champion and Olympic Silver medallist, my country still did not deem it fit to recognize me among their sports Icon. For record purpose, I am not only I Champion in my sport, I have also produced African Games Champions in weightlifting through my Ruth Ogbeifo-Balofin Community Project (ROBCOP) in Offa, Kwara state. If my country does not honour me, I know God in heaven will honour me. Outside Nigeria, I get treated like a queen whenever they know I won a medal at the Olympics but in Nigeria, I will have to lobby to get things done."

"Today is a historic day because Ruth Ogbeifo Balofin Community Project (ROBCOP) is entering into a partnership with the College of Education in owning its training centre inside the school. We have a vision for all our weightlifters to become heroes and heroines as well as become educated. In the next four years, we hope to see some of these weightlifters bring glory to Kwara State and Nigeria at international championships. ROBCOP will provide the enabling environment and equipment for the weightlifters to train. For you to excel in the sport, you need consistent training. I cannot do it alone; a tree cannot make a forest and that is why I am seeking the collaboration of the state government, the sports council and management of the tertiary institution."

"Weightlifting made me who I am today and I thank God for that but I believe everyone cannot be an active sports person this is why I decided to empower orphans and widows through Charity Mind of Giving (CMOG) FOUNDATION. If the athletes cannot excel in sports due to the intensive training and pressure, I believe they can channel their energy to either tailoring or hairdressing."

"“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”"

"My faith in God and my self belief. I believe a lot in myself. You don’t have to rely on anyone and you can help yourself you can do stuff by yourself. My parents are paramilitary, so I’ve always grown up to have that mind set of whatever you want you can achieve, My dad will never help you bribe anybody, or help you talk to anyone to get you a job or a placement anywhere… So I have that self believe that what ever I want if I work hard at it, if I follow the right way and I do the right things I will get it… and I have faith in God."

"My noble intention is to train and mentor weightlifter who will win medals for the country (Nigeria) not only at African Championships but Commonwealth and Olympic Games. There are strong young girls who are capable of making the nation proud but all they need it the enabling environment. What I intending doing to capture some of these girls with raw strength and convert them into refined lifters; that is why I have a center in Offa. Offa is a big community where we have influential personalities who love weightlifting. One of the missions is to make sure the sport is back, the athletes train and produce lifters that will beat my record"

"I came to the World Championship to boost the morale of the athletes and see what the competition is like, compared to the past. My assessment of the weightlifters was that they have done very well according to the level of preparation and support from the President of Nigeria Weightlifting Federation, Dr Ibrahim Abdul."

"Education is the key to bridging the gaps in our technical skills, business knowledge, branding, marketing, and positioning."

"Basketball is a quality game with abundant talents. Players have different qualities that they can offer. Being a national team snub doesn’t make one a bad player."

"As Africans, sustainability has always been ingrained in our culture. We've practiced sustainability for generations. Perhaps it's because our fashion industry hasn't reached full maturity that we haven't fully showcased these practices."

"I am optimistic with the current performance of the weightlifters; Nigeria will qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games."

"God himself is an artis, we can see everything he created art is everything you see."

"National team selection should be based on quality and form rather than where the players are based. This will give hope to everyone as it will make the situation a level playing ground. It will make players have hope and play their hearts out during national team duties."

"My advice to the weightlifters is to return home; remain consistent in their training, remain focused and avoid distractions."

"We just have to keep hope. People think journalism is for the never do well."

"You are not going there to enrich yourself; you are going there to do good, and show the world that we come from a rich tradition and heritage."

"Our concern is how to take care of our people, not just ourselves."

"If it is money you marry for, it won’t work"

"I was determined to show people what I could achieve."

"BOMA OZOBIA Professionalism, consistency keys to success"

"it's not just about pressure, but it's about dealing with pressure to perform your job in an unethical manner, to breach the code."

"There needn't be a fear of ethics. It doesn't mean you're uncompetitive. Quite the reverse, one hopes."

"Naturally, balancing the professional commitments and family life was also challenging and is indeed a work in progress. The family and bringing up your children is a full time job in itself and, at the same time, your professional career and aspirations cannot be neglected"

"A servant is to ensure that everything works well including to train and assist my staff."

"Every Nigerian is entitled to a lawyer if charged before a court, no matter how heinous the crime or how large the sum alleged to have been stolen."

"the truth of the matter is that organizations are led by the people that are in the middle."

"Indeed the judiciary is a critical component in the war against corruption."

"I must confess that talent management is one of the most selfless jobs and requires a high level of discipline."