
Rubies and Potters – Adesuwa Ehinome Iluobe
Our special Rubies & Potters guest on FamilyRubies today is no other than the multitalented Adesuwa Iluobe
Rubies & Potters is a section on our blog where we bring to you great minds doing great things!
We’re taking time out to celebrate them and showcase them to the world in our own beautiful way.
Join this train, let’s do this together.
Good day Adesuwa, we’re very excited to introduce you to our wonderful readers. Please tell us where you are originally from and where you currently reside
Good day readers, my name is Adesuwa Iluobe . I am from Edo state in Nigeria. I currently reside in the capital city of Abuja.
Can you share your educational history with us?
Oh yes, I started my education at Dammyville Kindergarten school Surulere, Lagos. Then I proceeded to Fountain Nursery and Primary School Adelabu Surulere. I had my secondary school education at Federal Government Girls’ College Benin City and then studied Law at the University of Abuja. I went to the Nigerian Law School, Abuja Campus and was called to the prestigious Nigerian Bar on October 5, 2011. I became a Chartered Secretary and Administrator in April 2015.
What do you do for a living?
While building a career as a HR personnel and Administrator, I am a writer and editor who loves fiction and satires. I founded Satayaa Africa, a community that helps writers and readers succeed. You can follow our activities @satayaafrica on Instagram, Facebook and twitter or via our website – www. satayaa.com. I also recently launched my first book – The Farm. In addition to these, I am a fashion designer, I am just constantly birthing new ideas and assisting businesses in strategizing.
So why Law initially?
It was my dream to study English and Literature but did not end up doing that. At the time I had to choose, there was a boom that favored professional courses like Law, Accounting, Medicine etc.. So I was advised to study Law. However, times have changed and the focus is largely not on what you studied but on the person and how much he or she is willing to do to achieve a goal. I do not regret studying Law though. It opened my mind to a lot of things and helps my thought process to make informed decisions.
Tell us about your first book “The Farm” – “The Farm” is a collection of five fictional short stories. These stories are metaphors for Nigeria and her dynamic experiences. The lead story is about Moremi, a young girl flung into unfamiliar world that is highly expectant of her. Amidst fatal changes, bizarre alliances, quest for wealth and love, she finds an unlikely friend in Ugonna. With each choice they make, their lives unfolds before them until they stumble upon a shattering revelation that unsettles what little balance there is at the Farm.
Where can we get this book: You can get them online at:
www.okadabooks.com/book/about/the_farm/14905
www.amazon.com/FARM-Adesuwa-Ehinome-Iluobe-ebook/dp/B0743LYLNY
We also have hard copies at :
Patabah Book store Adeniran Ogunsanya Mall, Surulere, Lagos
Salamander’s café Wuse 2, Abuja
Book sellers LTD City Plaza, Area 10 Abuja
Kizito Book shop, Area 1 Abuja
When did you start writing and why?
I fell in love with Literature in my childhood courtesy of my parents, and it has stuck since. My dad bought me books as gifts 95% of the time and Mum had boxes of novels and books – Pacesetters and so on. By the time I was six years old I was reading Enid Blyton’s books, Malory towers, St Clares. Books, books, books, that’s all I was about. I would do my assignments at school, so I could read from the time mum came to pick us up in the car till late at night. I remember Yvonne Ifode, my Primary two class mate, she used to lend me these books, so I read them and return the next day. Reading was a huge part of my childhood, no regrets. I graduated to drawing comics (yes! I can draw quite well) and writing stories with short chapters, I would draw over 20leaves of comics with dialogues and then give my school mates to read , they almost never returned them, if only I knew that those were priceless works, I would not have let them go that easily. I did this even while in the university, but stopped as soon as I owned a laptop. This is when I started writing.
What would you consider the hardest thing about writing?
It is easy to envision yourself as a writer, but can be challenging to shelf procrastination and self doubt and get down to write.
Adesuwa, if you could be a character in a novel, who would you be and why?
I have never thought of this. I would be Portia in Merchant of Venice. I love her for her strength and wisdom. Sorry its not a novel but a play. LOL
If your life was a book, what would the title be?
Uncharted sphere.
Tell us about your fashion designing skills:
I had difficulty in expressing what I wanted to designers, so I would have something in mind but something else would get sewn. This used to be really painful considering the efforts made to draw and describe designs.
It later occurred to me that I could learn to make my clothes. So a week after I got called to bar (also after seeing how fast allowee went i.e allowance from NYSC) I enrolled into Fashion School for two reasons – 1. To learn to make my clothes 2. To acquire a skill through which I could make money.
What future do you see in Fashion designing for you?
Well, I’m reviewing this aspect of my life just so I am more focused.

Outfit by Adesuwa
You are multi-talented Adesuwa, don’t you think so?
Hmm. I am yet to believe I am multi talented, this may be an undoing. I love learning. I learn everyday. I also love to explore new things. Fun fact – I do not think humans are created to do one thing all their lives. God who created us is always inventing, loves to have fun and explore; just look at how beautiful the world is – mixture of colors, different races, animals, humans in different shapes and sizes. I nurse the thought that at different phases of my life I could be doing different things. The only thing that has been constant is the passion to writing. Even my style of writing has changed over time.
I am able to cook (I love cooking a lot. Not many people know this) I believe cooking is art. Infact if I get bored with anything it would never be writing and cooking. I learned to sew in 2011 immediately after I got called to Bar and now enjoy it a lot. I read a lot (but no I don’t believe I am a geek. I am too seriously serious for that). I think I am tech savvy too, always learning to use different apps to make my life and work easier. I really love to mentor and encourage people especially youth. Another thing I love to do is to ideate. I help small businesses think through strategies, I am able to assist to plan activities and creative ways to push businesses forward. Strangely, studying law helped I have advised a lot of people on what they could do and it has worked.
I am nursing two more skills I plan to acquire soonest. Sometimes I don’t even believe myself.
Tell us your most memorable day so far
The day I launched my book – The Farm

Outfit by Adesuwa
What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs/writers
There is never going to be a perfect time to go after your dreams. Give your dreams time , hard work and consistency, this will birth growth in time. Do not compare with others, yes learn from them and do what rocks your boat. The world awaits you.
Writers, there is nothing like a perfect story or ideal time to write. Do not die with your stories, write them and share. If you need constructive reviews you can send mails to hello@satayaa.com
How have you coped with difficult people in your journey so far?
I keep my goals for relating with them in focus and try to be nice.

Outfit by Adesuwa
What is your favorite food?
I love plantain to a fault, whether boiled, fried or roasted. #defendersoftheplantaingalaxy
hahaha
Tell us about the recently launched Sataya project
Yes, I and some other writers put together a hub for writers and readers called Satayaa. We made a debut with a writer’s retreat that held in Abuja in September 2017. Sataya Africa is a community that helps writers and readers succeed. You can follow our activities via @satayaafrica on Instagram.
You are very passionate about Nigeria, what fuels this burden?
I cannot explain my love for Nigeria, but it runs deep. The more we cry over our limitations, I see opportunities that are waiting to be tapped. Everything we moan about – disunity, diversity, corruption and so on have tremendous opportunities on the flip side. I am very hopeful that Nigeria will be better soonest.
Can you describe the Nigerian political system in one word?
Confusion
Do you have any political ambition?
Yes. I dream of being a voice to be reckoned with in Nigeria’s political sphere, participate in the senate and be President. Big dreams! You go girl

Outfit by Adesuwa
A lot of young Nigerians have lost faith in the country, what advice do you have for the Nigerian Youth?
No one will help Nigeria if we do not rise up to help her. Our roots will always be traced back to this great country so there is no hiding place. In our actions and deeds let us help make Nigeria great again. Nigeria’s problem is her people, which is why we must make things right. Nigeria is our country. Nigeria is our home.
For an all-expense paid trip, which country would you like to visit?
I long to go to Bahamas
Any closing remark?
Thanks FamilyRubies for this great opportunity!
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