By Victor Gotevbe

It is said that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. However, Rekiat, whom  at a glance passes for a replica of Mercy Johnson(Nollywood star), thinks differently as she believes that beauty is not entirely subjective. She opines that everybody has some beauty that is inside looking for expression on the outside, but only waiting for professional intervention which can make this exquisiteness visible.

Rekiat,32, a Kogi State indigene is a graduate of Lagos State University, and has over the years been making lives beautiful and healthy through her work. She shares her story with Youthful Vibes.

REKIAT

BACKGROUND.
January 5, 1980 was the day I was given birth to. I had my early childhood in Kogi State, where I had my primary school education. Growing up as the only girl with my four brothers and parents is quite intriguing. As a little girl, I had passion to make people beautiful and healthy.

This passion became stronger during my secondary school days as I began to develop interest in improving people’s appearance; I attended Adeolu Secondary School, Tolu Complex, Lagos. During this time, I became a student entrepreneur and I was fortunate it didn’t affect my studies. I sold shirts and ties to my teachers just with the objective of making them  look good. I even went as far as making hair for the female teachers as well as helping them before their meetings  to tie their head gear or‘gele’ as it is fondly called.

This journey into my childhood dream enterprise continued into my university days where I met people from various walks of life with diverse needs. I saw this need gap and I employed my business skill in filling this gap by bringing out splendour from mostly those ‘wanna be girls’. My fingers and brushes could easily bring out heavy makeover  and unblemished skin complexion. I gradually introduced my homemade herbal soap which gained wide acceptance and led me into offering some tutelage in manufacturing of the herbal soap.

I believe so much in training and retraining that I had to enroll in a beauty school  to perfect my skill.  Over the years, I have been producing herbal soaps for several individuals and beauty homes. The soap has a tripartite function cum solution:healing, toning and rejuvenation.

The healing has to do with those with skin disorders such as eczema, heat rashes, skin reaction, pimples and so on while the toning element as it implies is to help enhance the complexion irrespective of skin colours. And for the rejuvenation, it is for people with skin problems primarily from dry skin, cream reaction  into good skin.

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
As we know, a child needs a role model, right values and good morals to be able to fulfill destiny by way of career, profession and vocation, and also to be able to impact its environment/community and the Nigerian Society at large. Raising such child is undoubtedly the primary responsibility of parents but many parents are too busy to understand their children and this leads many of them into becoming irresponsible.

However, in order to proffer a solution to this disturbing phenomenon, I established a non-governmental organization called Tere. It’s mandate is to address the ever complex needs of a child; to identify the most intrinsic and extrinsic needs of a child. We visit schools, hospitals, social events and even home services to people who truly require guidance and counseling.Parents and children have benefited immensely through the testimonials that follow from our health, beauty and moral talks. It does create a good avenue for parents to understand their children and vice versa.

MY MOTIVATION
I must confess it has not been easy at all but Jehovah God has been my strongest support and father that never fails. I am also motivated by my passion in seeing people empowered both economically and socially as it makes me have some sense of fulfillment. I am inspired at my finished work especially when I do remodeling of an individual’s look. Indeed, looking good is good business and first impression matters.

WORDS FOR NIGERIAN YOUTHS
I have just these few words for Nigerian youths: No good comes easily. Therefore, never give up as the best is yet to come.

YOUNG NIGERIANS MAKING THE DIFFERENCE

TOCHI EZE, LAGOS STATE.
Tochi is a classical combination of vision and virtue. A prolific writer and sought after speaker, she runs with a mandate to restore hope, revive dreams and repair broken expectations, which she does through the instrumentality of insights and inspirations.

Tochi

She is a graduate of law from the University of Lagos and an alumni of the prestigious Queens College Yaba. She is currently the Chief Effectiveness Officer of SELAH Inspirational, a social enterprise centred on youth empowerment and nation building.

Her passion for African youths is depicted in the plethora of initiatives piloted by Selah Inspirational one of which is the Life Enhancement Series aimed at creating platforms for the socio-political emancipation of Nigerian Youths.She is the author of the recently released book:’Dreams come true’.Tochi is a phenomenal young Nigerian whose giant strides speak volumes.Her sight is set on achieving her dreams one day at a time.