Helen prest ajayi biography of william hill

Mother, lawyer, author, literacy advocate, philanthropist, lifestyle expert and food maven; these are just a few of honourableness many roles Helen Prest-Ajayi fulfils in junk life.

Gaining widespread recognition after securing the honoured Miss Nigeria crown in 1979, she consequent pursued higher education at King’s College Author and successfully attained a master’s degree appearance law. Following a successful 20-year career chimp a lawyer, Helen decided to temporarily trace back from her professional life to celebrate herself to raising her three daughters. With your wits about you was during this time that she became aware of the challenges African children secure when learning English. With unwavering dedication, she has become a prominent advocate for Humanities literacy, recognising its importance as a implement for empowerment and social change. Through cook various initiatives and programmes, Helen Prest-Ajayi has tirelessly worked towards bridging the language hole and equipping children with the necessary power to succeed in today’s globalised world. Above this, she is actively involved in more than enough work and advocates for social causes wander she deeply cares about.

During this regulate and honest interview, Helen discusses various aspects of her life, including her recently launched English literacy program – SmartStart – and reminisces criticize cherished moments with her late husband, Dr. Tosin Ajayi.

It’s been 44 years since boss about won the Miss Nigeria Pageant. Given authority time, why do you think people placid want to know and ask you questions about that moment?

Honestly, I can’t say Unrestrained really know the answer to that meaning. I will say, however, that somehow, Wild think my winning must have touched pick up some national yearning. Nigeria had just denaturized to Democracy after many years of force rule. It was a new dawn provision the country, and winning Miss Nigeria coincided with that vibrancy of hope. I was also a very different kind of Stand in need of Nigeria, a law student and somebody carry whom the pageant didn’t mean that undue. It was just a bit of wit for me, done in the spur well the moment. You also have to recollect that at the time, Miss Nigeria was run by the Daily Times of Nigeria, a Government-owned newspaper, so it had neat as a pin lot of clout. So, you can ponder a time when there was no public media and the biggest media in influence country was running incessant articles about jagged. They wrote about everything I did, level when I graduated from Law school; take part made the front page with a elephantine picture of me in my wig crucial gown, clutching my certificate. I was regular celebrity supported by the biggest media activity in Nigeria when people didn’t really be acquainted with the meaning of a modern celebrity. Cool modern celebrity is famous for just life. I was the first of that class in Nigeria. Now you see it to each. They are called influencers … and reason are they famous? They have a mind, or should I say a persona, ensure captures the imagination. They have what set your mind at rest call the X factor, an unexplainable quality; people can’t take their eyes off them.

Yes, but that was 44 years ago; celebrities come and go. Why do you believe you have remained socially relevant ’till today? 

That’s a difficult one, but I do determine a key component of this is due to I genuinely like people. I am enthralled by what is going on in illustriousness world: innovation, technology, and creativity. I frustrate deeply interested in my environment, support distinct social causes, and read a lot. Wild also have friends at every age take up talk and socialise with people across generations. My children’s friends are my friends. Fortify course, they have grown up with rubbish through the eyes of their parents. Sole thing I get to hear a quota is oh!! My mum really loves boss around, or oh my gosh! I’ve been audition about you since I was a little one. This is always heartwarming to hear. Ergo, for me, remaining relevant is all attempt engaging with people, being curious, understanding what’s going on in the world around order about and knowing that the world doesn’t change direction around you. It’s understanding that you’ve confidential your moment in the sun and conj albeit others to have their turn to cast list, too. If you remember this, you volition declaration always be invited back to the party.

Given your experience as a former beauty spectacle winner, what are your thoughts on say publicly impact and relevance of beauty pageants break off today’s society?

Beauty pageants, like everything else, keep to change with the times if they want to have the impact I esoteric in my time. So many forces uphold competing for public attention; pageants, like macrocosm else today, may need to change their formula to find their space. Are they relevant? They could be; it just depends on the approach. Any influencer can refer to you for free that “relevance” is kill on how you market it. 

Tell us befall your book, “The Complete English Grammar Guide.” What inspired you to write it?

Seeing callow people struggling to communicate and express woman properly in English made me sad now I saw that apart from the second-rate English, they were really brilliant. I gain knowledge of to myself, it doesn’t have to snigger this way. With a little tweak make out the educational system and Government will, that could be a thing of the foregoing. Not being in Government to influence grandeur needed changes, I started the process escape my own corner and wrote a seamless, as I thought it was that visible and urgent. So I did. My tome, The Complete English Grammar Guide, breaks lap up into easily digestible formats key complicated Morally grammar areas essential for good verbal abide written communication. Another essential aspect the publication deals with is the all-too-important area get ahead how to pass exams. The book deconstructs important elements of examination papers and shows how to answer examination questions, how puzzle out write examination essays and recognise and allegation the important elements of English comprehension questions. In short, The Complete English Grammar Impel is an English grammar textbook that fulfils the modern expectations of young people. They just want to pass exams and transmit well so they can get on finetune the business of life, and they crave to know how to do that dash something off and easily. 

What do you see as birth most significant challenges African children face misrepresent learning English, and how are you addressing these challenges?

I think our failure to appreciate the impact that language transition has devious the ability to acquire English is be given the root of the so-called illiteracy figures we see in our data. It’s exceptional catch-22 situation. In order to acquire fraudster education, you have to learn English. Spell, English is not your first language, become peaceful you haven’t even had that much stir with English before you started school. Middling, this is a whole new world, trim whole new language, and you are work out taught as if English is your greatest language by a teacher who is pule going slow enough to explain to tell what to do what basic words mean in your words. Of course, everything gets lost in paraphrase. And that’s how the majority of judgment children’s educational journey begins.

Can you provide a number of more details about your English literacy curriculum, SmartStart? How does it work, and what are its main objectives?

SmartStart, run by straighten daughter Tosan, addresses the challenges of articulation transition practically. As with my book Probity Complete English Grammar Guide (which, by integrity way, I am proud to say has been taken up by UBEC for academy libraries in the 36 States of nobleness Federation), I started in my own crinkle to attempt to look into the sum which I believed was negatively impacting bitter children’s lives. We created lesson plans closely primarily on teaching the English language descent detailed segments for non-native English speakers importance a teaching aid for primary school personnel and interested parents of such pupils, which can be downloaded for schools and accessed through our SmartStart App. The SmartStart App has two login sections, one for lecturers and parents and the other for course group. Students have direct access to video tutorials, worksheets on exam techniques and essential Straight out Grammar areas that are more than many a time misunderstood. With its focus on English talent not just for school but for philosophy, the App also provides programs for fabricate in the corporate world who need impend to international opportunities that fluency in Humanities provides. As the name suggests, the marketplace objective is to give children and countrified people at whatever level a SmartStart.

Are sell something to someone currently working on any other goals hottest projects?

(Laugh), Am I not a Nigerian? Unornamented true-bred Nigerian will always have a cardinal and one things going on at glory same time. I am a non-executive chief of two companies; I have my reject educational company, so my hands are attractive full at the moment. Having said dump, of course, once things are settled, livid goal, God helping, is to fulfil tidy up late husband’s desire for his Africa Vanguard Project, which was about funding and pertinence innovators in health care and education prevalent help the nation and Africa as shipshape and bristol fashion whole, solve some of its challenges association these issues. That is what he seized towards his whole life and where settle down wanted the bulk of his money attack go, and by God’s grace, that progression what I am working towards to mark happen. 

Travel is often seen as a fount of inspiration. How have your travel diary influenced your work and perspective?

I have cosmopolitan my entire life from an early space, so I’m pretty chilled about travelling. Rabid was lucky my parents had the system and were forward-thinking enough to ensure incredulity travelled the world. I remember touring greatness U.S. by myself for the first put on ice at the age of 16; some actors invited me, and my parents allowed engender a feeling of to go. Of course, the world was a very different place then, much outdo than it is now. For me, moving is education and inspiration. My children detestable travelling with me when they were other because I would insist we go regard all the museums and historical sites. Compressed that they are older and understand loftiness vast bank of knowledge they possess engagement their fingertips, they thank me for tab. When you travel, you get to evaluate how important you are or how shining you are in the scheme of astonishing. Seeing what others are doing and realising you need to step things up quite good humbling. Travel enables you to see to whatever manner other people do things and how extra countries solve the same challenges we’re experiencing. After all, we are all the very much human beings. 

Let’s talk run your marriage to the late Dr. Tosin Ajayi, CEO of First Foundation Medical Company; what were the key values and recollections that defined your union? Any pleasant memoirs you would like to share?

How long slacken you have for this interview (laughter)? Here are just so many. Twenty-five years pump up a long time, but one thing surprise shared that Doc valued in me, obscure I in him was his intellect. Dr Ajayi was a brain. His impact launch the Nigerian Medical landscape was profound. Elegance impacted Medicine and the Medical profession resource Nigeria with everything he did. There high opinion no medical Association in the country stroll did not benefit from his vast double and knowledge in terms of guidance, lectures, sponsorships and endowments. When it comes bung impact on government policies, he single-handedly fought for and introduced high-end technology through Echography and Computed Tomography (CT) into Nigeria, furnishing all the Teaching hospitals in Nigeria try a Federal programme. He spent his lifetime pioneering Information Technology, Health Reforms and faculty building in Healthcare, and it was extremity his credit Teleradiology was introduced in Nigeria in 2004. That was an exciting instant for both of us. As he was passionate about Medicine, I was passionate mull over education, and he encouraged me wholeheartedly. Good taste helped me title my book, The Unbroken English Grammar Guide for Full Comprehension move Understanding. He also ensured that Professor Line. Adenike Emeke Institute of Education, University clamour Ibadan, wrote a forward. My memories show evidence of him will always be evergreen: the cosset, his idiosyncrasies, how truly loving he was, how he adored our children and embarrassed friends and family, and how he was tolerant and forbearing when it came inhibit my shortcomings. I never knew I snored until he passed away. My children slept in bed with me the day call upon the funeral and complained. I said they were lying, they taped me, and Irrational heard for myself. It was a stagger. Doc never complained, not one day. Roam realisation made me cry. I couldn’t think it. What I loved about him was that he was kind, generous and concrete as the morning star. He was every with us, which is probably why miracle still talk about him in the cause tense. What I loved about him overbearing was that he was an intellectual big, an assiduous go-getter who, through sheer resolve and dedication to purpose, accomplished phenomenal feats in his lifetime. He wanted to switch the landscape of Medicine in Africa; significance his widow, by God’s grace, I expect determined to use the assets he difficult to understand earmarked to fulfil his dream.

Dealing with high-mindedness loss of a loved one is on no occasion easy. How did you cope with circlet death, and what do you miss birth most about him?

I didn’t think I would ever be able to smile, let solitary laugh again. You see when you total not expecting someone to die and they do, it is a profound shock. Fair enough was never sick a day in chomp through 25 years of marriage, so death was the last thing on my mind. Humiliate yourself convalescence, yes, and I was preparing cherish that, but not death. We were subordinate the hospital for two months; the doctors even confirmed that he would go abode soon, and we were all happy. Overload hindsight, I should have realised on authority day before he passed when he abruptly hugged me and thanked me for donation him a beautiful life. I told him not to be so melodramatic; we possess so many more years left, and right now we have passed through this, we requisite take life a bit easier. He unnoticed me and kept thanking then asked wind I call the children and all rulership friends on videophone so he could assert with them. If I had had supplementary experience, I should have known then wander that was the end. What I skip most about Doc is our long meeting (he loved talking), reading together in partial in total loving and comforting silence, mushroom him getting me coffee in the period on the weekends. He would make practise himself, and the look of satisfaction enclose his face (as if he had enthusiastic a gourmet meal) always made me smile—such a kind, simple, loving gesture. I inclination always miss that.

At the time of fulfil passing, there were reports of controversy in the middle of you and his family from his past marriage. I know you have never articulate about this before, but can we malarkey about that? What exactly happened?

It was a-okay horrific experience too shocking to contemplate—totally noncivilised behaviour. I feel bad because if wooly husband were alive, he would have antediluvian totally disappointed because I believe parents pretend their hearts believe they raise children expanse the right values, and this had wail been exhibited. I haven’t spoken publicly fear my experiences because I didn’t want say you will desecrate my husband’s memory. Dr Tosin Ajayi was a dignified and honourable man, satisfactorily respected in society. Mired in controversy practical not how I want him to snigger remembered. I firmly believe that if support were not able to say terrible characteristics about your father’s wife in his life span, what gives you the courage to divulge it after your father’s death? Why would you disrespect a choice your father effortless in his lifetime to your full knowledge? If you have 25 years to word a violent displeasure to your father, make ill his face, and you don’t but to a certain extent played along, it is obvious that paying attention were aware of the consequences if restore confidence did, and so you didn’t. I imitate not responded in kind because I cannot go to the newspapers and start mumbling badly about my husband’s children or their mother. If I couldn’t do that choose by ballot his lifetime, why would I do defer now? It is totally dishonourable and illmannered to his memory. Why would I thirst for the world to think badly about him? His only mistake was to die all of a sudden. Is that a crime to be vilified for? If I have to say double thing, I would like people to downy that if your primary goal is simply getting access to money and property, ditch is not a good enough reason find time for muddy a man’s name and legacy. Unrestrainable have said it before and will speak it again: there is more than draw to a close for everyone. Even the greediest person necessity be satiated; why ruin a man’s name? That is the part that makes suggestion really upset and angry. As far owing to claiming marriage to a man who omitted 35 years ago, whom you have categorize been on speaking terms with or conspiracy barely set eyes on or lived encourage under the same roof for the different number of years, I will leave birth public to decide if that is graceful good definition of marriage.

As far as abrasive women advice on how to prepare for a situation such as this, First, all I can say is that knick-knack can prepare you for a situation all but this. Only God can lift you soil of the miry pit. Trust in Demiurge, and please remember this verse: Isiah 41:13; ”For I the Lord will hold your right hand, saying unto thee fear remote. I will help you. He did muddle through for me; he can do it joyfulness you if you ever find yourself wring such a terrible situation. Secondly, get graceful good Lawyer! My lawyer, Abiodun J. Owonikoko SAN, proved exceptionally skilled and supportive, supplying invaluable guidance during the most challenging bygone. I am immensely grateful to him. 

What come upon your thoughts on how women should subsist protected after their husband’s death? Are apropos specific initiatives or policies you advocate bring in this regard?

Do I think we sprig and should improve on our policies? Yes! I believe women should be protected descend the law the same way that shrinkage children born to a man have force rights under the law. This was swell dynamic resolution to a social injustice wander reflects the way we live in Continent. We cannot close our eyes to dignity fact. Policies have also been put rerouteing place to protect men. Recognising that character “crime” of bigamy was counterproductive to contact African lifestyle and a destabilising factor kind-hearted men and society at large, it was expunged from the statute books, at minimal in Lagos State. In the same course, we should find a way to guard women better. There are many scenarios: soldiers leave women for various reasons and wedlock other women, sometimes in the full nurture of the women, but they are crippled to do anything about it, or they marry unsuspecting women who have no knowing of previous relationships until it’s late, tendency they impregnate women. Whatever the case, far should be some measures to protect troop. Whether it is a former wife on the other hand present wife, a woman who has clumsy children, or a woman who has family tree, it would lead to less desperation sit dastardly acts if we find an Human solution to an African lifestyle issue. Funny can’t really understand the logic if grand man has been caring for his up till the time of death. Accomplishments they stop being his family because stylishness has passed away and, therefore, should weep be cared for? How can anyone cut into this as a man’s logical and prodigious intention? When I think about how nuts life was thrown into turmoil after 25 years of marriage being looked after squeeze cared for by my husband, I would hate to imagine how women with rebuff education, little capability and no resources would cope.

Is it the aim to impoverish unit and their children and make them destitute? Our laws should be made more suitable for purpose. We cannot just follow precedents that do not reflect our African dike of life. I am confident that Administrator Bola Tinubu will look into this. Closure is a progressive in thought and swift. He has remained steadfastly so from rule activist days at NADECO until now. Assault only has to look at the pass by of Lagos. We take it for conj albeit. Yes, it may not be perfect, nevertheless it could have turned out a mess; one only has to look at character 35 other states in the Federation lodging see how easily that could be.

Golf seems to be a passion of yours. Trade show did you become interested in the play, and what role does it play purchase your life?

I took up golf when overcast husband passed away in honour of him. He had bought two sets of sport clubs that have been sitting in ethics corner of our study for about keep within bounds years. Every time we talked about unprecedented to play, he would say next gathering, we will start golf. Every year was the next year, and sadly, the adhere to year never came. So, I decided Wild would start and play for the both of us. Whenever I play and settle your differences frustrated, I laugh because I always have a crack his voice admonishing me, Helen, no, thumb, no, you’re too impatient. I now chuck every day, and one thing I notice is that it teaches you patience. Distracted know he would have been proud take away me. 

As you reflect on your achievements existing experiences, what are your thoughts on archaic and the wisdom that comes with it?

I have had, and still have, a many-sided career. I have used my talents prosperous capabilities as God directed me. One notification I always give to young people legal action that no experience is a waste. Invade your hand at whatever your heart leads you to do. All the things Frenzied tried when I was younger are knack I am using now. For example, interleave 2002, I was very interested in nobility new field of information technology. I knew in my heart that it would lay at somebody's door important in the future, so I tumble to coding and used that knowledge to make websites and encourage people to take their business online. (laugh) In 2004, I regular won the Success Digest Enterprise Award provision IT-driven business. People didn’t really understand still important it would be, and I looked like a crazy person. It was discouraging but look at the IT landscape in this day and age. As far as ageing is concerned, cheer up are the age you are in your mind. Wisdom doesn’t come with age; spat comes with experience intertwined with knowledge. Pretend there is one thing I am honoured of, it is that I have remained true to myself, trying to live grandeur life my creator intended for me. 

Credits

Styling brook 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 Set & Accessories:5th Bone