• Late Oba SIJUWADE’s Wife, Oloori, LADUN

Oloori Ladun Sijuwade remains one of Nigeria’s beautiful female celebrities. At 60, she can without doubt be  taken for a woman of 40 years and even less on account of her graceful aging.Oloori Ladun grew up to become a style icon courtesy of her late mom who instilled the importance of girly attributes and fashion sense into her and till date, she has not deviated.

She has a signature style of wearing exquisite apparrels and when she’s doing iro and buba, her critics often go green with envy.

Oloori Ladun lost her loving mother whom she described as her pillar and within a phase of few months also lost her beloved husband, late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade.This delectable woman told City People BUKOLA BAMGBOSE OYAWOYE that it was the worst period of her life. Excerpts.

You have remained absolutely stylish, how did this evolve?

All the kudos goes to my late mum, she was my pillar, without her, you cannot attribute fashion to me…I grew up in between two boys, am the only girl, and I am always on the go with jeans and t-shirt but my mother of blessed memory instilled the fashion sense into me, as a matter of fact I was a tomboy, my mother was so loving that she will lovingly correct me and make me see reasons why I must be girly and why I must embrace modesty and stylish fashion sense. Infact, I would not like to talk about her,she was my everything, a mother like no other, I remember her today being mothers day, she’s a real mother,an epitome of love, my backbone, am about to start shedding tears as we speak, less than a year after Mama’s death, Kabiyesi passed on,waoh….life!!!! Please I won’t like to say much because my eyes are filled with tears already.

But you should be grateful, Mama passed on at over 90

Off course I am grateful, but no matter how long one’s mother live, you wouldn’t wish her dead, off course she lived a fulfilled life,but if only she could  remain forever, I miss her so much and less than a year after Mama’s death, Kabiyesi too passed on, hmmmm, I don’t even know what to say, it is beyond me..

How have you been able to cope since their demise?

It has been God, I can’t go a day without thinking about them, it has been Jesus who has strengthened me, it has not been easy, I must confess, those are the two most important and dearest people to me, they just passed on within a very short frame…it’s so sad.that has been the worst moment of my life.

Do you intend remarrying?

Remarrying? Do you know my age? Am 60, and to the Glory of God am a grandmother, so you can see remarrying is out of it for me..

But you don’t look your age, you look absolutely stunning and could be taken for a 40 year old

Thank you, and that is the more reason why I can’t remarry, look at me,to the Glory of God I am comfortable and God has been so good to me, you see my marriage to Kabiyesi, I can’t start going into details. I found love in that marriage, who can give me love like Kabiyesi did.

As a trained lawyer, we can’t figure out where you practiced…(cuts in)

Kabiyesi did not allow me, he jokingly said to me, you can’t face a Judge over a case and he will ask you to see him behind the bars, no way, and then I told him to compensate me, if I have to compromise my career which he did and then I was faced with the Ambassadorial duties of the Palace which was more challenging than any career, I was always going places, from Netherlands to Kuwait, to America back and forth, I represented Kabiyesi in most of his international functions and bring back report to the Palace.

How long were you married to him?

I was married to him for 31 years…

How was the Marital journey with the Late Monarch?

I would say I was shown love perfectly, there were challenges but the love was immersed, nobody can show me love the way Kabiyesi did, he loved passionately, and that was the main reason why I fell in love with him too, besides, he has listening ears, pays attention and he was very caring and supportive.  so in such situations where challenges occur, it was not as big as the love shown.so automatically the challenges were buried and the marriage was a bliss. I also understood my husband, I gave him his space and was extremely patient with him.

So, what have you been doing since his demise?

I devote my time to God, Jesus has made the impossible possible,this is my church, this is where I worship? I do my daily routine, off course I remember my two precious ones that I love most, and are no more and since Kabiyesi’s demise, I just cut down on other activities.

The post “Losing My Husband And Mum In Just 1 Year Hit Me Badly” – Oloori Ladun appeared first on CityPeople Magazine Nigeria | Nigerian Celerbrities | Entertainment | Stars.

Kemi Ashefon is a popular journalist who has come a long way in romance and life style reporting business in Nigeria. She is a gifted and very stylish journalist with over two decades experience on her beat. The U.I trained journalist was before her exit from PUNCH Newspaper, three weeks ago, one of the star Editors in the stable, who made the newspaper tick with her innovation. She created SPICES, one of the high flying columns in the newspaper.

Her series of columns on beauty tips, lifestyle, relationship and kiddies’ affair are what brought delightful moments to many readers across the world. But being an e-journalism complaint journalist, Kemi opened a blog to her name called Kemiashefonlovehaven.blogspot.com which deliberated on issues of romance, love and marital affairs.

Kemi Ashefon’s left PUNCH a few weeks back. During the last May 2nd which was Worker’s day Holiday, Contributing Editor GBENGA DAN ASABE cornered the gifted journalist in Lagos as she revealed the story of her exit from a PUNCH where she served for 16 years. Kemi equally shared the beautiful story of her new blog kemiashefonlovehaven.blogspot.com with us. Enjoy…

Can you tell us about Kemi Ashefon?

Kemi Ashefon, has written about relationships for over 16 years now. I think I started with PUNCH that was year 2000. It was the editor of the Saturday Punch, Mr. Azubuike Ishiekwene who spotted me and said to me ‘I like the way you write, why not start writing this for us?’ I think at the time, PUNCH just sent away some columnists that they were not going to pay them. So, he (Azuh) said ‘if you are an in-house staff and we are paying you salary, why can’t you write?’ and I said ‘Well, I don’t know what to say o’’. Then the famous column in PUNCH was “Dear Nike”, I said, I don’t know what to write about because the author of ‘Dear Nike’ in Saturday Punch then, was an elderly person. Azuh was now like, ‘you can do it, Kemi go and give me four editions’. And that is Azuh Ishiekwene for you, he will just say go and do it, I want result, and you just go and do it. So, I now did one edition and I gave him, I said ‘sir, I am not as mature as Aunty Nike’ he now said ‘It is okay, it is okay, it is nice. Just go and do another edition’. I did another one, he said ‘it is okay’ and it was always ‘ok, ok’ and that was how I started in year 2000. It was end of the year because I joined PUNCH in July 2000.

Tell us about your educational background?

I attended Ikeja High School; from there I went to the University Of Ibadan where I read English Literature. After graduation, I stayed briefly in Abuja before coming to Lagos and I got a job in Concord Newspaper. Actually, my first job was at Concord Newspaper that is Weekend Concord. I worked with Mike Awoyinfa and the late Dimgba Igwe. I think they are the ones that actually brought me into the world of creativity because I was actually employed by Mr. Dele Alake ( Former Lagos State Commissioner for Information & Strategy) to be a proof reader. He was initially skeptical about employing me; he was like ‘Oh, women, I don’t want a woman as proof reader, they will start telling you, ‘I can’t come because of my baby’ and I said ‘Sir, i am not married, I am single’; of course he employed me but it was not willingly because he taught women will always have excuses.  But along the line I got used to the job, I got fascinated with what I was doing, I was reading and editing for others. I said ‘this people I am reading, I can even write better than them’; one day I just caught up with Mr. Awoyinfa that I want to start writing and he said ‘go and write something’. So, I did a story on mass wedding in the Catholic Church and that was how I became a Reporter. I think I learnt so much from them, Mr. Sola Osunkeye (Now Ghana MD of Daily Sun) was my supervisor at the time; he is also one of those who taught me how to write very well. To God be the glory, I have spent many years on the trade. I spent two years in Concord, moved to PUNCH and left PUNCH like two weeks ago.

Why did you leave PUNCH?

Really I don’t want to talk about it but if you ask a question I will give you the answer. I think it started with my blog. I have a blog. I actually started one two years ago but recently, I became more aggressive in producing stories (Content) on the blog. On the 21st of April, I got a query that said I was posting some of my blog contents, that I was posting the link on Spice Facebook page.

You created Spice, isn’t it?

Yeah, I was Spice Editor for almost 4 years before I was transferred to the Feature’s desk. I replied the query. I said ‘I am sorry’ that I thought the face book page was dormant and I wanted to put my link to make it vibrant’. And immediately I went to the page and I deleted all the posts; I think I had like six posts there and I deleted all; and immediately I sent a mail to them (PUNCH) informing them that I have deleted the stories, ‘I am sorry if I have caused you any form of embarrassment’ and that was the last I heard from them. That day was Thursday 21st of April and by Friday around noon; the Admin people called me and gave me a letter. I was surprised, and that terminated my almost sixteen year’s appointment with PUNCH. Of course it wasn’t pleasant but I thank God I had been very aggressive with my blog. I have actually taught of leaving PUNCH before then because I knew there would be conflict of interest. So, I was still waiting but I think this incident is just God’s way of bringing me out because I was reluctant. I have gotten that nudge to leave PUNCH over a year ago but I was like ‘let me hold on’. You know that fear of uncertainty that ‘if I resign, oh, my son, my this; my that’ meanwhile God has a plan for you and I know there are millions of my types out there, they are working, they are paid and they don’t want to leave. They are like ‘if I go, if I leave this place because of salary, what would I be eating? You will be shocked that you are even better off.

Some industry observers feel PUNCH could still have retained you as what you are doing could be seen as an addition to their identity.

God wanted mine to happen, it had to happen. In fact my brother has told me for over 3 months that ‘Aunty Kemi, if you don’t leave that place, there will be a day they will lock the gate and tell you not to come in’. In fact when I was leaving the office, I drove straight to his house and he was like “I told you. Thank God it has happened”. My Parents were thankful, everybody was thanking God for me that God’s will is about to happen.  So, I don’t know about others but mine is actually God driven.

Do you think every journalist both should have a blog due to the level of global deregulation of the internet space?

I think all Journalists should have a blog no matter their level of engagement. If you are reporting health, it is not all your material that will interest your employer. I was Features Editor for over a year, it is not everything that you give me I will use. I will definitely edit it. So, it is not everything that you get that will be used. There are some vital stories at times, to you, which might not be vital to the paper but they will be vital to you and who you are writing about. So, why not put them on your blog? Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin will always say “Get your blog, put your stories on it; write your feelings on your blog. That is why it is a blog” and I look at people in the newsroom who are far, far better off than so many bloggers out there and those bloggers are making money. With all respect to Linda, Linda is making money, every click on Linda is money and you will be shocked, you get to the news room and they will open Linda, I will just laugh. They open Linda’s blog and they will be reading, they will go to Laila’s blog, they will read and these people are making money, and you are better off, you write better. You are more intelligent. You can conduct interviews, high profile interviews, transcribe and you put in print. Journalism is history hurriedly written, you have hurriedly written history and you are publishing it, so, why not have a blog? Even if it is a photo blog, you will be shocked, Nigerians love photographs. If you are a photographer, what stops you from having your blog? Put it, don’t write anything, just be putting it, you will be shocked the way people will storm your blog. They will open and read. They will just be looking at the photographs; you will be shocked by the hits. I appreciate a lot of photographs because I was style editor for four years, I know what it means to have photograph. I think I learnt appreciating photographs from Mr. Seye Kehinde (Publisher, City People Magazine) he would pack a lot of photographs and will just be going through. From photographs, he get stories, he doesn’t have to go out, he will just look at photographs and he will say ‘this is a story’ and he will write. So, I don’t know why journalists are afraid of making use of their innate talents?

Your blog appears to be gaining so much attention within a very short time. I was looking at your blog and I was quite surprised that within such a short time, you have been able to build a formidable readership base. What is the secret of your blog?   

I think I just wanted to carve a niche for myself and I have done that already. I have always written about relationship, talked about love related issues and answered questions on relationship and I said ‘let me do something that is related to what I was doing in PUNCH all my years’. I think I must give credit to Mr. Azubuike Ishiekwene because he was the one who actually pushed me to doing it. I never knew I could do that. So, there is no way I would write my story and not write about him that he helped me to do that which I never knew I could do. So, the blog is just about me, what I do. Love, divorce, separation anything relationship.

Tell me the best story you ever published that gave you lots of excitement as a journalist?

Ah, I have written so many stories in almost twenty years. Maybe at Weekend Concord, you know then I was young and I was enthusiastic about every thing and I had bosses who were interested in my progress. I think it is a story I wrote when Brigadier General Oladipo Diya was released from Potiskum Prisons in Jos. I was sent by Mr. Mike Awoyinfa and late Mr. Dimgba Igwe, that ‘you have to go to that place, capture everything, if that man enters that house and you don’t write it, you are in trouble o’. And the late Mr. Dimgba Igwe has a way of threatening his Reporters. He will say it softly ‘If you don’t bring it Kemi, you know there will be trouble’. So, I woke up early in the morning, I was at Diya’s house at GRA Ikeja, I was there through out the day until the evening, I was almost going when they now announced that they have brought the man, that they have brought him from Potiskum. Now, seeing him in that manner, I was a cub Reporter and I have never seen a man like that before and I was like ‘So, this is a General, the former Vice President?’, I saw everybody, I saw so many big people coming to that house to greet him, I didn’t leave there until few minutes to midnight because so many big people were coming to greet him. So many Generals, so many VIPS. In fact his compound was a beehive of activities that day. So, it was quite touching and when I got home I didn’t sleep I was telling my Parent about the many people that came to Diya’s house. I think I was 24 years at the time because I graduated at 22 and I worked for two years at Concord. I think that was one of the high moments of my career.

The post Why I Left PUNCH Newspaper To Manage My Blog – Kemi Ashefon appeared first on CityPeople Magazine Nigeria | Nigerian Celerbrities | Entertainment | Stars.

Funmi Ajila Ladipo is one of the top designers in the fashion industry  in Nigerian. She is the current President of FADAN.(Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria).She sits atop the prestigious House of Regalia fashion home and as expected, she has quite a number of Top celebrities as clients.The highly versatile woman of style also makes fashion statement for herself,she turns head whenever she steps out at events and she is also very pretty. She is married to celebrated Advertising Guru,Mr Rufai Ladipo who recently turned 60. In this interview with City People’s BUKOLA BAMGBOSE OYAWOYE about her amiable, she speaks about usband and the reason why he is the chosen one amongst other interesting issues.

Can you take us down the memory lane of how your relationship started?

It all happened over 12 years ago because our marriage is over 12 years, as a matter of fact, I met him at City People Fashion Show.

It’s been 12 solid years,can you describe your marriage in words?

I married a man that loves the Lord, and when you marry a man that loves the Lord, all other things will work perfectly. It’s not going to be very smooth, but with God as the solid rock and the head of the home, definitely you will weather the storm. I won’t say it’s been smooth and beautiful, but God has made him a very wonderful man and God has proved Himself to be inside of him,so what I see in him is Christ.

What was the attraction when you first met him?

He was a gentle man,a man that loves the Lord. A very straight forward person,he did not come as somebody who has everything or ready to give everything to me, he came himself the way he was, he came just loving me the way I was, and he was a gentle man, he would not lie, he would tell you this is how it is,and that’s it. If he won’t give you money, he would tell you straight and he may come back again and give you all that you demand, and he is a very prudent man,very artisitic.

How did you meet?

It was at the Niteshift Coliseum for one of the City People Fashion Shows, and he said to me, this woman is going to be my wife and I was like what is all this? but at the end of the day,out of all the suitors that came around me, I found out that he was the only one who was real and truthful. He did not show me gold, he did not show me diamond,  he came the way he was and that was good enough for me because I am a very realistic person

How have you been coping with his 4 daughters?

Cope? I don’t have any problem with them,they are my kids,and my best friends, I am their mother and we are good,and we have a grandson,and we are happy as mother and daughters….

How did you manage misunderstanding in your home?

Certainly they always come, but the pillar and stronghold of our marriage is God. If your relationship is founded on God, everything will work out. I always ask God for guidance.

You have a very sonorous voice. When you took over the Mic at his 60th birthday Thanksgiving, do you consider joining the choir?

I am a member of the choir and that is one of the things I love, I love to please Christ, so in anyway I can contribute to the house of God, I don’t compromise. I was supposed to be with the choir in their session,but because today is his birthday, I had to join him at the congregation..

 What has kept your marriage going?

Closeness to God is key and I try as much as possible to be real. I always make sure there is food on the table, I like what he likes and I correct him on things that should not be. I rely totally on God, because he is my pillar of strength.

What are the challenges you face as a wife?

One of the challenges was trying to understand who he is. I was ready to face any challenge. I was not intimidated by anything and because of my background as a Christian, I wanted to make sure my marriage worked.

What Advice do you have for people you inspire on marriage?

There is no marriage that is going to be easy, but the thing is that you have to make up your mind to make it work, let your marriage be like you are travelling in an Aeroplane, and you know you cannot tell your pilot to stop until you reach your destination. That is my philosophy of marriage, the destination should be old age, and also, one needs  to be patient and think properly. Except if the marriage is abusive and can cause death.Then flee…above all, God should be the pillar of their marriage, so they can overcome every challenge.

Who is Mr Rufai Ladipo,and what’s your wish for him as he attains the age 60?

Rufai Gbolagade Ladipo is a very prudent person,he is a God lover, he is a human lover,he is a calm and quite person,very Intelligent, very calculated, he is a guru when it comes to advertising,he is a man that knows what he want,he doesn’t talk too much,and he is a very stylish man. I wish him the best  things life can offer.

The post “Why I Chose Rufai Ladipo, Out Of All My Suitors” – FADAN President, Funmi Ajila-Ladipo appeared first on CityPeople Magazine Nigeria | Nigerian Celerbrities | Entertainment | Stars.

+How He Floated A New Innovation, Yeeparipa

Temmie Amodu is tall, handsome and gifted with a baritone voice that is synonymous with leadership. Apart from his well trimmed beard which matches his gangly physque, you will soon notice his ingenuity with facts and figures as he opens up to you,  especially on issues related with his calling—Events Solution.

Yes, this Lagos big boy is one of Nigeria’s best Events planning strategists of the millennium and to some extent a number 1 in his calling—Wedding Planning.

In year 2013 and 2014, Temmie Amodu was declared winner of the Wedding Planner of the Year award by WED Awards Magazine for the two consecutive years. Between 2012 and 2013, organizers of The Nigerian Events Awards (TNEA) carried out a public research where Temmie Amodu emerged as Winner of the Young Achiever Award for year 2012 and 2013 after a massive voting in his honor. He has equally won several awards in many other spheres of life.

Amodu is a member of Association of Professional Party and Events Organizers of Nigeria (APPEON) and winner of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) recognition award among several other awards home and abroad

His role model Preston Bailey is the world’s number 1 wedding planner Temmie has met him one-on-one with the evidence of an autographed book written by Bailey to show for it. He has equally met other global leaders like former US President Bill Clinton and American Born Japanese author Robert Kiyosaki whose book “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” influenced Amodu a great deal while growing.

His company TSOULE Incorporated is Nigeria’s leading wedding and event planning company. He is equally the only Nigerian event planner with an annex in Houston-Texas, USA called Nathanael-King Signatures (Named after his first son)

Recently, Temmie Amodu who studied Engineering as first degree added other feather to his business empire; one of such lofty ideas is Décor Kobo which is set to create a marked revolution in the history of events management in Nigeria. Décor Kobo like the name implies is a kobo less rental idea that has a lot of prospect for low budget events.

His biggest idea however is Yeeparipa! A consumer whistle blowing and service auditing concept. Contributing Editor, GBENGA DAN ASABE met this gangling dude in a 2 hours no hold bared exclusive recently inside his No 14, Adisa Basua off Adelabu, Surulere Lagos office where he told us some of the secret of his business success and he remains number 1 in his calling. Enjoy the excerpts.

WHY I AM SOULFUL FOR TSOULE…

Tsoule, your events Management Company has suddenly become the number 1 in the area of bridal and corporate events solution to top blue chip companies and high profile individuals in Nigeria. How did you achieve this status over the years?

Thank you very much Mr. Dan. Tsoule for me has been a thing of great passion. It is a name that came into being since when we were in high school, we used to have small clubs between me and my friends. Each of us had the soul name attached to his name; you have Segun-Soul, Lanre-Soul, Temmie-Soul and all of that. Some of those friends of mine actually worked with me at the beginning of this company but today, they are all successfully independent in their various endeavors. We started in 2006 and this year marks our tenth year. However, the business was officially registered in August 2008. So, with the Corporate Affairs Commission, the business is 8 years but in practical terms we are 10 years. I was working before I started Tsoule. I think the main reason why we have kept this level of performance is guarded by two standby philosophies that has been a part of my life which is quality and integrity. Quality being a state of ensuring everything is at the point of excellence. Even with the scarce and very limited resources you can do the very best you can. And integrity I believe is the currency of business, if you don’t have integrity, you can’t do business.  Integrity is the major reason why our clients have been happy working with us, they find the convenience of professionalism with us, just tell us what you need and we go ahead and implement solutions for you. I studied engineering and solution provisioning is next to my way of living which is what I have come to apply to the events industry.

Studying engineering and becoming an events planner, is there any correlation between events management and engineering?

Yes, as an engineer you have processes, you have procedures. You have work methodology and for the events business, it is pretty much the same thing because as an engineer, you got to project-manage your designs, some of the designs you want to get from point A to Point B and the same thing happens to the events management industry, you have your various individual vendors as service providers and you harmonize them based on timeline, based on resource, labor, man-power and everything that works and this is part of the reasons why our work at Tsoule Events Company has been unique because we apply engineering skills to our delivery, our processes from a world class perspective. I used to work with a multi-national and that is the same process I have applied here; it has allowed us to be able to ensure good HR, Inventory and the entire work processes moving for good. We thank God for the referrals.

In a very hazy economy where competition is paramount and government policies summersaults, how have you been able to survive for 10 years in business?

Well, to tell you the secret of our success is to say you allowed yourself dream. You helped yourself believe that ‘yes, I can’. It is not easy running a business in Nigeria, you have the predominant problems, as it is now, we have no fuel we have no electricity. It is so bad we have been running generator on black market but back then, when we started some ten years ago, I was working as an Engineer (At Philips Project Nigeria) it was in-between that time I was using my salary to buy things and equally running the process. After I close from work, I go into my events passion and we built the business strictly on passion. Well, being an entrepreneur, you have your ups and downs, you have to anticipate it. In the first 5 years of every business you have your challenges; it is pretty much like a marriage. If you can surmount the first one year or the first six months you change your mind, maybe because you have a contract that didn’t come, then you quit and if you don’t quit you come back on the saddle, two years after you have challenges. As a matter of fact, every human being has a challenge every three months. It is a standard, you have a crisis, we are all currently going through a crisis right now in the country and it has disrupted our way of life. So, every three months, weather you like it or not, weather you are in church fasting, you will have a crisis that would warrant that you use your mental capacity to solve it.

So, to now go out to be looking for trouble is like increasing your problem provisioning; so, if in a year you have four problems by the virtue of your three-three month’s interval, when you now go out and you don’t do things with integrity then you will have many battles to contend with. I was listening to a sermon yesterday during a fellowship and the Bishop was saying ‘you can’t collect money to supply twenty items and you supply eighteen, it is wrong’. We are looking for prosperity but you must go through the right processes. There is a reason why you are successful. Success can be predicted likewise failure too, can be predicted. So, doing business in Nigeria is interesting, there is a lot of money to be made but you need to apply a level of maturity and empathy to the people you are working with and to your vendors in terms of negotiating the best skills and giving the best skills to your clients. Most times, fingers are not equal and that is where empathy comes in.

What are the challenges of your industry and what do you think should be the panacea? 

The challenge that we are facing right now is more of ethics and regulation. We have a group called APOEM (Association of Professional Event Managers). We have a lot of event managers, event designers under this umbrella. It is an organization whereby you can come in and share challenges and ideas alike. We have our regular meeting and we have an end of the year event recently. We support each other. But to tell you our challenge, I will like to associate it with Michael Potter’s four forces; the main challenge we have is the fact that we have a zero barrier of entry in terms of regulations and in terms of who can be an events planner.  Yes, we have the association but people can still do businesses irrespective of this relationship or our association. What that simply means is that if you say you are serving the wedding industry for example, the last bride can find a new events planner. They can talk to you for a couple of months and change their mind once they find a cheaper service provider. These days, you could do your entire event planning on Instagram. You can be on Instagram, pick your MC, pick your event manager and they will all come in and perform. I won’t call it a challenge but I will rather call it a necessary dynamism of business because we have a lot of flexibilities when it comes to organizing events these days.

WHY WE HAVE A USA OFFICE….

You equally run a branch of your company in the US, what are the marking differences in term of clientele needs?

On an international scale, the African content and the Nigerian events are one of the highest. I have done events in America and the truth is, if a white person can do a white wedding, it is going to be impossible for this white person to do a traditional event the way an African events planner will do it. It is a good culture export; we have over two hundred tribes in Nigeria, we have the Tivs, we have the Ibibios and they all have their cultures. They have their bridal interests that the Indian or Pakistani person in America or London that want to do your event will not be able to pull up and that is why we have our presence in America. We are called Nathaniel Kings Signatures; Nathaniel King is the name of my first son. We are based in Houston and we add value to cultures. Apart from the huge Nigerian market in America, we have the multi-nationals that also celebrate what we call “Cultural Day”. If you have a Coca-Cola or a brand that want to celebrate Africa, you could come up with a Zulu Concept; you could come up with an Ethiopian cultural concept. Why do you want to have Belly Dancers when you could have a team of Atilogwu dancers? So, these are areas where innovations come in and where ingenuity defines you as the master of your game.

WHY TSOULE IS DIFFERENT…

Some people describe you as an event scientist; can this be as a result of your inclinations to cultural details and aesthetics on the job?

Well, I am humbled because people will always say what they have to say especially if you are adding value. What I focus on is giving my client the convenience and the ease of the solution that we provide. I look at the trend; I am a child of pattern. I see how the direction is and we re-position ourselves accordingly. I am a futuristic thinker. I think that is what most good leaders do; they are visionaries who say ‘ok, in the next five years what is going to happen? Why is it happening like this now?’ and what is the next best thing to do? And because of my empathy to my client, it helps me give affordability. For instance I didn’t spend a lot of money for my wedding. I have seen some eye bulging events done, I have handled events whereby the principal will say in the invitation ‘if you don’t have a street in VI (Victoria Island), you are not invited.

(Cuts in) You mean people could rate attendance to such level?

Yes, your father can have a street in Ojota, it is your problem. Your father can even have a street in Lekki but if it is not in VI maybe Ozumba Mbadiwe, Akin Adesola or Adeola Odeku you are not invited and that is the standard for the VVIP section. It is an interesting experience and it pulls its own standard. It is part of creating uniqueness to your project. So, it is all about you and how you handle such briefs.

I saw in your profile a client base of Dangote Group, UBA and some top multi-nationals and blue chips. Why are you the only one there?

I think relationship is important. Design their functions and be empathetic to their needs because as a service provider, whatever you do affects your client. It might cost them their jobs if you don’t deliver well. You have somebody that works as a communications manager somewhere and he entrusts you with a project, he pays you and you don’t pull if off. It will tell in the brand and it may tell on the person’s job. Sometimes it does tell on the job. At some point, the company might give the person a query to say ‘look, you organized this product lunch but you didn’t do it well’. Or ‘you did our end of the year bash and it was a mess’. So, being empathetic is important. Maintaining relationship is also a point but above all, you must do above what you are paid for.

DÉCOR KOBO, OUR FIRST & LAST COMPANY

Décor Kobo is another of your company that is into rentals for ordinary clients. Can we say Décor Kobo is a reaction to a clientele base that cannot afford the prime services of Tsoule Events?

Well, a lot of people don’t know it but Décor Kobo as a business name was conceptualized before Tsoule Events. Décor Kobo by the name was then, doing events accordingly. I have never been a fan of wasting resources but someone who loves to create class with the little at hand. At Décor Kobo, our passion is to provide affordable, quality and quick service to the up and coming markets and I will explain further on that.

(Cuts in) Please do

I have been in this business for a decade and we have come to find out that if we are not careful, as a group of events planners, the people that are actually making all the money are the carpenters, the welders that we use, the people selling the fabrics, they import these fabrics. It is a tourist task to even do an inventory of your fabrics; you want them clean, you want them neat, you have to maintain the quality. So, the people who are actually making the money are these other people I have mentioned not we the creative team. We want to have the best in places, best fabrics, table covers, and chairs among many other things. You buy, buy, and buy. When do you actually seat back to say ‘hey, where is the money?’ So, it is our decision by virtue of volume, volume on rental to make it affordable for virtually everybody. We have a huge inventory, we have warehouses to our selves and by so doing, we hope to see a rental mall where people come in to say ‘oh, I want this’. You can have a card and just roll and say ‘ok, give me that, I want this, I want that. I pick this one, I pick that one; and the forward design for the Décor Kobo rental platform is welcoming. We intend to have a mobile hub which is already in development, whereby you can sign in as an individual event person, you can rent off the platform. You can buy off the platform and there is a unique one that we have put up in there, it is a barter strategy.

EVENTS SERVICE SWAP IS THE NEXT WAY TO GO….

What do you mean by barter strategy?

It is a barter system of rentals. What we are hoping to do for the established events people and even those who have gone ahead to invest in this industry, you discover that there are so many moving items, you have flowers, you have crystals, you have table lightings, you have a bridal costumes, you have rugs—it is a lot of inventory to have and if we all continue this way, yes, we are boosting the economy but at the end of the day, we discover that we have invested heavily in things that we can ordinarily hire or get at very affordable prices. You see a bridal chair from someone or you see a LED light at a show and you want to buy it, why buy it when you can barter it? You have something else; you have some very lovely LED furniture. Here for example, I have a wedding event for this weekend; you have something that I will need to have gone out to buy. Why don’t we barter? So, it is a system we are creating called Events Service Swap that will allow us to be able to do this trading internally. We have a Corporate Affairs Commission verification to ensure nobody gets that and we are trading with the system, really. We want to leverage the opportunities at hand. A situation might arise tomorrow that I have something that you need and you don’t have anything that I need. It can create a bottleneck which we have already tackled by making sure that we are trading with the system. We look at the value of the item you are renting and we rent it in the credit of the business, which we can use that credit as well to buy or rent from somebody else. You can rent your old equipment that you have used and used, yes, you got it for a lot of money but you can have a residual income on a platform that will make it easy and affordable and everybody wins. We cannot manufacture these things locally, if we continue to import, our Naira will continue to suffer and a lot of us already have some of these things. You have some new things that we will love to have, why don’t we barter; we don’t need your money. Yes, if we rent it we can get money from our clients or any other way we can use that equipment. But we are not talking about money here; we are talking about value exchange which of course brings money in the end. So, we have created that platform and we have a lot of people already talking to us and in couple of months we will be launching it big.

THE STORY OF YEEPARIPA!

You are equally working on a consumer whistle blowing mechanism called Yeeparipa! which is set to serve the purpose of protecting consumers and service givers alike from dubious transactions. Can you tell us more about Yeeparipa!?   

First of all, I am an events technologist. I am a technologist. I did my HND in computer technology before we did the NDs and Post Graduates. So, yes, being technical is something that has been a part of me. I have my CISCO certification among other achievements; I am only trying to tell you my pedigree before we dabble into the events business. I used to work with M-TEC, I later worked with Philips as an engineer with Cisco certification, MP, CCNA, and I have all of that with Microsoft certification. I have a company called DotSoule.com; it is a bulk sms concern. Now, what Yeeparipa! is all about is to ensure consumer protection. Take for example you buy a car or you visit an hotel and book a room or let me even come closer to my business line since we are having an event-like conversation, you get to a venue and the venue gives you service, you pay full charge but somewhere in between your event, NEPA takes the light and their generator which suppose to give a change over has an issue. Your guests are sweating. If it is a top company, the emphasis will be that you have messed up someone’s job or someone’s means of livelihood and that means the person’s children will not go to school because he has lost his means of livelihood. Things like this happen where people mess people up because services are not perfectly handled. The next thing is to go online, go on face book and write the dirty experience and after a while, it dies down, it goes away. There is no place to check it out, there is no response to it, it is gone because of the chronological level of the timeline you get on facebook. On Yeeparipa.com.ng the case is going to be different. It is a website we are developing, it is a service protection mechanism whereby the complainant will come and say ‘this is what has gone wrong’ and after we publish, we will give an opportunity for the defendant to equally come in and say ‘hey, listen, no, he didn’t pay on time and I gave him the condition’ because some people just come and slander people because they are malicious and not happy with the other person, they try to remove the fact that they might have contributed to the failure in the first instance. You have an MC for example configured to attend your event from 12pm to 3pm to service you but your event didn’t start until 2:30pm and the MC is already committed to somebody else at 4 or 5 O’clock. Somebody is going to be disappointed and you are going to now lambast this MC that ‘hey, he came to my event and left without honoring his brief, meanwhile you were supposed to have started early, you created a confusion and you start giving blames all the way and because this person can not attack you as a client, you have all the aces. Sometimes, things like this happen. So, if we give you, like the Yep! Service in the world, Yep! Is a consumer whistle blower as well, to say ‘I have this bad service, I have this good service and it gives you the opportunity to respond if you are the person being complained against. It balances it out to say ‘this is the real truth’. In some instances, the person will come in and say ‘yes, we did this, we are sorry. As a matter of fact we are giving you three free tickets to a spa or a hotel as way of emotional compensation. So, we don’t hope to be malicious, we want to be a balance defender of consumers. I will Yeepa! you will certainly becomes a culture. If you do something wrong, I will Yeepa! you and that will provide some level of sanity that we hope will grow organically with word of mouth and visibility.

The post “Why I Went Into Events Management” – Temmie Amodu Talks About 10 Years In The Business appeared first on CityPeople Magazine Nigeria | Nigerian Celerbrities | Entertainment | Stars.

• LEKKI Central Mosque, Chief IMAM Explains
• RIDWAN JAMIU Lists The Significance Of RAMADAN

We are in the Holy month of Ramadan. As you pick this to read all the Muslims all over the world would be preparing for the annual fasting in this month of Ramadan. To help both our Muslim brothers and sisters understand the significance of the holy month of Ramadan, City People Publisher, SEYE KEHINDE  and Senior Editor, BIOLA ORISILE visited the Chief Imam of the Lekki Central Mosque in Lagos, Ridwan Jamiu, LLB, LLM to talk about all you need to know about Ramadan.

Below are excerpts of the interview.

What is the significance of the month of Ramadan?

It is a holy month. It is a special month. It is a month of giving. It is a month of reading. It is a month of discipline. This is where the significance of the month lies. It is a month for fasting, because this is the essence of what we do. We fast. We keep away for eating, drinking and sexual relations from dawn to sunset for the sake of worshipping the God Almighty, which is Allah.

And also when the moslems are fasting you don’t only fast physically, that is, physical fasting, when you keep away from eating, drinking, smoking and sexual relations. You also fast morally. You will grand your conduct, the way you behave. You don’t talk vulgar. You don’t use vulgar language. You don’t abuse. You don’t gossip. You don’t swear. You don’t cause when you are fasting. That is why your tongue too should fast. Also, the eyes too should fast. You should not look lustfully at women; your ears too should fast. You should not listen to gossip. You should not listen to things that are bad. That is fasting in essence.

Then, the month of Ramadan is the month of Giving. If a person is unable to fast, because of age or because of ill health, he is to give. You either Fast or you Give, because Islam believes in sharing. When you share what you have with others that is when you can obtain Happiness. Happiness that you have shared with others is the real happiness.

Happiness that is not shared with others is selfishness. Whatever you have, you have to try and share it with others. If one is unable to fast, one is supposed to give something in lieu of that, on the number of days that you Muslims observe the fast. If you fast too and you also give it is good. You are doing something great because the Prophet told us that anyone who gives, or provides a meal for a fasting person you have reward equal to the reward of the fasting person. It is often said that Givers never lack. Givers never lack because angels are praying for them and God is especially blessing them. So one is expected to be charitable in the month of Ramadan, to everyone, particularly to the poor and the needy and we know what is going on in the country right now.

People are in hard times. These are the times when you need to be generously charitable to people. So that is the 2nd significance and essence of Ramadan. The 3rd is that Ramadan is the month of reading. What should we read? You read the book of God. That is the Koran. We believe Koran is the final revelation, final testament. God gave Moses a book which is Toha. It was the book meant for the word then. God gave Jesus, that is Prophet Issa. We call Him in Arabic. God gave him a book which is the Gospel, the Injil we call it in Arabic. It was meant for the word, to guide the world, during His time. Now, the familiar prophet was Mohammed, God gave Him a book too to guide mankind, that is the Quran. This is the month in which it was revealed. The gospel of Jesus Christ was revealed in the month of Ramadan. The Injil of Moses was revealed in the month of Ramadan. The same thing, the life testament of God to mankind is the Koran was also revealed in the month of Ramadan.

So, every Muslim is expected to be connected with God through the Quran this month, by reading as much as possible from it, not only reading, but reading in other to understand, so that it will be implemented because that is what the book is meant to do, because some of us are religions we are not Godly. We are religious, we are used to the religion but we are not Godly, because our conduct does not really show that or sound like we truly believe in the God that we claim to worship every time. So that is the 3rd significance of Ramadan and how a Muslim is expected to live with it.

The 4th is that Ramadan is the month of praying. We pray not only the obligatory prayers we know, 5 times a day, we also pray for God’s blessings, because this a month of blessings.

At a time like this, sins are greatly reduced throughout the world. Muslims constitutes one fifth of the population of the world and if this one fifth of the population of the world ceases from committing sins, when you don’t commit sin blessings of God come down to you, and this blessings should not be understood in material terms. Blessings does not have to be in material terms. No. The greatest blessing is when you get to heaven because after all we came to this world empty handed, when we are leaving too, we would leave empty handed. So, the greatest favour of God is for you to find yourself in heaven.

So, blessings of God are descending this month, so a Muslim is expected to pray, we must pray for ourselves, pray for our family, pray for our relatives, our neighbours, we pray for our colleagues at work, and we pray for the country too.

And finally, the month of Ramadan is the month of discipline, to have control over the way we behave. You don’t fight when you are fasting. You don’t commit adultery. You have to avoid it completely, when you fasting. You don’t oppress anyone when you are fasting. It is not permissible to oppress anyone; It is not permissible to commit adultery, especially in the month of Ramadan. This is meant to discipline us so that the next 11 months that are coming before another Ramadan comes we would have gotten used to it, that this is how we have to live our lives in Holiness.

God has given us this special time to discipline ourselves, so that we would be able to have control over our Passion and Emotion so that we would become better persons and better individuals in the society, so that we would benefit ourselves and also benefit humanity. So this is how a Muslim is expected to relate in the month of Ramadan, to see it as a month of Fasting, as a month of Giving, as a month of Reading, as a month of Discipline as a month of Praying.

The post What Muslims Should Do This Month of RAMADAN +Things They Should Not Do appeared first on CityPeople Magazine Nigeria | Nigerian Celerbrities | Entertainment | Stars.

Chief Reuben Fasoranti is the leader of Afenifere, the Pan-Yoruba group. Baba was born on 11th May, 1926 in Uso, a town near Owo, in Owo Local government area of Ondo. But he hails from Akure, the state capital. He started his life as a Teacher and rose to the rank of a Principal before he resigned in 1978.

Late Pa Adekunle Ajasin appointed him Commissioner for Finance before the military took over. Baba is one of the living legends in Ondo.  He is a member and associate of Awolowo School of Ideology which he joined many years ago and he succeeded late Pa Abraham Adesanya, the former leader of the Afenifere group in 2008 till date. He is the leader of the Pan-Yoruba Political Organisation. On Wednesday 11th May 2016, the Pan-Yoruba political organization, Afenifere Renewal group gathered to celebrate one of their own, Chief Reuben Fasoranti at his residence in Akure with a public lecture titled “ The Welfare Ideology And The Future Of Yoruba Nation”.  His birthday was held on Saturday 28th May at the International Dome Central Akure.

 Also to celebrate the day, the new park in front of the State Secretariat was named after Chief Fasoranti. The state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko was the Chief Host. Last week Thursday, City People Ondo/ Ekiti Reporter, ADEOLA SHITTU paid a courtesy visit to Chief Fasoranti during which he spoke on life at 90, why he has remained single 25 years after his wife died and why  he supported former president Goodluck Jonathan, among other issues.

Let me start by congratulating you on your 90th birthday, how do you feel?

Thank you, I feel very great for this opportunity God gave me to see another year. I pray for more years, judging from my state of health. I will continue to appreciate God and I will ask for more grace to celebrate more years on earth, I feel alright and am happy seeing people around me, mostly some of my student who passed through me.

Do you have any regret at 90?

Yes, there were a few disappointment along the line but by and large I give thanks to God on my state of health, on my achievement and who I am today, I return all glory to God.

As an educationalist, founder of Omolere Group of School and you also serve as principal, what was the experience like?

I found a school which the government took over and I found another one now, called St Francis Academic, precisely at Igboba here in Akure, behind Igboba Village.  I preside over the place and occasionally I go there, I have my own staff.  Teaching had been  part of my life, I have not done any other job than teaching.  I left school straight to go into teaching and my principal then persuaded me to stay on, I reluctantly did I later developed passion  in growing and founding schools till date  As a young teacher then, I served at several school which include Ibadan grammar school, Ondo Boys High school, Ondo Town, Oyemekun Grammar School, Akure, Iju / Itaogbolu grammar school which was founded by me, although the community invited me to come and do it, I was in Christ school, ado Ekiti, Iwo Baptist high school and so that have been my life and I enjoyed it. I feel happy now, looking back at the number of children that have pass under me and are doing well in their various profession, some of them were here for my 90th birthday celebration while those who could not come sent messages and gifts to me. Have enjoyed my life to its fullness in term of impacting education and knowledge into many lives.

Can you share with us, How the experience was as a young teacher?

A lot of enthusiasm, It was fun  . My lesson note was always detailed and each time the inspector came around I always stood up to them.  They all love me and I had no regret choosing teaching my profession.

As an educationalist, looking back to the educational system then and now, Is there any comparism in the system now to then?     

It much better than what we have or better say what we experience in the education system today. Then, discipline was the order of the day and it was in high scale and then parent were anxious and ready to send their children to school and they go a long way in funding their child’s education.

On the other hand children were then ready to work, pupil like late chief Bola Ige and Prof. Mabogunje who were my student then, they were very enthusians and they gave us  encouragement and I knew they would go far as at that time. Today am proud to say that most of the student that passed through me are making our country proud today but today what do we see, lack of discipline and the enthusiasm is no more there. They don’t want to study again and the few once who want to study are not getting the financial support they need.  Now both parent and children want to make money and get rich quick. Compared to then when the people love education. The system has failed until we go back to our basic and impact that principle of discipline on our children and the education sector.

They don’t want to study again and the few once who want to study are not getting the financial support they need.  Now both parent and children want to make money and get rich quick. Compared to then when the people love education. The system has failed until we go back to our basic and impact that principle of discipline on our children and the education sector.

With the failure in the education sector, who are we to blame?

To me I will put the blame on the parent, Government and the pupils. Parent in the sense that, they don’t have time for their children again compared to the olden days where you see a literate parent asking their child what they taught them in school and asking if they understand it. Another thing is that the parents are not funding the education system again as they should. While less attention is paid to the children, all they want to do is to trade and have money. So these are the problems.

The parent have their own fault while the government either at the federal, state or local government level  are not funding education again, most schools lack trained teacher and the welfare of the teachers are no longer government priority. On the other hand the children are not helping matters, during school hours you see some children roaming about the street, they are not willing to learn, they prefer to keep bad peers rather the good ones, some student even leave home early in the morning to go to school and never get to school and their parent  will believe they are in school.

Like I said the discipline should be the order of the day because both the parent and government have lost the control and education is no more firm as it used to be. The only solution for them is to go back to their drawing board and see where they have missed it. While the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) should be held more regular, so that parent can discuss pressing issue considering their children.

Can you tell us about yourself?

I was born in a town called Uso near Owo in Ondo State though my parent are from akure. My grandfather left Akure because he was disappointed at a chieftaincy title he couldn’t get, so he moved away from Akure to settle in Uso where my father was born and we also grew up there, myself, Rev. Jide Fagboyegun and others.

We left Uso to settle at Ogbese when the Oloba of Uso then didn’t allow my father to use the land he cleared, Kabiyesi went as far as seizing my father’s farm tools, so that was why we moved to River Ogbese, which is part of Akure land. So I was brought up in Ogbese. As of that time I was 5 or 6 years old.

Till date our farm land is still in there. I attended my primary school in owo after which I gained admission into Ondo boys High School, Ondo town for my secondary education and I was admitted into class 2, instead of class 1 due to my performance and I completed my education within 5 years.

I did very well that my principal as at then drag me into teaching and I said I was not going to teach, so the argument went on for 6 months and within that 6months, I had traveled down to Lagos, in search of a better job but still my principal was on me until I changed my decision and took a teaching job in May 1946 and at the end of the year, my principal offered to send me and my colleague to higher college which was equivalent to university.

So I was admitted into Yaba High College and from there I was transferred to Ibadan Grammar School which was then a university college, after my study. I later taught at Ibadan Grammar school for 3 years before I went abroad to do a course in education and when I returned to Nigeria, I went back to Ondo Boys High School to teach  for 3 years before I  gained my freedom because I was already bored of the school, I needed another environment.

So I went to Oyemekun grammar school, Akure were I taught for 6 months before I was asked to go an head Iju / Itaogbolu grammar school in 1957. I was there for 14 years as I developed the school from Zero level to school certificate and my legacy are there till-date,  some of my student there are Chief Sanya  Oyinsan, Chief David Dare Ajayi, Olu Ajayi, Rtd. Bishop Fagbe, they all passed through me and they are doing great today. I later went to  Austria for  a year to undergo a course in education. After I return to Nigeria, I was transferred to Iwo Baptist High school, Osun state for 8 months, I was transferred to Olivet Baptish High school, Oyo and I was there for 3 years (1973-1975), I was again transfer to Christ school, Ado Ekiti were I taught for 3 years before I voluntarily resigned because I had had enough in the teaching line.

So when late Pa Ajasin became a civilian governor I was his commissioner for finance for 3 years before the military intervention  took over the state.  I was locked up in  detention at Owo and later transfer to Ado for 2 years. So it was after I was released that my children led by my daughter conspired against me to have my own school and that was what gave birth to St. Francis academic school located near Igboba village here in Akure. We are doing great and we are very proud of them. Aside all these I am also committee to my church activities and each commited I belong to.

With all your years as a teacher and principal, did you found any school?

Yes, I founded close to 3 schools, the first was the Iju / Itaogbolu grammar school, was founded by me but its owned by the community and also is Akure High School, which the government then collected from me  and now I founded St. Francis school. All these to my credit.

If you haven’t been a teacher what other profession will you have done?

Initially I will have loved to give another profession a chance if I had not gone into teaching. Like I said earlier that I was persuaded to take up the teaching job and after 6 months I was already enjoying the profession, I was having my fun and it was like the more I stay, the more I love the profession.

What was your social life like, while growing up?

It will shock you to know that I was never a social person. Better still the only way I socialize  is through my book. Even as a teacher and principal I had no social group I belonged to  and I was not the going out type. Am not sure if I miss anything socially.

How did you meet your wife?

(Laugh) my late wife and myself started as a brother and sister relationship for 8 years before we even did  court or marry. We meet at Ondo were I was working. We both saw each other growing up together and I was been loved by her parent, the relationship was based on brother and sister relationship before we got married and our marriage is blessed with wonderful children. We lived happily until 1991 when the cold hand of death took my wife away from me. And since her death 25 years ago, I decided to remain single and not to remarry again.

But why did you choose to remain single till now, and was their no pressure on you that you should remarry?

Until my late wife death, we had a wonder and happy home. So after her death I took that decision that I was not going to remarry because I don’t want a rival for my children and I don’t want any woman to come and scatter my home for me. There were lot of pressure from my family, friends and some associate that I should remarry but I stood my ground and with the support I had from my children on this  remarry issue, I was able to overcome it. And that gave me the opportunity to  train my children well.

Finally, what is the secret of your under 80 look and how do you relax?

 I will attribute everything unto thy lord for his love and kindness on me. I relax by taking a walk and having adequate rest. My look have no other secret than I take good food and fruit.

 Even up till date I am proud to be a teacher.

The post 2 Hours With Afenifere Leader, Chief REUBEN FASORANTI Speaks On Life @ 90 appeared first on CityPeople Magazine Nigeria | Nigerian Celerbrities | Entertainment | Stars.

Chief Godwyn Akabogu is a US based international business man. A former politician and aide to Imo Governor, Owele Anayo Rochas Okorocha.

Chief Akabogu, who was a former Local Government chairmanship aspirant for Nkwere LGA, Imo State in 2011, was home recently to see his people. He equally used the opportunity to travel round the 3 senatorial districts in Imo State. What he saw impressed him so much that he had to express his gratitude to the governor.

Before he returned to his base, Akabogu spoke with a team of journalists at his hotel suite in Lagos. He said Imo people must respect Rochas Okorocha who he described as the authentic anointed Igbo leader. He said the late Nkemba Nnewi and Eze Ndigbo Gburu-gburu, Chief Chukwuemeka Ojukwu himself said it. Akabogu told the journalist, he also revealed what he thinks is Nigeria’s biggest problem one year into President Muhammadu Buhari’s reign.

Below are excerpts.

Can we know a bit of your background sir?

Yes, my full names are Godwyn Akabogu. I live in the United States of America (USA) in Pennsylvania. I have been away for more than 13 years. I have been coming to and going out of Nigeria for a very long time. But I have not had the opportunity of really spending time in my village and taking time to actually go round the state (Imo State). But when I came in this time round, because of the project I am handling back at home, I spent four good solid weeks in my village, Nkwere in Nkwere LGA.

What is your relationship with Governor Rochas Okorocha?

Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha has been a great leader. I met him about 16 years ago. I came in contact with him during his tribulation at the National Assembly. I was attracted to him because of the kind of political message he had for the Igbo man. I equally appreciate his mission for the Igbo as well. During that period, I was equally vying for the chairmanship slot of my Local Government Area that is Nkwere. I got involved with him during the time he ran People’s Movement which was his political umbrella, political structure and political platform that took him to stardom.

So, who is Rochas Anayo Okorocha in your definition?

I can describe Anayo Rochas Okorocha in my own way as a lion with four AK-47 riffles; two in the front and two at the back.  if you really get to know who he is. He is a grassroots man. As a philanthropist, he is more than what people think he is. You need to get closer for you to understand who Rochas Okorocha is.

How do you mean that People of Imo State are unfair to Rochas Okorocha?

Yes I did. You see, for the first time, I challenge every Imo son or daughter; let that person come out and show me, since the inception of Imo state, a one government that has outperformed Rochas Anayo Okorocha in four years.

But many people say Rochas is not working, but just on a political hoodwinking game?

Those who said that Rochas is not working are charlatans. I can stay here and tell you authoritatively that Rochas Anayo Okorocha has performed tremendously well.

Why do you think his good works are not properly appreciated. Why do people think he is more of a political gambler?

No, he is not about political gambling. For the past one month I have travelled the length and breadth of Imo State, the projects Okorocha has executed speak for themselves. You will see all the projects Okorocha has put in place and you will discover that all projects speak for themselves. Are you talking about roads? Are you talking about the schools he renovated, I mean, where would you start to assess him? Then, cast your mind back to the previous administrations, what do they have to show for their governance? Both Ikedi Ohakim and Achike Udenwa even Sam Mbakwe. And my pain is this; what the Igbo sons and daughters do not understand is that, Rochas is the anointed son of the late Ikemba Ojukwu.

How do you mean that Okorocha is Ojukwu’s anointed son when Ojukwu did bless Peter Obi of Anambra in his last hours on earth?

Peter Obi is a later arrangement.

I will give you a story. Far back in the year 2000, that was in Rochas Okorocha’s home in Abuja, I have been away for some time, I can’t remember the street we have that property again. But the story is there, during that meeting, there was Sam Mbakwe, there was Ezeife, there was Ojelu Igbo Ozi and there was Dim Chukwemeka Ojukwu in attendance.

 And then, after Owelle Rochas Okorocha’s addressd these Igbo leaders inside his living room, Ojukwu said: “My son, my son, after listening to your speech, I now realize I shouldn’t have gone to war”

What did Ojukwu mean by that statement?

Ojukwu said instead of war-war we would have jaw-jaw. Ojukwu said instead of us going to war after his people were challenged, that he would have negotiated the problems of the Igbo and Nigerians at a round table.

You mean Ojukwu was referring to Anayo Rochas Okorocha as a more visionary leader than himself?

Exactly; he didn’t stop there. The Abuja meeting was the first encounter and I was there with all the personalities I mentioned. Some of them are still alive. They are still well alive and healthy.

What did Rochas Okorocha say at the meeting that made Ojukwu to confer on him such a benevolent statement of appreciation?

He took Ojukwu down the memory lane and explained to him how it is easier to be a bridge between the east, the west and the north without going to war. He gave him an analytic presentation on how the Igbo could have consolidated their genius without fighting a war and that made Ojukwu to acknowledge that, the young man was superior in intellectual prowess.

However, the most inspiring one, which is the second encounter between Ojukwu and Owele Rochas Okorocha was the one which crowned it and Ojukwu told us why Okorocha was the anointed and ordained Igbo leader of the Igbo. It was Ojukwu himself that said it, I will never cook up such a sublime story. The photograph are there; the people who covered that event are alive. It was at Aspanda in Lagos in 2001. That was after the Abuja meeting. The meeting at Aspanda was convened by Eze Ndigbo of Lagos, Chief Ohazulike. At that meeting, Ojukwu and some other prominent Igbo leaders were there. Anayo Okorocha was there. It was Anayo Rochas Okorocha that introduced Ojukwu to the podium after giving an inspiring speech. Ojukwu later took the microphone, turned and looked at Okorocha; he said “My son, my son, the more I see you grow up, the more I go down”

You mean Nnkemba Nnewi said that to Owelle Rochas Okorocha?

I repeat, Ojukwu said, ‘My son, my son, the more I see you grow  the more I go down’. Do you know the irony of the whole thing? The Bible says: ‘The power of death and life is in the tongue and those that love it shall eat the fruit thereof’ Proverb 18 verse 21.

Ojukwu made those prophetic utterances and lo and behold, by the year 2011, Rochas became the Governor of Imo state and by the following year, Ikemba died. What do you call that? “My son, my son, the more I see you grow the more I go down because I have seen somebody that will take the mantle of leadership from me and take it across the country” that was the anointed moment.

That was the divine moment and that was the awe-inspiring moment. He spoke and the heavens confirmed, consolidated it and when this man took the mantle of leadership in Imo State, Ojukwu went to rest.

So, I can authoritatively tell you today that Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha is the anointed son and the leader for the new dream.

He may not remember all these things I am saying here. Ever since he became the governor of Imo State, I have not set my eyes on , I have not done anything with him.

You mean Ojukwu anointed Rochas Okorocha and not Peter Obi as many people believe?

Peter Obi was seen to have catered for Ojukwu even up to the grave during his dying moment

You know what? He (Peter Obi) could afford to do all that because he rode on Ojukwu’s back. Peter Obi became the Governor on the back of Ikemba Nnewi. Before that time, nobody knew who Peter Obi was.

So, why did you say the Imo People are unfair?

In my thinking, they are very unfair to Anayo Rochas Okorocha. This is a man who gave them free education; he gave them different kinds of infrastructure, new and good road networks and transformation.

Do you think Rochas Okorocha is a good leader? Some see him as president of the Igbo nation, but he seems to see himself as a national leader. Do you think he is one?

See, I don’t know the dream he has right now, but what I can tell you is this, if not Rochas Anayo Okorocha for president from the Igbo land, who else?

But we have the likes of Orji Uzor Kalu and even Peter Obi?

We can have all these people. but who has what it takes to be able to lead across the divide? That is what we have to consider. Even before he became governor, he has been involved in several philanthropically benevolent activities across the Niger. He was a giver and a repairer of destinies. A visionary leader, a dreamer, and that was why Ojukwu said if he had known, he wouldn’t have gone to war with Nigeria to register the cause of the Igbo man.

Listen, I have had the opportunity of working with Senator Hope Uzodinma, I had the opportunity of working with the political camp of Honorable Emeka Ihedioha, I had the opportunity of working with the political camp of Senator Ifeanyi Ararume and even with the political camp of Martins Agbaso, I can authoritatively tell you right here, that among all these political gladiators from Imo state, none could be compared to Rochas Anayo Okorocha in terms of every other things put together.

What do you think is the problem of an average Igbo man? Do you think an average Igbo man is confused?

It started right from the of the late Sam Mbakwe. You see, there is this syndrome that is prominent with an Igbo man, Pull Him Down Syndrome (PHD). So, no average Igbo man wants to see the other man rise above him.  But we should go beyond that right now.

The world is moving forward, let’s make use of the best instrument that we have and for today, Anayo Rochas Okorocha is the best instrument that Igbo people have; so, we should stop slandering him.

You just left Imo state and tonight you are on your way out of the country, what do you intend telling Igbo in Diaspora about Imo State?

See, from my individual perspective, I have been hearing but I didn’t see. Now, I came, I spent time, I travelled the length and breadth of the three senatorial zones in Imo State. I saw many changes and that is why I am granting this interview.

So, why do you think people have a contrary opinion about the governor’s reforms?

Because there are many charlatans around him. See, these guys are Rochas by mouth they are not Rochas by heart. They are not Rochas by blood. All the political sermons he is giving to them, they are not digesting them properly. So, all their doings are for their own personal aggrandizement.

President Buhari’s government was one by Sunday May 29th, where do you think the government has failed and needs to make amendment?

Yeah, that is a good question. You see, the present regime should think more of human beings. That is the major difference between the USA and Nigeria. They put more emphasis on human beings not the structures. Because when you take care of the human beings, they will now yield resources that will take care of the system. But here, people are not properly taken care of.

They take care of them; they give them free medical care called Obama Care. Everybody gets it and at the end of the day you pay a token to government to have a good health.

If you are to have a 10 minutes opportunity with President Buhari now, what will you advise him to do to change Nigeria’s situation?

The people are hungry. I mean, I was passing through the airport in Owerri for instance, in America they call them TSA, but here they call them SACHOL (Luggage handlers), I saw the security lapses at the Owerri Airport and when I complained to the guy at the airport, he said: ‘men, these guys are hungry, they need something to eat’.

An average American is prepared to die for America. I am an American citizen, I am prepared to die for America tomorrow, that is the way it is. To tell you the extent of love I have for the system, yes, because I benefitted so much from the American system.

The post “IMO People Have Been Unfair To Gov. ROCHAS” Former Aide, GODWYN AKABOGU Opens Up appeared first on CityPeople Magazine Nigeria | Nigerian Celerbrities | Entertainment | Stars.

The elections of Ibadan Recreation Club executive is usually one of the major landmark events in Ibadan. It’s the next election people get involved and watch out for after political elections. Friends, families, associates do get involved. It’s a big social issue. The club has 700 members. Gboyega Fisher is a rich Ibadan businessman who is into Interior Decorating business. He is the Chairman of G.S.F Limited. He joined Ibadan Recreation Club 29 years ago and has contributed meaningfully to the club, physically, financially and socially.

He was Chairman of Table Tennis Section between 1991-1993, ex-Officio member of the Central Executive committee and Vee Pee between 2006-2007. He has successfully anchored and raised funds for the club at least 5 times since he joined. With his antecedent as a trail blazer and personality (a man of integrity, excellence, team work and discipline) and success story, he emerged the new President of Recreation Club and had a huge Inauguration party a fortnight ago. He recently  spoke to City People Deputy Editor Bola Davies. They both spent time together at the Recreation Club.

READ ALSO: How Pastor Adeboye Changed My Comedy Career” – Popular Ibadan Comedian, Mc Obama

Can you tell us about yourself sir?

My name is Gboyega Fisher, born and raised a little over 60 years ago in the city of Ibadan. I am of Abeokuta origin, a biochemist from the University of Lagos but now a reputable interior decorator. I worked briefly after graduation with JOAS Electrical Industries Limited as sales manager before setting up my company GSF Limited where I am the Chairman/Managing Director. Happily married and blessed with three children and a sweet pretty grandchild.

At 60 a lot of beautiful things have been happening to you. You just had a grandchild. Your business keeps booming. And you became the president of Recreation Club. You said it that life begins at 60?

Yes, one thing I asked the lord for is that: when I am 60 I want a grandchild. And God granted me that wish. It’s a pretty girl. You know I have been in this business of contesting as President of the Recreation club. But I thank God that it happened at the right time.  I contested for it so many years ago but it was cancelled because of some malpractices. But now I think it is the right time that God wanted me to be the president.  And I thank him for that. Like I said, my covenant with God to serve the Recreation club and be accountable to the club will never ever be broken. I made a promise that I will serve with pleasure and that is what I am going to do. There is nothing you can do without the backing of God. I keep telling God that this is what I wanted to do and God granted it to me. And it was a divine appointment.

Why did you say it is divine?

Because it was what God wanted. It was the planting of God. Let me tell you why I said it was a divine appointment. You see 25 years ago, I was the chairman of table tennis section of this club. The man that swore me in as the Chairman is now a Trustee. He was the same person who swore me in on the 29th of Match this year. And you can’t believe it; in 1902 when this club was founded, Mr. Johnson an English man was sworn in on the 29th of March and that was in 1902. His inauguration was on the 29th of March. My inauguration was on the 29th of March too. So why won’t I thank God. That was a beautiful coincidence.  So I give God all the glory.

What inspired you to be President?

By my antecedent and understanding of our great club and having served in various capacities including the CEC, I strongly believe that the club deserves some new innovations and ideas. While I recognized and commend the effort of past leaders, I think the club needs a person like me at this point in time; to take the club to the next level.

What is your strength?

I have never doubted God’s tender mercies that have continually guided my life so far. I also do not rely on my own ability but ever trusting in God for guidance. Having passed through life’s many challenges; the Lord has been kind to let me emerge as a stronger, finer and brighter person like a raw gold passing through the furnace. I am confident that my team will be another trail-blazer for the club. We have everything it takes- Men, materials and the experience to run a successful administration of the club. My personal tradition, integrity will be jealousy guided during my tenure. We are all going to be part of the success story of bringing and uplifting the club to higher level by divine guidance, dint of hard work, well laid out programs and the support and cooperation of our members.

READ ALSO: 2 Hrs With Strongman Of Ibadan Politics

You have a very unique personality. You have always been seen as a leader of men, boys and women. People respect you. They accord a lot of dignity to you. They want you in their events. You are one of the notable men in Ibadan that is well respected, well loved and very popular.  Where did this leadership thing come from?

I have been in Ibadan for some time and like I rightly said, one thing about me is that I cherish relationships a lot. I love my folks and I don’t want to hurt them. I also love investing in people’s life because when you touch people’s life, God will naturally touch your life. I’m not a lady’s man. I don’t know why people say that. I relate with them and I relate with my friends too.  I relate with everybody. Even in this club too. You can ask them. Even the junior workers here: they all like me. They were all so excited when I became the president because I don’t discriminate. No matter how big or how small you are I believe that God created all of us equally and has a unique purpose for everybody. So you can never look down on anybody. You don’t do that. God detest the proud. Who brought money from heaven? Nobody brought money from heaven. All good gifts around us are given to us by the father of light. That is my own believe about life and nothing is going to change that.

How do you sustain this popularity, success and everything? Because you’ve been around for over a decade as a popular man, a big socialite and a top businessman yet you still keep going?

Well I think it is divine. Like I always talk about divine intervention, divine link! Though i go to parties but let me tell you something; I don’t believe it but I pray a lot and sing a lot.

But nobody would know that aspect of you.

Yes, even those that are close to me know that I sing. Even at BCOS when they had their last Christmas Carol I sang. Everybody kept asking me. My friends know that I sing a lot and pray a lot irrespective of my social interaction I believe in God.  And I know that one day we are all going to go. Did we jump from heaven? God created us; so we must love God. And we must put our total trust in him and he will never leave us nor forsake us.

You see, I had a beautiful mother who loved me so much. So she spoilt me with money. Rich woman! Pretty woman! She died 10 years ago and I think I owe her a lot. She pampered me, she brought me up. She loved me so much. And let me say one thing; the only regret that I have about this club thing is that; my aunty, I had a beautiful aunty. I don’t know whether you know her; she is Mrs. Kike Ayandipo. She is dead. She died two weeks before my inauguration. This woman prayed with me. She was my aunty. She was my mother. She was my confidant. She loved me so much. That she was not present during my swearing in; I cried about it because she wanted me to be the president at all cost. She had prayer sessions with Mrs. Alli that owns Ultimate also with Aunty Sola Olufawo. They were always praying that; Gboyega aburo mi (My younger brother) you will become the president. She prayed. She would hold my hands and pray but she never saw the swearing in. I pray that may her gentle soul rest in perfect peace. That is Mrs. Ayandipo. We are doing that on the 13th of May.

The post Ibadan Businessman, Gboyega Fisher Talks About His Life At 60 appeared first on CityPeople Magazine Nigeria | Nigerian Celerbrities | Entertainment | Stars.

Remilekun Ashabiade Talabi is one pretty Lagos Celebrity, lady who is always full of life. She is fun to be with. The big news is that Ashabi turned 40 two Satudays ago and held a mind-blowing party to celebrate her new age.

In the interview, this pretty lady, who works with Petroleum Equalisation Funds Management Board and married to Tope Talabi, a Lagos banker, talks about her life at 40.

READ ALSO: Ibadan Businessman, Gboyega Fisher Talks About His Life At 60

Can we meet you?

My name is Oluwaremilekun Oluwaseun Ashabiade Talabi, Nee Adekeye. I’m married to Tope Talabi and we are blessed with 2 princesses Kayinsola and Damisola. I was born on the 27th of May 1976, to the lovely family of retd. Capt. Stephen Adeniyi Adekeye and the Late Madam Grace Adekeye.

My dad hails from Oro in Kwara State, while my mum hails from Egbe in Kogi State. I work at Petroleum Equalization Funds Management Board.

How do you feel turning 40?

I feel happy. I feel great, so honoured by God. Four good decades. It is awesome. I thank God. I have seen life in different phases, in different stages, in different scenarios. My dad made me become very independent quite early. He gave me that strength I have today. I have seen life in different phases.

Where did you grow up?

Growing up was in different places. My dad was a retired Commissioner of Police and he was all over. I can hardly remember anybody from my primary school because I went to several primary schools or let me put it this way. I went to only one  primary school in different states. That is the Airforce Primary School, in every state we’ve been to. I attended so many Airforce primary schools. I spent longer years in Makurdi. I started life in GRA, Ikeja. It’s been good.

How did your dad shape your life and career?

When I was growing up with my dad, I realized that my dad liked farming a lot. He used to take me to several farms a lot. It’s like 2faces of life.

So, when he retired he said now I want to do farming. Everybody had to go to the farm, especially me being the last out of 8. I had to follow him to that farm. At times he will take me to the farm before he dropped me in school. It was that bad.

What that did for me was when I was growing up, I know saw farming as something I had learnt, something I could do, it is something they do in Benue State. If I start rice farm now I am sure I can do it very, very well.

It is part of what they do in Benue State. I grew up doing that. My dad was not selling it though. He was giving it out. We used to harvest about 20 bags of rice.

Because of my involvement in farming, I thought I was going to study Agric Economics, or farming but I ended up studying Administration, Management, which is what took me to where I am today. I worked for Petroleum Equalization Fund. I have kept building myself up, career wise. I learnt on the job.

READ ALSO: How Notable Nigerians Contributed To Abiola’s Death – Al-Mustapha

What part of Nigeria are you from?

I am from Kwara State. I am from Oro in Kwara State. My dad retired quite early, but he didn’t go back to Kwara until the 90s. Like 98, 99 or thereafter. That was when we started knowing where Kwara was. But we go home for Xmas every year. It was a Xmas routine. Every December we used to go to Kwara to spend Xmas with my dad’s parents, until his mum died and he just let it go.

You are a stylish woman. How did you develop that aspect of you?

Haa! Wow! My sense of style and fashion has just been there. But I just needed a little push to bring it out. My mum is a fashionista herself, she like Jewelry. She likes creams. She likes perfume. If you go anywhere, she is going to tell you buy me perfume. She will tell you the particular kind of perfume, or the particular kind of scarf and when you will get that kind of scarf from. It’s a gift but she will tell you what kind of gift she wants to collect from you. I think I learnt that from her. When I started working, I worked with a boss who    wasn’t that into fashion, but she had her own kind of fashion. It was classic kind of her. Out of her, I was able to bring out my own kind of fashion. She is very classic. Her dressing is not too loud. She is just there. Her name is Ifeomma Onuape has her kind of dressing. She does it and she comes out well.

I looked at her and I brought what I wanted. Don’t ever ask me what is my best fashion items? I don’t have. I collect so many things from outfits, to shoes, to bags, I collect everything. It depends on what my mood collects at the moment.

Tell me the other side of Ashabi?

I am a very passionate person. Some people don’t see that side of me. At work people see me as a very loud, loud person, because of the kind of jobs I do. I work with tanker drivers and you have to be a bit loud. You have to behave like them. You can’t be speaking English when you are talking to a tanker driver. I am sure they see another side of me.

I think I have different sides to me. It depends on where I am. I am a very tolerant person. I accommodate everybody to the last. I can take what people call and refer to as: that shit! (laughs) God gave me room and grace to accommodate a lot.

Tell us about your immediate family?

I am married to Tope Talabi. They call him Triple T. He is Tope Tokunbo Talabi, I have two lovely girls. I work for Stanbic-IBTC. My 1st daughter is in secondary school, the 2nd is in the primary school. Everybody is ok. We are doing well. My girls are pretty girls. They are very pretty. They took that from their mummy. But they said they look like their dad more. They are quite tall.

Growing Up with your parent?

My dad wasn’t really a strict person, but can be tough at times, owing to his profession. While my mum was the Margret Thatcher of the family, but very godly and loved  people around her. She was every child’s mother; as long as you are well-behaved. I could remember our early-morning devotion: once its was time, we all had to rush to the sitting room and it was actually fun growing up with them. I love my mum, so much, and still love her. I also love you, daddy. I could remember how he would lie down and instruct me to pluck his grey hair. I used to enjoy doing it.

Mum was a great trader who dealt in different items while I was growing up, but the one I can vividly remember was her food canteen business; which I was basically a part of. I love cooking. I guess, I took after her on that (She was a great cook). I learnt farming wasn’t an easy task from my dad, who owns and cultivates  a large farm while I was growing, then. I remember a particular incident when two of my friends came to visit me from school. My dad forced us to follow him to the farm and I must confess, it wasn’tfun at all. However, I thank God, because such experiences have helped in shaping my life.

How can you describe your personality?

I’m a very focused, energetic and industrious person. I am also a goal getter: I believe, with strong will and enthusiasm, nothing is too huge to achieve. I don’t rest until a particular task or project is done. People often say, ‘we don’t know what is Ashabi’s favourite’. It is simply because I happen to be an all-rounder. I seek fun in everything I do. I love shopping, I can do it all day without eating, which makes my sister-in-law say; ‘I can’t understand how you get all these strength’! (Laughs …. ). I love planning for parties, for instance. I plan my parties with close pals. I love to party. One funniest thing I would love to do is to go on holiday with loads of friends and I guess it will be fun.

You have people lurking?

Cut in ‘“ . I love people and that is why you rarely find me being alone at any point in time. There’s no dull moment with me at all. I love people and really love them all the way without holding back. So, whenever they betray my love, I really feel disturbed. Nevertheless, I can’t stop loving them.

Any interest in sports?

I’m an ardent lover of tennis and swimming not a football fan at all.

How can you describe your relationship with God?

Loving God is a personal decision because. He loves me more than anyone else. I love God wholeheartedly. I believe in absolute power of God, so much that whenever I go to Him to ask for anything I believe He has answered me even when the situation seems unclear.

The four decades of my life’s journey have been really challenging, but to God be the glory. All I can say is thank you, Jesus. I worship at the Redeemed Christian Church of God.

Educational Background

I started schooling at Air Force Nursery School in GRA, Ikeja;  then moved to Air Force Primary School, Ikeja and then to Air force Primary School, Makurdi. I gained admission into Queen of Rosemary Secondary School, Gboko, where I spent a year before moving to Federal Government Girls’ College, New Bussa. After completion of my secondary education, I got admission into Kwara State Polytechnic. From there, I proceeded to Yaba College of Technology, and laster to Lagos State University (LASU); where I bagged the Bachelor’s Degree.

Where do you work?

First, I worked with a firm in llorin. After a brief stay with the Lever Brothers, I moved to Lagos, Getting to Lagos, I was employed by the Petroleum Equalisation Fund, where I work till date. The people at my work place are such a wonderful people.

Your love for Children is exemplary

I’m a lover of children. I love to be around them and can be a little tough at times. People ask me why I love children and stopped having more kids. Anyways, it’s the way God wants it. I’m married to Tokunbo Talabi, and my marriage is 14 years old with 2 lovely princesses Oluwakayinsola and Oluwadamisola. I have also adopted children, who call me mummy. They are Kemi Oguntade, Oluwatofarati Aiyegbusi, Temiloluwa Awosika among others. Also, my god-daughters, Boluwatito Mafikuyomi and my little princess

Tamilore. But sincerely, I love children. I have special love for children with special needs. So, that’s why my birthday celebration will start off with them.

What’s your hobby?

Travelling is my hobby, combined with shopping.

You always look good. What inspires you?

It’s an innate attribute. It is in-born. I grew up with it. My mum was a woman who loved to take good care of herself and look good every time. My dressing comes with my mood and the occasion. I

like to dress up to properly  fit the occasion .

Who do you dedicate your success to?

I dedicate my success to God. He is the Alpha and Omega. I’m nothing without Him. His grace upon my life is immeasurable and uncountable. The Omnipotent. My Lord of all possibilities.

The post “When You Are With Me, There Is No Dull Moment” – Lagos Celebrity Lady, Remilekun Talabi, On Life At 40 appeared first on CityPeople Magazine Nigeria | Nigerian Celerbrities | Entertainment | Stars.

Eniola Akintola is the CEO of Kids Party Packs Planet, an outfit she floated after she left Globacom Company in 2014. The company is into kids event, party parks/souvenirs, educational toys & gifts, charity party, funfairs, entertainment, decorations.

This pretty lady has carved a niche for herself in catering for disabled kids as she recently threw an elaborate party for over 350 children, including many physically challenged kids.

Eniola who has just signed a lucrative contract that will further reward her kindness to kids, spoke to City People’s Publisher, SEYE KEHINDE and Senior Reporter, ISAAC ABIMBADE last week, on how she got into  event planning, strictly for kids.

READ ALSO: ‘I Have Ability In Disability’ – Disabled Gospel Musician, Prince Emmanuel

Can you tell us your review of how your last party for kids went?

It was awesome, absolutely awesome. I know a lot of people do things for less privilege people, orphanages. But I just realised that there is a lot of challenged children. People with special needs, that are not really being catered for. They don’t celebrate their birthdays so much you hardly see them out.

And the idea actually started from a friend of mine who was relocating one time to the US and she was complaining about the ticket fee, that she has 4 kids and I was like 4 kids! That I know you have 3 kids you brought to my sons’s birthday party and she said I have an adopted child but she said she doesn’t take the child around because of the tantrum. But eventually when she relocated to the States, everything became better. She could take him out, because they treat him better over there.

At a point,  my Pastor  started talking about reaching out to people, touching souls and I am a very compassionate person. I had an event last year, Christmas kids funfare, the turn out was quite impressive and that was the first.

So I said why don’t I do something you don’t get money from instead of what you get money from and derive more joy with it. I don’t want to do orphanage, my uncle has  an orphanage which I visit regularly. My grandmother has an orphanage home. Who can I do things for and I thought of doing it for special children. Children with special needs and I said let me do this and let me get companies to support. People should know it should be part of social responsibility and I started writing to companies.  I got good responses but eventually you see them calling we are sorry we are cancelling event sponsoring for the year, you know the way the economy is and all of a sudden everything became “wow” and I started calling friends, writing to friends, sending messages and we did it. The challenge was enormous but when I saw the children when they brought them from different schools, the joy at the end of the day was nothing to be compared to the challenge I had. It was awesome.

Like how many children came?

Over 300. Maybe about 350 children because I had children from 12 schools. Some 40, 30, 15, 60. Even the teachers, the head of schools, they were really excited because I involved Lagos State Basic Educational Board and they thought it was a joke that how can you do all these for the children. Even we had to pay their transport to bring them down.

I think people should care more for these people. Because I realised children have hidden talents. If you see these children with dancing drum, they dance better than able children. One even pushed the girl aside and he challenged me on Azonto. People were so happy. I was just thanking God for helping me to do the event. If this is the only thing I did, I am fulfilled and I said that day I want to make this annually. It has to be an annual event and I will get more people to participate.

Today, I called the event place to book the place again before anybody comes to book that place.

Why did you develop special attention for kids?

Funny enough, I never thought I would go into Children events but what I have realised is that, what you fear most is where your success lies. I worked with Globacom for 10 years. I left Globacom 2014 and I was only into Human Hair. My friends call me Jack Of All Trades. I was actually bringing my own brand of hair, fashion bags, jewelry, shoes but the way babe owe money! So I wanted something one can just come pay you and they go. So my friend said to me I can be doing party packs and I said all these 10 naira things. From 70-80 thousand Naira bag to N200 party packs and she said you will be shocked that when someone comes to buy, he would probably buy in dozens and they pay you instantly. Reluctantly, I said let me try this. I had my Chinese Visa, when I was there, a shop opened up for me and I paid for the shop. On coming back that was August, I was trying to set up the shop to my taste, next thing my father died. The following year February last year was when I registered it. I now realised the power of marketing in me and I also went into on-line marketing before you know it, a lot of people got to know me.

I can tell you that 85 percent of my sales every month is outside Lagos. I pay heavily as well for on-line, at least I get the result.

Are you doing wholesale or retail?

We do both wholesale and retail and we do delivery nationwide. Whatever you do, focus in that area. When you try to digress you will just be like a Jack Of All Trade master of none. It was from party plan and I said you have to expand. One thing I have dreaded so much is event and I was always said the stress is too much I can’t do this. But I just went to a wedding in February, at  that event, I decided to break the barrier, and challenge myself.  I was driving my children to school the next morning and I was like you want more money and you want to do the same thing the same way, you know you can’t, you have to change. Aspire and pursue. That is why I now did event, the kid fun fare. I said let me do what nobody has done before and touch lives, and I would derive joy out of it and even in so doing, meet a lot of people, go for events and in the process of doing it you will meet a lot of people. You can do the one that would be free. In the process of doing it free, whenever they want to do anything they will think of you who always do it free and they can now patronize you. If you are helping a child with a special issue that won’t probably be the only child the parent have, when they want to do party for the remaining children, they think about you. I used my money to do a lot of things trying to get sponsors and friends. I can really understand them with the economic situation but from no where someone called me, from London and the woman said she wants to help me with money and also to handle an event for children. That was where I was really really being compensated and I was really happy.

The event was actually on the same day. So from Ilupeju to Makoko, Yaba Local Government, we were in collaboration with them. There, I catered for over 500 people, here over 500 people as well.

At the end of the day people were calling me to say it was a glorious event. The women called me on her way to Airport and said I just want to thank you personally, you will be the one handling everything. And I was “like” can you imagine in just doing a small thing, see what God is just doing. Since then and now things have actually improved.

What can government do to help?

They need to help these kids by giving them good educations and take care of the environment where they learn. When I went to some of those schools, their classrooms are not conducive at all and when you have children with special needs, you can just have 2  people attending to them. You need more people to assist. In the course of planning this, some people invited me for a program, it was for educators and parents of kids with special needs and they were so talented and it was a training for teachers on how people can deal with these issues. Even me I learnt so much on that day.

Appreciation goes to Fountain of life church, Pastor Taiwo & Nomthi Odukoya, Pastor Tayo Kujore, Tonnies Rentals, PZ Nigeria,  Marian Akintola Senior Citizens  Care Home, Hon.Bayowa Foresythe , Kazeem Salami (Kaz oil), Mr Fola Adedeji (D.P.O Ilupeju Police Station), Mr Seye Kehinde (City People Magazine), Style X, Mr & Mrs Alabama (Funtasticaland, Akin (Party Booster, Mrs Ibiwunmi Akinnola, Princess Toks Duro, Pastor Paul Briggs, Mr Farouk Aaliyu, Mrs Wande Muoyo, Mr Dammy Olarinde, Mr & Mrs Adeboye, Biodun Chiedu, Mrs Titi Olujobi, Mudiaga, Korede Durosinmi, Taiwo Hassan Shote, Mr Mohammed Dele Belgore, Leye Ademoye, Mr Niyi Adejola (Coca-Cola Plc.), Mr Saeed Afolabi (Hillside Gardens ),Mrs Oladele (Stephanie Clothings), Mrs Sunbo Ajose, Mrs Dotun Akande (Patrick Speech), Mrs Helen Oshikoya (Nobel Ovagradani), Lagos State Universal and Basic Education Board (Subeb), Mr Phillip Adeleke (Ojuwoye Inclusive Unit) , Mrs Rose Mordi ( Down Syndrome Foundation ) and all the children and representatives of the 12 selected schools.

The post “Why I Hosted About 350 Disabled Children To A Party” Kids Events Planner, Eniola Akintola Explains appeared first on CityPeople Magazine Nigeria | Nigerian Celerbrities | Entertainment | Stars.

Getting an opportunity to interview Pastor Taiwo Odukoya is no mean feat, even for the in-house magazine of The Fountain of Life Church! For this self-effacing man of God, there is no need to call unnecessary attention to yourself while in the service of God. But then, attaining the diamond age is no mean blessing for a man who has seen it all in life. So the editorial board of THE FOUNTAIN magazine (the church magazine) had the rare opportunity to interview Pastor Taiwo on what life means as he attains the age of 60. He speaks of the goodness of God·to him right from birth until date in this interview with SYLVESTER OJENAGBON, NIRAN ADEDOKUN, TONI KAN ONWORDI, IBORO TONYE-EDET, WALE ELEGBEDE and DAYO OBADINA. Enjoy …

Sixty years! A great landmark worth celebrating! Do you really feel 60?

No! I guess the reason is that the older you get the more you realise there’s a lot more to achieve. I guess that’s why I really don’t feel 60.

So how old do you feel?

Well, I just feel fine.

Has anything changed? Are your knees aching? Do you feel physically and mentally different between then and now?

Basically, I’m beginning to feel the body wanting to slow down a bit. My knees are not aching but my body is telling me I’m no longer as young as I used to be. For instance, I usually overstretch myself on weekends due to the pressure of ministrations and other activities. Before now, I was fine after some overnight rest, but now I realise that is not enough anymore. So the body is telling me something.

Could you share what your growing up years from childhood through teenage years to your young adult life were like with us? Was there anything you and your twin sister did that will forever be fresh in your memories?

One thing I remember is that right from when we were growing up, when she would hurt, I would hurt also. At that time, I was a bit rascally and was often punished for my rascality. She would always cry whenever I was being punished. And when we played, it was usually as if she didn’t know that she was a girl; she would play like a boy. We did a lot of tree climbing together; in fact, sometimes she would climb higher than I did. Of course, we went to the same primary school and were always in the same class.

At what point in life did you recognise there was a divine call on your life?

 The calling was always coming but maybe I didn’t really identify it as such. I have always felt that I was made to help and care. I remember in the university, what would come regularly to me in my moments of meditation was that a day would come when I would have the wherewithal to take care of as many people in need as possible. I generally hate to see people suffering. Now, looking back, I think it was the calling tugging at my heart.

Can you tell us when the call to full-time ministry eventually came and your initial response to the call?

After I rededicated my life to the Lord while in the university, I knew I wanted to do the work of the Lord, but not in a full- time capacity. When ‘Bimbo (Pastor Bimbo of blessed memory) and I got married eventually, we saw ourselves as being in the helps ministry-we just wanted to assist those in full-time ministry. So we were there with Rev. Tunde Ioda at the outset of that ministry. Then we joined The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), which by His grace we made our home church. Re- leased by Bishop Mike, we worked with Pastor Chris Okotie at the inception of Household of God. In all of these, I kept my job as a petroleum engineer with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and we were happy just assisting. But while on a particular official trip to the United States of America in 1991, after returning to TREM from Household, it became clear to me that my time in NNPC was coming to an end.

I however didn’t particularly like the idea of being called a pastor as pastors were the butt of every joke in those days (and I think it’s even worse now). With this reservation, I had to ask God for the grace to do whatever He was asking me to do. His answer was, “I’ll never send anyone without my grace:’ And that

was it!

You mentioned grace now. Anyone that has followed your ministry for a bit will realise that grace is something you don’t joke with. Did it come from this experience or is there something aside it?

Well, looking back over my life, even before this experience, it’s been grace all the way. I always realise that I’m never as smart as the results I get. When I try to explain this to people, they usually don’t think so; but I know so. Some of the things I do that turn out excellently well could even be the result of trying to correct a mistake or an error. You see, that’s how His grace has always worked for me.

How would you appraise yourself so far in your God-given assignment?

Considering the grace God has given me, I will say I am grateful to Him because many people would like to be where I am. However, I don’t think my potential has been fully realised; no,  I don’t think so. I am asking God for the grace to do more. Just driving along our streets, you will see many people who are suf- fering. We just can’t allow things to continue like this; so this usually stirs up one to want to do more. This is more so when you realise that with little help, many people will readily swim out of the shallow waters of poverty and despondency to a place where they can themselves lift up others.

So now you have your third grandchild; how does that make you feel?

Of course, I’m thrilled and grateful to God. I believe it’s an opportunity to do better what we did with our own children-their parents. So working through their parents, I believe it’s an op- portunity to mould better us for the future, and the thought of that is quite exciting.

How do you relax?

Again, maybe grace (laughter). Well, I try as much and as often as I can to sit with my wife and watch some of her favourite programmes on television. Apart from that, I like to read as part of my leisure but my reading style is not like everybody’s. I hardly have time to pick up a book and read it from cover to cover. So there are a lot of digressions in my readings. I start reading a book and the author makes an interesting point, then I want to investigate what I just read. So I find myself going from book to book-some people call it topical or research reading style.

This is what really gets me excited and can keep me awake the whole night. On the side, I like and watch soccer, or maybe wrestling, where it’s not violent.

We were just going to ask you about that. Do you have a favourite football club and how did they do this season?

Well, I don’t have a favourite club. I like intelligent play, I like good skills, I like diligence on display. So when I find a bunch of young men displaying intelligent skills, I usually want to stop and enjoy their play. This last season, I knew Leicester would win long before the end of the season. When you see a bunch of young people who are skilful and focused, you want to appreciate them?

Do you still have time play soccer yourself?

No, I don’t. .. well, I can still try (laughter). But I want my boys to play. Don’t mind the fact that Iimi (my first son) doesn’t play; it’s not his fault. I didn’t expose him much to soccer when he was growing up; I just didn’t have the time. I allowed my hustling for the funds to train them take precedence over that. But we hope these younger boys will play. Iimi too actually wants them to play.

As the senior pastor of a very large church, how are you able to juggle your pastoral responsibilities with fatherhood and marriage?

I just take life as it comes. I believe as long as it is a divine call, God will grant the grace to handle things. Yes, I’m very busy as a pastor, but I also recognise I’m first a husband and a father before I’m a pastor. So as much as I can, I spend time with my family even in the midst of very busy schedules. That’s the only way to be truly effective even in my pastoral responsibilities. I believe we all need to create time for the things that are truly important to us.

You said once that ‘I may not have everything my mates have but 1 am satisfied’. What gives you the greatest satisfaction?

I’m most satisfied when I’m busy; when I’m contributing something. I find a lot of satisfaction when I see that hopeless man or woman rise up from despondency or obscurity into his or her divine calling. Really, nothing compares to contributing something to life-to the destiny of others. After all, satisfaction is all about what you have and are able to give, rather than what you get or take.

Talking about God being good to you, what would you call your highpoints, low points and regrets in life?

I lost my wife in an air crash and it came with a sense of great loss. Maybe that’s a low point; I mean, when it happened, and I honestly wished it never did. Regret? No, God remains God and as it is written in His word, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose:’ That’s why I sincerely don’t have regrets.

As for the highpoints, every moment of my life is a high point. As long as I’m still alive, it’s a high point. I got married; it’s a high point. The birth of every child, their getting married, the birth of my grandchildren … these are all high points. Every blessing of God upon my life is a high point, and that’s how I see it.

The post “Without Grace, I Would Have Been Nobody” Fountain Of Life Church Pastor Taiwo Odukoya @ 60 appeared first on CityPeople Magazine Nigeria | Nigerian Celerbrities | Entertainment | Stars.

If there is any young man in the entertainment industry who has done exceedingly well for himself as a multifaceted business mogul, then that person is no other than “Falz The Bahd Guy”.

Folarin Falana has become very successful and that has become very obvious to see. Falz who is a comic rapper/actor won the BLACK ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION (BET) Award two Saturdays back (June 25th 2016). He was announced winner of the Viewers’ Choice in the Best International Act Category.

Falz was nominated alongside Section Boys (South London), WSTRN (West London), EMTEE (South Africa), TKay (Australia) and MHD (France)

Falz, who is Lagos Lawyer, Femi Falana’s son, began his career while in secondary school after forming a group called “The School Boys” with his friend before his professional career as a music artiste began in 2009. Falz shot into limelight after his song titled “Marry Me” (featuring vocals from Poe and Yemi Alade) won him a nomination in the “Best Collaboration of The Year” category at the 2015 Nigeria Entertainment Awards. He was also nominated in the “Best Rap Act of The Year” and “Best New Act to Watch” categories at the same event. He currently owns an independent record label called Bahd Guys Records. Falz has gone a long way in the industry winning numerous awards after he shot to limelight including the award at City People Entertainment Award 2015 which he cherishes amongst others. The young entrepereneur has been able to maintain a balance between all segment of the industry he finds himself in. As an artiste he has worked with major names in the industry including his recent mini-video project with Clarence Peters for his Simi featured “Soldier” track. He also appeared in a full length movie which was topnotch in the cinemas for a long time. His role I Funke Akindele’s “Jenifas’ Diary” has also increased his fan base. Recently he performed alongside comedian AY on stage at the AY 10 years on Stage Anniversary Concert which had a lot of people thrilled to see that Falz is a natural in whatever he does. The young champ recently hosted City People’s Publisher, SEYE KEHINDE and Showbiz Reporter, DANIJI EMMANUEL where he opened up about his multifaceted roles in the industry, how he has been able to maintain the balance and what lies ahead for him. Enjoy the interview.

 READ ALSO: Falz Wins Viewer’s Choice Best International Act Award

Tell us about your recent music video project for the Simi featured “Soldier” Track

It’s a mini movie and a music video. We try to merge both music and film industry into one single project. That was what we were launching and we felt the need to have a big premiere so that people can come and see a landmark project and material been released. It was pretty good, a lot of people turned out to support. My Dad was there as well to support and it was pretty good

How did he see the whole project?

He was impressed. He also indicated a willingness to support future projects like this.

Whose idea was this all together? Was it yours or that of the director?

It was a mix of mine and that of Clarence Peters. Clarence Peters actually called me once and said he had an idea for me, that he wanted to build a film around me and my music. So we came up with the idea to develop the Soldier video and make it into something bigger than just a musical video. So we made a short musical video, almost a film. The video is 15 minutes long.

So it started with Soldier, what would be the next?

There would definitely be a continuation. The big thing is that myself and Simi have a collaborative project in the works that would contain about 7 tracks. In the project we would then develop each song into a story of its own. So the part 2 of the Soldier story would go into another song and it would have another title. We trying to make it into a series, something people would look up to say every 2 weeks or so.

Unlike the Movie industry where Characters are fixed with little additions, would there be a constant change in characters for the Music Movie Project or would all characters remain?

New characters would have to be brought in though some of the established characters would remain constant all through. There definitely would be some characters that we would bring in to add spice to the storyline.

Let’s take a look at your recent collaboration with Cobhams, “Boosit” became an instant hit immediately it was dropped. Whose idea was the “character playing” role?

It was his actually. He indicated to me he’s a huge fan, he wanted us to meet. So he came up to me and said he had an idea of the song already and he played it for me and he told me the concept and idea. I connected with it immediately. It’s a very conscious song with a serious message in a comical approach. The fact that we are sending a massage out there and making our voices heard because we know people are listening to us out there. That was the concept of the song. The first verse spoke about politicians who promise us heaven and earth only to get into power and do whatever they like. The second verse spoke about violence and stuffs like that. It was a very very interesting collaboration and Cobhams left his comfort zone just to have this work.

The fans have accepted the song and have listen to the message, but do you think this message would get to the right ears and people?

I hope it does. At the end of the day there is a very short attention span that the Nigerian listeners have. I just hope that doesn’t affect the song, because at the end of the day they could just enjoy the comical aspect of the song and forget the message which is the stronger part of the song.

We’ve seen you and Simi, You and Cobhams, and the latest so far is You and AY. Basically the first time anyone would see you perform fulltime comedy on stage. How did you come about the script?

It was AY’s actually. All those low blows and subliminal messages, they were all AYs’. We just took the script, made it our own and brought it to life. It was very interesting working with all those people, Chigurl, Princess and AY, it was very interesting.

And as of the choice of character, how did AY settle for you to ply the role?

He told me that he had seen some of my works and he was very intrigued and loved them and he wanted us to work together so I said let’s do it. That was it.

Let’s combine all 3 of your latest projects. You’ve worked with a Director, A Music Producer/Colleague in the Industry and then a Comedian, how does that make you feel?

It makes me feel very good. I think it’s a very positive thing. It then shows how multifaceted my brand is, because if a Film director calls me up, a music producer calls me up, a comedian calls me up, it then shows that this brand of mine cuts across 3 different industries in such a way that it is relevant to the 3 industries. It also reflects on the award that I won as Best Actor in a comedy at the AMVCA, its spans the brand and makes me seen in a different light.

What about your role in the series Jennifers’ Diary?

Yeah, Jennifa’s diary. So popular now and many people are beginning to love the character and role I play in it. There was even a time in the script that I was supposed to travel abroad in the series and I was on twitter and I saw so many comments, “Don’t go, come back….” The initial plan was to write me out of the series with that travel because I found out that it was difficult and challenging recording but since they all want me; I have to come back into the series. I am actually enjoying it.

How do you cope with playing all these different roles and personality?

It’s very difficult I won’t lie, sometimes it gets to me and I get very stressed and worked up. I just try to find a way to keep the balance, And I found out that the more I can try to maintain all faces and part if the brand the richer the brand would be, so I try to keep it up and going.

You been in the spotlight in all these industries would definitely spark up rumours and news about you in the media, how have you been able to handle that?

So far so good, I have tried to keep a low profile and remain well behaved.

Even with the low profile, there have been news a linking you to Simi and Funke Akindele, which is true and which is false?

I don’t think you should believe any of those, I think both of them have their significant order which is not me. When people see a great working relationship or chemistry on set or stage they would naturally speculate. So it’s nothing to be excited about.

Don’t you think this would upset your fans who really want to see you having much more than ties with any of these two talented women?

Well, you never know what the future holds, anything is still possible.

So how did you come up with your style of speaking?

Initially it was just me messing around with friends and joking around and suddenly it became like a lingua. It basically blew up when I started doing short skits on social media and so on….

We’ve had Stories That Touch, when should we be expecting your 2^nd album?

Well, the next project would be the collaborative project with Simi and after that I can now concentrate on a Solo project. But for now, expect the collaborative project with Simi.

Whats new with you in terms of Singles?

I just put out a new audio titled “Bahd, Baddo, Baddest” with Olamide and DavidO. The video is not out yet though but still in the works.

Whats the idea behind the song title, “Bahd, Baddo, Baddest”?

It’s just a nameplay really, I am BAHD, Olamide is BADDO and DavidO is BADDEST. WE had to play around that and it’s definitely a good tune for the clubs as it is uptempo, danceable and people are already liking it. The video would be out soon.

Let’s re-examine DavidO’s verse on the song where he took a jab at “Uncle Dele” (Dele Momodu). What’s your take on that?

On my own part, every artiste has things that come from a personal part or side in their live. I am really in no position to comment on that. I obviously didn’t write the verse for him. The verse as a whole I like though.

What is the market like after you featured in your first movie which took the cinemas by storm?

Right now I have a lots of offers but I am trying to weigh in on which fits best for me at this time. The caliber of production is also what I am putting into consideration so I don’t work on a set that is not of standard.

Falz The Bahd Guy is seen as an artist, a comedian and an actor. What else are you into that people are yet to discover about you?

I am an entrepreneur. I am trying to develop the business man in me. I am looking to groom talents for my label. Also my fashion line would be launching a new set of apparels into the market soon.

The post Falz The Bahd Guy Opens Up On His Success Story: How He Won BET Awards appeared first on CityPeople Magazine Nigeria | Nigerian Celerbrities | Entertainment | Stars.

She is called several nicknames by her friends and fans. Some call her Jummy. A few simply call her Jumoke. And others call her Baroness J. But her real name is Jumoke Ariyo. She is a London based celebrity journalist, Radio presenter and PR practitioner.

She is the London correspondent of City People. She presents a weekly programme on a popular Radio Station in London and organises events for corporate organisations and individuals.

The big news is that Jummy Ariyo is 50. She turned 50 a few weeks back and she is planning a big party to mark it in a few days time.

How does this pretty babe feel at 50? Does she plan to remarry soon? This and many more were the questions City People Publisher SEYE KEHINDE asked Jummy when he interviewed her last week.

How do you feel at 50?

You know, physically I don’t really feel much different. Although as a member of the RCCG, I am now officially an elder and that means I have to embrace  a more responsible attitude to life than I previously did.

How did you plan to celebrate?

Initially, I wanted to have a modest Praise Party at Church but I realized that the people that would want to attend to support me would not fit into our church auditorium so I had to make an alternative arrangement for an Owambe parry with close family, friends and Industry Colleagues. I however still had a 50  minutes Praise and Worship service on my birthday date, the 23rd of June.

I also had a community Give Back activity which involved me taking part in a Charity Fun raise to raise £5000 and awareness for Cancer Research UK.

What are the lessons life has taught you at 50?

First, I see attaining the age of 50 as a very big deal particularly for a woman. You would have been through so much mentally, physically, emotionally – dealing with heartbreak, betrayals, disappointments; the pains and trauma of monthly periods, pregnancy, being a young wife and mother, dealing with in-laws, colleagues at work, financial problems, overcoming marital problems, and in some cases, coping with the effects of failed relationships or marriages – and yet still remain sane and standing tall. 50 in another term, is half a century and that is a lot of years of human wear and tear.

However, at 50, after having been through so much life experiences, one learns that not everything needs to go according to one’s plan. I also have learned that failing at any particular thing doesn’t mean you’ve failed in life. It just means you have to try it a different way or try something different.

You have lived in England for over 10 years. Why did you choose to?

Well first, I was actually born here in the UK. Hackney to be precise. I was brought to Nigeria with my younger sister Debbie when our parents returned home in the 70s.

I actually wanted to go to America. I didn’t really like the UK. My dream was to eventually go and live in California and break into Hollywood. I first came to the UK in 1989 because I believed moving on to the States would be easier that way.  Unfortunately, I fell in love and shelved my American plans….

Why and how did you decide to be a journalist?

I had always loved and enjoyed writing. I was very good at essay writing in school and I had one of the best results in English in my year. I attended OLASS Ijebu Ode. I think I took after my grandfather in that way. My grandfather Alhaji Ariyo was popularly known as Onigegewura of Ijebuland. He did all kinds of things with his pen and typewriter including almost getting the Awujale dethroned with some highly inflammatory articles he wrote in the Tribune in the 80s.

But I started in media as a voice over artist and continuity announcer on OGBC/OGTV Abeokuta.  In the 80s,when Universities used to be closed all the time, My dad’s “adopted” younger brother uncle Sesan Ekisola asked my parents for permission to take me to the OGBC  studio in Lafenwa rather than me just hanging about Ibara Housing Estate and getting up to no good. There and then, on the very first visit I caught the broadcasting bug. After returning to school, I would be right back in the studios during semester breaks doing voice overs, jingles and studio dramas.

After leaving Uni in 1986, my Dad used his Ijebu connection and sent me to the then GM at OGTV Chief Yomi Onabolu. He ordered me to do a screen test and audition under the supervision of one Adebogun, which I of course passed. I think he also kinda fancied me a bit then (hahaha)

The rest is history. I worked as a news reader and continuity announcer till I left the country in 1989. But I still return to read the world news anytime I’m in town.

Returning to media as a writer, blogger and Radio presenter all came by as accidents. I was invited by a former school mate who was already with NaijaFM, London to co host a show with them but after just 5 episodes, jealousy crept in and I was kicked off the show. So the top guy Uche “Godfather” Kent offered me my own show Baroness J’s World on NaijaFM – I’ve been at it going on 2 years now!

I was introduced to blogging by Dr Dayo Olomu who saw my Facebook comments and posts and advised me to start my own personal blog. By the end of the first year, it will go on and win Blog of the Year Award at the 2015 UK Black Entertainment, Film, Fashion, Television and Arts Awards.

Tell us about growing up. Where were you born? Schools attended? Parents?

As I said previously, I was born in the Eastend of London UK to Alhaji  & Alhaja Ariyo (from Ijebu Ode) but my upbringing is completely Nigerian. I was brought to Nigeria in the 70s. As the family settled back in Nigeria, I did a round of primary schools (Ago-Ijaye Nursery and Primary School in Ebute Metta, Lagos, Luba Nursery School Ijebu Ode before finally ending up in Victory School Ibadan). I had my secondary education at Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School in Ijebu Ode followed by Ogun State Polytechnic in Abeokuta for a year Basic Studies before proceeding to University of Benin where I studied French & Education.

Are you married?

No I’m single. I was married for 13 years the marriage didn’t make it.

How true is it that you may be remarrying soon?

Hahaha!!!

I am hoping to remarry soon – at least when I’m still young enough to enjoy marriage and as soon as I can find the right man. But I don’t have a boyfriend or fiancee yet. I was in a rather intense relationship last year but we wanted different things.

So right now, I’m sensitively waiting…..

Tell us the scope of what you do in London. How do you juggle  radio, writing and PR?

The things I do are both my business and my passion so it’s quite easy especially as I really do enjoy and love doing them. They are all inter-related anyway but each field is allocated the same time and priority as the others. That way, none suffers neglect.

What will change or not as you turn 50?

I don’t think much is going to change except I feel it is my duty to demonstrate that 50 is the new 40. A woman can look great and sexy even at 50 and still be taken seriously. I get complimented quite a lot in my looks and many find it difficult to believe I’m really 50…

However, I am thinking seriously about being more involved in ministry work. At the moment I’m a member of my church choir but I believe I’m being led to do other things….

Tell us about  your kids?

My Baronettes and Baron.

I have 2 girls and 1 boy – Lolade 23,  Bolaji 20 and Tolani16.

In the beginning, after my marriage fell apart, it was quite hard for me but I quickly made the decision to fully involve my ex in the upbringing of his kids. So we are co-parents now.  The kids have the best of both worlds and I’m not struggling so much because I’m not carrying the burden alone.

The post London Big Babe, Jummy Ariyo on Life @ 50 appeared first on CityPeople Magazine Nigeria | Nigerian Celerbrities | Entertainment | Stars.

• Reveals How She Became A Big Brand

If you are a regular radio listener, you must have heard or come across a radio presenter called Lolo. She is really very popular because she presents her radio programme in Pidgin English everyday, on the Morning Belt, Lolo entertains and educate her ardent listeners.

But because she is called Lolo and she speaks Pidgin many people who are not close to her often think she is Igbo. But we can tell you authoritatively that she is not. Lolo is Yoruba from Ijebu-Igbo in Ogun State. Lolo’s real name is Omotunde Adebowale-David. Only very few people also know she is a Lawyer by training.

Omotunde is a graduate of Law from the Lagos State University, with a natural flair and love for communication. An On-Air Personality and a News reader for Cool FM & Wazobia FM, she is a humorous, social and an extremely extroverted personality who loves to entertain. She loves to have fun and do fun things; she loves to read and she is also an incurable romantic. Her philosophy in life is that life is an endless circle, everything always comes around, so she loves to do others what she would love done to her. Besides all, she is an energetic and eclectic lady.

Last week, City People Publisher, SEYE KEHINDE had a drink with her at her office during which she spoke about her life and career.

How has it been in the last few months?

Its been very exciting. I have been so busy this year. I started this year doing Jeniffers Diary with Funke Akindele. That has taken a lot of my time this time. Of course, Radio is there. People expect you to always deliver at every time and I have been able to shuffle work, do some of the acting that I am doing.

When you set out at first what was the original concept? What plans did you have for your brand?

I call myself an art form because singing, dancing, acting, compering, doing comedy, everything is an Art, because I can do a lot of those things together and do them excellently well. When I started out as Lolo 1, one of the things I thought of doing on radio was to just bring joy to people, make their lives a little more easier, be somebody you can just relate to and let them know that if I put on my radio, there is a big sister there for me, there is a friend, for some, a lover. Everybody just gets what they want out of you on radio. So I set to be like a family brand that everybody can relate to-man can relate to it, woman can relate to it, children can relate to it. That is why I try to make it a wholesome family oriented brand. I am pro-women. Of course I love anything about women empowerment.

Whats the synopsis of your daily programme?

Its called Oga Madam Office. I start after Yaw. From 10am to 3pm. And for the last couple of years I have had the highest messages from my own belt alone. First, I do Boardroom Matters. My show is called Oga Madam Office because from 10am to 3pm you are likely to be in your office. This is my own office on radio. So, I start out with Boardroom Matters.

We talk about topical issues, anything that is hot at that time. It takes to about 11am when I do Personal Hustle.

Radio is longer play. There is a lot to learn I do Edutainment because there is Education and then Entertainment.

On the Personal Hustle segment, I do a lot about life coaching, self-help, I teach business tips, branding your business, making better presentation. I am empowering homes in my own little capacity, especially the women.  From about 12, I do our Feel Good, Name and You then to Office Palaver segment.

People love it. Its life humour and addressing issues. Sometimes on Tuesdays I do Womens Corner. We also have a Sports programme, called Sports Effizi. We try to put in everything you can like, that is everything you can relate to and contribute. That is what I do basically on my show.

You have done Lolo now for how long?

I have been on radio for 8 years going on 9 now. I started with WAZOBIA FM 8 years ago. But I had done Radio Nigeria before I came here. In fact I started my Radio career with Radio Nigeria in 2003. I finished my Law degree from Lagos State University, Ojo. I went to Law School, I got called 2001. I did practice for like 3 years. At the tail end of the 3rd year was when I decided to switch career. I then went for training with Federal Radio Corporation. I was immediately given Contract Employment with Radio Nigeria and I stayed with them for like 2 years before I took a little break. Then, I joined WAZOBIA FM. So I have done Radio where all the veterans were trained. It was very had being on the AM belt but it hones your skills, it gives you maturity, it helps your delivery. My legal background also helps. I moved on to Metro FM I did a stint there with the likes of Cordelia Okpe, Frank Edoho. Then I joined WAZOBIA FM.

So how did you cope, when you joined Wazobia FM to come and speak pidgin?

It was a tough one. I thought about it will I say I am an excellent pidgin speaker. But by nature I always challenge myself. I like an atmosphere of competition. I said wow this pidgin thing will really challenge me. I say let me try. I did  audition in January, they did not call me until April. They called me 1st of April. I started as a news reader in Wazobia I got my first set of award as a news reader on Wazobia FM. I was trained by YAW. When Yaw trains you its like training with the Master. He is thorough guy.

Before long my own timebelt was carved out to be able to accommodate me. The timing belt then was 6am to 6pm. They were doing like 6 hours. Yes. Oga Yaw used to do 6 to 12. It was a long stretch.

How did you coin the name Lolo?

I always tell people I am a dysfunctional Yoruba person. I grew up being like one Nigeria. When I started I asked people to give me a name, I told them name me. How do you see me? People started reeking out names I just picked out Lolo became I could identify with it. Lolo is like saying Oloori in Yoruba. It is like a female Chief. So it is befitting and simple and classy. Lolo 1. The listeners gave me the name. I did a programme that day and I said I wanted an alias. I am Omotunde but what do you guys want me to be called?

They sent more than 3,000 entries. I had to choose one that was simple.

Many people don’t know you are a Yoruba girl. Do you find people saying the same thing to you?

Yes ooo. Infact a lot of people. Infact unless when they read my interviews that is when people believe I am Yoruba. And now that I am even playing Adako in Jennifers Diary people don’t see me as a Yoruba person. Anywhere I go they will greet me in Igbo. When I tell people my name is Omotunde they always wonder. How can your name be Omotunde and at the same time you are Lolo? I am like, well, I am both things together.

The post Many People Don’t Know I Am Not IGBO Popular WAZOBIA FM Radio Presenter, Lolo appeared first on CityPeople Magazine Nigeria | Nigerian Celerbrities | Entertainment | Stars.

Seyi Edun is a very popular actress in the Yoruba movie industry. She is also a producer too. She has produced a few movies, one of which is Eja Nla which shot her to limelight. Lately, Seyi whose popular alias is SHAI, has been at the centre of a big controversy on social media. She was accused of dating fellow actor, Niyi Johnson, the estranged husband of popular actress Toyin Aimakhu. A few weeks back, she was even accused of being pregnant for him. The general story in town is that it is Toyin who is behind all these controversies. As the story goes, Toyin does not like Shai and she was who got her friends in the social media to attack Shai. For the very first time, Shai has come out to explain what led to the controversy. Last week she spoke to City People Publisher, SEYE KEHINDE about her career and the allegation that she snatched Niyi from Toyin. It is very interesting.

Why did you break the marriage of Toyin Aimakhu and Niyi Johnson?
I didn’t break their marriage. It has nothing to do with me, absolutely nothing. We are all movie people. Niyi is my friend. He has always been my friend.
So how did the story break that you are dating Niyi?
I really don’t know. I am not dating Niyi and I am not pregnant for Niyi like one blog posted. I laughed about it when the story broke. I was on a movie set that day when I heard the news that someone wrote that I am pregnant for Niyi Johnson and that I was sent out of my home. It is the figment of somebodys imagination. They got the story muddled up. I don’t stay in Lekki like the story indicated. And I am not pregnant for Niyi. Niyi and I are friends. There is no special relationship. We are just good friends. I was not sent out of any home. I still stay in my house.
So how did all these stories start? There can’t be smoke without fire?
I think what led to the story was my trip to Dubai. The whole thing started when me travelled to Dubai for a movie shoot in May this year. We were about 6 who went, that travelled. Bidemi Kosoko was with us, Tawa Ajisefini, Kayode Wright and his wife, then Niyi and I. And we were together in the same apartment. All of us were together in the same apartment I think that was where they got the news from. Maybe from pictures from INSTAGRAM and all. There was a particular picture I posted on Instagram where Niyi was proposing to me. We wanted people’s comments and opinions on a woman proposing to a man. Is it a right thing. Is it done? Should it be encouraged. Is it part of our culture? We were seeking people opinion about it and that was what brought about the picture. So, I was so surprised when one blog copied it and posted it and removed my caption and added their own and they started writing what they wanted to write. It is unfortunate. These are the people who follow you on Instagram and they would not even send you a message to ask you few questions about what they want to write. They just go to their blogs and start writing shit about you. That was where the whole thing started. After that I debunked the story. It was online. I was the one that posted the picture of Niyi and I on Instagram and there was a caption on it that we were on a movie set. And they removed the caption and the picture went virile. It is still on my Instagram page.
Some people say maybe Toyin Aimakhu is the one behind it. Do you agree?
I don’t know. I can’t say she is the one behind it. I think one blog published something about Niyi, that he has a child outside or whether he had a child before meeting Toyin, something like that. That does not concern me. I am not part of that. I don’t know what happened between them.
Did you discuss this issue with Niyi?
Yes. When one of the blogs broke the news it was Niyi that told me that they wrote something about us. He sent me the link. I was just laughing at these bloggers and their way of looking for traffic to their site. I didn’t really feel bad about it because all that they are saying is not true, so I am not bothered.
Before now Shai has never been one person who is always involved in controversy. Why have you changed?
Yes oo. I don’t know ooo. I think controversy is good and it is bad. One way or the other this particular controversy has helped my new movie DARA to sell more. It is my latest movie. It was released at that period of the controversy I think Niyi posted something about my movie on his page. I think that was what really fuelled that controversy the more.
Is he in the movie?
Noo. He is not in the movie. He just helped me to post something about the movie. The movie was released a week after we arrived from Dubai. He posted something about the movie that people should go and buy DARA and watch I think that further fuelled the controversy that haa see Niyi ooo. He is helping Shai publicise her movie. But initially it was our Dubai trip that started it. All through our trip we were taking pictures together. Its just that on my own Instagram page I decided to post whatever I have on my page. Is that a crime? I thing there is somebody somewhere fuelling all these things.
Are you sure there is nothing between you and Niyi?
I am serious there is nothing. We’ve been friends for years. Those who know us know that Niyi and I are not dating. We are just friend.
Could it be because many people don’t know who Shai is dating?
Maybe. I have been keeping my relationship off the media right from the on set. I have always said I am not going to reveal my man on the pages of the paper because I don’t want them to ruin our relationship for me. He is not always in the picture at all. And I don’t keep close friends that will say this is my man. It is only few people around me that knows him. I think because they have not been seeing me with anyone in the industry. Maybe that is why they are speculating that these 2 people might be dating. The furniest thing is that Niyi knows who I am dating. Niyi knows my man. He knows my boyfriend.
Who is he? Tell us?
Noo I don’t want to talk about him. He does not want to be in the news. He does not like media at all.
How have been able to handle whole controversy?
Like I said I am not bothered ooo. The controversy has helped my movie. I am happy because I know everthing is not true. Its all a lie. And those in the industry too know its a lie. So, I am cool with it. Somebody is behind the whole thing. Maybe it is Niyi they want to deal with. Niyi. He is controversial. Like I said controversy is good. Controversy has been helping us sell movies. Controversies has its negative and positive sides. Its good to be on the positive side. Once in a while we actresses become controversial I have been prepared for it. I think I am growing up. Its all part of growing up. I have developed a thick skin.

The post “I Didn’t Snatch Niyi Johnson From Toyin Aimakhu – •Popular Yoruba Actress, Seyi Edun (SHAI) appeared first on CityPeople Magazine Nigeria | Nigerian Celerbrities | Entertainment | Stars.

Kehinde Omoru is an English Art graduate of University of Ife with a Post Graduate Diploma in Education from the University of Lagos Nigeria. She also studied Learning Disabilities Nursing at the University of Luton Buckinghamshire, qualified In 2004 and have since practised as a Learning Disabilities Nurse at a College of Further Education in the United Kingdom. She wrote for a few years for the Guardian Newspaper, Nigeria and currently freelance weekly for ThisDay Newspaper Nigeria with a column titled, A TEACHER’S Diary. She recently produced a new movie on Hepatitis featuring Eniola Badmus, Kiki Omeili, Ashionye Raccah, Funky Mallam and Judith Audu. The movie titled in DEEPLY CUT “The HepatitisB Dilemma” tells the story of a lady’s greed that leads her to desperate measures to make extra money, leaving in her trail a lot of possibly infected casualties, which include her bosses. It also educates people about HepatitisB.The movie directed & produced by Grace Edwin-Okon has Kehinde Omoru as the Executive Producer. In an interview with VIVIAN ONUORAH, Kehinde reveals what inspired the new movie on Hepatitis.

READ ALSO: How I Made N50 Million From My New Movie- Andy Boyo

A lot of people are ignorant about Hepatitis,what ways do you intend to enlighten people about it?
Through Deeply Cut, through future movies touching on hepatitis, through articles on my website – kehindeomoru.com, through articles in my weekly column titled A TEACHER’S DIARY in Thisday newspaper, Nigeria, through lectures, trainings, talks, and so on
What inspired your new movie on Hepatitis titled Deeply Cut?
The immediate motivation for my writing Deeply Cut was our gateman. Our gateman was ill and I insisted on him having a diagnostic test on just about every ailment. He tested positive for Hepatitis B. I became even more alarmed when I researched and found that Hepatitis B is seriously endemic in Nigeria. I refused for our gateman to be sent away and personally took him to a tropical diseases centre/hospital in Yaba Lagos, close to the bus terminus, where he was medically seen for awhile. He is still with us and we are managing his condition effectively and with the use of infection control techniques that are rigorously followed.
How well do you plan to get this movie across top people across the Nation?
It is indeed a very expensive to produce and promote movie. It’s been virtually financed with my painstakingly achieved savings so far. It’s already cost about N3000000 (three million naira). Movies are not cheap to make! I would welcome the support of well meaning Nigerians to come to my aid to push deeply cut and my other health concerns, further throughout the entire nation.

What informed your choice of cast?
A passionate search for excellence and thoroughness helped me to eventually find Grace Edwin Okon, herself an excellent and astute movie director/producer and screen play writer. I briefed Grace that I wanted her to find passionate artists that would soften the severity of my message so that it’s at once entertaining as it is informing and warning people of this silent killer. Grace took the lead on casting the movie.
Asides the movie,are there other ways you plan to create awareness on hepatitis?
I’d like to reach secondary school children with the awareness of this condition.
Is this your first advocacy movie on health issues?
No deeply cut is not my first advocacy movie on health issues. I have done antioxidants, diabetes, adolescence, making a case for ogi, the way we are, housegirl palaver, and a couple others. They are all on my youtube channel – Kehinde Omoru youtube channel.
From the health sector,you delved into movie production,what prompted the decision for movies?
My background is in teaching as well as in freelancing. The visual media is a very powerful Medium to educate and inform. My health and social care thrust has been finding its voice not only in my writings but also in our Nollywood actors’ and actresses’ dramatizations of my scripts. There is another movie in the offing looking at diabetes, conception and skin integrity.
What are the challenges you faced?
Not having enough money to do all that I wish to do, to promote the health and social care needs of our people, is one major problem I have. All of my movies have been financed by me. I am having to work extra hours to fund the media sending out all these vital messages.
Can you tell us more about you?
I am also a UK qualified nurse, currently practicing in the Uk. I would like to continue to encourage my people with all the skills I acquire in nursing and enable as many people as I humanly can, live more fulfilling meaningful lives.

The post “How My Gate-man Inspired My New Movie Deeply Cut” – Kehinde Omoru appeared first on CityPeople Magazine Nigeria | Nigerian Celerbrities | Entertainment | Stars.

On Tuesday May 24, 2016, Yeni Kuti, eldest child of the late Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti got a surprise marriage proposal from her longtime partner, Theo Lawson as she celebrated her 55th birthday. Venue was the Prince of Anthony Hotels in Anthony Village, Lagos.
The event was a surprise party put together by Mallam Abdul Okwechime and Akin Adeoya, CEO of Hotels 1960, owners of the Prince of Anthony Hotel.
The birthday party which saw an impromptu performance from Yeni’s younger brother and Afrobeat maestro, Femi Kuti started at 7pm with an emotional outburst from the guest of honour, Yeni, upon walking into a hall full of family and friends waiting to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to her.
Yeni revived her father’s legacy with Felabration. All day long she had thought Theo Lawson, her fiancée was taking her on a get-away, to a place where no one would disturb them.
When Theo finally picked her up at the New Afrika Shrine, after her programme ‘Your View,’ on TVC, it was indeed to a serene hotel in Anthony Village.
When Theo ushered Yeni into the hotel’s Chinese Restaurant as part of her private birthday treat, she almost collapsed, because waiting there were friends and family including Femi Kuti, her colleagues at TVC, the Kuti clan, childhood friends, and a host of other associates all numbering about 50, who burst into a ‘Happy Birthday’ song.
Femi Kuti, Seun Kuti and Dr. Dotun Ransome-Kuti – the eldest of the Kuti clan and Kunle Kuti all took turns to pour encomiums on her.
And when Theo Lawson, her partner of over 9 years proposed marriage to Yeni, the hall erupted with cheers.
Yeni was married to Femi Segun, a veteran broadcaster, who died 2 years ago from an auto accident. Their union is blessed with a beautiul daughter, Rolari.
City People’s TESSY MOORE caught up with this great Queen of Africa when she and Theo attended the City People Entertainment Awards 2016 and engaged her in a chat.

What City People Award were you given?
I was awarded with Special Recognition Award for my contributions to the Entertainment industry in Nigeria and I am very happy about this because that means they appreciate my impact in Felabration and other things that I have been involved.
Congratulations once again, your partner, Mr Lawson finally proposed to you or are you married now?
We are married spiritually.
Spiritually married, how do you mean?
We are married spiritually because marriage is not just about putting your hands to paper or-going wearing wedding gown.- It is about how you feel about each other. It is one you are connected to. So, my husband and I are connected whether we put our hands to paper or not so, whether we have our marriage ceremony or go to the registry, we are already married in our minds.
But when is there going to be wedding ceremony or is there no need for that?
We have both fixed the date of our wedding ceremony to May 24th 2036 which is 20 years from now. We have fixed our wedding date, 20 years from now. We will send the Invites out. Saturday, May 24, 2036, if we are still alive. I am serious about this. We have both discussed it and agreed, I will send you the invite.
Although, I am not considering marriage following my engagement. The ring my partner gave me is a commitment ring. Not at all the ring my partner gave me is what they call a commitment ring. He gave me his mother’s wedding ring as a commitment to the relationship. We have been together for about 9 years as I earlier said.
When I met him, he used to wear the ring around his neck. So for me, it is a big deal. He has enthrusted me with something very close to is heart. It is not that we are going to start doing wedding, even though we are really committed to each other.
If God gives us long life and says there should be another man in my life, he is that man that God says is for me. And I strongly believe that I am the woman for him as well. [General Laughter].
What attracted you to him and when did you meet?
Huuu! My husband is a handsome guy. I got to know him for many years before we started our relationship. He’s very nice as well, very genuinely nice. He wants everybody to be successful, he wants everybody to be happy
Where did you actually meet him?
Though I have known him for years but I first met him one on one when he came to design my father’s (Fela) grave. when he died. So, my relationship with my husband started a very long time before we started dating. But we’ve been romantically together for 9 years now.
How do you feel being his wife?
I am very happy being his wife because I love him so much, seriously, I love him passionately. He’s been a wonderful person to me I call him my Last Bus Stop.
Who made the first approach between both of you?
Uumm I can’t tell you that but one of us made the first approach (Laughter).
How do you feel being Fela’s daughter?
It is a very special feeling being Fela’s daughter, I feel blessed because I am born into an iconic family
What is the secret of your youthful look?
There is no special secret, I just try to be happy always.

The post “How I Fell In Love With Theo Lawson” – Fela’s Daughter, Yeni Kuti appeared first on CityPeople Magazine Nigeria | Nigerian Celerbrities | Entertainment | Stars.

Nollywood multi-talented veteran actress, Steph Nora Okere, who, last week was given a Special Recognition Award by City People magazine is a dancer, singer, screenwriter, film maker, a producer and an event manager. She has a company (Afro Vision) which does take event management and production.
Steph Nora, an easy going, humble and amiable personality whose artistic contribution has retained something of a permanent place for her in the scheme of things, has always hugged the limelight, not only for her talent but also for her readiness to pick roles some of her colleagues wouldn’t dare.
Her roles in ‘Indecent Girl’, “Angels Forever’, ‘Lagos Babes’, ‘Sharon Stone’, to mention a few, shows how well this Nollywood beauty performs.
The beautiful Imo State-born actress and former Vice President, Screenwriters Guild of Nigeria and the Star Actor – Jim Iyke once had a relationship. They were one of the hottest “lovebirds” in Nollywood then but they later broke up.
She later got involved with her Yoruba Heartrob – Lanre Falana but her marriage with him did not last.
In an interview with City People’s TESSY MOORE, ‘Steph’, as she is simply called, opens up on her relationship to Lanre Falana and why the union to him did not last as it crashed right before it was solemnized. Excerpts:

Where have you been all this while?
I’ve been everywhere, at home, in church, at work, on the streets in fact, I’ve been around. I only reduced the number of films I feature in and concentrated more on soap operas.
What are you doing presently?
Right now, I’m shooting a new series, Broken Heart in Ibadan that is coming out soon. It is my latest work. I only left the set to come down here to receive my Award from City People because I value this Award so much.
What award did you win?
Special Recognition Award for my contribution to the Nigerian Entertainment industry, especially Nollywood
How long have you been acting?
All my life. I started when I was in primary school although, I learnt acting from my mother’s womb (laughter) Yes, I’ll say I started from my mother’s womb because everybody came out in the 9th month but I came out on the 12th month. I started walking at the age of 6 months. So, I’ll say I started acting a long time ago.
You are being seen as a tough lady?
Wow! I’m not tough, I’m just firm, there’s a difference between the two but some people will say you are tough if they cannot get you to compromise with them. If you really don’t understand where you are coming from, they will say you are tough. So, I am not tough but just being firm and being myself. I am firm in some areas as a lady.
You are ever looking young and beautiful, what is the secret of your beauty?
Yes, I am young, I take a lot of water and I detox my body and spirit of any negative thinking. I don’t let a negative thing stay in my mind. If anything comes on me, I let it go and I wash it off immediately. I don’t let anything disturb me in order to stay healthy, strong and may be young.
What has been the challenge so far?
What has been the challenge for me in the industry is that, It wasn’t easy when we started. We had to make people understand that acting is a noble profession I just came out from the university after my 4 years when I went into full time acting
I had to go to my family to explain to them about my new profession because as far as my Dad was concerned, It was a joke. And in 1995 when I joined the industry, the platform was not as it is today for people to leverage on. I was also the vice president, screen writer’s Guild of Nigeria for 4 years in which I helped build the industry. So, it’s been from one challenge to another. But I’m happy today that we set the platform for others to come in. Take a look at what is happening today in the media.
Is Steph now married?
No! I am very single.
But you were once married?
Not at all, the press got me married. The press got me married on papers. Let me explain it, let me say I was in the process of getting married but ended up not getting married. Where I come from, there is the process of marriage when you start the process, the Ibo people will go and make research on the other person’s background and If they find out negative things about the man or woman’s family, that means they will put an immediate stop to the marriage. That was what happened in my own case.
A lot of people have been saying I was married, I was married but we didn’t really get through our marriage. I think that is like in the past, which is like 10 years ago. I really wish to forget about it.
Who is your kind of man?
God fearing and honest man.
Is there any man in your life now?
Jesus is the man in my life now I am married to Jesus..
As beautiful as you are, you should have someone.
I have a lot of admirers, those that are close to me but the most important person in my life now is Jesus.
But you are known to be married to Lanre Falana?
I was never married but the Press got me married as I said. I was involved in a marriage process which got truncated along the line. Marriage begins with paying the woman’s dowry, traditional and white wedding. All these did not take place. My family didn’t support marrying a man who kept one woman in one place and plans keeping another one in another place. I attend Catholic church and the marriage process in Catholic, begins with the intended couples tendering a marriage certificate issued by a court to the church. This was the main reason we were in court in the first place.
What really led to the break up?
It was based on personal conduct and irreconcilable differences. We were not living together, we had an. Introduction where his family and mine were introduced to each other only. This was the beginning of our problem. For us to discover that we were not compatible. Our court marriage was in July and he went abroad in September only for him to be back a year and half later.
Would you accept him if he comes back begging?
Thank God that the marriage didn’t work out otherwise I would have been an unhappy woman and I have learnt not to judge a book by its cover.
I hope to marry again when a good man comes but for now I am married to Jesus.
How many movies have you done so far?
So far I have featured in over 100 movies, grabbed lead and supporting roles both in the English and Yoruba language movie.
Who is Steph Nora Okere?
Steph Nora Okere is an actress who is from Ngor-Okpala, Owerri in Imo state. I grew up in Lagos and attended St Paul’s School, Ebute Metta and later to Jubril Martins Memorial School but completed her secondary school in Akwakuma Secondary School, Owerri.
Was it cultural differences that led to the break up?
Not at all. It was based on personal conduct and irreconcilable differences. We were not living together. We had the court marriage in July and he went abroad September. Only for him to come back like a year and half later.
Any plans of marrying again?
It has not been easy. You hardly can differentiate between a man who truly wants you as a woman because he feels for you, or one who wants to be seen with a known actress. Some men can go as far as taking a bet over you because you are a known actress. But when a good man comes around, I will settle with him. However, my Bible has not told me I can not make heaven as a single woman.

The post “Why My Marriage Crashed” – Veteran Actress, Steph Nora Okere appeared first on CityPeople Magazine Nigeria | Nigerian Celerbrities | Entertainment | Stars.

Veteran actress Franca Brown is one of the movie icons in Nigeria who pioneered the birth of Nollywood. The seasoned thespian whose acting career spans over 3 decades, hit stardom in the 80s, when she played a remarkable role in the rested NTA drama series, Behind The Clouds. Armed with a degree in Law from Ahmadu Bello University and Theatre Arts from University of Jos, Franca is one of the few intellectuals the industry is blessed with. Not resting on her oars, the thespian has added more feathers to her cap. She is an actress, producer and director. Her production outfit Ruby Diamonds has several movies to its credit. Franca who recently completed her Masters in Film Production from University of California Los Ageles, was one of the veterans honoured with a Special Recognition Award at the 2016 City People Entertainment Awa rd. City People Head of Movie Desk VIVIAN ONUORAH paid the pretty movie star a visit at her Lagos Home where she spoke extensively on her career, life and regrets in the industry.

For how long have you been in the movie industry?
I started with the movie industry when the industry started actually, but I was not in Living In Bondage, I was in subsequent productions. The one that I actually starred in first was Jezebel and that was in the 90s. I started acting well before the movie industry, that was in Behind The Clouds in 1985/86.
How has the transition been over the years?
There has been a lot, in terms of scripting, productions. Then we used to use VHS, we moved on to super VHS and then other technologies came up. Now we are using High Definition Cameras so there is a lot of difference. In terms of acting a lot of us have improved too, it has churned out a lot of stars.
Personally, how has the experience been?
The experience has been inexplicable, because at a stage when I started I didn’t know I would get this far. I started as a student and I was studying Theatre Arts then at the University of Jos, and it was just for the fun of it. As a Theatre Art student they were using our theatre for auditions so I just went for audition. Honestly, I didn’t know it would get me this far. When I got there, the first thing that discouraged me was that the director looked at my built then and said she has a matronly look. Then he just called the costumier and said, tie her two wrappers let me see what she looks like, honestly I wasn’t happy at all about that. For me, I was a young girl then and came for a role of a young girl, so when they said I was going to be a mother to someone who was almost my age mate, it wasn’t funny. At a stage , I was counseled, in fairness, because I was a young girl, in my teen age so for me to be acting a mother was discouraging. But he called me and said look you have the skills and diction I want, all I need is for you to slow down because mothers will not be this fast. I know you are doing your age but now I want you to carry the age of a 40/50 year old. As a teenager, in my mind I said this guy is not serious. I didn’t do anything about it but he came to fetch me later from my hostel after that day, he said “Haa you gave us your address and you didn’t come out again, (laughs) they came to pick me unlike the other people who all went back there by themselves, they actually looked for me. Another discouraging thing was when Ene Oloja who was supposed to be my child said ‘ ‘She is too young, how can I call her mama(laughs).Then the director just said go to the mirror and take a look at yourself, you have a smallish look and you fit into this age. With a little bit of make up here and there, she would look like your mother. Then they called the make up person and told her to distort my face so I just sat there frowning. The director walked up to me and said you are a Theatre person, why don’t you want to act this role, at the end of the day he said Franca you can do it and something inside me told me same. So I went on set and I started carrying the role. Then the first thing Nosa my son in the movie said was am sure you are imitating your mother, this is not you because he was a very funny person. And honestly he helped me also to enter into my role.
Nosa and Efe were my kids in the TV program Behind The Clouds. Initially I was skeptical about it but to God be the glory, that was my stepping stone into the industry. I honestly didn’t know it would take me this far but I finally found myself in the film industry and that is how I excelled.
So it was your first movie?
No it wasn’t, I had done Behind The Bukka and that was where Matt saw me. I was a police officer’s wife. It was a series but a Jos based series . But when I came in, Matt recognised me and said I wasn’t new to it. It wasn’t about being new but about playing the role of a mother to someone who was my age mate. I was just a first year student in Theatre Arts, I hadn’t stayed in that make believe world for too long. But here I am today.
That was your first year in school, didn’t it interfere with your studies?
No it didn’t, incidentally we became the stars in school but that didn’t give me the grades that I got. Somehow, Matt knew the importance of our education so he wasn’t there to interfere with our education, he made sure he shot the timings that were suitable for us. Also he always shot several episodes and sent them off to Lagos for broadcasting so we wait for another timing, when we go on camp. That time when other students are on holidays, I was working and I was paid. So I really enjoyed it .I have really been in the system before the time of Living Bondage that started this aspect of movie industry, but we have to be mindful of saying movie industry because the industry has been there during the time of Ola Balogun and others.
After graduation, how did you get into the movie industry?
It was now easy because the face was there, I came to realise that, it was an easy thing to enter. The moment anybody was auditioning and sees you walk past, they will just beckon on you, and ask are you still acting. I would say yes and instantly I would be given roles without even auditioning. All we needed was just to come out because we were already known. Most times nobody bothered to do auditions for me before giving me roles because they have watched you. That was how I got into Nollywood. It wasn’t difficult. The people who caught me were Francis and Emem Isong. She wrote the script Jezebel, she wrote it in English but we acted it in Igbo.
Since then has it been just acting for you?
Yes and No, we had things on the side, most of us still do. That’s called multiple strings of income, I used to travel out, buy things and sell. I also used to do furnishings for Shell and so many other companies. I used to do a lot of things, it wasn’t just acting then because acting then wasn’t putting much food on the table, but along the line it really picked up except that pirates have taken over.
At one point you were the queen of the industry and then suddenly you went off, what happened?
Its always like that in any other career, I didn’t slow down rather I started producing my own films and people will give you a break when you start your own production. I started producing and directing, so it takes my time. When you call me and I don’t have that time, also people within my age are table casted, it is very difficult for you to call an audition and I will go. So they would have done their table casting to say Franca Brown will play the role and somebody could object and say she is on set directing. Along the line it wasn’t as if the jobs were not coming, but if it had to interfere with my own, I would turn it down and the moment you do that once or twice to anybody, it becomes difficult to get more jobs.
Asides that you also had a stereo type role of wicked mother you always played in movies?
Not really, it’s the producers that actually branded me with that. The moment you do something good, they believe that is the best thing you can do. You can also subdue me in a film and make me a poor woman. That wasn’t really Franca Brown, it was one aspect of acting they felt I could chew well and they kept giving it to me like meat.
Did that role affect your personality outside the screen?
Thank God for Nigerian society that is a bit enlightened. Initially, if for any reason you miss your step somewhere, they would say that is exactly how she is in the movie industry. But along the line when they have related with you, they will come to know the kind of person you are. I knew one woman in the market, the moment she saw me she came to me and embraced me ,she said you look so much like my younger sister but I didn’t want to approach you initially because you are a very wicked woman but I made sure to explain to her that Franca is nothing close to that, through my actions. It is very difficult to explain to everybody and that role was like a branding for me. Thank God somebody else has taken it now and that is Patience (Mama G).
What about fame and popularity, how do you cope with its shortcomings?
I have always known that goes with it ,the moment you are in the limelight. A golden fish has no hiding place. It wasn’t a challenge for me anyway, everyday we are being written about and sometimes you see people tell lies about us. There have been a lot of lies told about me but how do I correct it? The only thing is that most of the time I don’t grant interviews so when you write I will ask was I quoted? they will say no, they said you said then am like its just a hear say. That is another challenge but honestly the good out weighs the bad.
For how long have you been into production?
I have been producing since 1994, I started with Lies of Destiny, and since then I have been producing but I started directing in 1996. My first produced movie was directed by Madu Chikwendu, subsequently I went into directing.
How did you delve into Directing, did you acquire some professional training or you just dabbled into it?
I read Theatre Arts and within a course of Theatre Art , there is Directing as a course. But you see, I needed to actually be under an apprenticeship of some director that has done something before because now we are in the world and not in school. It is best to be under somebody let the person mentor you a little before you get your candle flaming.
How about setting up an academy where you can share your wealth of knowledge in acting to aspiring actors?
Everyone of us will not set up a film academy but you can also mentor people, they can come into your production and do apprenticeship and learn from there. Am toying with that idea I might, but its not in the offing for me right now but much later I might. I may retire with that and still do my productions. I read the course and I have been following up with it. Courtesy of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, we just went to do a Masters course in Film Production in America. I have done several courses in film production that I can impact on some people. But that is a long time project and something I have to sit and package first.
What is the name of your production outfit?
Ruby Diamonds.
Tell us more about Franca Brown?
My name is Franca Obianuju Brown. I went to Federal Government Girls College, Ibusa, from there I went to Alhmadu Bello University, Zaria to read Law. After reading Law I read Theatre Arts just to show you how much I love Arts. From there I progressed to the film Industry. Since then I have been reading as well. Just last year, I went for Film Production Course at UCLA, University of California, courtesy of the Federal Govt. of Nigeria. They chose a few of us for the course.
Are you saying you graduated from Zaria in Law and went back to study Theatre Arts?
Yes, during my time it wasn’t 5 years, and the people who trained me are lawyers so they insisted I study Law but I went back to my passion after that. Its not as if it’s a waste because I utilize it in my writing. I screen play and I have Law books I refer to.
Are you married?
No am not.

The post Veteran Actress, Franca Brown, Opens Up On Her Life & Career appeared first on CityPeople Magazine Nigeria | Nigerian Celerbrities | Entertainment | Stars.

Ace Film Maker, KUNLE AFOLAYAN Tells City People

Kunle Afolayan is one of the most talented filmmakers in Nigeria. He is also one of the leaders of the new generation of filmmakers. What has helped him is the fact that he started off as an actor and rose to actualise his dream of becoming a filmmaker. He is lucky to have had a filmmaker dad, Ade Love who influenced his choice of career greatly by insisting he travels round Nigeria and West Africa as a little boy, to learn the ins and outs of the movie industry. Initially, he hated his dad for this but when he grew up he came to realise the help his late dad had done for him by exposing him to all the nitty-gritty of the business from an early age.

Today, Kunle has mastered his craft. And he has been shooting one successful movie after the other in the last 15 years. He recently premiered his last major movie The CEO in a big way. He first premiered the movie mid air an Air France flight, another premiere took place in Paris and the 3rd at Eko Hotel. His movies are not only mind-blowing, they are big budget movies.

What has kept Kunle going in an industry where other filmmakers are complaining? What is his staying power?

Last Wednesday evening, City People Publisher, SEYE KEHINDE, had a drink with the ace filmmaker in Lagos which dovetailed into an interview. And by the time the interview ended at about 12 midnight, Kunle had told City People his success story.

He explained that passion has played a big role in the success of his career. Read on.

Lets talk about your last movie premiere. How did you find the event?

We have had like 3 major events. The first was a premiere on the plane from Lagos to Paris which was powered by Air France because of the kind of partnership I have with them.

This is the 1st ever in the world where a movie will be premiered on the plane. For me its a landmark, simply because there is some sort of perception that the rest of the world seem to have about Africa, not to talk of Nigeria. A lot of times it gladdens my heart, when some of these initiatives, originate from Lagos, Nigeria.

They have been making films in Bollywood and Hollywood for over 100 decades but this initiative started in Nigeria and for me this is a good milestone.

The second one was a premiere that we had in Paris after the Lagos one and it was well embraced The Guardian (UK), Variety, Jeune Afrique, and a lot of international and local media wrote about it. The 3rd one was the premiere that we had at Eko Hotel which was graced by a lot of who is who in the Nigerian society.

For me, my joy really is that it is not just because we put an event together but because the after event was also well received and this rubbed off on the main motive towards putting this event together, which is the film. Having an event is one, making a successful film is another. Right after the premiere, the movie was released in the cinema and it has been doing well.

It seems Kunle Afolayan has had a lot of good showing in the last 3 to 4 years. How do you see all of these successes coming back to back.

I think it is because I have a mindset I came into this industry professionally in 1998, that is like 18 years ago as an Actor. But Golden Effects which is my production company started in 2004 about 12 years ago. My first movie was made in 2006.

That makes it a decade. The first one was IRAPADA in 2006. In 2009, I made FIGURINE. In 2011 I made PHONESWAP. In 2013, I made OCTOBER 1 and in 2015 we shot THE CEO and it came out in 2016.

So it takes me pretty much about 3 years to make one film. It is not a template, but I seem to have mastered what I came to the industry to do.

So every time I set out to do a project, all my films have different themes and different aesthetics and different genre. For me it it not just about making films, which is the Art part of the film industry but also making it a business. So, I have tried to balance creativity and commercial.

Is it working?

For me I will say yes, because for me to have been able to move from one film to another, one production to another then it seems to be working. I will not say I have made money because I took loans most times and I have to repay, but I will say I am surviving. I am making a living. I am sending my children to school, and I have been able to keep the business going and that is what matters continuity, in what I do.

What next?

Because of my involvement with a lot of brands, I am brand ambassador to Air France, I am brand ambassador to Peugeot, to Adron Properties. I am doing something new for Sahara Group. By tomorrow, I am going to shoot a short film, which they want to use in their celebration of 20 years of existence. After that I want to do a series and I want to do another film. I just want to continue giving my fans and followers what they want.

What keeps you going?

I think its mindset and determination. I believe so much in the Arts, especially in films. And I believe so much in the cultural influence. I am a typical Nigerian and most especially a typical Yoruba man. Most of the things I grew up seeing, have really influenced my creativity.

This I intend to pass to the younger generation, my children if possible. I believe in restoring and maintaining and keeping our heritage is one of the things that will always work for us.

My father always told me that once you lose your identity, then you have lost everything. And I would like to keep that identity of being a Yoruba man of being a Nigerian, and of being an African. And I would always want it to reflect in my film.

What influence did your dad having been a filmmaker in his lifetime, had on you?

Indirectly, I will say, to a great deal, then I hated my dad because he forced me to do a lot of things that got me engaged with the film industry. He insisted that I travel with the films to Cotonou, Abidjan, to different part of Nigeria, at that time, I just felt he was quarrel. I was just a young man, a lot of friends will be on the field playing ball, but this man will insist that I go with his crew. Right now those things I learnt have really helped me in putting in place a proper business structure and understanding the business better than a lot of people.

This has really added a lot to where I am today. So, I give him kudos for that. But the truth is, I will also want to use what I do to influence the younger generation and I am already doing that because I get a lot of feedbacks from them. Even the children of the rich, the children who have gone to study at Harvard come back and they want to do filmmaking. A lot of them want to emulate what someone like me is into. And that gives me great joy.

What does it take to be a film maker?

It takes a lot. Most importantly it takes discipline in the sense that I don’t compromise on my creativity. I will not cast you even if you are my mother and you don’t fit into a role. I will never do it.

A lot of people ask me how come you have never featured your brother? Is he not your blood brother? And I ask them, tell me where he fits in this film. But when I see opportunity, I give it to them and I allow them do it. Discipline is very key. And also understanding your craft, so that you don’t continue to dream blindly. Sometimes people dream and they dream blindly.

So if you are going to go into this industry for example, you need to understand your strength and your area of core competence and put that to use. That is what I do.

What is your area of core competence?

I used to work in a bank. And whilst in the bank I met a lot of people in the media, advertising. When I started, I set out to be a filmmaker, not even an actor. But I started as an actor because someone like Tunde Kelani said to me, ‘Kunle, its a good way to come into the industry because, you have the face and you seem to have the charisma, and all that. For filmmaking you need to learn. After I started as an actor after sometime I went to a film school and I studied film because everyday I dream creativity. Even when I am driving I visualise things in my head, I tell stories in my head. And that is why the art of story telling, you cannot take a way from me because these things come naturally.

The post “It Takes Me An Average Of 3 Yrs To Make A Film”- Kunle Afolayan appeared first on CityPeople Magazine Nigeria | Nigerian Celerbrities | Entertainment | Stars.