The Nation Newspaper

Category: Happenstances

  • Mina Okoloko off social radar

    Mina Okoloko off social radar

    Ever since she opened Fluid Lounge, a strictly champagne bar on Saka Tinubu Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, Mina Okoloko appears to have taken a flight from the social sphere. The woman who loves to tread on roads that men dread has chosen to lie low for some time now.

    Until her seeming sabbatical from the social scene, Mina was never a scarce face in the nation’s socio-economic space. Although she could not be described as a party freak, the Obafemi Awolowo University-trained-lawyer-turned entrepreneur was always seen at events involving top government functionaries and corporate players.

    While many have attributed her silence to the toll that the current economic downturn must have taken on her chain of businesses, those who should know told Celeb Watch that the half Scot has only gone off the social radar to take stock of her recent investments with a view to re-strategising.

    In fact, an inside source said Mina might unveil a new card off her sleeve towards the tail end of the year or early next year. For now, she seems to be enjoying life away from the public glare.

  • Akintoba Fatigun set to serve

    Akintoba Fatigun set to serve

    With his eyes and mind set on becoming the next Chairman of Ekiti Local Government in the forthcoming chairmanship elections in Kwara State, Akintoba Fatigun, has been moving across the length and breadth of the local government. The young dude is being touted as the new face of Ekiti Local Government politics with his people-centred ideas. Akintoba, a philanthropist in his early 40s, is said to be enjoying a lot of grassroots support from the people of the local government as well as the political class.

    At a recent rally where he sold his manifesto to a section of the electorate, the people trooped out to register their support for the former aide of Senator Bukola Saraki, a former governor of the state. The former journalist and PR guru has upped the stakes in his determination to offer himself in a more appreciable capacity to affect his local communities.

    To achieve his dream, he has embarked on a rigorous campaign as his posters now dot the nooks and crannies of the council.

  • Seun Olagunju gets baby boy

    Seun Olagunju gets baby boy

    These are happy times for the family of Seun Olagunju, the pretty newscaster on the NTA. In the Yoruba culture, the usual prayer during marital solemnisation is for the couple to be blessed with male and female children. But for Seun and her husband, Dr. Kayode Olagunju, only a part of the prayer had been answered on the three occasions that the couple had been blessed with female children. But a few days ago, the couple was blessed with a baby boy delivered at a hospital in the US.

    For the Olagunjus, it has indeed been a season of celebrations. Only last month, Dr. Olagunju, Rivers State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), was promoted to the rank of Assistant Corps Marshal of the command. He had celebrated his golden age earlier in the year.

    Dr Olagunju was twice the Sector Commander of the FRSC in Lagos and had also functioned in the same capacity in Kogi, Oyo and Adamawa states. He is an author of several books on road safety issues and also oversees the FRSC disciplinary court.

  • Uju Ifejika for honours in US

    Uju Ifejika for honours in US

    Catherine Uju Ifejika, the CEO of Brittania-U Nigeria Limited, an affiliate of Brittania-U Group, runs one of the most successful indigenous integrated oil and gas companies. She ranks high among the continent’s wealthy and respected investors as her firm maintains its position among the front runners in the petroleum industry. Brittania-U’s operations cover the entire spectrum of the oil industry from exploration to production, refining, trading, supply and distribution.

    On her part, Nigerian-born businesswoman and philanthropist, Noni Nwasike, is the founder of Black Pumps, a non-profit women organisation with its head office in Los Angeles, California. The organisation is focused on advancing African women in their career, business and wellness. In a few days time, Nwasike and her team will bestow on the Brittania-U boss the 2013 African Businesswoman Award during the inaugural edition of its Women of Courage and Strength Awards.

    Ifejika will be joined by other awardees such as the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina. The event is scheduled for the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Los Angeles in the US.

  • Abuja gets set for I-G Abubakar’s wedding

    The Inspector General of Police, MD Abubakar, is savouring his new marital status, having overcome previous fears that he might not get married again. Come September 14, Abuja, the federal capital, will be agog with celebration as the Police IG will be signing the dotted lines for the second time with his new lover, Safiyat Bunu.

    Expectedly, the wedding is already the talking point among the rich and famous as they struggle to stamp a lasting impression in the mind of the number one police officer in Nigeria.

    The new bride is the daughter of former FCT Minister, Architect Ibrahim Bunu. Celeb Watch gathered that Safiya, the first daughter of Bunu, and the IG became an item last year; not too long after the demise of his first wife, Maryam Abubakar, who died of cancer in January 2012.

    Those who should know told Celeb Watch that Safiya and Abubakar are deeply in love.

  • …Doris Fisher too

    For many years now, Doris Daba Fisher, a high profile celebrity woman in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has disappeared from the social scene without a trace. Many who are fascinated by her sartorial and tonsorial essence cannot stop asking questions as to her whereabouts.

    Doris, one of the few Nigerian women who boast of the best and heaviest jewellery collection, can never be found wanting in the style department. So madly was she in love with collecting gold and diamond jewellery that she once expended a whopping sum on a pair of diamond earrings.

    Beyond her bold and stylish fashion sense, Doris is an intelligent physician with solid military training. She was once a medical personnel officer at the Ikeja Military Hospital, Lagos. Formerly married to Yinka Fisher, a popular Lagos socialite, with the marriage producing two boys, she is no longer as visible as she once was.

    There have been tales to the effect that the colourful woman has remarried.

  • Bola Shagaya warms up for celebration

    Come October 10, Hajia Bola Shagaya, the renowned businesswoman with interests in oil, photography materials and laboratories as well as banking and property, will clock 54. While the plans being made to celebrate the day are not yet in the public domain, we hear that friends, family members and business associates will be involved in the celebration.

    Champagne will be popped and glasses will be clinked in honour of the billionaire businesswoman reputed as one of the best friends of the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan. At 54, she is still beauty personified. But her personality is not all about beauty and glamour; she is also believed to be highly intelligent.

    The mother of five boys and proprietress of PRACTOIL will be displaying her philanthropic flair during her birthday celebration by visiting some orphans on that day.

  • Bisi Olatilo, Dele Momodu, others celebrate Alake at Niteshift

    Today is a special day for relations, friends, associates of the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Micheal Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo. Celeb Watch gathered that there will be Grand House Reception at Niteshift Coliseum, Opebi, Ikeja, Lagos in honour of the monarch. Glamour and glitz will be on offer as the Guv’nor of Niteshift, Ken-Calebs Olumese replicates his magic.

    The evening event will feature music, comedy and an interactive session with the 70-year-old monarch. The events will be moderated by the likes of Taiwo Obileye, Bisi Olatilo, Ohi Alegbe, Emeka Ossai, Cynthia Yinkere and Chief Dele Momodu.

    The high profile event is strictly by invitation. It promises to be a grand occasion for the First Class monarch.

  • Kashamu Buruj spoils Salawa Abeni with dollars

    Those who think businessman, Kashamu Buruj, otherwise known as Esho Jinadu, has dumped socials for politics should have a rethink. The estranged husband of popular businesswoman, Rosemary Ozula, is still very active on the social scene. While his entry into societal acclaim was based on the praise singing he enjoyed from high-flying fuji musician, K1 De Ultimate, Buruj has since evolved into a household name as a full-fledged politician and businessman with interests in oil, energy, motoring and hospitality.

    For some time, the Ijebu-Igbo-born socialite gave social events a wide berth to concentrate on politics in Ogun State. But the founder of Omo-Ilu foundation, a political movement in Ogun State, came out of his cocoon in Lagos, where he was sighted at the remembrance party of the late Alhaji Abdul-Yekeen Atoyegbe a.k.a (Baba Alanu) last Sunday. The party was held at 10 Degrees events centre in Oregun, Lagos. Waka queen, Salawa Abeni, was on the bandstand, and she had a lot of her fans in attendance.

    But the man who really stole the show was Kashamu Buruj who threw caution to the wind and made nonsense of the dollar note. He sprayed Queen Salawa Abeni with crisp 100 dollar notes as if the denomination was going out of fashion.

  • Bosun Olukoya’s killer still a mystery

    Many days after the Chairman of We-deliver.com Limited, Bosun Olukoya, was killed by gunmen in Lagos, his family and friends are still mourning and agonising over his death. They are at a loss over who could have been responsible for the gruesome act and why. The matter remains a mystery as no one can trace his death to any individual.

    Olukoya, a close aide of Chief Kensington Adebutu, met his death in a gruesome manner that Sunday night while returning from his favourite club, F’s, in Yaba, Lagos where he was with some of his friends. He was attacked at the entrance of his house at Onike part of Yaba. He was said to have noticed a vehicle coming fast behind him and, suspecting a foul play, attempted to outrun the vehicle. But the said vehicle overtook his, and its occupants alighted and pumped bullets into Bosun’s body.

    The gunmen escaped with his SUV. His wife, Bisola, rushed him to an undisclosed hospital before he was flown to South Africa in an air ambulance three days later. Sadly, he died on arriving South Africa. The 43-year-old was buried penultimate Tuesday at the Vaults and Gardens Cemetery in Ikoyi, Lagos amid tears.

    He is survived by his beautiful wife, Bisola, and three children.

    Not a few of his friends and family members however, believe that there was more to his death than meets the eye.