I want to motivate other young women to aim high – Amb Olamide Davies Talabi

Amb Olamide Davies Talabi is a Commissioner at the office of The Mayor of Newark, New Jersey, United States of America USA), founder, Miss Africa Tri-State beauty pageant and the Ogun State Ambassador for Culture and Tourism. In this interview with MONICA TAIWO who was in the United States recently, she speaks about how she manages her role as a wife, mother and mentor to many younger ladies.

Our rejection of Atiku’s endorsement by Ohanaeze, apolitical ― Anambra govt

What motivated you to start the Miss Africa Tri-State beauty pageant?

I started my career as a model two decades ago when I came to the United States.  I love fashion, beauty and glamour. As time went by, my love for humanitarian activities grew stronger. I wanted to give back to the community. Meanwhile, there were many people with one non-profit foundation or another. So, I thought of a different approach to my humanitarian activity.  Queens, ladies who wear crowns have certain aura about them that many people want to associate with, hence, the reason for the pageant.  The ladies are empowered to give back to the community through the organisation’s platform. So, it was like eating my cake and having it at the same time in fashion and humanitarian work.

Can you tell us what The African Tri-State means?

Tri State in the United States of America (USA) consists of New Jersey, New York and Connecticut, this is where we started from but today we have expanded participation in the pageant beyond these three states to include ladies all around the USA.

 Can you talk about the success story of the beauty pageant so far?

Miss Africa Tri State has been a big success story for the past eight years. More than 40,000 pieces of educational materials, sanitary products and clothing have been shipped across Africa with more than 250 ladies in our empowerment programme. The countries to be donated to are based on the home country of the winners. We also make sure our ladies give back in the USA by volunteering their time and organising clothes drive, amongst other initiatives. Our ladies have gone forward to create their own clothing line, eyelashes line and sporting line, among others.

 What has been the biggest challenge for you in the eight years of the pageant?

Our biggest challenge in the beginning was funding. But, as time went by, more sponsors now trust us and trust what we stand for.

  Tell us the names of the winners of the pageant so far and their countries?

Our first queen in 2011 was Yolanda Masinga from South Africa; 2012 we had Joy Adjoa; from Ghana, 2013;  Zoubaidatou Sylla; from Guinea. In  2014, Nasiphi Sobahle; won the crown from South Africa while Yalihka Soumah of Guinea was the winner in 2015.   Ramatex Barry; another lady from Guinea also won in 2016.  Plumy Akimbo; a Nigerian won in 2017 and we have Camilla Jihad; another Nigerian as the reigning queen.

 You stated earlier that each queen had particular projects; what modalities have you put in place for monitoring and evaluation? 

The Queens are screened even before the pageant starts’, to ensure we do not get slackers. We make sure the girls understand what they are getting themselves into in the first place. Once selected as winners, they are assigned a caretaker who goes with them on every official assignment. We also have a pageant director who calls them to see what is going on with their platforms. I am also on top of the affairs whenever my attention is needed. But, we have been very lucky with all our girls so far.

  You are a commissioner at the office of the Mayor of Newark, you also happen to be the Ogun State Ambassador for Culture and Tourism, how come?

I give thanks to God for the grace He has given me with both positions. Three years ago, I was honoured to have been appointed by Mayor Ras J. Baraka as a Commissioner in the City of Newark; this is a position that I take very seriously because it is a bridge between my people; Africans and the government. In September 2018, Governor Ibikunle Amosun appointed me the Ogun State Ambassador for Culture and Tourism. This is also an honour. I am from Ogun State; a very unique State with eminent citizens around the world. To be given such an appointment was an honour; I will never forget the honour by His Excellency and the Governor’s wife support.

  What motivates you?

My motivation is  to be a good wife to my husband, a good mother to my children, a role model to many young women that look up to me as their mentor. As a woman, I know some of the obstacles some of us have to go through when going up in our various careers especially with a family too. I want to be able to motivate other young women to aim high. I hope someone looks at me and say to themselves; “If she can joggle all these together, I can do too”

  How have you been representing your state and country in the U.S and in Newark in particular?

As an ambassador, I have highlighted, promoted and enhanced the rich culture of Ogun State by creating awareness about her culture and tourism potentials to the world.

We had the Adire Ogun Festival in the USA, another event was the Adire Exhibition by Sheba House, which I helped launched to showcase adire fabric I am also working with foreign investors that will share in the beautiful vision of the State especially on tourism. I am currently in the process of taking some investors home to Ogun State to invest in our culture and tourism. As a Commissioner in the City of Newark I serve in a distinguished leadership role acting as a liaison for the City of Newark Government and the African Community living in Newark by bringing to the forefront economic, political, health, educational and general well-being policies to benefit Africans living in the City of Newark.

 How do you juggle all these roles with motherhood and being a wife?

I get asked this question a lot. Honestly, it is by God’s grace. One, I have a good support system at home.  Two and most importantly is my ability at time management. For instance, my weekends are strictly for my family. I try not to go out at all. So, my duties as an ambassador, a commissioner, chairwoman of my business empire, and president of two other non-profit organisations are all done during the weekdays. My weekends are for cooking and cleaning the house for the new week while watching Nigerian movies with my husband and kids.

What advice do you have for young girls looking up to you?

My first advice is; set a goal for yourself, write it down and follow through with it. Nothing is ever easy but at least start somewhere, the rest will fall in place as you go. Another is for you to know who you are. As women, we sometimes have to work ten times more than the men to get the same recognition or promotion. Don’t let that discourage you, instead, let the end goal motivate you. Lastly, I don’t believe sleeping your way to the top is the way to go.  Instead, work so hard they will be forced to reckon with you at the table. And, if it all doesn’t work out, build your own table – go find your own opportunities, start your own business, or run for office.

 Majority believes America is the place to be if you want to make it; comment on this?

America is indeed a land of milk and honey. I have seen people come here with less than 2,000 thousand naira and now live the America dream. As long as you are not lazy, America is a leveler for anyone that can dream big. That, however, does not mean everyone has to come to America to succeed? No. There are so many people making awesome things happen around the world even in Nigeria. Whatever your hand finds to do, just do it with passion and integrity.