The Nation Newspaper

Tag: model

  • Political parties and the Lagos Model

    The provisions of the 1999 Constitution on political parties, deserve some attention. Unfortunately, in practice, most of the provisions are observed in the breach, and that has caused instability within the parties, which in turn affects party’s succession plans. Somehow, Lagos State has been luckier with regards to succession plans, and that has substantially affected performance and cohesion within the ruling party in the state. The challenge for political practice vis-à-vis the provisions of the law,is aggravated by the institutional weakness of critical organs of the state, particularly the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The result is chaos within most parties.

    To underscore the importance of political parties as a vehicle to actualise the exercise of the executive and legislative powers provided for, by the constitution, Sections 221 to 229 of the constitution is devoted to the formation, regulation and control of political parties. But most practitioners give scant regard to these provisions. For instance, in complete defiance to section 221 of the constitution, many socio-political associations openly canvas for votes for candidates, despite the provision that “No association, other than a political party shall canvass for votes for any candidate at any election or contribute to the funds of any political party or to the election expenses of any candidate at an election”.

    In practice, in the run-up to the 2015 General Elections, many ethnic and cultural associations which if they are registered, would have stated in their documents filed with the corporate commission, that they are apolitical, have been falling over themselves, canvassing for votes for their preferred candidates. In some instances, there are reports of divisions within the associations, over the choice of candidates, with the elected officials of the association threatened with a sack, unless the candidate adopted by the dominant interest is supported. This anomaly has become very permissive, such that, among some groups, there is a blur between socio-cultural organisations and ethnic based political parties, which is prohibited by Section 2229(b) of the 1999 Constitution.

    Another fundamental provision of the constitution,concerns the control of the finances of political parties, which is provided for, in section 225. Section 225(2) provides: “Every political party shall submit to the Independent National Electoral Commission a detailed annual statement and analysis of its sources of funds and other assets together with a similar statement of its expenditure in such form as the commission may require”. If INEC has the requisite capacity to enforce this provision of the constitution, many parties and their officials would be seriously sanctioned. The recent lunch by parties for funds for political campaigns is one such instance, for enquiry. Also, sub-section 5, gives the Commission, the “power to give directions to political parties regarding the books or records of financial transactions which they shall keep and to examine all such books and records”.

    Interestingly INEC is enjoined by section 226 (1) of the constitution “every year (to) prepare and submit to the National Assembly a report on the accounts and balance sheet of every political party”. In sub-section 2, the Commission is enjoined “in preparing its report under this section, to carry out such investigations as will enable it form an opinion as to whether proper books of account and proper records have been kept by any political party, and if the Commission is of the opinion that proper books of accounts have not been kept by a political party, [it] shall so report”.This failure by INEC to obey the constitution, has not elicited any sanction by the National Assembly, who as members of the political parties may prefer that the records are not put in the public domain.Again the humongous amounts spent by candidates on party primaries is an eye opener, on theurgent need to check campaign funding, within the parties.

    A further interesting provision of the constitution to aid an orderly political environment, is Section 227, which provides: “No association shall retain, organise, train or equip any person or group of persons for the purpose of enabling them to be employed for the use or display of physical force or coercion in promoting any political objective or interest or in such manner as to arouse reasonable apprehension that they are organised and trained or equipped for that purpose.” This provision prohibits the several blood thirsty ethnic groups threatening the election process, in the interest of their preferred candidates. Unfortunately the political actors also promote this unconstitutional conducts, as they try to ride on their backs to electoral victory.

    Obviously part of why INEC has not been pressured to perform better is because most of the parties are guilty of this breach of the constitution. Also until now, apart from the ruling party at the centre, most of the other parties were too fractious and incapable of insisting that INEC must obey the constitution. However with greater political stability provided in the country following the emergence of the All Progressive Congress, as a counterfoil to the behemoth, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), INEC may be compelled to obey the constitution.

    In Lagos State, the ruling party’ssuccession plans, have been incredibly successful. Interestingly, even when there are vigorous contests for political positions, as we saw at the last party primaries, the party is able to settle the disagreements. So, arguably, unlike in any other state in the federation, you see the former Governor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,  Governor Babatunde Fashola, and the likely successor to Fashola, Akinwunmi Ambode, hand-in-hand, boisterously dancing on the same platform, as they vigorously campaign for Ambode. This can only be the result of robust leadership, internal cohesion and discipline within their party. The benefit is that long-term development plans are successfully executed.

     

  • Adopt Indian model for elections

    SIR: Nigerian electoral history is filled to the brim with malpractices, irregularities, thuggery, and rigging. This is so because, in Nigeria, political power is seen not as a means to an end but an end in itself. This explain why the craze for power and its appurtenances always take Machiavellian tactics.

    From 1946 till date, there has never been an election in Nigeria that is not controversial. Nigeria’s election is usually a do or die and / or a fight to finish  affair. Hence the accompanying post electoral crises.

    The electoral crisis that followed Western Region election of 1964 and general election of 1965 were one of the reasons why Nzeogwu and his men struck. The return to civilian rule after 15 years of military interregnum didn’t go without electoral crisis, in fact, it laid the foundation stone of judiciary being the last electoral  umpire in Nigeria.

    The 2011 general election was epoch making in Nigeria’s electoral history. It shows the world that we know our problems and can independently solve them. The latitude Goodluck Jonathan’s administration gave the Jega-led INEC was the reason INEC conducted an election second to June 12 1993 presidential election- though not without controversies and crisis.

    This silver lining in the Nigeria’s electoral sky could be sustained if we emulate the Indian electoral approach.

    Indian electoral commission considered the geographical vastness of their country as well as its teeming population in evolving a method for organizing free, fair and credible elections.

    India which is today, the world’s largest democracy with – according to this year general election indices – 815 million eligible voters scattered along its vast geography. Indian Government, knowing the irregularities, logistical problems  as well as complications that will mar their general election when conducted in a day, structured their general election into phases (2004, it was four phases, 2009, it was four phases, whereas in 2014 it was nine phases) which involved step by step announcement of the election dates and declaration of results at the end of each phase. This method does not just  bring transparency to bear but also force also-rans to concede defeat.

    This approach when applied in Nigeria will help to make our electoral processes more transparent and well monitored so as to curb the irregularities that have characterized our electoral system. The National Independent Electoral Commission could structure our Presidential election into six phases (based on six geopolitical zones of Nigeria) and organize it within a space of six weeks.

    This approach when merged with Jega’s novel televised reporting of results of presidential election by state’s resident electoral commissioner, will ensure more focus and easy election monitoring. And, it will minimize all sorts of electoral malpractices.

    • Asikason Jonathan

     Enugwu-Ukwu, Anambra State.

     

  • Lagos APC to PDP: you can’t say Fashola’s govt is bad democratic model

    Lagos APC to PDP: you can’t say Fashola’s govt is bad democratic model

    Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the allegation that Governor Raji Fashola-led government was a bad model of democratic governance as baseless and the biggest joke of the 21st century.

    The Lagos PDP, in a recent statement, accused Fashola-led administration of not showing signs that it was willing to conduct local governments’ election as the tenures of the office-holders end in October 29, 2014.

    But the APC, in a statement by its Director of  Publicity, Joe igbokwe, said: “Now, contrary to this bedtime stories of Lagos PDP, we want to make it clear that Lagos State government is prepared to conduct local government areas (LGA) elections as it has been doing in the past, when INEC concludes its delineation exercise in some states.

    “INEC is creating new wards and new polling units in some states, including Lagos and until it finalises that very important exercise, it may not be feasible to conduct LGA elections because we need to know the new wards and the new polling units before going to the polls”.

    It added:  “If the new voter cards and the new voters register are yet to be seen, please tell us how you can conduct elections. Once these structures are put in place, LASIEC will move into action.

    “Some PDP-controlled states have not conducted local government elections in the last eight years, but we are not PDP. We do the right thing, we follow the rules and we get results. However, if these issues are not resolved before the October deadline, Lagos State government may appoint caretaker committees to replace the outgoing LGA Chairmen.”

    On the allegation that the government officials are provoking PDP members by removing and destroying PDP signs, the APC said it must “be known that Lagos State has a Signage Agency called LAASA and if Lagos PDP wants its services, they know what to do. Advert agencies in Lagos know that it is not business as usual as LAASA has cleared the mess in Lagos and set up new standards for Outdoor Advertising.

    “Lagos State government has not provoked anybody or any group, but sometimes decisions are taken in the overall interest of 25 million Lagosians. Rather it is Lagos PDP that has been provoking Lagos APC.

    “We saw the provocation when a junior Minister in the Ministry of Defence, Senator Obanikoro, went with armed soldiers to Ilubirin Housing Estate to harass contractors building homes for Lagosians. We see this provocation when one of our leader on the island, Alhaji Azeez Asake, was brutally murdered by PDP thugs after their rallies at TBS. We see these provocations on a daily basis at old toll gate Lagos where Lagos PDP is training thugs for 2015 elections in the name of SURE-P. PDP is on the wrong side of history in Nigeria and the same history will remain our witness.”

  • The model secondary schools of Governor Amaechi: a portentous conversation at Eleme

    The model secondary schools of Governor Amaechi: a portentous conversation at Eleme

    Barely two weeks ago, I was in Port Harcourt for the state banquet that the Rivers State Government held to mark the 80th birthday of Wole Soyinka. The last time that I visited Port Harcourt was about eight years ago and that was a private visit. Long before then, when I was the National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), I had visited the garden city many, many times. This was because like the University of Benin, the University of Port Harcourt had one of the strongest branches of ASUU. Although this was more than 30 years ago, those visits to Port Harcourt remained very fresh in my mind for the simple reason that we all in ASUU were then on a great mission to rescue tertiary education in our country from the consequences of vastly inadequate funding and coercive control by our military rulers and their civil service henchmen. This is why, from that period on, Port Harcourt has always conjured up in my mind struggles and efforts to make education in our country at par with the best and the most modern national educational systems in the world. This observation leads me directly to the subject of this piece, the widely discussed model secondary schools of Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi.

    Although I knew that I was going to be in Port Harcourt for only two days during this recent visit for the state banquet for Soyinka, before the visit I had specially requested that on one of my two days in the garden city I be taken to see some of these much talked about model secondary and primary schools of Rivers State. Our hosts graciously consented to my request and so on Wednesday, July 30, I was taken to three sites: the Model Secondary School outside Port Harcourt at Eleme on the Port Harcourt-Aba road; a model primary school and a primary health care centre both in the garden city itself. As a matter of fact, the plan had been for me to see about seven different sites but I was so engrossed both by what I saw at Eleme and my conversation with the Principal of the school that we ended up spending such a long time there that I could only be taken to three out of the many sites that I was meant to have been shown on that day.

    Buildings and physical infrastructures do not necessarily make a school a showpiece of great educational achievement or possibility, but they do constitute a minimal condition for teaching of  high quality. The Seventh-Day Adventist Primary School at Oke-Bola, Ibadan that I attended more than half a century ago is not far from my house. Anytime that I walk past the school I experience a great sadness. This is because things have fallen apart for the school in terms of buildings, infrastructures and the physical environment. The buildings are not only the same plastered mud structures in which I was schooled as a child, they are now in worse conditions. Moreover, all the surrounding space has been taken up by residential buildings and commercial enterprises such that the school playing ground and “farm” are gone. I state this not just as a matter of personal regret and angst but also as a mark of the great retrogression that has overtaken many of the primary and secondary schools of the city of Ibadan, the most dramatic of all being what now remains of the prestigious Government College, Ibadan, of old. And of course, this pattern is broadly true for many other parts of the country.

    The Eleme Model Secondary School amazed, even dazzled me by the quality of the buildings and infrastructures. [And by the way, so did the model primary school that I visited in Port Harcourt]. The schoolrooms, the libraries, the IT rooms, the science laboratories, the auditorium, the dormitories, the sick bays, and the recreational grounds are models of impressive architectural design and sturdy, durable physical execution. It is no exaggeration to say that in physical infrastructure most of the new private universities in Nigeria, together with many of the older public universities are considerably inferior to what I saw at Eleme.

    Given the fact that each of the 23 local government areas of Rivers State will ultimately have one of these model secondary schools, this is potentially one of the few great, positive legacies that oil wealth would, in the fullness of time, have left for future generations of Rivers State and Nigerian citizens. As I went through the Physics, Chemistry and Biology labs, I marveled at the fact that all the equipments and facilities were of the most up-to-date vintage such that if they are put to good and efficient use, it would not be mere fancifulness to dream of our first Nobel Prize laureates in Physics or Chemistry coming from these Eleme science labs!

    I come now to the most crucial and critical part of the wonders that I saw at Eleme. This pertains to the physical or indeed, technological infrastructure of instruction and learning at the school. This is based almost entirely on what is known as the apparatus of the “smart class” and its very innovative approach to pedagogy. It has to be seen and carefully assessed to grasp its truly revolutionary and also controversial impact; one can only rather inadequately convey in words how it actually works. Perhaps the best approach to describe the “smart class” as a tool of instruction is to invoke the analogy of a booklet or manual that comes with a product, giving detailed, step-by-step instructions on how even a technologically challenged person can assemble and use the product. Thus, in the case of the “smart class”, every subject in the curriculum, indeed every branch of a subject, is packaged into modules that unfold as a teacher clicks on an icon on the computer screen. In other words, everything has been pre-packaged into the modules; all the teacher has to do is click on the icons on the computer screen as he or she takes the students through all the modules that make up a subject or a particular branch of a given subject. For instance, to teach students at a biology class the processes of photosynthesis, the teacher clicks on the icons of all the modules that make up full instruction on photosynthesis. Theoretically, this is learning made not only easy and up-to-date in terms of the latest knowledge in a subject, it is also learning made great fun and very interactive between teacher, students and the computer screen.

    Unfortunately, the students were on holidays when I visited the Eleme Model Secondary School and for this reason, I could not see the apparatus of the “smart class” in operation with students in their learning environment. More generally, it would have been more rewarding to have had direct interactions with the pupils of this extraordinary school whose essence, as its name implies, is to act as a model for what secondary schools of the future in our country will or should be. This was why, in place of such a direct encounter with the students of the school, I had a long conversation, a long question-and-answer session with the school’s Principal. It is to this session that I now turn in my closing observations and reflections in this piece.

    I did not need to ask, but it was clear to me that the reason why the Principal and nearly all the teachers of the Eleme Model Secondary School are from India is because of the centrality of the “smart class” to the pedagogical processes of teaching and learning at the school. The presumption, perhaps the reality here is that Nigerian universities and colleges of education are not (yet) producing teachers knowledgeable or versatile in the technology of the “smart class”. This may be true, but it does raise the fundamental question of shared cultural background between teacher and student, instructor and pupil in the uses of the “smart class”. Let me explain.

    Teachers can never be mere instruments for operationalising the apparatus of the “smart class”. They share certain assumption, values, biases and even phobias with their pupils. This is not a mere nationalistic or jingoistic plea for replacing the Indian teachers at the Eleme Model School with Nigerians. Rather, it is a strong view that since the national systems of education of the world do not operate within a cultural vacuum, it is important to complement the introduction of the “smart class” technology into Nigerian secondary school education with teachers who have a shared cultural context with Nigerian students.

    Tactfully, I did not raise this issue directly with the Principal of the Eleme Model Secondary School. Instead, what I did was to have a long conversation with him in which I tried to get his sense of the social background of his pupils. I am glad to report that he seemed to have taken a deep and sympathetic interest in the background of most of his wards. For instance, when he informed me that the ratio of students from very poor families to kids from relatively well-off families was about 70 to 30, I was both elated and dismayed. I was elated because this fact shows that the overwhelming majority of kids receiving quality, ultramodern schooling in Governor Amaechi’s model secondary schools are children who could never, remotely, have had the chance to receive any education at all, let alone high quality education. But I was also dismayed by the Principal’s information to me that because of their severely deprived economic and social backgrounds, many of his pupils seem unable to take full advantage of the benefits of the school because of their parents’ lack of interest in whether or not their children were doing well at school.

    Will these model secondary and primary schools take root and grow to become standard bearers of the future of education in our country? Or will the next administration after the expiration of Amaechi’s tenure let them go to waste? Finally: the culture of maintenance in our country is one of the worst in the world, the forces of atavistic regression always hovering in the background of every progressive development in our country and our continent, thanks to the backwardness of our ruling pseudo-bourgeoisie. Thus, I wonder: if I come back to Eleme in another ten years, will the bush have taken over this splendid showcase of a profound belief in education and the right of everyone, especially the most needy, to quality education? I most certainly hope not!

     

    Biodun Jeyifo

    bjeyifo@fas.harvard.edu

  • A model for Africa’s growth

    A model for Africa’s growth

    Students from some African countries were at the University of Ibadan (UI) last weekend for the maiden conference of the African Students For Liberty (ASFL). It was organised to propagate  development, liberty and wealth creation among youths. OLUWAFEMI OGUNJOBI (Language Arts) reports.

    What is the best economic model that would hasten Africa’s development? A model that encourages the rule of law and wealth creation is most suitable, said speakers at the maiden African Students For Liberty (ASFL) Conference held last weekend at the University of Ibadan (UI).

    The participants, who are mainly students, came from Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Tanzania, among others countries. They share the belief that Africa can be liberated from poverty.

    Trenchard Hall of the university was draped in ASFL banners and emblems to suit the mood of the occasion.

    ASFL is an offshoot of Students For Liberty (SFL), a non-profit organisation founded in the United States, aimed at empowering students to become leaders and change agents in their communities.

    Speakers at the event included the co-founder of SFL, Alexander McCobin; a social media entrepreneur, Japheth Omojuwa; a renowned writer, Dr Wale Okediran; Vice President of IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, Ghana, Mr. Kofi Bentil, and a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Farouk Aliyu, among others.

    Okediran, who spoke on the Role of literature in sustainable democracy and good governance, said literature was vital to good governance. He noted that writers played the role of social critics and conscience of any nation.

    Okediran, a former House of Representatives member, said the literary works of the likes of Wole Soyinka, the late Chinua Achebe, Femi Osofisan, Prof Niyi Osundare and the late Festus Iyayi are a moral compass for the nation in search of good governance and development.

    He told the participants to uphold ideologies that could bring development and get themselves involved in politics.

    McCobin spoke on SFL and the global movement for liberty. He went down the memory lane, saying liberty had come a long way in the course of human history. If people want desired change, he said, they should espouse an economic model that can bring about prosperity within a short period.

    He condemned political systems that do not lead to social change but only respond to giving out handouts and incentives to lazy people.

    He said: “I challenge you to rise as leaders in your countries and change the lives of the people through progressive ideas. You must know that leaders see the end as the most valuable; values define them more than temporary pleasures.”

    Societies must not be subjected to the whims and caprices of individuals who are likely to manipulate social order to benefit their interests, Hon. Aliyu said.

    The ex-lawmaker, who spoke on Importance of rule of law to Nigeria’s development, said the society must be governed by a predetermined set of laws subscribed to by members through democratic processes.

    Does the rule of law rule work in Nigeria? Hon. Aliyu said decades of military rule in Nigeria saw the citizens suffer executive lawlessness, human rights abuses and violence, which, he said, were caused by disobedience to the rule of law.

    “Under military rule, the rule of law was sent to the gallows, while the soldiers used decrees, which were followed arbitrarily by the ruling military elite and imposed on citizens,” he said.

    He said without the rule of law, there could be no meaningful development in the country. The supremacy of the law, he said, is not a luxury that democracy offers but a platform on which democratic principles stand.

    Omojuwa, who spoke on Information and Communication Technology and liberty as catalysts for social change and wealth creation, said there was never an era in which humanity was blessed than in the age of social media. He told the students how social media had help improve the condition of living in developing countries. He said, despite bombs and bullets, the youth must embrace the opportunity to create wealth and achieve prosperity.

    Gone are the days when telecommunications were luxuries and access to home videos was the exclusive preserve of the rich. The advent of social media, he said, has broken economic barriers and generated unimaginable wealth for young people, who embraced the opportunity.

    Omojuwa said: “Liberty has led to the advent of the internet and social media, which you must use to propagate ideas of liberty. Technological innovations across Africa must be embraced to take the continent out of poverty.”

    Highlight of the event included panel discussion on how students could benefit from opportunities offered by liberty and free markets. There was also an activism panel, which comprised pro-liberty students across Africa and presentation by Frederick Roeder, SFL’s Vice President of Marketing and Communications, and Peter Goetler, former Managing Director of Barclays Capital.

  • How I won my father over as a model

    How I won my father over as a model

    Mary Lazarus, a model and actress, has a charming personality. Since she came to the limelight with the movie, Desperate House Girls, she has been moving from one set to the other.  In this interview with MERCY MICHAEL, Lazarus, who is currently on the set of M-net’s movie, Age is Just a Number, opens up on her plans to delve into movie production, marriage plans, challenges and more.  

     

    HOW do you feel seeing people applauding your acting prowess in Cobweb?

    The truth is, I don’t like watching myself, but it was nice to actually hear people’s reactions today. And I’m really glad everyone thought I acted well in it.

    When you got that script, what came to your mind?

    I was actually hurt because in the long run, Sam gets married to my friend. But that isn’t nice. I just kept telling Foluke this can’t be true. He has to get married to me because I am his best friend. But that is the twist in the story.

    Are you that kind of person who doesn’t let go easily in real life?

    No, I am not; I am just kidding.

    When did you start acting?

    It was in 2009 after my NYSC.

    How did it all start?

    I actually studied Geography in the university. But I was modelling before I gained admission into the university. During my university days, I did lots of modelling jobs, including Airtel to MTN commercials. After my Airtel contract expired, I signed up with MTN; and I was going like that till after my NYSC when John Njamah gave me my first movie. Oh my God! I can’t remember the title of the movie now. But I think I played Yemi Blaq’s girlfriend in that movie. Thereafter, he gave me another sitcom, Living in Lagos. From there, I just started getting jobs

    A lot of us started noticing you more after Desperate House Girls…

    Before Desperate House Girls, Tamara and I shot Itohan, one of the Superstory series. I think that was where they saw us; so, we got the script immediately after Itohan. I think Desperate House Girls is what really brought us out.

    Did you see it coming?

    No, I didn’t see it coming, actually. It was when I got a nomination outside the country and I was shocked. Ever since then, it’s been wonderful. I’ve been going from one set to the other.

    So, that means you must have a fat bank account now?

    You know how it is in Nigeria, but it has been amazing.

    Why did you study Geography only to end up an actress?

    Immediately after my secondary school, I gained admission into the university. I have a twin brother. My dad was actually pushing the two of us to be on the same level. He didn’t want one to be ahead of the other. So, when I told him I gained admission to study Geography, he said I should just do it. Actually, I knew that I wasn’t going to use my certificate to work because I was actually working while in school. I was coming to Lagos to do my modelling job. I just felt I should obtain my degree to satisfy my dad.

    Is your twin brother also an actor?

    No, he doesn’t even like it.

    How does he feel now that you’ve gained stardom?

    Even before you called, he had called me and said someone wanted to speak with me. He said he told you I am his twin sister, but you didn’t want to believe. He encourages me, but he doesn’t like acting.

    How was it like convincing your dad that you wanted to act?

    I remember I signed up with one agent back then and my dad needed to sign a particular space for him to approve my going into modelling. But my dad tore the contract. He said I won’t be an actress or a model. My first contract was with V-mobile. When I called him to buy the newspaper to see the advert, he was really impressed. So, he kept telling his friends to buy the newspaper (Vanguard). I told him that was what I wanted to do and he said if I derived pleasure in it, and won’t go nude, then I will have his full support.

    Which really is your first love: modelling or acting?

    My first love is modelling.

    But in recent times, you’ve been very busy with acting; so, what has been happening to your modelling career?

    The modelling jobs I get these days come only when I get a call for shoot. Like my recent jobs, Ajinomotor and LG that are all over the place, I was called to come for the shoot-I didn’t even go for audition or something.

    How were you able to get the V-mobile contract?

    It was through an agent. He asked me to go for a photo session and drop my picture. After the photo session, he called me that a client wanted to see if I looked the same like what they saw and that was it.

    How come you don’t do runway?

    For me, I just think TV commercial is much easier than runway.  For commercials, they are done with you in a day; and for prints, you just go there and smile. So, in less than 15 minutes, you are done and you get your money. But for runway, it’s time-consuming. Apart from this, balancing school and modelling wasn’t easy; so, I needed to balance both.

    What challenges do you face?

    You don’t have time for yourself and for your family. But it’s okay; we are pushing it.

    Have you always wanted to be actress?

    Yes, I’ve always wanted to be an actress.

    At the moment, are you working on any movie?

    Yes, it is M-net Africa Magic called Age is Just a Number.

    What other plans do you have?

    I’m about to shoot my movie too. We worked on Tamara’s own together. So, definitely, we are going to work on mine together.

    You guys seem to have come from way back beyond the movie world?

    Not really! We met on the set of Itohan. And ever since then, we’ve been friends.

    What movie did you do in recent times that you would have challenged you?

    That’s the movie I’m shooting right now, Age is just a Number. Before now, I had been able to overcome challenges as far as my job is concerned. But this particular one, the script is very challenging.

    What role are you playing in the movie and what makes it challenging?

    You know, what we see these days is when a woman who has a son loses her husband, the son will be after his father’s inheritance. It’s usually the son doing that. But this time around, it is the girl doing that, giving her mother a tough time and fighting her mother on the road. So, it is terrible. From the beginning to the end of the movie, it is challenging.

    Which role are you playing: mother or daughter?

    I’m playing the girl who is giving her mother a tough time. Come to think of, this girl is on drugs and I don’t do all those things. So, it’s challenging.

    What do think your fans, and most especially your family, will say?

    Personally, I don’t like being stereotyped, doing one particular thing always. I just like to be versatile. Today, I play a romantic role; and tomorrow, you’re seeing me act like a mad woman. That is what I love. So, I want to believe that they will be impressed, seeing the other side of Mary Lazarus.

    Is this the beginning a bad girl image for Mary Lazarus in Nollywood?

    No, it’s still the same Mary Lazarus. It’s just another role.

    How do you handle attention you get from the opposite sex?

    Well, it’s not easy. It’s not just me. Even in the banking industry, it’s like that. But we are trying to manage it.

    But what has been the craziest thing an admirer has done to you?

    I remember I was actually in church for a mid-week service sometime ago. While I was praying, there was a woman who was also praying behind me. And you know, when you are praying, you turn your head. So, when I turned and she saw me, she just shouted: “Oh my God! Is this Eniola Benjamin?” There was this sitcom I did, where I bore the name Eniola Benjamin. But the way she hit me, everybody just turned. I think she had this perception or opinion that when you are an actress, you don’t go to church. But I think seeing me changed her mentality about actresses. Even if her daughter wants to venture into this industry, I don’t think she will stop her. Seeing that alone really made her happy.

    Most times, when you go to church, you don’t want all attention to be on you, so you can be free to do what you want to do, dance the way you want to dance, pray the way you want to pray and all that.

    What has changed about you since you came to the limelight?

    It hasn’t changed anything about me enough; I’m not joking. If you come to my house, my dad will be the first person to tell you that about me. I’m still Mary Lazarus. I still hang out with my friends whom I used to hang out with.

    Interesting to know you still live with your parents?

    Yeah, I still live with my family.

    When is the wedding bell likely going to ring?

    Very, very soon. My mum usually tells me that marriage doesn’t have a reserve gear; so if you are driving forward, no going back. So, whatever you’re doing, you have to be wise. You don’t want to jump in and jump out.

    But many believe that actresses’ marriages don’t last.

    I don’t believe that. It depends on you. It takes a woman to build a house. So, for me, I think it all depends on me, how I want to make it works and my plans to make it work.

    Who is your ideal man?

    Everybody would say I want a God- fearing man (laughs). Mercy, I think your ideal man should be my ideal man (laughs).

    What were your childhood dreams and how many of them have you accomplished?

    I’m getting close. One of them is to actually have an advertising agency. As I told you, I derive more pleasure in modelling. But I’m yet to accomplish that.

    You also talked about producing your own movie. How soon will that be?

    Very, very soon.

    How do you relax?

    I hang out o. You see, with our kind of business, if you don’t take out time for yourself, you will just die.

    If you were not an actress, what would you be doing?

    Gosh! What would I be doing? Trust me; white-collar job is out of it. I will never do it. I actually did it for a while, but it wasn’t fun at all. Each time I go to the office, I cried. It was that bad. I served with Bi-Courtney and later worked with Bristoe Toyota for three months.

    How daring are you as an actress?

    It depends on the role. You can never tell the extent I will go. I can’t even predict myself. But of course, I can’t act nude.

    Would you have preferred your twin brother to be a female?

    I prefer him as a male. I have heard twins ‘beefing’ themselves.

  • Africa’s Next Top Model premieres today

    Africa’s Next Top Model premieres today

    PLANS are currently being concluded to hold the premiere of the first season of reality model show, Africa’s Next Top Model, starting today, November 10. The programme is a television franchise format of America’s Next Top Model, created by American Supermodel, Tyra Banks, and will be hosted by international supermodel, Oluchi.

    Set in Cape Town, South Africa, the show features 12 girls from different parts of Africa competing for a chance to win the grand prize of a one-year modelling contract with New York-based modelling agency, DNA, a product endorsement deal and a cash prize of $50,000.

    Director, Brands and Communication at Etisalat Nigeria, sponsors of the show, Enitan Denloye, speaking on the company’s participation in the show, said it was a delight to be a part of a competition that promotes African beauty on an international platform. “The Africa’s Next Top Model reality search competition is uniquely different, in that it beams its searchlight on eight countries in Africa, giving an opportunity to a lot of young African supermodel hopefuls. We believe that this competition will discover and groom these girls that will enable them compete with their international counterparts,” he said.

    On Etisalat’s role in the competition and general proposition to the youth market, Denloye said the company is keeping true to its commitment of nurturing and celebrating talents. “At Etisalat we are distinguished by our innovative and unique approach to our business. We believe that our growth in the last five years is a testament to this. We will continually delight our customers with our world class standard products and services as well as our support of laudable initiatives such as the ANTM,” he said.

    The show features Aamito (Uganda), Cheandre (South Africa), Joyce (Nigeria), Marwa (Tunisia), Michaela (Angola), Michelle (South Africa), Omowunmi (Nigeria), Opeyemi (Nigeria), Rhulani (South Africa), Roselyn (Ghana), Safira (Mozambique) and Steffi (Kenya) as they strive to prove that they have what it takes to make it in the world of modelling.

  • Chalya Shagaya’s back!

    Chalya Shagaya’s back!

    CHALYA Shagaya, the daughter of Brigadier General John Shagaya and a former model-turned-fashion stylist who has helped many celebrities put their wardrobe together, is gradually warming her way back into high society.

    We spotted her among other guests at the official launch of Maybelline NY, an American makeup line that is sold world over but owned by French brand L’oreal, which was held at the Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi. She no doubt wowed with her ensemble, even as she was full of smiles.

  • Owanbe unveils 100 Models

    Owanbe unveils 100 Models

    ON Sunday, December15, at the Ruby Gardens, Lekki, Lagos,the indigenous fashion trailblazer, the Chief Executive Officer of Owanbe Clothing’s, Mr Ola-Abraham Emmanuel, will unveil her maiden event 100 Models, One Fashion Show, One Label.

    The event will be graced by the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola; Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; all first ladies and commissioners for culture and tourism of the six south west states; selected traditional rulers; business tycoons and personalities from different sectors.

    Abraham said the project is an initiative to promote Nigerian fabrics and designs and create job opportunities for our youths.

  • Africa’s Next Top Model search begins

    Africa’s Next Top Model search begins

    OLUCHI ORLANDI (nee Onweagba) made Africans proud worldwide when she won the prestigious title for the model competition, “Mnet’s Face of Africa”, in 1998 which was organized by the South African subscription channel, Mnet, in collaboration with Elite Model Management which then awarded the natural beauty a three-year modelling contract that led to the beginning of whirlwind life as a highly-sought-after fashion model.

    With over a decade of experience in fashion, Oluchi has graced the covers of Italian Vogue, i-D, ELLE, Untold and Surface. She was also featured in Nylon, Marie Claire, Allure and other national editions of Vogue around the world and has served as the face of campaigns for Victoria’s Secret, Gianfranco Ferré, Gap, Express and Banana Republic to mention a few.

    Oluchi is a African fashion icon. In 2007, she launched a modelling agency in South Africa called O Model Africa with the Shine group, an agency dedicated to exposing, developing and delivering select portfolios of African models to South Africa and international clients for catwalk shows.