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Tag: kicks off

  • Hymnodia kicks off in Lagos

    Excitement filled the air as shoppers, merchants and visitors were treated to melodious rendition of inspirational hymns at the Ikeja City Mall in Lagos by the team of the a reality-TV programme, Hymnodia. This was during the flagging-off its Season One.

    Hymnodia, the organisers explained, is “a unique reality-TV programme that seeks to reignite the hymn culture and promotes the nurture in the area of worship”.

    The fun-spiced ceremony, which featured crowd-moving performances of the 30-member choir, signalled the commencement  of the call-to-entry for the show.

    At the flag-off, the team swung in tune with the lyrics, while shoppers demonstrated their enthusiasm by singing along with the choir, expressing delight at the gorgeous Hymnodia designer dresses.

    Kufre Ekanem, Managing Director of Philosoville Limited, initiators of Hymnodia,  explained that the show seeks to revive the hymn culture and worship as a critical element of what cohesive societies require. He said that Hymnodia revolves around members of a world class choir who contest to showcase their skills as singers, writers and hymnodists, while collaborating to render soul-lifting renditions.

    “It is designed to redefine the perception obout hymns and reposition the minds of Nigerians on the almost forgotten art and value of hymn creation, writing and singing,” Ekanem affirmed.

    According to him, entries will be received from December 31, 2018 to January 21, 2019 and audiences will be regaled thereafter in the flow of creativity of choir performances during the 13 weeks of fun which the initiative would run through.

    The winner of Hymnodia will be announced at the grand finale of the contest on April 21, 2019 and will be rewarded with the ASAPH, a specially designed trophy, a brand new car and cash prize of N5 million.

    “It is an initiative of nurturing talents in rendition of hymns that are inspirational and tells the values that redefines our perception and belief,” Ekanem stated.

    Hymnodia, which will be an annual event, aims to ignite rumination, regard and allure on the words within hymns beyond their oft-whistled melodies. It will lavishly reward the creativities and talents that excel in its defined categories.

    To participate, talented young Nigerians are required to visit Hymnodia website, www.hymnodiahq.com, download and complete the Hymntestants application form and return scanned copy of completed form to info@hymnodiahq.com. Applicants are also expected to post a maximum 60 seconds self video of hymn rendition on Facebook, Twitter Instagram or their website with the hashtag #hymnodiahq, after which shortlisted applicants would be invited to an audition.

     

  • Rotary kicks off Family Health days

    Rotary International (RI) yesterday kicked off its yearly family Health Days. The three-day event will end tomorrow.

    According to the Programme’s West Africa Director Dr Olugbenga Olowu, the event is aimed at boosting the people’s welfare by knowing their health status. He said Rotary is targeting 700,000 people nationwide and 1.5million people in the sub-region, adding that 40 main entries had been created in Lagos alone for ease of accessibility.

    RI District 9110 Governor (DG)-elect Bola Oyebade said for the first time the programme would cover internally displaced persons in Lagos and Ogun states, beside those in those in the North, distribute sanitary pads and screen for mental disorders. This is in addition to the screening for blood sugar level, malaria and hepatitis, among others, and offering of free drugs to participants.

    The DG Kola Sodipo said all Rotary districts in the country would be involved in the exercise now its fifth edition. Noting that prevention is better than cure, the pharmacist urged Nigerians to avail themselves of the opportunity being provided by Rotary. He thanked the Rotary’s partners, especially the Federal Ministry of Health, for their support.

  • Kaduna kicks off CPS with payment to retirees

    Kaduna kicks off CPS with payment to retirees

    Kaduna State has implemented the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) with the commencement of payment of retirement benefits retirees, Director-General, National Pension Commission (PenCom), Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, has said.

    She congratulated the retirees on their meritorious service to state.  She said the implementation of the CPS was a milestone acheived through diligence of Governor Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai.

    According to her, the main essence of the Pension Reform of 2004 was to ensure that retirement benefits are paid as at when due and in a sustainable manner.

    She expressed joy that the retirees would clearly experience its positive impact, adding that the current economic challenges provides an opportunity to implement strategies for effective financial management by the states. She added that the huge liabilities which usually build up in the old Defined Benefits Scheme can be mitigated by the adoption and implementation of the CPS by states.

    She said the CPS provides a mechanism for eliminating these liabilities while the regular contributions into the scheme are undoubtedly less burdensome.

    Executive Secretary, Kaduna State Pension Bureau, Dan Ndackson who also spoke at the event said the CPS law was imade in 2007 in the state, but the contributions commenced in March 2008.

    He noted that implementation was not in total conformity with the provisions of the law before now.

    Ndackson said presently, in order to deliver on its mandate, the Bureau successfully completed the administrative procedures that resulted in the merger of the defunct Bureau of Pension in 2016.

    He noted that while building on the successes of the pensioners’ verification exercise that took place in the state in 2015, the Bureau has vigorously embarked on pensioners’ payroll cleansing in the state.

    He said as at last month, there were 9,655 pensioners in the payroll of state pensioners and 6,728 in that of local government areas compared to the 11,531 and 6,734  in the payrolls as at July 2015.

  • Isese festival kicks off today

    Isese festival kicks off today

    The Isese Festival of Oke-Odo land in Agbado Oke-Odo Local Government Area of Lagos State begins today, the Baale, Dada Saliu Babatunde, has said.

    The celebrations, which will climax tomorrow, will feature diverse cultural activities and displays at the Baale Palace.

    Baale Dada said the essence of the feast is to promote their cultural heritage, adding that the safety of indigenes and guests throughout the celebrations is uppermost in the agenda of this year’s festival.

    He made the statements while receiving youths of the community on courtesy visit to his palace.

    The Baale, who addressed his guests in Yoruba, praised the youth for their courage and enthusiasm in the forthcoming festival, promising them an exciting festival that is different from the previous years.

    He said: “Arrangement has being made to ensure the security and safety of both the indigenes and the visitors. The people have nothing to fear but to pray for the peaceful hosting of the festival. We holding the festival to promote culture and bring harmony and common interaction for unity of the communities and the state at large.”

  • Calabar Festival kicks off in style

    Calabar Festival kicks off in style

    Saturday night, marked the beginning of the line-up of events fin this year’s edition of the popular Calabar Carnival, with the ceremonial lighting of what organisers touted the tallest Xmas tree in Africa.

    True to their hype, the ceremony kicked-off with colour and panache, as it was witnessed by top celebrities, captains of industry, politicians and revelers, including the host governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, who were treated to high octane entertainment at the Millennium Park, Calabar, Cross River State.

    The event, which lasted two hours, saw the lighting of the Christmas tree at midnight, accompanied with fireworks.

    Before then, there were performances by up and coming musicians discovered during auditions for the 2013 Festival.

    Ace comedian, I Go Die left the guests, which included the Governor’s wife, Obioma, Minister for Tourism, High Chief Edem Duke, former Military Governor of the state, Air Vice Marshal Gregory Agbonemi and Nollywood stars Kate Henshaw, Rita Dominic, Gideon Okeke, Bryan Okwara and Executive Director of First Bank, Mr. UK Eke on the edge of their seats.

    “We remain that place in Nigeria where every Nigerian would be proud to be, where every Nigerian will say there is one state in Nigeria where you can see the governor walking about, associating with his people, he is not afraid, he is part of the crowd, and the people are warm, happy and beautiful”, Imoke said.

    While urging youth to make use of their talents, Imoke recalled that like music star, Inyanya, many talents are discovered every year during the festival.

    The governor contended that the two brands recognised by the world today are Nollywood and the Calabar Carnival, noting that, the tree-lighting exercise will go down in the record of Nigeria that next to the tallest and biggest flag in Nigeria is the tallest Christmas tree.

    Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, stressed the need for government to galvanise resources and train young artistes in order for them to use their creative abilities to better their lots.

    Duke also urged ‘Cross Riverians’ to find in each of them their creative talents that they may showcase to the world instead of waiting on government to provide their needs.

    He hinted that the siting of over N2 billion project for a creative academy in Ikot Nakanda, Akpabuyo Local Government Area remains a clear testimony of how important government holds the works of creative arts among youths in the area.

    Edem Duke also used the opportunity to announce the offer of 10 scholarships by the government of Trinidad and Tobago to provide opportunities for people to learn creative arts of carnival.

    He disclosed that the scholarship would be available from next year, adding that carnival has transformed from a street party into an economy.

    Executive Director Public Sector, South, First Bank of Nigeria, Mr. UK Eke, lauded Cross River government for its initiative which has also helped in uniting people from several cultures while bringing happiness to Nigerians.

  • Oyo kicks off Samodun Fiesta in style

    The Oyo State Government yesterday kicked off the maiden edition of the Samodun Fiesta in Ibadan, the state capital.

    It began with the “Ajumorin Walk”, which involved Governor Abiola Ajimobi, members of the state executive council, local government chairmen, heads of boards, parastatals and extra-ministerial departments, as well as popular actors and actresses.

    The walk took off from the Government House. It went through Oje and Beere to the historic Mapo Hall in Ibadan.

    Addressing the crowd at Mapo Hall, Ajimobi said the fiesta was to remind the people of the “great past, culture and tradition of the Yoruba”.

    He said: “In the promotion, advancement and propagation of our culture, the world will realise that Africa did not just stumble on a heritage; we have always had a great heritage.

    “Indeed, comparatively, we will realise that even though our fathers could not read and write, they were greater doctors, physicists, paleontologists and even political scientists, far more than what obtains in our so-called modernity and civilisation.

    “The fiesta advertises the Yoruba culture by showcasing our language, dressing, festivals, folklore, mode of recreation and means of livelihood.

    “Being the beginning of another year, especially the year that this government has begun to put an icing on the cake of all its developmental projects, there is no better way to begin than by invoking the ancient prayers of our forefathers that we will all live to see the completion of all these projects by next year.”

    Recalling the visit of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) leaders to the palace of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwole Adeyemi III, on Wednesday, Ajimobi said: “The monarch took us on a shuttle into our past as Yoruba people and we are very proud of our noble ancestry. If you were with us at the palace, you would be proud to be a Yoruba and from Oyo State, which is the cradle of Yoruba civilisation.

    “You would wonder why European historians and theorists condemn Africa as lacking in history, architecture and efficient system of administration. Unfortunately for us all, we have been boxed into believing that our inherited system and culture are of lesser texture to that of the Europeans. This is part of the mental slavery that our people have been subjected to for centuries.”

    The governor said the urban renewal programme of his administration is not aimed at “unnecessarily inflicting pain on the people, but to make life worth living and to improve the aesthetics of the state”.

    He said his administration would continue to execute people-oriented projects

    Speaking on behalf of the actors and actresses, former President of the Association of Nigeria Theatre Practitioners (ANTP) Prince Jide Kosoko praised the Ajimobi administration for promoting the Yoruba culture through the fiesta.