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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Producer Paul Julius is confident that the tens of thousands of dollars he has spent producing the soap opera “Tomorrow’s Tears” will be recouped, no matter the electricity shortages, lack of investors or grease-palmed government officials hampering his shooting schedule.Fighting to be heard over a steady stream of traffic and actors complaining about the lack of food, money and air conditioning, Mr. Julius explained the plot of his soap, which he hopes to sell to local TV stations. “I changed the subject from the normal stuff: blood, magic, stepmothers, etc.,” he said. “This is going to be about real-life issues.”Mr. Julius is an up-and-coming player in Nigeria’s film and television industry, known as Nollywood, which has grown from its infancy in the 1980s into the one of the world’s biggest movie industries, but is facing some real-life issues of its own.In 2006, nearly 900 movies, almost all straight-to-video, were shot in Nigeria, trailing only India and almost doubling Hollywood’s total for the same year, according to a Unesco report released this month. Currently around 40 movies are shot every month in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, not counting the dozens of television dramas that are also shot here. The industry generates an estimated $250 million a year, and is popular throughout Africa and immigrant enclaves in Europe and the U.S.But rampant piracy means substantial losses for producers and directors already operating on tight budgets. Understaffed and bribe-ready police means copyright enforcement is minimal. Inadequate roadways inhibit a small distribution network itching to grow. Constant electricity outages stall production schedules. These problems threaten to derail the industry.Nigeria’s messy and often corrupt oil industry drives much of what happens in this country. It is the biggest oil producer in Africa, and as much as 95% of the country’s export earnings come from oil. Nigeria has taken in roughly $400 billion in oil-generated revenue since 1970 but the standard of living for most Nigerians has actually decreased.Nonetheless, the country’s residents have an impressive appetite for movies. The most successful Nollywood movies are often melodramas like “Living in Bondage” and “Domitilla,” filled with adultery, bribery and elements of local mysticism.A comedy, however, may have given Nollywood its best chance at international exposure. “Usuofia in London,” about a Nigerian man who lands in the big city straight from his native village, may be the best-selling Nollywood movie to date, with an estimated 500,000 copies sold. Only a handful of Nigerian movies have made it to international film festivals, such as “The Rivals,” directed by Aquila Njamah, which was shown at the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival in 2007.Most Nigerian movies are produced fast and cheap, shot in a few weeks for $15,000 to $25,000, then roughly edited and handed off to marketers and eventually street-side vendors, or video clubs, as they are known locally. Financiers, usually friends or family members of the producer or director, want to see their investments recouped and care little for artistic exploration or high-quality technical effects.Directors are under pressure to keep each movie on schedule and under budget. Profits, when made, are small. Producers estimate that as much as 70% of their yearly revenue is lost to piracy. “I would say the biggest challenge facing the industry at the moment is lack of structure, and a high level of informality,” said Emeka Mba, the chairman of the National Film and Video Censors Board, the Nigerian movie industry’s main regulatory body.There is no formal distribution network for Nollywood producers. A finished movie in Lagos is burned onto around 15,000 DVDs with no copy protection and released into the market. If it’s a hit, demand swells. Vendors need more copies. But the producers often can’t keep up. So the movie is copied by pirates and thrown back into the market. The producer can only hope he made back his investment in time.“We’ve been crying to the government. If these things are not checked now, Nollywood will go into extinction,” said Cosmas Ndulue, 42, a producer and owner of one of only two indigenous DVD manufacturing companies in Nigeria.Industry officials and government agencies have started paying closer attention to piracy, but so far there hasn’t been much of an effect. A recent police raid on a well-known DVD-copying operation resulted in a brief confrontation between police and piracy-ring leaders. The pirates stood their ground and burned a police truck, then went back to work making knock-off Nollywood copies. The only repercussion for the offenders? A bill for the damage to the police vehicle.As piracy takes a larger and larger chunk of the profits, finding enough money to shoot a movie is becoming even more of a challenge. Chico Ejiro, a producer and director, has been struggling to find financing for his movies. A few years ago, during the shooting of his movie “Sisters on the Run,” he sold his car to keep the production afloat. This year he convinced a local bank to sponsor “100 Days in the Jungle,” a film about abduction and village lore, but it was a flop and Mr. Ejiro says the bank quickly soured on Nollywood.Mr. Julius, despite his production headaches, is optimistic about the future of Nollywood, as are most industry players. While watching two of his actors struggle to finish a scene on a busy Lagos street, Mr. Julius was looking forward to a complicated shoot that would involve a substantial police convoy, hundreds of extras, and foreign actors.“I need someone to play the British prime minister in the big scene we’re shooting this weekend,” Mr. Julius said, eyeing a reporter up and down. “Am I looking at him?”
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Hello Honey, It's being a while. I have tried very hard to keep certain worries to myself ever since I wrote to you about your excessive make-up. However, keeping quiet over such serious issues as long as our relationship is concerned is as difficult as single-handedly carrying a man with a broken waist, to borrow Achebe's repertoire of diction.I must confess how happy I was about how you behaved when you visited me over the weekend. And do you know my mother was closely monitoring everything you did and said? You have not allowed your beauty and brains to dictate your character. She was very pleased with you except for one thing. It is something I have always worried about and I think my mother's concerns are genuine and it will do both of us a great deal of help if we deal with it once and for all. I may seem to be talking to much but while I was still searching, one thing I learnt was the fact that one must keep one's eyes wide open before marriage and afterwards, keep one eye shut. I'm a bit worried about the way you dress. I tried to tell you but it has not been easy saying it, so I think this letter is the best medium to discuss some of our issues.According to Mahatma Gandhi, an honest disagreement is a good sign of progress so it's good we both know each other's mind so that we can get on well in our relationship even when we disagree.These days most girls in the country seem to be going about naked without any concern about what society says about them. I remember the first time I saw this type of dress code was in a movie. I had since associated that dress code with the oldest profession in the world because those who dressed that way in movies usually played the role of commercial sex workers. Today, however, I will be wrong if I try to think that way. Young girls, ladies, married women and some shameless grey hairs seem to be competing for attention over indecent dressing. It is appalling to note that this madness has now found its way into churches, where morality should be upheld.Do you know that in the past the expression “a man has seen a woman's beads” was a euphemism for a love affair between the two? I have come across that expression in African novels. Today I don't think any modern writer in his right senses would use such an expression. Why? Your guess is as good as mine. Some ladies these days do not only show their beads, but other appallingly grotesque images as well.This act reminds me of a small girl who lived in our neighbourhood back in the village. Akos was her name. One day her mother warned her not to climb mango trees, for the boys who stood beneath to pick the fruits would see her pants. The following day she came home with more fruits than ever so her mother was suspicious and furious.“Akos, I suspect you climbed the mango tree today too,” she said.“Yes I did, Mum,” Akos replied.“Haven't I warned you against such acts?” her mother snarled.“You said they would see my pants so today I didn't wear any pant.”Little Akos might sound funny and silly, but if you happen to board a 'trotro' bus, with such ladies and they are about to alight, you will understand what I'm talking about. When this madness about fashion first started, people used to complain about girls dressing and exposing their pants so they have “heeded” to the criticism in a rather more disgusting way. Some ladies, before wearing their tight-fitting pair of trousers don't put on panties so whenever they bend or duck to alight from a car, they create a lot of mess. This discussion once came up in a lecture hall and some ladies agreed that there are ladies who do not wear 'undies'.Like mad men and women in Kete-Krachi, no one can tell who gives names to these provocative dress codes, but they come with a host of equally provoking names. We have names such as I'm Aware, Show Your Stomach, Bare Back, Shine Your Eyes and as for the latest one, I haven't heard its name, but I will not be far from right to christen it “SHOW YOUR BREASTS”. With this form of indecent dressing, it doesn't matter whether the person is wearing Kaba or any dress considered decent. They will find a way of cutting it to expose their breasts (not the cleavage).This is one of the reasons I cannot hide my admiration for students of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Both ladies and young men, except a few bad nuts, dress somehow decently so I see no reason why other students can't do same. Do you know that we the guys suffer a lot in lecture halls? How possible is it to concentrate on the lecture when there is a “pornographic material” seated next to you?If at the university level a lady will still debase herself to the level of a sex object, walking about almost naked, then I don't know how she understands education. Unfortunately, we these days ignorantly associate such decay in morality to modernity and civilization. Is there any civility in going about naked?The Central University College (CUC) recently introduced a dress code for its students and a human rights activist, Nana Oye Lithur, took the authorities on in her article in the Daily Graphic. Ever since the article was published, bitter reactions have been pouring in from people who read her condemnation of the CUC authorities. In fact, I think at the university level, students are old enough to know what is right. Telling them what to wear is an insult to their intelligence, but if their freedom is getting out of hand, I think some form of intervention is needed. Let someone ask Nana Oye Lithur if students of the Ghana School of Law are permitted to wear what they like. Law is law and morality is morality. Morality may be subjective but is the basis of all laws. The human rights activists must not forget this.Yours, Sweetheart, is not as provocative as those I see in town, but I'm not too comfortable with it and I think I must do something about it. Deuteronomy 22:5 of the Holy Bible says, “A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman's garments; for whoever does these things is abomination to the Lord Your God.” Do you know that both Christians and non-Christians alike have found a way of condemning this quotation? Most people say the Bible did not specify which clothes belong to what sex. But I'm yet to see a man in right senses wearing kaba and slit. The Holy Bible cannot be amended to specify who should wear what. Some female pastors now deem it fit to mount the pulpit in tight-fitting trousers? In the words of Kerry Elliot, “Flaunting sexuality in public is a betrayal of your femininity, not an endorsement. It is like playing the tuba on the subway to prove that you're a musician… It isn't honest to expose a man to the aroma of steak and apple pie and then accuse him of being a glutton because he licks his lips.”I hope you have understood his last sentence well. Many argue that indecent dressing is not an excuse to rape a girl and I think they are right. Even if a lady decides to walk about naked, it's not an excuse to rape her. But let us not forget that some men have abnormal sexual behaviours, and cannot be governed by this moral principle.Anytime I talk about the rot in society, especially indecent exposures by some ladies, my mates say they don't think I will be able to get a suitable lady to marry. The most important thing in marriage is not to think alike, but to think together. It is impossible to get someone with 100% of the qualities I need in my future wife. We must compromise, but not on some problems we can avoid. We both have our individual differences and I cannot impose what I like on you. I might sound like an extremist but I respect women a lot simply don't see why our women are degrading themselves to that extent.It is now difficult to tell whether the primary aim of wearing clothes is to cover our nakedness or for fashion. The beautiful shape of the African woman is so conspicuous and one does not need to display some vital parts to be recognized.I think you now know why I could not tell you this face-to-face. It doesn't sound like a letter to a loved one, but I couldn't have kept this worry for years. I will not introduce a dress code for you but I just want to appeal to you to be natural and decent, for I will always love you, come what may. On mutual understanding shall we build our relationship and the gate of divorce shall not prevail against it!Sorry, if you may be hurt in any way. I can't wait to hear your reaction!
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DO you sometimes have difficulty finding the right clothes for your thin frame? Hordes of women envy your size, yet it's often difficult to find good clothes that suit you and play to your strengths. Follow our advice to get a feminine and trendy look.The right cutYou need to create curves where you want them. You can dare to wear very tight close cuts or longer, bigger cuts to make you look wider. f( you are a size· six or eight there are affordable brands out there that specialise in slim sizes and do some very feminine pieces.The right coloursAlmost anything goes. Current fashion is geared towards women who are thin and happy in their skin. Don't be shy about wearing bright colours: dare to wear red or yellow if you have the right colouring. If you want to look wider, wear neutral/light colours and play with contrast. For example wear light tops and dark bottoms or vice versa. Prints look great on you, so go for big motifs. You can also wear horizontal stripes if you are tall.The right materialsThick fabrics, soft and flexible knits suit you. Always play with contrast for example team a silk blouse with jeans or a plain cotton tee shirt with linen trousers or a satin skirt. You can also layer your clothes to fill out your figure.The right accessoriesWith the right accessories you can highlight your strength·s - your slim figure, elegant neck and lean legs. Accessories can add volume by playing with horizontal lines.- BeltsIf you have no waist, go for wide belts in bright colours. If your waist is small, try out some beautiful original belts.- ScarvesScarves and shawls suit you well because they add volume and divert attention away from your figure. If you have very thin arms, wear a little scarf knotted around your neck rather than contrasting a thick shawl with thin arms.- Big braceletsWooden or metal bangles add curves! Wear several on 'your wrist to jazz up a dull. outfit or give it an ethnic look. If your wrists are really tiny, bangles· give an illusion of volume and of softness. Be careful not to go too bling, though!- Ballet pumpsBallet pumps break up long, thin silhouettes. It doesn't matter if you have big feet: it's the horizontal line that counts. If you're petite, go for shoes with a slight platform or a little kitten heel. Wear them with all types of outfits, but especially with jeans or short black trousers.Avoid- T-shirts with very short sleevesIf you have very thin arms, they're not very flattering. Go for length or long sleeves. Don't do spaghetti straps if your shoulders are bony.- Slight V necksThese are too pointy for you. They enhance the vertical line of your figure. Round or square necks are better. Also avoid long jewellery, but go for V neck jumpers over bare skin or a white tee.- Flared mini skirtsThese can make your legs look even skinnier than they already are. If you like light skirts, go for long ones that flatter you more.Also try- Balloon skirtsOne word: Volume! The balloon skirt doesn't suit everyone, but it looks good on thin frames, whether you are tall or petite. The balloon skirt is quite short and usually comes in cotton. It isn't actually shaped like a balloon at all: it's doubled, with an uncut bottom. Go for dark colours and wear with ballet pumps for lightriess.- Pleated skirtsRock the schoolgirl look in pleated skirts that stop just above the knee. These are ideal for skinny legs because. the pleats give fullness at the hips and thighs. Wear with a jumper and ballet pumps or heels. Don't team with schoolgirl-style shirts if you don't want to look like you're going to a Back to School themed party, though.- One sleeved tops with a full, loose sleeveThese can be difficult to wear day to day but make great evening tops and one sleeved dresses are fab for nights out.How to cheatPlain white or colored shirts They can be dressed up or down for all occasions. Tuck into your trousers or into a straight skirt to create volume, or accessorise with a little pearl necklace to add roundness for girlie look.- Boot cut jeansA low cut waist is ideal for creating curves. Boot cuts make your buttocks round, and the new flared jeans are tight-fitting but flare out at the ankles, so they flatter skinny bodies more than other types of jeans like skinnies which can just end up making you look skinnier.- Wide trousersThey're back in! Choose a pair with a good finish and large turn-ups at the bottom. They fall perfectly on flat shoes or platforms if you're short. Wear with straight long-sleeved sailor-stripe tops.
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A lecturer at the Accra Polytechnic says sex ban cannot be the solution to political stand-off.Nana Obiri Yeboah told Joy News " i don't think it has solved any problem. It has even worsen it. We cannot use sex bans to solve conflicts. Even from the house hold level there must be peace so if there is sex ban at the household level, the family unit, then you are exacerbating the problem."His comments is in reaction to a legal suit filed by Kenya's James Kamundo against gender activist leading the crusade for sex bans in Kenya.The ban is to push the male dominated political leaders, led by President Moi Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to go for an amicable settlement of election related violence.Even though the sex ban has not achieved the desired results, Kamundo has been greatly affected.He told the BBC, he is sexually active and the ban is causing considerable havoc in his life."I had a lot of stress. I couldn't concentrate on my work. Normally I have sex with my wife about three times a day. Sometimes I even go home at lunch time to have sex with my wife."He said he feels sick after being starved of sex and wants redress at the law courts.Nana Obiri Yeboah told Joy News Evans Mensah, such a ban in Ghana will be "basis for divorce" in the country."Your wife can even report you if you don't pacify her sexually," he said.When Joy News sought the opinions of some Ghanaians, the sexist line was clearly drawn.The females were ready to slap a ban on sex with their husbands, but the men were ready to seek sex elsewhere if the ban is imposed.
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A 24-year-old trained nurse, Stella, says she has been forced into what she calls 'prostitution' by the Ghana Health Service which failed process her salary.Stella said she has been working without salary for the past eighteen months and all efforts to get the Controller and Accountant General's Department to resolve the issue have yielded no results.Speaking to Joy FM's Super Morning Show host Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, Stella said owing to her precarious situation, she is forced to stay with a man to whom she is not and does not intend to marry.But she performs wifely duties in return for money her upkeep and other basic necessities."It's been difficult to be very frank with you. I live with a man, he is not my husband but he decided to pay my rent, give me some money and now am performing a wife's duty simply because I can't afford to take care for myself and it's hell."I'm not the only person most of my colleagues are going through similar, similar stories and is very very painful," she lamented."Stella, how do you feel in this current situation?" Oppong-Nkrumah asked, to which she responded, "to me is ugly for a nurse to go through these things. I don't even like talking about it but the way things are it is better I say it. It is the ugliest thing I've ever done and is the thing I will be very glad to stop."The distraught nurse appealed to authorities to rectify the situation since it was exacting a heavy toll on her.The Public Relations Officer at the Controller and Accountant General's, Sephax Dosu said the problem was not caused by the department.According to him, it is the responsibility of Personnel Processing Departments of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to do the property documentation to facilitate the payment of salaries of their employees.Mr. Dosu said if staff of PPD of MDAs enter the data of employees in good time, salaries of workers could not be delayed.He appealed to MDAs to exercise patience and explain to workers who complain about delays in salaries so "that they don't insult to injury."
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It was all glamour, sophistication and fun at the Silverbird Galleria in Lagos, Nigeria over the weekend at the premiere of “The Perfect Picture”. Top Nollywood movie stars and producers gathered in the Victoria Island city of Lagos to witness the spectacular event.This Premiere is believed to be the first time a Ghanaian production is being showcased in Africa's leading Movie Industry (Nigeria). Not only did the occasion attract movie fans but also stakeholders in the Entertainment industry including Bankers, Advertisers and media Practitioners across the continent.It was a night of fashion, good blend of music from the two countries and a red carpet treatment for the top stars who turned up for the premiere. Like a Hollywood Premiere, the Nollywood movie stars and their Ghanaian counterparts arrived in an array of Limozines and other stylish vehicles. Even before the actual premiere began, the atmosphere at the Silverbird Galleria had been turned into a cheering one for producer and director of “The Perfect Picture”, Shirley Frimpong-Manso and her cast and crew.“This is another demonstration that Ghana and Nigeria have so much in common, that the natural interest in each other's development remains a strong commitment to Ghanaians and Nigerians. Silverbird and Global Media Alliance are committed to encouraging and promoting the African movie industry. This is a good beginning” Emphasized, Edward Boateng, Executive Chairman of Global Media Alliance.The idea of premiering the movie in Nigeria was mooted by Silverbird Cinemas, Ghana after an impressive showing in Accra two months ago. The Chairman of the Silverbird Group, Bruce Ben-Moree Bruce is full of praise for the quality of the movie.Before the premiere in the evening, stakeholders in the movie industry from the two countries met to discuss how best the industry can be supported especially financing movie productions in Africa and promoting the industry on the international scene. Global Media Alliance and the Silverbird group, organizers of the event say “The Perfect Picture” will be screening in other states in Nigeria and premiered in Kenya and London later this year.Information Minister, Zita Okaikoi who was the special guest of honour said government is committed to supporting and investing in the movie industry since it plays a vital role in the country's developmental agenda.Top Nigerian movie stars and producers have heaped tonnes of praises on Shirley and her talented team. This was after they had been treated to a special showing of the movie. Some of the people were particularly impressed with the quality of the cast and the storyline.Among the Nollywood stars and producers who graced the occasion were Stephany Okereke, Kate Ershaw, Ngozi and Zack Orjih.
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img src="" alt="" width="140" height="105"/>As Nollywood continues to rise in popularity, Hollywood might just begin to see Nigeria as the perfect background for its movies. Why not? A city like Lagos has all the scenic drama you would need for the perfect action scene. Variety Magazine announced this week that Ben Stiller will be directing a new movie based on a Chicago banker who gets swindled in a Nigerian scam. While the project is meant to be entertaining, it also sheds light on current issues in Nigeria and other African countries. The film is going to be produced by Participant Media (The Soloist) whose mandate to make films that compel social change.At the premiere of X-Men the wolverine last weekend, many Nigerians were proud to see that one of the beginning scenes was set in Lagos. There was even a man speaking Igbo! The aerial view was definitely Lagos and some even think that the action shot that featured a Nigerian diamond dealer took place in the UBA building. However, most of the shots were probably in a studio.Normal 0 false false false.It looks like Nollywood might also be able to compete with “Tinsel Town’ some day. UNESCO announced that the Nigerian film industry has overtaken Hollywood and closed the gap on India in the number of movies produced each year. So, what are your thoughts on Hollywood films and TV shows that reference Nigeria and how accurate are they? Here are a few below but I’m probably missing a lot.
Bruce Willis plays a Special-Ops commander who leads his team into a jungle in Nigeria to rescue a doctor played by Monica Belluci who will only go with them if they agree to rescue 70 refugees too.
SaharaMatthew McConaughey is cast as explorer Dirk Pitt who goes on the adventure of a lifetime of seeking out a lost Civil War battleship known as the “Ship of Death” in the deserts of West Africa while helping a UN doctor being hounded by a ruthless dictator.
Phat GirlzMonique plays a plus-size woman trying to find a place in the skin-and-bones world of high fashion by launching her own line of clothes for large ladies. While on vacation, she meets Tunde (Jimmy Jean-Louis), a handsome and successful doctor from Nigeria, and she discovers to her surprise that Tunde is strongly attracted to her.AddendumI just had to write this note after hearing the opinions of our readers thus far. I definitely agree that we have seen too much from the media about the negatives like the scam industry and not enough positive news. Just wanted to note that the producers of the movie have stated that the movie will highlight issues in the country that influence the scam industry.The purpose of film is to showcase reality, provoke thought, invoke emotion and hopefully bring about change. The “419″ scam is one that is very real in our society and stains our public image. This movie or any type like it is not what is destroying our image. Unfortunately, thanks to a few bad apples, all “The West” has to do is look at their inbox and fax machine to be presented with a negative view of Nigeria. Hopefully through a movie like this we can talk about the real reason why corruption and scams like “419″ exists.I also agree that “The West” needs to look internally instead of pointing the finger at us. From the corporate greed in Wall Street that caused the global financial crisis, to Bernie Madoff and other Ponzi schemes, 419 exists in everyone’s backyard. While we shouldn’t rely on Hollywood to be the ones to highlight our issues, culture and identity. We need to understand that to change perceptions we do have to be in the broad public dialogue.The one thing that makes me nervous is that the there isn’t a single Nigerian on the executive production team. Either way, as someone who doesn’t have the luxury of being in my country every day. It’s still pretty cool to once in a while see Nigeria or Nigerians referencd in a movie or TV show, unfortunately that comes with bad plot lines and inaccurate scenery. Thanks guys for the comments and please keep them coming!Note (3:15pm) Synopsis of Tears of the Sun movie changed to “jungle in Nigeria”. Thanks for catching that rizzle we definitely dont want the world to think all of Nigeria is a jungle
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p style="text-align: left;">BN Exclusive: eLDee Weds Dolapo Multi-talented Nigerian music star, eLDee (Lanre Dabiri) and his long-term sweetie, Dolapo Latinwo-Belo
Their Story The couple have been together for about a decade. They started dating during their days as students of the University of Lagos. Eldee is a graduate of Architecture while Dolapo studied Urban & Regional Planning. The couple has grown together through their various successes and life changes. As Lanre’s musical career blossomed they still kept the romance alive. Distance also didn’t deter them as over the past few years, eLDee was based in Atlanta, USA while Dolapo was based in the UK.
The CeremonyBoth families came together to celebrate the engagement on the 2nd of November 2008. The event was colourful and vibrant as eLDee and Dolapo received blessings and prayers from family and friends.
The white wedding and reception took place on the 6th of November 2008.The St Saviors Church, Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos was the venue as the couple exchanged their vows before friends, family and well-wishers. The bride looked resplendent in an ivory gown embellished with crystal and lace while the groom looked dapper in his black suit complemented by an ivory waistcoat & gold tie. The bridesmaids were draped in bronze while the groomsmen had a black and orange theme. Amongst eLDee’s groomsmen was his friend and musical collaborator, OlaDele & Timi.
The wedding party then proceeded to the reception which was held in Lekki, Lagos. An efferversant atmosphere was created at the reception as showbiz colleagues including Olu Maintain, Banky W, Sound Sultan & ID Cabasa serenaded the couple with various hits.
It was a fun yet emotional day as this couple sealed their union. We wish them all the blessings as they embark on their life journey together.
Michael Jackson has denied he has skin cancer and is still rehearsing for his forthcoming this is It shows.The Beat It singer's spokesperson, Dr Tohme Tohme, says he is in the "best of health" and doesn't have skin cancer, as recently reported.Tohme Tohme told the New York Daily News paper: "He is great. He in perfect health. He doesn't have any diseases whatsoever."Michael was said to be suffering from spots on his skin, cancer on his upper body and pre-cancerous cells on his face - thought to be linked to vitiligo, a condition he also suffers from.Despite his denial, Michael is reportedly under doctors' supervision, though he has defiantly pressed on with four times a week practices for his 50 date residency at London's O2 arena, which starts in June against their orders.A source told Britain's The People newspaper: "Michael is determined the show will go on."He is determined his comeback shows will be the best they possibly can be for his loyal fans. The doctors finally came round to the idea, although they still want to keep a close eye on him."Michael is also said to be developing a new dance move to rival his famous Moonwalk of the 80s.Choreographer Kenny Ortega - who he worked with Michael on his 'Dangerous' and 'HIStory world tours - said: "He's working on something new, but I'm sworn to secrecy."Michael Jackson's residency at the O2 arena opens on July 8.
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The 2009 Hip Hop World Awards carried its bags off to Abuja this year. Leaving behind the pomp and pageantry of last year’s edition for a fresh experience in Abuja.The awards ceremony was supported with generous sponsorship from MTN so everyone had grand expectations.How did it work out?No doubt, the 2009 Hip Hop World Awards was a great effort. Even after all the hullabaloo surrounding the nominations, the winners list is one that most music lovers will be cool with. Banky W and Kemi Adetiba did a great job as hosts for the night9ice was the king of the night as he scooped away 3 awards while Omawumi firmly established her place as the emerging QUEEN with 2 awards including the highly sought after ‘Next Rated Award’. The main buzz of the night were the performances – a surprise onstage reunion by the Trybesmen alongside rousing performances from many of the nominees and eventual winners including MI, Kel, Iyanya, 2Face alongside Sound Sultan, Darey with his band, Lord of Ajasa and 9ice. The major downers were the late kickoff time, lack of the usual star power on the red carpet and the scanty venue. Not sure why Abuja didn’t come out to show love for the HHWA but overall, the night flew by on a high note.Album of the Year - Gongo Aso (9ice)Song of the Year - Gongo Aso (9ice)Recording of the Year - Michelle (Etcetera)Producer of the Year- ID Cabasa (Gongo Aso)Best Music Video - Jude Okoye (Roll it)Best Reggae/Dancehall Album - Gift and Grace (Timaya)Best RnB/Pop Album - Gongo Aso (9ice)Best Rap Album - Talk About It (MI)Best Collabo - Good or Bad (J Martins ft Timaya and Psquare)Best Rap Single - Kini Big Deal (Naeto C)Best Vocal Performance (Male) - Banky WBest Vocal Performance (Female) - OmawumiNext Rated - OmawumiHip Hop World Revelation - MI (Talk About It)Lyricist on the Roll – Nine (Mode 9)Best Street Hop - O4 ka si be (DJ Zeez)Hip Hop World Hall of Fame - Phillip Trimnell and Grand Master Lee
The Internet has made the world an open enterprise, making It expedient for businesses to further expand their market and their target audience. Internet Marketing maybe a high risk venture for business owners who wish to explore this arena.As an internet entreprenuer, you must ensure that most of your target customers will acquire purchase product or service. You must consider the best products that will definitely capture their interests and needs. This means that you need to identify specifically where your market lies i.e. their location and financial capability. It is advisable that you acquire marketing knowledge and skill to achieve your goal on the internet.At present, you can use a variety of internet marketing solutions that are being offered by companies for support to your customers. These solutions span from email marketing, search engine optimization or website design and many more. Since you need to maximize your return on investment, you need to choose the right set of internet marketing solutions to help you achieve this. These marketing techniques will not cost much since they are very self-explanatory and can be learned easily.Email marketing is perhaps the most popular internet marketing solution. This is a cost effective way of communicating and interacting to your customers or subscribers, driving them to visit your website to check out your products. It may be in a way of marketing articles, leading them to forums or newsletters. A newsletter has an advantage of expanding your subscriber base as more and more people sign up to it until, before you know it you would have built a bulk email list.Another great Internet marketing solution is through websites. This is a good promotion strategy to employ since you can display all the necessary information for your target customers. The website should capture their interest and be complete since every transaction, from inquiry to payments may take place. All correspondence that will be done online must be well-facilitated by the features of your website.There is also a strategy known as search engine optimization. This is a type of service for your website that you can make use of in order to raise the number of visitors to your site. Once a customer uses a search engine, your website will rank high in the list of searches which in return will increase your site’s traffic.Considering these internet marketing solutions, there are different companies offering software products and services containing one or all of these solutions. It would be a great opportunity to try one of them, depending on your financial capability and expected return on investment.Maverick-KJoin my mailing list to receive regular updates on inner circle internet marketing secrets-->> http://www.nicheventura.com/optin
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Good Morning AllA friend of mine has asked if it was possible to use a Laptop in a Molue in Lagos , I saw the message on his status and it just made me laugh , what a great start to a sunny day. Well i have been imagining what it would be like to use your laptop in a molue. I only used the Molue once or twice and that was after I had left Nigeria and went back home for a holiday. It was a thrill to get on the Molue, one of many traditions I remember about the great state of Lagos State. At times I thought i was in a yellow taxi from New York , it was only a matter of time before I pinched myself and realised I was in Nigeria.Molue is a yellow bus with tattered seats with passengers packed like sardines in the bus. These Molue's are like death traps certainly not road worthy but does the business in transporting lots of people to their destination. It also a cheap form of transport. If you are to enter one ensure you have bottled water u are likely to collpase because of the heat , if you do not have your own bottled water you are going to be approached to buy pure water. I think you could use your laptop in the Molue but you are likely to attract attention to yourself and the chance of your laptop arriving with you at your destination is very slim indeed. I think because of the way the Molue is jam packed it would be difficult to use ur Laptop but I think you can get away with a blackberry or PDA but once again you are asking for trouble. I remember attracting the Area Boys because I wore this panda wrist watch and white with trousers, I stood up like a sore tomb, yes Londoner abi American the bobo e ooo. Na GOD save me after a few tips of dosh they let me go, it did not help that I also had jerry curls it was the fashion statement in those days. Yellow tee shirt, white trouses , white tennis shoes feeling funky catching a Molue thinkiing it will be nice to explore Lagos streets like Oyinbo people do.Anyway if you ever try to enter Molue in Nigeria here are some ground rules oooIf U carry yansh occupy two pesin seat na two pesin moni U go pay!If U wan ride Molue wey dey alao 'Staff' (people wey dey claim title wey no wan pay) ride na dat oda one wey im drifer na albino make U look.The claims of the merchant wey dey try sell U the 'Cure All' merecine on top this Molue are not necessarily the same of the Naija Rough Riders Transport PLC, its affiliates or management.If we jam pesin and U wan claim insurance U no dey ride here again after we fix moto!Abeg if ya breast don wohwoh finish no begin carry am feed pikin for here..try konsida sey oda people dey ride.If U give conductor moni wey don tear walai talai NA SKATTA!Make U pack yuasef and yua frens make una siddon for one place cause we no wan hear dat nonsense 'My broda go pay U for back' yan!Becos U hang for doormot when U dey ride no mean sey U dey pay haf price O!We don post disclaimer incase awa seat stain, rough, or tear ya outfit for yansh when we siddon..no be by force sey U muss nak yansh for chair ride.We reserf di right to claim ya moni if we announce sey we no get change but U no gree hear word still carry Agidi enta....change na prifilej no be right!Women...una no fit sue for sesua harasmen for here because na ya word against man when people pack like sandine and U wan claim sey guys dey take style tap current...And if man wey tanda and U siddon dey take style peek inside ya cleafage nex time make U carry peg hold am or clamp ya handbag for chestWoman wey ride wiff driver for front dey subject to toasting....dat na prifilej to ride wiff my oga!!If U dey ride for night make U hold correct change becos if conductor muss turn torchlight an extra two minits to make shenj ol boy dat na extra sharj O!Molue trunk no dey open so if U get extra load know oredi sey U go pay extra for seat or roof loading.Refund no dey incase MoPol stop us seize Molue becos E no pass Road Worthiness.E get some times wey the choke button no go work well well so make una hang on well well incase conductor go need to push up or downhill make driver come remove leg from clutch chuck am one time to start.If U ride ontop rear bumper and U break am U GO PAY!Refund no dey if OPC stop us for road talk sey dem need Molue for 'operation'...U wan follo dem argue? go ahead!.....and finally....Na only drifer or conductor get otoriti to request make Molue stop make im troway small piss nak tree before we continue journey........abi I lie?
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Have oftened wondered what it would be like if Tom Tom's could work in Nigeria. I mean a Navigator in Nigeria,so I imagine am in my Borat car on third mainland bridge trying to get back to VI from Mushin here we goVoice on Navigator startsPlease type in your destination , Okay I want to go through Mile 2, Ketu, Surulere, Aguda, Ebute Meta, Sorry the Navigator does not recognise these destinations. Please shake the navigator well, well ensure the battery to ur cark is in working order, turn off the navigator again. Please check the make of ur navigator i hope u did not buy me from Aba market.Yes its working1. After twenty miles you will hit the Police Checkpoint please remember to put hand in pocket2. After thirty miles please avoid 10 pot holes five on the left , one in the middle of the road and four on the right3. After forty miles please slow down u are about to hit a dead body on the road. Please do not attempt to stop and try and be a samaritan just press ya foot on ur accelerator and pick race like Lewis Hamilton4. After Fifty miles please slow down there are no lights in this neighbourhood and you are likely to have a punctured tyre for no reason at all, you are advised not to argue give them what they want, dont attempt to call the Police5. After Sixty miles try not to turn right it leads to the cemetery , turn left and you hit the Ashewo joint , please note there are no speed limits just press ya foot on the accelerator and move fast6. After Seventy miles you have reached your destination, please note your security guard has arranged for his friends to rob u , dont argue give them what they want after u have been robbed, get out of the car ,open your gate , go straight to bed ,read ya bible and thank GOD for protecting you and sparing your life
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Dear Presidents Around the WorldMy name is Bamidele Obonjo am the President of Lafta Republic.This week, as reports of the 2009 H1N1 flu outbreak around the world were made public, my Administration has been carefully monitoring the situation, we are busy at work finding appropriate strategies to reduce the spread of Swine Flu. Our medical research team is busy developing aggressive Lafta Pills and Stem cells for the future which we will be happy to sell to your various countries.We have noted that Swine Flu is passed from pig to pig now a pig has passed it to a human what has happened here?. Ki lo de why in South America and Europe. Ki lo de. Never in Africa would our pigs infect one another talk less of passing it to humans. Devil is a liar have you not heard of mountain of fire prayers. Our pigs eat shit , left overs pounded yam , egusi they are immune from Swine Flu.It is rather unfortunate that we have had a number of deaths my heart goes out to the families who have lost their loved ones. As I understand it , the Swine Flu is from pigs all located abroad in particular Mexico except from Africa. I know how you all like your pork and bacon where it applies, I think your citizens now need to refrain from playing with animals. What is wrong with this people,why play with pigs , when a former Presidential candidate states that you can put a lipstick on a pig it gives people all sorts of ideas, you know.I urge you and your Parliaments to act expeditiously in considering my important request, which is for you to replace your pigs with Nigerian/ African pigs. You need an immediate cull of your type of pigs. My nation is returniing all imported pork, bacon and we have banned them from coming into our country. There is a good selection of pigs for your use, I hope we will not have any difficulities in gettiing our brand of pigs visa to enter your various countries. I am not sure if our brand of pigs can provide you with bacon and pork because they have been raised in a tropical climate and what they have been fed on over the years makes them immune, I can assure you our brand of pigs do not play with humansI look forward to hearing from you.Sincerely,President ObonjoGhanian President RespondsDear President Obonjoon a serious note now, you know wiping all them pigs out and replacing with ours ain't such a bad idea!! As for our pigs not playing with people, I don't know about that. My woman told me about an incidence here in Accra. There was a guy employed to take care of their pigs like 4 years ago. They just observed that if the guy goes out and he's ... Read morecoming back the pigs all run to him and meet him at the gate. Also every evening about 12 midnight, there's a lot of noise in the barn where they are being kept.One evening her dad decided to check the source of the noise, lo and behold the man dey hump tuupu dey go like mad!! I'll spare you the rest of the story. This is not entertainment!!! It's a real life happening location - Maamobi in Accra - GhanaPresident Bayor
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Dear President ObonjoI am writing to advise you to join us in our mission to travel to the moon. All African Leaders conveyed a meeting recently it was our own version of G20 summit but mainly to discuss how we can get to the Moon.Africans must travel to the moon to investigate what developed nations have been doing in outer space, , Obonjo join us."The Americans have gone to the moon. And the Russians. The Chinese and Indians will go there soon. Africans are the only ones who are stuck here, why is it that we are stlil stuck on earth. "We must also go there and say: 'What are you people doing up here?'." We no longer want to stay down there the heat is too much .Uganda alone cannot go to the moon. We are too small. But the rest of Africa can.. This is what African integration is all about, Come with me Obonjo and then we can say to the Americans: 'What are you doing here all alone?'." You know it will be good to meet with Obama in Outerspace.Obonjo lets go there.Yours sincerelyPresident Museveni - Ugandan PresidentDear President MuseveniPresident Museveni, Museveni, MuseveniHow many times did I call your name. Sir I am rolling on the floor Laughing my ass off Laff wan kill me oo, I know we need change but this is not change i will believe in. I know Martin Luther King had a dream, but My President not this kind of dream. I have come to the conclusion that our African Leaders dont know how to dream and if they do its wrong dreams.Where are you coming from Sir. I know we need to have dreams and aspire but please we cant even feed our people , have the basic infrastructure , cater for the needy, provide basic education and medicines for the needy , how about starting with developing core values for our respective nations , develop a culture of accountabilty, please dont start me off oooo , i will leave you with the pisho below once you have had time to look at it , please write back to me and let me know if you still want to go to the moon.Your sincerelyBamidele ObonjoPresident of Lafta Republic
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Dear President ObamaI hope you are well and doing great. Wassssssssssssssssup , Ki lo shele, Nothing do u. You are too much lets cute the chase.Today , I was on the motorway and switched on the radio and heard that you will be visiting Ghana before visiting Nigeria oti oooooo , I understand when you visit Ghana you have no plans to visit Nigeria. How come , why , when what , ki lo de wetin we do ooo.My Brother, I am pleased for Ghanians , it will be an honour to have u land in Accra u can even go by road just watch the pot holes and because you are in Ecowas territory no need for Visa, but my brother why not Nigeria to, what have we done are you trying to tell us something. Okay , I am sorry I cracked jokes pushing u to have a male son in the white house, for telling u that we may replace minchelle if she does not deliver a son , for accusing u for putting all black men under pressure since you became President , we no longer have any excuse for not meeting our dreams, not even the one for having a funny name sticks anymore.I have been thinking seriously why you chose Ghana before Nigeria, I dont think you realise what Nigerians did when you won the elections just to recap we did the following:1. Almost every household made Aso-ebi carrying your logo all over the streets of Nigeria, Even some that did not have the money borrowed to get their Aso Ebi and are still paying back what they borrowed. Even some have returned the clothes.2. There were several fund raising parties in Nigeria to raise funds for you, I know you rightly asked people not to send the money raised but use it to improve democracy in Nigeria.3. I know people blocked streets in Nigeria just to celebrate your election4.Several Leaders asked Nigerians to draw inspiration in your Success but not for them just for the people, Do what I say not what am doing5. We spent more money spraying strangers at parties just to celebrate your Success6. The Average Nigerian was more clued on about your election than in our own election7.We have set so many groups for you "Nigerians for Obama", "Africans for Obama", "I support Obama "the list is endless.8. We have started writing Articles "How can we find our own Obama", " Is Obama possible in Nigeria"9, We even celebrated more than your Kenyan brothers10. So many Swagga parties with brothers charging at the doorObama I hope you can see my point , so I am perplexed that you will not even land in Nigeria, its like a puzzle to me could it be for the follwoing reasons:that we are speniding 1.9 billions dollars on roads in Abuja believe it or not after well over 40 years and 40 nights we still do not have constant light, water in some areas, in short in most areasthat we can elect Gominas and remove them from office in court and replace them with new gominasthat one minute in Ekiti state the Electoral Officer says she cant go ahead with the elections and a couple of days later , she is back from Aso and declares the winnerThe list is endless my brother but if there is one thing I want you to consider when you visit Ghana try and stop over in Nigeria , come and celebrate the second year anniversary of our Popular President he has achieved more in 2 years like you have done in 100 days. He has brought Change that we believe in. We have started the rebranding project.Safe journey to GhanaYoursPresident Obonjo
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"OL'boy, are you watching CNN now?"
"No. I dey Tarmac dey chop life"
"What are you chopping?"
"Peppersoup. Correct isi ewu and nkwobi"
"Be careful. You may be taking a typhoid concoction."
"No. Oh. This one cures malaria. It is specially prepared. And the thing sweet no be small. Leave me make I chop the life of my head."
"Look, that's not why I called. I think you should go and watch CNN right now. It is a sad day for Nigeria. In fact every Nigerian must hide his or her head in shame."
"What is it again this time? Dis kin country wey no go let person rest. Problem today. Wahala tomorrow. To be a Nigerian na crime?"
"Obama is visiting Africa in July and he is not coming to Nigeria"
"And so? Is he a Nigerian? Let him go to his Kenya. Obama is coming to the land of his fathers. Is that why I should stop enjoying my nkwobi?"
"Did you hear what I said? How many bottles have you taken? Obama is coming to Africa on a presidential visit in July and he is visiting Egypt and Ghana. He and Michelle, his wife, will spend two days in Ghana. I think that is an insult to Nigeria. I mean the Americans are deliberately rubbishing us."
"But you should know why? That is America's own way of sending a strong message that they are unhappy with the situation in Nigeria."
"That is why I am sad."
"That is how the American foreign policy process works. It is based on a reward and sanctions principle, if you like - carrot and stick. America goes out of its way to reward countries that are doing well. It sanctions those that appear to be doing badly and a sanction can be in any form. Obama flying over Nigeria to go to Ghana is an act of snobbery. It is the most painful form of sanction"
"But what is it that Egypt is doing well?"
"It is a strategic choice. Egypt is a strategic U.S. ally in the Middle East and America's major bilateral partner."
"Nigeria is also strategic. We sell crude oil to the United States. American oil companies are Nigeria's Joint Venture partners. We supported the U.S. African High Command in the Gulf of Guinea. We have a long history of relationship with the United States. We are the most powerful, the most populous..."
"I beg. Leave that matter oh. Nigerians can't fool anybody with that slogan anymore. Don't you get it? You want Obama to come to Nigeria shortly after the shameful electoral process in Ekiti? You want him to visit Abuja and address your National Assembly? The same National Assembly where the lawmakers are being accused of corruption? You want Obama to attend a dinner in Nigeria where nearly all the people he would come across will be persons who organise the snatching of ballot boxes, the distribution of bribe, oil thieves, tax evaders, treasury looters, and aggressive Nigerian women who will be waiting for Michelle to go to the ladies for a second so they can swoop on the U.S. President, and squeeze their numbers into his palm? You think the Americans don't know?"
"You are not serious. You should stand up for your country. We are not worse than Pakistan or Egypt, and even Obama's Kenya."
"Obama is a brand apart from being the U.S. President. His handlers must have advised him that this is not a good time to visit Nigeria. And all those your countrymen and women in the United States are not helping matters. They are always telling the Americans that their country is a useless place."
"You don't even need to blame those ones. The U.S. has an embassy here. They know what is going on. But it is just that I would have loved Obama to visit Nigeria, Nigerians worked very hard for that man's election."
"Una vote for am?"
"But he has more supporters in Nigeria than in Kenya. People bought Obama stickers and pasted on their cars. There is still an Obama billboard in Abuja. Obama photo portraits are being sold on the streets of Lagos. Musicians sang about him. Even market women campaigned for him. Not to talk of the Obama for Africa associations that tried to raise funds for his campaign. I also know many Nigerians in the U.S. who contributed to the Obama fund. I am even sure that if anybody had said Obama lost that election, bare-chested Nigerian women were ready to go onto the streets in protest. Someone said that was part of the calculations. "
"You know you are actually talking about Nigerians who were using the Obama name to do business and make quick profit. By the way what happened to your sister's Obama fund campaign? You mean she and other members of the Obama for Africa movement cannot persuade the U.S. President to come to Nigeria first?"
"Not fair. Obama should have visited Nigeria first. If only to come and say thank you to the Nigerian people. The U.S. Embassy will need to explain why we are being snubbed. We may not know how to organize free and fair elections, but we are a great nation."
"Good people too... Tell them make dem hear."
"I feel sad when I see how Ghana is now upstaging Nigeria in every respect."
"Ghana organizes good elections. And its leaders are better organised and more disciplined. Obama's visit to Ghana is to encourage both the people and government of Ghana to remain the shining Black Star of the West African coast. And a way of telling Nigeria to get its acts together"
"I know".
"Besides, Ghana has discovered oil in commercial quantities. Soon, the United States will buy oil from Ghana and ignore Nigeria and its Niger Delta problems. Also, the U.S. has adopted a new four cardinal-point strategy in Africa. It includes South Africa, Kenya, Ghana and Egypt. Nigeria is not quite part of it."
"I hope our leaders are getting the message"
"They won't. Look, let's take a bet. I won't be surprised if in July, Nigerian leaders travel to Ghana to join the Ghanaians in receiving Obama. Can't you see that many Nigerians are now going to Ghana? Nigerian companies are setting up branches in Ghana, there are Nigerian-owned restaurants and shops in Accra, the population of Nigerian students in Ghanaian universities is very high and it keeps increasing. I know Nigerians who have bought homes in Ghana. Every weekend, they just hop across the border. It is 45 minutes by air. Accra is closer to Lagos than Abuja. So really, should we blame the Americans? Even Nigerians prefer to go to Ghana. In fact, I hear that Nigerians in Ghana are lobbying to be part of the Obama reception activities!"
"There will always be shameless Nigerians. But we need to rebuild this country. There were more foreign dignitaries at Jacob Zuma's inauguration than there were at Yar'Adua's inauguration. Countries like Tanzania and Rwanda have better international recognition than Nigeria."
"Don't worry yourself. In fact, if you ask me, I will recommend that President Yar'Adua should ask the Americans and the Ghanaians to invite him to the dinner for President Obama."
"God forbid. We are a sovereign nation."
"I know... I am sure somebody must have told Obama that they kidnap people in Nigeria. And he must have been advised not to put anything past those Niger Delta militants. They could organize and kidnap Obama and his wife. Or throw a shoe at him."
"Kidnap who? Throw a shoe at who?"
"Obama. Didn't somebody throw a shoe at George Bush in Baghdad?"
"Now, I am convinced that you are drunk".
"So why are you disturbing my drink with your sadness about Obama not coming to Nigeria? Okay, let me now play the Devil's advocate. Someone should go and tell that Obama that he does not know what he is missing. He should go and ask President Bill Clinton and President Jimmy Carter. Those are friends of Nigeria. When Clinton visited Nigeria, he enjoyed himself so much. Let Obama go to Ghana. He is free to prefer kenke to nkwobi. We are still the happiest people in the world and we thank God for that."
"Who is talking about happiness?"
"And tell President Yar'Adua not to worry. In fact, who are the Americans to tell us how to organize elections? We are a free country. We have the right to go to heaven the way we choose. President Yar'Adua should also organise a foreign trip. Let him fly over the United States and go to Canada, and from there let him go to Venezuela and Cuba on state visit. America too dey make yanga. Faure Gyassingbe Eyadema of Togo was here on a presidential visit, the same week they announced Obama's African trip. That was Nigeria's response to America's snobbery. Is Eyadema also not a President?"
"The United States is the most powerful country in the world. Who is Faure Eyadema?"
"Who talk so? Where were you when Maurice Iwu said we are in a position to teach America certain things about elections? Every country has its own strengths. Obama can go anywhere. Na him leg he dey take travel. That will not stop me from eating isi ewu... Baby, do you want another drink. Eh, another bottle for my darling here..."
"What's that?"
"I wasn't talking to you."
"Looks like whatever you are doing there is beginning to get to you. May be we should continue this conversation later."
"No. Don't worry. You think I am drunk? Na only bottle fit get drunk. Me, I am a human being. Anything else?"
"I am just sad. We are failing at home. We are losing international goodwill."
"You have said that before. Stop moaning. It's no big deal."
"Our President even wanted to visit the United States, they said no."
"Look, if it is about this Obama visit, forget it. On second thoughts, may be it is even a blessing in disguise. If the man had chosen to visit Nigeria, that would have been an opportunity for Nigerians to loot the treasury. By the time the man leaves, every state treasury will be near-empty. And we could have an Obama visit scandal on our hands. And come to think of it, you know Obama likes to play basketball. Suppose he invites President Yar'Adua while visiting to a game of basketball, one on one, and the man out of politeness agrees. And you know President Yar'Adua doesn't play basketball, he only plays squash. Me, I thank God o."
"Good for the Ghanaians".
"Don't worry, you can watch the visit on AIT, Channels TV etc live."
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By Eugene Agha, 05.22.2009
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) were yesterday morning attacked by suspected drug barons in Abbi town, Kwale Local Government Area of Delta State, during an official assignment.
The attack left two of the officers dead, while three others sustained varying degree of bullet wounds and were hospitalised. Four of the officers that were abducted have also been released.
The officers were said to have been ambushed by drug barons on their way to the office on the outskirts of Abbi town, after successfully apprehending their target.
It will be recalled that Abbi town had become notorious for cannabis cultivation, as well as attacks on drug law enforcement agents.
In the past, several seizures of cannabis were made in the area, while several cannabis plantations had also been destroyed by NDLEA, under a special operation code named “Operation Burn The Weed.”
Policemen from Delta State Police Command have commenced investigation into the attack.
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Ahmadu Giade, has described the attack as callous and unfortunate.
While commending the officers for their patriotism and loyalty to their country, Giade warned that drug barons must be prepared to pay for their cruel action.
“The officers have shown a rare sense of bravery and gallantry. People must understand the forces of the dark that we confront on a daily basis. Those responsible for this gruesome act have murdered sleep. We will not be deterred,” he said.
In a statement signed by NDLEA Head, Public Affairs, Ofoyeju Mitchell, he said the attack was the first major incident since 2004, when five officers of the agency were killed in Kano by drug dealers.
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I DONT GET IT ! DASH THEM 10Milion DOLLARS FOR WHAT ?
Sao tome with a population of about 150,000 roughly the population of Ikeja or Egbeda.
President Umaru Yar’Adua on Thursday defended the decision of his administration to grant a request for a $10m soft loan by the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, saying that it was to assist the government of that country address pressing socio-economic challenges.
In a letter to the House of Representatives seeking its approval for the loan, Yar’Adua explained that a stable socio-economic climate in Sao Tome and Principe would strengthen security in the Gulf Region.
The President allayed fears over repayment saying that the interest-free loan would be repaid between four and six years.
He, however, told the House that the total loan requested by Sao Tome and Principe was $30m out which the Federal Executive Council had approved $10m in the first instance while the balance of $20m would be considered subsequently.
Yar’Adua, who added that the loan would be sourced from his “contingency vote”, noted that his action was covered by Section 25 of the 1999 Constitution.
The President’s letter was read on the floor of the House by the Speaker, Mr. Dimeji Bankole.
Some members, however, raised objections, arguing that Yar’Adua should have the approval of the House before allowing FEC to endorse the loan.
Relying on Section 80 (4) of the 1999 Constitution, Mr. Halims Agoda, observed that no funds shall be withdrawn from government’s treasury without the approval of the National Assembly.
Agoda said the President sent the letter to the House as an afterthought as the “National Assembly has to approve it first before sending it to FEC.”
He, however, advised that a proper motion for the approval of the loan should be moved so it could be debated.
But, the Chief Whip of the House, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha, drew the attention of members to Yar’Adua’s explanation that he was drawing the loan from his contingency vote, “which has already been approved by the National Assembly in the budget; so we do not need another approval.”
The Minority Leader, Alhaji Mohammed Ndume, disagreed with Ihedioha on the grounds that the same Yar’Adua had complained last week that his contingency vote in the 2009 budget was removed.
“So, where did he get another contingency vote from?” Ndume asked.
The House later referred the letter to the Committees on Appropriation and Finance to discuss it and come up with a motion for consideration by the House within one week.
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