₦airaland Forum

https://www.cp-africa.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/chinua.jpg———New York, NY- Chinua Achebe, one of the world’s most influential authors, has been chosen to receive the 2010 Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize. With approximately $300,000 from silent film stars Dorothy and Lillian Gish, the Gish Prize is one of the largest and most prestigeous awards in the arts.
All here: http://www.cp-africa.com/2010/10/28/chinua-achebe-receives-300000-gish-prize/

https://www.cp-africa.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/uti1.jpg
Naija/the continent has been buzzing about Uti's big win. Check out Uti's interview below with SATV right after his win

Interview with Tashi Tagg of The South African TV Authority
Tashi: What questions have you been asked the most tonight?
Uti: Questions about my father’s passing and I’ve been asked to talk about Sheila, yeah, those two questions.

Tashi: And what you have said about both?
Uti: With my dad’s passing, I’ve said: “You know what, he gave me strength,” I could have left the game, but I pulled myself together and said: ‘Okay, you have to take control right now.’

Of course the production did give me a choice to go for the funeral and come back and I accepted that but, as life would have it, there was a flood in my home town and so they had to postpone the funeral to November.

For me, I just said: "You know what, the last thing I told my dad before I left was that I was coming back here and he told me that I had all it took to get to the Finale so the minute the news came out I felt like leaving, but then I thought: "You know what? I'm gonna do this for my dad.'"

Tashi: And Sheila?
Uti: She's an amazing woman
All here: http://www.cp-africa.com/2010/10/20/uti-nwachukwu-interview/

https://www.cp-africa.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Y-50-Young-Nigerians-424x600.jpg

This issue of the magazine is themed the “Freedom Issue” and for this Y! has selected 50 of the most influential young Nigerians under 35, and – working with the model of Time Magazine’s Most Influential 100 – this edition got sterling individuals to write shorts essay about these young leaders.

In addition, because of course there are many other brilliant young Nigerians outside that list of 50, the editorial board listed out a further 200 names inspire hope for Nigeria’s future: names including Genevieve Nnaji, Bode Pedro, Hassan Rilwan, Dimeji Alara, Adaobi Nwaubani and many others.

All here: http://www.cp-africa.com/2010/10/19/magazine-presents-freedom-issue-featuring-nigerias-50-influential-people-35/

@Sam no wahala

Ah you are so sweet; I will tell him

I am always a fan of web businesses that understand the benefits of building a strong brand and offering a unique value proposition to customers. Usually, all else follows and not surprisingly, this has been the case with Nigeria’s fastest growing job portal,

Founded about a year ago, Jobberman has since grown to become a leading online destination for Nigerian job seekers and employers alike. As part of CP-Africa’s African Entrepreneur Series, I recently caught up with the job portal’s co-Founder Ayodeji Adewumi.

Read more: http://www.cp-africa.com/2010/10/18/cpafrica-interviews-jobbermancom-cofounder-ayodeji-adewumi-jobberman-nigerias-fastest-growing-career-portal/

https://www.cp-africa.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/jobberman.jpgFounded about a year ago, has since grown to become a leading online destination for Nigerian job seekers and employers alike. How did they do it? CP-Africa.com recently caught up with the website's co-Founder, Ayodeji Adewumi. Inspiring interview!

Some excerpts:

Ayodeji Adewumi: "14 months ago when starting Jobberman, I told a friend now is the Time. Nothing has happened till date. Entrepreneurs are Action-biased and this is what this game is about. Safe Is Risky. Entrepreneurship is like throwing yourself off a cliff and making a Plane or Parachute on the way down. Again, now is the Time. The barrier to entry is low. The reward is sweeping. The pain is insightful. Africa is the gun, Nigeria is the trigger with 43 million Internet Users according to a recent report from ITU and the landing of Main One and Glo One. Stop reading this and get to work."

You can read it here: http://www.cp-africa.com/2010/10/18/cpafrica-interviews-jobbermancom-cofounder-ayodeji-adewumi-jobberman-nigerias-fastest-growing-career-portal/

Lol. Yes Donpuzo, I am married. Hubby says hi 

All, here are some event details about discussions that took place at the meet up courtesy of Tim Akinbo, http://blog.timakinbo.com/

Thanks to @OoTheNigerian for putting this together. In attendance at the meetup was @gbengasesan, @Possicon, @the_dej, @emekaokoye, @startupsnigeria and a host of many others too many to mention.

The networking was really great and I’m beginning to see a change in attitude by Nigerian Internet entrepreneurs to collaborate and work together. One of the key highlights was about creating a thriving community of Internet entrepreneurs and this was championed by @OoTheNigerian. @luminus shared on the need to make a shit-load of noise about what we’re doing highlighting the need for promotion of what it is we do.

@emekaokoye shared on his experience with his first Internet startup – ngex.com which he co-founded as far back as 1997. He shared his experience in trying to raise capital for the company, his pitfalls and successes. He ranted about how passion is the most important thing for any developer and how developers in Nigeria lack it. This is not something that only Emeka has experienced. It seems to be the same song everyone who has worked with Nigerian developers for a while sings. Sim Shagaya who was also present at the event narrated a sad experience with Nigerian developers and how he had to hire developers outside the country for his startups. Sim runs a number of startups including gbogbo.com and Lovebase. Emeka went on to narrate how startups need to be relevant to be impactful.

There was also this guy from a vc company based in the UK but was interested in investments in Africa. He mentioned that though it might be a little early to be talking about vc funding, it was important that entrepreneurs think about the longterm possibility of vc partnerships and so run their startups to be vc-attractive.

Sim Shagaya went on to talk about how startup communities had been developed around the world and re-iterated the need to build a thriving startup community. He also shared about one of this startups – Lovebase and how they were using a new Interswitch Nigeria product named Quick teller that made it possible for people to make payments online using the atms.

‘Gbenga Sesan also got to talk about certain policies that have been in place for a while that Internet entrepreneurs could leverage on for financing of their proven projects amogst others.

An attendee raised the issue of continuity and concrete actionable steps that could be taken to build the community and it was agreed that we should have more of these meetings and a mailing list be created to encourage further discussions on topics that affect us or have been raised.

-Sandra

All hail the King of Nigerian comedy.
https://www.cp-africa.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/alibaba.jpg

Recent NEXT interview with Ali Baba

"It all started with funny remarks at shows that grew into humorous presentations on stage during his undergraduate days at the Bendel State University, Ekpoma."

"“Initially, I was paid N30 for the shows, and my allowance was N120. So, I thought if I continued with the shows, I could make more money than what I was getting from home, and that started it. I just knew I was called for it because if I am on stage, nothing else matters.”"

Ali Baba you don try abeg.

All here: http://www.cp-africa.com/2010/10/16/234next-celebratingalibaba-ali-baba-comedy-fame-charity/

love her!

Inspiring video. Our own Deola Sagoe got featured. I like what she said here:

Deola Sagoe: "The global fashion capitals should prepare for an African invasion"

CNN agrees: CNN: ""Coming from a country where looking sharp is a national preoccupation, it is a warning that should definitely be heeded."

watch am here: http://www.cp-africa.com/2010/10/14/cnn-videodeola-sagoenigerias-tailor-fashion/

Up DEOLA!

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lol

Rolex has announced the winners of the inaugural series of the Young Laureates Programme. This year, five Young Laureates, whose vision and tenacity present innovative solutions to challenges in Science and Health, Cultural Preservation, Environment, Exploration, and Applied Technology will be awarded US$100,000, a Rolex chronometer, and the benefits of international publicity.  Nnaemeka Ikegwuonu, Nigeria and Bruktawit Tigabu, Ethiopia are two of this year’s winners. Read more here: http://www.cp-africa.com/2010/10/13/rolex-awards-enterprise-announces-2010-young-laureates-nigeria-ethiopia/

His babe fine gannn~!!!

Google is currently look for a country manager to fit their vacant position of Country manager.

This position is based in Lagos, Nigeria.

The area: Business and Operations Strategy

The Business and Operations Strategy team thinks strategically and globally about entire industries and helps Google define business and operational initiatives that contribute to the company’s growth. Our team of highly creative visionaries thrives in deconstructing and re-creating businesses to meet changing strategic and operational needs, enable innovation, establish more efficient business practices and help the company continue to achieve its vast potential. Our work includes such projects as developing and implementing next-generation advertising products, defining strategies to optimize data center technology and operations, and establishing business initiatives for emerging markets. We measure our effectiveness by monitoring the concrete impact we have on revenue, cost and operational efficiency.

All details here: http://www.cp-africa.com/2010/10/13/work-google-nigeria-apply/

This CNN video is pretty amazing! Touches on African leaders, accountability, entrepreneurship and a host of issues on African development. Main message: "Change has to come from within"

The guy knows what he is talking about and I have rarely seen this level of nuance and knowledge from a development expert, black or white. Highly recommend.

View it:

http://www.cp-africa.com/2010/10/12/cnn-video-african-big-man-rule-growing-economies-continent/

Anyone who has ever been to New York knows that the city rarely shuts down for anything and for that time period between 54th and 44th street on Second avenue all you could see was green and white. I Started off the inaugural experience on one of the most interesting floats attributing to City University ofNew York’s Nigerian affiliation and then later made it over to a float that had a bit of everything. No special affiliations or tags worth remembering, although come to think about it there was a big red Moneygram sign at the back and a blithe group of young people definitely heralded by the loud selection of contemporary Nigerian Hip-hop. Read more: http://www.cp-africa.com/2010/10/12/makings-gidi-carnival-nigerian-day-parade-york-091010/

https://www.cp-africa.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/chidinma.jpgHistory was made on 25 September, 2010, when 22-year-old Chidinma Ekile emerged the first female winner of the television reality musical talent hunt show, MTN Project Fame West Africa. The Imo State native was dubbed the surprise act of the competition as a result of her superlative performances week after week. X2 had a chat with the petite singer at a recent event in Lagos.

What was the feeling like for you when you were announced winner?

When I saw the crowd I was like ‘is this real?’ I’ve been dreaming of a day like this.

When we were three left, I was like ‘God I hope I win this’. I also pictured myself in a situation of what if I don’t win? To God be the glory I won.

Were you encouraged to enter for the competition?

A friend of mine told me about Project Fame and brought the form to my house and I filled it in faith. I was like ‘I will just go there and do my best’. It wasn’t easy; we had to go through series of auditions after facing the judges, there were still yet another set of judges we did not see. It was just favour.

What do you think was your strength in the house?

It has always been my voice and I just used it the best I could.

Did you have any low moments in the house for you?

At the start when I was given songs that were not my kind, the low pitched songs, I was scared and thought I won’t go far.

So what songs shot you up?

I think it was just God. The one song that shot me up was during our reggae week, ‘Weeping and Wailing’ by Mighty Diamonds. God is my confidence I never do anything by my power before I get on stage I learn my song and pray to God to help me.

More here:  http://www.cp-africa.com/2010/10/08/project-fame-season-3-winner-chidinma-ekile-speaks-joy-winning/

Shebi I talk am!

From Pointblank
Militants crack, disown Henry Okah

THE October 1, bomb blast at Abuja, has cracked the insurgent community in the Niger Delta, Nigeria's main oil and gas region, with some unrepentant rebel groups loyal to Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, coming down heavily on Henry Okah, a factional leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND)

MEND came into being in 2006 to press for the release of Dokubo-Asari, who was arrested and detained in 2005 for alleged treasonable offences.

The Joint Revolutionary Council (JRC) an insurgent network which comprises of alliance units of the Movement for MEND, The Reformed Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force and the Martyrs Brigade, is currently hitting hard on Henry Okah.

In an on-line statement to our correspondent on Wednesday, Spokesperson of the JRC, Cynthia Whyte, said they have parted ways with the factional MEND leader.

''We wish to dissociate ourselves from the actions of Henry Okah who until recently was the lead arms supplier to a faction of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta.

''His faction of MEND was led by General Boyloaf (Victor Ebikabowei) who has since disbanded his unit and has joined forces with the renewed efforts in bringing peace, stability and development to the Niger Delta''.

Continuing, they said, ''Henry Okah is a monster that was created by frontline Ijaw leader Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari. During his incarceration in 2005-2007, Henry Okah was mandated and paid to service fighting units loyal to Mujahid Dokubo-Asari.

''He exploited Dokubo-Asari’s absence, cunningly hijacked the email address used by MEND to communicate with the world, sold arms to armed robbers and confiscated hundreds of millions of naira meant for supply of arms to combat groups in the Niger Delta.

''Since his release from prison by former President Yar’Adua and realizing that he had lost most of his leverage, Henry Okah has sought to work with former armed robbery gangs that he had supplied arms to in the past. These armed robbery groups were responsible for bank robberies and the theft of monies from oil companies in Port Harcourt and its environs.

''Henry Okah is not MEND and MEND is not Henry Okah. We condemn him in all fullness and await further directives on appropriate actions that will be taken on this hardened criminal who successfully infiltrated our ranks to perpetrate clandestinely heinous crimes. His end has come''.

Delete am say wetin happen?

Dis Okah man dey lie abeg. Na IBB send am!