Pictures from Children's Outreach

As some of you may know, I am very big on giving back, helping the needy and just generally spreading love everywhere I go (hehehe, I sound like Santa Claus :p).
But on a serious note, I am a very active volunteer of TDFoundation and earlier this year we started a Children's outreach which holds every Saturday at Abacha barracks in Abuja. During these outreaches we just go out and show them that people actually care about them. We bring them cookies and snacks, prizes for the kids that got there first and we pray and sing with them and read Bible stories. Its really rewarding and a lot of fun even if you are not the most child friendly person around :)

Last saturday, we threw an AWESOME chirstmas party for these kids and they were just blown away. I mean, no one has ever thrown a party for these kids before. There was tons of food and drinks and candy and cookies and gifts (schoolbags, sandals, clothing and toys). We played loads of games with them, they really loved musical chairs and you could just tell that this was their first time playing some of these games. When we came to see them yesterday at the normal outreach, they literally jumped on us as soon as we opened the doors of the car! I have never seen so much love before, they were just hugging us and saying thank you, thank you, thank you! (Lol, now you know we can not disappoint them next year o). I wish I got a picture of that. Also, news of their party obviously must have spread because we had almost 100 kids come out for the Bible reading when normally we just have about 30 to 40 kids come and we only had 6 volunteers so it was a bit hectic, lol.

Anyways, please enjoy some of the pictures below from the outreach and Christmas party.
You can view more pictures here: Children's Outreach Christmas Party

Also, if you are interested in volunteering or giving back TDFoundation provides the perfect outlet to demonstrate your love and you can check them out on FaceBook or contact me and I will happily point you in the right direction.

Some of the younger kids :)

Some of the older kids in the class

Me reading to my class for the day.

 WE CAN DO MORE AND ACHIEVE MUCH MORE WITH YOUR SUPPORT. WE FEED THESE KIDS DAILY, READ TO AND WITH THEM WEEKLY AND SPONSOR THEIR EDUCATION. GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER

Making sure the kids are paying attention

Attentive kids - they are attempting to read it by themselves

Another volunteer taking on a class

Me reading to the kids on our weekly saturday outreach

Leading Praise and Worship with the kids

Some of the kids grooving at the Christmas party

Musical Chairs was quite the hit!

One of my favorite kids, Patrick. He wanted "Christmas Cloth" as a gift and we really hooked him up. When we 1st started sponsoring him he didn't talk for a whole year but after we started the feeding program during lunch at their school this child just came alive. He is so amazing.

Some of the girls with their new school bags that they requested for Christmas.

More Christmas goodies!

Plenty of Jollof rice, chicken and plantain

Some of the world's best volunteers :)

Me, dancing with the kids

Some of the volunteers sorting out the kids clothing

The roads to these places are no JOKE. I cant even call it a road. Our female volunteers pushing a  minibus out of the way, so that way we could drive through.

Women hard at work pushing a van out of a ditch and this is after  being at the outreach all day! God bless them all.

£300 Video Contest!!!!

Sooooo, one of my new favorite websites www.imbuzzn.co.uk is currently running a video competition where the main prize is £300, that is like $450. Yay!!! :)

Imbuzzn is a micro-video sharing website geared mainly towards my beautiful people of African descent; but it does not matter whether you are African or not it is still a great website to check out.

Watch the video below to find out more about the contest  and best of luck if you are participating!

To participate in the video contest CLICK HERE!!! and do NOT forget to share with your friends.

From Hooters To Hot Buns: How Kat Cole Turned Cinnabon Into A $1 Billion Brand

Here's a great interview I read this morning on Forbes.com, so I thought I would share. I absolutely love to hear about ambitious young people doing great things no matter where they started out in life.

From Hooters to Hot Buns: How Kat Cole Turned Cinnabon into a 1 Billion Dollar Brand

How being born a Nigerian makes you a natural hustler

 Am a hustler baby! I just want you to know, it ain’t where I been, but where am about to go, now I just wanna luv u . . . . yadiyadi ya, u know the rest of the song ☺

So am sitting down thinking of what business I can currently go into with the very limited resources that I currently have at hand; and well…. I am still thinking :/

Anyway, it got me thinking about how almost all Nigerians are businessmen and women, does not even matter if they are actually jobless, we all do business! It’s just that, well some business pass business o! (Insert thick Nigerian accent here). However, who can really blame them between the lack of good jobs and with the low pay that most jobs even offer 1 + 1 does not equal 2, more like -5.  Leaving the majority of the people struggling to make ends meet. I am not even talking of the poor people of our country even our graduates are struggling. Engineers and accountants are pounding the pavement looking for work or are resorting to working as security guards or serving tea in the banks. Unfortunately, not all of them go the legit route. The other option it seems are 419 (fraudulent activity), armed robbery, prostitution of all sorts and people resorting to all this ritual nonsense where they kidnap their fellow Nigerians and sell them or kill them to make money. It is so very disturbing.

Now even though I believe Nigeria is technically a third world country, do you know that Lagos (the previous capital of Nigeria) is one of the most expensive places to live in the world? Yes!, a place where the majority of the population lives on less than $2 a day. We also buy the most champagne in all of Africa. The flashiest cars dey here, plenty plenty. Range rover, Bentley and all the other expensive cars that are out there (forgive my ignorance am not a big car person, I just like my Mercedes). Land and houses for sale and rent at prices only a small percentage of the population can actually afford and loads of designer clothes and accessories at 5 times the actual price if you went out yourself and bought it abroad. It leaves the majority of the people looking up and trying to aspire to live this lifestyle.

If you think about it, it is actually quite sad. Drivers, house helps and nannies constantly stealing from their employers at every slight opportunity. Girls in the workplace, moonlighting on the side so they can wear the best of the best and drive some luxury vehicle. Boys setting up dodgy businesses and the likes and its so rampant its every where. I wonder what is truly the real solution to this problem???
But to my legit hustlers, more power to you, man (and woman) must eat.

Random thoughts of my mind.

Throwback Video: Interview with Your Access Tv (ToksVision)

OMG! .. . . I just came across an old interview we did in 2008 with Your Access Tv. 

Lol, we were just cheesy grinning throughout and I sure was aggressive with that microphone. Ah, the good old days.

Anyways here is the video for your viewing pleasure☺ 

Investment Opportunity

For sale:
700sqm land with 1bedroom Bq X3 on street adjacent to University of Abuja, gwagwalada.

Enough land space for more development. I.E student hostel, hotel or guest inn.

 Call All-N-Wan Properties Ltd 09-8752651 (if you can not get through by phone email me at omogelepa@gmail.com and I will have someone get back to you.)


Serious Inquires only!

Women Empowering Other Women

It seems like almost everyday I hear about some woman somewhere complaining about another woman.  Now I know we are all not perfect and some of us have had to struggle and fight for what we have and where we have gotten; but it takes absolutely nothing away from you if  you pay a kind and encouraging word to your fellow woman,  support your fellow woman's business or just even point your fellow woman in the right direction.

It takes a strong and confident woman to uplift another woman without her having the fear that her position will be compromised or that she will no longer be as relevant. Now, even if you support your fellow sister, mentor her, promote her and encourage her, it is not guaranteed she might even appreciate it. However, one must remember you are not doing it for the "thank you" even though that would be nice! You are doing this for the mere fact that you can be a better woman, a stronger woman, a more confident woman.
Hopefully at the end of the day and even when you are long gone there will be more women in business, more progressive women in the world  and most importantly more young girls that believe they have what it takes to be successful in life.

You do not even have to be a powerful woman or even a business woman to support and empower another woman. Here are a few of my suggestions on being good to your sister:

1. Listen and encourage. If another woman is telling you about her business idea and even if it might be something that you have zero interest in, do not kill her dreams unless it is illegal or involves her pimping herself or other girls.
2. If a woman you know has just recently started a business, check it out and show your support. If you absolutely love it and she knows what she is doing, help her spread the word.
3. If for whatever reason you were not impressed by what she was doing, do not go out and belittle her and call it constructive criticism. Simply make a polite suggestion and if there is not polite way then let it be.
4. If you have a connection or know someone else that may be able to help another woman realize her dreams connect them together or at least try to.
5. Become a mentor! If you have the know how, share the know how. Yes, it may have taken you years but it is ok. Women long before you have fought and struggled for women's rights, women's place in the economy, business, politics and government.

So please go out and encourage a woman today, this week, this month, NOW!  :)

This is dedicated to all my hard working sisters all over the world, you are not working in vain.
Also, if you know any incredible and exquisite woman that you think should be featured as an Omoge of the month please let me know.

Inside Abuja - Play NightClub

Name: Play NightClub

Location: Ademola Adetokunbo Crescent, Abuja Nigeria (across from Peniel Apartments)
Type: Nightclub/ Hip-Hop and Naija music mainly
Phone:
Hours: Thursday, Friday and Saturdays
Price Range: Classy and Upscale (for the most part)

Personal Experience:
Thanks to PlayLounge, the weekend starts on thursday in Abuja with BYOB (bring your own bottle) rendering most professionals practically useless, groggy and inefficient the next working day; but hey who is complaining???
I've known about Play since before they even opened back around 2008/ 2009. They were a brand new club and I believe it was initially supposed to be a sports bar and lounge of some sorts but of course Nigerians do not know the meaning of bar or lounge and everything gets turned into a CLUB where they drink and dance their sorrows and cares away :)
Over time, Play has become known for being a network of friends. Its a pretty nice atmosphere, the bouncers are cool compared to some other clubs which I will not mention now and as a woman you can feel comfortable knowing that most likely you are not rubbing shoulders with the professional women of the night that are so popularly known for plaguing Abuja streets and other certain nightclubs.

Play has a number of special events and parties that they throw during the year, such as The All Black Party, White and Black Party, their famous pool parties and a few others I believe. I however, always seem to miss these "EPIC nights of alcohol and debauchery" because I am unfortunately out of town but everyone that attends always raves on about it.

From my experience Thursdays are definitely their busiest nights, with friday and saturday being a bit quieter. I personally prefer it less crowded and am usually hiding all the way in the back of the VIP looking for an AC.
So if you happen to be visiting Abuja and are in the mood for some very loud music with a pretty decent crowd Play Lounge or is it Nightclub is calling your name.

Favorites: My favorite thing about Play is that it one of the few places I can go at night if am in the mood for dancing and feel comfortable and know that most likely I'll bump into a friendly face. They also make nice cocktails and are not stingy with the alcohol.

Least Favorite Thing: The smoke! They used to have a non-smoking section but they never really enforced it  and since they recently renovated the VIP  I believe the so called non-smoking section is non-existent.

In the very back of the old VIP

My Verdict: Play Nightclub Abuja is A Ok in my books, am a certified Play Bunny ;-)

Newly Renovated VIP

Play Gentlemen

Inside Abuja - 805 Restaurant and Lounge Review

Name: 805 Restaurant and Lounge

Location: 93 Amino Kano Crescent, Abuja Nigeria
Type: Restaurant and Bar/ Nigerian cuisine and light continental
Phone: 07098741389
Hours: Closed Sundays
Price Range: Average dish is about N2500

Personal Experience:
I've only been to 805 three times and once was for take-out so I have only dined in twice. I must admit i was lured here because I was told that they serve free puff-puff while you wait for your food and I am a big time sucker for puff-puff (free puff-puff!!!). Sadly to say, I have only received puff-puff once :( They have been conveniently out the last two times I was there.
The ambiance is quite nice, they have a lot of space and seem quite busy most especially during lunch hours. However, they are never short staffed (to my knowledge anyways) so I've never had to wait too long for my food. The first time i was there I ordered pounded yam and white soup with fresh fish (Yummy!), my friend I went with had jollof rice, with eforiro (vegetable soup) and assorted meat. Everything was absolutely delicious and I washed down my meal with freshly squeezed, or is it blended pineapple juice.
The last time I dined there, I decided to order jumbo prawns with fried rice only because I discovered that their pounded yam was infact. . . . poundo (the flour mix) and not actually real yam boiled and pounded with pestle and mortar. My friend ordered the jollof rice with eforiro again and it was nice but was not as great as it was the first time, and in my opinion the portions were a bit smaller or maybe I just thought that because there was no free puff-puff to fill in the gaps within my tummy. This time I washed down my lunch with an African Queen cocktail which was nice and sweet but that glass sure was tiny.

Favorites: Their soups are always freshly made and has not been sitting outside for hours.

Least Favorite Thing: THE FREE PUFF PUFF IS NOT ALWAYS CONSISTENT!  Also they don't open on Sundays and their cocktails could be a bit bigger and I wish they served real pounded yam.

My Verdict: I like it, I would go again hopefully the next time I go there they will satisfy my puff-puff cravings.

Amateur Foodie and Minister of Enjoyment ;)

Anyone that knows me, knows that I am the eat out and takeout queen! And I am not ashamed of it :)

No need to fear though, I can cook and actually do. Anyways I have realized that this past week alone I have been to 4 different restaurants and have had completely different experiences. Some I love, some are just there and others, well lets just say I won't be rushing back.

I've decided to share some of my experiences and start posting reviews on different places that I have been within the last 6 months (so that way, at least they are some what current); the reviews will not only be limited to restaurants, but recreational facilities as well as any leisure establishment that I have actually been to. So enjoy them, share, and feel free to comment and give your own opinion as well.

Adios!

P.S- I'll leave you with some pictures of me living, laughing and loving life :)

  

OmogeLepa T-Shirts Now Available at Amen Boutique in Abuja!

OmogeLepa Ladies and Men's T-Shirts Now Available at Amen Boutique in Abuja!

Pick up yours today!

Address: PolyPlaza, by AP Plaza

              Shop A6/A7, Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent

Wuse 2, Abuja

Telephone: +234 (0) 803 700 1170

 

Also Available at 

Celebrations in Abuja:

79 Ademola Adetokunbo Crescent 

Wuse 2, Abuja

Lie - New Music Video from SAEON ft Flowssick

Remember my very first featured Omoge of the month,  Mz Saeon???

Well, she recently released her first music video for her single LIE featuring FLOWSSICK a few weeks ago. So I've posted it here for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!

Follow her on twitter: @iam_Saeon

Featured Omoge for August 2012 - Joy Adaeze (Joy Loves Fashion)

This month's Omoge of the month is the dynamic and bright Joy Adaeze of  Joylovesfashion.com.

She is a world renown fashionista, image consultant and fashion stylist. She knows fashion from the inside out and is never afraid to try something new. She's got her own individual style and rocks it fiercely.

Whether it has been from in front of the camera when she was in her modelling days at Rutgers University (Go RU!!! . . . that is my alma mater ;) )or from behind the camera where she has been the stylist and photographer Joy's love of fashion and style has always shone through.

Her very impressive background as a stylist includes publications in both Europe and the States which includes ESSENCE Magazine, Fashizblack and Blu.

Joy is also an avid writer and has had her work featured in ESSENCE, Huffington Post-Black Voices and Heritage 1960.com

Joy with Mikki Taylor

She has been named one of the "Top 40 Style Bloggers" by Essence.com and one of the "5 Brilliant Stylists You Should Know" by Coco and Creme magazine.

A quote that she lives by is "Empower yourself by the image you create" and she is definitely leaving a positive and vibrant image to emulate.

Aside from being featured here on OmogeLepa.com :)
Joy has also been featured in New York Times, Italian Vogue, Chinese Vogue, Elle, Seventeen, NY Mag, Ebony and Essence among others.

Best of luck on all your future endeavors and we will continue to look out for your innovative fashion and your creative style!

Keep Up With Joy:

Personal blog: http://joylovesfashion.com


Radio interview: http://joylovesfashion.com/wordpress/my-radio-interview-with-culture-shock-nigerians-splash-105-5-fm/


AfriPop Mag feature: http://afripopmag.com/2012/04/afripop-today-i-wore-joy-adaeze/


Fashion Bomb feature: http://fashionbombdaily.com/2012/04/03/fashion-bombshell-of-the-day-joy-from-new-york/


Twitter: @joyadaeze


Instagram: fashionistajoyadaeze