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CNN meets Nigerian footwear designer Kene Rapu

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On this week’s episode of African Voices, CNN International meets Nigerian footwear designer, Kene Rapu to learn more about how she grew her business and became the successful entrepreneur she is today.

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Rapu explains how her interest in fashion began at an early age: “I was always, it sounds a little bit cliché, but I was always stylish because I was passionate, people would ask me for advice. Modelling got me into the fashion world [and I] made a lot of connections from working with Lagos Fashion and Design Week over the years… I did some beauty competitions, I was interested in fashion and beauty, but I wouldn’t say that I knew I was going to get into fashion as a business.”

She explains how a career in fashion wasn’t her first choice and that she originally studied law: “As a Nigerian, you always go for something safe and lawyers are safe… I figured out during my law school year that I didn’t want to practice law… I decided I wanted to go into fashion. I went back to the London College of Fashion and got a master’s degree in fashion entrepreneurship.”

Rapu began designing shoes after experiencing limited shoe options. She tells CNN: “I don’t wear heels, so I am very limited in my choice of footwear, and that’s how it really started… Sometimes you would order abroad and having someone [who is] travelling bring it in, or you would have to go and search for something cute. It wasn’t at your door step… I found there was that need, which I didn’t find anyone filling at the time.”

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Speaking about how her company started, she explains: “I started from home. I worked with local cobblers [and] we made the slippers. And I remember, everyone was like, ‘Oh, we love your slippers, where did you get them from?’ And people started placing orders. That’s really how [we] started…. We opened our first store three years ago.”

Rapu explains to the programme how her designs are influenced by her identity and why she’s proud to support ‘made in Nigeria’: “Our styles are also very much a reflection of myself. The brand is my name, so it is intertwined. We work a lot with Ankara print, which is sort of linked to Nigeria, and so that has influenced us… You see a lot of Nigerian women wearing this print, so they’re excited when they see the print in slippers, as well… The Nigerian fashion industry is growing… There was a point where no one really used to buy things made in Nigeria. We would either buy things that were imported from abroad or we would shop abroad … We weren’t really buying Nigerian. Overall, I would say the past ten years, there’s almost been a wave to buy Nigerian [products].”

Since starting her business in 2011, Rapu has continued to grow her company and was chosen to participate in the prestigious Tony Elumelu Foundation Program. Moreover, Kene Rapu was named one of Forbes Africa’s top 30 game-changers under 30. About the honour, Rapu tells CNN: “[It] was exciting, which was a great honour. I was very humbled… When I look back, I think, ‘How did this thing even? You know, this is insane. This is ridiculous. How did you get to this level?’”

In addition to running her footwear company, the young designer also helps inspire others and give back to the community. She tells the programme: “I started a workshop series at the end of last year… And by the time we were done they were so happy. They couldn’t even believe it. They were like, ‘There must be a catch. Why would you tell us all this information?’… I feel like because I have been blessed to have exposure, to have a good education, to have access to fantastic mentors, I think it’s only nice to pay it forward.”

On being a woman in business, Rapu simply says: “I’m a woman, obviously, but I see myself as what am I good at? How can I fulfil my purpose? How can I work my hardest? How can I do what I need to do? I feel like we all really just need to work together, to be the best we can be.”

CNN

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Sahara weekly online is published by First Sahara weekly international. contact saharaweekly@yahoo.com

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Yahaya Bello: Appeal Court fails to hear EFCC’s suit against order restraining ex-Gov’s arrest

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Kogi AG Vs. AGF: Supreme Court cautions against continued harassment of Kogi officials

Yahaya Bello: Appeal Court fails to hear EFCC’s suit against order restraining ex-Gov’s arrest

 

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Hearing on the appeal instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission against an interim order of the Kogi State High Court restraining the Commission from arresting, detaining, harassing or prosecuting Yahaya Bello, pending the determination of the substantive originating motion for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights, suffered a setback on Monday, as the Court of Appeal failed to sit.

 

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Governor Yahaya Bello Reveals His Preferred Successor

 

The appropriateness of the siege on Bello’s residence by operatives of the Commission last Wednesday had elicited a heated debate across the country, particularly with the realisation that there had been a restraining order against such action, which had not been vacated as of the time of such action.

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The EFCC had appealed the order on March 11, 2024 and sought for a stay of execution in Appeal No: CA/ABJ/CV/175/2024: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission v. Alhaji Yahaya Bello. The Court of Appeal did not grant the stay of execution but fixed Monday, April 22 for hearing.

However, the Kogi High Court, on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, had delivered its substantive judgment in the matter and directed the commission to seek the leave of a superior court before taking further step against Bello. The judgment was read at about 12pm.

As at about 8am, when EFCC laid siege on Bello’s Abuja residence, the interim injunction, which restrained them from arresting or harassing him, among others, was still subsisting.

Justice Isa Abdullahi had, in his latest verdict, held: “Looking at the Orders sought by the applicant (Yahaya Bello), I am inclined to grant them subject to some alterations which in my view will meet the justice of this case, in the following terms;
1. An Order is hereby granted enforcing the Fundamental Rights of the applicant to liberty and freedom of movement and fair hearing, by restraining the Respondent (EFCC) by themselves, their agents, servants or privies from continuing to harass, threaten to arrest or detain or in any manner whatsoever arresting, detaining or prosecuting the Applicant on the basis of the criminal Charges now pending before the Federal High Court, Abuja to wit; Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/550/2022 between FRN v. Ali Bello & Anor, without prejudice to the power of the said Federal High Court, to make any Order as it may deem just in the determination of the rights of the Applicant and the Respondent as may be submitted to her for consideration and determination.

2. An Order is hereby granted directing the Respondent to bring before the said Federal High Court, or any such appropriate Court, such criminal Charge, allegation or Complaint in respect whereof the Applicant is reasonably believed by the Respondent to have committed any offence subject of its jurisdiction, provided that the Respondent shall not invite, arrest or detain the Applicant on account of a reasonable belief that the Applicant has committed any financial crime, without first obtaining the leave of a superior Court of Record, especially haven regard to the antecedents of the Respondent in the manner it has managed its engagements with the Applicant.”

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YOU MUST OVERCOME THE NEED TO BE LIKED -Apostle Suleman lectures

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YOU MUST OVERCOME THE NEED TO BE LIKED -Apostle Suleman lectures

YOU MUST OVERCOME THE NEED TO BE LIKED
-Apostle Suleman lectures

 

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If you have always been a people pleaser and always try your best to be liked by everyone, and do not like it when people are mad at you and always your mouth shut and letting people do and say whatever and walk all over you, Apostle Johnson Suleman has a word for you.

 

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YOU MUST OVERCOME THE NEED TO BE LIKED
-Apostle Suleman lectures

The servant of God at the Omega Fire Ministries (OFM) worldwide warns you should never try to make people like you. “Deal with fear,” he instructed in his latest homily. “The person who already likes you doesn’t need it, and the person who dislikes you doesn’t deserve it,” declares the ‘Restoration Apostle, warning that you risk being overwhelmed by anxiety and fear if you desperately need to be liked by others to be happy.

 

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“It is fear. Fear is so terrible that it takes some components to crush fear; love, power and sound mind, including courage. To be free from fear, guard what you hear. When the devil throws fear at you, gather yourself and respond in faith,” Apostle Suleman lectures.

 

There are people who are incapable of saying no to other people; they struggle terribly to overcome the need to be liked by other people. But Apostle Suleman’s warning suggests the keyword to be ‘need’. It indicates that it’s perfectly okay to ‘want’ to be liked by other people. However, issues arise when it becomes a need, because you would do all sorts of dumb things just to crave acceptance in order to be liked. The famous preacher says the need to be liked by other people can only compound the problem by breaking your commitment to yourself.

 

 

It doesn’t matter if that means ignoring your values, lying to yourself, or pretending to be someone you’re not; as long as it results in you being well-liked by others, it sounds good to you. But Apostle Suleman points out the result: “Jesus Christ and other great people in world’s history never achieved the impossible goal of being universally liked. These exceptional people lived their truth regardless of whether or not everyone liked them,” he asserts, instructing that you’re better at focusing on living your truth than trying to be liked by others.

People will dislike you because of how you look, dress and talk. People will avoid you or pretend to fall asleep when you’re talking, for reasons you may never know. But, Apostle Suleman cautions you to commit to consistently living who you really are because, he says, if you don’t, no matter who you are, you will always say yes to people who don’t like you for whatever reason.

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Niger: One Week After Primate Ayodele’s Warnings, Bandits Attack Nigerian Soldiers (VIDEO)

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Niger: One Week After Primate Ayodele’s Warnings, Bandits Attack Nigerian Soldiers (VIDEO)

*Niger: One Week After Primate Ayodele’s Warnings, Bandits Attack Nigerian Soldiers (VIDEO)

 

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Six Nigerian soldiers and a civilian hunter were killed on Friday night by bandits who ambushed them in Shiroro Local Government Area, Niger State.

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Niger: One Week After Primate Ayodele’s Warnings, Bandits Attack Nigerian Soldiers (VIDEO)

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Local sources report that the soldiers were responding to a distress call from Roro, Karaga, and Rumace communities when they were attacked. An army captain, identified as Adamu, was also abducted during the ambush. There are conflicting reports on whether Captain Adamu was subsequently killed.

This unfortunate incident has fulfilled the prophecy of Nigerian prophet, Primate Elijah Ayodele which he shared earlier in the month of April.

According to the prophecy which was captured in a video, the man of God warned the government of Niger state to be careful of attacks on military formations, government houses and governor’s convoy. He called on the authorities to watch out for any of these attacks.

These were his words:

‘’There will be a deadly attack on military formation. They must be careful so they won’t attack their government house and the governor’s convoy. They must watch on this in Niger’’

Just one week after the prophet sent this warning; bandits laid an ambush against soldiers and killed them.

There are several prophecies on the internet that Primate Ayodele has shared regarding the security situation of Nigeria. He also foretold the biggest calamity involving the brutal murder of soldiers in Delta state, kidnap operations in Nigerian schools, and several other things that have been fulfilled while some are yet to come to pass.

WATCH VIDEO BELOW:

@primateayodele

#military #nigeria #nigeriantiktok🇳🇬 #militarylife #warnings #government #niger #nigerstatetiktokers #governance #governor #governmenthouseniger #primateayodele #iescworldwide

♬ original sound – Primate Ayodele

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