TOLULOPE AKANNI-Teaching Us the A-Z of Life

AG:  Can we meet you?

 I am Tolulope Akanni, a 21 year old Electrical and Electronics Engineering graduate of Covenant University. I am the C.E.O of El Fiz Concept a brand, events and concept development consultancy outfit and I recently became the Author of A-Z Life lessons.

AG:  What were your childhood dreams?

T. A.: Nothing particularly striking comes to mind, but I’ve always dream I will become a stinking rich philanthropist someday!

AG:  Let’s talk about A-Z Life Lessons, Why did you want to write the book?

T.A.: A-Z Life lessons came out of the passion to leave the world with a legacy. I grew up wishing most of my mentors left us with memoirs of their youthful days, and I’ve always had the strong impression that I will emerge as one of the greats of this generation so I couldn’t help but share my experiences of that hour.

AG:  What did you hope to achieve with the book?
T.A.: With the content of the book I hoped to equip men with relevant information that will drive them towards a purposeful living, with the timing (releasing a book at 21) I hoped to let the youth know that each one of us can leave a legacy even at the dawn of our career.

AG:  What is A-Z Life Lessons all about?

T.A.: It is a compilation of the written thoughts of a 21st century 20year old with a burning desire to influence lives positively. A 26 chapter, 94page book that stands out from the everyday book in the freestyle approach of the author, the text of some of the chapters are in shorthand, and every chapter has its unique pictorial expression, it explores the multifaceted experience of the author.

AG: Who edited and when did you finish writing?

T.A.: The editing was done my Mr Temitayo Akanni (who wrote the foreword); it is a compilation of selected articles from my 365 day old archive.

AG: Looking back now, are you totally satisfied with the outcome of the book?

T.A.: It’s almost 60 days since the book has been published and it has drawn the attention of international author and leadership expert, John C. Maxwell (thanks to the Silverbird group). After the book launch, courtesy Silverbird I’ve had 3 book presentations in 2 states, the book has gotten me on the sradio and TV, I’ve been offered platforms to speak; and most importantly, it has touched lives positively! The reaction from readers has been humbling.

AG: Do you think the book is achieving the purpose for writing it?

T.A.: The dream was to touch lives with the content of the book and write a success story on the outcome of the book that will be used to teach nations.
Lives are already being touched and there’s a story to tell already.

AG: What has the writing journey been like since you published your book?

T.A.: It has provided me a larger audience, the daily traffic on my blog site has sky rocketed, people now believe in the principles I teach because I’ve reflected the success I teach to a reasonable extent. My writing has improved as I now share my everyday success principles and strategies to my online readers. Though it has not been so easy this early start has kept me on my toes; the stakes have been raised so I find myself craving to maintain relevance hence I’m constantly working on myself.

AG: How did writing affect your studies?

T.A.: The interesting about A-Z Life lessons is that I never sought out to write a book by the time the manuscripts were coming to life, I was simply writing my thoughts at different times – most of which I didn’t spend in school – without knowing I would be making a compilation out of them.

AG: You recently graduated from the Covenant University, what was life like as a student?

T.A.: Those were the best moments of my life, I grew up to understand my roots in Christ,  I had the best set of people you can ever imagine as friends, I caught the fire for the race I’m running now while I was a student there.

AG: Tell us about the Consultancy outfit you run, El Fiz Concept?

T.A.: At El Fiz Concept, we do three things: we brand people/organisations, we manage events and we consult for individuals/organisation.

AG: What do you think you are most proud of?

T.A.:My salvation in Christ and the friends God has blessed me with; I have the best set of friends in the world!

AG: If you had to choose a person to follow his/she steps closely who would it be and why?

T.A.: Dr David Oyedepo, I was under him for 5 years as a Covenant University student and now that I’m done with school I’ve come to realise that there’s nothing I’m going through that he has not told us of long ahead. His strategies are plain yet they birth giant feats.

AG: Five words that best describe you at this moment of your life?

T.A.: Young
         Successful
         Favored
         Aspiring
         Excited

AG: Five words that might describe you in future?

T.A.: Successful
         Wealthy
         Coach
         Mentor
         Blessed

AG: What next?

T.A.: The same thing I’m doing now, empowering individuals and organisations for exploits.

CLARA LAWSON- Transforming the Faso Dan Fani fabric

Born in Lome, Togo, Ms. Lawson Ames, studied in France, and received her business management and marketing training in Paris. Her journey to becoming a global businesswoman included working for Air Africa, and Sabena Airlines in international sales before she followed her passion and founded Clara Design. Her success as a renowned fashion designer has earned her the African Diamond Award, “the Oscar of fashion design,” in South Africa. Additionally, she was granted the Biz Africa Award, conferred by the World Confederation of Business. This honor recognizes small business owners who have made a significant impact on an international level. Ms. Lawson Ames was recognized for transforming cotton into the beautiful designs that are now part of the Clara Collection.



Inspired by her grandmother’s passion for turning ordinary fabrics into classy elegant creations, Clara Lawson Ames, of BurkIna Faso, has built on this legacy of fashion design, and in doing so, has won international acclaim across Africa and abroad. She founded Clara Design in 1989, and is now bringing her haute couture clothing to the United States, through Clara Design, LLC, USA. Ms. Lawson Ames is also the founder and president of the non-profit Association for Supporting the Development of Art Dressing and Textiles, Africa (ASDAVTA). Through this organization, Ms. Lawson Ames is bringing a greater awareness and appreciation for African culture and design to the forefront, as well as providing a venue where emerging African fashion designers and textile artisans can showcase their own creations.

In each of her haute couture creations, Ms. Lawson Ames combines the rich fabrics of Vlisco, the Faso Dan Fani fabric, which is unique to the country of Burkina Faso, and silk to produce what she terms, “the new face of Africa.” By transforming the Faso Dan Fani fabric of Burkina Faso into exquisite designs, Ms. Lawson Ames has made a significant impact on the economic development of Burkina Faso.

Source: 

Clara Design

Tanzania's Man of Style: Sheria Ngowi

"The most important thing a man carries is the right kind of attitude."

AG: Who is Sheria Ngowi?

Sheria: Sheria Ngowi (Born as Walter Thomas Ngowi on October 1st, 1982 as second born of five children). I am a Tanzanian fashion designer and Founder Of Sheria Ngowi Designs.

AG: What was that significant turning point for you, when you realized fashion was the way to go?

Sheria: Even though I studied law, my interest in Fashion has been with me for as long as I can remember,my Parents are the ones who inspired me since they had an interest and sense of fashion at that time. I remember styling my parents before they went out and pretty soon i was the family stylist and I realized I had a talent and now I am a Designer.

AG: Inspiration for fashion?

Sheria: I studied Law but my career has taken the path of Fashion Designing.So many sources but it primarily comes from my late Father who was an incredibly stylish man and cause he used to love fashion and sense of style which inspired me a lot.

AG: When and how did you begin forging a professional career in fashion?

Sheria: My career famously began In 2008 when I debuted my designs for men under brand name Sheria Na Mavazi in Mysore,India. In 2009, I launched my first professional collection under my own name Sheria Ngowi Designs. Now I decided to focus on both genders at the time to ensure that I put my all into each one of the SS11 collections.

AG: What is about fashion you find fulfilling?
Sheria: Simply everything but I really like fashion to me is more of something I read but as a talent gift for me,cause "My fashion philosophy is similar to my philosophy on life''.

AG: What era do you draw your inspiration from?

Sheria: So many sources but it primarily comes from my late Father who was an incredibly stylish man and cause he used to love fashion and sense of style which inspired me a lot.. He’s the reason I love suspenders instead of belts heh ehe he.

My designs are inspired by the past since 30's up to the early 70's suits,cut for comfort and not as fitted amd mostly where double-breasted.So i decided to blend modern trends with the classic vintage looks to make my collection.

AG: Do you see yourself as a creative person or a businessman?

Sheria: For me creativity and business are often substituted for one another,so its important to clearly state that Sheria Ngowi Designs its not only the fashion brand but its also more than the clothes you wear, it's a lifestyle.

AG: Most important event in your career so far?

Sheria: The launch of my first professional collection under my own name Sheria Ngowi Designs and
I decided to focus on both genders at the time to ensure that I put my all into each one of them in my coming SS11 collections.

AG: Could you please share some of your collections with us? (Pictures of collections needed here)

AG: What is the most important thing to you when it comes to fashion?

Sheria: Fashion does not rule you.You rule it.You do not have to follow Fashion as a religion,but use it to create your own signature style.

AG: What has been the response from the market, particularly the international market?

Sheria:  First of all, it was a great opportunity for me to promote the fashion industry in my country, as well as East Africa and the world as a whole. I got a very good response from international market and I can see Sheria Ngowi designs being eligible to apply for all the important fashion weeks hosted around the world and I am looking forward to being a part of it.

AG: How is fashion in Tanzania? What is the atmosphere like?

Sheria: Fashion is definitely picking up in Tanzania, However we still got a long way to go.We need to find a way to blend in our cultural roots and modern trends, and come up with our own style. We are definitely going places though.

AG: What would you say sets you apart from other designers?

Sheria: Well ,my designs are heavily influenced by the past. So I blend modern trends with the classic vintage looks and incorporate numerous colors. That is the main difference, trying to be playful with menswear which is quite rare in the fashion world as of now.

AG: A fellow designer who has the most influence on your life?

Sheria: Tom Ford, simply because he is solely responsible for the turnaround of one of the most stylish brands there is out there, Gucci. Other designers who deserve mention are Ozwald Boateng, Ralph Lauren,Paul Smith.

AG: Your take on style?

Sheria: If you really like wearing something quite out there,be sure you can carry it off and that it actually looks good on you.The best way to judge is to never think that you're dressing for other people; It's not, it's for you.You make and break your image.Beware of making that mistake in your person style.


AG: Who is the Sheria Ngowi Man?
Sheria: My Collection is luxurious and sophisticated yet from another time.I made my Designs for men who are sophisticated,there was no lack of restraint in the shapes or in the looks,I offered a collection where every detail is accentuated,making men look good without ever giving them an affected or ridiculously disguised look.My Suits are classic and well built Daring youthful silhouettes.Uses of slim-fit check shirts,slim ties an bow ties are details that make my collection simple and unique.Glasses and bags contribute to the image of a refined,relaxed man.

AG: Any designing or styling tips you would like to share?

Sheria: 1.Being Fashionable is one thing,and being stylish is another;but being oneself is the most important.
2.Never think that you're dressing for other people:it's not it's for you.You make and break your image.
3.Dont be afraid to mix and match.Nowadays not everyone wants total looks.You should always mix brands and seasons,new pieces with vintage ones.
4.Every man's wardrobe should contain a tailored suit,possibly made-to-measure.A suit doesn't just ''cover'' a body it enhances its strengths.
5.Jeans are must-i love them and i cant do without them.Besides being comfortable,jeans have to fit you well and be special in terms of the cut,the fabric and the detailing.
6.Its all in details.Match your belt with your shoes.Narrow ties go with narrow lapelled jackets and smaller collar shirts.
7.Accessories are essential for your look.They have to be functional and not too flashy.I suggest owning at least two,one for everyday use and another that's more formal and precious.
8.Some things that should never be missing in your closet;perfect white and black shirts.
9.Fragrances should be discreet and reflect the personality of the wearer.Do not abuse.
10.The most important thing a man carries is the right kind of attitude.
Real Talk.

AG: What is the future, for Sheria Ngowi Designs?

Sheria: I see Sheria Ngowi designs being eligible to apply for all the important Fashion weeks hosted around the world and i am looking forward to being a part of it.My biggest wish is to have my name in an International Fashion Platform, so that my grand kids and their friends could see that it is okay to follow a belief and for my country to be proud of me as a Tanzanian..."


Thank you very much (Shukurani sana).

Follow:  Sheria Ngowi,Founder &CEO (Sheria Ngowi Designs).
Blog: www.sherianamavazi.blogspot.com
Facebook.com:: SheriaNgowi
Twitter: @SheriaNgowi.

SEO ANALYST- TOLA FAMAKINWA

AG: Position and Name of Company?
TF: I’m a SEO Analyst at a UK based Search Marketing company called Epiphany Solutions Ltd

AG: How long have you been with Company?
TF: I recently moved to this company and 1st of September would make it exactly 2 months I’ve been with them.

AG: What does your job entail?
TF: Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is about optimizing websites for users and search engines (Google, Yahoo and Bing etc) alike on the Internet. As a SEO Analyst, my job is to analyse and report strategies and ways of increasing goals conversion on websites. These goals conversions could be anything from increasing brand awareness, traffic to the website or getting a website ranking top 10 for keywords suitable to their business. Bottomline, No, I don’t work for Google, Yahoo or Bing, but I try very hard to know their business!
?

AG: how did you end up on this career path, is this what you saw yourself doing 5years ago
TF: Five years ago, I was just rounding up my first degree in Industrial Mathematics, and to be honest, I had no idea what I wanted to do! I figured I’d end up in a bank or something… But I was fortunate. In 2007 I went on to do my Masters in Computing science in the UK. When I graduated, I started looking for work, ranging from Junior Web developer to Software developer and even Software engineer. I knew programming wasn’t my strong point but the industry was booming so I said what the heck, might as well jump in!

I attended tons of interviews but never quite made it. After over a year of searching, one of the companies I had an interview with called me back a few months after rejecting me for a Junior PHP developer role; they offered me a “less technical role” – a Junior SEO Developer. I jumped at it and since then, I haven’t looked back!

AG: What is your typical day like
TF: 9AM - check my emails, see if any important emails came through and also read SEO blogs and catch up generally on the Web news (I love this part of the day, pretty chilled, just surfing the web really)
10AM – analyse website reports, check website traffic, keyword ranking, see if they’ve jumped up (that’s always great) or mysteriously dropped (not so great), then prepare reports.
11AM - go for client meetings to discuss my report and strategies to increase website goal conversions.
12AM – lunch break!
1PM - check my emails again
2PM - begin the simplest and most boring part of the job – Link-building. This is generally about creating links to a website on as many other websites as possible.
4PM - I prepare for the next day
5PM - Go home! (If we’re lucky we have an office night out!)

AG: Most challenging aspect of job and why?
TF: It would have to be staying on top of the competition, the industry and finding the right SEO balance. There is so much competition out there because lots of other companies are doing SEO, so everyone is competing to be the found on the first page of search engines search results. They’re all coming up with new strategies and ideas, so we have to keep on top of things and make sure our client’s don’t get knocked out of the race, or else we’re going to get very unhappy customers.

AG: What is it that most people assume about your job that's not true?
TF: Other IT professionals don’t believe we’re technical enough and the rest of the world thinks we’re just plain geeks! I am really not a geek and what I do isn’t that complicated. I’m a computer professional but I’m not a geek. Then again, our work can get quite technical, especially if you want to go into the actual “Google Algorithm” but I haven’t taken that path yet.

AG: Favorite aspect of job, least favorite?
TF: My favorite aspect would be the fact that I get paid to the surf the web and go on social media sites like facebook and twitter during office hours! But you know what they say, with great power come great responsibility; you need to be able to manage your time and be accountable for it.

My main challenge is that things are always changing. Everyone’s keeps trying to guess the infamous algorithm to be number one on search engines hence they keep switching things around. The SEO industry ends up keeping everyone on their toes. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but sometimes it would be nice for things to be quiet…

AG: What is the most important part about a career to you?(Good work, money, security, life balance)
TF: I’ll have to say a job I enjoy doing. Then I’ll go for money, after all, I can’t work for nothing and finally job security.

AG: Future plans?
TF: I’ll love to take on some private consultations and possibly start my own thing, especially back home in Nigeria. The Nigeria Internet market has so much potential, what with mobile Internet and broadband coming up. There are also lots of developers out there designing and building great websites in Nigeria so I believe it’s only a matter of time before digital/search marketing gets as busy in Nigeria as it is over here in the UK and I would love to be part of the action!!!

Follow Tola Famakinwa on:
Twitter: @Tola_SEO
Website: www.tolafamakinwa.net
Blog: seo.tolafamakinwa.net