16 Finalist emerge from the MBIB Screening

By Esther Onyegbula
A total of sixteen beautiful and talented young girls have emerged from the screening of the Miss Black is Beautiful pageant that took place recently at the Air Force Officers Mess, Kofo Abayomi Victoria Island, Lagos.
A total of 23 young and fresh models all from the garden of beauty participated in the screening exercise which comprised of three sessions. Each session witnessed each contestant cat walking the aisle amid the piecing eyes of the panel of judges which consisted of credible names in the industry like:

*Mrs. Onwuka

Maltina Dance-All rocks Abuja

Abuja witnessed the influx of a crowd as it hosted the season five of the Maltina Dance All.
The show held at Nicon Luxury Hotel witnessed thousands of budding dancers storming the venue to showcase their dancing skills. The stiff competition audition lasted for two days.

Five of the Maltina Dance All.

The final battle for BBA’s $200, 000 prize

Big Brother Amplified final holds tommorow July 31, and already the atmosphere is tensed. Who emerges winner is the big question on the lips of every African viewer of the reality show.
After spending thirteen weeks in the house, the two Nigerian Housemates, Karen and Vina will slug it out with their counterparts from Ethiopia(Hanni), Malawi (Lomwe), South Africa(Luclay), Uganda(Sharon O) and Zimbabwe(Wendal).
Local followers of the reality television show are waiting with bated breath to see if the Nigerian housemates will smile home with the hopping sum of US$ 200 000 prize.

•Vina(middle) with her fellow Housemates

My most prized…? My family – Sunny Neji

The story of the Nigerian music industry remains incomplete without the mention of the name Sunny Neji.

suny-Neji

He is one of the best voices around and perhaps Nigeria’s uncrowned King of soul music. He could be compared to the late Luther Vandross. His beautiful love songs are enjoyed by everyone, old and young. Asked to reveal his most prized possession, here is what he had to say.

NFC, SMEDAN to empower film makers

By Nnamdi Ojiego
The financial challenges facing film makers, movie producers, and other practitioners in the film industry will soon be over as the Nigerian Film Corporation, NFC is collaborating with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, SMEDAN, to make funds available for practitioners to grow their businesses.
The two organisations reiterated their commitment to lift film making industry from the realm of entertainment to the pinnacle of business during the opening ceremony of this year’s NFC annual training workshop, otherwise known as SHOOT 2011, held at the corporation’s Lagos office, Ikoyi.

•Afolabi Adesanya

Speaking during the ceremony the Managing Director of NFC, Mr Afolabi Adesanya said for the film industry to make meaningful contributions to the overall economic development of the country, emphasis must be placed on impacting entrepreneurial skills on practitioners in the sector.

Kele Kele love is my personal experince – Tiwa Savage

Born Tiwatope Savage, the Kele kele love crooner, Tiwa Savage has admitted that her wave-making song was inspired by her personal experience as well as those of her friends back in the days. The delectable singer confirms this, to Showtime Celebrity.
Hear her….
What’s the level of appreciation of your first single, Kele Kele love ?
It’s great, definitely the appreciation went farther than I expected. Although the album hasn’t in many countries, it’s now in Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa. It’s awesome, I’ve also done shows in Uganda, Malaysia, Kenya and it has really set me on the move
Why did you think your song wouldn’t go that far?
Because it was my first song and more over, a kind of test run for me. I wasn’t really expecting that much. I wasn’t that popular when I released the song but today it has brought me the biggest popularity in Africa.
And it has given you a lot of money too
Laughs, hopefully.
You weren’t a regular face here in Nigeria, so how did you come about the hook line kele kele in the song?
I think issues are universal. Even though Kele Kele is Nigerian, it’s something that anyone can easily know because it’s universal.

Bouqui launches rap talent show

By Charles Mgbolu
Everyone will agree that Bukola Folayan a.k.a. Bouqui is a queen as far as Nigeria’s gospel music is concerned.

Bouqui

It’s a talent that has taken her places and won her awards locally and internationally. It is a blessing she plans to make others enjoy too as recently, she disclosed that she will be launching an open mic show that seeks to discover new talents.

Untold story of Ashley Nwosu’s burial rites

Astounding facts emerged within the week, on the role Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State played during the funeral rites of the departed Nollywood actor, Ashley Nwosu.

Also in the same vein, President, Actor Guild of Nigeria(AGN), Mr Segun Arinze, has exonerated his predecessor, Mr. Ejike Asiegbu from the controversial N4 million gift allegedly dished out by Governor Orji, stating that the money was actually given to all the artistes that attended Ashley’s funeral rites, which took place on June 11,in Umuahia, and not to the bereaved family as rumoured.

•Ashley Nwosu

Governor Orji was said to have cancelled scheduled plan to attend the retiring international, Kalu Nwankwo’s testimonial match played at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, last month, in order to pay his last respect to the departed Abia State born Nollywood actor.

Source said while the governor ensured that the departed actor was given a befitting burial, he made available the huge sum of N4 million to cater for the welfare of the visiting artistes. He was also said to have hosted the artistes to a state banquet in Government House, in Umuahia.

While, speaking on the issue during the week when contracted by HVP, the AGN president affirmed this development, but he refuted the N4m scam, stating that that “it is not true that the money was for the deceased’s family. Rather, it was meant to cover the artistes’ transport fare and other logistics.”

The AGN president blamed some of the delegates who did not benefit from the largess as he described their action as “disgraceful.”

“Nobody should blame the former president of AGN Mr. Ejike Asiegbu for whatever action he took on that day. Our members did not behave very well. Their action was disgraceful. The N4 million gift by the Governor was not for the deceased’s family. Rather, it was for the artistes who’d travelled from far and near places to attend the burial ceremony.”Arinze explained.

Asiegbu, according to our source, was accused of sharing the governor’s windfall among the few delegates who were the early callers at the burial ceremony, while denying the rest of them who allegedly arrived the venue very late, right to the largess.

Confirming this claim, our source further stated, “the AGN delegates arrived the field where the funeral service was going on, very late. And because they came late, the chairs reserved for them were taken over by other guests.

Rather than look for alternate place to occupy, they tried to forcefully occupy the chairs reserved for the governor and his entourage.This action caught Ejike Asiegbu’s attention who tried to persuade them to find somewhere else to sit.

*AGN members at the Candle light night held in honour of the departed actor at O'jez, last month

It was also gathered that at the graveside, the representatives of the actors’ body could only muster a miserly carton of Maltina, a crate of mineral and a cash of N10,000,00 as gift to the bereaved family as against the total sum of N800,000,00, allegedly realised by the burial committee set up by the leadership of the guild.

Speaking further on the matter, our source said “it was after the dirty deal was unravel that some members of the delegates decided to pay a visit to the deceased’s family in order to make up their misdeed.”

This development was confirmed in a text message forwarded by late Ashley’s wife to one of the insiders. The text message reads thus; “Dear…, a group of representatives of AGN Lagos state chapter on behalf of the exco and entire members of the guild led by Emeka Rising Ibeh and Ben Nwosu came today(21/6/2011) to present an envelop containing US$500 and N22000 which they say is equivalent to N100,000,00, which is said to be the total sum realised from contribution in support of my late husband’s funeral rites.”

My hubby connived with my sister to win my heart – Zion

Born into a polygamous home but raised up in a different backgrounds, Destiny Chiamaka Uga, a.k.a, Zion, is a typical example of someone who is committed to realising her dream in life despite her background. In this interview with OPEOLUWANI AKINTAYO, Zion talks about how she fought so hard to keep her dream alive as well as how she met her husband.
Excerpt:
What was growing up like for you?
I’m from a polygamous home and we’re eight in number from my mother’s side. And polygamous home being what it is, it affected us financially.
Most of us couldn’t go to school, because we allowed our younger ones go to school because our parents weren’t so rich.
So I ended up living with my aunties in different homes. And that’s why I have different characters because I lived with different people and I can adapt to different situations. Like my first aunty that I lived with, she trained me into a reserved person so I grew up a private person.
You said you grew up to become an introvert, why did you choose music?
It all started when I was still with the first family I lived with. They were Catholics and I used to go to Church with them.
I became a lay reader and later joined the choir because I love singing, a trait I inherited from my mum. And whenever I sang in the Church, people usually loved it and would encourage me, telling me that I should take it to a higher level.

•Zion

So, whenever there was a big programme in Church, I’d be invited to sing and that’s how everything started. Inside of me, I was convinced that I was destined to sing and touch lives with my songs.
When I was in my early twenties, I joined the Zoe Ministry. I started attending the Church’s programmes that included crusades and conventions where I’d be asked to sing.
On this particular day I’d never forget, we travelled for a convention at Ogwashi Ukwu. And during the service, the pastor just singled me out from the crowd and asked me to come to the altar. When I got to him, he told me that he had a message for me.
That I’m called to sing and that I should go ahead and train myself in music so that I could start ministering. At that moment, I felt the anointing strongly on me.
And what did you do about the prophesy?
I was sad because I had nobody, who amongst my different relations who understood my calling. I was scared because I didn’t know what to do.
After a while, I came to Lagos on my own and stayed with a friend because I didn’t want to stay with my step brothers. But I visited them from time to time.

MASTER MINDS PRODUCTIONS: WHO WE ARE

MASTER MINDS PRODUCTIONS: WHO WE ARE

Social media tools to reach larger audience, WEF

The  World Editors forum ahead of its annual conference in Vienna from 12th  through 15th  October, 2011 has said with optimism that Editors around the world can  use social media tools including  Twitter and Facebook to reach larger audience.

The World Editors Forum, with a focus  on the new tools of social media to help editors build communities around their newspapers  run  concurrently with  the World Newspaper Congress that  will also offer a “Facebook for Journalists” workshop in which Facebook representatives will provide tips and advice on how Facebook can be better used by newsrooms, both to find sources and reach a larger audience.
The WEF session on building communities will feature Jim Brady, Head of Project Thunderdome, the Journal Register Company’s initiative to engage audience and creating content across all platforms and geographies, Matthew Eltringham, Editor of the BBC College of Journalism website, Anette Novak, Editor-in-Chief of Norran in Sweden, and other speakers to be announced.
Meanwhile, more than 1,200 chief editors, publishers, managing directors, CEOs and other senior newspaper executives are expected at the Editors Forum, Congress and Info Services Expo 2011, the annual global summit meetings of the world’s press
Already, Mr Brady, who the Washington Business Journal calls “an online news visionary,” has formerly worked at AOL, washingtonpost.com and the local news site TBD.com. As head of Project Thunderdome, he is responsible for generating and organising common content for the Journal Register’s 18 daily papers and related online publications.
Mr Eltringham is an expert in social media and digital engagement with 16 years inside the BBC’s news operations.
He has overseen BBC News’ use of social platforms as a source of content and as a channel to share its own material and engage audiences.
Ms Novak has been working to turn the 100-year-old Norran into a modern media house with a focus on co-creation, moving the trademark position from “news leader” to “motor in shaping the community’s future.”
Other WEF sessions will include the following:

UEFA to hear Mourinho's appeal on Friday

The Real Madrid coach was handed a five-match touchline ban during the semi-final clash between his team and Barcelona

Real Madrid coach, Jose Mourinho's appeal against his five-match touchline ban will be heard
at UEFA's headquarters on Friday.

New single from Darey Art Alade

R&B crooner, Darey Art Alade has released an exciting new single- a remix of 'Sisi Eko' one of the lead tracks off his new "Double Dare" album.

R&B crooner, Darey Art Alade has released an exciting new single- a remix of 'Sisi Eko' one of the lead tracks off his new "Double Dare"  album.

Fela Kuti: The King of Afrobeat Interviewed, Part 1

Despite his death 13 years ago, Fela Kuti is undergoing something of a resurgence with the re-release of his back catalogue and the award-winning musical, Fela!, now in London after a successful run on Broadway.

Late Fela

Prices of foodstuffs escalate as Ramadan approaches

Correspondents, who monitored market prices in some state capitals, report that the prices of foodstuffs and other essential commodities, such as fruits, vegetables, eggs and beverages that are in high demand during the Ramadan fast had soared.

 Traders attributed some of the reasons for the hike in price to the Ramadan fast, the increase in the minimum wage of workers, high cost of transportation and increase in the cost of diesel, amongst others.

In some markets in Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi capital, reports show that the prices of rice, beans, fruits, beverages, cooking oil had gone up.

Some traders in the market visited, attributed the rising cost of fruits to “high demand during the Ramadan fast, increase in the minimum wage of workers, in addition to personal costs incurred by retailers from suppliers”.

The survey in some markets in Kebbi showed that the prices of a bag of the various brands of imported rice had gone up to between N9,500 and N10,000 as against the former price of between N7,500 and N8,000 some days ago.

A few days to the commencement of the Ramadan fast, the prices of foodstuffs and other essential commodities have escalated in most markets across  the country, according to a national survey.

Similarly, a bag of beans, which formerly sold for between N6,500 and N7,000 had also increased to N8,000.

The price of fruits like oranges, pineapples and banana had also witnessed increases with a bag of oranges being sold for between N7,000 and N7,500 from N4,000 and N5,000 some few days ago.

A big bunch of banana is sold for between N700 and N1,000, while the price of water melon remained fairly stable at between N150 and N200.

Malam Muhammadu Bala, who deals on fruits in Kara market in Birnin Kebbi metropolis, attributed the rising cost of fruits to “the Ramadan fast, increase in the minimum wage of workers, in addition to personal costs incurred by retailers”.

The survey also showed that the price of perishable goods like tomatoes had gone up with a big basket of the commodity selling for between N9,500 and N12,000 as against the former price of between N8,500 and N9,000.

An Islamic scholar in Birnin Kebbi, Sheikh Abubakar Giro, who decried the high cost of foodstuff at the start of the Ramadan period, appealed to traders to shun the craze to make quick money during the period.

In Onitsha, Anambra, the prices of imported food items like rice, frozen fish, and vegetable oil moved up by 10 per cent during the last few days.

The cost of frozen fish had increased with a medium sized fish selling for between N250 and N350 as against the former price of between N130 and N180.

Enugu tanker fire: Six burnt to death, 20 houses destroyed

SIX lives, about 20 houses, household property and goods worth millions of naira were lost in the fire outbreak that occurred following a fuel tanker accident in Enugu Thursday morning.

The loud explosion from the tanker fire caused panic among residents of the area including those in Udi Siding and inmates of the Enugu Prisons who feared that it could be a bomb.

Sources said some inmates on Awaiting Trial were said to have ran to different directions in the prison yard thinking that the wall had collapsed but they were disappointed when they discovered that the loud noise and the ensuing inferno came from outside the prison.

In a swift reaction to the fire outbreak, Governor Sullivan Chime, yesterday, ordered that all illegal structures in the state capital be pulled down and removed within two weeks just as he commiserated with the victims.

The tanker with registration number Lagos KT 968 JJJ belonging to Shorelink Oil and Gas Services Limited, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State fell while negotiating the Central Police Station, CPS roundabout in front of the Nigeria Prisons, Enugu at about 7. 05am.

Burnt houses during the early morning fire in Enugu

Soon after it fell, the 33,000 litres of petrol which it conveyed was discharged through a gutter that ran from the Nigeria Prisons through the police barracks and part of Ogbete Main Market consuming several household items, vehicles, wares and livestock.  The disaster has, however, rendered several families homeless.

I ran out of my house just to do music says Obycrox

Over the years, we have had various artistes springing up in the Nigerian music industry as hardcore artists with the intention to fit into the space of the evergreen achievements of the great hardcore maestro TuPac Shakur which is yet to come by.

Obycrox

However, the Imo state born Obinna Bethel Ugo, popularly known as Obycrox, a lover and fan of Tupc has made it a mandate to be the next man to take hardcore rap to the next level in Nigeria as he has just emerged with his debut album and a hardcore master piece titled the DRAMA.
Speaking in an exclusive chat with the young musician he had to quit the make believe world where he worked for so many year as a trained make up artist just to raise fund for his music.

Amachree debutes with GREAT LOVE Album

Amchree

To what seemed like a dream to River state born gospel artiste and the Music Channels award winner for the best up and coming gospel act in Nigeria, Amachree Ikijana Alex, has fast come to reality following the recent release of this album with Title “GREAT LOVE” and currently rocking the airwaves.

The name Amachree is fast becoming a house hold name since the ore-release of his single which has dangled in the pipeline for many years. It didn't just start there for him as his quest for stardom earned him the name SUPER STAR as he I fondly called by friends, colleagues and fans.

Accolades has never seized coming his way as he opted the decision to video of one of his tracks to help paint better pictures of the message he is preaching as well as for the purpose of better promotion.

However the video has just been concluded and as well in most television stations competing it tunes with competitors and also blessing the souls of its listeners.

Amachree who draws his inspiration from the popular American gospel music Icon, Kirk Frankline, says it is time for him to affect the world positively with his music jut like his mentor did in America and the world in diaspora. He has since been so grateful to God for his achievements so far in the industry.

2012 AFCON: Eagles must take their chances – Okocha

Former Nigeria captain, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, believes that the Super Eagles can still qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations scheduled to hold in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

JJ Okocha

Nigeria’s Super Eagles currently trail their Guinean counterparts by three points in Group B of the qualifying after the round of four games.

But Okocha, 37, is optimistic that the chances of his countrymen reaching next year’s African Mundial remain bright though with a “mathematical” dimension.

Okocha’s submission comes on the back of Nigeria’s failure to beat Ethiopia in Addis Ababa on June 5.

The Super Eagles held their Ethiopian opponents to 2-2 draw while Guinea ran over Madagascar by 4 – 1 on same day.

The former Paris St Germain and Bolton Wanderers playmaker added that the Super Eagles are now left with no option than to win their two games against Madagascar and Guinea to ensure a straight passage to the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.

“Mathematically, the Nations Cup ticket is still in Nigeria’s hands. But we will need to beat Madagascar and at least defeat Guinea by 2 – 0. At the same time, we will need to take our chances first,” Okocha, now on the Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), said.

The Super Eagles will play their Madagascar counterparts on September 4 at the Mahamasina Stadium in Antananarivo.

Putting people first

The Wolfaardts are South African farmers who put people first in the running of their businesses. This piece was first published in 2004, after a journey to Cape Town, South Africa.

Put against the stand point of whites who in the apartheid days enjoyed the luxury of paying slavish wages to black and coloured labour hands, and still want such to continue now when there is a new dispensation, the Wolfaardts must be commended.

Julie Streicher, a white who witnessed the dehumanisation of non-whites, the black man in particular, related the story in details. According to her, officially, now, an appropriate and meaningful minimum wage is being pushed but the whites are not comfortable with it.

They hold to the archaic view that at least they are providing means of livelihood for those they have hired and as such these ‘fortunate labour hands should be grateful. This is the view that is still being held 10 years after apartheid!

Are you in the right business, are you doing it right?

So, you want to start a business! Or you are already running one. No matter whether it is intended to be a global top 500 company, or a local comer shop, some form of analysis is needed to ascertain that it is viable and sustainable.

A Happy Business

For businesses that are already in existence, you need to periodically review performance and carry out a detailed analysis. This is even more relevant where there may has been or there is an anticipated major change in any of the key variables associated with operations. Is it the right business? Are you doing it right?

There are numerous well established models and approaches to business analysis. Critical to any analysis is to determine what precisely the desired outcome is and whether you can get or stay there. Do you want to be a Fortune 500 company; do you want to be the best in your field; country; state; neighbourhood or just your street?

OBUH BLASTS OVER ROUGH TACKLES

Flying Eagles of Nigeria coach, John Obuh, has appealed to referees to protect the players at the Copa de la Republica tournament in Panama preparatory the U20 World Cup in Colombia next week.

Obuh

“The referees should protect the players because they were allowing so many rough tackles even though the World Cup is just around the corner,” said Obuh immediately his team held hosts Panama to a 0-0 draw in Panama City Monday night.

Both skipper Kenneth Omeruo and impressive goalkeeper Kazim Yekini came off the worst for it against the home team with Umeruo picking up a knock he will need to shake up before the match against Portugal Wednesday night.

Eagles will benefit from playing Argentina – Lawal

Super Eagle

Ex-international Oladimeji Lawal has said there is nothing wrong in the Super Eagles playing Argentina in Bangladesh on September 9, just four days after playing an African Nations Cup qualifier against Madagascar in Antananarivo.

Some Nigerians have criticised the Nigeria Football Federation on accepting to play Argentina, saying the players would experience fatigue which could eventually affect their performances in their respective clubs.

Lawal said, “There is no need to criticise the NFF on the friendly game. The players are professionals and they’ve been trained to play matches back-to-back. They play for their clubs with intervals of few days; this is not different.

20-year-old graduate sets new academic record

The Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, organised the 6th convocation for 1,263 graduates last Friday. MOTUNRAYO ABODERIN in this report highlights how 20-year-old Mr. Victor Ubong, emerged the all-time best graduate of the university that got its operational license on Febrauary 12, 2002, with a Cumulative Grade Point Average record of 4.99 out of a possible 5.0.

Victor Ubong

When Mr. Victor Ubong gained admission to Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, to pursue a degree course in Accounting, nobody knew he would emerge as the best graduating student. This is because as a secondary school pupil, he struggled to pass. He sometimes crammed his notes and when this failed, he resorted to cheating. Even at this, he was just an average pupil, who managed to pass his West African Senior Secondary School Examination in 2007. So, for those who knew him then, it was a surprise that Ubong emerged not just as the best graduating student during the 2011 convocation of the university, but as the all-time best graduate of the institution. He did not only pass out with a first class degree, he did it in style by obtaining a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.99 out of a possible 5.0. By this, he has created a new record as the all-time best student to have graduated from the institution, established in 2002.

Kelly Hansome about to drop new Beef Song against Kennis Music

Kelly Hansome

Kelly hansome is dropping another diss track aimed at his former Record label owners (Kennis Music). And sometimes ago, Kelly said he went to beg them accompanied by his family members for forgiveness after Kennis music demanded 6 million naira from him to end his contract with the label. But now, the story has changed again, Kelly is back in the studio to do his thing, what he's known for; dissing. He said
"Brand new bomb, 'Letter to kennis music' dropping soon....an experience above normal".

Me date Dejo Tunfulu? Over my dead body!: Lizzy Anjorin!

What is the bond between Yoruba actress, Lizzy Anjorin and the comedian popularly known as Dejo Tunfulu? That was the question on the lips of those who claimed to have seen the actor cruising around town with the actress’ Murano SUV.

Lizzy Anjorin

While some are of the opinion that their relationship could just be on a platonic level, others strongly believe there is something more intimate between them.
On Friday 8th July at about 10 p.m., a source claimed to have seen the couple drive in the same automobile to Dejo’s rented apartment at Pipeline bus stop, Ishasi, a suburb of Ogun State. Dejo was said to have driven the automobile while Lizzy sat beside him. The development has, however, raised further suspicion and insinuations that the two thespians are dating.
Nollywood Reel gathered that for more than a week now, Dejo, who mostly plays the role of a clown in movies, has been cruising around town in a Murano automobile suspected to be Lizzy’s.
Efforts to reach Dejo as at the time of filing this report proved abortive, but in a swift reaction, Lizzy in a telephone conversation, told Nollywood Reel that it is a rumour in its entirety.

Many candidates will miss 2011 University Admissions - JAMB

THE Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has revealed that many ofthe candidates seeking admission to universities this year would not be admitted.

A release made available to the Nigerian Tribune and signed by the Public Relations Officer, Mr Timothy Oyedeji, said because of the carrying capacity of universities, coupled with the rush for university education by candidates, who mostly did not like to have higher education in other institutions like polytechnics, monotechnics and colleges of education, “vast majority of candidates who applied to be admitted to universities will not be admitted.”

Team Nerds of Nigeria compete in Imagine Cup worldwide finals

Team Nerds, a team of four students from University of Technology, Akure,  represented Nigeria in the just concluded 2011 Imagine Cup Worldwide Finals held in New York, the United States of America.

Imagine Cup perticipants

The student competition, which is now in its ninth year, centers on the use of imagination, creativity and technology to help solve some of the world’s toughest problems.

David Olaniyan, Oluwafemi Alaba, Taiwo Orogbangba and Toluwanimi Kolawole made it through the local and regional legs of the competition in order to secure their ticket to the worldwide finals.

Their entry, Project Medicare, is a software which solves the problems of inadequate medical support systems in rural communities.

The Imagine Cup has grown to become the world’s premier student technology competition with more than 325,000 students representing 100 countries participating in last year’s event.

“My only regret is that I may not live to see my first child” – lamentation of arrested robbery suspect

They are seven in number; from different states and of different ages, skin color and heights. But they have one thing in common, robbery!They all grew up in Isolo area of Lagos, from where they formed a robbery gang which specialized in attacking workers and traders going to work early.

They later split with each forming his own gang but came again to continue advanced robbery by snatching motorcycles from where they were parked.
But like everything that has a beginning, the gang met its dead end following the death and subsequent arrest of all their members. Two suspected members of the gang were reportedly killed in a shoot-out with the Police during a robbery operation.
Another two, were reportedly arrested by policemen attached to Isolo division and transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad earlier this year, forcing other members of the gang to go into hiding. They could only run but not hide, as two members of the gang are currently in Police custody.
The suspects identified themselves as Ifeanyi Uzigwe and Muslim Salami. Ifeanyi, 25, who hails from Orlu area of Imo state, opened up to Crime The Suspects
Guard ; disclosing how he joined the gang and their modus operandi. But he was quick to add that he had quit robbery last year after the death of his mother.

Bomb scare at UniJos

There was a mild drama at the Administrative Block of the University of Jos following another bomb scare which turned out to be a false alarm.

Some members of staff had raised alarm that someone dropped a bomb in the building.

A strange looking man was reported to have dashed in and out of the building and was nowhere to be found before he could be asked of his mission, raising suspicion that he might have gone in to drop an explosive.

The suspicion created anxiety among members of staff who vacated their offices until the anti-bomb squad of the police were invited to sweep the building but found nothing.

An official of the university who asked not to be named said the invitation to the police squad was a security measure to forestall any mishap.

He said members of staff returned to their offices after the police certified the building safe.

An eye witness said “we were afraid because the man looked like a Boko Haram member and he was acting in a very suspicious manner.”

Spokesman of Plateau Police Command, Mr. Apev Jacob confirmed to journalists that the police moved in promptly on being alerted of the suspicion but found nothing harmful after frisking the building.

The act of disc Jockey's (DJ)

Psquare speaks

Sidmach technologies introduces new e-registration system for JAMB

For efficient record keeping and elimination of the trauma associated with manual registration, as well as prevalent exam malpractices resulting from poor monitoring, Sidmach Technologies Nigeria Limited, a Microsoft Gold Partner, has designed an e-registration system for the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB).
This will enable candidates register for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) online.
The process allows for seamless registration is primarily built on the Microsoft Visual Studio.Net and the SQL Server 2008 platforms.
The technology captures candidates’ bio-data, UTME Subjects, first and second choices of Institution and course, O/Level subjects and grades, examination town, passport photograph and biometric (fingerprint) data respectively.
In addition, e-system provide step by step instructions on how to fill the form online, even as it offers a simplified online brochure, which provides candidates with a variety of courses and institutions to choose from, taking into consideration their preferred catchment areas.
Similarly, the system provides information to JAMB on the candidates for the UTME, and it also provides reports to JAMB for the management of the examination.
Speaking on the new technology, Mr. Mike Olajide, Managing Director Sidmach Technologies said that, “The implementation of the project began with the capturing and validation of information, for the 1.49 million candidates who sat for the 2011 UTME.
The captured information was stored in a Microsoft SQL Server database which ensured trusted, productive, and intelligent data platform that provided excellent encryption which guarded against tampering, adding that that the project included the provision of 3,200 Fingerprint Scanners and HP mini laptops running Microsoft Windows 7 for the verification and attendance marking of candidates for the UTME. The Verification system was also developed using Microsoft tools.
While commending Sidmach Technologies on the successful implementation of this project, Adefolu Majekodunmi Channel, Services Director, Microsoft Nigeria said, “We are pleased with the progress being made by our partners in ensuring technology penetration in the country.
Microsoft will continue to give support through resource solutions especially for public sector capacity building.”
For Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, Registrar/CEO of JAMB, “If registration was done by someone different from the actual candidate for the examination, the data capturing machine would reject the candidate on the examination day because of the biometric difference.” This was another unique value added, as it curbed exam malpractice.
While expressing satisfaction with the biometric verification, Chief Johnson Barovbe, Director of Westminster College said that there was much improvement in the conduct of the examination this year as the system put fear into candidates and they became very cautious, noting that this in turn added to the peaceful conduct of the examination.
Overall, there has been a significant turnaround time with examination results released in less than one week.
The project was executed under the Public-Private-Project Implementation model so JAMB did not have to lay out the huge investment to implement the UTME e-registration immediately.

Boko Haram: Delta evacuates 600 students

ABOUT 600 students of Delta State origin studying in Borno State have been successfully evacuated by the Delta State Government.

Besides, other indigenes of Delta State who are not students have also been evacuated from Borno.

The students were safely brought back to their State on Thursday in a convoy of luxury buses dispatched to Borno to rescue them.

No less than 10 of the buses were dispatched to bring back the indigenes of the State in an exercise coordinated by the Commissioner in charge of the Bureau for Special Duties, Dr Tony Nwaka.

“It is a proactive measure to save our students from falling victims of the activities of Boko Haram militia”, the State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan stated stressing that nothing would be spared to save the lives of Deltans wherever they may be located.

Addressing the first batch of the students and non-students that arrived the State capital, Asaba, Dr Nwaka thanked God for the journey mercies granted them and commended Governor Uduaghan for the magnanimity in approving the rescue mission.

Unilag’s SSANU,NASU decare one week strike

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non Academic Staff Union (NASU) University of Lagos chapter have declared a one week total strike to protest the non payment of their hazard allowance.

Speaking at the rally organized by the duo, SSANU Chairman Comrade Odusanwo Olusegun said that the unions have declared the one week strike to press home their demand as the institution has failed to pay the hazard allowance which the Federal Government in 2009 directed all universities to pay to their staff.

According to Odusanwo, other institutions such as Obafemi Awolowo University, Lagos State University and University of Benin have since started paying. He argued that there is no cogent reasons why UNILAG will not honour the directive of the Federal Government.

Odusanwo noted that the unions anger came to fore when they discovered that the institution, authority started paying responsibilities allowance to the Vice Chancellor, Bursar and other top management Staff of the school, claiming lack of fund to pay other Staff. “If they have not payed anybody we would not have gone to strike since they claim there is no sufficient fund” he said.

Also speaking, Comrade Ganiyu Adelagun Adeshina, NASU Chairman reiterated that the strike will be total as the unions have sometime ago embarked on warning strike to press home their demand which yielded to result. “But this strike that commences today will be total” he said. He however called on all staff to immediately stop working and parents should call back their children as they are going to disturb academic activities on campus.

The two union leaders have accused the Vice Chancellor of the Institution, Prof Adetokunbo Sofolue of partiality in his dealing with the staff arguing that they all suffer the same hazard.

Efforts to speak to the Vice Chancellor, Prof Adetokunbo Sofolue proofed abortive as we were told that the Vice Chancellor is in Vice Chancellors’ meeting at Abuja.

Body Painting art in Nigeria

In the art of body decoration, colour depicts various things. It symbolizes situations, conditions and event. It can be used to convey a sense of awe or reverence. For example, red stands for fertility and marriage, yellow stands for sickness, white stands for purity or for magic, black and indigo dyes are generally used depending on the occasion.

Body decoration is a culture that is universally practiced among the peoples of various ethnic groups of Nigeria to enhance beauty and for aesthetic, religious or ceremonial purposes.

A henna body decoration

It serves as a sort of expression of beauty and indication of one’s age, title, social status, and membership of any reverred group in the society. Body decoration is an art of beautifying the body which includes leg, hand, face, nose, eye and finger among others through such processes like cicatrization or body cuts; body painting; painting of finger nails; the filing and removal of upper front teeth; piercing of lips, nose and ear for different types of ornamentation as well as skin cleansing; adornment of body with jewelries and beads; elaborate hairstyles and clothing.

Nigeria is a land of cultural diversities and this is expressed by the differences in their beauty – aids, despite their apparent cultural fusion. Among the people of Borno State for example, Kanuris adopt a special way of beautifying their bodies through hair treatment, skin cleansing and body making-up. They engage in a type of body decoration known as henna art.

Henna art is a common name for a small shrub whose leaves are used to dye. The orange red dye produced from henna leaves is used to dye the body red. It is also used to stain finger nails; top of the fingers; feet; chest; hair and dye the beards by men.

Henna dye is used in most parts of the Northern Nigeria, though, it was once popular among women in the South. It is used during pre-marriage ceremony, known as, “The night of henna”.

A tatooed hand

Nupe women in the North rub various colours into the skins and hairs, ranging from yellow – dye on their lips, red-dye on their teeth, indigo-dye into their hair, as well as immerse their hands and feet in the pot of henna dye.

Dyes can be obtained from leaves of special shrubs, insects, bark of trees, fruits and mineral ores or a mixture of any of them in grounded or powdered form with oils to paint face or body in various patterns of their choice or peculiar to the community or tribe.

Some dyes or paintings are temporary or short period decoration, mostly used for ceremonies or festivals, while some are permanent or long period decoration and the dye is usually stained deep into the skin.

Among the peoples of Ibo land, Ibibio land and Efik land of old South – Eastern Nigeria, the use of Uli dye is popular mostly during the fattening seclusion and cultural festival. Uli dye is made from the juice of the plant, randi cordata. It is used to paint the hands, legs and body.

The use of juice, Iran’ for dye is also made from pounded caterpillars, mixed with potash and lime-juice. When the juice is painted on to the skin, it causes weals or ridges to appear which remain for a good length of time about three or four months. The juice causes not only weals on the skin but also stains the skin for a short period.

‘Tiro’ is a sort of traditional antimony that is commonly used especially among women. It is made from lead ore, ground and mixed with soot and indigo to get desired colour. This is used to outline the upper eyelid. In Hausa land, women use traditional antimony called “Kwalli” Men also use it.

Their eyelashes are darkened with a black mineral substance ground into powder and carried around in decorated bottles made of hides. A small mirror is usually part of the kit to facilitate the making-up.

Among the Hausa, Nupe and Fulani people, vegetables dyes are produced from a type of Savannah shrub for body decoration on the palms and feet in burnt sienna colour.

It is only the left hand that is dyed, not right hand which is used in handling food. This type of vegetable dye is also applicable to Yoruba women and their neighbours.

Teeth decoration is not left out. It is commonly practiced among the Hausa and Kanuris. They stain their teeth with some special brands of kolanuts both men and women.

Kanuri women in particular stain their teeth reddish with tobacco flowers. Besides staining their teeth as part of body decoration, peoples of different tribes of Nigeria consider it as a form of beautification in filing their teeth or removing their upper front teeth to create a gap between two upper incisors.
identification and protection purpose especially during the time of slave trade.

This is commonly practiced by women who have no naturally existing gap of upper front teeth. Yoruba people call this kind of traditional removal of front teeth as “eji” Most often, the gap is not central.

In the North as well as some parts of the South, nose, ears and lips are pierced for ornamentation. The Kanuris as well as other tribes use gold rings in the nose ornament, similar to Indian female ornament while big coral beads are used by the Yoruba women in the nose ornaments.

The pierced lips are also ornamented. This is commonly practiced among the Jarawa tribe of Bauchi State in which women’s lips are locked to prevent them from talking to other men especially when they are outside their villages.

Facial markings are common among peoples of various ethnic groups of Nigeria. Facial marks in forms of deep scarification are done not only for aesthetic reason but for
Facial marking is common among the Yorubas, Gobirs and the Kanuris as well as other tribes. It is more pronounced among the Yorubas. This is because, they have different names for different types of facial marks according to the number and the length or breadth of lines and their arrangement.

Lara George embarks on US music tour

By Charles Mgbolu

Gospel singer, Lara George has every reason to hold on tight to main stream gospel singing and most importantly, her God as recent events unfold.

She disclosed to Showtime that her music career was moving on to new levels as she is billed for a music tour of the United States.

According, to the ebony skinned Ijoba Orun crooner “I’ve been busy promoting my second album, but that has to make way for my tour of the US. My shows will take me to Houston, Baultimore, Chicago, and Atlanta and I’d be away for about five to six weeks.”

Lara affirmed that the tour would spotlights just on her saying. “I won’t be having any other artiste or gospel singer on my train. It’s strictly going to be a Lara George thing.

I’m trying to get the American people to familiarize themselves with my music and hopefully widen my audience a bit. After my tour I’d be definitely going back to the studios to start on new set of songs but I’ll leave the rest of the details for now as a surprise.”

Lara George had jumped into the music scene back in the days when she appeared with the group Kush and did Lets live together. Her last album titled Koma Si was released under Soforte entertainment, a company run by her husband, Gbenga George.

Yeka, Naomi get smart with Sony Internet TV

By Opeoluwani Akintayo

In a bid to redefine entertainment in Nigeria, leading global electronic giant, Sony Gulf, branded its product with entertainment stars, Yeka-Onka and Naomi. The 25 BRAVIA TV models has 20 of the products as internet-enabled TVs, Showtime gathered.

This is in harmony with Sony’s global Television Redefined proposition which is based on the need for Television to adapt itself to complement the increasing variety of hi-tech entertainment options for the home.

According to Sony Gulf Managing Director, Osamu Miura, the product is aimed at redefining home entertainment to meet the needs of today’s contemporary and savvy consumer because the 2011 Bravia LCD/led tv series offers smarter, sophisticated and more social entertainment that redefines the television experience.

Maltina Dance-All Season Five debuts

Like a yearly ritual, the much anticipated family dance reality show, Maltina Dance-All Season Five is set to storm living rooms soon.

This was revealed at a press conference held at the Nigerian Breweries spot bar, Iganmu Lagos.

Speaking on behalf of the management, Corporate Affairs Adviser of NBL Mr. Ageni Yusuf said this year’s competition is going to be the biggest held, as the competition would witness tremendous improvements.

He said that the winning family will go home with a whooping grand prize of N5m, alongside a brand new family SUV jeep. While the first and second runner ups would go home with N1.m and N500 000 respectively.

Mr Yusuf said “If there’s anything Nigerian Breweries is known for; it is that when we start a thing, we sustain it.”

Aside grand prizes that will be won by the lucky families, other families would also win prizes like 2.5kv generator, 21 inch flat screen TV set, home theaters and lots of consolation prizes.

Interested families should either register on-line or at the various audition centers. Auditions schedule at designated centers are as follows: Abuja and Enugu-22nd/23rd July, Port-Harcourt-28th/29th July, Ibadan-29th/30th July and Ibadan/Benin-5th/6th August.

Miss Lacasera picks N1m prize money

After a keenly contested 24th edition of the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria pageant that saw Miss Nwando Ebeledike take home the Miss Lacasera crown, officials of classic beverages; makers of lacasera drinks have officially presented her the one million naira prize cheque.

By Charles Mgbolu
The event was at a lavish ceremony at the company’s Lagos office.

The over six feet tall, 21 year old who could not stop the smiles said “This is some thing that I will be eternally grateful for. I want to thank officials of classic beverages for seeing me worthy to be here today.

For me, this is another family that I will forever cherish and I plan to put my everything into it. I promise to make every body proud and I plan to wear this crown and sash as a worthy ambassador of this brand”

Mr. Prahlad Gangadharem the Chief Operating Officer of Classic beverages promised that the company would have many more years of representations at the MGBN pageants.

“When we search for a queen, we look for both brains and beauty. It’s just one of our many ways of giving back to the society”

He was joined by Benson Abraham and Dave Van Rensburg; both senior executives of the company for the presentations.

Miss Nwado said “I can’t just say thank you to Lacasera enough. I hope I can give back to them what they have given to me.”

I’m the new gyration master – A.B Cowboy

Penultimate week, precisely at an after inauguration party held at his residence at Obosi, Anambra state, Honorabe Tony Oneweek Muonagor after an excellent performance that marked the end of gyration for him, he formerly presented and anointed his longer time friend and co traveler, AB Cowboy to succeed him as the new leader of the gyration music movement.

AB Cowboy who could not hold back his joy after this pronouncement took the microphone and performed tracks from his and Tony Oneweek’s old albums to the delight of all present.

AB Cowboy, real names Anigbo Clement Chiukwudike, a graduate of Finance from the Anambra State University of Science and Technology (now ESUTH) is based in Port Harcourt where he plies the trade of music in the gyration genre.

Asked how he felt later, he said; “ I think Tony made the right decision. Since he is now stepping aside because of his new position in the State House of Assembly. It is proper that his successor as new gyration master should be the man who started the revolution with him, someone he can trust also.

“You see my brother, this gyration thing was started by us in our desire to create work for ourselves since there were no jobs in the country. We did not see it as something of a money spinner.

“I and Tony were members of the kegites club and we always gyrated together. One day, we just decided to commercialize the stuff. We first recorded a joint album which was titled “Jara Verse 1” in 1997.

“In 1998, Tony came out with his debut titled “You go bow”, which became a monumental hit and which shot him to limelight.”

Hip Hop or not: I’m a woman – Sasha

Her real name is Antonia Yetunde Alabi but maybe First Lady of Nigeria’s hip hop will ring more of a bell. Sasha is a law graduate who ventured into music more than eight years ago and now holds both local and international awards to her credit.

Her single Adara which she released in 2008 stamped her name hard to the pages of fame. The song in 2009 gave her the Best female artist award at the women in entertainment award ceremony held in England.

She also took home the Channel O awards for the best female video awards before being pronounced as MTV base Africa best female artiste in 2010.

Sunday Vanguard entertainment recently engaged this ebony skinned bundle of talent in a chat where she speaks about her law degree, music career and the shocking consequences it could have on her love life.

Read on….

You have a clothing line, how well is it doing?

Eclectic by Sasha is still on but I only attend to my clients just on one on one basis and it’s going to be so for now. I’m still working on my retail collection that should be out before the end of this year.

It will be a mini-launch because I have to focus on my album which is coming out at the same time. So that people can know where to buy ready-to-wear clothes and then they won’t need to email or call me. For now, you place your order and it’s custom made for you.

Tell us about this new album?

My new album is titled Sasha speaks. It’s ready, I’m just waiting for an official date. It’s not however going to be an album launch per say, but an album listening session.

The album title explains it all. It is basically speaking about a lot of issues and nothing specific. For example on the Lagos stereotype where they play songs and people think all these Lagos girls are materialist or wayward.

I tried to counter that in my songs as I speak on how I live and enjoy Lagos and not be way ward. You can be a giddy babe and be just cool.

Will you tag yourself a tomboy?

No o! I know I started off as a tom boy because a lot of things that my female friends will do were not interesting to me except for maybe shopping (laughs).

I probably started of as a tom boy because I was a bit more brazen, adventurous and outspoken but I don’t really think I am anymore. I’m a woman now I’ve grown over the years; that I am feisty doesn’t mean that I’m manly

But do you think your fans know this?

Well I feel there is a lot of work to be done where communicating artiste are in respect to the Nigerian audience. Some people understand, some people don’t get it. That is why people in the industry need to bridge a lot of such communication gaps.

Because for instance when you hear hip hop, rap, you’re thinking, 2pac, Biggy or people getting shot and so your orientation of what a hip hop artiste is will be founded by these false illusions.

For me, I call myself a poet, a motivational speaker. People say when they see me on stage I look so aggressive. I believe that the content of what you are saying matters.

If you watch the Adara video, I wasn’t aggressive there because of the message in the song. You have to communicate your message in your songs. The fact is that I might be aggressive when I’m on stage, but then, I try to communicate my message to the audience. I hate to be a tom boy.

Do you think this has discouraged male admirers?

Well I certainly hope not, because I’m an African woman and African women are the strong confident ones and this is exactly how we expect our men to be. But then I don’t just come at you and dare you. I’m not that kind of person.

If a man is confident in himself then whatever it is that I am doing should not be a deterant to whatever it is he feels about me. It should not be a problem. But I do get to hear people say ha! Sasha you have to calm down o! because you know you might be scaring men away but then I say what have I done to scare anyone.

I mean this is what I do and so it depends really on the individual. It’s not about age or about any thing. It’s about the confidence of the person involved. I don’t see why you should see my performances as a deterant to anything that you might have in mind.

What kind of a man will like to have?

God fearing. I know that sounds more like a clitche now you know let him be tall, dark and handsome but you know for real I want my man to be God fearing.

The thing is when a man fears God then you should know that every thing else follows. I also want him to be someone that is very confident, hardworking and has ambitions.

And is there a man who fits that picture now in your life?

(laughs) I don’t talk about my personal life if that’s what you mean.

Ok tell us how you were able to combine law and music?

It wasn’t easy for most parts but as much as it wasn’t easy it was easy, I don’t know if that makes sense but most of the time I was in school things were a bit slow and then when I come back on holidays that’s when I have my shows, concerts and interviews with the media is easy to conduct.

I really had to priortise. But then, law and a music career have a lot of familiarities. You have to have a great memory and you have to be hard working as well. These are the core requirements and I think that it made it easier for me.

Will you ever practice law?

For me personally I’ve never really wanted to be in the court room although there are some parts of law in the advanced stages that are interesting to me such such as Mediation.

Some people don’t like to go court and so when there are issues they call in mediators to try and settle issues without necessarily going to court. I also like company secretary or corporate secretary where you could give or have legal advice.

There are a lot of other things that could be done with law that you don’t have to be in court to do. I like settling arguments but I don’t think I’ll love to do that in court

Man in Kirirkiri for fundling a pregnant woman

A man, Micah Monday, has been charged to Apapa magistrate’s court Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria for allegedly fondling a pregnant woman’s breasts.
He has now been remanded in Kirikiri Prison Apapa, Lagos because he could not meet the bail conditions.
The 30-year old Monday was alleged to have fondled Mrs Helen Tamukunu’s breasts in his workshop without her consent.
The incident happened at Igbologun area of Snake Island, Lagos.
P.M.NEWS gathered that the bitter woman engaged the services of Monday to work for her and she paid him in advance. But Monday allegedly did not do the work as he promised.
When Helen went to Monday’s shop to know why he did not do the job as he promised.
Instead of explaining to the woman what happened, he began to tease her. He reportedly told her how he loves her. Monday thought that he had convinced her and he started fondling her breasts.
Shocked by Monday’s action, she attempted to remove his hand from her breasts and her bra got torn in the process.
She went to the police station in the area and reported what happened. Monday was arrested and charged to court for assault.
Part of the charge reads: “That you, the defendant, at the same date, time and place did forcefully romance the complainant.”
He pleaded not guilty.
The presiding magistrate, Mr. P. E. Nwaka granted him bail in the sum of N5,000 with one surety in like sum.
He was, however, remanded in prison custody at Kirikiri because he could not meet the bail conditions.

Ghana orders the arrest of gays

Ghana’s Western Region Minister, Paul Evans Aidoo MP has ordered the immediate arrest of all homosexuals in the country’s west.
Aidooo has tasked Ghana’s Bureau of National Investigations and security forces to round up the country’s gay population and has called on landlords and tenants to inform on people they suspect of being homosexuals. “All efforts are being made to get rid of these people in the society,” he said.
Get rid of them how? Killing them? Sending them on exile? Shame on you Mr Aidoo...
The move by the Minister follows months of campaigning by the Christian Council of Ghana which last week called on Ghanaians not to vote for any politician who believes in the rights of homosexuals.
Muslims and Christians in the Western Region have been staging protests ever since a local media report claimed there were around 8000 homosexuals and lesbians in the district.
However, a lawyer at Kwame Nkrumah University, Ernest Kofi Abotsie, questioned the legality of the move.
Abotsie said laws outlawing “unnatural canal knowledge” in the Ghanaian criminal code were ambiguous and had not been defined to mean homosexuality, and it was wrong for politicians to be telling police how to carry out their duties.

Mercy Johnson and Mike Ezuruonye rekindles friendship

Star actors, Mike Ezuruonye and Mercy Johnson have left the trenches, opting to give peace a chance.
According to sources, the hitherto warring thespians are now friends after a bitter fight.
Allegedly locked in a show of ego and supremacy, Ezuruonye and Mercy Johnson’s feud lasted for months and was only resolved now the latter is getting married.
The duo, we were told, even had to exchange bitter words at a location after which they stopped talking to each other.
Infact, those who were asking Mike Ezuruonye about his friend’s (Mercy) wedding plan were bluntly told to go and ask her.
But just weeks to her wedding,Mj as Mercy Johnson is fondly called and Mike Ezuruonye have sheathed their sword, agreeing to rekindle the flame of their once enviable friendship.
Recall, Mercy Johnson personally attended Ezuruonye and Nkechi’s wedding in Isiala Mbano and Owerri, Imo State.
She was one of the few actors that even made gift items on behalf of the couple.
Although, she missed their white wedding in Lagos (months after), MJ also showered guests with souvenirs in the name of Mike and Nkechi.
Little wonder Ezuruonye made up with Mercy, who is tying the knot on August 27, 2011 to enable him participate fully in the talk of the town nuptials.

5 Reasons Why America Is Worse Than Nigeria

Have you always dreamt about going to America? Many Nigerians envision America as a land of gold and honey. A land where the government showers you daily with piles of cash, and a land where everything is free. Well, they are wrong. There is nothing of that sort in America, and recent studies and accounts have shown that it is actually better for you to stay in Nigeria than it is to go to America. Here are five reasons why.
1. Debt: The mirage that anything and everything is possible in America is a lie. Worst of all, to new immigrants, the amount of credit offered in America is so attractive that by the time you know it, you will be chin deep in Debt. Debt that will most likely take you the rest of your natural life, and half of your children's to pay off.
2. Stress: America is the capital of stress. With 12 hour shifts and continuos work, the labour takes a heavy toll on its people, unlike in Nigeria. In Nigeria, you are the boss. You decide when to work and for how long. There is not a widespread practice of 24hour shifts and round the clock work, making it much better for your health and etc. The Stress in America might cause diseases previousl unexperienced by the average Nigerian. Diseases such as High-blood pressure, Hyper tension, and Arthiritis.
3. Professional Devalue: America can be a welcoming place for highly educated and well-off immigrants but also a nightmare for others. It is often known as the "graveyard of occupations" meaning that one's previous education and occupation can easily be rendered worthless in America. There was a woman who was very well off in Nigeria. She was the head chef of a 5-star hotel back in Nigeria and upon her arrival in the US, her degree and occupation was declared worthelss. She was turned down by many other hotels and had to assume a job as a frycook at McDonalds. There is also another account of a Local Governor from Nigeria who held many outstanding degrees from Universities in Nigeria, but was denied a reasonable job in America. In short, their lives were restarted.
4. Prices: Things have become very expensive for Americans. Things ranging from household items to entire homes, and combined with the constant devalue of the Naira, the US can be a financial nightmare for Nigerians. An ordinary 4-bedroom, single family house in the US will cost atleast $500,000 which is N83,000,000, More than enough to errect a 10 bedroom mansion with a boys-quarters and a gate in Nigeria. A brand new jeep in the US can easily cost $40,000 which is N6.6 million, more than enough to buy TWO jeeps in Nigeria.
5. Cultural Diffusion: The thing that every Nigerian regards with utmost importnace is his/her cultural background. America is a slaughter house for African cultures. People emmigrate form Nigeria and give birth to their children in the US. As their children grow up, the parents avoid teaching them their native language, and from then on the children are at a loss. Then, their parents avoid teaching them about their culture and tradition. Lastly, with all this not given to them, their children effectively turn into AAsand are estranged form the culture sand tradition of their homeland, ultimately deciding their destiny in life.