Tag: Alibaba

  • Alibaba, others grace JCI TOYP gala

    Alibaba, others grace JCI TOYP gala

    It was a night of glitz and glamour when legendary Nigerian entertainers, Alibaba and Daddy Showkey joined several dignitaries and members of Junior Chamber International, Nigeria to honour recipients of the JCI Ten Outstanding Young Persons (JCI TOYP) award 2017 at the organisation’s 60th Anniversary TOYP Gala.

    The event which had over 600 guests in attendance was held recently at Glitz Events Centre in Lekki, Lagos, and was hosted by comedian and actor, Lafup.

    Among other notable guests who graced the occasion were Prof. Sidi Osho, pioneer Vice Chancellor, Afe Babalola University, Mr. Isaac Orolugbagbe, Former MD of FedEx, and Mr. Dele Adeyinka, CDO, ALAT Digital Bank by Wema.

    The 2017 JCI Nigeria TOYP awardees are Mark Okoye, Adepeju Jaiyeoba, Imrana Alhaji Buba, Oluyomi Ojo, Akomaye Peters-Benson, Ukinebo Dare, Mayowa Adegbile, Ayodele Dada and Affiong Williams.

    Interestingly, Imrana Alhaji Buba and Adepeju Jaiyeoba have also been named as recipients of the World JCI TOYP awards, the first time 2 Nigerians will appear together in the global top 10.

  • Alibaba, Simi in ‘One Night Stand’

    Alibaba, Simi in ‘One Night Stand’

    Veteran comedian, MC Abbey has announced his Valentine-themed show tagged ‘One Night Stand with MC Abbey’ scheduled to hold on Sunday, February 19, at the Agip Hall, MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

    The show will feature Alibaba, MC Abbey, Timi Dakolo, Simi, Naomi Mac, Isaac Gerald, Tosin Martins, professional dance duo ICE & UK and a host of other exciting performers.

    “While the discussion is revolved around love and relationship, I will not only say things as they are but I will also be putting out my jokes in a direct, unrefined and uncensored manner,” said MC Abbey on what to expect at the show.

    “So, I urge Nigerian adults to go purchase their tickets and attend the extraordinary and eye-opening event,” he said.

     

  • ALIBABA GIFTS NIGERIANS AT ‘JANUARY 1ST CONCERT’

    IT was a night of laughter, music and gifting at the third edition of Alibaba’s ‘January 1st Concert’ where a comedian and a fashion designer won a brand new car and brand new sewing machine respectively. The comedy show which held on Sunday at Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos was attended by hundreds of fans, A-list celebrities and socialites.

    Ensuring no dull moments, popular comedians – Gbenga Adeyinka, Teju Babyface, Bash, Seyi Law, AY, Nedu, Yibo Koko and Alibaba himself– took part in a freestyle roast. Other comedians who performed were MC Abbey, Omobaba, Akpororo, Kenny Blaq, Lafup, Grand Komanda, Woli Arole, Short family, and comedian Wahala who imitated ex-first lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan.

    The night was also spiced up with musical performances by Olamide, Niyola, Waje, Omawunmi, CDQ, Harry Song, Patoranking, Timaya, Niyola, Tiwa Savage and Ycee.

    Up and coming comedians also had an opportunity to showcase their talents and slug it out on ‘Spontaneity’, a competition where each contestant is tested by joking about random words from the audience. Laff Doctor emerged winner, going home with a brand new car.

    A segment of the concert also had fashion designers exert their skills by sewing attires for volunteers in the audience within three hours; after which the winner was decided and rewarded with a brand new sewing machine and cash while the runners-up got cash.

    Some dignitaries at the event were former first lady of Lagos State, Dame Abimbola Fashola, Mary Akpobome, Patrick Doyle, DJ Jimmy Jatt, Hafeez Oyetoro, Doris Simeon, Faithia Balogun, Richard Mofe-Damijo, 2Baba, Mercy Aigbe, Iyabo Ojo, Toyin Aimakhu and Yaw.

  • Strive to become Alibaba, ATCON urges Aniwura

    The  President, Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) Olushola Teniola, has urged the management of Aniwura.com, an e-commerce platform to strive to become another major information communications technology (ICT) giant such as Alibaba.

    Speaking during the pre-launch of the platform in Lagos yesterday, the ATCON chief commended the management of the firm for their ingenuity.

    He said: “We need to start exporting our products; I challenge talented people directly and indirectly in Nigeria to make use of their talent. I am happy that this what Aniwura is doing. So I really want to encourage Aniwura.com to become the next Alibaba of Africa.”

    Chief Executive Officer, Aniwura.com, Iwayemi Ogomudia described the online and offline e-commerce platform as the first multi-dimensional marketplace and global marketing platform in Africa which will transform both local and global businesses.

    Ogomudia said the passion for the development of e-commerce in the country birthed her dream for the platform which will provide seamless online transactions for users.

    She said: “Africa’s commercial supply chain network has always been under accessed, especially in an age with limitless possibilities where one can have access to everything at any time. The existing e-commerce platform in our part of the world have done so much, giving limitless consumer access to only store owners, the single stakeholders in Africa’s  commercial supply network, a chain with multi-media and highly diversified stakeholders. But the question now is: what happens to the other stakeholders in this network?”

    She said Aniwura has come to make provisions for stakeholders with services such as business-to-business (B2B), offline-to-online (O2O) and the ground breaking business-to-government (B2G).

    Its Head of Operations, Obafemi Osinaike said the platform has been patterned to provide unique interface for vendors and their customers across the world. “We are fully aware of major challenges enterprises face in a difficult economic environment like ours, we have therefore initiated plans captured in our mission statements to facilitate sales and marketing, procurement and finances for business through innovative and collaborative efforts. Aniwura.com is equipped with cutting-edge facilities with capacity to build IT support for government and business interactions, small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) in line with our focus on business sustainability,” Osinaike said.

  • MO ABUDU CASTS ALIBABA, ADESUA ETOMI, BANKY W, OTHERS FOR ‘THE WEDDING PARTY’

    RIDING on the success of its premier production, Fifty, EbonyLife Films has announced the cast for its upcoming romantic comedy, The Wedding Party.

    Directed by New York Film School alumni, Kemi Adetiba, the movie features the likes of Africa’s king of comedy, Alibaba, Adesua Etomi,Banky W, Ireti Doyle, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Zainab Balogun, AY, Beverly Naya, EmmaohGod, Lepacious Bose amongst others.

    Set in Lagos, Nigeria, The Wedding Party is the story of Dunni Coker (Adesua Etomi), a 24 year old art gallery owner and only daughter of her parents about to marry the love of her life, IT entrepreneur Dozie (Banky W). The couple took a vow of chastity and are looking forward to a ground-breaking first night together as a married couple.

    Alibaba and Sola Sobowale play the role of Dunni’s parents while Ireti Doyle and Richard Mofe-Damijo play Dozie’s parents. Written by playwright, Tosin Otudeko, The Wedding Party is a collaboration of film houses; EbonyLife Films, FilmOne Distribution, Inkblot Productions and Koga Studios.

    “The Wedding Party will take guests on a journey to the rockiest wedding day in Nigeria’s history,” a statement from the producers read.

    “The wedding guests will have to take their seats and see whether the wedding planner succeeds or if the groom’s ex-girlfriends will disrupt the day’s proceedings. One thing is certain, The Wedding Party will be the talk of the town.”

    The Wedding Party will hit the cinemas nationwide in December.

  • How to live your dreams

    How to live your dreams

    Already in its fourth year running after three consecutive editions; The Live Your Dreams Africa 4.0 held at Eventistry, Freedom Way, Lekki phase one, May 14th.
    This year’s edition tagged: “My Dream: To leave or to cleave” hosted by the Convener, Bankole Williams, featured high profiled speakers, who were determined to push the audience forward in living their dreams intentionally, through tales of their life-changing experiences and huge success stories.
    A short highlight of the Live Your Dream Africa 3.0 panelist session of both Jude MI Abaga of the Chocolate Boys Music group and Bright Okpocha aka Basket mouth was initially filmed on projector screens to thrill the massive audience, before a saxophone rendition of the national anthem was performed by Detuke Morgan.
    Williams, while giving the keynote address, spoke about the reason behind Live your dreams Africa which was majorly to let people live intentionally and spend life in a pursuit of daily happiness. Only which can be accomplished by conscious efforts on parts of individuals to live their dreams.
    He gave a little biography of his life as a banker where his colleagues constantly agonised over their banking jobs but did nothing rather than still come back to the same job the following day, just because it could pay the bills. Failing to live their dreams. He spoke on the need to break the employment mentality that troubled young Nigerians always seeking jobs from the private or public sector as a livelihood when they could start their own venture.
    He spoke on the importance of having a reference point to validate one’s dreams.
    “Reference points are important; that is why I get successful people from all works of life to share their success stories with you. The number of Reference points to validate these experiences are more than enough to motivate you to live your own dreams.”
    The lineup of eight speakers with four panelist sessions anchored by Aderonke Adebanjo for the most part of three sessions was a very inspiring period for the audience who paid very rapt attention.
    The speakers profile included: Nigeria’s King of Comedy, Alibaba; award winning songstress, Waje; renowed photographer and painter, Kelechi Amadi-Obi; Radio and Television personality Vlogger; Toke Makinwa, an outstanding fashion designer, Ejiro Amos Tafiri; CEO of Cosharis Group; Dr Cosmas Maduka,  Award winning actress; Adesuwa Etomi,  and Special Adviser to the Lagos state Governor on Education; Obafela Bank Olemoh.
    The newest award winning on screen goddess, Etomi, assured her listeners to have confidence in themselves as a ticket in living their dreams.
    “It is okay to have confidence as confidence is very different from pride,” she said, advising her listeners to know what is for them.
    When she came up, Tafiri took the audience down the memory lane on how she started her business with just #40 000 to clinch a couple of awards in grand style as a widely acclaimed fashionista.
    Similarly, Amadi-Obi and Alibaba explained how they were able to thrive in the Nigerian environment by carving a niche as both comedian masterminds cum photographer and artist; Waje and Toke preached the message of self-love, determination to succeed against all odds, donning a tough skin against social media jabs while putting God first in everything one does.
    The height of the event was the final panel session between Dr Maduka and Mr Olemoh.
    For the CEO of the Cosharis Group who narrated his marriage at the age of 19 to his delectable wife, Charity and his rise to success at the ripe age of 22; spoke of his tragic-comic loss of N22billion and the seven year crisis cycle he has always battled with in overcoming difficulties.
    Olemoh wasn’t left out of the matter as he alluded his success story to sheer dedication and hard-work as an employee to finally pay off in his business and gubernatorial appointment in the world of politics.
    The event, sponsored by series of companies featured comedy sessions, spoken word, free Origin zero drinks by Guinness, Book giveaways and Products put on display.
  • Alibaba says no to grazing grounds

    Alibaba says no to grazing grounds

    Nigerian comedian Atunyota Alleluya Akporobome popularly known as Alibaba has added his voice to the controversy over granting grazing grounds in different parts of the country to Fulani herdsmen for their cattle.

    Alibaba posted a fingerprint on Instagram citing that humans are different but problems stem from people forcing others to be like them. He related the analogy to the herdsmen who have been rampaging in several communities in the country over grazing rights.

    ‘I either let you to graze all over my livelihood or you go craze and destroy my livelihood and even kill all those I am working to keep alive,’ he wrote in his post.

    ‘Then I am beginning to hear that I should find a way to tolerate your excesses because you, in the process of looking for your livelihood, have run out of grazing land where you came from. I should now vacate my own territory where I am also trying to earn a living to allow you earn a living. And this matter is so serious that NASS of the land wants to tolerate the excesses by giving them a FED approval that will mark out some areas for grazing. Let me ask one stupid question, when there was oil spillage and the people in the Niger Delta did not have a place to fish for a living, did NASS move a motion to creating fishing waters for the fishermen? Or are Herdsmen better than Fishermen?

    ‘Oh let me ask another question, when these same fishermen could not fish or farm, did NASS move to secure their lives? Or are some people just more important than others? Much as we all have been brought up to tolerate one another, let us keep it that way. In my community, #agbarhaotor, in Ughelli North, Delta State, there are over 40 flow stations scattered… In short, NO to grazing grounds. And that is that!’

  • Alibaba headlines Loud Whispers

    Alibaba headlines Loud Whispers

    KATUNGA Media has unveiled plans to bring Loud Whispers, a stage play, to theatre lovers in Nigeria on May 1, globally recognised as workers day. The play, according to the producers, is an adaptation of the similar-named book, written by Joseph Edgar.

    Scheduled for presentation at Muson Center, Lagos, Loud Whispers features foremost comedian, Ali Baba as headline act. The celebrated comedian leads a 20-man cast, comprising other talented thespians such as Patrick Diabuah, Paul Alomona, Tony Okuyeme, Tony Offiong, and Joy Ogbekene, as they perform a series of monologues through a mixture of dance and song.

    Ali Baba, in a genre crossing role, will address current issues, throw light jabs at political and social actors, give advice and pass commentaries whilst entertaining and holding the crowd spell-bound in the typical fashion that he is known for.

    The MD of Katunga Media, organizers of the play, Betty Abang, said; “Edgar’s book has elicited so much laughter and attention through its acerbic but comical banter on very topical issues. The play takes a light hearted look at otherwise critical issues in Nigeria with a bid to relieve tension and build positive discourse on their resolutions. The event, which coincides with Workers’ Day also aims to present workers with an enjoyable entertainment alternative for unwinding and we would like to thank all our sponsors and partners for making the play a reality.”

    The play is produced by popular broadcaster, Olisa Adibua, Shina Peller of Quilox and Mofoluwake Edgar, and adapted and directed by the veteran thespian, scriptwriter and Artistic Director behind Quebic 4 Productions, William Benson. William has successfully directed many critically acclaimed plays including The Sisters, Trials of Oba Ovonramwen, The Meeting, Yoruba Romance, Private Lies, amongst others.

    The play has garnered huge support from various organizations which include: AIICO, AXA Mansard, Bank of Industry, Uber, Rain Oil, and Quilox.

  • Alibaba presents car, cash prizes to Spontaneity winners

    Alibaba presents car, cash prizes to Spontaneity winners

    Aderombi Adedayo, winner of Spontaneity, a talent show organised by ace Nigerian comedian Alibaba to encourage Nigerian comedians, has been presented with his prize, a brand new Kia Rio salon car.

    The presentation of the car to Adedayo who goes by the stage name Dee-One, took place on Tuesday afternoon at Alibaba’s office in Lekki, Lagos. Also, first runner-up, Emeakpore Ofajenue (Short Family), a Microbiology graduate of Delta State University, Abraka and second runner-up, Olayiwole Tolulope (Remote), a Mass Communication student of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Ojere, Ogun State both went home with N250, 000 and N200, 000 cash prizes respectively.

    The architecture graduate from the Covenant University, Ota had emerged winner at the finals of the competition which tested the ability of mostly up and coming comedians to create jokes on the spur of the moment. It held during Alibaba’s signature January 1 show at the Eko Hotel and Suites.

    “The show, Spontaneity came as a need to take the comedy industry to the next level,” said Alibaba who started doing professional stand-up comedy in Lagos since 1989.

    “The standards are being watered down. Comedians are repeating jokes, comedians are stealing jokes, comedians are going back to archives, picking people’s jokes and re-telling them, comedians are taking jokes from foreign comedians and re-telling them like Nigerian jokes.

    “To be sincere, stand-up comedy is a very difficult art form because when you tell the joke, if it is not very nice, you get immediate reaction. If you tell and they (audience) don’t laugh, that’s it. And we thought that the best way is to go by what we call the Holy Grail of stand-up comedy which is spontaneity. Spontaneity is the ability of the comedian to hold the microphone and be funny without thinking of any other thing. And I thought we needed to inculcate it in the art of the comedians.”

    Spontaneity is a quarterly event which sees 12 comedians slug it out with each other for the first three positions. The top three comedians from the four editions have a chance to compete at the grand finale which holds during Alibaba’s January 1 show.

     

  • ALIBABA’S  ‘SPONTANEITY’ 2016 HOLDS IN MARCH

    ALIBABA’S ‘SPONTANEITY’ 2016 HOLDS IN MARCH

    THE 2016 edition of Spontaneity, billed to hold in March, will witness a new dimension. Though the date of the event is yet to be released, comedian Ali Baba, who is the brain behind the concept, revealed that he will put up a two-hour special performance before the Spontaneity contestants take the stage.

    He said: “Just so that our guests have a taste of good comedy. The special performance will have a chosen topic for each edition. This first edition in March will be on drivers.

    “I will do a two-hour performance on drivers across board – how they behave, what they do that annoy their employers, how they cut corners, the lies they tell to get employed, the bad drivers, the drivers who become family, the ones who buy 8k fuel and bring receipt of 15k, the ones who are drinking paddies with their Oga and the ones who arranges runs for their bosses. Trust me; you don’t want to miss the special performance on drivers at the next Spontaneity coming in March,” he added.

    The veteran comedian opened the year with his January 1stconcert put together to celebrate the Nigerian comedy industry.