₦airaland Forum

https://africzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/knowlarity-partner.png
Do you really a need business partner? What benefits do you stand to gain by accepting a partnership proposal?

It is often said that good things come in twos and even the Bible said that “Two is better than one, because when one is down; the other will help him up.” The business world is filled with stories of successful partnerships at both the individual and corporate level. Take a look at some of the most successful companies in the world and you will see they started out as partnerships. Examples of such companies include Youtube, Facebook, MySpace, Apple, etc.

Now for those who don’t know what partnership is, here is a brief definition of what a business partnership is. A partnership is an agreement between two or more persons to finance and control a business. Partnerships are virtually easy to establish; however time should be invested in establishing the partnership agreement. In a partnership agreement, the following arrangements, among others, should be stated:

The mode of financing the business
The work that each partner has to do (the role of each partner)
What happens at the demise of each partner?
What should be the condition if one or both partners want to dissolve the partnership.

It is strongly recommendable and advisable for an attorney to be contacted to write the partnership agreement. Striking a partnership deal as a startup company comes with a lot of advantages. If you are a new startup company, and you are considering going into a partnership deal; then below are some reasons why it rocks to have a business partner.
7 Reasons why it Rocks to Have a Business Partner
1. You will have someone to cover for you

One of the greatest advantages of working with a business partner is that they can cover you up when you are on vacation, short break or away on a business meeting. This goes both ways, but is wise to cover for someone else for one or two weeks in order to have your own break.
2. Your company will gain another set of skills

Having another person to work with you (and hopefully someone not exactly as you are, but somebody to compliment you) will sincerely give you another set of skills. This means that you do not have to waste much time learning new things and you can concentrate on what you do best. Most times, partnerships are good when you bring administrative skills to the table while your partner brings technical skills.
3. There is commitment

Working with somebody makes you responsible because both of you do not want let each other down. This leads to more productive work. Also, having a business partner makes you accountable; because accountability will assist to keep you on track as you will know that the business operations and finances will be scrutinized by your partner. If you are working alone, you are liable to slack off and easily fall behind.
4. Bringing a partner with cash on board will provide your business with the needed cash.

5. Having a partner will boost the corporate outlook of your company. Venture Capitalists are more inclined to invest in a business where there are at least two partners because VCs understand the power of team work.

6. Partnerships offer moral support and will permit for more productive brainstorming.

7. Having a business partner makes work in the business so easy and enhancing.
http://africzone.com/7-reasons-why-it-rocks-to-have-a-business-partner/

Singer Iyanya no doubt has got so many fans most likely more female fans as one of them wowed him during his ‘kukere’ concert in London.
https://africzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/iyanya_s_conc.jpg
While in Manchester a female fan was called up onstage to give a bootilicious dance to one of Iyanya’s classical songs ’Flavour’ in front of a large crowd of fans.

She did what she had to do but apparently her dress was too short, so when she bent down, everything at the bottom side was revealed.

We can’t say for sure what are intention was but she made sure she took control of the situation. She turned the unfortunate incident into a show for all the fans.
http://africzone.com/girl-exposes-private-part-on-stage-for-iyanya-during-uk-concert-photo/

Rapper, Naeto C shared cute photos of him and his son on his Instagram page as a way of celebrating father’s day.
https://africzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/naetoc_n_son1.jpg
Naeto C and wife Nicole welcomed their son on 25th of March 2013.
See another photo below
https://africzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/naetoc_n_son2.jpg

http://africzone.com/photos-naeto-c-shows-off-son/

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) crisis deepened at the weekend as the Rivers State Governor and Chairman of a faction, Chief Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, told all the governors to boycott the emergency meeting convened by the group led by his Plateau State counterpart, Jonah Jang, scheduled for Abuja today.
https://africzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/amaechi-rotimi41-612x300.jpg
Amaechi, who said he has not called for any meeting of the forum, warned Jang to desist from parading himself as the Chairman of NGF and stop impersonating him. The meeting summoned by Jang would hold by 6 p.m at the NGF Secretariat, No. 2 Nana Close, off Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja.

He reminded Jang that there is a suit instituted by the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), against Governor Jang to stop parading himself as the NGF’s chairman.

Amaechi said that he remains the only Chairman of the forum, duly-elected by a vote tally of 19 as against 16 polled by Jang on Thursday, May 23, 2013.

Jang had convened an emergency meeting of the forum to discuss the fallout of the Federal Allocation Account Committee (FAAC) meeting and take a collective stand on areas where agreement could not be reached.

A statement by the Director of Press Affairs to Governor Jang, Mr. James Mannok, stated: “In view of the impasse arising from the Federal Allocation Account Committee meeting, an emergency meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum has been convened.”

After the emergency meeting, according to Mannok, the 36 governors would be expected to meet President Goodluck Jonathan on matters arising from the meeting by 9p.m today.

Jang advised the governors to attend the parley promptly as he urged Nigerians, especially his colleagues to put the incident of his election as the Chairman of the forum behind them.

But a statement personally issued by Amaechi yesterday said: “On Saturday, June 15 and Sunday, June 16, reports in the media credited to my brother governor, Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State announced that it has called for a Nigeria Governors’ Forum meeting.

“Ordinarily, I would have ignored these reports as I do not imagine that as governors who hold our people’s mandate through the democratic process of free and fair elections, we would do anything to impugn our integrity.

“However, as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, elected by my colleagues to safeguard their integrity and that of the forum, it has become imperative for me to request my brother and Governor Jang to remain within the confines of decorum and cease to impersonate me and to stop parading himself as NGF chairman. There is only one chairman of the forum, duly elected by a vote tally of 19:16 on Thursday, May 23, 2013.

“For the avoidance of doubt, I, as Chairman of the NGF, have not called for any Governors’ Forum meeting for Monday, June 17, 2013. The only meeting scheduled for Monday, June 17, is a meeting of all governors with His Excellency, President Goodluck Jonathan, scheduled to hold at 9:00pm at Aso Rock Villa. All governors should please ensure attendance at this meeting with Mr. President.

“I wish to reassure my brother governors that this forum shall pass and we all will be reunited as one family committed to our nation’s unity and supporting Mr. President in his vision for a Nigeria that safeguards the rights of all its citizens to good governance and democratic norms.”

Amaechi, who described Governor Jang as his brother and friend, said he did not harbour any ill-feelings against him. While noting that it is important that Jang stops impersonating him, he warned that the action could rubbish the good work all the 36 governors have done together.

“May I remind Governor Jang that there is a legal action that has been instituted against him by Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State from parading himself as the chairman of NGF. As leaders elected by our people, Nigerians are closely watching us. We must comport ourselves according to the dictates and principles of democratic and lawful practices,” Amaechi stated.

http://africzone.com/ngf-crisis-amaechi-jang-in-power-show/

https://africzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Niger-Delta-militants-612x300.jpg
Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has resumed hostilities in the Niger Delta region. The militant group’s field operatives yesterday about 5 am stealthily attached portable military limpet explosives magnetically to two articulated tanker vehicles laden with petrol in a queue outside the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) depot in Abaji, the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

In a statement by its spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, the devices with a predictable outcome were timed to detonate simultaneously several seconds later.

He said this segment of Exodus codenamed ‘Operation Touch and Go’ is targeted at the soft underbelly (downstream sector) of the oil industry in Nigeria.

“From today, every tanker vehicle we find distributing petroleum products, including propane gas has become a legitimate target in our war against injustice, corruption, despotism and oppression.

“Drivers of tanker vehicles continue to drive them at their own risk. The public is hereby advised to maintain a safe distance from such vehicles as they can explode anytime and anywhere, ” he said.

He warned that harassment of the tanker vehicles would be sustained until the following demands are met: “Henry Okah, his brother Charles and other innocent persons set up as scapegoats and held over the October 1, 2010, twin car bombings in Abuja should be released unconditionally.

“That an unreserved apology be tendered by the Nigerian government to MEND for presenting a forged email letter threatening the South African government purportedly originated from us and used as evidence in the sham trial and conviction of Henry Okah.

“That a separate independent body outside Nigeria investigates the forged letter so as to ascertain its authenticity and make their findings public.

“That since our struggle has never been about Goodluck Jonathan’s Presidency, nor about being beneficiaries of dubious pipeline protection contracts and other forms of bribery, a conference to address the injustice, underdevelopment, environmental degradation and outstanding root issues confronting the Niger Delta region must be fixed to hold within three months and that Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke resigns as Minister of Petroleum.”

http://africzone.com/well-bomb-fuel-tankers-mend/

https://africzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Dubem-612x300.jpg
Chidubem Ikebuego has featured as back-up singer to top international and Nigerian artistes like – Ron Kenoly, Donnie McClurkin, Onyeka Onwenu, D’banj, Ashenu and Xtreme Cool. She has finally pitched her tent with Sammie Okposo’s band. Ikebuego’s voice is not only captivating but it takes her listeners to the spiritual realm as she sings. In this interview, she talks about her journey into music, her stint in secular music working with D’banj, and the ordeals she experienced while singing at nightclubs. Excerpts…

How did you venture into singing?

I started singing in church at age 12. A friend of mine was into music and I used to tell her I wanted to do something outside the church. I wanted to go into music fully and I knew I had to go through people, because I was quite young. On one or two occasions she called me to perform for audiences, but the songs were mainly secular, and I kept telling her that my desire was to sing gospel songs. But she would tell me that all songs were the same – insisting that I didn’t have sing only gospel songs because we needed to earn a living. One day, she told me about a group of musicians from London who wanted to set up a band and release an album in Nigeria. When we got to the place, she didn’t even know it was D’banj. That was the first time I met him. He was just coming into the Nigerian market and not yet popular. I worked with D’banj for two years as a back-up singer. After that I met Xtreme Cool and worked with them for another two years. I also worked with Ashonye and Onyeka Onwenu doing a few studio jobs and soundtracks for movies. Later I joined Sammie Okposo’s band; then Ron Kenoly came to Nigeria and I was part of the back-up team. I also worked with Donnie McCluckin, who didn’t come with his band for a thanksgiving service at Aso Rock Villa. I was member of the group that sang the campaign song for President Goodluck Jonathan and worked with Neighbour-to-Neighbour.

What was it like singing with D’Banj and others?

It wasn’t easy, of course. I didn’t express myself like I would love to. I was just doing it as business. It was really something different from the church setting. Each time the camera focused on me while I was singing, I tried to hide my face. I was scared that my pastor would see me on television. I didn’t have fulfillment doing secular songs. I recorded some secular song, but discarded them later. I was just uncomfortable with secular songs. I felt it wasn’t what I should be singing. Every time I went out to do secular songs I didn’t get fulfillment, I felt ashamed. You are not supposed to be ashamed of what you do.

In nightclubs and hotels young beautiful ladies come with their band to sing at weekends. Have you ever done that?

Yes, I forgot to tell you about that. I worked at Soul Lounge in Lekki and Marquis Restaurant. The funny thing is that I cannot recall the lyrics of the songs I sang those days – I just had no attachment to them and there was no passion.

When would you say was your turning point in gospel music?

I was still in the church even while I was singing with D’banj. I made every effort to hide it from my pastor. If he had known I am sure he would have said, ‘so you sing in clubs and still sing on the pulpit?’ I had to hide it from them. When I started singing with Sammie Okposo full time, he said that I should make-up mind where I wanted to be, that it was okay for me to join a gospel band; he said that I could not perform secular songs in the band and then come back to sing gospel songs. It was a challenge for me because I knew I would find it hard to express myself well in secular songs. Gospel songs have a way of allowing me to express myself vocally and emotionally.

Did you attend music school?

No, I did not. People used to ask me where they could go for voice-training, and I would just advise them to take honey and warm water. I never trained my voice, I never went to any music school, it’s just a gift and that is the reason I feel I should be singing gospel. God gave me this voice, some people do voice training, go to music schools, but I never did.

Tell us about your childhood.

I was born in Lagos and grew up in Surulere, Lagos.

Can you sing in Yoruba, too?

I don’t know what to say. My Yoruba is not strong. I don’t know why. I’m just learning how to speak the language; if I speak Yoruba you’ll definitely know I am not Yoruba. I grew up in Lagos, it’s not that I grew up in Ikoyi or VGC; I don’t know what happened to me. In secondary school my schoolmates make mockery of me whenever I spoke Yoruba, because it was not fluent.

You look more like a Nollywood actress. Why did you choose singing instead of acting?

When I was a child I noticed that I knew how to sing any advert on television. We didn’t even have TV or radio in my house, but it got to a point that any song I listened to I picked up immediately. Sometimes my mother would scream, ‘where did you get these songs from, there is no radio, no TV in this house!’ While in primary school, when washing plates at home I would be singing out loud and people commended me a lot. One day my father sat me down and told me that one day I would be a great singer. He was very supportive of me, but then I never thought of music as a career. When I started, my mother was against it. After secondary school I used to go to WINIS in Surulere, which is the rendezvous for actors and actresses then. We got one or two Waka pass roles, but my mother disapproved and reported me to my pastor’s wife. That was how my dream for acting died. All the while, I was singing in the church. I started singing when I was 12 years. I was never in the children’s choir because of my voice. We were Anglicans; the husband of my mother’s younger sister is a pastor in a Pentecostal church. Once in a while we worshipped there. One day, they asked me to sing a special number; when I was done everybody was screaming that a young girl had this kind of voice. Then I joined the adult choir and began singing solo. Like Whitney Houston, I nurtured my talent in church.

Still have you given acting another shot?

I would love to. Naturally, I have a way of making people laugh. People tell me so too. My cousin, Nkem Ike, is an actress and I tell her I want to act, but she tells me to come when I’m serious. But truly, music is choking that desire because I don’t have the time. Maybe when I’m my own boss I would think seriously about acting. I work with Sammie full time and our rehearsals are as if we are in a concert. We sing like we are actually singing to a crowd. That is the training I get. We have more singers now. Then, we were three singers. When we sing people ask if we came with a backing track? We tell them no, just the three of us. People don’t believe it’s just three people singing. It’s part of the training.

What’s your vision?

I know a lot of people have said this, but somehow, it hasn’t been possible for us here. I’m saying this with all confidence. I am giving myself between now and five years to win the Grammy Award by God’s grace. I don’t want to restrict myself to the Nigerian market. It won’t stop me from doing our local songs like ikwokrikwo. I want to do a song a Yoruba or Hausa man would listen to and say this is good. I don’t want to target just the church. I want to be able to reach people out there, people who don’t go to church, but will have a reason to come closer to God. Most of my songs are about hope. If you listen to my songs, I have two singles out now and my songs are more of hope and being grateful to God. At a point in life it was really tough for me; we didn’t eat until my father came home between 10 and 11 p.m. I wish my father is alive to see what I have become now and I know God is taking me to places. I thank God that people are really embracing music now – not like in the past when musicians were seen as irresponsible people.

What’s your mum’s attitude to your music career now?

She is very excited. She would tell people that ‘ifu kwara nwam na tv’, meaning: did you see my daughter on tv? People would call her and say, ‘Mama Ify, we saw your daughter on tv. When I wanted to do secular music she was very angry with me. But the story has changed now; she has really embraced what I do. So far, it’s been great.

Do you intend having your own band?

Definitely, I will. I’m just coming out solo. It won’t really take anything to have my band, it’s just to reach out to one or two people, form a band, rehearse and all that. Because I’m just starting, getting a band now would be a hand full. It would be too much for me. I don’t want anything to weigh me down. Let me start small.

What does fashion mean to you?

I love fashion a lot. When I was growing up, I was always in front of the mirror dancing. My mother would yell at me, “Are you an ogbanje? Why are you always in front of the mirror?” I don’t have any particular trend of dressing. For some months now I have been wearing all kinds of braids; it depends on my mood and how I feel. Last year my hair was low. I cut my hair and people liked it. Tomorrow I might decide to cut it again or change the colour of my hair. I just love fashion.

Are you in any relationship now?

No. I’m not in any relationship now. I’m single.

What is your ideal man like?

My ideal man is one who understands me and my vision and embraces God; he must be a principled and godly-man.
http://africzone.com/like-whitney-houston-i-nurtured-my-talent-in-church-dubem-gospel-artiste/

https://africzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/emeka-ike-2-612x300.jpg
He is one of the most popular actors in Nigeria. This is because he’s probably one actor who has kissed all the ladies who ever acted love roles in Nollywood films featuring him . Emeka Ike is a role model to youths too. Ike has acted in a good number of classic movies like Leap of faith, Love doctor amongst others. In spite of the glamour and fame of being an actor, Ike said he sometimes regrets being a celebrity. In this encounter with The Entertainer, Ike explains why he regrets being a celebrity and bares his mind on other issues. Excerpts:

You seem to be taking a break from acting. Why ?

It’s not only me you don’t see in movies these days. You don’t see other big names as well. You don’t see all of us the way you used to see us then. We aren’t that current and regular as before. This is because lately, a problem I have been lamenting over has sent everybody back to the drawing board. So, we are all making one movie in a year now. I just made my own movie recently. What they are doing now isn’t the Nollywood l know. Now, they are making a movie and cutting it into 10 parts.

I have so many detractors in the industry and this resulted from my many grouses with some stakeholders. Another problem I have stems from my opposition to the international cable system. I questioned why they should be showing many of our movies without paying us, which is against the UNESCO charter. Contract or no contract, there is a UNESCO charter that mandates them to pay us and we are signatories to it. I’ve been complaining about it before 2009. I have been warning that Nollywood was dying. Now, is Nollywood not dead? Is Idumota open? There’s crisis in the Actors Guild. Why are Pound road and Ebinpejo lane shut down? Where are all those marketing places in Aba where we used to make noises, they are all shut down.

(cuts in) Isn’t that as a result of piracy?

No. Were you not there when the former Censors Board chairman, Emeka Mba, which you have made your NBC chairman now, stood up and said if you don’t pay me N5.5m don’t release any movie? The marketers supported him and arrested everybody and that pushed everybody out of the market. DSTV and HI TV were reigning and they were pushing for these television stations to be the most watched, so that Nollywood could go under and everyone watching Nollywood could then watch the movies on the cable. That was the trick, the game plan, but I stood up against that and they went around and started using divide and rule. Some actors would talk both left and right. “Emeka Ike says T.V stations are not honoring our rights” and some actors would go behind to the stations to say “no you are the best. These T.V stations are doing us proud”, when the stations have not been paying them entitlements. Such entitlements should be enjoyed by their children’s children even when they are gone. That’s the crisis and they began to turn other colleagues against me. Anyone that is fighting Emeka Ike among other actors would be given free publicity. They would sponsor the person and give him or her heavy money, because Emeka Ike wants them out of business and they don’t want to stop the multi-billion Naira business. It’s like I’m carrying the whole Nigerian problem on my head. Everyone is saying “oh! Nollywood is going to the next level. We are doing the best and the next level is now we are doing three movies in a month!” What happens to the job of those who employed hundred people. They say those are bad movies but I ask, what happens to progressive rise, what happens to competition? Do your good movies let me do my bad one? Does your celluloid let me do my HD 1?. Let me go and shoot for CDs. All the scandals about Emeka Ike today are just attacks on my person for daring to be outstanding.

How can government resolve the crisis?

The government can only address the situation by calling on all the aggrieved parties. If they can invite my guild, the Actors’ Guild, every other guild would fall in. If they can unify the various factions in the guild, every other guild would come together. Other guilds or associations come second, but they are using the producers to cause havoc. They are causing divisions, tribal divisions and segregating us and because many of us do not really think of the future of the Nigerian movie, they go and collect the $10,000 or $5,000 they’re offered. This is just part payment for showing our movies once on their channel , but they accept these peanuts and the T.V stations show the movies everyday. I have the statistics. Ambassador Chris Chukwu once said that a certain entertainment firm wanted to buy our movies for $120,000 back then, but then we were just struggling to make quality movies that could pass through. Now we are making such movies, yet our movies are selling to cables for N40,000 and even less. Who does that take care of? No wonder many of my colleagues are dying. An actor who used to land five or ten jobs in a month now can’t even boast of a job in six months. The ones he did before have become a problem. He has become too popular for his pockets. He can’t even take care of himself. There’s no piracy anywhere. Television stations are the pirates because they show our movies with impunity. The boys in Alaba are the ones now doing parts 1 to 20 movies. So, they can’t pirate themselves. Then television stations can afford to shun Emeka Ike’s noise because they know all the government functionaries. So, who is Emeka Ike to stop them? My colleagues have kept quiet about it and I sometimes wonder why I should stand alone. My wife sometimes tells me that even the people I am fighting for don’t even know the importance of the fight. They are moving on as if nothing is at stake and they are even playing with these stations. But I usually say that the fight is for our children. That is what l keep telling her. But sometimes I get tired of it all. This is because the people I am fighting for are even against me. That’s a man that has not been paid royalties for years.

If you were to come again to this earth, would you still tread same path?

No, I won’t. In fact, to tell you the truth, I sometimes regret being an actor and a celebrity. I don’t have privacy. Sometimes, people embarrass me by addressing me rudely on the streets. Some say, hey! O’ boy how now? No be you we dey call? So, because you don become star you dey do Shakara?

I am also unhappy about the way we handle things in this part of the world. We don’t like people who say the truth. There are so many sycophants out there and they only want to pull others down to rise. People that even got up riding on your back, now try to pull you down in order to be relevant.

What’s your driving force in your career?

Apart from working with God, my ability to formally attend school and wanting to obtain a better degree makes me strive for excellence in all I do. This helped me to acquire more skills and I read engineering. I am sure if you go to campuses they would tell you that engineering students are brilliant .

How about the training of 40 Niger Delta ex-militants we learned you were doing?

We trained Niger Delta militants at the Youths Academy ,West Africa in Ghana (MY Academy). It was pleasant working with them. We found out how innocent and sincere they were to know the truth and learn . It was a pleasure to be used by God to relay their next phase in life to them. Our aim was to train and empower them and we have trained them now. I worked with them at the National Institute for Film (NAFTI) in Ghana and we’re impressed about the results of their projects. When we came back to Nigeria for the market place experience, we were able to make a more fantastic discovery. It was fun working with them, we were able to shoot and edit a film in five days with HD 1 camera. We were able to realize a fantastic project. They served as both the cast and production crew of the production. They watched me shoot and edit the film on set. It was just a relaxing experience for them. The film we shot is about malaria and it has been nominated by the American Embassy for this year’s World Malaria Day. It would be screened at the World Intellectual Property/ Anti-counterfeit Day. We edited and shot the film in less than one month. You are going to see a showcase of rare talents and if these boys were able to make such quality films in such a short time, less than a month, it shows we have a lot to offer.

Ordinarily, it was something we would have gone to South Africa to shoot and make it look like the ones we have in Nigeria to look like they didn’t know what they were doing. So, what my company did was to relate with people at the grassroots and relate with the very core professionals and we jointly trained them to shoot the movie.

Tell us about your love life?

As a man, your parents would have trained you to know the qualities to look for in a lady you could have as yours. When I met her, she was down to earth. She was very humble. She was not over assuming, assertive or arrogant . She wasn’t putting on an act, and l like someone who is very natural. That was the attraction.

She is an educationist and her first degree was in English. She also holds a Masters Degree in Education Management. She upgraded her studies in my home and soon became an educationist but she had been an organized person and well-groomed before we met. She was a young girl when we met.

Outside the glamour of a screen god, who really is Emeka Ike?

I cherish my privacy so much. I have not been to a beer parlor in a very long time. I am a highly organized person. Emeka Ike is not out there where it is loud. I don’t do clubs. You don’t see me in functions all the time. I appear in places where my business interests would be protected. You find me in a serene and private place.

What’s your take on drinking and smoking?

When we attained stardom, we were so excited and we wanted to celebrate it. We took beer, Hennessey and all that. But now, I am grown-up, I don’t drink beer or any alcohol anymore. The doctor has warned me against drinking and l am adhering to his warning . I have grown up and I am now a father. I am a married man. I hope I haven’t painted an angelic image of an Emeka Ike. I’m just a human being. I am just a young man striving for excellence in my career, not a saint. My detractors should mind their business and allow me to be focused on my career.

What values did you learn from your parents?

My father is mostly responsible for the kind of personality l have grown to be over the years. I always protect my integrity. He wasn’t a cleric but he sheltered many worshippers, people from lowly backgrounds. Many who never even met him. Their welfare meant a lot to him.

What pranks did you play as a boy?

Ah! in those days, I remember we ate from rituals placed at three-way junctions. We reasoned that those who placed those eggs there were fools. We ate and enjoyed the eggs and nothing happened to us, because we never believed anything evil could happen to us.

A popular actor in the United States, Arnold Schwazeneggar, once campaigned for political office and became a governor of California. Do you nurse a political ambition later in life?

The humanitarian work I am doing is not for political purposes, but if I am invited to lead, if Nigerians or people in my state see the leadership traits in me, my integrity , I can offer myself for service. I have been a leader all along. I have led the actors’ guild, I have led several youths organizations in Nigeria too . I have led Nollywood actors even without being their leader. I have given inspirational speeches on many campuses in Nigeria. I am a motivational speaker. I was at the national youth summit at the National Arts Theatre to give a motivational speech to millions of Nigerian youths. So, it’s not something l can’t do. I think the elite in Nigeria should now get involved in politics. This is because it’s when the sane people say no to politics that the insane ones took to it and have taken over. Christians say this world is not my home, I am just passing through, then some people heard that and said so, this world is not your own, and took guns and started killing people. Anyone can go into politics. That’s part of what I have preached in my forthcoming movie; a sister who became aware of malaria took the campaign to the villages to enlighten the people about it and succeeded in educating her people on how to prevent malaria. The movie ended on a note that anywhere you are and whatever you are, take your civility to your village and see how you can assist the dying ones. It was a movie ex-militants produced and acted in.

http://africzone.com/sometimes-i-regret-being-an-actor-emeka-ike/

https://www.africzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Fidelis-Duker-612x300.jpg
“The challenge has been that we have not had enough time for our kids because of the work that we do. And that’s the reason why the little time we have with them we try to maximize and give them as much love as we can muster and catch up on what we have lost.

“Though, we see them every day but I think we have not given them enough love, the kind of love and time I would have loved to give to them. That to me is one of the biggest drawbacks of the last 15 years,” he laments.

However, Duker adds laughing, a bright look in his eyes: “But I think that it is good for us because we started very early. In the next couple of years, our kids will be out of the university; one is entering next year. May be at that point we will have time for them. But I think the most important thing is that my wife and I have come this far and we have tremendous respect for each other.”

Marriage secret

Only recently, Duker and his wife celebrated 15 years of marriage. What has the last 15 years been like for the Dukers?

A smile creases his features as the movie producer, who met his wife 18 year ago in Ogba, Lagos, responds: “I keep saying that I married my friend and I keep advising anyone who wants to get married to marry someone you consider a friend, it makes it easier and more cordial in the sense that you understand each other to a greater extent and you’re able to operate in an environment like the showbiz environment where marriages break up and crumble every day and remain sane.

“But the good thing for us is that we have been able to respect each other. If you want your marriage to work, one person must be the fool. I mean fool in quote. One person must be able to submit to the other, either the man or woman, and it’s not a constant thing. Sometimes it could be the man and at other times it is the woman. At a point in time you as the man will submit and at another time it is the woman that will submit, so for me, that’s basically what I think has kept my marriage for this past 15 years. I think that is what should happen in marriage.”

But is the relationship still as romantic as when they got married 15 years ago? Hear Duker: “We are always together and work together and we see each other every day. I think ours is a different one. We are always together despite been married for 15 years and its getting more and more interesting.”

On Abuja Film Festival

Duker, an ex-president of Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN), who was recently elected President of African Festival Network, has been involved in over 35 home video films in the last 15 years including Blood of Brothers, King of Money, Nemesis, Scandals and Destined To Die to mention a few.

10 years ago, Duker’s dream to establish Nigeria’s biggest film festival came to fruition after the maiden edition of the Abuja Film Festival, which he describes as ‘the biggest English language film festival in West Africa’. What should the world expect at this year’s edition coming up in October? Duker is animated as he responds with his head tilted at an angle: “It’s our 10th edition and so expect a bigger and better festival. Our vision has always been to improve every year, which has been the case in the last 10 years. We are planning to expand the programme by one day. We have added one or two more categories to the award segment as well, so it promises to be a bomb as we celebrate our 10th anniversary!”

Ten years down the road, how has the journey been? “Challenging,” he says waving his hands, “challenging in the sense that when you operate in a system where the kind of funding and sponsorship you’re expecting is not forth coming, you have to look for other ways to survive. Our beginnings were very humble. My wife and I started from the scratch 10 years ago. But I think we have grown to become the longest running film festival in West Africa today – for English films – so I think to a large extent we have done very well considering the harsh economic reality.”

Today, AIFF has become a major brand. Were there moments they almost quit? “Like I said earlier, the biggest challenge we faced back then was in the area of funding. But we have been able to overcome that because we have devised other ways of raising funds. What’s more; our major intention at the beginning was not the financial angle. We focused on a platform that would create activity and content and enrich the industry.

“When we started 10 years ago, it was because we realized that there was a lacuna in that area of Nollywood. Thank God it was a success. After our festival, we had other stuff coming up like AMAA Awards and Zuma Film Festival and all that. It was that gap we were trying to fill and we were able to fill it. Today, we have come a long way as we have about 25 film festivals in Nigeria. This for us is a major boost for the motion picture industry. We are proud that we have been able to improve standards, which has been our major target.

http://africzone.com/my-only-regret-after-15-years-of-marriage-fidelis-duker/

https://africzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/288565_heroa.jpg
The reigning champions have dropped points at home finally after they had won their other games played at the Sani Abacha Stadium before this tie. They were the last club to lose points on their turf after the other 19 clubs had either lost or drawn in their backyard this season. But they still remain unbeaten at home since 2003.

It was Lobi Stars that ended that winning streak after they battled the Mohammed Baba Ganaru led Pillars to a standstill on Wednesday.

The Dominic Iorfa tutored lads even drew the first blood in the first half in the 28th minute through Ogidison Oche who capitalised on a defensive lapse from Pillars Kabiru Uba to drill the ball beyond the reach of Theophilus Afelokhai who was between the posts for Pillars.

Pillars equalised less than 10 minutes later through Ikechukwu Gabriel who was said to have injured Lobi’s goalkeeper, Terkaa Melai in the process leading to the goal in the 35th minute. The home team almost got an unlikely winner when they were handed a spot kick in the 88th minute. Rabiu Ali who was looking for his eighth goal of the season couldn’t beat well composed Melai from 12 yards away. Melai was later adjudged the most valuable player of the match because of his heroics.

The draw notwithstanding, Pillars are still in first spot with 33 points from 18 games while Lobi are 15th with 23 points from 18 matches.

Pillars will welcome El Kanemi Warriors in another home game while Lobi will be at home to Wikki Tourists on Sunday in the concluding games of the first stanza.

ABS 0-2 WARRI WOLVES

Warri Wolves abruptly ended the merriment of the Ilorin outfit with a 2-0 away victory on Wednesday barely three days after ABS shocked Nembe City in Yenagoa.

ABS had over the weekend defeated Nembe City 1-0 in Yenagoa and confidence level ahead of the tie with the Seasiders was high among the players and officials of the privately owned club but literally cut to shreds on Wednesday 2-0 by Warri Wolves who were more concerned about getting a win to dedicate to their former player Solomon Oboh who died in an auto crash last Sunday in Warri.

Impressive Oghenekaro Etebo put his club on a victory path when he got the curtain raiser in the 74th minute while Gift Atiluwa made the entire points safe with the back breaker in the 90th minute.

For ABS, they need to do a reality check and unravel the mystery behind their inconsistencies this season before it is too late.

Warri Wolves have soared high on the log based on the away win with 27 points from 17 games. They are sixth with a conclusive decision yet to be taken on their disputed inconclusive tie with Akwa United while ABS are 19th with 22 points from 18 matches.

Wolves host Sunshine Stars this weekend in Warri while ABS travel to Kaduna to face Kaduna United. Both ties are Week 19 matches.

SUNSHINE STARS 2-0 NEMBE CITY

Everything positive about the Akure Arsenal these days only revolves around star striker, Dele Olorundare who netted a brace in the club’s home win over Nembe City at the Akure Township Stadium.

The two goals increased Olorundare’s strikes to 11 and he is on course to break the 20 goal league record made by then Kaduna United’s hitman Jude Aneke two seasons ago if he maintains his form.

Sunshine have 27 points to be placed fifth after 18 matches while Nembe City are 16th with 23 points from 18 matches.

The Akure side will lock horns with Warri Wolves at the Warri City Stadium while Nembe will strive to shrug off relegation worries with a home tie against Sharks this weekend.

EL KANEMI WARRIORS 3-0 ENUGU RANGERS

The Maiduguri side have turned their base at El Kanemi Stadium to a fortress after dismantling the Flying Antelopes 3-0 on Thursday night.

The win was the club’s seventh point claimed out of possible nine in the last three matches.

They will play Pillars on Saturday with so much enthusiasm of halting their host again just like Lobi did mid week.

El Kanemi Warriors have 25 points from 18 matches and are placed 11th while Rangers are 13th with 24 points from 16 games. Rangers are on the road again as they battle Nasarawa United this weekend.

SHARKS 1-0 ENYIMBA

The Blue Angels surprisingly came tops against the Peoples Elephant in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

The only difference of the tie was the 24th minute strike from former Rangers player, Tayo Fabiyi which the home team held unto for crucial three points.

Enyimba are still one of the most inconsistent teams in the league this season and time is fast running out on their far from impressive outing this first stanza. Their supposed burning desire of nicking a continental ticket through the league this season may become a pipe dream if nothing is done now to arrest the club’s dwindling fortunes.

Enyimba are eighth with 25 points from 18 matches while Sharks’ revival to stay for an additional season in the premier league got a boost with their latest win. They are still last on the log with 17 points from 18 matches.

The Aba Millionaires have a tight fixture against Heartland in Aba on Sunday while Sharks face Nembe City in Port Harcourt.

HEARTLAND 2-0 NASARAWA UNITED

The Week 18 encounter with Nasarawa United was a very cagey affair until a certain Esom Tochukwu was brought in. He didn’t disappoint as he dazzled the spectators and gave the Lafia side a torrid time before Heartland won the tie 2-0.

The Naze Millionaires thus remained in the fourth position on the NPFL log after they defeated Nasarawa United 2-0 in a Week 18 tie decided at the Dan Anyiam Stadium,Owerri.

The tension soaked affair did not produce any goal in the first half but the Naze Millionaires dug deep to get two goals in the second half through Akor Umoru Isah who netted his eighth goal of the season in the 48th minute and Osas Okoro who got the second about 12 minutes from the end of the tie.

The win lifted Heartland to 28 points from 18 games and are fourth after Kwara United got a draw against Akwa United in their Week 18 tie at Akwa United. The Afonja Warriors are second behind Pillars.

Heartland will take a short trip to Aba to face Enyimba this weekend in another oriental derby while Nasarawa United will entertain Enugu Rangers in Lafia.

BAYELSA UNITED 1-0 GOMBE UNITED

The Yenagoa side as usual gained a precious home win over Gombe United to take their tally for the season to 29 points and are third on the table only on goal difference. They have played 18 games.

The club’s latest maximum points secured was largely possible because of the ingenuity of their top goal poacher Peter Ebimobowei who has scored about 5 goals from the club’s last three home games against Nembe City, Kaduna United and Gombe United.

The 2009 league winners are gradually returning to the fearsome team they were noted for before they got demoted to the lower division in 2010. They only returned to the elite division at the beginning of the season alongside Nembe City, El Kanemi Warriors and Nasarawa United and their early signs in the first stanza showed they are itching to return to the top.

Gombe United continued their slide away from home and they will make a long trip back to base to face troubled Akwa United this weekend at the Pantami Stadium but Bayelsa United will travel to Port Harcourt as guest of Dolphins.

Gombe United are 12th with 25 points from 18 matches.

AKWA UNITED 0-0 KWARA UNITED

The Uyo side started life after they were banished from their home turf to Rojenny Stadium, Oba near Onitsha with a goalless draw against Kwara United on Thursday night.

The team played good football and held possession well but they lacked the cutting edge moving forward to nick goals.

Their star striker Obong Ekpai was unavoidably absent and he was solely missed as the club lost further grounds on the league table with another two points loss at home.

The Justin Tenger tutored Akwa United may be courting a return to the lower league if necessary overhauling is not done during the mid season transfer. They are 14th on the log with 24 points from 17 games. They take a long journey to Gombe United for Sunday’s Week 19 tie.

The Afonja Warriors are riding high under new head coach Samson Unuanel and he has taken the Ilorin side to a position that coaches before him failed to reach throughout their stay at Ilorin. Kwara United are now second on the log with 29 points from 18 games and a win at home to tough customers, 3SC could cement their place among the top three after the first stanza.

Former junior international goalkeeper, Kazeem Yekeen was largely impressive and a candidate for man of the match award against Akwa United after thwarting all the Uyo side’s attempts at cancelling the goalless situation. He made some top drawer point blank saves too as he helped his club gained a precious point away.

WIKKI TOURISTS 1-0 DOLPHINS

The Tourists from Bauchi have got additional three points after a 1-0 home triumph over Dolphins on Wednesday.

Ibrahim Babale nicked the match winners and improved Wikki’s points to 23 from 18 matches but Dolphins are still stuck at 25 points from the same number of games.

Both sides play Lobi Stars at Katsina Ala and Bayelsa United in Port Harcourt respectively this weekend in the last set of matches before the ritual mid season break.

3SC 2-0 KADUNA UNITED

The Oluyole Warriors endured a turbulent first half at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan last Wednesday but still bagged maximum points at home to Kaduna United.

Two second half goals from Gbolahan Salami and Mutiu Adegoke in the 62nd and 71st minutes handed a win to 3SC and ensured that Kaduna United returned empty handed despite their valiant display.

The northern sides were to blame for their loss having frittered away begging chances in the first half. They paid for their profligacy in front of goal in the first half after 3SC shocked them with two well taking goals in the second half.

The Ibadan sides are seventh on the log with 25 points from 17 matches while Kaduna United are back among the relegation battlers again.

3SC will visit Kwara United this weekend at Ilorin while Kaduna United will host wounded ABS at home.
http://africzone.com/npfl-week-18-round-up-pillars-surrender-100-percent-home-record/

Lagos state Government yesterday concluded a one-week training course for over 500 officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, aimed at equipping them with necessary knowledge and skills to manage traffic with Hi-Tech equipments.
https://africzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Africa-Lagos-Nigeria-business-district-07092012.jpg

Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa while addressing the officers at the end of the training held in Alausa Secretariat, said that the training will help the officers to utilise the hi-tech equipments that would be acquired by the state government very soon for traffic management in the state.

According to Opeifa, “The state government has concluded plans to acquire hi-tech traffic software to move traffic and transport management from the present manual analogue to a more sophisticated and scientific based mode.”

He added that the training and the equipments will afford the officers ability to manage traffic with easy.

The commissioner expressed the hope that participants would at the end of the training master the fundamentals of the various areas of hi-tech traffic and incidence management and other strategic related areas.

Earlier in his goodwill message, the Lagos State Head of Service, Mr. Adesegun Ogunlewe said that the workshop provides a veritable platform for professionals to learn about best practices which are in conformity with acceptable global standard in some areas of core competence in traffic and traffic engineering.

Mr Ogunlewe, described the training as a step in the right direction as the government could now boast of informed professionals and institutions that would consistently seek to improve the process of service delivery, while not compromising standard and compliance.

Declaring the workshop open, the Commissioner for Establishment, Training and Pensions, Mrs. Florence Oguntuase, said public servants should understand the key policy thrust of the State Government in order to situate the relevance and importance of their services.

The Commissioner therefore charged the participants to absorb all the knowledge they can and subsequently put them to good use at their various duty posts to justify the investment of the government in improving their competences and capabilities.

The all inclusive workshop have participants drawn from Ministries, Departments and Agencies whose services directly or indirectly impact on public transportation including students from the School of Transport of the Lagos State University, Ojo.

The facilitators are from two world acclaimed Transport Engineering Consortium from the United States of America, Info Trans Engineering Incorporated, New Jersey and Sam Schwartz Engineers, New York.

It is expected that the participants at the end of workshop would be able to identify techniques and conduct Road Safety Audit, design effective traffic control plan and demonstrate detailed understanding of advanced incident management and rescue operations, amongst others.

http://africzone.com/lagos-plans-hi-tech-traffic-management-system/

[img]http://2.bp..com/-RMcDEsdbsw0/UYZWLZ1jLTI/AAAAAAAAjqE/YU2HfuuP4vw/s1600/Jungle-Justice.jpg[/img]

An angry mob, weekend, burnt to death an alleged murderer, Emmanuel Nwegwe, 40, who allegedly killed his relative, Innocent Onu, 54, with a gun at Umunaga village in Uburu community of Ohaozara Local government area of Ebonyi state over a disagreement relating to a wedding reception venue.

It was gathered that when the deceased, Emmanuel Nwegwe who had shot his relative last week in their family compound and ran into a nearby forest in the area for safety; was allegedly apprehended, killed and set ablaze by some angry youths who mounted close watch on him barely 8 days after the incident.


In a chat with newsmen, the Ebonyi state police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP, Sylvester Igbo who condemned the manner in which the deceased was allegedly killed by the youths of the area, stressed that they had no right to take laws into their hands since the case was still under investigation by the police.

He said: “The youths went into the bush and discover the man where he was hiding; they brought the man out, killed him and set his corpse on fire. Before information got to the police that the man had been seen, they have already killed him and police cannot lay hands on any person but they still investigating to know who and who actually killed the man.

“They people are not permitted by law to take laws into their hands even though the deceased had used gun to kill his brother and since the case was reported to the police which is subject to investigation, what they should have done as at the time they saw the man was to
apprehend him and take him to the police station; there is no law that permits them to kill the man.


“The team that are investigating the matter had gone to make sure that those that carried out the action against the alleged murderer are arrested and prosecuted according to the law; we are yet to confirm the number of youths that carried out the dastardly act; when thepolice rushed to the scene what they saw was the corpse of the man on fire and there was nobody they could lay hands on as being responsiblefor the act.
According to the police spokesman, investigations were on to ascertainand arrest all those who participated in the killing of late Emmanuel Nwegwe on that fateful day.
“However, the police is still investigating to get information through the grapevine source; to know who and who were instrumental to theman’s death; we are right to say that youths in area carried out theact because after the alleged action of the deceased against his relative, the youth had mounted a manhunt for him.
Police is working round the clock to make sure that those that killed the man are brought to book. He was burnt to death on Saturday morning”.

source http://www.naijadesk.com/2013/05/jungle-justice-angry-mobs-set-alleged.html

[img]http://4.bp..com/-sEqFEMQDVk4/UYbiKVwG1XI/AAAAAAAApgw/qeOZhs9z0NU/s1600/eb2.jpg[/img]

[img]http://1.bp..com/-k4BLsTCvSX8/UYbiH7BiLoI/AAAAAAAApgo/twtsUdpIbAY/s1600/eb1.jpg[/img]

[img]http://2.bp..com/-5zxO-NuK-oc/UYa9LAZpJjI/AAAAAAAApgY/JqGGXMEV4HQ/s1600/ebube+t.JPG[/img]

Source http://www.naijadesk.com/2013/05/photos-another-movie-role-ebube-nwagbo.html

[img]http://1.bp..com/-pQfCqItmwFg/UYYqYJK6ULI/AAAAAAAAgIQ/FCig2yi2xio/s1600/dbanj-donjazzy.jpg[/img]

"Don Jazzy produced four songs on the DKM album coming out soon. I remember when I was in America and they were mastering a song and I heard the one featuring Fally Ipupa which was produced by Don Jazzy and I was like wow! I called him immediately and he picked up. I said listen to what I’m hearing, this is a music you produced. So don’t get it twisted like I said, love is a beautiful thing.
"I’m a businessman and I do what is right for my business. What I’m doing now is what I have always wanted as an artiste, professionalism and good distribution. I don’t have any regret."

He told SoundCity a while back, when asked about his relationship with Donjazzy

Good to know they are cool..

Source http://www.naijadesk.com/2013/05/donjazzy-produced-4-tracks-on-my-dkm.html

www.naijadesk.com in my blog, i regularly update the site with latest information

You just got that ugly lady pregnant...

Lol

Oh, YeS FRIEND,
You can now cat your favorite DSTv channels on your mobile phone!! Watch super sport, african Magic and lots more on your mobile phone!!! Simply
>>> Click Here To Download <<<
[img]http:///cxsHJ[/img]
>>> Click Here To Download <<<

[b]what can 15,000 nigerian phone numbers do to your business?
You will agree with me that at this point the most converting way to advertise your product and services to the general public.

I have list of over 15,000 nigeria phone number which was generated using a powerful nigeria software

I will be giving out 15,000 to all those who want to take their business to the next level for just 3,500 after payment the phone numbers will be delivered to you in txt or doc format.

If you are interested call me on 07063447562 or Ezentamalachi@yahoo.com[b]

[b]what can 15,000 nigerian phone numbers do to your business?
You will agree with me that at this point the most converting way to advertise your product and services to the general public.

I have list of over 15,000 nigeria phone number which was generated using a powerful nigeria software

I will be giving out 15,000 to all those who want to take their business to the next level for just 3,500 after payment the phone numbers will be delivered to you in txt or doc format.

If you are interested call me on 07063447562 or Ezentamalachi@yahoo.com[b]

[b]what can 15,000 nigerian phone numbers do to your business?
You will agree with me that at this point the most converting way to advertise your product and services to the general public.

I have list of over 15,000 nigeria phone number which was generated using a powerful nigeria software

I will be giving out 15,000 to all those who want to take their business to the next level for just 3,500 after payment the phone numbers will be delivered to you in txt or doc format.

If you are interested call me on 07063447562 or Ezentamalachi@yahoo.com[b]

how possible is that

Hello web masters in the house am Emalachi am actually here to seek for a help of webmaster here because I believe this is the only place left for me to get the information I needed

I wanted to develope a website where nigerian can actually go and send free sms from the internet to any mobile phone it will come inform of a bulk sms but the service is going to be free so I call on all web masters to pls show me how I can do this.

How to watch Dstv channels on your mobile phone

Much noise have been made about the possibiliy of watching Dstv on your mobile phone some have even monopolize the system

Now I want to give out the amazing guide out for 100% free I have written a comprehensive guide on how you can watch Dstv channels on your mobile phone for free. so without wasting your time just head over to http://Gurusland.com/dstv for the download and proper configuration guide

You may do so by clicking on the monetize tab on your blog or better still you can goto http//adsense.google.com and submit your information!

Discover An Amazing Revelation of How you can buy a Laptop with your tiny Pocket Money right here in Nigeria. Guaranteed! Even if you are a poor Secondary School Student!

THIS IS NOT A JOKE! Who said you must need so much to buy a Laptop?
That Person Must be a BIG Liar! I can show you how you can buy an internet enabled Laptops for N4,000 each and have it delivered right to your door step even if you reside in sokoto. Be you rich or poor I don't care, I'll still reveal this secret to you! without wasting much of your time follow this link to find out more info http://naijacheaplaptops..com