Category: Social Circuit

NIGERIA’S Carterefe and Bayanni have made Shazam’s official list of 50 global music acts predicted to rule the airwaves and music scene in 2023.

The 50 music acts, according to Shazam, are perfectly poised to have a breakthrough year in 2023.

Topping the list is Carterefe with his hit single, ‘Machala,’ which features Berri Tiga. The singer also made the list of 10 acts across the globe that Shazam is spotlighting.

Brown Joel with the song, ‘Omo Ologo,’ also made the list as well as S High with the song, ‘Hypnotize’ featuring Victony and Zinoleesky while Shoday with the song ‘Caution’ and Bayanni with the song, ‘Family,’ also made the list. In total five Nigerian young music stars have been predicted to have a breakout year in 2023.

Speaking on the achievement, Carterefe said, “Shazam basically aided in boosting my music career to this point. Having the sound was one step, but Shazam made it easier to connect me as an artist to new listeners who may not have known me before hearing the sound somewhere and getting to Shazam it. In a click the new user is straight on any of my digital platforms to listen to what I have, it’s really been impactful and I really want to say I’m personally appreciative of it, for what it’s done for my music career and other sounds basically.”

NOLLYWOOD actress, Uche Ogbodo has finally tied the knot traditionally with her boyfriend, Bobby Marris.

The traditional marriage was secretly held at the actress’s hometown in Enugu State, on Thursday.

The actress took to her Instagram page to announce her newest marital status.

“Already Mrs. Bobby Florentus Ugwoegbu, but had to be Double sure. Congratulations are in order. More videos and pictures are coming soon.”

Ogbodo’s journey to Nollywood began following the decision of her father to register her with the Actors Guild of Nigeria in Enugu State, and she subsequently acted in different movies including ‘Be My Val,’  ‘Family Romance,’ ‘Festac Town,’  ‘Forces of Nature,’  ‘Four Sisters.’

In 2013 she, won Spotless Actress of the Year while she was a student at Godfrey Okoye University and in 2015, she won the ‘Fashion Icon of The Year Award,’ and ‘Best Supporting Actress’ at City the People Entertainment Awards for her role in ‘Mummy Why’ , ‘2018 Outstanding Nollywood Actress’ at the Icon 2018 Awards.

In 2011, she was assaulted by Enugu-based movie marketers, Amaco Brothers because she supposedly delayed movie production and made them lose money with imminent ban threat and arrest but after investigations by the Actor Guilds of Nigeria, the judgment was in her favour.

BRAZILIAN Ambassador to Nigeria, Fransisco Carlos Soares Luz, and his wife Ivana Panizzi Luz have been honoured with chieftaincy titles.

The envoy was honoured with the title of Jagunmólú Àsà Olú-Òjè and his wife was installed as Yèyé Jagunmólú Àsà Olú-Òjé by Oba Adéyínká Adésínà Àkòfe Obáwálé; Arólú(I) Olú-Òjé Òjénpetu Yorùbá Community of Gadumo Kingdom, Ajaokuta, Kogi State.

During the conferment, the monarch laid so much emphasis on the exceptional attention the veteran diplomat has been giving to all that concerned culture.

The monarch also commended the Brazilian ambassador for strengthening and nurturing the erstwhile strong bond between the Yorùbá Community and the Federative Republic of Brazil which facilitated greater traffic between the two countries, adding that all these put together made him honour him and his wife.

The Cultural and Educational Attaché to the Consulate General of Brazil, Adéníran Arímọrọ̀ also got the title of Fàṣàgboyè Olú-Òjé in recognition of his tireless cultural exploits.

Other eminent personalities honoured include Omooba Chief Adésojí Tàlàbí (MD/CEO Fritots Global Communications PTY Ltd.) – Mójútásà Olú-Òjé; Onome Ogo-Ovwigho (Onome Signature) – Àsàáwùnmí Olú-Òjé and Ms. Mary Onete Kasim – Àsàágbèmí Olú-Òjé.

The monarch in the company of his wife also conferred the titles of Àsàáyelú Olú-Òjé and Gbáṣàníyì Olú-Òjé on Ísíákà Oláyínká Aìná (Easy Kampala) and Akíndiméjì Samuel Onásànyà respectively.

Luz and his wife expressed appreciation to the monarch, his Olorì, his chiefs, and the co

TOPE Oshunkeye is an unassuming young Nigerian doing great exploits in his chosen profession of marketing. The current Executive Head of Marketing, MultiChoice Nigeria is a man many have come to love for his humility and detail to attention.

Despite being one of the top shots at the John Ugbe-led MultiChoice Nigeria, Oshukeye’s aura enlivens anywhere he goes. Unknown to many, Oshunkeye had always been a humble personality long before he stepped into the big role in MultiChoice. While some attribute his meek and humane personality to some of the lessons learned on the job, others ascribe it to his personal upbringing. Though not one that courts media attention, several practitioners have continued to warm up to Oshunkeye, whose eyes are always on the goal. Whenever you run into Oshunkeye, he serenades you with the new offerings in MultiChoice, especially in the areas of topping entertainment for its customers with quality local content.  

FOR The Group Managing Director of Revolution Plus Group, Bamidele Onalaja and his amiable wife, Tolulope Onalaja, nothing is as good as giving back to society. The couple has continued to warm their way into the hearts of the needy, indigents, and the poor with their hearts of gold. Just as the couple has continued to impact the downtrodden through the Chris Bamidele Onalaja Foundation (CBOF), 2022 was not allowed to go without engaging in Corporate Social Responsibility. Hence, on Tuesday, December 13, the couple’s foundation donated food items to 500 widows in Ikeja in celebration of the Yuletide.

The food items donated included rice and groundnut oil. During the distribution, Onalaja said no fewer than 1,000 widows had been empowered since the inception of the programme in 2019.

According to Onalaja’s wife, the foundation’s core areas include basic education and scholarship, and economic and community development, among others. She also noted that various batches of widows had so far benefited in the entrepreneurial skills, adding that they were trained in skills they could use to start small businesses and awarded cash gifts after weeks of training.

On how it all started, Onalaja said the foundation started with 10 widows in 2019 with a total sum of one million Naira, and by February 2020, 90 more widows were reached out to with the same amount and by 2021, the foundation had empowered 300 widows with different empowerment skills.

In February 2022, the foundation also organised an empowerment programme for 200 widows, where apart from the cash given to them to start their business, they also got types of equipment like grinding machines, sewing machines, and hair dryer machines to help them get a source of living while another 400 widows benefited from the free skills acquisition training and were taught soap making and other skills.

Sources also revealed that under the foundation, the company had built schools, given scholarships to students, and given out educational items including free computer systems to them. Other achievements of the foundation spread across the education sector and communities and include Toldel Nursery and Primary School in Ikorodu with over 90 pupils enrolled where pupils don’t pay school fees, get free exercise books, and free school bags. Wasimi Junior High School in Ogun State, where the foundation built a huge structure with new classrooms, a principal’s office, examination hall.  

TWO society women, Wosilat Okoya, the younger sister of billionaire businessman, Chief Rasak Okoya, and Solape, daughter of society woman Bisi Shaba of the famed Bisket Supermarket are mourning the passing away of their beloved husband, Otun Aare Ademola Seriki. The two society women have been enveloped with sadness since the news of the death of the Nigerian ambassador to Spain, who passed away on Thursday, December 15 in Madrid, Spain at the age of 63.

Just as the entire nation mourns Seriki’s passing away, his widows and children are more pained because of the legacies of the late diplomat, who was noted to be a doting father and husband. Though he might be a busy man because of his political and social activities, he is said to have always made time for his children and wives. Several dignitaries and society henchmen and women have been paying condolences to the families of the late Seriki as well as his wives, who are super popular and rich on the Lagos society scene. It is believed by many that the late Seriki’s legacies will help the widows and children heal fast.

NOT many people know who Adetoro Fowoshere is but her imprints on the Nigerian entertainment and aviation scene continue to announce her whenever she visits or meets new people.

Though petite in size, this woman of valour has etched her name in gold on the sand of time with her exploits as the Chief Executive Officer of GIG Aviation Technologies Ltd as well as Toro Entertainment. While the expertise of her entertainment firm traverses the delivery of innovative services in concert management, show promotion, event management, talent management, media production, and marketing, her GIG Aviation has, in over 10 years of experience, displayed uncommon excellence in terminal operations management in the maritime sector infrastructure development projects. Just in May, Turboprop Manufacturer ATR signed a deal with Fowoshere-led GIG Aviation for two ATR 72-500 freighters from its asset management portfolio. Fowoshere will readily tell anyone that cares to listen to her and her team about the company’s commitment to providing high standards of delivery services to communities of Africa and Nigeria while expanding rapidly through local branches, notably in Nigeria, and the entry into service of these aircraft. At the moment, she’s working with her team to hold three days of concerts that will cost the team almost N1 billion.

THE palace of the Akarigbo of Remo, Oba Babatunde Adewale Ajayi in Sagamu, Ogun State, last Sunday came alive in celebration, as monarchs from far and near as well as chiefs, businessmen and sons and daughters of the soil came together to celebrate the cerebral king, as he marked his 5th year on the throne.

Some of the top dignitaries that graced the occasion, which also coincided with the Akarigbo’s 60th birthday marked earlier in the week, are the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Eniitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II; the Ogun State Governor, also a son of the soil, Prince Dapo Abiodun; the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo; the Olu of Ilaro and Paramount ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle; the Oluwo of Iwo Land, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi and a former governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo sent his regards, wishing the monarch many more peaceful and glorious years on the throne.

Ooni Ogunwusi prayed for long life for the celebrant, while Governor Dapo Abiodun lauded the achievements of the 19th Akarigbo this past five years.

The Akarigbo, dressed in purple traditional regalia with a fitting cap and golden beads, appreciated all guests for their support, love, and prayers, and prayed for their safe return to their various destinations.

Juju music maestro, King Sunny Ade entertained guests at the grand finale of the week-long event, while actor/presenter, Yemi Shodimu anchored proceedings.

ON Friday, December 23, 2022, the city of Lagos stood still as the families of Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo CON and Senator Gbenga Ogunniya hosted a galaxy of eminent dignitaries who gathered to witness the wedding ceremony of their children. 

The day was the wedding ceremony of Samantha Adetutu Adebayo and John Opeyemi Ogunniya. The wedding took place at the Habour Point Marquee, Victoria Island and had guests been treated to some of the best wines and food. Although the Adebayo and Ogunniya families have been close friends for many decades, Samantha and John met through Tobi Ogunbanjo. 

The bride, Samantha, is the founder and creative director of Gëto while the groom, John, is a lawyer and a principal partner at Central Securities Clearing System Plc.

The bride’s father, Otunba Richard Adeniyi Adebayo, CON, is the current Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment; and the first Executive Governor of Ekiti State (1999 – 2003).

FUNSO Aina is one man that shies away from publicity as much as he can. The suave senior manager, external relations, MTN Nigeria would rather put forward the telco’s achievement than his to the public glare.

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 has 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.

For two consecutive years, Aina has continued to win big at the Lagos Chapter of the Nigerian Public Relations, LaPRIGA, aside from other accolades to reward his brilliance.

Last weekend, Aina was rewarded with the award for the most influential PR practitioner of the year at the LaPRIGA awards. This is coming a year after he emerged as the Best in crisis communication management in 2021.

Receiving the award from Wale Adeniyi, Assistant Comptroller General, and Commandant of the Nigerian Customs Command and Staff College, Abuja; and Comfort Obot Nwankwo, Chairperson, NIPR, Lagos Chapter, Aina expressed gratitude to God while dedicating the award to his team.

He also acknowledged the obvious fact that the reward for hard work is more hard work.

Armed with over 22 years of work experience in journalism, cultural diplomacy, and telecommunications, this jovial professional is a result-oriented professional with varied competencies and hands-on experience in public relations, corporate communications, media relations, public affairs, perception, stakeholder, reputation, issues, and crisis management.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History (University of Ilorin, 1992) and a Master’s degree in International Relations (Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, 1998) and is an Associate of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).