The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Surulere

  • NSF: Athletes protest ‘no show’

    NSF: Athletes protest ‘no show’

    …Blame sports ministry, Cross River  govt

    Nigerian athletes staged a protest at the National Stadium, Surulere yesterday, to express their displeasure with the Sports Ministry and the Cross River State government’s failure to organise the National Sports Festival for the past four years.

    The Festival, which was initially slated for Cross River state, had suffered postponements as a result of claims that the state could not afford to host the event as earlier promised by them.
    Most of the athletes carried different placards at the stadium, with different inscriptions such as: ‘Honorable Minister please do the needful’, ‘we want the National Sports Festival next year’,  ‘Sports is a means of  survival, don’t kill it’, ‘Don’t send us back to the streets’, ‘Host the National Sports Festival now’ and many more.
    One of the athletes, Alex Adewale, who spoke with NationSport, said that the failure to host the event could breed more criminals in the society.
     He said: “If people are involved in sports, crime will reduce, there will be nothing like Boko Haram, I want sports minister to know this is an avenue for some people to enrich their lives, to make daily bread, to feed their family. For the past 5 years we haven’t heard anything about the sports festival, we want to know what is happening to our sports, we want the ministry to tell us so that we will know where we belong to” said Adewale.
    “Meanwhile, it has been alleged that with the new dispensation, the National Sports Festival had been in limbo. In the same vein, the state is owing athletes who participated in the 2014 edition of the Obudu International Mountain race prize monies which might result in sanctions from the World Mountain Race Organisation.
    “However, the Minister for Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung stated in a chat with NationSport, that a committee will sit next year to determine when the festival will hold.”
     
  • ‘Fake’ policeman nabbed extorting motorists

    ‘Fake’ policeman nabbed extorting motorists

    The police in Lagos yesterday arrested an alleged impostor, Austine Okwuokei while he was extorting motorists.

    Okwuokei was nabbed around Costain roundabout, Iponri, Surulere.

    The suspect allegedly confessed that he usually made an average of N10,000 within two hours.

    Confirming his arrest, the command’s spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent of Police  (SP) said he will be charged to court soon.

    She warned motorists to desist from indulging so-called policemen who demand bribes, stressing that the command abhors corruption.

  • Surulere sold out in first weekend

    Surulere sold out in first weekend

    Following its release last Friday, Surulere, the second flick from The Audrey Silva Company (TASC), is enjoying massive sales at the cinema.

    Beverly Naya, a lead actress in the movie yesterday took to her Twitter account to post a picture which shows the movie was ‘sold out’ at the cinema.

    “SURU L’ERE #SoldOut !!!! Miss it, miss out,” she posted on her page.

    Rita Dominic, co-owner of TASC, also took pride in the success of the flick posting the same picture on her Instagram account.

    “Thank you guys,” she wrote posting emojis of lips and love. “We sold out. Thanks a lot.”

    At its premiere on Friday at the Oriental Hotel, Lekki, it was a gathering of the ‘who is who’ in the entertainment industry. The dress code, a glam touch of African, also added a distinct flavour to the event.

    Surulere is a romantic comedy produced by and lawyer turned filmmaker Mildred Okwo who is also a co-owner of TASC. It focuses on the life of Arinze (SeunAjayi), a hustling young man whose nasty boss, Mr Brume (Gregory Ojefua), makes his life difficult. His luck, however, takes a better turn upon a sudden meeting with Omosigho (Beverly Naya) who believes he is Bossy, a man supposed to help with some work to enable her get promoted. Arinze is quick to dismiss her at the eatery until he hears she is proposing a deal worth N250, 000. To the broke bloke whom several debts including his rents hang on his neck, that sum than gets his attention and he finds himself claiming to be Bossy.

    Torn between his sadist boss at work, crushing poverty and a deadline to finish the work, the hilarious drama continues to unfold. In fact, all through, the movie bends, twists and turns with humour.

    The movie which was written by Richard Odilu also stars Tope Tedela and Kemi ‘Lala’Akindoju.

  • LIFE IN SURULERE

    LIFE IN SURULERE

    As The Audrey Silva Company premiered its latest movie, Surulere, in cinemas across Nigeria yesterday, actress and co-owner of the company, Rita Dominic spoke to JOE AGBRO JR about working on the flick.

    HOW did you veer into film production?

    I always wanted to try out different aspects of filmmaking. I wanted to be a producer. I wanted to go behind the camera to see how it’s done and how I can contribute. So, some years back, Mildred Okwo who manages my career as an actor said to me, ‘I have this idea of setting up my production company, we will do films.’ And to be quite honest, I liked her ideas, I liked what she wanted to do. And that was what I wanted I do as well. And so I decided to go into partnership with her.

    How did you feel that your first movie, ‘The Meeting’ became so huge?

    I was elated and that was actually what encouraged me to do another project because of the success of our first project. That encouraged me to go ahead and produce Surulere.

    What informed the story?

    It’s really a story Lagosians or Nigerians can connect to. You know, we have a lot of young men who go through life… I know there are a lot of young people out there who are trying to make ends meet, hustling, to be able to live a good life. At the end of the day, what makes Nollywood are simple stories that we tell. And which is what we try to do at The Audrey Silva Company. Now, this simple story, we’re trying to do it at a much higher level and this is what Surulere presented to us.

    How long did it take to shoot this film?

    Altogether, the shooting took 10 days because of months of planning was put in place. We were organised. We knew what we wanted to do months before we went on set to shoot. And then after that, post-production.So, give and take, it’s taken us about a year for it to come out.

    You played a big role in producing the movie, why were you not so involved?

    Because the director said to me, would you like to play this role? We need your face to show in this (movie). I don’t have to play the lead role. That’s the point.

    Considering the global economic recession, and dwindling movie sales, what keeps you motivated doing films?

    Well, the truth of the matter is the Nollywood audience, they are still our audience. They still love Nollywood. And just for that reason alone, it encourages me to keep on doing what it is we’re doing, which is to put movies out there for them to watch. They love the things we do.

    Now that you’re a producer, how does it feel after you experienced what it means to produce movies?

    To be quite honest, anybody who has been able to go behind the camera to produce a film and able to get it out to the public deserves a pat on the back. It’s not an easy job.

    What do you consider the most challenging part of your work?

    Basically handling the whole set, organising the people. For me, if your cast are happy they’ll give you the best. But at the same time, you have to be firm. It’s like finding a balance to make sure your cast are not lacking, they’re comfortable enough on set to shoot for you and at the same time, you know when to put your foot down.

    And really, I don’t do it alone. My business partner is very much involved as well, which is Mildred Okwo, who co-owns the company with me. so, it’s  a teamwork between both of us.

    What are the next plans?

    Well, for people to go and watch the film. And at the same time, we plan to shoot one or two projects this year which we’re not revealing now.

    Surulere was tagged a romantic comedy and it coming out on February 12 which is very close to Valentine’s Day. How are you spending Valentine’s Day?

    (That’s) for me to know (Laughs).

    Was the date deliberate to coincide with Valentine’s Day?

    Well, that was the date we got and we thought, ‘Wow, this actually works because it’s a romantic comedy and that (February) is a love season too. Why doont we put it out in the cinema and encourage people to spend their Valentine by going to watch a romantic comedy.

    How has it been for you being an entrepreneur?

    That is why I am very much grateful and thankful to God and my business partner because she has encouraged me to go on this journey with her. If she wasn’t there, maybe… In as much as I wanted to be a producer, sometimes, you want somebody to encourage you. And I’m just grateful to her that she encouraged me the whole nine yards. And to be quite honest, it’s not easy to do this in a country….. But every day we learn, every day, we keep pushing, every day, we’re hopeful….taking the industry to the place that it should be.

     What plans have you put in place to combat piracy?

    The government needs to enforce some of those laws because at the end of the day, they’ll tell you, ‘you have piracy in America and all over the world.’ What we’re asking for is for them (government) to enforce some of these laws to create an enabling environment for the industry to thrive because this industry if well structured, can generate a lot of revenue for this country. There are laws against piracy. We just need for them to be enforced.

    What’s the thing about Zamunda?

    (Laughs) How do I put it? Zamunda for me, is a place of mind. It’s a happy place, like when you have an escape place, when you’re passing through a lot of challenges or having a bad day, one of those things that we always go through. For me, that is like a place of mind where I go to in my head where everything is perfect. It started like a joke, next thing my family (fans) now started pushing it. I was like, ‘Okay, alright then, Zamunda is good.’

    You’ve been away from the media, not doing interviews

    I only do interviews when they are necessary. You’re going to see me in the media a lot now because my second film is going to be released on Friday. So, I’m going to be doing a lot of interviews concerning the film.

    For relaxation, what do you do?

    I watch a lot of movies. I watch TV. I work out. I love to travel when I can. I read when I can.

    Where is your favourite holiday destination?

    Anywhere that has water, white sand, beaches. I like Hawaii. I’ve been to Mauritius courtesy of Africa Magic as well. I like southern part of Spain.

    For books, what is your favourite?

    I love thrillers. There was a time I used to read a lot of Stephen King. And the book I’m reading currently is The Pelican Brief by John Grisham. And  then  Chimamanda  Ngozi  Adichie.

  • Surulere residents stage health walk for communities

    Surulere residents stage health walk for communities

    Hundreds of residents of Surulere, Lagos Mainland, have held a walk to sensitise their communities on the need for regular health check.

    Under the aegis of The Muslim Congress (TMC), Surulere Branch, 270 persons participated in the walk from Cele Bus Stop to Ojuelegba and back to Cele roundabout

    TMC leader Alhaji Naheemdeen Abdul Gaffar said being in good health would help people to perform well.

    He said people took ill because of the lack of exercise, adding that regular exercise would reduce the huge money spent on treatment.

    Abdul Gaffar said: “Exercise gives strength and also good health. The reason we have a lot of people with different forms of illness is lack of exercise and laziness. When you do regular exercise, sickness will stay away and you won’t have the course to spend huge money on illness.”

    TMC Public Relations Officer Ibrahim Durosomo said walking is good for health, adding that one must be fit to practice Islam.

    Durosomo enjoined Lagosians to create time for exercise amid their busy schedule.

    “No matter how busy you are, you should plan to exercise. Whether it is once in a week, even if you can’t go a far distance, try to do it within your vicinity. Just make sure you have your body exercised,” he said.

    Dr Mustapha Ayinde of Havana Hospital, Surulere urged government to initiate policies that would help keep the citizenry mentally and physically fit.

    He said: “In America, once you graduate, you are enrolled into a programme which helps Americans to be on the alert in case of any emergency. Government should try going into sporting activities, so if we all keep fit, we won’t have any course to be afraid of any possible attack.”

  • Glo Laffta Fest hits Surulere

    Glo Laffta Fest hits Surulere

    EAGLE Club, Lagos, last Sunday, recorded an unprecedented crowd numbering over 4,000 as fun-seeking residents of the area stormed the venue for the Surulere edition of Glo Laffta Fest.

    The event, which featured merchants of hilarious jokes such as Julius Agwu, Gordons, I Go Dye, Basketmouth and many others, kicked off by 4pm, treating residents to a session of laughter.

    A warm blend of predominantly green lighting effects, which incidentally represented the colors of the Glo brand, set the mood for the evening.

    Basketmouth, anchor of the event, introduced the comedians and performers one after the other in a manner that left the audience wondering who would be next on stage.

    Among the comedians who put the audience through bouts of laughter were Osama, D Don, Julius Agwu, I go Dye, Gordons, and Odogwu.

    Julius Agwu, just recuperating from a brain surgery, gave a vivid account of his close shave with death while cracking up the audience with jokes. He said this was his first performance since he did the surgery. He thanked God for giving him a second chance and Globacom for being the first company to believe in him and give him a job after the surgery. Activities on the sideline such as dancing competition added spice to the show. Male and female guests were called up on stage in a dance competition intuitively arranged by Reekado Banks when he performed his hit tracks Catapult, Corner, Sugar Baby and Tomorrow.

    The dance competition was won by Leke Adisa, a ten year old pupil of Olayomi Private school Surulere.

    A statement from Globacom said that Laffta Fest was developed to give back to teeming Glo subscribers.

  • Glo Slide & Bounce, Laffta Fest hold in Benin, Surulere

    Glo Slide & Bounce, Laffta Fest hold in Benin, Surulere

    The ongoing twin shows, Slide & Bounce musical concert and Laffta Fest comedy show, sponsored by national telecommunications operator, Globacom, will arrive Benin City, Edo State, and Surulere, Lagos State, on September 19 and 20 respectively.

    The shows, which have been running since the last three weeks, have been held in different locations, namely, Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Victoria Island, Benin, Ikorodu and Abeokuta, attracting over 30, 000 Glo subscribers.

    The Benin edition of Glo Slide & Bounce music concert will hold at the Best Western Hotel, while Glo Laffta Fest will happen at the Eagle Club, Surulere, on September 20.

    Award-winning artistes and top Glo ambassadors, including Dapo Oyebanjo, popularly called D’banj, the Ojuelegba crooner, Wizkid, Mavin Records protégé, Korede Bello, and Burna Boy will entertain at the Slide & Bounce concert.

    OC Ukeje, Nollywood’s finest actor and Glo ambassador, will spice up the event by making a guest appearance, while humor merchant, Okey Bakassi, will anchor the show.

    Similarly, Glo Laffta Fest at the Surulere edition will feature top comedians, such as Basket Mouth, Julius Agwu, Gordons, Salvador (from Uganda), Dan D Humourous, 2 Can Talk and  MC Casino,  with  Wande Coal and Korede Bello on the band stand.

    According to a statement released from Globacom’s headquarters in Lagos, both shows which had been to six locations, will tour the other cities around the country, including Abuja, Ijebu-Ode, Egbeda and Ikeja.

    It added that subscribers wishing to attend the Laffta Fest show should use up to N3,000 before the event and send ‘LOL SURLERE’ to 33001.

  • Dufil partners LEARN on Free Summer School initiative

    Dufil partners LEARN on Free Summer School initiative

    In an effort to positively impact the nation’s education sector, Dufil Prima Foods Plc makers of Indomie Instant Noodles, has again partnered the Lagos Empowerment and Resource Network  (LEARN) on its 2015 Summer School Programme.

    With the partnership, Dufil supported the initiative with half a million naira as well as with educational materials for secondary school students, drawn from 3 centres across Lagos (Surulere, Agidingbi and Maryland).

    Mr. Tope Ashiwaju, the Public Relations Manager, Dufil Prima Foods Plc explained that the company’s 7 years longstanding partnership with LEARN was hinged on the importance of education to the nation.

    “The Objective of this initiative is to bring secondary school students together in between terms to continue to encourage them in some form of academic and non-academic exercise as time spent in school is virtually not enough to impact all required knowledge for the students.”

    “Therefore this initiative serves as a platform for students to pursue further knowledge to aid their academic and non-academic endeavours.”  

    He added that Indomie as a brand believes in and had always been affiliated with the growth of the nation’s education sector at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels, which informed its education-oriented Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative.

    Also commenting on the partnership, the Coordinator, LEARN, New Era Centre Surulere, Mrs. Anu Adepoju, confirmed Dufil’s support to LEARN since its inception 7 years ago.

    “The children always look forward to having a taste of their favourite noodles every afternoon, and this enables them pay attention in class and vocational activities without having to worry about where their lunch would come from,” she said.

    “The Indomie experience has added a new dimension to the summer schools with the provision of T-shirts, caps, pens to exercise books and most importantly, lunch” said Adepoju.

    The summer school, an initiative of the former First Lady of Lagos state, Mrs. Emmanuella Fashola, ignites passion for learning among the youths by equipping them with leadership & entrepreneurial skills, good character development, vocational and other skills.

  • Lagos begins water project in Surulere

    Lagos begins water project in Surulere

    The Lagos Water Corporation (LWC) has commenced rehabilitation and expansion of water distribution network in Surulere to provide potable water to the residents. The scheme is part of the implementation of Second National Urban Water Sector Reform Project (2NUWSRP), sponsored by the World Bank in collaboration with the state government.

    When completed, the LWC Managing Director, Mr Shayo Holloway said, the project would provide clean water to more than 6,000 houses in the Surulere axis, noting that the project would span 91 kilometre distribution network.

    He said the rehabilitation and expansion project, which is divided into four phases, would involve repair of water utilities and re-connection of houses in Surulere, Itire-Lawanson, Yaba-Ebute Metta and Victoria Island to the Lagos water service.

    He said the first phase of the project is being carried out in Surulere.

    The water project, he said, will last for 18 month during which the corporation’s engineers are expected to install high-density pipes in the targeted areas.

    Holloway, who noted that the current water output of the state was below the consumption, said the project, when completed, would have the capacity to boost the potable water production and reduce demand deficit.

    The project coordinator, Mr Raheem Ipaye, said the project would involve rehabilitation of old pipes installed 50 years ago, noting that the corporation would carry out the expansion work with use of High Density Polyethylene Pipe (HDPE) to prevent vandalism and leakage.

    Ipaye said: “LWC has raised its performance bar in terms of project implementation and execution. We assure residents that the project will be executed with minimal disruption to human activities.”

    The areas to be covered in the project include Ojuelegba-Tejuosho, Stadium-Barracks, Akerele-New Lagos, Ogunlana Drive-Obele Oniwala-Idi Araba, Kilo-Adelabu-Bab Animashaun-Orile and National Arts Theatre-Funsho Williams Avenue-Costain axes.

  • Mall celebrates Children’s Day

    Five days after it commissioned a link bridge within its premises, Leisure Mall in Surulere, Lagos, will today join the world to celebrate the annual Children’s Day.

    Among dignitaries present at the commissioning of the bridge linking the mall and another, AOS, last Friday were representatives of the Lagos State Property Development Corporation (LSPDC); representatives of the owners of the mall and those of the Adeniran Ogunsanya Shopping Mall, tenants of both malls and customers.

    The mall’s Centre Manager, Feyi Shoyinka, had said: “The exciting thing is the obvious pleasant surprise and delight on the faces of the customers who saw it as a brilliant initiative that would seriously improve the ease of shopping within the mall and others.

    A shopper, Mrs. Biola Ogunsheye, said: “My family can now buy groceries within AOS Mall and still come into Leisure Mall to sit and watch movies without stress.”

    On the Children’s Day celebration, Shoyinka said: “Part of our efforts to cater for specific needs of our diverse customers is our much-anticipated Children’s Day celebration. Here, we are have series of fun-filled activities lined up for the day. Some of these include, but not limited to distribution of free gifts, printing and sharing of tickets with very valuable gifts to be won; bouncing castle for kids, face painting, joyful rides and other activities that are aimed at creating a memorable experience, particularly for the children, all within a safe environment.”

    He added that the mission of Leisure Mall is primarily “to create a family entertainment environment where teeming customers can catch fun while feeling secure and well treated. We are fully dedicated to strictly keeping to these standards without wavering or compromising.”