It’s Wednesday people, I am super excited about today! in case you’re wondering what the excitement is about, just hang with me, let me take you on a beautiful ride as I  celebrate a special woman of worth, beautiful through and through. In case you didn’t know” Celebrating Womanhood” Wednesday has changed to Womanhood By Design.

The mission and vision are still to celebrate every woman all across the globe, in addition, I will be bringing great women within my circle of influence, every week, who are doing exploits and blazing trails in their fields regardless of their status. Each one of them will share their stories, life lessons, experiences of womanhood to inspire and motivate every woman to be their very best.

This is the first post on Womanhood by design and I am proud to present to you my  very first guest on this post, Mrs Elizabeth Ola, we call her Sista Lizzy, a wonderful and energetic woman, wife, mother, CEO, so energetic and boisterous on stage,  her beautiful smile so contagious, there is never a dull moment with this beauty.

Tell us about yourself :

My name is Elizabeth Ola, born in Lagos, a native of Akwa-Ibom, a wife to my sweetheart Olaniyi Ola of 16 years now and mother of  4 amazing boys. I am a graduate of mass communication and a lover of GOD. I am fun to be with and I love lively environment.

What do you do for a living?

I am the Chief Servant of Fresh Olive Music International, the host of Worship in His Presence a quarterly Worship Program, and Fresh Morning Incense, every first 8 days of every month. I am a Worship Leader and the head of the unit choir at Victorious Praying Women Ministry in Lagos and the four other cities in Nigeria. I also run Lizroyale Touch, A therapeutic /massage centre for Female Ministers and women in the marketplace.

How do you balance work life, ministry and Family?

I am blessed with a great man who understands my assignment and always supports me. When my boys were still very young, He would babysit and take care of them, especially when I have to go out of station for ministerial assignments.

You have been married for 16years, what marriage advice can you give to a lady out there?

I will advise any woman aspiring to be married to marry her best friend. Marry your friend someone you will feel safe and secured with regardless of any situation or circumstances that may come your way, because there will be some highs and lows in the marriage, but when you are both friends, you learn both to manage situations better.

As a mom of boys, what is your greatest challenge raising all boys?

One of the greatest challenges for me, has been talking about the opposite sex, you see the way we were brought up, in those days, Our parents made it looked like a taboo, to even hold a girl’s hand, or stand near a boy, Now, times have changed and the dynamics of raising Children has also changed a lot, that it will be foolishness to try to adopt the methods our parents used on us. Though some of those methods worked.

I remember trying to ask my teenage son if there was any girl in school that caught his fancy, I was shocked when he admitted to me, there was actually a “pretty” girl in class that he liked. So I had to brace myself up to begin to educate him on those sensitive areas, before he would get any information outside, especially in this age of internet for all. Because I am the only female in the house, I have to also teach about different features they see in me, especially the little lads among them, who ask all manner of questions. (laugh.

Who is the greatest Influence of your life?

The greatest influence of my life is God, He is my all in all. I live for him alone, and I just want to please him alone, and so that I’m not sounding pious or religious, there are other influencers who have helped shape me to be the woman I am today,first is my beloved husband,then my mother and Mentor ,Pastor Olumayokun Oreofe of VPWM, and then Rev. Ekpenyong Bassey who is not just a spiritual father, but also a second  father after I lost my dad.

What is your calling in life?

My highest calling is to preach the Gospel of Jesus through music, to make him known to the world through the gift of singing and teaching the word of God. To make an impact through a lifestyle of worship and music.

Do you believe that women can collaborate without tearing one another?

I strongly believe in women celebrating one another, as women , we are unique and peculiar, when we recognise and embrace that uniqueness, it becomes so each to work together, because you shine, I shine and together we light the world brighter, there shouldn’t be any reason for bickering or petty jealousy and competition when we are all secured in our spaces and sphere of influence. That is true sisterhood!

What’s your favourite physical attribute?

My favourite attribute is my voice and of course my natural hair.

What is the one thing that happened to you that made you a stronger person?

Growing up was a little difficult because I was constantly shouted down, and that drove me into a silence shell, I believed I didn’t have anything good to say, that’s why I was always been shut down, as a result , I kept a lot of hurt and pain bottled inside, afterall nobody want to hear what I have to say, I became tired that all I wanted was to run far away from home, then the inevitable happenned my father died, and I was left all alone, He was the only one who would give me his listening ear,and now he was gone. I ran away from home to find solace where love resides, and there my healing began, My father in the Lord taught me everything about music, but still kept on bottling emotions and wouldn’t talk or express myself for fear that I might be shut down.

9 years ago, in a church meeting I heard God clearly calling me out of low self-esteem, “Elizabeth stop looking down on yourself, I created you for so much than you are doing now. Stand up, Raise your head and I will walk you through this challenge”.

Today I am a better person, with a strong sense of self-worth, and can boldly declare God’s love to all.

What will you tell a younger version of you that you didn’t know before?

Be yourself, don’t allow anything or anyone to intimidate you, be your authentic true self, honour God, treat others well, Fear God and put Him first in all you do, Be committed, work hard.

Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years time?

Having my own Recording studio, a sound company and making an impact globally.

Thank you so much for your time Sista Lizzy, it’s been exciting hanging out with you.

You can reach Lizzy Ola on any of the following social media platforms:

Twitter:@eola222,@fresholivemusic

Instagram:@elizabeth_ola or lizzy_fresholivemusic

Facebook: Elizabeth Ola

Page: Fresh Olive NG and Liz Royale Touch.

 

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