The Nation Newspaper

Category: Life and Style

  • Double CAPS: Showbiz stars who are into other ventures

    MANY of us know them for the things that made them famous. We see them as superstar singers, famous dancers, popular actors and actresses, rib-cracking comedians, top models and sports stars. But not many people know that our celebrities are masters in the game of side hustling. In addition to the stuff that brought them fame and, in some instances, fortune, these men and women have branched out of their calling to other businesses in order to make ends meet. As it is well known, being famous is a full time job, but these busy bees have made the choice to fill their timetables with even more grind. This week, let’s take a stroll through celebrity alley and see how they do their thing.

    2Face Idibia: Nigerian pop icon, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Face, owns or co-owns the hit night club Rumors, which has thriving branches in Ikeja, Festac and Victoria Island, Lagos. He’s also reputed to own choice real estate properties.

    Kate Henshaw: Henshaw is an actress, author, model, politician, real estate investor and fitness expert. Not much is known about the value of her investment but Henshaw is not one of those actresses who complain that life is hard. The smart businesswoman also converted her passion for fitness into a business, which sells her fitness routines in the form of DVDs like the “Kate Fit For Life.”

    Kanu Nwankwo: In case you are wondering how Kanu Nwankwo earns his daily bread since he stopped playing professional football years ago, do not ponder for too long. The ex-Super Eagles player is reputed to own a water bottling company (Kanu Water) and choice real estate, including one that has been in the centre of a storm for sometime, Hardley Apartments, located in Victoria Island. He also has a photo and video-editing studio in Ikeja.

    KCEE: We fell for artist Kcee’s music talents long before his company called Five Star Oil and Gas, a subsidiary of his Five Star brand, made him rich. Although it is his very popular and extremely well-off brother, E-Money, that is better known as the money man, KCEE is also a good businessman.

    Funke Akindele: Actress, director and producer Funke Akindele, popularly known as Jenifa, owns a television production outfit and co-owns a record label business named SOP Records with her husband. Funke, one of the smartest showbiz persons around, has found the right formula for making successful movies and keeping her audience intact for years.

    Emmanuel Emenike: Sources say ex-Eagles strike, Emmanuel Emenike, is a very wise investor with hands in several economic pies. Emenike also owns E-29 Records and he has been deeply investing in real estate.

    DBANJ: I’m DBANJ! The Nigerian international music superstar has business savvy. Apart from founding DB Records, Dbanj also dabbled into reality shows and has investment in agriculture. He is said to own, among others, a garri processing plant.

    Rita Dominic: In addition to films, the bold and beautiful Rita Dominic is a businesswoman.  She launched her signature hair by BK Unique Hair at Sleek Square, Victoria Island, Lagos State in 2016.

    Jim Iyke: Smart and shrewd Nollywood actor, Jim Iyke’s investment are not very well known, although he drops hints every now and then. However, Iyke, one of Nollywood’s most successful male artists, is said to own a construction company, a water bottling company, a real estate business and others.

    Annie Idibia: The gorgeous Annie Idibia runs Be Olive Hair collections where she sells human hair. She also runs a salon located in Atlanta, USA – Be Olive Hair Studio.

    Yul Edochie: Actor and politician is an efficient businessman, along with being a great actor and politician, he has set up a film academy company, which goes by the name Yul Edochie Academy.

    Yemi Alade: Alade is a commercially successful musician with as much fans in Nigeria as in other African countries. Her shows anywhere on the continent are always packed. Alade launched her jewelry line – The Yemi Alade Collection – a collection of an exclusive range of exotic costume jewelry in 2015.

    Iyabo Ojo: The actress, Iyabo Ojo, runs a well-known beauty parlour- FESPRIS World.

    Chika Ike: Besides being an actress, Chika Ike also has a reputation for being a venture capitalist. She has her hands in several pies- real estate, beauty store and boutiques to mention but a few.

    Agbani Darego: The beautiful Agbani Darego took her distinctive facial looks and offered it to the world. The 31-year-old ex-beauty queen has moved on to greater heights after winning the Miss World Beauty pageant in 2001. She has been a model for several local and international fashion brands, and in 2014 she launched her own denim range called AD by Agbani Darego-offering jeans, dresses, sunglasses and bags.

    Osita Iheme: Osita Iheme is in the hospitality business. He owns a magnificent hotel in Owerri, Imo State.

    Odunlade Adekola: Adekola is also into branching into businesses other than film acting and production. The popular Yoruba actor owns a unisex salon and boutique in Abeokuta.

    Bisi Ibidapo-Obe: Actress Bisi Ibidapo-Obe, pupolarly known as Bisi ‘Omo Logba Logba,’ owns a lingerie and sex toys shop located in Magodo.

    Mercy Aigbe: Nollywood actress Mercy Aigbe owns ‘Mag Divas” boutique.

    Everyone knows Genevieve Nnaji for her acting prowess, but not so much the fact that she’s a founder of St. Genevieve clothing line, and also into the real estate sector.

    AY-Ayo Makun is one of the most enterprising and talked-about celebrity CEOs in Nigeria. From the A.Y show to A.Y’s Crib and now, he has gone out of his usual line of business to set up the first non-smoking night club in Lagos, MVP.

  • Politics: The showbiz BRIGADE

    THE Nigerian politics scene is home to some of the nation’s most successful celebrities. Whether they are appointed government officials or elected office holders, these celeb politicians seem to wear the two hats well. These celebrities used their superstar status to jump-start their political careers.

    While Nollywood star Desmond Elliot may be quite popular as a politician, especially in Lagos, he is not the only celebrity in the rough and tumble world of Nigerian politics.

    There are several other famous faces who have campaigned and still campaigning for political positions.

    Unlike their lesser-known contemporaries in politics, these celebs come to office with much swag and popularity. They are already present on people’s radar. With strong social media presence, they come across as likeable, familiar and trustworthy.

    The masses feel like they know them better and are already friends with them. With a penchant for attention and widespread name recognition, celebrities have a unique advantage in politics, where simply getting noticed is the first step towards winning a political campaign.

    From Desmond Elliot, Femi Adebayo, Ini Edo, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Kenneth Okonkwo, Kate Henshaw, Yul Edochie, RMD, Nkiru Sylvanus, Rotimi Makinde, Aina Gold, Banky W, Hilda Dokubo to Dayo Adeneye-D1, the number of celebs in politics is likely to become bigger and bigger as the nation advance in democracy.

    Meanwhile, we invite you to join the discourse by finding an answer to this question: why do you think so many celebs are opting for politics? Share your thoughts in the comments section-Online.

  • Female Genital Mutilation: This grave injustice, malevolent practice must stop!

    Joy was only 12 years old when she was subjected to the gruesome, inhumane, and excruciatingly painful torture of genital mutilation.

    Sadly, the idea of cutting a part of the female sexual organ in most parts of the country is one that is culturally celebrated and a mark of transition of the girl child into womanhood.

    With warm and flowing tears in her eyes, grim pain in her veins, screams and shouts of excruciating torture, Joy went through one of the most agonizing phase of her entire existence.

    Please stop!!! She cried as she begged the locals who were cutting her to have mercy. In all, four women held and pinned her down to the wooden bed as the chief “operator” continued in her “cutting” business.

    Whether Joy lives to tell the story is a discussion for another day. There are so many young girls like Joy who either have a pitiable story to tell or died during the process of the mutilation. However, the aftermath of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is by far devastating and reprehensible.

    Female genital mutilation is also known as female genital cutting or female circumcision. It not only destroy lives in the name of fulfilling an archaic cultural norm, but also causes more harm than good to the girl-child.

    According to a definition by the World Health Organization (WHO), Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. This act is mostly carried out by traditional circumciser who often play central roles in the community such as attending child birth.

    Recent statistics from the WHO reveals that more than 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone female genital mutilation in the countries where the practice is concentrated.

    Also, there are an estimated 3 million girls at risk of undergoing female genital mutilation every year. The majority of girls are cut before they turn 15 years old.

    The report further shows that the procedures are mostly carried out on young girls sometime between infancy and adolescence, and occasionally on adult women. More than 3 million girls are estimated to be at risk for FGM annually.

    More than 200 million girls and women alive today have been cut in 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia where FGM is concentrated.

    The practice is most common in the western, eastern, and north-eastern regions of Africa, in some countries the Middle East and Asia, as well as among migrants from these areas. FGM is therefore a global concern.

    Nigeria, due to its large population, has the highest absolute number of female genital mutilation (FGM) worldwide, accounting for about one-quarter of the estimated 115–130 million circumcised women in the world.

    Also, according to U.S. National Institutes of Health’s National Library of Medicine (NIH/NLM), “In Nigeria, FGM has the highest prevalence in the south-south (77%) (among adult women), followed by the south east (68%) and south west (65%), but practiced on a smaller scale in the north, paradoxically tending to in a more extreme form.

    “Prevalence rates progressively decline in the young age groups and 37% of circumcised women do not want FGM to continue. 61% of women who do not want FGM said it was a bad harmful tradition and 22% said it was against religion. Other reasons cited were medical complications (22%), painful personal experience (10%), and the view that FGM is against the dignity of women (10%).”

    In Nigeria, FGM is being tackled by World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), African Union (AU), and many women organization, sensitizing and educating the general public at all levels about the danger and undesirability of FGM.

    However, there is little that can be done both at the individual, group or community level without the backing of an extant law condemning and prohibiting the practice of FGM. At the moment, there is no federal law prohibiting the practice of FGM in Nigeria, and this is the reason for the slow and somewhat retrogressive progress or otherwise in the prevalence of FGM.

    This is a clarion call to every well-meaning Nigerian – Man and woman, boy and girl, young and old, to say “NO” to FGM and protect the lives and future of the girl child in our dear country. Parents, say “NO” to Female Genital Mutilation.

  • Messi shows love to sons, dog

    Lionel Messi has been sharing a cuddle with his dog Hulk and his kids Thiago and Mateo.

    The Barcelona star posted a photo on Instagram of his children piled on top of him while he gave his Dogue de Bordeaux a belly rub.

    Though both Thiago and Mateo seemed to be having fun, Messi did not appear to enjoy receiving a big lick from Hulk as he laid on the sofa.

    Messi have been in inspiring form, scoring his 400th goal last week in Barcelona’s most recent clash against Eibar in which he scored in a 3-0 victory.

    The 31-year-old has been in dazzling form this season, scoring 23 goals in 22 games in all competitions.

  • Smalling fetes pregnant wife

    Manchester United star, Chris Smalling enjoyed a lunch date out with his heavily pregnant wife early this week.

    The pair was spotted getting into a Mercedes 4×4 after dining out at the Allotment Vegan Eatery in Manchester city centre.

    The couple, who tied the knot in the summer of 2017 against the stunning backdrop of northern Italy’s Lake Como, is preparing to become parents for the first time and revealed on New Year’s Ever their newborn will be a baby boy.

    Smalling, who is yet to feature since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over at United due to a foot injury, revealed last year that becoming a vegan has helped him to stay fit.

    The 29-year-old attributed the decision to give up all kinds of meat, fish and dairy products, and switch to a plant-based diet of vegetables, nuts and fruit to his wife Sam.

    He is among a small number of Premier League stars who have turned vegan to improve their health and fitness.

    Smalling has however been forced to watch on from the sidelines as United have managed to turn their fortunes around with six straight wins on the bounce in all competitions since Solskjaer took over the reins.

    The England international, who penned a three-year extension on his Old Trafford deal just before Christmas, will hope to be given a chance to impress his new boss when he returns to full fitness.

    The Norwegian has completely changed the atmosphere round the club with his biggest win to date coming at the weekend against Tottenham.

  • Neymar hits the beach in Qatar

    PSG have travelled to Qatar for a four-day winter training camp – although Neymar has taken the chance to hit the beach in a very tight pair of trunks.

    The Ligue 1 champions, owned by Qatar Sports Investments, make the trip to the Middle East every year for training and sponsorship reasons – and it’s an ideal chance for some winter sun.

    Neymar grabbed the opportunity with both hands, posting a picture to Instagram of him on the beach by a perfect blue sea, wearing swimming shorts that left little to the imagination.

    Earlier he had posted a snap to social media of him and his team mates travelling to Qatar – Neymar, accompanied by club and country team mate Marquinhos, pulling his suitcase with a pair of golden headphones around his neck.

    Once out in the Middle East, the players were quick to hit the beach, Neymar posting a clip of him performing keepy-uppys on the sand with a PSG branded ball.

    Another Brazilian star, Thiago Silva, posted a picture of him, Neymar, Gianluigi Buffon and Angel di Maria together, beaming as much as the sunshine.

    The players also had club duties to perform – Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani spoke at a press conference, although the Uruguayan looked in holiday mode as he grinned and gestured his way through the questions.

    While out in Qatar, the players met with sponsors and fans, as well as training as they aim to maintain their unbeaten league record this season.

  • Mata, de Gea cruise in Aston Martin to lunch date

    Manchester United duo Juan Mata and David de Gea looked in good spirits after enjoying a late lunch with one-another early this week.

    The two Spain internationals took part in United’s training session at Carrington in the morning before heading to Italian restaurant Piccolino in the nearby village of Hale.

    Both players left in Aston Martins at 5pm. Mata was in his £140,000 DB9 and De Gea in his new £120,000 V8 Vantage.

    They looked to have had fun as they were photographed laughing and joking

    with each other outside the restaurant in the evening after their lunch before sharing a hug and heading their separate ways.

    Both stars have every reason to be in high spirits, United having undergone somewhat of a renaissance since the departure of Jose Mourinho last month.

    The Red Devils’ victory over Tottenham at Wembley on sunday means they have now won all of their first six matches’ caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

  • Tee Mac, Ara, other celebrities set for a busy 2019

    Business woman and socialite, Aisha Guobadia, spent her New Year holiday in Benin City, Edo State. “I came here to celebrate with my mom and dad. I must confess that I rocked Benin, at least to a good extent. I had missed the place for a while, so it was the best place to be at that time of the year.”

    Aisha Guobadia added her plans for the year: “That will be to focus more on my business and reach out to the less-privileged in our society today. That has been my concern for some time now.”

    It was a great year for top Nigerian hip hop singer, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2baba. Last year, his movie, ‘The Power of 1’, written by music promoter and board member of COSON, Efe Omoregbe, hit the cinema after he returned with his team from AFRIMA 2018 in Ghana.

    2baba and Buckwyde Media CEO, Efe Omoregbe, were at different cinemas, hosting celebraties to ‘the Power of 1’ movie. “My family and I have been having a great time moving from one cinema to another,” said a cheerful 2baba.

    On his part, Musician and Concert Flutist, Dr. Tee Mac Omatshola Iseli (MFR), had an Xmas-New Year holiday like no other. Said he: “I spent my Christmas season quietly at home in Lagos with my family. I, however, visited my sister Justice Okwuobi and her sons and grand children. I then attended a PMAN show at Alpha beach, and now, I am ready for a busy and exiting 2019. I also feel presently blessed after receiving a brand new flute early this year after one got missing towards the end of last year. You know how passionate I am with my flutes.”

    Fela Anikulapo’s daughter, Yeni Kuti, spent all the holidays with family and friends. Yeni Kuti was one of the celebrities who stormed the Lagos beach during the festive season. “I went to the beach, went eating out in a restaurant too. My daughter, husband and grandson were in town. So we had a great time together.”

    After a successful tour of Jamaica late last year, Ara, the drumming sensation, is back in the country. Looking radiant after the New Year holiday, the pioneer lady drummer says she is looking positively into the new year as it unfolds.

    She went ahead and regaled us with lots of stories about her fun moments in Jamaica. She summed it by adding: “Jamaica was great!” But for Ara, the celebration continues because January is her birth month. So, in few days, it will be her birthday and she plans “a mini get together with my band and close associates. We will praise, celebrate and give thanks to God for His mercies, grace, love and protection.”

    German music promoter, Ulla Wieghann, definitely doesn’t celebrate Xmas but in the spirit of the season, she knows that, that particular time of the year is worth enjoying. Ulla Wieghann, who is a friend of Nigerian music promoter,Kenny Ogungbe, took time off during the holiday to be with friends.

    She said she ensured she took time out dancing with friends all night. She was also out all night on the last day of the year, with friends. “I usually go out the last evening in the year for dancing with friends, and it used to go on all night. I hope 2019 will be a better year than 2018, especially for my musician friends. My plan for this New Year is to find many gigs and shows for musicians working with me abroad. I want to take the beautiful African music to the world. This would make me very happy; it’s all I need in 2019.

  • Nickfest Records Another Successful Family Fun-fair in Nigeria

    Nickfest, the 2-day family- fun entertainment event, held in Lagos has ended but not without the quest for more fun and happy time experience.

    The event which was organized by Nickelodeon in partnership with premium malt drink, Maltina took place on the 29th and 30th of September at the Balmoral Events Center, Federal Palace, Victoria Island, and was full of fun and so much happiness.

    The partnership played a part in delivering fun-filled experiences to families in consonance with Maltina’s commitment to ‘Share Happiness’ with various age groups. Following the success of the maiden edition in 2017, the 2-day event provided a very rare avenue for the brand to interact with its teeming consumers and fans.

      Commenting on the success of the event, Senior Brand Manager, Maltina, Omotunde Adenusi said; “This is indeed an exciting partnership for Maltina. We realize that we are all busy and more often than not, life just gets in the way, however creating family moments is paramount.”

    “As a brand that is all about nourishing family moments, we are proud to partner with Nickelodeon again to bring all the excitement of Nickfest to families. Nickfest is one of those events that families can enjoy.”

    Children were able to reenact their fantasies as the event featured some of Nickelodeon’s superstar characters in brand new shows including Dora the Explorer along with her animal rescuer cousin, Diego and Dora’s best pal, Boots; SpongeBob Squarepants; Shimmer and Shine; and Paw Patrol’s – Ryder, Chase, Marshall, Rubble, and Sky. Also this year, Happy the Maltina mascot took centre stage at the Maltina Happy Land at NickFest, and for the first time ever he performed his very own show to the delight of kids and parents.

    Music lovers were not left out as leading artists in the industry including Mi Abaga, Simi, Mayorkun and Adekunle Gold thrilled and entertained families at the event with electrifying performances.

    Maltina lived up to its “Share happiness” mantra by putting smiles on the faces of some families at the Maltina Happy Land at Nickfest through exciting giveaways.

    The event hosted 4,000 families with everyone present having a wonderful experience. It is safe to say that they we ae all looking forward to the next edition of the biggest fun-filled family gathering event, NickFest.

    The smooth, nourishing malt drink with complete richness is fortified with Vitamins and Calcium for healthy families. Maltina remains the category leader with its innovations and message of sharing happiness.

  • Set apart by headgear!

    THEY are both women and have occupied political offices at different times. But there is more that former Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and former Lagos State commissioner and woman leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief (Mrs) Kemi Nelson, have in common than gender and career. The two amazons share a unique style of exquisite perch headgear that tends to set them apart from the crowd of other women.

    They are not only numbered among top class Nigerians whose accomplishments and unique styles inspire others, they also lend credence to the saying that people who give out double doses of inspiration every time they appear in public are not usually generalists; they inspire because they are masters of a particular item of style.

    Fashion buffs agree that one item that most elegant African women cannot do without is the headgear. Whether as ankara, aso oke or gele fabric, their dressing is never considered complete without one. In fact it is like the scarf or jacket that everyone wears in the West during winter.

    Okonjo-Iweala and Nelson have a unique way of knotting their head gear/scarf. Both seem incapable of stepping out or attending a social event without stylishly perching their headgear on the forehead. It is a style with which they have become inseparable over the years.

    There is no gainsaying the fact that they have succeeded in using their head ties to create a distinct image of themselves.