Welcome to Linda Ikeji's Blog |
- Brand new video: Otia - Na You
- Second wedding for 9-year-old schoolboy and his 61-year-old wife
- Hilarious behind the scenes pics from Waje and Tiwa Savage's new music video
- Rising Star Waliyah Drops New Single ‘Nonsense’ (OrishiRishi)
- "I kept my wife’s corpse in a room for 3months hoping she'd wake up - Christy Essien Igbokwe’s husband
- Ms Sahhara wins World Transgender competition
- Just back from Ikoyi prisons… 5 suspects nabbed again for robbery
- Finesse Event Services presents: Event Management & Decoration training
- Ukrainian Govt release horrific pic of infant lying in a field, killed when rebels shot down plane
- Replying Mr Ibu would be trading intelligence with ignorance - Ibinabo Fiberesima
- The Kate Henshaw Political Campaign has officially begun
- Chineze Anyaene, Ishaya Bako, 7 other directors selected to make Afrinolly Cinema4Change ShortFilms
- Photos from OAP Gbemi Olateru Olagbegi's 30th birthday dinner
- Quote of the day: from Peter Okoye
- 'Nigerian pastors need to be born again' - Etcetera writes
- New Video: Dr. David Olusegun Agbaje: I am a Nigerian
- Photos from MBGN 2014
- Peter Okoye replies those bashing him for snubbing his brother's wedding
- MBGN 2014 is Miss Akwa Ibom - Iheoma Nnadi (photos)
- The Miraculous Deliverance Of Oga Jona by Chimamanda Adichie
- 440.ng Announces More Mentors for Lagos Accelerator
- Pics: Aircraft carrying US soldiers crash lands on Ugandan Highway
- Peter Okoye fires back... no time for nonsense...lol
| Brand new video: Otia - Na You Posted: 19 Jul 2014 01:28 PM PDT CandyTown Entertainment presents Otia's brand new video for his gospel hit single Na You, featuring DMC, Akwaba and Zion Boy. Enjoy... | ||
| Second wedding for 9-year-old schoolboy and his 61-year-old wife Posted: 19 Jul 2014 06:26 AM PDT   A 9-year-old schoolboy has become one of the world's youngest grooms for the 2nd time, marrying his 62-year-old wife again. Looking a little taller in last year's silvery tuxedo, baby faced Saneie Masilela clutched the hand of Helen Shabangu as they repeated their vows one year on. Last year the boy, from nearby Tshwane, tied the knot with bride Helen after claiming he had been told by his dead ancestors to wed. Shockingly his family took the message from the heavens seriously and hurriedly forked out £500 for the bride and a further £1,000 for the big day. The second marriage ceremony was this time held at the home of the blushing bride in Ximhungwe in Mpumalanga, South Africa, in front of around 100 guests. Wide-eyed residents looked on as the married mother-of-five shared a piece of cake, a toast and even a kiss with her young groom Sanele - and long-term husband Alfred Shabangu, 66.Watch the video after the cut... | ||
| Hilarious behind the scenes pics from Waje and Tiwa Savage's new music video Posted: 19 Jul 2014 06:00 AM PDT   Produced by Spellz, Onye is the 2nd track off Waje's eponymously titled album W.A.J.E. Tiwa Savage is featured in this hilarious video which has Omawumi appear in a cameo. Model and actor Bryan Okwara also stars as love interest. Shot in Lagos, the video was directed by KemiAdetiba. Check on these hilarious behind the scenes images to the hit bound video for Onye. The video drops on Tuesday July 22! Continue...              | ||
| Rising Star Waliyah Drops New Single ‘Nonsense’ (OrishiRishi) Posted: 19 Jul 2014 05:56 AM PDT  There's excitement in the air as rising star Afro-pop Waliyah has dropped her latest single Nonsense. Waliyah fans are extremely excited about this one as it something they have waiting for with great anticipation! Nonsense (OrishiRishi), was co-written by Waliyah and K9, it was produced by one of Nigeria's top Producers- Leriq, and finishing touches by ace Producer and Vivace Records boss Tee Y Mix. Continue.. This track is already a club hit as it has an upbeat tempo with lyrics primarily with my ladies in mind. In the song, Waliyah calls out "Okunrin Oshi" (Stupid men), it refers to the things they do. This is a feisty, fun and enjoyable song meant for everyone that loves to have a good time. Waliyah touches on things happening in the Nigerian society today, it talks about men's cheating and infidelity antics! Ladies are going to love this one and the guys will surely have fun with it. Prior to the official release today, the singer/songwriter has been on a campaign trail and her fans had the opportunity of listening to a snippet of the song on Cool 96.9FMon the 'Good Morning Nigeria Show with Mannie', Rhythm FM 93.7 morning show with Toke Makinwa, Metro 97.7 FM on the morning show with Rex and Valerie, Silverbird TV on the "Today on STV" show and on iGroove Radio. Listen & Download Nonsense (OrishiRishi) on iROKING Nonsense (OrishiRishi) on HULKSHARE For more information on Waliyah, please visit: Website: www.waliyah.com | Follow on Twitter: @waliyah1 | Follow on Instagram: @waliyah1 | Like on Facebook: waliyahsmusic For Management & Bookings, please contact: Game Plan Management Mobile: 0803 492 8557 | Email: gameplanbookings@yahoo.com For all Press, PR and Communications, please contact: PR UNO Mobile: 070 5810 8738 | Email: pr.uno@onobello.com | ||
| Posted: 19 Jul 2014 04:32 AM PDT   That morning of her death, pastors and other prayer warriors ended morning prayer in her room; she whispered amen, and then slept off. It was exactly 9a.m. I felt dazed, shocked and awed when I was told I lost my 'everything,' my companion and the love of my life. Jebose, I caved into denial zone. We immediately moved her body to a room in our home, unknown to many. My late wife warned that her body must not be deposited in the mortuary. I had to respect her wishes. So we decorated a room in our house and laid her down. She was beautiful, peaceful in her sleep. The media and the enlarged burial committee members didn't know where she was after her death. She lay in that room for almost three months. I was going crazy. I didn't want to believe she would not wake up. She was smiling peacefully. I couldn't believe it. I made sure I looked at her every day. I was confused, depressed, dejected and hopeless. The children began to monitor me. I was still in denial, hoping she was asleep… she would wake up. I kept reassuring myself. She never did." Find the full write up after the cut... Thirty five years ago, I married my soul mate and lifetime partner. She was Nigeria's lady of songs, the late Christy Essien Igbokwe. I was a 26-year-old executive at The Punch while she was a 19-year-old songstress and actress that mesmerised Nigeria's entertainment and theatre scenes with her young, affable innocence. Through those years, we celebrated togetherness and profound love, a love I felt the first time I blessed my eyes on her; a love that grew stronger each sunrise, until 9a.m, June 30, 2011. With each day's sunset, our love blossomed, like flowers bloomed in spring. We stayed as one through the challenges of life. There were years of aches and pains, tears of joy and electrifying laughter. We stayed together and survived the rough and tumbles of life. We shared everything until it was time for her to go. She lived half a century. "As I walked down Jebose Boulevard, I tried to accept and appreciate all that life privileged after her eternal transition. It is over three years since Christy died. The denials, the depressions, forward from her death are paths to healing. I missed and mourned her tenderly. Time and support from friends and family were therapies to a second chance at life, living and loving. No one understands the discomfort and trauma of losing a dear family member such as your siblings, your parents or wife, a dearest lifetime partner; (the cherished one you swore before God and the people to love till death do us part), until it happened to them: We are never the same when we lose those that we loved and admired. A part of us leaves with them. Every one of us would come to that place in our lifetime; what matters is how we handled our different circumstances and who would be there to comfort us as we grieved. The mourning season may never end. I can imagine days of guilt, days of tear drops on the pillows and silent wails for losing my dearest wife. The pain is part of passionate memories, of a privileged, shared moment in our lives. These walks with you, Jebose, ignited emotional past pains of losing my late wife and a closure of tragic and traumatic chapters of my life. Christy was special and spectacular. She was a prophet. She revealed when she would die to the children and by extension, to me: she revealed to us that she had only half a century in this 'wicked world;' she told me that when death came, it would be middle of the year. She shared with close friends and members of the family, her end time. I always dismissed her because I was not ready to lose her. She told our children that she would live for 50 years and that any single day thereafter, they should be thanking God. She died June 30, 2011 at age 50. During one of our affectionate conversations, she told me she would be sick for three days before her death. She said she would exit without burden to anyone or herself. I didn't believe, until it happened: four days before her death, she complained of stomach ache. We went to the hospital for scanning and treatment: the hospital placed her on overnight admission and began treatment, but she wanted to go home. Her desire to go home was bolstered by hospital's electric power interruption. The hospital's generator was also broken down. She said rather weakly, that she wanted to go home since the hospital had no electricity. I honoured her request. We left the hospital for our home. Halfway into our street, the doctor called and informed me that the generator suddenly activated, surprisingly nothing was wrong with it, we could return to continue treatment; we were almost home, my wife said she didn't want to go back to the hospital. "The next day, the illness continued at home. She refused to go back to the hospital: the doctor came to the house and placed her on a drip. Even though she was weak, she was active and independent; she refused any assistance; not even a support on the staircase and into the car, as we set out for hospital again, having encouraged her to return to a different hospital for re-examination. I drove her into the waiting arms of doctors who further examined my late wife in a specialist hospital (Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja). She was placed on admission. She was seeing things and in her own world, as she lay ill, she was concerned about the staff and other patients in the hospital. She was kept overnight because of the diagnosis. The second night, she requested prayer warriors to begin intense prayers, not for her but for us, the living, and for her peaceful transition. She encouraged nurses in the hospital to pray: she would whisper prayer points and choruses. She muttered some messages to our God-son, George, who was with me in the hospital. We went into frenzy shouting for joy when she mentioned that 'we were victorious and it was all over.' By 5.30am June 30, 2011, we witnessed deteriorating changes in her health. I phoned Obi, our first son, and he quickly arrived at the hospital to assist. I dashed out to seek a transfer for her to another (the intensive care) room in the hospital. I left Obi and George with pastors and prayer warriors who arrived to pray with us. Something happened while I was gone. The mood changed when I returned. I smelt sadness from the travelling breeze within. The mood was solemn. I saw the sad faces of hospital staff and my son: I felt strange. Everyone from the doctors tried to find a way to tell me she had died… One of the midwives called me to the side and said I should brace up because my wife died few minutes then. That morning of her death, pastors and other prayer warriors ended morning prayer in her room; she whispered amen, and then slept off. It was exactly 9a.m. I felt dazed, shocked and awed when I was told I lost my 'everything,' my companion and the love of my life. Jebose, I caved into denial zone. We immediately moved her body to a room in our home, unknown to many. My late wife warned that her body must not be deposited in the mortuary. I had to respect her wishes. So we decorated a room in our house and laid her down. She was beautiful, peaceful in her sleep. The media and the enlarged burial committee members didn't know where she was after her death. She lay in that room for almost three months. I was going crazy. I didn't want to believe she would not wake up. She was smiling peacefully. I couldn't believe it. I made sure I looked at her every day. I was confused, depressed, dejected and hopeless. The children began to monitor me. I was still in denial, hoping she was asleep… she would wake up. I kept reassuring myself. She never did. "I finally accepted her death when the pallbearers came into that room and placed her in a coffin for the Commendation Service at Arch Bishop Vining Memorial Cathedral, Ikeja on September 9, 2011 and from there later through the Muritala Mohammed Airport, Ikeja to Akanu Ibiam, Enugu airport en route Awka, Anambra State for funeral service and burial the next day. I knew then, that my best friend, my partner, my soul mate, the mother of my beautiful children, was truly gone. "After the burial, I was alone and lonely, I felt guilty for her death. I never expected to bury my wife. I always prayed that when my time was up, she, our children and grandchildren would bury me. I began to question God in these transitional periods: I was near complete depression because life was no longer interesting to me: I was lonely and mourning my wife. I was empty. I told everyone that I would never remarry because no woman could replace my late wife. I was suicidal. After her burial, the pain continued as life began to settle into normalcy, I began to see her in my dreams, encouraging me to live my life. She said she knew if I had the privilege of spending more time with her, I would have corrected certain things in our lives. She said I must move on with my life. Throughout our 32 years, we shared everything: we never separated from the same bedroom. The only time we separated was when we kept her body in a separate room while planning her funeral. Counselling from well-wishers helped me to begin to accept a life without her. "Her appearances in my dreams encouraged me to move on. In one of such appearances, she told me: "I came and I have fulfilled my destiny on earth. I wished I stayed longer but that was my destiny and God's words must surely come to pass in our lives. I am not coming again. I am happy where I am. It is well with all of you! Please I want to be remembered always in happiness. Stop getting worried any longer because you do most times. You cry often for missing me and wished that I lived so that you make some amends. It is too late now. You should move on. Your focus should be how to live long for our kids. Advise them properly and correct them positively whenever they go wrong, for their own good. Take good care of them and their offsprings as long as you witness and always bless and not curse any of them. (She smiled…..) I never cursed any of them. I only tried to make them look forward to being independent as my last days on earth approached. Because you need to live long for the kids, you can remarry instead of running into some temptations that are building up. Pray hard. God will show you the right person. The person should not be very young. She must be older than our first kid. She must be able to stand in for the sake of the kids but she must not participate directly as one of the owners in any of our already established companies unless with express permission of all the kids. She will obey you. I must be respected. You know other things that would make the relationship to be soothing to me in death and useful to you in life unless if you want to continue to deceive yourself. You must not allow her do anything you know would not be pleasing. You are an intelligent man, I did say this often and I leave you to your conscience (she smiled…) till we meet to part no more. My love to all still existing and I want all to know this." "If she didn't appear to me in my dreams, I wouldn't have remarried. I remarried after three years of her death. Time reversed everything. I didn't want a situation where I would be bringing different women to our home: After the dreams, I began to consider marriage again. Being alone may not be the problem, the problem is the temptations that loneliness and being alone ferment. That would be very disrespectful to her memory and our children. I remarried, with her blessings. I am no longer mourning but her memories are indelible." | ||
| Ms Sahhara wins World Transgender competition Posted: 19 Jul 2014 04:11 AM PDT   "OMG! I won. I am still not sure it is a reality! Maybe I'll wake-up from this amazing dream in a minute! My arm is turning red from me constantly pinching myself to wakeup from this beautiful dream! I am overwhelmed with love! Philippines is truly my home away from home. Thank you to the Eat Bulaga show and production team for giving us the platform to exhibit our intelligence and creativity in positive ways on the longest daytime national television show in the world! Shock is an understatement to how I feel right now!" Big congrats to her! | ||
| Just back from Ikoyi prisons… 5 suspects nabbed again for robbery Posted: 19 Jul 2014 04:20 AM PDT  The men, Sikiru Adeyemi, Saheed Hakeem, Dosun Patrick, Razaq Olarenwaju, Jamiu Adeyemi, were arrested after a close monitoring by the police after they left prison. The ring leader of gang, Sikiru Adeyemi,who claims to be a graduate of mass communication from the Federal Polytechnic Ilaro in Ogun state, had earlier been remanded at the Ikoyi prison for armed robbery but was later released on bail and placed on close watch on the instruction of the state police commissioner, Umaru Tanko. His arrest led to the arrest of the other members of the gang. Continue Narrating his journey into armed robbery, Sikiru said it was when he had the opportunity to work in the military that he got intoxicated by power, believing that whatever he did, he could go unpunished "I am a graduate of Mass Communication from Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State. After graduation, I was given the opportunity to work in signal office of the military at Mile 2 area of Lagos. It was then that I realised that no matter the offence I commit, if the law enforcer realised that I have a link with the military, they will immediately release me. After spending a year there, I was admitted at the Vogue Interior designer vocational studies centre from 1988 to 1992. Upon my graduation, I practised interior decoration for years till I got a contract from one drug baron. Pleased with my work, we became friends and he introduced me to the business. This illegal business came to an end when NDLEA arrested him in 2000. I was very lucky to have escaped." "It was then I remembered how I was above the law when I was working in the military barracks. With the help of my friend, James Imada who was at Maryland barracks, Lagos, I got a fake identity card and uniform. I don't know how he did it. I used it to escort trucks around Lagos and outside the state. I also used the identity card to stop and search trucks with James till he was transferred to the North to go and fight Boko Haram. All went well till in 2011, when I was arrested at Mile 2, when I stopped a truck as usual. A mobile policeman, who noticed the argument, intervened and I was arrested and remanded at Ikoyi prisons when I could not contact my superiors. While in prison, I met a lot of friends who were jailed over similar offences, I assisted some of them to raise money for lawyers while they gave me their contacts in exchange. We had a comprehensive list of possible places to invade and with the various experiences, how best to go about it undetected. I was released on bail months later when the complainant refused to come to court again."Back home, Sikiru went back to what he knows best, impersonating and snatching of cars. "I needed to survive and the only way was to go back to the same business. Nobody will like to do business with me since I had been to prison before. Business started booming and it got better when I met one Tunde, a dismissed police officer. We exchanged notes and formed a joint task force. All we normally do is to stop a big car and tell the owner that it is a stolen car and that he should come to the barracks for explanation. It was also easier to extort money because anyone that we stop and they discover that I am a soldier while Tunde is mobile police officer, they will panic. He was the one who produced the guns that we used for each operation."Speaking about the crime that got him re-arrested, Sikiru said "I never knew that my name was on the police wanted list. Normally when we want to do bigger jobs, I will always make use of the friends that I made while in the prison. They are the only ones that can keep a secret because of their experience. It was Saheed that contacted me that there was a job. He told me about a man that just returned to Lagos from Abuja with N18million. What we wanted to do was to storm his house and tell him that he is wanted by EFCC, seize everything he has in his house as exhibit and arrest him. On the way, we will drop him off and disappear. I quickly contacted my boys who will play different roles. It was when I went to finalize the sharing formula with the main source of the deal that I was arrested. I knew my game was up when I stepped down from the police van and realised I was at SARS office. This is why I am telling the truth and ready to cooperate with the police in arresting the others and exposing some of the contracts we got from the prison. Am still in shock that I am heading back to jail again. I even pray that I will be arraigned in court, so that my chances of coming out will be high." he saidAs for the other gang members, their stories are similar to Sikiru's. Saheed, a fashion designer, got jailed because he arranged with robbers to attack one of his richest customers. "While in Prison, Sikiru was very popular because he had money and everyone wanted to identify with him. He gave us his numbers to contact him when we leave the prison. Weeks after I was released, one of my friends who was still in prison but had contact with the outside, told me that there was a deal. I contacted Sikiru who made the arrangements before we were arrested," Saheed said.Razaq, a mechanic, who spent eight years in Ikoyi prison for conspiring with a gang of robbers to snatch the car of his customer said he was released on compassionate ground by a human rights organization that intervened in 2013 but says the human rights group only made a way for him to be released but was not financially empowered when left prison. "After 7 years, I returned home to my sick mother who was driven away by her husband because of my attitude. Almighty God in heaven knows that I really wanted to repent but when I realised that life was better in prison than outside, I decided to help myself. All I wanted was to raise money to take my mother to the hospital and start up a business. The human right organisation only helped us to regain our freedom but did not help us to settle down. I called Sikiru who gave me one or two jobs (car snatching). I was satisfied with the proceed and had started a small business when the police came to my house to arrest me again. I am begging for a second chance, at least for the sake of my mother who is bedridden. I lost my wife while in prison, my father disowned me and my mother will die if I remain locked up. I am sorry.".Jamiu spent eight months in Ikoyi prison for robbery and was called upon by Sikiru as soon as he regained his freedom. "It was my elder brother that processed my bail and till date I have not visited the court. While I was in prison, Sikiru, because he looked like an old man, was very popular. He had money and was not selfish about it. Most of us served him while in prison, so when he called that there was a small business, I had to honour him. He assured me that it was car snatching and that we will not use guns. It was when we got there that I realised that it was full-time armed robbery. After that time, I stopped completely till the police arrested us. I am in trouble because my brother warned me that if I get arrested again, he will leave me to rot in jail, " Jamiu pleaded.All five men are now in police custody. Source: Sunnewsonline | ||
| Finesse Event Services presents: Event Management & Decoration training Posted: 19 Jul 2014 04:03 AM PDT  Do you want to learn the Art and Craft of Event Planning and Decoration? Do you want to be a world class event planner and coordinator? Would you like to learn a new skill or start a second career? If yes, then attend Finesse Events Finesse one week event management and decoration training. Week day stream: Date: 4th-8th August, 2014. Venue: Training room, 39, Bode Thomas, Surulere Lagos. Time: 10am - 3pm. Fee; N50,000. Continue... WEEKEND STREAM; DATE; 2nd, 3rd, 9th, 10th August, 2014 VENUE: Training room, 39, Bode Thomas, Surulere. Lagos TIME: 10am - 3pm FEE: N50,000 This training thoroughly addresses everything you need to know about the art and business of event planning and decoration and management such as: Course Content: § Introduction to event planning § Types of events § Event decoration § Flower Arrangement § Budgeting § Learning your client's needs § Selecting a location § Finances Course Takeaway:
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| Ukrainian Govt release horrific pic of infant lying in a field, killed when rebels shot down plane Posted: 19 Jul 2014 03:45 AM PDT  Senior government advisor Anton Gerashchenko posted the pic on their website, with a message to Putin saying: 'This baby's death is on your conscience. Damn you for centuries!'. He said he agonised over whether to publish the image of the tiny corpse lying in the field or not but decided the world needed to see it. 3 infants died after the plane was shot down on Thursday May 17th by pro-Russian rebels and till today, many bodies are still lying in fields. Meanwhile yesterday Russian rebels stopped investigators who arrived the MH17 crash site from investigating the site, firing several warning shots. And the rebel commander blamed for shooting down the plane said "bodies aren't fresh', claiming corpses around the wreckage died before plane took off. Yes, he said so. Unbelievable! Continue to read...    Monitors from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) were prevented from conducting their investigation by militiamen during their first trip to the scene. The separatists reportedly fired warning shots as the group of 30 officials approached, forcing them to leave after just 75 minutes. The stand-off fuelled speculation that rebels are beginning a 'cover-up' by hiding all links to the Buk missile believed to have shot down the plane.
   Michael Bociurkiw, spokesman for the OSCE, told CNN: 'It basically looks like the biggest crime scene in the world right now, guarded by a bunch of guys in uniform with heavy firepower who are quite inhospitable. And there didn't seem to be anyone really in control, for example. One of our top priorities was to find out what happened to the black boxes. No one was there to answer those questions.' | ||
| Replying Mr Ibu would be trading intelligence with ignorance - Ibinabo Fiberesima Posted: 19 Jul 2014 02:45 AM PDT  "Which money is he talking about? That is why I said he is detached from the realities on ground. When we went to visit the President, there was no money promised to anybody. We didn't go there to beg for money as Mr. Ibu is used to doing; we didn't do that. They push you to the extent that you say things that you don't want to. I'm not about money, for once they should stop and think, see what my team and I have achieved in two years. Replying Mr. Ibu would be trading intelligence with ignorance and I don't think I have that time. I'm sure you have followed everything we have done and we have not hidden anything. Rather, we have been open about everything we have done, so if he attacks me the way he did, it clearly shows that he is completely detached from the reality, because he complained about things that we have achieved long ago, which shows that he is not part of the Guild," she said. Continue... She also queried him for not mentioning the names of those in the guild he said were not happy with her "Mr. Ibu cannot vote for me, he does not have the power to do that. He cannot even run for office because he is not a member, and I was expecting to see the names of the members whom he referred to because I don't know them, and I hope they are members of the Guild because we have actors who are not members. You should not because of your interest in a name feel you can come out and talk off point to become relevant. When people say people should have education, it is for this kind of reason so they will know how to speak in public. They think running to the press and running me down on Facebook and others will deter me. No. I was not brought up like that, I'm a very thorough breed. I will do what I have to do to get to where I am going. It is the love that I get from people whose lives I have touched that keeps me going, not those who don't know where they are going, because every sentence they make is money, where is the money?" she stated | ||
| The Kate Henshaw Political Campaign has officially begun Posted: 19 Jul 2014 02:29 AM PDT  Below is what she plans to achieve as a candidate... I have a strong interest and desire to serve my people and especially show that there is a better more humane way to do things when you are in a position of leadership. Putting the people first and being accountable to them as well as being accessible. I am also very keen to promote and champion the provision of clean water, good roads and sanitation in my constituency. One of my key areas of project focus areas will be provison of affordable education and quality healthcare especially for expecting and young mothers. | ||
| Chineze Anyaene, Ishaya Bako, 7 other directors selected to make Afrinolly Cinema4Change ShortFilms Posted: 19 Jul 2014 02:21 AM PDT   Earlier in June, Afrinolly opened a call to film makers to pitch for the Cinema4Change films. Films which were a product of a screen writers workshop held in April where over 20 top notch screen writers in Nigeria were expose to research works that would guide in the development of screenplays that would not only highlight social change issues but would also entertain and educate the public. Continue...  After five days of pitch sessions for the over 150 film makers who applied and pruning by the panel of Judges; Tunde Kelani, Femi Odugbemi and Jane Maduegbuna, Afrinolly is excited to announce the selected film makers who would directing the first set of Cinema4Change short films. Over the next few months these film makers will be developing these socially relevant films. Below is the list of selected film makers with corresponding film: Tolu Fagbure – My Brother's Keeper Ishaya Bako – Henna Jay-Franklyn Jituboh – Once Soji Ogunaike – The Dutiful Wife Victor Sanchez Aghahowa – The Road Chioma Onyenwe – The Scheme of Things Chineze Anyaene – The Space Between Ejiro Onobrakpor – Timothy In Partnership with Ford Foundation, Afrinolly Cinema4Change project seeks to use the power of film to help build a dramatic structure that helps people not only see the person or issues that a film can address, but see themselves in that story. Afrinolly believes that partnering with non–profits, public sector organizations and corporations can create films that are artistically compelling and socially significant.   Website; http://afrinollycinema4change.com/ Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/Afrinolly Twitter; https://twitter.com/Afrinolly Google+; https://google.com/+Afrinolly | ||
| Photos from OAP Gbemi Olateru Olagbegi's 30th birthday dinner Posted: 19 Jul 2014 02:50 AM PDT | ||
| Quote of the day: from Peter Okoye Posted: 19 Jul 2014 01:57 AM PDT   | ||
| 'Nigerian pastors need to be born again' - Etcetera writes Posted: 19 Jul 2014 01:52 AM PDT  Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again" (John 3:1-7).
Today, some pastors are the problems of the society. The lifestyle of some pastors is contradictory to what they preach. It has got so bad that when a man introduces himself as a pastor, he attracts immediate suspicion. Scandals and controversies have eaten too deep into the church like an incurable cancer. Like electric poles, churches are springing up all over the country and their general overseers or CEOs are fast emerging as the richest men in the country. Some Nigerian pastors represent their stomach instead of Christ. Churches have been turned into banks and business centres with branch pastors given targets for increased turnover by headquarters. Most of these new breed churches only preach prosperity because preaching salvation will impact negatively on the church's GDP. Some of today's pastors, after their failed attempts at finding a means of livelihood, hire a classroom and start a church. Most Nigerians have been brainwashed to see their pastors as angels of light instead of the men of lies and hypocrisy they truly are. When I hear some of our so-called men of God talking, I hear a well rehearsed speech delivered with sugarcoated tongue. I see feigned sympathy and fake listening ears trying to milk their unfortunate audience. I see people being washed, rinsed, dried and ironed with rehearsed miracles wooing gullible Nigerians to their churches. To some pastors, the church is no longer the stairway to heaven. It is more like the Lagos-Ibadan expressway to wealth. No trick is too dirty to enslave their followers. While many in their congregation cannot afford three decent meals in a day, pastors convey offerings to their banks in bullion vans. They use offerings to build schools their congregation cannot afford to send their wards to. They cruise about town in their exotic cars, and jet off to spend vacations in the most exotic tourist destinations across the world. Jesus Christ fed the multitude with five loaves of bread and two fishes (Matthew 14: 13-21). He could have auctioned it to the wealthy and more privileged amongst the multitude but he asked his disciples to share to all without discrimination. Except for a few, the majority of pastors will not lift a finger to ease the sufferings of the poor in their congregation. It was in the news how two girls from an Abuja church openly accused their pastor of having sexual intercourse with them and his followers said, "Touch not my anointed and do my prophets no harm." A popular Lagos pastor has married and divorced more times than the randy king of Swaziland and his followers said, "Touch not my anointed and do my prophets no harm." I wonder what a pastor who cannot keep his marriage has to tell his members during their marriage counselling classes. A popular UK based Nigerian pastor who was to be arrested for tax evasion in the UK, fled to Nigeria to escape the authorities and his followers said, "Touch not my anointed and do my prophets no harm." A flamboyant pastor in Warri bought a jet when people in his community were displaced as a result of one of the worst flood disasters to hit this country. And his followers said, "Touch not my anointed and do my prophets no harm." Rev. King the self-acclaimed "god" and "Jesus of our time" was arrested and charged to court for using a girl for human barbecue. And the 69-year-old grief stricken father of the victim lamented that he went to the church to see his daughter, and followers of Rev. King denied knowing her. But one follower later told him that she was Rev. King's wife and was in the hospital. Getting to the hospital, he found his daughter Anna Uzoh on the hospital bed roasted. After a long inquiry, she revealed that Rev. King set her on fire. And Rev. King's followers said, "Touch not my anointed and do my prophets no harm." Apparently, Justice Joseph Oyewole of the Ikeja High Court thought otherwise and sentenced Rev. King to death. It was in the news sometime ago how a man stole money and confessed to giving it as offering to a church. When asked, the pastor said the money was given to God and can't be returned. Things like this can only happen in a society like Nigeria. Pastors should be judged by their words as well as their actions. This is a country where a pastor organises a healing crusade for his members but jets off to the United Kingdom the next morning for a medical check-up. In Nigeria, pastors pray and ask God to protect their members but employ the services of bodyguards. It won't be a surprise when Nigerian churches get enlisted in the Nigerian Stock Exchange for the public to buy shares. It is a fact that when you scare people badly enough, you can get them to do anything. I wasn't surprised to hear that a South African pastor ordered his congregation to eat grass, that it would bring them closer to God and of course, the members obeyed and ate to their fill. We heard of how a Kenyan pastor ordered all female members of his church to attend church services without bras and panties for Christ to enter their lives. My brothers and sisters in the Lord, do not be deceived by these pastors. Seek God's face, pray and read the scriptures and ask for the Holy Spirit's guidance and interpretation. The Bible says you should study to show yourself approved. As I end this article, my prayer is that rapture takes place on a Sunday during first service so that all fake pastors will be caught pants down. Amen. | ||
| New Video: Dr. David Olusegun Agbaje: I am a Nigerian Posted: 19 Jul 2014 01:47 AM PDT I am a Nigerian" is another poem written by Dr. David Olusegun Agbaje, a Nigerian Customs Officer, Poet and Literary Critic with Ph.D. in English. The poem is turned into music by Paramount Music, Nashvile, TN and produced by StarTune Records, USA. Enjoy and share your thoughts... | ||
| Posted: 18 Jul 2014 04:08 PM PDT | ||
| Peter Okoye replies those bashing him for snubbing his brother's wedding Posted: 18 Jul 2014 04:24 PM PDT | ||
| MBGN 2014 is Miss Akwa Ibom - Iheoma Nnadi (photos) Posted: 18 Jul 2014 03:08 PM PDT | ||
| The Miraculous Deliverance Of Oga Jona by Chimamanda Adichie Posted: 18 Jul 2014 02:36 PM PDT  As soon as he opened his eyes, he felt it. A strange peace, a calm clarity. He stretched. Even his limbs were stronger and surer. He looked at his phone. Thirty-seven new text messages – and all while he was asleep. With one click, he deleted them. The empty screen buoyed him. Then he got up to bathe, determined to fold the day into the exact shape that he wanted. Those Levick people had to go. No more foreign PR firms. They should have made that article in the American newspaper sound like him, they should have known better. They had to go. And he would not pay their balance; they had not fulfilled the purpose of the contract after all. Continue...He pressed the intercom. Man Friday came in, face set in a placidly praise-singing smile. "Good morning, Your Excellency!" "Good morning," Oga Jona said. "I had a revelation from God." Man Friday stared at him with bulging eyes. "I said I had a revelation from God," he repeated. "Find me new Public Relations people. Here in Nigeria. Is this country not full of mass communication departments and graduates?" "Yes, Your Excellency." Man Friday's eyes narrowed; he was already thinking of whom he would bring, of how he would benefit. "I want a shortlist on my table on Wednesday," Oga Jona said. "I don't want any of the usual suspects. I want fresh blood. Like that student who asked that frank question during the economic summit." "Your Excellency… the procurement rules…we need somebody who is licensed by the agency licensed by the agency that licenses PR consultants…" Oga Jona snorted. Man Friday used civil service restrictions as a weapon to fight off competition. Anybody who might push him out of his privileged position was suddenly not licensed, not approved, not registered. "I don't want you to bring your own candidates, do you hear me? I said I want fresh blood, I'm not joking." "Yes, Your Excellency," Man Friday said, voice now high-pitched with alarmed confusion. "Put that DVD for me before you go," Oga Jona said. He watched the recording on the widescreen television, unhappy with his appearance in the footage. His trousers seemed too big and why had nobody adjusted his hat? Next to The Girl from Pakistan, he looked timid, scrunched into his seat. She was inspiring, that young girl, and he wished her well. But he saw now how bad this made him appear: he had ignored all the Nigerians asking him to go to Chibok, and now The Girl From Pakistan was telling the world that he promised her he would go. He promised me, she said. As if the abducted Nigerian girls did not truly matter until this girl said they did. As if what mattered to him was a photo-op with this girl made famous by surviving a gunshot wound. It made him look small. It made him look unpresidential. It made him look like a leader without a rudder. Why had they advised him to do this? He pressed a button on his desk and waited. Violence was unfamiliar to Oga Jona. Yet when Man Monday came in, his belly rounded and his shirt a size too tight as usual, Oga Jona fought the urge to hit and punch and slap. Instead, he settled for less: he threw a teacup at Man Monday. "Why have you people been advising me not to go to Chibok? Why have you people been telling me that my enemies will exploit it?" "Sah?" Man Monday had dodged the teacup and now stood flustered. "I am going to Chibok tomorrow. I should have gone a long time ago. Now it will look as if I am going only because a foreigner, a small girl at that, told me to go. But I will still go. Nigerians have to see that this thing is troubling me too." "But Sah, you know…" "Don't 'Sah you know' me!" This was how his people always started. "Sah, you know…" Then they would bring up conspiracies, plots, enemies, evil spirits. No wonder giant snakes were always chasing him in his dreams: he had listened to too much of their nonsense. He remembered a quote from a teacher in his secondary school: 'The best answer to give your enemies is continued excellence.' What he needed, he saw now, was an adviser like that teacher. "Sah, the security situation…" "Have you not seen Obama appear in Afghanistan or Iraq in the middle of the night to greet American troops? Is Chibok more dangerous than the war the Americans are always fighting up and down? Arrange it immediately. Keep it quiet. I want to meet the parents of the girls. Make gifts and provisions available to the families, as a small token of goodwill from the federal government." He knew how much people liked such things. A tin of vegetable oil would soften some bitter hearts. "Sah…" "From Borno we go to Yobe. I want to meet the families of the boys who were killed. I want to visit the school. Fifty-nine boys! They shot those innocent boys and burnt them to ashes! Chai! There is evil in the world o!" "Yes Sah." "These people are evil. That man Yusuf was evil. The policemen who killed him, we have to arrest them and parade them before the press. Make sure the world knows we are handling the case. But it is even more important that we tell the true story about Yusuf himself. Yes, the police should not have killed him. But does that mean his followers should now start shedding blood all over this country? Is there any Nigerian who does not have a bad story about the police? Was it not last year that my own cousin was nearly killed in police detention? Let us tell people why the Army caught him in the first place. He was evil. Remember that pastor in Maiduguri that he beheaded. Find that pastor's wife. Let her tell her story. Let the world hear it. Show pictures of the pastor. Why have we not been telling the full story? Why didn't we fight back when The Man From Borno was running around abroad, blaming me for everything when he too failed in his own responsibilities?" Oga Jona was getting angrier as he spoke, angry with his people, angry with himself. How could he have remained, for so long, in that darkness, that demon possession of ineptitude? "Yes Sah!" "You can go." He picked up the iphone and spoke slowly. "I want to expand that Terror Victims Support Committee. Add one woman. Add two people personally affected by terrorism. How can you have a committee on terrorism victims with no diversity?" On the other end of the phone, the voice was stilled by surprise. "Yes Sah!" Finally emerged, in a croak. He put down the phone. There would be no more committees. At least until he was re-elected. And no more unending consultations. He picked up the Galaxy, scrolled through the list of contacts. He called two Big Men in the Armed Forces, the ones stealing most of the money meant for the soldiers. "I want your resignation by Friday," He said simply. Their shock blistered down the phone. "But Your Excellency…" "Or you want me to announce that I am sacking you? At least resignation will save you embarrassment." If those left knew he was now serious as commander-in-chief, serious about punishing misdeed and demanding performance, they would sit up. He ate some roasted groundnuts before making the next call. To another Big Man in the Armed Forces. They had to stop arresting Northerners just like that. He remembered his former gateman in Port Harcourt. Mohammed, pleasant Mohammed with his buck teeth and his radio pressed to his ear. Mohammed would not even have the liver to support any terrorist. He told the Big Man in the Armed Forces, "You need to carry people along. Win hearts and minds. Make Nigerians feel that you are fighting for them, not against them… And when you talk to the press and say that Nigerians should do their part to fight terrorism, stop sounding as if you are accusing them. After all, let us tell the truth, what can an ordinary person do? Nothing! Even those people who check cars, if they open a boot and see a big bomb, what will they do? Will they try to subdue an armed suicide bomber? Will they pour water on the bomb to defuse it? Will they not turn and run as fast as their legs can carry them? Let's start a mass education campaign. Get proposals on how best to do it without scaring people. When we tell Nigerians to report suspicious behavior, let's give them examples. Suspicious behavior does not mean anybody wearing a jellabiya. After all, was the one in Lagos not done by a woman?" He paused. "Yes, Your Excellency!" "As for the girls, we have to go back to negotiation. Move in immediately." "Yes, Your Excellency." "I should not have listened to what they told me in that Paris summit. Why did I even agree to follow them and go to Paris, all of us looking like colonised goats?" From the other end, came a complete and lip-sealed silence. The Big Man in the Armed Forces dared not make a sound, lest it be mistaken as agreement on the word 'goat.' Besides, he had been part of the entourage for that trip and had collected even more than the normal fat juicy estacode. "I don't want to hear about any other mutiny," Oga Jona continued. "You will get the funds. But I want real results! Improve the conditions of your boys. I want to see results!" The Big Man in the Armed Forces started saying something about the Americans. Oga Jona cut him short. "Shut up! If somebody shits inside your father's house, is it a foreigner that will come and clean the house for you? Is Sambisa on Google Maps? How much local intelligence have you gathered? Before you ask for help, you first do your best!" "Yes Your Excellency." "And why is it that nobody interviewed the girls who escaped?" There was a pause. "By tomorrow night I want a report on the local intelligence gathered so far!" "Yes, Your Excellency." Oga Jona turned on the television and briefly watched a local channel. Who even designed those ugly studio backgrounds? There was a knock on the door. It had to be Man Thursday. Nobody else could come in anyhow. "Good afternoon, My President," Man Thursday said. Short and stocky, Man Thursday was the soother who always came cradling bottles of liquid peace. This time, Oga Jona pushed away the bottle. "Not now!' "My President, I hope you're feeling fine." "I received a revelation from God. From now on, I will stop giving interviews to foreign journalists while ignoring our own journalists." "But My President, you know how useless our journalists are…" "Will Obama give an interview to AIT and ignore CBS?" "No, Your Excellency." "I know some of our journalists support Bourdillon, but we also have others on our side. I will beat them at their game! I want to do interviews with two journalists that support us and one journalist that supports Bourdillon. Find one that will be easy to intimidate." "But…" "I want names in the next hour." "Yes, Your Excellency." Man Thursday now stood still, lips parted in the slack expression of a person no longer sure what day it was. "Tell the Supporters Club to change their television advertisements. They should stop mentioning 'those who are against me.' I will no longer give power to my enemies. They should mention only the things that I am doing. I like that one with the almajiri boy. It shows Nigerians that I have helped with education in the North. They should make more advertisements like that." In response, Man Thursday could only nod vigorously but mutely. Later, after eating vegetable soup with periwinkle and a plate of sliced fruits – he was determined to keep himself from looking like Man Monday – he asked Sharp Woman to meet him in the residence. Not in the main living room, but in the smaller relaxing white parlor. Sharp Woman was the only one he fully trusted. He had sometimes allowed himself to sideline her, when he had felt blown this way and that way by the small-minded pettiness of other people. She was the only one who had not allowed him to dwell too much on his own victimhood. Once, she had told him quietly, "You have real enemies. There are people in this country who do not think you should be president simply because of where you come from. Did they not say they would make the country ungovernable for you? But not everything is the fault of your enemies. If we keep on blaming the enemies then we are making them powerful. The Bourdillon people are disorganized. They don't have a real platform. Their platform is just anti-you. They don't even have a credible person they can field, the only major candidate they have is the one they will not select. So stop mentioning them. Face your work." He should have listened then, despite the many choruses that drowned her voice. It was she who, a few days later, and after the four rubbish candidates stage-managed by Man Friday, brought the new PR people, Kikelola Obi, Bola Usman and Chinwe Adeniyi – when he first saw their names, he thought: and some crazy people are saying we should divide Nigeria. They were in their early thirties, with rough faces and no make up; they looked too serious, as if they attended Deeper Life church and disapproved of laughter. They started their presentation, all three taking turns to speak. They stood straight and fearless. Their directness and confidence unnerved him. "Sir, we voted for you the first time. We felt that you would do well if you had the mandate of the people instead of just an inherited throne. We liked you because you had no shoes. We really liked you. We had hope in you. You seemed humble and different. But with all due respect sir, we will not vote for you again unless something changes." He nearly jumped up from his seat. Small girls of nowadays! They had no respect! As if to make it worse, one of them added that if the election were held today, the only person she could vote for was The Man From Lagos. Oga Jona bristled. That annoying man. Even if a mosquito bit him in his state, he would find a way to blame the president for it. Still, Oga Jona could see why these foolish small girls were saying they would vote for him. The man had tried in Lagos. But their mentioning The Man From Lagos was now a challenge. He would rise to the challenge. "Sir, the good news is that Nigerians forgive easily and Nigerians forget even more easily. You have to change strategy. Be more visible. Stop politicizing everything. Stop blaming your enemies for everything. You have to be, and seem to be, a strong, uniting leader. Make sure to keep repeating that this is not a Muslim vs. Christian thing." Oga Jona cut in, pleased to be able to challenge these over-sabi girls. "You think Nigerians don't know that it is mostly Christian areas that they are targeting in Borno? And what about all those church bombings?" The three shook their heads, uniformly, like robots. They were sipping water; they had declined everything else. "With all due respect sir, if you look at the names of bombing victims, they are Muslims and Christians. If God forbid another terror attack occurs, you have to come out yourself and talk to Nigerians. Stop releasing wooden statements saying you condemn the attacks. We will prep you before each public appearance. You have a tendency to ramble. That's the most important thing to watch out for. Be alert when you answer each question. Keep your answers short. You don't have to elaborate if there is nothing to elaborate. Stick to the point. If they ask you something negative, be willing to admit past mistakes but always give the answer a positive spin. Something like 'yes, I could have handled it better and I regret that but I am now doing better, and am determined to do even more because Nigerians want and deserve results.' You have to start reaching out beyond your comfort zone. Nigeria has talent. Look for the best Nigerians on any subject at hand, wherever they may be, and persuade them to come and contribute on their area of expertise. Especially the ones who have no interest in government work. Even one or two who don't completely agree with you. Think of Lincoln's Team of Rivals." "What?" "Don't worry, sir. The important thing is to reach out beyond your circle. Oga Segi was not a calm person like you. He even used to threaten to flog people. But he had a good network. Jimmy Carter is his friend. If he needed expertise from a university in Zaria or Edinburgh or Boston, he would pick up his phone and know somebody who knew or somebody who knew somebody who knew. But with all due respect, sir, you don't have that. Bayelsa is a small place." These girls really had no respect o! He glared at Sharp Woman, who shrugged and muttered, "You said you wanted people who would tell you the truth." But he listened. In his first interview, the words rolled off his tongue. Those girls had made him repeat himself so many times. "I want to apologize to the Nigerian people for some actions of my government. We could have done better. No country fighting terrorism can let everything be open. But we owe our country men and women honest, clear assurance that we are taking decisive action, with enough details to be convincing. I ask for your prayers and support. I have directed the security services to set up a website that will give Nigerians accurate and up-to-date information about our war against terrorism. I have also hired specialists to manage the flow and presentation of the information." And the words came easily when he shook hands with the parents in Chibok, simple polite people who clutched his hand with both of theirs. He should have done this much earlier; it was so touching. "Sorry," he said, over and over again. "Sorry. Please keep strong. We will rescue them." The words were more reluctant when he wore a red shirt and asked to be taken to the gathering of The People in Red at the park. But he cleared his throat and urged himself to speak, particularly because, as he emerged from within his circle of security men, the People in Red all stopped and stared. Silence reigned. "I came to salute you," Oga Jona started. "We are on the same side. My government has made mistakes. We are learning from them and correcting them. Please work with us. Together, we will defeat this evil." They were still silent and still staring; they were disarmed. He thanked them and, before they could marshal their old distrust, he turned and left. That night, as he sank to his knees in prayer, he heard the muted singing of angels. Chimamanda Adichie is an award winning writer and author of bestsellers including Purple Hibiscus, Half of a Yellow Sun, The Thing Around Your Neck and Americanah. | ||
| 440.ng Announces More Mentors for Lagos Accelerator Posted: 18 Jul 2014 02:26 PM PDT  440.ng, the seed investment fund formed by L5Lab and 88MPH has announced more mentors for its 2014 accelerator program. Following on its success incubating startups like Jobberman and Cheki, L5Lab partnered with 88MPH to launch this program through which up to 10 startups will receive investment of between $20, 000 and $110, 000 and will also be admitted into a 3-month accelerator program where they will have the opportunity to be mentored by: Continue... Obinnia Abajue - Executive Director, Stanbic IBTC; Michael Ajereh (Don Jazzy) - Founder/CEO, Mavin Records; Elo Umeh - CEO Twinpine/Terragon Group; Obinna Ekezie - Co-founder, Wakanow; Ayo Olashoju - Founder, Tavia Technologies; Francis Ebuehi - Vice President, Value-Added Services, Airtel Nigeria; Adia Sowho - Head, Digital Media at Etisalat Nigeria; Hannes Van Resburg - Founder, Fundamo (sold to VISA); Denis O'Brien - Managing Director, Vanso International and BexNwawudu - Managing Director, CBO Capital. Chika Nwobi of L5Lab, said: "We are bringing domain experts from banking, telecommunications, transportation, music and other fields together to help guide entrepreneurs to success." Mentors previously announced includes: Mitchell Elegbe – Founding CEO of Interswitch, SimdulShagaya - Founder/CEO of Konga, Jay Alabraba - Co-Founder of Paga, Rafael Afedor - Co-founder of Jumia, AfamEdozie - Venture Capitalist and Founding CMO of MTN Nigeria, TomiHudonu - Country Manager of Cheki Nigeria and DejiAdewunmi - CEO/Co-founder of Jobberman. "With our strong set of mentors and network of VCs we hope to be able to help both early stage startups and also those who may have been going for a few years and now want to accelerate their growth through outside investment" said KrestenBuch of 88MPH. Interested startup companies have until July 31, 2014 to apply for investment at www.440.ng. | ||
| Pics: Aircraft carrying US soldiers crash lands on Ugandan Highway Posted: 18 Jul 2014 02:20 PM PDT  Reports say the plane which took off from the Entebbe airport in Uganda was heading to neighboring South Sudan when their aircraft was forced to turn back due to bad weather and then land on a highway after running out of fuel approximately 40 miles from the airport. Fortunately no on was injured. Continue...  Emergency teams from Entebbe International airport were quickly drafted to refuel the fixed-wing craft so that it could return to base. | ||
| Peter Okoye fires back... no time for nonsense...lol Posted: 18 Jul 2014 02:11 PM PDT |
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