Connect with us

Society

Woman Rising 2017 was a WaWu…..

Published

on

The Marquee of the Federal Palace hotel Lagos was a bright and lovely redoubt on Sunday April 9, 2016 as guests arrived for the 7th Woman Rising concert, an annual celebration of women who inspire and the men who love them.

Billed as a “celebration of women through Music, Arts and Networking” Woman Rising is convened by Ugoma Adegoke in concert with Zebra Living and this year’s edition was supported by FBN Quest, FCMB, Cointreau, The Wheatbaker, Strada Media, sabinews.com and The Guardian.

This year’s event had award winning actor and producer, Lala Akindoju as compere and she did a good job driving the proceedings in the well laid-out all white venue with white lounge settees that gave it an informal yet intimate feel.

Guests were welcomed with canapés and deliciously refreshing Cointreau fizz cocktails served by their friendly orange-clad waitresses.

First on stage was comedienne, ChiGul who left the audience in stitches as she unveiled her 11 personas taking the audience along on a trip from the UK to Mexico, India to Liberia amongst others.

Displaying DSC_3108.jpgDisplaying DSC_3047.jpg

Music was provided by a band led by musical director, Philip Uzo. The band accompanied a slew of female performers who took the stage to thrill, their musical performances interspersed with readings from men.

The first performance was by Botswana’s Sheillah, a former Big Brother Africa housemate who gave a rousing performance ending with a cover version of Asa’s hit song, Be My Man.

Music historian, documentary maker and musician, Ed Keazor kicked off the readings with a piece from a forthcoming book about colonial Lagos.

Kaline’s set was a rousing melange of genres with strings and drums and percussive instruments. A leggy delight and a vision in shimmering pink, she had the audience on their feet and singing along.

Displaying DSC_2997.jpgDisplaying DSC_2935.jpg

Visual artist, photographer and satirist, Victor Ehikhamenor had the audience laughing out loud and close to tears as he read a long humorous piece about the lost art of writing love letters from his book, Excuse Me. It was a piece struck through with humour and nostalgia for a long-lost time and art swallowed now by technology – emails, text messaging, whatsapp, tweets and facebook messaging.

Angela Paz Alhucema from Chile was a delight to watch as she held the audience in thrall with her dexterity on the drums with sets that segued from Afrobeat to Latin music.

A visibly enthused Ugoma Adegoke thanked the audience and performers and sponsors for keeping faith with WomanRising before reading from Max Ehrmann’s beloved poem, Desiderata, which enjoined the crowd to: Go placidly amid the noise and haste,/and remember what peace there may be in silence./As far as possible without surrender/be on good terms with all persons.

Displaying DSC_2831.jpgDisplaying DSC_2429.jpg

Other standout performances of the night were the rendition of a song from the movie, Sound of Music by ChiGul who left the audience awed by her vocal dexterity while actor and sex symbol, Richard Mofe Damijo’s appearance and reading of a poem, Gray, by Alice Walker left the women oohing and aahing.

But it was Evelle, past winner of the West African idol who took the night to its climax with powerful and inspirational songs that had women on their feet and dancing along.

Woman Rising 2017 was, to borrow from ChiGul, a WaWu!

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Society

2023 Ogwashi-Uku Carnival Holds 25th Dec

Published

on

By

 

The Ogwashi-Uku Carnival, the biggest carnival in Delta state is set to hold its 13th anniversary carnival on the 25th December 2023.

 

The Founder/Chief Host of the Carnival, Anthonia Oguah disclosed this in a press statement on Thursday.

 

Ogwashi-Uku Carnival is a celebration of the rich cultural heritage of the Ogwashi-Uku people in Delta State, a period to merry, bond and reunite with loved ones from Nigeria and the diaspora.

This season, the Carnival will feature road walk, Fashion Parade

Cultural Dance Troupes

Local Delicacies and lots more.

 

It is sponsored by Ogwashi-Uku Association USA Incorporated.

 

Oguah promised that this years carnival is going to be a special one with lots of varieties and great Ogwashi-Uku sons and daughters all over the world from far and near.

 

She said this year’s event will surpass other previous carnivals because she and her team have really worked hard to put the carnival together, studying the past Ogwashi-Uku Carnivals they have held and have planned excellently well to put this year’s event together.

 

“It’s going to be something big and different,very interesting, exciting and entertaining with lots and lots of fun,fully packed,” the statement said.

Continue Reading

Society

ONDEA Unveiled as Headline Sponsor For 2023 Lead Awards

Published

on

By

 

Project Lead Africa is thrilled to announce Ondo State Entrepreneurship Agency (ONDEA) as the official sponsor for the 2023 Leadership Excellence and Dignity Awards. According to the organizers, the 2023 Lead Awards ceremony promises to be bigger and better, with the support of leading organizations driving innovation and growth within and outside Ondo State.

 

In a press statement made available to journalists in Lagos, the Principal Consultant and Executive Director, Project Lead Africa, Mr. Abiola Alaba Peters said “We are glad of this collaboration, having Ondo State Entrepreneurship Agency (ONDEA) as our headline sponsor for this year, is such a honor, the aim is to inspire more these generations to keep doing more for our dear Sunshine state”.

 

Also referred to as “Ondo State Most Prestigious” Leadership Excellence and Dignity Awards is an annual award ceremony that celebrates individuals and organizations that are proudly Ondo State indigenes.

 

Themed, ‘Celebrating High Achievers”, “the 2023 Lead Awards aims to unearth the giants of the Sunshine state that are yet to be celebrated” says the Project Director, Adebukola Oba, who also confirmed that the event will showcase a new wave of super creative and talented individuals, including organizations that are eager to take Ondo State to the next level.

 

On his part, the Special Adviser to the Ondo State Governor on Entrepreneurship Development, Dr. Summy Smart Francis (hc) stated that the ONDEA’s decision to sponsor the 2023 Lead Awards was borne out of the desire to inform, educate and encourage creative’s and other professionals, particularly young people in Ondo State.

 

Mr. Smart who is also the founder and President Africa’s Young Entrepreneurs (A.Y.E) while thinking His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Ondo State, for providing the platform for young people to thrive in the state, express his enthusiasm to speak and interact with fellow compatriots at this year Lead Awards.

 

While Lead Awards aim to drive collaboration, foster partnerships, and provide a platform for quality leaders to share insights that can shape future generations, Ondo State Entrepreneurship Agency (ONDEA) which is an initiative of Akeredolu led administration, aimed at providing professional guidance to local entrepreneurs, empowers SMEs and MSMEs in Ondo State.

 

Associate sponsors for the 2023 Lead Awards include Dejavu Hotels, AutoProbe, Shaunze Royal and Aristo Games & Bristrol among others.

Continue Reading

Society

EFCC ARRAIGNS COUPLE FOR ALLEGED N2.7BN FRAUD IN LAGOS

Published

on

By

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday 28 November arraigned a couple, Oriyomi Idowu and Ruth Idowu, before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos on 20-count charges bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, money laundering, stealing, retention of stolen property, and forgery to the tune of N2,757,188,000.00 only.

The couple were arraigned alongside Food Commodity Processing Enterprise, Bonway Food Processing Company Limited, Samee Idowu Company Limited and Farmex Integrated Companies Limited, which all belong to Ruth Idowu.

One of the counts reads: “Ruth Sameeha Idowu, aka Loiry Ventures, Oriyomi Kabeer Idowu, aka Yocli Ventures, Food Commodity Processing Enterprise, Bonway Food Processing Company Ltd, Samee Idowu Company Limited, Farmex Integrated Companies Limited, sometime in 2023 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court, converted the sum of N10,000,000 to purchase a GLK Benz, purchase sum derived from converting the sum of N500,000,000 belonging to Creditpro Business Support Services with the aim of disguising the illegal origin of the funds.”

Another count reads: “Ruth Sameeha Idowu, aka Loiry Ventures, Oriyomi Kabeer Idowu, aka Yocli Ventures, Food Commodity Processing Enterprise, Bonway Food Processing Company Ltd., Samee Idowu Company Limited, Farmex Integrated Companies Limited, sometime in 2023 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court, dishonestly retained the sum of N936,619,876 in your UBA bank account, property of Creditpro Business Support services knowing same to be funds fraudulently obtained from Creditpro Business Support Services.”

The defendants pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to  them.

In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel, Bilikisu Buhari, prayed the court for a trial date and the remand of the defendants  at a Correctional Facility.

Counsel to the first defendant, G. Onwubuya, informed the court of the bail application of his client, which had yet to be served on the prosecution.

He prayed the court to remand the defendants in the EFCC custody and also sought a short adjournment for the hearing and determination of the bail application.

In her objection, Buhari informed the court that the holding facility of the EFCC was already overstretched.

She also told the court that the appropriate place, following arraignment, was a Correctional Centre.

The Judge held that there was no bail application before the court for the second defendant, whose counsel, J.J. Ogunyemi, had yet to file.

Consequently, Justice Dada adjourned the matter till December 15, 2023 and ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Correctional Centre “pending hearing and determination of their bail applications”.

Continue Reading

Trending