Allure

Transcript of Allure

March 31, 2013

olukemi mimiko- On Being the First Lady Of Ondo

AMAZINGPEARLGo Royal

withBaroque

EDITORREMMY DIAGBARE

DEPUTY EDITORJEMI EKUNKUNBOR

ASST. EDITORYEMISI SULEIMAN

CONTRIBUTORSPRINCESS KATE EMIKO

BAMIYO ISELEMA EMINAFOLAKE AKINOLA

JEROME CODJO-YAOVIONIPEDE

CONT. EDITORLATASHA NGWUBECOPY EDITORDD WILLIAM-WESTCORRESPONDENTSFATIMA GARBADAVINA AYODELELAYOUT / DESIGNGregory ObiPHOTOOSCAR OCHIOGU

Printed and published byVanguard Media Ltd

Vanguard Avenue Kirikiri Canal;P.M.B 1007 Apapa, Lagos.

For advertisement / enquiries,call Debbie: 08039675880, OGE: 08039777910

Office Auxiliary: EBERE OKOH

Inside

THIS

WEE

K

FEATURES

PEOPLE

M a r c h 3 1 - A p r i l 6

...She has a sturdy personality; devoid of pretensions and the flaps that usually attend flighty women who have enjoyed the trappings of office for some time. From different roles as commissioner in the 1990s to minister and now governor, Olukemi has played the role of a supportive wife to her husband, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko.

We drove into Akure, my team and I, impressed with the development that welcomed us into the Sunshine State; brand new tarred roads that stretched for kilometers with street lights that give the city shine at night. The image of untarred streets and uncharted paths we came with paled as we rode to what turned out to be a beautiful holiday resort.

The people of Ondo are, indeed, reaping the dividends of democracy from both the ‘Iroko’ and his lovely wife, Olukemi.

Little wonder, they braved all to ensure their votes counted in his favour. An appreciative Mrs. Mimiko affirmed that Ondo people are not fooled by grand standing; they know who has their interest at heart. Indeed, Her Excellency has her heart focused on the well being of her people. This is her primary concern as she shuns all forms of frivolities and ostentations to focus on her role as the Governor’s wife. From paying for treatment for indigent patients to providing support for multiple birth mothers through her Maternal Pulse project, Mrs. Olukemi Mimiko is gradually but surely changing the fortunes of Ondo women and children.

In a special interview with Allure, she speaks on her role as First Lady of Ondo State and why the ‘office’ should be further ‘enhanced’.

Our fashion pages today pay homage to the amazing pearl. A luxe jewellery that is fast becoming a must-have for Nigerian women. But how much do we know about the cool, soothing feel of a string. Read the ‘Amazing Pearl’ story on pp. 4&5; our way of bridging the gap.

Have an exciting week!

Remmy Diagbare

PHO

TOG

RAPH

Y M

ouss

a M

ouss

a. D

RESS

Hol

lies.

JEW

ELRY

Cep

has.

MAK

E-UP

Azu

ka M

ordi

12 - 13

15

“Simplicity is theultimate sophistication”.

“All little girls should be told they are pretty, even if they aren’t.”

“What you do, the way you think, makes you beautiful.”

I aim to be pretty - I gave up dressing to be sexy in the eighties.

Leonardo da Vinci Scott WesterfeldMarilyn Monroe Sara Blakely

R .

• I am not for Games I want to marry you - continued• Escapades of Style - The Concert - continued• Body Perfect - Best Health Foods• The Polish Professional - Being the Best Guest of the Season

e m a i l : a l l u r e f o r t h e w o r l d @ v a n g u a r d n g r . c o m

Julia wins the Pearl Look Model Contest.

TEAM

FASHION

6 - 7

14

4 - 5Amazing Pearls

Go Royal with Baroque

ON THE COVER

8 - 10

COVER PHOTO: BAMIYO ISELEMA EMINA | MAKE UP: SEUN OMISORE

IT’S PARTYTIME - Metalics Have it!

EDITORREMMY DIAGBARE

DEPUTY EDITORJEMI EKUNKUNBOR

ASST. EDITORYEMISI SULEIMAN

CONTRIBUTORSPRINCESS KATE EMIKO

BAMIYO ISELEMA EMINAFOLAKE AKINOLA

JEROME CODJO-YAOVIONIPEDE

CONT. EDITORLATASHA NGWUBECOPY EDITORDD WILLIAM-WESTCORRESPONDENTSFATIMA GARBADAVINA AYODELELAYOUT / DESIGNGregory ObiPHOTOOSCAR OCHIOGU

Printed and published byVanguard Media Ltd

Vanguard Avenue Kirikiri Canal;P.M.B 1007 Apapa, Lagos.

For advertisement / enquiries,call Debbie: 08039675880, OGE: 08039777910

Office Auxiliary: EBERE OKOH

InsideTH

IS W

EEK

FEATURES

PEOPLE

M a r c h 3 1 - A p r i l 6

...She has a sturdy personality; devoid of pretensions and the flaps that usually attend flighty women who have enjoyed the trappings of office for some time. From different roles as commissioner in the 1990s to minister and now governor, Olukemi has played the role of a supportive wife to her husband, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko.

We drove into Akure, my team and I, impressed with the development that welcomed us into the Sunshine State; brand new tarred roads that stretched for kilometers with street lights that give the city shine at night. The image of untarred streets and uncharted paths we came with paled as we rode to what turned out to be a beautiful holiday resort.

The people of Ondo are, indeed, reaping the dividends of democracy from both the ‘Iroko’ and his lovely wife, Olukemi.

Little wonder, they braved all to ensure their votes counted in his favour. An appreciative Mrs. Mimiko affirmed that Ondo people are not fooled by grand standing; they know who has their interest at heart. Indeed, Her Excellency has her heart focused on the well being of her people. This is her primary concern as she shuns all forms of frivolities and ostentations to focus on her role as the Governor’s wife. From paying for treatment for indigent patients to providing support for multiple birth mothers through her Maternal Pulse project, Mrs. Olukemi Mimiko is gradually but surely changing the fortunes of Ondo women and children.

In a special interview with Allure, she speaks on her role as First Lady of Ondo State and why the ‘office’ should be further ‘enhanced’.

Our fashion pages today pay homage to the amazing pearl. A luxe jewellery that is fast becoming a must-have for Nigerian women. But how much do we know about the cool, soothing feel of a string. Read the ‘Amazing Pearl’ story on pp. 4&5; our way of bridging the gap.

Have an exciting week!

Remmy Diagbare

PHO

TOG

RAPH

Y M

ouss

a M

ouss

a. D

RESS

Hol

lies.

JEW

ELRY

Cep

has.

MAK

E-UP

Azu

ka M

ordi

12 - 13

15

“Simplicity is theultimate sophistication”.

“All little girls should be told they are pretty, even if they aren’t.”

“What you do, the way you think, makes you beautiful.”

I aim to be pretty - I gave up dressing to be sexy in the eighties.

Leonardo da Vinci Scott WesterfeldMarilyn Monroe Sara Blakely

R .

• I am not for Games I want to marry you - continued• Escapades of Style - The Concert - continued• Body Perfect - Best Health Foods• The Polish Professional - Being the Best Guest of the Season

e m a i l : a l l u r e f o r t h e w o r l d @ v a n g u a r d n g r . c o m

Julia wins the Pearl Look Model Contest.

TEAM

FASHION

6 - 7

14

4 - 5Amazing Pearls

Go Royal with Baroque

ON THE COVER

8 - 10

COVER PHOTO: BAMIYO ISELEMA EMINA | MAKE UP: SEUN OMISORE

IT’S PARTYTIME - Metalics Have it!

SOUTH SEA PEARLS

Before the creation of cultured pearls were reserved almost exclusively for the noble and very rich. A jewelry item that today’s working women might take for granted, a 16- inch strand of perhaps 50 pearls, often costs between $500 and $5000. At the height of the Roman Empire, when pearl fever reached its peak, the historian Suetonius Wrote that the Roman general Vitellius financed an entire military campaign by selling first one of his mother’s pearl Earrings’. No one will ever know who were the earliest to collect and wear pearls. George Fredrick Kunz, whom I like to call America’s first gemologist, in his 1908 masterpiece, THE BOOK OF THE PEARLS, states his belief that an ancient fish - eating tribe, perharps along the cost of India, initially appreciated the shape and hustle of saltwater pearls, which they discovered while opening oysters for food.

There is no rule as to wearing your pearl jewelry. It’s a matter choice, and it all depends on the occasion.Tahitian pearls first introduced to international market in the

mid – 1970’s, cultivated in black lipped oyster, scientific name is pinctada mary aritifera cumingi. The island of Tahiti is the center of commerce of French Polynesia, Fire Island groups make up French Polynesia. A pearl is a Tahitian pearl only if it is cultured in Polynesia.SHAPE – 40% round and near –round, 20% oval, button and drop, 40% baroque and semi – baroque. BODY COLOUR – black, grey, green, blue, peacock, Auber give and pistachio.

South sea pearls are cultivated in either silver – lipped oyster or gold – lipped oyster; the names are derived from the color of the shell interiors’ outer edge, scientific name prnctada maxima. In the cost of Australia, Indonesia and phillipires are the birth place of south sea pearls. Australia began commercial pearl culturing in the mid – 1950’s, and supply about 60% of the world’s supply of south sea pearls. Indonesia focuses on the gold lipped oyster, and produce more cream and yellow pearls than Australia. Generally, south sea pearls are the largest cultured pearls on the market. SHAPE – 10% to 30% round and near round, 40% to 60% oval, button and semi – baroque. BODY COLOUR – white, cream, silver, yellow (Gold) and blue can have rose or green overtone.

FASH ION

March 31, 2013 / 5

IMITATION PEARLS REAL PEARLS

• Fake pearls typically have no vari-ation in size or shape due to their machced nature.

• Real pearl will usually not have uniform colour and iridescence unless they are of high quality and cost.

• Imitation pearls have slight deformi-ties, as if the pearls had melted during the drilling process.

• Real pearls are rarely uniform in size and shape.

• If the settings are of cheap materials, it’s safe to assume that pearl is proba-bly not of great value.

• Genuine pearls is always surrounded by precious stones and melted.

/ March 31, 20134

by - Fatima Garba

FASH IONM

OD

EL f

OR

CEP

HA

S JE

WEL

LERY

MO

DEL

fO

R C

EPH

AS

JEW

ELLE

RY

MO

DEL

S fO

R C

EPH

AS

JEW

ELLE

RY

SOUTH SEA PEARLS

Before the creation of cultured pearls were reserved almost exclusively for the noble and very rich. A jewelry item that today’s working women might take for granted, a 16- inch strand of perhaps 50 pearls, often costs between $500 and $5000. At the height of the Roman Empire, when pearl fever reached its peak, the historian Suetonius Wrote that the Roman general Vitellius financed an entire military campaign by selling first one of his mother’s pearl Earrings’. No one will ever know who were the earliest to collect and wear pearls. George Fredrick Kunz, whom I like to call America’s first gemologist, in his 1908 masterpiece, THE BOOK OF THE PEARLS, states his belief that an ancient fish - eating tribe, perharps along the cost of India, initially appreciated the shape and hustle of saltwater pearls, which they discovered while opening oysters for food.

There is no rule as to wearing your pearl jewelry. It’s a matter choice, and it all depends on the occasion.Tahitian pearls first introduced to international market in the

mid – 1970’s, cultivated in black lipped oyster, scientific name is pinctada mary aritifera cumingi. The island of Tahiti is the center of commerce of French Polynesia, Fire Island groups make up French Polynesia. A pearl is a Tahitian pearl only if it is cultured in Polynesia.SHAPE – 40% round and near –round, 20% oval, button and drop, 40% baroque and semi – baroque. BODY COLOUR – black, grey, green, blue, peacock, Auber give and pistachio.

South sea pearls are cultivated in either silver – lipped oyster or gold – lipped oyster; the names are derived from the color of the shell interiors’ outer edge, scientific name prnctada maxima. In the cost of Australia, Indonesia and phillipires are the birth place of south sea pearls. Australia began commercial pearl culturing in the mid – 1950’s, and supply about 60% of the world’s supply of south sea pearls. Indonesia focuses on the gold lipped oyster, and produce more cream and yellow pearls than Australia. Generally, south sea pearls are the largest cultured pearls on the market. SHAPE – 10% to 30% round and near round, 40% to 60% oval, button and semi – baroque. BODY COLOUR – white, cream, silver, yellow (Gold) and blue can have rose or green overtone.

FASH ION

March 31, 2013 / 5

IMITATION PEARLS REAL PEARLS

• Fake pearls typically have no vari-ation in size or shape due to their machced nature.

• Real pearl will usually not have uniform colour and iridescence unless they are of high quality and cost.

• Imitation pearls have slight deformi-ties, as if the pearls had melted during the drilling process.

• Real pearls are rarely uniform in size and shape.

• If the settings are of cheap materials, it’s safe to assume that pearl is proba-bly not of great value.

• Genuine pearls is always surrounded by precious stones and melted.

/ March 31, 20134

by - Fatima Garba

FASH ION

MO

DEL

fO

R C

EPH

AS

JEW

ELLE

RY

MO

DEL

fO

R C

EPH

AS

JEW

ELLE

RY

MO

DEL

S fO

R C

EPH

AS

JEW

ELLE

RY

FASH IONFASH ION

by - Jemi Ekunkunbor

If you find the

baroque dress too heavy or too mysterious, a

safe bet would be to start with a jacket, or leggings like Oge

Okoye has done here and tone it down with a plain blouse and neutral accessories allowing the

one baroque item to stand out. This trend is perfect

for parties.

March 31, 2013 / 7 / March 31, 20136

However TwoRules Apply:Wear boldly and with confidence

Don’t wear too many at a time.

TiWA SAVAGE

BUKKY

OGE OKOYE

PLATFORM PuMPS

TuRquOISE BAROquE dRESS

BAROquE-MESH-dRESS-BLACk, Karen-Millen

BAROquE-SHOES

BAROquE TROuSERS

SLEEvELESS PEPLuM BLOuSE

FOLdEd cLuTch BAG

FASH IONFASH ION

If you find the

baroque dress too heavy or too mysterious, a

safe bet would be to start with a jacket, or leggings like Oge

Okoye has done here and tone it down with a plain blouse and neutral accessories allowing the

one baroque item to stand out. This trend is perfect

for parties.

March 31, 2013 / 7 / March 31, 20136

However TwoRules Apply:Wear boldly and with confidence

Don’t wear too many at a time.

TiWA SAVAGE

BUKKY

OGE OKOYE

PLATFORM PuMPS

TuRquOISE BAROquE dRESS

BAROquE-MESH-dRESS-BLACk, Karen-Millen

BAROquE-SHOES

BAROquE TROuSERS

SLEEvELESS PEPLuM BLOuSE

FOLdEd cLuTch BAG

- On Being TheFirst LadyOf Ondo

REPORTAGEREPORTAGE

March 31, 2013 / 9 / March 31, 20138

By - Remmy Diagbare Yours is not just to wear some head gear and put on a plastic smile. You are actually working along by the husband.

- On Being TheFirst LadyOf Ondo

REPORTAGEREPORTAGE

March 31, 2013 / 9 / March 31, 20138

By - Remmy Diagbare Yours is not just to wear some head gear and put on a plastic smile. You are actually working along by the husband.

environment. The issue of having enabling environment that will

allow women to participate in politics will evolve too. As a woman, I dare say, we make sacrifices. Your life as a woman is a life of sacrifice. When you come of age, when you are in your period is a sort of sacrifice. You are not as free…, some are down because of dysmenorrhea, it is preparing yourself for motherhood.

Eventually, when you are married and you have children, you cannot hop around. Once you put your own life and your home in order, you are free and if you have a right head on your shoulder, even the world will beckon at you.

I believe women are better managers naturally; once we can put all these things into perspective and prepare ourselves, when the man talks about global issues, the woman too rises to talk about global issues, not just about Nollywood or the latest rave in town! Men are watching us. Once we come into it, I believe that naturally the stage will be open for us. Globally, there are issues; affirmative action and everything. All these are working together for our favour.

I belong to the school of thought that says it will not be given to us on a platter of gold. We must work for it. One of the ways is to prepare ourselves. If we are prepared, it shall be given to us.

But they say women are their own worst enemies. They tell you that we don’t like ourselves. One will expect that women in position (of authority) will like to identify women who have potentials to become leaders and help to nurture them. Are we our own worst enemies?

Yes, we are our own worst enemies. Petty jealously and being unkind to one another, but I want to salute women in leadership positions across board, most of them got there by hardwork and dedication and do try to mentor younger ladies to bring out the best in them preprtory to leadership roles in the society. Women shld be kinder to one another, we need oue sisters on this route to attainment.

You are concerned about Nollywood. What are your fears, your concerns about Nollywood?

I want them to be more cautious. They are throwing all caution to the wind; it is becoming scary for me. Yes, there is globalization. More than any other thing, what we see in Nollywood now is westernization. They forget about our culture. They forget about the matter of being Nigerians and they go the western way. You see on-screen deep kissing and sexual acts,that are meant for the bedroom are brought to the fore and, in Nigeria, we have five year olds, ten year olds, fifteen year olds watching this with their fathers and mothers! Mothers squirm and the bold ones will switch it off. For some, they just allow it to pass. This is a bad influence for the younger ones.

I know that the world is not what it used to be some thirty, forty years back, but we should still have our own identity. The identity of what is right. In Nigeria, we have not come to the point of seeing a man and a woman copulating on TV or on our screen. If it cannot be seen on the street, Nollywood should not promote it.

As an educationist, how should the social media network be used so that children, youth are not guzzled by that monster?

You know, in some countries, there is a limit to what you are exposed to on the internet. Nigeria is a free nation; we do not have it. That is why I say we are a free nation. There are things mothers, guardians, parents should be on the look out for; what children are exposed to. But more importantly, we should have heart-to-heart talk with our children and wards.

We will not be monitoring them all time but if you let them know these things are not healthy for you, we will be saving many of them. I see parents trying to shy away from their responsibilities in this regard. They let their peers handle them (the children). I often tell women at our meetings to try to be friends with their children.

REPORTAGE

You have to come down to their level and make them accept you as a friend and not as a parent. They are two different things. You are a parent and also a friend; a confidant of your children. If parents get to that level with their children, all barriers will be broken. I want to ask parents to find time to befriend their children. I think it is the way to go.

If we shield them from the internet, what do we say about what is happening around us? People

say the society has lost a lot of moral rectitude and value where there’s so much corruption and all that. People are watching, the younger ones are watching. They want to follow this get-rich-quick life. This man took so many billions and nothing happened. How can the youth be informed to process what is happening now properly?

I just gave one point now; that family units should wake up and go back to their duties of keeping families together. Let parents get closer to their children first and foremost. I am an optimist. I tend to see things differently. The generations coming after us will be better off.

How?Because a few of them, even the ones we send

abroad to go to school, most of them long to come back home; most of them long to see a new Nigeria. And, if we give them opportunity to speak, you will be amazed what they have to say. Just that we are not listening. The few that have opened up still hope that perhaps, the younger generations might come to bring Nigeria out of the woods. I strongly believe that they cannot be as bad as their fathers because they have a broader view; because I strongly believe they are more patriotic. I was somewhere in the U.K. during one of the October 1st celebrations. There was this group of Nigerian students in high school, in the sixth form. October in the U.K. most times is a bit windy

and cold but these children came out in Nigerian outfits to celebrate October 1.

They were having a talk about Nigeria in the future. I told myself, this is commendable and I also told myself this won’t be happening in this one location outside Nigeria. So, if only the older ones will sit back, take time off to listen to younger generations, you will be surprised what they have to say. There is no other place to call home. U.K. is suffering under heavy burden of unemployment and recession now. Same for the U.S. Everywhere, there is problem. There is no sweeter place like Naija for them and they have no other thing to do than to bring back Nigeria to the Nigeria they want it to be. I am sure that they don’t want Nigeria to collapse so, they will rebuild; that is, the younger ones.

Will the older ones give them the chance?They will not last forever. Only diamonds are

forever. Their time will come and they will have to go. In the process, there will be a new order and I believe there will be newness for Nigeria.

How do you joggle your family life, being a mother, wife of a governor and first lady. What is the arrangement?

I will tell you that I am first and foremost a wife. Second, I am a mother and third, wife of governor that knows how to run back to her shell.

At the end of your tenure, how will you like to be remembered?

I take the day as it comes. I hope to be remembered as a woman like any other woman that has the fear of God and got a heart full of love to share.

How do you relax?I try to read a lot from motivational books; books

that talk about issues or about love, those little things that add up to the education of the mind. Beyond that, I love my quiet time. I just want to be alone; listen to myself, my guts speak to me. If only people will listen to their inner being speak back to them. I ask myself questions and I communicate. But ultimately, I spend a lot of time in the presence of God. You don’t have to be on the mountain top, you don’t have to hear me screaming but I am in regular contact with my maker. Beyond that, I love to spend time with my family.

Unfortunately, Mr. Governor stays out most of the time. I tend to stay indoors for the children; we are quite close – not just the mother and child relationship.

How many children do you have?I have four – a young man and three ladies. The

first is out of university, the second is still in school, another in secondary school and the eight year-old, the last born.

You started very early?I left the university at the age of twenty and married

three years after.

Your first child is how old?She is twenty two. I have young adults.

What is style to you? What do you like to buy?Mine is comfort and modesty. Comfort comes

before any other thing. I must be comfortable in whatever I wear. I do a lot of iro and buba most times. I want to contrast what I wear – the head gear goes in contrast with what I wear.

Sometimes, I wear many colours that contrast. Primarily, I like the simple piece gown. They are so comfortable and because of my height, they sit very well. I like Nigerian designers; you cannot catch up with them. They are doing quite well. I like to wear beads but these days, I don’t get to see the ones that I want. And at times, I love to go ‘nude’ – just put on your earrings and off you go. There is a touch of elegance in it. Less is more.

/ March 31, 201310