Connecting Africa’s Skilled Professionals
ReConnect Africa is a unique website and online magazine for the African professional in the Diaspora. Packed with
essential information about careers, business and jobs, ReConnect Africa keeps you connected to the best of Africa.
Foluke Akinlose
Editor, Precious Online
….. the University of North London (BA) followed by the University of Westminster where I took a postgraduate degree in Journalism.
...writing articles for my local newspaper when I was 15.
Foluke Akinlose is an editor and journalist with over twelve years experience of writing for online and traditional media.
Foluke has worked with ITN, Moreover.com – a Reuters backed technology company - and the Arts Council of England.
Foluke is the founder of Precious, www.preciousonline.co.uk, a magazine and network for women of colour.
Precious was the first publication of its kind in the UK when it launched in 1999 and since then it has gone on to support, profile and inspire women through its magazine, events and conferences working with a range of partners that include, Pearson PLC, Social Enterprise London and the British Library.
...run my own business, a childhood dream come true! I have wanted to start a magazine since I was a 12 years old. I had, and still do have, a blind passion for magazines, and used to spend all my pocket money on them.
It swiftly dawned on me that there was nobody in them who looked anything like me; there were no features about black culture, black success or even basic stuff like articles on hair and beauty products that would suit my skin. My friends did their growing up thorough these magazines and I had to rely on expensive American imports such as Essence.
I vowed when I grew older I would launch a magazine for ‘girls like me’. When I grew older I realised that print magazine publishing was an expensive business and I just didn’t have that kind of cash. I was working at ITN when the internet was just beginning to take off in the UK, and noticed lots of online magazines for African-American women but there was nothing in the UK. So I launched Precious. At the time it was very new and we received lots of accolades for our innovation.
We’ve been around for over eight years now and what started as a magazine has evolved into a professional and entrepreneurial network and host of The Precious Awards!
... success brings its stresses, strains and delights.
... my parents. Their sheer grit and determination to make a life for themselves and their children in the UK, still humbles and inspires me.
... treat people how you would want to be treated…it all comes good in the end!
Keep yourself updated with our FREE newsletters now!