The Interview Magazine
Hauwa Ojeifo: Tackling Mental Health Disorders
Hauwa Ojeifo, a mental health advocate learnt firsthand the challenges of mental health disorders when she suffered from bipolar and post-traumatic stress in 2015. After that she took it upon herself to help other women overcome mental health issues.
The rest, they say, is history as she has consequently carved a niche for herself as one of the young personalities tackling some of the world’s toughest issues.
She launched She Writes Women, a platform aimed at creating awareness on mental illness and helping women with mental health get help in 2016.
And she also initiated a walk-in clinic called Safe Place, the first mental health crisis helpline that runs for 24 hours daily and the first anonymous women-only mental health support group in Nigeria is commendable.
For her noble work in the advocacy for mental health, she emerged as one of three Nigerians who recently received Queen Elizabeth’s Young Leaders Award, a prestigious award which celebrates the achievements of some of the most exciting young change-makers in the Commonwealth nations.
Oluwatosin Lawson: Taking Africa to the world
Oluwatosin Lawson, a graduate of the University of Nottingham with a BEng (Hons) in Product Design and Manufacture, came into the manufacturing industry with an uncommon desire to promote the image of African products.
She just wanted to see African designs and culture in everyday life and this spurred her on to establish African Things, a fashion and style outfit that designs and produces a wide range of African inspired products.
Founded in 2013, Oluwatosin’s African Things aims to change the negative image and the narrative that African products are substandard by creating products that of high quality.
And since it was established, African Things has done well in producing in large quantity and quality backpacks, bow ties, earrings and bangles, made from local materials.
Selected as one of 1000 entrepreneurs around Africa to take part in Tony Elumelu’s Entrepreneurship programme, Oluwatosin’s African Things has continued to gain acceptance as it supplies over 30 renown retail outlets, including Mega Plaza, Spar (Park ‘n’ Shop), Hubmart, Jumia, Amazon, Game, Terra Kulture, and Konga.
Adewale Aladejana: Winning with Scents
The success story of Adewale Aladejana, a motivational speaker and entrepreneur will surely encourage one not to despise the little beginnings.
Aladejana did not just happen. In 2015, when many would dismiss N30,000 as too merger to start a business, Aladejana ventured into perfume business with just that amount with a vision to own a perfume making company.
From buying and selling perfume, Aladejana established Nigeria’s first perfume making company, Sapphire Scents. Three years down the line, Aladejana’s Sapphire Scents has gained so much acceptance that it now ranks among one of the most popular made in Nigeria brands.
With over 200 distributors in 19 states and selling in the UK, US, Ghana, and Cameroon, Sapphire Scents has morphed into a huge fortune.
