The Nation Newspaper

Category: Happenstances

  • Joko Oni hits 60

    Joko Oni hits 60

    One of the pillars of high society, Joko Oni, will clock 60 in the next couple of days. But you would hardly notice it because of the sophisticated nature of the boss of Gold Rush whose life is guided by the philosophy that only good deeds last.

    With a smile that hardly vanishes from her lips, she enjoys a pretty physique that has improved with age. As usual, she would be all smiles as the high and mighty in the nation’s socio-political milieu gather in a few days to honour her. Little wonder preparations for the big day are in full throttle in her house.

    With friends in high places, nothing short of a grand 60th birthday is expected.

  • Lara Banjoko lies low

    Long before the subsidy fraud scandal that rocked the oil and gas industry, Lara Banjo, a former top manager at Spog Petroleum, has been one of the most enduring big babes with cult following in the industry. She is one of the few ladies blessed with remarkable brain, beauty and confidence that make her to hold her own in the global oil industry.

    It is no surprise, therefore, that she is one of the most sought-after female experts in the industry. In fact, not a few chief executives believe that she holds the magic wand that can turn the fortunes of any moribund petroleum company around. She was working with Oando Plc before she left for Honeywell Group sometime back. Because of her adventurous nature, she joined Spog Petroleum as a top manager.

    After spending a few months in Spog, she left in a controversial way and have since been out of circulation.

  • Hajiya Bamanga-Tukur hits golden age

    For Hajiya Fatima Bamanga-Tukur, this is a period of celebration and gratitude to God for attaining the landmark age of 50. The youngest wife of PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, attains the golden age this weekend.

    Àlthough she has kept her cards close to her chest as to whether she will be throwing open her doors for people to celebrate with her, family members and friends are waiting earnestly for the day. The fair-complexioned lady, who does not look a day older than 40, has every reason to be thankful to her Maker for her ravishingly youthful looks, if nothing else.

    Ask her the secrets of her good looks, and the modest lady would not hesitate to attribute it to the grace of God and her peaceful lifestyle.

    The envy of a lot of women, Fatima won the heart of the PDP chairman about five years ago. And while her husband might have other wives, Fatima, the youngest of them, seems to hold the centre of the man’s heart. She is hardly seen at social events, but her profile has been on the rise, particularly since her husband became the national chairman of the PDP.

     

  • Yinka Taiga resurfaces

    Just when she seemed to have fizzled out in the minds of many, Yinka Taiga, wife of Oloorogun Moses Taiga, who took a sabbatical leave from the social scene, made a sudden reappearance a few days ago. After a long absence from the radar, Yinka’s looks betray all that had been written about her.

    She had recoiled into her shell after a lady named Mercy was linked to her husband. Yinka, the mother of Oloorogun’s famous quadruplet popularly known as the Taiga Squad, refused to be drawn into the ensuing drama, preferring to concentrate on nurturing her babies and allowing the Oloorogun to permanently extinguish the acrid flames from his past.

  • The Page Night Club rebrands

    It might have come as a shock to many fun lovers and patrons of The Page Night Club when they drove past their favourite fun spot situated in Opebi, Ikeja, Lagos only to see a closed sign hanging at the entrance. Contrary to the conclusions many have drawn that this popular club has closed down for good, The Page Night Club is far from leaving the night life business, they are instead re-branding which is essential for any business venture.

    The Page Night Club, owned by Chris Erondu, is arguably one of the most popular night clubs in Lagos Mainland. The night club has operated in Lagos for more than seven years, providing exciting atmosphere for partying and offering authentic drinks. Little wonder it is the favourite of many A-list socialites, celebrities and party lovers in general.

    But the night club is currently undergoing a multi-million naira renovation; a move some of its officials said was aimed at serving customers better. Ardent lovers of the night club may not have to wait for too long as Celeb Watch authoritatively gathered that in three months time, it will once again throw its doors open to fun seekers.

    “We can assure you that our customers are the sole reason for this rebranding effort. They cannot be prepared enough for the transformation The Page is about to bring upon the social scene,” a source at the club boasted.

  • Kojo Anan turns 40, goes off social radar

    Kojo Anan turns 40, goes off social radar

    Kojo Anan is the only son of the former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Anan, and his wife, Titi Alakija. Blessed with good looks, charm and wealth, Kojo is a man with almost everything at his disposal.

    The fun-loving dude turns 40 in a few weeks, and the social firmament is waiting for his initiation into the league of 40-year-olds.

    The list of silver-spoon kids would not be complete without a mention of this handsome young man. Having grown up in Ikoyi, Lagos, he maintains thea same standing with other Lagos big boys like the Ladi Baloguns, the Maje Ayidas, the Laolu Sarakis and the Abi Kukus, to mention a few.

    But one thing that makes Kojo different is his refusal to take a plunge into marriage. Although he was rumoured to be waving goodbye to bachelorhood sometime in 2012, the rumour has definitely not seen the light of day.

    With 40 comes great responsibilities, and Kojo seems to share this belief as he seems to have abandoned his penchant for high society parties. As he now turns down virtually every invitation to social events, it could be safe to say that his active days on the social radar are numbered.

    The graduate of Keele University appears to be taking life more seriously. With the look of things, marriage may feature prominently on the calendar of the highly eligible bachelor in the near future.

  • Senator Daisy Danjuma buries mum in style

    Penultimate Friday, the bigwigs gathered in Benin, Edo State capital, for the burial of Senator Daisy Danjuma’s mother, Dame Merry Oritsetimeyin Ehanire. To say the burial of the senator’s mother, who passed away on Tuesday, April 30, 2013, was befitting would amount to stating the obvious.

    Before the burial, the wake keep for Daisy’s mother had taken place on Thursday, May 23, 2013 at Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, G.R.A, Benin, Edo State. In attendance were the late woman’s children: Osagie, Iyayi, Edugie, Andy, Yawa and Isiah, as well as her in-laws and grandchildren.

    The body of the senator’s mother was kept in a N5 million gold and metallic casket. Those who graced the burial included the Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; his Delta State counterpart, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan; the Senate President, Senator David Mark; Chief Gabriel Igbinedion and his pretty wife, Cherry; Grace Egbagbe and former Aviation Minister, Senator Kema Chikwe, among other dignitaries.

    Daisy’s husband, Gen. T.Y. Danjuma, co-hosted the event.

  • Fifi Ejindu acquires N30m Rolls Royce

    Fifi Ejindu acquires N30m Rolls Royce

    Not many people would hurriedly forget Fifi Ejindu’s earth shaking birthday shindig at the world’s renowned seven-star hotel, Burj-Al-Arab, in the United Araba Emirates a few years ago. The 50th birthday show saw the gathering of highly influential Nigerians to celebrate with of their own.

    She recently capped that with the acquisition of a Rolls Royce car valued at N30 million. Ejindu was said to have placed an order for the expensive vehicle last year, and many who have attested to her attribute as a hardworking woman believe that she deserves nothing less.

    The newly acquired car is said to stretch about 212.6 inches from the bonnet to the boot. The model of Rolls Royce known as Ghost boasts an expansive front grille.

    Ejindu, a top fashion designer and proprietress of Fifi Ejindu Foundation, among other ventures, is reputed for spending most of her time outside the shores of the country. As the life patron of the African Fashion Week London, she has used her influence to shine more light on emerging African designers.

  • Bode Akindele celebrates 80 in style

    Bode Akindele celebrates 80 in style

    One of Nigeria’s most enduring billionaires, Chief Bode Akindele, celebrated his 80th birthday in Ibadan, Oyo State, last Sunday. Although he has witnessed many memorable days, the one of that day was a different ball game. The party was not much about any gaudy merriment or outlandish display of wealth, it was more about popular exaltation of the businessman by many of his friends and business associates.

    The choicest pack of Nigeria’s high society made the birthday party a meeting point, and the celebrant reveled in ecstasy as guests took turns to voice out his good deeds. Whenever Chief Akindele, the colossus behind Modandola Group, Fair Gate Investments Limited and Nigeria Biscuit Company, steps into any big social event, even the captains of industry constitute themselves into a guard of honour.

    Colourful and amiable, Akindele relishes the good things of life.

  • Ndidi Obioha launches initiative for aspiring couples

    Ndidi Obioha of Enthyst Event has launched a new initiative for would-be couples. Tagged ‘The 2013 Lucky Bride’, Enthyst will partner FinaTrust Microfinance Bank to sponsor weddings at affordable cost. Obioha disclosed this at a press briefing, which had Mr. Deji Popola, the MD of Fina Trust Microfinance Bank, among other staff of the bank in attendance.

    The exciting package, according to Obioha, was borne out of the desire to see young people get married. “There have been people who come for us to plan their wedding but would not come back because of funding. So, we thought, let’s make weddings a lot more affordable. Enthyst has emerged three times as the Event Planning Company of The Year. So, obviously when we come on board any event, we are coming with our expertise, professionalism and the fact that we are in all modesty one of the best in the industry.

    “We said to ourselves, let’s all bring in other vendors who have this same vision and mission like we do, provide an amazing wedding at very affordable cost; as in a wedding that you would come to and you probably assume roughly a three-hundred-man wedding. It is just the normal wedding that we plan. It would probably go for between N6 million and N9 million, depending on all the works that are being thrown in. But we are giving you the very same wedding at N3 million, everything inclusive.

    “And also, when you have parents determining everything to do with the wedding because they are funding it, what this does is that it also gives the groom a bit of confidence and power to determine what he wants at his wedding. Because where a groom has just started work and decides he really wants to marry but doesn’t have the funds yet, if he is from a family that is well-to-do, the moment the family wants to fund the wedding, it calls the shots. The groom and the bride are not happy a lot of time. So, these are things that informed the