Naija Talk Show & Gossip, Nigeria Nollywood

The cerebral editor of Encomium Weekly, Nigeria’s most respected soft sell journal, Mr. Azuh Arinze, has resigned his appointment. The humble and hard working journalist communicated his disengagement plans to the company since Monday, January 3, 2011. His resignation, however, took effect on Thursday, March 24, to co-incide with his 39th birthday. Explaining why he was leaving Encomiums Ventures Limited, the publishers of Encomium Weekly, E-Lifestyle and Encomium Special, after about 15 years of meritorious service, Azuh said it was to pursue new challenges and prospects. Admitting that it was a painful decision for him to take, Azuh added that he would forever be grateful to Mr Kunle Bakare, his mentor, role model and boss, for touching and changing his life. “There is no form of bitterness whatsoever between us.As a matter of fact, all I have for him is appreciation and gratitude. I thank him for showing me unprecedented love and will forever do that.” On his next line of act

Omawumi has just released the video for her track “ If You Ask Me (Na Who I Go Ask) “. A short teaser of the video hit the internet a few weeks ago and now we get to see the video in its full glory. The track was produced by Cobhams Asuquo and the video was directed by award-winning video director, Clarence Peters . Check on it. Source: BellaNaija.com

He delivered one of the hottest club hits of the noughties, “Julie” by Shank was a certified hit. Since then, he has released a few follow up tracks and featured on other artistes’ tracks, most notably on Beezy’s “Bad Guy”. Shank is back on the scene with a new track “Salute“, the new track was produced by Sarz. Check on it.  Source: BellaNaija.com

Nigeria’s 2011 Elections SHOWDOWN is a TV programme which airs on Channels TV daily at 3.15pm – 4pm on weekdays from March 14th to April 22nd 2011. The focus of the programme is for young Nigerians to match advocacy with action through a peaceful revolutionary platform and the pivotal role of RISE is to inform and enlighten young people on their fundamental rights as major determinants of winners and losers in the electoral process while also demanding accountability from elected office holders at all levels of government. BN will be bringing you periodic updates on topics discussed on the TV programme. Last week, the participants Nwoye Osita and Busayo Akanro discussed the role of social media and technology as viable tools of change in electoral reform. The show was anchored by Chinedu Chidi. Chinedu Chidi got the participants into discussion by asking how ready Nigerians are for the 2011 Elections using the Social Media? Busayo Akanro, a “nation builder”

By Gbenga Awomodu Olujimi Tewe grew up in Ibadan. He lived most of his formative years within the four walls of the University of Ibadan Staff School, the International School Ibadan, and the University of Ibadan. Since relocating to Lagos in 2002 for his NYSC programme, he has worked in five companies and risen to become a Senior Manager in the Nigerian banking industry. Now the CEO of Inspiro Consulting, which he started in 2010 after resigning his top level job at Bank PHB, he constantly seeks to provide career solutions to the unemployment and under-employment issues in Nigeria from a professional perspective. In this exclusive interview with BN Editorial Assistant, Gbenga Awomodu, the author of “Where Did all my Money go?” and “Getting a Good Job Easily”, shares about journey of self-discovery, phenomenal career leaps, mistakes job-seekers make, marriage and our nation Nigeria. Meet Olujimi Tewe “I am Olujimi Tewe, a Human Resource Management Consultant. I am the founder of I

By Gbenga Awomodu There are so many things we may never be able to understand. Life presents us a myriad of riddles; conundrums that elude us. For example, how and why, like a gust of wind smothers the bright light from a glowing candle, sudden occurrences snuff the life out of promising young people. Last week, within the space of six days, Nigeria lost three of her entertainment practitioners. First, it was Ishola Durojaiye On Sunday 20 March 2011, Ishola Durojaiye, popularly known as Ahmed Alasari, died in a ghastly motor accident while travelling from Abeokuta to Lagos in order to promote his new movie, ‘omo night club’. Amidst tears and sorrow, the late Nollywood actor, was buried at his residence in Abeokuta on Wednesday 23 March 2011. CD John Then, an Abrupt End of CD John Later that day, when Abia State born comedian John Chijioke, better known as CD John, made the audience laugh and have a good time, whilst anchoring singer Harrysong‘s album listen

By Jemi EKUNKUNBOR Having studs on a dress is a great way to embellish a simple dress. Adorning a studded dress is a great and stylish way to dress but not many are bold to try it. The fear usually arises from not wanting too look too busy with all the studs on the dress. However, a studded dress can be a sleek and stylish option for nearly any occasion; a night out with friends, or a formal dinner with associates. A studded dress can be sexy or classic. You’d find yourself having to choose between gold or silver embellishments. The style of your dress will determine the kind of accessories that will go with it. For a more formal studded dress, minimal accessories will be required so you don’t sparkle more than is necessary. Pair your dress with a simple pair of shoes in the same colour as the dress. A gold studded dress for example, should be paired with a pair of lovely strappy sandals for an elegant look. However, if you are wearing studded dress during the day, please skip

Insights on Addictions A year ago I met a young single mother with an infant son in my neighborhood. (I’ll call them Cindy and Joey to protect their identities). In the first conversation we had, the woman opened up and shared tremendous inner pain. She had grown up in a home where both parents were drug addicts. She was abused as a child. At 20, the girl was herself an addicthard core. She asked me for help. She wanted to break free. Thus I began a year-long roller coaster ride of learning. This was my first experience of knowing and interacting intimately with an addict. In our first few weeks of friendship, I learned that wanting to change and actually taking steps to change are very different things. Initially I spent tremendous energy and time on Cindy. I admit, even to the point of personal exhaustion on my part. I willingly went many extra miles in hopes she would change. I deeply cared about Cindy and was emotionally invested in her recovery. A month after I met her, a pol

By YEMISI SULEIMAN Omowuni Akinnifesi is elegance personified in her carriage, style and overall look. Years after relinquishing her crown as Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MGBN), cameras have not stopped clicking every time she appears on the public scene, as she continues to generate media attention for her beauty, style and grace. A graduate of Geography and Regional Planning, from the University of Lagos, Akinnifesi was appointed Environmental Ambassador by the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, in 2009. Obviously passionate about the environment, she has been very involved with environmental issues the fight against climate change, the importance of tree planting to reduce carbon oxide in the atmosphere etc. Miss Akinnifesi is also CEO of Elle Poise, an outfit which focuses on international etiquette, international image and branding consultancy. Graceful and elegant in her style, Omawumi was recently voted Allure’s Style Icon for 2011. In this exclusive interview, she

Get captivated Hello Jerome, I know what I am doing is wrong, and that’s why I need help. My husband has been cheating on me for a long time. I had cause to talk to him to ease things between us, but he won’t listen. I have a good job but my husband’s job takes him away for at least a month or two before he comes home. The issue here is recently I met a young man who is separated from his wife and all over me. I have not had sex with him but he makes me feel loved, appreciated, and has helped me to regain my self confidence. I have two children and I don’t want to continue to offend God, but I can’t seem to break free from this relationship. I need help. I want to obey God. Okeimute Dear Okeimute, Thanks for sharing your present predicament with me. I hope we can work through all these. I have realized that: The greatest ironies of life include having the right person at the wrong time, having the wrong person when the time is right, and finding out that you love someone after

BY JEMI EKUNKUNBOR Mo cheda It wasn’t too long when she shot into our consciousness performing at all girls musical shoe, Girl Power. But since winning the Best New Act award by MTV Africa Awards, Mo Chedda has certainly come into her own. She is young, smart with a sense of style that draws a second look. With her music, Mo Chedda sure knows how to keep her audience spell bound with creative dance steps that only Mo Chedda knows how to do. Born Modupe Ola, the amiable hip hop and rap artist, is the fourth of five children. The final year Creative Arts student of the University of Lagos, will graduate later in the year and hopes to face her music career fully. Here, she talks about her work and sense of style. How has it been since Girl Power? It’s been fantastic. It’s been a whirlwind because everything is happening at the same time and you have to take this opportunity and go with it. Every minute means something and I can’t afford to miss it for the world. I get called at s

hair we go Beyond having a penchant for relaxers with double-barrel names, one cannot easily decipher why the first choice of most women is a no-lye formula as the agent to be used to straighten hair. Popularly called ‘kit-relaxer’ locally, its main attraction would be the fact that the kit contains all you generally need to achieve good straightening without killing your hair. Some salons tend to think they can do without the Neutralizing shampoo which aids the complete removal of the chemical product from the hair. Heaven help you if you do not carry your own bottle; it may mean that the chemical agent is unsatisfactorily cleansed and traces of it will remain in the hair. It will be only a matter of time before reactions set in, culminating in hair breakage at best and total hair loss at worst. The No-lye formula seems to be the natural choice for those who believe that they have sensitive scalps. Never mind that every woman actually thinks her scalp is especially sensitive! Th

By BENJAMIN NJOKU Tension, anxiety and expectations are thick in the air as African film makers and stars gather in the capital city of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Sunday, March 27,  to decide the country that rules the  screens in the continent. Genevieve, Manie Malone, Omoni Oboli and Jimmy Unlike  the previous edition, this year’s AMAA  has three top contenders; Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya. Opinions  vary  in terms of which country would emerge top at the end of Sunday’s night of awards. Some  industry watchers has predicted the obvious, a repeat of the outcome of the previous year’s edition, where  Nigeria imposed its supremacy on other African countries by  carting away a lot of  the  awards that were  given out on that year. Other observers also expressed reservation, doubting the possibility of Nigeria carrying the day again. Meanwhile, judging from the nomination list released by AMAA   early this month, Nigeria, against all odds consolidated her position in Africa wit

Love him, hate him, bad boy Kevin Ikeduba is a brilliant actor. On the screen, he’s the very ‘tough-talking and heartless beast’, who stops at nothing to  inflict  pains on his victims. But in real life, he’s as harmless as the snail. Kevin Ikeduba Unknown to many, Bad Boy Kevin of the Yoruba industry indeed hails from the Ibo speaking section of Delta State. His mastery of the Yoruba language has contributed immensely to his growth. In this encounter with Showtime Celebrity,  the Delta state-born actor explains reasons producers prefer to cast him as a bad boy in movies. He also explains why he switched over to the Yoruba genre from the English version amongst other burning issues raised by our correspondent, BENJAMIN NJOKU The Kevin on screen is a heartless beast, is he the same as the Kevin in real life? Let me put it this way, I’m a two-in- one Kevin. There is a sharp difference between the Kevin you see on the screen and the Kevin in real life. The Kevin on t

By OGBONNA AMADI Entertainment Editor One of  Nigeria’s foremost  rap acts and awards winning Mode 9, is floating in the sky, as his sojourn in the United Kingdom has paid off big time. Armed with a new management deal and scores of opportunities to excel internationally, the no-nonsense hard core rapper is not only coming home with a double album, he’s also returning to sign a new record deal with an unnamed new record label. While the first album is titled John Boombastic, the second a collaboration with a British-based producer, Bayo, is titled Commercial Break. Commercial Break as an album, is a fast tempo rap job, a complete departure from the slow delivery for which the rapper is better known.. But the depth and delivery style common with Mode 9 remains intact. Mode 9 Commercial Break in the words of Mode 9 became necessary following complaints he received  over time from his fans who insisted on a dance hall material. “It’s not that I have not been delivering some

OGBONNA AMADI By Entertainment Editor Most men would want to break the vault to impress  women on a first date, but that wasn’t  the lot of Isang Ubong Awa, producer of the box office smash hit, The Bent Arrow. Isang On her first date with the man whom she calls husband today, she watched with shock and disbelief as her date enjoyed his lunch and later asked the proprietor of the Buka to book him down on the debtors’ list. The mother of four went down the memory lane when she shared the success story of her first ever produced movie, The Bent Arrow. Enjoy And I hear you have been married for 16 years… Yes How many kids do you have? I have four kids Really and you are still this beautiful? Laughs, yes. I need to get something straight, are you a producer, a director or both? I’m a producer but I would love to direct in future. So as a producer what are your roles on set? Well, sometimes it is to get funding. I wrote the story,  got the locations and some of th