Rita Emerhor

Beautiful, alluring, graceful, poised and elegant, are some of the words often used to describe

Rita Emerhor and a mere glance at her would tell you easily it isn’t a case of lip service. Married to Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, OON, she is the founder and CEO of Heroes Furniture

Limited, a first tier Furniture and Interior decorating company, which specializes in luxury leather home and office furniture. A firm believer in the importance of service to humanity, Rita Emerhor appreciates how blessed she is as a wife, mother and successful businesswoman and has embraced the art of giving to the less privileged, something that gives her the utmost fulfillment. This delectable lady spoke to Assistant Editor, KONYE

CHELSEA NWABOGOR on the joys of turning 50 and the grace of giving.

You look great for 50. Do you feel any different having turned this age?

I woke up on November 24th and took a good look at myself. I needed to be prepared for this particular question. And to be honest, I don’t feel any different, except that I am extremely happy!

What wasyour childhood like?

I was born into a very loving home, where my mother, having thought she would not have children, showered us with so much love and affection. The last born of the family, I was especially attached to my mother. However she did not spare the rod whenever the children (I in particular) did wrong. She instilled in us a very high sense of discipline .

In the 60’s and 70’s, child rearing was a collective effort of the parents, the extended family, the school and the community as a whole.

You represented all these people and institutions wherever you went and people saw and judged them according to your behaviour. It was therefore imperative that they drilled it in you to represent them well however they deemed fit. What do you miss most about those yesteryears that you feel is lacking in our society today?

The thing I miss most is what I just described. Rearing children holistically and imbibing good character in them. The discipline that was enforced in those days, in my opinion, is lacking in our society today. There is an absolute moral bankruptcy in our youths. We are scared to tell kids when they are going astray and to rail them back in. It is very hip now to be docile with children, and to bribe them with bigger and better gifts whenever they shed a tear. I sincerely think it is the height of irresponsibility. The other day I told my daughter to correct my granddaughter and make her speak up instead of nodding her head in response to a question; and she said “Mum, that’s who she is. I can’t force her.” I said “Rhe, it’s not forcing her it’s training her.”

Nowadays, God forbid that you should be bold enough to try to correct another person’s child; you will definitely be taught a lesson. The teachers too are so afraid to discipline kids in their care as they should. I asked a teacher to beat my little hyper-active son to do his schoolwork and she looked at me very strangely, saying she would be disciplined by the authorities of the school if she did so. This ought not to be so. What in your opinion are the pluses and minuses of this lapse approach to discipline and how do you think it can be corrected?

As I said before, children need to be trained and corrected. Not all kids can effectively learn under petting and cajoling as is generally adopted today. At some point, they must be punished to learn something of value. Kids should not wrap parents around their fingers and resort to blackmail to have their way. While I do not subscribe to constant, unreasonable harassment of children, I do believe that some require a stern hand to be trained. We should not leave children to discover and learn things on their own and in their own time. That is not only very wrong but it also relegates our roles as parents to the background. God did not intend it to be so and from what I see, we are gradually reaping the fruit of such oversight in our society today. What prompted your desire to dabble into the furniture industry, and how has the experience being so far?

The furniture business was a chance for me. I used to say it was an accident but I’ve since changed it to a divine chance. On my experience, I really cannot complain at all and I am very thankful to God. But I also would add that lately the harsh economic reality in the nation is touching every single sector. Besides that, it’s been exciting and fun Being in a male dominated line of business, what are some of the challenges you have faced so far?

Well, you just have to wear your trousers and rough it out. And that’s exactly what I did. But all that is changing now with more and more women coming into the industry. The business it is heavily marketing based, and so a lot of women tend to be more

I do not think people should wait to be old before they

decide to help others. Nothing is too small to give. God will reward every effort you make at whatever level.

successful than men. Also the sector has overtime, evolved into interior designs and based on this, women are cashing in better, as people trust their taste and sense of style as compared to men. Are you involved in any charitable ventures and do you feel its something people should embrace more especially as they mature in age?

Yes I am, and thanks for asking. God mandated me several years ago to attend to the needy through feeding. I started very little every month packing nonperishable food items and provisions for about 200 families, and it is growing a little more as God provides. It is an amazing project that gives me so much joy and contentment. It always humbles me to know that people like me are desperately hungry; and it makes me more appreciative of the God who has blessed me so richly. I do not think people should wait to be old before they decide to help others. Nothing is too small to give. God will reward every effort you make at whatever level. For instance, my driver would spend several days every month buying all the necessaries for us to pack.

He takes them to the centres for distribution. Then there are those who actually take them to the people. I never see the work I do as more important than these people. We’re all contributing to helping the less privileged. What is your ultimate goal when it comes to your work and what would you like to be remembered for?

itself. Work So for thoughme is I just coulda meanssay I pioneeredto an end, the not conceptan end of in completeto be remembered furnishing ratherfor homefor what and that offices, opportunityI would likeis affordingin a little way.me to do, which is to better humanity, albeit Over body time frame you with have excellent maintainedand a gorgeous beautiful skin too? Can you let us in on beauty and fitness secrets?

This figure and all else are God’s gifts! I’m not so self-conscious or obsessed as people would think. I try to maintain a good appearance and promote good health. My eating habit leaves a lot to be desired, trust me. So I try to work out in the gym and get a lot of massages and other spa therapies. My secret? Rita eats and doesn’t lament about food, but tries to make her heart work extra to burn it. She cools down with a massage and eats again! (Laughter) As more ladies approach their 50-year mark, hey are looking more graceful than they did in their youth. Is 50 really the new 30?

Unbelievable I would say and it’s so wonderful to note. There are 60-year-old women who look so good, that you actually doubt their age. I believe women become more comfortable as they grow older. The grind of daily stress begins to reduce. Uncertainty about the future also begins to pale.

Women are also beginning to take better care of themselves by exercising more and taking luxurious breaks if they can afford it. So yeah, we’re rocking the years graciously. I’d definitely say 50 is the new 30!! You are a very stylish woman. What influences your sense of style and who is your style icon?

This is a tough question. I like to think I am my own person. I wear what suits me and I already know what it is when I enter a shop. I know my body type and just go for what I can wear well. I enter a place and in 10 minutes I’m done. I never try on clothes before buying neither do I get involved in such things as the rave of the moment. So, crazy as it sounds, I have no icon. But I admire anybody who dresses well for his or her body type.

What’s a day like in the life of Rita Emerhor?

Very simple and gets more so each day. I’m not as busy as I used to be, so I take my time doing things that I like. Wake up, send the kids to school, then breakfast for hubby (if he’s around), and send him off to work. Then settle for my time with God. Come down to my home office to attend to some business, then into the gym. Maybe get a massage afterward. Kids come home and its playtime, unless I have a meeting in church. I also always cook in the evening for my Oga when he comes back from work. Mundane but exciting and fulfilling for me. If you could give a piece of advice to a young woman who is veering into your career field what would it be?

Keep it simple and real. Often times, we sacrifice too much for our careers and when we’re done doing that, it comes back to haunt us. Always maintain a good and healthy balance between your core values and the pressure of running a successful business. Build solid bridges with friends and associates that will stand the test of time.

Be trustworthy. Also, try to find other opportunities to invest so that you can spread your risk. Keep your home on the forefront of every earthly agenda after God. Then you will smile broad and long. Looking back, what’s the greatest lesson you have learnt from life?

Life is a learning process and I know I still have a lot to learn. But so far, I would say being in the place God wants you to be is the greatest place of all. A place of complete joy and peace and accomplishment

Any last words?

I feel so blessed for the love of those around me. I want to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a wonderful new year ahead. To women in general, I say keep faith; we are all doing great and will do greater still.