Category: Social Circuit

Itsekiri people in the United Kingdom adorned in their cultural attire, Saturday rolled out the drums to welcome His Royal Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse 111, the Olu of Warri to a royal cultural display to the admiration of guests.

Olu of Warri in his bid to attract foreign direct investments from the diaspora was in London, United Kingdom, on Saturday.

The occasion was the Ugbajo Itsekiri UK 10th Gala and Charity Nite, held at the Brent Civic Centre, Engineer Way Wembley Park Wembley United Kingdom.

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The colourful event with the theme, ‘The Role of Diaspora Community in Strategic Health and Education Development in Rural Community,’ also had in attendance senior palace chiefs, and friends of the Itsekiris.

 Different cultural troupes and associations took turns to perform as they presented gifts to the monarch and were received by Chief Brown Mene on behalf of the Olu of Warri.

At the event, the Olu of Warri was flanked by his wife, the Queen Consort of Warri Kingdom, Her Highness, Olori Atuwatse III; Chief Oma Eyewuoma;  the Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom, Chief Brown Mene; and other palace chiefs.

The Olu of Warri urged the Itsekiri people in the diaspora to bring to bear their expertise, connection and network to the development and economic advancement of Iwereland, adding that the unity behind the crown outweighs the distraction of the few. “I know it has been interesting in the last two years and God is definitely in the midst of us and is guiding us. I want to say that the Itsekiri people must be focused. Let us not give in to sentiment.

“We welcome every single Itsekiri that has a heart; a desire to see the people fulfil their potential. As far as Itsekiris are concerned, Ogiame has no enemy, let us rid ourselves of made-up sentiment and unite,” he stated.   

On his part, the President, Ugbajo Itsekiri UK, Mr Majebi Eyewuoma in his speech stressed the need for all Itsekiri people to be guided by the popular acronym PTAD, Progress, Transparency, Accountability and Development.

At 48, Igho Sanomi, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Taleveras Group, has established himself as a titan with a heart of gold, who has emerged as a leading private philanthropist.

However, what many do not know is that behind the Sanomi’s strength and feats is Chief Mrs Iyabode Mabel Sanomi, a woman that has been a pillar since infancy.

Penultimate, Chief Sanomi joined the global leagues of octogenarians and to celebrate the age milestone, her worthy son, Igho decided to leave a smile on her face.

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With so much vigour, an emotional mission to say thank you, and sheer love for his source of existence, Igho decided to throw a party to relish and remember for a long time.

Friends, family, associates, and beneficiaries of Sanomi came out in numbers to join the man of many parts as he celebrated his mother.

Held at an exquisitely decorated hall where gourmet dining had been laid out for distinguished guests’ palette and pleasure, Igho had the guests feasting and bingeing with decent abandon.

While Igho had a permanent smile on his face as he moved from table to table ensuring nothing was in short supply, his mother, Chief Sanomi was publicly happy and full of motherly pride for attaining the age and having a worthy son to celebrate her struggles and care over him.

Aigboje Aig-Imokhuede, the former MD/CEO of Access Bank Plc, is one of the most unassuming Nigerian billionaires, who have achieved so much for themselves in their banking careers.

However, only those close to his private world will tell you about his circle of close-knit friends, one of whom is the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and deposed Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

Those who are close to Aigboje will readily tell you that their relationship dates back to many years with both always standing for and with one another during their trying times.

The kind of friendship that exists between Aigboje and Lamido is said to be a mutually beneficial and respectable one.

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Both friends are said not to be flash friends, their friendship has become a friendship model for rising entrepreneurs striving to have established confidants and worthy friends in the billionaire club.

While Aigboje remains a raw, loyal, and vulnerable friend, the type who wears his heart on his sleeve and makes it okay for his friends to do the same, Sanusi is said to be a friend that never leaves his friend during rainy or tough times.

Adetunji Gideon Ilori is an unassuming young Nigerian, who has achieved so much in such a short time over the span of his life.

His ability to operate in the circles of achievers and distinguished personalities remains one of the attributes that his peers long for as they meander the waters of business and entrepreneurship.

The highly cerebral and focused Ilori is one of the directors at the fast-rising SIAA Global Resources Limited, which was established in 2016 alongside his partner Sijuade Ayotomiwa Taofeek, to carry on business as importers, exporters, and general merchants in Nigeria and other parts of the world.

Currently, Ilori’s influence on the Nigerian business and liquor market is on the rise with the success of his co-owned firm, which has become one of the biggest partners of Trinidad and Tobago company, House of Angostura.

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The rise and popularity of the House of Angostura franchise in different parts of Nigeria have continued to put Ilori and his business partner Sijuade in a positive spotlight. With his mastery of the market and products, Ilori would readily draw you into the liquor market space with an uncommon brilliance that can only be attributed to entelechies.

Unknown to many, he’s the nephew to Chief Mrs Victoria Adunola Samson, the managing director of the widely accepted and popular BOVAS group.

Ilori is an entrepreneur with multiple experiences in various sectors ranging from media, advertising, marketing communication, facility management, hospitality, tourism, trading, and many more.

He pays huge attention to details and his ability to provide a swift solution to various problems is exceptional.

Upwardly mobile dude, McEva Temofe, is on a mission and this is to build as many African entrepreneurs as possible.

In line with his resolve to build and empower entrepreneurs across Africa starting with Nigeria, Temofe, who is the founder of the African Economic Merit Awards (AEMA), has instituted AEMAimspire University Tour.

According to findings, the initiative is targeted at university students and aims to inspire African students to become entrepreneurs, employers of labour and business executives.

Already, the maiden edition of AEMAimspire University Tour kicked off on July 20, at the University of Abuja. The event, which was held at the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development, University of Abuja, saw lucky participants receiving N2 million worth of grants from AEMA.

Aside from Temofe who mentored entrepreneurs, the session also featured pep talks from experts, including CEO of The Yellow Umbrella Media Concept, Dr Olushola Aluko; CEO of Zebra Group, Buffy Okeke-Ojiudu; and the Founder, Alpha Reach, Japhet Omojuwa.

According to Temofe, “AEMA is an organisation that has a presence in 17 African countries with Economic impact and developmental projects.

“In each University, we will give grants and other start-up kits to students to help them build on an existing project. Successful professionals will mentor these young entrepreneurs to enable them to build a lasting enterprise.”

On June 21, Paddy, one of the sons of legendary business mogul and national icon, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr. turned 39.

At 39, it’s no news that Paddy’s ubiquitous influence has been felt by all and sundry including his intimidatingly successful father and family.

Aside from holding various positions in his father’s conglomerate, Paddy shone like a bright star while he worked with Globacom.

As the boyishly handsome Paddy celebrated his 39th birthday, fans and well-wishers quickly ruminated on his audacious business move 10 years ago at just 29.

He narrowly missed a major deal of owning Chevron in the Netherlands without his father’s knowledge and later diversified into other sectors of life. At that point, Paddy reminds one of the saying that an apple doesn’t fall far from its tree. He proved to himself, his father, and his family that he was as audacious, brilliant, and distinguished as his father.

At 39, Paddy has not only created, and followed his own path, but has charted his own course and taken his own fate into his own hands. While those who know his father clearly know that his insignia connotes a raging bull, which incidentally is his zodiac sign of Taurus, Paddy, who has the zodiac sign of Cancer, has distinguished himself with an insignia that connotes the Lion.

Paddy has told who cares to listen that having entered into the filmmaking terrain as a budding scriptwriter, he’s going to make 2023 count before he turns 40.

Paddy has been on a low profile strategizing on his new adventure and plans to take over the global space with his ingenuity.

Ebuwa Martins Agbonwaneten, Tingo Media boss is mourning at the moment. The reason for his sombre looks recently is not unconnected with the passing away of his beloved mother of Princess Karina Namikpoh. She passed away recently at a medical facility in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, where she resided.

The late Princess Namikpoh, was a native of Nembe and a devout Christian woman, who devoted her life to serving God and raising God-fearing children.

Those who should know explained that she was a source of inspiration and support to her son, Ebuwa, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Tingo Media Ltd and The Dozy Mmobuosi Foundation, a non-governmental organisation founded by billionaire technology entrepreneur, Dozy Mmobuosi.

Friends, colleagues, and associates have continued to extend heartfelt condolences to Ebuwa and his family as the family prepares for a superlative burial in honour of the deceased.

In the last 11 months, I doubt if any public relations expert has been rewarded for his brilliance other than the Senior Manager, External Relations of MTN Nigeria, Funso Aina.

Hence, it won’t be out of place to identify Aina as one, who has done well for himself and distinguished himself from his peers – especially on his job as a PR expert.

Those close to Aina would readily tell you that he is one man that shies away from publicity as much as he can despite working as a public relations expert. The suave and dandy personality would rather put forward the telco’s achievement than his to the public glare.

Between August 2022 and July 2023, Aina has been rewarded with globally acclaimed awards that have seen the globe recognising his abilities and qualities.

For two consecutive years, Aina won big at the Lagos Chapter of the Nigerian Public Relations, LaPRIGA, aside from other accolades to reward his brilliance. In 2021, he was awarded Best in Crisis Communication Management, and in 2022, Aina was rewarded with the award for the Most Influential PR Practitioner of the Year at the LaPRIGA awards.

In May 2023, Aina was again announced ‘Innovator of the Year’ in the brands’ category at the highly respected SABRE IN2 Awards. He received the award at the PRovoke EMEA Summit in Gesellschaftshaus Palmengarten Frankfurt, Germany. Aina became the first African and Nigerian to win the award category.

And again, when GLG Communications and The Guardian rolled out a power list of 50 best PR practitioners in Nigeria to mark World PR Day, Aina’s brilliance and global practices in executing his duties were again recognised.

For the second time in a row, the strict gentleman with an alluring mien was listed among the best-in-class 50 PR practitioners in Nigeria, who have made a significant impact in the field and leveraging PR to make a difference in business.

Before now, the journalist-turned-PR specialist had proven his worth having served at different organisations before joining the MTN Nigeria Public Relations team in January 2009.

Over many years, Aina’s vast experience and academic background have seen him take PR beyond nomenclature to a demonstrable understanding of the strategic importance of targeted communication and its use in the achievement of business results and organisational efficiency.

His multi-sectoral experience in telecommunications, cultural diplomacy, and journalism has continued to earn him accolades in the world of Public Relations.

A dandy Nigerian has been making waves for several reasons ranging from his political inclination to his expertise in the world of marketing and alternative security.

In the last eight years, his name has been mentioned in various quarters from state government houses to religious houses and corporate firms across Nigeria.

The expert is none other than the upwardly mobile dude, Bestman Nze Jumbo.

However, those who know Bestman, as he’s fondly called, would quickly point at a verse in the holy book to introduce the dandy personality saying, when a man is skilled in his works, he will stand before kings and not before obscure men.

Bestman Nze-Jumbo, a seasoned integrated marketing communications and brand management expert has, without doubts, stood before kings and is still standing and hobnobbing with dignitaries across the world.

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From running a viable experiential marketing firm, Image Expression, to offering security expertise to religious leaders and state governors, Nze-Jumbo has proven himself as a capable hand.

That the experiential marketing and alternative security expert is one of the loyal individuals to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and President Bola Tinubu isn’t news to those who know his close circuit.

Despite not being a member of the cabinet, the level of Nze-Jumbo’s loyalty towards his principal has continued to surprise several individuals.

Nze-Jumbo, who was one of the private individuals at the forefront of the re-election bid of Sanwo-Olu would readily tell anyone that cares to listen about his reasons for supporting the Lagos governor.

A staff of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), Idowu Babatunde Henry; and his bride, Arowojeun Oluwabusola Davies, who works in a financial institution, were joined together as husband and wife at an elaborate event during the week.

The event, which was held at Julie Jane Event Centre, Akure, Ondo State, was attended by many esteemed personalities, including family members and friends of the couple.

The bride was the centre of attraction, as many admired her different outfits. For the engagement, she wore a sparkling green and brown native, which she paired with brown accessories.

Guests at the event constantly cheered the couple on as they displayed affection, barely keeping their hands off each other. The decoration of the venue was another highlight of the party, as it felt like a scene out of a fairy tale movie. The bridal train and the groom men also spiced things up with their dance steps.

The couple’s cake, which matched the colour of the bride’s green and brown outfit, was another talking point for many guests. Adegoke Oluwatomisin thrilled guests and the couple at the ceremony.

Personalities at the event include Commander Adetoro Adetola, FRSC, Head of Operation, Ondo State; Commander Wasiu Adejumobi, FRSC Sector Head of Admin, Ondo State; Officer Ajibade Adeseye, FRSC Head of Intelligence Department, Ondo State among others.