Economic Empowerment
Source: The Sun
She is beautiful and brainy and guess what, she is passionate about Nigeria.
With a background in education and currently pursuing a degree in psychology, the Publishing Partner at GVPedia describes herself as a self-taught media practitioner with extensive experience having worked as the deputy editor of a magazine, a radio talk show host and Project Manager, The Best of Botswana, a platform that celebrates African countries. Welcome to the world of Mpho Laing, the Botswana woman who believes so much in Nigeria and its potentials.
Earlier in the month, she launched the second edition of her annual publication, Best of Nigeria Volume 2, at the Asia Africa Hall of Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. In attendance were members of the diplomatic community, government officials(including Botswana's Deputy Ambassador, Myron Bonang), Emeka Mba, DG BON, ex governor of Cross Rivers State, Donald Duke and celebrities like Monalisa Chinda and Olisa Adibua among a host of other VIPs. In this chat with Sunday Sun, Laing shares her passion for Nigeria among other issues.
Excerpts:
What gave you the inspiration for Best of Nigeria?
After producing The Best of Botswana four years ago as Global Village Partnerships' Project Manager, I realized the lack of presence of our company in West Africa. This afforded me the opportunity to come to Nigeria. As the big brother in Africa, we had to start here. The first book was published in South Africa about eight years ago. Best of Nigeria is a project that is in-line with our Global Best Series. Best of Nigeria is a high quality coffee-table book. As part of the company's African initiative, we've also launched Proudly African, which showcases the continent's success stories.
You published the first edition last year and now we have the second edition. What has the response been like and what are the challenges you faced packaging the second edition?
The response has been amazing! Interestingly, the book not only showcases Nigeria's success stories but it does so through a crisply profiled pictorial story book. This high quality visual imagery encapsulates the entire country. The challenges with producing such quality publication usually is getting high resolution pictures from our clients as well as the approval between design and print time with clients. Sometimes this leads to delays in production.
Why did you choose to celebrate Nigeria?
Why not Nigeria? It's part of the African continent abi? And besides, it is the biggest economy in Africa. Our mission is to create an even balance in trade, industry and economic freedom across the world by promoting local content and regional trade to a global audience and Nigeria also deserves to have its positive stories shared on this portal. GVPedia, our platform, plans to do similar publications in all the 54 African countries. Our online e-books may be accessed at www.proudlyafrican.info. As Africa's leading economy, it is only fitting that Nigeria is celebrated among the other 25 African countries showcased on our website at www.gvpedia.com
What was your perception of Nigeria before you came down here?
I'm an optimist and so I came here with an open mind. It takes a lot for me to buy into negativity about anything or anyone. And so, the bad publicity that had been sold to me about this country failed to deter me. Instead, I wanted to find out the positives of Nigeria and share that with the world.
What lessons have you learnt from Nigeria?
(Laughter) I've learnt to work around the clock 24/7. You see, calls and meetings are held at anytime of the day out here in Naija. Consequently, my patience threshold has grown. I've learnt to be more relentless and never to take no for an answer. And most importantly, being here has proved right my philosophy of never letting borders be our boundaries.
How will Nigeria and Nigerians benefit from your books?
Best of Nigeria Volumes 1 and 2 showcase all that Nigeria has to offer from natural resources to nature, tourism, trade and industry. It also x-rays the government and culture and encourages investment, thereby boosting both foreign and local tourism. In order to achieve a thorough mapping of Nigeria, all entities need to come onboard and support this initiative so that the entire Nigerian story is presented. However, it must be noted that the book must meet the expectations of its title by featuring only the best in governance, business and trade. The book also comes as an amazing PR tool for the private and public sectors. It is also a good corporate gift and a beautiful coffee-table book to have in one's library.
Tell us about your childhood and growing up in Botswana?
Like most Africans, I'm from a large family. I had a strong and loving grandmother who played a major role in my life and I still miss her dearly. I'm the eldest in a family of four with another set of siblings from my biological father and his wife. I spent part of my childhood with my late maternal grandmother in our village, Serowe, until her last year on earth when we lost her to breast cancer. Consequently, I went to live with my mum and family in a diamond town called Jwaneng. I was quite the tomboy and a rebellious teenager at some point. I'm pleasantly shocked my daughter didn't take after me. She's so focused and mature for her age; a little lady. I guess her father played a major role in shaping her personality too (Laughter).
Having spent so much time here, what's your perception of Nigeria?
There's more to this country than meets the eye! I'm constantly in awe of daily revelations of this country's rich history, elements of culture, the vibrancy of its people and their drive to keep going no matter the challenges.
You're such a beautiful woman, are you married? If not, could you marry a Nigerian? And could you describe your ideal man?
Thanks for the compliments but that's rather too personal; don't you think so? Meanwhile, when you find out about the existence of that enigma labeled the ideal man, please let me know. I bet a lot more females would be happy to tag along to snatch him for themselves for keeps (laughter).
Why do you find Nigerian men exciting?
Some things are better kept to myself and as a mother to a young lady, what would my daughter think of her mum voicing out her excitement about men publicly? (laughter)
Tell us about your business and what you do?
I'm a publishing partner at GVPedia, West Africa. My role is to identify West African countries that we can partner. Nigeria's my first and Sierra Leone my second. The objective is to ultimately penetrate the whole of West Africa. I'm happy to say that the company's partners in Ghana have recently launched their first volume.
We understand that you have extensive experience working in Botswana's fashion and entertainment sectors. Could you share your antecedents with us?
For a long time, fashion ruled my world and so anything I did had to be an extension of that passion. These included working as a fashion journalist and rising to the position of fashion editor for a lifestyle magazine. I also had a brief stint as Head of Wardrobe on a TV drama and I have also organised a few fashion shows. The two assignments I enjoyed the most were as model casting/ styling for various advertising agencies and also art director for the Miss Botswana beauty pageant twice.
Tell us about your work in Botswana with women?
My love for working with women from disadvantaged backgrounds was part of my work with slow-learners in a remote and poor village in Botswana. A lot of them happened to be girls and some were from abusive households and didn't have the necessary support to help them deal with the unfortunate circumstances they found themselves in. A few years ago, three other young people and I formed a group called Mosadi to celebrate women in the arts and showcase the Strength of a Woman, which was our tagline. We went as far as shooting and producing a documentary that showcased interviews with Botswana's influential women, x-raying and showcasing their journey to the top. The beauty of this documentary, which was later premiered, was that we also talked to ordinary women doing extra-ordinary things. The annual event which we celebrate on International Women's Day was designed to help encourage the girl-child as much as we can. Subsequently, I was approached by an American lady working in Botswana to form a group that would give a voice to rural women whose livelihood was agriculture but had now been affected by climate change. With the support of a female group in the US, we put together a group of these women and filmed a short documentary which I presented on behalf of my team at The 54th Women's Summit at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. While in Nigeria, I've volunteered a couple of times and given talks to young teenage mothers from disadvantaged backgrounds, but there's always more to be done.
Having worked extensively with women, what's your take on Nigerian women?
I admire the Nigerian woman's strength and ability to keep her family together no matter the challenges and how far she goes to protect her decency until she's of age to leave her parents' nest and be married off to a good home.
Do you feel at home in Nigeria?
A friend recently called me an Africanist and explained that to mean one who effortlessly makes home wherever he or she is in Africa. I'm right at home in this larger-than-life environment.
What's your favourite Nigerian dish?
Though I'm trying to cut down on the local cuisine, I still have a weakness for amala and ogbono soup with cow leg.
What new project are you working on?
The Best of Nigeria is an annual publication so Volume 3 is work-in-progress. Discussions are also underway to partner various state governments to produce similar publications for their states. There are so many developments and projects going on in each state that need to be celebrated. The Best of States would help tell the lesser known side of their stories needed to attract tourism, trade and investment.
What's been your most exciting and remarkable experience in Nigeria?
That was when my family and friends came to visit for my birthday last year. I enjoyed seeing their perception of Nigeria change to a positive one by virtue of the daily activities I had scheduled for their one-week stay. I've come to love this country so much that I jealously guard its reputation, especially amongst the people who matter to me.
What are your dreams?
I dream of a world where a girl-child would not be judged by her body or her physical beauty but by what she has between her ears. I dream of the time Africans will show as much excitement in exploring each other's countries the way they do about Europe and the Americas. I dream of an Africa which prides itself in doing business with each other and of a time when Africans would realize the need to tell the world our own African stories! We have so much beauty and richness to share and be proud of. Everything else I want would then easily fall into place.
What's the secret of your success?
I will definitely let you know when I get there. It's one long journey (laughter). However, I'm of the belief that one needs to be given the space to tap into one's creativity and explore with an eye of guidance of course. Otherwise, you will find yourself in the middle of a frustrated team and getting them back on track could turn into one frustrating chore you don't want to ever deal with.
As a role model for young African women, what's your advice for African girls who want to walk in your footsteps?
Really? I'm not sure my footsteps should be followed (laughter). However, we all have our unique journeys to make and that's what makes us such interesting beings. In terms of advice to the girl-child, I would say this, we die longer than we live and submitting your will to someone else's opinion doesn't only scar your soul, but steals away from the few years you have on earth. It's all about you first!