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| Founder, First Royal Oil & Gas, Princess Roseline Omolara Osipitan with one of her daughters |
Oil baron Princess Roseline Omolara
Osipitan is a very pretty and intelligent woman. The founder and Chief Executive officer of First Royal Oil and Gas, a leading petroleum
marketing concern hardly grant interviews to the media. Princess Osipitan is the President of the Women Wing of Independent
Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN)
Osipitan is a very pretty and intelligent woman. The founder and Chief Executive officer of First Royal Oil and Gas, a leading petroleum
marketing concern hardly grant interviews to the media. Princess Osipitan is the President of the Women Wing of Independent
Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN)
Sometimes ago, your Africa’s Number 1 Celebrity Encounter
blog, Asabeafrika had a chanced encounter
with her inside her off Ologun Agbaje, Victoria Island—Lagos (South West
Nigeria) home. We decided to get few tips from this rare gem of an entrepreneur.
blog, Asabeafrika had a chanced encounter
with her inside her off Ologun Agbaje, Victoria Island—Lagos (South West
Nigeria) home. We decided to get few tips from this rare gem of an entrepreneur.
Princess Rose Osipitan who gave out one of her pretty daughters to the family of a top People’s
Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart in Kwara
State (North Central Nigeria) Senator
Simon Ajibola, was cooking for the
family when Asabeafrika came
visiting. The very amiable Ondo state,
South West Nigeria born lady who is married to an Ijebu Prince decided to honor
Asabeafrika
with an interview. She told us the secret of her business empire and how she built one of
Nigeria’s leading oil marketing firms-First
Royal Oil and Gas. Enjoy the excerpts.
Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart in Kwara
State (North Central Nigeria) Senator
Simon Ajibola, was cooking for the
family when Asabeafrika came
visiting. The very amiable Ondo state,
South West Nigeria born lady who is married to an Ijebu Prince decided to honor
Asabeafrika
with an interview. She told us the secret of her business empire and how she built one of
Nigeria’s leading oil marketing firms-First
Royal Oil and Gas. Enjoy the excerpts.
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Can you share your business
principles with us?
principles with us?
 |
| Princess Rose Omolara Osipitan to Asabeafrika….’In business, trust and integrity is first law’ |
Well, in business
you have to endure challenges. You have to be honest and don’t be greedy. That
has always been my law and it is my first law. You have to be sincere. Let me
tell you this, doing business in Nigeria
is full of challenges but with a good measure of understanding, you can sail
through. So, you have to posses a strong shock absorber and be ready to make
sacrifice. You must be honest, people have to trust you to be able to do
business with you. People have to see the zeal in you. Above all, quality is
king in business; you must sell a good product. That is the only way to sustain
your business credibility and protect your integrity. First Royal and every other of our business concern wouldn’t have
stood the test of time if we didn’t have the culture of quality. If you give
quality and you are hard working, the sky will never be your limit. The next
thing is God’s grace. God’s grace is the icing on the cake, without it, success
is hard to come by”
you have to endure challenges. You have to be honest and don’t be greedy. That
has always been my law and it is my first law. You have to be sincere. Let me
tell you this, doing business in Nigeria
is full of challenges but with a good measure of understanding, you can sail
through. So, you have to posses a strong shock absorber and be ready to make
sacrifice. You must be honest, people have to trust you to be able to do
business with you. People have to see the zeal in you. Above all, quality is
king in business; you must sell a good product. That is the only way to sustain
your business credibility and protect your integrity. First Royal and every other of our business concern wouldn’t have
stood the test of time if we didn’t have the culture of quality. If you give
quality and you are hard working, the sky will never be your limit. The next
thing is God’s grace. God’s grace is the icing on the cake, without it, success
is hard to come by”
Can you tell us how you built the
First Royal Brand?
First Royal Brand?
 |
| Rose Osipitan to Asabeafrika….’God built First Royal. I pilot the company’ |
I will say
it is strictly by God’s grace. God built First Royal, I am just the pilot and I will liken the story to that of an aeroplane built by Boeing or any of the
great aeroplane makers in the world. When the aeroplane is produced, a pilot is
called to fly the it. I pilot First Royal but God built First
Royal, it is not my doing at all. It is God’s doing. Talking about
being a woman in that field, there are lots of women in petroleum business and
I think we are doing well. You know whatever a woman is doing, she does it very
well. She does it conscientiously and that has always been the trademark of our
success at First Royal. I am the chairperson of the female league of the Independent Petroleum Marketer Association
of Nigeria (IPMAN) and our body is a very patriotic organization with the
love of country first before anything else. I also belong to few social
organizations whose philosophies are tailored around human development. I will do anything that will edify human
development
it is strictly by God’s grace. God built First Royal, I am just the pilot and I will liken the story to that of an aeroplane built by Boeing or any of the
great aeroplane makers in the world. When the aeroplane is produced, a pilot is
called to fly the it. I pilot First Royal but God built First
Royal, it is not my doing at all. It is God’s doing. Talking about
being a woman in that field, there are lots of women in petroleum business and
I think we are doing well. You know whatever a woman is doing, she does it very
well. She does it conscientiously and that has always been the trademark of our
success at First Royal. I am the chairperson of the female league of the Independent Petroleum Marketer Association
of Nigeria (IPMAN) and our body is a very patriotic organization with the
love of country first before anything else. I also belong to few social
organizations whose philosophies are tailored around human development. I will do anything that will edify human
development
What major factor can you say really
helped you to become successful in life?
helped you to become successful in life?
 |
| Princess Omolara Osipitan with ageless friends |
Loyalty to
customers come first but I think it is still the grace of God like I said
earlier because there have been a lot of ups and downs in building the company
to where it is now, we are almost two decade old and we are still waxing
strong. Like with every other business, we have equally faced our own trying moments
but we were able to triumph because first of all, we put our trust in God and
secondly, we follow credible business principles that never wane. We are in
business for real. Our team is trained to respect customers and take customers
opinion as superior to any other opinion. Lastly, we sell quality and we don’t
bend quality control.
customers come first but I think it is still the grace of God like I said
earlier because there have been a lot of ups and downs in building the company
to where it is now, we are almost two decade old and we are still waxing
strong. Like with every other business, we have equally faced our own trying moments
but we were able to triumph because first of all, we put our trust in God and
secondly, we follow credible business principles that never wane. We are in
business for real. Our team is trained to respect customers and take customers
opinion as superior to any other opinion. Lastly, we sell quality and we don’t
bend quality control.
With your success in business, would
you love to go into politics later in life?
you love to go into politics later in life?
 |
| The Princess (M) & Her friends |
I am not
running away from politics, it all depends on what you believe in. It depends
on your field. Some people believe politics is a field or a career but to me,
politics is simply service. I was already established in business before the
fourth republic, and if I could touch lives through my businesses, what am I looking
for in politics? However, you never say never because politics is something one
should never totally abstain from. It is all about us. I could remember when we
were young, during the second republic, I was young at the time and a lot of
terrible things happened in our state, Ondo.
People played politics with venom and bitterness. Then it was politics of
bitterness and that mentality stayed with me. People were being killed
mercilessly and properties destroyed during the Omobori-Owo/Ajasin saga
in Ondo state. It happened in our
presence and that sad memory sticks to one’s consciousness and that really
traumatizes us till date. Although we were not directly in politics but my
parents participated and we saw people killing people and destroying properties
and that particular experience really scared me off politics and it is one
experience one must not pray to witness again in a life time. We were in our
developmental years then and you could imagine what such an experience will do
to your psyche as a child.
running away from politics, it all depends on what you believe in. It depends
on your field. Some people believe politics is a field or a career but to me,
politics is simply service. I was already established in business before the
fourth republic, and if I could touch lives through my businesses, what am I looking
for in politics? However, you never say never because politics is something one
should never totally abstain from. It is all about us. I could remember when we
were young, during the second republic, I was young at the time and a lot of
terrible things happened in our state, Ondo.
People played politics with venom and bitterness. Then it was politics of
bitterness and that mentality stayed with me. People were being killed
mercilessly and properties destroyed during the Omobori-Owo/Ajasin saga
in Ondo state. It happened in our
presence and that sad memory sticks to one’s consciousness and that really
traumatizes us till date. Although we were not directly in politics but my
parents participated and we saw people killing people and destroying properties
and that particular experience really scared me off politics and it is one
experience one must not pray to witness again in a life time. We were in our
developmental years then and you could imagine what such an experience will do
to your psyche as a child.
How did you develop your business
acumen?
acumen?
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| Princess Rose Omolara Osipitan CEO, First Royal Oil & Gas |
I came from
a home where discipline is the hallmark of everything, my parents were modest
in their things but they were equally into business and that was what fired my
gut to go into business at a very early stage in life. They did very well in
business and they were equally religious. They were part of the political
movement of that era. But I think they did well in business and that fired my
zeal to start business early in life. I started business at a very young age
of 24. That was when I went into
business full hug, that happened to me because my parents were business people
and they instilled the courage in us very early in life. To them, anything
worth doing at all is worth doing well. My mother was into trade and when I was
very young I used to help her, anytime I return from school I was the one that runs
her trading business on her behalf and I equally manage her finances. So, the
love started from there and that was what really prompted me into business very
early in life.
a home where discipline is the hallmark of everything, my parents were modest
in their things but they were equally into business and that was what fired my
gut to go into business at a very early stage in life. They did very well in
business and they were equally religious. They were part of the political
movement of that era. But I think they did well in business and that fired my
zeal to start business early in life. I started business at a very young age
of 24. That was when I went into
business full hug, that happened to me because my parents were business people
and they instilled the courage in us very early in life. To them, anything
worth doing at all is worth doing well. My mother was into trade and when I was
very young I used to help her, anytime I return from school I was the one that runs
her trading business on her behalf and I equally manage her finances. So, the
love started from there and that was what really prompted me into business very
early in life.
Can you tell us your Parent’s name?
 |
| Princess Rose Osipitan hosts friends and Olu of Itori, Oba Fatai Akamo inside her house in Lagos |
My mother’s
name is Mrs. Victoria Akinwande while dad’s name is Chief
Taiwo Akinwande,
he was a very, very prominent personality in Ondo state of his time. They are both late now but I am grateful
for their parental guide.
name is Mrs. Victoria Akinwande while dad’s name is Chief
Taiwo Akinwande,
he was a very, very prominent personality in Ondo state of his time. They are both late now but I am grateful
for their parental guide.
Did you just started as an oil
marketer or you were into other businesses before First Royal?
marketer or you were into other businesses before First Royal?
 |
| The Princess and her colleagues at IPMAN |
Before I started First Royal, I was doing
other businesses. Initially I was into haulage business; I was doing haulage
business for blue chip firms. I was a sub-contractor for Multi-national
companies and I was doing haulage for them. From there, I went into big time
poultry business. I was into poultry for twenty solid years. I was a very big
Poultry farmer in Lagos state. By
then when you are to talk about farming, I would be counted among the first
three. By the grace of God, anything I do turn out well.
other businesses. Initially I was into haulage business; I was doing haulage
business for blue chip firms. I was a sub-contractor for Multi-national
companies and I was doing haulage for them. From there, I went into big time
poultry business. I was into poultry for twenty solid years. I was a very big
Poultry farmer in Lagos state. By
then when you are to talk about farming, I would be counted among the first
three. By the grace of God, anything I do turn out well.
What is your staying power?
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| A Stylish Princess Rose Omolara Osipitan |
Hard work,
honesty and God’s grace. I don’t see those businesses as men’s field. I see them
as endeavors that anyone could venture into and that is my winning formula. I
go into it, I win and I make my mark. I have done business successfully in the
last forty years.
honesty and God’s grace. I don’t see those businesses as men’s field. I see them
as endeavors that anyone could venture into and that is my winning formula. I
go into it, I win and I make my mark. I have done business successfully in the
last forty years.
As a grandmother, do you have any
succession plan?
succession plan?
 |
| Prince Rose Osipitan with her Senior Daughter |
Of course,
my first daughter is already in office. She is the MD/CEO of First Royal Group and my first son is the Operations Manager. I feel happy seeing them doing the business at
this point in time. When they were younger, I did all the running around to
ensure that we build a good family business empire but today 80% of the work is
done by them, I give God the glory because he alone builds families. My family
is a testimony of God’s benevolence to me.
my first daughter is already in office. She is the MD/CEO of First Royal Group and my first son is the Operations Manager. I feel happy seeing them doing the business at
this point in time. When they were younger, I did all the running around to
ensure that we build a good family business empire but today 80% of the work is
done by them, I give God the glory because he alone builds families. My family
is a testimony of God’s benevolence to me.
You are such a pretty woman. Can you
share the story of the man who controls your heart with us?
share the story of the man who controls your heart with us?
 |
| Princess and her charming prince….The Ijebu Prince who stole her heart |
My husband
is a very great man, a kind and loving husband. A dotting father and wonderful
counselor of sort. It is widely agreed that behind every successful man, there
is a woman but in my case, behind a successful woman there is a great husband
(laughs). He is my father, my husband, my adviser, my counselor rolled into
one. He has stood by me in both good and trying times and I am very proud of
him. His name is Prince Bola Osipitan, he is a prince from Ijebu Mushin. My husband
is a royalty and I am very proud of his heritage. Like I said, he is a very
wonderful man that has been a stabilizing factor in my life and the life of my
children
is a very great man, a kind and loving husband. A dotting father and wonderful
counselor of sort. It is widely agreed that behind every successful man, there
is a woman but in my case, behind a successful woman there is a great husband
(laughs). He is my father, my husband, my adviser, my counselor rolled into
one. He has stood by me in both good and trying times and I am very proud of
him. His name is Prince Bola Osipitan, he is a prince from Ijebu Mushin. My husband
is a royalty and I am very proud of his heritage. Like I said, he is a very
wonderful man that has been a stabilizing factor in my life and the life of my
children
How did you met & fall in love
with him?
with him?
 |
| Prince Bola Osipitan….The Heartbeat of The Oil Princess |
Let me just
tell you that providence brought us together many, many years ago and since
then the love has continue to wax stronger and stronger. He is my soul mate. My
husband has his own company, we are both busy but no matter how busy we are, we
still find time to bond together. We go out for picnic when the time calls for
it and we do things that lovers do no matter the level of work and pressure. My
husband is a very dotting husband. He is also into my line of business but runs
his own company separately
tell you that providence brought us together many, many years ago and since
then the love has continue to wax stronger and stronger. He is my soul mate. My
husband has his own company, we are both busy but no matter how busy we are, we
still find time to bond together. We go out for picnic when the time calls for
it and we do things that lovers do no matter the level of work and pressure. My
husband is a very dotting husband. He is also into my line of business but runs
his own company separately
Do you share same bed room with your
husband?
husband?
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| Princess Rose Osipitan with hubby & Daughter during a church service in Lekki |
What do you mean by sharing the same room?
(Laughs Heartily). Of course what God has joined together, let no situation put
asunder (More laughter). We sleep in the same bed room, yes I have my own room
and he has his. But in most cases we share his room because my own room is used
as a dressing room for my clothes and fashion accessories. It is only the
toilet that demarcates us. Yes, at times he comes to my room to watch the
television and chat with me but majorly his room is where we both live. And
that is one of the strategies of marriage, if couple say they are married, why
stay apart in different rooms? It doesn’t make sense to me. For the marriage to
work, you must share intimacy, you must share comfort, you must share secrecy,
you must share affection and you must share love. So for me, I tie my marriage
to the kind of intimacy I enjoy with my husband. To answer your question
properly, we have been sharing the same room since the beginning of our
relationship.
(Laughs Heartily). Of course what God has joined together, let no situation put
asunder (More laughter). We sleep in the same bed room, yes I have my own room
and he has his. But in most cases we share his room because my own room is used
as a dressing room for my clothes and fashion accessories. It is only the
toilet that demarcates us. Yes, at times he comes to my room to watch the
television and chat with me but majorly his room is where we both live. And
that is one of the strategies of marriage, if couple say they are married, why
stay apart in different rooms? It doesn’t make sense to me. For the marriage to
work, you must share intimacy, you must share comfort, you must share secrecy,
you must share affection and you must share love. So for me, I tie my marriage
to the kind of intimacy I enjoy with my husband. To answer your question
properly, we have been sharing the same room since the beginning of our
relationship.
What kind of a person is your
husband?
husband?
 |
| Princess Rose Osipitan with her Senior Daughter |
My husband
is a very decent man, a man whose word is his bond, easy going and easy to be
with. Apart from the fact that he is a royalty, my husband is also a man of
God. He is of the Cherubim and Seraphim, Ayo
Ni o faith. A devoted man of God with a heart of gold and that has been a
huge benefit to our relationship. I thank God for his life and for the kind of
life we share together.
is a very decent man, a man whose word is his bond, easy going and easy to be
with. Apart from the fact that he is a royalty, my husband is also a man of
God. He is of the Cherubim and Seraphim, Ayo
Ni o faith. A devoted man of God with a heart of gold and that has been a
huge benefit to our relationship. I thank God for his life and for the kind of
life we share together.
What is your husband’s favorite meal
and can you cook it?
and can you cook it?
 |
| Princess Rose Osipitan with one of her lovely daughters |
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His favorite
meal is Eba and Efo Riro with Panla fish. You know
Ijebu men eats lots of eba with vegetable soup. My husband
loves his normal fresh fish, snail and vegetable soup but give him Eba
with vegetable soup and Panla and you are a great darling
(laughter). I do that for him personally
meal is Eba and Efo Riro with Panla fish. You know
Ijebu men eats lots of eba with vegetable soup. My husband
loves his normal fresh fish, snail and vegetable soup but give him Eba
with vegetable soup and Panla and you are a great darling
(laughter). I do that for him personally
What is the secret of your fresh
look?
look?
 |
| Princess Rose Osipitan with Close Friend, Lady Risikat Odumosu aka Iyalaje of Gutter Market & Founder, Rizzy Fashion & Accessories |
I don’t
know, it is God, honestly I don’t know.
I don’t use cosmetic, it is natural beauty. In fact, I don’t even do
manicure and pedicure, I don’t do things like that. This is my natural beauty given to me by God.
At times, if I feel I am moving up and I have to come down, I have a scale in
my bathroom. At least once in a week, I check my weight. If I am growing
fatter, I try to trim down. If I am going down too much, I try to moderate my
food as well. But I don’t even go to the saloon, even creaming my face, I don’t
do all those things. It doesn’t add up to one’s beauty. I am a natural person and
I believe in natural things.
know, it is God, honestly I don’t know.
I don’t use cosmetic, it is natural beauty. In fact, I don’t even do
manicure and pedicure, I don’t do things like that. This is my natural beauty given to me by God.
At times, if I feel I am moving up and I have to come down, I have a scale in
my bathroom. At least once in a week, I check my weight. If I am growing
fatter, I try to trim down. If I am going down too much, I try to moderate my
food as well. But I don’t even go to the saloon, even creaming my face, I don’t
do all those things. It doesn’t add up to one’s beauty. I am a natural person and
I believe in natural things.
Who is your role model?
 |
| Two of Princess Rose Osipitan’s Best Friends, Alhaja Chief (Mrs.) Basirat Olayinka Ojugbele and Lady Alake Rotimi Adejonwo Oshun |
I like Bill Clinton he is one global leader
who has a mature sense of diplomacy and a high sense of giving. He gives in
words and ideas. I like his personality as well. That is one leader that
motivates me. I read his biography and I listen to him on CNN or any
international channel he speaks.
who has a mature sense of diplomacy and a high sense of giving. He gives in
words and ideas. I like his personality as well. That is one leader that
motivates me. I read his biography and I listen to him on CNN or any
international channel he speaks.
Do you do golf or table tennis?
 |
| Elder Friends of Princess Rose Osipitan, Madam Bisi Edionseri (L) and Madam Bisi Abiola (R) |
I don’t do
any of that. I like listening to good music in the corner of my room. I have a
very big screen where I watch musical videos and musical shows, I enjoy those
lives shows very much and that is one hobby I find healing. If you do good
music, I am game for it. I like quality music be it Jazz, Highlife, Juju, Apala or Hip-Hop, let the music
have a message, let it have a melody and above all, let it be philosophical I
will buy. I also watch our local Yoruba
movies. I love their work and I always support them. Yes, I like partying but
not at all times, I select my outings. I am an introvert to be frank with you.
any of that. I like listening to good music in the corner of my room. I have a
very big screen where I watch musical videos and musical shows, I enjoy those
lives shows very much and that is one hobby I find healing. If you do good
music, I am game for it. I like quality music be it Jazz, Highlife, Juju, Apala or Hip-Hop, let the music
have a message, let it have a melody and above all, let it be philosophical I
will buy. I also watch our local Yoruba
movies. I love their work and I always support them. Yes, I like partying but
not at all times, I select my outings. I am an introvert to be frank with you.
What is your best fashion accessory?
 |
| Princess Omolara Osipitan discussing with the Olu of Itori Kingdom, Oba Fatai Akamo inside her Lagos home |
My outing
determines my fashion apparel. But you see me in traditional dresses when I go
for social parties like Owambes; Besides
that, I can wear lady suits, I can do well with gown or any fashionable attire
that suits my mood. I like brighter
colors. When it comes to colors, I like royal blue as a favorite color. I also
like bright colors as you can see today I am wearing a bright color. Then my
accessories must be moderate and not flamboyant.
determines my fashion apparel. But you see me in traditional dresses when I go
for social parties like Owambes; Besides
that, I can wear lady suits, I can do well with gown or any fashionable attire
that suits my mood. I like brighter
colors. When it comes to colors, I like royal blue as a favorite color. I also
like bright colors as you can see today I am wearing a bright color. Then my
accessories must be moderate and not flamboyant.
What about your best meal?
“Rice and Efo riro”
As I came in this evening I saw you
in the kitchen cooking. I can’t believe my eyes?
in the kitchen cooking. I can’t believe my eyes?
|
| Princess Rose Omolara Osipitan with one of her sweet daughters on her wedding day |
I love
cooking, there are some meals I don’t allow my house help to cook for me. She
can only cook stew but when it comes to Efo Riro, I am in charge; that is
what you met me doing (Laughter). And like I told you earlier, that is my
husband’s favorite soup as well. I like it with rice, he likes it with Eba.
It is also a lesson for our women folk, whatever that is meant for your husband
must not be allowed to be handled by anyone else but you. That is one of the
cardinal laws of marriage.
cooking, there are some meals I don’t allow my house help to cook for me. She
can only cook stew but when it comes to Efo Riro, I am in charge; that is
what you met me doing (Laughter). And like I told you earlier, that is my
husband’s favorite soup as well. I like it with rice, he likes it with Eba.
It is also a lesson for our women folk, whatever that is meant for your husband
must not be allowed to be handled by anyone else but you. That is one of the
cardinal laws of marriage.
Can you say a parting word to young
married women?
married women?
|
| Princess Omolara & Prince Bola Osipitan… Love made in heaven.. |
I think
today’s young people lack patience. Both the men and the women want to climb
the ladder of success quickly; they want to get to the top quickly. I will
advise them to climb slowly. Slow and steady they say, wins the race. They want to climb the step very, very fast
but I can liken their ambition to cooking a pot of soup. If you cook a pot of
soup, you don’t just start eating the soup immediately, you have to allow the
soup to cool down before you start eating it or else you will not only burn
your bowels but you will equally destroy your lungs. Young people nowadays want to cook now, eat the food,
hot-hot, so they are on the fast lane which is a wrong lane. Our young girls
these days don’t want to work, they only want to follow men old enough to be
their father and earn free, cheap money. That is a very bad trend, women should
stay on their job. Your work will make way for you eventually. Don’t be lazy. The
young women of today must have a re-think. They must start to see hard work as
the only remedy. Be focused, honest and God fearing and see if you wont make it
in life.
today’s young people lack patience. Both the men and the women want to climb
the ladder of success quickly; they want to get to the top quickly. I will
advise them to climb slowly. Slow and steady they say, wins the race. They want to climb the step very, very fast
but I can liken their ambition to cooking a pot of soup. If you cook a pot of
soup, you don’t just start eating the soup immediately, you have to allow the
soup to cool down before you start eating it or else you will not only burn
your bowels but you will equally destroy your lungs. Young people nowadays want to cook now, eat the food,
hot-hot, so they are on the fast lane which is a wrong lane. Our young girls
these days don’t want to work, they only want to follow men old enough to be
their father and earn free, cheap money. That is a very bad trend, women should
stay on their job. Your work will make way for you eventually. Don’t be lazy. The
young women of today must have a re-think. They must start to see hard work as
the only remedy. Be focused, honest and God fearing and see if you wont make it
in life.
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| Princess Rose Osipitan with friends at a Social engagement |
