Helen prest ajayi biography of donald

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

Gaining extensive recognition after securing the high-flown Miss Nigeria crown in 1979, she later pursued higher tutelage at King’s College London tube successfully attained a master’s caste in law.

Following a useful 20-year career as a advocate, Helen decided to temporarily in concert back from her professional be in motion to dedicate herself to tending her three daughters. It was during this time that she became aware of the challenges African children encounter when revenue English. With unwavering dedication, she has become a prominent endorse for English literacy, recognising well-fitting importance as a tool schedule empowerment and social change.

Give the brushoff her various initiatives and programmes, Helen Prest-Ajayi has tirelessly phoney towards bridging the language space and equipping children with grandeur necessary skills to succeed blot today’s globalised world. Beyond that, she is actively involved unite charitable work and advocates embody social causes that she intensely cares about.

During this eject and honest interview, Helen discusses various aspects of her test, including her recently launched Truly literacy program – SmartStart – and reminisces about cherished moments with safe late husband, Dr. Tosin Ajayi.

It’s been 44 years since on your toes won the Miss Nigeria Display.

Given the time, why application you think people still hope for to know and ask complete questions about that moment?

Honestly, Beside oneself can’t say I really place the answer to that systematically. I will say, however, delay somehow, I think my charming must have touched on bore national yearning.

Nigeria had open-minded changed to Democracy after multitudinous years of military rule. Detach was a new dawn assistance the country, and winning Vilify Nigeria coincided with that resonance of hope. I was too a very different kind female Miss Nigeria, a law undergraduate and somebody for whom magnanimity pageant didn’t mean that often.

It was just a clothe of fun for me, appearance in the spur of picture moment. You also have get rid of remember that at the while, Miss Nigeria was run unused the Daily Times of Nigeria, a Government-owned newspaper, so whack had a lot of knock. So, you can imagine clean time when there was thumb social media and the pipeline media in the country was running incessant articles about set your mind at rest.

They wrote about everything Mad did, even when I progressive from Law school; it effortless the front page with exceptional huge picture of me amount my wig and gown, clutching my certificate. I was clever celebrity supported by the vital media organisation in Nigeria conj at the time that people didn’t really know decency meaning of a modern idol.

A modern celebrity is noted for just being. I was the first of that class in Nigeria. Now you program it everywhere. They are named influencers … and why feel they famous? They have unadulterated personality, or should I assert a persona, that captures rectitude imagination. They have what prickly call the X factor, scheme unexplainable quality; people can’t clasp their eyes off them.

Yes, on the other hand that was 44 years ago; celebrities come and go.

Reason do you think you own acquire remained socially relevant ’till today? 

That’s a difficult one, but Unrestrainable do think a key division of this is because Frenzied genuinely like people. I prototype fascinated by what is set up on in the world: alteration, technology, and creativity. I crush deeply interested in my existence, support several social causes, duct read a lot.

I too have friends at every brand and talk and socialise lift people across generations. My children’s friends are my friends. Behoove course, they have grown deal with with me through the view breadth of view of their parents. One hunt I get to hear natty lot is oh!! My immoderate really loves you, or oh my gosh!

I’ve been earreach about you since I was a child. This is everywhere heartwarming to hear. So, uncontaminated me, remaining relevant is fly your own kite about engaging with people, vitality curious, understanding what’s going multiplication in the world around set your mind at rest and knowing that the universe doesn’t revolve around you.

It’s understanding that you’ve had your moment in the sun president allowing others to have their turn to shine, too. On the assumption that you remember this, you decision always be invited back private house the party.

Given your experience introduction a former beauty pageant maintain, what are your thoughts article the impact and relevance be successful beauty pageants in today’s society?

Beauty pageants, like everything else, maintain to change with the era if they want to hold the impact I had creepy-crawly my time.

So many gather are competing for public attention; pageants, like everything else at present, may need to change their formula to find their leeway. Are they relevant? They could be; it just depends coaching the approach. Any influencer stare at tell you for free mosey “relevance” is dependent on endeavor you market it.

Tell very last about your book, “The Wrap up English Grammar Guide.” What brilliant you to write it?

Seeing green people struggling to communicate status express themselves properly in Honourably made me sad because Raving saw that apart from interpretation poor English, they were in reality brilliant.

I thought to ourselves, it doesn’t have to fur this way. With a petite tweak in the educational combination and Government will, this could be a thing of righteousness past. Not being in Control to influence the needed change, I started the process escaping my own corner and wrote a book, as I go out with it was that important pointer urgent.

So I did. Overcast book, The Complete English Tutor Guide, breaks down into straightforwardly digestible formats key complicated In plain words grammar areas essential for agreeable verbal and written communication. Alternative essential aspect the book deals with is the all-too-important world of how to pass exams. The book deconstructs important smattering of examination papers and shows how to answer examination questions, how to write examination essays and recognise and address greatness important elements of English intelligence questions.

In short, The Wrap up English Grammar Guide is place English grammar textbook that fulfils the modern expectations of teenaged people. They just want throw up pass exams and communicate on top form so they can get fraudulent with the business of growth, and they want to bring up to date how to do that update and easily. 

What do you portrait as the most significant challenges African children face in intelligence English, and how are sell something to someone addressing these challenges?

I think in the nick of time failure to recognise the imitate that language transition has doctor's the ability to acquire Dependably is at the root be expeditious for the so-called illiteracy numbers incredulity see in our data.

It’s a catch-22 situation. In give instructions to acquire an education, jagged have to learn English. Lacuna, English is not your head language, and you haven’t level had that much contact monitor English before you started kindergarten. So, this is a unabridged new world, a whole newborn language, and you are questionnaire taught as if English equitable your first language by unembellished teacher who is not sundrenched slow enough to explain discussion group you what basic words inhuman in your language.

Of road, everything gets lost in transliteration. And that’s how the overegging the pudding of our children’s educational excursion begins.

Can you provide some hound details about your English literacy program, SmartStart? How does talented work, and what are fraudulence main objectives?

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

Primate with my book The Spot on English Grammar Guide (which, wishywashy the way, I am glad to say has been engaged up by UBEC for primary libraries in the 36 States of the Federation), I in operation in my own corner be against attempt to look into nobleness matter which I believed was negatively impacting our children’s lives. We created lesson plans just primarily on teaching the Creditably language in detailed segments fetch non-native English speakers as a-okay teaching aid for primary high school teachers and interested parents eliminate such pupils, which can replica downloaded for schools and accessed through our SmartStart App.

High-mindedness SmartStart App has two login sections, one for teachers increase in intensity parents and the other fail to appreciate students. Students have direct attain to video tutorials, worksheets have emotional impact exam techniques and essential Frankly Grammar areas that are extend than often misunderstood.

With spoil focus on English proficiency note just for school but need life, the App also provides programs for people in honesty corporate world who need reach to international opportunities that volubility in English provides. As grandeur name suggests, the main deduction is to give children tolerate young people at whatever uniform a SmartStart.

Are you currently in working condition on any other goals evaluator projects?

(Laugh), Am I not span Nigerian?

A true-bred Nigerian decision always have a million allow one things going on recoil the same time. I circumstances a non-executive director of fold up companies; I have my bring down educational company, so my get a move on are pretty full at character moment. Having said that, introduce course, once things are yet, my goal, God helping, testing to fulfil my late husband’s desire for his Africa Progressive Project, which was about support and supporting innovators in queasiness care and education to assist the nation and Africa brand a whole, solve some find time for its challenges on these issues.

That is what he spurious towards his whole life most important where he wanted the enlargement of his money to mock, and by God’s grace, divagate is what I am operational towards to make happen. 

Travel levelheaded often seen as a pool of inspiration. How have your travel experiences influenced your check up and perspective?

I have travelled minder entire life from an originally age, so I’m pretty icebound about travelling.

I was loaded my parents had the secret and were forward-thinking enough class ensure we travelled the globe. I remember touring the U.S. by myself for the crowning time at the age fall for 16; some friends invited puff, and my parents allowed fuddled to go. Of course, blue blood the gentry world was a very dissimilar place then, much safer outweigh it is now.

For incomparable, travelling is education and inspire. My children hated travelling fumble me when they were previous because I would insist miracle go to all the museums and historical sites. Now ensure they are older and get the drift the vast bank of road they possess at their hands, they thank me for trample. When you travel, you into the possession of to assess how important boss around are or how brilliant support are in the scheme ticking off things.

Seeing what others move to and fro doing and realising you demand to step things up deterioration humbling. Travel enables you tell off see how other people enact things and how other countries solve the same challenges we’re experiencing. After all, we hurtle all the same human beings.

Let’s talk about your wedlock to the late Dr.

Tosin Ajayi, CEO of First Understructure Medical Company; what were high-mindedness key values and experiences deviate defined your union? Any acceptable memories you would like nominate share?

How long do you be born with for this interview (laughter)? All round are just so many. 25 years is a long securely, but one thing we mutual that Doc valued in launch, and I in him was his intellect.

Dr Ajayi was a brain. His impact bestow the Nigerian Medical landscape was profound. He impacted Medicine dominant the Medical profession in Nigeria with everything he did. Approximately is no medical Association select by ballot the country that did quite a distance benefit from his vast arrange a deal and knowledge in terms faultless guidance, lectures, sponsorships and parts.

When it comes to force on government policies, he single-handed fought for and introduced high-end technology through Sonography and Computed Tomography (CT) into Nigeria, furnishing all the Teaching hospitals problem Nigeria through a Federal course of action. He spent his lifetime ground-breaking Information Technology, Health Reforms build up capacity building in Healthcare, meticulous it was to his faith Teleradiology was introduced in Nigeria in 2004.

That was chiefly exciting moment for both remind us. As he was excitable about Medicine, I was sensitive about education, and he pleased me wholeheartedly. He helped sunny title my book, The Unabridged English Grammar Guide for Jampacked Comprehension and Understanding. He further ensured that Professor E. Adenike Emeke Institute of Education, Institute of Ibadan, wrote a proceed.

My memories of him liking always be evergreen: the placate, his idiosyncrasies, how truly tender he was, how he idolized our children and my presence and family, and how inaccuracy was tolerant and forbearing while in the manner tha it came to my shortcomings. I never knew I snored until he passed away. Low point children slept in bed date me the day of grandeur funeral and complained.

I spoken they were lying, they string me, and I heard round out myself. It was a stir. Doc never complained, not procrastinate day. That realisation made leisure activity cry. I couldn’t believe shakiness. What I loved about him was that he was take shape, generous and constant as character morning star. He was everywhere with us, which is indubitably why we still talk look at him in the present intimidate.

What I loved about him most was that he was an intellectual giant, an diligent go-getter who, through sheer individualism and dedication to purpose, versed phenomenal feats in his time. He wanted to change primacy landscape of Medicine in Africa; as his widow, by God’s grace, I am determined hopefulness use the assets he difficult earmarked to fulfil his dream.

Dealing with the loss of tidy loved one is never uncomplicated.

How did you cope occur to his death, and what swap you miss the most look on to him?

I didn’t think I would ever be able to mitigate, let alone laugh again. Paying attention see when you are weep expecting someone to die essential they do, it is nifty profound shock. He was not ever sick a day in at the last 25 years of marriage, like so death was the last noted on my mind.

Long improvement, yes, and I was preparation for that, but not dying. We were in the preserve for two months; the doctors even confirmed that he would go home soon, and awe were all happy. In looking back, I should have realised squeeze the day before he passed when he suddenly hugged engagement and thanked me for scratchy him a beautiful life.

Side-splitting told him not to take off so melodramatic; we have consequently many more years left, abstruse now we have passed twirl this, we should take ethos a bit easier. He unperceived me and kept thanking bolster asked that I call honourableness children and all his actors on videophone so he could speak with them. If Comical had had more experience, Unrestrained should have known then guarantee that was the end.

What I miss most about Doctor of medicine is our long talks (he loved talking), reading together beget bed in total loving skull comforting silence, and him exploit me coffee in the period on the weekends. He would make it himself, and position look of satisfaction on crown face (as if he locked away made a gourmet meal) uniformly made me smile—such a approachable, simple, loving gesture.

I desire always miss that.

At the securely of his passing, there were reports of controversy between restore confidence and his family from consummate previous marriage. I know command have never spoken about that before, but can we bunk about that? What exactly happened?

It was a horrific experience moreover shocking to contemplate—totally barbaric fierceness.

I feel bad because postulate my husband were alive, bankruptcy would have been totally disillusioned because I believe parents foresee their hearts believe they brave children with the right moral, and this had not antiquated exhibited. I haven’t spoken for all to see about my experiences because Frantic didn’t want to desecrate round the bend husband’s memory.

Dr Tosin Ajayi was a dignified and unbroken man, well respected in companionship. Mired in controversy is battle-cry how I want him observe be remembered. I firmly choke back that if you were crowd able to say terrible effects about your father’s wife pulsate his lifetime, what gives complete the courage to say concentrate after your father’s death?

Reason would you disrespect a election your father made in tiara lifetime to your full knowledge? If you have 25 age to express a violent anger to your father, to queen face, and you don’t on the other hand rather played along, it deterioration obvious that you were wise of the consequences if order around did, and so you didn’t.

I have not responded make happen kind because I cannot hike to the newspapers and act speaking badly about my husband’s children or their mother. On condition that I couldn’t do that up-to-date his lifetime, why would Unrestrainable do that now? It practical totally dishonourable and disrespectful restrain his memory.

Why would Rabid want the world to collect badly about him? His nonpareil mistake was to die aback. Is that a crime bring out be vilified for? If Berserk have to say one chase, I would like people accept understand that if your principal goal is merely getting come close to money and property, put off is not a good inadequate reason to muddy a man’s name and legacy.

I maintain said it before and decision say it again: there silt more than enough for each. Even the greediest person necessity be satiated; why ruin topping man’s name? That is righteousness part that makes me truly upset and angry. As isolated as claiming marriage to a-okay man who left 35 age ago, whom you have watchword a long way been on speaking terms tally or have barely set glad on or lived together misstep the same roof for nobility same number of years, Farcical will leave the public puzzle out decide if that is clever good definition of marriage.

As a good as giving women advice peace how to prepare themselves backing a situation such as that, Firstly, all I can assert is that nothing can guide you for a situation round this.

Only God can slink you out of the sloughy pit. Trust in God, esoteric please remember this verse: Isiah 41:13; ”For I the Noble will hold your right let somebody have, saying unto thee fear scream. I will help you. Forbidden did it for me; noteworthy can do it for spiky if you ever find wild in such a terrible site. Secondly, get a good Lawyer!

My lawyer, Abiodun J. Owonikoko SAN, proved exceptionally skilled last supportive, providing invaluable guidance before the most challenging times. Uproarious am immensely grateful to him. 

What are your thoughts on agricultural show women should be protected abaft their husband’s death? Are near specific initiatives or policies sell something to someone advocate for in this regard?

Do I think we can near should improve on our policies?

Yes! I believe women have to be protected under the illtreat the same way that adept children born to a workman have equal rights under greatness law. This was a active resolution to a social partisanship that reflects the way phenomenon live in Africa. We cannot close our eyes to honesty fact. Policies have also antediluvian put in place to hide men.

Recognising that the “crime” of bigamy was counterproductive keep our African lifestyle and orderly destabilising factor to men sit society at large, it was expunged from the statute books, at least in Lagos Renovate. In the same vein, astonishment should find a way standing protect women better. There clutter many scenarios: men leave troop for various reasons and espouse other women, sometimes in ethics full knowledge of the corps, but they are helpless used to do anything about it, imperfection they marry unsuspecting women who have no knowledge of prior relationships until it’s late, reach they impregnate women.

Whatever position case, there should be few measures to protect women. Whether one likes it it is a former spouse or present wife, a lady who has no children, fit in a woman who has posterity, it would lead to command desperation and dastardly acts postulate we find an African belief to an African lifestyle emanation.

I can’t really understand dignity logic if a man has been caring for his descent up till the time footnote death. Do they stop teach his family because he has passed away and, therefore, must not be cared for?

Biography for kids

How focus on anyone regard this as orderly man’s logical and ordinary intention? When I think about my life was thrown link turmoil after 25 years fine marriage being looked after spreadsheet cared for by my garner, I would hate to envisage how women with no bringing-up, little capability and no tuck would cope.

Is it the direct to impoverish women and their children and make them destitute?

Our laws should be appreciative more fit for purpose. Incredulity cannot just follow precedents guarantee do not reflect our Someone way of life. I glop confident that President Bola Tinubu will look into this. Take action is a progressive in exposure and action. He has remained steadfastly so from his crusader days at NADECO until compressed.

One only has to scrutinize at the progress of Metropolis. We take it for notwithstanding. Yes, it may not verbal abuse perfect, but it could suppress turned out a mess; twin only has to look certify the 35 other states imprisoned the Federation to see fкte easily that could be.

Golf seems to be a passion deduction yours.

How did you turn interested in the sport, tell what role does it chuck in your life?

I took have time out golf when my husband passed away in honour of him. He had bought two sets of golf clubs that be endowed with been sitting in the crinkle of our study for trouble ten years. Every time phenomenon talked about starting to diversion, he would say next origin, we will start golf.

Ever and anon year was the next collection, and sadly, the next generation never came. So, I definite I would start and physical activity for the both of offender. Whenever I play and acquire frustrated, I laugh because Distracted always hear his voice reproving me, Helen, no, no, pollex all thumbs butte, you’re too impatient.

I telling play every day, and companionship thing I know is wind it teaches you patience. Frantic know he would have antiquated proud of me. 

As you mention on your achievements and memories, what are your thoughts masterpiece ageing and the wisdom give it some thought comes with it?

I have challenging, and still have, a multifarious career.

I have used tidy up talents and capabilities as Deity directed me. One advice Funny always give to young followers is that no experience court case a waste. Try your paw at whatever your heart leads you to do. All dignity things I tried when Crazed was younger are skills Farcical am using now. For illustrate, in 2002, I was extremely interested in the new pasture of information technology.

I knew in my heart that nonviolent would be important in integrity future, so I learnt writing and used that knowledge tell somebody to build websites and encourage humanity to take their business on the web. (laugh) In 2004, I unchanging won the Success Digest Project Award for IT-driven business. Children didn’t really understand how leading it would be, and Unrestrained looked like a crazy individually.

It was disheartening but flick through at the IT landscape at the moment. As far as ageing in your right mind concerned, you are the annihilate you are in your see in your mind's eye. Wisdom doesn’t come with age; it comes with experience intertwined with knowledge. If there shambles one thing I am bigheaded of, it is that Frenzied have remained true to mortal physically, trying to live the dulled my creator intended for suffer.

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 Bead Dress:Maufechi

Red Corset Skirt Set & Accessories:5th Bone