Friday 3 February 2012
Parishioners chase Suleja Emir out of burial of Christmas Day blast victims
During the church service for the burial, the Emir of Suleja, Mallam Awwal Ibrahim, who came for the service, was booed and chased out by parishioners of the church when he was called to say a few words. No one wanted to hear anything he had say. The emir and his entourage had no choice but to leave. Christians in the city are angry with the emir over what they say was his lack of concern or sympathy for the victims of the Christmas Day bombing.
Presidential plane for Ooni of Ife, Deji of Akure and their aides
Ready to Wear meets Zoom Zoom in 2012 at the Pretaport Week & Ghini Auto Fair – Register Today
On Friday 20th April 2012, Lagos, Nigeria will experience the launch of a new concept – “Pretaport”
Pretaport will feature ready to wear pieces by leading African designers. All efforts have been made to ensure that all fashion brands featured in the Pretaport event produce high quality clothing sold in standardized sizes. According to the organizers, “It is well known that in the fashion industry, designers produce ready-to-wear pieces intended to be worn without significant alteration, because outfits made to standard sizes fits most people. They use standard patterns, factory equipment, and faster construction techniques to keep costs low, compared to a custom-sewn version of the same item. The whole essence of Pretaport is give leverage to Africa’s emerging designers to display their ready to wear collections to top fashion buyers.“
If you are a fashion designer and you would like to showcase your pieces at Pretaport Week 2012 or media organization (photographers, reporters, newspapers, magazines etc…) seeking a media pass, simply register by click on the flier below.
During the 2012 PretaPort Week, a fair featuring the best brands in automobile industry with quality representation of their latest models of cars - Ghini Auto Fair will run concurrently with PretaPort Week 2012. To find out more about the Ghini Auto Fair Call 08023038017 | 08095478699 | 07087476864 and E-mail info@pretaportweek.com | press@pretaportweek.com
Date: Friday 20th – Sunday 22nd April 2012
Venue: The Lamboghini Event Centre, Lekki, Lagos
Contact:For more info and general enquiries
Venue: The Lamboghini Event Centre, Lekki, Lagos
Contact:For more info and general enquiries
- Call 08023038017 | 08095478699 | 07087476864
- E-mail info@pretaportweek.com | press@pretaportweek.com
- Log on to the Official Website of Pre ta port Week 2012
An Evening With Sound Sultan At Deuces This Saturday
LASTMA official push bus conductor to his death
A bus conductor this morning fell to his death after he was pulled down from a moving bus by a LASTMA official. Eyewitnesses say another vehicle ran over the conductor as he fell from his bus, killing him instantly. The incident happened around 11 am this morning at Motorways, Ikeja on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The people at the bus stop where it happened turned mob action and beat the LASTMA official to unconsciousness but was rescued by the police before they could kill him. I hear a few of the people who beat the LASTMA guy were arrested at the scene. Photo of the dead conductor when you continue. I said dead, so viewers discretion advised...
Celebrities mourn, eulogise Don Cornelius
Following the death on Wednesday of one of America’s most iconic show hosts and producer of the groundbreaking Soul Train, Don Cornelius, it has been an outpouring of grief and eulogies by top American celebrities from movies to music. Cornelius, who was 75, was found dead by the police after a self-inflicted gunshot to the head in his Mulholland Drive, Los Angeles home. A long time professional and business collaborator and producer of some of late Michael Jackson’s early hits, Quincy Jones, says, “I am shocked and deeply saddened at the sudden passing of my friend, colleague and business partner, Don Cornelius. Don was a visionary pioneer and a giant in our business. Before MTV, there was ‘Soul Train.’ That will be the great legacy of Don Cornelius. His contributions to television, music and our culture as a whole will never be matched. My heart goes out to Don’s family and loved ones.”
Former presidential aspirant, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, is quoted as saying he was on the phone with the deceased days before his death and he did not betray any angst. Jackson concludes, “He was a transformer. Soul Train became the outlet for African Americans. Soul Train was the first and only television show to showcase and put a spotlight on black artistes at a time when there were few African-Americans on television at all, and that was the great vision of Don.” 80s rapper, MC Hammer, tweets, “It meant more to me to perform on Soul Train than to win a Grammy. Loved U So Much Don. Thank U. RIP Don Cornelius. Bluesy singer, Ginuwine also tweets, “RIP Don Cornelius… Someone who paved the way for black music. I still remember my first time on soul train what an experience.” So did R n B singer, Mya; “So grateful for his decades of innovative contribution to black music. R.I.P.” A lot of other entertainers paid homage to the man who led black American culture by the hands to mainstream acceptance.
With the creation of “Soul Train” in 1970, regarded as the longest running nationally syndicated programme in television history, Cornelius helped break down racial barriers and broaden the reach of black culture with funky music, groovy dance steps and cutting edge style. The show is credited with giving voice and visibility to legendary artistes as Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye and Barry White and brought the best R&B, soul and later hip-hop acts to TV. Singer, Jody Watley and dance partner, Jeffrey Daniels, who would become part of the hit-making trio, Shalamar, got their start on the show. Cornelius stepped down as Soul Train host in 1993. In his later years, he had a troubled marriage up to th point of being sentenced to three years’ probation after pleading no contest to misdemeanour spousal battery in 2009. In his divorce case that year, he also mentioned having significant health issues.
Funke Kuti unveils Engager
Estranged wife of Afro beat star, Femi Kuti, Funke, who recently floated an events, public relations and artiste management outfit, FK Management, has unveiled her outfit’s new artiste, Engager. Engager, whose real name is Afolabi Ogunleye, is a young hip hop artiste who is also at ease with other genres like Fuji and R n B.
“I can do any kind of music as long as the music engages people,” he tells E-Punch. To underscore his readiness for the drudgery and benefits of the music industry, Engager has dropped the video of his debut single, Engage You, featuring Skales and RIC. The song, and his second single, Hunny Bunny, is produced by Samklef who attained prominence as the producer of Wizkid’s successful debut, Superstar. Samklef also directed the video of Engage You.
A Masters’ degree holder in International Business from the University of Birmingham, Engager says his name derives from his passion and fixation with making people happy. “I really love making people happy and I believe that my music will achieve that and leave a lasting legacy for posterity.” Speaking on Engager, Funke, whose outfit also manages rappertainer, Weird MC, says she would go the whole hog in promoting him because of his vibrancy, talent and vocal prowess. “He has all it takes to be a superstar; he is young and very well educated and tops this with a rare singing talent. Engager has a long way to go,” she notes.
Beckoning viewers into Hotel Vibrations
Beginning from second quarter, TV viewers, including those addicted to cable TV, will have ample reasons to stay tuned to their sets as a new drama series, Hotel Vibrations, hits the airwaves.
One interesting thing about the serial is that it is a familiar story narrated in a humorous, engaging and suspense-filled style. Gboyega Oyeniya, who is the brain behind the project, explains that the idea for the story came when he was in a hotel in Cotonou.
The activities he witnessed in the hotel caught his attention in a different way. Hence, his resolve to pass messages across to people about them.
Oyeniya says, ‘‘When I returned to Nigeria, I contacted Mr. Inumidun Atie, who is the executive producer. We did the screen play for about a month and two weeks. The story is a sitcom – a kind of movie production done in a single location. We have about 29 episodes ready. They largely explore themes such as dirty ways, HIV/AIDS and so on.’’
He adds that part of the story is where a woman tells her maid she is looking for one of her panties and she replies that even the husband of her boss can testify that she does not wear same size with her.
‘‘We are trying to pass a message through humour – that operators of hotels should be careful of things that go on there. For instance, a visitor to a hotel may be told to proceed to a particular suite to see the person he or she is looking for, without first seeking the permission of the person to ask if he will want to see the visitor, ‘’ Oyeniya notes.
According to him, the movie production, which took about a month and three weeks, is rendered in English and a little blend of Pidgin.
The Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife graduate of Dramatic Arts does not pretend that such a project carries its own challenge. He discloses that it is not an easy task restraining the movement of the thespians who featured in the movie for the period the production lasted.
The actor/producer, who has starred in films such as Dadubule, Scorry Bebo, Ose maami and Olosho, reveals that some of the dramatists sought permission to attend to one thing or the other for two or three days.
He states, ‘‘Besides, there was a time hoodlums besieged the location which is Alesh hotel, Ajah to demand for money. I think they got the information that some artists were shooting a film there. So, they decided to come and disturb us.
“It took the intervention of policemen to make them go. They seized our camera and beat the cameraman.’’
Disclosing that talented role interpreters such as Saheed Balogun, Folake Shadare-Atie, Kunle Afod, Alex Shabi and Makinde Moses are some of those who starred in the movie, the actor, who hails from Ogbomoso, Oyo State, states that the series derives its title from the plethora of activities that take place in a hotel.
Like every creative individual who always develops many ways of contributing to nation building, Oyeniya says he is also currently planning a reality show titled Omo Yoruba Ponbele (The Authentic Yoruba Indigene).
The show, he notes, will showcase Yoruba culture by camping selected persons from the Yoruba-speaking states in a location in Oyo State where they will be tested on areas such as language, cooking ability and so on.
He adds, ‘‘They will be dressed in Ankara, Kampala and Aso Oke throughout their stay on camp. The winner will be rewarded with a good prize. For now, we are planning an audition to select participants.
“They will go to farm, make garri, hunt and prepare meals. Each of the participants will also be required to converse in his or her dialect throughout the duration the camping period. They will also pay visits to some of the traditional rulers in the South-West.’’
Oyeniya, however, says he is currently having talks with corporate organisations that have expressed interest in promoting culture by identifying with the idea.United to take talented kids to global village
Peekok Youth Arts leads eight Lagos-based pupils to an exhibition in the US, writes AKEEM LASISI
Five kids from three schools based in Lagos have got a beautiful date in the US. It is their artistic talent that secured the opportunity for them. They will be joining other young chaps from different parts of the world at the creative connections programme, Norwalk, connecticut, having triumphed in a visual art competition organised by Peekok Youth ARTS, a non-governmental organisation founded and run by five Nigerian artists.
Kingdom Heritage Model School, Ogba is the luckiest school in this regard, with five pupils on the list. These are Obaloluwar Kukoyi, Ogwueh Awele, Nonome Isohor, Ejiro Ideh and Oluwatamilore Omokanye. From Bethview School in Gowon Estate Ipaja are Evbuoman Laura and Onyekachukwu, while Ojelere Babatunde is flying the flag of Nickdel School.
Nigeria, others compete for AFRIMA host right
Nigeria is among the 14 countries set to participate in the screening for selecting the five nations that will host the South Africa-based All Africa Music Awards for 2012 and the next four years.
A statement from the organisers indicates that the international committee of AFRIMA will be holding a congress in Windhoek, Namibian, by the weekend, when the committee will review and screen the biddings by the countries.
According to the Director, Media and Communication, AFRIMA, Emmanuelle Namun-Biko, the other 13 countries that will be screened by the committee include, Zambia, South Africa, Gabon, Angola, Guinea-Bissau, DR Congo and Kenya.
Others are Mozambique, Egypt, Gambia, Ghana, Namibia and Algeria.
Namum-Biko said part of the factors being considered in selecting the final five included quality of the bid, security, venue avalaibility for the shows, availability and attractiveness of tourist sites, the environment and infrastructure, availability of functional International airport and good transportation system.
The award presentations, which are expected to feature live performance and television broadcast show, are expected to be attended by over 5,000.
Musical chip off the painter’s block
Before now, the name, ‘Tola Wewe’, had been easily attributed to visual art. That is the field in which the Ondo-State born artist, Tola Wewe, had excelled. He diversified into politics a few years ago when he emerged the commissioner for tourism and culture in Ondo State. But now, the Wewe family is adding another artistic feather to its cap.
This is coming, courtesy Wewe’s last born, Adeleye, who has just launched three singles under the title, Winner. Lewes G, as he wants to be professionally known, gave a picture of what the world should expect from him when he performed some of his songs when his talent was unveiled at Bogobiri in Ikoyi area of Lagos.
“Music comes to me naturally,” he says. “It is something I do easily.”
He calls his brand of music afro hip hop, a trend depicted by the fusion of modern and cultural elements in the video of Winner.
Although he says he is not imitating his father, he says he has been admitted to study Fine Art at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife.
“My dad has been very supportive of my dream as a singer. But I don’t really discuss music with him. The other day, he told my manager: I am not saying he should not do music. But this should not disturb his education. I fully understand why he said this, and I will not let him down. My dream is very big as far as music is concerned. You know, everybody wants to be great.”
Good talk. Perhaps the only thing Lewes G and his manager need to realise is that part of the way not to let the father down is by always remembering that he (father) is a man of culture. They cannot afford to, for instance, give room for avoidable immoral spectacles in their production. That is why they may need to take another look at the video of Winner. The work can stand without some of the sexually suggestive actions in it.
Basworld: Growing talents in schools, on air
A travelling ‘edutainment’ outfit, Basworld Entertainment, has stepped up its talent-development programmes across schools in Ibadan and Lagos.
Founded by actor and singer, Samson Alli, the group launched its school outreach projects aimed at moral and social development and discovery of budding talents in 2009.
According to Alli, each show is divided into three segments. These are ‘Comedirado,’ where Basworld presents comic but educative sketches; “Flaunt your Talent,” which gives young talents the opportunity to discover themselves; and ‘Jabulani,’ which celebrates and rewards pupils that excel in different aspects of learning.
Alli’s dream got a boost when the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State gave the programme a slot. It thus airs every Friday between 4:30p.m and 5 pm.
He notes that efforts are also on to spread to NTA and Star Times networks.
Among other schools in Ibadan, Basworld recently staged the show at Loyola College, Livingstone College, Bodija International College and Best Brain College.
In Lagos, it was also at New State High School and Command Day Secondary School.
Who gets the wildcard slots?
This weekend, three earlier evicted contestants in the ongoing reality television show, Nigerian Idol, will come a tad closer to their dreams of being the winner of the show with its promises of fame and fortune and grand entry into the Nigerian music industry. The fate of the contestants, nine of them, who were evicted during the contest for the 10 finalists but were brought back by the judges to compete for the Wild Card slots, now lies in the hands of voters. The wild card allows three winners into the Nigerian Idol finals. However, the contestant with the highest number of public votes would make it back into the competition while the other two would be decided by the judges comprising Yinka Davies, Charly Boy and Jeffrey Daniel.
Stepping into Dad’s shoes
LIFE&BEAT focuses on popular Nigerian musicians, past and present, whose children are poised to follow in their footsteps
King Sunny Ade/ SAJ
Popular juju musician, Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye, aka King Sunny Ade, is regarded as one of the most successful
Omotola cares for widows
Perhaps reminded of her own mother’s experience as a widow, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde recently hosted some widows in Lagos.
The event, which was titled, ‘The 20 Widows Makeover’, was her way of encouraging widows that strive to keep the
P-Square’s hidden secret
It is no longer news that the Okoye brothers, aka P-Square, travelled to the USA to shoot some videos for their recent album titled, Invasion. Well, LIFE&BEAT just learnt that the twins, who will be coming back to Nigeria in two weeks, had more on their schedule than they were letting on.
Residents lament deplorable condition of Ikotun-Ejigbo-Cele road
By Charles Kumolu
LAGOS — Residents of Ikotun in Alimosho Local Government Area in Lagos State have appealed to the state government and the local government to reconstruct the Ikotun-Cele road to give them a sense of belonging.
The residents who spoke under the aegis of Alimosho Residents Association, ARA, said they had been experiencing excruciating pains travelling through the road in the last five years without government doing anything to alleviate their pains, pointing out that the state government had been busy providing good roads for the rich in the mainland, leaving those that gave them bulk vote to win their elections.
Spokesman for the residents, Chief Idowu Temitope, who spoke in an interview with Vanguard said: ‘’We appeal to Governor Babtunde Fashola to reconstruct this road that government had promised us times without number that it would rehabilitate.
“The millions of voters living in Ikotun are also stakeholders in Lagos. It is not only when the government needs our votes that politicians come to make empty promises to us.
‘’The Ijegun-Jakande Estate Road which the government started had been abadoned by the contractors for some years now.
’’Apart from the Ikotun–Cele road or the Ijegun-Jakande Estate Road, there are several roads in the area which the local government has not rehabilitated for over 10 years now.”
Thursday 2 February 2012
2012 Budget: FG to spend N27m on each DPR staff
LAGOS — A proposal by the Federal Government to expend an annual average of N27 million on each staff of the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, as personnel cost caused a stir at the National Assembly, yesterday.
Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, who led the DPR team and other agencies of the Ministry of Petroleum to the Senate defence hearing, however, assured that the government in a bid to curtail the burgeoning personnel cost was set to embark on a rationalization of its staff and agencies.
An estimated N30 billion of a total budget of N35 billion proposed for the DPR is earmarked for the department’s 1,100 staff.
A breakdown of the budget presentation tabled before the six committees of the National Assembly showed that of DPR’s N35, 997,149,841 budget, capital expenditure is only N4,786,302,790 while N31,210,847,051 will go to personnel costs and overheads. The budget estimate also indicated that personnel costs for DPR in 2012 is put at N30,399,182,331 while the remaining N811,664,720 is for overhead costs.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Upstream), Senator Paulker Emmanuel, while noting that the huge overhead costs in the petroleum sector was worrisome, stressed that the budgetary proposals of the agencies in the sector must focus towards the capital side as a way of enhancing value.
“I feel so worried as a Nigerian because if our budget is tailored towards that style, then, we are not creating hopes for investing in infrastructure and I hope you have noted that. I think there’s need for us to have a change and the oil industry is assumed to be a capital intensive industry.”
Addressing the Committees, Director of the DPR, Mr. Austin Olorunshola, however, said the department was about to recruit more staff within the next two weeks. It was, however, not clear if the new staff were factored into the 1,100 staff projected for in the budget.
Speaking further, Allison-Madueke told the joint committee that the executive branch was already working on rationalisation in all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
According to her, the purpose of the rationalisation was to merge some agencies and scrap others, adding that in the process, some members of staff would be laid off to reduce personnel and overhead cost of governance.
We ‘ll scale down staff – Minister
The Minister who said the situation with the recurrent expenditure profile of the DPR was symptomatic of the entire civil service in Nigeria.
“This is symptomatic of the entire federal civil service. It’s not solely in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, it goes across the civil service but that is why Mr. President has called for a critical rationalization of the ministries, departments and agencies with a view to reducing the recurrent expenditure and overheads.”
Continuing, she said “the slight increase in DPR’s recurrent budget represents provisions for anticipated recruitment of new staff to improve the overall effectiveness of the department,” adding, “You will also notice that the PPPRA is cap
By Henry Umoru & Inalegwu Shaibu
Atuche’s trial: Bank officials not liable for customers — EFCC witness
LAGOS — Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s, EFCC, witness, Mr. Alex Ojukwu, yesterday, told a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, at the on-going trial of former Managing Director of Keystone Bank (formerly Bank PHB), Mr. Francis Atuche, his wife and the former Chief Operating Officer of the bank, Ugo Anyanwu, that no official of the bank was liable for customers’ default on account opening.
Oil subsidy probe: Reps threaten oil firms’ CEOs over non-appearance
ABUJA – House of Representatives, Thursday, threatened Managing Directors and Chief Executive Officers of the major oil companies who failed to show up before the on-going investigative panel on fuel subsidy regime by the House.
The adhoc committee had declared that all CEOs should appear before the panel in person and not through any proxy henceforth.Managing Directors had failed to show up but
Northern monarchs deny meeting over Al-Mustapha
ABUJA—NORTHERN emirs and chiefs, Thursday, explained that the meeting held in Kaduna was to discuss more pressing issues affecting the North, and not to take a position on the conviction of Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, former Chief Security Officer, CSO, to late Gen. Sani Abacha, by the Lagos High Court.
Emir of Kazaure, Dr. Najib Hussaini Adamu, described insinuations that they met because of Al-Mustapha as “crude, false and uncharitable.”
Confirming that they met in Kaduna, Adamu, in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja, explained that
House c’ttee decries under-utilisation of eastern ports
PORT HARCOURT— HOUSE of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise has called for measures to be put in place to ensure optimum utilisation of ports in the eastern zone of the organisation.
Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Mr Kingsley Chindah, who led members of the committee on a visit to Rivers State, expressed worry over what he described as underutilisation and non-performance of ports in the zone.
Uba vs Nzeribe: Appeal court adjourns to Feb 16
ENUGU—THE Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu, yesterday, adjourned to February 16 the application filed by Andy Uba of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, seeking a review of its earlier judgment that nullified his election as senator representing Anambra South senatorial district.
In a fresh motion brought by Uba, the appellate court was asked to set aside the
