The Nation Newspaper

Category: Entertainment

  • Toyin Lawani slams saboteurs in creative industry

    Toyin Lawani slams saboteurs in creative industry

    Renowned celebrity fashion designer Toyin Lawani has shared a personal and emotional experience on social media, expressing her disappointment and frustration with a recent encounter.

    Lawani on Instagram, described the incident as the most traumatic experience of her life, referencing selfishness and a lack of professionalism as the primary causes of her distress.

    She emphasised her dedication to her craft, pinpointing her humility, gentleness, and passion for perfection.

    She stressed the importance of collaboration and respect among creatives, condemning the actions of those who seek to sabotage others in their line of work.

    Read Also: Toyin Lawani opens up on struggle with paralysis

    Lawani wrote, “I just had the most traumatic experience of my life. I have been working for the past 25 years as a celebrity stylist. I don’t think I’ve come across such selfishness before in my life, I am extra nice, humble and gentle until you poke me. I put in my sweat and hardwork in everything I do in my life,

    “I’m extremely passionate and I work and strive for perfection and I go far beyond what I’m paid for, but there’s a line between wickedness,

    “EGO, and Pride, And all This you must leave at the door when working with others to achieve perfection results,to everyone who knows me, I’m the most humble selfless human being you can ever meet and I give everyone Respect because that’s how I also want to be treated. It’s so shameful how some creatives try to sabotage each other in the line of their work. Such a big shame”.

  • Cubana Chief Priest warns against patronising anonymous blogs

    Cubana Chief Priest warns against patronising anonymous blogs

    Celebrity bar man Cubana Chief Priest has expressed his thoughts on anonymous bloggers and the spread of fake news.

    In his post on Instagram, he emphasised the importance of credibility and authenticity, highlighting that successful and safe individuals in society are those who are known and transparent about their identities.

    He criticised the practice of patronising anonymous blogs, stating that those who do so are bitter, wicked, and failing in their own right.

    Cubana Chief Priest also touches on the issue of social media kidnappers, who allegedly extort money from individuals and businesses, threatening to damage their reputation if they don’t receive payment.

    He wrote on Instagram, “Anonymous bloggers will post fake news about a known person, bitter & wicked persons will patronize it & spread it. Every good book must have an author. If you are patronizing anonymous blogs you are a failure, a wicked and bitter person, it takes so much hard-work & craft to build a personality to become a star.

    Read Also: Cubana Chief Priest pleads for US visa amidst Davido’s wedding buzz

    “Known Bloggers Are Successful & Safe In The Society. Linda Lives In Banana Pino Vibes Lives In VGC, So Why Do Wicked People Still Keep Patronizing Anonymous Blogs. Any News Coming From An Unknown Source Is 100% Fake & Anybody Who Spreads The News Is More Fake, Jealous, Envious & Wicked, The Person Is Nothing But A Destroyer.

    “One calls him/herself oba, the other one says it’s grandma, these are a bunch of criminals hiding. I call them social media kidnappers if you don’t pay them they destroy your image from hiding it’s big business for them.

    “The people who promote on their pages are the more fake people, especially the people in government that use them to promote. News is food, make sure you eat healthy.”

  • Why I quit my corporate job – Mawuli Gavor

    Why I quit my corporate job – Mawuli Gavor

    Ghanaian actor and model Mawuli Gavor has revealed the reason he left his corporate job at a global accounting firm to pursue a full-time career in the entertainment industry.

    ‎In an interview with Blac Volta, Gavor shared how a single day’s earnings from a creative project matched his entire annual salary at the firm, prompting him to resign and embrace the creative economy.

    ‎Gavor, who was earning GH¢770 a month at the firm, described the challenges of balancing his corporate role with his budding career in modeling and acting.

    ‎He recounted juggling early morning photoshoots with brands like Martini while rushing to meet his 8 a.m work obligations at the firm, often leading to scheduling conflicts and apologies to his corporate employers.

    Gavor said, frustrated by the demanding balance, he considered abandoning his creative pursuits to focus on his corporate job.

    Read Also: Assistant Madams: Seyi Shay, Joselyn Dumas, Mawuli Gavor to feature in Season Two

    ‎During a conversation with Martini, he disclosed his salary, which amounted to roughly seven euros monthly.

    He stated that the brand offered to pay his entire annual salary for a single day’s work.

    ‎Reflecting on his choice, Gavor emphasised that the decision was not solely about money but about the freedom the creative industry offered.

    ‎‎“I was constantly torn between the corporate grind and the opportunities opening up in the creative world. I knew I couldn’t do both.

    “They looked at it and said, ‘If this is the case, we’ll give that to you today’. That moment sealed my decision. I sent a message to my HR at KPMG to resign.

    ‎ “If you can figure out a way to work within the creative economy, it’s not necessarily that you make so much more money, but you save so much more time. I can work 30 minutes to make the same money that I would have had to work from 9 a.m. till Sunday for”, he said.

  • Five celebrities inspiring fitness

    Five celebrities inspiring fitness

    Fitness is the state of being strong, active and capable of performing daily activities. It is achieved through consistency and intentional effort. Changes occur in the human body at every stage of life and can be influenced by many factors, such as hereditary, motherhood, excess meals, late-night meals, careless diet habits, etc. Despite these challenges, there are some celebrities across film, media, health, etc. who have gone through different stages of life and still show that fitness is possible.

    Below are the celebrities that inspire fitness:

    1. Aproko Doctor

    Chinonso Egemba, popularly known as Aproko Doctor, is a medical doctor, health influencer and media personality. He crafts compelling stories using everyday language to raise awareness and educate people on their health. Aproko Doctor has also organised ‘Exercise with Aproko’ for the third time for his followers whom he calls ‘Aproko Nation’. He organises fitness challenges to motivate people and track their progress, such as workouts, games and competitions.

    2. Kate Henshaw

    Kate Henshaw, an award-winning veteran actress, and media personality, is known for her timeless elegance and youthful appearance. She is also very keen about keeping the body fit as it helps her maintain her young, but timeless look. She often goes to the gym, practices stretches and encourages her followers to keep fit. She also posts her routines on her social media platforms. 

    Read Also: CDS urges soldiers to prioritize fitness for combat readiness

    3. Enioluwa Adeoluwa

    Enioluwa is a social media influencer, actor, content creator, media personality and ambassador to multiple brands. Known for his love for food, he encourages and prioritises good health by engaging his followers with fitness routines, including his Pilates workouts. 

    4. Realwarripikin

    Anita Asuoha, popularly known as, realwarripikin, is a content creator, stand-up comedian and actress. She is known for weaving her warri accent to create compelling stories and actions. Through her pregnancy journey, she still went through exercises to keep herself fit despite being pregnant, showing her followers that fitness is possible at every stage of life.

    5. Mercy Johnson

    She is an award-winning actress and film director. After the birth of her fourth child, she had postpartum weight gain, physical fatigue and loss of confidence. She took up the initiative by being intentional to keep fit and embraced fitness routines, resulting in approximately 28-kilograms loss, showing that fitness is possible. Aside this, she also engages in different workout challenges to stay motivated and inspire her followers.

  • BBNaija: Jason Jae opens up about ‘hurtful’ comments by Dede

    BBNaija: Jason Jae opens up about ‘hurtful’ comments by Dede

    Big Brother Naija housemate Jason Jae has expressed his disappointment over comments made by fellow housemate Dede.

    According to Jason Jae, Dede’s remarks about him creating a love triangle with her “fishes” have left him feeling disrespected and upset.

    In a conversation with Kola, Jason Jae vented about his feelings, stating that Dede’s comments have broken the trust in their friendship and his feelings are genuine and that he is indeed hurt by Dede’s words.

    Kola – “You reacting this way, saying you don’t wanna talk about the issue makes it look like you are more hurt than what it is.”

    Jason Jae – “I’m upset.”

    Kola – “Who are you upset with?”

    Read Also: BBNAIJA: Jason Jae crowned ‘Most Influential’ housemate for week three

    Jason Jae – “I’m upset with Dede, for breaking a friendship trust. How can you say we are friends and the next thing you’re saying is oh you’re the one creating a triangle with my fishes. What the fuck does that mean?”

    The duo has previously accused Dede of manipulation, claiming she used them before moving on to another housemate, Koyin.

    Dede had maintained that she is not interested in romantic relationships within the house, citing her existing relationship outside.

  • Single mothers can’t raise men properly – Jim Iyke

    Single mothers can’t raise men properly – Jim Iyke

    Actor Jim Iyke has claimed that a single mother is incapable of raising a boy into a “proper man.”

    Speaking in an interview on Okay 101.7 FM, Accra, Ghana, Iyke said a woman needs the assistance of a male figure to raise a man properly.

    He said women are naturally built to nurture and love, but may not provide the necessary discipline and guidance.

    He said, “A woman can’t raise a man. You can’t, you’re not built for it. A single mother cannot raise a man properly. You need a male influence – go get your brother that’s doing well or your father or even any man that you trust. There has to be a male presence in it [raising a boy child].

    Read Also: Feminism’s original purpose redirected – Jim Iyke

    “Because women are naturally built to nurture, to love. And then what you’re going to raise is a very weak man? He is going to be everything like the men that left you. You need somebody that would discipline him, tell him ‘No’ as often times as possible, and put him in the grind,” he expressed.

    His claim has, however, raised dust, as some people argued that single mothers are perfectly capable of raising well-rounded, independent children.

    According to them, with the right support and parenting, single mothers can equip their sons with the skills and values needed to become confident, capable men. 

  • Marriage offers no guarantee against divorce, says Kaffy

    Marriage offers no guarantee against divorce, says Kaffy

    Renowned dance icon Kaffy has spoken about her divorce, life as a single mother of two, and the stigma surrounding divorced women. 

    Speaking in an interview on Honest Bunch podcast, she challenged societal norms that suggest only “fresh” unmarried individuals are suitable for marriage, pointing out that over 70% of marriages fail, regardless of past status.

    Kaffy emphasised that being divorced does not diminish a woman’s worth or capacity for love, especially after healing and self-improvement. 

    She opined that a woman who has been divorced can be a better candidate for marriage if she has worked on herself. 

    “What makes you think that a woman that has been divorced is not even the better candidate if she has worked on herself? What’s the guarantee that two single people today are not going to be divorced tomorrow?

    ‎”Why are people feeling like ‘I need to marry him fresh, I need to marry her fresh’, but both of you are going into the same data that the world has completed for you, that over 70 percent of marriages crashed. You’re part of the 70 percent”, she said. 

    Read Also: Kaffy: I set standards for Nigerian dancers

    The mother of two also clarifies misconceptions about romance, noting that the “butterflies” often mistaken for love are often trauma responses, while true love brings peace.

    “Do you know that a lot of butterfly in the tummy are a lot of trauma response?

    ‎Real love brings peace”, she said. 

    Kaffy exchanged marital vows with Joseph Ameh on June 2, 2012, at an elaborate wedding ceremony in Lagos after having their first child.

    The couple has two children together.

  • BBNaija: Sabrina demands answers after re-entry denial despite medical clearance

    BBNaija: Sabrina demands answers after re-entry denial despite medical clearance

    Former Big Brother Naija Season 10 contestant Sabrina has demanded answers after her recent exit from the show and subsequent denial of re-entry despite being medically cleared.

    In a statement on X, Sabrina expressed gratitude to Multichoice for the opportunity to participate in the show and the connections she made with her fellow housemates and the personal growth she experienced.

    However, Sabrina was disappointed and confused over the circumstances surrounding her exit and denied re-entry.

    She revealed that she left the house on August 11 due to health complications and was later declared fit to return, only to be informed that she wouldn’t be allowed back in.

    Sabrina wrote: “I am thankful to Multichoice for choosing me, for giving me the opportunity to grace the stage, and for allowing me to meet such lovely and beautiful housemates.

    “The experience allowed me to grow, to push myself beyond my comfort zone, and to connect with people in ways I will never forget. It is truly a life-changing journey that I will always cherish.

    “This past week, however, has been filled with uncertainty, questions, and silence. I was taken through days that tested my patience and strength, and while I still do not have the answers I deserve, one thing is clear: I am strong, I am healthy, and I am in good spirits.

    “I have never had any prior medical history or health issues, which is why this entire experience has been so confusing. I was cleared, yet I was still kept without explanation.

    “Even now, I continue to wait for answers, trusting that the truth will come to light in time.

    Read Also: BBNAIJA: Pere Egbi backs Sabrina amid re-entry drama

    “My journey has only just begun, and I know that everything happening now is preparing me for what lies ahead.
    I am also deeply thankful for the incredible community of fans and supporters around me.

    “Though the answers remain unclear, I believe they will come in due time. Until then, I will walk in faith, hope, and gratitude, knowing that this is only the beginning of a bigger story.

    “Just like Biggie said, I am special, a rare one in a world like this, someone the world cannot ignore. Time will Tell”.

    Sabrina’s statement has sparked an outpouring of support from fans and former housemates, including Pere Egbi, who questioned the show’s decision to deny her re-entry.

  • Why I transitioned from music to Nollywood – JJC Skillz

    Why I transitioned from music to Nollywood – JJC Skillz

    Renowned filmmaker and former musician JJC Skillz has shared his journey of transitioning from the music industry to Nollywood.

    Feeling too old for the youthful energy of the music scene, JJC Skillz, in an interview on Channels TV, said he decided to evolve and explore storytelling in film.

    He said despite his success in the UK music scene with groups like Big Brovaz and JJC & the 419 Squad, he had to start anew in Nigeria and face gatekeeping in the film industry.

    “As far back as I can remember, I have been shooting music videos for years. Even my ‘We Are Africans’ video, I shot that myself.

    “But after doing African Gang in 2011, I realised I was getting too old for the young scene, so I knew it was time to evolve. I packed my bags and moved into Nollywood. I was very passionate about telling stories.

    “I wouldn’t say normal life when you’re starting again. I was a JJC (newbie). I didn’t grow up with most of the filmmakers in Nigeria, so it was like, ‘You want to enter our space?’ Some doors were closed. There are gatekeepers at all levels”, he said.

    JJC stated that notable individuals, such as actor Deyemi Okanlawon and filmmaker Funke Akindele, supported his journey and believed in his talent.

    However, he laments the challenges of cinema ticketing in Nigeria, where filmmakers struggle to receive a fair revenue share.

    He stated that the situation is dire, with cinemas taking a significant percentage of ticket sales and taxes further reducing filmmakers’ earnings.

    “It’s a situation of monkey dey work, baboon dey chop. We put in a lot of work. Sometimes, the cinemas take 70 per cent, other times 60 per cent, and after paying 22 per cent tax, we’re left with nothing. We have to make the film and also sell it because distribution companies aren’t out there selling. We are stuck in a horrible place,” he said.

    The exit of streaming platforms from Nigeria has also left filmmakers uncertain about recouping their investments.

    Read Also: Actress Funke Akindele, JJC Skillz reunite for movie premiere

    “The hope for a better day was with streaming companies, but they’ve left. So now we’re back to asking, ‘if we put our money into it, will we get it back?’ At the end of the day, it’s a business, and creativity is getting killed”, he added.

    JJC Skillz emphasises the need for filmmakers to give audiences value for money and notes that the harsh business environment is stifling creativity.

    “Nigerian filmmakers need to improve to give the people value. I’ve even had to market my film with a promise of refunds if viewers weren’t satisfied”, he said.

    JJC Skillz has achieved success in Nollywood, directing notable projects like Industreet, Jenifa’s Diary, and Omo Ghetto: The Saga.

    His latest film, Hakeem: Seeking Justice, features impressive action sequences and showcases his growth as a filmmaker.

  • TG Omori to support kidney disease patients financially

    TG Omori to support kidney disease patients financially

    Video director TG Omori has announced plans to begin a new glasses design project, with a portion of the proceeds going towards supporting individuals with kidney disease who struggle to afford dialysis.

    According to him, his financial struggles of living with kidney disease inspired the initiative.

    He highlighted on X, the exorbitant cost of dialysis, which can range from N100,000 per session, with some patients requiring three sessions weekly.

    According to him, this financial burden is particularly daunting considering Nigeria’s minimum wage is N70,000.

    He said his personal experience with kidney disease has given him a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by those who cannot afford life-saving treatment.

    Read Also: Church funded, advised me to pursue filmmaking – TG Omori

    Omori stated that his own medical expenses have been heavy, with his six-month treatment costing as much as two Mercedes-Benz GLE SUVs and a C300.

    Omori wrote on X: “Dialysis is about 100k plus per session, sometimes you need 3 sessions in a week, minimum wage is 70k. Knowing this facts brought me tears in the hospital cause no hope for the common man.

    “I’m working on my first major glasses design that will be up on sale soon where some of the proceeds will go to people living with Kidney Diseases that can’t afford pay for their dialysis”.

    He added: “Saw my 6months health expenses, Omo 2 GLE and one small C300 bro! Health is wealth true”.