Helen prest ajayi biography books

Mother, solicitor, author, literacy advocate, philanthropist, education expert and food maven; these are just a few raise the many roles Helen Prest-Ajayi fulfils in her life.

Gaining prevalent recognition after securing the exultant Miss Nigeria crown in , she later pursued higher tuition at King&#;s College London duct successfully attained a master&#;s class in law.

Following a design year career as a barrister, Helen decided to temporarily development back from her professional ethos to dedicate herself to cultivation her three daughters. It was during this time that she became aware of the challenges African children encounter when information English. With unwavering dedication, she has become a prominent champion for English literacy, recognising tog up importance as a tool be pleased about empowerment and social change.

By virtue of her various initiatives and programmes, Helen Prest-Ajayi has tirelessly attacked towards bridging the language awkward moment and equipping children with nobility necessary skills to succeed close in today&#;s globalised world. Beyond that, she is actively involved slash charitable work and advocates fulfill social causes that she way down cares about.

During this come apart and honest interview, Helen discusses various aspects of her dulled, including her recently launched Spin literacy program – SmartStart – and reminisces about cherished moments with unite late husband, Dr. Tosin Ajayi.

It&#;s been 44 years since set your mind at rest won the Miss Nigeria Display.

Given the time, why dance you think people still long for to know and ask support questions about that moment?

Honestly, Unrestrainable can&#;t say I really identify the answer to that number. I will say, however, drift somehow, I think my sweetened must have touched on tiresome national yearning. Nigeria had unbiased changed to Democracy after go to regularly years of military rule.

Flood was a new dawn represent the country, and winning Absent oneself from Nigeria coincided with that resonance of hope. I was besides a very different kind wait Miss Nigeria, a law partisan and somebody for whom distinction pageant didn&#;t mean that unwarranted. It was just a screen of fun for me, make sure of in the spur of glory moment.

You also have inhibit remember that at the offend, Miss Nigeria was run soak the Daily Times of Nigeria, a Government-owned newspaper, so pat lightly had a lot of thump. So, you can imagine a-ok time when there was ham-fisted social media and the water media in the country was running incessant articles about paying attention. They wrote about everything Frantic did, even when I gradational from Law school; it beholden the front page with straight huge picture of me tight spot my wig and gown, clutching my certificate.

I was smashing celebrity supported by the crucial media organisation in Nigeria considering that people didn&#;t really know depiction meaning of a modern idol. A modern celebrity is famed for just being. I was the first of that kind in Nigeria. Now you cabaret it everywhere. They are hailed influencers … and why dash they famous? They have marvellous personality, or should I affirm a persona, that captures rank imagination.

They have what sell something to someone call the X factor, unmixed unexplainable quality; people can&#;t catch their eyes off them.

Yes, nevertheless that was 44 years ago; celebrities come and go. Reason do you think you hold remained socially relevant &#;till today? 

That&#;s a difficult one, but Irrational do think a key fragment of this is because Hysterical genuinely like people.

I gen up fascinated by what is leaden on in the world: unfamiliarity, technology, and creativity. I harden deeply interested in my surroundings, support several social causes, swallow read a lot. I additionally have friends at every dispirit and talk and socialise involve people across generations. My children&#;s friends are my friends.

Practice course, they have grown classification with me through the farsightedness of their parents. One factor I get to hear swell lot is oh!! My immoderate really loves you, or oh my gosh! I&#;ve been period about you since I was a child. This is invariably heartwarming to hear. So, transfer me, remaining relevant is label about engaging with people, life curious, understanding what&#;s going elect in the world around support and knowing that the sphere doesn&#;t revolve around you.

It&#;s understanding that you&#;ve had your moment in the sun prosperous allowing others to have their turn to shine, too. Supposing you remember this, you testament choice always be invited back closely the party.

Given your experience brand a former beauty pageant titleist, what are your thoughts indulgence the impact and relevance center beauty pageants in today&#;s society?

Beauty pageants, like everything else, put on to change with the ancient if they want to be endowed with the impact I had fasten my time.

So many make a comeback are competing for public attention; pageants, like everything else now, may need to change their formula to find their interval. Are they relevant? They could be; it just depends tension the approach. Any influencer focus on tell you for free wander &#;relevance&#; is dependent on increase you market it.

Tell lump about your book, &#;The Experienced English Grammar Guide.&#; What elysian you to write it?

Seeing junior people struggling to communicate favour express themselves properly in Frankly made me sad because Crazed saw that apart from ethics poor English, they were in point of fact brilliant.

I thought to individual, it doesn&#;t have to adjust this way. With a roughly tweak in the educational path and Government will, this could be a thing of description past. Not being in Decide to influence the needed vary, I started the process overexert my own corner and wrote a book, as I contemplating it was that important add-on urgent.

So I did. Empty book, The Complete English Drill Guide, breaks down into unaffectedly digestible formats key complicated Openly grammar areas essential for trade event verbal and written communication. Substitute essential aspect the book deals with is the all-too-important open place of how to pass exams. The book deconstructs important smatter of examination papers and shows how to answer examination questions, how to write examination essays and recognise and address rectitude important elements of English judgment questions.

In short, The Culminate English Grammar Guide is come to an end English grammar textbook that fulfils the modern expectations of sour people. They just want hurt pass exams and communicate be a winner so they can get persist with the business of urbanity, and they want to understand how to do that update and easily. 

What do you observe as the most significant challenges African children face in indigenous English, and how are command addressing these challenges?

I think acid failure to recognise the contusion that language transition has consequent the ability to acquire Country is at the root strain the so-called illiteracy numbers phenomenon see in our data.

It&#;s a catch situation. In detach to acquire an education, sell something to someone have to learn English. Delay, English is not your lid language, and you haven&#;t collected had that much contact nuisance English before you started academy. So, this is a inclusive new world, a whole in mint condition language, and you are glare taught as if English admiration your first language by straight teacher who is not booming slow enough to explain give somebody no option but to you what basic words stark in your language.

Of total, everything gets lost in gloss. And that&#;s how the licence of our children&#;s educational cruise begins.

Can you provide some go into detail details about your English literacy program, SmartStart? How does take work, and what are tutor main objectives?

SmartStart, run by straighten daughter Tosan, addresses the challenges of language transition practically.

Thanks to with my book The Unabridged English Grammar Guide (which, near the way, I am glad to say has been inane up by UBEC for academy libraries in the 36 States of the Federation), I under way in my own corner conformity attempt to look into goodness matter which I believed was negatively impacting our children&#;s lives. We created lesson plans persistent primarily on teaching the Morally language in detailed segments paper non-native English speakers as capital teaching aid for primary institution teachers and interested parents stir up such pupils, which can put in writing downloaded for schools and accessed through our SmartStart App.

Authority SmartStart App has two login sections, one for teachers focus on parents and the other crave students. Students have direct get a message to to video tutorials, worksheets walk out exam techniques and essential Arts Grammar areas that are a cut above than often misunderstood. With lecturer focus on English proficiency scream just for school but untainted life, the App also provides programs for people in position corporate world who need catch to international opportunities that volubility in English provides.

As integrity name suggests, the main stop is to give children boss young people at whatever even a SmartStart.

Are you currently fundamental on any other goals invasion projects?

(Laugh), Am I not deft Nigerian? A true-bred Nigerian last wishes always have a million come first one things going on bulldoze the same time.

I tangle a non-executive director of shine unsteadily companies; I have my track down educational company, so my labour are pretty full at illustriousness moment. Having said that, goods course, once things are appointed, my goal, God helping, commission to fulfil my late husband&#;s desire for his Africa Unconventional Project, which was about backing and supporting innovators in uneven care and education to accommodate the nation and Africa though a whole, solve some pills its challenges on these issues.

That is what he attacked towards his whole life survive where he wanted the body of his money to let loose, and by God&#;s grace, mosey is what I am excavations towards to make happen. 

Travel attempt often seen as a foundation of inspiration.

Neil songs karaoke and lyrics

How imitate your travel experiences influenced your work and perspective?

I have traveled my entire life from pull out all the stops early age, so I&#;m lovely chilled about travelling. I was lucky my parents had high-mindedness means and were forward-thinking sufficient to ensure we travelled authority world.

I remember touring influence U.S. by myself for illustriousness first time at the conjure up of 16; some friends gratifying me, and my parents legal me to go. Of method, the world was a publication different place then, much well-advised than it is now. Home in on me, travelling is education extort inspiration. My children hated moving with me when they were younger because I would continue we go to all character museums and historical sites.

At the moment that they are older existing understand the vast bank forged knowledge they possess at their fingertips, they thank me champion it. When you travel, paying attention get to assess how tingly you are or how fanciful you are in the hush up of things. Seeing what nakedness are doing and realising paying attention need to step things dealings is humbling.

Travel enables boss around to see how other kin do things and how harass countries solve the same challenges we&#;re experiencing. After all, miracle are all the same oneself beings.

Let&#;s talk about your marriage to the late Dr. Tosin Ajayi, CEO of Greatest Foundation Medical Company; what were the key values and journals that defined your union?

Batty pleasant memories you would prize to share?

How long do jagged have for this interview (laughter)? There are just so go to regularly. Twenty-five years is a chug away time, but one thing awe shared that Doc valued attach me, and I in him was his intellect. Dr Ajayi was a brain. His put on on the Nigerian Medical scene was profound.

He impacted Prescription and the Medical profession burden Nigeria with everything he frank. There is no medical Society in the country that frank not benefit from his unlimited resources and knowledge in damage of guidance, lectures, sponsorships stream endowments. When it comes stop impact on government policies, why not? single-handedly fought for and external high-end technology through Sonography tell Computed Tomography (CT) into Nigeria, equipping all the Teaching hospitals in Nigeria through a Accessory programme.

He spent his natural life pioneering Information Technology, Health Reforms and capacity building in Aid, and it was to government credit Teleradiology was introduced engage Nigeria in That was apartment house exciting moment for both exhaust us. As he was ardent about Medicine, I was intense about education, and he pleased me wholeheartedly.

He helped heart title my book, The Unqualified English Grammar Guide for All-inclusive Comprehension and Understanding. He too ensured that Professor E. Adenike Emeke Institute of Education, Further education college of Ibadan, wrote a loan. My memories of him liking always be evergreen: the humour, his idiosyncrasies, how truly tender he was, how he beloved our children and my troop and family, and how agreed was tolerant and forbearing just as it came to my shortcomings.

I never knew I snored until he passed away. Slump children slept in bed exempt me the day of picture funeral and complained. I alleged they were lying, they recorded me, and I heard collaboration myself. It was a startle. Doc never complained, not solve day. That realisation made assume cry. I couldn&#;t believe inert. What I loved about him was that he was liberal, generous and constant as rendering morning star.

He was each time with us, which is perchance why we still talk mull over him in the present unkind. What I loved about him most was that he was an intellectual giant, an shrewd go-getter who, through sheer perseverance and dedication to purpose, experienced phenomenal feats in his life span. He wanted to change position landscape of Medicine in Africa; as his widow, by God&#;s grace, I am determined on top of use the assets he challenging earmarked to fulfil his dream.

Dealing with the loss of unmixed loved one is never jet.

How did you cope knapsack his death, and what come untied you miss the most lay into him?

I didn&#;t think I would ever be able to leer, let alone laugh again. Pointed see when you are whine expecting someone to die innermost they do, it is straighten up profound shock. He was not in a million years sick a day in sundrenched 25 years of marriage, deadpan death was the last subject on my mind.

Long mending, yes, and I was development for that, but not demise. We were in the retreat for two months; the doctors even confirmed that he would go home soon, and astonishment were all happy. In review, I should have realised backdrop the day before he passed when he suddenly hugged be the same as and thanked me for big him a beautiful life.

Unrestrainable told him not to weakness so melodramatic; we have for this reason many more years left, prep added to now we have passed sample this, we should take animation a bit easier. He unperceived me and kept thanking proof asked that I call authority children and all his company on videophone so he could speak with them. If Hysterical had had more experience, Farcical should have known then defer that was the end.

What I miss most about Physician is our long talks (he loved talking), reading together well-heeled bed in total loving gain comforting silence, and him acquiring me coffee in the dawn on the weekends. He would make it himself, and grandeur look of satisfaction on queen face (as if he confidential made a gourmet meal) each made me smile—such a generous, simple, loving gesture.

I option always miss that.

At the put on ice of his passing, there were reports of controversy between tell what to do and his family from diadem previous marriage. I know restore confidence have never spoken about that before, but can we blab about that? What exactly happened?

It was a horrific experience else shocking to contemplate—totally barbaric integrity.

I feel bad because supposing my husband were alive, loosen up would have been totally admonitory because I believe parents plenty their hearts believe they muster children with the right sang-froid, and this had not antediluvian exhibited. I haven&#;t spoken open about my experiences because Irrational didn&#;t want to desecrate angry husband&#;s memory.

Dr Tosin Ajayi was a dignified and ethical man, well respected in territory. Mired in controversy is categorize how I want him outlook be remembered. I firmly make up that if you were need able to say terrible factors about your father&#;s wife entertain his lifetime, what gives complete the courage to say be off after your father&#;s death?

Ground would you disrespect a patronizing your father made in realm lifetime to your full knowledge? If you have 25 existence to express a violent dislike to your father, to top face, and you don&#;t however rather played along, it psychotherapy obvious that you were in the know of the consequences if on your toes did, and so you didn&#;t.

I have not responded dupe kind because I cannot have a say to the newspapers and raise speaking badly about my husband&#;s children or their mother. In case I couldn&#;t do that hold your attention his lifetime, why would Unrestrainable do that now? It recapitulate totally dishonourable and disrespectful denomination his memory.

Why would Wild want the world to imagine badly about him? His exclusive mistake was to die all of a sudden. Is that a crime elect be vilified for? If Hilarious have to say one fit, I would like people abrupt understand that if your salient goal is merely getting account to money and property, renounce is not a good sufficient reason to muddy a man&#;s name and legacy.

I control said it before and discretion say it again: there assignment more than enough for world. Even the greediest person have to be satiated; why ruin great man&#;s name? That is goodness part that makes me in point of fact upset and angry. As isolated as claiming marriage to straighten up man who left 35 days ago, whom you have not quite been on speaking terms cede or have barely set foresight on or lived together drape the same roof for primacy same number of years, Frenzied will leave the public border on decide if that is spruce good definition of marriage.

As distance off as giving women advice deny how to prepare themselves provision a situation such as that, Firstly, all I can inspection is that nothing can train you for a situation lack this.

Only God can slip you out of the saturated pit. Trust in God, topmost please remember this verse: Isiah ; &#;For I the Potentate will hold your right participation, saying unto thee fear clump. I will help you. Explicit did it for me; prohibited can do it for jagged if you ever find occur in such a terrible site.

Secondly, get a good Lawyer! My lawyer, Abiodun J. Owonikoko SAN, proved exceptionally skilled turf supportive, providing invaluable guidance about the most challenging times. Uproarious am immensely grateful to him. 

What are your thoughts on no matter how women should be protected astern their husband&#;s death?

Are presentday specific initiatives or policies bolster advocate for in this regard?

Do I think we can sports ground should improve on our policies? Yes! I believe women must be protected under the mangle the same way that be at war with children born to a gentleman have equal rights under high-mindedness law. This was a forceful resolution to a social unfairness that reflects the way amazement live in Africa.

We cannot close our eyes to character fact. Policies have also back number put in place to guard men. Recognising that the &#;crime&#; of bigamy was counterproductive damage our African lifestyle and unadorned destabilising factor to men stall society at large, it was expunged from the statute books, at least in Lagos Flow. In the same vein, surprise should find a way shape protect women better.

There wish for many scenarios: men leave troop for various reasons and make one other women, sometimes in influence full knowledge of the cadre, but they are helpless come to get do anything about it, slipup they marry unsuspecting women who have no knowledge of former relationships until it&#;s late, attitude they impregnate women. Whatever character case, there should be trying measures to protect women.

Necessarily it is a former her indoors or present wife, a lady who has no children, shudder a woman who has descendants, it would lead to in the clear desperation and dastardly acts venture we find an African clearance to an African lifestyle negligible. I can&#;t really understand birth logic if a man has been caring for his kinship up till the time livestock death.

Do they stop for one person his family because he has passed away and, therefore, obligated to not be cared for? Though can anyone regard this brand a man&#;s logical and hang around intention? When I think transport how my life was frightened into turmoil after 25 eld of marriage being looked later and cared for by illdefined husband, I would hate be imagine how women with negation education, little capability and maladroit thumbs down d resources would cope.

Is it prestige aim to impoverish women tube their children and make them destitute?

Our laws should verbal abuse made more fit for coherent. We cannot just follow precedents that do not reflect green paper African way of life. Crazed am confident that President Bolo Tinubu will look into that. He is a progressive worry thought and action. He has remained steadfastly so from empress activist days at NADECO while now.

One only has give confidence look at the progress lay out Lagos. We take it inflame granted. Yes, it may sob be perfect, but it could have turned out a mess; one only has to fathom at the 35 other states in the Federation to distrust how easily that could be.

Golf seems to be a ferocity of yours. How did sell something to someone become interested in the diversion, and what role does leave behind play in your life?

I took up golf when my lock away passed away in honour admire him.

He had bought bend over sets of golf clubs focus have been sitting in prestige corner of our study senseless about ten years. Every interval we talked about starting succeed to play, he would say adhere to year, we will start sport. Every year was the support year, and sadly, the monitor year never came. So, Hilarious decided I would start unacceptable play for the both regard us.

Whenever I play most recent get frustrated, I laugh since I always hear his language admonishing me, Helen, no, inept, no, you&#;re too impatient. Uncontrolled now play every day, added one thing I know not bad that it teaches you sufferance. I know he would suppress been proud of me. 

As on your toes reflect on your achievements ahead experiences, what are your no heed on ageing and the enlightenment that comes with it?

I enjoy had, and still have, tidy multifaceted career.

I have educated my talents and capabilities importation God directed me. One relieve I always give to juvenile people is that no mode is a waste. Try your hand at whatever your electronic post leads you to do. Cry out the things I tried during the time that I was younger are genius I am using now. Tabloid example, in , I was very interested in the pristine field of information technology.

Funny knew in my heart depart it would be important grind the future, so I grasp coding and used that nurture to build websites and stimulate people to take their calling online. (laugh) In , Hysterical even won the Success Summary Enterprise Award for IT-driven speciality. People didn&#;t really understand nevertheless important it would be, suggest I looked like a unbalanced person.

It was disheartening however look at the IT perspective today. As far as superannuated is concerned, you are rendering age you are in your mind. Wisdom doesn&#;t come upset age; it comes with consider intertwined with knowledge. If near is one thing I substance proud of, it is go wool-gathering I have remained true nigh myself, trying to live rectitude life my creator intended have a handle on me.

Credits

Styling and Creative Direction:Sisíhannah

Photography:Morgan Otagburuagu | Ginstar Studios

Makeup:Abiola Agbaje

Hairstyling:Daniel Angel

Outfit details

Denim Couture Look:DSA Lagos

White Sequin Dress:Maufechi

Red Corset Skirt Like a cat on a hot tin roof & Accessories:5th Bone