Nigeria’s oldest twin sisters, Mrs Esther Taiwo Olukoya and Emily Kehinde Ogunde celebrated their 100th birthday together in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State on Wednesday the 13th of March.

The twins, who are also great grandmothers, are sisters of the town's late traditional ruler, Oba Aderibigbe Martins, the Olugbani of Okun Owa. The sisters who were both choristers at Saint Barnabas Church, Okun-Owa were joined in hearty celebration by residents and family from across the world.

The whole town bedecked in their Sunday best celebrated their special senior citizens' special day and centenary birthday yesterday, Saturday March 16 , 2013 at their country home in Okun-Owa.

They were traders as was the practice back in their time, but Kehinde, one of the wives of Late doyen of Nigerian theatre, Chief Hubert Ogunde, also assisted her husband in the theatre business working at the background. Mrs Ogunde's first husband was Mr OLUKOGA who died at an early age, making her to marry Chief Hubert Ogunde later in life.

At the holy communion service conducted by Venerable Oguntoye who was so enthusiastic that for the first time in his 30 years of evangelical work he was conducting a birthday service for not just a centenarian but for centenarian twins. During the service, the twins displayed their singing prowess, causing their guests to burst into a frenetic explosion of joy.

At a hundred years of age, the twins still have their complete dentition and Kehinde, the wife of late Chief Hubert Ogunde sprang to her feet when a delegation of Ogunde's children sang some of Ogunde's songs.

They were born exactly on March 13, 1913 at Okun Owa, Ijebu' Ogun State.

Mrs Esther Taiwo Olukoya and Mrs Emily Kehinde Ogunde who looked almost identical but for the fact that Taiwo is a little on the chubby side than Kehinde, may probably be the third set of twins in the world to hit the century age and perhaps the first in Africa.

Though Taiwo due to weak limbs uses the wheel chair, she still walked to her seat aided by children while Taiwo walks slowly unaided. Both were full of smiles as they cut their birthday cake

MORE ON MOTHERHOOD

1. You don't need to know everything. Do you remember those months before that first child came in your home? I do. I remember stacks of books I bought, internet - just thinking about that makes me wonder how on earth I did it - what did I do when I needed a quick recipe? A book? grin that I would devour, underline, and reference. What to expect the first day, week, year, and so on. And I had this other one - this portable pediatrician one - that I'd scour symptoms making sure that my baby was fine. And he was. In fact, he's almost 3 and survived those early months of me looking everything up and calling my mother and worrying. You know what? I didn't know so much, and we did okay. We muddled through, and I figured stuff out, and it's been okay. So I've learned that even if I don't know it all that I'll be okay. And, honestly, sometimes I'd like to know a bit less. We live in a data rich information saturated world and sometimes google search can just stay unopened.

     2. Listen first, speak second. My argument, my reasoning, and why I'm right seems to always play in my head when I'm talking with my kids. But, after these years of parenting I've truly begun to learn the value in listening first - hearing their point of view - and truly trying to understand before I end up speaking mine. It doesn't mean that they're always right, but rather is this sign of respect for the feelings of their hearts. So I've learned - listen, listen, listen, bite your tongue, listen, and listen. This skill? Applies to all of life and relationships. We can learn a great deal by listening to others and shelving our agenda for a bit. When we bless others with attentiveness we get a glimpse into their heart and their importance. Those things matter.

3. The agenda doesn't need to be set in stone. Even though you'd sometimes like it to be. Flexibility has been what I've learned - adapt, change, recalculate - and to not let the adaptations taint my mood for the day. Raising a family, having children, and just living life has truly emphasized me the idea of grace and flexibility. If you can learn to laugh, and to brush things off, then your day will go so much smoother. Just pick up where you can, press on, and use the remainder of your day well. Instead of looking where things didn't go right look to what did. And often some of the sweetest life lessons and moments come in those times where you went off schedule and tried something new.

4. Others may not agree, but you can still be respectful. Us mothers can work ourselves up in a tizzy about all the different things mothers debate. And all of these things - vaccinations, education, etc - are all good things. Needed things. Remember? It's good that we're not the same - that's beautiful. But here's the deal even if others don't agree with you or you don't agree with them there still needs to be a level of respect. I expect that from my kids when they don't agree with me or with their siblings. As women let's hold that bar high and respect each other even when we don't agree. Our children are watching.

5. Playing matters more than the dishes. There has been so many in a minutes and just a seconds in my life because I've wanted to get those dishes done. You know what? They always get done. Inevitably. But sometimes, playing, and getting on the floor or throwing that baseball in the backyard matters way more than the pile of dishes waiting to get done. I have had to discipline myself to say no to those things and time and yes to my children. They need us there doing life with them

6. Start saying yes. Several months ago I wrote a post called motherhood. My good friend Faith at 

church has been doing a series of pictures called Today I said Yes to... You know what? It's easier for me to say no. I'm being honest. When I say no most of the time it means less effort, less work from me. But I need to say yes. I never realized how often I said no until I had children. Now, now I've learned that I need to start saying yes before it may come to the point that they stop asking. What can you say yes to today?

7. Chores are good. Even though my children might tell you otherwise. From a young age we've expected chores around our home. Nothing excessive, but keeping your room tidy, making your bed, putting your clothes in the laundry. Our society needs kids that are taught the value in work, and that it is not always something that needs to have a dollar sign attached to it. Part of living in a family and in a home is working together to get it all done. So don't run from chores - incorporate them into your life. Now, the kids do get an allowance, but that is for specific chores outside of the general expected stewardship roles. Find the balance, but don't run from chores.

8. Optimism is worth it. Sometimes it's easier for me to be pessimistic and see all that doesn't work. But, when I do that I find myself scurrying around from thing to thing to thing. Optimism is worth it. It's an attitude, a heart adjustment, really. It's being willing to see the good before seeing the things that don't work. It's kind of like the listening before speaking bit - it's practice, but worth the effort. Optimism takes work and choosing to see the good, but living an optimistic life allows for many more finding joy loving the little things moments.

9. Choose {find} joy. It would be easy to sit and lament how hard everything was during the day. And you know what? Sometimes we simply need to do that. But do you know that it is also of utmost importance for our children to see us happy? Not all the time, but some of the time? Once a little one of mine asked me why I didn't smile much during the day. I didn't even realize that I had been so focused that I was kind of moving through my house like a bull in a china shop. I remember looking in his eyes and telling him that I was so happy to be his mmami and he told me then I needed to smile.Mothers, smile at your kids today. Tell them you love being their mmami even though inside it might have been a really hard day. Those words matter.

10. Tell your kids you like them. Remember how I said words matter? Well, let me tell you, make sure you tell your kids that you simply like them. Love is unconditional. Like is the word that tells them you like being around them, you like who they are, and that you simply like them as your child. my Ik the other night was resting in my bed and he said, mmami, I love you. Talk about melt my heart. Learn from that - take a minute and walk with your little one or your big one and let them know that you like them. Simple words, but very powerful heart words to cherish.

Ten secrets, ten facts, ten things I learned being a mother. Children are often the best teachers - their tenacity, zest for life, and unending curiosity inspires me to look at life through a different lens.

The miracle story of Moringa and Zija

The story begins with one man viewing a Discovery Channel documentary on a plant grown in faraway lands. As he watched, his interest piqued when he observed people literally being sustained by consuming small amounts of this miracle plant.  So he began asking the right questions and the answers arrived from the likes of scientists, biochemists, and pharmacologists the world over. The man asking the questions was Ken Brailsford, a super achiever in the nutritional supplement industry, the founder of Zija and the father of herbal encapsulation.

With two other hugely successful nutrition companies to his credit, he knew this plant was a true nutritional miracle. Mr. Brailsford immediately recognized the potential of the practically unknown Moringa plant and all of the health benefit of moringa. Fueled by the desire to share this miracle plant with the world, he dug deeper. He enlisted the research skills of medical professionals and found stacks of supporting research. The findings were overwhelming. And, with decades of research and studies, the Zija team knew that it was time for the world to learn about Moringa – the “Miracle Tree”.

There are many benefits of the moringa tree, but the health benefits are the most important. Research has shown that various parts of the moringa tree can be effective in a significant number of health concerns. Here’s a quick look at a few of them:

• Moringa is rich in Vitamin A. It contains four times more Vitamin A or beta-carotene than carrots. Hence, it is a weapon against blindness.
• It is also a rich source of Vitamin C many times more than oranges.
• Normally milk is said to be a rich source of calcium but the amount of calcium present in moringa leaves is way higher than in milk.
• The moringa leaves are said to contain two times the protein present in milk.
• Bananas are a rich source of potassium. But moringa leaves contain several times more potassium than bananas.
• Along with potassium, zinc is also found in large quantities in moringa.
• If moringa leaves were to be eaten by one and all, the world will be free of anemia as it contains three times more iron than spinach.
• With all the junk food eaten these days, many people face problems of high cholesterol. Moringa helps in balancing the cholesterol levels in the body.
• Essential Amino acids are also found in moringa.
• Moringa is also said to balance sugar levels, hence it is helpful in the fight against diabetes.
• The body's natural defense mechanism increases with the consumption of moringa in the daily diet pattern. Since it is an immunity-stimulant, it is prescribed for AIDS afflicted patients.
• Moringa leaves can be consumed to stimulate metabolism.
• It is also said to have digestive powers.
• It is a nutrition booster and is known to promote a feeling of well-being in people.
• If you are looking for non-sugar based energy, then moringa leaves is the answer. Thus, it will also help in the weight loss process.
• The cell structure of the body is stimulated by the moringa leaves.
• It is especially useful for lactating mothers. The consumption of moringa has shown dramatic increase in the quantity of breast milk.
• It is also famous for its anti-bacterial properties.
• The paste of the moringa leaves is said to beautify the skin and is hence applied by women regularly.
• It protects the liver and kidneys.
• It can also be used as a water purifier.

OUR FASHION TODAY

There has been a revolution in African fashion over the past three centuries, fashion has gone beyond having something to wear or a simple dress sense, the crave for grandeur has appealed the minds of Africans and designers have not failed to bring these clothe desires to fruition. In the past African fashion emphasized on decency and style in a simple and plain average manner, the materials were hand weaved and less elaborate in usage compared to the ones of today, the African fashion mechanism has shifted emphasis to fit the social circles and influential demands from magazines, internet and television.

Pop culture has also been a great influence in the new African fashion trend due to a huge driving force; the youths. Unlike in the past when fashion was pioneered by the middle aged and senior citizens, today unconventional designs are now being accepted in the mainstream societies as people try to keep in tune with the latest designs and fresh trends.

The rise in number of both designers and exquisite fabric manufacturers such as Vlisco, DaViva, etc. has helped transform the past African designs into one with more poise and glamor coupled with numerous fashion shows and exhibitions that promote the new designs.  With all this activities going on now, the African fashion industry has been headed into a new growth dimensions. Today the fashion and style of Africa has gone beyond the shores to many international boutiques and runways. It is fair to say that it is now the designer’s era, a time when designers drive the fashion machine that has enveloped the concept of dress making to appeal, with skinny models and well-designed dresses that takes the interest of everyone who would want to be noticed with the “Gloryposh” look.

There has never been a time like now when anything is possible, bags are now being made with African fabrics, and even the most unusual clothe items like necklace and cross belts have created using African fabrics with wonderful results.