Skip to main content

MAW ENTREPRENEUR OF THE WEEK

MAW ENTREPRENEUR OF THE WEEK: Oprah Winfrey

MAW Entrepreneur of the week: Oprah Winfrey

Born January 29, 1954, Oprah Winfrey has one of the most amazing modern rags-to-riches stories of all time. As you're probably well aware, Oprah is the richest African American of the 21st century, and with a net worth of over $3 billion, she is regarded as arguably the most influential woman in the world.

Her incredible success is all the more impressive considering her rough upbringing. The daughter of an unmarried teen who worked as a housemaid, Oprah grew up in extreme poverty. Her family was so poor that, as a child, Oprah was teased at school for wearing dresses made of potato sacks. She also was the victim of sexual abuse at the hands of family members, which she discussed with TV viewers during a special episode of her show.

Oprah's first big break was her gig at the local black radio station. Stations managers were impressed with her oration and passion, leading Oprah to work her way up the ranks to bigger radio stations, eventually resulting in her appearing on TV as well.

Winfrey has won many accolades throughout her career which includes 18 Daytime Emmy Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Chairman’s Award, 2 Primetime Emmy Awards, including the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award, a Tony Award, a Peabody Award and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, awarded by the Academy Awards and two additional Academy Award nominations.

It was actually Robert Ebert who convinced Oprah to sign the deal that launched The Oprah Winfrey Show. And the rest, folks, is history.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

N-Power: FG extends Batch C enrolment Aug 8

FG extends Batch C N-Power enrollment to August 8 Add caption The Federal Government says the enrolment for Batch C scheme of the N-Power Programme which started on June 26 will now close on August 8. Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, who disclosed this via  Twitter on Sunday night, said over 5 million applications have been received for the scheme. The Federal Government plans to enrol 400,000 applicants in the Batch C scheme. Batches A and B of the programme who are about to exit the programme held a rally at the National Assembly Complex last week, requesting FG to employ them as well as pay them a grant of N600,000 each. Providing an update on the development, the minister said on Sunday, “I received the news of a protest at the National Assembly by N-Power Batch A and B beneficiaries who presented a list of demands which we are reviewing and will address as practically possible. “Let me reiterate that th...

PRESIDENT BUHARI RECEIVES MADAGASCAN COVID-19 HERBAL “DRUG” FROM GUINEA BISSAU’S PRESIDENT EMBALO

PRESIDENT BUHARI RECEIVES MADAGASCAN COVID-19 HERBAL “DRUG” FROM GUINEA BISSAU’S PRESIDENT EMBALO President Muhammadu Buhari Saturday at the State House, Abuja, received the Madagascan native formulation against the Covid-19 pandemic, and reiterated that he will listen to science before allowing traditional or any new medicines to be administered on Nigerians. At an audience meeting with President Umaro Sissoco Embalo of Guinea Bissau who brought along with him the samples of the traditional medicine as shared to African nations by Madagascar, President Buhari said his position on all such herbal or traditional medicinal postulates had remained the same. “We have our institutions, systems and processes in the country. Any such formulations should be sent to them for verification. I will not put it to use without the endorsement of our institutions,” said the Nigerian President. On the main reason for his visit, President Embalo said having stabilized his country after the tus...

Local investors take charge as foreign investors remain cautious amid FX scarcity

Local investors take charge as foreign investors remain cautious amid FX scarcity Renewed positive sentiments in the global space dominated markets in the month of May as investors’ optimism for a speedy economic recovery continues to support appetite for risky assets. This is also coming on the heels of ease in lockdown and gradual reopening of economic activities. In Nigeria, domestic investors took the driving seat at the nation’s equities market in the month of May as they took positions in cheap and dividend-paying bellwether stocks. On the other hand, foreign investors who are unable to move their funds from the country due to FX scarcity rolled their money back into the equities market. In the month of May, total value of transactions executed by domestic Investors out performed transactions executed by Foreign Investors by 40percent. According to data released by the Nigeria Stock Exchange, total transactions executed between May and April revealed that total domest...