Head Coach of the U-23 National Team, Samson Siasia, has come out to set the records straight on his marriage that has been an issue in the social space in the past few days.
According to Coach Siasia, he actually celebrated his 27th marriage anniversary and not 30th as has been reported in the media. He said he got married at age 20 in 1988.
Noting that the marriage anniversary party was not organised by him or his family but by his friends and back-room staff of the U-23 National Team, Siasia said he notified the organisers of the error when he saw the cake.
While thanking Nigerians for all their support during his playing days and now as a coach, Coach Siasia said he would never do anything to tarnish the image of the country in any way.
The Nigeria Society for the Blind (FNSB) Oshodi, will hold its 60TH anniversary on Saturday,May 23 at the Muson Centre, Onikan Lagos.
Announcing the event in a briefing, FNBS Executive Chairman, Mrs. Biola Agbaje said the event will be used to feature FNSB’s laudable achievements especially the Vocation Training Centre (VTC).
The outgoing Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola and his wife Dame Abimbola would be the chief guests of honour including other notable personalities, Agbaje said.
Going down memory lane, Agbaje recalled how the society was established in May 1955 with the aim of training and giving hope to visually handicapped adolescents and adults in Nigeria.
The centre, she explained, has trained over 2000 blind men and women to acquire skills in Braille writing and reading, typewriting, handcrafts, telephone switchboard operation, computer operation, mobility skills, among others, which are necessary for job placement in the industry or self employment.
Warri and other parts of the Itsekiri nation in Delta State were agog last weekend as the Itsekiri people rolled out the drums to celebrate the annual Oyo-Ekero festival, which marks the ascension of the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II, to the throne, writes Shola O’Neil
The oil city of Warri, Delta State and other parts of the Itsekiri nation were agog last weekend as the Itsekiri people rolled out the drums to celebrate the annual Oyo-Ekero festival, which marks the ascension of the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II, to the six-century-old throne.
The 28th Anniversary of Ogiame Atuwatse II Oyo-Ekoro was one of the most memorable in recent times, as it drew Itsekiri groups, organisations and NGOs from all over the world to the monarch’s palace (Aghofen) and other parts of the city were carefully selected events were held.
Speaking on the import of the ceremony, the Chairman, Publicity Sub-committee of the 28th Coronation Anniversary Ceremony, Mr Emmanuel Okotie-Eboh, who is also the Chairman of Itsekiri Cultural Renaissance, explained that the importance of the festival was tied to the role of the monarch as the unifying factor and foundation of the Itsekiri ethnic group.
He said, “For an Itsekiri man, the Olu is only next only to God in our order of importance; he is even first to us before the government. That is why whenever it is time to honour the Olu, we spare no effort. He is the base and foundation of our culture, tradition and pride as a people.”
The activities marking the anniversary started on Friday with a praise and worship services held at the monarch’s palace in Warri. The service attracted gospel acts that joined the Foursquare Gospel Church, Olu Palace to sing praises to God.
There was also free medical service by a team of Itsekiri medical personnel from the United Kingdom, led by the chairman of Ugbarajor (UK), Dr Mogba Eyeoyibo. The team carried out diagnosis and proffered treatment to hailing members of the tribe.
•Ejike Asiegbu as Oba Akengbuwa during the command performance of the drama “Oba Akengbuwa”
However, arguably the most memorable event of the first day was a command performance of the drama, ‘Oba Akengbuwa’, which was produced and directed by renowned Itsekiri journalist and film producer, Mr Alex Eyengho. The drama, which featured notable Nigerian actors, including Ejike Asiegbu, who played the role of Oba Akengbuwa, Omagbemi Omonukarin (aka Okerengbelebe) and Norbert Young, among others, chronicled the life and times of the 16th Olu, whose death in between the mysterious deaths of his two sons threw the kingdom into a leadership crisis that later led to a 88-year interregnum in the monarchy.
The command performance, held at the auditorium of Federal Government College, Warri, was preceded by a 25-minute documentary on the history and evolution of the Itsekiri people. The documentary afforded some of the younger Itsekiri audience an insight into their history, the monarchy and achievements of renowned Itsekiri leaders like Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh, Dore-Numa and Nana Olomu among others, who recorded several feats and firsts in their times.
The highpoint of the drama presentation was the presentation of the Itsekiri Award of Excellence to deserving Itsekiri sons, including Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Chief Ayirimi Emami and Thomas Ereyitomi, among others.
•Members of the Warri Council of Chiefs
The drama presentation was witnessed by prominent members of the Warri Council of Chiefs, including Chief Emamanuel Tetsola, who was Chairman of the 28th Coronation Anniversary Organising Committee, Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, and the Regent of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Chief PT Oyeagha Heavens.
Governor Uduaghan, in a brief speech after the ceremony, noted that the drama exposes the intrigues, the ambition and the treachery of individuals”. He said it was a lesson for everyone to learn on the need to be careful and mindful about the future.
On Saturday, May 2, the monarch delivered his annual address to the Itsekiri nation. The focus of the 28th national address was on the need for all incoming elected political officeholders to perform their duties with the fear of God and to bring peace and development to the nation.
He said: “The people we have elected, some (were) as we wished, some not as we wished, but we thank God for them all. We pray that through them, there will be prosperity and progress for us all. We hope too that those elected will learn to do better in office so that our burdens in the nation may be made lighter and for life to be better for us and our children.”
The monarch also used the occasion to commend President Goodluck Jonathan for the establishment of the $16 billion Delta Gas City Project and Export Processing Zone in his kingdom and thanked the president for performing the groundbreaking ceremony. The Olu assured that “the good from it (the project) will be for our people and for all Nigerians”.
He admonished the host communities to provide conducive environment for the project and other businesses in the kingdom to thrive, emphasizing that the benefit of the project could only be enjoyed in a peaceful atmosphere that is devoid of rancor.
To this end, he enjoined all, “especially the younger ones, to think more of honest work and doing only that.”, just as he admonished that “older people should show good examples for the younger ones to follow.”
The monarch also received his people who came from across the state and other parts of the world to pay homage to him at the palace. There was also dance by various groups as well as the eye-catching dress event, popularly known as kueke, where young men, women and elderly are garbed in their traditional and ceremonial Itsekiri and Victorian attires. The National Association of Itsekiri Graduate, led by Ms Alero Tenuma, as well as the Itsekiri National Youth Council and other groups took time to render obeisance to the monarch.
From the Aghofen, the 2nd day party moved to the Warri Club, where the 4th Edition of the Grand Patron Lawn Tennis Competition was organized by Hon Vincent Uduaghan, President of the club in honour of HRM Atuwatse II on his 28th coronation anniversary.
The competition was witnessed by Uduaghan, who was represented by the state Head of Service, Mr Patrick Origho; Senator James Manager’ President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, and his wife, Helen; Chief Richmond Macgrey, and Mr Amah Agbajoh, among others.
The ceremony was rounded off with a thanksgiving service at the Foursquare Gospel Church, Olu Palace (Aghofen) with special prayers for long life for the respected monarch, his family and the Itsekiri nation. Prayers were also offered for the peace and stability of the nation.
APRIL 22 will mark five years that the Nigerian music industry lost the late OladapoOlaitanOlaonipekun, popularly known as Dagrin, in a ghastly motor accident.
To mark this day, Industry Nite and Eldar Records is looking beyond the pain of his demise and pulling all the breaks to celebrate that legacy.The event which comes up on the anniversary of his death will see the likes of Olamide, 9ice, Reminisce, TeeBlaq, Seriki, Lord of Ajasa, YQ, Sossick, WondaBoy, BaseOne, JahBless, PoslyTD, ChinkoEkun, CDQ along with other industry heavyweights and fans paying respect to the iconic Hiphop.The All-black event would be hosted by Jimmie and music by DjSpinall.
The late PonPonPon crooner’s car had run into a stationary lorry in front of Alakara Police Station in Mushin, Lagos, resulting in severe head injury that led to the eventual death of the singer at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba, Lagos.
The indigenous language rapper, who hailed from Ogun State, died at the age of 23 and was buried at Ebony Millennium Private Vault, Atan cemetery, Yaba, Lagos.
His demise generated a lot of controversies, with many believing that the artiste foresaw his death, referring to the lyrics of his last song: “If I die, make you no cry for me, e je n simi.”
However, one of his producers, Frenzy disclaimed the rumour, saying, “He came to the studio as usual. After I had finished recording with some people, I played the beat of the song to him and he freestyle on it first, with the intention of coming back later to perfect it. But unfortunately, we didn’t have the time until his accident and eventual death. Dagrin never knew he was going to die. It was just a coincidence.”
For celebrity couple, Beyoncé and Jay-Z, there is no better way to celebrate their seventh wedding anniversary than a romantic new song from the former, exclusively for the latter.
Titled Die With You, the Beyoncé’s song is a straight-up love song to her man. It had such emotional laden lines like, “I wake up just to sleep with you. I open my eyes so I can see with you. And I live so I can die with you,” she sings in a home-made clip that shows them in a personal moment.
The new video is exclusively on the music streaming service Tidal, that they just happen to be heavily involved in.
Jay Z, 45, launched Tidal on Monday along with 16 artiste stakeholders, including his wife, Rihanna, Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Jason Aldean, Madonna, Coldplay and others.
This wedding anniversary gift to Jay Z, has been praised by fans of both artistes who just moved to Los Angeles with little daughter, Blue Ivy.
Meanwhile, there have been backlashes over the remix of the Destiny’s Child singer’s Jealous, which features troubled singer, Chris Brown.
The Jealous remix made its way online on Thursday, April 2. And although Beyonce, 33, is yet to comment on the leaked song, she is facing significant backlash from those who take issue with her working with Brown.
The former Destiny’s Child singer used her Beyonce album to declare herself as a feminist, even using audio from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TED talk about feminism in her hit single, Flawless. But knowing Brown for what many described as women molestation, especially having left former girlfriend, Rihanna, with gruesome bruises after a domestic violence incident, many saw the move of aligning with the singer as standing in direct conflict to Beyonce’s feminist values.
“I never thought Beyonce could disappoint me – until she collaborated with Chris Brown,” a fan tweeted of Beyonce.
”I was really hoping the Beyoncé + Chris Brown collaboration was an April fool’s joke,” said another. “Let me get this straight….Beyoncé, a claimed feminist, made a remix with a man who beats a woman…okay,” said yet another.
Expectations were high for the return of D’banj, whose performance in Nigeria has been quite low in recent times, but the entertainer, who staged his 10th anniversary concert as a performing artiste at the weekend, got hisses and grumbling from fans for starting behind schedule.
It was the first leg of a series of concert for which the former Mo’hits co-honcho brought in American artiste, model and fashion designer, Amber Rose, who was host for the night.
The show which held at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, and was advertised for 7pm did not start until after 12 midnight.
The 10th matriculation of Crescent University, Abeokuta has coincided with its 10th anniversary.
The 565 students were admitted into the five colleges of the university: Law, Social and Management Sciences, Natural and Applied Sciences, Information and Communication Sciences and Environmental Sciences.
Founder of the pioneer Islamic university in Nigeria, Prince Bola Ajibola,
Judge Ajibola, a former jurist of the International Court of Justice, expressed his adoration to God that the university has made progress. He described the occasion “as a fulfilment of our dream of nurturing people of academic and moral uprightness in the sight of God”.
He said the vision of the university was to develop a university that would produce the best global citizens.
“We do not want you to become educated beasts,” adding that Crescent University would not award any bogus certificate to students.
Congratulating the students on being among the privileged few admitted of the over one million candidates who sat for 2014 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ibrahim Gbajabiamila said they got in because the university performed well in the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) so its capacity was expanded.
He lamented the low carrying capacity of both public and private universities in Nigeria to accommodate all qualified applicants. He observed that of the 57 million out-of-school children globally, Nigeria had the highest number of 20 percent, urging the students to make the best use of the golden opportunity offered by the university.
THE Law Students Society of Lagos State Univeristy(LASULAW) will celebrate its 30th Anniversary and Annual Law Dinner and Award on Thursday at the Banquet Event Centre in Ikeja, Lagos.
Th e dinner tagged the “Distinguished Dinner” aims at celebrating legal luminaries, corporate institutions and law makers that have contributed to the growth of legal education and empowerment of youths.
Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) is expected to chair the dinner.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof John Oladapo Obafunwa, is the Chief Host; Dr. Derek Adetokunbo Obadina, Dean, Faculty of Law, is the Host.
The President, LASULAW, Mr. Rufai Ganiyu Olawale, said the event would showcase top-class personalities in the legal profession. Tickets are for N2000.
”On behalf of all Law Students of Lagos State University, we welcome you all to our 30th Law Dinner and Awards as we gather to celebrate the legal profession and the dissemination of legal education towards total repositioning for academic excellence,” he said.
Other guests expected at the ceremony include the royal father of the day, Oba Gbolahan Akanbi Timson, the Jagunmolu of Somolu; Guests of honour are Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of Lagos State, Ade Ipaye and Director, Rocky Sporting Club Limited, Mr. Elias Atrib.
They also include Chief Judge, Federal High Court Nigeria, Justice Ibrahim Auta,OFR; Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade; Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary Cross River State, Mr. Ekpenyong I. Henshaw and his counterpart in Lagos state, Mr. Lawal Pedro (SAN) while PDP Lagos East senatorial candidate, Chief (Mrs) Olabisi Salis would be the Mother of the day.
It was a week-long celebration marked with different activities penultimate week when Epe Club marked its 40th anniversary.
One of the highlights of the celebration was a lecture delivered by the Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. John Obafunwa and a bursary award to 53 Epe students studying in different tertiary institutions across the country.
Delivering a lecture entitled, “The Economic Status and Viability of Epe”, Prof. Obafunwa said Epe, which is majorly an agrarian community, has a lot of potential that should be harnessed to better the lot of the people.
According to him, with a landmass of about 641 square kilometres and body of water measuring about 324 square kilometres, Epe remains an economically-viable division which is currently commercially underdeveloped because of some factors; especially the absence of electricity.
He said Epe has great tourism sites and would be tourists’ destination if the proper infrastructure such as electricity, transportation, markets, hotels and waterfronts are provided by the government and “this will boost the economic status of Epe”.
Obafunwa pointed out that there is urgent need for these now with the dwindling income from oil.
“When the tourism potential is fully exploited and developed, they will create job opportunities for so many people in Epe and enhance the economy,” he said.
On the Lekki Free Trade Zone, Obafunwa said by the time it is fully developed, it will boost economic activities in Epe division, adding that Dangote, who is planning to establish a refinery in the zone has promised that 70 per cent of the workforce will be recruited from the community and this will cut across both skilled and unskilled labour.
He said: “With full development of Epe free trade zone, transportation, plans to have coastal roads, widening of roads coming to Epe and expansion of ferry services linking Apapa with Epe will increase the tempo of economic activities and employment generation, housing and industries might witness a boom. This calls for provision of more schools, hospitals and road network.”
Obafunwa further said two fundamental factors must be in place for the division to actualise its full economic potential. These, he said, are peace and electricity.
He decried the lack of electricity in Epe, which he said falls within the purview of the Federal Government. He noted that for more than one year now, Epe has not had electricity, a situation, he said, is slowing down a lot of economic activities.
“We must solve the problem of electricity; it is the biggest problem confronting development in Epe. An alternative will be Independent Power Project which will supply power to the division so that economic activities can pick up.
“Once power problem is solved, every other thing falls into place, as they all depend on power supply. This will unleash the full economic potential of Epe. To achieve this, all hands must be on deck.
“The landscape, scenery and waterfront are very beautiful. Add cultural festivals to these, it will attract tourists, but there is need for peace. There are countries whose mainstay is tourism and we have the potential in Epe. All these will increase economic activities in Epe,” Prof. Obafunwa said.
In an address earlier, President of Epe Club, Chief Lanre Razak said the club is “renowned for championing community development, creating platform for peaceful co-existence and harnessing the collective resources and potential of Epe division”.
The primary concern of the club which was founded in 1974, according to the president of the club, is to foster peace, unity, progress and development of the collective heritage of Epe division.
Razak called on well-meaning individuals and “illustrious sons and daughters of Epe” to partner with the club in confronting the hydra-headed challenges of Epe division which include lack of power supply; need for economic empowerment of the teeming youths; establishment of companies and factories; creation of job opportunities and provision of vocational training.
“I also appeal to all political leaders, your royal majesties and the government of Lagos State to put in place all necessary machinery that will enable Epe division to access and enjoy its rightful place and opportunities like every other division in the state,” Razak said.
He revealed that the club has attained so many achievements in the last 40 years of its existence. These, he said, include construction of club house; construction of club restaurant; acquisition of two plots of land; award of bursary to indigent students of Epe division in tertiary institutions in the last 20 years; intervention in the resolution of communal disputes within Epe; creation of an advocacy front for government intervention and political office holders’ contributions towards the growth of Epe division, among others.
The club gave 53 students of Epe origin in different tertiary institutions bursary award of N25, 000 each as part of its activities to mark the 40th anniversary.
Chairman of the 2014 Bursary Committee, Elder E. Alaba told the recipients that “we want you to be partakers of the fruit of the free trade zone and it is only through struggle and hard work you would be partakers of the fruits. So, struggle and work hard so that one day, you will be in a position to assist others as you are being assisted today. Never quit, struggle to make it, life is not a bed of roses, you must be ready for the ups and downs of life, but never give up and don’t be deterred.”
Three of the recipients, Balogun Nimota Opeyemi from the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Shobaloju Kolawole Mumin, a student of Lagos State University (LASU) and Omojole Kafayatu Mopelola, a student at Ekiti State University thanked the club for its gesture.
Opeyemi said: “I am very happy because they are trying to encourage us to be serious with our academic careers and it shows that they really want a better future for us.” Mumin said the money will serve as a relief to him and others while Omojole said she will use the money to complete her school fees.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Agbomeji Ibrahim Olatunji of LASU thanked the club “for this enviable legacy. I believe, from this spirit of benevolence, that our fathers are one and we promise to hold on to this promise,” he said.
Other activities lined up for the anniversary celebration included church and jumat services; visit to hospital and free health programme, among others.
As part of the activities to celebrate its 12th anniversary, the Rock Foundation for Widows, Orphans and Less Privileged (ROFWOL), a foundation that seeks to help the underprivileged, will on Sunday hold a thanksgiving service and dedication of its office at 19, Araromi Street, off Moloney Street, Obalende, Ikoyi, Lagos.
The Group Executive Director, CHIKASON GROUP and Executive Coordinator, Favour Chika Okafor, an engineer, said the non-government organisation (NGO) survived this long because it was driven by the passion of helping the needy, adding that it was not an avenue for self-aggrandisement.
She thanked all who supported the organisation over the years, saying they were determined to make the difference in the society.
