FORMER GOVERNOR OF PLATEAU STATE HAS BEEN CONFIRMED DEAD
NETNG HAS RELEASED ITS MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN ENTERTAINMENT
The Netng has released their 2013 list of the Most Influential People in Entertainment in Nigeria and awww, look at me there. #dancingantenna. Hehe. See the full list after the cut...
They are artistes, actors, thinkers, entrepreneurs, and captains of industry. Their ideas spark dialogue and dissent and sometimes even controversies; their works shape lives, habits and societies; their actions have led to some of the decisions that have stirred the industry in its current direction. These remarkable men and women, with lasting and laudable influence, do not necessarily make the most popular people in the industry, but their actions carry a lot of weight; with the hope of the future resting on their shoulders.
2face Idibia: From his artistry to passion for change, the Pop king of Africa has continued to use his music as a muse to influence all. Through his foundation, ‘2face Idibia Reach-Out Foundation’, Idibia, an icon by every definition, has dedicated a great amount of time, effort and resources towards reaching out to fellow humans in need.
Alex Okosi: As Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Viacom International, Africa, Okosi continues to showcase Africa to the world and vice versa with the MTV, BET, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central platforms. Okosi is one of the top dogs determining the present and future of entertainment on TV.
Ali Baba: Still at the top of the food chain when it concerns comedy in Nigeria, Ali Baba, a pioneer stand-up comedian is not only responsible for making the trade profitable, he continues to use his influence to hold up the platform for others to shine.
Amaka Igwe: A strong pillar in Nollywood, Igwe’s undying love for motion picture has helped her carve a niche for herself whether with her famous soap operas or her annual BOBTV TV expo. Her Lagos-based radio station, Top Radio has also become a force to reckon with.
Amin Moussalli: The Lebanese boss actually started doing business in Nigeria as far back as 1975 with his AIM architectural company but his love for broadcasting drove him to create radio stations Cool FM, Wazobia FM and later on Nigeria Info with his daughter Evita in the helm of affairs. These stations have become one of the biggest outfits in Nigeria reaching millions in four different cities.
Audu Maikori: It’s been rocky times at Chocolate City in the last seven months but Maikori, a lawyer and entrepreneur has shown nothing but exemplary skills in stirring the entertainment label through murky waters. With A-list acts like M.I. and Ice Prince, Chocolate City still remains one of the biggest music labels in Africa. Don’t be surprised if they announce an IPO soon.
Ayo Animashaun: Through his Smooth Promotions company, Animashaun, 43, has launched some of the most relevant entertainment platforms including ‘The Headies’ and the 24-hour channel ‘Hip TV’ which launches on DSTV this month.
Bolanle Austen Peters: Peters is the soul of Terra Kulture - a highly recognised cultural hub set up to promote the richness and diversity of Nigerian languages, arts and culture. Respected for enabling the sustenance of live theatre in Lagos, she’s now executing the big-budget SARO musical that’s already receiving critical acclaim. In eight years of existence, Terra Kulture has organised no less than 60 plays, over 100 exhibitions, and approximately 10,000 children have been through their language, culture clubs and excursions.
Biola Alabi : Managing Director at M-NET Africa over the last four years, Alabi has engineered the process of bringing top African content to our doorsteps. This year, she birthed the successful and well rated African Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards (AMVCAs).
Chika Nwobi: Nwobi is a serial entrepreneur. From MTech- a leading mobile content company in Africa to Jobberman.com-West Africa’s most popular jobs portal to Cheki.com.ng-Nigeria’s leading cars/autos website to Kamdora.com a fast growing e-commerce fashion retail business in Nigeria, Nwobi has successfully built mobile and internet-related companies; using unusual techniques to link IT with entertainment while delivering value for consumers and helping Telcos excite a generation in love with music.
Chris Ubosi: He is the CEO of Megalectrics Limited, owners of Premium choice BEAT 99.9FM, retro-styled Classic FM 93.7 and pidgin-speaking Naija FM 102.7, which have all continued to dominate their respective fields. Ubosi, who seems to be warming up to the cameras nowadays has also launched a sister station in Ibadan and will be setting up a TV channel real soon.
Clarence Peters: Three of out every five videos seen on Nigerian TV is directed by Clarence Peters. As the CEO of a record label called Capital Hill Records and a multimedia content creation company called CAPital Dream Pictures, he has shot a good number of videos, documentaries, TV commercials, short films and TV features. Clarence is no doubt the most sought after video director in the music industry so much that his name has become synonymous with top quality musical videos.
D’banj: In the last 12 months, the self-styled entertainer has brushed off any kind of doubt about whether he can progress career-wise after his split with former Mo’Hits partner Don Jazzy. Whether it’s performing at the finale of African Cup of Nations, collaborating with US artistes, headlining Hennessy Artistry or becoming the face of the Bank of Industry, D’banj has shown constant sheer determination and dominance. And there’s an indefinitely long list of young cats praying day and night to have a quarter of his blessings.
DJ Jimmy JATT: He is rated as one of the biggest and most iconic deejays in Africa. An innovator, teacher, speaker and performer, Jimmy Jatt has helped nurture the careers and influenced many deejays in Nigeria. There’s hardly any hiphop artiste in Nigeria that doesn’t pledge allegiance to the legendary but unbelievably humble deejay.
Don Jazzy: From music production, Don Jazzy remains one of the most relevant entertainment personalities in Africa (a formula his colleagues have not been able to crack yet) with every artiste out there asking for a beat or two from him. Little wonder he keeps bagging multimillion Naira endorsement deals. An ambassador for Loya Milk and MTN, IDJA is the producer every producer wants to be like, the pop star who has no single to his name; the enigmatic music maker that’s giving an entirely new definition to impresario.
Edi Lawani: Sometimes referred to as the Godfather, Lawani has built a name in the corporate and entertainment scene working as technical consultant, events manager and adviser to organisations and talent. His agency, Showbiz Network is one of the longest running homegrown entertainment organisations, and many of today’s big names in technical support and events management have the bearded gentleman to thank.
Efe Omorogbe: The co-founder and HNIC of Nigeria’s leading talent management company, Now Muzik, Omorogbe continues to be a major force in the development of entertainment in Nigeria. He recently setup Now Muzik en.Core, a sister company which handles events and campaigns.
Emeka Mba: A former Regulatory Affairs Manager at Multichoice Nigeria and later Director General of the Nigerian Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Mba’s recent appointment as Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) was met with applause from stakeholders who understand what he brings to the table. The NBC is the regulatory body for broadcast organisations in Nigeria.
Femi Ayeni: Ayeni, founder of Ultima, the company which owns two very big franchises in Nigeria might not have a popular name but his shows Project Fame West Africa and Who Wants to be a Millionaire. Though quiet and publicity shy, Ayeni has handed many successful entertainers their careers – that list will include Iyanya, Chidinma and Frank Edoho who rose to national fame on WWTBAM.
Femi Kuti: The son of the late great Afrobeat legend has clearly carved a niche for himself, warming up nicely into contemporary music (working with Wizkid, LNC, Jesse Jagz, Durella) and modern TV (Kuti is a judge on Nigerian Idol). These have however not shut him up from voicing out his opinion against bad governance.
Funke Akindele: The Nollywood actress has bagged the highest number of endorsement deals and produced more bestselling movies than anyone in her category. Her hilarious character, Jenifa has now become one of the most popular characters in Nollywood. And despite going through a well-publicized separation, Akindele’s image remains intact, her following unaffected; her endorsements intact.
Genevieve Nnaji: Hardly can you mention top actresses in Africa without placing her in the top 2. US talk show host, Oprah Winfrey described her as the Julia Roberts of Africa, while Elle magazine recently profiled her as one of the 7 international acts soon to cross over to international success. Nnaji’s profiling on the international scene has been a big boost to her career, although she has slowed down on local appearances in recent times.
Ibinabo Fiberesima: She became the first woman to lead the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria when she was sworn in as President in November 2012. Ibinabo Fiberesima, an actress and a former beauty queen now presides over one of the most influential organisations in Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
Jason Njoku: By creating the iROKO triad- iROKOtv, iROKING and IROKtv , he is credited for creating what the international media has described as the ‘Netflix of Africa,‘ Njoku has combined technology and creativity to satisfy the ever-growing needs of Nollywood fans across the world, ranking in the Forbes ‘African millionaires to watch’ list. His idea now caters for millions of Nigerians who chose to go online to source music and Nollywood movies.
King Sunny Ade: A perfect example of consistency, King Sunny Ade boasts of a career that has spanned over five decades. KSA is an important voice in the Nigerian entertainment industry particularly in regards to music as he uses his influence, contacts and resources to affect major decisions in many of the music organisations; while serving as mentor and inspiration to many.
Kunle Afolayan: He is one of the most prolific film directors in Nigeria. From his debut production ‘Irapada‘ to the critically reviewed action-drama ‘Figurine‘, the accounting graduate has shown finesse in all his work. His recent project, October 1, still in the making has generated the most publicity-ever for a yet to be released flick. Afolayan is seen by many pundits as the face of ‘new Nollywood’.
KWAM 1: A prolific recording artist, KWAM1 updated the Fuji style incorporating Western instruments to give it that youth-oriented theme. That singular innovation opened up the genre to a hitherto uninterested segment. With a career now spanning over three decades, the self-acclaimed King of Fuji music continues to influence and appeal both the old and young in fuji other genres.
Linda Ikeji: From gossip to breaking news stories, Linda Ikeji’s blog has become a hotspot for many online readers. From a business and career that has taken her seven years to build, Miss Ikeji’s blog has become a phenomenal success earning her millions in annual turnover; building a profile as Nigeria’s most successful blogger. What that means? The bachelorette now belongs to the elite group of opinion moulders and news shapers.
M.I: They call him the Chairman. Jude Abaga aka M.I. has set a standard for aspiring rappers, for being able to appeal both to the so called hiphop heads and those with no idea in the world what the art form is about. He is sometimes regarded as the best rapper in Nigeria and has a lot in fan base to show for it.
Mo’ Abudu: Following the huge success of her talk show ‘Moments with Mo‘, Mosunmola Abudu has built for herself a strong repertoire. Often referred to as the Oprah Winfrey of Africa, her show for years enjoyed high ratings on DSTV. Recently she launched her own channel, EbonyLife TV, Africa’s first global black entertainment network.
Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde: As one of the most decorated actresses in Africa, Omotola’s scored a bygone when she made it to TIME magazine’s 2013 edition of the ‘100 Most Influential People in the World’. Her TV reality series, ‘Omotola: The Real Me’ generated a landmark viewership on M-NET’s Africa Magic when it debuted, and the mother-of-four is now warming up for international break.
Psquare: Sold out shows and tours in Africa, Europe and America, earth shaking hit songs and videos. A multitude of fans stadiums cannot contain. Psquare have been on the top 3 mark for so long it’s beginning to look like their birth right.
Peace Fiberesima: For 12 years she has been behind the African Movie Awards (AMAA), gathering movie stars from all over Africa. Fiberesima has positioned the awards show as one of the most credible and consistent honorary shows. Often described as the ‘African Oscars‘, AMAA awards has now become a standard for actors to measure their performance every year.
Rotimi Pedro: With Nigerian Idol, X-Factor and Nigeria’s Got Talent grabbing big market shares, Rotimi Pedro, the Optima Media Group‘s founder, is rapidly becoming a major force to reckon with. The sports veteran and his team are delivering entertainment to millions of Nigerians while giving many an opportunity to kick off their careers. And he’s just secured the right to launch Bloomberg here, according to NET findings.
Sam Onyemelukwe: He earned the rights to bring the foremost music channel, TRACE TV to Nigeria building it from the scratch. Onyemelukwe, a former country manager for MTV has utilized his experience and knowledge in the terrain to establish TRACE TV as a channel of choice for many young Nigerians.
Tajuddeen Adepetu: From what began with creating content programming for several terrestrial TV stations, Adepetu has gone on to establish his own cable TV channel and TV station. Both Soundcity and ONTV, popular among young Nigerians, have now become household names when it comes to pure entertainment. Other assets include Spice TV which wil launch as a full channel on DSTV in a matter of months, and social media platform Buddie.
The Murray-Bruces: The Murray-Bruces have played many major roles in taking Nigerian entertainment to the next level. Spearheaded by Ben Murray-Bruce, the family has not only succeeded in radio and TV broadcasting, but also made cinema culture fashionable again, with the Silverbird Cinemas. Their ‘Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria‘ pageant has lost credibility and popularity, but remains the nation’s leading pageant.
Tony Okoroji: Okoroji is one of the most important factors in collective rights management and administration in Nigeria. Working with the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Okoroji has spearheaded the recognition of mechanical and associated rights, while making sure radio stations, TV channels and others who exploit music pay what’s due rights owners. The jury is still out on whether that segment should be liberalized.
Tunde Kelani: A pioneer and veteran by every definition, Kelani’s brilliance in cinematography and storytelling is second to none. With over 20 films made under his Mainframe Productions, Kelani has been setting standards for as long as we can remember. The movie producer/director/writer is one of the major influences in the Nigerian movie industry till date.
Uche Eze: She is the popular blogger and owner of fashion and lifestyle blog BellaNaija. BellaNaija remains a one stop shop for single and married women who are interested in wedding news, gossip and fashion. And even though the likes of Linda Ikeji have surpassed her in ranking, Bella remains queen, with enough international acclaim to last a lifetime.
Wizkid: At just 23, Ayo ‘Wizkid’ Balogun is a kid whose achievements will make some legends jealous. From an unsure wannabe, the hit-maker has grown to become a superstar, with a strong influence on today’s sound while many teens are feeding daily on his style and- permit us – swagger. Now warming up to be an entrepreneur, Wizzy has it all working.
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CABLE CAR PROJECT WILL SOON BE COMPLETED
30 BOKO HARAM MEMBERS KILLED
The crackdown on Boko Haram members in Borno State continues as the army has dealt a big blow to the sect by reducing its numbers by 30.
Security troops attached to the 7 Division in Maiduguri conducted a major raid yesterday on the sect’s hideouts at Ajigi, Kafa and Izza villages of Bama and Damboa council areas of the state.
Those felled by the army’s bullets reportedly include a leader in the sect. The troops reportedly intercepted the suspected terrorists following a tip-off about a possible strike.
Nigerian Eye reports:
Also killed were unspecified members of the group at Izza village in Bama town just as five Hilux vehicles mounted with anti-air craft guns and one 18-seater bus with foodstuff belonging to the terrorists were destroyed.
A statement by the military spokesman in Maiduguri, Captain Aliyu Danja, yesterday, said the operation involved air strikes and ground attacks.
Danja also said that the pre-emptive attack followed intelligence reports about plans by the insurgents to attack Bama and other towns in the state.
The statement read: “Our troops launched separate attacks on Boko Haram enclaves in different parts of BornoState, where we killed 30 of them in Ajigi and Kafa villages of Damboa Local Government Area.
“Those killed were suspected to be the group of terrorists that fled Damboa town, following an encounter with the security forces last Sunday.
“Also, a pre-emptive attack on Boko Haram concentration at Izza town in Borno State, Sunday afternoon, led to the killing of an unspecified number of the sect’s members.”
PA KASUMU NOLLYWOOD ACTOR NEEDS 12M FOR HESRT AND LIVER TREATMENT
55 TOP BILLONAIRES IN AFRICA BY VENTURES AFRICA
NIGERIAN ZURIEL ODUWOLE, YOUNGEST EVER TO BE INTERVIEWED BY FORBES MAGAZINE
Following her feature in the Forbes Africa magazine, Zuriel Oduwole, the incredibly gifted and talented Nigerian Girl child, has just concluded her visit to Malawi, where she formally launched the second country destination point in her Dream Up, Speak Up, Stand Up program, aimed at inspiring the African Girl Child. Nigeria was her first country in March this year. She was welcomed to Malawi last Wednesday by the US Ambassador, Jeanine Jackson and the Public Affairs officer, Gabriel Hons-Olivier. Ambassador Jackson described Zuriel as a true Ambassador of Mutual Friendship, who has done an incredible job as a global citizen to bring a fresh perspective on the need to educate the African Girl Child.
Zuriel visited several schools, including the Bishop McKenzie School, Dzuka Girls High School, and the largest school in Africa for AIDS related Orphans - Jacaranda School. She interviewed the schools founder; Marie Da Silva, a CNN Hero winner in 2008, on the challenges of delivering on the promise of the schools free education for the Orphans, in a tough environment like Malawi. Zuriel capped off her stay with a visit to a radio station, where she spoke to students and their parents on the value of early education, and the need to keep the Girl Child in school. She has since left Malawi for Tanzania, the next stop of her program tour and arrived early this afternoon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9kEkHcInuQ
On her way through this program, for Africa Zuriel has now interviewed 8 current African Presidents and 2 former African Presidents, covering a wide variety of topics from the UN Millennium Development Goals, to the Education of Africa's children. These include the current Presidents of Liberia, Kenya, Cape Verde, South Sudan, Mauritius, Tanzania, Malawi, and Nigeria. She also recently interviewed on a one-on-one a select few high power delegate in New York to the just concluded Clinton Global Initiatives, including the Rev Jesse Jackson, and the Denmark delegation to the UN, on DANIDA's activities in Africa.
She is due to focus on the Caribbean region next, where she is scheduled to start meeting with leaders from the region starting with Jamaica, later this month.
Former Governor of Plateau state, Solomon Lar has passed away.
According to reports, the death of Chief Lar was confirmed by the state governor, Jonah Jang to newsmen.
The governor said, Chief Lar, who was 80-years-old reportedly died in the United States of America
The pioneer national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party had
been battling an undisclosed ailment for some months before he was flown
to U.S for treatment.
NETNG HAS RELEASED ITS MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN ENTERTAINMENT
The Netng has released their 2013 list of the Most Influential People in Entertainment in Nigeria and awww, look at me there. #dancingantenna. Hehe. See the full list after the cut...
They are artistes, actors, thinkers, entrepreneurs, and captains of industry. Their ideas spark dialogue and dissent and sometimes even controversies; their works shape lives, habits and societies; their actions have led to some of the decisions that have stirred the industry in its current direction. These remarkable men and women, with lasting and laudable influence, do not necessarily make the most popular people in the industry, but their actions carry a lot of weight; with the hope of the future resting on their shoulders.
2face Idibia: From his artistry to passion for change, the Pop king of Africa has continued to use his music as a muse to influence all. Through his foundation, ‘2face Idibia Reach-Out Foundation’, Idibia, an icon by every definition, has dedicated a great amount of time, effort and resources towards reaching out to fellow humans in need.
Alex Okosi: As Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Viacom International, Africa, Okosi continues to showcase Africa to the world and vice versa with the MTV, BET, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central platforms. Okosi is one of the top dogs determining the present and future of entertainment on TV.
Ali Baba: Still at the top of the food chain when it concerns comedy in Nigeria, Ali Baba, a pioneer stand-up comedian is not only responsible for making the trade profitable, he continues to use his influence to hold up the platform for others to shine.
Amaka Igwe: A strong pillar in Nollywood, Igwe’s undying love for motion picture has helped her carve a niche for herself whether with her famous soap operas or her annual BOBTV TV expo. Her Lagos-based radio station, Top Radio has also become a force to reckon with.
Amin Moussalli: The Lebanese boss actually started doing business in Nigeria as far back as 1975 with his AIM architectural company but his love for broadcasting drove him to create radio stations Cool FM, Wazobia FM and later on Nigeria Info with his daughter Evita in the helm of affairs. These stations have become one of the biggest outfits in Nigeria reaching millions in four different cities.
Audu Maikori: It’s been rocky times at Chocolate City in the last seven months but Maikori, a lawyer and entrepreneur has shown nothing but exemplary skills in stirring the entertainment label through murky waters. With A-list acts like M.I. and Ice Prince, Chocolate City still remains one of the biggest music labels in Africa. Don’t be surprised if they announce an IPO soon.
Ayo Animashaun: Through his Smooth Promotions company, Animashaun, 43, has launched some of the most relevant entertainment platforms including ‘The Headies’ and the 24-hour channel ‘Hip TV’ which launches on DSTV this month.
Bolanle Austen Peters: Peters is the soul of Terra Kulture - a highly recognised cultural hub set up to promote the richness and diversity of Nigerian languages, arts and culture. Respected for enabling the sustenance of live theatre in Lagos, she’s now executing the big-budget SARO musical that’s already receiving critical acclaim. In eight years of existence, Terra Kulture has organised no less than 60 plays, over 100 exhibitions, and approximately 10,000 children have been through their language, culture clubs and excursions.
Biola Alabi : Managing Director at M-NET Africa over the last four years, Alabi has engineered the process of bringing top African content to our doorsteps. This year, she birthed the successful and well rated African Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards (AMVCAs).
Chika Nwobi: Nwobi is a serial entrepreneur. From MTech- a leading mobile content company in Africa to Jobberman.com-West Africa’s most popular jobs portal to Cheki.com.ng-Nigeria’s leading cars/autos website to Kamdora.com a fast growing e-commerce fashion retail business in Nigeria, Nwobi has successfully built mobile and internet-related companies; using unusual techniques to link IT with entertainment while delivering value for consumers and helping Telcos excite a generation in love with music.
Chris Ubosi: He is the CEO of Megalectrics Limited, owners of Premium choice BEAT 99.9FM, retro-styled Classic FM 93.7 and pidgin-speaking Naija FM 102.7, which have all continued to dominate their respective fields. Ubosi, who seems to be warming up to the cameras nowadays has also launched a sister station in Ibadan and will be setting up a TV channel real soon.
Clarence Peters: Three of out every five videos seen on Nigerian TV is directed by Clarence Peters. As the CEO of a record label called Capital Hill Records and a multimedia content creation company called CAPital Dream Pictures, he has shot a good number of videos, documentaries, TV commercials, short films and TV features. Clarence is no doubt the most sought after video director in the music industry so much that his name has become synonymous with top quality musical videos.
D’banj: In the last 12 months, the self-styled entertainer has brushed off any kind of doubt about whether he can progress career-wise after his split with former Mo’Hits partner Don Jazzy. Whether it’s performing at the finale of African Cup of Nations, collaborating with US artistes, headlining Hennessy Artistry or becoming the face of the Bank of Industry, D’banj has shown constant sheer determination and dominance. And there’s an indefinitely long list of young cats praying day and night to have a quarter of his blessings.
DJ Jimmy JATT: He is rated as one of the biggest and most iconic deejays in Africa. An innovator, teacher, speaker and performer, Jimmy Jatt has helped nurture the careers and influenced many deejays in Nigeria. There’s hardly any hiphop artiste in Nigeria that doesn’t pledge allegiance to the legendary but unbelievably humble deejay.
Don Jazzy: From music production, Don Jazzy remains one of the most relevant entertainment personalities in Africa (a formula his colleagues have not been able to crack yet) with every artiste out there asking for a beat or two from him. Little wonder he keeps bagging multimillion Naira endorsement deals. An ambassador for Loya Milk and MTN, IDJA is the producer every producer wants to be like, the pop star who has no single to his name; the enigmatic music maker that’s giving an entirely new definition to impresario.
Edi Lawani: Sometimes referred to as the Godfather, Lawani has built a name in the corporate and entertainment scene working as technical consultant, events manager and adviser to organisations and talent. His agency, Showbiz Network is one of the longest running homegrown entertainment organisations, and many of today’s big names in technical support and events management have the bearded gentleman to thank.
Efe Omorogbe: The co-founder and HNIC of Nigeria’s leading talent management company, Now Muzik, Omorogbe continues to be a major force in the development of entertainment in Nigeria. He recently setup Now Muzik en.Core, a sister company which handles events and campaigns.
Emeka Mba: A former Regulatory Affairs Manager at Multichoice Nigeria and later Director General of the Nigerian Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Mba’s recent appointment as Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) was met with applause from stakeholders who understand what he brings to the table. The NBC is the regulatory body for broadcast organisations in Nigeria.
Femi Ayeni: Ayeni, founder of Ultima, the company which owns two very big franchises in Nigeria might not have a popular name but his shows Project Fame West Africa and Who Wants to be a Millionaire. Though quiet and publicity shy, Ayeni has handed many successful entertainers their careers – that list will include Iyanya, Chidinma and Frank Edoho who rose to national fame on WWTBAM.
Femi Kuti: The son of the late great Afrobeat legend has clearly carved a niche for himself, warming up nicely into contemporary music (working with Wizkid, LNC, Jesse Jagz, Durella) and modern TV (Kuti is a judge on Nigerian Idol). These have however not shut him up from voicing out his opinion against bad governance.
Funke Akindele: The Nollywood actress has bagged the highest number of endorsement deals and produced more bestselling movies than anyone in her category. Her hilarious character, Jenifa has now become one of the most popular characters in Nollywood. And despite going through a well-publicized separation, Akindele’s image remains intact, her following unaffected; her endorsements intact.
Genevieve Nnaji: Hardly can you mention top actresses in Africa without placing her in the top 2. US talk show host, Oprah Winfrey described her as the Julia Roberts of Africa, while Elle magazine recently profiled her as one of the 7 international acts soon to cross over to international success. Nnaji’s profiling on the international scene has been a big boost to her career, although she has slowed down on local appearances in recent times.
Ibinabo Fiberesima: She became the first woman to lead the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria when she was sworn in as President in November 2012. Ibinabo Fiberesima, an actress and a former beauty queen now presides over one of the most influential organisations in Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
Jason Njoku: By creating the iROKO triad- iROKOtv, iROKING and IROKtv , he is credited for creating what the international media has described as the ‘Netflix of Africa,‘ Njoku has combined technology and creativity to satisfy the ever-growing needs of Nollywood fans across the world, ranking in the Forbes ‘African millionaires to watch’ list. His idea now caters for millions of Nigerians who chose to go online to source music and Nollywood movies.
King Sunny Ade: A perfect example of consistency, King Sunny Ade boasts of a career that has spanned over five decades. KSA is an important voice in the Nigerian entertainment industry particularly in regards to music as he uses his influence, contacts and resources to affect major decisions in many of the music organisations; while serving as mentor and inspiration to many.
Kunle Afolayan: He is one of the most prolific film directors in Nigeria. From his debut production ‘Irapada‘ to the critically reviewed action-drama ‘Figurine‘, the accounting graduate has shown finesse in all his work. His recent project, October 1, still in the making has generated the most publicity-ever for a yet to be released flick. Afolayan is seen by many pundits as the face of ‘new Nollywood’.
KWAM 1: A prolific recording artist, KWAM1 updated the Fuji style incorporating Western instruments to give it that youth-oriented theme. That singular innovation opened up the genre to a hitherto uninterested segment. With a career now spanning over three decades, the self-acclaimed King of Fuji music continues to influence and appeal both the old and young in fuji other genres.
Linda Ikeji: From gossip to breaking news stories, Linda Ikeji’s blog has become a hotspot for many online readers. From a business and career that has taken her seven years to build, Miss Ikeji’s blog has become a phenomenal success earning her millions in annual turnover; building a profile as Nigeria’s most successful blogger. What that means? The bachelorette now belongs to the elite group of opinion moulders and news shapers.
M.I: They call him the Chairman. Jude Abaga aka M.I. has set a standard for aspiring rappers, for being able to appeal both to the so called hiphop heads and those with no idea in the world what the art form is about. He is sometimes regarded as the best rapper in Nigeria and has a lot in fan base to show for it.
Mo’ Abudu: Following the huge success of her talk show ‘Moments with Mo‘, Mosunmola Abudu has built for herself a strong repertoire. Often referred to as the Oprah Winfrey of Africa, her show for years enjoyed high ratings on DSTV. Recently she launched her own channel, EbonyLife TV, Africa’s first global black entertainment network.
Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde: As one of the most decorated actresses in Africa, Omotola’s scored a bygone when she made it to TIME magazine’s 2013 edition of the ‘100 Most Influential People in the World’. Her TV reality series, ‘Omotola: The Real Me’ generated a landmark viewership on M-NET’s Africa Magic when it debuted, and the mother-of-four is now warming up for international break.
Psquare: Sold out shows and tours in Africa, Europe and America, earth shaking hit songs and videos. A multitude of fans stadiums cannot contain. Psquare have been on the top 3 mark for so long it’s beginning to look like their birth right.
Peace Fiberesima: For 12 years she has been behind the African Movie Awards (AMAA), gathering movie stars from all over Africa. Fiberesima has positioned the awards show as one of the most credible and consistent honorary shows. Often described as the ‘African Oscars‘, AMAA awards has now become a standard for actors to measure their performance every year.
Rotimi Pedro: With Nigerian Idol, X-Factor and Nigeria’s Got Talent grabbing big market shares, Rotimi Pedro, the Optima Media Group‘s founder, is rapidly becoming a major force to reckon with. The sports veteran and his team are delivering entertainment to millions of Nigerians while giving many an opportunity to kick off their careers. And he’s just secured the right to launch Bloomberg here, according to NET findings.
Sam Onyemelukwe: He earned the rights to bring the foremost music channel, TRACE TV to Nigeria building it from the scratch. Onyemelukwe, a former country manager for MTV has utilized his experience and knowledge in the terrain to establish TRACE TV as a channel of choice for many young Nigerians.
Tajuddeen Adepetu: From what began with creating content programming for several terrestrial TV stations, Adepetu has gone on to establish his own cable TV channel and TV station. Both Soundcity and ONTV, popular among young Nigerians, have now become household names when it comes to pure entertainment. Other assets include Spice TV which wil launch as a full channel on DSTV in a matter of months, and social media platform Buddie.
The Murray-Bruces: The Murray-Bruces have played many major roles in taking Nigerian entertainment to the next level. Spearheaded by Ben Murray-Bruce, the family has not only succeeded in radio and TV broadcasting, but also made cinema culture fashionable again, with the Silverbird Cinemas. Their ‘Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria‘ pageant has lost credibility and popularity, but remains the nation’s leading pageant.
Tony Okoroji: Okoroji is one of the most important factors in collective rights management and administration in Nigeria. Working with the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Okoroji has spearheaded the recognition of mechanical and associated rights, while making sure radio stations, TV channels and others who exploit music pay what’s due rights owners. The jury is still out on whether that segment should be liberalized.
Tunde Kelani: A pioneer and veteran by every definition, Kelani’s brilliance in cinematography and storytelling is second to none. With over 20 films made under his Mainframe Productions, Kelani has been setting standards for as long as we can remember. The movie producer/director/writer is one of the major influences in the Nigerian movie industry till date.
Uche Eze: She is the popular blogger and owner of fashion and lifestyle blog BellaNaija. BellaNaija remains a one stop shop for single and married women who are interested in wedding news, gossip and fashion. And even though the likes of Linda Ikeji have surpassed her in ranking, Bella remains queen, with enough international acclaim to last a lifetime.
Wizkid: At just 23, Ayo ‘Wizkid’ Balogun is a kid whose achievements will make some legends jealous. From an unsure wannabe, the hit-maker has grown to become a superstar, with a strong influence on today’s sound while many teens are feeding daily on his style and- permit us – swagger. Now warming up to be an entrepreneur, Wizzy has it all working.
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CABLE CAR PROJECT WILL SOON BE COMPLETED
The N300 ride on the world’s third
largest city with 25million inhabitants is expected to be completed by
2014. Ropeways Transport Limited signed a 30-year agreement with the
Lagos State Government for the establishment of $500 million cable car
mass urban transit system to ease traffic and tension on its roads.
“To
grow the economy of our dear city of Lagos into one of the model Mega
Cities in Africa, embracing the best practices in the
transportation/urban mobility cannot be overlooked. Lagosians must
accept this concept of transportation as safer and more economical. We
must recognise that individual transportation translates to more
vehicles on the roads, which translate to an unhealthy volume of carbon
emissions.
“Hence,
our drive to provide a combination of transportation that would include
road, rail and water ways. The challenges, however, are formulating
more innovative changes aimed at ensuring the sustainability of these
policies.” says Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Kayode
Opeifa.
Governor
Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, said the state government
had commenced the construction of the route for the cable car project to
complement the transportation system in the state, saying, “the project
is on the verge of completion
30 BOKO HARAM MEMBERS KILLED
The crackdown on Boko Haram members in Borno State continues as the army has dealt a big blow to the sect by reducing its numbers by 30.
Security troops attached to the 7 Division in Maiduguri conducted a major raid yesterday on the sect’s hideouts at Ajigi, Kafa and Izza villages of Bama and Damboa council areas of the state.
Those felled by the army’s bullets reportedly include a leader in the sect. The troops reportedly intercepted the suspected terrorists following a tip-off about a possible strike.
Nigerian Eye reports:
Also killed were unspecified members of the group at Izza village in Bama town just as five Hilux vehicles mounted with anti-air craft guns and one 18-seater bus with foodstuff belonging to the terrorists were destroyed.
A statement by the military spokesman in Maiduguri, Captain Aliyu Danja, yesterday, said the operation involved air strikes and ground attacks.
Danja also said that the pre-emptive attack followed intelligence reports about plans by the insurgents to attack Bama and other towns in the state.
The statement read: “Our troops launched separate attacks on Boko Haram enclaves in different parts of BornoState, where we killed 30 of them in Ajigi and Kafa villages of Damboa Local Government Area.
“Those killed were suspected to be the group of terrorists that fled Damboa town, following an encounter with the security forces last Sunday.
“Also, a pre-emptive attack on Boko Haram concentration at Izza town in Borno State, Sunday afternoon, led to the killing of an unspecified number of the sect’s members.”
PA KASUMU NOLLYWOOD ACTOR NEEDS 12M FOR HESRT AND LIVER TREATMENT
Nollywood actor, Olukayode Odumosu
popularly known as Pa Kasumu is struggling to stay alive at LUTH as he
battles heart and liver diseases; “secondary prevention of repeat
stroke,” after a previous stroke. The 60-year old actor says, “I have
spent so much on these diseases. When it was first diagnosed, the
doctors said the ailment was severe, that they would need to control its
progression for it not to affect my kidneys. This they did, and I was
happy they succeeded, but now, other serious ailments have set in,
necessitating this battle of survival. I am not tired yet; I still want
to continue to make people laugh, but my failing health is a terrible
obstacle.”
He
wants Nigerians, corporate organisations and the Government to help him
stay alive because he can't pay for his treatment which will cost
N12m.
To donate to the actor, please find his bank details below.
Olukayode Olugbenga Odumosu;
Diamond Bank
Account number: 0036059543.
55 TOP BILLONAIRES IN AFRICA BY VENTURES AFRICA
According to Ventures Africa, there are 55 legitimate dollar-billionaires in sub-Saharan Africa! Who are they?
Well,
VA says Africa’s richest person is Nigerian commodities tycoon Aliko
Dangote who lays claim to a $20.2 billion fortune. The second richest
person on the continent is South African money manager Allan Gray with a
fortune pegged at $8.5 billion while the third richest person is
Nigerian telecoms tycoon Mike Adenuga who is worth $8 billion.
The
oldest billionaires are Kenyan industrialist Manu Chandaria and
Egyptian property tycoon Mohammed Al-Fayed, both aged 84. The youngest
billionaires are Mohammed Dewji of Tanzania and Igho Sanomi, a Nigerian
oil trader. They are both 38 years old.
Three
women make it to the rankings. The richest of them is Folorunsho
Alakija, a Nigerian fashion designer and oil tycoon who is worth about
$7.3 billion by our estimates. Isabel Dos Santos, an Angolan investor
who is also the daughter of Angola’s President Eduardo Dos Santos and
Mama Ngina Kenyatta, the widow of Kenya’s first President also made the
cut.
The
combined fortune of Africa’s 55 billionaires is $143.88 billion. The
average net worth of the members of this exclusive club is $2.6 billion
while the median age of the richest people in Africa is 65 years.
Nigeria,
South Africa and Egypt lead the pack with the highest number of
billionaires at 20, 9 and 8 respectively. Algeria, Angola, Zimbabwe and
Swaziland only have one billionaire each. In all, there are 10 African
countries represented on the list.
Commenting
on the rich list, Ventures Africa’s Publisher Chi-Chi Okonjo said:
“Ventures Africa’s Rich list is the most definitive guide to wealth in
Africa. With our understanding of the culture of wealth on the continent
and our proximity to its sources, we have been able to compile a
comprehensive guide.“
Ventures
Africa is Africa’s leading business magazine and news service. Founded
by Chi-Chi Okonjo and edited by Uzodinma Iweala the bi-monthly magazine
is distributed across Africa in print and globally on the Internet, and
as an App.
NIGERIAN ZURIEL ODUWOLE, YOUNGEST EVER TO BE INTERVIEWED BY FORBES MAGAZINE
Nigerian sensation Zuriel Oduwole made history as the youngest person
ever to be interviewed on Forbes magazine. Yes, I mean, the most popular
magazine Forbes. Zuriel is an award winning documentary film maker,
conference speaker and writer.
 |
| Zuriel with Malawi Ambassador Jackson |
Following her feature in the Forbes Africa magazine, Zuriel Oduwole, the incredibly gifted and talented Nigerian Girl child, has just concluded her visit to Malawi, where she formally launched the second country destination point in her Dream Up, Speak Up, Stand Up program, aimed at inspiring the African Girl Child. Nigeria was her first country in March this year. She was welcomed to Malawi last Wednesday by the US Ambassador, Jeanine Jackson and the Public Affairs officer, Gabriel Hons-Olivier. Ambassador Jackson described Zuriel as a true Ambassador of Mutual Friendship, who has done an incredible job as a global citizen to bring a fresh perspective on the need to educate the African Girl Child.
Zuriel visited several schools, including the Bishop McKenzie School, Dzuka Girls High School, and the largest school in Africa for AIDS related Orphans - Jacaranda School. She interviewed the schools founder; Marie Da Silva, a CNN Hero winner in 2008, on the challenges of delivering on the promise of the schools free education for the Orphans, in a tough environment like Malawi. Zuriel capped off her stay with a visit to a radio station, where she spoke to students and their parents on the value of early education, and the need to keep the Girl Child in school. She has since left Malawi for Tanzania, the next stop of her program tour and arrived early this afternoon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9kEkHcInuQ
On her way through this program, for Africa Zuriel has now interviewed 8 current African Presidents and 2 former African Presidents, covering a wide variety of topics from the UN Millennium Development Goals, to the Education of Africa's children. These include the current Presidents of Liberia, Kenya, Cape Verde, South Sudan, Mauritius, Tanzania, Malawi, and Nigeria. She also recently interviewed on a one-on-one a select few high power delegate in New York to the just concluded Clinton Global Initiatives, including the Rev Jesse Jackson, and the Denmark delegation to the UN, on DANIDA's activities in Africa.
She is due to focus on the Caribbean region next, where she is scheduled to start meeting with leaders from the region starting with Jamaica, later this month.
African Leadership Network Announces 5 Winners for the 2013 Africa Awards for Entrepreneurs
Earlier on this week, we introduced
you to the finalists for the 2013 Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship.
{Click here if you missed it}. At the Gala Awards ceremony in Mauritius,
the African Leadership Network yesterday announced winners for the 2013
Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship (AAE). In its seventh year since
establishment, AAE is today the most distinguished Africa-focused awards
programme, that each year gives over USD 200 000 prize money to
outstanding African entrepreneurs who demonstrate business excellence
and social impact. The AAE Gala Ceremony was held as part of the ALN
Annual Gathering, which took place at the Le St. Geran Resort in
Mauritius.
Omidyar
Network, the philanthropic investment firm dedicated to harnessing the
power of markets to create opportunity for people to improve their
lives, is sponsoring the awards for the fourth consecutive year.
We’re
pleased to announce the winners. This year’s winners are an impressive
mix of companies from 4 African countries with business operations in
economic sectors including manufacturing, technology, FMCG, agriculture,
automotive and social development. By category, these are:
Lifetime Achievement Award
Dr.
Manilal Premchand Chandaria, OBE, EBS is the winner for this year’s
award. One of the most accomplished industrialists and entrepreneurs in
Africa, Dr. Chandaria is the Chairman and CEO of Comcraft Group, a
billion dollar industrial sector conglomerate with business operations
in over 40 countries.
Transformational Business Award
Interswitch
Limited (Nigeria) is an integrated payment and transaction processing
company that provides technology integration, advisory services,
transaction-processing and payment infrastructure to government, banks
and corporate organizations.
Outstanding Mature Business Award
QuantumNet
(Gambia), Gambia’s first and largest Internet Service Provider (ISP),
leading distributor of global technology brands and luxury vehicles,
with business operations in Gambia and Sierra Leone.
Outstanding Small and Growing Business Award
Guanomad
(Madagascar), a company that produces and supplies natural fertilizers
and organic manures from bat droppings in Madagascar’s caves for use in
organic agriculture.
Outstanding Social Entrepreneur Award
Sustainable
Development For All (Kenya), a company that aims to improve livelihoods
and education in areas without electricity, by providing households
with solar energy.
Congratulations to all the winners from BellaNaija. We wish you more successes in future
plane carrying 400 Nigerians crash land in Saudi Arabia
A Saudi bound Kabo Air plane
carrying 400 passengers from Kano made an emergency landing at the Sir
Abubakar III International Airport in Sokoto early today Saturday
October 5th.
The
Boeing 747 jumbo jet which left Kano on Friday en route to Saudi Arabia
had to divert to Sokoto after several of its tyres exploded immediately
after it took off the Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano. All the
passengers aboard the airline have been evacuated from the plane and
lodged in a hotel in the ancient city. (Sahara Reporters)
Update on the plane crash
Casualties include, Gbenga Obasanjo, son of the former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the wife of the late governor and his children accompanying the body and many People’s Democratic Party top stalwarts who were traveling for the burial rites to be commenced today in Akure, Ondo State. The son of former presidential aspirant, Chief Olu Falae, Mr Deji Falae and the Nigerian Minister of Culture and Tourism are said to be on board of the plane.
The maker of the Casket in which the body was to be buried, one Mr Okusanya of MIC Casket also died.
He was accompanying the family on goodwill gesture in sympathy.
On Agagu’s Plane Crash: MIC Boss Tunji Okusanya And Chief Olu Falae’s Son Confirmed Dead
Authorities of the aviation department say they have to get in touch with the families of the deceased first before making manifest public, since the plane was not a commercial flight but a privately chartered aircraft.
However, we can confirm to you that Mr Tunji Okunsanya of MIC Caskets & his son who were initial survivors have now been confirmed dead by Senator Mamora who visited LASUTH. His niece, Actress Eniola Badmus also confirmed this…so sad!
Unconfirmed reports claim that only Agagu’s son, Feyi and the pilot survived as others (the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr Deji Falae (Chief Olu Falae’s Son) and a staff in the Protocol Department of the Governor’s office, Mr Layi Daji and an employee of MIC Caskets, identified as Chijioke,was also among those that died in the crash).
The remainsof the late Ondo state ex-governor was found near intact, only the coffin was damaged.
There has been information that a plane crash has occurred at the Lagos airport.
It is not yet known if there have been any casualties. But I learnt that a chartered Associated Airline plane carrying the corpse of late former Ondo State governor Olusegun Agagu, his family members and friends of the family, crash-landed near the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, shortly after take off this morning. The plane was enroute Akure from Lagos where the late politician was to be buried tomorrow.
According to a witness, the crash occurred at the local wing of the airport close to the section were JET-A1, plane fuel, is stored.
Fire service officials were seen evacuating the occupants of the plane.
The spokesman of the Nigeria aviation agencies, Yakubu Datti, asked for more time to get details of the incident, Premium Times reports.
Details soon…
Pope Francis has set up an account on Instagram after his success on Twitter.
Authorities of the aviation department say they have to get in touch with the families of the deceased first before making manifest public, since the plane was not a commercial flight but a privately chartered aircraft.
However, we can confirm to you that Mr Tunji Okunsanya of MIC Caskets & his son who were initial survivors have now been confirmed dead by Senator Mamora who visited LASUTH. His niece, Actress Eniola Badmus also confirmed this…so sad!
Unconfirmed reports claim that only Agagu’s son, Feyi and the pilot survived as others (the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr Deji Falae (Chief Olu Falae’s Son) and a staff in the Protocol Department of the Governor’s office, Mr Layi Daji and an employee of MIC Caskets, identified as Chijioke,was also among those that died in the crash).
The remainsof the late Ondo state ex-governor was found near intact, only the coffin was damaged.
There has been information that a plane crash has occurred at the Lagos airport.
It is not yet known if there have been any casualties. But I learnt that a chartered Associated Airline plane carrying the corpse of late former Ondo State governor Olusegun Agagu, his family members and friends of the family, crash-landed near the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, shortly after take off this morning. The plane was enroute Akure from Lagos where the late politician was to be buried tomorrow.
According to a witness, the crash occurred at the local wing of the airport close to the section were JET-A1, plane fuel, is stored.
Fire service officials were seen evacuating the occupants of the plane.
The spokesman of the Nigeria aviation agencies, Yakubu Datti, asked for more time to get details of the incident, Premium Times reports.
Details soon…
Pope Francis has set up an account on Instagram after his success on Twitter.
The pontiff has more than 3 million followers on Twitter – and so far he has 5,852 fans on photo sharing site Instagram.
Photos posted on the site show the leader of the Catholic Church meeting the faithful and leading prayers.
The Vatican also has a profile on Instagram, which has 2,763 followers.
News of the account emerged as the pontiff visited the town of Assisi in
Italy to pray at the shrine of Saint Francis, whose name he took when
he was elected pope.
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