Posted by 9jabook.com on August 23, 2009 at 6:35am
I am determined to change my slippers after 49 years, in the meantime , I will continue to wear it in hope not in fear. no matter how bad the heat is , no matter how hard you try and suppress me. Yes my legs are weak, I am not sure how far my slippers would carry me. I walk almost everyday because I cant find the energy i need to fill my tank.
Gradually my slippers shows wear and tear
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11 My slippers are still young
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18 Some have been in so much of a hurry that they have changed their slippers too soon much sooner than it was ordained
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21 We start to grow impatient the glue refuses to patch my slippers
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23 even when i fall there is hope I can lean on you come ooo there is a reason for keeping this slippers for so long
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25 I realise that the gum will not work, perhaps stapling the slippers wil patch it up, oh dear i have had an accident my hands are bleeding. 26 Yes there is hope
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28293031323334........it has to fly I have no choice..............3536............37382940414243444546474849
but I see my neighbours slippers and I see there is hope. I live in hope and not in fear that I will change my slippers but for now I thank BABA GOD for giving me the energy to note there is light at the end of the tunnel.
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Lately I have been thinking about the power of girlfriends. Every now and again I meet a woman who says I don’t really get on with other women. Now I can’t speak for all of such women but those I have met in my experience may have been hurt before and are so guarded and suspicious with other women as a result.
One particular lady talked about how women don’t seem to like her. She put it all down to jealousy. However while she was with me, she kept making these snide and seemingly innocuous but very degrading comments and I could immediately see that the issue was not so much that people didn’t like her, it was more so that she really didn’t like herself. When she related to men, she simply resorted to sex kitten style and the interaction was always somewhat flirtatious even when she planned on keeping the relationship platonic.
This particular woman right now floats through life on the arm of her man du jour and I think she is missing out on the most important aspect of it.
When you hear the word relationship, you always think man and woman. However I am talking about friendships.
By nature, I am a loner. Actually, I don’t think I was born that way, I think I became that way as a defense mechanism. I learnt early on that people in general and girls specifically can and will hurt you. I used to take it so personally. Every little thing and I would be offended. I went to a girl’s boarding school, a hotbed for drama. There was always one confrontation or the other. I remember one school year; I think it was my third, where it seemed like every weekend someone was confronting me about something or the other. “I heard you said this, I heard you did that”. Now I clearly had to take ownership for some of the issues, I did the typical things I gossiped, I made judgments, sometimes went out of my way to make fun of the weaker girls, sometimes just to fit in with the wrong crowd. Also I had my fair share of wrong done to me, baseless rumors started, being accused of things I didn’t do, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera!
Life goes on and as it does. We learn. Thank God for growth.
When I first got out of boarding school, I was extremely guarded. I didn’t gravitate to men, because I didn’t desire a relationship as of then. So I kept to myself. I never let people in and I didn’t really give of myself.
I remember my first Nigerian roommate in college. She is like my sister now. We fought so much then, even though we were alone in a foreign space. I mean we had our shares of up and downs and I don’t even remember much of what and how we argued about things but I do remember that she was an “I love you” sort of person and a hugger. Neither of which I was. I could never respond. I was cold. Still am, to a certain degree (But God has changed me so much and I’m still changing) I was so determined not to be hurt that I nearly missed out on a great relationship…almost twenty years later and we still are close.
There was a time when I had been going through some stuff and at first I couldn’t share my problems with anyone. I was so burdened that it impacted my work, my physical self, I couldn’t even lift up my head. I was praying, I was fasting but I was still down. One day, I felt in my spirit that I should share my problems with a woman who I knew but at that point our relationship was still somewhat superficial. I was afraid. What if she takes my problems and uses them for gossip? What if she hurts me? The word in me was insistent. Share the load.
You know they say your husband should be your best friend, sure, perhaps, but the truth is men are wired differently so as you are there venting, the response you get may not be quite what you need. They want to fix and you just want to be heard, at that moment I knew I needed a sister!
I called this woman and shared with her. She was such a blessing to me and since then I feel lighter. She
helped me lay my burdens down.
In my country, it is not uncommon to see women carrying loads on their heads. Every now and then you will see a woman who wants to take her load down from her head onto the ground. Sometimes the load is light enough that she can maneuver it herself, sometimes it is so heavy that she struggles, then you will see another woman help her carry it off her head on to the ground. That is what the woman did for me. She helped me lay it at Jesus feet.
Another time, I was so stressed, (in this life, stresses will come) I couldn’t speak. Again another woman who I knew casually…like I said, I didn’t really let people in….she asked me what was wrong. I couldn’t speak but tears started to flow, and God bless my friend, she didn’t probe further, she just started to pray. I couldn’t pray for myself but she did it for me and I could feel her love and I was and am grateful for it.
One of my favorite scenes is from the movie Beloved. The main character Sethe was being oppressed by the spirit of her daughter who she had killed (you have to read the book, to really get the gist) anyway, she was oppressed to the point that she couldn’t fight for herself. Now the women in the town had heard what was happening and they decided that enough was enough and that they were going to fight for their fellow woman. So they gathered at her home and began to sing songs and stand in solidarity. Now a few things happened but the point is that it was the collective power of the women gathered that forced Beloved, the oppressive spirit to leave Sethe.
I wept at this scene, because it symbolizes a truth I know deep within. There is power when women gather. We are the soul of the home, the pillars of the community. If you see a community with strong morals then know it is the women who propagate it. We are more powerful than we understand and our strength is magnified when we love each other. When we recognize that we are all flawed yet we are all beautiful.
A friend of mine and I were discussing how women have been trained to compete against each other, we are constantly comparing and setting ourselves up against the other. Wives compare whose relationship is better with their husband, instead of being a source of strength to each other, recognizing that trying times come to every marriage. Nigerian and Lifetime movies are fraught with the images of women trying to steal a man from another woman, at whatever cost…I could go on and on. Suffice to say, there is power in love. There is power in girlfriends. We are meant to have relationships.
Today, take the time to nurture a friendship and if you already have good friends, say thank you and give a shout out like me…”Where my girls at?! Holla!!!”
Ekene Onu is a writer living in Atlanta or Abuja depending on when you get her. She is the author of the Nigerian chicklit book called The Mrs Club and she is currently working on an inspirational book due out very soon. She also blogs about life, love and faith at www.lifelovefaith.com.
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Emmanuel Majebi, Vanguard Law and Human Rights contributor, recently had a sour taste of Lagos robbers, when he was attacked at the Central Business District, Alausa. He recount his experience in this piece.
A few months back the Lagos State Government launched the onslaught on insecurity that pervaded Lagos with much fanfare. Corporate bodies fell over one another to donate brand new patrol vans and other sundry equipments to the Nigerian Police and we heard that the Lagos government was going to augment the salaries of officers and men posted to Lagos in order to buoy their efficiency.
For crime wary Lagosians, we thought that as far as security was concerned “uhuru” had come. In fact the government was so sure of what it had put on ground as far as security was concerned that they had the confidence to order a dismantling of all street gates in Lagos.
The argument of the government was that the Police in Lagos had been so well equipped and motivated that even if your naeighborhood was attacked by hoodlums the Police are just a phone call away thus there was no need for street gates.
For a Police Force that is not under the command of the Lagos government I thought it was rather ambitious to make such immediate and sweeping changes; which for all intents and purposes amounted to disarming the populace; based on the untested expectations that the force would live to expectations at all times?
Even though I had my doubts about the street gates dismantlement policy; I was so sure that with the numerous vehicle and motorcycle patrols the mayhem unleashed on motorists on the Lagos highways over the years was going to be a thing of the past.
All my confidence in the security network in Lagos fell apart like a pack of cards on Wednesday, June 24, 2009 when I was attacked by some daredevil armed robbers by about 7am in the heart of the Lagos state Administrative and Central Business District-Alausa.
It is a shock that I may never recover from. If anyone had told me that with all the security fanfare that had been going on in Lagos in the past few months robbers could freely operate in Alausa in broad day light I would say such person was probably insane. The greatest tragedy of the whole episode was that I was with my son. I was going to drop him in school in the morning when this incidence occurred.
Ever since I became a self employed professional I had vowed to make up for lost time with my kids. During my ten year sojourn on the corporate world I had virtually lost touch with the kids. I woke up and left for the office before they were up and arrived back home when they were fast asleep. In my son’s 6 year sojourn in primary school I never attended one single parent-teacher association meeting. My wife was always the one to go.
I was thoroughly embarrassed one day when I attended one parent - teacher meeting at my kids school and I got a standing ovation for attending for the first time after over 6 years!! Any way now that I was self employed I vowed that that was all over.
I vowed to drop the kids in school everyday except I had a court session or important morning meeting or I was out of town. I also tried to get home most days before they sleep and discuss the day with them before they slept. On this fateful day I was going to drop my son in school and as we approached the traffic lights on Obafemi
Awolowo Way by Oregun Junction the lights turned red.
There were about 6 cars in front of me (in 2 lanes of 3 cars each). In the twinkle of an eye 3 motorcycles with 6 riders zoomed past our cars and stopped just by the traffic light.
The passengers disembarked whilst the 3 motorcycles speed off. My alarm bells immediately started ringing; the guys looked rough and drugged. My immediate instinct was to put the car in reverse and get out of the there. But I looked into the back mirror and some cars had lined up behind me . They 3 daredevils rush to me and their leader stood right in front of me and drew out an ugly and threatening locally made pistol.
He quickly came to my side and demanded that I wind down the side glass. I obeyed keeping an eye to see if the cars in front of me would move so I could make a getaway! He was getting irritated with my slow moves towards compliance. My head was racing like a stop watch as I began to look around for an escape route. My only problem was my son! Anything I was to do should take him into consideration.
I finally concluded that there was no way out so I brought out my E75 Nokia phone thinking they were one of these phone robbers but the guy simply ignored the phone and shouted “go to the back”.
These guys really meant business they weren’t your run of the mill petty traffic robbers but diehards who wanted more than just mobile phones. For a while I was confused and did not act as fast as he wanted; he aimed a slap for my face which I dodged. I then went into the back seat through the divide between the drivers seat and the front passenger seat and I dragged my son to the back with me as they commanded.
The one with the gun quickly took over the steering, the second one entered the back passenger seat behind the driver whilst the 3rd robber walked towards the back right seat in an attempt to sandwich myself and my son at the back whilst they got away with the car. As he approached I got a brain wave; I suddenly opened the door with all the force I could muster and the door slammed on the one coming in and h
e fell.
My move surprised them and I seized the moment I dashed out and dragged my son with me. Luckily enough my son was rather smart and rose well to the occasion. As soon as we got out I pushed my son in front and shouted “run” I ran after him but as I turned round to see if the robbers were chasing us I stumbled and fell. As I feel to the ground I saw the robbers speed away with my car.
But that was just the beginning of my woes. A Toyota Prado jeep which was behind my car during the robbery, while in a frantic effort to get away from the scene climbed the kerb near where I had fallen and drove partially over my leg.
I felt the pressure of the car tyre on my leg and said to myself “God… my leg is gone… The bystanders began to pound on the jeep and scream “ Stop …..stop….. somebody is under your car”. He stopped but rather that wait for the onlookers to drag me our from under his jeep, he reversed; again partially over my leg and then zoomed off.
Some people are so callous. I heard the bystanders curse him and call him a murderer but I guess he was just pleased to have been able to save his beloved jeep even if in meant crushing a fellow human being to death. Shame on him wherever he is today and I hope he gets to read this piece.
The Police men were later to ask me if I got down the plate number of this murderous jeep; but of course that was an impossibility in the condition I found myself. That I did not suffer even a dislocation from the tires of the jeep running over my leg, not to talk of a fracture is to me the “Miracle of the Year”.
If anyone says that there is no God that person must be stark raving mad! On 24th day of June 2009 I saw first hand; once again; the hand of God in my life. Since this occurrence I now look at life in a different light. Life is so fickle. You are here a moment bubbling with life then the next you could be gone like a vapour.
I always try to put the thought out of my mind any time it comes but often times I cant help but thinking; what if I fell headlong under the jeep? The man would have simply crushed my head and saved his jeep? God is great.
The fact that robbers could operate so openly in the broad day light so close to the seat of government shows that as far as security in Lagos (and the rest of Nigeria I daresay) is concerned it is not yet uhuru. A lot of work still needs to be done for Lagosians to feel safe in this mega city.
There is a resurgence from the Criminals all over Lagos and the government needs to redouble it’s efforts. Even as I write this on my sick bed; a few days after my own experience; a friend who came visiting just witnessed a car jacking at gun point at Opebi in broad day light.
Any keen observer would realize that the hours between 5a.m and 8a.m in the mornings there is virtually a total absence of police men on the streets of Lagos. That is the period that these hoodlums use to harass and maim Lagosians.
A city like Lagos ought to be Policed 24 hours round the clock? Special attention should be given to traffic light locations and areas were there are traffic jams. These have become veritable spots for these hoodlums to operate and terrorise harpless Lagosians. Places like Alausa or Opebi are supposed to be areas where no robber should dare tread. I shiver to think what would be happening in the suburbs, especially now that there are no street gates?
And I never really knew how wide spread these robbery occurrences were until I began to tell my friends about my own experience. It turns out that most of those I talked to had experienced or known of someone who had similar incidences in the very recent past.
I cannot end this piece without putting on record the gallant assistance I received from the DPO and men of the Alausa Police station. They were simply magnificent in spite of the glaring inadequate equipments and daunting conditions under which they operate. They quickly mobilized and in no time my car was recovered from where the robbers abandoned it and they assisted me to get to a hospital quickly.
The incidence only reiterates my belief that our Police could be super efficient if they get the right tools and the proper motivation. I am still trying to give my son adequate therapy: it a gruesome experience for a 12 year old. It is sad to imagine the kind of experiences we are raising our kids with?
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I see Adedibu in my dreams once in two weeks –Widow Our Sources say this edited version does not contain the chilling news of Adedibus warning from the Grave that HELL IS REAL !
Rumours are circulating in Ibadan that Adedibu appeared to his widow and says he is burning in Hell Fire !
Below is the edited version
From AKEEB ALARAPE, Ibadan
For upward of 20 years, Alhaja Modinat Abosede Adedibu bestrode the political circles of Oyo State , side by side with her beloved husband, late Chief Lamidi Ariyibi Adedibu. Popularly referred to as ‘Yeye’, Alhaja Bose was a force to be reckoned in the running of Molete political empire of Adedibu. Her words are laws and you dare not look her in the face if you don’t want to curry the anger of the ‘boys’.
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At the death of her husband last year, the running of Molete naturally fell on her lap as Adedibu’s hangers-on departed Molete for greener pastures at the homes of other political leaders in the state.
Preparatory to the commemoration of the one year anniversary of the death of the strongman of Ibadan politics, Alhaja Bose opened up to Daily Sun on the challenges facing her and how she has been coping with life after the demise of his godfather husband.
Excerpts:
By June 11, it will be one year that Baba departed to the world beyond. How has life been without Baba?
Well, I thank God for everything. It has been okay, no matter what. We still miss him and we will miss him for life. I thank God for everything.
Is there any plan to commemorate the one year of his death?
So many people have their plans for remembering him, not only on Thursday or Friday; but those that he had touched their lives. They have their plans. I, too, have my plans. The children also have their own.
I know my husband loved prayers too much. Yes, I know he loved to pray and I too do pray for him whenever I pray five times daily. But in commemoration of one year of his death, I will organize special prayers for him on Thursday and Friday. The prayers will continue but at least to mark those two days.
On the plans by his political children, so many of them have contacted me but until that day I cannot say what they have up their sleeves. I can’t be asking them what they have for the man. But I think they know their responsibilities and rights.
They know this man had touched their lives and they want to pay him back after his demise. So, there are too many plans that I cannot go into details. Whoever comes that day will be welcome.
What has been your relationship with numerous political children left behind by Baba? Are they living up to expectations?
No. No. I mean most of them. There is a Yoruba proverb that says ‘iwon ba ni awon to le se ehin’, meaning; ‘only a few can represent one in ones absence’.
Have they been shutting their doors against you?
Well, like my husband, I too believe so much in prayers. But those that know God very well among them and who also believe that one day we will all go to where this man has gone, are still with me and the family.
Apart from being your husband, who was Adedibu to you?
Everything. Did you know him? If you happen to sit down with him; if you happen to talk with him, what will you say about him? That is why I said he is everything to me. There is an adage that says ‘a kii rin ki ori ma mi’, meaning; ‘nobody can be perfect’. The man was a fantastic man. When it comes to prayers, you cannot beat him. In politics, he is yet to be surpassed.
Whenever they called him the strongman of Ibadan politics, I just look at them. He was not a strongman of Ibadan politics, he was the strongman of Nigerian politics. Yes, the strongman of Nigerian politics. And he knew what he was doing. You know, he followed his masters faithfully and he learnt a lot from them. I thank God for his life because God was actually merciful to him.
If there is room for re-incarnation and you happen to meet him again as an Adedibu, a politician, will you marry him?
Yes. Yes. Honestly. Honestly, I will prefer to marry him if we meet again.
Is it because of the fame, or the financial benefit you drive from him? Domestically, are you saying he was also a fantastic husband?
Yes. He was a loving father and a caring husband. You people underrated him. With him and the children, you can never quantify him. As he had time for politics, he had time for the children also. I can say he even had time for the children more than politics. And he cared.
What have been the challenges facing the family since the last one year of Baba’s death?
So far, so good. That is why I say I thank God. So many challenges. So many things. For instance, there is a stupid boy that used to send text messages to my mobile phones even in the mid of the night. He will curse me and curse my children. And we did not know the boy.
It was not until Friday, June 5 that we discovered him. I would have reported him but I was told to leave him to God. And I have decided to leave him to God because this particular boy is one of my handwork. So, for him to be sending text messages to me, cursing me in the absence of my husband; if my husband were to be alive, can he do that?
That is one of the insults. But the boy will soon know that God is a God of justice. He will soon realize that God will reward his deeds very soon.
What was his grouse?
Nothing between me and him. He was sending text messages to me because he claimed he heard that I wanted to contest the Federal House of Representatives seat, which Hon. Folake Oshinowo is presently occupying. He didn’t ask me; I didn’t tell anybody I am going to contest. Maybe, he was trying to satisfy Hon. Folake; I don’t know.
But Hon. Folake and I are in good terms. She is my very good sister and her husband too is my very good brother. We are very close. I don’t know the boy’s problem. You know, maybe he is benefiting something from Hon. Folake and he has to show that he is doing something in her favour in return. But I am very sure that very soon, he will meet his waterloo.
You still look young and beautiful. Do you have any plan to remarry after Baba’s demise or you are contented living as his widow?
(Laughs). How can I plan to remarry? Well, if I want to marry, I can still marry but it is not in my plan. My children are enough for me and they are doing fine.
Did Baba give you any specific message or instruction before his death or a premonition of his death?
No, he did not. He might have known that he was about to die but he did not tell me anything. Maybe, he had known that he wanted to die because his attitude changed even not three days before he died. That was why, before he died, I used to sit beside him; to monitor him and to correct him. What he was saying was the normal instructions and I did not see anything special about them.
As husband and wife, we used to discuss a lot. Now that he had died, I tend to reflect on some of the things he told me and now connect them with his death. Then, it dawned on me that he might have seen his death coming.
In the last one year, have you had the cause of seeing him in your dream?
Yes, all the time. At least, once in two weeks, I will see him in my dream. He will give me instructions on those he used to assist with money when he was alive and that I should go and give them money. He will advise me about matters affecting the children and he will always admonish me not to fight.
He also used to ask aftermembers of his political family, especially those who have stopped coming to see us. I don’t know how he got to know all these from his new abode.
You have learnt a lot from Baba that you too can now be described as a politician, is it true you are planning to contest or you prefer to remain a godmother?
Hmm. I don’t really want to contest. Initially, I wanted to contest before the arrival of my son-in-law, Senator Kamarudeen Adedibu; but since he has been there, I have dropped the idea.
You still maintain all the domestic staff left behind by Baba Adedibu, how are you managing to cope with them?
Thank God, I am doing my best. But I will say it is to God’s intervention. I am trying to cope.
Is there any plan to immortalize Adedibu’s name in view of his contribution to the politics of the state?
You mean in terms of a foundation in his name and all that? Well, there is. We are on it. The children and the government are putting something together. But I don’t know what Baba’s political children are doing to immortalize his names.
However, the governor and the deputy-governor have been doing their best for the family of Adedibu. If the governor is not coming to Molete again that does not mean he is not doing what is expected of him. You know, he cannot satisfy everybody since the family is a very large one. To me, his not coming here (Molete) does not mean anything. Whenever I want to see him or any member of the family, he sees us at interval.
The deputy-governor too has been doing fine. You know, his relationship is not based on politics. He is a son to Baba. So, he cannot afford to forget his father’s house.
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Looking resplendent and gorgeous in his milk-coloured suit, all smiles, he moved around majestically in a nobly fashion, depicting his gargantuan status as a seasoned actor and erudite scholar as he welcomed in warm embraces very eminent personalities to the Ptotea Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, venue of the Bread Fruit Foundation’s (BFF) 1st Annual Patrons Dinner held recently.BFF is a non-profit organization that famous actor and Lagos State University lecturer, Sola Fosudo founded to plaster smiles on the faces of widows, widow’s children, orphans and other vulnerable children in the society. A man of charisma, who has been described as an astute personality with a golden heart, and inspired by God to care for the underprivileged, Fosudo has established the foundation because of his experiences in life.But what was his growing up like? How has it been in the Nollywood industry where he has held sway over the years?How has he been able to combine teaching and acting? What about his pet project, BFF, as a president and founder? All these and more were extracted from philanthropist Fosudo. Excerpts:For Sola Fosudo, growing up was like that of a normal child from a middle class family. He was well trained and had the privilege of a good education.But then he confessed to have been very lucky to receive the grace of God. “Personally, I have been very lucky to receive the grace of God in my life. I had a very fruitful and well trained growing up. It is really with the guidance of God and of my parents. I have been privileged to have a very good education, privileged to have had several opportunities in my profession, my career both as an actor, director and a teacher, so I am grateful to God.”According to Fosudo, the journey to acting stardom all started while he was in primary school. Then they used to have end of the year activities in the school and he turned out to be one of the prominent artistes, a hero in those events. The same thing happened when Fosudo got to secondary school where he was a very strong member of the dramatic and cultural society. But it was while at the Teacher’s College that the turning point happened.He was involved in a play and one man in the audience who happened to be a seasoned and accomplished professional saw him on stage, summoned him and said, ‘you are the man of the theatre. I think you should consider theatre as a profession when you grow up’.Fosudo recalls: “I didn’t know what he was talking about because I was just having fun doing school plays. But he saw something that later metamorphosed into what we are appreciating God for now, because eventually I found myself taking to that advice. I took the necessary actions and steps to go to school and to be immensely involved in the profession. It is by providence, and planned by God. By the time he said that to me I had other plans. I wanted to read History which was my best subject in school. At a time, I wanted to go abroad to study Computer Science, when it did not work out, I went back to the man and said ‘sir, tell me more about that Theatre Arts, I want to do it now’, that was in the 1970s. It was that encounter that eventually saw me in the theatre.”The actor cum University lecturer is enjoying the best of two worlds. Fosudo believes he is doing just the same thing as an actor and teacher of Theatre Arts. “I was not combining anything. If am a medical doctor and at the same time acting then I am combining. But I teach and practice Theatre Arts so, they are one.”But as a popular actor and lecturer, how does Fosudo cope with his numerous female admirers? His response: “I don’t have anything to cope with. I have not experienced advances from women because I don’t recognize it. There was no room for it .My lifestyle does not allow for such things. From the way I was brought up and trained, those things did not count.”Movie industry, says Fosudo, is moving in an unsure direction. It is an uncertain industry that can collapse anytime unless practitioners move away from passion for home video production and move into cinema, while government should also encourage production of films to be shown in cinema theatre where the private sector people can begin to invest in cinema structures.“This is how Nigeria can grow in terms of movies. It is then you can talk of movie industry. For now, they are doing television video drama, home video and they call it movies. Go to Hollywood and ask them if it is this kind of camera we use here that they use to record their films. Our people carry TV cameras to locations. When you say movies or films, you are talking about motion pictures, so the television is also motion pictures, that is why they are saying movies or films. Film is cinema and big business. If we are actually doing films or have film industries in Nigeria you can’t be seeing actors anyhow. But here, you see actors at Idumota bus stop. God will help us.”Does Fasudo have any regret for being an actor? He responds thus: “No, God has been very gracious to me. I had good parental care from the beginning, good education and good opportunities for career development. I have a job and a family. God is supporting my endeavours, and He puts in my heart this time around to set up a foundation to take care of other people. So, it is marvelous in my heart.”On the future Of Nollywood, Fosudo says it’s difficult for anyone to forecast into the future. The actor is even afraid that if care is not taken, the movie industry may crash.He says the imminent crash can only be aborted only if the practitioners take advice and move away from the present deception in which they are and move into the right direction. But then there is still hope as Fosudo predicts a booming and vibrant industry very soon.The actor, however, asked a nagging question thus: “Is Nollywood a concept, a notion or an entity, or is it a place? Go to San Francisco in USA, they will take you to where Hollywood is; it is a big city where stars live and where they have their studios. It is the same thing in India. If the Hollywood people come to Nigeria and say ‘Hello, we have been hearing of Nigerian movies, can you take us to Nollywood?’ Will they take them to Idumota? Or is there any other place? It is Idumota where they are selling films in the streets, inside noise and rowdiness. Since this Nollywood thing has been on, no government whether state or federal has deemed it necessary to begin to build infrastructure for the development of Nigerian movie industry. No government, no professional studios, no serious policy directed at driving the industry to really make it a world class, the way it is in America.”One of the things Fosudo has been advocating as a lecturer in LASU is the development of the curricular for a film education in Nigeria. A curricular that will cover cinematography, film techniques and film production among others.He says: “We don’t have the theatre people who we can rely upon to fill the gap for film industry. They are not really trained for films even though they can find relevance there. I am a theatre person and not film, I will say that anytime. Even though, when I was in school, I received some training about acting which is a general course. You can act on stage or on different media, television, film, etc. You are also taught as a director, you should be able to direct plays because it is only about production in different media which have their own techniques.“The stage where artistes are principally trained has different techniques to the medium of television or film. There is a serious gap in Nigeria. These other people, many of them are not interested in joining Nollywood, you will be surprised to find out. The only other thing that comes near film education is mass communication and those ones are not really trained to be producing films. Also, they are communicators even though they might have done some courses in television production, but not in details as they would do in film schools. Theatre education and mass communication are different from film education, and there is no university in Nigeria where they are offering film studies, yet we have many people who are practicing it. Where did they come from? They are roadside people and we cannot be driven intellectually so they are all merchants doing business.”BFF, which means Bread Fruit Foundation for widows and orphans, was launched in 2008. Luckily for Fosudo, that event was also used to mark his 50th birthday. According to him, the foundation is a non-profit organization, whose sole objective is to cater for widows, widows’ children, orphans and other vulnerable children in the society. It is duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.“This is the first dinner organized by the foundation and it’s going to be an annual event where we bring together our patrons, board of trustees and raise money even if it is just for next year, we will keep it on,” he concludes.
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Her name may not instantly ring a bell but her face is synonymous with Nollywood. This fair complexioned actress who holds a diploma in Public Relations from the Ogun State University and a degree in Sociology from the Lagos State University, is working hard towards becoming an A-list actress.
With over 20 movies to her credit, this Isoko indigene from Delta State is not resting on her oars to see that the movie industry returns to it’s old glory.To achieve this, she eats, drinks, sleeps and lives acting because it is her first love.Okurame told Saturday Sun that if she was not an actress, she would have found herself a field job but not in the corporate world.The busty actress, who is the last child of a family of seven, also hinted that she would soon walk down the aisle with her dream man. She also spoke about her passion for the industry, her career, boyfriend, the thrills and many more.ActingI got into acting because of my passion for it. Right from the onset, I always had the passion for acting. Maybe, I did not start early or maybe because I did not meet the right people but I was into modelling where I met a guy who was interested in acting too.He suggested we went to the National Theatre to register. We got there and registered through Obot Etuk who was one of the executives of AGN. That was in 2004. I had to go for some screening before I got the first job, Schemers, which was directed by Andy Chukwu and Mike Ojabo. It had other stars like Keppy Ekpenyong Bassey, Rita Dominc, Bimbo Akintola and others.Rewarding professionTo some extent, if you are determined and if it is your choice too. If you are humble and hard working, you will find it rewarding. Don’t look at the financial gains first.Most times, people think that they can get half a million naira for a job, especially for starters but it is not so. It is a gradual thing.Although I take less than N500,000, but people who earn N1m today have paid their dues. They were once paid N1000 in the years gone by. You will eventually enjoy it but you must be able to work hard and pay your dues, too.Inspired into actingNobody actually inspired me. It has always been a passion right from when I was in secondary school. I was also an athlete. I had no role model before I got into the industry. I was not influenced by anyone either. It is the passion. I started in the days when Morning Ride was produced on NTA. Maybe, if I had started earlier, I would have been an a-list actress earning big money now.Role modelI have three, Patience Ozokwor, Kate Henshaw and Liz Benson. I have worked with them and I used to see Liz Benson when she acted in Third Eye as Alero.When I got to the industry, they welcomed me with open arms and taught me how to deliver my lines. They taught me how to make corrections on set and how to keep my head very low. If I have any problem, I would go to them and ask for their advice and they would gladly oblige me. The person that I am not too close with now is Liz Benson because she is far from the industry. We don’t even communicate. It hurts me but what will I do? She is so busy with her career as an EvangelistFirst experience on setIt was terrible. I was so tensed up. It was my first job where I featured in Schemers as Blessing. There was this day that we were shooting and I mixed up my lines and it was a bit complicating that everybody was upset and the director wanted to throw me out but Dominic helped to calm him down.If it were some A-list actresses, they would have been pissed up because I just didn’t get it right but she took her time to help me with my lines. She even offered me drink to calm my nerves. Her encouragement helped me to work with other new comers. I also learnt to teach them as well.WorksI have featured in many movies, some of which included, Stolen Bible, Carcass, Super Warriors, Apostle of Hell, The Last Order, Family Passion, My love my Sorrow, Desperate Sister, Rush Hour, Pride of a Woman, Marriage Apart, Women in Power, Dangerous Gambling, Temple of Justice, Sisters Heart, Bye Bye to Poverty, Political Control, and The last from Germany.Most challenging roleI have three of them. The first one is The Last Order. I played the role of a police officer’s wife and I was always beating my husband. I was always fighting. I wouldn’t feed him well to the extent that my director, Dickson Iroegbu asked me if I actually beat my boyfriend at home. I did it so well that I lost my voice.Another one, My Love, My Sorrow was a wayward role. I played the role of a Warri girl where I was supposed to be married and still flirt around, fighting my husband’s friend, fighting my own boyfriend’s friends, scheming, running in the street with pistol and I lost my voice as well.The third one is Rush Hour. It was so challenging because there was fuel scarcity at that time and it was during the rainy season. It is a cult movie. I was a cultist and was trying to initiate my friends and most of my scenes are being shot late in the night. We went into the forest to shoot. We were badly bitten by mosquitoes. We were in the forest with knives and guns. We worked with people like Nonso Diobi, Uche Jombo, Oge Okoye, Mac Morris. We did it well and it came out beautiful. I have never done any job like that.Aside actingI would have been an athlete. A lot of people know me in my neighbourhood as anAthlete. I was in sprinting. I also do some business. I also manage a hair saloon.Couple of years from nowI want to see myself bigger than this. Playing more challenging role not only in Nigeria but outside the shores of this country, probably win an award and if possible, produce some jobs.I also want to ask the government to assist us to excel more in our production. Right now, there is a little hitch here and there. There is crisis between the Censors Board and marketers.Though, Censors Board is trying to make the marketers realize that they are doing us a favour. If the government comes in and invests in a production, we wouldn’t be having the crisis we are having now. It happens all over the world where the government supports the movie industry in their country but here, they leave it in the hands of marketers and they have even tried so much.It is not easy to invest, N10m, or N6m, in a production you don’t even know whether it will yield profit. You don’t even know if you are going to get your money back. So, most times, it is difficult when you find out that some marketers are at loggerheads with the Censor’s Board. I believe that they should come to an understanding so that we can work together. Right now, the industry is going down but I know it is for a while. It will bounce back soon.HookedI am not hooked neither am I married but I have a boyfriend who is into business.I cherish all parts of my body because I take time to take care of myself. My boyfriend tells me that he likes my boobs. He cherishes my understanding and being able to take care of him. We would soon get married.AdviceThey should be determined. If truly, they want to come into this industry, they should very low profile; learn and try to listen to people, and take corrections. A lot of them do not like to take corrections even the big actors also make mistakes. They should calm down, be respectful, take corrections, try and read their lines very well and interact with people. They should also be patient because one learns everyday.Coping with male admirersIt is not easy but I still manage to handle them. Most of them don’t even know what they want. They just chat unnecessarily. Some of them are rude. Some are respectful. Sometime, you cannot give all of them your attention. Some of them get obsessed with you and they are just your fans. You have to caution them and tell them off politely. Some of them would call you up at odd hours when you are with your loved ones giving the impression that something is actually going on.And that is the interesting thing I like about my boyfriend. He understands me and knows that the messages are from admirers and that I have nothing to do with them.When calls keep coming up like that, it gives room for suspicion. I meet a lot of them everyday and I thank them for appreciating me but most time, they don’t know how to go about it. There was this interview I granted last year, the producer mistakenly put my number on the phone and the whole Nigeria was calling me. My picture was in the paper. And some would be sending me some funny and stupid messages as if you are looking for a boyfriend. Even agberos call me. I had to dump that number.
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UNEMPLOYED GRADUATE:
An unemployed graduate woke up one morning and checked his pocket. All he had left was N10. He decided to use it to buy food and then wait for death as he was too proud to go begging. He was frustrated as he could find no job, and nobody was ready to help him.
He bought food and as he sat down to eat, an old man and two little children came along and asked him to help them with food as they had not eaten for almost a week. He
looked at them. They were so lean that he could see their bones coming out. Their eyes had gone into the socket. With the last bit of compassion he had, he gave them the food. The old man and children prayed that God would bless and prosper him and then gave him a very old coin. The young graduate said to them 'you need the prayer more than I do'.
With no money, no job, no food, the young graduate went under the bridge to rest and wait for death. As he was about to sleep, he saw an old newspaper on the ground. He picked it up, and suddenly he saw an advertisement for people with old coins to come to a certain address.
He decided to go there with the old coin the old man gave him. On getting to the place, he gave the proprietor the coin. The proprietor screamed, brought out a big book and showed the young graduate a photograph. This same old coin was worth 3 million Naira. The young graduate was overjoyed as the proprietor gave him a bank draft for 3 million Naira within an hour. He collected the Bank Draft and went in search of the old man and little children.
By the time he got to where he left them eating, they had gone. He asked the owner of the canteen if he knew them. He said no but they left a note for you. He quickly opened the note thinking it would lead him to find them.
This is what the note said: 'You gave us your all and we have rewarded you back with the coin,' signed God the Father,
Have you given all to God? If you haven't, do so today and he will surprise you.
PRAYER:
Here is your financial blessing! It's a simple prayer, you've got 30 seconds. If you need a financial blessing, continue reading this e-mail.
Heavenly Father, most Gracious and Loving God,
I pray to you that you abundantly Bless my family and me. I know that you recognize, that a family is more than just a mother, father, sister, brother husband and wife, but all Who believe and trust in you.
Father, I send up a prayer request for financial blessing for not only the person who sent this to me, but for Me and all that I have forwarded this message on to. And that the power of joined prayer by those who believe and trust in you is more powerful than anything.
I thank you in advance for your blessings.
Father God, deliver the person reading this right now and those who will read it in the near future from debt and debt burdens. Release your Godly wisdom that I may be a good steward over all that You have given me Father, for I know how wonderful and mighty You are and how if we just obey You and walk in Your word and have the faith of a Mustard seed that You will pour out blessings.
I thank You now Lord for the recent blessings I have received and for the blessings yet to come Because I know You are not done with me yet.
I pray,
Amen
SEND THIS TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND YOU WILL BE BLESSED...
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If you love real talent, you would love . She acts with extra grace. All you need do is watch her in The Rivals and Sweet Tomorrow, then you are hooked. She recently signed up with the Ope Banwo-led Stingomania to manage her affairs. This 31 year-old French graduate who has been married for 10 years spoke with SAMUEL OLATUNJI on what has kept her marriage and Nollywood.Why did you have to marry so early?I wonder! I just met the right person. You know what it is when you meet someone and you know that this is the man. It’s not that he was my first boyfriend; I just knew that he is the man. Again, I fell in love with the way he loved me. His love was overwhelming and when he proposed, I just said yes. He proposed to me after two weeks actually. I surprised myself by saying yes.Are you sure you did not rush into this?No, I did not rush into it. It’s been almost 10 years now and we have three beautiful children. I think the love is even getting stronger.You have three children and you look this stunning. How do you keep in shape?It’s hard work. I do a bit of dieting and fitness on the side. I know a lot about keeping fit.What kind of exercise do you do and what kind food do you eat?Six weeks after my last child in England, I used to leave my baby and go for one-hour power walk. I would be out there whether it was raining or snowing and in the evening I would go to the gym. And I would not touch cake even if my life depended on it. Even till now I don’t take sugary thing.Why all these hard work?My husband likes me like this.Your husband looks so gentle one would wonder if he is capable of handling you, or I’m I being deceived?No, you are not deceived, but he is also very strong. He knows when to accept something and when not to accept. Generally, he believes in what I do and he knows this is what makes me happy, so he would rather have a happy wife than an unhappy one. This is my life; I’m not going to do anything else.Weren’t you scared that marriage would slow you down?Talent has a lot to do with how you rise. I got into the industry when I was 17 or 18. I didn’t have to sleep with anybody to get there. I did three lead roles in one year. The films are Destined to die, Not my Will, and Campus Tail by Hilda Dokunbo. Since I wasn’t sleeping with them before, I don’t have to start now.How was it like on the set of Figurine by Kunle Afolayan?It was great. It is very different from what I’ve ever done. I’ve never seen the kind of equipment we used. The story is very different; it wasn’t your normal regular Nollywood story. We shot for a month and we all became like one family. We also had lots of cool locations.How was it like leaving your husband behind in Lagos for one month?My husband had to come once and spent about four days with me.When you spend a long time with people outside of your home, do you get to feel something emotional with them?There is no actor in Nollywood that is as tight as my husband. Why would I be tripping for a fellow actor? This is a job, you have to do what you have to do and go. I have friends among them. But that is as far as it goes. I don’t even think about it. Really, no one looks better than my husband.What’s been the most challenging role you’ve played?I think it is Sweet Tomorrow. I had to be in wheel chair. I fell so many times and I had bruises all over me. It wasn’t funny at all.Why is it taking you so long a time to breakthrough despite the fact that lots of people are saying you are so talented?I think everyone has his or her time. But a lot of my movies have not been released. So, you should watch out.How was life at UNIBEN and why didn’t you study Theatre Art?Funny enough, I’ve been acting since I was three. I’ve always loved entertainment and showbiz. I don’t think I have to study Theatre Art to be in the industry. There are so many people who did not study art in school, but they are great actors. I believe I have the talent, which was enough for me.Since global meltdown affected Nollywood, did it affect you?No, Nollywood is not the only thing I do. And for crying out loud, I have a husband that works.What does your husband do?He is an optometrist. That is different from optician. It is an optometrist who checks your eyes and determines whether you need to wear glasses or not.Is that why you are wearing contact lens?I have eye problem.Let’s talk about your deal with Stingomania. Don’t you think you are signing away your freedom?I think this would work because I’m not driven by money. If my management company is taking 20 per cent, I still have 80 per cent. I think that is a lot. The management company is getting me deals and things I couldn’t do on my own. If for instance I’m supposed to do two movies a year, I would probably be doing six with my management company. So, I’m making more money because of them. Stingomania will do a lot of things for me and will get me deals even outside of acting. And as per the freedom issue, the company doesn’t close a deal for you without discussing with you first. If I say I don’t want it, that’s it.So, the marketers will have to speak with your management company now, don’t you think that will get them pissed off?They won’t get pissed off because I’m a humble person. I think the way you present issue to people will determine how they react to it.What is your fan book all about?It is a place where my fans can interact with me directly. It is omoniobolifanbook.com. They can ask me any question on anything and I answer.What has kept your marriage going for 10 years?We just have to keep it fresh all the time and we keep the sex hot. I was ready for marriage and I told myself that once I get married I would stay married.How easy is it to break into Nollywood?It’s not easy, let me not lie about that. Some people are there and don’t want anybody to come up there, I don’t want to mention names. But if you have the talent and persistence, you will get there.Who is the most interesting actor you’ve worked with?I would say Ramsey Nouah because he is fun to work with. He is lively and always looking for what will make people happy.How old are you?I was 31 in April.Are you still going to make more kids?No. I’m done.At 31 you are done with kids, you seem to be doing everything early?I got married at 21 really. Honestly I didn’t think I would be married at 21. I just met the right person. Why wait again if I’ve met the right person? He would probably date me for a couple of years, get frustrated and move on to another person. And then I would have missed the right person. He wanted marriage and I wanted it too. Marriage has matured me. I’ve always been matured. I grew up before my time. His being with a good man has also helped me.Does he complain about your romantic roles?No. There was a scene in Figurine where I had to kiss someone. Everybody is talking about the picture on facebook. But what most people don’t know was that he was actually there when we were shooting the love scene in Osun.Why kiss somebody on set when you could fake it?It’s a job. There is nothing to it. There were about 20 people there, so you can’t really be moved emotionally. It is a job.What should your fans expect from you?They should expect the best. I’ll always give them the best, That is why I don’t do every movie that comes across my way, I chose my script. That is why I can confidently say that if you find me in a movie, it is really good.courtesy odili network
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Posted by Fortunate on December 27, 2008 at 4:30am
Hello My Naija People,Have think about this before that "why am i paying monthly subscriptions to Starcoms, Multilinks, Zain,Glo, and MTN"?I have an ideal that's useful to everybody and here is it: you can browse on your pc/laptop computers using your mobile phones as a modem on your favorite network either MTN, or Zain for FREE. All you need is to have a phone that can access the internet.For more information contact 08086855761 or email: fortunate_bright@yahoo.com
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