The Nation Newspaper

Category: Society

  • Segun Agbaje hints at next move after GTB

    Segun Agbaje hints at next move after GTB

    Our Reporter 

    Since it was confirmed that Segun Agbaje will exit his position as Chief Executive Officer, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (GTB), next year, attention has shifted to his next move or action.

    The puzzle might have been solved at a recent gathering as the top banker admitted that he was not ready to assume the chairmanship position of a company at the moment. This was in response to a question about the possibility of him becoming chairman of the holding company, for which GTB has obtained an approval-in-principle from the CBN

    According to him, he still has the energy to contribute to the sector and society at large. Agbaje said: “If you are an investor, will you allow me to go? I think I still have some energy and I have a lot to contribute. I can’t be a chairman now; I need to get my hands dirty. Can you see I didn’t wear a jacket? I like to get involved. When I cannot anymore, I will let you know.”

    Agbaje was appointed Acting Managing Director in April 2011 and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer on June 22, 2011. The alumnus of Harvard Business School has over 19 years experience in investment and international banking.

  • Big distraction for El-Rufai’s son as he picks wife

    Big distraction for El-Rufai’s son as he picks wife

    Our Reporter 

    Bashir, son of Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, is set to become a man today as he will be getting married to Halima, daughter of Senator Ibrahim Kazaure.

    But the last few days have not been easy for him. His pre-wedding photos have generated different reactions on social media where some Muslims attacked him for holding the bride-to-be inappropriately.

    Bashir blew hot, saying he would rather be beheaded than apologize over pre-wedding photos with his barrister bride. This, instead of quenching the issue, generated further reactions.

    The marriage ceremony will take place in Abuja and it is expected to be graced by big players in politics and business.

    For a few people who don’t know the host, Kazaure, who is giving out his daughter’s hands in marriage – he was a Senator in the Nigerian Third Republic and Nigerian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He also served under late President Umaru Yar’Adua as Minister of Special Duties and briefly served as Minister of Labour and Productivity under Goodluck Jonathan.

  • Lanre Da Silva grooves

    Lanre Da Silva grooves

    ALL work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Maybe that explains why fashion entrepreneur, Lanre Da Silva, loosened up at the house birthday party of Uche Nwandison recently in Lagos.

    Known as a workaholic, Da Silva put work aside at the party and danced like never before. Apart from grooving to songs by Teni, Kizz Daniel and other contemporary musicians, it was also interesting to see how she moved her body to Igbo music despite being a Yoruba woman.

    It was gathered that the mother of two and Nwandison had not only been friends for years but they also share a lot of memories together.

    Da Silva whose father was Sir Leo Babarinde Da Silva, a former Secretary to the Lagos State Government, is a graduate of Business Administration at Coventry University. She also obtained a Master’s Degree in Finance from the University of Leicester.

  • It is music and nursing for Lancky Cresco

    It is music and nursing for Lancky Cresco

    KNOWN as Lancky Cresco in the entertainment industry, Chike Nneli is also a registered nurse and takes it as seriously as he does music.

    In New York, he was one of the frontline nurses during the fresh outbreak of COVID-19.  Admitting that it was a heavy risk, he said he was trained to help people in medical need and pain.

    How does he combine music with nursing?  He described music as a calling, adding that he started professionally in 2008 with a mix tape as a student.

    He said: “I call my style Mente music. People who hear my sound tell me it takes them on a journey. I can look at your eyes and write music through your eyes. That’s how I tell my tales. I sink into the feeling and also get inspired by the spirit.

    “I am also a registered nurse, videographer and business consultant. I try to help and touch people in any possible way.”

  • About Ade Bakare’s costume innovations

    About Ade Bakare’s costume innovations

    THROUGH hard work and creativity Ade Bakare has built a fashion brand that has traveled far and wide.

    In recent times, he has been working more with Nigerian filmmakers to define their costumes on set. If you are looking for his recent works, see series and films like Tinsel, Battleground, Reunion, Lekki Wives, A Place in the Stars and Pretty Awkward.

    Bakare had gained a lot of experience creating costume designs for films in London and he decided to bring this priceless knowledge to Nollywood.

    Born in Bromsgrove, England, Bakare graduated with a degree in History from the University of Lagos in 1988. Then, he returned to England to study fashion design at Salford University College Manchester where he graduated in 1990.

    He worked briefly for the couture establishments to the English Aristocracy – Victor Edelstein and Christiania Stambolian – before setting up his label in 1991 through a loan from the Prince of Wales Youth Business Trust (P.Y.B.T.)

  • Tony Elumelu soars high

    Tony Elumelu soars high

    Oladapo Sofowora

     

     

    IN the league of Black men who are regarded as patriots of Africa, the name Tony Elumelu keeps recurring for prioritizing the welfare and upliftment of African’s high above his shoulders, most especially, the youth demography.

    The super dandy boardroom guru’s business conglomerate is present in 20 African countries and key international markets, with over 30,000 people on the employment roll.

    The Chairman of Heirs Holding has his hands in different pies of investments that include power, financial services, healthcare, energy, technology, hospitality, and real estate.

    In just six years, with heavy investment valued at millions of Dollars, through his entrepreneurial programme, over 10,000 African youths have been empowered by The Tony Elumelu Foundation TEP. The empowered youths can now stand shoulder to shoulder with their peers from other parts of the world. The entrepreneurial programme is aimed at eradicating poverty, illiteracy, high density of migration for greener pasture, Hunger among other salient issues affecting the growth of Africa. His foundation has also partnered with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), to bring its proven methodology to an even broader universe capturing the rest of the world.

    Read Also: Tony, Awele Elumelu are proud parents

    The Chairman of the United Bank for Africa UBA propounded the concept ‘Africapitalism’. This concept is currently redefining national development, making the case for the critical role which the private sector must play in transforming Africa into not just a dependent continent but also an entrepreneurially driven continent where business excellence can thrive devoid of tribalism and nepotism.

    For his massive philanthropic contribution to Africa, on Sunday, November 15, he was conferred the Belgium oldest and most important National Honour by the Ambassador of Belgium to Nigeria, H.E. Ambassador Daniel Bertrand at the Belgian House, Abuja.

    Elumelu was presented with a royal decoration on the Belgian King’s Day, a symbolic national day of celebration for the Belgian King, with public and private sector leaders witnessing the conferment ceremony. An elated Tony could not hold his joy as he vowed to keep contributing his quote to African excellence through empowering the youth.

  • Olugbo prepares for 11th anniversary 

    Oladapo Sofowora

     

    SINCE his ascension to the throne in 2009 as the Olugbo of Ugboland, Imperial Majesty, Oba Fredrick Akinruntan, has made service to the people of Ugbonla, Ilaje Area of Ondo State his top priority.

    There is no gainsaying that the once sleepy town has witnessed the robust leadership and intervention programmes of the international businessman and Chairman of Obat Oil and Gas turned traditional ruler in over 11 years.

    With a cardinal agenda to uplift the once-moribund community, placing it back to reclaim its lost glory, the highly connected monarch is not resting on his oars. He’s ever poised to do more this year with the celebration of his eleventh year on the throne as the traditional ruler of the riverine area.

    Society Rendezvous gathered that, in the next one week, the sleepy but oil-rich community is expected to start bustling with various activities commemorating the 11th Coronation anniversary of the effervescent monarch. However, the event was supposed to have been held since November 9 but was rescheduled due to the moody situation in the country. It is worthy to note that Olugba’s 10th coronation anniversary saw Juju legends, Ebenezer Obey and King Sunny Ade entertaining guests at the Osangangan Obamakin Town Hall. Those who attended would never forget how they were feted with royal hospitality.

    Read Also: Olugbo donates to subjects

    This year’s event is a week-long event that would see the gathering of who is who in the state. It is also expected to boost the economic activities of the oil producing community as sons and daughters of Ugbo would be visiting the town in their large numbers to honour the stylish monarch. The well-traveled king, who celebrated his 70th birthday in July with not much fanfare, will formally use the occasion to unveil various achievements and progressive projects for his people to the world.

  • On Lanre Da-Silva’s astronomic rise

    On Lanre Da-Silva’s astronomic rise

    Oladapo Sofowora

     

    DURING her formative years, if a soothsayer had told Lanre Da-Silva-Ajayi that she would grow up to be a formidable force in the fashion and styling world, she would have dismissed it with a wave of the hand.

    Despite bagging a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Coventry University, UK, with a dream of having a blooming career in the banking sector, little did she know that destiny had something big in store for her.

    Despite her trying hard to secure a banking job, fate dashed her something different. Fashion designing came to the rescue, first as a hobby, but later she took it a step further by opening a fashion outfit starting at her parents’ house before the company grew into a well-structured fashion outfit with heaven-on-heart outlets littered across the Lagos metropolis.

    In the face of the stiff competition with other fashion outfits, LDA as she is fondly called still stands out due to her ingenuity and midas touch of gold. This, according to her customers, is why her list of clientele has increased astronomically. The Lagos State-born fashionpreneur’s staying power is her ability to combine unique patterns, print, exquisite, and even traditional fabrics to produce day wear, evening wear, gowns, and cocktail dresses. She has showcased her designs at the Milan Fashion Week, Italy, where she was the only Nigerian to feature at the Vogue Talent Exhibition.

    Read Also: Liz Da Silva opens fashion house

    Despite sharing her success story to Nigerians at the ‘Nigeria at 60’ independent day programme, she was unveiled as a member of the selection committee process for the Arise Fashion week holding in December 2020.

    She was selected alongside Lamine Kouyate, Loza Maleombho, Mai Atafo, Michelle Elie, and Maureen Okowgu-Ikokwu. Sources disclosed that the daughter of ex-Secretary to the Lagos State Government was nominated based on her track records for fashion excellence, representing Nigeria on the world fashion scene.

  • Student with kidney cancer needs N7.5m

    Student with kidney cancer needs N7.5m

    By Robert Egbe

    A first year accounting student of the Delta State Polytechnic, Oghara, Miss Hope Erakpotobor, has cried out for financial assistance to treat kidney cancer.

    Hope, who was diagnosed of the disease in August, needs N7.5million for chemotherapy and to save her right kidney.

    Already, the 20-year-old’s left kidney has been removed because of the cancer.

    An August 18, 2020 medical report from Ben-K Medical Centre, Gbagada, which referred the patient to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Oncology Department, stated that Hope’s specimen that was sent for histology indicated that she had “papillary renal cell carcinoma”, a type of kidney cancer.

    It was signed by Dr A. Ogunlana, MD Surgeon.
    Her elder sister Lauretta Erakpotobor, told The Nation that the cancer was spotted after Hope underwent surgery at a private hospital.

    Lauretta said: “She did an operation on July 20 at Ben-K Medical Centre, Gbagada and was diagnosed with cancer in early August.

    “The doctor referred us to Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) for check up after the surgery. We went to LUTH two months after surgery.

    “The cancer was confirmed at the LUTH.
    “She took about 11 pints of blood and was in the hospital for about a month. Her left kidney has been removed already.

    “She is currently at Gbagada where she went for Miss Hope Erakpotoborcheck up but we will be going back home soon.”
    The family lives on Baruwa Street, Old Ojo Road, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos.

     

    She added: “I’ve just graduated from the University of Benin, mother is a teacher and my dad is telecommunications technician. We have spent all we have. We can’t raise such a huge sum of money without help. Please help us save my sister..

    Hope’s family have authorised donations to be sent to her bank account details as follows: 0105581067 Erakpotobor Hope Access Bank.
    Lauretta can be reached on 09021856965
    Hope’s dad can be reached on: 08023229517
    Hope’s mum: 08088322993

     

  • Oluwo is five years on the throne

    Oluwo is five years on the throne

    By Olushola Victor

    Just like yesterday, Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, marked his five years on the throne during the week.

    Oba Akanbi was announced as the 16th Oluwo in 2016, becoming a successor to Oba Ashiru Tadese, who died in 2012.

    Although his reign has been marked by some controversies, among them the messy fight with his Jamaican wife and his alleged punching of the Agbowu of Ogbaagba, Oba Sikirulahi Akinropo, over a land dispute, the kingdom has grown under his watch as well.

    Oluwu’s palace became a carnival of sorts as drummers and traditional singers flooded the place to celebrate the king. Food and drinks were made available for visitors.

    In celebration mood, the Oba said he could look back at the past five years of his reign and be bold, proud and confident to say he did not fail his people.

    Read Also: Oluwo’s wars

    He said: “My subjects are making progress, they are really proud of me and they are happy people. With my time on the throne, things are fast changing for the better, my subjects are not suffering and the best part of it is that they do have great hope for the future. This is what gives me joy.”

    The Iwo people are said to have originally belonged to Ile-Ife from where they migrated sometime in the 14th century. The earliest settlement was founded by Adekola Telu, son of the 16th Ooni of Ife. The present city of Iwo was founded in the 16th or 17th century.