DGN team (right) in group photograph with management of The Guardian (left) during the visit.

The president of the Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN), Fred Amata, has assured practitioners and lovers of Nollywood that his administration would ensure that the guild is properly structured for better performance.

Amata, who recently paid a courtesy call to at the Rutam House, Headquarters of The Guardian Newspapers in Lagos, expressed the determination of his team to take the guild to the next level.

Accompanied by some members of his executives, the DGN president informed that team was at The Guardian to solicit for media support in their effort to restructure the guild in the interest of practitioners in particular and the country in general.

Within few weeks of his administration, Amata informed that his team has identified some areas that needed to be worked on for the betterment of the association.

“We know the influences the guild can have in the growth and development of Nollywood and we have resolved to look into such areas; we need to restructure. Today, Nollywood is recognised all over the world as a phenomena, but for it to attain full potentials, a lot is vested on DGN to take it to the next level.”

He lamented the usual misunderstandings among practitioners in Nollywood, which he said is responsible for lack of development in the industry, assuring that his administration would do everything possible to achieved peaceful coexistence among practitioners.

“Sometimes, the industry is handicapped by a lot of court cases that have done nothing but set Nollywood back. However, we are lucky that DGN, over the years, has enjoyed some level of peace and understanding, unlike what is obtainable in some other guilds. But we are here today to let people know that we are ready to chart a favourable future for all,” he assured.

On the controversial Motion Picture Practitioners Council of Nigeria (MOPPICON) bill, which has sharply divided the industry, Amata, who is a member of the committee set up by the Federal Government to look into the bill, described it as a needed document to regulate the industry.

“In DGN, we believe MOPPICON bill is the way forward to the future of the industry. New filmmakers have come up with new film styles, but the practice needs to be protected. Nollywood has built more individuals, but not institutions, which is responsible for the crises we have today as a result of ego. On the other hand, we need to deal with the issue of pornography, which is gradually creeping into the industry. The bill will help deal with issues like this,” he said.

On the allegation that the bill is targeted at stifling filmmakers, Amata said, “I’m part of the committee and we’ve looked into the whole documents; there’s no place it talked about stifling practitioners. We believe that greater powers should be given to NCC and other agencies to fight piracy. If we can fight piracy and do proper taxation, it’s enough to build this industry.”

However, he noted that one area that most practitioners are not comfortable with is the issue of jail term for offenders.

“As much as practitioners are free to practice, there must be limitations and code of ethics to regulate the practice. All the recommendations have been put together and will be sent back to the government. For me, this is the bill that will take us to forward and not backwards,” he said.

In his effort to structure DGN, the Amata-led team has begun the process of creating zonal offices, aimed at empowering filmmakers in the grassroots.

In his response, the Editor of The Guardian, Abraham Ogbodo, who received the team in company of other top Guardian management, commended DGN for their initiative, urging them to carry all members along in their activities. He also assured the guild of the support of The Guardian in promoting Nigeria’s culture through films.

“It’s commendable that you are trying to build institutions and not individuals. If you are able to achieve that, in the end, it will be in the interest of Nollywood. The Guardian as a media organisation in committed to the development of our culture and tradition, which you represent. Anything that it takes to advance public interest is our concern,” he assured.

Nkechi, winner Lolo Igbo 2015.

Organisers of Igbo Award and Lolo Igbo pageant has unfolded plans for the second edition of the award and beauty pageant that took the Igbo nation by storm last year. The imitative is the brainchild of a multimedia company, Vine Shield limited in collaboration with the Enugu State Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

According to the Executive Director of the company Stanley Uche Okoronkwo, “this second edition will be grander than the first; we are putting everything in place to ensure we raise the bar this year. After a successful debut last year, all eyes are on us to see what we will do this year and we won’t disappoint.”

Igbo awards and Lolo Igbo pageant are events founded to celebrate sons and daughters of Igboland, who have excelled in their chosen fields. It is equally meant to celebrate the culture and values that the Igbo nation holds dear.

“Last year, we kept fate when we delivered a brand new Peugeot 307 car to the Lolo Igbo winner, Miss Nkechi Fuluife, an undergraduate of Geology and Mining in the Enugu state University of Science and Technology. She hails from Ezeagu local government in Enugu stat,” Okoronkwo noted

Impressed by her prize, Nkechi said,  “I’m happy that Vine Shield kept fate. Many pageant organisers always come up with one story or
the other to avoid giving out the star prize. I hereby call on all would be participants to do so with confidence. Lolo Igbo is a pageant you can trust and the form is just N5000,” she hinted.

The organisation’s head of marketing and sponsorship, Miss Success Julius called on cooperate bodies to embrace the award due to its
unique outlook.

“This Igbo award is designed to project the Igbo identity, promote hard work and compliment the sincerity of the Igbo nations. The pageant, Lolo Igbo, is designed to provide a platform for young Igbo daughters to serve humanity and empower community.”

The event holds on November 19, 2016 at the Dome Centre, Enugu.

Bill Gates

Microsoft founder, Bill Gates, is scheduled to appear on a special episode of MTV Base Meets, according to Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Africa. The US entrepreneur and philanthropist will make a special TV appearance in MTV Base Meets Bill Gates, discussing his views on the future of African technology, innovation and development with a group of African youth.

Produced by MTV Base Africa, the show will seat Bill Gates alongside a panel of leading African tech entrepreneurs, innovators and social investors making valuable contributions in the energy, employment, health, environment and education sectors. The panelists comprise Nigeria’s Chris Kwekowe (23), George Mtemahanji (23) from Tanzania, Brian Gitta (24) from Uganda, Thato Kgathlanye (23) and Siya Xuza from South Africa (27) and Martha Njeri Chumo (21) from Kenya.

Nigeria’s Chris Kwekowe is the co-founder of Slatecube, a service that adequately solves the constraints of e-learning to help solve youth unemployment in Nigeria. The firm aims to link more qualified and well-deserving Nigerian students with top-notch organisations. Nearly 200 individuals actively use the Slatecube service to take free courses, acquire new knowledge, read new books, and serve virtual internships.

A long-standing franchise of MTV internationally, the African iteration of “MTV Base Meets…” connects opinion formers and thought leaders with African youth by creating an intimate forum in which young people can pose candid questions about issues affecting their lives and futures.

Bill Gates’ connection with Africa stretches back to 1993, during a visit to Tanzania with Melinda. During the trip, the couple began discussing how they could use their wealth to give back to the world in an impactful way. He has subsequently been involved in development initiatives across Africa, most notably through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. In 2008, Bill Gates stepped down from Microsoft to focus on his work as co-chair of the foundation.

As co-chair, he works with Melinda to shape and approve grant making strategies, advocate for the foundation’s issues, and help set the overall direction of the organisation.

According to Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Africa, African youth are amazingly entrepreneurial, creative and committed to contributing to a positive future for the continent.

Vanessa Ikebudu

Wins Best Project Award In Bioengineering

A 20-year old Vivian Fowler Memorial College alumnus (class of 2011), Vanessa Ikebudu, has graduated in bioengineering from the Imperial College London in the top percentile, while her individual project work and presentation also won the Best Project Award of the 2016 class.

Vanessa’s project was based on an innovative, high-performance and low-cost variation of a breath condenser, which could be used to liquefy breath to form condensates that can be tested for various biomarkers associated with different diseases. The exhaled breath condenser is a new non-invasive technology, which instead of using more invasive human samples such as blood or human tissue would analyse breath for different biomarkers such as hydrogen, nitrogen oxide and even DNA, which mark for diseases such as asthma and lung cancer.

This portable device is suitable for home use and at the current stage of development weighs the same as a tea mug. By simply breathing into the apparatus, individuals would be able to determine if they are developing diseases before showing alarming symptoms such as breathlessness or coughing up blood. Therefore, diagnosis would be more in the hands of ordinary people enabling diseases to be detected sooner than later and ensuring that medical intervention would be of maximum impact.

She noted that, “this is an era when members of her generation, otherwise known as ‘Generation Z’ or ‘Gen Z’ are deemed to be screen addicts, possessing the attention span of eight seconds and seeking immediate validation and acceptance through social media. They are also beset with questionable role models, who to a great extent comprise of the constant media stream of ‘celebrity types,’ having as their main motivations in life, shameless self-promotion and aggrandizement.”

While describing Vanessa’s achievements as worthy of high praise and emulation, Fowler said, “ I strongly believe that this is the beginning of great things for Vanessa and I would passionately encourage the Nigerian youth to take a page from her book and face the future with confidence and in the belief that you are important and relevant regardless of your circumstances. Hence, those who lack the resources or support to access premier citadels of learning, should not despair or consider the situation to be an insurmountable hurdle in the pursuance of legitimate and noble career objectives, rather this challenge should supply the necessary impetus to embark on a path of brilliance, using the materials and resources which cost little and are readily available,” she said.

Imperial College is the leading academic facility in the UK for high impact research and attracts undergraduates from over 125 countries. The university’s focus is in science and technology and it is considered to be among the most innovative tertiary Institutions in Europe and their august membership includes 14 Nobel Laureates.

The discovery of penicillin, which began the era of antibiotics, is attributed to Sir Alexander Fleming, who made his discovery from some dirty dishes. The laboratory where he made his discovery is preserved as the Sir Alexander Fleming laboratory museum, St. Mary’s Hospital, Paddington and forms a part of the Imperial College Health Care Trust.

Unequivocally one of the most important medical discoveries known to man, penicillin, was initially called ‘mould juice,’ likely due to the absence of grandiosity and fanfare surrounding its discovery.

UNILAG

The Institute of Continuing Education (ICE), University of Lagos, would from August 2016 commence a first degree evening programme in Mass Communication.

This was contained in a release jointly signed by the Head of Department of Mass Communication, Associate Professor Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika and the Co-ordinator of the programme, Dr. Tayo Popoola.

The programme, which is planned to take care of all categories of students who want to have a degree in mass communication has a five-year programme for school certificate holders, a four-year programme for holders of diploma certificates in mass communication from schools recognised by UNILAG Senate and a three-year programme for Higher National Diploma (HND) certificate holders in Mass Communication.

Chidinma Okeke. PHOTO: missintercontinental.com

As the Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) gears up for this year’s Miss Anambra Beauty Pageant billed for October 25, 2016, the reigning Queen, Chidinma Okeke, who has been enjoying the limelight since her emergence, is now preparing to officially handover the crown to a new queen.

Already, the production team has since commenced work for this year’s show, while the judges are battling with hundreds of entries from where the finalists would emerge.

Speaking on the event, the Manag­ing Director and CEO of ABS, Uche Nworah assured that the pageant this year will eclipse previous editions, as the winner will walk away with fantastic prizes, empowerment and skill development oppor­tunities courtesy of the organisers and partners.

“Anambra continues to excel in all the sectors since Chief Willie Obiano became the governor two years ago. The state is now the safest in Nigeria hence social life has since returned. This is our own way of leveraging on the peace and security which exists in the state by providing world class entertainment and beauty pageant that meets international standard for Ndi Anambra and visitors to enjoy,” Nworah said.

While stating that the pageant has grown in stature, as reputable brands such as Kia Motors, Air Peace, Rockland Real Estate, Rise Clincs, M-P Infrastructure Ltd, New Crystal Communications Ltd, Let’s Partner With You Ltd etc have partnered with the project, Nworah said, “this is part of our commitment to the development of Anambra women; Miss Anambra in a beauty pageant aimed at showcasing beauty and brains. The pageant would usher in a new experience in the world of pageantry in Anambra, as well as honour outstanding women. Organising this event and other similar events is in line with the mandate of the Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) and its objectives of informing, educating and entertaining our audience. It is also a manifestation of our repositioning from being a broadcast organisation to a media and entertainment brand.”

Past winners include Miss Chizoba Ejike, who won in 2014 and is the current Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) Tourism and Chidinma Okeke, the current Miss Anambra, who represented Nigeria at the Miss Intercontinental Pageant held in Frankfurt in 2015.

The resident judges of the pageant include Miss Nwando Okwuosa (Miss Nigeria 2003 and Creative Director of Miss Anambra pageant), Olisa Adibua of Beat FM and Ifeanyi Okonkwo of Message Boutique, while event planner Rita Idehen and former national beauty queens such as Ene Lawani and Omotu Bis­song have featured as guest judges on the pageant.

Within it’s short period of operation in the industry, the Temple Management Company (TMC) is set to raise the bar in the creative talent management sphere in Nigeria with the launch of a 360 management company.

At a time of rising global recognition and demand for the work of Nigerian creative talents, the perennial challenge has been that to compete properly with their international counterparts, Nigerian creatives need better branding, access and positioning. Industry experts have also pointed out that brands have failed to maximise their potential because of the sub-par representation they currently get.

TMC, which began operations in March 2016, primarily in the entertainment, sports, media and art sectors, is set to change all that, and bring Nigerian talents to the same table with their international counterparts. Incorporated in Nigeria with strong international affiliations across Africa, North America, and Europe, TMC was founded by serial investor and art aficionado Idris Olorunnimbe.

According to Mr. Olorunnimbe, who also serves as Chief Executive Officer said, “with the constant expansion of the entertainment industry and growth of sporting activities, our vision is to remain the leading African talent and event management outfit, representing the biggest talents in entertainment, sports, media, the arts and other relevant areas.”

According to him, TMC will focus on the core functions of talent representation but will, allied with corporate organisations, also provide a wide range of financial and advisory services, manage endorsement portfolios, and package bespoke events for domestic and international markets.

Within a short spell, TMC has already sent shock-waves into the industry by signing management deals with some of Nigeria’s biggest talents, including Nigeria’s biggest record label Mavin Records, renowned disc jockey DJ Jimmy Jatt, award-winning visual artist and writer Victor Ehikhamenor, media personality Bunmi Davies, artist/jeweller Mode Aderinokun and the doyenne of Nigerian broadcast media, Funmi Iyanda.

After signing the deal with TMC a few weeks ago, Mavin Records CEO, Don Jazzy, said, “We are stepping into the future with The Temple Management Company as they redefine creative talent management in Nigeria.”

The TMC board includes notable individuals such as Mr. Tunde Folawiyo and Mr. Ajibola Abudu. The diversity of the Executive team includes individuals who have worked with Nigeria’s leading law firm, Zenith Bank, Samsung, McDonalds, Nestle UK, Eurosport, the English Football Association, 234Next, the Lagos State Government and in the music industry, with LA Reid, Pharrell, Jamie Foxx and Sean ‘P Diddy’ Combs.

The Enugu State House of Assembly has commended the level of training, retraining, management and application of resources at the State University of Science and Technology (ESUT).

This commendation came as the Vice Chancellor of the School, Prof Luke Anike disclosed that about 265 adjunct lecturers exist in the school, lamenting that no university could function effectively or deliver its mandate with this kind of arrangement.

Speaking when he led members of the State House Committee on education on oversight function of the institution, the Chairman, Matthew Ugwueze, stated that the school had done well in maintaining uninterrupted academic calendar among others, irrespective of lean resources.

Anike said, “most of the capital projects going on in the school are sponsored by Tetfund and the presidential intervention.”

He announced that the newly established Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences has taken off, even though it still awaits the verification of the National University Commission (NUC) to enable it have legal footing.

“We are are preparing for accreditation by the Dental and Medical Council of Nigeria for the College of Medical Sciences. We are hoping that by September we would be able to present it for accreditation. We are working round the clock to ensure this. We have made some renovation of hostels and improved on other facilities,” he said.

The VC also disclosed that the school is ready for the 2015 tranche of Tetfund for her projects.

Osasogie

After months of working on location with cast and crew, Nollywood filmmaker Egbon Joshua Osasogie is now gearing up for the premiere of his latest movie. Though the title is yet to be made public, the star-studded flick is billed for premiere sometime in October.

In a chat with the filmmaker on his latest movie project, Broken Water-Pot director said his passion for filmmaking has kept him in Nollywood. The Benin City, Edo State born Osasogie recalled that his career in Nollywood started in 2005, when he joined the industry as a production assistant.

However, today, Osasogie has risen to the pinnacle of his career through dint of hard work, perseverance and God’s love.

While shedding light on his achievements in Nollywood, the amiable filmmaker with six short films, three feature length films and one historic documentary to his credit, further revealed that work had gone far on his forthcoming cinema movie.

“We are keeping the title of this big budget movie under wraps for now, pending when we are fully ready to unleash it to Nigeria and the rest of the world. We have set aside the first week of October for its world premiere. It will break in all Nigerian cinemas the week preceding the premiere. We have put in so much into this project. Nollywood has done so much for my career and me and the only way I can pay back is to remain focused and steadfast on my job as a professional filmmaker,” he said.

MTV VJ Ehiz

MTV Base has annpounced plans to commence audition for thousands of potential new VJs to represent the youth and music channel. Billed for August, the music channel is on the hunt for a smooth-talking, quick-thinking, music-loving newcomer with swag and a big personality to become the stand-out new Nigerian VJ (TV presenter) for the youth and music channel.

Interested participants are to visit the 2016 MTV Base VJ Search - Nigeria auditions for the chance to impress the judges and win a 2-year contract with MTV Base worth a cool 20 million Naira. The new VJ will become one of the key faces of the music network, hosting programmes on MTV Base. The winner will also interview stars, emcee parties and concerts, walk the red carpet at entertainment events and travel all over the world representing MTV Base.

According to schedule made available by the orgasnisers, auditions will be held at NAF Conference Centre & Suites, Abuja (9 August), De Dome, Enugu (12 August) and the Classique Event Centre, Lagos (16 August) strating from 9am each day.

MTV Base’s brand new VJ will be following in the footsteps of MTV Base veteran Ehiz Okoeguale, who won the channel’s second Nigerian VJ search back in 2013, and was transformed overnight from a job-seeker to a bona fide TV star!  Ehiz has subsequently hosted a multitude of MTV Base programmes and showbiz events, including the Official Naija Top 10, Word on the Street, and Real Talk, and interviewed stars from Lagos to Amsterdam and Hollywood, including artists like Tinie Tempah, Wale, Jidenna, Davido, Wizkid and Tiwa Savage.

“The most important quality required in an MTV Base VJ is that they should have the ability to communicate with and connect to our audience,” Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Africa, said.

“We’re looking for someone, who lives and breathes contemporary youth culture, with a strong personality, and the energy and confidence to build their brand and make a long-term career in the entertainment business.”

The MTV Base VJ Search is open to Nigerian citizens aged between 18-25, with fluent spoken English and a valid Nigerian passport.  Applicants already associated with another major TV or radio station are not eligible to participate. The winner will be revealed on 25 September 2016.

Okumagba

Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital is currently in frenzy mood ahead of the commencement of Warri’us Music Search Season Two, with the organisers targeting over 10,000 contestants. Already, the release of registration forms for participants has set the tone for the show.

The first auditions are slated for September 2 to 3, 2016, while forms are selling at the cost of three thousand naira (N3,000) each at all Fidelity Bank branches in the South-South region, Fidelity online marketplace, www.greenmall.ng and www.warrius.com.

According to the organisers, the scope of Warrius 2016, which will climax on October 1, in Warri, Delta State, has been expanded to accommodate the six South-South states. Zonal auditions will be held in Port Harcourt, Benin City, Calabar before the grand finale in Warri on October 1.

Warrius is a brainchild of Autoserve Entertainment Centre boss, Mitaire ‘Mimi’ Okumagba. According to him, the show, which offers N1m star prize alongside a music recording deal, is aimed at discovering the enormous talent imbued in several unprivileged youths residing in South-South Nigeria.

All finalists, Okumagba said, would also go home with consolation prizes, which further serves as a platform to take the mind of the youths off crude oil wealth and focus on ways to harness their God-given potentials.

Warri’us 2016 ambassador, Victor AD, who won the 2015 edition, is already making waves in the music industry with his first single, Bigger You, with his video to be shot by Unlimited L.A, Headies Award 2015 winner.

“Winning Warrius 2015 has now given me a bigger platform to express myself musically. I encourage upcoming musicians not to give up on their dreams. Bigger You is my prayer, as you aspire regardless of your present challenges,” the young talent said.

Ladipo

Popular Lagos celebrity hangout, O’jez, will come alive today, as the COME July 30, as the monthly O’jez Soccer/Celebrity Fans Nite Out will play host to Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, President General, Nigeria Football Supporters and Other Sports Club. The party, which will host friends and colleagues of the celebrant, will start at 7pm

Dr. Ladipo has been an ardent supporter of Nigerian sportsmen and women for over three decades, leading a large contingent of drummers, dancers and singers to any sporting event Nigeria are participating.

The O’jez Soccer Fans Nite, a night of music, comedy, awards and dance is designed to create a platform for brands to have a one on one contact with soccer fans, showcase the activities of the Nigeria Premier League, international football, as well as promote peace, love and unity among Nigerian soccer fans.

The maiden edition, which held in May was dedicated to former Super Eagles goalkeeper and captain Peter Rufai (Dodo Mayana), Mumuni Alao, sports journalist and Group MD, Complete Communications as well as renowned comedian Gbenga Adeyinka, who all received the O’jez Lifetime Achievements Award.

Highlife musician and co coordinator of the event, Peterson Agu, promised a night of glamour, music, comedy and dance.

“I promise you that it will be a night to remember, expectedly because we have top class comedians such as Elder O, MC Phrymzo and ATM among other acts lined up to thrill you. There will be plenty music and dance.

Amira (left) and Nduka after their emergence.

For displaying great attributes that exemplified the core values of Rainbow College, Ogun state, Okoro Amira and McAusten Eze Nduka, have been adjudged winner of the Face of Rainbow contest in the female and male category, respectively.

The duo who are students of the college, during the contest exhibited courage, splendor, originality and skillfulness in the entire stages which led to the emergence as the new faces of the college.

The event, which featured 23 participants from the college (Day and Boarding), starred various genres of entertainment and artistic displays, in which the students showcased their individual beauty and aura in their casual, traditional and dinner outfits.

She disclosed that the contest is a yearly exercise where students are judged on composure, talent, elocution, and their ability to embody the core values of the college.

For the Judges at contest, which included Mr. Thomas Ashu; Mrs Sahara Obende; Mrs Victoria Peregrino; Mrs Remi Ademulegun and Media Personality, Miss Idia Aisen, “it was a tough task deciding the winners as all the students had performed gorgeously. The runners-up, both SS-2 students, were Iwunze Zoe and Shekoni Sheyitan.

They were given a cash prize of N50,000 each while the winners went home N100,000. They will also feature in the school’s promotional programmes, projects, exhibition amongst other benefits.

All contestants were presented with a certificate of participation. The awards were presented to them by the Proprietress, Mrs. Oludolapo Odunlami, and Director of Technology, Mr. Ayodeji Odunlami. Highlights of the event include a special musical performance by 13-year old Kathy and the brief appearance of Nollywood Actress, Toyin Aimakhu who also came to grace the occasion.

Temmy Sax

Popularly known as Temmy Sax, Temitayo Kehinde is an eight years old music talent, who started playing saxophone at the age of six. Though still in primary five, Temmy is indeed a bunch of talent, as he’s endowed with different gifts including ability to play chess, football and lately, the saxophone. A mathematician in the making, he once represented Lagos State in the yearly National Mathematic competition and was later invited as a guest artiste to play at the birthday celebration of governor Akinwunmi Ambode. In this interview with ENIOLA DANIEL, the first runner up in the God’s Children Great Talent (GCGT) show spoke on his love for music and desire to inspire his generation.

Can you give a brief background of yourself?
My name is Temitayo Kayode, I’m from Kogi State, and I’m eight years old. My father’s name is Kayode Sunday. I attend Toygram Joy Children School, Gbagada and currently in primary five upper. We are members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God and attend Solutions Centre Parish in Gbagada. I come from a family of five, comprising of my father, mother and my younger twin sisters, who are six years old. How did music start for you, especially the saxophone?
My dad sings and plays the keyboard; my mum sings and dances. My younger sisters also like to sing and dance like my mum, but none of them plays the saxophone.

So, how did you learn to play the instrument?
It started with me watching saxophone players on YouTube and I picked interest in it. I developed interest because there was something about the way they played it that caught my interest. I liked to watch professional players like Mike Aremu, who became my inspiration. I later asked my parents to get me a saxophone teacher, though dad did not believe I had the gift because no one plays the sax in my house. But finally, my mum got me a teacher, who helped me to improve my skills.

You once played for Lagos State governor on his birthday, how were you selected and how was the experience?
My friend’s mum, who knows I play the sax, met my dad and they discussed about my gift and how I could play the sax very well. She later informed my dad that she will be attending the governor’s birthday celebration and would like me to play for the governor. I believe the governor liked what I did for him that day. For me, it was a great opportunity.

What did you learn from being in the competition?
GCGT is a great platform and while I was competing there, I was taught how to have courtesy and etiquette. I was groomed to develop my talents even more but to continue being humble and to remember that all talent is from God. I like the way it was organised because we were all well groomed and trained to be very confident, especially when performing on stage. Every year, the competition seems to improve more than the previous years.

At what age did you discover this talent of yours?
I discovered it when I was four years old, after which I took more interest in it and started developing it even more. I was even more inspired by a great Sax players like Mike Aremu.

How’s your relationship with friends?
It has been good because I have remained myself. I have always been a free person and I respect my elders and even greet younger people. GCGT has taught me humility and to always remember the child of whom I am.

How do you cope with school and your music?
I don’t really play all the time; I rehearse mainly once a week. For now, I face my studies. However, when I’m done with my exams, I will practise more than once a week.

Have you got the opportunity to play at public events?
Last year, I was invited to play at Mummy GO’s birthday, a party hosted for the Chairman of Wema Bank and to minister at Victory House, in the United States of America, as well as Victory House in London. All these people requested for me specifically to come play and minster to people.

What kind of support have you received from your parents so far?
They have been great; they helped me to improve when I first picked interest. My dad has been the one managing me, especially when people request that I come and play for them. I currently rehearse on my own and continue to improve from where my teacher stopped because my teacher is pursuing a course now and cannot continue to come as regularly as he would like to.

Have you started earning money through your performances?
I am earning money, but I don’t even want to think about it for now. All I want to do is glorify God with my talent and inspire people. Already, I teach a few people how to play like my friend Tobi; he’s already playing well, though not as good as me. I want to teach as many people as I can so that they too can glorify God with their talent.

Danisa (right) with Michael Fourage on set of Chameleon.

After months of working on his latest movie project in Luxemburg, Chameleon, David Ivan Danisa is currently in the country ahead of the premiere of the movie that exposes illegal activities in the Nigerian oil and gas sector. Though no exact date has been given for the premiere, it’s confirmed that movie, which will definitely reopen debates on illegal activities in the oil rich Niger Delta region, will hit big screen this month.

Chameleon tells the story of two antagonistic and ruthless characters, one originating from Luxembourg and the other, a Nigerian spy, on an important mission. Lucio won’t be prevented from achieving his strategic business goals in Africa. How does this relate to Muda’s mission in Europe? Muda is not exactly the person he was initially presented as. He is in search of something else. What? Why is he in Europe, and what brings him to Luxembourg? These are some of the questions the movie seeks to provide answers to.

Speaking at a press screening of the movie in Lagos, Danisa, a one-time practising journalist in Nigeria, informed that it took the production crew two years to get the movie ready for viewers.
Shots on locations in Lagos, Calabar and different cities in Luxembourg, Paris, Brussels, Danisa noted that Chameleon could be used as a political tool in a developmental way to help the Nigerian oil sector. It is borne out of the need to expose the illegalities and criminal activities of a ruthless network of individuals spread across different continents. It stars Danisa, who also doubled as the writer and producer, Michael Fourage, Carlos Ferreira, Juliana Alves Rosa, Yolanda Trono and Mendaly Ries and others.

With a degree in History, Danisa started his career as an investigative journalist in Nigeria, reporting on the energy desk, which gave him the opportunity to travel far into the creeks while working on some oil and gas stories.

“I wrote and produced my first ever movie on my investigations on the stealing of Nigerian crude oil in exchange for weapons. The zeal to inform people about what is happening around them in their localities in a language they can easily relate to, informed my decision to shoot Chameleon. I want to tell them the story and present it the way they will understand.”

He continued: “As a young child, at age nine, I started reading the newspaper, armed with a degree in History I joined journalism writing for the foreign desk and later moved around the various desk and then to the Business and Energy desk. All this prepared me for this movie,” he said.

As for the reality of some of the issues raised in his movie, the filmmaker explained, “I will say they are 100% facts. I was a journalist in Nigeria, I studied History and some of the issues discussed in this movie are things I wrote on while in school. I also work in the financial institution abroad and I have worked on cases involving Nigerians, which I can’t talk about here. There are arms being shift to Nigeria as we speak and those arms are coming in for destruction,” he said.

Aside for entertainment, Danisa is on a mission with Chameleon.“I have discussed this with my boss as an editor long time before now and I think I am like a wizard. I do something independently on my environment and then I see interrelationship of an article I did days back becoming a national issue. I know when I started writing this story, it was not so big an issue in Nigeria; it was just a reflection of ideas I try to develop as a child. Sometimes, you think you are working independently and not being influenced by the variables in the environment but subconsciously it just might. Perhaps, that’s just it; this is a big issue now and our existence as a country is being threatened by it. You know this movie will create a lot of debates and discussions, are you prepared for that? I will say I am not afraid to say that I took a political position. I think it can be used as a political expression in a political way,” he said.

Mother of Producer-in-Chief, Yoshey Ventures Ltd., Mrs Abiola Adedayo (left); wife of Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaja Kudirat Muhammed; Producer-in-Chief, Yoshey Ventures Ltd., Engr Fadesola Adedayo; wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs Bolanle Ambode; and Dr. Adesola Adedayo at the official inauguration of Live Well Bia outlet in Lagos last Tuesday

The Acting Managing Director, Bank of Industry, Mr. Waheed Olagunju, says young entrepreneurs will lead the recovery of Nigerian economy.Olagunju said this on Tuesday in Lagos at the opening of Live Well Bia Foods Outlet in Surulere, Lagos.

According to him, improved investment will activate quick recovery of the economy of the country which has been in a state of decline.“Supporting young entrepreneurs through funding is necessary to improve the quality of life of many Nigerian youths with desire to be self reliant.

“BoI will continue to support youths with innovative projects like this venture because he has not just created a job for himself, but many others in the value chain. “Visionary and talented youths with viable business plan would be supported by the bank to drive the industrialisation of the country.

Olagunju urged parents to support their children in their quest for success in their entrepreneurial ventures. Mr. Fadesola Adedayo, the Managing Director, Live Well Bia Outlet, said that passion, mentoring and finance were critical to budding entrepreneurs

“I want to produce a brand that will make people healthy.  Live Well Bia is about giving life and energy to Nigerians and everyone in the world at large.“Nigeria has a lot of agricultural products that can be explored to add value to people’s life and the economy, I will implore entrepreneurs to tap into these resources so that’s we can build our country’s economy.

“I appreciate Bank of Industry for its encouraging budding entrepreneurs through funding and also Prinsult Consulting for holding my hands through the business development stage of the project,” he said. Mrs Raliat Oyetunde, the Chief Executive Officer, Prinsult Consulting, said that BoI and Heritage Bank Small and Medium Enterprises supported programmes would take the country out of recession through the youths.

“It is in time of recession that new millionaires will emerge. This is an opportunity for the young ones between 18 and 35 years to key into the various financing channels of the banks. “The documentation and financing of this project was concluded with due diligence within six weeks which for me is a big feat. We need more young entrepreneurs like Fadesola to take Nigeria to the next level because the outlet will be opened in 47 other locations across the country before the year ends.”

Alhaji Lai Mohhammed and Wakaa The Musical producer, Bolanle Austen-Peters at the London show.

This production can be ranked high anywhere in the world. There is no dull moment in the entire package,’’ the Minister said in a statement issued in London on Sunday. ‘’I’m proud of the producer. I am proud of the entire cast.’’He urged investors to support the Nigerian Creative Industry in order to boost the sector

We must find a way to promote the sector and I am using this opportunity to appeal to the private sector to invest heavily to give the sector the desired muscle, as this drama has brought to the fore the quantum of potentials that can be tapped,’’ Alhaji Mohammed said.

Alhaji Mohammed said the Ministry, working with local and international partners like the Tony Elumelu Foundation and the British Council, is paying special attention to the capacity building of culture and tourism managers in a deliberate effort to revive the nation’s creative arts, boost tourism and create employment for Nigerians, particularly the rural dwellers.

Jonathan Adegbite of Heritage Bank (left); Olisa Adibua, Producer of Bukas and JointsBiola Alabi and Ozena Utulu, Brand Compliance Officer, Heritage Bank

After a success debut, Biola Alabi Media has unveiled plans to start airing for the second season of the TV show Bukas And Joints. The show, which has been an instant hit, follows the host Olisa Adibua, as he travelled around the country and beyond, exploring the culture of Nigerians through our unique foods.

It comes with humour injected by Olisa and some strange never seen before meals, viewers were soon waiting by their TV sets every Sunday at 7pm to see what Olisa will be eating next.From the pacesetter city of Ibadan to the Centre of excellence, Lagos and to the heart of London, the 13-episode, 30-minute production of Biola Alabi Media, not only dazzles in its central narrative which is an expose on the richness of the African culture and its diverse cuisines, it also serves to usher business owners into the spotlight.

For the second season, Adibua returns as show host and this time around, he is taking on joints beyond our borders, sharing the richness of African cuisines at home and aboard. The show will allow everyone from Africans to Europeans from every culture and in-between to explore the wide range and diversity of the African palette.

She also explains that the new season will have a wider reach than the first. “The second season of Bukas and Joints is expanding its reach beyond the confines of our continent. There are a lot of untold stories behind the evolution of our cuisines over time, and we are looking to get a global perspective on the imprints our cuisines have made over different cultures,” Alabi said.

She thanked partners and sponsors of the show for their resolve to help showcase the African culture through our unique foods. The sponsors of the show are Coca Cola, Heritage Bank, UAC Grand Oil and Nestle Maggi.

Biola Alabi, the show’s creator and executive producer, oversaw the production of some of the most successful shows in Africa like Big Brother Africa, Face of Africa and the first ever Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards, while serving as the managing director of MNET Africa.

CEO, Olakunle Soriyan Company (left); Mr. Olakunle Soriyan; convener, EIL, Dr. Femi Paul and CEO ImagePro Consulting Ltd. Mrs. Evelyn Femi-Paul at the unveiling of EIL Campus edition held recently at UNILAG. 

Addressing the students, Dean of Students Affairs, University of Lagos, Prof. Tunde Babawale said there is need for the youths to imbibe the culture of excellence in their daily lives, for them to excel, as they are the leaders of tomorrow.

According to the Visionary & Convener of Excellence in Life, Dr Femi Paul, the EIL Campus edition is taking a step in the right direction to inspire youths to have a change of culture. It is a periodic workshop aimed at eradicating mediocrity from the society, transforming mindset and optimizing potential. He however promised that the EIL Campus would take place in as many universities as possible within the country.

Commenting with excitement, the students expressed great delight at the life-changing experience for them as they unanimously voted the EIL Campus as one of the most impactful events that they have ever attended, and advised the organizers to take the programme to all universities in Nigeria.

EIL campus attracted some key industry influencers among whom are Mrs.Evelyn Femi-Paul, CEO & Founder, ImagePro Consulting Limited; Kehinde Bankole (Best Actress, AMVCA 2015); Lolade Ogunjimi, Founder & CEO, Dainty Affairs; Mercy Makinde, CEO of iAspire Radio (the first 24/7 motivational radio in Nigeria.
 
 
 
 
 

Bissong

From winning the 2003 edition of Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, Ohumotu Cecilia Bissong has become a frontline model, television presenter, and actress, with the latter seeing her play Funke Lawal in Desperate Housewives Africa. In this interview with CHUKS NWANNE, the graduate of Economist spoke on her career and values that drive her life and art.

You contested for and won the crown as Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria in your teens. How did that happen, given that some parents seem not confortable with their children getting involved in pageantry?
I think people just had a misconception about pageantry; some parents feel it’s a distraction as opposed to celebrating beauty with brains. But for the most part, I believe that has all fizzled out. I remember when I wanted to contest for Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MGBN); I called my sister up and asked her to get the form for me, which she did. We submitted the form and it was time for the auditions; the audition was on a Sunday and my sister was taking me, but I hadn’t told my mum. She noticed we weren’t getting ready for church and so she asked why, I then told her we got the form for MBGN and that day was the audition. She asked, ‘you want to compete for the pageant,’ and I answered ‘yes.’ She said, ‘okay, you have my blessing, the same with my dad. Whatever I needed, they were there for me. So, I’m super-grateful for that. I guess I was fortunate; my parents were supportive but a lot of parents are today.

What did you learn from competing for the MBGN crown?
I think that what opportunities like that do for you is to allow you explore the values that your background has instilled in you. People engage in pageantry and go away with different lessons, so, what I think is that it just opens a vista for you to actualise your personality. For me, I was raised to listen, to be sympathetic, to be humble and to have a voice. Pageantry was a phase in which I was able to independently experiment with and validate everything that my parents thought me; my core belief shaped me. Pageantry made me use my voice with grace and gave me a wider medium.

You are presently in the showbiz industry, how come you studied economist in the university?
Yes it was deliberate, that was what I applied to study in the university, Economics or Accounting. I was also modelling; it has always been something I enjoyed doing when I was younger. When I was asked ‘what do u want to become,’ I would say, ‘I want to study Accounting or Economics and I want to be a big time model.’ And somehow, it happened that way, the power of words.

How did you land your role in Desperate Housewives and what has that opportunity done for you?
There was an open call for actors, which I attended and a casting process. The casting process was something else; it was different from any other casting I had attended then. We were called back for readings over a period of about 2-3weeks and it was always packed; the competition was stiff. And then, months after that whole process, we were picked; I think I was quiet for a few minutes when I was called and told about being picked.

Given where you are and what you have done for yourself, it won’t be out of place to describe you as a role model for the youth, what message would you want to pass across to today’s young people especially those who may be interested in the arts?
If it is what you are certain you want to do, then go for it. Sometimes, we all see the glitz and glamour and feel it’s an easy job; actors and entertainers are very hard workers. It’s a lot of long hours and embodying a character isn’t as easy as it looks. For me, I fell in love with the craft and it’s not all rosy; it comes with a lot of challenges. Nollywood has grown in leaps and bounds, but we are still on a journey that has its pitfalls. However, I believe if you fall in love with whatever you are doing or even if you find yourself working in a situation where you are not in love with the job, discipline is something that is important.

What improvements will you like to see in Nollywood?
When I look at how much Nollywood has grown, I’m happy. We are growing day-by-day, movie-by-movie. We do have challenges, sometimes a producer says, ‘oh, my budget is low,’ so, they want to pay little or nothing for actors. There are funding difficulties. There is also the challenge of ‘gate crashers’; some people trying to break into the industry will rather buy instagram followers than study the craft. So, that a producer can book them for the job based on that, and for some people that works. But then, you watch the movie and the mediocrity shows.

There are issues with getting clear sound because of the power situation; you can almost not shoot without a generator. Then there is the need for more support and recognition from the government that, if Nollywood is properly structured and managed, can create more jobs and is also a great export for the country. This also includes concrete enforcement against piracy; all these will go a long way. Government needs to look at what Hollywood contributes to the State of California and see the potentials of a movie industry. For practitioners, we are learning as we go; we are definitely moving towards the right direction.