Category: Celebrity

Blue lake media, a media company which consists of music publishing, digital marketing, below the line advertising, film production, brand management and a record label as unveiled Joel Arochi, aka HI-10 to its record label.

Hi- 10, an Urban Highlife artiste who hails from Ishiagu, Ivo LGA in Ebonyi State, was unveiled to the media as the label’s first artiste at a decorated event on Tuesday.

Upon his entrant, the artiste has released two songs titled ‘I Gat You’ and ’24/7. It was however disclosed that works are ongoing for visuals of the songs.

“The video to ‘I Gat You’ is already in the pipeline and we are looking forward to September for its release,” said Chidi Uzoeshi, CEO of Blue Lake Media.

Listening to the song, ‘I Gat You’, is soulful, relatable and danceable song while the sophomore single ’24/7′, has a nostalgic mellow old school traditional highlife vibe that is rhythmic, it is a good piece. The sound is intervolving and sequenced effortlessly.

Speaking at the ceremony, Uzoeshi said; “We are launching our company’s operations into the Nigerian market. We are using this opportunity to bring the general press together to unveil Joel Arochi, aka HI-10 as the first artiste signed to the label arm of the company.

The Blue Lake Media honcho further disclosed that “The Company’s plan for the artiste is to make him one of the leading mainstream artistes by the end of 2018.”

On the qualities he found in HI-10, he said; “Hi 10 is humble, level headed and very focused on his music. He doesn’t take his music as an art, for him, his music is like going to work in the morning and coming back in the evening and I have known him for three years and I am satisfied with his conduct.

“I think he is going to be able to represent us globally that was why I signed him. He has a good music direction. I am investing in his pain which he has been able to express in his music.”

Hi-10 who is also a music producer started his career in 2012 at Sound Berg music factory. In the last two years, his talent and music direction has been developed by Blue Lake Media. His music journey is nothing short of a miracle.

The new signee expressed satisfaction and gratitude to the label for seeing him worthy as a good investment, stating that he is ready to give his best to his fans and the music industry at large.

Chika Oparah is an up and coming actress who has been nursing the dream of being at the top of producers’ list since childhood. Presently pushing her dream, she has acted a couple of roles in different movies including Men in Bondage, African Tradition, Madam Export, Poverty Palava, Huzzle, Woa Men, Dorobucci Love and D Don; presently showing on Africa Magic, playing alongside some A-list actors. In this interview with DUPE AYINLA-OLASUNKANMI, the actress, who is in her 30s, speaks on her challenges, quarrel with fellow actress, Amanda Ebiye, among other issues.

What attracted you to acting?

From my childhood, I have  always wanted to be seen on TV because I grew up watching ‘Kiddies Vision 101’ and ‘Tales by Moonlight’. Then, there was this man from my mum’s place who was an actor. He still acts though. Whenever he comes to my mum’s shop to say hi, I would tell him I wanted to act and his response to me then would be; ‘You will but you have to finish school first.’ I wasn’t comfortable with his response and I told myself I would find my own way because it has always been my passion. I did find my own way but it was after secondary school.

What then would you say has been your greatest accomplishment?

Presently, I would say nothing because I haven’t got there.  I mean, I’m yet to get to that point where I can sit back and know that producers will always pencil down my name as top on their list whenever a female actor is needed. For now, I am still pushing. But ask me this same question next year, trust me you would get a positive reply.

Have you progressed in your acting career as you have expected?

For where? (Laughs). I still have a long way to go. I want to be known all over the world so help me God. Lupita Nyong’o is one of the African ladies that are known all over the world.  I want to be that popular.

How do you communicate with a snobbish A-list actor?

! I have worked with the likes of Imeh Bishop (Okon) late Prince James Uche, John Okafor (Mr Ibu) Tuvi James, Ruth Kadiri, and a host of others. I have also been on the same set with Oge Okoye, Annie Idibia, John Pop, Pete Edochie, and others. I can’t mention all but these ones I have worked with are nice and down to earth and they help carry upcoming actors along. If I happen to be on set with the ones with attitude, I won’t approach them. I will only do my job and mind my business.

Of all the roles you have played in the past, which is your favorite?

For now I would say, ‘Dorobucci Love’.  I played the role of Mr Ibu’s girlfriend but I wasn’t a loyal girlfriend. I was only with him because of the little money I got from him. Meanwhile I had a more handsome guy whom I was really dealing with. It is my favourite for now because the role was challenging, considering the fact that, that isn’t my kind of person (smile).

Who is your favorite actor and why?

Genevieve Nnaji is my favourite and that is because she is one raw talent that fits into any character like it’s nothing. Another actor whose personality I love is Lupita Nyongo’o. Her journey is very inspiring.

What are you working on at the moment?

For now I have no jobs at hand. I lost two jobs last month because my phone was bad and was off for two weeks and four days. I later found out that while it was switched off, a producer in Asaba and one in Lagos tried reaching me but couldn’t get across. But hopefully next month I should be on set.

Define your acting style?

I can’t have a style when I have no idea of the roles that would be given to me in different sets. So, I do not have a style. I fit into any character and act it like it’s me.

When you suffer setback, how does it emotionally affect you and your work?

Once I am on set, I put all my personal problems behind me. I don’t allow it affect my work. I remember three years ago, I was on a set with Amanda Ebiye. We were playing best friends but we weren’t getting along on set; we would quarrel and abuse one another but once we are on camera we play our roles perfectly and that for me is being professional.

Tell me about giving back to the society in your own little way?

I have a team that we work together; lending a hand to the less-privileged and helping up and coming artistes to achieve their dreams. I believe that we climb by helping one another. You can’t be big with a small heart.

So how is your relationship with Ebiye now?

We haven’t met each other after the set but I don’t like her because to me, she is full of herself. That was the impression she gave me.

If called again to play alongside Ebiye, would you turn down the role?

Of course, I wouldn’t. Our differences have nothing to do with our jobs. We would put that aside and get into the characters we are asked to play.

Have you experienced sexual assault on set or for a role?

I don’t think I have experienced such.

But it is believed that young actors face sexual harassment to get roles?

Well, I can’t speak for others but can speak for myself. I haven’t been harassed by any producer or director.

Why haven’t you considered quitting since you  have not made hit limelight? No way.  I not  quitting what I have a passion for. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy but I told myself I right from the very beginning that I won’t quit until I achieve my goal.

Are there plans to settle down soon and would you go for someone in the same line?

I will settle down if the right man proposes to me but I am not bothered about that for now. On marrying someone in the same field, if we click I would.

Aren’t you scared of being criticized about being single?

Criticized? I am not off-age so why would anyone criticize me? Marriage is not what one rushes into. One needs to pray about it and leave the rest for God. I will get married when the right time comes.

In your opinion, should Nigerian actors be engaged in pornographic movies?

No, no, no. It’s not in our culture and shouldn’t be allowed. Not engaging in pornographic movie doesn’t mean we aren’t professionals. It’s just not in our culture to do such movies or be seen acting in such roles.

Fast-rising filmmaker, Daniel Cole and actress Freda Francis, who teamed up with talented Nollywood director, Toka Mcbaror for the movie, ‘The Island’, have bagged a total of 10 nominations at the coming Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival (TINFF).

‘The Island’, which is billed to be premiered and officially released soon, is a film created primarily to showcase the best of Nigerian culture and to give viewers an in-depth, enjoyable cultural experience whilst celebrating the efforts of the Nigerian military force.

‘The Island’ is a fiction which creates a perception of corruption in the nation’s security space with the  intent of challenging patriotism amidst corrupt influences.

Former Big Brother Housemate, Tokunbo Idowu, better known as TBoss  equally bagged her first movie nominations in the Best Actress category.

The coming movie had nominations in categories including  Best Feature Film, Best African Film, Best Actor (Femi Adebayo Salami) Best Supporting Actor (Segun Arinze), Best Producer (Daniel Cole & Freda Francis), Best Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Photography, Best Director (Toka Mcbaror).

Speaking on the nominations, Daniel Cole disclosed that “it shows a lot of team work was put in place towards the successful outcome of the movie that is soon to be released. We appreciate the fact that we had a large number of nominations but we can only hope we bring them all home.”

Legendary music producer, Olumide Ogunade, popularly known ID Cabasa, is a beat maker who brings his artistic value to both music production and business. He has helped young acts take their music career to the next level. In this interview with OLAITAN GANIU, Cabasa bares his mind on the challenges of promoting indigenous rap, tackling consumption of hard drugs among youths and conflict between record labels and artistes, among other issues.

What inspires you to go venture into producing music?

If I say I saw anybody as an inspiration, I will be lying to you, because as at the time I started, people were not making money from music production. Few people I used to hear their names were Laolu Akins, Tunde, Yomi Omidiran and Lak Adeniran, I think he is late now. He was a studio engineer at Afrodicia Record Studio formerly known as Peca. Unfortunately there’s no history about this studio till date but that studio has actually produced legend artistes like the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Ebenezer Obey, Sunny Ade, Shina Peters, Barrister, Onyeka Owenu and others. I used to walk down to the studio to see how they did things because it’s not far from my house in Akoka.

The truth is, you can’t say you’re really looking up to these producers because people only celebrate the artistes but my desire to produce quality beats that Africans can feel pushes me to know what’s cooking behind the scenes. Generally, producers abroad ring bells more than our local ones.

Professionally, when did you start your career?

I started as a teenager way back in the late 80s. I was in the secondary school while also doing music by the side. But, professionally, it was around 2003 after I left the university. I worked in a corporate company for a while before I left to fully focus on music production.

Is that when you started Coded Tunes Record?

I started Coded Tunes production in my house in 2003. But before Coded Tunes, we had a clique called, The Smiling Head Soldier which was headed by 2phat. It comprises me, 2phat, Lord of Ajasa and MC Spako. And then, we used to have a lot of squads coming to make beat in my studio. There was this massive squad called, Yabtown Squad which is where Reminisce originated from. It is a clique of both rappers and singers and some of them were my juniors in secondary school.

From there, we decided to gather momentum and create something larger than just being Smiling Head Soldier or Yabtown Squad. And obviously the name of the studio that unites us is Coded Tunes. So, that was how we started Coded Tunes.

So, Coded Tunes is not directly owned by you?

I can’t say Coded Tunes is owned by me. Though I own the studio but the Coded Tunes clique consists of other friends. Probably, because I was the only producer amongst them, that unconsciously makes people believe ‘ID Cabasa is the head of Coded Tunes’. Though, it later became a bit formal, and I alongside 2phat and Lord of Ajasa became the head.

Coded Tunes is known to promote aboriginal hip hop acts. Tell us about it

It was something we started subconsciously but we are very proud of it today. As a musician and producer, I love to be original in all I do. I like to sound not local but indigenous because the way to get to people’s heart is majorly from their culture. There is a Yoruba language that says, “Ile latin ke so r’ode”, meaning charity begins at home. Obviously, the law of attraction worked for us, I met 2phat and Spaco who are infusing Yoruba to their hip hop music and that is what I also wanted to do. It was 2phat that later introduced me to, Lord of Ajasa who raps strictly in Yoruba.

Our staying originality then also attracts 9ice, Seriki and even Reminisce that you see today rapping in Yoruba. He was actually rapping then in pure English and he is very fluent. The same things apply to Olamide; he rapped in English, but when you move with people you will get influence by them.

Today, the industry is dominated by indigenous artistes. How does this make you feel? 

I don’t think every Nigerian agrees that these things actually started from us. We live in a country where we don’t have or read history. Over the years, people are attributing the King of Yoruba rap to the late Dagrin, claiming he popularized it. Dagrin listened to the likes of Lord of Ajasa, 2phat and Coded Tunes before he summoned courage to do Yoruba rap. I remember, few months before he died, we had a chat and the young man was hailing me, saying, ‘Baba, e yin la n wo’ (meaning we are following your footsteps). So, for me it’s a thing of joy if people understand that we pioneered it. I’m happy that some people still refer to Coded Tunes as the pioneer of indigenous rap. We are the ones who created something that other people can actually live on and express themselves and that’s my definition of greatness.

You’ve been a blessing to many big stars of today. Do you receive accolades for this?

I will say I’m one of the few lucky ones that got the accolade that I deserve. In fact, I get more accolades than I think I deserve because all of those I’ve worked with till date are still much loyal to our friendship and some of them still mention my name in their interviews. Last year, 9ice titled his album after me. Olamide still doesn’t believe we are in a way apart. He doesn’t see me as ID Cabasa who just produces beats for him but rather sees me as his father and always consults me at any of his projects. We still play and do things together. The same goes for Reminisce, Seriki and every other guy, even the ones that are not part of Coded Tunes family which I’ve worked with. They still appreciate me; the likes of Banky W, Ruggedman, Durella and co.

How did you discover Olamide?

Olamide came with a friend to record in my studio; a friend was featuring him. I fell in love with the young boy of 13 or 14 as he delivered his rap line. I could hear a depth that you won’t get from most of his age mates. I was so impressed that I told him that he’s free to come to my studio at any time. He will come to the studio, then I will make beat while is writing his lyrics. From there, the interest to have him as part of Coded Tunes developed and the rest is history. By the time Coded Tunes transited to a proper recording label, Olamide was the first person signed alongside Seriki and Kayefi.

You’ve not been producing music like before; have you opted out of the game?

I laugh most time when I hear questions like this. I still produce, but I don’t think I have anything to prove again. I don’t fight to get production credit. Many people don’t know that I’m the one that produced Olamide’s ‘C-Ronaldo’ song. And on every Olamide’s album aside last year, I’ve been the one producing virtually all of it. The same goes for 9ice, and Lord of Ajasa’s album and a couple of other big artistes in the industry. I just stopped being the rookie ID Cabasa that artistes will be shouting his name on songs.

In your opinion, what classifies as the slang, ‘blow’?

The term, ‘blow’ does not mean you will be rich. Blowing does not guarantee success. Anybody can blow and it is very easy to blow but how long does your impact last? It’s just like a bombshell. People dance to songs after a month they get tired, so don’t just blow look for acceptability. Upcoming acts should ask themselves how they can sustain their relevance. They should better look for acceptability not just popularity. They should gather disciples rather than getting fake fans and let their content have a depth that can last for long.

What is your take on the high rate of hard drugs consumption among youths?

For every human being there’s a hunger for one to be high. I mean the hunger of seeking for more and people like to isolate themselves. They are looking to get to seventh heaven but unfortunately, it is a means to a particular end. If they understand the end before the beginning, they will know that you don’t need drugs to get to that end. When you smoke Marijuana to get inspiration like they say, it will only get you isolated. What inspires is right inside you. If you don’t give your mind capacity, you’ll get to that place of highness and nothing will come out. These guys don’t know they are destroying their destiny. But can you be so high and be higher than the Almighty God? It is impossible. For someone like me, if I want to get high, I’ll just close my tinted windows and put on loud music till I get high, that is the way I meditate. I don’t need to engage in drugs to get high.

I like the fact that the government has stood up to eradicate it but I don’t think they can eradicate it by just banning the importation of codeine, because codeine is a medicine just like Indian hemps. Depression is actually pushing people to do drugs. If the government can have plans for the youth who engage in drugs the level of consumption will automatically reduce.

What is your advice on conflicts between musicians and Record Labels?

The most important currency that we spend in business is trust, and this comes from building honesty overtime. An agreement is an agreement; artists should not come to the table of negotiation with desperation. Your need can force you to sign a wrong deal because that’s what you’ll be asking for and once that is supplied, you have lost value. Don’t come to sign an agreement because you want your investor to get you a luxurious car, standard apartment and different stuff. Come to the table with a value and depth you are bringing in. If you don’t understand the contract, get yourself a good lawyer that can interpret it for you.

As for the record label or investor, if you know you don’t know anything about music business like putting structures in place, handling PR, branding and promotions of the artiste, all you have is your money, please, don’t invest in music. Because, if you do; you’ll lose out eventually.

My advice for both parties is to sign deals as worst enemies but work as best of friends. Never allow emotion to get into signing deals.

What are you working on currently?

Presently I am working on our concert, Korinsodi in which we are featuring YBNL princess, Temmy Ovwasa and Lyta, Devolee and some other independent artistes. And I am focus on the academic aspect of Coded Tunes so as to help upcoming artistes understand the music industry.

How do you combine work with family?

I always balance my time with work and family, when it’s time for business I stick with the business so also the family. I don’t work round the clock though there are days I do that and I’ve been married for 11 years now, but the good thing about this job is that I can work anywhere. Sometimes, I have to work from home and still communicate with my family. My wife is also a singer. She has done backup for a couple of artistes like 9ice, and Lord of Ajasa. She still sings. Her latest work is titled Akikiitan by Sijuade which is presently enjoying the airwaves.

As part of his plan to affect the lives of youths in Ogun State, billionaire farmer and governorship aspirant in the state, Honorable Oladipupo Adebutu, has consulted Nigerian artiste, Raoul John Njeng-Njeng, alias Skales, on how entertainment can be used to promote social and economic values of Ogun.

The governorship aspirant, who is son of the owner of Baba Ijebu, a multi-billionaire lottery franchise, stated: “I chose to have this meeting in private and not in the full glare of the public in order to allow the true reason for calling the meeting take place. I understand the importance of the youth and the ever-growing entertainment industry in Nigeria. What I want is to tap into it for the good of my state with the collaboration of Skales, who I consider a brilliant entertainer himself.”

On his part, the artiste said: “I have heard a lot about the honorable and his undeniable strength and love for the people of Ogun State. His continuous will to help the youth of the state financially and in educational scholarships during his tenure as Remo Constituency House of Representatives member. I feel honored to be considered a collaborator in his reform initiatives.”

Plus-sized Nollywood actress, Adaorah Ukoh, celebrated her birthday recently with the launch of her foundation, The Adaora Ukoh Foundation (TAUF), to help women fight cancer. In this interview with DUPE AYINLA-OLASUNKANMI, the thespian speaks on family, projects, among other issues.

What have you been up to?

I have been up to a lot lately. The first thing is raising and caring for my family. Also, I have done a few jobs here and there. I also floated my own movie production company, The Bigsistz Production Company, and we have done a few good short films and a feature length film. Our latest job is White Lingerie; a movie on a dysfunctional family and siblings rivalry. On the side I am also building a foundation to contribute to screening and early detection of cancer in women and also feeding people on the streets. It is called The Adaora Ukoh Foundation.

Tell more about your new NGO?

My NGO is new but not entirely new. What I mean is I have been into charity work on a private level. The reason I said it is not entirely new is because the publicity I gave to it on my birthday was like a formal launch for the foundation. Like I said, I have always been into various charity works. The basic reason I formally launched the NGO on my birthday is because I got involved in raising funds for a 25-year-old breast cancer patient who happens to be my house help. The young lady in question who has been working with me for some months was at a stage three breast cancer without my knowledge. When I eventually found out, it drained me emotionally and at that point I knew I had to do something about it, which prompted my floating the foundation instead of having a birthday party celebration. My team came up with the idea of feeding the less-privileged on the streets.

What was the most interesting part of celebrating another birthday?

I kept having this feeling that I should reach out and do more so on my birthday. God put it in my heart to kick-start a foundation to basically do two things; help women get early detection for any type of cancer that basically attacks the women folks; whether breast cancer, ovarian cancer, or cervical cancer. As we all know, early detection is the best cure. Jennifer, the young lady that was the idea behind the foundation, never got screened or tested. Not even when the ailment had started, and this was due to a lack of funds. I can bet Jennifer never knew what she had until it deteriorated. So in that spirit of reaching out, I decided the best way to celebrate my birthday for the first time was to cook, share my cakes, drinks, and give some supplies to a hundred beggars on the street in an initiative called #feedthestreet.

So far, how is it faring?

To be honest, the climax of the events was the point where we went out to feed the less-privileged ones in the Ajah axis of Lagos. It was tagged feed the streets. This is going to be a continuous exercise, something I will be doing more often.

You suddenly started keeping a low profile.  What were your reasons?

I’m not sure about keeping a low profile as I have been doing the needful, that’s what I will say. Having been around here for years now, I would say I am at that stage where you don’t try to force anything. Being myself is what I have been doing. And of course family is surely taking a lot of the time I would have had when I was single.

What has motherhood done to you as a person?

Motherhood is the best thing that can happen to any woman. I can tell you emphatically that being a mother has put light in a part of me I never knew existed. Being a mother brings out the most beautiful part of a woman. The changes are intertwined from physical, to emotional, and otherwise. To be honest, it is better experienced than explained. It is the joy of every woman to have, hold and keep a baby.

What are the challenges of running a home with your career?

To be honest, running a home and a career hasn’t brought any challenges for me. These are two parallel institutions, if you will permit me to use that word. Just give to each of them what they deserve, and there should be no challenges; they should run smoothly if you give them their required dose of daily living. If you deny one over another, then the challenges raise their heads. I have religiously given them their dosage. So I do not have any challenges regarding that aspect. And lest I forget, the persons that make up that home play an integral part of the whole smooth running process of a career and home.

Since your career kicked off, what can you say are the challenges of being a plus-size?

Here we go again. Being plus-size is me; that is what I am and that is how I have come this far in this career. I have embraced and come to love myself and the space around me. I am a plus-size who does what a plus-size can do. So I do not see any challenges in being a plus-size, to be honest. At least not anymore; even if I saw challenges in the past, it has changed and I can tell my own stories my own way and produce my own works.

Did you at any time felt there was need to trim down?

No, I never felt the need to trim down. I have always felt comfortable in my skin and around my space.

You did a launched clothing line for plus-sized women?

The clothing line is also another project of mine that I have plans to rebrand. At the moment, I am in talks with a couple of designers both within and outside the country to collaborate with, to take the brand to the next level. And I started it because of my love for clothes and the need to identify with the needs of plus-sized ladies. Today, the plus size fashion industry in Nigeria is fully embraced and on the rise, and I am glad to be a part of it.

Having bagged a degree in Law from The University of Lagos, do you have any plans to practise?

At the moment to be honest, I have no plan to practise. But there is always a possibility. It can happen.

You took the bold step to go bald. What informed that?

Going bald was only a professional move. It was in the bid to deliver a role even better as a professional actor. I did it out of my love for acting.

You enacted the role of Miranda, the lesbian in ‘Lekki Wives’ so well. How were you able to pull it off?

I guess I must have delivered the role excellently for it to have appeared so real. As a matter of fact, that is what the job is all about, make believe.

Has that particular role affected your personality outside the movie world?

No, the role has not affected me in any way negatively.

Twenty six years after its release in 1992, ‘Living in Bondage’ is set to get a sequel which will be directed by Nollywood veteran, Ramsey Nouah.

The sequel which is titled Living in Bondage “Breaking Free” will be a  continuation of the blockbuster but with a more intriguing story angle according to the producer. Produced by Chris Ode, with Steve Gukas, as the executive producer,   Living in Bondage sequel will be Ramsey Nouah’s debut in cinema movies as a movie director. Living in Bondage sequel will feature some of the old characters in the 1992 version while new generation actors with high interpretation dexterity will be introduced.

Speaking on the movie, the lead actor, Kenneth Okonkwo, said the sequel is to repackage what started Nollywood and fit it in to the modern environment of movie world.

“We are saying that you will get at least five times better than what you got then and I have told you that I have got at least five times better than I am now.

“So, you are going to get a better story. A lot of things we did then  was  when we were in shadows but now, a lot of them are going to be in substance. You will get something fantastic, something explosive, something beautiful, something that is going to be the 21st century Nollywood because we did the first one in the 20th century,” Okonkwo said.

Speaking on the project, Ramsey Nouah says: “It addressed issues that we couldn’t talk about then. Its beauty lies in the language used which is understood by a certain part of the country, yet was watched by many. So why not bring back this great movie in our contemporary world.

”People will still talk about the way Kenneth Okonkwo killed his wife for money rituals and how he was tormented. Don’t forget the likes of Kanayo O. Kanayo and Bob Manuel Udokwu who intrigued us with their roles. All these made the movie a great hit and we are sure that the sequel will do better.”

Nouah also stated that, while it is important that producers and directors are aiming to get Hollywood standards in their productions, “it is imperative that our cultures should be celebrated.”

From emerging the first runner up of the 2004 Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) pageant and subsequently winning the Miss West Africa pageant, former Beauty Queen, May Ikeora, who recently bagged her PhD in Law, presented her book, ‘Bilateral Cooperation and Human Trafficking’, at the British High Commission. The entrepreneur, academic researcher and author speaks with OVWE MEDEME on her desire to stem the tide of human trafficking business and sundry issues.

You recently published a book. What is it about?

My book is about bilateral relations and how Nigeria and Britain have cooperated so far to eradicate human trafficking. It talks about trafficking in terms of what the problems are. It also talks about the solutions that have been applied from the context of the source-country and the destination-country and what we should be doing going forward.

What inspired the book?

I’ve been working on this area for over 10 years, looking into trafficking. I used to work in the UK, looking into cases of trafficking. And we found out that sometimes our cases grow pending. We never complete them because there are some missing pieces. So I felt that a research was necessary. So I applied to get a scholarship which enabled me to embark on my Ph.D.

Where did you do your Ph.D?

I did it at the University of Hull in the UK. I used to be a former Beauty Queen, so I’ve been interested in this. Back in 2004, I was the first runner-up of the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria. Then I went ahead to represent Nigeria in Cape Verde and I won the pageant for Miss West Africa. And I started working with Civil Society Organistions in the area of peace keeping and human rights. Actually that has basically been my journey working in West African countries and Europe in this issue. So this book is just one of the latest things I’ve done. Otherwise, I have been working in this area for a long time. I came back to Nigeria less than two years ago. I’m a member of the Edo State Anti-trafficking Task Force, working on this same issue. So people will generally refer to me as an anti-trafficking expert.

As a former beauty queen, one would expect you to be all about glamour. What is it about this topic? Have you had experiences?

Like I said, I have worked with a lot of victims in the UK. I have seen how it has destroyed some people’s lives; so I think that this is necessary. You may have seen them on TV or heard some victims talk about their experiences, but I’ve had to see firsthand where a victim is not clarified as trafficked and is treated as a criminal. And we don’t want that happening. We want the victims to get the support that they need. But they need to be clarified and allocated in order to access the support that they need.

For how long have you been doing this?

I’ve been doing this or over 10 years.

Could you recall the most touching or the most memorable case you have had to handle?

Because of how sensitive some of these things are, if I talk about certain cases, people may be able to tell who I’m talking about. So I wouldn’t want to do that.

You also studied up to Ph.D level. What fired you to do that?

I just felt that there need to be a researcher in that area.

Was there a time when you almost gave up, especially due to the sensitive nature of the topic?

No, actually. This makes me really happy. I’d always known and felt that I have a calling for this kind of work. And although I have a skin care business, I also love this as well.

Tell us about the skin care business

I run a skincare business called L’Avyanna Skin Naturals. I started in the UK, and now we are in Nigeria. We have two offices here. We actually produce skin care products for men and women. It’s a commercial business.

How has business been, especially considering the state of the Nigerian economy?

It’s actually been good. It’s been a learning process. In fact, I think that doing this business, I like doing my Ph.D all over again.

In a nutshell, how would you describe yourself?

I’m a very ambitious person as you can see. I get my hands on too many things. I want to be the best in whatever I do. At the same time, I also love to relax. I know just working is not life, so I try to make sure that I also play a little bit. I enjoy what I do. Reading and writing are things that fire me up.

Considering the cause that you have taken on, and with your Ph.D in Law, is it possible that we will see you go into politics?

I don’t know about that. Let’s just watch and see. I’ve always thought that I would love to serve my country. That’s the way I see it.

Are you married?

Not at the moment, I’m not.

What has life taught you?

Every time, I try to work on my consciousness, my energy, who I am, trying to make sure I don’t lose sight of who I am or what I’m doing, but life has taught me something. If you want something, and you want it badly, you should work for it. It is not going to be easy, but you will enjoy the journey, both the things that are bad about that journey and the things that are good about it because essentially, you know where you’re headed. In fact, I would say that in my Ph.D, the most important thing I learnt was not the books. It was patience. I learnt patience, because I’d never been that patient to do something over and over and over again for many years.

Did you go through any trying moments that period?

The last six months of my Ph.D were the hardest. I had to read a hundred thousand words, and they’ll tell me I was not quite there yet. And I’ll go back to read another hundred thousand words because my thesis was 70,000 words. When I went  back with all confidence, they still told me I was not quite there yet. Can you imagine that happening to you for another six times? It was so hard. And I’m sure everybody has had that in their lives when they think they are so close to something and they are not there. Life taught me to be patient. When I’m doing anything in life right now, I am patient, I am thorough. In fact, it is that discipline that I learnt more from my Ph.D. That was more valuable than the books I read. Today, I apply it in everything I do.

What would you say to other young ladies out there who are still struggling to find their bearing?

I will urge them to be consistent, be tenacious and be honest to themselves. Because that is one thing I think a lot of women lack these days with the whole social media stuff. People are never honest with themselves. They never live their truth, they never hold their truth. We are not perfect people. We are only trying to be perfect. And people put themselves under unnecessary pressure. Be yourself. It’s okay to be down sometimes. In fact, I’ve come to realise that the times that I’m down, something big is about to happen in my life. So live your truth. You can lie to everybody on social media, you cannot lie to yourself.