The Nation Newspaper

Category: Celebrity

  • Ooni’s wife plans big for the needy

    Like the full moon whose silvery light guides the traveller in the dark until he finds his way, Olori Wuraola Ogunwusi  is shining with undimmed brilliance. And she recognises the fact that shiny things are valued not because of themselves but for the light they give. So it is with people like Olori Wuraola, the beautiful wife of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi. The more they give to the society, the higher soars their reputation.

    The tender-hearted dame has made it a mission to turn the tears of the needy into smiles and their sorrow into laughter. Thus, Olori Wuraola Orphan Aid Project, the NGO she established for this purpose, has been bringing succour to the needy, especially in the South West.

    Her initiative is like a gust of fresh air sweeping through a stinking room. Under the House of Oduduwa Foundation, the Orphan Aid Project is planning a give-back concert for February 28 2017. The concert will see donors come together to provide funds that would be used in lifting the fortunes of up to 20 orphanages by renovating their structures and supplying some of their needs.

    The concert will also provide a platform for less-privileged individuals to showcase their overlooked talent. With the pedigree of Olori Wuraola and the calibre of musicians already pencilled down, the concert is sure to be a well-attended affair.

  • What’s up with JENNIFER OBAYUWANA?

    Many were green with envy when Jennifer Obayuwana got engaged to Peter Salleh some years ago. The two lovebirds went on to pepper the internet with photos of themselves in attractive postures, love in their eyes and smiles on their lips. The two lovebirds ruled the romantic scene with numerous displays of affection sometimes taken to the extreme like when Peter washed Jennifer’s feet with champagne in the morning.

    The social media, the Instagram in particular, were awash with photographic proofs of love undying, or so everyone thought. Although the relationship has had cause for doubts from the very beginning, a fact that could not be denied was that the two were happy together.

    Since their engagement, however, the social scene watchers have had to hold their breath as they await the announcement of the much-anticipated wedding. There were rumours that it would take place in late 2015 in a two-legged affair at home and abroad. But 2015 breezed past and 2016 followed without a sound of wedding bells in the households of Jenny and John Obayuwana, the CEO of Polo Avenue.

    The lingering silence has led many to conclude that the relationship has perhaps not stood the test of time, especially as Jennifer, who serves as an executive director at Polo Avenue, has refrained from making any lovey-dovey updates on social media in recent times. In fact, she is said to have deleted all the pictures of Peter on her Instagram account. Like two people who have signed a pact of eternal silence, both she and Peter are not saying anything.

    Still, as long as there hasn’t been an official breakup announcement from either quarter, fans of the two maintain some hope that the relationship will yet blossom.

  • Wasiu Ayinde’s 60th birthday beckons

    Come March 7, 2017, the Lagos social space will come alive as celebrities and fans alike troop out to honour an icon of fuji music, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, as he attains the grand age of 60. Such is the universal love for the acclaimed King of Fuji that the event is guaranteed to draw in thousands despite being some weeks away.

    To ensure that the occasion lingers in the memories of all, plans are in place for a four-legged celebration spanning Nigeria, the UK, Canada and the United States. Any fan of K1 would tell you that such grand arrangements are fully deserved by a man who took fuji to unimaginable heights.

    Wasiu Ayinde Adewale Omogbolahan Anifowoshe was born in Lagos Island. He grew up honing his craft on the streets before rising to mega stardom and taking on the moniker King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (KWAM 1). K1 de Ultimate, as he is fondly called, has released dozens of albums all of which were hits with the fun-loving Lagos crowd. He developed classical fuji, a unique style with which he is identified and which has become a popular style with younger fuji artistes.

    Despite the trappings of fame and the attendant temptations, K1 remains reasonably humble.  When he is not performing, he prefers to stay quiet with his family and his pet dogs, crocodiles, snakes and fishes in his palatial Okota manor aptly named Castle of Peace.

    The Olu Omo of Lagos is a staunch Muslim and devoted family man. As his 60th birthday approaches, his friends, fans and the numerous artistes he has mentored through the years are all gearing up to celebrate the icon in a big way.

  • Chima Anyaso on unfamiliar terrain

    They say that once a man experiences success in one field, he becomes motivated to try his hand at conquering terrains hitherto unexplored. This seems to be the case with celebrity big boy Chima Anyaso. The Ceecon Energy Oil and Gas Limited’s  head honcho is rumoured to be getting ready to enter the political arena anytime soon.

    The Igbere, Abia-born dude is one of the country’s young billionaires, hence money is not going to be an obstacle to any political ambition. As 2019 approaches, indications are that he is sounding out prominent political figures in his home state for advice towards a possible run for political office.

    With a settled marriage to Adanna Nzeribe, daughter of strongman of Imo politics, Sir Arthur Nzeribe, they have been married for more than two years with one kid and another on the way Chima seems to have finally learnt the secret to a successful marriage.

    If rumours of his growing ambition to serve his people are true, he will be hoping not to fail before succeeding in the shark-infested waters of Nigerian politics.

  • Kema Chikwe turns 70

    Former Aviation Minister, Kemi Chikwe, turned 70 two weeks ago and held a party to celebrate the occasion. She was one of the first women to gain prominence in the Fourth Republic, rising to the position of Minister of Transport and then that of Aviation in the Obasanjo administration.

    Since then, she has been a low-key player in the political game. But she took the opportunity of her 70th birthday to gather her family, friends and associates together to eat, drink and reminisce.

    Her musician son, Naeto C, and his wife, Nicole, graced the Abuja event alongside singer AM and his nephews, Asika and Asa, among other guests.

    Chikwe is one woman who has accomplished a lot in the Nigerian political landscape. She has served the country as its ambassador to Ireland and she is currently the National Woman Leader of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party. Kema is also an author and scholar, having contributed to several books, especially in the area of education.

    She has a doctorate in Curriculum Education from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

  • Olu Okeowo erects wonder edifice on Park View Estate

    A visitor to the new house of Sir Olu Okeowo would be forgiven for thinking that they had walked off the earth and landed in paradise. The house located on Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos, was officially opened penultimate Saturday with about 50 guests invited for the ceremony.

    The house was opened with prayers from respected men of God from the Anglican and Methodist communions with toasts from other guests.

    The palatial mansion took about a year to complete and is modelled after the Bastille Palace which once stood as the symbol of kingly power in France before it was destroyed. The three-floor structure built on five acres of choice land can be best described as a marble house, given that almost everything about it is made of marble.

    Sir Okeowo is one of the leading real estate moguls making big bucks on the Island through Gibraltar Constructions, the firm he founded. The new 16-room wonder is proof of his bottomless pocket. The building reportedly cost several billions of naira, not to mention the furniture, most of which was imported.

    The house also boasts a swimming pool, lawn tennis and basketball courts, a chapel, an air-conditioned parking garage and even a private gym. The beautiful edifice is done in a timeless and eye-catching Victorian style, which stands it out from the other beautiful houses on the Island.

  • ‘Take becomes beautiful bride as politicians jostle for Ibori’s attention

    Since the announcement of her father’s release from incarceration at a London prison, Hon. ‘Take Ibori has become the toast of Delta State’s social and political spheres. Of course, she has always been relevant in the scheme of things since she joined partisan politics. But the spotlight on the 36-year-old representative of Ethiope West Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly has reached an unprecedented level of late as politicians and hangers-on in the state scramble to wiggle themselves in the good graces of Chief Ibori ahead of his return to the country.

    The beautiful woman, who chairs the juicy Finance and Appropriation Committee at the state’s House of Assembly, has been delirious with joy since her father regained his freedom. The development has, expectedly, quadrupled her influence as politicians in the state are now gravitating to her. Those who had jumped ship at the time of her father’s arrest have also started trooping back to camp, singing new songs of loyalty.

    Beyond politics, ‘Take Ibori is making her mark in other areas. She runs Starlite Hopes Initiative, an NGO that provides speedy ambulance services in her constituency.

  • Fani-Kayode’s ex-wife becomes new Ghanaian president’s PA

    Top Nigerian-Ghanaian socialite, Saratu Atta, is enjoying life at the moment. Like happy Chrysanthemum leaves sway merrily to the music of the wind, she is living life with supreme confidence borne of a self-assurance that good things will come her way.

    And just on Thursday last week, the ex-wife of Femi Fani-Kayode was appointed as personal assistant to Ghana’s new president, Nana Akufo-Addo. The surprise announcement has since generated excited conversations across the two countries.

    The 53-year- old Saratu Atta is the daughter of a former governor of old Kwara State, Alhaji Adamu Atta and a Ghanaian mother. She was briefly married to Femi Fani-Kayode. The two got married in 1987 and had a daughter the same year before their divorce in 1993.

    Since her appointment, Saratu has been the happy recipient of a deluge of congratulatory messages from Ghanaians and Nigerians alike. Interestingly, Remi, the elder sister of the Politics and International Studies graduate of the University of Warwick, UK, was once married to Akufo-Addo. The marriage lasted a decade before it was dissolved. But Saratu had served Akufo-Addo in various capacities since 2008 when she became the campaign secretary of Ghana’s New Patriotic Party (NPP) on whose back Nana eventually rode to power.

  • Hon Jibrin’s travails after budget padding scandal

    Former Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, is currently eating a generous dose of humble pie served from the kitchens of life. The Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency’s representative in the National Assembly is feeling the heat from the backlash of the allegation of budget padding he levelled against the leadership of the lower house in 2016.

    On the strength of Jibrin’s allegations against the House leadership, some people have even resorted to calling the infamous budget the Jibrin budget. The 40-year-old handsome dude has drawn the ire of many of his colleagues and has become like an Atlas carrying the burden of the budget scandal on his weary back which has almost bent double from the strain. Some people have even removed the “honourable” before his name and replaced it with something else.

    The scholar and CEO of Green Forest Group Ltd is a millionaire who does not shy away from socialising with folks. But he has been feeling lonely lately as some of his fellow lawmakers with possible connection to the scandal have abandoned him to swim or sink alone.

    He is now keeping a low profile as he strategises on how best to emerge from the humbling episode unscathed.

  • About ex-first lady’s church

    Former first lady of Delta State, Roli Uduaghan’s spiritual edifice which she founded during her tenure in the state house has become like an abandoned house since her husband vacated office.

    At the height of the Uduaghans’ stay in the government house, the church she started, Great Commission Assembly, situated off Okpa Anam Road, Asaba, was a beehive every Sunday as the creme de la creme of Delta political and social classes converged there, seeking to get something from her husband through her. The house of God became a clearing house of sorts where powerbrokers met to trade favours or iron out one issue or the other.

    However, no sooner had the first family left the government house than her church began to witness a decrease in attendance. Those who know say that Roli’s church is no longer a meeting place of choice for the politicians who have taken their ‘ware’ elsewhere. With no political currency to be gained from attendance, the favour-seeking crowd have disappeared.