Nigerian automobile bodyshop gives cars some special effects.

As with almost everything Nigerian, we just had to adopt the name of the Pimp My Ride TV show produced by MTV to establish a company. Naija we hail thee! The term "Warri no dey carry last" should not just be for Warri folks. The phrase should evolve to become "Naija no dey carry last". Nigerian businessman and entrepreneur, Rasheed Filua was inspired to set up Filua Pimp My Ride company in 2007 to pimp rides. He established the company after he got lots of praises from people when they saw the transformation he did on his car. The rest as they say is history. It is not a TV show like the American version but it is reality which the budding middle class and super rich are eager to buy into as it is just another way to flaunt their wealth. Filua Pimp My Ride transforms automobiles in colour, design and performance to the taste of its customers. Cars are miraculously metamorphosed from just a roadworthy necessity to luxury. They become stylish vehicles having a TV, fridge, beautiful interior decor all aimed to provide comfort for the owner. Such striking change does not come cheap. Clients pay a minimum of 950,000 naira. No surprises there as the parts and paints are imported from Europe. Filua has had to pay a price as well in setting up the company as he says getting capital was tough. He put in an initial investment of 4 million naira. That has paid off as his business is now worth over 50 million naira. Clients we interviewed say the money spent pimping their ride is worth it as it came out good and interesting. I must commend Filua, good thinking, good business.

Link to the video: Nigeria's Pimped Rides

Nigeria's 'megachurches' making megabucks

This story on megachurches and tax in Nigeria took months to complete. It became really interesting after the church building collapse incident in September. Fortunately, Bishop Oyedepo was having an event to mark his birthday and that was like the last piece for the jigsaw puzzle. All fell into place perfectly. Personally, I have no views on this issue so cannot express my opinion. Should churches be taxed? Why should they be taxed? Many will argue back and forth on this but I choose to be objective about it. Hear both sides and just 'sit on the fence'. Maybe it is because I have the utmost respect for some of the pastors. I listen to Adeboye, I huge respect Papa Ayo and I have been impacted by Oyedepo's messages. I once travelled from school to Warri to hear him preach. S, no comment. But I can say one thing though. I pay tithe. It does not really matter to where. Church, charity; I take it very seriously. What one believes works for the individual and my strong feeling towards tithe paying has yielded unimaginable results. Positive ones.
"Mega churches" in Nigeria attract millions of followers from inside and outside the country. They have spawned almost an entire economy of their own through hotels, universities, publishing firms and merchandising, making hundreds of millions of untaxed dollars. The surging popularity of the megachurches among the Christians who make up half of Nigeria's 170 million population has propelled their preachers into the ranks of the richest people in Africa. I would be hugely surprised if pastors were not wealthy. I mean they are working for the best person anyone can ever work with so the returns should make their bank accounts really fat.
But exactly how much of Nigeria's 510 billion US dollar-GDP they make up is difficult to assess.
As the churches have charity status, they have no obligation to open their books, and certainly don't have to fill in tax returns, an exemption that is increasingly controversial in Nigeria, where poverty remains pervasive despite the oil riches.
The pastors argue their charity work should exempt them.

Bishop Oyedepo defends their stance when he says:
"Look at where we are, there is no single government input on this premises, we supply our water, we make our roads and all of that and then you come back again and say let's tax them, on what,".

Oyedepo also added that the wealth the church gathers is invested in expanding it, and that if he did not use a private jet, he would be unable to oversee its many foreign operations and still return to Ota every week in time for Sunday's worship.

Click on these links to watch the story: Nigeria's 'megachurches' making megabucks

Nigeria's 'megachurches', a hidden pillar of Africa's top economy

Pics courtesy Reuters Akintunde Akinleye

NIGERIA'S WOMEN IN OIL BUSINESS

Years back, we could hardly find women holding top positions in oil companies but that is gradually changing as many women are beginning to handle management positions. This is a good development for our country because globally, the number of women in executive leadership positions within the oil industry is markedly low. Having a woman, means we have someone who can bring in her ideas and things can be done differently, passionately. When women are driven by their passion, they are committed to seeing it through despite the challenges even when all hell is breaking loose; the woman who has it all together can hold it all together. No offence to the men. I just feel women have that extra something, the "je ne sais quoi!".
Doing this women in oil business story was quite interesting. Well, for obvious reasons, I am female and all for championing the cause for women to explore their creativity and talents and use them in affecting their environment positively. Our first mission was to film at Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics Base (LADOL) and interview the managing director. I was pleasantly surprised when I met her. She looked young! Add beauty and brains to the list. Great personality, wonderful composure. She was on time. She knew the business quite well, explaining the entire work process that takes place on the site. I was challenged. And I was not the only one, her male staff were also challenged that they had a female boss. Amy Jadesimi, the 39 year old medical school graduate from Oxford University and a trained MBA graduate from Stanford while speaking about her experience said people are often surprised when they meet her. She has been the MD for five years but still faces challenges. She says she has to always prepare herself for any scenario. For her, the important thing is for the company to achieve their goals. LADOL is working on expansion with an ongoing construction of an integration and fabrication yard, in partnership with Samsung that will be the only facility in West Africa that can fully integrate floating, production, storage and offloading. Uju Ifejika, chairman and chief executive officer of Brittania-U is another woman in management position in the oil sector. She says things are beginning to change because men are starting to realise that women equally have certain potentials. The African mentality that a woman's place is in the kitchen, is changing. I do hope that we can all embrace this change and give women an opportunity to represent in various fields not just in the oil industry.
Cheers!
Click on any of the links to watch the video: Girl Power at Top Nigerian Energy Firms
Reuters: Girl Power at Top Nigerian Energy Firms

Amy and a member of staff

Ongoing work on the site

LADOL's Jetty

ONLINE JOB SITE IN NIGERIA CONNECTS JOB SEEKERS WITH COMPANIES

It is refreshing to see young Nigerians tow a path that ultimately affects the lives of so many others in a positive way. With lots of depressing news that we wake up to everyday, it is indeed a breath of fresh air that three Nigerians decided they needed to make a difference in unemployment. We do not need any soothsayer to tell us the unemployment situation in Africa's most populous country is in need of an urgent solution. Remember few months ago, there was a stampede during a recruitment test that killed many people. That was a tragic incident that highlighted how dire the situation is. Millions of youths in Nigeria are jobless with the numbers climbing yearly as we churn out fresh graduates. Many are taking to acquiring skills for entrepreneurship purposes as they can no longer wait for white-collar jobs. It is commendable that few others are playing a role in their own unique way. Ayodeji Adewunmi, Olalekan Olude and Opeyemi Awoyemi created an online job search company called Jobberman in 2009 during a strike action while they were students at a university. The company has helped thousands of job seekers in Nigeria find jobs within the last five years. The online site connects job seekers with companies in the West African country. Interesting how things have changed from years back. Job seekers were forced back then to hit the streets, going from company to company, submitting their CVs. With the popularity of the internet and mobile phones, job seeking has been made easy. You can even find jobs that is tied to your passion. Spoke to several who have benefitted and they had only praises for Jobberman. Jobberman is currently working on expanding to other regions in the continent. Many more lives will be impacted with this venture.

Link to watch the video:  Online Job Site Connects Job Seekers With Companies

                        

                        

INTERNET TV GAINS POPULARITY IN NIGERIA

I am in love with Gidi Up series, I just like the storyline, the cast. It feels fresh and new. I must say I watched season one within hours. My favourite actor? O.C Ukeje. In the series and beyond the web series. This is not the first series I have seen. I watched almost all the episodes of "Shuga" online. I got tired when they started filming in Nigeria. It just grew dry on me. I loved seeing Lupita and all the others but when the cast gradually changed so did my liking for the series. The fact that many Nigerians now watch certain content online shows the emergence of online television is gaining ground in the West African country. I have seen a couple of interviews on "The Juice" Many Nigerians are warming up to the fact that they can now watch programmes online. With internet enabled devices which has flooded the market, Nigerians can access online television anywhere. One such company enticing audience to its digital platform is Ndani TV. Launched in 2012, they currently have features that project Africa to the world. But with the current internet situation in the country, one would be forced to ask if Nigeria is ready for internet TV.  Pretty sure if you are reading this, then you might have caught the social media bug and probably have seen one or two online content as well? Well, what was your experience like? Was it hitch free? Hopefully in the near future, this will be a boom. I'm not the only one who thinks so. Ndani TV does too.

HOPE AGAINST HOPE - NIGERIA EBOLA SURVIVOR SPEAKS OUT

I had read his survival story on various websites and it reached out to me. I was deeply moved. I cried once while trying to make sense of it all. Here was a young man who in a matter of days, his picture perfect life of new jobs for himself and fiancee, baby on the way had dramatically changed. Same with so many others who had been forced into this traumatic Ebola situation. Dennis Akagha's story was just one the world had to hear. I got in touch with him and he was so friendly during our phone calls. Finally got to meet him and it is an experience I will remember for the rest of my life. And yes, I shook hands with him. He even made a joke about it. At that moment what was important was reaching out in my own way to him. How many of us has lost someone so dear? You feel hollow and empty. The pain is so hard to bear and you feel like your world should end. The heartache is so painful, you cry for nights unending asking God why. A question that sometimes has no satisfactory answer. I remember when I lost Kome. Such an innocent soul; and Oreva, a lively spirit and my Dad, the best in the world. I am yet to recover from any of these. For Dennis, he lost his fiancee and unborn child but yet he is hopeful that there's a meaning to all this. Life instantly becomes meaningless when dealing with a situation like this. The love he expressed for this special woman is so touching that begs the question how many of us would have willingly done same? Wow, God bless his dear heart. And what awesome faith he had that he stayed only five days in isolation. Despite the test results reading positive twice, he held unto God, he spoke and acted in faith. His story is so inspiring.
Please let us stop the stigmatization against those who have been certified free of the virus. They need our love. God saved his life and many others. Unfortunately, we lost seven people. People who have families. It could have been any of us. My heart goes out to him and all others who are grieving. For times like this, there are no consoling words to offer. We can only hope. And keep living for memorable moments, making an impact. Ensure you make your life count, you never know when death will come knocking. At the end of the day, die empty. Do not take away any of those gifts and potentials God has given to you.
Cheers.

Click on this link to read the story:  Ebola "not a death sentence" says hopeful Nigerian survivor
And click on this video link to watch the story: Nigeria Ebola Survivor Speaks Out

NIGERIAN BRIDE PRICE APP, JOKE TAKEN TOO FAR?

A new app designed by a Nigerian firm, Anakle enables women to calculate their value as brides using criteria such as beauty and education to judge a bride's worth. Once users have completed a detailed questionnaire the phrase: 'the elders are consulting' appears and the final price is given. But the creators of the app, who say it is meant to be humorous have been criticised for taking lightly deeply-rooted cultural practices and objectifying women. I tried it few months ago and found it quite amusing. I tried it again few weeks ago while working on the story and I got a different result. I doubt if some share same sentiments as I do towards it. If you have tried it, what were your thoughts? Do share : )

Click on link below to watch the story.

Bride Price App

More pics: 

Editi Effiong - CEO, Anakle - Pic courtesy Seun Sanni

Editi Effiong - CEO, Anakle - Pic courtesy Seun Sanni

TOURISTS SHY AWAY FROM NIGERIA'S OSUN FESTIVAL OVER EBOLA FEARS

Picture courtesy Seun Sanni

Over one thousand Nigerians gathered at the sacred forest in the south-western part of the country for the annual celebration of the Osun river goddess.
The yearly event which attracts thousands of tourists from all walks of life is held in honour of Osho-Igbo, the river goddess who it is believed came to the rescue of people faced with infertility, hunger and poverty.
Unlike previous years which is usually marked by large influx of tourists from all over the world, this year's peace and fertility festival has seen none owing to fear of the Ebola virus.
Nigeria has now recorded 17 cases of Ebola virus disease since the Liberian man brought it into the country on July 20.
The number of deaths remain at six.
The Osun state government had announced days before the festivities kicked off that a low key celebration with no foreigners allowed is necessary in order to avoid the outbreak of the virus in the state.
Despite the fear of the Ebola virus spreading, locals turned up in colourful attires for the special occasion.
The mood was joyous although everyone tried to avoid unnecessary contact with the next person.
Hundreds of devotees besieged the Osun river to offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and pray for their different needs to be met while traditional rites were carried out in a shrine close to the river bank.
Businesses also suffered as a result of the poor turnout.
Hotels in the town experienced a setback owing to the restriction placed on foreigners.
Many are hopeful that next year's festival will see a return of the event to its former self of attracting visitors in a bid to boost the tourism industry.

Ebola Fears Deter Tourists From Visiting Nigeria's Osun Festival

NIGERIA'S CYBER CAFE BUSINESS GRADUALLY GOING INTO EXTINCTION

Isn't it interesting how over the years things have changed? Remember the days of NITEL and NIPOST and how popular land-lines was as well as posting letters to friends and loved ones in other parts of the country? How we used to throng cyber cafes to browse the internet? We used to pay like 500 naira for an hour and sometimes we expressed our frustrations to the owner when the internet was unbearably slow. I used to think it was a deliberate attempt to get one to spend longer hours. Now those cyber cafes are a shadow of their former state. The once lucrative business and huge source of income to many business owners has been reduced to an avenue to print documents, scan and make photocopies. With the growth of internet networked phones, handy modems and Wi-Fi access, cyber cafes have obviously lost the battle in a warring environment spurred on by the new mobile generation. Millions of Nigerians own internet enabled mobile phones and network providers are smiling to the bank. For many, their mobile phone is the first thing they see when they wake up and the last thing before going to bed. It is like an extension of our hands. A worthy companion. Nigerian entrepreneurs are waking up to the fact that there's a huge potential for internet business. Just not in the way it used be. We can almost say goodbye to cyber cafes. Nigeria with a population of 170 million is the fastest growing internet and mobile phone market in Africa.Companies like Oxygen Broadband are tapping in; providing Wi-Fi internet services at restaurants, cinemas, outdoor bars and event centres just the way it is in other developed countries. Users pay about 3 dollars for daily unlimited access across any of the hotspots. Oxygen currently has over 27,000 registered users in Nigeria's mega city Lagos. Hopefully these hotspots can spread so anywhere you find yourself, you can have access. The world is constantly evolving, new ideas, innovations....... there's a lot more things yet to be discovered.

PS: Please be careful, Ebola is in town.

Cheers.

Link to video:

Nigeria's Dying Internet Cafes

NIGERIA'S FIRST FEMALE ONLINE SEX STORE

Getting feature stories done in Nigeria comes with its own unique drama and experience; it can even make a story of its own. Almost six months ago, we needed to do a story on Nigeria's first female online sex store. It is being run by a lovely lady but circumstances made it really difficult for us to get the shoot done. First, it was the fact that we missed covering an element for the story and then she had to travel. It was crazy as there was just one issue or the other.​ We finally got her part done. Iheoma Obibi, the creative director, "Intimate Pleasures-Desires of the heart" operates an online sex store in Nigeria's most populous city. This business is one that many dare not venture into because of the fact that our society is too culturally inclined and are not open to such things. Many buy the products but to go into the business of selling them.....hmmmm, that's another story. I also found out that ​many are reserved about the use of sex toys; some cite religious reasons.​ One or two persons who had shops in Lagos had to shut down due to lack of customers. How many people want to be seen walking into a store with the aim of purchasing a sex toy? There are stores that make reasonable profits from the business. With the lack of physical shops that sell sex toys across the country, entrepreneurs are now racing to satisfy an increasing demand from residents in the West African country via online platforms. The online store, 'Intimate Pleasures' has a variety of adult sex toys for those who wish to explore their sexuality. Clients who are too shy to physically purchase sex products from a physical store are able to place​ their orders online without attracting raised eyebrows. As a result of her line of business, Iheoma has received death threats and ​has been​ told she is running the devil's business. Some blogs refused her from advertising on their sites.​This has not deterred her but challenged her to create an environment for discussions on sexual fulfillment. To balance the story, we tried to film a physical shop with no luck. Twitter to the rescue. ​I asked Gidi Traffic for help, God bless him, he retweeted it to his followers. Many thought I was trying to buy one. One follower said I didn't need one as he was available- lol. Others said it was easier to buy online and even provided the web link. One of them sent an address. ​Crew headed to the Ikeja address but was unable to locate the shop. Crew set out again another day after a​ friend at Punch Newspapers was able to give us a better description and on getting there,​ the lady was so adamant about us not filming​, she rudely told us she didn't want to see our cameras in her shop. ​The only good thing I remind myself about in regards to the trip to her shop were the oranges we bought outside the complex. Those were the best oranges I have ever had.​ We did interview Nigerians on their thoughts and some are all for sex toys and many are not. Some feel ladies will get addicted to it. So that begs the question, what are your thoughts on sex toys? Have you ever had one or do you plan on buying one and why? Kindly share your thoughts.

Click on link below to watch the story:

Nigeria Online Sex Shop


Photographs of products being sold by Iheoma. Photos by Angela Ukomadu:
​

NIGERIA'S BOOMING COMEDY INDUSTRY

We wake up daily to one news or the other. Usually bad news. A tragic accident somewhere in Ikorodu, Boko Haram bombing a school in the north, girls being raped, people being used for rituals, the list is endless. There just seems to be something going on that causes you to think about life. So it is actually nice when sometimes we can forget about our troubles for a while and just laugh. What is nicer is when people make us laugh and there are people who are naturally gifted at it. Many years back, who would have thought we would have a thriving comedy industry in Nigeria? Many of Nigeria's popular comedians started out earning peanuts for a show and now we have many who have grown so much, comedy has become their only means of income. It is great that this is happening as it provides an avenue for raw talents to find a place that works for them easily. We need these people because they remind us that the world is not such a terrible place full of situations and circumstances that steal our joy. It is also really great that we can sit back and listen to how they struggled and overcame and are where they are now with hopes that they still have much more to achieve. I think it is inspiring hearing stories of how comedians like Basket Mouth started out and his struggles. I had the opportunity to listen to him at a recent youth seminar and it was motivating cos dreams do come true. No matter the situation you finds yourself in today, tomorrow can be different. We did a story recently on comedy in Nigeria. It is not just the movie and music industry that is booming. Add comedy to the list. Thanks to those who had the foresight to pioneer it. Who were bold enough to withstand their parents and say this is what I want to do. Despite the mockery and no one believing in them, they were resilient. We need more people who can stand for what they believe in without wavering as long as it is true, just and in right-standing with God.

Basket Mouth speaking at a Youth Seminar

Basket Mouth - Pic Courtesy Angela Ukomadu/Seun Sanni

Click on link below to watch the video.

Comedy business booms in Nigeria

PINK LIPS - NEW BEAUTY TREND IN NIGERIA

I finally joined pinterest today after several weeks of wondering how many social sites I have to be involved in. I mean why join pinterest when I cannot even understand why there is an "i" missing before the "t" or what the "P" stands for. There is Facebook, Twitter, Google plus, Youtube, and many others. Well, I finally joined the social site and I must say I am finding pinterest quite interesting and wondering why I didn't join sooner. The first article I read is actually something I'm really looking forward to.

Is it not funny how we seem to just want to go with the new trend? Braids is back and suddenly everyone wants to make them forgetting that during the rainy season it is the best hairstyle to carry. A couple of my friends have caught the natural hair bug for various reasons. Some do not even completely understand but just want to go with the flow. Today, it is the Mohawk style (my current hairstyle of a different kind) cos that is what Rihanna is wearing and tomorrow, it is buying the latest land rover. The days of wanting to buy a Nissan Murano or a hummer jeep are gone. I'm not a car freak but would like to know what the latest car model people are looking to acquire is. Trends cut across. Many Nigerians love fashion, and I do say fashion trends..... hmmmm, there's always a new surprise. Many are ready to lighten their skin colour. Cosmetic shops are not complete without the sale of bleaching products. The current trend that is capturing the hearts of many is 'pink lips'. It is not really new but now you can get it done at a cheaper rate and it is not too difficult to spot where you can get it done especially if you use the Ikeja route in Lagos. For many young ladies in Nigeria, they are not scared to take some bold steps for beauty sake. And men as well have taken to this trend. The transition from dark lips to pink or red lips which involves a beautician using a tattoo machine and inserting it into a coloured chemical substance usually takes two hours for the process to be completed. Many say the process is painful. I doubt if it is risk free in terms of the downside.

I particularly like the natural pink lips. Not willing to take that risk and embrace the trend. Are you? We recently did a story on it. Please click on link below to watch the video.
Cheers!

New Beauty Trend Lets Women Alter The Colour Of Their Lips

IS NIGERIA READY FOR COMBO MEALS?

I grew up knowing Mr. Biggs and..... well, just Mr. Biggs. My dad used to take us kids like twice a year. During Christmas and of course Easter celebrations. It was like a silent agreement and a treat that we all looked forward to. Such nice memories. Things have dramatically changed. So many fast food outlets have sprung up and Mr. Biggs has become a shadow of its former self. I guess the competition was too strong. As Nigeria's economy grows, multinational companies are flocking to the country to tap into a sophisticated middle class. With a population of around 170 million people, Nigeria's economic potential has attracted firms like Shoprite who has seven profitable stores. Fast food is not as we know it any more. From just being chicken pie or meat pie, scotch egg and sausage, it has grown to be burger with fries and a drink referred to as a combo meal. Fast food companies that offer such are expanding into Nigeria with many treading cautiously unsure that the country is ready for combo meals. International companies like Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), Johnny Rockets are already here providing combo meals to many. But even with the positive opportunities that exists in our dear country, running such businesses is not without its challenges. Multinationals cite poor infrastructure, corrupt port authorities, supply chain problems and road networks as challenges being experienced. I had my first combo meal few years back. I loved it; it became like a monthly experience but then I thought of how much weight I was adding. Oh, dear! I didn't need a soothsayer to tell me my next line of action. So, are we ready for combo meals? Is it an experience you would love to have daily, weekly, monthly or just during celebrations?

We did a story on it recently. I hope for companies like Johnny Rockets who are looking to expand and open more eateries in Nigeria, that the infrastructure challenges will become a thing of the past in the coming years.

Please click on link below to watch the story:

Nigeria's Fast Food Craze

MAKEUP ENTREPRENEUR - BLAZING A TRAIL

The idea came to me out of the blues. Why don't we do a story on Tara? She's achieved a lot in Nigeria, surviving as a female entrepreneur and recording so many successes. Yeah, let's do this. After the story was approved, we got right to it. It took weeks to get her phone number and few more weeks to fix a date for the shoot. She is such a busy lady. Also a woman who loves her family as the initial date we had picked was close to Valentine's day so we had to look for a more appropriate timing which paid off. Her company, House of Tara International, set up the country's first make up school. She was also inspired to introduce her beauty products in order to build a global beauty company of African origin. Tara has trained so many makeup artists and is currently involved in empowering young ladies in a bid to make them financially independent.One thing that struck a chord about her company was how she deals with customers. I have issues with customer care service in Nigeria as a lot of companies really need to train their staff on how to deal with customers. I can't recount the number of times I had to tell myself I ain't never visiting that store again or telling off someone for not serving our order on time or having to forfeit my balance cos they just didn't have 'change' to give. It was quite a relief that finally, someone gets it, customer service is key. Tara's case was just so different. First time I walked into the reception of her office in Lekki, all the ladies had a smile on their faces and the first thing they said was "Welcome to house of Tara". I was impressed. Just three weeks ago, my atm card got stuck in the machine, no thanks to the epileptic power supply in the country. It was a Saturday and it happened right at the market where I needed to purchase food items. The security man was so rude. I told him; gone are the days where I will have to return the following week to pick up my atm card as he was suggesting I do. I am leaving here with it and that's it. An hour later, I had my card but what a time wasting experience. Anyway, would be nice if other companies and establishments, no matter how small or the kind of business they run, it would be great if they could just try to be nice and polite to their customers or clients.
Kudos to Tara for blazing a trail in entrepreneurship skills with the establishment of her make-up company.
Please, click on link below to watch the video and do have a wonderful week.
Nigerian makeup business mogul blazing a trail in entrepreneurship

I'VE GOT A QUESTION ON MY MIND

I woke up on the wrong side of the bed today. I woke up with a question on my mind. It has been quite a crazy month. Swamped with delivering stories of the abducted girls and bombings in various parts of the north, hit with news of deaths of dear ones. I would say the world is not getting any better. We are in a crisis period and like Nigerians are popularly known to do, we can only call on God. When it becomes too uncomfortable to handle, where can we run to? Many have eloped for a better life in other developed countries, even sane of mind in African countries. Here, we deal with so many things. We are already providing our own water, security and power. A neighbor of mine has a generator, an inverter and has sworn never to pay NEPA bills again. Now, where does that leave the rest of us who want to do our due diligence and pay monthly for NEPA bills. Or rather PHCN. Oh, I'm sorry, I think there's a newly privatised company. Most of our hospitals cannot even deal with emergency situations. I remember being involved in an accident few years ago and in the state of slipping into unconsciousness as a result of the smoke in the trapped vehicle, I had to jolt myself awake and struggle to escape before the vehicle exploded. 3 people died. Probably cos they did not get out on time. I saw a woman resign herself to fate. That happened on a Saturday and I recall resuming work two days after. Life goes on.... but where do we go from here? Can we pause for a moment and reflect. There is God, there is hope, we keep praying. We try to make sense of it all. My question is this: Where is God when it hurts? Cos obviously and surely, salvation won't come from our leaders. And it might not come from restless youths. No one is willing to lay down their lives for a cause. Many who fought years past have gone unsung.
I fear for our future, for our generation and generations to come. Lives wasted as a result of heartless actions but the world has always been full of desperately wicked people. I do want to know, where God is in the midst of it all cos I do know he is there. He is the only one who can help us make sense of all the nonsense. I read a book some years ago titled "Where Is God When It hurts?" (someone did run away with that book and never returned it). It had no perfect answer to the question but it did have something else. Love. Showing love to those who have asked that question a million times as they cried themselves to sleep at night. Showing love to those who have searched for ways to deal with the emptiness they feel at the loss of a dear one. A son having been told his father had been shot to death by armed robbers. A husband who thought his wife would grow old with him but she dies having complained days before of a headache. A young and hopeful woman looking forward to her marriage unexpectedly dies in her sleep. Parents shocked with the news that their children have been kidnapped. Students looking forward to the future. Dreams cut short, hopes dashed, leaving in its wake deep pain and sorrow it will take years to forget.

Please, let us show them love today. In our words and actions.

Cheers!

Click on links below to watch videos of recent blasts in Jos/Abducted girls

As mothers weep, Nigeria's president pledges to free kidnapped girls

Death toll of Nigeria blasts passes 100

Double blasts in Nigeria kill at least 118

Anxious mother in Nigeria appeals for daughter's return

BLOODY DAY IN NIGERIA

I thought it was going to be a quiet day.

I had planned what shape my day will take as soon as I hit the office. First agenda was to complete the edit of the movie premiere that had been filmed over the weekend and then blah blah blah...... That plan flew out the window after just one phone call from my Bureau chief around 7am. Funny how things can suddenly take a dramatic twist.
It was not their usual style. I was accustomed to my weekends being ruined by violence. But not a Monday! Jeez. The next time I looked at my watch it was already 2pm and I was still drowning in work. By 5pm. My head was burning hot.
At last the day was over and I could breathe easy. But what about over 70 people that died on same day?
The blast last Monday came as a shock to many.
A bloody April 14 it was in Nigeria.
RIP to those who lost their lives. Strength to family and friends still grappling to make a sense of it all. I am speechless. Today is gone and with it so many dreams and hopes. I fear for our tomorrow!

Please click on link below to watch the video.

A Bloody Day In Nigeria

I HAVE A NEW CRUSH

This past weekend was nice, like really nice. I met two great people. Chiwetel Ejiofor, British star and Biyi Bandele, director of the film, "Half of a Yellow Sun". One of them is my new crush...... shhhhhh. Don't tell : ) I'll leave you to figure out which one of the two celebrities I'm crushing on...lol.
The movie, an adaptation of Nigerian author, Chimamanda's book premiered over the weekend and we got slots to have a one on one interview with some members of the cast and the director. That went really well.
I don't want to bore you with details of the drama involved in us covering the film premiere in Lagos, Nigeria. First, it was no media could cover the premiere, and then, you're restricted to the red carpet downstairs. But, thankfully (Bobo at work), we found our way up and I even got to see the final 20 minutes (thanks to JSO) of the movie. I mean, how would one write the script without absorbing everything that it entails?
Great movie, the cinema hall had audio issues which just kinda ruined it for some people. Nevertheless, I guess they understood the Nigerian factor at work.
This movie highlights the fact that we need many more movies like this. We need a more functional industry that allows for funding of such huge projects.
I know we had a really terrible start to the week caused by the blast in Abuja yesterday but I had to relieve the weekend before it all just becomes a memory.

Chiwetel Ejiofor being interviewed

Journalists at press briefing

Biyi Bandele, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Andrea Calderwood 

O.C Ukeje

Kemi Lala Akindoju

Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and daughter

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Wale Ojo, Genevieve Nnaji and OC Ukeje

Genevieve Nnaji

Some members of the cast

Stars posing for photographs

Onyeka Onwenu