Ifedayo Stephen Oghenetega aka Otega Ojogbo Boy is rated as one of the most creative talents in the Nigerian music industry.
Otega first showed glimpses of his budding career when in 2018, he released his breakthrough track, ‘Stay Woke’, and featured rapper, CDQ. From then, Otega’s music career assumed a new dimension as he went on to release more songs that topped music charts.
The entertainer describes music as his main source of happiness and wants to share with the world what it means to be happy to make good music and be happy at it.
Speaking about his fast rise on the music scene, the singer said while he appreciates the success he has recorded as a singer, he would not want to be seen as just a successful singer but a prolific songwriter and rapper whose lyrics pierces through the souls of many music lovers around the globe.
“My songs are not for a section of the industry or people. My songs come from the recesses of my heart and they are meant for every man who wakes to make a living; everyone who looks up to God for hope and restoration; it is for the artisans and every man on the street trying to eke a living”, he said.
With a studio album entitled ‘Really Bhard’ to his credit, Otega says his game keeps getting better with new sounds and, adding that “Really Bhard, for me is a reflection of my mind and the sound-making wave in Nigeria today. It is a combination of a lot of traditional elements and also a sound from Nigeria Afrobeat, which is getting a lot of attention these days,” he said.
In the sixth week of The Voice Nigeria, Darey Art Alade, Falz, Yemi Alade, and Waje found the sixth member of their respective teams.
The Voice Nigeria season three coaches are set to take their team members to the next level as the five-week-long blind auditions came to an end.
Darey was the first to complete his six-member team after 28-year-old Dapo Zacchaeus defied all pleas and entreaties from three other coaches to join the ‘unDAREYted’ star’s team.
In the same vein, Waje completed members of her team with the inclusion of 29-year-old Anu Akilagun whose rendition of Miley Cyrus’ ‘Wrecking ball,’ left the coaches dazed with a flurry of emotions.
22-year-old Adeola Oladipupo and 23-year-old Cabrini Nwankwo left the stage dejectedly after their performances failed to convince the coaches enough for a turnaround and an offer in their teams.
As the show progressed, 27-year-old Nneka ‘Neki’ Ngwe opted for Falz and his refreshment team despite pleas from Yemi Alade, who was left enthralled by Neki’s rendition of Shania Twain’s ‘From this moment.’
25-year-old Okiemute ‘Kitay’ Okotete rounded off the blind auditions when his performance of Oxlade’s ‘Away’ got Yemi Alade turning for an offer in her team. Though Kitay’s expression didn’t convey Yemi Alade’s expected appreciation, he completed Mama Africa’s six-member team.
For six weeks, the coaches have been locked in the battle for successful contestants to their five unique teams. The blind auditions, which kicked off on March 27, 2021, have seen 24 lucky talents identifying with at least one of the four coaches. Each of the coaches is expected to have six talents in their teams.
As of the sixth week, all the coaches have six members each. In Yemi Alade’s team are Kitay, Olubukola, Toscene, Tim Ayo, Vanilla, and Loven. Waje will be responsible for Nuel Ayo, Eazzie, Inioluwa, Teslim, Ifunnaya, and Anu. Darey has in his team, Dapo, Blescene, Jeremiah, Ayomikun, Esther, and Rachel. Falz, who has continued to promise his team members refreshment has Naomi, Peace, Okemdiya, Kpee, Tamara, and Neki.
Sponsored by FirstBank and produced by Un1ty, The Voice Nigeria further showcases the bank’s role -through partnership – in enabling Nigerians by passionately empowering and investing in youths while giving voice to everyone.
FirstBank’s Corporate Communications Group Head Folake Ani-Mumuney reiterated the bank’s commitment to strengthening the creative industry which is fast growing into a multibillion-dollar business, with the potential to be a leading contributor to Nigeria’s GDP soon.
To say that Senator Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke has been missing in action is simply stating the obvious. The Ede in Osun State-born ex-lawmaker was one of the comical figures of the 8th national assembly. A bubbly personality who attained fame through his dancing skills would go down in history as Nigeria’s most entertaining politician. Senator Ademola, a brother to Osun state’s first civilian governor, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, and Adedeji Adeleke, shot to national prominence after the unfortunate death of one of his elder brothers.
The younger Adeleke took maximum advantage of the vacuum created by his late elder sibling’s demise. He stepped into his big shoes and won several admirers to himself with his ability to entertain and dazzle through his energetic dance steps. The likable politician won and he was nicknamed the dancing senator.
Barely two years into his first major political adventure, the ‘dancing senator’ gave the governorship of his home state a shot. After a hard-fought election process, he lost to the incumbent Governor Gboyega Oyetola. Since he lost out in the guber election, he disappeared into thin air, recoiling back into his cocoon with his dancing shoes. Some averred that he had fizzled out into political obscurity but little did they know that the dancing senator only went in search of more knowledge far away in Atlanta Georgia, United State of America.
The Senator shocked his critics as he announced his graduation and convocation from the Atlanta State Metropolitan College, bagging a degree in Criminal Justices. Sources said he has finally put an end to those doubting his educational background as he was dragged previously dragged before the court for not having the necessary educational qualification to hold a public office.
Benue State-born billionaire and fashion connoisseur, Terry Waya is not just a cosmopolitan debonair, he has the financial war-chest and close contact with those who call the shot in the corridor of power to complement his status. The man with an incredible taste and thirst for urban fashion loves living the good life. He loves his wines exotic, outfit flashy, and can have fun from the Burj Khalifa in Dubai to the beach coast in Florida. He is a lover of the high-end brand, Versace, hence the sobriquet, ‘Versace man.’
During his heydays, he was once a king within the social scene. He was well known for throwing A-list shindig, displaying allure, splendor, and affluence. At a point, he took a brief hiatus from the social scene as his whereabouts raised concerns from his fans and lovers. Some alleged that he was broke, a claim far from the truth. But other sources averred that he only took a much-needed break to re-strategize and re-launch. The socialite suddenly resurfaced after his son Kidd Waya surfaced as a contender on a reality TV show, BBNaija.
Ever since then, he has been a cynosure of all eyes displaying wealth and affluence on social media traveling on luxury planes and checking into 5-star hotels while looking sharp and dapper.
As proof of his successful return to the social arena, he also did what he knows how to do best by throwing a very grand 60th birthday soiree from himself at a private location in Abuja, last Monday. The roll call at the birthday dinner was quite massive as top politicians, socialites, captains of industries gathered to share in his pot full of joy. The celebrant well decked in his regular Versace outfit wearing an endearing smile welcomed guests to his birthday dinner. Those spotted at the event include Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamiala, Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Ex Delta State governor, James Ibori, Senator Dino Melaye, and a host of others.
The story of Olori Sola Adedoyin, the beautiful daughter of Chief Samuel Adedoyin and wife of Oba Francis Olushola Alao, the Olugbon of the Igbon Kingdom in Oyo State, teaches that patience, perseverance, self believes, consistency, and prayers are virtues that every human should inculcate in their ways of life.
Years ago, the former Managing Director of City Express Bank was hovering in-between life and death after being laid up for 10 years with cancer-related ailment, no one, including her doctors, believed she could ever survive it. To show that God is the healer of all healers, the ordained pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, held on to her faith and she miraculously survived the ailment leaving her normal life like nothing ever happened.
Doctors who treated her were amazed that she made the impossible look possible by breaking the laws of medicine. When many were happy she cheated on the deadly cancer disease, her marriage to her husband of many years, Mr. Adeoti, hit the rock. The graduate of Marketing/Accounting from St. Joseph’s University, Philadelphia did not despair, rather, she moved on with life.
For her, there was light at the end of her tunnel when she eventually decided to give marriage another trial, many of her friends allegedly sneered at her, thinking her newfound love will tow the path of her first nuptial union. Little did they know that her creator has more in stock for her.
Luckily, she found solace and love in Oba Francis Olushola Alao, the Olugbon of the Igbon Kingdom in Oyo State. Today, that singular decision has turned out to be one of the best she ever made. All her silent prayers were answered as she felt like a new bride.
In her usual way of proving medical postulation wrong, the Kwara State-born billionaire’s daughter in her late 50’s welcomed another set of identical boy twins in Potomac, Maryland, United States of America, 4 years after her nuptials to the Olugbon of Igbon. She also has a twin boy and girl from her previous marriage.
Folorunsho Folarin Coker aka Folly Coker is a hardworking man who has dedicated his energy to grow the tourism industry in Nigeria. Undoubtedly, the ex-commissioner in Lagos is a man with clout, charisma, and style. Long before he became commissioner under Governor Akinwumni Ambode, the man-about-town and top socialite have been a lovable man admired and adored by all for his uncommon sagacity and welcoming nature.
Under his watch, he transformed the tourism and entertainment sector that it became money-spinning for the state. He made Lagos a tourism hub for foreign nationals with his ‘One Lagos festival’ concept. With his status and influence, he wields in the society, only cynics would attempt to underrate the personality of the highly cerebral man because his towering image readily dwarfs any untoward mischief anyone might want to play with it.
It is noteworthy to state that the wide acceptance which the amiable Coker enjoys did not fall on his laps, but a result of certain qualities he’s held unto that include hard work, consistency, honesty, humility that is abundantly laced with the grace of God.
The brilliant man boasts of a profile that is no doubt intimidating. His exploits cannot be put aside with a wave of the hand as he’s known to have worked tirelessly in every assignment given to him, which only attests to his height and validates his professionalism.
With his sheer passion and drive to sell Nigeria to the rest of the world, the news of his re-appointment as Director-General, National Tourism Development Board, NTDC, caused wild jubilation, as players in the tourism industry, and admirers were excited that the best man for the job has returned with more firepower. At the height of the Raji Fashola-led administration in Lagos, Coker was appointed Special Adviser on Central Business District just after heading Lagos State Number Plate Production Authority as Managing Director.
A source said, “the Cosmopolitan Lacasa Lagos boss will have the chance again to serve his fatherland. His reappointment shows that he was impactful in his first appointment tenure. The tourism board rose to an astronomic height raking in fortunes for the country. Stakeholders and tourism experts in the country have also lauded President Buhari for re-appointing him.”
Since his foray into the murky waters of politics decades ago, Senator Solomon Adeola Olamilekan with the moniker ‘Yayi’ has properly prepared himself for every mantle of service and leadership ahead of himself. He is not just a leader, he also leads by example and has served hence, contributed to his astronomic rise in the Nigerian political space. If you think he is a rollover that can be benched with the wave of a hand, you are completely wrong. As small as the needle is, it isn’t a meal for the chicken to swallow and so is Yayi in the scheme of things politically. He was not a rollover as a member of the Lagos House of Assembly, Member Federal House of Representative, and now a member of the Senate.
With the 2023 general election gradually building up, the Senate Chairman committee on Finance is gradually preparing to make a statement by breaking a political record in history. Those close to him will attest to the fact that he is a known political master strategist, who knows when to take a calculated risk. He tried it before when he wanted to contest for Ogun guber seat in 2019, after weighing all options, with pressure from the former Governor Ibikunle Amosun, he withdrew and collapsed his structure to support the incumbent Governor Dapo Abiodun who cruised to victory against all odds. Yayi believes the maxim that says “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” Just like the girl scout motto, the chartered account is always prepared for the task ahead.
A close source close to the two-term Senator, representing Lagos West Senatorial District, disclosed that as part of his political permutation and calculation, obeying the clarion call of people from his ancestral home in Yewa, Ogun West, he would be contesting to represent them at the red chambers on the platform of the All Progressives Party, APC in 2023 not minding the clog in the wheel for his ambition.
Another source disclosed that Yayi is unperturbed and what matters to him most is the call to service from his people. “To show the work to give Yewa land quality representation is a top priority, he has raised bills to upgrade the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro into a full-fledged bachelor’s degree awarding institution among other bills. He was also instrumental in the flag-off and reconstruction of roads on the Atan-Lusada-Agbara industrial area of Ogun state, which was launched last week by Governor Dapo Abiodun to enable the ease of doing business within the industrial axis.”
“It is important that there is synergy between senators and governor of their state. It helps facilitate life-changing programs and developmental projects. Yayi is already doing that even as a senator of Lagos West. When he comes to Ogun, you will spot the difference from what we have now. If you ask him his most cherished ambition; it would be governing his ancestral state. He could be using his Ogun senatorial ambition as a launching pad for his most cherished aspiration: the number one job of the state in 2027 after Governor Dapo Abiodun would have served his two-term as required under the law.” A source added.
For years now, Segun Adebutu, Chairman Petrolex Oil has quietly and organically nurtured his energy firm, into a key player in the up and downstream sector. Most especially as he also shares some significant traits with his father the Odole of Oodua; Sir Adebukola Adebutu Kessington with his magic wand in business and generosity.
In 2014, he founded his Oladiran Olusegun Adebutu Foundation(OOAF), to cater to the needs of the downtrodden by constantly donating other basic needs for the survival of man. In line with the pristine vision of the Foundation, to the disappointment of naysayers that it is not a one-off gesture, he has impacted positively the lives of the less privileged in the society regularly.
On Tuesday, May 4 as Segun sauntered into a new age, the Executive Director of Premier Lotto, refused to roll out drums in celebration mood or throw a lavish birthday shindig. Rather, he celebrated his birthday devoid of unnecessary noise and attractions. Apart from being away from the shores of Nigeria on a business-related trip, the younger Adebutu’s milk of kindness was felt by many as he doled out gifts to the needy in celebrating his birthday. Many wonder why he would opt for a lowkey celebration despite having the financial prowess to throw a high octane party. Sources averred that; “Segun has always said; celebration is not necessary when many are dying of hunger and hardship. There is nothing like putting smiles in the face of the needy, that’s the best birthday gift anyone could ever ask for.”
The Baseline record label boss is an Economics graduate from the University of Ibadan, who started his foray into business with an interest in shipping, mining, construction, infrastructure, real estate, telecommunications, and entertainment.
At an inter-ministerial press briefing to mark the second-year anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in office, the Lagos State Government said it is overhauling infrastructure across all levels of its healthcare delivery system, reports Associate Editor ADEKUNLE YUSUF
Twenty four months after taking the reins of government in Lagos, it is time for Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to give account of his stewardship. Besides serving as Nigeria’s epic-center of the global Coronavirus pandemic, which sneaked into the country through an Italian businessman who flew into Lagos in February last year, the state government said it has leveraged on the experiences garnered in the fight against the virus to upgrade medical infrastructure and train personnel that can manage the health and wellness of over 20 million residents.
At an inter-ministerial press briefing to mark the second-year anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in office, the Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi, said the roadmap for the upgrade of infrastructure in the state-owned health facilities began last year, following the approval of the plan by the executive council. While giving account of stewardship of the Health Ministry’s activities in the last two years, Abayomi explained that the state’s infrastructure roadmap, which is being executed by the Medical Project Implementation Unit (MPIU) in phases, is geared towards revamping facilities across primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare.
•The interior of the oxygen centre
The total overhaul, he stressed, is part of a strategy to build a resilient healthcare in Lagos and increase residents’ access to quality universal health coverage, with the comprehensive refurbishment being carried out in short, medium- and long-term bases. This would bring about fit-for-purpose healthcare facilities that would raise the capacity of the state to respond to contemporary and future health challenges, Abayomi said.
According to him, part of the new features include improved efficiency for physical maintenance, ease of movement, low carbon footprint, low energy consumption, infection prevention and control as well as staff and patient comfort. “In last one year, we have embarked on a phased but comprehensive revamp of our secondary health facilities as part of our medical infrastructure upgrade roadmap which is aimed at raising access to quality and bringing about efficiently run health facilities. This effort commenced in the previous year and it is expected to address issues of design errors, drainage, patient flow, staff flow, water collection, infection prevention, energy and ventilations.
“We have renovated and remodeled the Mainland Hospital in Yaba with future plans of making it an Institute of Research for Infectious Disease. We have also completed the remodeling and upgrade of Apapa General Hospital, just as we currently renovate Harvey Road Health Centre, Ebute Metta Health Centre, Isolo General Hospital and the General Hospital, Odan Lagos. All of these are in the effort to make health accessible.”
In the last two years, the Sanwo-Olu administration has completed, equipped and handed over two multi-level Maternal and Childcare Centre (MCC) in Eti-Osa and Badagry. The construction of another 110-bed MCC, he said, has been completed in Epe and is due for commissioning in the coming weeks. Abayomi noted that the upgrade was being done in a sustainable way, which would take another decade for major repairs to be done, except statutory maintenance by the hospital management and the Lagos State Asset Maintenance Agency (LASIAMA).
He disclosed executive council had also approved the construction of new hospitals to bridge gaps in access and services in the health sector. This, he said, is in tandem with the determination of current administration to achieve the goals set in the Health and Environment pillar of its T.H.E.M.E.S agenda. “In fulfilment of our medical infrastructure blueprint agenda, we have commenced the construction of a 280-bed General Hospital in Ojo, 150-bed New Massey Street Children’s Hospital, while the Governor has also approved the construction and equipping of 1,500-bed Psychiatric Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre at Majidun in Ketu Ejinrin.
“In the course of the year, we have completed the construction of a four-storey Faculty of Basic Medical and Clinical Sciences Office Block at Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM) and plans have been concluded for renovation and upgrade of some facilities at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) in tandem with our medical infrastructure blueprint strategy for the tertiary health facilities.
“In partnership with the private sector, we have completed and handed over an oxygen plant at Mainland and Gbagada General Hospitals. We have delivered Traige and Oxygen Centres in 10 locations across Lagos. In raising staff welfare, we have started the construction of a 24-unit Doctors’ and Staff Quarters in at Gbagada General Hospital.”
Abayomi also disclosed that work had begun on the blueprint designs for Comprehensive Health Center, Primary Health Center and Health Posts as part of the move to rejig their operations and service delivery. This, he said, will help in adding significant bed capacity to state’s healthcare infrastructure. While noting that the promotion and protection of the health of residents of state has a positive impact on social development and quality of life of citizens, Abayomi disclosed that the state government embarked on the greenfield medical infrastructure projects to prevent issues noticed in health infrastructure across all levels of care in the State. He added that all issues bedeviling medical health infrastructure will disappear when the medical infrastructure blueprint strategy is fully implemented.
He averred that the medical infrastructure blueprint agenda will help address the issue of brain drain, medical travels and patient welfare, stressing that the state government, through the strategy, hoped to attract medical tourism to the state. “The continuous improvement in quality of health service in the State is a core mandate of our administration and we are uniquely positioned to utilize available resources to actualize this goal. With the ongoing refurbishment and roll out of new infrastructure blueprint, the medical infrastructure landscape of the State would look completely different, giving us a step closer to achieving universal health coverage.
“The prototype of the new, remodeled and upgraded healthcare infrastructure in the state will conform with key elements of global standards health facility designs, which include natural light/ventilation, sustainable energy, patient flow, infection prevention, noise prevention, flood prevention, identifiable standout visual features as well as scalability and modular design for expansion,” Abayomi said.
Abayomi said the second wave of COVID-19, which spread more rapidly across state than the first wave, would have wreaked havoc on the country, if not for the response strategy put in place by Governor Sanwo-Olu. The measure efficiently curtailed the pandemic and limited fatalities, he said, adding that the effectiveness of the state’s response strategy saved the country from negative impacts associated with the pandemic’s second wave as seen in other countries.
One per cent of Lagosians vaccinated so far
While disclosing that the second phase of vaccination would start soon, Abayomi warned that Nigeria stands the risk of experiencing a third wave because less than one per cent of its population has been vaccinated. In Lagos, only about 260,000 people have been vaccinated against COVID-19, with the figure represented just one per cent of the state’s population. According to Abayomi, health facilities in the state have been placed on high alert to pick up early trends that may suggest a third wave of COVID-19.
”Currently, countries like India, Brazil, Argentina, Iraq, Qatar, Peru and Uruguay are being ravaged by a vicious third or fourth wave following a less active and insignificant second or third wave. The latest wave in India has been proven to be as a result of new mutant strains that have resulted in a dramatic increase in sickness and deaths for two weeks running. Whilst we commiserate with these countries, it is important that we protect our environment and residents against this virus, especially as we have less than one per cent of our population that have received their first dose of the Oxford Astra-Zeneca COVID-19 vaccine similar to India that has about eight per cent.”
He said Lagos is working toward ensuring 60 per cent herd immunity, representing 14 million people, is achieved. Among steps being taken to curb a third wave of the virus included aggressive testing, including mutant PCR testing to identify the particular virus strain. “It also included the deployment of technology (EKOTELEMED) to track and monitor in-bound travelers; enforcing non-pharmaceutical interventions; increase in oxygen supply and vaccination. Of the 123 passengers of interest tracked between April 13 and April 27, Abayomi disclosed that 110 (89 per cent) were called by EKOTELEMED, with only 39 per cent reached and tracked. He said that 66 per cent had Lagos as their final destination, while about 28 per cent filled in no address in Nigeria or filled in a foreign address. As of the time of this report, total samples tested so far was 460,647, with 58,222 confirmed positive. Of this number, 168,312 (37 per cent) were tested in public laboratories while 292,335 (63 per cent) were tested in private laboratories.
How Lagos is preventing third wave of COVID-19
While warning that a trigger for a third wave of COVID-19 in Lagos is likely to come through importation of new COVID-19 strains from inbound travelers, Abayomi noted that all strides gained in the fight against the virus would be lost without improved border surveillance against the importation of new and mutant strains.
“All passengers arriving in Nigeria will now have to show a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of travel rather than the previous 96 hours period. I have hence instructed that all these protocols would be made more stringent to protect the residents of Lagos State from an impending third wave. As part of these protocols, passengers are to mandatorily isolate for the required seven days and will be strictly monitored through phone calls by our EKOTELEMED platform and physical visits to the passengers’ homes by our surveillance teams,” he said.
He warned that anyone that flouts the rule, or gives a fake phone number or address to evade the protocol would be identified. Such persons would be made to mandatorily isolate at any government or public private partnership isolation centres or identified hotels for 10 days at their cost, Abayomi said. Defaulters would be fined, while the passports of the indigenous passengers would be forwarded to the authorities for deactivation and foreigners may be subject to deportation.
According to him, the state will also improve its capacity to conduct additional analysis on all positive cases to assist in determining the predominant strains in the environment. “This, I am certain, will help us gather relevant analytic intelligence that is critical for planning and defining treatment protocols.” He advised residents not to assume the worst is over, urging them to continue to adhere to any precautionary measures. “Residents are still advised to stick to the laid down protocols of always wearing face masks in public gatherings, washing of hands and maintaining social distancing, even after receiving the vaccine.”
Katherine Ekuta is a former National Champion, an African Games gold medallist and an Olympian, who competed at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games where she made it to the Round of 16 in the women’s 57kg event before losing to Switzerland’s Lena Göldi. The assistant director of Sports in Akwa Ibom State is the mother of Tokyo Olympic-bound Enku Ekuta and here spoke about how the journey to embrace judo started for her daughter.
“It was not a deliberate decision for my daughter to compete at the Olympics, all we did was to give her proper foundation and basic skills in sports. She also did swimming as a baby and started judo just to keep her occupied. Apart from that, she also played scrabble and athletics.
“ Coming up to the level of qualifying g for the Olympics was just destined to be.
“We have two kids (Eyere and Enku) and both of them participate in judo though at different levels. Our eldest daughter Eyere competed at NUGA Games ; she had a bronze medal in judo while she had a gold in scrabble.
“She also participated at the last West African University Games (WAUG) that was hosted by University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) and she won a bronze medal in judo and had a silver medal in scrabble.
“On the other hand the younger sister Enku competed only in judo in WAUG where she was able to win a gold medal. So both of them compete in judo but at different levels and for us it’s always family game and fun.”
She Recalled her experience at Athens Olympic Games: “My experience at the Olympics was very interesting because when I got to Athens, I realized that it was not just a child’s play but it was a convergent of the best in the sporting world.
“The Olympic Games is still the peak of competition in the world, so when I got to the Olympics I realized that it was very unique and it was all about friendship.
“With the Olympics, you attained a height and you become a special person , a role model and a motivator to others.”
Yet, she lamented the general lack of interest in judo, adding the sport needs forward-looking administrators, influential coaches and solid facilities for the desired growth.
