The Nation Newspaper

Category: Society

  • Oba Fagbamila meets Fayemi

    Oba Fagbamila meets Fayemi

    Olushola Victor

     

    IF one looks at it deeply, the roles of traditional rulers are complex than what many think. They are charged with the responsibilities of maintaining peace and ensuring growth in their kingdoms.

    Recently, the Olootunja of Ootunja-Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adelola Fagbamila, along with some top personalities paid Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti a special visit.

    They thanked the governor, expressed their love for him and sought his support in the development of Ootunja land.

    On behalf of the delegation, President of Ootunja Sons and Daughters Association, Professor Peter Adeniyi, said the original plan of the community was to organise a reception in honour of the governor after his electoral victory in 2018 but events overtook it.

    Read Also: Fayemi to speak on unity at Arewa House @50

     

    The former Vice-Chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Akure, and the Chairman of the Governing Council of Ekiti State University, also used the opportunity of the visit to intimate the governor about the new Ootunja Town Project.

    He stated: “The current Ootunja town is already chocked up to the extent that our sons and daughters now move to Ijesha-Isu road, Oke Ijebu /Oke Ayedun road, Odo Oro road, amongst others to buy lands for their residential developments.”

  • Olubadan celebrates with Dotun Sanusi

    Olubadan celebrates with Dotun Sanusi

    Olushola Victor

     

    THE recent 52nd birthday celebration of Ibadan-born businessman and philanthropist, Dotun Sanusi, was nothing short of fun and class.

    The celebration held at his resort, Ilaji Hotel and Sports Resort, Akanran, Ibadan, lasted for three days. The Yoruba Council of Youths Worldwide honoured the celebrant with ‘Aare Ataiyese Oodua Agbaye’ award, there a novelty football match and also a special Jumat prayers.

    Read Also: Olubadan promotes the Makinde many don’t know

     

    A major highlight of the birthday celebration was the grand entrance of Olubadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji. He was in the company of his lovely wife, media aides – Adeola Oloko and Mr. Yanju Adegboyega – and some Mogajis.

    Other traditional rulers present included Asayin of Iseyin, Oba (Dr.) Abdulganiyu Adekunle Salau; Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Francis Olusola Alao and Onpetu of Ijeru, Oba Sunday Oladapo.

  • Queen Sekinat Elegushi dazzles

    Queen Sekinat Elegushi dazzles

    Oladapo Sofowora

     

    DRIVING through the alluring highbrow Lekki- Epe Expressway, through Elegushi town, the view of an all-white tastefully built palatial mansion sitting on a 10,000 sqm land named “The Monarch”, owned by delectable Olori Sekinat Aramide Elegushi, wife of youthful and stylish Monarch; Oba Saheed Elegushi will surely catch your attention for its opulence and alluring view.

    The architectural masterpiece event center is designed like a replica of the Elegushi of Ikate’s palace. The architect was inspired by the medieval and renaissance era palace building structure mostly found in the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe. The heaven on earth event center can comfortably seat over 2,000 guests with a car park space of over 500 cars. The building was tastefully built with the best of housewares and finest of interior decoration materials. Many still wonder the amount in billions of Naira that was injected into such a gigantic project by the quintessential mother of three.

    Queen Gucchi as she is fondly called by friends and associate, has always been a support system to her hubby. Hence, she has always found reasons to add more to her husband’s high-flying fortunes. As she continues to take great steps in this dimension, especially when her husband is in the vanguard of doing great things for his people, she was applauded by many for her giant strides in citing such gigantic investment in Ikate land.

    The event center was commissioned with the 50th birthday celebration of Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Prince Anofiu Elegushi, who is also a cousin to Oba Elegushi.

  • Siju Iluyomade’s walk for life

    Siju Iluyomade’s walk for life

     Oladapo Sofowora

     

    BARRISTER Siju Iluyomade has always been at the forefront of organising women to meet their full potentials as a nation and home builders through her annual Arise Walk for Life Programme.

    This year’s edition, which is the 12th of the ‘Arise Walk for Life’ programme became bigger and better despite restrictions on larger gatherings due to the coronavirus pandemic.

    In a bid to encourage exercises and improve health status, this year’s edition tagged ‘StayingAlive,’ held in clusters on Saturday, October 17, across many parts of the world.

    The convener, Dr. Iluyomade, started up her own cluster group alongside the wife of Governor of Ogun State, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, Former First Lady of Cross River, Mrs. Onari Duke, wife of Chairman of Daar Communication, Mrs. Moji Dokpesi among others in front of St. Saviour School, Bourdillon Road, Ikoyi down to the Ikoyi bridge and its environs.

    Former Super Eagles stars like Peter Rufai, Pastor Taribo West, and Jonathan Akpoborire also teamed up with her to add more side attraction to the day.

    In other parts of the states, the wife of Governor of Lagos State, Her Excellency, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, and wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat joined the walk-in another cluster, walking along Marina area of the State along with some wives of members of the state cabinet. Also joining the walk is the wife of Kebbi State Governor, Dr. Zainab Bagudu along with her aides in the state capital, Minister For Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen also led a cluster in Abuja to Walk for Life as they also observed the covid-19 protocol. This edition which heralds the yearly Arise Women Conference scheduled to hold on October 31st both virtually and also at the City of David Church Auditorium will witness an Arise Boat cruise to spice up the day.

    Though the convener along alongside her hubby, Pastor Idowu Iluyomade, led the Bourdillon cluster with other dignitaries, Arise Women Walk also took place in France, Philippines, America, UK, Mauritius, among other places.

  • Governor Abiodun remembers son DJ Olu

    Governor Abiodun remembers son DJ Olu

     Oladapo Sofowora

     

    OCTOBER 7 would remain significant in the family of Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun MFR, as the day the family lost their first son, Olugbemiga Abiodun known as DJ Olu, to the cold hands of death.

    Olu and a friend, Chime Ameachi, were found lifeless in a BMW car parked at an underground garage of Block B, Banana Island, Ikoyi Lagos.

    When his death was announced three years ago, the Abiodun family never believed such a rare gem was gone. Till today, Dapo and Bamidele Abiodun alongside Olu’s sibling are all yet to recover from the sudden shock of his death.

    During a search and examination on the car in which their lifeless body was found, the then Lagos State Acting Commissioner of Police, Edgar Imohimi, reportedly recovery substances suspected to be drugs from the car. Rumour filtered the town that the duo might have died from an excess intake of substance suspected to be drugs. The family immediately debunked the rumour stating that the cause of their son’s death is not in anyway drugs-related.

    Read Also: Abiodun advised to create socio-economic opportunities

    On October 7, 2020, Governor Abiodun and his family were said to have remembered the late Olu’s short but impactful life spent. Sources said the Ogun state Governor was indoors all through the day. He didn’t attend to any visitor nor official assignment. “Governor Abiodun was moody all day. From all that played out, it shows that they deeply miss the late Olugbemiga.”

    Until his shocking demise, DJ Olu was the official DJ of Afropop musician, David Adeleke aka Davido. DJ Olu, in early 2014, embarked on a single man tour in UK and Canada, selling all shows out, which was the first leg of the tour.

    Olu was also a 2016 graduate of the University of Essex, UK. He was already being groomed by Governor Dapo Abiodun to take over his business conglomerate. As the Abiodun family remembered the deceased weeks ago, they prayed for his soul to keep resting in the bosom of his creator.

    Sources further added that the deceased will never be forgotten, most especially, how he touched so many people on so many different levels during his lifetime.

  • African youths should be involved in Politics full-time, says Bankuli

    African youths should be involved in Politics full-time, says Bankuli

    Sampson Unamka

     

    ENTERTAINMENT executive, Abisagboola Oluseun John aka Bankuli has commended the Nigerian youths for using social media as a tool to inform the world on happenings in the country but urged them to do more by involving in politics.

    The Artists and Repertoire manager (A&R) made this known in a recent interview on Instagram live. He said, “We have one very important power which we refused to understand, we have social media when I mean social media, we talk of Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat every other stuff what we young people do on those platforms is that we only use that to only amuse ourselves, we flex with our hairstyle, we flex with dancing, music but I am happy that we have come to understand how important social media power is, now that we understand what it is, the next phase for every country in Africa youths that is eligible to vote is for them to get involved in politics when I mean get involved in politics I mean make sure you can vote in your country. Let us use the same way we have been able to communicate with this social media power, we have used that as well to organize ourselves in each country,” Bankuli said.

    Continuing, he said, “Look at what is going on now, we have been able to use this social media power that we have to expose the corruption of different government, we have used this same social media power to explain to the world what is happening inside our country which they know about, don’t be shocked they know about it but because of the kind of stupid government we have in most country’s they have been able to suppress most of those voices but now they don’t understand, they are still analog and we are digital and guess what we have an example, the example is that we see what is happening in the United State of America, how people have been able to use social media to organize themselves. I don’t need to speak to you to know what you want, you want a better life, you want a decent life, you don’t want your human right to be trampled upon. So what Nigerians did was we said enough is enough I did not speak to anybody, I did not sit down and have any communication but we have the same problem, we are being marginalized, our voices are not heard so what we need to do is to use that social media power that we have, let us begin to put all those strengths together, go back to your country make sure you can vote if all young people come together with their voting cards imagine what we can do, the same way we have this social media power. Youths need to be involved in governance, this is not the season where we would just come and be dancing TikTok you know, Snapchat, or just dance. No, we can do all that but we must get involved because our parents are old, they can’t fight this fight, we have the energy,” said Bankuli.

    Bankulli is also a singer, songwriter, and Grammy nominee. He worked on Beyonce’s The Lion King: The gift album and has assisted record labels and artists facilitate grand networking in the Nigerian entertainment industry.

     

  • Ayobami Ojo: How I left Manchester to act female Ooni’s role in Osogbo

    Ayobami Ojo: How I left Manchester to act female Ooni’s role in Osogbo

    By Gbenga Bada

     

    ABIODUN Jimoh brought me from the beautiful sophisticated streets of Manchester, England to the wilderness in Osogbo, Nigeria to interpret the role of Luwo Gbagida, the first and only Ooni of Ife.” These were the words of Ayobami Ojo aka Oyita after filming on the set of Abiodun Jimoh’s upcoming epic, ‘Luwo Gbagida.

    Oyita explained that she had to give in her best for the role ‘because I suit his vision for the character he had created.’

    Heaping gratitude and praise on Jimoh for the opportunity, Oyita further noted, “He is a pure class at what he does. I have seen only very few filmmakers at his level of ingenuity. His ability to forge magnificent stories and create cinematic excellence by sticking to quality without compromise in an industry where such is scarce sets him aside from the multitude. Such is an unyielding drive for quality! Such professionalism! Thank you for your show of utmost faith in my ability to bring the character Luwo to life in the film, Luwo Gbagida,” she reeled out.

    Oyita, who combines acting with singing, featured in the upcoming film alongside Olaide Almaroof, Saidi Balogun, Akin Lewis, Mercy Aigbe, Aisha Lawal, Anike Ami, Oyin Adegbenro, Omoyemi Olanrewaju, Tosin Olukoti, Promise Durojaiye, Afolakemi Abdulrahem, Olatokunbo Jolaosho, and Oluwatosin Lawal.

    Abiodun Jimoh began filming the epic movie in September 2020 in Osogbo, Osun state, and has since completed shooting.

    Read Also: My ordeals, by rescued Rivers female lawyer

    Speaking on the choice of Oyita in playing the role of Luwo Gbagida, Jimoh says, “Why Oyita? Luwo Gbadida was described as a naturally beautiful woman, finicky, bold, and authoritative. We looked around for an actress who still maintained all the elements that describe a true African beauty. Rich dark skin, dimples, aesthetic dentition, beautiful voice, and majestic strides of walks. A few actresses came to mind but Ayobami Ojo aka Oyita won it for us.”

    Jimoh further explained that the decision to film and document the life of Ooni Luwo was orchestrated by phenomenal reign after the demise of Ooni Giesi. “Luwo, the daughter of Otaata from Owode Okeerewe came, saw and conquered as the first and only Ooni of Ife. She contributed immensely to the development of Ile Ife. Her son, Adekola emigrated from Ife to found a new town called Iwo,” Jimoh said.

     

  • COVID-19’s reward for Otunba Lawal

    COVID-19’s reward for Otunba Lawal

    Olushola Victor

     

    THE popular Bible expression – give and it shall be given unto you – seems to be one of the principles of Otunba Yemi Lawal, well-known property developer and estate owner in Lagos. He gives and he gets.

    In recognition of his services to Egbaland and Nigeria, especially during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, has honoured him with a title – Ekerin Bobagunwa of Egba.

    It was learnt that Otunba Lawal feted over 5000 people during the lockdown, not including those he gave palliatives and other freebies.

    Lawal’s installation as Ekerin Bobagunwa of Egba will hold on November 21, 2020, at the Alake’s palace, and preparations are in full gear to make the event an exciting one.

    With over 18 years of commercial banking experience, Lawal left the industry in 2005 as a Regional Manager to set up Eagleways Investment Group, which is now the umbrella body of all his companies.

  • Double celebration in Elegushi’s household

    Double celebration in Elegushi’s household

    Olushola Victor

     

    THE Elegushi royal family in Lagos are in a celebratory mood at the moment. Aside the colourful 50th birthday celebration of Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Prince Anofi Elegushi, Oloori Sekinat Elegushi has also unveiled her magnificent event center, The Monarch.

    The commissioner, who is the elder brother of Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi of Ikateland, engaged Mayegun Wasiu Ayinde for the big day and it turned out to be a great night.

    All through the celebration, Prince Anofi was surrounded by his family members and friends, including Oba Elegushi and his pretty wife.

    The birthday ceremony served as a milestone as it was the first event held at The Monarch, an event center which sits on over a 10,000sqm of land with over 500-capacity car park. It was also the first high society party for Oba Gbolahan Lawal of Iruland, who has close ties with the Elegushis.

    Born on October 11, 1970, Prince Anofi has built a name for himself both in politics and business.  After his secondary education, his quest for knowledge inspired him to enroll at the Modern Institute of Technology, an affiliate of City & Guilds of London 1997 and in 2002 got a diploma certificate in Mechanical Engineering from the Lagos State Polytechnic. He also holds a PGD in Strategic Management and Leadership from the Metropolitan School of Business and Management, United Kingdom in 2016 and pursuing a Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) at the Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford, in the UK as well.

  • Faronbi rocks social scene with new wife

    Faronbi rocks social scene with new wife

    Olushola Victor

     

     

    ALHAJI Taoreed Faronbi has been rocking the Lagos social scene for over three decades and he doesn’t look like he’s ready to retire soon.

    Also known as Baba Alado and Baba Oba of Itoriland, the popular Lagos socialite was one of the faces who honoured Olu of Itori, Oba Abdulfatai Akorede Akamo on his 60th birthday. But he didn’t come alone as he was in the company of his new wife, Alhaja Modinat, and they looked perfect for each other.

    Faronbi, who is head of Alagbeji Royal family in Papa Ajao, Mushin, Lagos, rocked a white cotton Swiss lace while his entourage were dressed in royal blue T-shirts.

    When the Baba Oba of Itoriland moved to the stage to dance to King Wasiu Ayinde’s music and spray money on him, his wife joined him also.