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Esther Ijewere

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Esther Ijewere
NationalityNigerian
Alma materOlabisi Onabanjo University
Occupations
  • Media Strategist
  • Author
  • Women's Rights Activist
Organization(s)Rubies Ink Initiative for Women and Children, Women of Rubies Inc
Children2

Esther Ijewere is a Canadian-based Nigerian media and communications specialist, author, women and children's rights advocate. She also serves as a columnist for The Guardian and the CEO of Women of Rubies, an organization committed to empowering and celebrating women from diverse backgrounds.[1][2]

Biography

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Education

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Ijewere is a graduate of sociology from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State, Nigeria.[3]

Career

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Ijewere is the founder of Rubies Ink Initiative for Women and Children, an umbrella organization which covers several women and girl child-related projects including Walk Against Rape, Women of Rubies, Project Capable, Rubies Ink Media and the College Acquaintance Rape Education Workshop.[4] At the start of her career with Rubies Ink, she had to self fund all projects.[5]

Since 2011, Ijewere has been organizing the Walk Against Rape campaign, which attracted top celebrities like Kate Henshaw, Ali Baba, Toni Payne, DJ Jimmy Jatt and others.[6] She is a key member of Walk Against Rape (W.A.R), an advocacy initiative created to assist rape victims and seek justice, which has been endorsed by the Lagos State Ministry Of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.[7][2] This campaign led her to organize rape sensitization workshops in secondary schools across Nigeria, tagged College Acquaintance Rape Education (C.A.R.E), in partnership with the Lagos State Ministry of Justice and the Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT).[8][9]

In 2013, her activism against rape led her to write the book Breaking the Silence, a book that informs about rape and its scourge.[10] She runs a community for men called Men Who Inspire to celebrate the bravery in men.[11]

In 2015, Ijewere founded Women of Rubies, a platform that started as a newspaper column aimed at empowering and celebrating women. It has since evolved into a global community, spotlighting over one thousand women via the Women of Rubies website and newspaper column.[12] Women of Rubies operates both in Nigeria and Canada, amplifying the voices and achievements of women across the globe. In May 2022, Esther hosted the catalyst 2030 session on media and public policy during the Catalyzing Change Week 2022 (CCW2022), a virtual workshop aimed at driving social change through strategic media engagement.[13]

In March 2023, she published her second book, How to Make Affirmations Work for You. This book offers practical guidance on the effective use of affirmations to achieve personal and professional goals. It delves into the science behind affirmations, provides step-by-step instructions for creating personalized affirmations, and includes real-life success stories to inspire readers to harness the power of positive thinking in their daily lives.[14]

In August 2023, Ijewere kicked off the Media Visibility BootCamp, a program designed to empower individuals with the skills to enhance their media presence and amplify their impact through strategic communication. The BootCamp focuses on teaching participants how to craft compelling narratives, engage effectively with media outlets, and leverage various media platforms to increase their visibility and influence. She won the 2024 Social Impact Award at the Pesbods Gala Night, held in Toronto, Canada for her contributions to the media space[15].

Publications

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Get Talking with Esther

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Get Talking with Esther is an online talk-show (Tweetchat) anchored by Esther aimed at helping people find their voice and communicate their thoughts through words, and promote positivity on social media.[16][17][18] It started with a tweet chat in 2020 but has now evolved into a live session on Facebook and Instagram, syndicated to YouTube, where Esther hosts guests from across the globe.[19]

Women of Rubies

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She is the publisher of the platform Women of Rubies, which tells the inspirational stories of leading women in different sectors who are contributing their quota to nation-building and adding value to society through their work.[20][21]

Media Visibility Bootcamp

[edit]

She founded the Media Visibility Bootcamp in August 2023, aimed at empowering individuals to enhance their media presence and amplify their impact through strategic communication.[22]

Charity

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With her Rubies Ink Initiative for women and children, Esther reaches out to the downtrodden in society.[23][24][25]

Awards and nominations

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Her contributions to the society has been recognized by several institutions and governmental bodies.[26] Here are some of her notable awards and nominations:

  • 2016: Young Person of the Year Award at the 2016 Miss Tourism Nigeria beauty pageant[27]
  • 2016: Christian Woman in Media Award at the Wise Women Award[28]
  • 2018: Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the Exquisite Ladies of the Year Awards[29]
  • 2019: Social Innovation Award by Women's Radio (WFM 91.7 FM)
  • 2023: 100 Black Women to Watch in Canada.
  • 2023: Canada Total Mom Pitch Top 100 Semi-Finalist
  • 2024: Advocacy and Catalyst for Change Award by Universal Women Network
  • 2024: MIPAD Global 100 Under 40 recognition[30]

Personal life

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Ijewere is a single mum of two kids. In an interview with The Sun, she advised and encouraged women facing domestic violence in their marriage to reconsider their long term stand in such relationship while speaking on separation from her former husband.[31]

References

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  1. ^ Abimboye, Michael (23 February 2015). "Esther Ijewere's walk against rape gets govt, celebrities backing". Connect Nigeria. Archived from the original on 13 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  2. ^ a b Ajiki, Christiana (20 April 2020). "Everyday Heroes: Esther Ijewere-Kalejaiye". Connect Nigeria. Archived from the original on 13 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  3. ^ Joseph, Tinuola (13 December 2013). "'Rape victims now come out and talk' – Esther Ijewere-Kalejaiye unveils Breaking the Silence". Encomium Magazine. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  4. ^ "CEO of Rubies Ink, Ijewere-Kalejaiye, wins 'Young Person of the Year Award'". The Eagle. News Agency of Nigeria. 11 July 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  5. ^ Ogujiuba, Azuka (6 May 2017). "Esther Ijewere-Kalejaiye: Many People Don't Like My Openness about Rape". This Day. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  6. ^ Esene, Isime (3 August 2016). "Seun Onigbinde, Yasmin Belo-Osagie, Olumide Makanjuola… See the #YNaijaPowerList2016 for Advocacy". YNaija. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  7. ^ Esene, Isime (3 August 2016). "Seun Onigbinde, Yasmin Belo-Osagie, Olumide Makanjuola… See the #YNaijaPowerList2016 for Advocacy". YNaija. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  8. ^ Olapoju, Kolapo (13 February 2015). "Rubies Ink partners with LASG to organize C.A.R.E workshop". YNaija. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  9. ^ Sanwo, Aderinsola (26 April 2017). "Quote of the day: "I am not scared of lifting other women up. As long as I wear the crown, no one can take my throne." Esther Ijewere". Leading Ladies Africa. Archived from the original on 13 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  10. ^ Ajose, Kehinde (4 April 2015). "Speaking up against rape helps the victims get justice — Esther Ijewere Kalejaiye". Vanguard News. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  11. ^ Onyegbula, Esther (15 August 2019). "Being a single mom is not a death sentence — Ijewere". Vanguard. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  12. ^ Admin. "Women of Rubies was born out of my passion for humanity — Esther Ijewere". Vanguard.
  13. ^ "Catalysing Change Week". 9 May 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  14. ^ "Esther Ijewere hosts catalyst 2030 session on media public policy/". 5 May 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  15. ^ Oamen, Samuel (18 November 2024). "Esther Ijewere wins social impact award at Toronto's Pesbods Gala Night". The Nations. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  16. ^ Kolapo Olapoju (8 August 2020). "Esther Ijewere launch get talking with esther a tweet chat initiative". Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  17. ^ Kolapo Olapoju (12 August 2020). "Get Talking With Esther Debuts". Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  18. ^ Rotimi Agbana (7 August 2020). "Esther Ijewere Launches Tweet Chat Show Get Talking With Esther/". Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  19. ^ Onyegbula, Esther. "'Get talking with Esther' debuts". Vanguard. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  20. ^ Rotimi Agbana (10 April 2022). "Women of rubies was born out of my passion for humanity". Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  21. ^ Rotimi Agbana (8 October 2016). "Women Of Rubies At 1: The journey so far". Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  22. ^ Admin. "Women of Rubies unveils 2nd edition of media visibility boot camp". Vanguard. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  23. ^ "Rubies Ink Initiative supports senior citizens with christmas goodies". 23 December 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  24. ^ "Rubies Ink Initiative feed aged for christmas/". 24 December 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  25. ^ "Rubies Ink Initiative feed aged for christmas/". 25 December 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  26. ^ Kolapo Olapoju (13 February 2015). "Rubies Ink partners with LASG to organize C.A.R.E workshop". YNaija. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  27. ^ "CEO of Rubies Ink, Esther Ijewere-Kalejaiye :Wins "young person of the year award"". The Guardian News. 16 July 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  28. ^ Yusuf Adeoye (27 June 2016). "ESTHER IJEWERE-KALEJAIYE WINS WISE WOMEN AWARDS". TimelineNG. Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  29. ^ Today (26 November 2018). "Full list: Winners of 2018 ELOY Awards". Today.ng. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  30. ^ "MIPAD - Most Influential People of African Descent". www.mipad.org. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  31. ^ Idemudia, Raphael (30 August 2020). "'I don't regret walking out of my marriage' – Esther Ijewere". The Sun. Retrieved 18 April 2022.


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