The Nation Newspaper

Category: Society

  • Hadiza celebrates first birthday as Elegushi queen

    Olori Hadiza has started her new life as a wife of Oba Saheed Elegushi of Ikateland, Lagos. On Wednesday, she also marked her first birthday as a queen.

    For the birthday gig, she had a private and classy dinner in an Abuja restaurant. Top singer Davido was one of the carefully selected guests at the dinner.

    On the day, Oba Elegushi also celebrated his new wife in a big way. Sharing her pretty photos, the king wrote on Instagram: “Today, I celebrate my wife’s birthday, Olori Hadiza Elegushi. Being happy around you is an effortless thing for me; it just comes naturally. I pray that you live long to continue to make me happy, and I in return, will be here to ensure the smile on your face never ceases. May your heart be filled with joy and may our love continue to grow stronger and stronger. I celebrate you today and I will celebrate you always. Happy birthday, my queen.”

    Hadiza, a younger sibling of Salihu Tanko Yakasai, a Special Adviser to the Kano governor, tied the knot with Oba Elegushi in a special Nikkai ceremony in May this year.

     

  • Omotola comes again

    Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, aka Omosexy, is at it again. This time, she diverted a bit from acting by unveiling an initiative, The Entertainment and Fair Festival (TEFFEST).

    The inaugural edition, held recently at the Podium Event Centre, Lekki, Lagos, lived up to expectations as friends and loved ones of the star actress stormed the venue.

    Addressing her audience, Omotola said the festival was aimed at promoting and showcasing the best of African entertainment and innovations to the world.

    Discussions were on the impact of entertainment on the economy and other related issues.

    Omotola’s husband, Captain Matthew Ekeinde, also witnessed her special day. Other dignitaries at the event included Ali Baba, Ibnabo Fiberesima, Joke Silva, Zeb Ejiro, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe and Nse Ikpe Etim.

  • Moët & Chandon gives celebrities special treat

    It was a gathering of crème de la crème of Lagos society recently as Moët & Chandon launched the festive season by hosting a night of glitz and glamour with the second secret location party.

    With the theme La Vie En Rose, the likes of Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Ireti Doyle, Shaffy Bello, Vector, Waje, Abimbola Craig, Beverly Naya, Denola Grey and Deyemi Okanlawon rocked the party with their beautiful and colourful dresses.

    The glamorous decor also transformed the secret location – Shiro – into a vision of pink roses and rose gold trimmings.

    La Vie en Rosé, which literally means ‘the Life in Pink,’ was filled with world-class dining, opulent dresses and several grand Moet moments. Guests were treated to the Moet Nectar Imperial Rosé, a style known for its bright fruitiness, a seductive palate and elegant maturity.

    Founded in 1743, Moët & Chandon contributed to the introduction of champagne to the world by offering a range of unique wines for every occasion.

    From iconic Moët Impérial to the Grand Vintage Collection, from the extroverted Moët Rosé Imperial to the innovative Moët Ice Impérial, each champagne has its uniqueness.

  • Seun Oloketuyi takes BON to Kano

    Don’t be carried away with the glamour that comes with an awards ceremony; putting it together is a tug of war.

    But for Seun Oloketuyi, the brain behind the Best of Nollywood Awards (BON), this is the time to sleep with an eye closed. The Kano State government will be playing host at the next edition on December 14, as Governor Abdullahi Ganduje promised to make history with the movie awards.

    On Wednesday, the governor unveiled the right to host the movie awards ceremony in the state. He said: “We are excited that Best of Nollywood is taking place here and this is history in the making for the good people of Kano State.”

    The organisers of BON are also set to honour Nollywood veterans, Sadiq Daba, Mama Rainbow and Ngozi Ezeonu at the 2019 edition.

  • Bukola Saraki smiles again

    Oladapo Sofowora

    Senate President of the 8th Assembly, Senator Olubukola Abubakar Saraki, might currently be facing quite a ?turbulent time. First, it was losing his bid to return to the red chambers during the just concluded general election. Last week, the court declared interim forfeiture of his highbrow properties in Ilorin, alleging it was built with public funds when he was Governor of Kwara.

    While the two-term Governor of Kwara state was still nurturing the verdict of the court injunction on his Ilorin property interim forfeiture, his creator gave him and his household a big reason to smile again.

    Read Also: Court orders interim forfeiture of two more of Saraki’s houses

    He was blessed with a gift laced with a title money cannot buy. His eldest daughter, Olutosin Halima Saraki married to Adeniyi Olatunde Olukoya, delivered a bouncing baby girl, penutimate Friday, at a highbrow hospital located in the United Kingdom making him a proud first time grand father.

    Society Rendezvous gathered that Dr Bukola and his wife Toyin, immediately jetted down to the UK the next day to see their grand child and also give moral support to the nursing mother. The name of the child is yet to be disclosed as mother and daughter, we gathered are doing good.

  • Hannah Omobolanle bags Chieftancy title

    by Oladapo Sofowora

    Chief Mrs. Hannah Omobolanle Okusanya is a woman of high repute blessed with a heart of gold. She has her hand in many businesses ranging from real estate and fashion including Rachest Fashion, Hanbol Ventures, Hann, BOL, Hanchest Fashion and her Non-governmental organisation, Bola Okusanya Initiative which is solely aimed at touching the lives of the needy by providing food, clothes, shelter and medical aid.

    On the 30th of November, the Ugo Eji Ejemba 1 of Etim, was recognised yet again for her contributions to philanthropy, charity and girl child advocacy with the conferment of a traditional chieftaincy title in Umuakuma Community, Okposi, Ohaozara LGA, Ebonyi State as the Ozua Oha 1 of Ekuma Obia meaning (The nation feeder).

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    The Lagos state born, Isonyin Ijebu-ode Ogun State stylish fashion-preneur, has clinched several local and international awards to her credit.

    She was recognised as the most vibrant participant in a global summit held in Malaysia 2010, Philanthropist Lady in Red Cross Society (motherless baby unit), Lagos Mainland Chapter among others. She has vowed never to relent in her quest to touch lives positively via her Bola Okusanya Initiative.

  • Otunba Gbenga Daniel’s tears of joy

    by Oladapo Sofowora

    Drawing a line from the Holy Bible in Psalm 126:1-2 “When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing” this verse captures the present state of mind of former Ogun state Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, popularly called OGD, as he is currently basking in laughter and joy.

    The Sagamu, Ogun State-born engineer faced so many challenges after he left office in 2011. His successor who came under the umbrella of Action Congress of Nigeria, (ACN), Senator Ibikunle Amosu, had allegedly literally caused him so much pain, as many of his properties, including his multi-billion naira hotel situated in Abeokuta, were also allegedly seized.

    At the beginning of Amosun’s first term as Governor, he set up a panel of inquiry to probe the activities of Daniel between 2003-2011. Eventually, the panel made its recommendations that the government should revoke the Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) granted to Golf Resort Hotels and Gateway Front Foundation (GFF) in Abeokuta, the state capital.

    The recommendations of the panel were published in the Ogun state of Nigeria Gazette No. 6 Volume 37, stating the government is taking over the property in public interest, alleging that, slush funds from the states coffers were used in the construction of the gigiantic hotels.

    Read Also: Gbenga Daniel for minister!

     

    Consequently, heavy security personnel was deployed to the site to maintain and enforce the outcome of the panel’s recommendation to prevent Daniel from gaining access to his property.

    The hotel, located along Presidential Boulevard, Oke-Mosan, opposite the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, was said to have encroached on an illegal land belonging to Golf Resort.

    OGD teamed up with Dapo Abiodun and Aremo Olusegun Osoba to deny Amosun’s preffered candidate, Adekunle Akinlade the highly coveted Okemosan plum job. Immediately after the swearing-in ceremony of Prince Dapo Abiodun as Governor, the hotel previously taken over by termites, dangerous reptiles and weeds, was returned to Daniel, as it was given a new facelift.

    It has now been turned into an architectural masterpiece named Conference Hotels and Suites. It is currently boosting employment opportunities with over 2,000 direct and indirect job creation for the host community.

    Society Rendezvous gathered that the hotel will be launched amidst pomp today Friday, December 6, as Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Governor of Ogun State Dapo Abiodun, Chief Olusegun Osoba and other top political names in the state will converge at the opening gala.

     

     

  • Maryam Belgore’s Reward for Humanity

    by Oladapo Sofowora

    Maryam Onikijipa Belgore has been quietly nurturing her dreams and aspirations, until she came into prominence after her nuptial to Abdusamad Belgore, son of former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Salihu Modibbo Alfa Belgore. This further cemented her presence as a house hold name in the country. Maryam is not a woman who finds joy in clout chasing, she loathes unnecessary attention, but her impact is  felt across the country through her MOB foundation.

    The NGO was founded years back with the sole aim of catering for the downtrodden, who could not afford quality education and other basic amenities of life. The Kwara State born mother of three made a convenant with her creator, to do everything within her capacity to make her environment a better place through giving by advancing happiness in the lives of the needy.

    Read Also: We will bequeath a better Kwara, says AbdulRazaq

     

    The daughter to top Kwara clergyman, Sheik Sulaiman Farooq Onikijipa, was decorated with an award for humanitarian service of the year at Morekule All Youth Award (MAYA). The organisers revealed she bagged the award for her selfless comittment to humanitarian and charitable causes. Last month, she visited Galadima junior secondary school, Abuja, where she generously donated educational grant worth millions of naira to selected students, whose parent can’t afford school fees.

    The Cresent university graduate is also a passionate girl child advocate. She has advocated for free sanitary pad for female students to ensure they have a stress free monthly menstrual cycle. At the award ceremony presentation, she mounted the stage fitted in an all white sleekly flowing gown as she received the award presented by popular Nollywood actor, Jide Awobona. In her acceptance remark, She thanked her husband and well wishers for supporting her dreams to making her immediate environment a better place. She further added that her best is yet to come as the award is an encouragement to do more and seek public and private partnership to achieve the goal of extending assistance to anyone who needs it.

  • Flip side of Kennedy Uzoka

    by Oladapo Sofowora

    The Group Managing Director (GMD) of the United Bank For Africa(UBA), Kennedy Uzoka is regarded as a cosmopolitan, suave banking and financial guru. His wealth of experience and depth of knowledge in finance and economics-related field, places him far above his peers. If you doubt his competence, take a trip to UBA, his innovative efforts have redefined and repositioned the bank to global standard. The unmatched feat, earned UBA an award as the ‘African Bank of The Year’ 2019 at Banker Magazine award gala night, held at Sheraton Grand Park Lane, London, United Kindgom.

    Those close to him, disclosed that; when he is at work, he is a different person entirely. He discharges his duty diligently so as to make a difference. He has successfully installed that virtue of excellence in the work ethics of members of staff. Apart from his tight business schedule and tight travel itinerary, Kennedy is a jolly good fellow, blessed with a wonderful sense of humour. “Sit with him for just 10 minutes, you will surely laugh and forget your problems. He is a sweet and different person outside the banking arena. He loves cycling”, a source confirmed.

    Recently, RedTv, an online lifestyle and entertainment TV arm of the bank, organised a mega rave party, held at the Lekki Special Event Centre, Admiralty way, Lekki, Lagos, tagged “The Shutdown” on Saturday, November 30. Top wavemaking artistes like Jidenna, Wizkid, BurnaBoy, Olamide, Fireboy, ShowDemCamp, Ajebutter 22 and a host of other artistes thrilled over 5,000 guests present at the well attended free entry musical jamboree.

    Read Also: Tony Elumelu’s dream for African youths

     

    Like the proverbial gold fish that has no hiding place in the water, Kennedy was spotted at the VIP spot, fitted in a blue face cap, Blue polo top and army green pant trousers looking dapper, flanked by stylish Chairman of UBA and Heirs Holding, Tony Elumelu. The Havard Business school graduate was looking so relaxed, wearing an endearing smile and exchanging pleasantries with members of staff and friends.

    To the surprise of many, he was seen miming to songs word for word. Displaying his other side outside the bank, came as a big shock to his admirers, they were surprised how a consummate boardroom guru like him managed to memorise those lyrics despite his busy work schedule. He also went ahead to wow many during Wizkid and Burna Boy’s performance, when he displayed his electrifying “Zanku” dance steps.

  • Etomi bags ‘highest recognition’ of the British Nigeria Law Forum

    By John Austin Unachukwu

    Pioneer  Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Section on Business Law ( SBL) George Etomi has won the 2019 highest recognition of the British Nigeria Law Forum (BNLF) in the United Kingdom (UK).

    Etomi received the award for his “distinguished service to the legal profession.”

    The award was presented by Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the UK, Justice George Oguntade (JSC) rtd.

    Nominated finalists for recognition in other categories are: Adenike Balogun, Adetokunbo Hussain, Hilda Ephraim Adejumo, Ifeanyi Odogwu, Lorna Adekaiyaoja, Nwabueze Nwokolo, Tochukwu J. Anaenugwu and Zina Arinze.

    The BNLF had announced in August 2019 that the highest recognition this year is an award for distinguished service to the legal profession which would be presented to Etomi, Founding Partner, GEP Law, Nigeria.

    The British Nigeria Law Forum (BNLF) is an independent, bi-lateral group which has been internationally established for more than a decade.

    All of the executive members of the BNLF are leading legal professionals in their field from the UK and Nigeria of which members are exceptionally proud.

    Mr Etomi is a distinguished transaction lawyer regularly consulted by multinational companies and top government agencies. He was closely involved in acting for the first mobile telephone service in the country and advises major foreign airlines operating in Nigeria.

    He has extensive experience in commercial transactions, spanning arbitration and other ADR methods, aviation, building and construction, banking and finance, energy and natural resources.

    Read Also: Reconciling national security and rule of law

     

    He has represented clients on a variety of corporate and commercial matters including public and private offerings, privatisation and major project finance transactions.

    Etomi, who holds a Master’s degree in Law from the London School of Economics also has a special interest in the energy and natural resources field and is a member of the Centre for Petroleum Law Research [CPLR].

    He is a director on the board of one of the top performing utilities in Nigeria where he serves as the chairman, legal, Corporate Governance and Regulatory Affairs Committee.

    Etomi is the first past chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Section on Business Law and recently, the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies named a centre after him: ‘The George Etomi Centre for Strategic Investment and Corporate Governance.’ He has also been given a professorial chair at the institute.

    In 2016, Etomi was appointed a member of the Body of Benchers, the highest regulatory body of the legal profession in Nigeria. He is a regular facilitator at global business conferences.

    George is as humble in his personal as he is rigorous in his professional life.