ESAMA OF BENIN KINGDOM,CHIEF GABRIEL IGBINEDION GIVES OUT DAUGHTER IN MARRIAGE

Omosede Igbinedion, the pretty daughter of Chief Nosakhare Igbinedion will soon be getting married to her prince. Her groom to be is Prince Avan Akenzua, Son of the Enogie of Obayanto, HRH Uyiekpen Akenza.
According to the article in Ovation,“The prince charming, studied microbiology at the Edo State University said he is head over heels in love with Omosede. He revealed what endeared him to her was her transparency”
He also said this about his bride to be “She is a woman that can add to a man’s future and also help shape his future ambition. She also has the capacity to help you channel your resources on the right path. This is why I have chosen her as my bride to be”.
Omosede is a lawyer and a business woman. She is said to own a nice shopping plaza in Benin City. Congrats to the couple

CONGRATULATIONS BUKKY ADEOYE ON THE SAFE DELIVERY OF YOUR BABY GIRL

THE ENTIRE STAFF OF CELEBRATING AFRICA MAGAZINE REJOICES WITH YOU ON THE SAFE DELIVERY OF YOUR BABY GIRL.

THE ADEOYES

RMD APPOINTED COMMISSIONER FOR CULTURE & TOURISM IN DELTA STATE.

Richard Mofe-Damijo popularly known as RMD has been appointed COMMISSIONER FOR CULTURE & TOURISM IN DELTA STATE.Born on the 6th of July 1961, only son of his mother.Presently married to Jumobi Mofe-Damijo(nee Adegbesan).An actor and a trained lawyer.

WEDDINGS 2008

MY WIFE AND KIDS ARE MY WORLD---DESMOND ELLIOT

Desmond Elliot is one of the top talented actors in the Nigerian movie industry popularly called Nollywood. An unassuming and God-fearing person, Desmond is the story of a hardworking and focused young man. With diligence, hardwork and perseverance, his rise to the top was rapid. The boyish-looking and handsome man has acted in so many movies. Some of his works include Magic Moment, Last Oath, True Romance, With Love, and Wild Rose. In this interview, Elliot takes a look at his career, highlighting his strengths, mission and vision.

What were your younger days like?

I remember those years as the good old days. I grew up in Jos. My father was a Civil Engineer, while my mother ran restaurants. While those years were fun and nice, they gradually became tough when depression came into Nigeria and things. It was nice and tough. At a very tender age I became a Christian, which went a long way in controlling me and shaping me into who I have become today. My father is a Yoruba man from Lagos State, while my mother is an Ibo woman from Anambra State. . I had my primary education at Air Force Primary School in Jos, from where I went to St John’s College, also in Jos. I studied Economics at the Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos and graduated in 2003.

Why did you choose to become an actor?

My dream was to go abroad to settle down. I was denied visa then, and so I came to Lagos. While in Lagos, I was jobless, as I really wasn’t doing anything tangible. A friend of mine talked me into taking part in movies and I decided to give it a trial. It actually started as a hobby, but today, it is a career. I first started with soap operas such as Everyday People, One Too Much, Wale Adenuga’s Super Stories and Saints and Sinners.

How did you meet your wife and what was the attraction for her?

We met in Jos, at fellowship. We were members of the acting group. My wife and I never really liked each other. While she thought I was carefree, I thought she was too much of an introvert. But as time went by, we began to know each other better. It was a gradual process because we started off as friends. Later, one thing led to another and today, here we are as man and wife. I dated my wife for about eight years before we finally got married. My kind of job may have exposed me to the opposite sex but the truth is that my wife means the whole world to me. I appreciate my wife and I married her basically for love and nothing else. She is so understanding and caring. These are the two vital attributes I find lacking in most women of today.

What are her names?

She is Victoria Ima-Obong.

Since she always thought of you as carefree, how does she cope with your acting, especially with you having to kiss other women, which you do quite often?

How will you feel if somebody else kisses your husband? It makes her uncomfortable, but she now knows the tricks behind it and it is not much of a problem now. There are things I do she does not like, even on screen, and she tells me. In all, we always try to arrive at a compromise. That is what life is all about.

What of female admirers?

How does she cope with their advances?Well, that’s one thing that endeared her to me. In my profession, you meet people everyday; male and females alike. While there is no need to be a snub, you also have to be cautious about being over-friendly.

Have you had any embarrassing moment from your female fans?

So many, please don’t even go there. So far God has been delivering me and I still pray for his continuous deliverance.

Could you be more specific?

Some ladies call to have a date with you. Some others offer me money just to sleep with them; they make passes at me. Acts like these are embarrassing to me. The point is this, how many fine girls are you going to date? You just stick to the one you love and life would be easier and more enjoyable. Women chase me because I am an actor and if they don’t do that, it simply means that I am not yet an actor. In fact, being chased is not the issue, what matters is that whenever I perceive that I am about to be chased, I run. I run because I have an ambition, which I don’t want women to ruin for me. I run from them if they want to go beyond the level of being my fans to another level.

Are you serious?Is it that bad?

I just told you.

So, you think it is your being a Christian that has saved you? For those who offer money, I hear the figures are so tempting you young men are hardly able to resist?

God forbid. I am a Christian, I love my wife and children dearly. I am not prepared to jeopardise the peace and love that reigns in my home. For young men who cannot resist these women and their money, good for them. People are different and so our priorities. I had always wanted to settle down from as young as when I was eighteen, but somehow, it didn’t happen. I am a strong believer in the family. A man who wishes to succeed in life must keep the home front happy and the way to do so is to flee from temptation.

How would you assess the movie industry?

The fact that the Nigerian movie industry is growing is a positive development. I am grateful to all those that are making it happen such as the marketers, directors, producers and others. Nollywood contributes to the nation’s economy because quite a number of people are involved and are earning their livelihood from the industry. The only problem is that our government is yet to fully realise the great economic advantage that lies in tapping into the industry. America and India have tapped into Hollywood and Bollywood respectively and the result is quite rewarding.Government should come and invest in the industry, the marketers have done great jobs by investing their money to prove that the sector is lucrative.

Who would you say has contributed the most to who you have become today?

My talent is a gift from God and whatever comes from God is mine. At the same time, God gave it to me and reserves the right to take it back if you fail to use the gift to make people happy and contribute to the good of humanity.

If you had not become an actor, what would you have been?

A banker.

How comfortable are you?

I eat everyday, I drink water, I pay my bills, and I also support people whenever I can. I thank God for that.

How do you relax?

I love to stay at home with my family, watching movies. Family time is special and very relaxing.

Which day would you say has been your happiest?

Day, you mean. The day I got married and the day my wife was delivered of our twin sons.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH YEMI BLAQ

Since making his entry into the movie industry in 2005, Wesley Snipes' look-alike, Yemi Blaq, has proved it takes more than great looks to be a lead man. With a diction that is captivating, his roles in movies like Sting, Control and Coded were outstanding. Down to earth and very accommodating, the Theatre Arts graduate from the University of Benin.

What was growing up like for you?

I grew up in a home of seven children. I grew up in love. I studied Theatre Arts in the university because of my unbelievable love for the arts. My parents are arts inclined, with my mum being more of the artistic one. So I guess I inherited this love from them. Growing up, I wrote poetry, songs. But after studying the rudiments; the business, I decided to come into the industry fully. I did not just dabble into the business of acting. I came into it ready for the business.

How has the business been so far?

So far, so good! It can get better, though. I expect scripts to be able to stretch me to the extreme of my capacity.

Which role has been your most challenging?

My most challenging role has been Osaro: The rise and fall. Every movie is challenging. It is also difficult. Acting is not as easy as people think it is. Acting entails a lot. Reading a script and getting into character requires immense concerntration, especially if that character is foreign to yours. Every role though comes with its own challenges. Then, there is also being able to entertain, which is the skill.

What is your assessment of the movie industry?

It is rated the third in the world. I do not have the expertise to doubt it. We need to go beyond trying; go from good to better. I know we will get there. We are already making headlines internationally. Beyond the problems of piracy and distribution, the issue of funds to execute projects is a problem. Until big money is pumped into the industry, mediocrity will continue to thrive. If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys. But when you pay good money, you will only do so to the very best.

Are you married?

I am not married but I hope to be one day. I love family. It is the best thing to have happened to man.How do you deal with female admirers?I love women; I honestly do. I have more female friends than males. It is a natural thing for me. I love my female fans too. The word is caution. I have my boundaries in all aspects of life, including my dealings with females. I leave things easy. I appreciate the fact that I am admired and so, I will never take advantage of the likeness because it is an honour to be appreciated.For a good looking man who speaks like you do, what happens if one of these admirers wants to take things a little further?Come on it won't happen. I certainly will not encourage any such move.

What is style for you?

I am an ultra-casual guy. I do not believe I have to go with the trends. I want to wear something I can move around in; something that fits and is smart. There is no need to wear a suit in this part of the world, only to end up sweating like a goat. Unless, of course, you are one of those who practically live in an air conditioned world.

Which is your favourite song?

Soul E's Soul E Baba dey here.

How do you unwind?

When I am not acting, I am at home. I am a homeboy who likes to sit at home and watch movies. I also like to write songs. I love animals too but unfortunately, space would not allow me to keep them now. I would love to have a cheetah and maybe a snake.

What is your source of inspiration?

I draw inspiration from everything. It is not enough to just see things. We need to observe things, learn from things, circumstances. Life itself is inspiration. People are works of art and are always changing. The hustle and bustle of life should not deprive us of enjoying the gifts of life and its benefits if we only but pause a minute to see life for what it truly is; a gift from God.

What is the greatest problem facing the average Nigerian?

The basic problem in Nigeria is poverty. When you constantly try to break out of it and cannot, it becomes frustrating. As actors, we should not just consider ourselves as entertainers, but make ourselves worthy of emulation. I would rather be liked and be proud of, rather than be a potential criminal.

What of tales of homosexuals rocking the industry, is it true?

There are homosexuals everywhere. Once they do not shove it down anyone's throat, fine. No one has the moral right to be a sexual police.

Have you had advances from any?

Do I look like I should have had any? It would be suicidal for anyone to think of me in that light and attempt to try his luck with me.

How would you assess the Nigerian woman?

Men and women should live in partnership. A woman complements a man. The Nigerian woman needs to take stand for herself. Women have been too financially dependent on the men. With more financial independence, the sky is the limit for the Nigerian woman because she is beautiful and gifted. She is also strong and bold. Therefore, she needs to be more aggressive when it comes to empowering herself, especially financially.

What is your dream for your career?

My dream is to get N18 million for every role. I want to be known the world over. I want to be able to make good things happen. Being an actor is not just to be seen on the screen. You should be able to add value to the lives of the people who see you.

Who are your role models?

They may not necessarily be role models but I admire the likes of Oprah, Madonna, Angelina Jolie, who have the clout to change the world. They have made positive impact on humanity which is a goal of mine.

Which actor do you admire?

Johnny Depp's acting has depth.

What is your philosophy of life?

Do not give up. There is nothing happening to you that has not happened to someone else. So, do not give up.

Do you believe abstinence is the best way to fight the HIV/AIDS scourge?

Abstinence is best only if you can do it. Education, awareness are the keys with which stigmatisation is better dealt with which is a way forward. There is the need for people to know that people with the disease are as human as those without it

OLU JACOBS--ACTOR WITH A DIFFERENCE

Olu Jacobs is a name that is very synonymous with the Nigerian theater and the art. With more than forty years experience on the job, the United kingdom-trained practitioner is far from retiring. In this no-holds-barred interview with Showtime Celebrity, Uncle Olu as he is fondly called by friends and associates speaks on his career, his wife Joke and more. Excerpts;

How do you cope with working with the younger generation of stars on set?

I work with upcoming artists but many of us make fundamental mistakes by calling people stars when they are not stars. Our audiences call us stars, we do not call ourselves stars because it takes a lot to be a star but unfortunately we find that we are in a nation of titles where you find an upcoming person calling himself a star even when he is not. That limits one’s growth and I really think it takes more than that to be a star. It takes years of work and highly appreciated work by the public before you begin to recognize one as a good actor. Talking about working on set with the upcoming artists, it is very challenging and interesting to work with them.
Some find it difficult fitting into their various characters well enough because they don’t take time to study the scripts well and understand the characters enough. Others find it hard interpreting their roles very well. Some times there are problems and nobody to help so you have to do the best you can to help the situation.

And what was government’s role in the development of the movie industry?

For a very long time, government never took this profession seriously. Once they see off their guests to the airport that is all. They only paid lip service or use artists to entertain their guests. That was the way they saw the profession before now. And suddenly when they embark on their numerous foreign trips, they are being congratulated by their hosts for movies coming from Nigeria and how enjoyable they are. As new economic doors are being opened, they began to realise that there is something after all to say about the industry. Apart from the opportunities the industry offered Nigerians, there is the foreign exchange earning for the country. And this aspect is the reasons why the distribution area of our industry is being looked into by the government and new laws enacted to control film distribution in the country. We are entering a new phase and I believe that we should give the Census board a chance, there is no better alternative and I honestly believe it will work. I find it embarrassing that in a country of about one hundred and forty million people, we cannot sell one million copies of our movies. It is very embarrassing but with this new method of distribution, I know it will work.

What could have been responsible for this, could it be that the industry was not well represented in the past?

Just as the name depicts, an actor is there to act, a director is there to direct, a producer is there to produce and a distributor is there to distribute. That area has suffered untold negligence and this is the reason government is starting to offer assistance because it benefits government and the private sector.

Was there any particular movie that you starred in that you found very challenging?

I study scripts well, when I read the story I understand my roles very well, I never have problems with any.

Which is your first movie?

It was called Carrying Up the Jungle. It was shot in England.

How did you feel acting first time, with real professionals?

I felt numb, I was miserable because I have done stage plays and with stage plays, I get my reactions from my audience instantaneously. And when I’m getting them, I know when I’m losing them. And I know when I have them under the palm of my hand. But with the movie you are talking to a cold iron, just the lonely voice of my director saying; ‘thank you Olu, thank you, okay give me a close up of that or give a medium’ that is all you hear and I did not know how to deal with that. Three days later you meet the director and he says ‘that was good’ just like that and he is gone. That was how I felt the first time.

How much were you paid in your first professional job?

It is supposed to be private and confidential.

Having been around for so long, what is your perception of sexual harassment in Nollywood?

Let me tell you categorically. I have never been sexually harassed.

But you are a man now?

So, men are harassed too.
It is most unlikely because this is a man’s world . . .
Don’t let anybody deceive you. It’s a woman’s world as well.
I think wherever you have men and women, men will fancy women and women will fancy men but some men will like to take undue advantage of the situation and some women unfortunately will like to take undue advantage of some men. But I don’t think it is something you get too many people to talk about these days. It comes out, you know it happens but you find that most of the people who think they have to harass to get a favor from their actresses don’t usually do well, eventually people find out and things begin to dry up as far as job is concerned with them and some of them are still around and they have gone down. Like I said, it happens both ways and I think it is much, much less than it was now because most of them have left because jobs were not coming to them anymore.

How do you handle advances from your female fans?

I really believe that somebody has to have courage to look for my number and phone me. And when that happens, I thank them and I try as much as possible to be as nice as I can.

How do you feel when you are on same sets with your wife?

We are working, at least I know that she is an actress I’m happy and comfortable. We work very well.

Do you work as if you are working with any other person?

But when we are on set, we concentrate on our works and change costumes and all that. Work is work, after work then there will be plenty of time to do other things. We don’t take the time of work to do other things; after all, we came from the same house.

Since both of you are in the same career, how do you now joggle the home front and the job?

We are lucky we have children who understand the way we work and we try as much as possible to think of them too as we move around. My eldest boy is in America and I have a young boy so it is for him we are worried about so that he doesn’t feel our absence too much. But as things happen, when I’m at home she is either going or returning home from set and I will be on my way out. So we are not too far from him.

When you started out with your acting career, were your parents supportive?

My mother was but my father was not in support of it at all. He was a prolific dancer and drummer but he did not do it as a profession. He’d always say it was for pleasure. My mother requested to know why I was bent on doing it and I explained to her that I love telling stories, I love the way it is being told and I want to go and learn how to tell it because I enjoy it.

And how did you now get into the game proper?

I saw Ogunde in Kano when he was on his annual tour (I was born in Kano). On the day he came, I’d gone out on an errand and I saw this vehicle with so many people standing, singing and throwing leaflets to people. It was a beautiful picture the crew painted. When I got home and told my mother I wanted to go watch him, she said ‘you want to watch what? And I said Ogunde. She tripled my work load and pronto I finished the chore and when I told her, she didn’t believe it. But in the long run, she convinced my father to take me along to the show. The experience was wonderful and there and then I told my mother this is what I want to do. She promised to talk to my father about it, but she didn’t but on her own supported me when I travelled abroad for further studies. As for my father knowing what I was up to, I already have my passport and my visa. He did not know but my mother of course knew.

Your accomplice?

Yes my accomplice. On the appointment day, my father went to work and I took the train to Iddo in Lagos, then from Iddo to the Ikeja Airport Hotel where I was lodged.
When I got to England, I wrote him a letter, he was angry, so I wrote him another one. And when somebody was coming to Nigeria, I sent him some pipes and British tobacco, because he was a piper. In reply, he just a wrote a short note saying ‘how are you? Thank you for the gift’ and that was all. We exchange some few more letters after that. In his last letter he said he wished me luck and that I should always remember whose son I was. Unfortunately, we never saw again because he passed on before I got back.

You were doing well in UK, why did you come back to Nigeria?

That is one question that people find very difficult to understand. I’m a Nigerian and I went to England to train so that I can contribute to the improvement of the theater in Nigeria. I did not go to stay. Most people who travelled had that in mind. It’s only in the last say twenty years ago that you find people going and settling abroad. But I went so that I can come and give our people those things that they crave for in the theater. That was the stage I was in. I left Nigeria in September 11th 1964 and in 1980, I made the journey back home. And in 1984 I was invited to help start Second Chance and Third Eye, a detective series and from there, my agents called me and told me that I was wanted for another shoot that took me out of the country for eleven months. And after that, I came home and never left the shores again until 2001.
When I first came back, I was disappointed with the state of affairs but then it was a challenge. My wife happens to be an actress so we were speaking the same language so even if everybody around us didn’t understand us, we understood each other and this made life a lot easier for us.

How did you meet your wife?Did you ask her that question?I want to hear from the horse’s mouth

Am I a horse now? (Laughs) I was invited at the National Theater to help start Wole Soyinka’s Jero’s Metamorphosis and it was the premier so we did that at the National Theater. After that we had a play produced for the twenty-first independence anniversary and I was directing that play.
We had a very heavy cast, we were about one hundred and twenty and we were having a conference and a production meeting when the door opened and this lady walked in. I’d never seen her before and I said ‘Ladies and gentlemen, this is the lady I’m going to marry’ and she assessed me with her eyes and left.
No sooner, we became friends and from being friends, five years later, we were married. I’m not an impulsive person, I did not know why I said it, I just said it and I didn’t feel uncomfortable about it.

So how have you managed to keep your marriage together?

We thank God because it is God’s blessing that supercedes everything. It is always good when God gives you your friend; when you meet your friend, life is much easier because where others fail, friendship sustains. She is more than a wife, she is a mother, she is a friend, and she is very caring and generous and very deep a person.

Is she very romantic?

She is very romantic.

REASON BEHIND REAL WOMEN FOUNDATION---ADENIKE ADEYEMI

Adenike Adeyemi is a Christian leader with a humble background. Not only does she come from a well educated family and comfortable home, she is also the wife of Reverend Samuel Adeyemi, the founder and senior pastor of Daystar Christian Centre, Lagos. You would not be amiss if you concluded that Adenike is a woman of comfort who should not have any burden in life. But the University of Ibadan-trained motivational speaker would tell you that though she has the wherewithal for comfort, she is not comfortable.

Reason?

There are so many women outside there, she says, who are not comfortable because they face a lot of physical and emotional issues ranging from prostitution, trafficking, child abuse and abject poverty among others. She therefore has a burning passion to rehabilitate them not just to make life meaningful to them but also to make them fit into the society with a view to nation building.

A burden"How can I feel comfortable when so many women and children are hurting outside there? I need to apply my God-given compassionate spirit to do something to assuage the afflictions they are facing both emotionally and physically. That is really the reason behind the inauguration of Real Women Foundation," soft-spoken Adenike declared.

According to her, the foundation is intended to support the emotional, physical, economic and spiritual needs of specific women and children with rehabilitation facilities, especially those that have a history of abuse and neglect.

Purpose

She speaks further. The idea of Real Women Foundation is basically anchored on the need to bring healing to women, empower them and build them up in the proper way for a better living and in the interest of the Society, as well as the transformation of the nation. When we looked around and discovered that there are certain women who are liabilities to the community, prostitutes and young girls who are not trained and not even allowed to go to school, including young girls who are trafficked, we decided to raise a foundation that would focus on transforming them and adding value to their life, not just to make life meaningful to them but to make them fit to return into the society. We feel that if women are okay, the Society, nay the nation will also be okay. The foundation believes that changing the mindset of women is crucial to nation building. We are preoccupied with healing, teaching and transforming broken-hearted an abused women and children into people of courage and self-reliance.

Our programme

In order to actualize our dreams within the context of the set goals, objectives, vision and mission, we created a series of programmes. Among them is Peace Villa. This is a rehabilitation center located at Magodo-Shangisha, Lagos. It is a residential programme focused on emotional healing, reform, self-esteem and self-sufficiency. It is a place of solace that provides physical and psychological distance necessary for women to break the cycle of dependence, incarceration due to prostitution and other forms of abuse. With this initiative, we reach out in love to women and offer alternatives to those who are interested in change. It has gradually become a turning point for various hurting women, including former prostitutes, children and destitute. At the villa, we also provide opportunities for vocational training. Another crucial programme we run is Love Home, which is basically meant for abandoned and abused babies. Here, we offer a comfortable, caring and loving environment for such babies. We care for babies whose mothers are not economically and emotionally stable to cater for them. For Girls Only is also another fundamental initiative of Real Women Foundation. It is meant for counseling female students in secondary schools to prepare them to be future women who may face abuse and rejection. We teach the female students how to groom themselves and build a healthy image, good behaviour and good hygiene. We also teach them how to live a balanced healthy life in order to become nation builders.

Our Institute of family Value is another project in the pipeline. Catching Real Women bug. As far back as 1987, I saw the plight of prostitutes and started reaching out to them in their brothels one-on-one and I tried to find out what pushed them into selling their bodies. I made friends with some of the girls and was able to discover that among most of them, there was an issue of sexual abuse, neglect, family breakdown and poverty. Some of them migrated from the Eastern part of the country to Lagos to find ways of making ends meet. They don't have real family and moral value. Unfortunately, they don't even get the true benefit they are looking for. Rather, they are dehumanized, sexually assaulted, abused and enslaved. Some of them face horrible raping and incest experiences. Consequently, they become emotionally maladjusted. When I saw their plight, I started by talking to them on the need to go for other options that can shape their lives for better living. Propelled by numerous chances of assuaging their plight, I started putting some initiatives together which yielded positive results and transformed to Real Life Foundation. I have been to brothels and listened to their explanations on the circumstances that forced them into prostitution. About 98 per cent of them attributed their decision to abject poverty, joblessness and hunger.

If government had shown any concern, I don't think some of the girls would have opted for prostitution, which most of them claim to be their means of livelihood. Those who were ready to change after my counseling programme are always taken to Real Life Foundation for rehabilitation to regain self-esteem. Some of them would complain of not having money to do their hair. Others even lack pocket money. For such people, I started by giving them money assist them. But I discovered that was not enough means of making life meaningful to them. This is one of the major factors that led to the idea of initiating a special organization (Real Life) to help them and my priority is to ensure they change from their immoral ways. Giving them money was not enough because I observed that they would still go back. So, the best thing to do was to build a home for them, pick them off the streets and brothels, rehabilitate them and teach them to live a decent life. Those who agreed to change packed their belongings and moved to the homes for rehabilitation. A lot of them have been transformed already. At the home, we try to teach them all the values they did not learn in their fathers' homes. Those who did not have the means of going to school are sponsored. For instance, one of the rehabilitated girls is about to graduate from Covenant University. Dropouts among them are also assisted to continue their education. The home is called Kids Villa. It started since 2002. Right now, we have seven of such girls. But in all, we have been able to rehabilitate 75 ladies since inception. They are on their own earning a decent living now. They are into different professions, vocations and trades. Few girls

The reason we have only seven girls in the home now is that we find it very challenging and difficult to keep them side by side with the kids in the orphanage, which we also run for less privileged kids. More so, when people heard of our humanitarian services, they started referring pregnant young girls to us for rehabilitation. Some women who have been chased out of their homes by their husbands or divorced and looking for a place to stay would come and stay in the home and would not like to go again. We found out that our purpose was being defeated because the home is meant for rehabilitating prostitutes as well as young girls who don't have parents, or those who suffer neglect from their parents, especially from ages 13 - 25. All we can do to assist people outside this category is to link them with NGOs who have special programmes and initiatives for them.

HAPPY NEW YEAR GREETINGS

Wishing our readers a very properous 2009.It is our prayer that your heart desires would be fulfilled in the year 2009.I would like to share with you five tips for a better 2009.

1) Write down your immediate goals,short term goals and long term goals.

2) Seek the face of Lord before making any decisions.

3) Cultivate the habit of reading atleast one book in two months

4)Be passion about your goals

5)Set a realistic goal.

Our motivational column would be updated weekly so please do visit to read inspirational and motivational articles.For any questions or enquires please do send an e-mail to king_foundation@yahoo.com.

DO YOU STILL WANT TO COME TO UK?BY DANESI YUSUF

I do understand why you want to migrate given your love for your family. I am happy that you have all obtained your visas as you look forward to transferring your media skills here (UK). Work was not going the way it should in spite of your towering industry stature. So you have thrown in your retirement letter to everyone's shock. You have sold all you ever owned to be able to relocate with your family. In a nutshell, bridges have been burnt as you look forward to making UK your "new home."

However, you need to prepare for a completely strange transition, which may either make or break you. You will practically go to 'school' on CV writing and before you eventually get it right it might take roughly three months- this is no exaggeration, as there are many critics out here. You will start pushing out your new CV, while it takes about 3,000 to get you one interview! You may have to push out about 30,000 copies to get 10 interviews and you’ll probably need to attend 30 interviews to finally land a job! The truth is you may have to send out 900,000 applications before you get a job here!

If you are wondering why this is so then consider the following statistics and facts: the Royal Mail risks 50,000 jobs; Woolworths, which has 813 stores, collapsed in November and as a result, 25,000 jobs are likely to go; the pound has hit a near low against the Euro; manufacturing has fallen to record lows; the service sector is in record contraction; Britain is slipping down the income rankings; the Bank of England is being blamed for the recession; unemployment has hit 1.8 million- the highest since 1998; UK debt has risen to 1.5 trillion pounds, etc.

Do not be shocked that your M.Sc degree means nothing to the employers here. Worse still, the almost 20 years of experience you have does not count! Most employers do not even know what the HSMP (Highly Skilled Migrant Programme) means!

It is great that you are coming with your family of five, but you need at least £13,000 (N2.8m) to survive the first six months of possible unemployment- and this is outside of London! You’d probably need close to double that amount if you decide to reside in London. You may not be able to earn the mandatory £35,000 per annum required by the Home Office (if your visa is to be renewed in two years time) if you do not work in London. And if your post code reads anywhere but London, your applications will all fire blank. Meanwhile, no employer will tell you the reason.

If you have a relation or friend who lives in London and is willing to accommodate you temporarily, why not come alone for now? However, the danger in that is multi-faceted. Who says you will find work in six months- even menial work? There is a recession here, which affects virtually every sector. You will be shocked to learn that the employment agency would rather call, and even in some cases, register somebody from the EU who cannot express him/herself clearly in English than give you, a master's degree holder a break. And the job in question? Factory operative! The wage is about £5.75 an hour before tax/NI deductions. Do not forget that you need to be in the £24/25 per hour bracket to hit the HSMP £35k target. Relationships with your hosts will be strained in most cases and you will be running bills back home too since your wife is not working.

If you have the money, come with your family, stay with your host for not more than 72 hours, maximum, a week, but be prepared to contribute your quota to the upkeep of the home. You will be lucky if your hosts are not greedy because they have not set eyes ever on the kind of money you are coming with at a go, in their 20-something years of living in the UK!

That you have the money is no guarantee that you will immediately get a house of your own because you do not have a credit history. If you do not have a guarantor (and many potential ones are unwilling) then just pay six months rent upfront. Though the checks that will still be undertaken may take between two to three weeks. Make sure your landlord in Nigeria can easily be reached by the referencing company, e.g. e-mail, fax, land phone, mobile, etc. If you do not get a permanent job before the six months and your landlord wants to sell the property then you start the process all over, though your Nigerian landlord may not be contacted again. If your employment is temporary/contract, which is less than 6-12 months, you will need a guarantor.

Do not be in a hurry to own a car because keeping it on the road is not a joke; more so your driving licence/experience, like your academic certificates/experience, will not be recognised! You will have to start from scratch as a learner, in spite of your 18 years accident-free driving experience on roads that are death traps in Nigeria! Do not even think of using your international driving licence because of the prohibitive insurance premium you will be paying on it. What baffles me, however, is the accident statistics here despite the very strict driving/traffic regulations - every morning my radio reports accidents on the A2, M25, and the lot, as fatal!
The bills never cease to come from utility companies whether you have a job or not! Your local council tax is even reviewed upwards and if you call to let them know you are not working, they ask if your wife is and if she is. Your subsequent bills will come in her name! If you are impatient, the thousands of rejection letters you are going to receive on your applications will almost make you stop believing in yourself - you will think you are absolutely useless!

An attempted foray into other unrelated survivalist professions like care work may even return further rejection letters- but you are highly skilled! You will crave anything eventually because the bills are ticking away - lunch time play leader, mail sorter, support worker, anything.
You pick up most newspapers here and it is obvious you could do a better editing job if given the chance, but you have sent more than 5,000 unsuccessful applications to be considered even for the post of assistant reporter! You will almost feel like quitting. Your foreign degree is competing with theirs in this period of recession. Thousands of their citizens are out of work and they would rather give them priority. But do not be frightened, do not despair. I understand that your Christian faith is intact: that is a vital credential you will be need here at this time. Be prepared because at a stage it will look like God does not even operate here!

You were given 24 months and by 10 months into your visa some prospective employers are already weary of even interviewing you, citing "company policy" as the reason (your visa is running out of steam). I can confirm to you that many Nigerians here are returning home in great numbers- are you surprised?

Do you still want to come to UK? Whatever decision you take will be most respected by me and my family. Unfortunately, I am still trying to find my feet too and may not be able to be of assistance other than the frank, naked and analytical advice I have provided here. Above all, be propelled always by the thought of seeing your sacrifice for your family to the end. Believe in God, who knows all things. Surround yourself with positive and encouraging people. Do not regret your decision- keep fighting. Weigh the options, take the ultimate decision and never look back afterwards.

• Danesi, posted this article on Nigerian Village Square and lives in the UK

FINALLY INI EDO CHANGES NAME--MRS INI EDO-EHIGWINA

Ini Edo is officially married to her bestfriend,Philips.Love conquers all,despite all the rumours and controvesy Philips prove to be a man of his words when he stormed Akwa Ibom,Ini's hometown.We wish the couple a lovely marriage.

Dare Art-Alade is a class act by all standards; he is a radio presenter a Master of Ceremony and a musician all rolled up in one. He is the son of the late music maestro Art Alade and in this interview with Ahmed Boulor, the father of one bares his mind on a range of issues which includes: his marriage, career and his current status as the co-host of MTN's Project Fame.

HOW does it feel being the host of MTN's Project Fame knowing fully well that you once participated in the maiden edition held in South Africa four years ago?

It feels really humbling and it also goes to show that what goes around comes around and we must at every point in time do our best in whatever activity that we are involved in because one never can tell who is watching. Four years after I feel privileged to be selected to host the show out of the very many talented ones who are potentially good for the job. So it is a feeling of pride and humility all in one.What is the experience of being the host of the show like?

So far so good, it is not something new.

I am used to hosting and presenting or things like that. But, it has its own challenges as well and the whole process has been exciting. You seem to be versatile being a musician, an Mc and a radio presenter.

Which of these are you more comfortable with?

All of them! I don't have a problem with any of them. It is just about being comfortable with creativity in any form that it comes. I wouldn't say I am the best painter or artiste, it is just my ability to apply my creativity to whatever I am involved in: music, dance, theatre and the media.

What is the reason behind shooting two different videos for your single entitled Carry dey go?

We actually did both versions on the same day. The first one that featured me and Tu face was very artistic. But the remix is more of a club mix; it is more of dancehall package and it features Naeto C. The major reason we had two videos for the song was simply because the original and the remix are different modes; the one that features Tu face is slow mellow while the that has Naeto C on it is more of a party blend.

Why did you leave Storm Records?

It is what you may term mutual understanding; two matured parties understanding that it is not working the way it ought to work and instead of making a fuss out of it, we decided to call it quits and part ways. But I am still a friend of the Storm family.

On what label will your forthcoming album be released?

I have my own Entertainment label called Soul Produktionz; so instead of calling ourselves a record label we are just doing independent shows and consultations for entertainment.

How far has worked gone on your forthcoming album?

It's looking good! I am recording more songs like the one I did with Tu face and the album will be out in January. I also have a song with 9ice and I have been recording with TY Mix, Cobhams and Don Jazzy. So it's coming on well and it will be an album specifically for matured audiences; people who are in relationships or who are in love. I also have one or two party songs that will prove to be club hits.

Has marriage in anyway softened you?

I have always been a mellow person for those who know me. When I try to be aggressive is when I put up the youthful exuberance cloak; but really I have come to realise that my strong point is in being mellow. That is why I sing slow and mid tempo songs and I discovered that anywhere I go in the world when I open my mouth and sing songs like that, I catch the audience.

How does it feel being a father?

I feel blessed having a son! It is a great feeling anybody out there that has one knows exactly how I feel. It shows how blessed and favoured you are in the sight of God. Now I have a responsibility that I have to take care of and unlike before money for shows is not for me alone as I now have mouths to feed.

Of all your fathers' children, you are the only one that followed in his footsteps and in the process you have gained considerable popularity. Does this not make your other siblings uncomfortable?

Not at all! I mean if there is any thing they are really supportive of me and they are happy that I am doing what I am doing and carrying on the legacies of our late father. I totally have their support and I don't have any problem regarding that.

Do you not feel any pressure of any sort being married to somebody older than you are?No pressures at all!

Every body at sometime finds what works for him or her. I am perfectly happy with my marriage to my wife and I absolutely have no problems or pressures of any sort.

Word has it that you have moved from Lagos to Abuja; do you not think that will affect you considering the fact that Lagos is the boiling point of entertainment in Nigeria?

Yeah! Lagos is the hub of entertainment; but Lagos is not where all the money is. Money doesn't stay in one place, there is money in America and there is money in South Africa. There is money in Lagos and Abuja if you want to broaden your horizon then you should not be restricted to a place. The money I can make in Lagos is very minimal but that is not the reason why I am in the capital city. Abuja is where my family is and it is a very cool place to raise a family. Lagos is chaos, it is a mad place and I have lived here for many years so I know how Lagos operates. I also have my businesses in Abuja and I basically shuttle between Lagos and Abuja. I am not somewhere just for fun; anywhere you see me there must be a reason for being there.

Is it true that you will be travelling to South Africa soon?

That's true! We are going to shoot more videos and see if we could fix other elements of the upcoming album. There will be photo shoots, interviews and what have you.

How soon will your album be released?

Hopefully and by the grace of God, it's going to be released in January. The album proper will be launched in February which means that you would have had the album before it is launched.Is that in anyway a strategy you are adopting to make the album make an impact in terms of popularity? You could call it a strategy but for me it is just common sense. When you sit down and carefully think of what people will like and how it will best work for them and you try it out. Sometimes you get it right and sometimes you get it wrong.

Having had first hand experience with Project Fame four years ago; how would you rate the talent of the contestants in this year's edition with your time?

There is a lot of talent in the house; again is about people coming out when an audition is called. Somebody out there might be a better singer but if you don't come out and show those who are conducting the audition what you can offer then your talent dies with you. What we have seen are one of the best of talents that we have at the academy. I am not saying that they are the there is but those that are better out there didn't come but of all the lot that were auditioned the best were selected.

Are you making money off music?

I haven't started making money the kind of money that I should; considering the amount of resources one invests in the making of albums. But a lot of people do music without the love of it, if I didn't love what I am doing I would have been distracted and disillusioned with piracy and what have you. The more consistent you are, someday, that big breakthrough that you wished for would come. The music business is a business of hope and you must keep hoping for the best. Look at people like Majek Fashek and Onyeka Onwenu; if any of them ever stopped at any time in their careers they would have been forgotten. The most important thing is for people to remember you. You may not be rich but they know you are there and you are doing what you know how to do best.

Would it be okay to sum up that the kind of music you sing is determined by your kind of person?

Yes! Generally speaking or around the world, the kind of music you hear from an artiste to a certain extent can tell you the kind of person he or she is. You could tell by the lyrics he chooses to use and things like that. So I am an artiste that likes it blue and slow. I also like to dance, I know how to rock the show but I am more mellow.

The Anambra born leggy queen of beauty Chinenye Ivy Ochuba after finishing from Reagan Memorial Secondary School, she contested for the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria beauty pageant and she won in 2000. Her reign was a scandal-free one unlike her predessessors whose reigns are full of scandals and slanders. The seventh child in a family of 10 children shortly after her reign left her University of Lagos’ Computer Science course for the University of Greenwich, London where she studied Accounting and Finance and just graduated last May. Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico and Miss World were the major international beuaty contests she would have gloriously won but due to one hiccups to another she missed the enviable crowns and was well favoured with second best. Having completed herdegree in Accounting and Financing at the University of Greenwich, London. She has returned back to Nigeria to soleminise her long-standing relationship with an international businessman called Adekunle Tajudeen Akinlade.

MICHAEL ALONGE of http://www.nigeriafilms.com knocked the doors of his mouth 40 hours to their white wedding and he opened up on himself and the leggy queen of beauty, Chinenye Ochuba.

Excerpts…Can we have an insight into your background?

My name is Adekunle Akinlade, I’m in my late 30s, I am from Agosasa in Ipokia area of Idiroko, Ogun State . First born in a family of nine. My mum is late, she died in 1997, my dad is a retired army officer, I read Political Science in LASU, did lot of courses in England, I did Financial Management, I have a six year-old from previous relationship, Temilade. I used to have a business here in Nigeria in the 90s but I left Nigeria for England in 2000, immediately I got there I set up my company, Cleveland, we into property, oil and gas and financial management. I was doing my business in England until 2007 when I relocated back to Nigeria . That’s about my life generally.How did you meet Chinenye Ochuba?I met her in Lagos actually, when I came into town in 2004 on Holiday, I went out with my cousin, Rasaq Adigun, we went out, you know, I can not remember the name of the bar but it was on the Island, I am not really an outgoing person, I just came on Holiday then and my cousin just took me out. While we were relaxing, four ladies walked in and we looked at them and said hi! Hi! One of them was so friendly and we started chatting, though, I walked up to them to introduce myself, I said my name is Kunle and I will like to know you people, I was targeting her but I didn’t go to her directly, I wanted to come in through the one that was so jovial amongst them. I gave them my numbers, local and international. They didn’t call me before I left for England but later when I got to England, a couple of days later, one of them called me and I was like what about that your friend now, she said which one and said the slim one among you and she said ok Ivy, I said yes, though, I didn’t know who she was, weather a beauty queen or anything. She gave me her number and I called her and we became friends. We started talking for about three, four months about ourselves. Then one day I asked her if she ever thought of making a career in modeling, at least, you are tall, young and beautiful and she said she’s done pageant. Oh Pageant which one and she said MBGN, and I asked what is MGBN, she responded that Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria and I said ok, I know about Ben Bruce’s stuff. I asked what year and she said she won 2000 and I was surprised and I asked her if she could send me her pictures because that time really I just saw her once so I could picture what I saw at that bar that day. She said I should just google her name and when I did, I saw her pictures and profile and I was like wow you are really pretty you know, I now promised to come to Nigeria to meet her and the rest is history.How did you meet her parents?Oh! Her parents are wonderful people, as a young girl, they’re concerned about her and very protective of her I spent four day in Nigeria and went back to England . When I got back, she was in UNILAG then and I was like why don’t you come over to the UK for your studies, it’s better here you know with all this strike everyday and talked to her dad as regards that too that her intelligence would be more aided if she could come over to England for her academics. The dad made all the necessary arrangement, they got the form for her and she moved to Greenwich University , England , where she read Accounting and Finance. While she was in England I was able to see her quite often so the relationship developed from there. She just finished last May 2008 and she came out with flying colours 2.1. She’s serving with Exxomobil on the Island now; she’s an embodiment of knowledge. She’s very brilliant. She’s been a blessing; she’s a wonderful gift to me by God.

What was the attraction like?

For me really, I am not a party person, my life is all about business, as a financial manager, all I know how to do is to make and manage money so you can now imagine the first special outing with a cousin and four beautiful girls coming and you look at them and one at of those four people has a rare quality, something different from the normal Nigerian girl. You know, some Nigeria girls will have this hip, you know with some curves and all that but seeing something different, just like an average white woman in England, made my feel wow she might not be a Nigerian. But I got to know her well when we started talking that she’s a very careful and intelligent person. She’s got an aura that will just make you like her, she’s composed, very cultured person and in fact she’s everything. When I met her parents, they were not interested in the cars I drive or where I live, they were particular about me and what I do for a living. She’s from a very humble background and you know if someone is from a humble background, and someone gives you something, they know that the person might have given that something for something, you know, she’s not materialistic, she’s not extravagant, and I always ask her that for someone like you, what would you ask that a man would not give you and she’s like those things don’t matter.

Aside all this you mentioned above, what other quality would you say struck you when you met her?

You know when you first meet a girl, there are lots of things you won’t know about the person until you get close to the person. When I’ve got to know her parents, I have always believed that if you pluck a fruit from the tree, the fruit is fresh and good, look at the three; it must have had an effect on the fruit, that’s what I can say about that. The parents are people who are well disciplined and that act of discipline has been deposited into all their children. When I met her dad, he’s a retired Engineer, her mum is a teacher, and with the way they were talking to me, I know that definitely I am in the right place. So, there I discovered that the contentment nature of Ivy is inherited from her parent. She can live on a bottle of water for a whole day even if everybody around her is having coke and bugger. She’s got this inner value, you know, she’s not greedy and she’s very humble.

As a former beauty queen, are you not afraid of loosing her into some highly influential people who may want to sweep her away from you?

She goes around on her own and it has never bothered me if anyone that drives Ferrari or helicopter would take her from me, she has strong family values and that actually built that love and respect I have for her over the years.

Was there any reservation, objection or obstacle from her parents as a Yoruba man when you declared your intention about their daughter?

They are liberal people, they are from Anambra but they were born in Lagos , the dad speaks fluent Yoruba language, the mum too, you can imagine a teacher in a Yoruba State and all her friends are Yoruba people. The ethnic thing has never been an issue with the family, honestly. If I call dad now, you will be shocked that he would talk in Yoruba Ah Kunle Bawo ni? Se o wa okay…All their neigbours are Yoruba so to them I am just another Yoruba neigbour from the next door. If you ask Ivy all the people she went to school with from Primary to secondary they are all Yorubas. Her friends are Jumoke, Teni, Ireti… they are all Yorubas. If I had been a Hausa guy, it could have be language problem, you know, because none of them schooled in the North.

When did you propose to her?

I didn’t talk marriage the first day I met her, the marriage proposal started coming up late last year when she was about finishing her academics,. That was the condition then that before anything, you have to graduate from the university. And late last year I proposed to her and she called her parents and siblings and they all supported it and I gave her a ring. February this year, we came to Nigeria during the Val. And we had our introduction two days after Val and my people met with hers. Ever since, the relationship is blossom. Her dad and mine have become best of friends.

Would like to talk about your past relationship or was it marriage?

Just a relationship, we weren’t married. It’s like a relationship of every young man. I don’t want to talk about it because it’s personal. My wife, Chinenye Ivy knows about it. I think I am just lucky to have a chance like this that’s all.

How did Chinenye feel when you told her about Temilade, your child?

Well, she took it like every other woman will take it. Funny enough, I told her when we were still chatting on phone and they have since become friends. Honesty or sincerity matters most in a relationship.

Most celebrity’s marriages hardly work, what are the machinery in place to make this stand the test of time?

I confidently believe that it’s only God that makes a marriage work. There is nothing a man can do by himself without God’s support. You can be the poorest man on earth and still have a broken marriage but if a marriage is based on God’s foundation, I believe strongly that it’s going to work. What a couple should do to help their marriage is to fear God and be honest to one another. We always joke about it that we only have a 70 years contract and after 10 years we sit to review the marriage on how to spend the remaining 60. But I must confess that ours is a marriage made in heaven.

A BLACK MAN IN A WHITE HOUSE--OBAMA MADE HISTORY,FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO BE PRESIDENT ELECT IN USA

A man of change.A man of Dreams.A man who has realized Martin Luther King's dream forty-five years ago. "Forty-five years ago Martin Luther King had a dream of an America where men and women would be judged not on the color of their skin but on the content of their character. Today, what America has done is turn that dream into a reality,"

A man who has done the black race proud.A man who despite all odds stood and fought for his beliefs"YES WE CAN".He is man who never believed in IMPOSSIBILITIES but POSSIBILITIES.

A boy born on the 4th of August 1961 in Hawaii without a spoon(not to mention silver spoon)raised by his grandparents and his single mom not many knew him 10months ago but today he is known all over the world as a man who made history in our lifetime.

Obama displayed greatly the power of faith,self-motivation,self-confidence and positivity.He acted in faith calling the things that were not as if they were.Take a look at the planning of the election party at chicago even before the election results,the event was planned in preparation of the victory.He won the election by taking steps of faith even before the election results.What a change?

HISTORY IS MADE

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DUNNI OLANREWAJU---OPELOPE ANOINTING

There was a taxi driver who went to his church to give testimony after he narrowly escaped being killed by the passengers in his car. He was beaten to a state of coma. As he gave the testimony of his life, narrating how God Almighty saved his life, his wife jumped up from amongst the congregation and started singing Oluwa, Oluwa mi (My God, my God). Her husband burst into tears of joy while the wife and the congregation joined him in shedding tears of joy. Such is the acceptability of the Opelope Anointing that gospel lovers started asking questions about the composer of the record.

The album was released at the time when the old timers in the gospel music industry were re-recording and re-launching their old records, so as to remain relevant and to satisfy their teeming supporters.

The brain behind Opelope Anointing is Evangelist Dunni Olanrewaju, who has passed through the thick and thin of life in every area of her endeavour. Today, she is staging a comeback.
This encounter with her revealed what has kept her out of circulation for sometime and her new marital status.

“Do you know that every thing under heaven has its time? I thank God today for the gift of life. The challenges are so enormous but God is there for me. I am married to my music now. The issue of marriage is not in my agenda; the focus is my music and how to praise my God to high heavens.”

Could she have regretted being beaten and battered in the past? “I have no regret. From the beginning, God has always been on my side. He has done all His works that will enable me to succeed.

One might think that force can do things sometimes; no, but with fervent prayer and wisdom and by striving hard, a lot can be achieved. It is like when a pregnant woman wants to deliver her baby, she will have to forcefully push –if anybody wants to be great in life he needs prayers, wisdom, patience and even aggressiveness. I thank God that in the beginning, it was the grace of God which enabled me to overcome all the problems.”

Asking what should her fans be expecting, Opelope Anointing said, “They should always believe in God and see Him in me. I would always cherish them for their patronage.”
Rumoured in some quarters that she had secured property in London, Opelope Anointing gave thanks to Almighty God. She said, “I thank God. You have said a good prayer for me. No foreign currency anywhere, but the Bible says "Go ye into the world and preach the gospel. My regular travelling is just to keep in contact with my fans all over the world, which by the grace of God is yielding positive results."

"The greatest testimony I would like to share with the children of God is Opelope Anointing. Somebody asked me sometime ago where I had been all the while. But something happened and I want the children of God to learn a lesson from it. "I was in a church in early 1999 and we were told that the spirit of God asked people to do property offering and I was thinking of what was in my house that was worth giving out. I then thought of my fridge and when I got home, I packed the fridge and sowed it for the church. The story of my life changed from that point. Also in Ibadan some years ago, I was in a church where we were asked to do a thanksgiving we’ve not done before and I told God, ‘you know that it is only 200 naira I have in my bag.'
That day, the spirit of God told me that, ”Dunni, do you know that if you do not complete your contribution, heaven will not release anything wonderful to you.” This was repeated thrice and we were at Christ Revival Miracle Centre Church in Ibadan. I then asked my workers to bring money realised from the sales of cassettes, though I was invited to come and render songs of praises at a revival organised there. But the problem with me was that the money was to redeem the debt I owed a recording studio. I resolved that it is the soul that owes that will. So I gave out the total money realised to God as offering.

When we got to Lagos, the first surprise I had was that on the third day I dreamt I was in a big auditorium and I saw late Pa Babalola, my grand father who was a pastor before he died and between two of them I saw something that looked like the statue of Jesus but I just heard a voice that Baba wanted to bless us that we should kneel down –we were in the church. I just discovered that the statue of Jesus started moving towards me. He prayed for somebody and also prayed for me but I could not remember all that happened. It was when I woke up I discovered that whatever curses or ill-luck in my life had gone into the whirlwind."

Are you celebrating your annual anniversary this year or…?Yes we are celebrating by the grace of God on Sunday and it’ going to be awesome. We’ve committed much resources into the program, just come and see Opelope anointing in new dimension.

OKECHUKWU UKEJE---AMBO 2 WINNER

Last year’s winner of the Amstel Malta Box Office 2, Okechukwu Ukeje, has said that he faced many challenges during the competition, but he had no choice but to work hard to make it to the top.

And he is already enjoying the fruits of hardwork and endurance. Since he emerged the AMBO winner last year, he has become a regular face at locations, featuring in some movies that would soon be released.

He said he had started by acting in a concert where some movie businessmen spotted him and liked the way he played his role. They then decided to secure his services.

The graduate of Marine Science from the Lagos State University disclosed that he is from a family of four with just a single parent. But the challenge of having to live on the meagre resources provided by his mother did not distract him from pursuing his dreams.
He said his mother had told him she had no objection to his decision to pursue a career in acting as far as that would make him happy.

Even when he had to choose between travelling to England and writing his semester examination in his second year at the university, his mother, to his surprise, did not object to his travelling abroad.

Ukeje may have become a star, but he said he had not lost contact with his friends whom he reckoned had been his great supporters. “They are my great supporters. Nothing has changed between us since I won the AMBO 2 competition. We are still buddies. They were there before AMBO, so I can never ignore them,” he said.

He, however, would not speak about his love life, saying it is a private affair which should be distinguished from his business life. “There should be a demarcation between family and business. But my girlfriend is fine. She is in support of what I am doing and we are doing well,” he said.

According to him, the yet-to-be-released films he has already participated in include White Rogers and Comrade. “And, of course, let me just say that I have a lot of projects on ground. But you cannot say you have a job until you have put pen to paper,” he said.

Asked what plans he has for his country, Ukeje said it was a premature question for an up and coming artiste like him. “Until we have fed fat and our tummy is full, we cannot start thinking of what to do for the country. But I must also say that life will be a better place if only we don’t think of ourselves alone. “For now, I am working on some TV shows, which is a medium to sensitise the society and make people realise how much success you have recorded in your chosen field.” He said in spite of his foray into acting, he still planned to practice the course he studied in the university, but that would be in the area of investment. “I see it as an investment angle because I don’t see it as a study and study thing even though we have to study to know certain things, but of course, there is a time when that will be required.”

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BARACK OBAMA BIG'S NIGHT

It looked, felt and even smelled like a rock concert with the $6.50 nachos, the crowd filling Denver's 76,000-seat Mile High Stadium and the opening acts by superstars Sheryl Crow and Stevie Wonder. But instead of upheld lighters, American flags filled the stands as Barack Obama officially accepted the Democrats' nomination to be the party's candidate in the 2008 race for the White House.

Michelle Obama, in a red and black dress, watched from the front row of what the Democratic Party called an open-air convention and doted on their young daughters as if they were at home in Chicago. But the closing night of the Democratic Convention in Denver was in fact – with the fireworks, streamers and ecstatic crowds stomping their feet as if to collapse the stadium – a piece of political theater on a scale this country has never seen.

After taking the stage, thanking the crowd countless times and accepting his party's nomination, Sen. Obama, 47, turned the attention to those closest to him. "To the love of my life, our next first lady, Michelle Obama, and to Malia and Sasha," he said at the podium, "I love you so much and I'm so proud of you." Michelle, 44, beaming, blew her husband a kiss.

Remembers Mother Earlier, in a film tribute, the senator from Illinois spoke of his late mother, Stanley Ann Dunham, who raised him on her own, and the sacrifices she made. "She woke me up at 4:30 in the morning and we'd sit there and go through my lessons," he told the crowd. "And if I grumbled, she'd say, 'Well, this is no picnic for me either, buster.'" In the film, his wife Michelle described falling in love with her husband – but not immediately. "I thought 'Barack Obama? Who would name their kid Barack Obama?'" Michelle said with a grin. And Barack, looking back, had to agree: "Barack Obama – that's a killer," he said of his name. But after several attempts, Barack told the crowd, he finally convinced his future wife to go to a meeting with him in the basement of a church in Chicago. Watching Obama speak to the members of the South Side community assembled there, Michelle admitted in the video, "That was it. After that day ... I was in love with him."

Looking Ahead in his speech, the candidate laid out what he would do for the country if elected: cut taxes for working families, get out of Iraq, end dependency on foreign oil and make affordable health care accessible to all. With words that brought the crowd to its feet, Obama appealed to the compassion of the individual. "That's the promise of America," he said, "the fundamental belief that I am my brother's keeper, I am my sister's keeper." He also promised to restore the nation's reputation as the world's "last, best hope." When the speech was over, vice presidential nominee Joe Biden and his wife Jill joined Obama, Michelle, Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, on stage as fireworks went off and streamers poured down.

As Jill Biden wiped away tears, the little girls in pink dresses played with confetti and waved to the roaring crowd. The nitty-gritty of the campaign would begin again the next day, but walking off the stage, the first African-American nominee for president, surrounded by his family, turned around and took one last look at the historic scene. political editorcelebrating Africa