• Women at a meeting

There is no denying the fact that for any meaningful development to take place in any given society, the interest of women must be factored into such plans from the very beginning. 

This is because women are the ones that rock the cradle of the world. Without carrying women along or factoring in their interest in any development plan, the society continues to dance a macabre dance without knowing how or when to stop. 

This typifies the case of the Niger-Delta region whose restless youths have continued to occupy public attention and the women acute neglect. 

Senior Reporter, Anthonia Soyingbe, was at Ograigbeni community in Delta State, recently and met with some indigent women who spoke of their plight.

The 2006 Niger-Delta Human Development Report compiled by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) revealed that the Niger-Delta region which produces oil, accounting for more than 95 percent of Nigeria’s foreign earnings, is paradoxically embedded in poverty. 

According to Mary Ovie, a senior herbal birth attendant, born three days after the assassination of late Military Head of State, Muritala Mohammed she has lived all her life in her village in Delta State.

Pregnant with her eighth child, she said, “Four of my children are now in Warri hustling while I’m here working so hard to fend for my three children. My husband only comes home when he wants to sleep with me and I can’t say no because he will beat me mercilessly if I ever attempt to do that. I wake up early every day to rush to the swamp to pick a bowl of periwinkle which I sell for N500 at the market to enable me and the children feed for the day, she said in Pidgin English. 

The woman whose appearance paints a picture of abject poverty and presents the onlooker with a different perspective into the lifestyle of the average woman in the rural Niger-delta region has a child who is suffering from acute malnutrition because apart from the periwinkles she spends three hours every morning picking, she cannot farm because the land is polluted hence cannot grow anything.  

According to her neighbours, her case is made more pathetic because her husband, an ex-militant benefitted from the Federal Government amnesty program. He was among those sent abroad for training. But rather than use the opportunity wisely, he now has children from seven other women.

Ovie, again mirrors the plight of most women in that area whose husbands are today billionaires but have been abandoned.

Dr. Evelyn Urhobo, Chief Executive Officer of Morgan Smart Development Foundation, has travelled the length and breadth of the region through her empowerment programs for women in the region. She said women in the region are suffering untold hardship. She said government and human rights organizations are not doing enough for the women in that region. 

Urhobo, an indigene of the region called on relevant bodies to stand up and bring succor to the women who are really suffering. Hear her,  “I don’t see what most of all these First Ladies’ projects translate to for women development at the grassroot level. It is so painful that all the attention is on the men who after collecting money; abandon their families to marry other women. We are concentrating on women in Niger-Delta and my take is that there is a conspiracy of silence against women in this area. 

These are the women who gave birth to all these militants, kidnappers and all the youths carrying out anti-social activities. Has anybody stopped to ask the question on what went wrong and why we are experiencing all these? It is okay to say it is because of joblessness but there are situations where mothers still fend for their jobless children. What will happen if that mother is jobless? We have lost our moral values because our women are incapacitated. Women in my region are clothed in poverty and have been stripped of their dignity. Women in the region watch their children become street urchins because they can’t fend for them. They wake up in the morning and they can’t even guarantee what they will feed their children with. At a very early age, these children have to fend for themselves or die. Since everybody has the natural instinct to survive, they do anything to survive. These children grow into picking up anti-social vices to survive life in the area.”

 Speaking further she lamented the “disconnect because the mother couldn’t meet her responsibilities towards her children. Why is nobody talking about these things? Big votes are being made to rehabilitate ex-militants. The only way you can cure an ailment is to go to the root of that ailment and tackle it. What structures are they putting in place to effectively address the situation of poverty of the women in the region? In the last 12 years that MSDF has been working in the region, we have come face to face with poverty. I hear of poverty alleviation and women empowerment, who is in charge? Who is in charge of bringing succor to these women? 

Let us draw the attention of everybody so that government will come to the aid of these women so that we can restore their dignity and make them take charge of their responsibilities as nation builders. By empowering them economically, the process of halting this monster of vices in our society begins. We are still scratching the issue of militancy. We are unwittingly training militants through neglect of their mothers. They will go back to the creek and don’t forget that everyday a potential militant is being born. For how long is government going to sustain this?  Why can’t they deploy that budget to empowering women so they can live up to their responsibility of being proper mothers? We are not paying enough attention to the women. When last did the governors or ministers come to the rural areas to see and document how these women are living?”

Urhobo who few months ago through her organization documented the living pattern of women in Niger-Delta region said the situation is still very pathetic. “My consciousness is from that region because I am from that region. We can’t get anywhere if women issues are not properly addressed. Nigeria will be a prosperous country if we really empower women especially those at the grassroot. Government should set up the structure to address issues relating to women empowerment. We need a structure and as they are making provision for militants, they should make provision for women. Government has a responsibility of letting women have a feel of the oil that is coming from the land,” she said. 

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Nigerian rapper, Naeto C, will now be represented by popular artiste and talent management company, Now Muzik, according to representatives of both the rap artiste and the company.

Naeto C, who had set up his own music organisation known as Cerious Music Company in 2013 after parting ways with Storm Records, is making the move for better deals.

The music star, who is the son of a former minister in Nigeria, recently revealed in an interview that he was never signed under the Storm Records label but only worked closely with the company which supported him.

Speaking on the new label he is joining, Naeto C said “I believe so much in Now Muzik because of their pedigree. They are a seasoned management outfit, tested and trusted. I know I am in safe hands with them and we would soar higher together.”

With the move, Naeto C has joined the likes of 2face Idibia, Tony One Week, J Martins, Romeo and K-Slim at the Efe Omorogbe-run company which has continued to grow since it was founded some years ago. 

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By Musbau Rasak

The recent outburst from the leadership of the Osun State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on alleged Islamisation of the state by the Governor, Engineer Rauf Aregbesola, personally to this writer smacks of an after thought goaded by the selfish demand of few people whose sole intention is to cause disharmony in arguably the most peaceful state in the country using religion.

This writer is more convinced of this sinister plot going by similar tactics used in the past.

First, a spurious security report was engineered against the Governor, that was dealt with. Later issues were raised over the declaration of Hijrah holiday by the Governor, the antagonists of this immediately disappeared with array of superior arguments which clearly revealed their ignorance.

As it is with the past and present, religion was the weapon; trying to portray Aregbesola an Islamic extremist who hates Christians. But the question is does being a Muslim affected Aregbesola’s devotion to justice, merit and service to the people?

 The answer is a capital NO.
It is rather disheartening that the Chairman of Osun CAN, Superior Evangelist Abraham Aladeseye would do a complete sommersault just few months after admitting at another press conference that Osun Christians had nothing against the declaration of Hijrah holiday in the state. “I even congratulated the Governor and the Chairman of League of Imam and Alfas in the state during on the day (Hijrah). Christians have nothing against the Hijrah holiday,” Aladeseye said then.

 At that same press conference, the CAN Chairman confirmed that all contending issues with the Aregbesola administration have been settled at a meeting with the Governor. So why this sudden turn around? Is Osun CAN just witnessing students wearing Hijab? Was the Hijrah holiday declared yesterday? It is thus easy to guess where this latest assault is coming. Same style, similar weapon and by God’s grace, similar result – failure.

The issues raised by the Osun CAN bother sometime on triviality. Or how CAN leaders religious leaders raised the issue of Aregbesola changing the identification tag of Osun from ‘State of Living Spring’ to the ‘State of the Virtuous’ to mean his hatred for Christians because ‘Living Spring’ is an attribute of Jesus? In the first instance, is it right for attribute of a particular religion to be used as identification of a secular state? Then, which is better, ‘State of the Living Spring’ or ‘State of the Virtuous’?

These are issues the CAN leaders should address and let the whole world know.
How does having events fixed for Sundays be termed as process of Islamisation when Friday, Muslims’ day of worship, is a work day and Muslims are not complaining?
Then for somebody to embark on such serious task of imposing his religious beliefs on others, particularly, a state, he must have lots of people surrounding him who have similar idea and who will stand by him and implement his ideas.

But Aregbesola, a devout Muslim, is the head of an administration where his deputy is a Christian (remember that Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Erelu Olusola Obada, governor and deputy governor respectively for seven and half years are both Christians and Muslims never complained); 10 out of his 14 commissioners are Christians; nine out his 10 special advisers are Christians; 16 out of 26 lawmakers are Christians while two out of three senators are Christians.

Then who are those who will implement his Islamisation ideas if indeed he has any.
Aregbesola has one of his brothers and a sister devout Christians and he has not been able to Islamise them. One wonders how he will succeed in Islamising a whole state bothers on nothing but the absurd.

It is pertinent to ask Osun CAN leaders on whose behalf they are doing this naked dance in the public?
Certainly not on behalf of Christians in the state: whose children are now beneficiaries of the ‘Opon Imo Computer Tablets’ which are designed to assist them in their studies; whose children benefitted immensely from the OYES Empowerment and Employment Scheme which generated 20, 000 jobs in 100 days; who are enjoying rapid infrastructure development in the state ranging from road construction to urban development; whose children are now enjoying the best education faciilities which have not been witnessed before in the state; who are enjoying the best of Xmas and Easter celebrations with free train ride for them, their kits and kins to and from Lagos, beautification of environment and fireworks sponsored by the government headed by a Muslim.

Certainly, the leadership of Osun CAN is acting a selfish script sponsored by mischievous political elements out to cause disharmony in a peaceful state. Suffice to conclude that their plans have fallen like a pack of cards in their faces.

• Rasak, a journalist, writes from Lagos.

The post OSUN CAN: On Whose Behalf? appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

By Anthonia Soyingbe and Adedayo Odulaja Lagos

Angelina Jolie

American actress and United Nations ambassador, Angelina Jolie, has described as “unthinkable cruelty and evil” the kidnapping of over 200 schoolgirls in Nigeria by Boko Haram Islamists.

The film star was speaking for Disney in Paris, France about the themes of her latest film, Maleficent in which she plays a vindictive fairy driven to curse an infant princess.

“Sadly of course there is real evil in the world, you watch the news and you see all of the people suffering and so much cruelty,” Jolie told a news conference.

“And it’s unthinkable cruelty like these girls that were kidnapped in Nigeria. Unthinkable cruelty and evil,” the influential Hollywood star said.

A total of 276 students were kidnapped in Nigeria’s northeastern Borno state three weeks ago when Boko Haram stormed their school under the cover of darkness and loaded them onto trucks. Some managed to escape but over 220 girls are still being held by the insurgents.

In a video message released on Monday, Abubakar Shekau, the head of the Islamist group which has killed thousands in a five-year uprising, said it was holding the girls as “slaves,” threatening to “sell (them)” as he claims he has been told by Allah.

The post Angelina Jolie adds voice to kidnapping of girls in Nigeria appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

As the saga over the classification and cinematic release of widely-anticipated movie, continues to rage, author of the book has cone out to chide the government of Nigeria, accusing the government of denial.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, author of the book that has been adapted into a screen effort now known also as Half of Yellow Sun said the government has continued to live in denial in relation to the events of the Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Biafran War.

Adichie, in an article for The New Yorker, questioned why the movie based on her critically-acclaimed book has been delayed for release in Nigeria.

The release of the movie directed by Biyi Bandele, also a writer and author of Burma Boy for cinemas in the country has been delayed twice by the Nigeria Film and Video Censors Board for despite a well-attended premiere in the country last month.

“This week, Nigerian government censors delayed the release of the film adaptation of Half of a Yellow Sun because, according to them, it might incite violence in the country; at issue in particular is a scene based on a historically documented massacre at a northern Nigerian airport,” Adichie wrote in The New Yorker, an American literary magazine.

She revealed that the Censors’ board had left it up to the Nigeria State Security Service to decide whether the movie will be released or not.

“I find this absurd – security operatives, uniformed and alert, gathered in a room watching a romantic film – but the censors’ action is more disappointing than surprising, because it is part of a larger Nigerian political culture that is steeped in denial, in looking away,” she said.

Although she conceded that the board’s decision was not totally unreasonable considering the current security situation in Nigeria, she however insisted, “But we cannot hide from our history. Many of Nigeria’s present problems are, arguably, consequences of an ahistorical culture.”

Caesar Kagho, the acting head, Corporate Affairs of NFVCB, on April 28, had explained why the movie had been delayed, saying that the management of the NFVCB was ensuring that some unresolved issues in the movie were sorted out in accordance with the laid down regulations of the board. He did not, however, state the ‘unresolved issues.’

“Nigerians are sophisticated consumers of culture and, had the censorship board not politicised the film by delaying its release, I suspect that few people would have objected to it at all,” Ms. Adichie wrote.

The movie, which will be released in the U.S. on May 14, is however enjoying mixed reviews with some critics praising the cast including Oscar nominee, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton and Anika Noni Rose while others have described it as “melodramatic,” sluggish,” and “in need of a bigger budget.”

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By Disu Kamor

In its usual tactic of scare-mongering and spreading false alarms, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has raised the bar of its Islamophobia by directly accusing the Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola of attempting to “Islamise” Osun State. Although a tired and alarmist line bandied about a lot these days, some newspapers still breathlessly reported this latest portrayal of paranoia and grand arrogance in action.

As reported by the press, the Chairman of Osun CAN, Superior Evangelist Abraham Aladeseye, and the Secretary, Rev Father Gbenga Ajayi, at a news conference in Osogbo on Monday, the 18^th of March laid the imagined charge of planned “Islamisation” of the State of Osun.

Although unsupported by a single example, the CAN Chairman’s charge is that the government of Aregbesola is steering the state in un-Christian direction; particularly in matters of state functions that are now held on Sunday mornings; and use of hijab in all public schools. What is interesting about Evangelist Abraham and his supporters is not just their religious views, but also their political ones. Though this display of paranoia is undoubtedly religious and divisive, it also has a political dimension. The evangelist makes his points knowing full well that in the secular State of Osun, Muslim communal worship day (Friday) has always been an official working day for all citizens. The totality of Muslim Nigerians have lived with this reality since independence. And probably he cares less that children are being mercilessly beaten in public schools in Lagos and Osun States in particular- in flagrant disregard to their constitutional rights and in abuse of their human rights- their only “crimes” being a piece of cloth on their heads.

The worrying thing is that people like these individuals seem to have unfettered access to the mainstream newspapers which adopts their own wrong definition, engage in docile reporting and routinely use languages of hate to promote the same divisive narrative as these troubled individuals. In the Punch newspaper report (19/03/13) for instance, the true meaning of hijab was perverted to be “a type of cloth used by Muslim women to cover their faces.”  Yet, the Punch newspaper should know better because only a few days before this publication, it had commissioned a bizarre poll to gauge public opinion on the use of hijab (the Muslim women head cover) in public schools.

On his tour through the halls of paranoia, the final act of the Evangelist was a question he asked and which all Nigerians who strive for a Nigeria that cherishes all its people equally and upholds values that don’t carry a price tag must truthfully consider. He was reported as saying “At a meeting with the Osun CAN leaders, the governor proudly said that he was instrumental to the inclusion of hijab in OYES uniforms and it was not in the original design. If this is not religious extremism, what else can it be, considering the fact that in the 40-year history of the National Youth Service Corps, hijab has not been incorporated into the NYSC uniform?”

 The question implies that if the NYSC has not integrated the hijab into its dress code for female Muslim corps members in its 40 years of existence, why should student in Osun State public schools be allowed to use it? But what else could this question mean?

Firstly, it is shameful that some Christians are setting themselves up as strongest advocates against the use of hijab in public schools when every single portrait of Mary (AS), the mother of Jesus Christ, shows her wearing the hijab. Secondly, it is equally shameful that these individuals seem not to be aware that students in public schools are constitutionally empowered (specifically section 38 (1)) to use the hijab in school as an expression of their religion and this right has been affirmed in many cases on the subject matter.  The governor’s intervention is simply bringing the official policy of the State of Osun in conformity with the Constitutional provision on the matter, and securing the freedom of religious expression to those pupils.

The unprincipled position of CAN on this issue offers evidence, if any were needed, that a section of it is not committed to building bridges, and that as far as the hijab is concerned, it is not the nature of the act that matters but, rather, who is wearing it. By allowing the use of hijab to become a matter of political calculation for intolerant individuals, it shows that Nigeria is still failing an important section of its population in terms of constitutional rights to freedom of religious expression (and not fulfilling its obligations under international human rights instruments on freedom of religion that it is a signatory to).

 In the bizarre comparison of the Evangelist, the question that must be directly answered by the leadership of the NYSC is why in a secular country, the Muslim woman’s head cover cannot be officially integrated into the NYSC uniform?  In other secular and democratic countries of the world, particularly in the UK, Sweden and USA, the army and the police permit wearing a hijab.

The grand achievements of the government of the State of Osun in improving the quality and standard of living of its people, constantly lauded by patriotic citizens of the state and independent observers, will bear eloquent testimonies to the great changes and improvements the governor and his men have brought to the state. The people of the State of Osun, in a free and fair election, will pass a fitting verdict on their governor at the appropriate time.

Finally, as the 35^th President of the USA, John F Kennedy, correctly stated, “Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one’s own beliefs”, the Evangelists and his warriors should adapt their tactics and embrace the sublime values of tolerance and peaceful principles that divine faiths call to.

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By Nkasiobi Oluikpe / Lagos

DJ Jimmy Jatt

As a way of marking his 25 years of active Disc Jockey (DJ) career, DJ Jimmy Jatt is set to reach out to the less privileged of the society and especially to up and coming DJs by way of supporting and mentoring them.

He made this known at a media parley to kick start a programme of activities lined up in celebration of his 25thanniversary in the entertainment industry held at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island last Monday.

The residents of Obalende and its suburb would not be quick to forget former Master J rapper who started the Road Block Street carnival in Nigeria. It was a forum where hip hop artistes were being groomed while engaging in lyrical battles. 

Jatt, through the support of his brothers ventured into disc jockey and opened up a studio called Jatt Studios. Artistes including Junior and Pretty, Daddy Showkey, DJ Abdullah, el-Cream, Ruff, Rugged and Raw among others, called at Jimmy Jatt’s studio during their early days. 

Speaking on the anniversary celebration, Jatt remarks, “It is hard to believe that 25 years have gone by and I have been having the time of my life doing the job I love. This anniversary celebration is to take people on my journey so far and also to show my appreciation for their continued support all these 25 years.”

Besides, engaging in Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR), the revered DJ will be touring six cities across the nation from the fourth week in May, through mid June. The tour will start in Lagos and run through Enugu, Benin, Port Harcourt, Ilorin and Abuja. Also, the entourage will be visiting some countries in Europe and the America such as London, Germany, Italy, Austria, Amsterdam, Turkey and other African countries, Republic of Benin and South Africa.

This will afford his fans that cut across continents to get to experience life performances of the Jimmy Jatt stuff.

Other activities include the DJ Jimmy Jatt Documentary, the launch of the DJ Jimmy Jatt Foundation, the 25thanniversary formal dinner on August 3, the Jimmy’s Jump Off in September 30 and a reality show.

Also on the anniversary celebration, there would be a Black Tie events for all the people that in one way or the other have positively affected the DJ’s life; a book and album launch.

The album titled ‘The Industry’ featured 50 musical acts cutting across different generations in the industry.

This year will also mark the return of his legendary TV show ‘Jimmy’s Jump-Off’ which has featured Nigeria’s biggest music acts including Tuface,Mode9, M.I, Ice Prince, the Late Dagrin, Sauce Kid and many more.

Jimmy Jatt who is popularly known to shy away from celebration stressed that he got into the disc jockeying career at a time when the profession was not respected and parents would do everything possible to keep their kids away from a DJ.

“I felt I was just going to do this to change the mindset of people towards the profession and I think right now, DJs are being celebrated. I am doing this as well because I want the young up and coming DJs to see that there is a life as a DJ. I am constantly making a pathway to let the young people have hope and know that you can get into this and make something out of it.”

The celebration which is said to be a continuous event will continue to unveil until the second quarter of next year.

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Lere Paimo,  is one of Nigeria’s most revered actor. He has put in 54 years into acting. A recipient of several awards, including the National honours of Member of the Federal Republic (MFR); he is always a delight to watch.

The Aare Arobajo of Ogbomoso, Paimo hails from Ogbomoso, Oyo state. He is a teacher, actor, singer, radio and television comedian as well as a seasoned dramatist. Paimo who goes by the alias, Eda Niniola, he earned after a beautiful portrayal of one his numerous leading roles, trained as a teacher in Ghana after his primary education in Ogbomoso. Besides his basic educational qualification, he has been awarded various certificates on his participation in different theatre workshops. He has over 400 films and videos to his credit. In this interview with Senior Reporter, Anthonia Soyingbe, he opens up on the crisis rocking Association of Nigeria Theater Practitioners (ANTP). Enjoy this special interview.

There are insinuations that you colluded with some of your younger colleagues to put ANTP in disarray because of your personal ambition. Can you clear the air on this sir?

Don’t mind Jide Kosoko and his cohorts, they are selfish and don’t have the love of the body at heart. Such wicked and malicious lies could only have emanated from them and no one else. I don’t have issues with them because I know things will soon get into shape. They left the body to form another body but that doesn’t change anything. I’m sure they will come back because they are not bastards. ANTP was formed by our late veterans who toiled hard to sustain this industry so the onus is on us who really love this industry to put things in shape and that I will always do. We are out of court now and the right person is in place. Concerned elders like me are working assiduously to bring ANTP into shape.

How is your health as it was reported months back that you were ill?

I don’t know why people celebrate such news. I’m better and doing very fine now. My detractors thought the ailment will lead to death but God remains faithful.

 You are now a common presence in political functions. Is it that you are now a politician or trying to patronize politicians for some benefits?

I’m not a politician or expecting anything from anyone except God. I attend events if I’m invited and don’t think it’s a crime to attend an event put together by a politician.  We associate with all humans and I don’t believe in discrimination.

Can you tell us some of your experiences as an actor?

I’ve been in this industry for over 54 years and I don’t have any regret whatsoever. God has blessed me tremendously as an actor and I’m never ashamed to count my blessings. I was given an honorary award during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration. People reckon with me because I’m an actor who doesn’t take people for granted.

54 years down the line and you are still very relevant in the industry, what is the secret?

It is still all about God’s benevolence. I’m a trained teacher but through divine orchestration, I became an actor of repute. The secret is dedication and hard work. I’m so committed to doing things right as an actor and very passionate about the industry. I believe in the best and so always go for the best.  I read through my scripts very well and if not satisfactory, I drop it. Some people think it is pride but it is all about principle and professionalism. I was fascinated and inspired by the outstanding performances of stage and screen legends like Duro Ladipo and Oyin Adejobi, both of blessed Memories. My first role on stage was as Chief Bisa, a comedian in the play “Obamoro’ while my major breakthrough role in a film was playing Soun Ogunlola in the epic feature, Ogbori-Elemoso

Is any of your children taking after you in acting?

I don’t think it is right for me to impose that on them but if they want to, it is fine by me. One of my sons is a gospel artiste and he is doing very fine.

Do you have any project that you are nursing an ambition to establish or possibly working on?

 Yes, I am praying to God. If He grants it, I want to build a Theatre Village of my own, no matter how humble. It would afford me the opportunity to employ professionals to teach our boys and girls the art of drama, dancing and all the rest, to become fully developed in the knowledge of theatrical works.

How is your family?

We are all doing well. My wife is also doing well.

We heard you have more than a wife.

They are just two.

Any plan to take another wife?

Not yet.

You feature excellently well in films that depicts you as a wicked person.

(cuts in) It is unfortunate that people still think I am a wicked person but I am not. I play my role well and I think it is very wrong for people to judge me on the premise of the roles I play in movies.

The post The secret to my success is hardwork – Paimo appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

El-Phlex; like P-Square, is a music group consisting of two brothers. In this interview with REPORTER, Lukmon Akintola, they talked about the challenges of the music industry, School of Thought their forthcoming album and more.

Toyin Aimakhu

You have been silent for a while, what’s been happening?

We have been working hard. We are always trying to put out something good, something which will connect us to our fans.  We just dropped a new single called Low Waist and hopefully, we will drop an album this year. It is an overdue album; we have gone for tours with a couple of other artistes, but finally we are ready to drop it. It will be out in the next couple of months, although, we are yet to decide on the date.

Something seems to be holding the album back, what is it?

We think it will be in our best interest to create a large fan base before releasing the album. Presently, we have shot about six videos and we don’t believe in dropping an album which won’t get the massive response that it deserves, hence we are putting our efforts together and hustling hard to get things right. We are also working with other producers, revisiting our songs in order to be more creative. We want to drop an album which our fans won’t be able to do without, something that they won’t be disappointed with when they eventually buy it.

You seem to be measuring the success rate of this album by the number of videos you have shot, is this right?

No, it shouldn’t be that way, but if you look at this industry you will realise that it requires a lot of hard work. You need to let people know who you are; it is not by dropping singles that you will catch the attention of the public. It is not enough to just drop singles because some people are in a particular state and they don’t know who you are so with the awareness they will get to know you. We are looking at also putting an international outlook into our career. For instance, Beyonce recently released a new album and she shot about 15 videos for the work and they were all released at the same time. So, we too have our own strategy. We believe if we keep doing the right things, keep doing good songs we will get known everywhere and that is what we have been doing.

What motivated the new single, Low Waist?

It is a contemporary song, it is somehow like an Afrobeat sound and it is a song that relates with everybody. We met a producer sometime back and he was playing a good beat with a guitarist and it sounded lovely. That was how it all started and before you know it we created something that went with the beat. Low Waist, is a contemporary song which people are dancing to right now.

Who are the other artistes on this album?

We worked with a lot of artistes such as Sheyman, Reminisce, Skales and we are still working on some international collaboration.

You were recently in South Africa to shoot a video, are you sending a message that there are better locations there or that they are better than Nigeria?

I told you earlier that we had already shot about six videos. Those videos were shot in Nigeria. If we decide to go and shot a video in South Africa I don’t think it has anything to do with the location or environment. Trust me, it is cheaper to shoot there and there are a lot of facilities to use there. I don’t think it is a problem.

Some people will still insist that there is a problem because rather than develop your country you are investing in another, don’t you think so?

I think if we have shot five or six videos in Nigeria we have tried in our effort to promote the country’s music industry. I know several artistes who have gone to South Africa to shoot all of their videos. The reason behind our decision to go to South Africa is basically that we shot all of our existing videos in Nigeria and we have worked with some of the best hands in the industry here in Nigeria. We have shot a video with Clearance Peters, we shot with DJ Tee, we shot with Patrick Ellis, so who else is left.  We just thought since the song was a contemporary one that would be listened to in all parts of Africa, we should go to South Africa to exhibit our skillful idea. The idea behind the video was created by us, we went with our costume and we just told the director what we wanted. So, it is simply a Nigerian concept shot in South Africa.

What is that guarantee which will make your fans buy this album?

There is the uniqueness factor. We have been trying so hard to climb the ladder of success in the music industry and I can tell you that everything we have done till date is on point. We are not good artistes, but good entertainers. We will entertain you with our kind of music which is Afro pop and I tell you that you will hear the message in it. Just like Amen which we dropped in 2010, it was our first official single and it had messages in it; it had content. It wasn’t just about booty, so you will always find something to like in the album.

You are aware of a recent supposed misunderstanding between P-Square, can such happen to you?

Seriously it is not possible. Anything can happen, but you need to remember that we are brothers and there is a saying that “blood is thicker than water.”

Do you know that P-Square is also made up of two brothers?

P-Square are brothers and today they are back together which was why I said blood is thicker than water earlier. There will always be issues, but because they are brothers, they will settle the rift. The same applies to us, we might have issues, but at the end of the day, it still comes back to the fact that we are siblings.

The post We are not fantastic artistes, but good entertainers – El-Phlex appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

Soul Mate has launched a new campaign with witty Nigerian actor, Hafeez Oyetoro, popularly known as Saka as lead act. Runway superstars, Ure Scott Kalu and Ifeoma Ume Okeke, join him as faces of the new brand of body cream.

“For years, all we have done is satisfy our customers with a line of hair care products that has grown in leaps, now we introduce a project that we have worked on for years,” Soul Mate’s Communications Director, Dele Okusanya, said at the unveiling of the new product.

Saka and the models star in the telltale commercial, portraying the result of using the newly introduced set of body creams. “We are committed to our customers, and that is why for two years, we have tested the new line especially the skin lightening cream and only decided to launch when we were sure the time was right,” Okusanya concluded.

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The colour ‘Red’ stands for many things but in fashion, red is precious. Red is attractive, stylish. It radiates elegance and confidence. Red is bold and hot. And red dresses have no season; they bring out your inner glow any day, anytime.
In trend, red is every fashionista’s must have especially in long and short dresses. There is hardly any red carpet of prestigious events that don’t see a good number of guests dressed in red

We all know that nothing draws attention like ‘a lady in red’ and celebrities know this. Those who don’t go all red,  usually have a touch of the colour because no colour make you look more ravishing than red. Even men are in love with red now.
In any season, red is always hot and ravishing.

There is hardly any skin tone that doesn’t look nice in Red but you don’t have to overdo it. Red is also sweet with other colours, easy to combine. If you are thinking of adding a red dress to your wardrobe, have at the back of your mind that you can wear it with a brown, gold, bronze or black shoe. The event and dress length will determine if the shoe will be stiletto, sandals, platform pumps or wedge.

The post Red is attractive, Stylish and Elegant  appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

•Tiwa and husband, Balogun

Talk of a nuptial which has been heavily criticised even before it took place and the one that readily comes to mind is that of Mavin Record’s First Lady, Tiwa Savage-Balogun and her husband Tunji, also popularly known as T-Billz.

In recent times, the couple has not only become a subject of heavy criticism by fans and colleagues, but also by fashion experts who knocked her Vera Wang wedding gown.

Tiwa and T-Billz are however not taking it lightly with their critics; they are said to be fighting back too. Tiwa recently attacked entertainer Etcetera for describing her spouse as a second hand husband. According to the songstress, most of the people Etcetera has been criticising met him in the music industry and are doing better.

As for those calling her names for wearing a bikini days to her wedding, the Mavin Record artiste said their criticisms is based on envy. According to her, if they take care of their body then their husband won’t have the need to drool over hers.

If you think that is bad, coming from a lady, the fact that T-Billz used unprintable words on Etcetera describing him as one who had not solve his problems, but wants to resolve those of others or that he is a failed music act will amaze you more. As the war of words continues between the trio, the fact remains that criticism will continue to trail the new couple for a while.  

The post Tiwa Savage, husband slam Etcetera over criticism appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

•Harrysong performing at Ewkulobia in Anambra State

Five Star Music act, Harrysong has been enjoying a good run in his career for a while now.

The artiste whose profile has risen since he dropped the singles Mandela and Better Pikin remains one of the most consistent music act in the current edition of Star Music Trek.

As the concert train moves on from state to state, Harrysong has been on the lips of music lovers in Nigeria.

Using his creative stage performance, Mr. Songs, as he is also known, recently stole the show when he performed at Ewkulobia in Anambra State. The artiste was sandwiched by his fans the moment he ascended the stage as they sang and danced along with him while he performed his mega hit single, Better Pikin.

It took the effort of security officials to recue Mr. Songs from the crowd that almost nearly took over the stage.

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Two weeks ago, Box Office reported that actress, Monalisa Chinda, has quit her position at Monalisa magazine. We also reported that her exit has torn the magazine apart and there are indications that the magazine would soon cease to exist.

The magazine, however, disagrees with our view. According to Lanre Nzeribe, the principal partner of the fashion and luxury magazine, the magazine is very much alive and Monalisa’s exit has nothing to do with the survival of the magazine. The businessman said that Monalisa Chinda’s statements to Box Office is a misrepresentation of facts done in bad faith to deliberately dent the image the brand. He revealed that the “professional irreconcilable differences” stated by Monalisa Chinda as reasons for her exit, was nothing but a blatant lie.

He said in his statement: “Both parties never had any professional differences as the party involved had little or no idea as to how to run the business. Lanre Nzeribe is the major shareholder of the company. We can assure you that this claim (Monalisa’s) is baseless and utterly false as the chairman (Nzeribe) started the business with his resources, without a dime or contribution from Ms Monalisa Chinda.”

The statement also revealed that after Monalisa’s exit, the magazine continues to work without her. It is also believed that they have begun work on the third issue after former Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN), Anita Nwagbale, appeared on the cover of the second issue.

The post Monalisa reacts to reports: We did not crumble appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

Jelade-Ekehinde, Nnaji and Okas

Some years back, one thing which was synonymous with top Nollywood actresses such as Genevieve Nnaji, Dakore Akande, Omotola Jelade-Ekehinde, Stella Damasus and more recently, Thelma Okas and Tonto Dikeh, was the need to prove their talent beyond acting. Then, the vogue in the movie industry was to convince their fans that they are indeed an all-round entertainer.

It was that zeal that also led most of the earlier mentioned actresses into deciding to release an album.

With meaningless songs such as Nnaji’s No More, Thinking of You in which she featured Kojo Antwi, Jelade’s less than entertaining singles Barren Land, Feel Alright and Dike making more sense with her sexy costumes than her lyrics, the days of actresses turned music act seems to have come to an end, at least for now.

The post Failed Nollywood musicians call it quits? appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

Achivas Music is set to release the video of a song the Nigeria Football Supporters Club (NFSC) commissioned its artiste, Solid Star, to put together.

The song and its video, according to Solid Star are aimed at encouraging members of the football team during the forthcoming World Cup in Brazil.

Titled Super Eagles, the video of the song is one which a lot of people are currently anticipating as the biggest football tournament draws nearer.

It features the Nigeria Supporters Club (NSC) with a cameo role played by Made Men music Group (MMMG) artiste, Inyanya.

Speaking in a phone chat with Klieg Light the boss of the record label said “the video will be released anytime from now so that Nigerians can get used to it before the World Cup.”

Solid Star is one of the very few artistes who have been officially commissioned by NSC to do a song for the team in a very long time. The single will serve as the theme song of the Super Eagles during the World Cup.

The post Achivas Music set to drop Super Eagles team song video appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

Formed five years ago and registered by the Corporate Affairs Commission in 2011, Media Content Distributors Association of Nigeria (MCDAN) has called on other guilds and associations in the motion picture industry to come together to take Nollywood to greater heights.

While formally announcing the presence of the association in the industry, president of MCDAN, Blessing Agofure said that though the association has been making giant strides in the industry albeit silently, it is the largest media distribution association in Africa and it utilizes links with other partners in Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Namibia, South Africa, among others.

He said: “ Our aims and objectives includes, to register as local and foreign media content/film distributors throughout the country. To handle, monitor and coordinate all media content/film distribution within and outside the country; to organize workshops, seminars, script/story readings, narrations, discussions, film screenings, among others that facilitate and support Nigerian film and entertainment contents distributions. We also promote, support and nurture entertainment content by Nigerian filmmakers and distributors of Nigeria origin. We provide representation and support for Nigerian film and entertainment content distributions, at important international forums and platforms, at international and national film festivals and film markets. We seek to create a dataset of organization institutions across the world that support film distribution-which would include government agencies, financers, film funds, distributions, sales agents, completion bond agencies, film festivals etc.”

Agofure assured return on investments for filmmakers who could not afford to use known stars for their production which usually leads to rejection at the market.

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D’banj and Terry G have been confirmed as artistes to perform in a concert for the late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa.

 Speaking in a chat, Charly Boy said the concert is aimed at celebrating the life of his father.

 According to him, no one should weep for his late father. In his words, “They should join in celebrating a life well lived.” Reminiscing about his relationship with his father, Charly Boy said, “my father was a good and great man, though we did not start off well because in the beginning he always felt I was too rascally. I did not obey orders and I got tired of his rules, regulations and restrictions so it was important that I go my own way. I thank God I did that because at long last since the past 25 years I won the kind of respect I deserved from the man who thought that the direction I took was a wrong move. For the past 25 years, we bonded and I am proud to have had a father like him.”

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By Nkasiobi Oluikpe  / Lagos

Professor Mopelola Omoegun

As the very old cliché goes, determination is the key to success. When she got to know about the vacancy that existed somewhere, she headed for it, knowing very well, she was qualified for the position that was advertised. But her moves were frustrated by forces who ordinarily, were supposed to help her get the job.  When the hurdles became too high for her to scale, she handed the case to God, but also, never ceased to push her way through; when the time was right, administrative politics gave way to merit and she was announced the lucky winner of the hotly contested position.

The story of Professor Mopelola Omoegun, the dean of faculty of education, University of Lagos, is such that would interest anyone, any time any day. She took to teaching, not because it was her choice, but that of her father who believed that the best profession for a woman is either teaching or nursing. Not only did her father believe in these two professions for women, he was always going to the chapel to pray that God should make his girls end up as teachers.

That notwithstanding, somewhere along the line, she got to love the profession that she took to it with passion and left indelible marks in all the places she taught. Omoegun besides teaching engages the kids in extra curricula activities and gave them her ears at all time. She was popularly known as auntie girls’ school.

This she took along in all the different levels of education she has taught, ranging from the primary school, to secondary school and finally, the university. She started the students’ wing of Counseling Association of Nigeria; served as the president of the Counseling Association of Nigeria (Lagos State) chapter for 15 years and later became the national vice president.

She also started the Lagos Youth Jamboree for adolescent student which has seen many prominent personalities keying into it.

Even at a point in our national life, when it was generally believed that teachers’ rewards were in heaven, she never had cause to rethink her decision of being a teacher. For her, nothing could be more rewarding and gratifying than molding innocent lives. On her wedding day, some of her students at Reagan Memorial Girls’ School were in her bridal train.

In a male dominated clime, filled with all manner of intrigues and politics, it’s usually surprising to see a woman in the exalted position she presently occupies. But then, like she said, with God, all things are possible: “It is a male dominated world, but it is God that made me. We were three girls and I happen to be the third one, so it has never been easy right from when I was born, my name says it all, Mopelola, meaning, you are complete. My father didn’t want any more girls as they were praying for a male child. They had given my mother the last chance of not giving birth to another girl. Unfortunately for them then, I happen to be a girl. But God has turned that story around.

“For my father, it wasn’t easy because his family members were not happy that he was training girls that would end up in another man’s house. Even when I got this job in the university, people didn’t want me to take it over. There was a lot of scheming because they preferred a man taking over the position.

Recently, government approved the much agitated 70 years retirement age for university lecturers. This decision is presently said not to have gone down well with the junior lecturers who felt that the continuing stay of the older lecturers would deny them the opportunity to move up the ladder. But Omoegun has a different notion: “Are they not the ones saying that the young shall grow. On a serious note, you can’t buy experience with money. We need experienced hands, that is, if people would be honest about their age. I am over 60 and I know I can still work up to 70. But people are declaring their ages. Those who have declared their ages before now are going to be there for over 70 years. I hope people will not be collapsing in the lecture rooms.

“Looking at it, they are praying to grow old too. They are afraid it could affect their promotions. They have to take it easy and pray that by the time people go after 70, they too can move up. They have a lot of advantages over the same system that now extends the retirement age. Every three years now, promotion takes place. That wasn’t the case before. I spent six years as a senior lecturer. If they keep themselves busy and are committed, they will eventually get there.”

Omoegun expresses her view on the much talked about inability of the Nigerian graduates to fit in properly into the employment market and who and who takes the blame: “There is a curriculum and syllabus that is followed. To some extent, most of the employers of labour who have spoken in that vein are correct because the curriculum in the university is purely academic and not much of the practical. What we are doing to expose them to the practical aspect is to introduce the SIWES (Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme); and for education, they are going on teaching practice. But how committed are the students when they get there.

“I just look at it as the case of the chicken and the egg. Who is to blame? The people that come to the university now are not quite mature as they used to. They are young and everything that affects the thinking of young people affects them because they are still very young.

“If the quality is not very good for the job market, we are not the ones who made them bad. It’s garbage in, garbage out. The entry point too, is defective. The Bible says that when the foundation is destroyed, what will the righteous do. Is it not the best of the best that you are going to take since we have quota. From primary school, you just push them into the secondary and say no exam, under aged. The parents themselves are too busy, they don’t have time for the children, nobody is teaching them to spend quality time to study and you want them to get to the university very early at ages 14 and 15. The generality of young ones now, don’t believe in spending hours to study.

“That was why UNILAG introduced the post UME exams because you discover that even they buy results in the JAMB exams. So they are not really qualified. They started post UME, again, they have started cutting corners with that.

“The lecturers themselves are not happy. You can imagine how many months strike we embarked upon last year. You say people should place emphasis on education. How much were they paying lecturers before the strike? We had an agreement which they decided not to respect. Many things are going wrong with the educational system all together, so the end products cannot be otherwise. Now, when a child fails, the parents will take him to another school to try. It’s only God that can help us.”

Added to this, government she emphasised, also takes the blame for not providing the facilities for the system to function properly. For a faculty course where you have 1,000 students in attendance with the facility only able to accommodate 500, the result she explained, is a situation where students will either hang around or be roaming about and eventually disappear to enjoy themselves.

Now, after her retirement, don’t think she will go starting a school or running an NGO (non-governmental organisation). 

“After 70, I don’t want anything that would constrain my movement. I am already a grandmother and would want to spend time with my own grandchildren and other people’s children too. I think I will have more time for myself, other people, the community and society at large,” she said.

And having reached out and touched lives, all she can do is double up her praise life because she doesn’t think there is anything she has missed out.

Her childhood story: “I grew up basically in the boarding school and I enjoyed my stay there. I always enjoyed music and dancing. At school we used to have our form of dancing where we turn the buckets upside down and use them as bands and I will be dancing. My elder sister will tell me instead of you studying, people will be dragging you up and down and you will be dancing. After, sometime, I will sneak out again to go and join them to dance. So when I started teaching, I was organising the children to dance on Fridays, after their school runs in the evening. I enjoyed my early days.

“Even coming back home during the holiday, I used to enjoy it because my father was so committed to us as his children. As soon as you came back for the holiday, he will tell you the latest thing in town. When they built the Carter Bridge on the Island, he said he wanted his girls to go and see the bridge. He put on his fez cap and drove us around Lagos. Every Christmas, you must have a new dress. That was his policy. He wasn’t going to buy it in your absence. He will take us to Lagos Island to do the shopping.

The post You can’t buy experience – Omoegun appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

Kunle Da-Silva, after over two decades in the Nigerian movie industry as an actor, decided to produce his own movies. His movie, Ofin, is one of the biggest Yoruba movies so far. He speaks with Correspondent, Hazeez Balogun on his life as an actor and moviemaker

You have been in the industry for some time, what drew you to acting? 

Kunle Da-Silva

It started way back in the early 90s when I was in the technical college where I used to act on stage. Later on, I saw a friend that we went to the same primary school, Mary Joseph, on screen. So, I decided to try television dramas, and the acceptance was encouraging. Before long, I went into movies too.

Would you say you are fulfilled as an actor?

I have achieved a lot as an actor because I’ve acted with A-grade actors in the Yoruba movie industry like Adebayo Salami, Dele Odule and Jide Kosoko, among others. And talking of the youths, I’ve worked with Odunlade Adekola, Femi Adebayo, Toyin Aimakhu, Yomi Fash-Lanso and Funke Akindele, who I usually work with. The industry has been fair to me.

I am now into movie productions.  I did my first production, which came out in 2012 and it was widely accepted because I brought in innovations. My production was the first that would be shot at an airport runway and we used the airport hangar, the departure hall, the airport shuttle and the plane, which had never been done before. Even in Nigerian English movies, it had never been done. My movie, Ofin, was the first to do it.

How much did it cost to produce?

It was a big project. An individual sponsored bankrolled everything and we spent about N7million. I’m not going to deceive you, but it was only possible because of the sponsor. I’m not going to delve into the Igbo setting that I don’t know much about but in Yoruba, it’s almost impossible for an artiste to want to shoot a movie by him or herself. The marketers have taken charge of productions, marketing, sales and everything.

The power, the monopoly, has been there from the beginning, even before we came into the industry, so for anyone saying he wants to come in and change the setting, he must be ready to fight a really big battle.

Marketers themselves sponsor big productions and you get royalties and it won’t all come once. This is because they are so smart that they won’t want you to be independent to be able to gather a large sum to be able to shoot your own movie. Like my own movie, the person just walked up to me, Da-Silva, I’ve seen your movies, I love your acting, I know you can do it and I want to sponsor you. That was why I shot everything, completed it and gave a completed job to the marketer. Even my next job, which is for this year, will be done in the same way.

Though producers don’t always admit making money on their movies, did you recover the money you spent?

We did, though it came in trickles. The marketer didn’t really help matters at first, but later, he changed when he saw the moves we were making against him. He was making money and we knew as we were monitoring the sales and we knew all the initial copies were sold out within a week. The marketer wanted to be funny but when the executive producer started taking action against him, he sat up and came clean.

Did you show it at the cinemas?

I had some bottlenecks. As I said, the Yoruba movie setting is in such a way that a cabal is there which want things to work its way. I had issues with some marketers, they are clamouring to buy the job and I was not willing to sell. Then some things came up and I decided not to show it at the cinemas to avoid piracy.

What do you like most about being an actor?

What I love most is the knowledge we impart to the audience. We have a lot of problems in this country, social, economic, cultural, and you really need to pass messages to the people and one of the best ways of doing so is via movies. So the first thing that comes to my mind is the message I want to pass.

Then also the popularity, the people’s clamour to meet you, but it’s not easy. I’ve walked on the streets and my clothes were almost torn to shreds. People will want to greet you. Imagine a scenario where people you see on the road expect you to know them and if you don’t greet them, they will just start accusing you, saying; “We buy your films, we watch your films and you don’t want to greet us.”

At times, they will walk up to you and say: “I’ve bought your movie, I must collect money from you. But they don’t know it’s not like that. So, I don’t blame them. It’s the situation in the country.

You said the message in movies is paramount to you. What sort of message do you send with your movies advising people to go and do juju for money?

When a movie is shot and you see an artiste in it using a human being for ritual to amass wealth, at the movie’s end, there’s always a repercussion for such action. Now, what we are sending to the public is that if you do this, this is definitely what you’ll get at the end of the day and so don’t do it.

But let me tell you, Nigerians have thick skin. When they see ritual, they won’t want to take the message that the person is going to regret or regretted the action. They will only hold on to the part that the person made the money. And they will want to do it too.

Don’t you think, therefore, that it’s better that you avoid juju in your movies totally?

I’ll want to use the word tradition. We cannot eliminate tradition from Nigeria. We are a culture minded people and we cannot delete our tradition. If we remove our tradition and embrace the Western style of making movies, we are killing our own tradition and we can’t do that.

Despite all the money in the industry, many actors are still poor. Why is this?

I’ll give you a revelation, and I’ll speak about the Yoruba movie setting, which I know very well. The Yoruba setting does not pay much like the Igbo setting does. The older generation artists are paid peanuts. They want to survive. They’ve got families to fend for so they’ll rush at the peanuts than sit down at home doing nothing.

What’s the highest amount you’ve been paid?

Well, in the entertainment world, the highest I’ve got is half a million, but that was for an advert with Glo.

What do you then charge for acting?

In the Yoruba setting, it’s a family thing. I have to tell you the fact. And it is killing the industry. They’ll say you are my brother, do this for me, when it’s your turn, I’ll scratch your back.

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