Munachi Gail Theresa Abii Nwankwo, aka Munachi Abii, Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 2007, hip-hop artist, songwriter and television presenter, tells Adetutu Audu her favourite things
Favourite shoe designer
Christian Louboutin
Favourite fashion designer
Mai Atafo
Favourite make-up kit
Iman, L’oreal
Favourite perfume
Channel
Favourite handbag
Channel
Favourite sunglasses
Channel
Favourite book
Jackie Collins
Favourite car
Prado
Favourite food
Any type of rice
Favourite holiday spot
Dubai
POPULAR gospel singer, Sinach Kalu, will soon be off the shelf if information available is to be believed.
The award-winning singer and worship leader at Loveworld music ministry, informed sources say, is getting married to one of the pastors at the Christ Embassy next month.
Born Osinachi Kalu Okoro, the Physics graduate of University of Port Harcourt, has won several awards through her music.
THE late socialite Ademola Adekogbe’s mansion located at Plots 1 & 3, Ademola Adekogbe Drive, GRA, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, which used to be a social terminus in his life time has been taken over by weeds.
Power supply to the house has not only been cut off due to a huge unsettled bill, the abandoned structure has continued to wear its old look.
In his lifetime, the late Ademola Adekogbe was a perfect example of a jolly good fellow. His generosity and towering decency was acknowledged by all and sundry. Hence his house became a Mecca for the needy, gold diggers, fair-weather friends and fortune hunters were attracted to him as bees to nectar.
The late Adekogbe rubbed shoulders with the crème among who were keem Bello-Osagie, the former chairman of UBA, Segun Fowora, Charles Okondo, ex-Gov. Gbenga Daniel, Kola Abiola, while musicians sang his praises to high heavens.
Years after he passed on, his wife who he left behind with six children has since remarried.
FOUNDER and chief executive of Ine Oil Limited, Chief Francis Inegbeniki, is definitely in cloud nine. The Atayese of Lagos and the Uzoya of Esanland signed the dotted lines with his baby mama, Princess Helen Omorodion, last weekend. The high society event took place a ando in Lekki.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain gave guests 14inch TV set and gas cookers as souvenirs. The Inegbenikis last year threw a bash for their son, Dubem, and the children who attended it enjoyed music from Timaya, Olamide, and W4.
MONTHS after Makashe Ibru, the first daughter of Olorogun Oskar Ibru, tied the nuptial knot with Kayode Awogboro, she has proved that she is not your regular sit-at-home wife. She and her sister, Nenesi, have launched their luxury fashion brand called Olivia’s Trunk. The Ibru girls sell designer bags, accessories, and PZI jeans for women and their clientele cut across all walks of life.
Victor Akande, Entertaainment Editor, reports about Westfield, London’s luxury mall where Nigerians are reputed to be the biggest spenders
WINDOW-SHOPPING appears the best way to catch a glimpse of everything. Thus, I was wrapped in luxury looks recently at the Westfield, London, a mall touted by promoters to offer ultimate luxury shopping experience.
Information about this visually stimulating shopping centre came handy, especially since I was being aided by an official of the British Airways (BA), Camilla Barrett, Deputy Head of International PR Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific and Middle East. She had taken Gwyn Davis, the mall’s Marketing Manager, Tourism, off his duty post to help play the tour guard, in a visit that soon turned out to be an excursion of a sort.
The Westfield sight-seeing was an extension of the British Airways/Langham Hotel press trip, which had me and four other colleagues in a recreational adventure of London, recently. I was bowled over by the splashy surroundings, array of top-notch designer shops, boutiques, restaurants, and entertainment venues.
There is no undermining any of the 315 shops in Westfield, London; and counting the number of its head-spinning fashion stores alone wouldn’t be in a day- I lost it, but Davis said there were 43 of them. From Louis Vuitton and Prada to Dior and Mulberry; and from Jo Malone London, Gucci, House of Fraser, Montblanc, Versace, Montblanc to OMEGA, all under one roof, The Village at Westfield London is, indeed, a place to discover the best in designer fashion and lifestyle.
Nigerians passion for spending
If there is anything that got me thinking afterwards, it is the discovery that Nigerians hold a significant record as the highest spenders in Westfield, dolling an average of £990 (equivalent of N265049. 6310) per visit.
Next to this spending figure, according to Mavis, is by shoppers from China, with £909 per visit, and then people from Kuwait and the Middle East. These inventories are taken through tax refund, which makes the mall quite auditable.
Now, what is the impression of the management of Westfield concerning Nigeria and Nigerians? Do they really think Nigerians are rich or are merely spendthrifts? Davis’ response was modest: “It’s about people who have real passion for shopping.”
But Westfield is not just about shopping. It is a total recreational environment that provides all kinds of ambiance that a man desires. Although an enclosed environment, there is an outdoor aura, where the sun is thrown down through a glass roof. You can’t miss the exciting fountains splash and live music that serenades shoppers at the mall’s large foyer.
Take the iconic sweeping staircase to the first floor, where the cascading chandeliers seem ever closer and enter another level of tempting food and fashion with Caffe Concerto and even more luxury fashion and accessory boutiques, you will almost be lost in wonderment.
Also, the Searcy’s Champagne bar located in the heart of The Village creates an intimate focal point: a place to meet, relax and take in the panoramic views of the world’s leading fashion brands, including UK firsts and world- acclaimed names all in one space.
What more? Westfield London is home to a state-of-the-art all-digital Vue cinema, offering the latest 3D technology across 15 large screens. The biggest category of fun seekers at the Vue are entertained in three exclusive screens, with luxurious reclining seats and private lounge and bar area.
“The Village has played host to evenings of art and entertainment, including free exhibitions and celebrity performances. Fashion installations activate the space, whilst the latest fashion collections do same to life, putting a stamp on Westfield London as an avant-garde destination that fuses art and culture with retail and lifestyle,” noted Matthew Davis, Manager of The Village, who joined our group for lunch at The Village’s Caffe Concerco.
Incidentally, right at a corner of the restaurant was a Nigerian, a top official of one of the telecommunications companies. We exchanged pleasantries; and in no time, he left. He was not pushing any large trolley of wares; he was as simple as a passer-by. But guess what, that could have been made possible by the mall’s introduction of hands-free shopping, which makes volume purchase so convenient for the customers who, at the end of their spending spree, are joined by their wares, all packed-waiting by the car.
Service at Westfield is paramount with a dedicated and multi-lingual concierge team. Their high level of customer service also includes personal chauffeurs, concierge, UK and international home and hotel delivery, personal stylists, cloakroom and bag storage services, tax-free shopping and valet services.
Although the mall started about five and a half years ago, its growth has been quite rapid, with an expansion plan of 50 percent by 2016, including a 15, 000-flat of houses targeted for 2018.
The centre, apart from a high number of active brand stores, is also noted for its size: it has a retail floor area of 150,000 m² (1.615m ft²), the equivalent of about 30 football pitches. At the time of its opening, it was reported to be the second largest commercial centre in the UK (after Metro Centre near Newcastle).
But perhaps Westfield’s record, as it stands today, has beaten that of South China Mall, Dongguan, which opened two years earlier on a total area of 892,000 m² (9.6 million sq ft) with 2,350 stores, but which remains 98 percent vacant with only 47 open stores. Although the mall was classified as a “dead mall” by Emporis, a global building data firm, by 2013, the vacancy rate had fallen to 36 percent.
THE vice chairman and chief executive officer of Standard Alliance Insurance, Olorogun O’Tega Emerhor, has welcomed a grandchild. The tiny-tot is from Ufuoma, the first daughter with her insurance executive husband, Toritseju, last week in London.
Ufuoma and Toritseju Peter Ashogbon got married in May 2013 at a lavish traditional ceremony at their expansive home in Parkview estate. The white wedding followed two days later at the Guiding Light Assembly, ParkView, Ikoyi.
Toju studied Petroleum Engineering at the University of Benin, Nigeria. He currently works at Top Fenders Marine Services, Lagos, while Ufuoma runs an NGO, Fair Life Foundation, Lagos.
The Senior Pastor of The Still Waters Church, Ikorodu, Rev. Sola Odubiyi, spoke with Sunday Oguntola on his life, ministry and family at 50. Excerpts:
They say life at 50 is golden. So how golden has your life been?
Well, it’s been quite golden. In the first place, I am amazed and surprised that I am 50. When was I born? When did I go to secondary school and higher institution? I remember my childhood and boom; one is just 50 like that. So, I am grateful for God and all He has done for me.
There were certain places you saw yourself at 50 as a child. Are you anywhere close by there now or very far off?
I saw myself becoming a military officer or a politician
Why?
Maybe it is just the way I am wired. I love adventurous and tough tasks. I actually went to the NDA; I pursued the military option to an extent but then I left that.
Why did you leave?
It’s a long story but I just knew that it was not for me. I heard God telling me I was destined for the ministry.
Were you already a Christian when you went to the NDA then?
Yes, I was. I was even the leader of a campus fellowship then. I realised it was not for me. I started pursuing politics but then God told me again I was not meant for that. So, I left those options and received the call to the ministry. So, when I look at when I should have been if I had done those ones and where I am now in the ministry, I think I have surpassed my targets and goals.
I saw the physical and spiritual resources around me and I thank God. Lives have been turned around and destinies have been transformed. God has wrought wonders through His works among us. So, I am fulfilled and I have no regrets.
You are fulfilled?
Yes, I am considering what God has achieved through me. I was a Baptist and if I look at the Baptist Student Fellowship (BSF) that we pioneered, I give God praise. Many lives have come to the kingdom and many testimonies recorded. My pocket might not be large but lives have been touched.
Look, my wife was converted through me. I invited her to attend the campus fellowship. We wanted everyone to be born again and it was in the process of inviting people that we met. Marriage was the last thing on our mind then but lives. So, when I look at all these, I can’t but be grateful to God at 50.
At 50, it won’t be out of place to draw up new goals. Have you had time to consider what would be the next level for you?
Yes, I have. I am going on vacation for another two to three weeks to finalise some of these things. For example, I am going to slow down in some areas. I am going to be more patient. I want to be more mature and maybe I am going to take fewer risks because by nature I am a risk taker. It was by risks that we entered BSF and made it what it became. Some of us were excommunicated from the Baptist Church for that but we were not deterred. When speaking in tongues was not popular, we stood by it.
So, I have been taking risks since I was young but now I am going to reduce them so that one can live longer. I will take calculated and over-calculated risks henceforth.
But won’t that slow you down considering that you have come this far because of the risks that you took?
I don’t think so. You know when a plane is about to take off, after it has attained a certain altitude, it just keeps flying and gets to its destination. There is no need to take unnecessary risks again. If there is a storm, I can dive down or around to maintain a steady course. There is no need to now take unnecessary risks again. I love flying a lot and I believe I will still get Private Pilot License (PPL).
There is a way an experienced pilot avoids turbulence but a younger person won’t avoid it. He would just plunge into it. When you are experienced, it’s better to avoid crisis and not manage it. That is one of my cardinal goals as I clock 50. I want to just listen more and talk less.
What came on you to champion charismatic revival in an orthodox set-up like the Baptist Church in the early 80s?
It was just fire. I had a discovery and deep understanding that we were missing something in the church. We were somewhere praying one day and someone who we just prayed for started prophesying that the campus fellowship would buy a particular vehicle on a particular time. He just received salvation and what he said happened.
We saw the Baptist church and were shocked many were not born again there. During our first camp meeting, the Baptist pastor who was our coordinator was opposed to it. He came to the camp to disrupt it but got born again during a session. The preacher made an altar call and our coordinator responded. He was a Rev who had been preaching for years and baptising people yet he was not born again. Such were the results we got that fired us up.
There were deliverances and our youth were fired up. The church leadership was not happy because they could not understand what we were doing. They considered it as juvenile delinquency.
So, why did you leave despite those wondrous acts?
I left because I was excommunicated. I never wanted to leave but then they sent me packing. That was how I became a Pentecostal. They sent people from the Nigerian Baptist Convention in Ibadan that three or four of us were the ones shattering the church. They met with my father. They alleged we were changing their doctrines. But you know what? My father, who is about 85-86 years now, replied them that since I was not smoking or womanising, they should just leave me alone.
He doesn’t speak in tongues but that was the answer he gave them. When I saw that the persecutions were too much, I just left. I started fellowshipping with the Pentecostals and have remained till date.
I still love the Baptist Church. I believe it is a perfect church. One of my life goals is to build a Baptist Church in Lagos and another one in my town.
Would you allow your children take some of the risks you took as a young person?
I don’t think so.
Why?
One, they are girls. I got three girls and I don’t want them to go that way. In retrospect, those were very dangerous risks. I won’t allow them. We are guiding them with the word of God. One said she wanted to enter the Armed Forces but I said no. I just want them to be civilians and lead normal lives. Then they are females so they shouldn’t take risks.
Do you mind that you don’t have boys?
I do mind and that is the truth but as I am saying this now, somebody does not have a child. How will he or she feel? Our children will have boys and they would be fine. But I really wished I had boys because there are many things in me I wish I could pour into them.
I am trying to bring up boys but they do not respond and I am bothered. It is paining me and reminds me I don’t have boys but what can one do? I believe I am in the will of God.
Does it all bother you that your wife is also more popular than you?
Not at all. I believe in the priesthood of every believer like the Baptist Church. I allow her to be herself and I am not threatened in any way.
You have all girls. So how will it feel with the Chibok girls now?
It is very sad indeed. You know the parents said they wanted to go search for them in the forests. If they were my girls, I would have joined them too. The only persons I could give my life to in exchange are my girls. As a father, I could give my life for them.
Having been in the orthodox and Pentecostal settings, what would you say is different?
In the Pentecostal setting, we could be lousy and we are more spontaneous to the gospel. But people might not be deep and could easily change churches. They are fluffy and could leave at the slightest provocation.
In the orthodox, people are more committed and hardly leave, except by geographical relocation. They emphasise character as against success and wealth in the Pentecostal. They preach total gospel while we only emphasise one area at the expense of others.
If God allows you to determine how long you want to live, how many more years would you ask for?
I will like to live up to 91 or 92.
Every Home for Christ, in collaboration with Global Outreach, a global evangelical ministry, has unveiled a special programme designed to take the gospel to every home in Nigeria.
The National Coordinator, Every Home for Christ, Lanre Da Silva, said the vision is to endanger peace and love through spiritual renewal.
The vision, he stated, is sequel to the Global Outreach Day on June 14 set aside for Christians to share the gospel in varied ways.
Da Silva lamented spiritual slumber among Christians, stating that many have lost the zeal to evangelise.
The International President, Global Outreach, Evangelist Werner Nachtigal, stressed that evangelising should be an everyday practice for Christians.
He explained that June 14 was just set aside to sensitise believers on the need for evangelism.
Taiwo Abiodun writes on a mysterious river in Unaun community near Owo, Ondo State, which water is said to be highly medicinal while the fish inside must not be killed.
THE Agere River flows ceaselessly and no one swims in it. One could see fishes of various types and sizes jumping up and diving into the river as if competing with one another. As this reporter made an effort to kill the fish the monarch elect and community head warned “don’t kill the fish it is forbidden. We have many rules guiding the river as no one should curse anybody while in the river or by the river side, one should always feel happy and rejoice while one’s thought should be constructive for this is where we commune with the almighty God especially for those looking for the fruit of the womb, and for those who are sick”, he explained.
His Royal Highness Olanrewaju Abegunde the Olunaun of Unaun said ” the water has been there over two centuries , our great grandfather met it like that. We learnt that it is a mysterious water for it does not dry up in the dry season but instead it will be more full than in the rainy season.”
Speaking about the mysterious river, the monarch said the power of the water was discovered several years ago. On how the river came to be, the monarch delved into history: “A woman called Lagere (Queen) followed her husband, Unaun who was one of the grandchildren of Oduduwa from Ile- Ife to this town , Unaun . She laboured and suffered with her husband whom they both struggled together to be successful. When they achieved success she begged him not to have any other woman aside her saying women are jealous and it could cause disaffection between them, the husband wholeheartedly accepted and swore that he would not break his vow. But when both settled down, there was peace and progress and success came into the household ,unfortunately the husband, Olunaun forgot the past, he forgot his vow then went against his wife’s wish, he married another wife which caused disaffection, jealous, envy and hatred. The new wife became domineering.”
The community leader continue “She would jeer at her senior wife calling her unprintable names like an old rag, a male duck, empty vessel, among other unprintable names. This annoyed Lagere and one day she called her husband, the palace residents and all the townsmen to inform them of the harsh treatment she was exposed to.”
Lagere , according to Olunaun told the community that she had a feast prepared for them for a special meeting and fixed a date for the feast “On that seventh day Lagere was dressed in her royal regalia which fell on a market day where they all gathered . Drummers beat the leather , while dancers displayed their skill and she suddenly commanded them to stop and listen to a special announcement .All eyes were fixed at her. While the husband and his new wife that taunted her were happily seated. No distraction. The Queeen Lagere stood still like a statue and everywhere was quiet as eyes were fixed on her .She broke down and wept and accused the new wife of her misdeeds. She then stretched her hands towards the East, West, North and South, gave a loud cry and called unto the gods to welcome her into their midst and thus turned into a flowing river, and fishes swimming all over the place. The Queen’s voice was then heard that the river should be worshipped and fishes found inside should not be killed .She however promised to be assisting the small town if worshipped. ”
On what they do to worship the river, the monarch said ” every year we go there to pray irrespective of one’s faith and religion : Christians, traditional worshipers , even Muslims come here to celebrate here every December .We kill cock, goat and cook food all this is to remember the woman who came with her husband here and despite being betrayed she blessed the small community!”
According to Olunaun, the water is medicinal, potent and for spiritual healing. If you are looking for the fruit of the womb and scoop it you will be healed, he added, “even some nurses, Christians come here at night to pray since they are shy of being called names.” Olunaun said “it is a taboo to kill and serve it as a delicacy will be afflicted with strange disease.”
Madam Oladunke Ibrahim, described the river as a blessing to the community and Owo as a town, she said “my great grandfather told me the story of the pond as a mysterious one .He said the fishes inside must not be killed!. For it is highly medicinal and nobody goes there and comes back empty!”.
Madam Oluloro Adeyemi claimed that many barren ladies have become mothers , she said ” many stories are told of how many barren women used the water in the late 50s, 60s and 70s when they were looking for the fruit of the womb. Then there were few hospitals , and we used to consult the traditionalists who would instruct them to use the water, it is a healing water “.
For Madam Adenike Eleghomola she is not happy that the special river which is God’s given one is not paid attention to! She said ” we are blessed with this mysterious river if it is in the oversea countries they will appreciate it and turned it into tourist attraction center. The Indians use the knowledge of leaves in their environment and the Chinese too use their leaves and environment to produce many drugs and they are all manufactured in factories today.”
Adunni Ogunremi is concerned about the mysterious healing river and compared it with the healing water in the Bible , she said ,’ I remember the Biblical story of the man with infirmity who was by the river of Bethsaida for 39years in order to jump into the river for healing .I am not saying this is Bethsaida but since we have such a healing water here we should appreciate it”.
A woman who is over 90 simply called Mama Iyanu said ” It took me years before I could have a child of my own.I went to the hospitals , but then we don’t have medical facilities like this .
However , Olunaun is pleading to the state government to turn the place to a tourist centre .”I am pleading to the state government and individuals to assist in doing this , it should be like the Osun Oshogbo festival where people come from all walks of life to worship and celebrate “.
On his name , he said : My name is that of tradition , I am Olanrewaju and that implies the wealth in our family ,we are not poor, and Abegunde means I am from the family of masquerade , and I am from a royal family. I bear Emmanuel which is a Christian name , so I am also a Christian for I go to church and observe all these which did not affect a traditional ruler who doubles as the spiritual head and leader of a community.”