The reggae scene in Nigeria is beginning to regain its groove again with the return of veteran reggae dance hall artiste, Victory Okelezo (a.k.a Kupa Victory) to the scene.

Kupa Victory, who was one of the reggae acts that made things happen on the scene in the 1990s winning so many awards before taking a hiatus made a grand return early this year with a single titled: Ijo Wa, was one of the artistes that featured in just concluded Loud in 9ja Tour, a musical concert on the road that was sponsored by telecommunication giant, MTN.

Kupa Victory was invited to make a special guest appearance in three out of the six locations that the tour touched base.

The cities were Kupa performed include Ibadan on November 8, Abuja November 22, and Ilorin December 14. Fans in Ibadan and Abuja were taken to another climax of fun and excitement as Kupa thrilled them with his old evergreen and new tunes.

Kupa Victory who has also been in the studios working on his forthcoming album, to be titled: Life is a movie,  with top producers like Cobhams, Kuk Beat, Papi Jay and others used the show to reestablish himself and sound a note of warning to now generation musicians that like they say, ‘old soldier never die but only retires’.

But in his case, Kupa has returned from a brief break he embarked on to regain not only his rightful place in music but to bring back the good old days of reggae music.

According to the Delta State born act, his next single will soon be out before the full album with which he hopes to revive reggae music in Nigeria.

However Kupa’s performance in Illorin, the Kwara State capital on Saturday, December 14, 2013, during the Loud in 9ja Tour was almost marred by the sub-standard musical equipment provided by MTN.

Though, crowd turnout was massive as residents of Ilorin kept trooping in to see the array of stars on parade that include Afro juju music creator, Sir Shina Peters, but technically it was a mess and a disaster as the sound system was nothing to write home about; the stage lights was coming on and off.

When Kupa was performing on stage, the situation was so bad that when Sir Peters came to the venue he couldn’t go on stage but had to bring his personal engineer to do a sound check right in front of the crowd before he mounted the stage and took fans down memory lane of Ijo Shina days.

Sources to Sunday Entertainment confirmed that a similar problem was what musicians that performed earlier in Port Harcourt had to contend with. “We thought that Port Harcourt experience was just one off thing and that the problem had been fixed but we were surprised to see it happen again in Port Harcourt,” our source said.

Other artistes that also performed at the Ilorin leg of the tour were Sound Sultan, Praise, Mike of Project Fame and others.

The post How bad sound almost marred Kupa’s show at MTN Tour appeared first on Daily Independent Nigeria Newspapers.

By Aramide Oikelome  -  Lagos

Christmas is here again; a time celebrated across the world in commemoration of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, wvho according to biblical teaching is believed to be the Saviour of the world. Although there is a lot of controversy surrounding the actual date and month the Saviour was born, there is no denying the fact that the remembrance of Christmas in most parts of the world is something that elicits unique excitement in the air.

Although primarily associated with the Christian religion, it has become increasingly clear that the much-acclaimed festival is fast losing its religious boundaries as both Christians and non-Christians now embrace the celebration and mark it with pomp and pageantry.

For many, Christmas is a time to change clothes and get beautiful, even as the streets are illuminated by colorful lights, gifts exchange hands and there is loud noise in the streets, with singing and dancing.

In fact, the Christmas celebration would not be complete without the beautiful Christmas trees that are constructed in most sitting room and houses. The tree is an integral part of Christmas in Nigeria and other countries of the world, often rounded by shiny tiny lights that also run around the sitting room and reminds us of the festival and helps us keep abreast of the season.

For many youths too, it is a time to get married as people travel to their respective states of origin, towns and villages to celebrate with their loved ones. It is often a time for family re-union, a time to re-strategize and focus; a time to seek the face of God and make New Year resolutions. Indeed, Christmas is hence is a thoroughly family affair, laced with lots of excitement and funfair.

Back in the villages, you would be greeted by the numerous masquerade groups formulated by the younger people who gently display their dance moves in exchange for foreign currencies. This dance groups make the Christmas experience soothing and comforting. The young girls also have their dance groups, though without a masquerade but with palm frond tied to their left feet as a sign of bravery. They also make money by displaying their well thought out dance steps.

Interestingly, even Muslims and people of other faiths are not left out of the celebration. In the words of Alhaji Rasheed Alabi, “One major reason why Muslims inadvertently get caught up in the frenzy of Christmas celebration is that it comes just one week before the New Year festivity, hence the last few days ending the year, including December 25^th are usually regarded as Yuletide season in every nation of the world.”

“During this Yuletide season, year-end presents/souvenirs are exchanged between individuals, families, companies and corporate bodies; even as goodwill messages and appreciation gifts are sent to bosses, teachers, family, friends, stewards, neighbours and even the poor and needy in the society.  It is generally believed that the year should end on a good and cordial note when all scores are resolved before the dawn of a brand New Year.

“For Muslims, Christmas is not about religion but about sharing, about reunion and fellowship with family and friends,” he said.

Sunday Independent took time out to talk with some people on what Christmas means to them. In the words of Nkechi Nwigbo, “Christmas is such a wonderful holiday but actually Christmas day is the birthday of our Lord, Jesus Christ. This day doesn’t mean that we should only give gifts, but to realize that this is the day God sent His only son so that we might have salvation.”

Nwigbo cautioned, “This is what it is supposed to mean, but most people have now made it seem like a day to give gifts and talk about Father Christmas, when we should be telling the children the true meaning of this day. Everything else is good. The gifts and everything, but it is good to remember the true meaning of Christmas.”

Corroborating this, Tommy Odunsi submits, “It is a period all mankind should reflect on the magnitude of God’s love for man. It is a period to commemorate the fulfillment of God’s promise to Adam after his fall – that is reconciliation. Man should, therefore, use this opportunity to make up with both God and his fellow man.”

For Anaba Gregory, “Christmas should be a day for the family, but today, it has become a day about how much money can be spent and how quick you can open one present to get to the next. I believe the meaning of Christmas has been lost through the years because of incessant socio-political problems in Nigeria. You can’t travel as desired because of high cost of transportation. That is the tragedy of a bad nation.”

“I think Christmas has lost the glory and instead of being about love and sharing with family, it is all about how to survive and make ends meet. It is so sad that we have gone away from the true meaning of Christmas. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to give one gift and have a wonderful dinner and enjoy just being with your family instead of over spending and going into debt? Well, that is my outlook on what Christmas has become.”

Moses Kwentua argues, “In this part of the world, Christmas is like a celebration of capitalism and a time when we pretend that our good behaviour for the day will carry us over to the rest of the year. Good food, presents and big parties characterize the season. Meanwhile, there is no fuel, no light, no money and bad governance.”

“From year to year, it is the same old story. Is that the meaning of Christmas?” He queried.

For Cassandra Igbokwe, “Christmas means celebrating baby Christ’s birthday with family and friends and also enjoying vacation with family.”
She added, “It is the best time to exchange gifts with friends and family and just hanging out and having fun,” but cautioned: “It is important to forgive those who have offended us and remember them according to the Lord’s Prayer.”

Ubani Charles laments the fact that many do not understand the true essence of Christmas. His words, “It is rather unfortunate that many people think that sending presents once a year is what Christmas is all about. No, it is not only about sharing and giving gifts. It is more spiritual.
In my view, Christmas is the birth of Jesus Christ. Every year, first thing is to say ‘Happy Birthday Jesus Christ’. Christmas is also to be with family, caring, sharing and loving and just being happy and being together. But one needs to carry that out all year through. Love, share, care, keep in touch with loved ones all year through. I believe it is Christ’s way to keep the spark lighting with love, joy, peace, happiness, and hope that Christ will come again.

In all, “Christmas in Nigeria is a time for celebration and reconnection, the experience is always an unforgettable one. Visitors are welcomed and there is no house that is left without the scent of chickened stew as most Nigerians celebrate it with chicken stew, rice and assorted drinks,” said Patience Omoregie.

Clerics however warn that Christians should not lose sight of the spiritual essence of Christmas while relishing the joy of the season.

According to Pastor Israel Aderemi of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Ikeja, “Much as Christmas is a time of rejoicing that a Saviour was born to redeem mankind from his state of hopelessness and sin, it also calls for caution because the essence of Christ’s coming is saving us from our sins.

For as long as we continue in sin, we have not embraced the gift of God for us. It means we are ungrateful to God for giving us His son.”  The cleric added that Christmas season is not a time to indulge in sinful practices but a time to appreciate God’s unparalleled gift to mankind and to embrace His saving grace.

On a similar note, the arrowhead of St. Michael Church of Christ, (Cherubim and Seraphim), Ikorodu, Prophet Elias Babatope urged Christians to be prayerful at this time so that the devil does not take advantage of their merry-making ventures to gain access into their lives.

The post Why Christmas cuts across religious boundaries appeared first on Daily Independent Nigeria Newspapers.

By Grace Edema

Would anyone ever consider having seafood in place of chicken for the Christmas celebration?  Although the season is usually celebrated with chicken year in, year out, for a change of taste, seafood dishes can be considered for the celebration.  If any family decides to celebrate the season with seafood, it is not because of financial challenges or because seafoods are cheaper; it will definitely be  out of choices.

In addition, seafood is healthier than meat and chicken. There are various types which could be made into different dishes. Seafoods include not only fishes like catfish, tuna, titus, tilapia, croaker, to mention a few. Others are shellfish and roe, including periwinkle, shellfish, crayfish, lobster, oyster, crab, shrimps, prawns to mention a few. Seafoods could also be made in to different foods like fish pepper soup, grilled fish; roasted and others.

Abisoye Akanmu said he will most likely consider having seafoods to celebrate the Christmas, so as to have a new food taste.

“Chicken is very common during the Christmas season and one could definitely be tired of chicken. I may also prefer seafood as symbolic to mark the death and resurrection of Christ in the season”.

To Charles Dickson, a public relations practitioner, he sees nothing so special with eating chicken during the Christmas, but a time to celebrate with whatever is available. “Seafoods are more nutritious and have low or no cholesterol and the iodine content too is beneficial. You know, most of those frozen chickens we buy are contraband and preserved with formalin. So, I think there is even safety in seafoods”.

On the contrary, Joy Adekanbi said her kids would definitely reject seafoods from her because they are always expecting to eat specially prepared chicken.

“Seafood? My kids will not eat it. They are always looking forward to the special meals to be cooked with chickens. So because of my kids, I will stick to chicken, except if I am able to convince them that it is going to be a seafood Christmas, and if they accept, I will go with seafood”.

In the early 90s, seafood are commonly seen at different markets in Lagos, unlike now when it has become a great task getting some of these shellfishes.

President of Animal Science Association of Nigeria (ASAN), Mopelola Omotoso, revealed that the scarcity of seafood at different markets across the state is due to the advent of militancy and insurgency, because most of the seafoods are harvested in their waters.

“You know the Niger Deltans have different seafoods in their water, but since the militancy crisis, there has been a scarcity here, except some at the few waters around Lagos.”

While reeling out the nutritional benefits of seafood, she said: “Fishes have lower cholesterol, easier to digest them; they are more healthy in terms of the constituents of the fish”.

In addition, dietitian, Uchechi Umeche, added, “Seafoods are low in calorie, high in protein, iron, zinc, potassium, Vitamin A, E, C and D. The protein is also easier to digest, compared to meat and chicken, because, it has less connective tissue. Most are high in sodium and they are rich in iodine for mental development”.

On safety of seafoods, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S, in an online report, explained that like other perishable foods, food borne illness caused by microorganisms or naturally occurring toxins is the primary food safety risk associated with seafood. Illness is usually associated with improper harvesting, handling, storage or preparation. Those seafood products that are consumed raw or partially cooked represent the highest risk.

Other risks associated with environmental contaminants could be a concern for some individuals, especially those who catch and eat their own fish or shellfish from lakes, rivers, streams or bays or harbors that are contaminated by environmental pollutants.

The post Would you opt for a seafood Christmas? appeared first on Daily Independent Nigeria Newspapers.

‘Children are a gift from the Lord, they are reward from Him.’ This biblical quotation must have been joyfully read by the parents of Gbemisola Ibidun Bajomo before her birth and revised rapturously by them at her christening. In showing appreciation for the safe arrival of God’s bundle of joy in their family, they pledged to put her education on the front burner.  The comely lass then, now an unassuming school head and a mother, spoke with Reporter Anthonia Soyingbe last week on Nigerian women and why many of them are finding it tough at their home fronts and businesses.

In describing whom a woman is, Bajomo says she is a being biologically different from a man. As a mother she is another person because she has organs which enable her carry fruit in her womb for nine months, procreate or produce children who are supposed to be brought up in the way of the Lord. “But her major responsibility is to develop the child socially by inculcating the values of the society in him so that he doesn’t grow up to be a delinquent in the future,” she says. Unfortunately many mothers pass warped values to their children, fail to meet their needs or properly keep their homes to allow peace to grow therein.

But Bajomo believes man should be the political head of home, therefore she opposes the choice of most women nowadays for single life that provides freedom and independence. Her aversion to the trend stems from her belief that it affronts God’s principle which makes a woman man’s helpmate. “A woman that wants to live alone is going to offend God. God says that a man and a woman should live together for the purpose of procreation and companionship, but because many women nowadays are financially independent of men or abundantly blessed, they feel there is no the need to be under the authority of a man,” she stated. “Even in homes where the woman singularly brings up children, they will be prone to indiscipline, except God helps her. There is no respect for a woman who is alone because men would treat her like any other free woman in the street,” the Bible class teacher adds.

Taking Sunday Independent like an historian to the lives of women in the rural settings in the olden days, Bajomo avers that even though they are described as house wives, they were not idlers or layabouts but bundle of industry and physical exertion creatively processing farm produce brought home by their husbands into consumable or saleable goods. To her the idea of career woman is a product women enlightenment and advancement in education which enable them to specialise in various areas – teaching, law, nursing, piloting, engineering etc. Even though many women have held their own successfully in many profession, it is disheartening the minus a few score in their homesteads because they find it difficult to cope with the heavy load of child bearing, birthing and caring. “Many even find it difficult to overcome obstacles in working full time because of faulty plans or planlessness,” the school administrator said she has noted.

“Child rearing,” Bajomo says, “is irksome, laborious and demanding. Any career woman that is still productive needs help, cooperation and understanding of her employer, because nowadays not every mother enjoys the assistance of her mothers- or sisters-in-law making her to patronise house helps many of whom are dangerous; or day care centres, many of which have been found to be unreliable.”

Most importantly she opines that a husband must understand the peculiarities of his wife’s career and that her job is as important to her as his is to him.

But making her sincere advice as a mother interested in peace and developments in homes of members of gender association, she says: “Women should think deeply about how a career will affect their home life or love their husbands have for them.”  She recalls that after her university education her friend and her sought employment in the media, but were discouraged by their mothers, because career in journalism is too demanding resulting in poor commitment of practitioners to their homes. Bajomo also identifies transfer on job as another cause of unstable homes but “If husbands and wives are disciplined, love and understand one another, they may surmount problems associated with this,” she reasons.

The Nigerian society, Bajomo, who is also a member of Young Women Christian Association, thinks is too male-oriented but not male-dominated because women are now in increasing numbers in scientific and technological fields, sports, military, religion, politics, business. In many of these areas, women are carving out successful career today. “In some professional bodies, we have women at the top while many organisations’ chief executives are women. Women at different levels rub shoulders with men,” she argues feeling triumphant.  “The only exception is politics which has a large presence of desperate men or men that have do-or-die mentality, not ready give women a breathing space or accept that there is nothing a woman cannot try her best possible to better,” she highlights. She blames Nigerian society’s aversion to woman participation in politics, but thinks a re-orientation can remove the developed egocentric virus ravaging many men’s reasoning faculty. “Even in offices where positions are reached by promotion, we have more women there, but in appointive and elective positions, women are either robbed or marginalised,” Bajomo complains sadly.

Still speaking about macho consciousness or macho bravado, she states that when a female is the boss, most men because of envy, bitterness or inferiority complex fail to accord her honour she deserves buttressing their action with the illogicality that they control a woman older or like her in their homes. “When they come with such sentiment you start thinking whether it is a crime for a woman to exercise authority over a man who is her subordinate,” she laments.

Although women are free to vie for leadership positions within a party or contest election, Bajomo though apolitical, suggests that every woman ambitious to be a professional politician must “make sure her home is in order and her children are well-educated, employed or independent.” The mind developer says feminine presence in Nigeria’s political plain is still scanty, but those who are there now must be allowed to play the game peacefully. “We want more women to be there, but we condemn unhealthy rivalry, or politics played on the altar of their family’s strong existence,” she notes.

However she blames the failure of most women politician to poverty, lack of strategic planning, poor organisation and pride. “Politics is not about stagecraft, rhetoric, dance, drama or fashion. It is identifying an opportunity and using it optimally to your advantage, renewing old friendship, making new friends and falling in love even with your enemies,” she said.

She thumbs up some non-governmental organisations, the mass media and the National Youth Service Corps for initiating programmes to sensitise women on reproductive health and creating awareness about HIV/AIDS, teenage pregnancy and family planning. “Though most of the programmes are urban-areas based, I am delighted that they took the programmes to Ogun State schools. I only pity large population of our rural women who have no means of accessing information on this vital subject,” she says dryly.

But memory of her youth and her doting parents returned some sparkles to her modestly powdered face. With a deep grin and joy, she took Sunday Independent into the chapter of her memoir devoted to them: “My father was an education officer while my mother was a nurse. They were so enamoured of me that the two wanted me to toe their professional lines, but my father influenced my admission to a teachers’ college, encouraged me to pursue admission to Ogun State College of Education and advised me to pursue a degree in French Education at the University of Ilorin. Even when my father noticed a guy was getting attracted to me after I had bagged my National Certificate of Education, he asked me gently: ‘Won’t you like to go to the university, get your degree before you get married?’ I promised I would. On my graduation, he felt more fulfilled and my wedding which came later was to him like the icing on the cake.” But she confesses, “My father was in the mould of shrewd Britons: strict, disciplined and meticulous. He never spared the rod or treated us with kid gloves. He’s our home spiritual leader and music director, who expected everybody to sing the tune he played on the organ.”

Married more than two decades ago, le professeur (the teacher in French) understands that immaturity robs many women marital bliss and the wisdom to face the challenges in marriage. She expatiates: “Maturity is a thing of the mind because marriage as an institution is not free from problems. It therefore demands that married couple should develop ‘shock absorbers’ to reduce the effect of occasional pains therein.” But other roadblocks on the marital highway are “financial incapacitation, tightfisted couples, infidelity, bad companies and third-party meddlesomeness.

Bajomo has a homely formula for resolving conflict in marriage. “When it happens, there is no need to be reactive instead allow the spirit of reconciliation to take control by understanding the problem first, have a peaceful meeting on it, the person at fault accepts blame and he tenders an apology. Saying ‘I am sorry’ does not dent your pride and dignity it rather makes the flame of love to glow stronger.

The le professeur extraordinaire, a moniker affixed on her when she became the chairperson of All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary School, Ado-Odo-Ota Chapter, Ogun State, recommends French be made a compulsory subject in Nigerian schools as English is a compulsory subject in Francophone schools.

The post Immaturity robs many women of marital bliss –Bajomo appeared first on Daily Independent Nigeria Newspapers.

By Anthonia Soyingbe /Lagos

“I am alive today because of God’s benevolence and because of Erelu through her organization. May God continue to strengthen her home and give her the grace and ability to forever put smiles on the faces of widows and the underprivileged in the society,” these were the emotional-laden words of Alhaja Riskatu last Sunday at the 6^th annual edition of Oasis Women Organisation (OWOG) widow empowerment program.

At a modest ceremony attended by three first-class traditional rulers from Ogun State and devoid of the common razzmatazz of many empowerment programs, 20 widows were empowered with a refrigerator each.

President and initiator of OWOG, Erelu Mojosola Adams, in her address lamented that gender issue is a panacea for peace and security in any society. According to her, women bear large chunk of unrest as 80% of refugees are reported to be women and children.

“Problems of oppressions, exploitations, discrimination and subjugation of women are neither new phenomena nor peculiar to Nigeria alone but the world at large. Millions of women globally live under the condition of abject deprivation and attack against their natural and fundamental rights. It appears that majority of womenfolk suffer discrimination, exploitation or oppression because they are women and regarded as ‘subordinate. Women’s right has been a great concern all over the world,” Adams further said in her address while urging women to rescind all forms of violence against womanhood. Adams enjoined women to always engage in productive ventures so as to contribute meaningfully to the wellbeing of their homes.

Speaking on the culture of silence which has made many women to endure violence, Adams pointed to stigmatization of female victims of violence who speak out also hinder public acknowledgment of the issue. “for some victims, domestic violence is seen as love. For many people, domestic violence is seen as a corrective tool or as a parcel which comes with every marriage specifically presented to women. The inability of women to escape violence is basically because of lack of financial wherewithal. This forces them to put up with domination for fear of the withdrawal of financial support,” She added.

Guest speaker at the occasion, Jumoke Omojuwa, treading the part of Adams, further encouraged women not to be docile in the face of discriminations against them.

“We can’t continue to fold our hands in the face of oppressions against women. Nobody will fight for us, let us all try to be our sister’s keeper, let us mentor young women properly and things will take the right shape. Let us all determine to succeed in this race of gender equality and we will surely succeed in the race because determination is the key to success.”

Lending his voice and support to the up-liftment of widows in particular and women generally, the Onitori of Itori, Oba Akorede Akamo eulogized Adams for her initiative in setting up OWOG for the emancipation and empowerment of widows and vulnerable children. “This is a very rare and I must commend you for identifying with the less-privileged. If many other people can think towards this direction, our society will definitely be a better place for us all. I am greatly impressed with what I am seeing and I am very sure it will go a long way in making our society a better place. I’m identifying with OWOG today and my fellow oba brothers in attendance are also identifying with OWOG. Our wives automatically have become members of OWOG and we won’t leave this place today without contributing meaningfully to this cause because this is a worthy cause which I am so proud of this group. OWOG is a very good reference point of genuine humanitarian service,” Akamo said.

National Coordinator of Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Comrade Gani Adams enjoined members of the group to look beyond accolades and gratifications but carry out their humanitarian acts diligently without seeking any reward.

The 20 widows were each presented with a refrigerator, six-yards of lace clothing material and a headgear.

Speaking with Daily Independent after the presentation ceremony, Adams said OWOG was born out of her passion to put smiles on the faces of the less-privileged in the society. “I live my life for the under-privileged and this is what makes me happy. It is not easy doing all these annually without the backings of government or donor agencies but I am a fulfilled woman because we are opportuned to make some people happy. From time to time we assist women and children. I work with a wonderful team and I am over joyous because we have achieved a lot since inception. We won’t relent in doing more and assisting humanity in whatever way we can.”

One of the beneficiaries who simply identified herself as Iya Bilik after receiving her gift pack from OWOG; said she has been longing to purchase a refrigerator for over 18 months to aid her selling sachet water business but she has been unable to raise the needed sum. “This is a big relief and I can’t thank God enough for counting me worthy to be a partaker of these great blessings. I sell pure (sachet) water and I have been trying all I can to raise money so as to purchase a fridge, all my efforts have been fruitless, this is a big relief. I will live the rest of my life to cherish OWOG.”

The post OWOG empowers indigent widows appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper - news,sports,politics,bussiness.

By Adedayo Odulaja  -  Lagos

Ushers as Sailors at Club Ultimate

Although the mystery object has since been unveiled but not without first generating so much attention and speculations.

Sitting pretty on the supposed deck of Oceanview Restaurant in Victoria Island, it became the cynosure of all eyes, adding to attention the exclusive and well laid out restaurant located on Adetokunbo Ademola Street, Victoria Island usually attracts.
Looking like a real ship and with its location directly facing the ocean, anyone could have been fooled to think it was the real thing.
When Daily Independent visited the place, the one-in-town structure was adorned in colours of red and gold all around. One of those working on it revealed it to be a temporary event centre, to be dismantled after the event it was conceived for.
Constructed like a ship, climbing a number of stairs enables one get into the ‘ship’ steps a few down to reach its welcoming deck of young men, spotting polo shirts, bearing Pat Nebo Crew.

On that day, they were busy putting the ship together for the event which has since come and gone.

On its walls were lined pictures of prominent persons like Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Michael Jackson, Bruce Lee, Bob Marley, Muhammed Ali, Tina Turner, Whitney Houston to Elvis Presley, Mahatma Ghandi to Barrack Obama, Tiger Woods, Ray Charles, Serena Williams, Stevie Wonder, Pele to recently-deceased Nelson Mandela, all of the personalities are change agents who have positively affected the world in various ways.
A raised platform, served as the stage in the interior of the ship while giant air conditioners were mounted all around as well. Giant TV screens were also strategically placed to enable guests view proceedings from anywhere they sat. Looking closely, it became clear that the red and gold colours were those of the popular beer brand, Gulder, brewed by Nigeria Breweries Plc.
Speaking on the idea behind the never-seen-before club experience introduced in such a distinct manner, Onyeka Okoli, the senior brand manager, Gulder; said the idea was pioneered by the team in Port Harcourt on July 26 this year.

“We thought it was the right time to show Lagosians and our consumers new innovation in and around the Gulder brand. Prior to this time, when you ask people what they know about Gulder aside talking about the brand itself, they would readily tell you it is the Gulder Ultimate Search. True Gulder Ultimate Search is a very strong platform but this is also giving a different touch to the Gulder brand and also to the Gulder consumer.

“The Gulder man has a soft side to life as well; it is not all about the jungle, running up and down, carrying loads and trying to show physical and mental strength. He is also a man that loves enjoyment and likes doing his things differently, in a very unique and distinct way, he said.
Responding to a question about what the whole event stood for, he said, “What we wanted guests and consumers to take away was the very exclusive entertainment that is very befitting to them. In an entertainment world like ours, especially in Lagos today, every now and then, people are staging shows and so there are many shows that are going on but this is one show you don’t want to miss. And this is the show for the year because we are out to pioneer innovation and creative excellence in the way we do things and that is why we didn’t make so much noise in terms of telling people what the content of the show would be and what the event would be all about. But what they saw that night will redefine the concept of what a show should be.”

He went on; the event was called “the Gulder Club Ultimate because it was an unusual club experience. Asked how much it took to put this together, he said “you are a Nigerian so just do a mental calculation of what it takes to put together a befitting event centre,” before adding that “we are not looking at the comparison; we are set to offer a unique experience because if we are looking at comparison, the Ball Room of the Expo Centre of Eko Hotel and Suites is there, we could have taken it. We could also have gone to Intercontinental or Federal Palace Hotel but we are giving the Gulder Club Ultimate a distinct identity. It is not about which one is cheaper but about what we desire to give our consumers. What you saw was similar to what we had in Port Harcourt but probably not as big
as this. Everybody rushes into Expo Hall, Intercontinental or Federal Palace but the moment you see this if we decide to do it next year, you will know it can only be Gulder.”
He revealed that the ‘ship’ can sit a maximum of one thousand people at a go, the reason he said the event was spread into a two-day show was to afford people the kind of ambience desired in a way that it still will not be crowded.”

Also, the names of the stars that performed at the event were concealed until the last moment.

But when it was unveiled, it was a heavy collection of the A-list in the entertainment industry both in Nigeria and on the international scene.
And after the show, the ‘ship,’ according to him, “would sail to another destination because we all sailed from Port Harcourt to Lagos.”

After this extremely successful outing, it remains to be seen which other location gets the chance to club in the Gulder Club Ultimate circles in future.

On the last of the two days of the unusual club experience, the smell of freshly cut wood permeated the air. The Club Ultimate had fun laid out in Lagos like a huge mat that welcomed all.
With ushers and security officials at the event dressed like sailors on the high seas, you needed to pinch yourself once in a while to reassure yourself that you were still in Victoria Island which you must have told your spouse, friends or relatives you were headed for.
A live band, with the full complement of all its components, spiced up the event. Dishing out tunes from shores far and near, it was surprising that a local song was the one that got guests in the expansive hall excited most at that point. The song was none other than Flavour’s “Ada Ada” whose beautiful video got the entire industry talking months back.
On both sides of the hall, sound technicians were propped up on platforms that made connecting with the band very easy, but they were to yield same for two of the biggest disk jockeys in the land later on.

Olamide’s “Durosoke,” went down as one of the most popular songs of 2013, was next. And with a young man not so dissimilar from the Ogun State-born Bariga, Lagos-bred music star taking charge of proceedings, the performance remained one of the most memorable for the night.
Less than an hour after the groove started, Sade’s Sweetest Taboo, so very beautifully-rendered, brought nostalgic feelings to the doorsteps of many hearts. In that guise, Patra’s “Scent of Attraction,” Diana King’s “Shy Guy,” Fugees’ “Killing me softly,” Carlos Santana’s “Maria Maria” followed among others.

As a night of excitement across borders, Fuji and Juju music were also in the mix as dished out by the band. Accompanying the pleasing tunes blaring from loudspeakers, bright lights dominate the hall.
By some minutes to midnight, with the introduction of arguably the two top DJs in the land, DJ Jimmy Jatt and DJ Humility as introduced by TV host, Frank Edoho, things took the explosive turn. Acknowledged as well was the presence of celebrities like Weird MC, Samson Siasia, Victor Ikpeba, D’Banj, Genevieve Nnaji, Dr Sid and many others.
And with DJ Humility and the highly regarded DJ Jimmy Jatt in the hall, it was indescribable fun all night long for those who were privileged enough to have been part of Club Ultimate. Many of these would be looking forward to something similar in 2014.

The post Club Ultimate’s spectacular club experience appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper - news,sports,politics,bussiness.

By Onche Odeh, Head Education & Science & Seyi Taiwo-Oguntuase   –  Lagos

• Asomugha in solidarity rally with ASUU in Lagos.

The resolution of the crisis between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the country’s universities lecturers, represented by the Academic Union of Universities (ASUU), brought a huge relief to parents, students and guardians.

Between July 3 and December 17, the lecturers suspended academic activities in all 40 federal and 39 state owned universities in Nigeria over unresolved issues in an agreement reached between the two since 2009. Finally, compromise on the part of both parties and commitments from the government ensured that the strike was called off.

The end to the ASUU strike was considered a phenomenal milestone towards the revamp of Nigeria’s education sector.

This, however, could only be by a few inches, as lecturers in all 56 government owned polytechnics under the aegis of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) have been on repeated strikes since April this year.

Speaking in an interview with Daily Independent, National President of ASUP, Mr. Chibuzor Asomugha, said, “We have been on an uninterrupted strike since October 4.”

The polytechnics lecturers had embarked on a strike action on April 26, after what the body described as Federal Government’s `cold attitude’ to polytechnic education in Nigeria.

“We suspended the strike for two months but resumed again on October 4 when the government refused to show seriousness towards our demands,” Asomugha told Daily Independent on Monday.

Although the five months old ASUU strike was enough to wave off attention from ASUP, Asomugha said, “That we have not had any form of correspondence with the government shows how insensitive they are to polytechnic education in the country.”

He said the only formal discussion they had with the government was with the chairmen of governing councils of polytechnics, Chief Ebenezer Babatope in September this year, after an initial meeting with the ministers of labour and education.

“We had to embark on the strike because the signed resolution from that meeting should have seen the government take action within two weeks. But that was ignored,” the ASUP president disclosed.

He said, “Of the 15 issues raised, only the setting up of the Needs Assessment Committee and constitution of the governing councils for all the polytechnics have been attended done, leaving out 13 others outstanding.”

ASUP has demanded the constitution of Governing Councils of Polytechnics, migration of the lower cadres on the CONTISS 15 salary scale, and release of White Paper on the Visitations to Federal Polytechnics.

Others are the need for the commencement of the Needs Assessment of Nigerian Polytechnics so as not to allow the sector to collapse totally, worrisome conditions of state owned polytechnics especially Kwara Polytechnic, all ICT Polytechnics in Ogun state, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo state among others where members are being victimized, harassed and paid mutilated salaries.

Other issues of contention the union highlighted included, unchecked appointment of unqualified persons as Rectors and Provosts of Polytechnics, Monotechnics and Colleges of Technologies by some state governments, imposition of professors from outside the polytechnic sector as Rectors, refusal of most State governments to implement the approved salary packages (CONPCASS) for members in polytechnics, monotechnics and colleges of technologies as well as the 65 year retirement age among others.

“The discrepancy between Higher National Diploma (HND) and university degree holders remains unresolved, the White Paper on the Visitations to Federal Polytechnics, not released, review of the polytechnic Act, still pending just as other issues we have raised in our demands,” Asomugha said.

Similarly, ASUP Southwest Coordinator, Comrade Dosumu Babatunde, noted in an interview with Daily Independent that the issues on the ASUP demand list were first brought to the attention of government as early as February, 2012.

He said, “In December, 2012, NEC of our union served government a 30-day ultimatum, which expired on January 31, 2013.”

“The intervening period had witnessed spirited efforts by our union to persuade government to heed our concerns in order to avert the present stage of engagement. While we have always stated that the thrust of these demands are instructive and conceived in good faith, and are geared towards the creation of broadened and balanced options that would ensure proper development of polytechnic education in Nigeria,” Babatunde said.

Continuing, he said, “It is unfortunate that government has not given enough attention to addressing them even when it is ultimately clear that Nigeria’s growth prospects will be determined, not by its natural resources, but by our human resources and quality technological education which is the springboard for economic growth and shared prosperity.”

Speaking further, Babatunde stated that over the years the polytechnic sector in Nigeria has groaned under a myriad of burdens, which have inevitably hampered the creation of a viable platform for the sector to grow and develop as it is obtainable in developed and developing global economies.

According to him, government’s budgetary provisions for the polytechnic sector in Nigeria are not only a reflection of the deep neglect of the sector, but the embarrassing extent to which our country has continued to misplace priorities in the quest for technological development.

Citing an example on the abysmal neglect as reflected in the 2012 budget where the total allocation to the Education Sector was N400.1bilion, he said polytechnic education only got 63.7 billion representing mere 15.92 per cent of the total budget for the year.

“From these records, the university sector alone received almost twice what was allocated to the polytechnics and colleges of education. This lopsidedness in funding in the tertiary sector is also clearly evident in TETfund grant disbursements, and other intervention efforts in the education sector,” he said.

He noted that government’s much talked about need to create access to education has only been expressed at the proliferation of new universities by all manners of dubious proprietorship.

The ASUP South West Coordinator argued that polytechnics in Nigeria must be re-positioned and nurtured as enviable citadels of learning and technological innovation, adding that products of the institutions and resource persons should be appreciated far more on the strength of their productivity rather than the environment that produces them.

“Our sector deserves better attention than lip service from government for it to realize its foundational goals; that’s why all the demands we have placed before government are genuine and necessary as they are aimed at achieving a better polytechnic sector in Nigeria.” he added.

However, based on the resolution of the Union’s NEC at the Federal Polytechnic Bida, Niger state, it has been agreed that the technological, and indeed, the overall development of Nigeria is only achievable through functional polytechnic education.

This, the ASUP NEC said could only be achieved with better treatment for the sector than what is currently obtainable. They also noted that the attitude of government’s approach to technical and polytechnic education in Nigeria must change to reflect proactive measures that will tackle neglect and the looming collapse of the sector.

ASUP NEC said, as major stakeholders in the polytechnic sector, the union shall continue to play her role as vanguards for the survival of polytechnic education in Nigeria.

Citing the seriousness of the union’s resolutions, the National Publicity Secretary of the Union, Mr. Clement Chirman, insisted that there are no plans to call off the strike until the issues were fully resolved.

He disclosed in reports from Jos, Plateau State that the NEC of the union met, to review the progress made so far on the negotiation with the government, and concluded that government is not serious towards resolving issues with the union, noting in various media reports that the preference for university education over polytechnic education in Nigeria by government is disappointing in view of the fact that polytechnic graduates have competed favourably with their university counterparts at workplaces.

He said the polytechnics were demanding for only N20 billion as against the universities whose demands ran into trillions of naira.

When asked about the involvement of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the union’s ongoing strike, chairman of ASUP at Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) chapter, Olatunji Arowolo, said the union is not affiliated with NLC.

“We had an agreement with Lagos state government alongside all tertiary institution in the state, which they have not fulfilled. They are using divide and rule. They have given LASU about 37.5 per cent of the 50 percent they promise to give us from our arrears while other tertiary institution, LASPOTECH, AOCOED, and MOCOPED have not been given anything,” Arowolo said, adding also that the three institutions may declare trade dispute with Lagos state government, if by the end of December 31 they are not paid.

Meanwhile, the acting Minister for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, has pleaded with the polytechnic governing councils to intervene in the ASUP strike, stating that the Federal Government would pay the N20.8 billion arrears owed polytechnic staff as soon as the procedures for payment were concluded.

Speaking during a recent meeting with the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of Federal Polytechnics in Abuja, Wike claimed that the Federal Government had met over 80 per cent of ASUP’s demands, saying the release of the white-paper on the implementation of their demands is the only aspect left.

Meanwhile, the minister has called on the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of Federal Polytechnics to mediate in the impasse between the Federal Government and the union, so as to ensure that Nigerian students return to schools.

ASUP president said the union and the chairmen of Governing Councils of the polytechnics will be meeting on December 28 on the insistence of the chairmen.

This raises hopes that solutions to the perennial strikes that have truncated the quality of polytechnic education in Nigeria may be found soon.

The post ASUU resolved, ASUP still hanging appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper - news,sports,politics,bussiness.

By Disu Kamor
Many people around the world have commenced the celebration of Christmas by wishing their family members, friends and colleagues “Merry Christmas”.

In the holy land where one still finds today communities of faith that stretch back thousands of years to the very beginnings of the church, there will be Christmas, but sadly it will not be merry.

For this diminishing community of Palestinian Christians who bear witness to two millennial of continuous Christian presence in the land called “holy” by much of the rest of the world, life will be hard and tough as usual under the Israeli occupation.

There is no difference of opinion that what exists in the occupied territories is akin to apartheid and if only a few days back, the entire world celebrated the life and times of Dr Nelson Mandela, who worked hard to break the shackles of the tyranny of apartheid on his people, the same people across the world should not stand by as the entire Palestinian people are subjected to worse conditions (worse by the accounts of some of the prominent leaders of the South African anti-Apartheid movement).

The World Conference against Racism (WCAR), an international event organized by UNESCO, in the edition held in Durban from 31 August until 8 September 2001 (titled “World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance”), declared the Israeli state policy of Zionism, and treatment of the Palestinians as racism. On October 4, 2006, a galaxy of 135 former presidents, prime ministers, foreign and defense ministers, congressional leaders and heads of international organizations issued a joint call for urgent international action to end Palestinian misery.

In their statement they declared that the conflict must immediately be settled in order to assure “security and full recognition to the state of Israel within internationally recognized borders, an end to the occupation for the Palestinian people in a viable independent, sovereign state, and the return of lost land.”

Times like these remind us of the commonalities of our religious heritages, both of which hold the life of Jesus Christ (AS) to be an example for humanity. The Qur’an states “Behold! The angels said: ‘O Mary! God gives you glad tidings of a word from Him. His name will be Jesus Christ, the son of Mary, held in honour in this world and in the Hereafter and in the company of those nearest to God.’”

This Christmas will once again be a sad reminder to the world and especially the Palestinian Christians that the holy land, our common religious and spiritual epicenter, remains in the grip of strife and tyranny. Roughly half of Bethlehem’s residents are Christian. Many people do not know that Bethlehem, the biblical birthplace of Jesus Christ is a Palestinian city with a mixed Christian-Muslim community, lying in the occupied West Bank territory.

U.N. reports indicate that Bethlehem has become isolated due to the policies of occupation forces. The report states that the spiritual, cultural and economic links between Bethlehem and Jerusalem, located just a few kilometres away, are nearly severed due to the construction of Israeli settlements around the city.

Other reports and survey also indicate that 78% of Christians blame the ongoing exodus of Christians from Bethlehem on the Israeli occupation and travel restrictions on the area Israel has erected physical barriers, restricted travel on roads to Israelis, and has intensified its policy of restricting the movement of Palestinian civilians.

Despite international regulations requiring Israel to ensure access to Christian and Muslim holy places that are under its control, for over 10 years, Christians in Palestine have been prevented from freely entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem for worship, and during Christmas, many in Bethlehem are prevented from travelling to Jerusalem.

For generations, pilgrims wanting souvenirs have bought olivewood in Bethlehem shops selling olivewood in manger scenes.

However, many of these olivewood stable shielding the baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph are now gone. In their places, looming over the angelic family, are Israeli watchtowers and towering sections of an adjoining wall. Bethlehem is now like a small prison, everywhere you look, there are walls.

For the Palestinian Christians of Bethlehem, travelling the 10 kilometres distance to Jerusalem’s Old City is impossible without special permission.

As Bethlehem groans under Israeli occupation, Israel continues to plan how to expropriate more Palestinian lands, claiming that the land is needed for “security.” (If it was for security, they simply should use their own land!). Yet the very taking of that land is the cause of much of the resistance from Palestinians, who are Christian and Muslim, who have had enough and continue to fight back in the only way they know how. These policies not only curtail the freedom to worship, they have also had devastating economic consequences for Bethlehem and the rest of the occupied territories. Bethlehem’s economic life has become largely stagnant due to the city’s isolation, and is riddled with boarded-up shops and abandoned development projects. Its people are routinely attacked and humiliated at illegal checkpoints.

While these abominations are ongoing, many people throughout the world are already taking a pause from their daily routines to immerse themselves in the spoils of good fortune, buying presents and expensive gifts and new flat screen TVs, an X-Box video games for kids, and new cars and vacations for spouses, and commercialized crap in a feast of greed that contradicts the very foundation of their beliefs.

The Western, corporate-dominated media (most of which justifies Israel’s violence in a manner that de-contextualizes Palestinian militancy) will start to report that Israel will ease restrictions on travel to Bethlehem over Christmas as it does every year, and that it will be giving candy to pilgrims who are stopped at checkpoints.

It must be noted that such gestures are little comfort to Palestinians who live in the area all year long, and who remain under siege by occupation forces. Many of the visiting pilgrims will be fanatical American evangelical Christians who, being Zionists, believe that supporting Israel is a biblical imperative, and they flock to the holy land in record numbers to offer their supports to their Israel.

The pilgrims tour the Jewish and Christian quarters of Jerusalem’s Old City. They parade through its streets to demonstrate their solidarity with Israel. They visit Galilee, the main locale of Jesus’ ministry. They give hundreds of millions of dollars each year to projects in Israel including construction of illegal settlements on expropriated lands and, together with Zionist lobbies in America, determine a foreign policy that ensures U.S. continues to finance this structure of violence and death to the tune of more than 100 billion dollars.

Democrats and Republicans one-sidedly support Israel, seek dominance over Middle East states, they want a subservient Hamas like Fatah and have the tacit supports of repressive Arab kings that pay only lip service to the dismantling the cruel policy of occupation.

These American evangelicals rarely seek out Palestinian Christians nor care about the erosion of Christianity from its birthplace. The limitation on the freedom of Palestinians, which Israel cites as a security measure, is a form of collective punishment that mainly targets innocent civilians.

More importantly, restricting the movement of Palestinians also results in the violation of one of the most sacred human rights: the freedom of religion. Like their Muslim neighbours, who are prevented by checkpoints and roadblocks from making pilgrimage to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, Christians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip are denied basic religious freedoms.

Given the inhumane treatments meted out to the Palestinians, the future for Bethlehem residents looks bleak. Israel is, as they remind us often, a “Jewish State” and plans are ongoing to change the facts on ground, even if that entails ethnically cleansing the land of its rightful owners and indigenous population.

Despite its propaganda and lies, Israel does not exist in the West Bank which was occupied in 1967, except in the minds and actions of fanatics who oppose peace and who seek to drive all of the Christians and Muslims out of the holy land.

Today, all peaceable people around the world must join Christians in Bethlehem and Jerusalem in praying that the devastation and conflict occurring at our holiest sites can be overcome through remembering the significance of Christmas and the life of Jesus Christ.

It is tough and hard to be a Palestinian Christian in Bethlehem and Jerusalem or a Palestinian Muslim in the holy land at this time, but frankly it is simply tougher and harder to be a Palestinian in Palestine at any time since the start of occupation.

Many Palestinians will cry out this Christmas again for the suffering of the Christians in the holiest Christian city in the Christian religion. They will cry out and ask why do so many people sit around Christmas trees and pretend to celebrate in the true spirit of Christmas while, for the last 60years, they continue to suffer a terrible injustice, terrible trials and intense stress.

Kamor is the Executive Chairman Muslim Public Affairs Centre, MPAC, Nigeria.

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Justus Esiri

Nigeria’s entertainment industry recorded some landmarks achievements in year 2013, with countless of events within and outside the shores of the country.  Many award-winning movies were produced and premiered within and outside the country. These development placed Nigeria’s movie industry on world map.

Nollywood celebrated 20 years of existence with series of activities and razzmattaz. The opening ceremony had in attendance Nigeria’s president and other notable personalities. This is a plus for the industry as government at all levels now reckon and identify with movie practitioners.

Many brands have been magnanimous enough to appoint some entertainers as their brand ambassadors. Just last week D’banj was re-appointed as Globacom Telecommunication’s brand ambassador. Wande Coal, Naeto C, M. I, Lynxxx, Waje Iruobe, Omawumi Megbele, Bez Idakula, Flavour, Burna Boy also became Glo ambassadors. Hafeez Oyetoro ‘ported’ from Etisalat to become MTN’s brand ambassador and this generated a lot of controversies. Don Jazzy, D’Prince, Tiwa Savage, Praiz, Kcee, Iyanya Mbuk, Mike Anyasodo, Chidinma Ekiye, joined the list of MTN ambassadors. Funke Akindele was also signed on to Vita foam as their brand ambassador.

Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde was also honoured by the traditional ruler of Ondo Kingdom with a chieftancy title weeks after was listed as one of the 100 influential women in the world.

The survival of ailing music producer, OJB Jezreel is yet another good incident that happened in entertainment industry, colleagues and politicians rallied around him to raise the sum needed for his kidney transplant in India. Kayode Odumosu who was also down with an ailment was rescued and provided with the needed sum to carry out the surgery through the interventions of his fans, collegues and some state governors.

Justus Esiri, Goldie Harvey, Chinedu Epeagba, Lugard Ononyemu, Ray Daniels Okeugo, Fatai Rolling Dollas, veteran actor Pa Ogungbe, Prince Murphy, Seun Ogunlade, Fatilat Okerede, Funky Mallam, Fada-u-turn are some of the entertainers that passed away in 2013.

The showbiz industry equally witnessed few crashed marriages this year. These include, Funke Akindele and Kehinde Oloyede, Jetta Amata and Mbong Amata. Chika Ikeh equally obtained divorce from hubby.

The story of actor Solomon Akiyesi’s bigamy scandal placed Nigeria’s entertainment industry in a bad light in 2013.

The post 2013: Nigeria’s entertainment industry in Retrospect appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper - news,sports,politics,bussiness.

2013 was indeed a year of many activities. For instance, this year saw many celebrities walking down the aisles. They all had luxury themed weddings.

Innocent Idibia and Annie Maculay

When 2 face Idibia proposed to actress Annie Idibia in 2012, many were of the opinion that, the musician will never walk down the aisle with her. To the shock and joy of many, the multiple award-winning musician had a carnival-like wedding which is still the talk-of-the-town many months after. Tons of Nigerian A-list celebrities stormed Dubai and AkwaIbom State for both the white and traditional wedding respectively.

 Rukaiyah Indimi and Usman Dantata

The traditional wedding between Rukaiyah Indimi and Usman Dantata also took place in year November, 2013. The bride is Kanuri from Borno State and the groom is from Kano. Their wedding fatiha stuck faithfully to all the traditional rites required to be performed at a marriage, especially one between two such notable families.

Mohammed Abubakar and Zahra Bunu 

Perhaps one of the high-profiled wedding of the year. Many dignitaries, including Vice-President Namadi Sambo, Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, Aliko Dangote, and State governors, graced the wedding of the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, and Zarha Bunu in Abuja. The wedding which took place at the National Mosque, Abuja was conducted by the Chief Imam of the mosque, Ustaz  Mohammed. Mohammed prayed for the success of the marriage, which held about a year after Abubakar lost his wife, Maryam. She died in January, 2012 shortly after Abubakar was appointed acting IG. The reception held at This Day Dome and was attended by Governors.  Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State, Idris Wada of Kogi State, Acting Governor of Taraba, Alhaji Garba Umar, Senators Andy Uba and Paulinus Igwe. Other dignitaries included former Chief Security Officer to late Gen. Sani Abacha, Maj. Hamza Al-Mustapha, Femi Otedola and Mr. Akin Oshuntokun, the former Managing Director of  the News Agency of Nigeria.

Peter and Lola Okoye

It was indeed a celebration of love as Peter Okoye of Psquare and his long-time girlfriend, Lola Omotayo got married in a traditional ceremony on Sunday, November 17, 2013 at the Ark Event Centre, Lekki, Lagos. The glamorous wedding which had in attendance eminent personalities was believed to have gulped about N150million.

Tiwa Savage and Tbliz Balogun

Mavin’s Label firstlady and Pepsi ambassador, Tiwa Savage exactly said “I do” to his fiancée of many years and his manager Tbliz Balogun exactly a week after the Okoye’s wedding in Lagos. The wedding took place at  The Ark Vicinity located on Okunade Bluewater Zone, off Remi Olowude Street, Lekki.

The wedding invitation which was creatively designed with a ‘T and T’ emblem on the cover was printed in two colours – fuchsia and gold, matching the wedding outfit colours of the day. The event was strictly by invitation but many including some celebrities despite the very tight security gate-crashed just to have a glimpse of the elaborate wedding.

Sharon Adeleke And Yomi Ademefun Maimi

Sharon Adeleke, elder sister of Davido Artist got hitched in Maimi on 1st of September 2013 to her beau Yomi Ademefun in a white wedding ceremony. Sharon looked beautiful in this classy white empire line, fish-tail cut dress. The couple landed at their wedding reception in a Private Jet where they were welcomed by guests, which included close friends and family such as Davido, Tola Odunsi, D’Banj, Gbemi Olagbegi, Aliko Dangote, Kunbi Oyelese, Veronica Ebie-Odeka, Lilian Unachukwu and many others.

Other celebrity weddings of the year were those of, Stephaine Chijioke and Francis Wagbara, Taiwo Oyebanjo and Dotun Ojuolape, Katung Aduwak and Raven Taylor, Austin Ejide and Chitto Anidebe, Kome Mofe Damijo and Abiodun, Yemi Sax and Shola Tayo Durojaiye and comedian Princess Dammy and Adesola Jeremiah.

The post The people that made headlines in 2013 appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper - news,sports,politics,bussiness.

Veteran actress, Lanre Hassan-Adesina, popularly known as Iya Awero, has given 50 years of her life to the theatre, film and television. Although more prominent in the Yoruba film industry but is not limited to that industry alone. She is also becoming a very popular face in the English movie industry. Till date, she is still making weaves with a regular Soap-opera, “Dear Mother.” In this interview with Lucy Ezeliora,  during Best of Nollywood Awards i Asaba – Delta State, she shares her experiences in Nollywood as well as the personal ones of being a mother, woman and wife.  Have fun reading this interview with one of the most respected women in Nollywood.

Iya Awero

When you started 50 years ago, it was not the norm for people to go into theatre. Parents, particularly didn’t want their children doing drama. How did you surmount that or was your case different?

It was not an easy road, my parents did not allow me to go into theatre but with the help of Almighty God, and the type of theatre we were doing back then, I was able to convince them through the help of Professor Wole Soyinka, who wrote a letter to my guardian. When they saw the letter with his name, they let me continue.

How were they convinced at last?

They asked for my address at the school of drama that I was attending in Lagos then. I didn’t even know the letter was to be sent there. When the letter came, my daddy called me to let me know it had come from the postmaster. When he read the letter, he told me that so this thing that you are doing is this important.

It was Prof. Wole Soyinka who gathered all of us together, including our principal, and we had to tell him that our parents did not permit us to do this. He then said, ‘let me use this opportunity to write to your parents that what you people are doing is a very good job.’ He said this was an opportunity for us so that when we finish the study we could go straight into the university.

You were part of the Yoruba travelling theatre, could you please share your experience on that?

We call it Alarinjo because we were moving from one town to another; that was how we lived. In those days, we would sing and dance, if you wanted to do anything on stage, then you start with singing. It was more of dance drama and that was what we started with. We took theatre to all the western, northern and eastern parts of the country then. I can say we went all over Nigeria. We were also in places like Mubi, Yola. I turned back at Lake Chad; at a time, we even went as far as Burkina Faso.

How was the reception for your productions in the north back then?

They loved it. Whenever they saw us, they would welcome us with shouts and greet us in Hausa, saying, ‘sanu, sanu’. In the eastern part of Nigeria, we normally performed in Pidgin English. In the north we had an interpreter.

The Alarinjo mode of theatre has since ended. Do you think that has negatively affected theatre practice in the country?

No, things change and we need movement in everything. Alarinjo theatre that we were doing then was mostly stage performance. It is a pity that nowadays there are no more stage performances. The films we do now, the video has taken over everything. Personally, I love stage because it is stage that gave rise to film. I still love stage. Unfortunately, people prefer to relax at home and watch television.

If the Lagos State government were to build cottage theatres across the state and encourage stage performances would you act on stage?

Yes of course. Stage is being done little by little now, particularly at the MUSON Centre in Onikan where a play is being advertised to take place from time to time. And people are going there to watch these plays.

Does that mean that you are doing film right now because that is what is available; would you prefer to do stage?

I prefer stage, but I also do television programmes like “Dear Mother.” In fact, any production that comes my way, I’m ready to be a part of it.

But which would you say is more challenging for you, stage, television or film?

Nothing is difficult for me. When we are talking of celluloid, it is because it is very expensive and our economy nowadays does not support it. The videos we are doing now are being pirated, that is what hurts us the most.

It is evident that you have worked with a good number of prominent people in the Nigerian theatre and film industry, but did you ever work with Hubert Ogunde?

Of course I did, I appeared in most of his films, except Aiye and Mr. Johnson.

Would you allow your children follow in your footsteps?

Why not? If they want to do it, but they have to go to school first and make sure they are skilled in the craft. One of my children, Wale Adeshina, works behind the camera. He is normally referred to as Walata.

What film project are you working on right now?

I just started work on a film but when I finish the celebration, I will be able to sit down properly and give it the attention it deserves. The one we have in the market at the moment is, Eti Ikun. The story is about listening to what the elders tell you. When they tell you not to do something, you should listen to what they say because most of them know better.

Is there anything you are doing about piracy in the Nigerian film industry as a company?

One person cannot fight pirates as the problem is all over the world, so we are doing it with the Copyright Council.

As someone who has been at all ends of the industry, do you have an idea that can be adopted to counter the piracy menace?

The only thing I can say is that as long as the Copyright Council has been helping us with the battle, we, the artistes, must cooperate with them so that things can work well.

Apart from Walata, are there any young people you are bringing up in the art of filmmaking and acting?

Yes, I have some of our boys and girls, actors and actresses that are learning skills here. Most of them come to me wanting to learn and I welcome them.

Do you hope to open a school for that purpose in the future?

Yes, a training centre because I also handle costume which I learnt from Hubert Ogunde’s company. So, I hope to start a little place where young people can come and learn that skill from me.

You just celebrated your 50^th anniversary. What do you have to say to young persons coming into the industry?

What I want to tell them is to be patient because in this profession, one has to be contented and face the job properly. Money does not flow here like other businesses, it comes in gradually. When someone is patient and does the job well, he or she will have reason to smile later. In my case, I have made a name and anywhere I find myself, I’m recognised. I may not have plenty of money but I’m not hungry.

The post I love the stage – Iya Awero appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper - news,sports,politics,bussiness.

Sexy mother of three and one of the very best of Nollywood, Fathia Balogun who has put in over two decades into acting  in this interview with our Reporter, Lucy Ezeliora, she speaks about herself, achievement in the industry  as well as her relationship with her children as a single  mother. Enjoy this interesting interview.

The rumour mill is agog with this story of your husband taking you to court to stop you from using his name. How true is this story?

Fathia Balogun

Well, I’m not surprised about this question because I was expecting it.  It’s my life  and I would be glad if my personal life can be kept out of the public. I don’t have any comment pertaining to that issue because it came as a surprise to me. The way you heard it; is how I heard it too.

How many children do you have?

I have three children two girls and a boy and they are doing great.

Can you tell us some of your achievements?

I’ve got so many awards both within and outside the country. As you can see, Best of Nollywood just gave me an award. I appreciate myself and those who appreciate me. We cannot be complete. “I’m not rich but I’m grateful to God, I’m comfortable. My name has actually opened a lot of doors for me.  Because my conscience is clear. I give glory to God that this job has given me a lot in my life. And I believe more are still coming in future. That is why I am what I am today.

How does it feel being a single mother?

Wonderful   It‘s been great. I am happier the way I am. I have moved on with life. This is after so many years of course. I’m doing great. As you can see, I’m even doing well in the industry as a single mother, despite all I have been through. Whoever is worried about me, is just disturbing him or her self because I’m fine. I must be sincere with you. My children are wonderful and their father has moved on just like me.

How come you act both Yoruba and English movies, how do you manage to sail through?

I’m not a Yoruba lady.  Infact , I’m from Delta State  and I was born here. I grew up speaking the Yoruba language and today, I’m an expert at it. Besides, my ex husband is a Yoruba man; that also helped my knowledge of the language.  So you should address me as a Niger Delta bred not a Yoruba woman.

Do you see yourself as fashionable?

Yes I am very fashionable. I love looking good, just like the saying goes:  “looking good is good business” that is me. That is the secret behind my sexy looks. One day someone called me ever radiant and I was shocked and asked where that came from? And the person replied, I’m your secret admiral.  Yes I take good care of myself and I take a lot of vegetables and that is why I look healthy. If I tell you my age, you will be shocked. I take out time to take good care of my self.

If you don’t mind, how old are you?

I am over forty years old.

What is your best food?

Pounded yam and Efo riro

Since you still look attractive; do you intend re-marrying soonest?

That I cannot say for now. But I don’t think there is need to remarry because I am happier the way I am. Nothing bothers me. Sincerely, nothing disturbs me. When it is time for me to relax, I travel to any lovely country and enjoy myself. That’s me.

What do you enjoy doing?

Sleeping, I love sleeping a lot and travelling.

Since you said you love travelling, do you still have time for your children; despite their tender ages?

Common, my children are fond of me. Especially my two daughters; most times we travel together and if their father wants to take them out, he comes and see them and spend time with them.

But there is also this rumour that they stay with their father?

(Laughs) all I can say; it isn’t true.

What is your view about marriage despite your own experiences? 

Well, marriage is from God not man. And marriage is a good thing. It’s just unfortunate that mine didn’t  work out but I thank God that I’m a better person today either marriage or not. To those that want to settle down, courtship is very essential in marriage. Ladies should be careful when choosing their partners. They should not be in a hurry because it’s what leads to failed marriages. Because if it works, they will blame the woman and if it fails, they still blame the woman. So my advice to ladies is this, they should be prayerful and careful when choosing suitors.

Do you club when you are free like your other female colleagues?

I’m not a party freak so, I don’t club. I don’t even know how to dance at all, but I love good music.

The post I love my freedom –Fathia Balogun appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper - news,sports,politics,bussiness.

Lydia Forson

Ghana’s A-list actress and one time African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) winner of the Best Actress in a Leading Role, Lydia Forson, has been unveiled in Lagos, Nigeria as AMAA’s 10^th Anniversary brand Ambassador.

The unveiling event which took place at the African Sun, Amber Residence Hotel, GRA, Ikeja was a huge media event that had scores of journalists in attendance.

An extremely elated Forson who spoke from the heart said her relationship with AMAA started about seven years ago when she first attended the award in Nigeria out of curiosity as a nominee.

‘’I came to Nigeria and bought my ticket myself because I missed my AMAA arranged flight. That year I didn’t win but I was amazed by the quality of filmmakers and professionals in the industry I met. I was like so this is how huge this platform is. I have formed life-long relationships from AMAA because I have been coming every year after the first time.  I met Kunle Afolayan at AMAA and he told me he liked my acting and he would like to work with me. Two years after he called me to work on his set for his film  Phone Swap. I have also met colleagues from other parts of the world through AMAA that I have built rewarding relationship with.

“The icing on the cake for me was when I won AMAA as Best Actress with Jackie Appiah and the doors it opened for me. The calls for jobs were coming in from different parts of the world and when I asked why they were all calling me for some of the career defining jobs I got after I won, they said ‘but you are have just been crowned as the best actress in Africa’.  AMAA is ours and we must support it. There are challenges here and there which people have talked about but for me, AMAA is bigger than any logistics problem and the advantages and benefits are huge. AMAA will continue to get better and overcome some of the challenges. As practitioners in the industry we must be united and support our own. AMAA is getting bigger and bigger every year. It started with Nigeria and about three countries participating in the early years but it has grown big now with almost all countries in Africa participating. Peace (Anyiam-Osigwe) and her team have done great job and we must commend them,’’ she said.

As AMAA Ambassador, Lydia is expected to travel across Africa and around the world to engage with critical stakeholders in a year-long speaking engagement activities.

In the same vein, the organisers of the prestigious awards announced a People’s Choice Awards (PCA) system as part of the way of re-engaging with the past winners of AMAA and create a two-way communications between the past winners and the populace.

“We are giving the public across Africa to choose their best from our past winners in all the categories. This is different from the main award which is jury based. Our PCA is to bring back our past winners and allow the public to choose the best of the bests. For our PCA, winners in each of the categories will get cash reward of $10,000 each and the public will have chance to text and win. It is our 10^th anniversary next year and Africans will have opportunity to win fabulous prizes ranging from phones, Ipads and a car by texting who is their best among our bests of the past nine years,’’ said Peace Anyiam-Osigwe.

Journalists are not left out of the reward system as those who have covered AMAA in the last nine years will be rewarded through a selection process by media professionals who will assess their past reports and reports they will write on AMAA till March 2014.

According to Mr. Steve Ayorinde, chairman of the jury for the 10^th anniversary edition, journalists in the print, broadcast and online will have a chance to win $5000, $3000 and $2000 respectively by submitting their best two articles and or features stories that depict the essence of AMAA and impact on African cinema.

“This media award is open to all journalists in Africa and we will have the first, second and third prizes and the biggest amount go to the journalist with the best story. So if you think you don’t have any good story in the last nine years, start writing now till March 2014,’’ he admonished.

The post Lydia Forson is AMAA ambassador appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper - news,sports,politics,bussiness.

The names of artistes making waves on the fuji music scene will not be complete without the mention of Mayor Akeem Alamu Adewale, popularly known as Authority.

Having released four albums namely Fuji Combination, Tetegbo Adura Mi, Inspiration and London Expo, since his emergence on the scene over 30 years ago, Authority is set to drop his fifth album, My Glory. The album’s launch will hold on Saturday, January 4 Headlining the event are Alhaji Wasiu Alabi Pasuma and Alhaji Abass Akande Obesere. Other music acts who will witness the launch to make it a memorable day are Alhaji Sule Adio Atawewe, Alhaji Aare Shina Akanni, Alhaji Sule Alao Malaika, Taiye Currency and many more.

The event is packaged by Mental Spring Entertainment Co. Limited in conjunction with Brand Ambassador Promotions.

The post Pasuma, Obesere headline Akeem Alamu’s album launch appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper - news,sports,politics,bussiness.

Yemi Eberechi Alade is a fast-rising artiste who is doing well for herself. In this interview she tells REPORTER, Lukmon Akintola, about her love life and what makes her a delight to watch and listen to.

Yemi Alade

Most people have difficulties combining music with education, how did you manage?

I have heard a lot of people say that, but my love for music never affected my education negatively. I drew up a time table which only allowed me to be a music artiste during my leisure hours, while I was in school.

Parents are often known to kick against their kids going into the entertainment industry, was yours an exception?

You need to understand that I come from a very strict family, but despite that my parents were very supportive, though they were strict when I was younger.

Who are the artistes who influenced you while growing up?

They were quite a handful. Names such as Boyz2Men, Mariah Carey, Destiny’s Child, R. Kelly and so on influenced me a lot. My mother and dad also influenced me because they are lovers of music too.

How you feel as a fast rising act?

One of the most important things in the career of any body is not to be stagnant. I know where I was before, I know where I am going and I thank God. The important thing is that I am not where I used to be and I only decided to become a professional artiste in 2010 after I won the Peak Talent Show and even after that I had to go back to the university and bag that degree before focusing on my career as a singer.

What motivated your song Ghenghen Love?

Ghenghen Love as the title of the track is a love song and it was the first I had written in a long time. It is a gift from above and it was produced by the iconic OJB Jezreel.

What have you been up to in recent times?

I have been working hard and it has been incredible and all glory to God because I recently got nominated in the same category with more established artistes such as Omawumi, Waje and Tiwa Savage. We were all nominated in the female artistes of the year category. That alongside other great things has happened to me. The year 2014 will definitely bring more positive achievements.

There are a thousand and one artistes in the Nigerian music industry, what stands you out?

Describing what stands me out will amount to blowing my own trumpet, but I am sure that by the time music audience listen to my work they will agree that it is the kind of album that Nigerians here and abroad have been waiting for; it was carefully produced by gifted producers and a free spirit like mine just for the listeners.

Which Nigerian act would you like to collaborate with in future?

There are a couple of them, but prominent on my list are Omawumi, Waje and 2face.

How would you rate female artistes doing music in the country?

They are very talented. It is easier to achieve in the industry if you are a man, but as a lady, it is anther ball game. So, if we have a couple of us doing well it only means we are talking about extremely gifted people.

What determines the kind of music you do?

I go whereever my heart, mind, ears and producers take me. I am an Afro Pop/R&B artiste, that’s how I prefer to put it. I also do songs from incidents and personal experiences that is the hallmark of a lot of great singers.

Would you share a fond memory of your childhood with us?

I had a very interesting childhood, even though I never attended any birthday parties my parents ensured I had all the necessities I should have.

Has being beautiful helped your career as a music act?

I know that any great career is built on more than just looks and appearance, although ones carriage is important for personal growth. So, it won’t be wrong to say my looks might have helped my career, but that alone won’t do anything.

Are you attracted to any artiste in Nigeria?

There are good-looking guys in the industry, but no, I am not attracted to any one of them.

Is marriage coming anytime soon?

I will carry you along when that time comes, but until then, I am working on my career.

What kind of man would pull the rug off your feet?

I would be attracted to a man who is respectful, reasonable, open minded, funny, God fearing, clean, ambitious and very hard working. A lazy or laid back man won’t work for me.

The post My looks have helped my career –Yemi Alade appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper - news,sports,politics,bussiness.

By Nkasiobi Oluikpe/Lagos

Elegbede

Have you ever met a centenarian looking like a septuagenarian?  Everything about him, his looks, walks, utterances and just everything he can think about is smart.  Nothing about him suggests that he has spent over 100 years on the surface of the earth, except his eye sockets.

He does not wear glasses; yet, he has eyes as sharp as an eagle’s.  Despite being a centenarian, he has a complete set of teeth which he flashes at intervals.

The tribal marks on his cheek-bones are fading away and you have to look very closely to know that he has tribal marks identifying him as a native of Oyo town, in the heart of Yoruba land. He has sharp, retentive memory, telling you about events of almost 100 years ago, giving dates with mathematical exactitude. Yet, four generations have flowed out of him!   His great, great grand children bubbled about during his centenarian birthday which held recently in Hogan Bassey Church, behind National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

He was born 365 days before Sir Frederick Lord Lugard amalgamated Northern and Southern protectorates into what you now have as corporate Nigeria.  He gives you an eye-witness account of how Nigeria evolved into what it is today. He tells you of 1930s, the days before motor cars began to ply Nigerian roads; the days when Raleigh bicycle was status symbol for the wealthy.  He tells you how he was  enlisted into the army to fight  in the Second World War and how he dropped the idea  following discouragements by his siblings; how Adolf Hitler rocked the world with atomic bombers and the days of “control,”  when food stuffs were rationed to the citizens. Listening to Pa Aiyekale Hamzat Elegbede was like browsing through the encyclopedia of the millennium, giving you an eye-witness account of events which took place throughout a whole century.

Recalling one of his experiences, he mused: “I called at Agodi in Ibadan in 1939. This was the venue for recruitment of soldiers into the Army.  I was recruited that year.  I was to proceed to Apata Gangan for training in the art of warfare.  I told an uncle about my adventure into the Army.  But, he discouraged me.  He reminded me that I was the only son my mother had and that I would throw the old woman into doldrums if I went to war – and died. So, instantly, I disengaged from the army.”

Young Elegbede then faced the dilemma of what to do for a living.  He had earlier spent seven years to learn how to repair bicycles, but later faced the problem of raising capital to start the business of bicycle repairs, sales and merchandising. This predicament looked almost insurmountable.  A relative then suggested the idea of moving down to Lagos in search of the proverbial greener pastures.

“Yes, I have an uncle in Lagos,” Pa Elegbede told his relative. “But, I don’t have his contact address.  I don’t even have the train fare – nine pence (nine kobo) – to get me across to Lagos.”

The relative encouraged him to overcome these initial obstacles in pursuit of the greener pastures. Somehow, this encouragement paid off.

The train finally arrive Lagos. He said.  “I had worried about where to go, how to put shelter over my head, how to make a start. I looked into the empty sky, I saw hopelessness.  I clinched to my faith in Allah.  He was my only ray of hope at that hopeless moment.  Luckily, as I stepped out of the railway station, I saw a lady who resembled Kehinde whom I knew way back in Oyo town.  I accosted her. ‘Madam, you look like Kehinde, a native of Oyo.  Are you a twin sister? Yes, I am the twin sister, my name is Taiwo.  It’s true, my twin sister lives at Oyo. I heaved a deep sigh of relief.  I knew at that moment I was going to have somewhere to lay my head at the end of the day.  I was delighted to have somewhere to start, after all.

“Do you know the way to Baba Elegbede’s house? Yes, he is our Baba, our grand patriarch here in Lagos.  I had to wait in her shop till the end of the day’s business so that together we would go home and go to see Baba Elegbede.  My meeting with Baba Elegbede was a warm reunion.  He hugged me with all his might.

After exchanging pleasantries, young Elegbede told Baba his reason for travelling down to Lagos, but did not fail to mention that he had earlier enlisted into the Army.  Of course, the old man echoed the discouragement for taking such an audacious adventure as joining the Army, pleading that better days would come to him here in Lagos.  Young Elegbede accepted the pleas of the old man, and quickly settled down to life in Lagos. He joined his uncle’s merchandise, selling parts of sewing machines in a warehouse in Lagos. I earned six pence (six kobo) a day, he said. And that was a quick good pay for a rural migrant to Lagos.

Public transportation was non-existent in those days, so he had to trek all the way from Obalende through Idumota, and had to walk through the Government Reservation Area (GRA), Ikoyi, in Lagos, where the white men played golf and lived in those days.  Pa Elegbede began to dream of setting himself up in the business of bicycles repairs and sales and needed the sum of three pounds to take the first step.

“I secured a loan of three pounds from Aiyebukola Elegbede, my uncle. This got me my first Raleigh bicycle.  I soon bought another bicycle, making two.  I repaid the loan and this sense of honesty impressed my uncle who said he would give 10 pounds if I requested for such a facility because of my gentlemanly behavior.

“I started off at Anikantamo, a location in the heart of metropolitan Lagos.  I became popular as a bicycle merchant, in and around Isalegangan, Ita Faji, Oke-popo and Amuto.  I rented an apartment at 2, Lawrence Lane, Ojikutu compound in Lagos, and married in 1942.”

What is the secret of Pa Elegbede’s longevity?

“God gives long life,” he says. “I live within reasonable limits.  I eat eba, amala and the native food.  But, I stopped eating eba 15 years ago, when I turned to eating wheat for its nutritious contents.”

In 1960s, Pa Elegbede had become renowned on Lagos Island as the foremost Raleigh bicycles merchant. “I repair bicycles, I sell bicycles and people from Badagry come to me to get their strong bicycles.”  A good number of his customers were Igbo people, and when Nigerian civil war broke out, they left for the Eastern Region and this exodus badly affected his business.

“I told my wives I was going to learn how to make blocks. They wondered how I would turn into an apprentice at such an advanced age.

“I was to spend the next nine months as an apprentice in the craft of making building blocks.  Afterwards, I secured a site at Iponri, which was still a forest in 1958 when we were re-housed at the Lagos Executive Development Board (LEDB) Housing Estate at Hogan Bassey zone in Surulere.  It was from here that I went to start my block-making industry at Iponri.

“Block-making is more lucrative than bicycle business. I was able to raise enough money to build a house in my home-town, Oyo – a modest bungalow of eight rooms.  Just before the construction of the house was over, some tenants from Ekiti came forward to rent apartments from there.  One of them gave birth to twins as soon as they moved in.  This was a good omen, my people thought. My block-making business was still booming and I soon erected another building in Ijeshatedo, Surulere, here in Lagos.

“Lagos of those days witnessed few millionaires, Nuru Oniwo, Ajao, and Da Roscha had his palatial mansion at Kakawa Street, in Lagos. These were the few people who could afford saloon cars.  They were few and far between.

“I had a property at Alaka, in Surulere, and it was to be taken over by government so I employed Thomas and David Chambers, public solicitors, to pursue the matter for me.  It was lawyer Abina, a lawyer in the chambers, who handled the brief and was awarded 65 pounds.  I paid five pounds as legal fees.”

It would be recalled that Pa Elegbede was born at Ile Onsha, in Opara district of Oyo town and moved over to Ibadan at the age of 22 when he started to learn the art of bicycle repairs.  He married late Wulaimot, then Alhaja Sabitiu Elegbede and Alhaja Sidikatu Elegbede and blessed with many children, grand children, great grand children and great, great grand children.

The post A hale and hearty centenarian appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper - news,sports,politics,bussiness.

2013 is an eventful year in the Nigerian movie scene popularly known as Nollywood. As usual, many historic things happened in the industry. Sadly as well, we lost some great actors and on the flip side, the industry also welcomed a lot of new faces as well. There were quarrels, settlements, marriages were contracted just as some already contracted marriages crashed, and many went home with awards; there were also some who fell from grace to grass.

Asides these, the industry had a lot of breakthroughs in many ways. We had more Nollywood films in festivals around the world. The President Goodluck led administration also started the process of redeeming its financial pledge to the industry by allowing movie practitioners to have access to grants. The quality of our movies is improving with better equipment being used and well trained crew manning them.

Also this year, Nigeria actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekinde was named one of the world’s 100 most influential people by Time magazine. By that singular feat she joined the likes of late Chinua Achebe, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and of course, living literary legend, Professor Wole Soyinka (WS) all of whom had at one time or the other been name world most influential personalities. This has increased her profile around the world and it even landed her a Hollywood role.

Industry crises

The year started off with the continuation of the battle for the soul of Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN). Ibinabo Fiberesima was elected the president of the AGN, an election which many disputed and thus continued to question her emergence as the leader of thespians in Nigeria. There are still cases pending in the court on the issue. Other guilds too are neck deep in internal criss that has arrested development in the industry.

The Governor Godswill of Akwa Ibom State N50 million endowment funds has been another source of rancour amongst industry practitioners especially between members of the Association of Movie Producers (AMP) headed by Zik Zulu Okafor and Association of Nollywood Core Producers (ANCOP) headed by Alex Eyengho. The governor of Akwa-Ibom State had, at a dinner held by Nollywood with President Jonathan in Lagos, promise to support the industry with N50 million endowment which will be won as award but Okafor and a few others collected the money and allegedly shared it for what it was not originally meant for. The case has continued to linger as both parties have been suing and counter-suing each other over the money.

There was also the election to the chairmanship seat of the Lagos State chapter of AGN which was won by Victor Osuagwu. And like that of the national AGN, Osuagwu’s election is been contested in court.

Marriages

There were a few weddings 2013. The most recent one is that of  Mercy Aigbe who married her heart throb at the Ikoyi Registry in Lagos. There was also the marriage of Foluke Daramola to Kayode Salako. The union caused a lot of murmuring. Asides from the fact that Salako left his wife to marry, Foluke, a friend of Foluke actually came out to allege that the actress visited an herbalist in order to marry Salako. An accusation Foluke has since denied. Other marriages includes that of actor, Ibrahim Chata to Salamat Shaaba Lafiagi the daughter of Senator Mohammed Shaaba Lafiagi and others

Break-ups

The most popular break-up this year is undoubtedly that of Funke Akindele and he hubby Kehinde Oloyede. The marriage was barely a year old when the two decided to go their separate ways. It was the husband that actually went online to announce that the marriage was over.  Funke tried to do some crisis management by sending out releases saying that her marriage was still intact. But weeks after, she succumbed by revealing that the marriage was not a bed of roses while it lasted.

There was also break-up tales about Uche Iwuji’s marriage to Juwon Lawal. The marriage too is just a year old. The story spread like wildfire but Box office investigations revealed that it was just a hoax.

Deaths

The beginning of 2013 witnessed the death of host popular actors like Lugard Onoyemu, Bisi Komolafe, Collins Ifeanyi, JustusEsiri. These actors died within a space of six months which gave room for worry. A release by Ibinabo on the issue read, “With the incessant deaths occurring in the entertainment industry this year, it is high time we put a stop to it. We must surrender our lives to Almighty God irrespective of our religious believes. Let’s come together and embark on prayers and commit our industry and practitioners to God. We need serious prayers. We must reject death in the entertainment industry.”

Awards and events

2013 ushered in the first ever African Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards (AMVCA).  The award as expected was glamorous and had in attendance the biggest names in the movie industry across Africa. The movie, Mirror Boy took the best movie award while OC Ukeje and Jackie Appiah were the Best Actor and Best Actress of AMVCA respectfully.

A month after, The African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) held it’s 9^th edition in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. Late Justice Esiri got a final honour as he was named the best actor. Best actress went to Hermelinda Cimela. Nigerian movie, Confusion Na wa took home the coveted prize as the movie of the year. The awards was better organised than that of previous editions.

Other major events during the year includes the Abuja Film Festival which was a huge success and the African Film Festival (AFRIFF) which many say was not well organised as a film festival. Other events include the Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards and The Nigerian Movie Awards. Also, the African movie network, African Magic celebrated its 10 years in business.

Top movies

Probably the most talked about film in 2013 is the adaptation movie of Chimamanda Adichie’s Half of a yellow sun. Despite the hype around the movie, it is yet to be seen in Nigeria. It did not also make it to any foreign cinema, except some festivals. Even at that, the reviews it got was not encouraging and that accounted for the decision to withdraw it as the opening flick at AFRIFF.   Other top movies this year include, The Contract, The Meeting, The Nanny, Cobweb and Torn. 

Top headlines

There were lots of major headlines this year generated by Nollywood but there were some which were really outrageous. One of them is that of Jim Iyke when he was shown live on television being allegedly delivered of evil spirit. Iyke had visited the Pastor TB Joshua at his Synagogue Church of All Nations in Lagos. The world saw live how the pastor laid hands on the actor and he (Jim) started speaking as if a demon was speaking through him. There were different reactions to this incident. Many, including Charles Novia, said that Jim was just faking it. That he was merely acting to get money from the pastor. Jim had replied saying that he was glad he had made the decision to be saved from evil spirits.

Another major headline was that of Tonto Dikeh when she fell from a stage in London. According to those present at the event, Tonto was obviously drunk and could not compose herself on stage. She ended up falling off the stage and the picture went viral.

New faces

There are always fresh faces trying to break into the industry and 2013 was not an exception.

Some of them include Ifeanyi Kalu, Bobby Obodo, Uti Nwachukwu, Linda Ejiofor, Belinda Effah, Ijeoma Agu, Rachel Isaac, Tehila Adiele and Tess Abubakar

The post Nollywood: 2013 in retrospect appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper - news,sports,politics,bussiness.

No doubt, television producer, presenter, actress, writer, wife and mother, Iretiola Doyle, has a versatile persona. Over the years she seems to have defied age and has continued to look more radiant. In this interview with Asst. Editor, Life, Temitope David-Adegboye, she speaks about her personal style.

Iretiola Doyle

How best do you like to dress?

If I am not at a formal red carpet event, you catch me in my Jean, T-shirt or in long Ankara skirt and a T-shirt, or a pair of shorts and a T-shirt. I like to feel comfortable maybe because of the nature of the job that I am in. We are always dressed up; we are always made up.

So when I am not working, no makeup; I’m comfortable in jeans, skirt or shorts.

How best do you like to wear makeup?

There is something a lot of women don’t understand. Heavy makeup actually makes you look older. I am not trying to look older. Unless I am working and it is demanded of me, my makeup is always light. With my business, I wear makeup every day, all day. So when I am not working, you won’t find a bit of makeup on my face. Maybe lip gloss and eye liner, that’s it.

How would you describe your sense of style?

Comfort is very important to me; I have to feel comfortable in whatever I am wearing. I like clothes that are not too sexy, the classic look with a little bit of drama.

Are you a designer freak?

No, I ‘m not.  What dictates whether or not I buy an item is how much I like it. I like pretty things. Some of them are expensive, some of them are really cheap, but the most important thing is when I walk into the room it would catch your eye. Style is really not about how much money you have; it is about how creative you are and understanding your body type and how to put yourself together.

What’s your favourite colour?

I don’t have one; I love colours. My favourite will be purple, orange, green, pink and blue, all those deep, rich colours. Those are the colours  that I like. I am dark skinned so I like bright, lovely, rich colours

What is that fashion item that you cannot do without?

Absolutely nothing.

Do you also like accessories? 

I like jewelries that are not common. I love costume jewelries because there is wide variety to choose from, and you can do so much with it.

What are your favourite accessories?

I love shoes and handbags.

Can you count the number of shoes and handbags that you have?

I can count how many shoes I have right now because I just emptied my wardrobe. I have a little over two dozen

What of bags?

I don’t know. They are there. I don’t count those things; but I have quite a number of them.

You are in your mid-40s and I must say you look really good for your age. What’s the secret?

I don’t know. I will first of all say I didn’t make myself. My rule number one is, ‘I don’t dress for anybody. I don’t let anybody put me under pressure.’ So, if you understand who you are and you are comfortable in whom you are, there is absolutely no pressure. I know what works for me and I stick to it. And of course you take care of yourself; you do all things in moderation. I don’t go under diet. There is nothing I don’t eat but I do it in moderation, and then I take care of myself.

Who is or are your designers?

I have quite a few people, but my current designer is called “Darling”. That’s her real name and her business name. She makes my clothes, but I absolutely love Nigerian designers especially the contemporary ones. Their designs are delicious. I love all of them.

What’s your take on ladies who reveal cleavage?

There is such a thing called decency, but at the same time, you and I cannot dictate to an adult how to dress up. There is what is called decency, and every individual has to decide where the decency lies. Am I going to stand on a pulpit to preach to a mummy? Wear what makes you feel comfortable. Would I expose myself? Not necessarily, it’s not worth it.

How do you like to wear your hair?

Left to me, my hair would be constantly braided in Ghana weaving because it’s simple, different and has no maintenance. However, because of my work, I have to wear weavon all the time. But I am most comfortable breading my hair.

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D’banj and Toolz

As the annual Change A Life (CAL) show draws nearer viewers have been wondering who will be joining anchor, Funmi Iyanda, as she hosts the Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola.

The show which holds every first day of January involves discussing topical issues with celebrities.

This time, it will not be different, but it will only be bigger as D’Banj, radio presenters, Matse and Toolz, have been penciled down for the show. Also on the list ofguests is the publisher of Glam and Essence Magazine, Susan Eyo Honesty.

According to CAL’s executive director, Jumoke Giwa, “the show had always been relying on celebrities to give their opinion on issues over the years.

“We have always had Nigerian celebrities on the CAL annual TV special. Featuring them also depends on the issues to be discussed and the theme of the show.”

Speaking further Giwa said this year’s discussion will be a fusion of issues peculiar to women in our society including welfare of the girl child, girl child marriage issues, and increase in the rates of sexual abuses.

As part of the tradition of the show, deserving Nigerians will also be honoured and this year will witness two awards including Remi Lagos Award for Excellence and The Hero of the year. While the Remi Lagos Award will be going to Umoh Uwana, CAL most
outstanding holistic educational scholarship beneficiary for 2013, organisers are keeping the winner of the other award under wraps till the day of the show.

Last year’s edition of the show featured Ebuka, Davido and Linda Ikeji.

The post D’banj, Toolz, others join BRF on TV appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper - news,sports,politics,bussiness.

Lanre Hassan has been acting for 50 years plus and has seen it all. Starting off with stage plays to cinema and now home video, Iya Awero, as she is popularly known has been performing both in English and Yoruba languages productions.  Recently she was honoured at the Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards for her achievements in the industry. She had a chat with Senior Correspondent, Hazeez Balogun, on her ups and downs as an actress.

Lanre Hassan

Congratulations on the honour you received at the BON Awards

Thank you very much.

How does it feel to be recognised after putting in 50 years in the industry?

I feel happy about it. I really appreciate the award because I am receiving it while I am still alive. Many times, people who have put in their efforts to a particular industry end up being recognised only after they are dead. So I am happy that I received the award while I’m still here.

You have been acting for so long that very few people can tell when you first surfaced on the scene. Can you recall how acting started for you?

I started when I was very young. I can remember that it was in 1964. We were a bunch of young kids who had the flair for show business and acting so we decided to organise ourselves as a group.  We used to call ourselves The young girls theatre.  I had been acting at end of the year parties of schools, they would invite us to come and do this and that. I met the late Ojo Ladipo at Christ Cathedral School, we would call him to come and see what we were doing, that ours was better than their own and he would argue that his own was better; that was in 1963. So, in 1964, we came together as friends and we were doing rehearsals, converging at a playground in the evening. We were always practicing and all of us were doing whatever we liked, so we decided to appoint someone as a leader and we put it to vote and the late Ojo Ladipo emerged as our leader, which was why we called the name of the Group Ojo Ladipo Theatre Group in 1964.

After his death in 1978, we changed the name to Awada Kerikeri Organisation. It then became like before the late Edokpolor and Mary Etim were with us. We so also had Adebayo Salami (Oga Bello). Mary Etim and I were childhood friends, then we asked ‘who was going to be our leader,’ they said it was automatic that I should be the one, but I rejected it; I said I could not lead the group. So, we needed a man that was capable and they said I should choose. I said, I wanted Mr. Adebayo Salami to be my boss. They couldn’t believe it. That is why as an individual, anything we do, we must do it very well. Our first performance at Glover Hall, Bello used his first bicycle allowance at the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to print the poster to stage D Madam. If you are in a place and you are working, don’t think nobody sees you, Bello showed interest, I took his application, when he joined Ojo Ladipo Theatre. He paid to join. You know our parents don’t want us to do this work.

In those days acting was not popular, how did your parents take your decision to go into acting?

It was not easy at first. I did so with the help of the Almighty God that says this work is yours; if God sends you this work, you will do it. We had an audition for a role and I did not know that there were some important people like Wole Soyinka present.

It was Professor Wole Soyinka that wrote a letter to my guardian and she was surprised because she had said that I will not live with her again since my parents did not want me to do theatre, but something else. It was that letter that encouraged her and she was surprised how I knew Professor Wole Soyinka. I told her Soyinka was one of those who were telling us to come for audition, then we go for a course and then straight to the university just like the diploma they do now. That was how my guardian accepted me and gave me full support. So, I went to a school of drama, which is why I can cross from the left to the right (English movie to Yoruba movie).

What did your parents wanted you to do?

Ha! By that time, they wanted us to join police, customs or anything force but I told them ‘this is what I have to do and this is what I want to do, please, let me do it.’ Even I always praise my guardian, she really supported me and God helped me.

Many actresses today are having a tough time putting their family together, did acting affect your marriage in anyway?

It was terrible; it was God that helped us with the help of the likes of the late Adediran Ajijedidun and the late Art Alade, who called my husband and counselled him  that the kind of work I am doing is not just for anyhow girl, but to make people laugh away their sorrow. But despite that, before he accepted that I should do the work, it was trouble every day. Even my late boss, Ojo Ladipo had to talk to him. I now told him that ‘if you cannot allow me to do this work again then leave me alone. If you love me, love me with my job since I am not stealing.’ Eventually he accepted with the help of God, but we didn’t know he would die young.

Parenting and acting must be tough to handle…

I travelled a lot with my children. I took them anywhere we went, but when they are two years old, I leave them for my mother. Of course, there is no man that would not suspect his wife in such a scenario and there is no man, who is not jealous, but you have to limit it and try to trust your wife, the wife should also trust the husband. Once this is the work one wants to do, you should love him with the job and I told him that ‘you saw that this was what I was doing before you proposed to me.’ All he thought was that I would stop doing the work after our marriage. But the thing has a spirit, I couldn’t leave it. Even then, when I slept, I would be dramatising based on our rehearsals and plays and my husband would see me moving my body and he would ask ‘what is wrong with you?’ and I will say ‘I didn’t do anything.’ It is spiritual, if you don’t follow it, it would affect you. Whoever is sent by God is different from someone who just dabbled into it; in most cases, such people run out of it.

Is there any movie you can call your favourite work

All my jobs are great, I cannot point to any particular one, everything I did was okay and may God help us to be more successful. All my jobs are good, we also do television soaps.

Any regrets at all?

No. I do not regret anything in life. It is part of the training while we started off. We were taught that no matter what we are going through or what stumbling block we face, the show must go on. I had faced many obstacles throughout my career. I remembered when my child died while I was on set but I had to finish the shoot. When Baba Mero died too, I lost another child. We both slept together and my child just did not wake up again. Despite all the struggles there was never a time I regretted being an actress.

What about roles; is there any film you regret ever acting in?

No. I don’t regret any movie I took part in. That is why I tell the young actors to read the scripts before they take on the movie. After you read the script it is now for you to either reject or accept it. Immediately you accept to play the role, there is no regret anymore. You have to go through it. The only thing I try to take back on set is the swearing. If in the movie, I have to swear for someone, after shooting, I call the actor back and pray for him or her.

What have been you staying power. Many actors don’t get to act till this age?

The thing is that when you are doing this job, you must be educated no matter how small. If you can speak Yoruba lanuage, you should also speak English language. In those days, we were doing strictly Yoruba and people thought we could not speak English; it is not like that, we just chose to follow our culture. But for them to know that we can do the two, we started doing English soap operas and some other works.

You always act as a no-nonsense woman in movies, you always appear like a disciplinarian, are that your nature or is it the scripts?

It is the scripts; when someone is acting a role people would study you and give you the role. I act other roles as an all-round actress. Once you study someone, you would know what role he/she can play; may be a rich man or a gentle person. All the same, I don’t tolerate unwarranted behaviour.

Movie industry is seen as a sex house where everyone is sleeping with everyone, how do you take such view?

Sexual harassment is not peculiar to theatre, it is everywhere. If you go to the market or anywhere, it is there. It is for you to know yourself, to keep yourself, all those who wear skimpy dresses, we talk to them, we pray they would listen. We advise them on the scripts, the Nigerian Censors Board is also trying their best. If you see someone, who wears Bikini or so, there is a reason for it in films, we call it shows. In the days of stage plays we had opening glee and closing glee and the costume we wear covers our body, but we do things to attract the people’s interest. After the stage show, you don’t have the right to wear the costume on the streets. So, there is a purpose for those dresses in films, may be the person is playing a particular role, it is not meant for outings, and we have even specified the kind of dresses we wear in films because children watch these films.

Are any of your children in theatre?

Yes, Mr. Wale Adeshina (Walata); he works as a production manager and he acts.

What’s your take on piracy?

That is death injection. If you release your film today, they would pirate it within an hour, if you have a film and you think you want to go and show people when you travel, they would have watched it before you get there. Even, our sponsors are not encouraged because the works are pirated, what you spent about N2 to N3 million to produce, you see people pirating it anyhow.

Do you think government has role to play in this?

Yes, they have a role to play. May be they think there is nothing in movie, but if the government support us, it will it will yield better financial return than oil; some countries depend on movies to survive.

As one of the people who started with theatre, do you think it is the way forward now with all the piracy issue?

What is missing now in the industry is stage performance which led to what we are doing now. There is no place I have not been to in Nigeria from traveling from one place to another for stage shows. We would act here today, tomorrow, we are in another place. But suddenly, home video came and we forget stage performance. We were doing celluloid, and we said home video would kill celluloid, but people said it was not so. The late Dr. Hubert Ogunde warned us not to do home video that it would spoil our job. If we can go back to celluloid or stage play, it would be better. Stage is real, it is live, it is different, if you wanted to do part of bush, you will have to cut trees and put it there. We need to go back to cinema and stage plays gradually.

Are you planning for retirement?

Retirement? I will act till the day I die. I will die acting. As long as I am still alive, I will continue to act. This is all I know how to do.

What would you like to be remembered for?

Well, the work I am doing, they should remember me for it. Even, if we stop today, God has helped us; I pray I will survive my mother because she is still alive. Whatever you do, do it well. If you meet people on your way up, do well to them, you might need them on your way down

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