The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria News

  • Group mentors vulnerable teens

    No fewer than 54 teenage girls were hosted to three-week Mathematics, Empowerment and mentoring session in Lekki, Lagos during last holidays. It was organised by the Grass Root Health and Promotion Organization (GHAPO), a non-governmental organization that is concerned with affecting the population through healthcare research and screening.

    Founder and CEO of the organization, Mrs Esther Imogu, a US trained medical doctor said her passion was borne out of the fact that teenage girls are most vulnerable and at a higher risk of being victims of sexual predators. This, she said, informed why she organized a  three week long mathematics and empowerment training for the girls during the holidays in order to keep them engaged meaningfully all through their break from school.

    One of the beneficiaries, Monsurah Akande who is in her second year in the senior secondary said: “I’m very grateful to Dr.Imogu for this once in a lifetime opportunity. I have learnt soap making and make up, I have also greatly improved on my math and writing skills. I look forward to more to the Saturday tutorials that will commence as soon as we resume school.

    Imogu while commenting on how trainees are recruited said that letters are written to public secondary schools to encourage girls in the senior classes to apply. “We also collaborate with National Youth Service Corps and other youth organizations, which has been really productive,” she said.

  • Trace Live kicks off Runtown’s ‘Sound God’ African tour

    A special edition of TRACE Live on September 25th,  kicked- off afro-international singer Runtown’s “Sound God” Africa Tour, at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Created by TRACE NAIJA, TRACE Live is a series of showcases which bring the music of Africa’s best talents to life on stage, with the backing of a live band.

    After the September 25 opening, Runtown’s, ‘Sound God’ Africa tour will head to Ivory Coast, Gabon, Gambia, Namibia, Senegal and other countries soon to be announced.

    Runtown’s music career began in 2007 and has grown to include collaborations with an array of notable acts including Davido, DJ Khaled, Major Lazer, Nasty C and Wizkid. His 2016 single, “Mad Over You” propelled him to stardom.

    TRACE Live is produced by TRACE Naija, alongside partners Bolanle Austin Peters and Cabal Entertainment. The event has raised the bar, introducing a new standard for live music, which through, consistency in sound, and extraordinary performing artistes and bands – has created a series of unforgettable experiences for the Nigerian audience. Past editions featured, Omawumi, Flavour, Falzthebahdguy, Adekunle Gold, Tubaba, Wande Coal and Reekado Banks.

  • Kemen: Becoming a fitness coach changed my life

    Former Big Brother Naija housemate, Kemini Ekerette, has revealed how becoming a fitness coach changed his life after experiencing   depression.

    The fitness coach and CEO of B.I.T.E, who added a year during the week shared this in a photo shoot.

    “10yrs ago when I was 20 and working in a multinational company, I thought @25 I would be married, have my last child @29,  help my wife get her body back in a year @30 and start acting as new lovers ever after,” he said.

    “Oh well, I guess I thought too loud and my yard people heard me. I lost my job 3yrs later after I turned 23.

    “25 met me at the darkest point in my life, depression and  ill health led me to fitness but it was obviously designed by God that I go that route because HE placed everyone I needed to get me through the hard times.

    “5 years down the line, I can say that fitness changed my life, my person, my perspective, my ideology and my understanding of life. In fitness, I found peace, love, satisfaction, hope and fulfilment. I may not have all I want, but I certainly have what I need.”

    It will be recalled that on March 5, 2017, Kemen was disqualified from the Big Brother Naija reality show for sexually touching Tboss while asleep without her consent.

  • BBNaija: Frodd nominates Tacha, Elozonam, Cindy, Ike and Mike

    •SEYI WINS THE HoH CHALLENGE
    •MERCY BOUGHT IMMUNITY FOR THIS WEEK

    After Frodd emerged the Ultimate Veto Power Holder (UVPH), fans of the hugely popular show could not wait to discover which five housemates he would put up for possible eviction during the Monday night Nomination show.

    The housemates unaware of the ‘power’ Frodd as the UVPH wielded, carried on with what would be their final nomination show for the season. At the end of the process, Cindy, Elozonam, Frodd, Ike, Mercy, Mike and Tacha came out tops on the nomination list.

    Big Brother, however, nullified the results and called Frodd to nominate five of his fellow housemates for possible eviction. Big Brother then revealed that Mercy had used her Bet9ja coins to buy ‘immunity’ and as such was automatically exempted from nominations. Frodd then proceeded to nominate Tacha, Elozonam, Cindy, Ike and Mike. They all face public vote and the housemate or housemates with the lowest percentages will be evicted from the Big Brother House on Sunday.

    Meanwhile, at the weekly Head of House (HoH) challenge, Seyi made history in the season by becoming a three-time winner of the title. This time around, however, he chose not to share the HoH bedroom privileges with another housemate. His position as HoH secures his spot in the final week of the competition.

  • Eko Hotel announces Christmas Wonderland 2019

    Eko Hotel & Suites has unveiled its Christmas schedule for December 2019. The hotel will deliver the first edition of a Tropical Wonderland Christmas Event for families.

    The hotel situated in the upper crust Victoria Island is preparing to serve up unique dining offerings for Christmas Eve and Day with a Tropical Wonderland experience never been seen in Nigeria.

    The management of the hotel said this was in its bid to continually excite and offer families unique experiences. “The last four years got us organising small scale Christmas holidays, but this year, for the first time, your family will relive the true essence of Christmas as was narrated to you as a child.”

    Tagged “Eko Hotels Tropical Christmas Wonderland (TCW),” the fun kicks off on the 1st of December with a “light up” ceremony, and continues with three awesome packages in one magical venue designed to mirror a place right out of your imagination. The entire hotel premises will be lit up this festive season and you can enjoy the amazing sparkling holiday décor over fine wine and dining options.

    The Director of Sales, Eko Hotels, Mrs. Iyadunni Gbadedo, is urging her esteemed clients to avail themselves of the great opportunity and plan a visit to the hotel with their families this Christmas 2019.

    “Our 4 hotels including Eko Signature, Eko Suites, Eko Hotel and Eko Gardens will offer families three or five day all-inclusive packages to a place where even mommies and daddies read about in story books when they were young,” she said. Adding: “Christmas feels like such a long time from now, but it really isn’t if you would consider giving the perfect gift of a fantastic holiday to your family, especially the kids.”

  • REGINA ASKIA: returns with Soup-A-Stars

    Us-based Nigerian actress, Regina Askia-Williams, is set to host celebrities to a cooking competition tagged Soup-A-Stars.

    Regina, who is also a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), healthcare and educational activist, said the idea was borne out of illnesses like diabetes and high blood pressure which are  on the rise in African communities and in diaspora. She also revealed that she will be bringing along her special spices for health benefits.

    “Research has shown that these illnesses could be controlled or even reversed with a healthy diet and exercise,” said Regina.

    “Africa has the largest trove of unprocessed and genetically unmodified hence the healthiest food varieties. It is our hope to showcase these foods to the world in our indigenous recipes. Soup-A-Stars cooking competition will teach the health benefits and nutritional value of our foods, improve knowledge on healthier cooking methods, promote healthier recipes and food choices, and promote indigenous chefs and their businesses.”

    The Soup-A-Stars will have celebrities and chefs will battle each other, displaying culinary prowess to win the star prize. They will showcase African recipes in a bid to promote healthy nutrition and diet choices.

    Celebrity chefs like Ibinabo Fiberesima, Alex Ekubo, Ayo Adesanya, Duchess Nena, and others representing a state are calling on chefs to join their team to win the grand prize.

    The online voting which will end in November will produce four teams of celebrities and chefs who will advance to the final round to be held December 6, 2019, at the Grand Atrium, Lekki, Lagos. All participants in the final round also get a chance to win a prize.

  • When Florence Ita-Giwa displayed hospitable side

    It was at Akwaaba, the 15th edition of the travel and tourism market in Lagos and guess who was behind the food counter to serve guests? It was ‘Mama Bakassi’ herself! Yes, Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa is definitely back to what she loves most to do: to take care of people. ‘Mama Bakassi’s hospitable side has never ever been in doubt. Perhaps, the gene runs naturally in her blood as a Cross Riverian. Cross River people, for good measure, are known for their rich culture of owning a variety of cuisines and having the culinary ability to deliver sumptuous meals to whatever caliber of guests.

    So, ‘Mama Bakassi,’ as Sen. Ita-Giwa is also popularly known, set up ‘Flavours of Calabar’ in Victoria Island, Lagos, and her outfit became one of the most visited stands at this year’s Akwaaba. And to show her passion, she was all involved, going right behind the counter to serve guests as she participated in the Jollof War Contest at the event, to the applause of many of the visitors.

  • Kenny Martins and divine call

    Many may not know it, but popular businessman, socialite and politician, Chief Kenny Martins, is not new to the ministry, the work of God. He was actually neck deep in the gospel ministry back in the 60s as a boy assisting his father, who was one of the earliest gospel ministers in Nigeria.

    Chief Martins, who appears to be toeing his father’s footsteps, is considering going  into ministerial work for the Lord. An inside source, who is close to the popular businessman, said it is long overdue, that it was actually what he set his mind to do many years back and which he has been doing from the side lines by contributing to the growth of the body of Christ.

    Our source said further that Chief Martins grew up in a proper Christian home with both parents being top ministers of God, parents who took up the mantle of propagating the gospel and making great impacts in the growth of Christianity in Nigeria. Our source told us that if the popular businessman decides to set up the big church ministry today, he won’t be surprised.

  • Ooni of Ife goes into seclusion as Olojo festival commences

    Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II,is in festival mood as the Olojo festival has taken off. In Ife, it is said that the Ooni has gone to commune with the Almighty. And he does this with fasting and prayer.

    The Ooni of Ife, this time around, has unlimited requests as his prayer points swelled. The Ife monarch wants a better Nigeria; he has, therefore decided to pray for the unity and peaceful governance of the country, among other numerous prayer requests he has taken to Providence.

  • NSCDC nab 20-year old woman for hawking N.3m naira notes

    A 25-year old woman, Oluchi Faith Imo was on Friday, arrested by the Nigeria Security & Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for hawking N398, 500.00 naira notes in Awka, Anambra state.

    The suspect was arrested in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) with various denominations of naira around Dike Motor Park, in the state capital.

    Addressing newsmen in Awka, NSCDC Commandant, Anambra State Command, Mr David Bille, said the arrest was aimed at forestalling illicit sales of the country’s currency notes.

    He said, “A female suspect Oluchi Faith Imo, aged 20years was arrested by my personnel with a total sum of N398, 500.00 consisting of various denominations which she displayed waiting for customers.

    “The clampdown on the naira vendors and sellers is hinged on the CBN’s Act, Sections 20 and 21 that make it a punishable offense for any individual or group of people to hawk, sale or otherwise trade in the naira notes, coins or any note issued by the CBN.

    READ ALSO: NSCDC arrests kidnap kingpin in Borno

    “We have commenced full investigations into the matter to ascertain the source of the naira notes and once we are through, the suspect will be charged to court.”

    Bille assured that NSCDC and the CBN would continue the clampdown on the perpetrators which he said, was punishable under the CBN Act 2007 and carries not less than six months jail term or fine of not less than N50, 000 or both.

    ”Acts of spraying the naira notes at occasions, soiling and writing on the naira, squeezing the naira, as well as hawking and selling of the country’s currency notes, are abuses of the naira and are punishable by law,” he added.

    The NSCDC boss appealed to the general public to desist from acts of abuse of the naira, stressing that the currency was one of the symbols of Nigeria’s identity.