The Nation Newspaper

Category: Celebrity

  • Elumelu adds another feather

    The list of the ‘big boys’ on the Nigerian business scene would be incomplete without a mention of Tony Elumelu. Not only is he the Chairman of Heirs Holdings, he is a visionary entrepreneur and philanthropist who owns a controlling interest in Transcop, a publicly owned Nigerian conglomerate with interests in hospitality, agriculture, oil production and power generation.

    Elumelu reached another milestone when the Ivorian National Council of Employers, General Confederation of Enterprises of Côte d’Ivoire (CGECI) presented him with its 2016 CGECI Lifetime Achievement Award on April 21, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. It was a formal presentation that acknowledged and honoured Elumelu’s leadership and key role as an African business champion.

    The event was attended by more than 3,000 delegates across Africa, including top government officials, business leaders, established and aspiring entrepreneurs. In his keynote speech, Elumelu advocated collaboration between the private and public sectors to create value in the global competitive business landscape.

    He noted that SMEs are the backbone of any economy anywhere in the world.

    It is yet another feat for Elumelu who plans to dominate the Nigerian business sector.

  • Kinsmen celebrate Gbenga Elegbeleye

    Success is like a fragranced flower that gladdens the heart and enchants ones senses, while failure is a repellant that keeps everyone away. No wonder success has been universally applauded as one with many children, while failure is an orphan.

    Former Director General of the National Sports Commission, Otunba Gbenga Elegbeleye, did not just dream about success, he hungered for it and chased after it until it began to do his biddings. Currently, he is enjoying all the attention attracted by his achievements. If any anyone had any doubt about the feats attained by Elegbeleye, a visit to the MKO Gardens, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, last Sunday would erase it. It was a day the Ikare-Akoko Club 2000 hosted him in celebration of his outstanding career in public office. It was a well packaged event where many powerful indigenes of Ikare-Akoko had a field day.

    Otunba Gbenga Elegbeleye used the opportunity to inform his kinsmen about his gubernatorial ambition in Ondo State in November and sought their support in helping him to get to the state’s seat of power.

  • All set for Shina Peller’s 40th birthday

    Shina Peller is not called the king of night life for no reason. Although he owns one of the most electrifying night clubs in Lagos, he earned the title for revolutionising the night club business in Lagos. It is no news that Peller is a party freak. And when he organises a bash, Lagos freezes and socialites marvel at the affluence and glamour on display.

    Another enormous big social event is brewing and Lagos is about to be rocked to its foundation. Peller, son of late Professor Abiola Peller, is set to slide into a new age with pump and ceremony that would not be forgotten in a hurry. In celebration of his 4th decade on earth, Peller is gearing up for an over-the-top shindig in Lagos and a glitzy party in London.

    Shina has every right to celebrate. After all, not every son of a great man has the persevering spirit needed to best his father’s attainments. Although his father was a famous magician who left big shoes behind, Shina knew early in life that to carve a niche for himself, he must not only try to be like his father but be better than him. And despite being called ‘the one with the magical hands’, Shina has refused to toe the path treaded by his father. While his late father struck fame through his magical prowess, the fair-complexioned proprietor of Aquila Oil and Gas directed his energy to business. Thus, alongside his oil business, he established Quilox, a night club, bar and restaurant on Ozumba Mbadiwe Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

  • Omorede Osifo learns life’s lessons

    A truly educated man, they say, is one who has learnt to learn and learnt to change. Having sat at the feet of life and sipped from its cup of knowledge, Lady Omorede Osifo has finally realised that fame is a fickle mistress that is ready to take a flight at any minute. The former Edo State Commissioner for Youths, Sports and Social Mobilisation, who was eased out of office a few years ago, has gone on low profile.

    Since her sudden sack by Governor Adams Oshiomole, Omorede has vanished from the limelight, leaving in her wake only the memory of her party loving days. No longer does she court fame like she used to and this has come as a shock to many who had never imagined that the die-hard socialite could retreat into a quiet routine.

  • High society celebrates Foluke Abdul- Rasaq at 60

    Virtue is not inherited. Neither is it bestowed on a man by chance. It is something that requires practice before it is mastered. If you ever wonder why Hajia Foluke Kafayat Abdul-Rasaq remains one of the most influential women in Nigeria, it is simply because she has mastered the act of being virtuous. Little wonder dignitaries turned up in their numbers to honour her on the occasion of her 60th birthday penultimate Saturday.

    The life of the prominent banker, education administrator and business woman has been characterised by lofty accomplishments, but attaining the age of 60 carries much more significance for her in the sense that at three scores, she has achieved so much by dint of hard-work, dedication, determination and belief in herself. Abdul-Rasaq strongly believes that it takes the grace of God to be a success.

    She holds a Master of Science degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Ibadan and is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School, Boston, USA. She is currently a non-executive director of the United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) where she is the Chairman of the Bank’s Board Credit Committee as well as a member of the Board’s Audit, Statutory Audit and Nominations and Governance Committees.

  • Oba Akanbi brings transformation to ancient Iwo kingdom

    Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi became the new Oluwo of Iwo last November. Not only did he vow to serve his people with everything he has, he promised to transform the serene town as much as he can. The respected monarch has kept to his words and has earned the love and respect of his people.

    Since he became the Oluwo of Iwo, the ancient town has been undergoing great transformation. Apart from the rehabilitation of the palace mosque and the new look the palace is wearing with a new palace extension built and commissioned by the Sultan of Sokoto, the new monarch has embarked on a few more projects.

    A few days back, the Oluwo announced that the Osun State town had attained the status of an empire and should henceforth be called the Greater Iwo Empire. With the new development, he said, the people of Iwo would start enjoying improved welfare. According to him, having an empire in the modern day is not about winning wars; it is about dreams, aspirations and how to drive towards set goals. He explained that one of his goals is to feed anyone who is hungry. This, he said, would be done through the food bank programme at the palace, three days a week. In addition to this, a clothing donation bank has been placed at strategic positions within the city for collection of used and new clothes and shoes from donors.

    A new National Open University Centre has also been set up, while state-of-the-art medical equipment costing about N1 billion to equip the state hospital has also been arranged for. The equipment is said to be on its way to Nigeria from Canada. Akanbi and his team are also fixing the 40-kilometre Iwo-Osogbo Road with the support of the Osun State Government.

    Oba Akanbi has proven to be a competent leader who is passionate about the lost glory of Iwo town.

  • Ronke Sokefun on the rebound

    If there is one thing that is easily noticeable about Ronke Sokefun these days, it is the fact that she is always beaming with smile. The estranged wife of Gbenga Sokefun struts with joyful grin and smiles in contentment even in slumber. Many are of the opinion that the former Oando top shot came about this new mood after her appointment as the Ogun State Commissioner for Agriculture. She is said to believe her new job would afford her the opportunity to give back to her state of origin.

    Sokefun is not desperate to remarry and she appears unperturbed by her single status. A passionate lover of her job, she exudes the kind of joy and peace another shot at marriage could deprive her.

  • Beauty Queen Sylvia Emechete celebrates 10th wedding anniversary

    It has been 10 years since former Miss Nigeria, Sylvia Edem Emechete, and her husband, Chris Emechete, got married. The period has been that of love, bliss and fruitfulness. In a generation where separation and divorce have become the norm amount celebrities, Sylvia has been able to keep her marriage intact.

    The secret of a happy marriage is finding the right person. Sylvia unarguably found her better half and has relished every minute she has spent with him. To honour a man who has done her right, she wrote posted a message in which she emphasized the fact that a relationship that began with a simple phone call had metamorphosed into the most gratifying union.

    In her words: “I met someone I could not only love but love like no other. I told myself right there, when it comes to him, I’m never ever going to settle for anything less than everything.” She thanked her husband for showing her not only how to love but how to love someone unconditionally. Their union is blessed with two kids.

  • New lease of life for Alero Fafowora

    In spite of being separated from the man that means the world to her, popular socialite Alero Fafowora has chosen to make the best of what life has thrown her way. She has chosen not to cry because it is over but smile because it happened.

    For her, the best way to make the most out of life is to see it as an adventure. Hence her bright smiles are back and her optimistic and infectious personality revitalised after a period of gloom. Her noticeable dimples have combined with her shining visage to ensure her place as one of the most beautiful women in the social space.

    Only recently, she moved her outfit, Hallero Couture, from Bishop Oluwole Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, to her new private mall located in Lekki area of Lagos. The ultra modern shopping mall called Pak Place already has most of its spaces taken. For Alero, therefore, things are looking up and life can only get better.

  • Hosa Okunbo’s explores new ground

    Before the wind of change that ushered in President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC government, Hosa Okunbo was one of the top guys around former President Goodluck Jonathan. It was impossible for him to operate in the background because his deep pocket and high status naturally tossed him to the limelight.

    This came as no surprise since it is hard to remain anonymous when you are sitting on a fortune in the range of millions of dollars. If your lifestyle does not betray you, your loyalists would. Still, one of his most attractive traits is his modesty. Okunbo is not one to toot his trumpet. For this reason, men discuss him animatedly and women drool in admiration.

    Okunbo is in the news again but this time for a project he has just initiated. He has kicked off a $750 million farm project with an initial investment of $300 million targeted at creating 25,000 direct and 60,000 indirect jobs in Edo State. Unveiling the project in a presentation to Governor Adams Oshiomhole in Benin City, the state capital, he said it had been his dream to go into such a mega agricultural project.

    Okunbo, who introduced his technical and financial partners from the San Carlos Group in Mexico, explained that the farm, located at Odighi and Odiguetue in Ovia North East Local Government Area, has already taken off with an $11 million investment on a 20-hectare Green House vegetables farm. The products are to be exported.

    Hosa believes he has had the opportunity to conquer his profession as a pilot at the age of 30. He went into shipping and with over 60 vessels, he has conquered the sea. His new project is therefore an opportunity to conquer the land. According to the presentation, the farm is expected to produce cash and arable crops such as cocoa, pineapples, pawpaw and banana. Other products are livestock, including cattle, poultry and piggery, just as it will also engage in the production of tilapia  all targeted at export and meeting local protein and milk requirement.

    The farm also has plan for an agro-industrial park and airstrip to evacuate products to Europe and elsewhere.