The Nation Newspaper

Category: Happenstances

  • Adenuga shines at Awujale’s 80th birthday

    Adenuga shines at Awujale’s 80th birthday

    The 80th birthday of the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba (Dr) Sikiru Adetona, will go down in history as one of the most classy and well attended events in Nigeria in many years. The longest serving Ijebu monarch joined the class of octogenarians penultimate Saturday and the ceremony proved to be worthy of the efforts that awere put into its preparations.

    The birthday was marked with a week-long programme that started with a thanksgiving service and ended with a luncheon party at the expansive Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu-Ode. The event was another opportunity for the world to see the affinity shared by the Awujale and Dr. Mike Adenuga. Not only did Globacom ban‎ner and logo adorn the whole of Ijebu-Ode, the Globacom boss also took his seat very close to the Awujale.

    Not one to overlook kind gestures, especially one coming from Adenuga, Oba Adetona was full of praises for the Globacom boss, telling the gathering that he (Adenuga) was the most generous Nigerian.

  • Buruji Kashamu in low key birthday

    Buruji Kashamu in low key birthday

    Controversial businessman and Peoples Democratic Party’s financier in Ogun State, Chief Buruji Kashamu, turned a year older on Monday, but he celebrated the day low key in his Lagos home. Close friends of the Ijebu-Igbo-born billionaire, who has been in the eye of the storm lately, were there to rejoice with him.

    Kashamu’s loyal friends were said to have earlier hinted that they were planning something big for the politician, but he counselled against any lavish celebration. Although the reason for his low-key disposition could not be immediately ascertained, observers believe it might be because of the numerous political battles he has had to fight lately.  Only last week, his case on alleged trafficking in narcotics came up in the United States, where the presiding judge ruled that he must face prosecution. The US law enforcement agencies have run into brick walls in their quest to bring Kashamu to justice. But observers believe that with the latest ruling, the US authorities might have set the machinery in motion for his extradition.

  • Dangote, Muyiwa Afolabi, others for APRA

    Dangote, Muyiwa Afolabi, others for APRA

    The Group CEO of Frontiers International Services Limited, Muyiwa Afolabi, has been named among Nigeria’s representatives at the 26th edition of the annual African Public Relations Association (APRA) conference scheduled to hold in Mauritius from May 27 to May 31. The conference, whose theme is “Advancing Africa”, is expected to be attended by more than 500 delegates from different sectors.

    It will also be attended by prominent Nigerians like Aliko Dangote and Ayeni Adekunle, both of whom have confirmed their attendance and accepted to speak. Muyiwa Afolabi, who is also billed to be one of the speakers, is a strategic thinker with world-class experience in value chain process management.

    A capacity building professional, he has trained thousands of employees in several world-class business establishments across the different sectors of the Nigerian economy. The APRA conference is aimed at creating and enabling professional environment for accurate perception, goodwill and understanding of the necessary and effective performance of public relations practice in Africa.

  • Joy Emordi’s daughter weds in style

    Joy Emordi’s daughter weds in style

    Senator Joy Emordi made a telling appearance on the Abuja social firmament last Saturday as men of ‘timbre and calibre’ rallied round her in a show of moral support. It was a gathering of A-list personalities as the lawmaker’s second daughter, Chibogu, was joined in holy matrimony with her heartthrob, Chijoke Ilozue. The event took place at Holy Trinity Cathedral Church, Maitama, while a colourful reception followed at Thisday Dome, Central Business District, Abuja.

    The bride’s mother, Senator Joy Emodi, CON, attracted hordes of her erstwhile colleagues at the National Assembly. Former ministers and governors were also there to grace the occasion.

    It will be recalled that the former senator and member of the House of Representatives was unceremoniously relieved of her job as Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters in controversial circumstances.

  • Shade Alesh plans big for son’s wedding

    Shade Alesh plans big for son’s wedding

    Fun-loving socialite, Shade Alesh, is set to shake the Lagos social firmament with a talk-of-the-town event later in the year. The son of the popular socialite and gold merchant, Azeez, will be tying the nuptial knot with his heartthrob, Adejoke.

    The groom’s mother is doing everything possible to make the day one of the best in the lives of the couple. Going by the massive resources and time being invested into the wedding, which is still five months away, it promises to be one of the biggest weddings in the year. Shade, who got married for the third time a few years ago, is in a gay mood.

    Azeez and his heartthrob, Adejoke, are said to have their relationship rooted in a long dated friendship between their mothers. Shade has been one of the close friends of Adejoke’s mother, Moruphat Kalejaiye, who is also a big player in the Isale Eko textile business.

    The wedding will start on October 18 with the engagement ceremony, while the white wedding will take place on the 25th.

  • Femi Otedola picks new date for father’s burial

    Femi Otedola picks new date for father’s burial

    Celeb Watch has gathered that the Chairman of Forte Oil, Femi Otedola, has picked a new date for the burial of his late father, Sir Michael Otedola. Odoragunsin, Epe, Lagos home of the Otedolas is expected to glow to no end in the next few days as Femi will be giving the late former governor of Lagos State a befitting burial.

    According to information gathered by Celeb Watch, the date earlier chosen by Femi had to be changed after a request from the Lagos State Government that it should be fully involved in the burial of the deceased former governor.

    The burial rites of Sir Micheal Agbolade Otedola are, therefore, billed to commence with a commendation service at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos on Wednesday May 28. This will be followed by the wake on Thursday May 29 at his residence in Odoragunsin. Interment will follow on Friday, May 30, 2014.

    Already, one of Nigeria’s biggest bands has been contracted to entertain the powerful guests expected at the event. President Goodluck Jonathan is expected to lead the Federal Government delegation, as Femi shares an uncommon bond with the President’s family. Celeb Watch has also gathered that the family, led by Femi, will launch another foundation for the late elder statesman. While information about the focus of the foundation is still sketchy, it was gathered that the welfare of senior citizens would be its ultimate target.

  • Bola Shagaya, Onyeka Onwenu defend First Lady

    Bola Shagaya, Onyeka Onwenu defend First Lady

    Millions of Nigerians may have expressed their disappointment at the wobbly English spoken by the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, in respect of the abducted pupils of Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, but not so for her coterie of friends led by billionaire businesswoman, Hajia Bola Shagaya.

    Bola Shagaya was said to have been enraged by the taunts that have since been directed at the First Lady on the social media and elsewhere, expressing shock and disappointment at the fact that the First Lady’s traducers would not see beyond an issue as ephemeral as lack of finesse in the First Lady’s spoken English. She believes the woman should rather be praised for the empathy she showed by weeping uncontrollably for the missing kids.

    A few days ago, Onyeka Onwenu, popular female musician who was recently appointed the Director-General of the National Centre for Women Development, was on a TV programme to defend Patience Jonathan and demonstrate her support for the First Lady. “I have never met anyone as down to earth as the First Lady… She has a wonderful heart… We ought to thank her,” she said.

  • Grace Ihonvbere lies low

    Grace Ihonvbere lies low

    Grace Ihonvbere, the stylish wife of former Edo State governorship aspirant, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, was once as popular as her husband on the social scene in Lagos and Abuja. But the ardent fan of golf has lately settled for the back seat for reasons best known to her. This is in spite of the fact that her husband is currently the Secretary to the Edo State Government.

    A few weeks ago, some women from the Afemai ethnic group in Edo State paid her husband a solidarity visit, during which they urged him to consider taking a shot at the senatorial seat of Edo North Senatorial District. Big as the visit appeared, Grace was not on hand to receive the women. Some people, however, said neither Grace nor her husband was really prepared for the visit because it was a surprise one.

    The decision of the fun-loving woman to lie low has, not surprisingly, become the subject of discussion among other socialites who used to enjoy her company.

  • Ex-Daily Times MD Onukaba-Ojo buries mum

    Ex-Daily Times MD Onukaba-Ojo buries mum

    A former Managing Director of Daily Times of Nigeria (DTN), Adinoyi Onukaba-Ojo buried his mother at Oboroke in Ihima, Okehi LGA, Kogi State on May 3, 2014. The cream of Kogi political elite, top businessmen and women as well as first class traditional rulers were there in to honour the former Media Adviser to ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

    The Deputy Governor of the state, Chief Yomi Awoniyi, led to the ceremony a powerful delegation, including a former Deputy Chief of Staff in the Presidency, Prince Sola Akanmode; his brother and Chief of Staff to the Deputy Governor, Prince Richard Akanmode; the Clerk of the House of Representatives, Mohammed Ataba Sani Omolori, as well as senators, House of Representatives members, State House of Assembly members, commissioners, chairmen of local government councils and others.

    It was a classy event that featured colourfully dressed guests inside a beautifully decorated 2,500-capacity party tent. Assorted musicians entertained guests in Ebira, English and Yoruba. Food was provided by uniformed caterers from Abuja, while Guinness Nigeria Plc supplied the beverages exclusively. Onukaba’s mother, Hajiya Aishatu Onukaba, died on February 12, 2014 at the age of 82.

  • Ade Lexus escapes assassins’ bullets

    Ade Lexus escapes assassins’ bullets

    But for providence, popular Lagos socialite, Victor Adegbenro Adelakun, also known as Ade-Lexus in the Lagos social circle, would have bade the world farewell.  Ade-Lexus has been offering thanks to God for sparing his life from the bullets of hired assassins allegedly sent by one of his old friends to eliminate him penultimate Friday. Celeb Watch gathered that the four-man gang of assassins was on the verge of carrying out the heinous crime at the chosen location, Pekkas Night Club, by Allen Avenue, Ikeja, when some operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad swooped on them.

    SARS’s timely intervention was said to have been occasioned by some intelligence reports it had received about the impending assassination. On interrogation, the suspects confessed that it was one Ade’s friends that sent them from Ibadan to Lagos to terminate his life for reasons known only to their pay master.

    The sum of N100,000 was said to have been recovered by the police out of the N140,000 allegedly paid to the suspects as mobilisation fee. Aso recovered from them was Ade Lexus’s picture.

    Speaking to Celeb Watch about the incident, Ade-Lexus, who owns Advic Motors in Ikeja, Lagos, was full of thanks to God. He denounced any business relationship with the alleged sponsor of the suspected assassins.

    Ade said he had met the alleged sponsor through another friend a few years ago but did not do any business with him. He also denied befriending the sponsor’s wife as insinuated in some quarters.