Schuster started her professional career as an academic, before making a switch into the financial industry. She first ventured into mainstream politics in 2005 when she contested and won a seat at the German Bundestag representing Roth constituency under the umbrella of the Free Democratic Party. No sooner had she assumed office that she was delegated with the responsibility to deputizing the head of the Consumer Protection and Home Affairs’ Committee. She made a clear stand with United Nations policies that promotes the supply of humanitarian aids to some crises-infested states in Africa, including Somalia and Dafur in 2007 and 2008, and Sudan in 2009.

Without any hassle, she secured a return to the house in the 2009 elections, and served in different positions in the same year. She was the spokeswoman for the Committee on Human Right and Humanitarian Aids, as well as the German delegate to the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly, and as member of Committee on Foreign Relations as a member. As human rights advocate, she co-initiated an open letter to the authoritarian regime of Dmitry Medvedev to forestall his abuses of human rights in Russia, criticized illegitimate arrest of political oppositions in Europe, represented the Council of Europe to observe the 2011 Tunisian elections; and raised awareness in Africa on human’s inalienable rights. She also served as General Rapporteur on the abolition of death penalty, and was a vibrant campaigner for United Nations supports for peace-keeping mission in South Sudan in 2012, and Mali in 2013.

Schuster has a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Regensburg. She belongs to the Justice for Sergei Magnitsky Interparliamentary Group, an international network of politicians committed to the promotion of human rights. She is well known for her contributions to the promotion of human rights, international conflict resolutions, and peace and security in Africa. Marina Schuster is our woman of the week.

Sources

1. Marina Schuster. Wayback Machine Council of Europe.
2. Aid, political and economic ties focus of German minister’s Africa visit. Ethiopian Review.
3. Text of letter to President Medveved. Financial Times
4. Abgeordnete 16. Wahlperiode: Schuster Marin. Deutscher Bundestag.

Lilian made formal her interest in a cooking career when she moved to the United Kingdom in 1978 to burnish her culinary skills through self-training. By the sheer force of passion, she was able to arrange her insightful thoughts on recipes, and communicate how culture and geography could combine to influence food habits. After years of a successful career in London, she went on to establish the Asian Women of Achievements Awards in 1999 to celebrate the Asian females who have blazed the trails in their respective careers. Subsequently she founded Spice Magic Limited in London to provide quality services in cookery and catering, taking the name from her first published cookbook in 2001, ‘Spice Magic: An Indian Culinary Adventure’.

In 2006, she initiated another award, ‘Women of the Future Awards’ to encourage young women in business in the UK and build a formidable mentorship platform that would transform the food industry. The following year, she established the ‘Women of the Future Network’ to bring together women, both experienced and inexperienced, for business connections. ‘The Future Awards’ in South East Asia after a decade. Lilani has, through her several award presentations, stimulated UK and international business ecosystem for women’s participation, and assisted restaurants to improve profitability.

She is an alumnus of Calcutta University where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Education and English in 1974 and holds a Graduate Diploma in Social Communication Media and Management Studies from the University of Bombay, India, and the Council of National Academic Awards, UK.

Lilani stands out from the crowd due to her strong advocacy in women empowerment, mentorship to young females, and her business advice that have transformed growth in the food industry. Pinky Lilani is our woman of the week.

Sources

Spice Magic, Discovery through Food. www.spicemagic.com

Woman’s Hour. Pinky Lilani. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/g1f5Hn25f6wrdRQyLNR4tP/pinky-lilani-obe/

Pinky Lilany CBE DL. https://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/about-us/people/pinky-lilani-cbe-dl/

The Edge. Pinky Lilali. https://www.theedge-uk.com/view/pinky-lilani/

Womanthology. Pinky Lilani. http://www.womanthology.co.uk/celebrating-15th-asian-women-achievement-awards-nominations-awards-co-founder-pinky-lilani-obe/

When Sawyer became sick, he was taken to the First Consultants Medical Centre, (FCMC) Lagos, where Ameyo, was working at the time as the Lead Consultant physician and Endocrinologist. There Sawyer was diagnosed with the Ebola virus by Ameyo. Despite pressure from Liberian officials that Sawyer should be discharged to attend a conference, Ameyo resisted it all and was able to keep him in hospital. Her singular act of bravery and professional astuteness saved a whole nation a most likely health catastrophe as the virus was contained. In Ameyo’s own words, her action was ‘for the greater public good.’ Sadly, Ameyo and three of her colleagues contracted the virus and died as a result.  She was honoured by Google Doodle on 27 October 2018, her birthday.

Ameyo Stella Adadevoh is our Woman of the Week because she represents bravery, leadership, selflessness, and service.

Sources:

BBC News. Ebola crisis: How Nigeria’s Dr Adadevoh fought the virus, Tue. 07 May 2019, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-29696011

DRASA Health Trust. Dr Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, Tue. 07 May 2019, https://www.drasatrust.org/dr-adadevoh/

Daily Post. Google honours Dr Ameyo Adadevoh with doodle, Tue. 07 May 2019, https://dailypost.ng/2018/10/27/google-honours-dr-ameyo-adadevoh-doodle/