Call for submission: poetry submissions from writers

  As a part of individual contribution towards National development and integration, Adedayo Victor O. is pleased to invite poetry submissions from writers and poets within the country for the publication of his anthology titled “Bleeding Pens”.

 The anthology, according to him, is geared towards the conglomeration of creative works from all part of the country to discuss pertinent issues within the country for the purpose of National development and integration.
With the theme: “Creativity: an excitant to National development and integration”, all entries must discuss pertinent issues within the country.
“Submissions should be sent to adedayo.victor03@gmail.com or vicadedayo@gmail.com as a Microsoft word document. Originality must prevail in all submissions. Name of entrant and entries must be clearly stated as the subject of the e-mail. For example: Adedayo Victor: Epiphany of Hope.
Authors must provide their full name and a 50-100 word biography in the body of the e-mail.
“There is no restriction to numbers of entry per entrant. No submission fee is required and no royalty will be paid to authors. Every author whose entry is published in the anthology is entitled to a complimentary copy of the anthology. Any indication of plagiarism automatically disqualifies any entry from being published.
“Note: The theme is not restricted to politics alone. Other important aspects of life are welcomed.
The deadline for all submission is September 15, 2015. All correspondence should be directed to Adedayo Victor on vicadedayo@gmail.com, adedayo.victor03@gmail.com

Stage play of Bobo Omotayo’s book holds in October

A stage production of Bobo Omotayo’s book, “London Life, Lagos Living”, brings together a potpourri of A-list actors who will give members of the audience “not to forget in a hurry” performances.

Put together by one of the leading production companies in Nigeria, Make it Happen Productions, the play will thrill its numerous fans to yet another spectacle.

The actors include Kate Henshaw, Funke Akindele, OC Ukeje, Wale Ojo, Chioma 'Chigurl', Kemi Lala Akindoju, Lami Phillips, Patrick Diabuah and Adebola Williams.
“We are very excited to bring the production of Bobo Omotayo’s ‘London Life, Lagos Living’ alive on stage,” said Kemi Lala Akindoju, CEO, Make it Happen Productions.

 “Bobo Omotayo’s book captures the experiences of the Nigerian who lived in London and moves back home. The adaptation is hilarious and entertaining, we are therefore honoured to be producing it this year,” she added.
The play will be staged from the 1^st to 4th of October, 2015 at the Agip Recital Hall, Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

Abia State (Ikpeazu and Otti) tribunal hearing happening now

APPEARANCES (APGA): Lead counsel Chief Akin Olujinmi(SAN), Chief Awa Kalu(SAN)+ 65 lawyers
Chief Theo Nkeire is leading the Council for 1st Respondent Ikpeazu today and he is ably supported by Emeka Etiaba. The team introduction going on
Chief Paul Ananaba, SAN, lead counsel for the 2nd respondent is also present. Team introduction for the 2nd Respondent is going on now.
S.O Hagla Esq leading the 3rd respondent counsel for today is introducing his team now.
BUSINESS OF THE DAY
The Tribunal judge has just announced that the hearing proper commences.
Chief Olujinmi, counsel to petitioner has the floor now
Chief Olujinmi is making a request that the time for cross examination be extended beyond 3mins. He argues dat d time given is not realistic

BUHARI ASKS MDA’S TO OPEN TREASURY SINGLE ACCOUNT

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed all Federal Government Ministries, Departments or Agencies to start paying into a Treasury Single Account (TSA) for all government revenues, incomes and other receipts.
According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President (Media & Publicity) ‘Laolu Akande the directive is specifically to promote transparency and facilitate compliance with sections 80 and 162 of the 1999 Constitution.
Henceforth, all receipts due to the Federal Government or any of its agencies must be paid into TSA or designated accounts maintained and operated in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), except otherwise expressly approved.
A TSA is a unified structure of government bank accounts enabling consolidation and optimal utilization of government cash resources. It is a bank account or a set of linked bank accounts through which the government transacts all its receipts and payments and gets a consolidated view of its cash position at any given time.
This presidential directive would end the previous public accounting situation of several fragmented accounts for government revenues, incomes and receipts, which in the recent past has meant the loss or leakages of legitimate income meant for the federation account.
It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier promised state governors at the inaugural meeting of the National Economic Council, NEC, in June, that all revenues prescribed for lodgement into the federation account will be treated as such under his watch and that he will ensure strict compliance with all relevant laws on accounting, allocation and disbursement.
Since then the presidency has worked with relevant agencies of the federal government to evolve this policy directive.
This directive applies to fully funded organs of government like the Ministries, Departments, Agencies and Foreign Missions, as well as the partially funded ones, like Teaching Hospitals, Medical Centres, Federal Tertiary Institutions, etc.
Agencies like the CBN, SEC, CAC, NPA, NCC, FAAN, NCAA, NIMASA, NDIC, NSC, NNPC, FIRS, NCS, MMSD, DPR are also affected.
For any agency that is fully or partially self-funding, Sub-Accounts linked to TSA are to be maintained at CBN and the accounting system will be configured to allow them access to funds based on their approved budgetary provisions.

Mistakes: Missed stakes to success

By Samuel Ufot Ekekere

I grew up in a fairly hostile environment where mistake were hardly tolerated. My father was a stern man who we took very seriously; he scarcely smiled with us his kids. We were only privileged to see him smile when he is amongst his friends and colleagues. He often expected that we developed the perfection of an adult which was hardly possible. If we failed just a sum out of twenty, he would query why we had to fail that one. He expected one hundred percent from us and we were too little to understand that degree of perfection.

I’m grown up now and looking at those years, I’ve carried that mentality of striving for perfection transferred from my dad to me in everything I’ve had to do. I’ve observed through experience that a perfect state is not attainable. As much as we strive towards it, mistakes hang around.

If you play board sports or game, you will recall you have been in a situation when you played a game and observed it was actually the wrong game that should have given the other player undue advantage. However, you observed too that the opponent was blind to the game you had played and what seemed as a wrong move by you turned out to work for your advantage.

Osun Osogbo festival is on

Nigeria’s unique annual cultural festival which attracts many people from different continents, Osun Osogbo Festival, holds between 10 and 21 August 2015.

This was disclosed by the Managing Director, INFOGEM Limited and the Official Festival Consultant of Osun Osogbo Festival, Ayo Olumoko at a press conference held in Lagos recently..

He revealed that the festival advisory committee has finalised plans to list Osun Osogbo festival on Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and introduced other activities that will add flavour to this year’s festival.

 In his words: “The festival is Nigerian product which generates revenue, and which other festivals look up to as a yardstick to develop. If our cultures are well developed, tourists will be attracted and by this we will have more players.

It has become necessary to list the festival on NSE because of its “consistency”.

The festival has been celebrated every year for more than 60 decades,”

Olumoko said.

 He told Newswatch Times that different sponsors who are participating in this year’s festival are preparing to make the cultural fiesta n a memorable one.

According to him, the two-week long celebration will commence with traditional cleansing of the town called ‘Iwopopo’ which would be followed by the lightening of the 642-year-old points lamp. This will be followed by the assemblage of all the crowns of the past rulers for the blessings, four days after.

NewswatchTimes also learnt that the festival grand finale will showcase the cultural procession of the people to the Osun Groove.

Official sponsors for this year’s festival among others include: the Nigerian Brewery Plc, Grand Oak Ltd, KASAPREKO and Institute of Directors.

Also speaking, the Corporate Communication Manager, Nigerian Brewery Plc, Patrick Olowokemi said his organisation would set up a beer village in Osogbo with a view to boosting entertainment and trade in the town. Indeed, Osun Osogbo festival is the best festival to watch this season.

AFRIMA receives 2,558 entries for 2015 edition

Information reaching us has it that the International Committee of All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), in partnership with African Union Commission (AUC), has announced a staggering submission of entries with a total of 2,558 for AFRIMA2015 edition at the close of submission of entries on Friday, July 31, 2015 at 2400hrs CAT.
This was disclosed in a statement made available to us by AFIMA organizers.

According to the statement, the entries were received on the AFRIMA website and social media platforms from African artistes, record companies, and music/entertainment journalists from across the continent and the Diaspora whose works were produced between May 31, 2014 and July 31, 2015 in accordance with the stipulated guidelines by the academy of the jury of AFRIMA.
“But more exciting are the entries from artistes of African origin living abroad and non-African countries which shows the global recognition of AFRIMA, which is in partnership with the African Union Commission, ONE Campaign and Africa 2.0.

Artist urges FG to establish National Art Museum, ratify Nigeria’s cultural policy

Onobrakpeya

One of Nigeria’s leading artists, Dr Bruce Onobrakpeya, has called on the Federal Government to set up a national art museum to store up the best artworks in the country.

Onobrakpeya made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on last week Friday in Lagos.

He also urged the government to ratify the nation’s cultural policy to enable artists to take advantage of the business opportunities in their trade.

 “We want a museum, a kind of modern art museum to be built. We don’t have one now.

“Right now in Abuja, one has been proposed but it’s taking very many years now it has not started off the ground.

“In a country we need the museum to store the best of the artworks, those best of the artworks will now attract people from all over the world to see and that again will now boost the culture and bring a lot of money and prestige to the country.

“Those two things ratify the cultural policy; build us a museum, a modern art museum

“And then, make it possible, empower the artists to be able to create, those are things that are the challenges that we have now in the country.

“We are working as individual artists now in the country, the organisations that we have Society of Nigerian Artists and other organisations are not strong enough.

“So what we ask is for the government to ratify the cultural policy, so that some of the things should be made available to empower the artists to fund their organisations and do a lot of things which they are not able to do now.“

NAN reports that Onobrakpeya, 82, was last year honoured by the Smithsonian Institute in recognition of his significant achievement in the arts in the last six decades.

CBN's new directive on use of foreign currency in Nigeria

1. BTA is reduced from $10,000 to US$1500 for personal trip, $2500 for business trip with provision of visa and passport for proof before CBN will approve such BTA in US$ cash.
2. Till further notice, Bureau De Change is dead in Nigeria! Nobody goes around looking for US dollars again? For what?

3.The ban was intentional to hit those politicians with large sum of US$ siting in the bank account in Nigeria and to strengthen Naira.
4. If you want anyone to wire money (Naira or dollars) to you abroad from Nigeria, for you to receive US$ in your bank account abroad, the sender must fill a form called "form A" at Nigerian bank that will require CBN approval for money in US$ for school fees, medical expenses, house mortgage abroad only to be permitted. Any other reasons, not permitted till further notice!
5. Nigerians abroad will still be able to send money home using Bank to Bank Wire Transfers and Western Union but you will only receive Naira equivalent not US dollar.
6. US$ currency cannot be lodged / deposited or withdrawn as US$ cash anymore in Nigeria except it's converted to Naira.
7. The maximum $US notes you can travel with to Nigeria is $2500 which you have to declare at the Nigerian point of entry at the henceforth.
Be careful, don't get arrested, don't get your hard earned money confiscated because ignorance of the law is not an excuse

Our driving force is to get Nigerians read -El Nukoya

ADA DIKE

A Nigerian writer, El Nukoya, on August 2, 2015, launched his second book, ‘Baron of Broad Street’ in Lagos.

During the questions and answers section, he shared how someone asked him sometime ago whether he was in a cult for him to write a fiction that relates to cult activities in his first book, but someone in the audience responded before him and asked the person who asked the question, “how do you know how accurate things are inside the cult? For you to have been able to describe it with accuracy, then, you were in a cult yourself.”

“To me, it is imagination. It is a validation that somewhere along the line, you probably know what you have written. As a writer, you are creative. You can imagine anything. There was a time I struggled with lines and rhymes. It was my personal experiences. It is fiction. The general perception is that before you empathize or sympathize, you must be in that situation. You necessarily have to come from a place to be able to sympathize,” he explained.

Julius Agwu with his family

Governor of Abia State, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, with Chief Ojo Maduekwe during the former minister's 70th birthday celebration in Abuja last weekend

Tonto Dikeh Marries her hubby, Churchil in secret marrige

Photos of an elderly woman hit by a vehicle while crossing Maryland axis of Ikorodu, Lagos, this morning

Serena Williams during training

I have not disowned any of my children - Olufemi Kayode

Man dies in Lagos after drinking nine cans of energy drink

Bennett, a 34 years father of two has just died in Lagos after drinking nine cans of energy drink. Ben who lives at Meiran, a suburb part of Lagos according to his wife Oluchi who spoke to CKN said her husband an electrician met his untimely death last week Wednesday at the popular Oshodi market..According to sources who witnessed the incident,some young traders at the market were arguing that no one can consume five cans of the energy drink and survive..One of them deposited N5000 as a bet ..Ben who was not part of the discussion overheard the argument told them that he can consume as much as ten of the substance ..He was on his ninth bottle when he suddenly slumped..He was rushed to a nearby clinic where he was pronounced dead on arrival. His body has been deposited at the Ikeja General Hospital mortuary leaving his 3 and 1 year kids behind.
Source: CKN

Palmwine tapper enjoys it on top of the tree

Photos From Dolapo Oni And Prince Adegbite Sijuwade’s Wedding

AFRIMA holds Morocco Stakeholders’ Conference …Met with Ministers of Foreign Affairs; Culture; and Tourism as Morocco makes strong appeal to host next three editions of AFRIMA

It was a rousing reception for the All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, in partnership with the African Union Commission, AUC, as the awards project held its AFRIMA 2015 Stakeholders’ Conference for the northern region of Africa in Morocco on Thursday, July 23 at the Sofitel Hotel, Casablanca. On Friday, July 24, The AFRIMA delegation also had extensive and successful deliberations with the government of Kingdom of Morocco in the capital city of Rabat as represented by Ministers of Foreign Affairs and cooperation, Mbarka Bouaida; Culture, Mohammed Amine Sbihi and Director, strategy and Cooperation, Ministry of Tourism, Tarik sadik...

With the theme: Integration of Africa through Music and Culture, the Stakeholders’ Conference was facilitated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Morocco; 2014 AFRIMA winner for Best Male Artiste Northern Africa, Ahmed Soultan and the Sofitel Hotel Casablanca aimed at communicating the objectives and ideals of AFRIMA to the stakeholders in Northern Africa.

I use New Era Show to touch people’s lives -Jovita Anosike

 

Jovita Anosike

Amiable TV programme producer and presenter, Jovita Shola Ugochi Anosike, in this interview with ADA DIKE, speaks on why she loves touching people’s lives through her TV programme, New Era Show.

================

Can you tell us about your TV progamme, New Era Show?

A popular variety show on Nta2 Channel 5   and NTA Channel 10, New Era Show, which began in 1996, specializes in discovering children’s talents, celebrating women, and projecting the image of schools and corporate bodies. Our aim is to catch them young and also help to discover their talents.

I’ve had my show on Silver Bird. But the regular station I air my programmes is on NTA and this is the twelfth year we’ve been running it concurrently. We observe the New Year Day, Valentine’s Day which is February, 14, Mothers’ Day, Easter, run the Kiddies Easter Show and do Anniversary shows as well.

Jovita Anosike

We observe The African Child Show in every July. We also observe Talent Hunt. We catch them young on this show and project the gift that God almighty has given individuals. We also do cat-walk, trying to show how the children should do their thing in the right way as budding professionals and do drama with the kids.

We have discussed on this show the importance of breast feeding, the value it has for a child who is being reared by his or her real mother, what it does in a child morally, among others.

We have had talks on HIV/AIDS on the show. We are also into Sports. We have live sports on New Era Show. We’ve done that with the support of a big company. We observe Christmas Kiddies Show, Inter-House Sports. We also observe and nurture youths who have talents.

Lagos City Chorale wins 3 Gold Medals in Germany

Members of the Lagos City Chorale

Magdeburg, the capital of state of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany was aglow with international music festival and competition from 5^th-12^th July, 2015. Over one hundred choirs drawn from 35 countries of the world participated actively at various levels of the festival, some in competitive categories while others took part in non competitive programme.