The Nation Newspaper

Tag: CoolFM

  • CoolFM fetes 1m Facebook fans

    CoolFM fetes 1m Facebook fans

    CoolFM, which prides itself as the number one hit radio station in Nigeria played host to its large army of fans across the country over the weekend.

    The event which held at the Ikeja City Mall – Rhapsody’s bar and lounge Lagos, was meant to be a soiree but turned out to be a party as guests from far and near fanned out en masse to join the CoolFM family to celebrate its one million followers on Facebook, with favorite CoolFM On Air Personalities (OAPs), top Nigerian disc jockey, DJ Xclusive and some other top celebrities, adding glam to the occasion.

    CoolFM started operations in October 1998, followed by Abuja 96.9 FM in November 2001, Port Harcourt 95.9 FM in November 2008, and then Kano 96.9 FM in October 2011. The station joined Facebook in 2010.

    Addressing the packed audience, Ifedayo Ayorinde, popularly known as Freeze, an OAP who also doubles as the Head of CoolFM presenters, said it was heartening to note that CoolFM has got one million followers on Facebook.

    “What it means is that anytime we post, there is opportunity for one million people to see what we are doing on our social media network.”

    Waxing philosophical, he said: “The world is moving from the radio that you and I know to a more visual radio. Social media is adding that which was not there 20 years ago.”

    He, however, expressed delight that “Cool FM is not just a part of it, we are the one spearheading it. The first radio station in Africa to have one million followers.

    “It is very easy to know we are the first, just check the Facebook page of other radio stations, you see numbers of followers they have. My message to our listeners is that we did not get to one million followers by buying followers. We didn’t get to one million followers on Facebook by cooking food or serving drinks, we got to one million because people believed in us and what we do.

    “We are not surprised to be one, we’ve got a lot of information and everything you are looking for.”

    Echoing similar sentiments, another talented presenter, Oladotun Kayode, popularly known as Dotun, said: “We thank God it is spectacular thing that we have lot of people supporting the brand Cool Fm and following us on the social media. In addition to the Facebook followers, we have a lot of people following on Twitter, Instagram and other social network.”

    Dotun who anchors the midday show in the radio station, said CoolFM, over the years has remained connected to all the segment of radio listeners.

    “Everyone tends to be different in whatever they do, the brand CoolFM  tries to identify with everyone young, old, married, single, working class, those in informal and formal sector, CoolFM will surely catch you and that’s why we remain a brand in the industry. We are used to doing things creatively that’s what keeps us going,” he said.

    Other side attraction at the occasion include class performance by up-and-coming artistes such as Precious Emmanuel, who thrilled the audience with a soulful music.

    The highpoint of the occasion was the presentation of prizes to winners who won the quiz competition, one of who was Anthony Ibiam, who won a Panasonic microwave.

  • CoolFM’s Mannie shines at book launch

    CoolFM’s Mannie shines at book launch

    Recording artiste and Cool FM On-Air-Personality Mannie, penultimate Sunday launched a new book, titled What A Life, to detail his growing up years.

    The event which held at Monty Buffet, Victoria Island, Lagos, was attended by family, friends and associates of Mannie whose real name is Emmanuel Essien.

    Among the A-list guests include members of the Moussali family led by Amin Mousalli, owner of AIMS Group, which includes CoolFM, Wazobia and Nigeria Info, Akin Alabi, CEO Nairabet.com and Mai Atafo,  Nigeria’s bespoke fashion tailor and a host of others.

    Justifying the need for writing an autobiography, Mannie, who is Head of Innovations for CoolWazobiaInfo, said he wanted to be able to impact his generation and beyond.

    The book not only captures Mannie’s riveting story as an innocent teenager but also reveals warts and all.

    Speaking about his greatest influence as a singer, song writer, Mannie said the list would naturally include his parents who introduced him to music at an early age. He also counts his late friend Uche, his boss at Cool FM and of course, the famous Larry King, whom he has met as influences.

    The highpoint of the occasion was when Mannie’s boss, Amin Moussali, apart from showering Mannie with an undisclosed sum of foreign currencies also promised to do a film of the book for Hollywood.

    Mannie also serenaded guests with one of his songs as others joined him on the dance floor.

     

  • CoolFM’s Mannie shines at book launch

    CoolFM’s Mannie shines at book launch

    Recording artiste and Cool FM On-Air-Personality Mannie, penultimate Sunday launched a new book, titled What A Life, to detail his growing up years.

    The event which held at Monty Buffet, Victoria Island, Lagos, was attended by family, friends and associates of Mannie whose real name is Emmanuel Essien.

    Among the A-list guests include members of the Moussali family led by Amin Mousalli, owner of AIMS Group, which includes CoolFM, Wazobia and Nigeria Info, Akin Alabi, CEO Nairabet.com and Mai Atafo,  Nigeria’s bespoke fashion tailor and a host of others.

    Justifying the need for writing an autobiography, Mannie, who is Head of Innovations for CoolWazobiaInfo, said he wanted to be able to impact his generation and beyond.

    The book not only captures Mannie’s riveting story as an innocent teenager but also reveals warts and all.

    Speaking about his greatest influence as a singer, song writer, Mannie said the list would naturally include his parents who introduced him to music at an early age. He also counts his wife, Grace, his late friend Uche, his boss at Cool FM and of course, the famous Larry King, whom he has met as influences.

    The highpoint of the occasion was when Mannie’s boss, Amin Moussali, apart from showering Mannie with an undisclosed sum of foreign currencies also promised to do a film of the book for Hollywood.

    Mannie also serenaded guests with one of his songs as others joined him on the dance floor.

  • CoolFM, Heritage Bank sponsor students to film festival in Lebanon

    CoolFM, Heritage Bank sponsor students to film festival in Lebanon

    CoolFM and CoolTV in collaboration with Heritage Bank have concluded plans to sponsor students to the 8th edition of the Notre Dame University International Student Film Festival, holding at Notre Dame University, in Lebanon from November 15-22, 2015.

    At a press conference to unveil the lucky winners, the Group Managing Director of AIM Group, Amin Mousali, said the sponsorship is one among the company’s corporate social responsibility platform to expose students to innovations in filmmaking worldwide.

    Waxing philosophical, he said a country cannot advance unless it develops its human resources, hence the company’s commitment towards grooming new talents in the film industry for the next generation.

    Mousali who recalled that the company began sponsoring students to the film festival since 2012, said the lucky winners to this year’s event have the opportunity of visiting historical sites, like Canaanland in Lebanon, where Jesus Christ preached the gospel.

    Besides, he said the participants stand a chance to learn about the culture and mores of the host country amongst others.

    On the set criteria for selection of winners, Mousali said the competition is open to every student across all disciplines as long as they can write scripts.

    The competition, he said, is a talent hunt of some sorts aimed at tasking the creative ingenuity of the students.

    While justifying the sponsorship of the programme by Heritage Bank, Tobe Nnadozie, Divisional Head, Innovation and Products, said the company has a strong affinity with the arts, hence it is always willing to support activities around the sector.

    “Heritage Bank is a story itself which we’re writing. It’s a very fantastic story,” he began.

    Expatiating, Nnadozie said:”Our lead-in as a bank is about helping people to create, to preserve and to transfer wealth across generations. And one thing that has transcended across various generations is art. Most other things time out or burn out. But art has remained there and when I talk about art, it’s the whole embodiment of arts such as culture, language, songs, drama and many other things.”

    Speaking earlier, past winners, including Damilola Kolajolu, Seun Adebanjo and Nneka Chile recalled with nostalgia their experiences at the previous editions of the festival, which they described as a life transforming experience and one they would hold dear for life.

    This year’s winners who were selected out of over 600 entries, namely Chima Martins Agara of Imo State University, Senator Ewah George of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and Ayodeji Donaldlove Ogunleye of National Films Institute, Jos, were upbeat about their trip to Lebanon.

    Agara’s entry titled: ‘Honey Money Pot’  ‘Dead Alive’ by Ogunleye and ‘My name is Amina’ by George have been produced into a film by Emem Isong and Aim Groups’ Production Company, World Entertainment Television Limited (WETV).

    Speaking separately, Ogunleye and Agara expressed thanks to the CoolFM management as well as the Heritage Bank for giving them the opportunity to explore the world of filmmaking, stressing that they would make both companies and the nation proud.

  • CoolFM, Heritage Bank sponsor students to film festival in Lebanon

    CoolFM and CoolTV in collaboration with Heritage Bank have concluded plans to sponsor students to the 8th edition of the Notre Dame University International Student Film Festival, holding at Notre Dame University, in Lebanon from November 15-22, 2015.

    At a press conference to unveil the lucky winners, the Group Managing Director of AIM Group, Amin Mousali, said the sponsorship is one among the company’s corporate social responsibility platform to expose students to innovations in filmmaking worldwide.

    Waxing philosophical, he said a country cannot advance unless it develops its human resources, hence the company’s commitment towards grooming new talents in the film industry for the next generation.

    Mousali who recalled that the company began sponsoring students to the film festival since 2012, said the lucky winners to this year’s event have the opportunity of visiting historical sites, like Canaanland in Lebanon, where Jesus Christ preached the gospel.

    Besides, he said the participants stand a chance to learn about the culture and mores of the host country amongst others.

    On the set criteria for selection of winners, Mousali said the competition is open to every student across all disciplines as long as they can write scripts.

    The competition, he said, is a talent hunt of some sorts aimed at tasking the creative ingenuity of the students.

    While justifying the sponsorship of the programme by Heritage Bank, Tobe Nnadozie, Divisional Head, Innovation and Products, said the company has a strong affinity with the arts, hence it is always willing to support activities around the sector.

    “Heritage Bank is a story itself which we’re writing. It’s a very fantastic story,” he began.

    Expatiating, Nnadozie said:”Our lead-in as a bank is about helping people to create, to preserve and to transfer wealth across generations. And one thing that has transcended across various generations is art. Most other things time out or burn out. But art has remained there and when I talk about art, it’s the whole embodiment of arts such as culture, language, songs, drama and many other things.”

    Speaking earlier, past winners, including Damilola Kolajolu, Seun Adebanjo and Nneka Chile recalled with nostalgia their experiences at the previous editions of the festival, which they described as a life transforming experience and one they would hold dear for life.

    This year’s winners who were selected out of over 600 entries, namely Chima Martins Agara of Imo State University, Senator Ewah George of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and Ayodeji Donaldlove Ogunleye of National Films Institute, Jos, were upbeat about their trip to Lebanon.

    Agara’s entry titled: ‘Honey Money Pot’  ‘Dead Alive’ by Ogunleye and ‘My name is Amina’ by George have been produced into a film by Emem Isong and Aim Groups’ Production Company, World Entertainment Television Limited (WETV).

    Speaking separately, Ogunleye and Agara expressed thanks to the CoolFM management as well as the Heritage Bank for giving them the opportunity to explore the world of filmmaking, stressing that they would make both companies and the nation proud.