Fashion designers across the globe work in different ways to achieve their objectives. Some start with a vision in their head and move into sketching such vision on paper or computer, while others go directly into draping fabric onto a dress form, also known as a mannequin. Every design process is peculiar or unique to the designer because the various steps that go into the process are purely theirs.
Ultimately, fashion design is basically expressive, as a designer creates art that is either functional or non-functional while drawing from his culture or environment.
For Tega Osama, the forthcoming Nigerian Students Fashion and Design Week 2024 holding next month in Lagos, is the primary target of his current collection. At a sneak preview of the Warri-based designer’s portfolio, his collection embraces the classic black-and-white palette, offering a refreshing take on men’s formal wear that merges timeless elegance with contemporary flair. The monochrome theme lays a strong foundation for the collection’s sophistication, while the integration of intricate beadwork pushes the boundaries of traditional suit design, offering a unique twist that commands attention. Its strengths include the black-and-white colour scheme that provides a striking contrast, as Osama plays with this duality to create visually stunning pieces. The crisp white accents against deep black fabrics exude a sense of refined luxury, perfect for formal events where making a statement is essential. This classic approach is further elevated by the meticulous tailoring that defines the suits, with sharp lapels and sleek silhouettes lending a modern edge to the collection.
Interestingly, one of the collection’s most distinctive features is the use of beads. In a menswear world often confined by convention, the addition of beadwork is a bold and innovative choice. The beads are tastefully arranged along lapels, pockets, and cuffs, adding texture and depth to the otherwise minimalist designs. The craftsmanship here is commendable, offering a subtle yet effective embellishment that transforms the suits from standard to stand-out.
Given this creative push, Osama has more off his sleeves in terms of opportunities for growth. While the beadwork adds a unique touch, there is potential for more daring applications. Currently, the design holds back from fully exploring the potential of these artistic elements. With a palette as simple as black and white, there’s room to make the beadwork more central to the design—perhaps through larger or more intricate patterns that could serve as a focal point. This would create a juxtaposition between the clean lines of the suits and the intricate detailing of the beads.
The collection also relies heavily on a slim-fit silhouette, which while stylish, may not cater to all body types. Broadening the range to include more relaxed or tailored fits would make the collection more inclusive, allowing a wider audience to enjoy Osama’s craftsmanship.
The Dapper Collection by Tega Osama is a sophisticated and bold entry into the world of men’s fashion, with its striking black-and-white palette and innovative use of beadwork. While the collection is rooted in timeless elegance, it leaves room for further exploration in design boldness and inclusivity. Nevertheless, Osama’s vision is clear and compelling, positioning AMZ Stitches as a brand willing to push the envelope while staying true to classic craftsmanship. With a few more risks, this collection has the potential to set new standards in modern menswear.
In a remarkable feat, Mr. Adegoke Pamilerin, Founder of Kamili Capital, has been named the winner of the prestigious EDGE Outstanding Young Media Brand Entrepreneur of the Year award.
This recognition celebrates Adegoke Pamilerin’s outstanding contributions to media, public relations, and digital marketing, positioning him as one of Nigeria’s most influential media entrepreneurs.
Speaking about his win, Pamilerin expressed his gratitude and dedication to the industry.
“This award is a validation of the hard work and passion I’ve poured into media and PR over the years. I’m truly humbled and grateful to everyone who has supported me on this journey. For me, this is just the beginning.
“I’m committed to continuing to inspire young entrepreneurs and helping brands tell their stories in more impactful ways,” he said.
Pamilerin, who initially graduated with a degree in Maritime, soon discovered his true passion lay in media and public relations.
Rather than pursuing a maritime career, he redirected his focus toward media marketing and PR.
Over the past seven years, he has accumulated extensive experience in social media campaigns, brand management, public relations, and digital strategies, propelling him to the forefront of the industry.
As the founder of Kamili Capital, Pamilerin has led innovative strategies, helping businesses connect with their audiences through engaging digital content.
His influence extends beyond his work, as he engages with over a million followers across social media platforms, sharing insights and encouraging others to pursue their passions in the media industry.
The EDGE Awards, organized by Marketing Edge Magazine, celebrates excellence in the media, marketing and advertising industry. Speaking on Pamilerin’s award, Mr. John Ajayi, CEO/Publisher of Marketing Edge Magazine, praised his accomplishments:
“Pamilerin represents the future of media and marketing in Nigeria. His creativity, passion, and ability to harness the power of digital media to drive results for brands are exceptional.
“At Marketing Edge, we are proud to recognize and celebrate young entrepreneurs like him who are shaping the future of the industry.”
Pamilerin’s win at the EDGE Awards underscores his role as a dynamic leader in the media space and an inspiration for the next generation of entrepreneurs.
“His ability to blend creativity, strategy, and influence has earned him a well-deserved spot among Nigeria’s most impactful media figures.
Despite her training as an accounting and finance expert, art entrepreneur, Ifeoluwapo Rachael Okunade’s love for nature, community, and the creative space remains unflinching. This has, over the years, morphed into a strong bond that has progressed into founding an art gallery. She is a passionate visual storyteller and one of the young generation artists whose journey into photography is driven not by pecuniary gains, but by curiosity, a desire to uncover the unseen and to reveal the soul beneath the surface. Her body of work delves into intricate layers of identity, memory and cultural narratives. But, she focuses on the delicate balance between reality and imagination where soft light, natural tones and contemplative moods merge to create dreamlike visual experiences. Her Rae Gallery and Art is a creative studio born from a deep love for nature, human connection, and emotional authenticity.
Okunade’s practice is rooted not only in visual storytelling, using light, texture, and composition to create thought-provoking works that preserve memory and evoke emotion, but also in sustainability, with an emphasis on eco-friendly methods and ethical storytelling.
Her artistic philosophy revolves around the fact that ‘true beauty lies not only in what we see, but in what we feel.’ She believes that photography and art transcend visuals- they are languages of empathy and reflection. Her creative process involves immersing herself in the natural world, allowing emotion and environment to guide each composition. Okunade, who has a background in accounting, holding both a Master’s degree and a B.Tech degree, is fast emerging as a strong voice for the voiceless. Little wonder she established a mentorship program for women and underrepresented creatives and leads sustainability-driven art projects that foster cultural preservation, emotional wellness, and environmental advocacy.
As a tribute to the African belief that the ‘self is never fully destroyed, only reshaped,’ Okunade highlights that in spite of the outward scars or colours, there lives a deeper wholeness yet to be seen through the inner eyes.
This, she captured in one of her works entitled Cultural beauty on a black and white-Grace in shadow, a portrait that mirrors the elegance of tradition where simplicity meets strength. Her choice of colours and their treatment reflect her depth of understanding of colour theory in creating visually appealing images. She sees fine art photography as not about capturing the world as it is, but capturing how she sees the world through her own perspective. With her art, she creates images that resonate emotionally and intellectually, thus inviting viewers to engage with the world in a more profound and imaginative way.
In Cultural Beauty on Black and White – Grace in Shadow, every shadow seems to tell a story, and every line in the image reflects cultural heritage. The artwork is made up of two portraits that highlight Nigeria’s rich cultural traditions, especially through fashion. The first shows Fulani attire, and the second features the well-known Benin attire. Together, they show the elegance and pride of traditional culture.
In the first portrait, we see a woman dressed in Northern (Fulani) clothing, holding a calabash at her side. She has her eyes closed, and her face turned slightly away. She is lit brightly so we can clearly see her features, but she appears to be standing in a very dark space, which creates a strong contrast. The second portrait shows a woman from Benin, a tribe in southern Nigeria. We can tell this from her clothing and accessories: a wrapper (similar to an iro), layers of coral beads around her neck and wrists, and a traditional beaded crown called Okuku. She is also facing sideways, similar to the first woman. These two portraits together represent grace, heritage, and quiet strength, showing how culture can be both beautiful and powerful in a subtle way
Like Cultural beauty on a black and white-grace in shadow, Okunade offers Portraits of many selves and dual Identity, in slightly cool colours too, that submerged the entire frames of the images except the golden faces. As a contrast, she deliberately uses golden and bright colours on the face and lips of the images to brighten the composition.
In this artwork, the person is not shown as a single, straightforward portrait. Instead, the image is made up of many versions of the same person, layered and broken up into different angles. This creates a feeling that identity is not just one thing, but made up of different parts- how others see us, how we see ourselves, and the parts of us we don’t show.
In the two portraits, we see the same face from different views- front, side, and at an angle. This repetition encourages viewers to think about the idea of duality and multiple identities. Here, the self is shown as fluid and changing, moving between roles, emotions and perspectives. The person in the portrait looks calm and steady, but the soft, scattered textures around her hint at movement and transformation, almost as if parts of her are shifting or blending into something new. She is both one person and many at the same time- clear but mysterious, present but hard to fully grasp.
In the mode of the US-based Cameroonian photographer, Ornelle Chimi, who has a collection of breathtaking and unadulterated shots that artistically interrogate issues of identity among women, Okunade makes herself the focal point of duality and perception.
The artist uses deep blue colours, which are often linked to depth, reflection, and spirituality. These colours create a sense of mystery and elegance. In these shades, the subject looks both powerful and reserved, showing confidence but also a hint of vulnerability. This mix of what is shown and what is hidden reflects the idea of having two sides to our identity- the version of ourselves that other people see, and the version that exists privately in our own thoughts.
In the end, these portraits aren’t just about the woman in them; they’re about all of us. They encourage viewers to think about the different sides of their own lives, and how we move between different roles, expectations, and desires. The work suggests that beauty doesn’t come from being one perfect, fixed version of ourselves, but from the changing, layered mix of who we are in different moments.
Aesthetically, Okunade uses a blend of deep blue and purple colours to provide a sense of timeless radiance, while the textured layers etched into the surface suggest the inherent beauty. The subtle contrasts between images and light across their faces embody the delicate balance between soft power and confidence.
Okunade’s penchant for nature and community finds expression in one of her pieces, entitled Harmony in Nature: A community among giants, where she shows an aerial photograph of a community hemmed by mountains. The mountains symbolise giants, which also serve as a refuge for the community dwellers during the enemies’ invasion. Essentially, the piece, which speaks to the harmony between nature and mankind, also reenacts the beauty of the rocky landscape as found in some parts of Ekiti State of Nigeria.
The warm, earthy colours of the rooftops spread across the town, creating a cosy and inviting view, while the large mountains in the background add drama to the scene. The mix of natural scenery and everyday life shows how the town balances tradition and modern living. It gives a strong sense of how people and their environment are closely connected.
In the photo, you see a lively community sitting at the base of huge, smooth rock formations. The dark rocks towering over the colourful houses create a strong visual contrast, showing how people adapt and build homes even in tough landscapes. There is some greenery growing on the rocks, adding natural beauty and helping the town blend into its surroundings.
The deep tones in the sky add to the calm but powerful atmosphere, making the image a great example of how nature and human life exist side by side in a visually striking way. Like Gordon Parks and Lorne Simpson, who are among the most renowned photographers of our time, Okunade, with a strong eye for detail and an unwavering passion for humanity, is charting a similar path in visual storytelling.
In a remarkable recognition of his contributions to the media landscape, Adeola Amosun, has been awarded the prestigious title of Media Personality of the Year at the recently held Edge Awards 2024.
The accolade celebrates Adeola’s extensive experience in media strategy and marketing communications, which he has effectively leveraged to enhance brand visibility and media presence throughout his career.
Adeola, who is the media manager at Tolaram Group, expressed his gratitude for the honour, stating, “Receiving the Media Personality of the Year award is both humbling and inspiring. It reflects the dedication and passion I have for the media industry. I share this achievement with my colleagues, mentors, and everyone who has supported me throughout my journey. This award motivates me to continue pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation in media strategy.”
Adeola’s journey in the media sector spans over a decade, during which he has successfully managed campaigns for major global brands, including Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola, and Guinness. His leadership in media planning and strategy has not only driven brand salience but has also significantly influenced the way brands connect with their audiences. Notable campaigns he spearheaded include the Pampers #MomsKnowBest initiative featuring Tiwa Savage and the launch of JW White Walker in Nigeria, further solidifying his reputation as a key player in the industry.
The Edge Awards, organized by Marketing Edge Magazine, aims to recognize and celebrate outstanding achievements in the marketing and advertising sectors.
The CEO and Publisher of Marketing Edge Magazine, John Ajayi, praised Amosun’s impactful work, saying, “Adeola Amosun embodies the essence of innovation and leadership in the media industry.
His strategic insights and ability to create engaging campaigns have set new standards in media communications. This award is a testament to his hard work and dedication to excellence in the field.”
Adeola’s appointment at Tolaram Group marked a significant milestone in his career, as he takes on the responsibility of enhancing the company’s media presence and optimizing its brand strategies.
Since his appointment in July, 2022, Adeola has made significant impact in his organisation, and has been instrumental to some of its major accomplishments.
As the media landscape continues to evolve, Adeola’s recognition as Media Personality of the Year underscores the importance of innovative thinking and strategic planning in driving brand success.
His commitment to excellence serves as an inspiration for current and future marketing professionals in the industry.
Olawande Meyungbo, a distinguished digital-first media strategist, has been honored with the Media Manager of the Year award at the 2024 Edge Awards. This recognition celebrates his cutting-edge contributions to media strategy, digital transformation, and data-driven consumer engagement in Nigeria’s fast-evolving marketing landscape.
As the Media & Equity Manager at Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Olawande has led innovative, above-the-line marketing communications for Cowbell, Onga, Top Tea, Kremela, Twisco, Miksi, and Loya. His expertise in data analytics, media investment optimization, and omnichannel consumer engagement has positioned these brands for sustained growth in both traditional and digital spaces.
A firm believer in digital integration, Olawande played a pivotal role in the Onga Great Taste and Aroma campaign, which resulted in a 20.6% increase in brand awareness, leveraging a mix of AI-powered media targeting and social listening tools. His strategic collaboration between Onga and DStv for the 2024 AMVCA Cultural Day was a major success, generating over 8 million online impressions and 4 million consumer engagements, making it one of the year’s most impactful on ground and digital activations.
Before joining Promasidor, Olawande was the Manager of Account Management & Strategy at Digitas Nigeria, a Publicis Company, where he handled key Nigerian Breweries accounts such as Star Radler, Gulder, Desperados, Amstel, and Star. His “Refresh The Moment” campaign for Star Radler transformed the brand into a lifestyle staple, while his leadership on Gulder’s “Senior Man” campaign repositioned the brand for a younger, digital-savvy audience, achieving record-breaking engagement across digital platforms.
His career also includes a tenure at Fidelity Bank PLC, where he spearheaded the bank’s digital marketing transformation, overseeing its website, mobile app, blog, and social media. He successfully led Fidelity Bank’s internal digital engagement campaign, enhancing employee participation through gamified content and interactive digital storytelling. His revamp of Fidelity Bank’s YouTube channel resulted in a 100% increase in subscriptions within just three months, demonstrating his expertise in video content strategy and digital community building.
Olawande’s deep understanding of digital ecosystems dates back to his role as Creative & Strategy Executive at Starcom Media Perspectives, where he managed Samsung Nigeria, Cloret, TomTom, ARM Investments, UAC Foods, Novartis, and TGI brands. He was instrumental in the Samsung A Series launch campaign, which utilized advanced social media analytics and influencer partnerships to boost market share. His data-driven niche marketing strategy for the Galaxy Note10 launch ensured its dominance among Nigeria’s tech-forward audience.
Reacting to his win, Olawande stated: “This award is a reflection of the incredible teams I have worked with, the power of strategic thinking, and the ability to harness digital tools to create marketing solutions that truly resonate. I remain committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation in media, data-driven marketing, and brand storytelling.”
The Edge Awards, renowned for recognizing leaders in marketing and advertising, continues to highlight industry professionals who are driving digital transformation and redefining consumer engagement. Olawande Meyungbo’s recognition as Media Manager of the Year is a testament to his visionary leadership, digital expertise, and commitment to shaping the future of brand marketing.
Chairman of the Editorial Board of The Nation Newspapers, Lagos, Mr. Sam Oritsetimeyin Omatseye in a lecture titled Information in An Age of Flux which took place at the Trinity University, Yaba, Lagos, tells the world how information over the years has transformed overtime. It was part of the university’s public discourse series which attracted an unprecedented crowd. Edozie Udeze was there.
The hall was filled to overflowing capacity. The faces of guests in and around the hall shimmered and glittered with smiles. It was not so much as to appreciate the theme of the lecture. It was more of knowing and realizing that the guest lecturer, Mr. Sam Omatseye, chairman of Editorial Board of The Nation Newspapers, Lagos, was the one standing on the podium. From time to time, the hall erupted with hilarious acclaim and infectious laughter as Omatseye, resplendent and quintessential in his speech, teased with unbridled brilliance.
The occasion was the Trinity University public discourse series and the theme was Information in An Age of Flux. The university is located within the ambiance of Yaba where the cool of the environment is serene and suitable for academic exercise. As Omatseye stood stoically to receive citation before the lecture proper, the hall stood still while the academic environment opened its doors to welcome him. As usual Omatseye wore his impeccable smile which is his habitual trademark.
All over the hall with the smallest spaces occupied to the full, students sat in clusters, ears open, eyes blazing with curiosity to welcome this man they have heard so much about. This journalist they read in the papers daily, more so, every Monday. This author their Mass Communication and English and History teachers use on and on as reference point to teach them the rudiments of communication and the act of writing and the ideals of journalism. You could as well see how attentive they were as their teachers sat upfront to have a closer glimpse of the guest lecturer. That in itself was how it was when Omatseye mounted the podium. As soon as he took over tearing at the theme of the lecture the hall became dead silent.
He said, “Time and information intersect like twins”, as his face beamed like a midday sun. “We even need information to know time and time to secure information. Hence the historian is the most important tool to the social scientist”. This is so because the historian, like Herodotus, the father of history affirmed since timeless history, is the custodian of time. “And so if the social scientist needs the historian, memory is the armour of all humans”. Indeed history is official memory. Without memory and history, how can man solve his numerous problems in time and space?
While he regaled on issues, hammering on stages of transformation of information over different periods of history and time, guests in and around the hall cheered him on and on. He tore through time. He gave Caesar what belonged to Caesar and still retained the beauty and the essence of the topic. Education is the key of all knowledge. People, of course, perish for lack of knowledge. For this, Omatseye refreshed people’s memories back and forth. He triggered the ideas into space and made it clear that no society, in fact, the whole world at large cannot survive without the evolution of information. Every stage of life, each generation, so to speak, must come to terms with its own technology, its own bits of information transformation.
It was the moment the university needed to assert its own prominence in the annals of time. This was why in the beginning, the Vice Chancellor of the University Professor Olusegun Kolawole gave him the leeway to choose the topic for the discourse. Omatseye, an information merchant, master information strategist and impresario, consummate writer and author, then settled for this theme. And of course, like Herodotus, he showed that from all over the world the information age is indeed in a state of flux. This is why it is now known as information age as well as global village. You cannot fault the historian with the accuracy of information and strategy.
•Omatseye (in red tie) with some principal officers of the university
While the lecture went on, the lecture halls of the university were all wired with loud speakers. The idea was for those who could not have space in the hall to listen to the lecturer. And it was crystal clear that students and some members of staff in those halls suspended other activities to enjoy the booming and profound voice of Omatseye. It was such a glorious moment. The whole campus suddenly woke up to this rare and stimulating academic renewal. The ideas espoused by the guest lecturer refreshed minds. They put the staffers on their toes. Omatseye ensured that he used history and punchy references to embellish his stuff. As history is his main forte, he did not spare information in that regard.
As he tore into time, he drew attention to the old Roman Empire; he also swayed into the Greek civilization. He did not pity the old Roman Catholic Church. All in all, history came fully alive juxtaposing with the information and then teaching the public how to use both to expand the frontiers of knowledge and modernity. History is important as a tool or weapon to zero into the events of the old that gave birth to this present moment. When Omatseye said, “technology is the way forward and back”, it meant history is the godfather of information. Without it the world is but a flicker of darkness. “Yes, as philosopher Karl Popper opined, we cannot predict the future because we cannot predict technology”.
However true it is for all time to come, he still noted, “but we can try to mediate by ensuring that the laws are more important than the criminal. That way, we can have both freedom and order and then the beat goes on for the media that is still looking for a new identity”. With some of his long and short time friends in the hall, the frenzy of the moment truly became more electrifying. The lecture became more engrossing, when questions began to come from different people. But in his usual benign and iconoclastic habit, he handled the questions with equal measure.
For him, the role of the mainstream media in the chaotic space occupied by social media necessitates the ombudsman to always assert their role as an umpire. “Yes, people should be made accountable for appropriating other people’s original reports as theirs. You cannot sit in one corner and then claim someone’s story when it is published. The ombudsman should investigate such situations, apportion the right punishments so that others will learn and sit up”, he said. Concerning the issue of balancing the story and knowing when the social media has gone frenzy with its usual madness, Omatseye insisted that there is no way the society can stop relying fully on the mainstream report to get the true and unabridged version of any event.
“The mainstream reporter is on the spot to report issues. He is paid, for instance, to visit Maiduguri to access the flood situation and file his reports. So he has his facts and figures. He reaches out to the people concerned for interviews, comments and so on. These are facts the social media reporters do not or may not have firsthand”, he averred. Omatseye explained that the greatest advantage the modern times journalists have is that technology has made it easier and faster to report events as they are happening as against the previous years when you had to wait for a while for the report to filter in.
He gave example when 200 military officers perished at Ejigbo, Lagos, in a plane crash. “When I got there from my Concord office in Ikeja, there were some military officers already rescuing the corpses. I joined in order to be seen to be helpful. I had to disguise as one of the locals to avoid being suspected. But eventually the DSS people spotted me and gave me the beating of my life. It was a jotter in my pocket where I wrote the name of the plane that gave me away as a reporter”. In the end he did a fantastic job that curried the attention of the whole world.
It is not the number of laws in the society that matter. What matters is for people to obey the laws and for those in charge to also enforce same. The more laws you make, the more people feel you are stampeding their freedom and the tendency to obey them becomes flimsier. Therefore it is good to have laws, but how much of such laws do people obey? What we have to contend with more is the issue of morality and the consciousness to be of good conduct. On that note, the lecture came to an end while the university authorities presented him with gifts as a sign of appreciation. Group pictures were taken in different stages to signal all’s well that ends well.
Dr. Chukwuemeka Onyewu, a globally trained Plastic and reconstructive surgeon who runs one of the biggest surgical hospitals in Nigeria (CASS) has just been unveiled as the latest cover star of the UK-based magazine, Uncutxtra magazine.
The icon, who graces the cover of the 17th edition of the magazine, has impressively joined the list of unique and outstanding industry professionals, on the cover of the magazine.
In the previous editions, highly respected professionals like Ali Nuhu (superstar Actor), Paul Onwuanibe (CEO Landmark Africa), Mr. Macaroni (one of Africa’s leading comedians), Ameyaw Debra (Ghana’s leading Blogger), Serwaa Amihere (One of Ghana’s leading business tycoons), Adeola Adeyemi Diiadem, White Money (one of the winners of the Big Brother reality Tv show) and a host of high network individuals graced the magazine’s covers.
The cover page portrays an interesting version of the surgeon, celebrating his unique achievements as the CEO of one of the leading Nigerian surgical hospitals in the country, celebrating his successes and revealing interesting facts about the practice.
This edition is an embodiment of professionalism, truth, promotion of the professionals in the Nigerian industries and personal facts about the cover star and the featured stars.
This edition also celebrates other Interesting articles channeled towards the beauty and health industries.
Emmanuel Alade, the CEO of UncutXtra Magazine, said the publication is dedicated to celebrating exceptional individuals in their respective fields locally and internationally.
The birth of another edition that puts the incredible surgeon and other impactful individuals on spotlight. As stated above, this edition is the 17thedition of the magazine and it is themed the ‘Health and Beauty edition.’ This edition is aimed at impacting, informing, entertaining and motivating the readers of the magazine.
In this edition, Dr. Chukwuemeka Onyewu gives a deep insight into his personal life, his career, the secrets to being successful as a plastic and reconstructive surgeon in a country like Nigeria, where many high-class Individuals would rather travel to foreign countries for their surgery needs. As one who is gradually changing the narrative through his brand and earning the trust of individuals in the country and beyond, he dissects his ‘Unique Selling points’ In his Interview.
Read Dr. Onyewu’s full interview and order a copy of the 17th edition of the UncutXtra Magazine via the Uncutxtra magazine’s website www.uncutxtramagazines.com
Follow UncutXtra Magazine on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for more updates on the release.
FPL Media, a trailblazer in Nigeria’s out-of-home (OOH) advertising industry, has once again demonstrated its leadership by securing the Outstanding Use of Transit in OOH Advertising Award at the prestigious Edge Awards.
The award, organized by Marketing Edge Magazine, honours the company’s exceptional use of transit spaces for advertising, a sector where innovation is key to driving brand visibility and engagement.
The Edge Awards is one of the most esteemed platforms recognizing excellence in the marketing and advertising industry. According to the organizers, the recognition of FPL Media was a result of its consistent innovation, rising brand equity, and performance that outpaced its competitors over the past year.
Speaking on the accolade, FPL Media’s CEO, Lanre Ashaolu, shared his excitement and gratitude, emphasizing the company’s unwavering commitment to creative excellence.
“This award is a testament to our team’s relentless pursuit of innovation and excellence in OOH advertising. Transit advertising is a dynamic and challenging space, and we are proud to be leading the charge in creating impactful campaigns that connect brands with their audiences in powerful ways,” he stated.
The CEO further highlighted how this award would positively impact FPL Media’s business trajectory. “This recognition not only solidifies our position as an industry leader but also inspires us to aim even higher.
In addition to its success in the transit advertising sector, FPL Media has consistently demonstrated a forward-thinking approach, integrating digital solutions with traditional OOH formats.
John Ajayi, Publisher/CEO of Marketing Edge Magazine, praised FPL Media’s achievements and their transformative role in the OOH industry.
“FPL Media’s strategic use of transit spaces has not only set them apart but has also redefined how transit advertising can be leveraged for maximum brand exposure. Their creativity and innovation make them a true leader in this field, and we are thrilled to celebrate their success,” he said.
As FPL Media continues to push the boundaries of outdoor advertising in Nigeria, the company’s focus on innovation and client satisfaction remains unwavering. With the recognition from the Edge Awards, the future looks bright for this trailblazing agency as it continues to set new benchmarks in the OOH industry.
Sensational Nigerian artist, Armstrong Oke Agoreyo, has clinched the Banks Mill Arts Enterprise Award sponsored by the University of Derby‘s flagship arts studio.
The ace artist emerged winner of the highly coveted prize as a collection of his artwork was exhibited at the 2024 MA Arts (Fine Art & Photography) Degree Show of the University of Derby in the United Kingdom.
The exhibition tagged “Alignments” was opened to the public from Thursday September 12 to Monday September 30, and it offered opportunity for art enthusiasts to discover more about each artist’s creativity and the inspiration behind their work.
Agoreyo’s masterpiece “Essence of Sustenance” was featured alongside the work of other five students at Artcore Gallery in the city centre of Derby.
The award-winning “Essence of Sustenance” explores the profound connection between humanity and nature, emphasizing their mutual dependence.
The imagery represents the essential life force that nature provides, suggesting that human vitality is inextricably linked to the health and balance of the natural world.
The artwork further invites viewers to reflect on the organic relationship between man and nature, highlighting the fragile equilibrium that sustains life.
It amplifies the intertwining of the human hand with the tree roots signifying the life-giving connection that binds all living beings to the earth as it challenges the viewer to consider the consequences of disrupting this balance, urging a deeper understanding of the environmental stewardship necessary for our collective survival.
Through its evocative imagery, “Essence of Sustenance” calls for a renewed appreciation of nature’s role in sustaining life and emphasizes the need for a harmonious coexistence with the earth.
Agoreyo is acclaimed for his endearing style of exploring paper collage paintings, including drawings and wall installations to resonate the relationship between humanity and nature.
He had his first degree from the University of Benin, where he majored in Fine Art and he is currently undertaking his Masters in Arts(Fine Arts) at the University of Derby in the United Kingdom.
His work have prominently featured in notable exhibitions ,including the recently held ”Sensory Expressions”, a virtual group art exhibition at the prestigious Arteom Gallery in Poland.
The Banks Mill Arts Enterprise Award aims to support one emerging artist by offering both a platform for their work and tools for their business and the winner gets to display their artwork at the annual Open Studios in November and have a solo exhibition in the Banks Mill foyer.
The winner also receive business mentoring through the Enterprise toolkit, a membership with the East Midlands Chamber, and two months of studio space at Banks Mill.
On the behest a former federal lawmaker, Hon. Onadeko Onamusi, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), South-Westshire Health Trust, located in Itele in Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria, has taken the care and rehabilitation of destitute and mentally-challenged persons to new heights. Encouraged by its successful rehabilitation efforts, Onamusi, who co-founded the Trust, which is currently home to 168 in-patients, reveals plans to replicate the facility across Nigeria’s six geo-political zones, in collaboration with relevant government agencies, ERNEST NWOKOLO reports.
His passion for uplifting the needy and the downtrodden, including providing care and rehabilitation for destitute and mentally challenged persons, isn’t something out of the blues. Even before he joined partisan politics over 30 years ago, a former federal lawmaker, Hon. Onadeko Onamusi, had vowed to channel his energy and resources from his legislative career into catering to the well-being of people with severe mental challenges.
Accordingly, South-Westshire Health Trust, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), which Hon. Onamusi co-founded to feed his passion for the welfare of the less-privileged, has since been assisting people with severe mental challenges. Yet, his solemn vow to God wasn’t the only motivating factor.
The former member of the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2003, also told The Nation that his humanitarian spirit and passion to provide a shoulder for victims of life’s vicissitudes to lean on also sprang from his two years stint working abroad in a mental healthcare facility and following his late father’s footsteps of caring for the less-privileged.
Located at Km 57 Sagamu-Ore -Benin Express Way, Itele in Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State, South – Westshire Health Trust is currently home to 168 in-patients, which include males, females, young and old, who are undergoing varying degrees of care and rehabilitation from aftermaths of drug addiction, broken relationships and mental illness.
Tucked away from much of the din of human activities, the facility has three wards for the males and two for females. It also boasts of over 22 personnel, some of who are volunteers. The personnel comprise a psychiatrist, psychologist, laboratory technologist, nurses and matron who daily attend to the special needs of the patients.
When The Nation visited the facility recently, it was discovered that as at February 6, 2024, it has received no fewer than 600 in-patients since 2017, and of the lot, a total of 409 have been rehabilitated and reunited with their families, loved ones and communities.
Pioneer in-patients who were admitted into the facility include Tope Kajero, who was 32 at the point of entry in 2017; Idowu Oladeinbo, 55 in 2017, and Segun Bello. While Bello and Kajero hailed from the host Itele community, Oladeinbo was rescued as a vagrant, and his nativity or place of origin could not be immediately ascertained.
Another batch, numbering 13 joined the pioneers later same 2017. The Nation gathered that the 13 were from the host Itele community, whose relatives allowed to seek succour from the facility after seeing its successful rehabilitation efforts on the pioneer in-patients. About 25 of the current in-patients have been rehabilitated, fit and ready to be re-united with their families, but their loved ones abandoned them there.
Expectedly, the refusal of their loved ones to take them back has stretched the resources of the facility. The case of Ms Gloria Ekong, from one of the South South States, is an example. She was rescued from the street along with her kids and brought to the facility. The centre took the children to an SOS Village (orphanage home), Ijebu Ife and later traced the family despite daunting odds on its way while rehabilitating Gloria.
The centre was, however, shocked when Gloria’s family bluntly declined to take her and the kids back. “It is now a huge burden keeping and maintaining her and others in similar situation here. Some of them also don’t want to go back home because in their thinking, they may never get the type of attention and care they receive here,” one of the personnel said.
But, South – Westshire Health Trust is undeterred. Instead, Onamusi said he is planning to replicate the facility across the country’s six geo-political zones, in collaboration with relevant government agencies.
He reasoned that the centre, if established in six different locations across the country, will be in a better position to bring succour to the hurting, take as many vagrant lunatics as possible off the streets and prepare them adequately for reintegration with their families, communities and the larger society.
Hon. Onamusi, who had also served as a Commissioner in the Ogun State House of Assembly Service Commission, revealed that he had long procured the necessary equipment for skills acquisition and vocational trainings for the in-patients. He, however, said lack of an enabling environment such as building infrastructure and adequate space, has continued to stall progress in that direction.
According to him, the equipment and tools for training and learning for barbing, tailoring, hair dressing, panel beating, welding, plumbing and other vocations are already on ground, hence the vision to have the centre established across the federation for maximum impact.
He reckoned that each centre will respond to cases generated from the corresponding geo-political zone and end the hassles of patients or family members travelling from far places to access the South-Westshire Health Trust’s in Itele–Ijebu.
How it all began
For Hon. Onamusi and his seven-year-old South – Westshire Health Trust, it was a chance meeting. And it all started when operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) set up a Check Point at the Itele-Ijebu corridor of the Sagamu-Ore Expressway to tackle smugglers of contraband goods making use of that bustling route.
However, little did the Customs operatives know that beyond performing their duties, they would also inadvertently be party to series of events leading to the care of destitute and mentally challenged persons, whose loved ones and society had abandoned to their fate and the harsh elements.
The story is that before 2017, a vagrant mentally ill man in his mid-50s, unkempt with dirty rags which passed for clothes that hung loosely from the shoulders down the waist of his disheveled frame, had made the NCS Itele Check Point area his abode. After wandering about in the day, he would return to the location to rest.
The vagrant lunatic was later identified as Oladehinbo. It was learnt that after beholding the sorry state of Oladeinbo as days rolled into weeks and months, the NCS operatives got someone to clean him up in 2017 and arranged with a nearby food seller to be giving him food while the operatives bore the cost.
By coincidence, Hon. Onamusi got wind of Oladehinbo’s presence at the NCS Check Point and decided to take up the case. The former federal lawmaker recalled that on a day in 2017, he took Oladehinbo and two other mentally-ill persons – Bello and Kajero, put them in his car and drove to the Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, for their treatment as out-patients.
He brought them back after health professionals at the specialist hospital had seen the trio and prescribed medications for them. Hon. Onamusi narrated: “As I was returning home from Abeokuta that day and throughout the journey home, the question of where to keep them kept ringing in my mind. I told my wife about it and she told me to bring Bello to our home.
“That was how I took Bello in. The first three nights were hell. The experience was not funny. I did not sleep. I was constantly up and peeping to see if he would destroy something in the house. Later, five of us were coming here to attend to him. I returned Kajero to her parents while Oladehinbo was taken back to the Customs Check Point. However, the three were later admitted here (i.e. South-Westshire Health Trust) as first in-patients for proper care.”
He said after that singular incident, the place began to take in more people requiring help and rehabilitation, many of whom were rescued from the streets. Justifying his kind gesture, he said people in such health conditions could be helpless and incapacitated to take decisions about their health.
Onamusi, therefore, urged relatives to pay close attention to strange behaviours or manifestations from their loved ones and take such persons to psychiatrists for professional help, pointing out that early detection and treatment is critical to full recovery and reduced cost of management of mental illness.
He described the task of assisting people with mental illness, particularly those who are on the streets as daunting, saying much could be achieved if government and relevant agencies lend helping hands. He also called for a legislation by the National Assembly to provide for the adequate care of mentally challenged persons – particularly their feeding, clothing and shelter through the ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.
Hon. Onamusi expressed concern that the NGO has not received financial or material support from any quarters. “We have never received support from any government whether federal, state or local government or international donor. As of February 23, 2024, no financial or material support came from any government or agencies,” he complained.
But a ray of hope is on the horizon. This followed the recent unannounced visit by officials of the World Health Organisation (WHO) to the facility in February, to have a firsthand knowledge of the happenings there. The visit buoyed the hopes of Onamusi and the facility’s in-patients, as the global health body may support them with free medications and other soft supplies.
“We thank God that some officials of the WHO visited this Trust unannounced to see what we are doing. We are very glad that the visit was fruitful and we are expecting the support of WHO, which may be providing medications to the Trust. Similarly, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Federal Ministry of Health and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are also in the process of collaborating with us on the project,” Onamusi said.
He expressed optimism that by God’s grace, if the Trusts gets support of those establishments and organisations, “We will be able to establish our presence in the six geo-political zones of the country and each of these planned mental facilities with the support from SDGs in the areas of infrastructure to accommodate our 2,000 or 3,000 vagrant psychologically disturbed persons while the Federal Ministry of Health will provide manpower support.”
According to him, WHO is expected to support with medications while the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs is expected to support with food items.
