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Tag: November

  • Tired November and yogurt snack

    Tired November and yogurt snack

    It was a tired November morning, when Sexy Jola ran to Tamara’s apartment with a bucket in hand.

    Christabel, Ada, Tinu  and I were already in the room, just lazing about, and gisting of the hike in the price of fuel, its impact on food and families. 

    So it came as a surprise as I opened the door to see Jolaolu with a bucket.

    “Ah-ah-ah Jola, what’s with the bucket?” queried Ada as Sexy Jola rushed into the room and asked that I quickly close the door behind her.

    “What happened, Sexy Jola? What is pursuing you? Who are you running from? came the myriad of questions from across the room.

    “It’s your children o. Na hide I hide come here o. Their wahala too much! Those children want to kill me with their demands. Ever since their schools went on midterm break, they’ve not stopped making all kinds of funny demands. Mummy, I want this… Mummy, I want that…” she said and drew a chair from the dinning and dropped the bucket under the table.

    “You too?” voiced Tinu. “I also ran here to escape my kids, too. I wonder why the school system created midterm breaks sef. And that is why I appreciate our teachers, like our Mummy Fawaz. Teacher welfare packages shouldn’t be debatable Them dey try o, handling so many children at the same time. Our children do not even understand that times are hard.”

    “We just have to tell them the hard truth about life. They need to know money does not grow on trees. How long would one keep hiding like this anytime they are on holiday?” Ada advised.

    “Hmmm, is that so? So why are you here, you think we don’t know you came to escape Onyin your last baby,” Christabel the Fashionista teased.

    Read Also: Gorimakpa to premiere Over Do video on November 24

    “That girl is a terrorist, I tell you,” Ada laughed and added “and in fact she seems to have my Mumu button. I don’t know how to say no to her – and after what my husband and I went through during her pregnancy, I promised myself I won’t let her lack anything by God’s grace. But she rarely eats. That is my problem. That is why I’m always happy to oblige her whenever wants a snack or two, I indulge her, since I’ve trained her to snack on fruits and healthy beverages, like smoothies. But it is her wanting to be all over me all the time or expecting me to play with her that tires me out. Her energy level is off the chart.”

     “Speaking of smoothies, Tamara, where is the yogurt you went to bring,” Tinu called to our friend who had been busying herself away in her kitchen since the conversation about Jolaolu and children began.

     “I’m coming. Just give me a minute,” she yelled and walked in with a bucket of yogurt in one hand and some small bowls in the other.

     “Woah, this is interesting,” I said and reached out to help her with them. Just then, Jola reached under the table, pulled out her bucket and drew out a locked plastic bag full of walnuts. “It’s as if I read your mind. The combination would be awesome,” she said.

    “But seriously, ladies! You girls are lucky. I wish my boys were only just making demands of snacks and toys. My boys are terrorists…area scatter is what they are. I have stopped engaging the service of house helps after all the news about domestic helps and their excesses. And although I’ve taught them how to clean up after themselves, it’s their rough play that kills me,” complained Christabel.

    “Shebi it’s just for a few days, Their wahala cannot kill us, na. Make we bear with them for a few days more. But we must take care of our mental health and not allow them, our husbands or Nigeria palava to weigh down on us o,” counseled Tamara.

     “Yes o. And that is why I left them with their dad. Make him sef see wetin I dey face,” Jola chuckled.

     “Man no die…man no rotten…no be we kill anybody. Ladies, oya e don ready o. make we use am step down. You’d like the combo…,” Tamara invited and we all grabbed a bowl each and continued the gist, that tired November morning.

  • Collins Teke’s ‘Voice over master class’ holds November 25

    Collins Teke’s ‘Voice over master class’ holds November 25

    Concerned about raising the next generation of voice over artists in Nigeria, award-winning On Air Personality (OAP) and voice over artist, Collins Teke, has announced the ‘Voice Over Master Class’ set to hold on November 25, 2017 in Ibadan, Oyo State.

    Teke, who works with Inspiration FM, Ibadan, is the current Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards (NBMA) Best Voice Over Artist in Nigeria revealed that voice is an asset and money spinner, adding that it is impossible to bring things to life without voice over.

    “We are looking at educating people about voice-over well-beyond just doing jingles and promos, presentations on T.V and radio, regardless of which accent/language they speak,” said Teke.

    “We will also help people to identify their strengths, where their kind of voice can fit in.

    “Identifying this, we want to bring people to the awareness of the fact that their voice is an asset, a money-spinner. It is not just voice training.

    “Voice-over is the very essence of life as it is found everywhere. We see – or hear it – everywhere, even though most times, we’re not aware of it. When you think of voice over, you think of radio, T.V. It’s impossible to bring things to life without voice-over. The visual is complimentary while the voice over is what gives life to the visual.

    “We will teach about production which includes scripting (an idea of what you want it to sound like when it is done), packaging, voicing itself, the different kinds of scripts, the use of special effects to produce your voice over, voice editing amongst others. Also, enlighten people about the influence of the society/environment on the script production.

    He further added that “it’s a training that has something for every participant; training for all as there are no restrictions. Depending on the location of the attendees, we can organize a Skype session for those who are not in town.”

    Teke noted that “in the nearest future, we hope to take this event and make a model for the kids, say between the ages of four years and 11 years.

  • GTBank Fashion Weekend to hold November

    GTBank Fashion Weekend to hold November

    The second edition of the GTBank Fashion Weekend is set to hold on November 11- 12, 2017.

    Organisers say the two-day event which will take place at the GTCentre, Oniru Estate, Victoria Island, Lagos, offers small businesses in the Nigerian Fashion Industry a free and vibrant platform to connect with a wider segment of their consumers as well as experts in their industry.

    The show is staged as part of the bank’s efforts to showcase the best of Africa’s Fashion to a global audience while promoting the continent’s growing fashion industry.

    “The 2017 GTBank Fashion Weekend will not only give visibility to the amazing talents and entrepreneurial drive of our people at home, it will also connect them with fashion leaders abroad, in order to build local capacity and expertise across the entire Fashion Value Chain,” said Mr. Segun Agbaje, Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank.

    The event which made debut in 2016 was said to have attracted over 30,000 guests during the 2-day period, a series of master classes, runway shows and a curated retail exhibition.

    “This year’s Fashion Master Classes will feature global fashion experts such as reality TV personality and runway coach J Alexander, best known for his work on America’s Next Top Model, to renowned fashion entrepreneur and celebrity stylist, June Ambrose to award winning fashion designer, Giles Deacon,” said Agbaje.

    Other fashion and global media experts scheduled to host master classes include; Vanessa De Luca, Editor in-Chief of Essence Magazine; Vanessa Kingori, publisher of British GQ Magazine; Nigerian photographer TY Bello; professional Makeup Artist and Educator, Danessa Myricks; and Fashion Editor & Style Consultant, Shiona Turini.

    Dozens of small businesses will showcase a diverse range of carefully curated affordable and luxury apparel, footwear, accessories, beauty items, and much more. As part of the retail experience there will be a crafts market featuring indigenous fabric and accessories. Each day of the event will close with a series of epic Runway shows featuring Africa’s finest designers and renowned international designers.

  • Ogbia-Nembe road ready in November, says NDDC

    Ogbia-Nembe road ready in November, says NDDC

    The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has assured leaders of Nembe Se Congress that the commission will complete the 25.7-kilometre Ogbia-Nembe Road in November.

    NDDC’s Managing Director Mr. Nsima Ekere told a delegation of Nembe leaders, who visited the commission in Port Harcourt, that the project executed by NDDC and Shell Petroleum Development Company, (SPDC), was almost ready.

    Ekere said: “Our projection is that by November, the project will be inaugurated.

    ”The Ogbia-Nembe Road is important to NDDC. It is key because it is the hallmark of our partnership with Shell. We must ensure that this project is completed to serve as a flagship for other collaborations.”

    The NDDC chief said besides this, the commission also partnered Ondo State to build the 50-kilometre Akodo-Araromi/Ibeju-Lekki Road, connecting Ondo and Lagos states.

    Ekere said the commission was discussing with SETRACO, which is handling the Ogbia-Nembe Road, to resume as soon as possible.

    “SETRACO had complained that their major concern was the weather. It doesn’t want to asphalt during the rainy season. So, it is waiting for the rains to subside before remobilising to site to complete the remaining section,” he said.

    On extension of the road from Nembe to Brass, he said NDDC was hampered by funds.

    “When our funding improves, we will take on the project,” he promised.

    Ekere noted that NDDC has  huge liabilities, with efforts to reduce the number of projects.

    He added: ”We have reduced  new projects in our budgets to enable us compete ongoing ones. We have tried to prioritise them to enable us deliver on more critical ones.”

    Earlier, Vice Chairman of Nembe Se Congress Dr. Ebinyo Young-Dede said they were awaiting completion of the Ogbia-Nembe Road and commencement of work on the Nembe-Brass section.

    Dr. Young-Dede said they were at NDDC to discuss details of making Nembe-Brass Road a reality, adding that the project will stimulate development in the remotest parts of Niger Delta.

    He said the congress had maintained a persistent and constructive engagement with NDDC, resulting in the Ogbia-Nembe Road, with extensions into Ogbolomabiri and Bassambiri.

    Dr. Young-Dede noted: “The Ogbia-Nembe road has reached an advanced stage and already serving communities.  While we have shown our gratitude, we are also concerned that a project,  contracted over 10 years ago, is yet to be completed.”

  • ‘Kwara rice ready in November’

    The Kwara State government said yesterday that the rice cultivated by its small holder farmers, under the CBN’s Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, would be ready for harvest in November.

    Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources Mr. Adegoke Bamidele stated this in Ilorin when he received a community scorecard on small holder farmers’ accessibility to agriculture financing in Nigeria.

    The scorecard was presented by the Centre for Community Empowerment and Poverty Eradication (CCEPE), a partner of Actionaid Nigeria.

    Director, Agricultural Engineering and Services in the ministry Ahmed Mohammed said the government started the programme with the cultivation of 50 hectares of rice at Tsada Tshonga, in Edu council.

    According to him, the state keyed into the programme, under the Hyst Global Business Limited/Anchor Borrows programme.

    He added that another 3,000 hectares will be cultivated in the dry season.

    “The plan is to ensure that Kwara produces enough rice to feed the North Central states. The House of Assembly has approved N1 billion for that,” he said.

    The commissioner added that another N1 billion is being disbursed to “off-taker” farmers, under the state’s Off-taker Demand Driven Agricultural Loan scheme.

    According to him, the scheme will involve the allocation of land, agricultural input and funds for labourers.

    He said the government approved the purchase of 20,000 tonnes of fertiliser for distribution to farmers under the scheme.

  • Lagos begins Health Insurance Scheme in November

    The Lagos State Government   has said the much awaited State Health Insurance Scheme (LSHS) will begin in November.

    Commissioner for Health Dr. Jide Idris stated this  at the 2017 Ministerial press briefing of the Ministry of Health to commemorate second year in office of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration in Lagos State.

    Idris said a core implementation team comprising relevant technical persons, stakeholders, private sector and donor community was set up  to draw up a blueprint that will facilitate the effective roll-out of the scheme.

    “An actuarial study was conducted to serve as an objective basis to inform decisions on the design of benefit structures, reimbursement standards and the effects of proposed government standards on the cost of healthcare for the scheme”, the Commissioner stated.

    Idris said the operational guidelines for the scheme to provide a framework to guide the operations of the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA); the agency established to manage the scheme, have already been concluded.

    He added that the premium cost for the scheme has been determined and fixed, stressing that the fixed cost is lower than the actuarially determined cost to make it affordable for residents.

    The Commissioner also disclosed that the appointment of the General Manager of LASHMA has been concluded, adding that the engagement of a consultant to mid-wife the selection process for the agency’s management team is at the final stage.

    He stated that the business process manual (BPM) which gives details of how the day-to-day activities of the organisation would be executed has been concluded for use by LASHMA.

    The commissioner noted that the soft launch of the scheme will start in June, with the commencement of mass sensitisation of all strata of Lagos residents and social marketing involving sustained multi-pronged consumer engagement, adding that focus will be on actively and creatively, engaging the informal sector on whose buy-in the success of the scheme is largely dependent.

    He said: “Advocacy sessions with active engagement of relevant stakeholders critical to the success of the scheme have also commenced and are on-going. A robust advocacy and social marketing campaign has also been designed to facilitate the awareness and buy-in of citizens is to be rolled-out in June”.

    Idris explained that the active engagement of the informal sector critical to the sustainability of the scheme is considered a priority, stressing that a strategy for engagement of the informal has been initiated with the support of Ministries, Departments and Agencies interfacing the informal sector on various fronts.

    Idris while stating that the state government will finalise the details of the Provider Payment System (PPS) of the scheme with the relevant stakeholders like health insurance agents and providers, noted that the ICT platform for the scheme will also be finalised and tested towards the complete roll-out of the scheme in November this year.

    “Looking back, I can confidently say that during this period the state health sector has made great progress; more than four million people had access to our facilities and more than 80,000 have been seen at the on-going medical mission for the treatment of common ailments at the grass roots. There is also a renewed vigor to kick start the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme to improve access to healthcare services”, the Commissioner said.

  • Kano Fire Service: N125.5m worth of goods saved in November

    Kano Fire Service: N125.5m worth of goods saved in November

    The Kano State Fire Service says goods worth N125.5 million were saved from 75 fire outbreaks it recorded in November.

    The Director of the Service, Alhaji Mustapha Rilwan, made the disclosure in an interview with journalists on Thursday in Kano.

    Rilwan, however, put the estimated property destroyed by the fires during the period at N10.8 million.

    “We also received 103 rescue calls and 17 false alarms from the public, ’’ he said.

    Rilwan said that 154 lives were saved from the incidents, while five others were lost.

    The director advised the public to be cautious during the Harmattan and avoid warming themselves in their room to avoid fire.

  • Equities lose N1.34tr in November

    Nigerian equities lost a whooping N1.34 trillion in November as tough macroeconomic environment characterized by rising inflation, declining Gross Domestic Products (GDP) and improbable foreign exchange exacerbated major selloff of quoted shares.

    The loss of N1.34 trillion in November compounded the losing streak, with investor losing N701 billion in October. The benchmark index at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) indicated average month-on-month decline of 13.49 per cent.

    Aggregate market value of all quoted equities closed November yesterday at N8.689 trillion as against the month’s opening value of N10.028 trillion. The All Share Index (ASI), the value-based index that tracks prices at the Exchange, dropped from the month’s opening index of 29,177.72 points to close the month at 25,241.63 points.

    Equities had lost N701 billion in October as share prices of quoted equities continued to fall in spite of the inflow of much expected third quarter earnings of companies. While many had hoped that the last quarter would see a stem of the negative tide that had ruled the market for the most part of this year, the fourth quarter has so far been dominated by negative sentiments.

    Several quoted companies have continued to hit their lowest prices in the past one year while a large segment of stocks have stagnated at nominal value, underlining the widespread downtrend at the stock market.

    Year-to-date analysis indicated that average investors might have lost 11.87 per cent of their investments in the first 11 months of this year, which aggregated to a total market loss of approximately N2.79 trillion. Aggregate market value of quoted companies opened 2016 at N11.478 trillion. The ASI opened the year at 34,657.15 points.

    The performance so far is hitting hard investors, who had been at the top-end of the global decline last year. Nigerian equities had ranked among the worst-performing stocks globally in 2014 with average full-year decline of 16.14 per cent. Aggregate market value of all quoted equities closed 2014 at N11.477 trillion as against its opening value of N13.226 trillion for the year, indicating a loss of N1.75 trillion during the year.

    Against the opening value for 2014, the current market value of all quoted equities represents a loss of N3.2 trillion over the 22-month period.

  • WHERE GOES AFRIMA THIS NOVEMBER?

    WHERE GOES AFRIMA THIS NOVEMBER?

    AS the continent awaits some of the entertainment shows that wrap up the year, music enthusiasts have four options for the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) whose hosting city, organisers had earlier announced will be contested by Lagos, Cross River, Rivers and Akwa-Ibom States.

    The stage is set for the unveiling, as African Union Commission (AUC) joins AFRIMA organisers to announce which city; among Lagos, Calabar, Port Harcourt and Uyo, will host the show this year.

    Recall that the two previous editions took place in Lagos, other states with

    Scheduled to hold from November 4 to 6, the vision of other competing states will be to tap into the show to promote their tourism capabilities.

    Organisers have however put security, infrastructure, facilities and appropriate venues as some of the parameters for the hosting right.

    African Union Commissioner for Social Affairs, African Union Commission, Dr Mustapha Sidi Kaloko, noted that the main purpose of host city partnership is to shore up Africa’s image of a great continent imbued with unequaled tourist attractions and also to showcase economic potential of cities in Africa.

    Also, Associate producer of AFRIMA, Ms Adenrele Niyi has said that transparency and fairness will be highly employed in the choice of the hosting city.

  • Road to Yesterday gets November release date

    Road to Yesterday gets November release date

    After weeks of planning, The Entertainment Network (TEN), producers of one of Nigeria’s most anticipated flick, Road to Yesterday have announced that the movie will be released in all Nigerian cinemas on Friday, November 27.

    Directed by Ishaya Bako, Road to Yesterday stars the Award-winning actress, Genevieve Nnaji and introduces Nigerian-British actor, Oris Erhuerho. Majid Michel, Chioma ‘Chigul’ Omeruah and veteran Ebele Okaro lead the supporting cast.

    Set in Lagos Nigeria, the movie is has been described as an epic love story. It tells the story of a couple desperate to mend its marriage on a road trip to a relative’s funeral. However when memories and secrets from the past are revealed, a lot more is at stake than their relationship.

    Star actress and producer of the flick, Genevieve Nnaji plays the role of Victoria Izu, the conflicted wife and mother.

    She talks about her role in the movie. “It was very challenging. I played the role of Victoria, a lady who is in an estranged relationship and she had to fight. As a woman, it is her responsibility to fight to keep her marriage together. All of this happened on a road trip because they embarked on a journey to the village. Just being in that little space with her husband, they are both confronted with answers and questions that they had to face. This forces them to go back in time to unearth where the problem started and the genesis of where they were and why they were where they were as a couple, considering they were only five years old in the marriage. Victoria had to undergo series of emotions,” Genevieve said.

    The Nigerian premiere of the flick is set for Wednesday, November 18 in Lagos, Nigeria.