Vitiligo Foundation

The British-born transformational speaker, using her experiences – was scorned by peers for her perceived ugliness and also the psychological trauma resulting from an auto accident that left her with several scars and broken leg – told the ladies, majority of whom were mothers, not to limit themselves; as they could achieve whatever they set out to, if only they believed they could.

She told them of how the accident, which happened to be a blessing in disguise, helped her to discover make-up as an art while trying to hide the over 200 scars on her face. It also paved the way for her to be a motivational speaker.

Omowale, as the elated students called her, while speaking on the topic, What you put in your life is what you get, told the mothers among them, to always ‘talk with their children and not talk to them.’

She said a psychiatrist was able to discover earlier in her life that she was being bullied by the kind of drawings she was always putting up, which included people standing alone and never holding hands — unlike her mates drawings.

The students,out of love , gave Eryca parting gifts of bracelet, earrings and necklace as well as a tie and dye T-shirt with the inscription, Eko o ni baje to Omowale.

The make-up specialist and industry consultant was also at the official launching of Vitiligo Support And Awareness Foundation (VISTSAF), where she was made a patron. The foundation happens to be the first of its type in Nigeria and Africa.

Speaking at the launch, Eryca said she is going to use her personality to further the interest of the organization and called on those living with the skin disorder to associate with VITSAF for information, treatment and education.

She encouraged Vitiligo patients to be themselves and to live their normal life as the disorder is not contagious or infectious.