LAIDE BAKARE RETURNS WITH ‘IRON LADY’
Nollywood actress, Laide Bakare, has returned to Nigeria after months of maternity vacation in the United States of America. That may not be new, though. What you will find new about the beautiful actress is that she has just finished shooting a new movie titled Iron Lady with stars based abroad and Nigeria.
We learnt that the new film was shot in Florida using some such exotic locations in Tampa Bay and Miami cities.
Recall that Laide just launched Uncommon Alhaja, another super flick which was conceptualized and completed in U.S. while she was on holiday.
‘Iron Lady’ will no doubt position Laide as an actress who is not only creative but adventurous in her chosen field as a great role interpreter with flair for elegance and professionalism. Her choice of Florida, we gathered, was stemmed from the fact that the cities have such scenes that will delight the audience.
ARUNMA OTEH CONDOLES FASHOLA
The Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms Arunma Oteh, last week Friday, led a team of the capital market community comprising regulators, trade groups, brokers, corporate trustees and custodians on a condolence visit to Lagos State governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) over the passage of his father, Pa Ademola Fashola.
Ms Oteh, at the governor’s office, Lagos House, Ikeja, said the capital market is proud to be associated with the work that the Governor has been doing in transforming Lagos State and stated that the governor’s late father lived a fulfilled life.
Oteh added that the stock market team, despite not having the opportunity of meeting Pa Fashola before his death, is taking solace in the fact that his good legacy will continue to be with everyone and prayed that his soul should rest in peace.
The Governor in his response thanked Oteh’s team for the thoughtfulness of the visit, saying it reinforces the many lessons and values that his late father preached about his commitment to humanity as a whole and bridge building.
The governor was joined by the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Ayo Gbeleyi at the event while the Oteh team included Mr. Bolaji Balogun, Mr. Emeka Madubuike, Mr. Tunde Kamal, Emmanuel Ohawubi, Uju Irukwu and Mr. Albert Okumagba, among others.
IG ABUBAKAR WITHHOLDS OFFICERS’ PAY FOR NEW SCHEME
Nigeria’s number-one police officer, Mohammed Abubakar, is making good his threat to add values to the life of his men and officers. He is said to have concluded plans to make the welfare of his colleagues, within the rank and file, his priority.
As such, we learnt that the police IG was deducting from the monthly pay of his men to the tune of 5000 Naira each to realize the idea.
A source said that that step would run for five months. Why the deduction, you would ask.
Well, our source said that it was meant to compel the officers of the essentials of the scheme, as most of them earlier showed reluctance when they realized the take-off would affect their personal money.
Telecoms Big Gal, YEMISI ABOYEJI Weds
Ex-Visafone female staff, Miss Yemisi Aboyeji, has wedded her lover. On Saturday, August 10th 2013, the families of Aboyeji and Onasanya jointly blessed their kids, Yemisi and Abayomi Onasanya who were joined in holy matrimony amidst pomp. The engagement had earlier taken place on Friday 9th August, 2013 at UMCA Chapel of Redemption Ground, Asa Dam, Ilorin, Kwara State. The wedding train later on Saturday, 10th, moved to the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) for the wedding proper, while the reception took place at Excellence Hall, Ilorin.
The lucky groom, Yomi Onasanya popularly known as Yomyt, is a Lagos based maritime expert. The bride is the daughter of former Comptroller of Nigeria Immigration Service, Kwara State Command, and now works with another telecoms firm, Etisalat.
Enter Olo Omidan Bata, First Female Nigerian Bata Drummer!
Young and charming Ibukun Bisola Ayoola is indeed a star waiting to break, regarding her skilful exploits on the traditional double-headed percussion drum called Bata.
She is the youngest and latest artiste from the stable of popular entertainment group, Atunda Entertainment.
Following her keenly, one would surprisingly find that Ibukun does not just drum, she is an authority on Bata drumming, a talent developed in just six months, though with the superb elegance being displayed, it would appear she has been on it all her life, noted an insider.
Ibukun started out as a singer and back-up artiste for Anu, another of Atunda Entertainment’s emerging star, we learnt from her, adding that, ‘‘I never thought of drumming Bata in my life. I came here as a back-up singer for Anu but in one of our rehearsals, our boss and founder of Atunda Entertainment just handed over the drum to me and said I would henceforth be the one to play it; “and that was how I started drumming’,’ she said.
Ibukun is now popularly known as Olo Omidan Bata (queen of Bata performing), a stage name said to have been given her by the founder of the group to reflect her balanced facial look with the Bata drum that has become part of her life, of which she wears a miniature version on her neck always.
Historically, Olo is from Oyo, where the people are renowned for their prowess and magic feat with the Bata drum, which traditionally is their ancestral and cultural symbolism when it comes to entertainment. Somehow, fate has put her on the path of destiny, a destiny, which she seems to have fully embraced and looking forward to carving a niche for herself as Nigeria’s first female Bata performer.
Olo was born in Kaduna and attended Blessed Academy, Kaduna, for her nursery and primary education before proceeding to Topgrade High School in Ogun State for her secondary education. She is on the verge of having a university education.
Poised to study music in the university, Olo reveals that she is inspired by her environment and that she likes to sing about life. She also reveals that she derives inspiration from her passion and likeness for the Bata drum as well as her desire to make people happy.
BILLIONAIRE JIMOH IBRAHIM EYES SKETCH NEWSPAPER
Billionaire-cum-turnaround manager par excellence, Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim, is currently on a hunt for fresh buying. Give it to him, the Igbotako, Ondo State born former governorship aspirant has earned for himself great respect for rescuing ailing and under-performing establishments.
To Jimoh’s credit, most of these acquisitions are better off than before his intervention.
Presently, we heard that Dr. Ibrahim is talking to owners of the defunct Sketch newspaper; the government of the old Western Region comprising today’s Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti and Ogun States that is, for a possible take-over of the company.
Although earlier reports said that the business mogul had handed off the deal, latest reports have revealed otherwise. The owners of the title, Odua Investment Ltd, are said to be discussing with Jimoh who is considered as the most viable of those who are showing interest in buying the rested newspaper.
However, we learnt that the sale will not be total, as publishing the paper would be a partnership basis. It was not immediately known if Jimoh would buy the idea of a joint running of the new Sketch. He is currently the publisher of National Mirror, another daily newspaper which he acquired wholly and has been running alone successfully.
When we spoke to a source at Jimoh Ibrahim’s Marina, Lagos office, the story was debunked. The source simply said “It’s not true”.