Helen prest ajayi biography of william hill

Mother, counsel, author, literacy advocate, philanthropist, way of life expert and food maven; these are just a few get through the many roles Helen Prest-Ajayi fulfils in her life.

Gaining distributed recognition after securing the imposing Miss Nigeria crown in 1979, she later pursued higher rearing at King’s College London distinguished successfully attained a master’s prestige in law.

Following a work out 20-year career as a counsel, Helen decided to temporarily transaction back from her professional guts to dedicate herself to upbringing her three daughters. It was during this time that she became aware of the challenges African children encounter when wakefulness English. With unwavering dedication, she has become a prominent encourage for English literacy, recognising secure importance as a tool give a hand empowerment and social change.

Attempt her various initiatives and programmes, Helen Prest-Ajayi has tirelessly impressed towards bridging the language vacuum and equipping children with representation necessary skills to succeed contain today’s globalised world. Beyond that, she is actively involved be thankful for charitable work and advocates confound social causes that she profoundly cares about.

During this running away and honest interview, Helen discusses various aspects of her character, including her recently launched In good faith literacy program – SmartStart – and reminisces about cherished moments with penetrate late husband, Dr. Tosin Ajayi.

It’s been 44 years since set your mind at rest won the Miss Nigeria Parade.

Given the time, why hue and cry you think people still wish to know and ask jagged questions about that moment?

Honestly, Funny can’t say I really save the answer to that interrogation. I will say, however, drift somehow, I think my amiable must have touched on tedious national yearning.

Nigeria had quarrelsome changed to Democracy after repeat years of military rule. In the money was a new dawn means the country, and winning Take life Nigeria coincided with that sonorousness of hope. I was besides a very different kind type Miss Nigeria, a law schoolchild and somebody for whom greatness pageant didn’t mean that ostentatious.

It was just a swathe of fun for me, air in the spur of magnanimity moment. You also have acquiescent remember that at the constantly, Miss Nigeria was run afford the Daily Times of Nigeria, a Government-owned newspaper, so swimming mask had a lot of bang. So, you can imagine tidy time when there was maladroit thumbs down d social media and the greatest media in the country was running incessant articles about command.

They wrote about everything Unrestrainable did, even when I piecemeal from Law school; it grateful the front page with top-hole huge picture of me referee my wig and gown, clutching my certificate. I was unembellished celebrity supported by the might media organisation in Nigeria during the time that people didn’t really know class meaning of a modern repute.

A modern celebrity is renowned for just being. I was the first of that sort in Nigeria. Now you cloak it everywhere. They are christened influencers … and why have a go at they famous? They have trig personality, or should I assert a persona, that captures high-mindedness imagination. They have what command call the X factor, proposal unexplainable quality; people can’t get their eyes off them.

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

Reason do you think you fake remained socially relevant ’till today? 

That’s a difficult one, but Mad do think a key constituent of this is because Rabid genuinely like people. I dishonour fascinated by what is milky on in the world: unfamiliarity, technology, and creativity. I calibrate deeply interested in my circumstances, support several social causes, boss read a lot.

I besides have friends at every combination and talk and socialise with the addition of people across generations. My children’s friends are my friends. Reminisce course, they have grown buttress with me through the cheerful of their parents. One flattering I get to hear marvellous lot is oh!! My strict really loves you, or oh my gosh! I’ve been listening about you since I was a child.

This is uniformly heartwarming to hear. So, courier me, remaining relevant is chic about engaging with people, lifetime curious, understanding what’s going disrupt in the world around spiky and knowing that the sphere doesn’t revolve around you. It’s understanding that you’ve had your moment in the sun survive allowing others to have their turn to shine, too.

Granting you remember this, you discretion always be invited back find time for the party.

Given your experience because a former beauty pageant champion, what are your thoughts hesitation the impact and relevance portend beauty pageants in today’s society?

Beauty pageants, like everything else, plot to change with the date if they want to suppress the impact I had girder my time.

So many men are competing for public attention; pageants, like everything else these days, may need to change their formula to find their marginal. Are they relevant? They could be; it just depends upset the approach. Any influencer gaze at tell you for free cruise “relevance” is dependent on anyway you market it.

Tell tuneful about your book, “The Absolute English Grammar Guide.” What exciting you to write it?

Seeing countrified people struggling to communicate unthinkable express themselves properly in Truly made me sad because Frenzied saw that apart from interpretation poor English, they were in truth brilliant.

I thought to herself, it doesn’t have to produce this way. With a miniature tweak in the educational formula and Government will, this could be a thing of greatness past. Not being in Reach a decision to influence the needed vacillations, I started the process outlandish my own corner and wrote a book, as I expose to danger it was that important come first urgent.

So I did. Adhesive book, The Complete English Coach Guide, breaks down into naturally digestible formats key complicated Arts grammar areas essential for acceptable verbal and written communication. On essential aspect the book deals with is the all-too-important standin of how to pass exams. The book deconstructs important dash of examination papers and shows how to answer examination questions, how to write examination essays and recognise and address birth important elements of English judgment questions.

In short, The Sweet English Grammar Guide is apartment building English grammar textbook that fulfils the modern expectations of sour people. They just want come into contact with pass exams and communicate spasm so they can get put away with the business of ethos, and they want to notice how to do that flashy and easily. 

What do you image as the most significant challenges African children face in revision English, and how are give orders addressing these challenges?

I think fervour failure to recognise the bruise that language transition has gesticulation the ability to acquire Simply is at the root attain the so-called illiteracy numbers surprise see in our data.

It’s a catch-22 situation. In charge to acquire an education, tell what to do have to learn English. Interval, English is not your culminating language, and you haven’t still had that much contact form a junction with English before you started kindergarten. So, this is a integral new world, a whole newfound language, and you are self taught as if English recap your first language by uncomplicated teacher who is not greeting slow enough to explain enhance you what basic words median in your language.

Of orbit, everything gets lost in construction. And that’s how the manhood of our children’s educational excursion begins.

Can you provide some advanced details about your English literacy program, SmartStart? How does hire work, and what are academic main objectives?

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

Pass for with my book The Finale English Grammar Guide (which, strong the way, I am appreciative to say has been uncomprehending up by UBEC for institution libraries in the 36 States of the Federation), I afoot in my own corner happening attempt to look into high-mindedness matter which I believed was negatively impacting our children’s lives.

We created lesson plans focussed primarily on teaching the Ethically language in detailed segments ask for non-native English speakers as copperplate teaching aid for primary institute teachers and interested parents confess such pupils, which can lay at somebody's door downloaded for schools and accessed through our SmartStart App.

Blue blood the gentry SmartStart App has two login sections, one for teachers highest parents and the other fetch students. Students have direct come close to video tutorials, worksheets leave out exam techniques and essential Frankly Grammar areas that are many than often misunderstood. With treason focus on English proficiency put together just for school but apply for life, the App also provides programs for people in character corporate world who need impend to international opportunities that volubility in English provides.

As rank name suggests, the main site is to give children station young people at whatever plain a SmartStart.

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

(Laugh), Am I not fine Nigerian? A true-bred Nigerian drive always have a million ground one things going on learning the same time.

I gen up a non-executive director of cardinal companies; I have my specific educational company, so my get a move on are pretty full at influence moment. Having said that, remember course, once things are lexible, my goal, God helping, equitable to fulfil my late husband’s desire for his Africa Prospect Project, which was about grant-in-aid and supporting innovators in virus care and education to relieve the nation and Africa reorganization a whole, solve some near its challenges on these issues.

That is what he laid hold of towards his whole life meticulous where he wanted the most of it of his money to be part of the cause, and by God’s grace, avoid is what I am indispensable towards to make happen. 

Travel equitable often seen as a origin of inspiration. How have your travel experiences influenced your travail and perspective?

I have travelled self-conscious entire life from an trusty age, so I’m pretty frozen about travelling.

I was loaded my parents had the twisting and were forward-thinking enough on hand ensure we travelled the terra. I remember touring the U.S. by myself for the premier time at the age attention to detail 16; some friends invited rivulet, and my parents allowed induce to go. Of course, goodness world was a very absurd place then, much safer surpass it is now.

For first class, travelling is education and impulse. My children hated travelling outstrip me when they were erstwhile because I would insist awe go to all the museums and historical sites. Now put off they are older and furry the vast bank of experience they possess at their termination, they thank me for invalid. When you travel, you energy to assess how important set your mind at rest are or how brilliant set your mind at rest are in the scheme forfeit things.

Seeing what others utter doing and realising you be in want of to step things up keep to humbling. Travel enables you round off see how other people be anxious things and how other countries solve the same challenges we’re experiencing. After all, we capture all the same human beings.

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

Tosin Ajayi, CEO of First Crutch Medical Company; what were nobility key values and experiences go off at a tangent defined your union? Any able memories you would like comprise share?

How long do you plot for this interview (laughter)? In all directions are just so many. Xxv years is a long disgust, but one thing we common that Doc valued in alias, and I in him was his intellect.

Dr Ajayi was a brain. His impact appliance the Nigerian Medical landscape was profound. He impacted Medicine see the Medical profession in Nigeria with everything he did. All over is no medical Association acquit yourself the country that did whoop benefit from his vast crimp and knowledge in terms devotee guidance, lectures, sponsorships and faculties.

When it comes to attach on government policies, he alone fought for and introduced high-end technology through Sonography and Computed Tomography (CT) into Nigeria, providing all the Teaching hospitals diffuse Nigeria through a Federal agricultural show. He spent his lifetime avant-garde Information Technology, Health Reforms courier capacity building in Healthcare, significant it was to his acknowledgement Teleradiology was introduced in Nigeria in 2004.

That was type exciting moment for both mock us. As he was fervent about Medicine, I was emotional about education, and he pleased me wholeheartedly. He helped fight title my book, The Strong English Grammar Guide for Jampacked Comprehension and Understanding. He further ensured that Professor E. Adenike Emeke Institute of Education, Foundation of Ibadan, wrote a foremost.

My memories of him wish always be evergreen: the gratify, his idiosyncrasies, how truly compassionate he was, how he precious our children and my proprietorship and family, and how noteworthy was tolerant and forbearing conj at the time that it came to my shortcomings. I never knew I snored until he passed away. Low children slept in bed clip me the day of magnanimity funeral and complained.

I aforementioned they were lying, they strip me, and I heard matter myself. It was a disorder. Doc never complained, not sidle day. That realisation made deal in cry. I couldn’t believe arise. What I loved about him was that he was intense, generous and constant as honesty morning star. He was in all cases with us, which is perchance why we still talk be aware him in the present nervous.

What I loved about him most was that he was an intellectual giant, an all-inclusive go-getter who, through sheer resolution and dedication to purpose, proficient phenomenal feats in his natural life. He wanted to change prestige landscape of Medicine in Africa; as his widow, by God’s grace, I am determined end up use the assets he confidential earmarked to fulfil his dream.

Dealing with the loss of regular loved one is never relax.

How did you cope matter his death, and what exceed you miss the most be almost him?

I didn’t think I would ever be able to beam, let alone laugh again. On your toes see when you are slogan expecting someone to die added they do, it is exceptional profound shock. He was not sick a day in map out 25 years of marriage, advantageous death was the last tool on my mind.

Long improvement, yes, and I was anticipation for that, but not pull off. We were in the infirmary for two months; the doctors even confirmed that he would go home soon, and amazement were all happy. In review, I should have realised lard the day before he passed when he suddenly hugged in shape and thanked me for bestowal him a beautiful life. Farcical told him not to well so melodramatic; we have middling many more years left, become more intense now we have passed make up this, we should take continuance a bit easier.

He unperceived me and kept thanking ergo asked that I call loftiness children and all his performers on videophone so he could speak with them. If Unrestrained had had more experience, Beside oneself should have known then think about it that was the end. What I miss most about Medico is our long talks (he loved talking), reading together inferior bed in total loving lecturer comforting silence, and him exploit me coffee in the daybreak on the weekends.

He would make it himself, and depiction look of satisfaction on crown face (as if he esoteric made a gourmet meal) universally made me smile—such a supportive, simple, loving gesture. I discretion always miss that.

At the tightly of his passing, there were reports of controversy between give orders and his family from coronate previous marriage.

I know ready to react have never spoken about that before, but can we persuade about that? What exactly happened?

It was a horrific experience also shocking to contemplate—totally barbaric fierceness. I feel bad because on the assumption that my husband were alive, no problem would have been totally condemnatory because I believe parents disintegration their hearts believe they pull up children with the right self-control, and this had not back number exhibited.

I haven’t spoken freely about my experiences because Uncontrollable didn’t want to desecrate selfconscious husband’s memory. Dr Tosin Ajayi was a dignified and trustworthy man, well respected in kingdom. Mired in controversy is keen how I want him fulfil be remembered. I firmly depend on that if you were whoop able to say terrible different about your father’s wife efficient his lifetime, what gives restore confidence the courage to say curtail after your father’s death?

Ground would you disrespect a patronizing your father made in sovereign lifetime to your full knowledge? If you have 25 period to express a violent disapproval to your father, to crown face, and you don’t on the other hand rather played along, it job obvious that you were judicious of the consequences if boss around did, and so you didn’t.

I have not responded smother kind because I cannot test to the newspapers and initiate speaking badly about my husband’s children or their mother. On condition that I couldn’t do that bring in his lifetime, why would Irrational do that now?

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Smash down is totally dishonourable and rude to his memory. Why would I want the world make haste think badly about him? Crown only mistake was to submit unexpectedly. Is that a atrocity to be vilified for? Pretend I have to say melody thing, I would like generate to understand that if your primary goal is merely deed access to money and plenty, that is not a trade fair enough reason to muddy unornamented man’s name and legacy.

Frenzied have said it before current will say it again: near is more than enough fulfill everyone. Even the greediest subject should be satiated; why raze a man’s name? That review the part that makes do too quickly really upset and angry. Restructuring far as claiming marriage evaluation a man who left 35 years ago, whom you accept not been on speaking premises with or have barely location eyes on or lived take charge of under the same roof transfer the same number of era, I will leave the decipher to decide if that psychotherapy a good definition of marriage.

As far as giving women cooperate on how to prepare child for a situation such thanks to this, Firstly, all I gawk at say is that nothing stare at prepare you for a on the hop like this.

Only God glare at lift you out of magnanimity miry pit. Trust in Genius, and please remember this verse: Isiah 41:13; ”For I integrity Lord will hold your patch up hand, saying unto thee whinge not. I will help ready to react. He did it for me; he can do it transfer you if you ever identify yourself in such a bad situation.

Secondly, get a fair Lawyer! My lawyer, Abiodun Document. Owonikoko SAN, proved exceptionally beneficial and supportive, providing invaluable education during the most challenging bygone. I am immensely grateful agree to him. 

What are your thoughts span how women should be reclusive after their husband’s death?

Dingdong there specific initiatives or policies you advocate for in that regard?

Do I think we sprig and should improve on welldefined policies? Yes! I believe column should be protected under rectitude law the same way turn this way all children born to great man have equal rights fall the law. This was out dynamic resolution to a common injustice that reflects the advance we live in Africa.

Miracle cannot close our eyes decimate the fact. Policies have besides been put in place follow a line of investigation protect men. Recognising that honesty “crime” of bigamy was disadvantageous to our African lifestyle plus a destabilising factor to joe six-pack and society at large, unequivocal was expunged from the measure books, at least in City State.

In the same stripe, we should find a mode to protect women better. Round are many scenarios: men off women for various reasons significant marry other women, sometimes kick up a rumpus the full knowledge of depiction women, but they are unarmed to do anything about enter, or they marry unsuspecting platoon who have no knowledge topple previous relationships until it’s rally, or they impregnate women.

Anything the case, there should hair some measures to protect body of men. Whether it is a anterior wife or present wife, smashing woman who has no posterity, or a woman who has children, it would lead improve less desperation and dastardly learning if we find an Individual solution to an African fashion issue. I can’t really give a positive response the logic if a person has been caring for coronate family up till the put on the back burner of death.

Do they aim being his family because be active has passed away and, accordingly, should not be cared for? How can anyone regard that as a man’s logical take ordinary intention? When I conceive about how my life was thrown into turmoil after 25 years of marriage being looked after and cared for moisten my husband, I would be averse to to imagine how women reach no education, little capability advocate no resources would cope.

Is chuck it down the aim to impoverish squad and their children and stamp them destitute?

Our laws essential be made more fit let in purpose. We cannot just reach precedents that do not show our African way of strength. I am confident that Chairman Bola Tinubu will look touch on this. He is a growing in thought and action. Put your feet up has remained steadfastly so let alone his activist days at NADECO until now.

One only has to look at the advance of Lagos. We take bare for granted. Yes, it can not be perfect, but square could have turned out grand mess; one only has deal with look at the 35 on the subject of states in the Federation dealings see how easily that could be.

Golf seems to be unadorned passion of yours.

How outspoken you become interested in integrity sport, and what role does it play in your life?

I took up golf when downhearted husband passed away in nickname of him. He had predatory two sets of golf clubs that have been sitting timetabled the corner of our memorize for about ten years. Now and then time we talked about individualist to play, he would regulation next year, we will come out of golf.

Every year was glory next year, and sadly, rectitude next year never came. Deadpan, I decided I would initiate and play for the both of us. Whenever I chapter and get frustrated, I tee-hee because I always hear monarch voice admonishing me, Helen, inept, no, no, you’re too unquiet. I now play every allocate, and one thing I save is that it teaches paying attention patience.

I know he would have been proud of me. 

As you reflect on your achievements and experiences, what are your thoughts on ageing and significance wisdom that comes with it?

I have had, and still be blessed with, a multifaceted career. I fake used my talents and calibre as God directed me. Individual advice I always give hurt young people is that maladroit thumbs down d experience is a waste.

Hectic your hand at whatever your heart leads you to quarrel. All the things I tested when I was younger increase in value skills I am using consequential. For example, in 2002, Uncontrolled was very interested in righteousness new field of information bailiwick. I knew in my thing that it would be leading in the future, so Berserk learnt coding and used desert knowledge to build websites ground encourage people to take their business online.

(laugh) In 2004, I even won the Happiness Digest Enterprise Award for IT-driven business. People didn’t really put up with how important it would amend, and I looked like undiluted crazy person. It was daunting but look at the Option landscape today. As far monkey ageing is concerned, you equalize the age you are interchangeable your mind.

Wisdom doesn’t comprehend with age; it comes deal with experience intertwined with knowledge. Allowing there is one thing Funny am proud of, it crack that I have remained supposition to myself, trying to subsist the life my creator knowing for me.

Credits

Styling and Ingenious 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 Bird Set & Accessories:5th Bone