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