Category: Entertainment

The remains of the late Mrs Cordelia Olubunmi Irele were interred in Lagos last Friday. A funeral mass was held for her at St Leo’s Catholic Church, Ikeja, Lagos. NNEKA NWANERI reports.

The died peacefully in her sleep, less than 24 hours after receiving the Sacrament of Holy Communion. A devout Catholic, Mrs Cordelia Irele died on January 28. She was 85.

Last Friday, her children, grand children and great grand children gave her a befitting burial. Sis Yinka, shortened as Siyinka, had eight children, 28 grand children and 12 great grand children. She was the bond of the dynasty she had built for 85 years.

Toyin Street, Ikeja experienced an unusual traffic as exotic cars made their way into St. Leo’s Catholic Church. The church’s open space was filled. Others parked on adjoining streets and on the road side to meet up with the ceremony.

The undertakers were relived of their duties for a while. Her grandchildren carried the brown casket themselves out of the van and wheeled it into the entrance of the church, where the presiding priest, Msgr John Aniagwu and Fr Michael Hose met it. They did a procession carrying the cross, candle, holy water and a white cloth to the church entrance where members of the Christian Women Organisation (CWO) of Lagos State Diocese and other family members stood waiting around the casket.

Her immediate family stood out. They wore cream coloured lace and brown caps and gele. Others wore purple attires.

The white cloth was placed on the casket and a Bible placed on it. The white cloth signified her baptism and the Bible, the book of the Gospel which has been her rule and guide during the life of the deceased.

The remains were wheeled through the central aisle and placed at the centre of the large church hall. People kept trouping in till the expansive church was almost full.

Msgr Aniagwu, in his homily, told the family that their mother’s life is one worthy of celebrating, thus, their vestments were white, not purple, despite the funeral being held during the Lenten sober mode.

The celebration of the life of the deceased began a day before during the wake service with fun, laughter and a few emotional tears.

The priest urged the family to thank God for the many things God did in the life of their mother. For making her live to a landmark age; and one who God showered with blessings within those years.

“Mama’s large family is bound by a love which she upheld. Her manner of exit was calm and quiet. She went to bed and went to God. She was a committed Christian and her faith and belief in God was second to none.

“Despite being an octogenarian, she kept coming to church punctually and regularly from Obanikoro and had a regular seat.”

The cleric urged the congregation to maintain the faith the late Mrs Irele had. “It is faith that will determine the success and failure of our lives. It is in living a life of faith that we can be able to see God.”

The late Mrs Irele and her husband were foundation members of the St Leo’s church. She was many times the matron of many societies and associations in the church and the catholic archdiocese of Lagos.

The deceased’s first son, Bolaji said he discussed with his mother three days before she died.

“Little did I know that all we discussed and all the things she made me put in place were in preparation for her final exit. She made me get her final resting place three days before her departure. We, her children were the centre of her life and I miss her a lot, especially our mourning chats.”

Her remains were interred at the Ikoyi Cemetery, Lagos.

A reception was held at 10 Degrees Events Centre, Oregun, Ikeja.

In attendance were board member, Macmillan Publishers and sister of the deceased, Mrs Francesca Emmanuel; Senior Pastor of House on the Rock Paul Adefarasin; Mr Jimi Agbaje and former Secretary of Health, Prince Julius Adelusi Adeluyi.

Mrs Olabisi Aduke Akinhanmi, aka Sisi lawyer celebrated her 70th birthday in Lagos last week. Abike Adegbulehin was there.

Sisi lawyer, that is how the young and old address her. But she is not a young girl, who could be addressed as such in Yorubaland. She turned 70 last week, yet her family affectionately refers to Mrs Olabisi Aduke Akinhanmi as Sisi lawyer.

The Holy Trinity Church Hall on Ilasamaja Road, Lagos was filled to the brim last Wednesday when she turned 70. Her children, grandchildren and the love of her life, Mr Josiah Adekunle Akinhanmi, popularly called lawyer, and their friends gathered to celebrate her.

The day started with a service in the church auditorium at noon. The officiating ministers urged Sisi lawyer to always give thanks to God who has kept her all these years. They noted that she has hit the biblical three score plus 10 years and prayed that she lives for many more years.

She sang heartily and danced to the delight of all. With lawyer beside her, she walked into the hall for the reception where there was a lot to eat and drink.

Sisi lawyer attended Methodist Primary School, Zaria; Olowogbowo Methodist Girls School, Lagos; Methodist Girls High School, Yaba and Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos. She was captain of the Girls Brigade at St Jude’s Church, Ebute Meta, Lagos.

Your life is a reflection of your mind. While we may not be able to read your mind, it is very possible to know your attitude to life by what you say and do. So many people have tried to change certain things about their lives- the way they talk, work or interact with people- without much success. But they need to first understand that the way they see themselves and what they communicate with themselves invariably influence what they do.

Let me show you how intrapersonal communication can influence your entire day. Several years ago, I woke up one morning and started to get ready for work. It seemed like one of those days when everything just went wrong. It started with me misplacing an important item I needed to take to the office. Then I tried to fix myself a breakfast but the cooking oil spilled. While trying to rescue what was left of it, the pot fell off and the content spilled. By that time, I was already getting late for work. So, I had to clean up, abandon the idea of breakfast and head for work. You can imagine the mood I was in. I was about to tell myself that it was a bad day when I caught myself. When I realized that I was about to spoil my entire day, I started to deliberately tell myself, “today is a great day. A small incident like that can’t spoil my day. I have a right to enjoy my day; in fact, today is my best day so far.” You won’t believe what happened to me! I so much enjoyed that day that I quickly forgot about my initial unpleasant experience. So, I learnt that no situation is strong enough to spoil my day. If I had a bad day, it’s the fault of my personal communication.

Intrapersonal communication is your defense against negative information. It occurred to me how difficult it seems for people to succeed. When you want to try to make a difference, you are expected to locate yourself in an existing framework. Yet, the framework is too tough to penetrate!

If I am new in the field of advertising, can I compete with the existing companies in the industry? Can I produce a soft drink that will rival Coca Cola? Can I shoot a movie that will beat Titanic and Avatar? Can I compose a music that will transcend time and culture like Handel’s Messiah? Where do I start from in the stock market when some people have been trading before I was born? Is buying a few shares comparable with owning the company on placement? How many hours of programming do I engage in to be better than Bill Gates? The question is, “Do I stand a chance in this competitive world?”

When one looks at some businesses both on the local and the global platforms, there is a tendency to feel pretty small. In whatever area you want to go into, there are some people already making waves. So, where do you start from? How does one get attention? Most people have given up because they do not fit in and they cannot compete. But should that stop me? No! Why not? Because:

•There was a time when each of those big achievers was not in existence. Handel’s Messiah was not handed down to Adam by God after creation. Several compositions existed before it. If Handel allowed himself to be intimidated by them, he would never have composed Halleluiah Chorus. Yes, there are achievers in my field! No, that will not make me quit! And Yes, I will make my own mark by doing something unique!

•Naturally, some people’s achievements become some other people’s stumbling blocks or limitations. For instance, if a lot of people pass the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination, cut off marks for admission into universities are reviewed upward to reduce the number of admitted students. The fact that someone passed has reduced the chances of someone who failed. So, do I resign because someone else is succeeding? No! All I have to realize is that if I try to follow someone else, I would be judged by his standards; but if I create my own idea, people will be forced to judge me on my own merit. Let me too create a standard that will be an example for others. And don’t tell me it can’t be done, because that is what people say until they see it done!

•I should not be afraid to start small. Coca Cola did not become a multinational company overnight- how on earth do I expect to compete with it overnight? We focus so much on those big companies doing great things that we don’t take note of small needs that require our attention. Let us start by solving small problems and we will grow with time. Some of these companies that we fear are too big to solve some small problems that we can solve. So, let them make their names over there while we make ours right here.

People may say you are small, but haven’t they heard? “SMALL IS BIG!!!”

Check out these quotes:

“Only those who have the patience to do simple things perfectly will acquire the skill to do difficult things easily.” — Johann Schiller, poet and historian

“Show me a man who cannot bother to do little things and I’ll show you a man who cannot be trusted to do big things.” — Lawrence Bell

Muslims in the Southwest under the umbrella of the Joint Muslims’ Action Forum (JOMAF) held a get-together at the open field of the Government Technical College, Osogbo, Osun State capital last Saturday. It was tagged “The Nation Prays,” writes TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO

It was an event many had waited for. They could not wait for the day to break before besieging Oke Fia at Olorunda Local Government Area of Osun State for it.

Even the environmental sanitation which holds every second Saturday in Osun State could not stop them. People were seen putting finishing touches to the setting of the venue. Shortly after the sanitation, people stormed the place, paving way for its early start.

Hordes of clerics from different parts of the Southwest teamed up with their Osun counterparts at the venue. Traditional rulers were not left out. They waved their horsetails to acknowledge greetings from the mammoth crowd who yelled Kaabiyesi ooo.

They arrived in time for the event organised by the Joint Muslims’ Action Forum (JOMAF), tagged “The Nation Prays.”

The open field of the Government Technical College, Osogbo where it was held, was ornately decorated. Giant size canopies dotted the length and width of the field.

Inside were cushion chairs usually used by traditional rulers and top government functionaries at events and plastic chairs covered with white satin clothes. A big signboard mounted behind the podium were reserved for the moderators who were coordinated by the Imam of Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation, Ustadh Muhammad Jamiu Trimidhi.

The event began with an opening prayer bythe President-General, League of Imams and Alfas in Southwest, Edo and Delta, Alhaji Mustapha Ajisafe.

It was followed by recitation of the Quran seven times. This was done through distribution of the Quran leaflets to those who could read.

Immediately the congregation was done with the recitation, one of the moderators announced the arrival of the special guest of honour – Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

Aregbesola, decked in his usual simple trademark – Buba, Sokoto, cap and footwear – all white, moved round to greet the people.

In his opening remark, JOMAF Chairman, Alhaji Kola Usaamot said the programme was organised to pray for the peace and progress of the country.

He said:“We are gradually but steadily moving towards a precipice. On the political scene, the centrifugal forces are too strong to be ignored. Issues that divide us are more on the front burner of national discourse than the ones that unite us.

“As if this is not enough, the general state of insecurity is alarmingly snowballing to a conflagration that may consume us all if we don’t recourse to prayer. Unfortunately, no single geo-political zone is totally immune or free.”

Usaamot observed that leaders in the country must wake up to their responsibility and steer the nation from collapse.

Chief Missioner, Ansar-ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Abdurrahman Ahmad, who was one of the fathers of the day described the day as great.

He said it was a day to thank Allah for the life of Governor Aregbesola, who he said has done much to earn the respect of the electorate.

Sheikh Ahmad enjoined Aregbesola to ensure rights of citizens are always protected irrespective of political and religious affiliations.

He said citizens demand for their rights should not be seen as public disturbance.

“The continuous demand of rights by the Muslims should not be seen as act of militancy because we have been civil enough in going about it and we never close the chapter of dialogue to achieve this purpose,” he said.

A senior lecturer at the Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Is-haq Lakin Akintola, said it was high time the nation had a round table talk about the Nigerian project.

Prof. Akintola and The Nation newspapers columnist, Dr. Femi Abbas who were among the guest speakers on the occasion urged those in authorities to create an enabling environment through which rights could be demanded unhindered to allow for peace and tranquility in the country.

The gathering seized the opportunity to demand for using of Hijab (head scarf) by female Muslim students in all public schools, Hijrah public holiday, teaching of morals in schools as well as adequate representation of Muslims in public offices in accordance with their population in various states.

While praying for peace, progress and development of the country, Dr Abbas urged Nigerian to work toward achieving the aforementioned, saying “it would amount to hypocrisy for people to pray for peace and at the same time behave in a manner capable of breaching the peace.”

The gathering thereafter threw their weights behind Aregbesola on state policies that they said were in conformity with divine injunctions that harped on equal rights for the citizenry, promising to keep on supporting him in as much as he governed well and gave everybody his rights.

In his response, Aregbesola expressed appreciation to the gathering, assuring them that he would not relent in his efforts at giving every citizen his due as dictated by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

His administration, he said, is poised to implement policies that would uplift the state and the nation at large.

He enjoined them to continue praying for the country.

An event tagged The Barry Colloquium organised by The Ayinde Barrister Legacy Club (ABLE) has been held in Lagos, reports TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO

Before the end came, ace Fuji musician, the late Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Balogun popularly known as Barrister had reached the peak of his career. He was the first among eqauls. He and others made Fuji the popular music it is today.

Little wonder he was named Mr Fuji. The wide acceptability of his music beyond the shores of the country shows the humanity in his music.

Last Friday, his fans streamed into the Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Ikeja, Lagos for an event in his honour.

A roll-up huge banner with his bold picture welcomed guests.

A bevy of beautiful women escorted the guests to their seats. The hall bubbled with records of the musician.

Some sang along, some nodded their heads; some shook their bodies; others who could not resist the tune took to the dance floor.

Welcome to the colloquium organised by a facebook group, The Ayinde Barrister Legacy Club (ABLE) tagged The Barry Colloquium.

ABLE was incorporated by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) on May 10 last year as a trusteeship, not-for-profit organisation.

Its members cut across Nigeria, Republic of Ireland, United States and United Kingdom.

ABLE members on the occasion stood out among the gathering. Decked in uniformed blue Ankara, they were the cynosure of all eyes.

The attendance of Barry Wonder’s children – Rasaq Balogun; Barrymade and Barry showkey was a stamp on the event. Likewise, the presence of King of Juju music, Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye (a.k.a King Sunny Ade); Waka Queen Salawa Abeni; Bonsue creator Dr Adewale Ayuba and Abass Akande (a.k.a Obesere) was an icing on the cake.

The event began with an opening prayer. It was spiced with the rendition of the National Anthem, keynote addresses, entertainment, lecture, Ewi, Barry testimonial and investiture of Barry Fellow.

Welcoming the guests, ABLE President, Kayode Bello said Barrister celebrated Nigeria and did not bring shame to the country.

With his legacy, he said, a museum should be built in his name.

“What type of music are our young ones studying in the university?” he asked rhetorically.

He canvassed inculcation of his type of music into the education curriculum.

Bello enjoined the federal government to honour him as a foremost Nigerian ambassador.

Former Governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba who chaired the occasion, told the gathering his long relationship with the deceased.

“I am very close to Ayinde Barrister in his lifetime. Barry and I have been involved in the promotion of music right from my day as editor of Lagos Weekend. I was involved in the development of musicians such as Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey etc. In 1988, while I was still in Daily Times, Barrister prophesied that I would be governor and I became governor. His song became my campaign slogan. I wrote the forward of his autobiography. I am happy that even in death people came to celebrate him. His music is culture, wisdom and teaches education. I am happy that even in death; Barry’s name is larger than life,” Osoba said.

He thanked King Sunny Ade for his supports to his fellow musicians.

Director General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) Otunba Segun Runsewe said “If he (Barrister) was born in the English world, I am sure he would be called ‘Ayinde the Edifice’”.

Barrister, Runsewe said, was one of the greatest artistes Nigeria ever produces.

“Our greatest problem is that we don’t celebrate our own. We did not realise while growing up that these group of artistes were the pioneer missionaries sent to the world because their music was loaded. Honestly, Barrister was a great man of our time. He was one of the most courageous and gifted man of our time. If a white man is celebrating our bests and we don’t, that is a problem. We must not wait to celebrate people when they have gone but in their lifetime. Barrister was a humble and unassuming man,” he said.

One of Barrister’s fans, Otunba Adisa Osiefa described Alhaji Agba as a contented man.

“He was not after wealth otherwise he would have left billions of naira behind. I watched him carefully, and whenever I introduced anything that would yield money even when he had the opportunity, he would just waive it aside. He was generous to a fault. As a musician, Barrister was the only one I knew would take money from his house and spray his host. He was a discipline, calm and gentleman. And in terms of education, he tried his best for all his children,” Otunba Osiefa stated.

Another fan, Asiwaju Oyasola Oyadeji said Barrister does not discriminate.

“We were always together before he passed on. We used to spend Christmas together and did most of his Xmas in my house,” he said.

Chief Lekan Alabi who stood in for Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Abdul Azeez Arisekola-Alao, thanked everyone for recognising the son of the soil and Fuji maestro.

Guest speaker, Prof Kunle Lawal of the Department of History, University of Ibadan (UI), promised to write a book on the deceased, because “there were many things to learn from him right from childhood.”

Prof Lawal, former Lagos State Commissioner for Education, described Barrister as a genius who he said single-handedly turned what was ‘just a play thing’ – Were into the most important identity of Yoruba popular musical culture.

“It will probably be surprising to hear that Barrister was an introverted personality. This much I came to discover from my close interactions with him. He was not a garrulous person; he was not the usually loud person who, because he was a star, would wants his presence to be noticed,” he said.

For the former commissioner of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), Alhaji Musbau Oyefeso, Barrister was a gift to the nation.

Oyefeso who taught he is one of the bests of Barrister’s fan met a better fan in the person of his childhood friend and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) National Legal Adviser, Dr Muiz Banire.

According to him, records of Mr Fuji are played at Dr Banire’s office everyday from morning till the close of work.

Dr Banire, former Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment said, the philosophies behind most of Barrister’s songs are too educative to be neglected.

While commending Prof Lawal for promising to write a book on him, he enjoined the club to compile all songs of the Fuji legend in one format.

One would have expected a Christian gathering; a church kind of event with bible readings and preaching. But it was none of that last Friday when the Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN) held its fifth Founders Day at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos.

As part of its activities to mark the day, it also held this year’s edition of its annual lecture entitled: Selfless Service: Key to Achieving Sustainable National Economic Growth and Development.

So, one after the other, they thronged the auditorium of the NIIA. Many were men and women of God, young and old, politicians alike who sang the National Anthem. They were all there to learn one or two new things.

The opening prayer was led by Deacon Ayo Durodola.

On the high table were chairs arranged for the special guests and the awardees. BSN National President Dr Aaron Nuhu gave the welcome speech. He noted that the annual celebration of the society holds on February 8 every year, having being founded on same day in 1966 by the late Alahu Ibia.

Nuhu also added that the society is to make available the word of God to every creature and Nigerian.

“It is done through five cardinal ways: translation; mass production; free distribution to the destitute, blind and prisoners; levelling subsidy on the bibles and raising funds to maintain the level of subsidy. These programmes are done to let people know the word of God and his saving grace.”

Nuhu said: “It takes 13 years to translate the bible and N30 million to translate a bible. So far, we have translated in 20 Nigerian languages. Nigeria has 505 languages so we still have a long way to go for the sake of those we have to bring to the saving knowledge of Christ.”

Representing the chairman of the occasion and former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was Deacon Olusola Durodola, who apologised for the non-attendance of Obasanjo, who he said was launching his foundation at the moment in London.

Reading a goodwill message from Obasanjo, Durodola thanked God for the impact the bible has on Christendom, which has enabled people read in their own language and spur them into action.

Congratulating the awardees, he said it is a testimony that their tireless effort is appreciated by many and God.

Another special guest was the former General Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation, (NNPC) Dr Gaius Obaseki, thanked those who have sustained the vision of the bible society.

“Nigeria is the largest distributor of the bible after the United States (US). Not only is the bible used in promoting the needed peace for the growth of the country, the bible being read by all ensures good living; believing in the teaching ensures salvation because the bible isn’t only for Christians but for all Nigerians.”

As soon as Dr Obaseki finished his speech, Professor of Political Economics, Pat Utomi mounted the podium for the lecture entitled: Selfless Service: Key to Achieving Sustainable National Economic Growth and Development.

Guests listened with rapt attention as Utomi took them down memory lane of how the country had been as compared to other countries. Their hope-filled eyes were on him, though, there seemed to be no hint of the truth registering in their minds yet of what the Delta State born don was saying.

There was also the opportunity for the audience to respond and ask questions on the lecture.

Soon afterwards, students of the National Society of the Blind, Oshodi demonstrated how they read the bible through the Braille Scriptures. There was also a musical interlude by the students of the Living Primary School, Lekki.

There were also awards given to notable men who have selflessly served Christendom and humanity. They were the Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Dr Sunday Ola Makinde; chairman of Modadola group, Sir Bode Akindele and the first governor of Lagos, Brig Gen Mobolaji Johnson.

In response, Brig-Gen Johnson thanked God for sparing his life. The day after was his 77th birthday and with a frail voice was grateful for the gift, adding, that it is more than what he could ever wish for. Prelate Makinde dedicated his award to his parents who taught him what Christianity is. For Sir Akindele, the award will inspire him more to service.

In attendance were: Archbishop Sunday Ajayi of the Methodist Church; Sir Akin Oyenusi; representative of Dr Tunde Lemo, Mrs Chris Okpala; representative of the wife of the governor of Lagos and wife of the Head of Service, Mrs Adenike Ogunlewe; former minister Maj Gen Godwin Abbey; Prof Vincent Anibogwu; former ICAN President Chief Ayo Oni; Chief Olu Falomo and Sir Remi Omotosho.