The Nation Newspaper

Tag: achieved

  • DOLAPO ONI – I haven’t achieved my goals yet!

    DOLAPO ONI – I haven’t achieved my goals yet!

    Marcy Dolapo Oni, host of “The Marcy Project”, continues to shine on TV screens across the African continent as she wows her fans, engaging them daily with her wit, charm and charisma. The media personality who married Adegbite, the son of the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade recently, tells Adetutu Audu her inspiring story.

    You recently launched your new show “The Marcy Project.” What is it about?

    The Marcy Project is a 30-minute fun, lifestyle and entertainment programme. In every episode, I perform a quirky, funny and interesting project and interview celebrities and upcoming acts. It is a social media-influenced show with a mixture of web features; pre recorded video footage and fashion tips. Each episode has at least one guest, which include musicians, designers, actors, comedians and sports figures. The project in every episode is a task or challenge, chosen by the viewers, social media followers or guests.

    You’ve been part of a good number of stage productions and television shows, what is the experience like for you?

    It has been truly amazing. I love acting, I really do. So any chance I get to flex the old acting chops I take. I have been really fortunate to be part of some really good productions.

    From 53 Extra, to being co-presenter on Moments with Mo, and now your own talk show. How did the journey begin?

    The journey truly began some years ago when I was fresh out of drama school. I always knew I wanted to act and after drama school I was working as an actress in London. I starred in plays and a few TV series and then I moved back in 2010 to pursue my career in Nigeria. I heard about an audition when I first got to Lagos and that was how I got my Job on 53extra. I had never had a presenting job before then.

    Your first degree is in Chemistry; a different path for sure from your current pursuits in media and drama. Why the switch?

    I wanted to be an actress from the age of 10, when I first saw the musical “Aspects of Love” by Andrew Lloyd Webber at The Oxford Playhouse in the UK. But my parents had other ideas and wanted me to get a degree in something they thought would be more stable. I enjoyed Chemistry at school, so I decided to study that at university. But once I had satisfied my parents’ requests, they were happy for me to do what I wanted. So I attended The Academy of Live and Recorded Arts where I studied Drama.

    Now that you are married, how do you hope to combine being a wife and mother with your career?

    I will take it all in my stride and aim to be the best wife, mother and career woman I can be. It’s all about achieving a healthy balance and knowing when to leave work at work.

    Who are those who influenced you early in life?

    My mother. She has taught me from day one to work like no one owes you anything. And she was right. No one does. You want something? Work hard, go out and get it! My mother taught me to work with an independent mind and be thankful I had a great education; and to use that to make something of myself. And that’s basically what I have done. I come from a family of lawyers and accountants, and everyone has pretty regular jobs. It may have been difficult if I came back from abroad with the mindset of maybe my parents or siblings could help me with this or that. What I needed mostly was their support and I am very lucky they gave that to me. And I just basically went out there to hustle so that I would get jobs, and luckily I did.

    Fashion item you can’t do without?

    Jeans. I have quite a number of jeans and I love the fact that you can dress them up and dress them down. I also love shoes. And I don’t just like heels; I like all kinds of shoes…wedges, flats, sandals, as long as they look nice.  I would say I have about 30 pairs.

    Describe your personality and style

    I am chilled and I can be blunt. If I am annoyed about something, you will see it. It’s quite obvious because it will be written all over my face. So, what you see is what you get. My style? It’s effortless. I love simple silhouettes that flatter my frame. I don’t like outfits that are too busy. Even though I am most comfortable in jeans, I love to wear jump suits. I can never have too many of them. I try to keep in shape by working out three times a week when I am feeling motivated and when I am not, I try to eat healhealthy.

    Being in the limelight has its own challenges, kindly share yours with us.

    I would say all jobs have good sides and bad sides. I work on TV, so people know who I am. I can’t complain because I put myself up there. People say things because they feel they know you. So when people say things I don’t like, I just brush it off. I don’t complain about that, because the job comes with lots of perks.

    You effortlessly change your hair dos and looks, what are your beauty secrets?

    I don’t really have any but I always make sure that I wash my face at night. I use Clinique products. I am a lipstick person but I can’t possibly live without eyeliner. I wish I was a spa junkie but I am unfortunately not.  I sleep and drink lots of water to hydrate myself; this I would recommend to anybody.

    As one of the most admired television personalities, what do you think sets you apart?

    I think the fact that I have been trained really helps. Even though I went to drama school, I use those skills in front of the cameras, whether it is for acting or presenting.

    What would you say is the highest point of your career?

    Highest points of my career are: Jacob’s Cross, Saro the Musical and starting my own production company by being able to create work and offer work to people. And watch this space, because there is something coming to your TV screens very soon (my own personal project).

    What major setbacks have you had in the course of your career?

    I think rejection is a major thing I’ve learnt to deal with. Going to a lot of auditions and not getting the job, I keep my head up and strive for what I believe in. I don’t let it knock my confidence because the next gig might just be mine.

    What would you say is your greatest achievement?

    I don’t consider anything to be my greatest achievement in life so far because I set myself very high standards and haven’t achieved my goals just yet.

  • ‘Falcons achieved at W/Cup’

    ‘Falcons achieved at W/Cup’

    Super Falcons psychologist, Kasia Muoto, has said the side achieved a landmark at the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada.

    The African champions failed the group’s acid test, finishing bottom with a point made up of a draw against Scandinavian giants, Sweden, and two successive defeats to Australia and two-time champions, USA.

    Muoto insisted the side made her proud collectively and individually despite failing to go beyond the preliminary round of the competition.

    “I could not be more proud of the Super Falcons of Nigeria. My chest is literally about to break with pride.

    “To say that we ranked 33 in the world and one of the youngest teams in the World Cup held number five in the world (Sweden) to a 3-3 draw and held number two in the world and football veterans, USA to a one goal loss in another thriller of a match should tell you how much passion, resilience, tenacity and fight my girls had in them.

    “I said seeing how much the Super Falcons have individually and collectively overcome in their personal journies to this World Cup, these ladies are already winners in every sense.

    “Knowing that as well as knowing the world realises that has only fuelled the fire that is already in them.

    “Our spirits achieved new heights at this World Cup, we have forged an even deeper bond of sisterhood, we have and will continue to wholeheartedly and literally live out our dreams and goals daily as we did during this World Cup, and in Wednesday’s match while leaving everything out on that field. I love these girls,” said Muoto in an emtion ladden voice to supersport.com.

  • I have achieved all my goals, says NCC chief

    I have achieved all my goals, says NCC chief

    The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr Eugene Juwah, has given himself a clean bill of health, saying over the last five years that he has led the regulatory agency, he has achieved his six-point agenda.

    Juwah, who spoke after being conferred with the Public Service Award at The Sun 2014 Awards in Lagos, said he had touched each of the six items and is satisfied that he has acquitted himself well.

    The  six-point agenda Juwah rolled out when he assumed office include consolidating on the achievements of his predecessors; taking drastic measures to improve quality of service (QoS); enhancing broadband implementation; improving competition among telecoms players; providing diversified choices for consumers at good quality and price; as well as improving the regulator’s presence in the international space.

    “Well I have made a lot of pronouncements in the newspapers about my six-point agenda, I have fulfilled that, I have increased subscriber base, I have increased teldensity,  I have increased direct foreign investment, I have increased competition, I have increased our present international arena so most of the things I came with I have achieved,” he told The Nation after the awards in Lagos.

    The EVC was however silent on the vexed issue of QoS which affects the subscribers mostly as they spend money to buy air time and subscribe to data services for which they so hardly get value for.

    Reacting to the award, he expressed excitement particularly as it came from the fourth estate of the realm which chief trade is criticism of people in government. He said he had no problem with that because it is their duty to hold public office to account for their deeds, adding however that public officers should be given an opportunity to say their side of the stories before they are published.

    “We regulate a sector that affects the lives of over 140million Nigerians; a sector that is a primary enabler of every other sector of the country’s or life generally. There are weakneses in the sector as exemplified in the quality of service but the transparency we maintain in regulating the sector as a purely independent regulator are some of the reasons the international community is very interested in the Nigerian market; why investors continue to put more money in spite of discouragement by the activities of some states and local councils; and indeed why the industry continues to grow geometrically with no signs of slowing down,” Juwah said.

  • Security: we have achieved a lot, says Sambo

    Security: we have achieved a lot, says Sambo

    Vice President Namadi Sambo said in Kaduna yesterday that efforts by the federal government at addressing the security challenges in the country are beginning to yield results.

    Speaking at a reception for sons and daughters of Kaduna State occupying various positions in the country, he said the government can achieve more with the full support of all.

    He said, “the various security agencies’ efforts have also yielded positive results as they have drastically reduced the potency of the aggressors. We can achieve more successes only if we have the full support of all and sundry and I call all citizens of the state and the country in general to partner and participate in fighting this menace.”

    He said that the desire of the government to transform the country is paramount and can only be achieved through the concerted efforts of all Nigerians in reviving and developing the nation’s infrastructure to meet the yearning and expectations of Nigerians.