So, Popular stylists, Toyin Lawani and Swanky Jerry have left their fans confused. Yesterday, Swanky who’s the most followed Nigerian Stylist on Instagram shared photos of Ciara and Darey on his instagram page, and the captioned the photos as though he styled both looks.
Here’s how he captioned the post:
“No Swanky, No Styling #LoveLikeAMovie3 Glad to be part of #LoveLikeAMovie3 #swankyjerry#LoveLikeAMovie3 #noswankynostyling#swankysignaturestyling #workoverflow#happychild #ciara #dareartalade#swankyjerry”
See Jerry’s posts:
Few hours later, Toyin Lawani the CEO of Tiannah’s Place Empire, shared a photo of Ciara dressed in same gold and red outfit in the photo with Swanky Jerry.
Toyin emphasised that she was the official stylist of the just-concluded Love Like A Movie 3, and she styled Ciara’s looks in Nigeria.
And that’s not all. The mother of two said that she styled Darey and the 26 artists’ who performed at the event.
Read her post:
“Tiannahstyling #offcialstylist/Designer4 #LLAM3 It was All work no play, @ciara /her dancers Rocking @EleganteByTiannahstyling signature cape, styled by Tiannahstyling, wait till u see the back.
She’s the most humble international celebrity I’ve ever met, she’s so real. She treated me like a Queen,All it took was Talent and opportunity.
Thanks to Darey for Taking Tiannahstyling on as his Designer/stylist for himself and the all the 26 Artist on the show.
May you and your family reap the fruit of all your hard work, cause your show is number one in Nigeria.”
So, why is Swanky Jerry showing off same works Toyin Lawani said she styled?…The Big Question now is….
After one month in the United States where he signed a new deal with Sony Music, Nigerian pop star, Davido returned to the country on Friday, February 26, 2016.
Davido led other members of his HKN gang to Club Quilox on Saturday night where he was hosted by Shina Peller to a welcome back gig.
In attendance at the party was Special ED, B-Red, Shizzi, Danagog and others.
Nigerian music producer, Benjamin Obaze aka Spellz got married on Sunday, February 28, 2016 to his beautiful wife Hadiza.
Here are some pictures of the ceremony which held at Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The teenager, who was allegedly kidnapped from Bayelsa State to Kano, Ese Oruru, said on Monday she was not interested in reuniting with her family, denying reports that she was abducted from her home in Bayelsa State.
In an audio recording obtained by PREMIUM TIMES on Monday, the girl also said she eloped with her lover to Kano in order to convert to Islam. And that she is 17 years old.
Onome Oruru, Ese’s immediate elder brother, tells ARUKAINO UMUKORO that his sister’s actual age is 14.
How old are you?
I am 16 years old. I was born on Nov 23, 1999.
How did you know?
Because my mother told me so and that is the date I celebrate my birthday every year. I just graduated from secondary school last year here in Bayelsa State, at the age of 16.
All my peers are in my age bracket. I am certain of my age because I am old enough to know. Ese and I attend the same school. She was in JSS3 last year when she was taken away.
What will you tell people who claim your sister is 17, and not 14 years old as your mother has said?
It is funny that these people are saying all sorts of things about my sister and her age. Everybody can see it, it is clear. I can’t be 16 years old, and my younger sister will be older than me.
How can she be 17 years old, when my immediate elder sister, will clock 19 years old on March 7 this year? We all have about two years’ age difference in between. Ese clocked 14 on February 22.
How did you celebrate her birthday?
Some people came to encourage us. We were happy, but we were sad that our sister was not there with us on her birthday.
Do you know the man who took your sister away?
Yes, Yinusa is one of these normal Hausa guys around. We usually call them aboki; they sell things in our area.
Did he look like someone who could abduct your sister?
Not at all; he looked very innocent and went about his business without complaint. When I heard he was the one that abducted my younger sister, I was very shocked and surprised.
If you look at his face, he looks like someone who cannot hurt a fly, and he was sometimes playful. I didn’t believe he could do such a thing. Everybody in the compound knew him because he used to supply water before he became a keke Marwa (tricycle) rider.
Some people also claim that your younger sister said she does not want to come back home to Bayelsa, but that she wants to stay in Kano.
I do not believe them at all. Even if she said that as they claim, then it means they are the ones manipulating her to say such things, because Ese that I know cannot say such a thing.
Ese is that kind of person that does not even want to become a Muslim at all; she would not even dream of it.
In school, she was one of the strongest Scripture Union members; I know her very well. Then, she also used to tell me to come and join the SU. She did evangelism during break time most times.
What kind of person is your younger sister?
Ese is still a small girl and cannot decide many things for herself. Ese cannot even wash clothes very well. She likes singing and she was a chorister in the church. She likes preaching and praying. She used to preach to me and my friends.
All those things they are saying she said are not true; they are manipulations by those people. I am sad about all of this. I just want my sister back home.
‘We’ll believe Ese is free when we see her’
The parents of 14-year-old Ese Oruru have dismissed says their daughter is 18 years old, and not 14.
Ese had been abducted in August 2015 by one Yinusa, aka Yellow, who was a longstanding customer of her mother, Mrs. Rose Oruru, a food vendor in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
Yinusa took Ese, who was 13 years old at the time, to Kano where she was allegedly converted to Islam and forcefully married.
Subsequent efforts by her parents to get her released, including a visit to the Emir of Kano’s palace, had met a brick wall.
In an interview with PUNCH on Monday, Ese’s mother, Rose, said her daughter was forced to lie about her age because she had been manipulated by her abductor, Yinusa, and other elements working with him.
“We do not have an official birth certificate because Ese was born in a nursing home on February 22, 2002, in Opolo, Bayelsa State. We did not have money to go to a regular hospital.
“Ese’s immediate elder sibling, Onome, a boy, was born in November 23, 1999. I always write the date of birth of all my children down,” she told our correspondent on the telephone.
Rose said she had, on the advice of a non-governmental organisation, gone ahead to swear an affidavit to authenticate Ese’s age.
In the same vein, Ese’s father, Charles, said his daughter was 14 years old.
He told Punch that the people that claimed that his daughter was 18 were trying to gain sympathy.
He said:
“They are all lies. My daughter is 14. They know that Nigerians are now against them and they want to do everything to cover up their crime and make us look like fools. My daughter will never say a thing like that.”
Charles said he would not believe his daughter had been freed until he sees her.
He said:
“I went to see the Commissioner of Police in Bayelsa today, and he said my daughter would be released this week. He said when the Emir of Kano returned from his travel, they would release my daughter to the Inspector-General of Police. I was happy, but skeptical because they have said the same thing before, and they did not free my daughter. I won’t believe anything until I see my daughter, Ese, in person. For now, it is still a probability.”
Also, Rose said she would not believe that her daughter had been released as claimed until she sees her.
She said:
“We have been hearing different rumours, but I won’t believe any of them until I see my daughter. When we went to Kano, the Emir said something about her being released to us, so why should I believe them this time?
But I will be happy to see my daughter back home with me and safe.
The Orurus also expressed gratitude to PUNCH for the campaign to get their daughter released.
“Without PUNCH and the NGO, many Nigerians won’t have known what is happening.
“I thank them a million times and all Nigerians for their prayers and support. I pray that what happened to my daughter will not happen to any of their children,” she said.
Lille Osc of France goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama has ruled out making an emotional return to the Super Eagles of Nigeria despite Sunday Oliseh’s resignation as head coach last week Friday.
Enyeama and Sunday Oliseh had some quarrels and arguments during the coach’s short stint as coach leading to the retirement of Vincent Enyeama and his compatriot Emmanuel Emenike last year.
Reports had emerged Enyeama will be called out of retirement by the new super Eagles coach Samson Siasia , but he has now refuted those reports saying he will not come back to the national team fold.
“I don’t want to talk about this issue again. I think my earlier decision stands,” He told Brilla Fm.
According to Premium Times, Ese Oruru, who was allegedly kidnapped from Bayelsa State to Kano, said she was not interested in reuniting with her family and denied reports that she was abducted from her home in Bayelsa State.
In an exclusive audio recording obtained by the online publication today, the girl also said she eloped with her lover to Kano in order to convert to Islam.
“My name is Aisha Chuwas. I am 17-year-old. I came here to be a Muslim and I will stay here.”
Human rights lawyer, Huwaila Mohammed, who was given access to the girl at the Zonal Police Headquarters in Kano, said upon interrogation, she understood the girl was never forced to convert to Islam. She also had access to Miss Oruru’s lover and established that he is just 18 years old, ‘not anywhere above 20’.
“I was surprised when I saw a very small boy. He is just 18-year old. I was enraged thinking that it was an old man involved in the saga. From the way I see it, they eloped not because of religion but love,” she said.
The Ilegal Music 3 (IM3) is Finally Upon Us! If you still have an iota of doubt that the Chocolate City’s President and Rap phenomenon, M.I Abaga isn’t the greatest rapper in Nigeria and so to say, Africa…Jump inside the lagoon mehn!
According to M.I:
“At this stage in my career and life, finding the time to record another Illegal Music was purely a labor of love. I hope that Nigerian HipHop will rise and claim its place at the table on Hip-Hop’s mount Olympus.
I would like to see a lot of rappers remix and recreate the song ‘The Box‘.
The team was GPLUS, Ckay and I. And I want to appreciate them for their love in making this ‘FREE’ project. LOL.
Fortitude, T3WMF, Black Child thank you. Yoye Hayba, thanks for being the A&R on this project. Toda Kafang, you are the greatest thanks for pushing me always. CC I got you always. TMXO and Yung Kheengz thank you for your contributions.
It’s one thing to be a popular Nigerian celebrity and another to be under 30 with a son or daughter.
It’s entirely a different ball game running both positions at the same time knowing you’d rarely have time to spend with your kids.
These Nigerian Celebrities have proven us wrong. Though they may be rich and famous but they always remember one thing, family comes first.
1. Wizkid
Ibrahim Ayo Balogun popularly known by his stage name, WizKid at 26 is a proud father of a handsome son, Boluwatife Balogun.
The ‘Star Boy’ label chief welcomed his son with his baby mama, Sola Ogudu in 2011 meaning the swaggalicious boy turns 5 this year. His fashion sense is son on point he had to be named the best dressed Nigerian Celebrity by VOGUE. Give him a couple more years and he might be ruling the run way.
Meanwhile, he has another son with an alleged baby mama, Binta..He apparently, has refused to even make a comment on the issue..
Nollywood actress Dakore Akande had a chat with TVC Entertainment and she talks about love, returning to the movie industry, the secret to her successful marriage and her love for music.
Some people think you married for wealth, how do you take it? The interviewer asked.
“People are entitled to think what they what to think” The actress replied. “I married for love, and that’s why i’m still married. Just because my husband is from a wealthy family doesn’t mean automatically mean I married into wealth. We love each other very much, we have 2 beautiful children and we’re living our lives the best way we can”
Mere weeks after reports claimed that Caroline Danjuma had filed for a divorce from her husband of ten years, the actress stepped out for her movie premiere with him and their two sons. And now, she has released intimate photos of them at a Lagos club.
Earlier on this month, SDK exclusively reported that the actress’ marriage to Musa Danjuma had hit the rocks, and that the billionaire’s mistress, Mya Hassan, is pregnant with his child. Later, SDK added that the billionaire was set to meet Mya’s parents for introduction and marriage.
Well, it seems the Danjumas are still a couple and intend for the world to know this. In new photos which just surfaced on social media, Caroline is seen lounging in a club with her husband, and next, she is seen twerking for him.
Finally, Olajumoke Orisaguna’s management has some words for people who continually have criticised the model’s successful projects.
Over the weekend, Olajumoke boarded a flight to Abuja and took selfies with the pilots in the cockpit. Later she was seen lounging in a royal suite at the Transcorp Hilton hotel in Abuja.
Yesterday, a member of her team, Azuka Ogujiuba, who also works with ThisDay, shared new photos of the model with YBNL boss Olamide. “Olajumoke was happy that Olamide gave her an audience,” Ogujiuba said, adding, ”
Olamide has no airs and looks to me like a man with a great heart, the people’s man, well l call him the street general.”
Olamide, Olajumoke, Azuka Ogujiuba.
In a second photo, Azuka Ogujiuba finally made it known that they have been reading the comments from people who have had unkind things to say about the young model’s journey. “We have heard and read all sorts, but man can only talk, man is not God,” Ogujiuba said, and then advised that the critics should learn to celebrate with Olajumoke.
Read her full note:
“Olamide is the first Nigerian big artist Olajumoke is meeting since baba God picked her call and has elevated her life. Yelz, we have heard and read all sorts but man can only talk, man is not God. God started this journey for Olajumoke and it is only him that knows the end and not man.
One simple advice again for those waiting patiently to see Olajumoke story turn to a sadistic development ‘Learn to be happy and celebrate with people when they are happy and celebrating instead of making snide comments which oozes hate and jealousy if not good things will never appear at your door step’ anyway.
No negative comments will stop God’s divine favour for Olajumoke, she is moving forward and forward ever, backward never by the special grace of God almighty who ‘sweetly’ picked Olajumoke’s call#One love according to 2baba#❤❤❤❤“
Miss Susan Chizoba, a former maid to the General Overseer of Christ Praying Assembly (CPA),Rev. Emeka King, was one of those who testified against him before an Ikeja High Court in 2006.
At the time, Rev. King was on trial for the murder of one of his members, Miss Ann Uzor and attempting to murder five others by pouring petrol on them and setting them ablaze.
Testifying at the trial in October 2006, Miss Chizoba informed the court that she was taken to the church in 2000 by her parents believing it to be a Christian home but that her parents stopped coming to the church six months later while she lived with Rev. King for seven years.
In her words, Miss Chizoba, testifying at the court said:
“When I came to live with the accused (Rev. King), he told me that I would be his permanent maid and that I would agree not to marry. He said anytime I wanted to serve him I must be stark Unclad which I did. No pant, no bra, I would be completely Unclad before him and I did this not once, not twice, but for several years. He also ordered me not to tell any member of my family where I was living. He gave me a ring which I always put on to indicate that I am his permanent maid and all this he made me to put into writing. I am a member of the Lord’s army and we bully people, putting fear into them and molesting them.
“The accused(Rev. King) is a very violent person, he would beat us mercilessly and as a result we always have wounds on our bodies. He called himself god, the owner of the universe and could do anything. We know this is not so but out of fear we could not challenge him. On the 22nd July 2006 the day of the fire incident, a sister named Kelechi came to call me from the Boys Quarter of the accused’s house where we were staying that the accused wanted to see me.
“When I got to him he did not even allow me to kneel down as we usually did when talking to him before he started beating me with stick, rod and anything he could find. I started crying, shouting and begging him not to kill me. It was then I noticed others who were there; Cosy, Chiejile, Jessica, Ann, Vivian and Kelechi.
He accused me that I lied to him that Chiejile did not sleep with me whereas Chiejile had confessed to him that he slept with me. But Chiejile never did he only said that so that the accused will not kill him.
“He said he would kill all of us. He then asked Kelechi to go and bring fuel and matches but when she brought it he told her that the petrol was not enough and that she should go and bring more which was brought in a very large plastic container. He then marched us out of the room saying he did not want to burn his rug and chair. While we were outside his room but within the church compound Kelechi poured petrol on us on his orders and he struck the first match which did not catch fire.
“When he struck the second match we were all engulfed in fire but I did not know how I managed to escape from there and I ran back to our apartment. When I noticed that Ann had been taken to the hospital, I ran out in my night gown and I never came back to the church. I came out of the place by the grace of God, I am free now, I am no longer under the spell of the accused person.”
American singer, Ciara Princess Harris more known by her first name Ciara unlike most foreign celebrities didn’t evade Nigeria immediately after performing in the country.
The 30 year old Texas born singer after performing last night visited 2 secondary schools in Lagos including Ilado Community Junior High School and Akande Dahunsi Memorial Senior/Junior High School.
The mother of one described her visitation to the schools as one of the best days of her life.
Church members attributed last Friday’s confirmation of the death sentenced passed on General overseer of the Christian Praying Assembly (CPA) Chukwuemeka Ezeugo (aka Rev. King), to the handiwork of witches and wizards.
The members also reaffirmed their belief that Rev. King will be spared the hangman’s noose and “return to join us.”
The self-styled cleric was sentenced to death in 2007 for the burning to death of a member of his church in 2006.
During the first church service after the Supreme Court decision at the Lagos headquarters at Ajao Estate, off the Murtala Muhammad Airport Road, Pastor Ifeanyi King, who preached said:
“Our G.O. (General Overseer) the most holiness, Rev King, is coming back. He said he would come back and we believe the words of his mouth. We believe his report that he is coming back. Everything happening now we know is the handiwork of witches and wizard. Soon a new story will emerge.”: “Whether people realise it or not, everybody now knows his holiness, our G.O. Rev King. The front pages of newspapers are flooded with his name. People are yearning to read about him in the social media. I can confirm to you that by all these, a lot of people have become endeared to him. Our Daddy G.O. shall live forever for us in Jesus name.”
To every word he uttered, there was a chorus of Amen by the congregation. They sang hymns and danced to mark “the birthday of the G.O.”
His death sentence was confirmed on his birthday last Friday.
Pastor Ifeanyi, sported a shaved head and beards like Pastor king. A number of male in the congregation also appeared in the same way. Most of the pastors also use the name King as substitute for their surname.
Two months after welcoming his second child with a US-based Guinean vixen he barely knew, Wizkid is yet to publicly acknowledge that he has a newborn son.
Despite the shame and mockery Wizkid’s silence has brought her – new mum Binta Diamond Diallo, is keeping her head up and moving forward.
The stunning model posted this new pic of their son, calling him “King Ayo”, to remind the world whose son he really is.
We hope Wizkid realises that ignoring a problem will not make it disappear as Binta had earlier called Wizzy a ‘dead beat dad’ who refused to man up and take responsibility for his son, and also allegations have been rife about how he had been shying away from meeting Ayo jnr, as well as avoiding taking a DNA paternity test.
Wizkid has been in a long-term on again/off again relationship with Tania Omotayo.
He has another son with his first baby mama, Shola Ogudugu.
His latest accomplishment was to give a speech at the prestigious Harvard Business School. The conference was broadcasted live on his Facebook page.
The rapper, who was invited to address a conference of students, shared his life experiences as one of Africa’s successful musicians.
The theme for the conference was ‘The Art Of The Hustle’.
The BET award winner spoke to empower the students using his life experience as a musician who suffered limitations and challenges whiles growing up, but managed to achieve his dream with determination and hard work.
Sarkodie is expected to perform later at the 18th annual African conference being held at the Harvard University.
Sarkodie has blazed the trail of Ghana music in recent years sweeping several wards and signing lucrative endorsement deals for respected brands.
See photos and video of Sarkodie’s speech at Harvard University.
Mercy Aigbe’s husband, Asiwaju Lanre Gentry recently shared the above photo with his wife on Instagram and he captioned the lovely snap with…checkout it below.
Below is an interesting interview Halima Abubakar had with The Nation recently.
Was it easy for you to come all the way from the north of the country to Lagos to break into Nollywood?
Never! It was not easy to do. It took me almost 10 years of my life. I have been acting for probably 15 years now. I was a child, I was very young, I was in JSS 3. For the first three years of life in Nollywood, I shot only two movies and there was no line. That is what is called ‘waka pass’.
That is the testimony that I have. So when people keep talking trash about me, I just say they do not know what they are talking about. Most often they don’t know me; they are talking based on gossip on social media, or what they are reading online. But that is not me. People should just live their lives and stop being a fake. Must I paint my face, pose and take pictures and paste on social media?
Before the arrival of social media, weren’t we living? The funny part is that men don’t even care if you have a particular brand of lipstick on.
We keep spending N6,000 on a particular brand of lipstick, yet men don’t even notice it. But your fellow woman will sit down somewhere and start saying, ‘Oh my God, is that this or that?’ I keep saying that some women dress for their fellow women not for men.
That’s because men just look at probably your shoes, wrist watch or your handbag or hair style. Though every man has what he looks at, but most often it is the way you talk, your intelligence. Most often, not even your shoes, unless he owns a boutique and he is thinking of selling his shoes or your hair, if he sells weave-on. That’s because men just look probably at your shoes.
How about make-up, what does it mean to you?
I don’t care about make-up, I’m sorry to say, I actually call it painting of face (laughs). If i am not really doing something special, I do not bother about make-up.
I don’t think men are really interested in knowing who made your shoes. A man that asks me the name of my shoes, is not likely to get my attention. But if a man buys shoes and gives me, I will take it.
So indirectly are saying you that you are not a vain person?
Oh no, I am not materialistic. I am just a local Igbirra girl who works very hard to polish and establish herself, a part northerner who has been able to catch the attention of not just Africa but the attention of people outside Africa too through Nollywood. When I travel abroad, a lot of people recognise me.
Not in Hollywood because I am not a Hollywood actress, but recognised abroad by those who watch African movies. I have been in America and the United Kingdom to receive awards so without hard work, I wouldn’t have been able to achieve all that. So I am just myself, I am natural; I do not try to please anybody.
What appeals to you most?
Being natural, real and being truthful.
Do you cook?
Of course I do. I used to pound yam until my muscles started developing and I started reducing in height because I had pounded too much yam (laughs).
So, I stopped pounding yam. My best soup used to be beans soup but these days, I do more of vegetable soup. I only cook on special occasions these days.
Would you say you are rich?
Not at all, there are some other people who are more comfortable. Sometimes I do get broke, and I ask people for money and u know how we Nigerians are, they reply you ‘Oh I don’t have money for now’. So to avoid that, I try to safe for such rainy days.
If you were not an actor, what else would you have loved to be?
I would have loved to be a lawyer or work in an embassy so I can make visa available to a lot of people who want to go and party, since they love partying and love seeing places so much.
So when they have seen enough, they will come back. I would have loved to be an interpreter of languages. Also I would have loved to be a mediator among countries working with the UN.
What about education?
I have a degree in Sociology from Ado Bayero University, and then also I have a Diploma I was in Federal College of Education, Kano.
I have post graduate in management and computer science. I also make sure that I educate myself on things going on around me.
Don’t you feel that you may be intimidating to a man?
Well, that will be the man’s business because I didn’t tell such a man not to go to school, or have a library; I cannot afford not to be myself because of a man who feels intimidated by me.
A man should even be happy to encourage me. Any man that is intimidated by a lady is not a man. I have, however, learnt to be tolerant of people. I have learnt to ignore a lot of side talks; I have learnt to be patient with a lot of people, because I have a temper which I have learnt to control. I am working on myself. Also because of the way that I have been treated in the past by people, I really do not value friendship. I am trying hard to know people and that’s where patience comes in.
I am still trying to open up; I hope I will be able to do that with a man that I hope to spend the rest of my life with. I do not want a man that I will spend just one year with and he’s gone. I don’t want a man that will make me pop out babies, then he will go clubbing.
I will drag his hair to the house! I’ve had anger in the past, so it’s easy to piss me off and it’s easy for me to forgive. I don’t react; at the same time I’m not a robot, so I am bound to react once in a while.
I find time to rest, sometimes I do not sleep for two days when I’m shooting a movie. I’m busy when I’m not I watching movies and rest. I write scripts, I do a lot of things with my head. I have not travelled in a year but will travel soon.
People say you are well endowed, so which part of your body do you value most?
I will say that will be my brain, that is because I really do not see what they see, when they keep saying that I am endowed and I am endowed.
People keep saying that I am well endowed, good, but there are other people who are better endowed than me. I am, however, humbled and grateful when I hear such remarks.
How about marriage?
Marriage will come when it will come. You don’t rush it. It is one of the few things that one does not need to rush. Marriage is not a movie that one has to rush. You do not marry because the public wants you to get married. You do not marry because you are getting old, you do not marry because you are too young. You get married when it’s the right time. You get married when you meet the right man, when you know that it is okay and the man too is okay. And you are sure that you are going to have a fine, peaceful marriage.
But there are guys in the movie industry, haven’t they been approaching you with subtle marital proposals?
Well, you do not get married because you are in Nollywood or because people there are proposing. Moreover I do not encourage people to date where they work.
Does that also mean that you are not likely to marry an actor?
I will definitely not marry an actor.
You seem to be giving us a different picture about your background here. At least some people had the impression that you come from a privileged background.
Yes, it’s true; I had a privileged background until Savannah bank where my father worked for 26 years was closed down. His money, everything was taken away; without a conscience, they took away our food. Well I thank the bank because they made me a star today!
How did that happen?
I had to find my way into Nollywood and then came down to Lagos to look for job and help my family out of poverty. But if Savannah bank ever comes back, they should be ready to pay back my daddy’s money.
He was a manager in the bank for all of 26 years in Kaduna, Katsina, we were going all over the place as he was moved from place to place for his work. Suddenly, Savannah bank was locked up. I was much younger then. I was still in school.
I had to leave Katsina with my family. My dad worked at other places after then, but it was in Savannah bank that he had his locked up investment. Now I do not advise people to save money in the bank where they work because anything can happen.
Better to spread your money in other banks apart from where you work so that people do not suddenly make your family’s life miserable.
But if your dad was a bank manager for that long, he was really comfortable and would have had some properties…
You mean the house and all such? We had to sell those off to get money. Thank God that we didn’t have to go into prostitution. Again, we were even too young then to know what prostitution was. This kind of thing is what makes good people turn wicked. That’s because we were really affected and I have pains to show for it.
But did your dad ever recover?
Well, he eventually did. And I had to help out too. Now he has a beautiful farm in Lokoja, where he is doing well. That has always been his dream. And my mom is retired. Mom left Kano when my dad left. You know wherever the man goes, his woman has to follow. Right now they are in Lokoja where we have our family home.
Grammy Award winning singer, Ciara was in Nigeria over the weekend for the LLAM3 concert which held last night and delivered an electrifying performance that left the guests at the event thrilled..
Darey and Ciara took some time to do a little video which was shared online by both party..which saw Ciara and Darey converse in our Pidgin English language.
YBNL Front Man, Olamide shared some lovely selfies he took with rave of the moment, Olajumoke Orisaguna while they were both in Abuja on his instagram page yesterday.
Olamide excitedly captioned the photo: Be Happy Squad ✌? @djenimoney @ikemefuna1 and Our Super Star jummy ✅ Igbalode Model toh bad
American female singer, Ciara who visit Nigeria, Lagos for Darey’s concert, Love Like A Movie 3, got a surprise gift from a fan, and she loved it.
She was presented with a pretty sketch of herself by Akeem, a Nigerian fan and artist.
She shared the photo of the potrait on her official Instagram page with the caption, ‘Akeem You Are An Incredible Artist With A Sweet Soul! This Picture You Drew Of Me Is Breathtaking! Grateful For Fans Like You! #Nigeria’.
Sometimes, you will try to stay cool, but some fans just won’t let you be..
Popular Nollywood actress and entrepreneur, Caroline Danjuma slams some of her haters on the social media platform, Instagram..
This comes after someone slammed her earrings as cheap. She then set the record straight, saying they are diamonds and sapphire…
“Instagram has become an avenue where faceless people feel they can out rightly insult you or bully you and expect you to be quiet. There is a difference between a polite criticism and a direct insult .
What you dish out is what you get. I am on social media to get closer to my fans and it is lot easier for those who need my assistance to contact me but I can also live without it. Respect is reciprocal . Don’t insult me or the team that worked so hard out rightly in public and expect me to ignore you. Be matured in your criticism . I don’t expect everyone to like me but then don’t try to insult or bully me I will defend myself .”
Chichi Gabriel popularly known as Ashandi, has just bought herself a Lexus SUV.
Though she’s not the face regularly being talked about in the media like her other colleagues, those in the know say this actress is a volcano waiting to erupt.
Ashandi, who has featured in movies like Alayaki, Omoge, Skelewu and many others, is one of the most sought after new actresses in the Yoruba film circle in recent times.
Federal Government of Nigeria has announced on Sunday that over 23,846 ghost workers were being removed from its monthly payroll, saving the government N2.293 billion from the total salary bill for the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for February 2016 when compared to December 2015 when the BVN audit process commenced.
Speaking on the matter, the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, said the ghost workers were uncovered in payrolls of various MDAs during the ongoing bank verification number (BVN)-based staff audit and enrolment to the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
The BVN is a unique number that identifies each bank’s customer for “Know Your Customer” (KYC) purposes.
The use of BVNs, rather than physical appearance of workers for biometric capture at the initial stage of verification, has significantly simplified and accelerated the progress of the payroll audit process and reduced the cost of implementation.
It was also gathered that the BVN platform to audit and sanitise the salary payment system, ministry of finance, has so far checked the details of about 312,000 civil servants currently enrolled on IPPIS.
Consequently, the development has led to the discovery of high level irregularities in salary payment.
The audit is part of an anti-corruption campaign introduced by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Corruption and mismanagement have long been a challenge to Nigeria’s growth, and the government has promised to cut costs to face an economic slowdown.
If you’re a Blackberry user, you might need to find to a new device if you want to keep using Whatsapp in 2017.
The messaging service, in a statement celebrating their 7th anniversary, announced that in 2017, they’d be ending support for the service on all Blackberry devices, including Blackberry 10.
Blackberry wasn’t the only platform affected, with Nokia S40, Nokia Symbian S60, Android 2.1 and 2.2, and Windows Phone 7.1 also facing the cancellation.
Whatsapp’s statement said: “While these mobile devices have been an important part of our story, they don’t offer the kind of capabilities we need to expand our app’s features in the future.”
“This was a tough decision for us to make, but the right one in order to give people better ways to keep in touch with friends, family, and loved ones using WhatsApp.”
“If you use one of these affected mobile devices, we recommend upgrading to a newer Android, iPhone, or Windows Phone before the end of 2016 to continue using WhatsApp.”
This new development marks a new low for Blackberry, having gone from being the dominant smartphone brand to the bottom of the food chain.
Ayodele Dada has made history by graduating from the University of Lagos (UNILAG) with an amazing 5.0 CGPA. In this interview with UNILAG Sun’s Muftaudeen Raji, he reveals the secrets behind his remarkable life. Excerpts:
Would you briefly tell us about yourself?
My name is Ayodele Daniel Dada. I graduated from department of Psychology, Faculty of Social science, University of Lagos. I’m from Ekiti State. We are just two siblings, I have a younger brother. I’am a kind of person who is open to various experiences. I try to experiment a lot and I have tried so many things. I have been into music production in the past.
Your educational background?
I had primary education and secondary education here in Lagos. My secondary school is Hopebay College, Ajegunle-Apapa, off Lagos-Badagry expressway. We lived close to that area. So after secondary school, it took me a while to decide on what I wanted to do because I had a brief stint learning how to do some bit of IT, bit of network business but it wasn’t really serious, it was just on the surface level and I did some French.
I’m interested in languages especially European languages so I learnt French though I’m not efficient at it now. I’m also trying to translate that into a bit of music production. Eventually, I read a book that just made me see how psychology can be applied in the real life so it just captured my imagination and I decided that I was going to devote my time to Psychology.
Yes, it was difficult at first. For example, when I decided I was going to do Psychology, I devoted three months to preparing to take JAMB/UTME and I really studied hard for it and I wrote the exam, confident that I really did well only to hear some couple of weeks later that my result was seized. I was devastated.
That was in the year 2011. They said I cheated or so. I felt sad but I took it as fate. I initially wanted to go through the complaining procedure but it didn’t really work out because it was taking too long.
I really wanted to resume as quickly as I could and then that was when I took the Diploma option, the foundation programme. That was how I came into UNILAG.
How did you finance your programme?
It was challenging because of the expense. Meanwhile, at that time, I had been doing several jobs. I worked a bit with my uncle. I did a bit of sales job selling computer accessories for some time. I also did some tutoring, I was teaching some people trying to at least make ends meet for myself and I didn’t stop that even when I started my programme at UNILAG. Most of my expenses except one or two occasions, I was taking care of my daily expenses. So, I had to plan my time such that it will not affect my study.
Before I was able to get on board the foundation programme, I had to get money from several sources. There were quite a few of family friends who were very helpful. They really came in and stood in for me because I could not take the bill myself.
They were so kind because they were ready to help me without any string attached and that was how I started the Diploma programme and then it was challenging because they kept on telling me my name was written in pencil. “You are not part of the system.” There was even a student in this faculty (FSS) who would just come and tell us :“All of you that did this, you are bribing your way into school: and those things just kept on adding to my motivation. But I felt like people have to understand that we did that because of some certain circumstances, it was not as if we had all the money to come and spend. So I started the programme, kept on going through it and I was really driven to succeed in it.
What was your standing like at the end of the programme?
My first result the first semester, I had 4.55. I had a D in Geography and I tried to ask for what happened because even people who I was tutoring were having Bs and As but they said my CA or part of my exam was not recorded then I said fine, I would work better in the semester. The next semester, I had 4.91, exactly for the second semester. So, the aggregate was like 4.72. That’s for the foundation programme. That was how I gained admission into UNILAG.
Could you tell us how many JAMB exams you took?
I have taken just two JAMB exams and the reason is that I actually got the admission but it wasn’t what I wanted and the thing about me is that if it is not something I really want to do, my motivation is always very poor and I have to commit to the task and once I commit I could actually go to any length to achieve it.
The second one was the one that was seized as I said earlier.
What about the SSCE exams, how many WAEC did you write?
I wrote one and I made it at once. I wasn’t the best overall but at least I made everything that was required.
Now, how can you describe your study habit?
My study habits are not very predictable because I adapt my study habit to whatever that is needed at the time. Take for example, I have a policy of never studying at night but, sometimes I had to change that based on the situation.
How were you able to sustain your GP considering how difficult the hurdles could be?
I have been asked that question severally and the simple answer I will give is that I never looked at everything on a long term path. I was looking at it from one day to the next. What I mean is I was thinking short term instead of the long term because I know quite a few people who were thinking this is what I want to finish with but then you have that long goal and you are looking at that meanwhile, things are happening right in front of you in short term.
I was just preoccupied with winning the short terms. That was where my focus was on. This assignment, do it well; this test, do it well; this current exam, do it well. Do today well because, tomorrow is another today and then it will keep coming. So, just keep doing each they well and when it adds up, then you get to wherever you want to be.
What was your relationship with your lecturers likewhile in school?
(Cuts in) Yes my relationship with my lecturers were very good. Now you may say it’s because I was one of their best students but, it doesn’t always work that way because I know that there were some people who were also very good. Infact, I have to say that my class was one of the best classes that my department has had in a long time.
What’s your social life like?
Yes I go to cinemas. I attend people’s birthdays. Some of my colleagues can attest to that. I’m not completely the outdoor type but, of course on occasions I have been to quite a number of functions. I participate in events and activities even though I will not be the main person all the time but, im just there and I try to socialite a lot. I interact with so many people although im not the kind who is always attending every party. I tried to create a blend.
How were you able to manage the wave of the social media?
For most of the initial years in Psychology, I was only doing social media on my laptop because I felt it’s easier to control on a laptop because the laptop is not something you are checking all the time. When I got to final year, I decided to change that. So, I got a phone that would enable me monitor the social media and I downloaded all the apps.
I told myself I was going to participate seriously in social media and I was quite visible. My class had a whatsapp group chat, I tried to participate in that as well. I tried to be involved. I don’t just lock myself away and say because I’m studying I won’t do that.
What can you say on your level of performance in extra-curricular activities?
I didn’t do much of extra-curricular activities because most of the times I spent my time either tutoring my colleagues or those in the lower level apart from my personal academic work and also collaborating to an extent with some of my lecturers.
There was one event I attended with one of my lecturers, she has been very supportive and she has tried to mentor so many young people in the department. We actually went to Enugu State. She was the one who advocated and showed the idea to us. She actually led the contingent where we presented a research to a group of people who are also members of Nigerian Psychology Association and they applauded our effort because, it was a research where basically we were the only undergraduates to present that year.
That was November – December 2014. So, it was the 50 years anniversary of Psychology in Nigeria. It was something wonderful, I would say that was more of extra-curricular activity for me. I was always in some way connected to curricular activity.
When it comes to fellowship or association on campus, did you at one time serve as the leader?
Well, I wasn’t really part of the fellowship but, the association I participated in and that was in my final year was Impart Your World Leadership Initiative (IYWLI) and there was an event that was organised to inspire leadership and I still have a good rapport with the CEO of the organisation and it was because the event which launched it was the one that really captivated our minds and it was highly inspirational and it’s something that reshape the academic landscape of this university in times to come so, that was how much I participated as far as association is concerned.
Could you also talk about your hobbies?
My hobbies include reading. I read quite a number of books, a wide variety of books and some of the books I read I have shown them to some my colleagues and they feel like this is really boring but, If I know that I’m going to learn one thing from it I’m always interested and I don’t finish all the books I pick up.
When I pick up a book I read it I get through some parts, if I feel like this is as much as what I want from this book I don’t feel obligated to finish the book. I can put the book aside, pick another one and begin to read so, I read a wide variety and that’s one of my key hobbies.
Then like I said I’m also into music production so I do it as a hobby now. I was even as serious as it was then but, now I do it as my hobby and I like board games, strategy games, chess, scrabble, monopoly although I’m not extremely good at them but the strategy games I really like are computer strategy games.
Apart from academics, were you also into business or other things?
I still did a bit of sales job while I was studying Psychology because I had to support myself. It was something I had to do. I had to sell to some of my lecturers, to my colleagues as well and then I was also going to Ikeja because my uncle was the one who really introduced me to it.
We would go to Computer Village and even sell in wholesales then I also did a bit of private tutoring. That was one of the key areas I major in. As far as business is concerned, I participated briefly in entrepreneurship challenge although I wasn’t the leader but, I just participated to gain some experience.
It was organized by Google, some departments in engineering pioneered it in UNILAG and I participated at a point so, it was connected to entrepreneurship where we have to promote particularly a small, start-up business. It was good and a learning experience for me but owning a business and running it, I don’t think I have that much time because the demands the academic climate put on me as well as other things I was doing I just make sure that time for such was highly limited.
What of your relationship status while in school?
No I wasn’t in any serious relationship because I read a study that just made me realized that most people who really achieved the strongest grades in their schools were single at the time and I was able to identify with it because for me, when I go into things I go into them fully and when I’m in a relationship I want to be able to at least devote time to it and time was one of my major challenges.
I always have a lot of things to do and so many things are coming up. I don’t want to be in a relationship and it will now suffer because I didn’t have enough time for my partner or my girlfriend or something so, I just said I would put that on hold till I’m done with my programme.
What was your experience with girls generally like?
In fact, most of my friends are girls and they are the ones who would call to check up on me. I related well with girls. I seem to be able to connect with them a lot easier because I know that I am a patient person when it comes to listening even though the girl has a lot to say about her life, I would sit down with her and listen even if it took hours. Some of them had challenges and I would give advice and be of help.
So, my relationship with girls was quite good, but relationship wise, no, I wasn’t into any relationship.
How did you get your motivation?
From most things I have done, my motivation has always been intrinsic. I’m not doing it for anything most people say they are doing this to get that but, I do things for their own sake. For example even though I was doing private tutor, there were times when some people would not pay me completely, yes they would pay part but they won’t complete payment. I was passionate about imparting knowledge to them.
It’s quite brilliant that you are already working. How can you describe your experience at your place of work?
My experience at work has been wonderful. I have interacted with some of the best minds at work. These are smart and driven people who will want to win in any way possible as long as it is legal and it is the right thing to do. These are highly principled people who are determined to achieve great things.
It has been a great experience. I have to learn things and I have even surprised myself by learning things that I have not even learnt before.
Where do you see yourself in the next five to 10 years?
By the grace of God, five years horizon, I want to have at least furthered my education. I won’t say exactly now at least I want to be somewhere where my expertise, efficiency and certification in my field is a lot higher than it is now. I want to be professional and recognised in my field. Ten years I want to be really distinguished but, five years, I want to be on that path, whatever it’s I have to achieve the level of distinction in my field not just at this level. I really want to go far.
Yesterday, tragedy struck Dayton, Ohio in the US when a Baptist pastor (Pictured above) was reportedly shot and killed by his younger brother during a Sunday service.
According to reports, service was ongoing at St. Peters Missionary Baptist Church when 68-year-old Daniel Schooler (Pictured Below), who had been sitting in the congregation, suddenly headed for his brother’s office and shot him dead.
Police reports revealed that the pastor was the only intended target as no one else was shot or injured.
The victim, Rev. William Schooler was a Vietnam veteran and the principal of a local school for around 20 years before becoming the president of the local Baptist Ministers Union.
An eyewitness recounted how the incident took place: ”The gunman sat down during prayers at the church, then went to the pastor’s office afterward, it wasn’t a minute and I heard two shots, and…I just got everybody out of the church,” she said. “And we just kept hearing shooting, shooting. Bang, bang, bang.”
