₦airaland Forum

In a season when some artistes are dropping out of school to embrace music, others have proved they could combine development of their talents with schooling, writes CHUX OHAI

Many years ago, parents didn’t like children who preferred a career in music to medicine, law or engineering. Musicians were generally regarded as occupying the lowest rung of the social ladder and, so, they were hardly respected.

Although they worked hard at their chosen vocations and sometimes, travelled far beyond these shores, many musicians were hardly seen as useful members of the society. Most of the time, they were dismissed as social misfits.

Unfortunately, time has not completely changed this perception. Nowadays, there appears to be an increase in the number of youths dropping out of school to take up a career in music. While some of them have always said their passion for music was the reason why they quit the classroom for the recording studio, others put the blame on poverty and other challenges.

But a courageous few have managed to resist the temptation to push aside their education and embrace the glamorous life style of music artistes. With some now armed with Master’s degrees in various disciplines, they have emerged as successful and highly respected artistes with a wide fan base across the country.

Banky W
Olubankole Wellington, aka Banky W, is one of the most popular music artistes in Nigeria today. He was born and educated in the USA. By the time he was eight years old, his musical talent had started to manifest. But his parents wanted him to pay attention to his education first. A few years later, he won a scholarship to attend college in New York and afterwards, bagged a degree in engineering at the Rensselaer Polytechnic.

While he was at the institution, Banky W kept pushing his dream to become a successful musician someday. Back home in Nigeria, he won the hearts of many music fans with his exceptionally smooth voice and, in due course, succeeded in winning a loyal followership.

Over the past years, the velvet-voiced singer has recorded a number of albums. He founded the Empire Mates Entertainment, a records label, as a platform to promote his music and to get it across to his fans in the country.

Apart from distinguishing himself as a charismatic musician, Banky W is a philanthropist and a civil rights activist. During the last nationwide protests against the removal of fuel subsidy, he played a key role in mobilising the youths to take part in the protest in Lagos.

Somehow, this talented artiste, whose career is on the rise, has managed to keep out of trouble. Till date, he has not been associated with any major scandal.

Tiwa Savage
Tiwa Savage is currently signed on to Mavin Records. She attended Berklee College of Music where she studied Jazz and took a degree in music business. Also, she has a degree in business administration from the University of Kent in the United Kingdom.

She began her music career n the UK, touring as a background singer for the likes of Mary J. Blige, Sting, George Michael, Kelly Clarkson and the Spice Girls. Before then, she had worked briefly as a trainee accountant in a commercial bank in London.

A successful artiste in her own right, Tiwa co-wrote Fantasia Barrino’s ‘Collard Greens and Cornbread’, which was nominated for the American Grammy Award. This is perhaps, one of her most important achievements. Apart from that, she has released two single albums titled Love Me and Kele Kele Love. Last February, she got married to her long time business partner, Tee Billz.

Naeto C
Naetochukwu Chikwe is the son of the Nigerian Ambassador to Ireland, Mrs. Kema Chikwe. He graduated in 2004 from the George Washington University with a Master’s degree in Biology and still nurses the desire to become a medical doctor. In 2008 and 2009, he was named Best New Artist at the MTV Africa Music Awards.

Darey Art-Alade
Darey Art-Alade is the son of the legendary Jazz musician, Art Alade. He is what you may call a ‘chip off the old block’. Obviously, he had taken after his father at an early age singing in church choirs and was a member of the National Troupe of Nigeria Choir at a point.

Darey has been a disc jockey, TV presenter, entertainment consultant, voice-over artist and performing/recording artist at different times, before hitting it big on the music scene. His break finally came in 2004 at the Project Fame Academy. He participated in that edition of the reality TV talent hunt show and had the opportunity to perform in front of millions of viewers. He emerged third in the contest.

Unknown to many music fans, this talented artiste graduated from the University of Lagos where he studied Music. In 2011, he was the host of both the Gulder Ultimate Search and Glo Naija Sings reality. So far, he has three albums to his credit.

P-Square
Apart from music, Peter and Paul Okoye, the twins known as the P-Square, had a burning desire to be educated. They had always made it clear to close friends and associates that they wanted to go back to school. So in 1999, they applied to the University of Abuja to study business administration. Fame and money could not dissuade them from this goal. Just as they continued to hone their skills and to improve on their performances, they were focused on their educational needs.

The group is easily one of the most successful in the country, having won several awards and a huge fan base across Africa. They are listed among the 10 richest musicians in the continent.

Dr. Sid
From an early age, Dr. Sid (real name is Sidney Esiri), had his heart set on becoming a singer. However, his life took a different course when he graduated from the Nigerian Air Force Secondary School in Lagos and went on to the University of Ibadan to study dental surgery. After graduating from the institution, he joined the defunct Mo’Hits Records.


Wande Coal
Oluwatobi Wande Ojosipe, aka Wande Coal, attended Federal Government College, Ijanikin, in Lagos State and the University of Lagos where he studied Curriculum Studies. He got signed to Don Jazzy’s Mo’Hits Records in 2006. He featured on D’banj’s Rundown/Funk you up album on singles like Loke, Tonosibe and Why Me. Being signed to Mo’ Hits Records, he is also a member of the Mo’ Hits Allstars and played a major role in the released CV(Curriculum Vitae) album. His first single of the cv album ololu fe has been described as one of the greatest love songs ever written by a Nigerian.


Mo Cheddah
In an age when most Nigerian artistes pride themselves in leaving the classroom for the entertainment scene, she has managed to complete her degree programme at the University of Lagos. She is, no doubt, one of the youngest educated rap artistes in Nigeria at the moment.

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http://www.punchng.com/entertainment/e-punch/talented-but-refused-to-drop-out/

Not bad at least

Welcome to nigeria always doing to opposite

Yes some times I have active in nairaland for 4 years and nobody knows about me

No wahala many people are also dying n 9ja

Professor Haruna Kaita of the faculty of
Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello
University (ABU), Zaria, yesterday cried
outover what he described as incessant
harassments by security agencies.
Professor Kaita said just when he was struggling to overcome his recent quizzing
by the State Security Service (SSS)in
Kaduna, he received another letter of
invitation from the Kaduna State
commissioner of police. “I am presently on research tour, but ABU’s
security coordinator has told me that he is
in a receipt of a letter from the state’s
commissioner of police inviting meto his
office. No harassment can make met o
change my stance on the polio vaccine being administered on our innocent
children, because I have conducted several
researches and found the vaccine to be
harmful. Science does not require
intimidation before somebody can be
proved wrong or right. I have been asking them to come forward so that we can
publically sit with the proponents of the
vaccine. All thanks are to Allah, I am a
professor of science and I am ready to face
anyone that can discredit my research,
period”, he said. He added, “ the commissioner of police or director of SSS
may not be scientists, but they can bring
their scientists so that we can sit with
them. I think that would give them the
opportunity to discredit my claims, but
resorting to harassment shows that they have a hidden agenda”. Attempts to get the response of the
Kaduna State commissioner of police were
abortive as he did not reply the text
message sent to him. The command’s
Public Relations Officer, DSP Aminu Lawal,
said he was not aware of the invitation letter.
A source however told our correspondent
that the invitation letter was addressed
toABU’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor
Abdullahi Mustapha, who forwarded it to
Professor Kaita through ABU’s security coordinator

rtsp://v1.cache1.c.youtube.com/CjYLENy73wIaLQlHoKq7BLHqyBMYDSANFEIJbXYtZ29vZ2xlSARSBXdhdGNoYJntkKfC-deRUQw=/0/0/0/video.3gp

BAGA MASS
===============================
Just few days after President Jonthan was
being threatened to be drag to ICC by a group of Northern Leaders for Baga
massacre, the President seems to be
waking up to his responsibility. Informations reaching us indicate that the
President has ordered the arrest of Soldiers
involved in the killing of more than 200
innocent civilians in Baga, Borno State.
More than 15 JTF Soldiers has so far being
attrested, and many more are under investigation. Our Dear President, International Criminal
Court is not a Nigerian Court, clear yourself
to avoid facing ICC.

Jagol

My ice is gej.

They look good

A group, the Community Oil Refinery Operators, has asked the Federal Government to grant its members amnesty. The group said only amnesty , with accompanying financial gratifications and empowerment, would stop its members from breaking pipelines and setting up illegal refineries. In an e-mail statement made available to journalists by its spokesman, White Tamana, on Wednesday, it also asked the government to replace the refineries, boats and houses of its members damaged by security operatives. It said setting up illegal refineries was to help government create jobs for millions of people across the country. Rather than destroying the refineries, the group advised that the government should either encourage its members or generate employment for the youth. The group also asked the government to release its members in detention and convey a roundtable for dialogue. It warned the government against unleashing security operatives on its members, saying nothing would stop it from breaking pipelines and stealing crude oil except amnesty. The group said its members were better placed to receive amnesty than members of the terrorist sect, Boko Haram. The statement read, "Local refinery operators are the main agitators in Niger Delta. The struggle is divided into two perspectives, the militants and the oil refinery operators. "The government has only succeeded in identifying with militants, but not knowing that we are stronger than militants. The government mistake us for militants but we are different and that is why amnesty offer to militants does not stop bunkering and local refinery operations. "Our operation gives us a sense of belonging. This is the only way we benefit from our national cake. We don't steal oil. The oil in the region is our property. It is the Federal Government that is stealing from us with their animalistic laws of onshore and off-shore dichotomy. "We have decided that we will ground Nigeria's economy by stopping the government from exploiting us, if amnesty is not given to us. "We are not happy that our people die of hunger and epidemic diseases due to oil exploration and exploitation, while others
enjoy our oil money freely without looking back. "We must take what belongs to us by force and any attempt to stop our operation by force will lead to another militancy in the region which will be worse than what we are seeing today. Commenting on the development, the Ijaw People Development Initiative, appealed to the government to give legal backing to illegal refineries in the country. The President of the group, Mr. Austin Ozobo, said such illegal refineries had empowered over 50,000 youths in the region. He asked the government to critically examine such refineries with a view to making use of them to meet the country's need for refined petroleum products.

The game between Kano Pillars
and Heartland ended abruptly
after fans protested the shooting
of a fan inside the Sani Abacha
Stadium by policemen
The Week Eight Nigeria
Professional Football League game
between Kano Pillars and Heartland
ended abruptly when fans of the
home team disrupted the match
after a fan was allegedly shot inside
the Sani Abacha Stadium.
The tie was going on smoothly and
was in the 21st minute when the
incident happened. Fans trooped
into the field and drove away the
players and play was suspended.
Heartland players and officials had
to run into the dressing room of
Kano Pillars for fear of being
attacked.
An eye witness told Goal.com that
they could not really say how the
policeman shot the fan because
they were concentrating on the
game.
"We did not know what actually
happened because our eyes were
fixed on the game. But immediately
the fans noticed that a fan had
been shot, they entered the pitch
and drove everybody away.
"That was how the match ended,"
the witness said.

Hmm

Not ba 4 a nigerian celebrity

You are heading to the top

I wll advice to go to where hausa people stay tell them to give u (fatan kura)hyena Skin just throw. It to d dog and it will never back again

Onila I need a virgin girl 4 a serious relationship m also a virgin

Cn ii see urs first

manchester United have won their 20th
Premier League title with a Robin van
Persie hat-trick which gave them a 3-0
victory over Aston Villa at Old Trafford. It gave them an unassailable 16-point
lead over last season's Premier League
champions Manchester City. Sir Alex Ferguson is now the most
successful manager in British soccer - the
title success was his 49th club trophy
since he began his managerial career...

distinguish Nairalanders i was watching jim iyke unscripted yersterday and i noticed that many african celebs were in houston texas eg jim iyke ramsey noah john dumelo majid micheal etc so am wondring do they pay for their trips or are they sponsored for the awards they attend in america and europe pls your ideas are needed

To me i think olamide is living in d shoes
of d late Dagrin.... Do u guys think he
would ever have gotten dis far if Dagrin
is stil in d picture of rap music in yoruba
dialect cos its lik d death of Dagrin paved
way 4 olamide's success in this field. Ur opinions pls!

He died agedd 22 and his memory lives just like 2pac maybe we will lstin to his music in the next 10 years just like we listin t 2pac now

amnesty at work

malam don suffer

this is what happend to a gay guy in kano

Akpos can answer a
missed call.
Government of Nigeria
pay taxes to Akpos. Nasa's rocket engine
has been copied from
Akpos' motorcycle.
Akpos doesnt need a visa to travel he is visa himself If you say,"No one is
perfect", Akpos takes
this as a personal insult. Akpos can make onions
cry.
The missing piece in
Apple's logo was eaten
by Akpos.
Whenever Akpos makes a mistake, it's a new
invention.
Akpos was given the
lead role in "Mission
impossible", but he
found the title insulting and refused.
Twitter follows Akpos.
Akpos can kill a Living
Room.
When do earthquakes
occur? When Akpos' mobile is on vibration
mode.Akpors is releted to mr amshi
Akpos travels faster
than the speed of light....
How many likes 4
akpors

Waiting 4 it

i just finished watching it its boring

Nigeria Professional Football
League club Warri Wolves claim
Arsenal have contacted them
about the availability of striker
Sunday Mba.
The 23-year-old has rose to
prominence with clubs in Europe
following some impressive
performances in the 2013 Africa
Cup of Nations in South Africa,
where his goal helped Nigeria win a
third African title. Warri Wolves
chairman Pinnick Amaju claims
there has been interest shown in
Mba, which has prompted them to
place a $1million price-tag on his
head. And it seems that Gunners'
boss Arsene Wenger would be keen
to take a closer look, although he
will face competition from rival
clubs, including an unnamed
Norwegian side. "I've been
contacted by people from Arsenal
that they want to see Sunday Mba,"
Amaju said. He added: "A club from
Norway have said to us that they
are ready to sign Mba immediately
after medicals for $600,000
Amshi

http://www.clubcall.com/arsenal/nigerian-hitman-in-gunners-sights-1578658.html

National University Commission,
NUC, has released the list of the
Top 50 Universities in Nigeria for
2013 so far. The University of
Ibadan tops the list, they are
followed by University of Lagos,
Unilag and University of Benin,
Uniben in second and third place
respectively.
2013 TOP 50 University In
Nigeria, NUC amshi
1. University of Ibadan, UI
2. University of Lagos, Unilag
3. University of Benin, Uniben
4. Obafemi Awolowo University,
OAU
5. Ahmadu Bello University, Abu
6. University of Ilorin, Unilorin
7. University of Jos, Unijos
8. University of Port Harcourt,
Uniport
9. University of Maiduguri,
Unimaid
10. University of Agriculture,
Abeokuta,
11. Lagos State University, Lasu
12. Federal University of
Technology, Futo
13. Covenant University, CU
14. University of Nigeria, UNN
15. Federal University of
Technology, Futa
16. Nnamdi Azikiwe University,
Unizik
17. Enugu State University of
Science and Technology, Esut
18. Pan African University
19. Ladoke Akintola University of
Technology. lautech
20. Modibbo Adama University of
Technology
21. African University of Science
and Technology
22. University of Uyo, Uniuyo
23. Bayero University Kano, Buk
24. Ambrose Alli University, AAU
25. Redeemer’s University,
26. Babcock University
27. Federal University of
Technology,
28. University of Calabar, Unical
29. Michael Okpara University of
Agriculture,
30. Ajayi Crowther University
31. Bowen University
32. Rivers State University of
Science and Technology, Rsust
33. Lead City University
34. Crawford University
35. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa
University, ATBU
36. Abia State University, Absu
37. Usmanu Danfodio University,
38. Igbinedion University
39. Imo State University, Imsu
40. Niger Delta University
41. Bells University of Technology
42. Kwara State University
43. Nasarawa State University
44. Caleb University
45. Obong University Obong
46. Adekunle Ajasin University
47. Ekiti State University,
48. American University of
Nigeria
49. Joseph Ayo Babalola
University
50. Veritas University Abuja

Those who tried to Terrorise Us
failed because America has refused to
be Terrorised"......Barak Obama
4 days after the Boston Marathon
Bombings, the FBI and state Police in
Boston have apprehended the 2
bombers; One dead and one seriously
injured.\=D/
Just 4 days? that's unfair now!, they
didn't set up a 26-man Committee?
American Government didn't propose
Amnesty/ retrain these bombers by
sending them abroad? What
happened to giving them and their
backers state pardon?. Haba! How
many people did they even kill sef?
Why did Obama go to visit the
victims family without wearing a
bullet proof vest? This OBAMA sef,
he does not know how to govern or
deal with terrorists! Pampering them
is the way to go not "getting them".
He did not even fix monthly
allowance for other possible Bombers
to cool their temper....Hmmmmm.=-?
America simply sent their Law
Enforcement Agencies, paid with tax
payers money and they did what they
are paid and trained to do....bring the
criminals to Justice! In just 4days.(y)
I think our Federal Government
should set up a 'committee' to look
into American Government to stop
making 'Us' look like we don't know
how to fight Terrorism>:/ .....enough
is enough!