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Do u know u can help Mizz Crown achieve her dreams! Make her earn some cash! Make her have a year model deal by voting her as d next Face of Naija Youths (Photo competition) for november. Just click http://9jatalktalk.com/?p=345 and click d fb like button... Tanx

Uruguay coach Fabian Coito admitted the Golden Eaglets were simply too good for his side after their 2-0 defeat in the quarter-finals of the Fifa Under-17 World Cup here on Saturday.

Taiwo Awoniyi scored one goal in either half from two Kelechi Iheanacho assists as an unusually docile Uruguay struggled to get the ball forward under a barrage of quick attacks from the Nigerians.

Coito said: “Nigeria deserved this victory and they move to the next stage of this competition with a good chance. They have a strong team and players with very good skills for this age group.

“The most dangerous side of their game is their rapid movement. We didn’t expect the goals and after the first, suddenly came a second. We tried all game but couldn’t find the goal.

“The players are upset as we didn’t expect to lose and we were playing to win, but we are going to learn from this and recover.

“We wanted to go as far as possible in this competition not just the quarter-finals, but now we start preparation with these players for the next level of development, which is the U20 national team.”. http://m.completesportsnigeria.com/details.php?news_id=14391

OASOS okebola ibadan, 2004

Partial eclipse in ib

Pls whr is nigeria president?

Former Portsmouth of England striker John Utaka has tried his hand at something new – acting.

Utaka has made his big screen debut in the film Battered, which has premiered at London’s Odeon Greenwich cinema.

The Nigerian player portrays a police officer who investigates a case of domestic abuse.

The 31-year-old took on the role as a favour to a friend, Fatima Jabbe, who produced the film.

Ms Jabbe, who also plays the lead female role, said Utaka was happy to help raise awareness of domestic violence by starring in the film.

Fatima said: ‘I have known him a long time and he’s been a very good friend of mine. When he heard about the project he was interested and said: “Is there anything I can do to help?”

And she said she wanted people to judge Utaka’s acting skills for themselves.

‘He looked the part and dressed the part,’ she added.

‘I’ll let people go and decide what they think.’

The film tells the story of a woman who suffers physical, mental and emotional abuse at the hands of her husband.

Fatima said domestic violence was a universal and often-ignored problem.

‘It’s something that happens all over the world but everyone is shy to talk about it.

‘I thought that a good way of getting people to talk about it would be to put it in the format of a film.’

Battered has its roots in Nollywood, the Nigerian answer to Hollywood, but Fatima said the film’s cast and crew hailed from many different African countries.

She said Utaka used his real name in the role in the hope the footballer’s popularity would give the production a boost.

‘We thought it would have more effect on people instead of giving him a character name,’ she said.

Battered was filmed in London last winter, and a general cinema release will follow.

The Blues paid £7m for Utaka in 2007 and he spent four years at the club, appearing 90 times and scoring 10 goals.

After leaving in 2011 he went to Montpellier and now plays for Turkish club Sivasspor.

Fatima said she had also helped the football star launch the John Utaka Foundation, which is based in London and supports disabled children in Africa.
http://m.?u=http%3A%2F%2Fcompletesportsnigeria.mobi%2FreadNewsItem1.php%3Fnid%3D5323&h=7AQHPu54D&enc=AZN9I8TRNS-VX11qlu3kT7SLbXZmzwzxZ_2dB7VGtm6c-AfL50YUdmHH7BaB6_tga9YH0RNo-tXZOIr-RTrzFh9SqQjXeq0apr_neAz6v1bSUutbMKcx1vGYIY_hZHSoXMWeeW1cAZT0ib2ifz7OORIiYmQqJsaKn7RLuUg6BCBcfoOsN-qwMtL_LTCORUmfSu6jUdxTvWrqDBkat2IIxBiG75THiV-oSiTVfV1yROqpFOFglZWCl4egjetM-Hr7LGYRwlfRkhsmRcufq9dIYGgx7hp5ET6FX8XzmKMg6G1ELFHlqrSs97RrBKGy8be6CXOfvTiOYfs46DLDH9KzoziK6M9mgn4YFbIOSvgeGQUEd79orYWhBUfLJwWyn1hAxEnpnudIGZTIVqrZwcUtP0yuYpJlmpTpunKJBD1-W1ylUQ&s=1

See

Make tecno add tecno jaree, iPhone 2 iphone joorrh, b4 dem go spoil person battery come turn BBM 2 2go.. Mtscheeew!!!

In a recent interview with a national newspaper, movie producer and director, Kunle Afolayan, revealed why he rarely features his brothers - Gabriel and Aremu - in his movies.
"It would be a wrong casting if I feature my brothers in a movie because I want them to be a part of the production. I know some families in the industry that does that and I have explained it to them before. It is absolutely wrong casting.
I can’t imagine me playing the role of a policeman in a movie, while Gabriel plays the criminal. It is very wrong. The only way you can justify such casting is if he plays my brother. Even if we are both playing roles that are not linked in a movie, professionally, it is wrong. The Wayans brothers for instance, play the role of brothers in all their movies. Dharmendra and his children in any Indian movie would play father and children and the same goes for Amitabh Bachchan and his children. It is only in this country that a whole family plays diverse roles in one movie.
Professionally, it is wrong and I will never do it. If I’m not in a film and I think any of my brothers would fit into the movie, they will do it. Gabriel understands because I have explained to him several times." he explained.
The "October 1" movie producer  when asked "You recently posted on Facebook that you may not be long, what prompted that?" also said... "I didn’t imply that, it was the media that turned it around. I was just talking out loud. I just woke up and I felt overwhelmed, like I was doing too much and I felt it wasn’t healthy. And at the end of the statement, I said ‘what do you think?’ It was more or as if I was seeking advice. I didn’t predict anything like people said. When it’s time for me to die, I will die, nobody can predict anybody’s death. That morning I just woke up and I felt I had pushed the body too much. I just came back from a shoot and the next thing, I was off to another one. My social life is dead and all I do often now is work and I don’t think that is healthy. So it was just a thought, I didn’t predict my own death. http://www.pakurumo.com/2013/10/revealed-nollywood-ace-directoractor.html?m=1

Ex-Minister of State for Works, Chief Chris Ogiemwonyi, is the former husband to embattled Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah.  When they went their separate ways a couple of years ago, having Ogiemwonyi removed as part of her surname became an issue between them. To date, her names could still be gleaned in some publications as Stella Oduah-Ogiemwonyi.

When Saturday PUNCH got across to the former junior minister on the telephone on Wednesday in Benin, he said he had not seen his former wife since 2011. He also said he had nothing new to add to what is already in the public domain about the car scandal.

He however did not offer any opinion regarding the action of NCAA and his former wife’s likely role in the country’s show of profligacy, saying both had not seen since she became minister.

The former minister for state said Nigerians know of what has been happening and that he had nothing to say or add. He however empathised with her.

Said Ogiemwonyi, “What concerns me about her? We have been separated and since she became minister, we have not seen. You know the time when the issue of dropping my name came up. We have not seen since then. We all read comments in the papers, everybody is listening and even the National Assembly, on the blogs; they are all full. But all I can tell you is that I last saw Stella in May 2011; that was when I saw her last. Since she became minister, I haven’t seen her. All I can say is that I wish her well, but there is nothing more I can say.”

Asked whether he was not bothered about the controversy generated by the minister’s predicament, he said that was the least of his problems.

Both Ogiemwonyi and Oduah were said to and become friends when they were working for the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation. While the former husband was a young engineer, Oduah was with the account department of the oil corporation. Their friendship blossomed and they later became husband and wife.

A blue-blood, Stella Oduah is the daughter of Igwe D. O. Oduah, Akili Ozizo of Ogbaru in Anambra State. She was born on January 5, 1962. After her studies at St. Paul’s College, Lawrence Ville, Virginia in the United States in 1983, Oduah joined the Nigeria National Petroleum Company.

Speaking in an interview three years ago, Oduah explained why she joined the government-owned corporation.

She said, “I wanted to be in oil and gas, and I felt my first leg should be in a national company and NNPC happened to be the in-thing at that time. It was either NNPC or banking and I just didn’t go into banking. I wanted oil and gas and so I was lucky I passed the interview at NNPC and I went in.”

 In 1992, she floated Sea Petroleum and Gas with a reported N200,000 bank facility. Her reason: “I don’t think I left NNPC to set up SPG.

“I left NNPC because I wanted to do something more challenging. I left NNPC because I wasn’t getting enough job satisfaction. That’s why I left.”

A beautiful woman with a fearless gut that could make so many men question their masculinity,  Oduah’s SPG, with a dodgy track record, has become an octopus in the oil and gas. Source punchng.com

Buhari,soludo,sen rasheed ladoja,ribadu and myself

Amodsun: Nawao 4 you o...dem no dey upload pix 4 una village...abi hw u want mk we take rate dem

na network jawe

Wow Zion is all grown up!! He looks so much like 2face idibia.He is one of Sunmbo Ajaba's sons for music king 2face Idibia, 
He is believed to be the first Son of 2face!! 
Boluwatife on the other hand is also the first son of his Father Wizkid and His mum Shola Ogudugu
The swag the young boys of Nowadays is on the next Level!!

The Senate of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, has announced the withdrawal of the Bachelor Degrees Certificates of her three graduates.

DailyPost recalls that the three graduates were earlier mobilized for National Youths Service. Corps, NYSC, 2012 Batch B, but lacked academic competence and intelligence-level expected of a genuine Nigeria graduate.

The university disclosed this in a public notice published on Daily Sun, Tuesday 22nd of October, 2012 titled “Certificate Withdrawal”, signed by the registrar, Barr. Chris C. Igbokwe.

The affected students include; “Nwankwo, Elias Chukwuebuka, code number NG/11B/1660, B.Sc Electrical/Electronics with call-up No. NYSC/EST/2011/177093.

“Mba, Linda Alumnae, code number LA/11B/5245, B.Sc Electrical/Electronics, call-up No. NYSC/EST/2011/178882 with matric No. ESUT/2005/96998.


“Okochi Adaeze Kate, code number AD/12B/0389, B.Sc geography and Meteorology with call-up No. NYSC/ESUT/2012/148292, matric No. ESUT/2006/10400″.

The notice added that the “general public is hereby informed that following the reports of the investigation panels set up by the National Universities Commission, NUC, and the university on the matter, the ESUT Senate at its 239th regular meeting held on Wednesday June 5, 2013, received and considered the reports of the investigation panels and upheld that the certificates issued to the above named persons be withdrawn and have therefore been withdrawn”.

The ESUT further warned that anybody or institution dealing with them on degree certificates purported to have been issued by ESUT does so at his or her own risk.

It could be re-called that the three graduates, when put to test, could not write common sentences. Source http:///OZsgIUvye4

Send it to my mail shegsmolopa4real@yahoo.com

Pls Ȋ̝̊̅ also need activation code on 22D954F5

Dear friends, The picture which appears below is Mr. Tolu Ayoola an employee of the Government of Ekiti State. He was abducted together with his official vehicle (a 2012 model Toyota Hilux belonging to the Bureau of Special Projects with registration number: EK 618 A01) on charity street in the Oko-Oba area of Agege, Lagos on sunday 13th October 2013. He was to spend the salah break with his family before this unfortunate incident and he has since not been seen or heard from. Please if you have any leads that can help us find him kindly contact Pst. Jide: 08034317174 or Akintunde: 08037430772 Thank you

Unknown gunmen at the early hours of Friday abducted the father of Cross River state Deputy Governor, Chief Essien Cobham, from his home in Creek Town, Odukpani Local Government Area of the state.

Another uncle of the Deputy Governor was also whisked away by the unknown gunmen.

DailyPost gathered that the kidnappers were said to have entered and left the town through the Calabar waterways on speedboats at about 2am. While in the town, they operated for over an hour.

A source who does not want his name mentioned said the gunmen came in company of Alsatian dogs from the Bakassi axis of the waterways with two flying boats.


He said, “They broke the wall of the Deputy Governor’s father’s house to gain access to the building. They also vandalised the building where the younger brother of the Director General of SSS was staying. The house is believed to be a family compound. But they faced stiff resistance from security agents.”

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Hogan Bassey, confirmed the incident but refused to give details due to security implications.

He said, “I am aware of the kidnap but for security reasons, we cannot tell you what we are doing to rescue him. The state Commissioner of Police and other top officers have gone to Creek Town to see the extent of damage. In due course, we will give you details.”. http:///94ijmBu2tI"

ASUU says the ongoing strike is to save the university system from collapse. Do want it to calloff the strike and allow the rot to persist or continue the struggle for a better university system?

Boy,9, becomes Nigeria’s youngest Microsoft certified professional
October 11, 2013 - NEWS - Tagged: Boy 9, Nigeria’s youngest Microsoft certified professional - no comments

A primary six pupil of Role Model School, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos, has emerged one of the youngest pupils to obtain the Microsoft Certified Professional certificate, SAMUEL AWOYINFA reports

A nine-year-old pupil of Role Model School, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos, Jomiloju Tunde-Oladipo, has emerged the youngest Nigerian Microsoft certified professional.

He came tops among 21 pupils who sat for the professional examination in Lagos.

He is now a Microsoft office specialist in office word 2010.

Jomiloju scored 769 out of 1,000 in the examination held in August.

In his examination score report, the slim-built boy performed well in Sharing and Maintaining Documents, Formatting Content, Applying Page Layout, and Reusable Content, among other subjects.

By the feat, Jomiloju has joined the league of young Microsoft certified professionals, including Nigeria’s 10-year-old Anjolaoluwa Seyi-Ojo;  an eight-year-old Indian, Lavishnashree, and two Pakistanis, named Arfa and Thobani.

Microsoft Certified Professional is a certification programme provided by Microsoft Corporation. The certification is tailored towards building skills on Microsoft business solutions, focusing on client-end operating systems such as windows XP, Vista, Windows7 among others.

Jomiloju, whose certificate was signed by the Chief Executive Officer, Microsoft Corporation, Steven Ballmer, says he did not achieve this feat easily, but through persistence and hard work.

He says, “It was not all that easy, because I had attempted the examination last year, I did not make it then. But I remained focused and I put in a lot of hard work.

“At home and in the school, I am always on the computer. After school hours, if am not doing anything, I will go to my Information Communication Technology teacher, to learn more.”

Jomiloju sat for the examination when he was in primary Five.

Relating his experience, Jomiloju says, “In all, I answered 20 questions, after answering a question, the computer takes you to another one. And at times, there will be an instruction to skip the next question. But the programme still directs one to come back to those questions one had earlier skipped.”

But was he really scared having failed once to meet the cut off mark? He stresses that he was really afraid due to his earlier experience but he was optimistic of having success, because according to him, he has prepared well. Source http:///qUZnNL80YA

I’d love to marry Genevieve –D’banj
October 11, 2013 - ENTERTAINMENT - Tagged: D'banj, I’d love to marry Genevieve - no comments

Dapo Oyebanji, aka D’banj, speaks with JAYNE AUGOYE about his career and relationship with the popular Nollywood actress

Singer, Dapo Oyebanji, aka D’banj, finally opened up on his love life in a rare meeting with journalists in Lagos on Wednesday.

The self-styled Kokomaster was clearly in his elements as he talked at length, amid occasional bouts of laughter, about his career and other issues that were important to him. One of the subjects was about his rumoured relationship with Nollywood actress, Genevieve Nnaji.

Judging by the manner in which the actress’ name kept popping off his lips, it was obvious that D’banj had a very soft spot for her.

Aware that the grapevine had bristled with the rumour that he was romantically involved with Genevieve, ever since she appeared in the 2010 video of his hit song, ‘Fall in Love’, the singer said the actress had played a role in his success.

“Apart from the fact that she is my friend, she has been a part of my success. There is no way you are going to tell my story that Genevieve’s name will not come up because she featured in my biggest song of all time, Fall in Love. So if E True Story comes to Nigeria to interview me, she will definitely be called upon to tell my story,” he said.

As if to confirm that there was more to his relationship with the actress than he had always admitted, D’banj added, “I would love to have Genevieve as my wife.  We never can tell what God plans for us in the future. I have studied her and I realised that anyone that has her as his woman has found himself a treasure. Just like the Bible says, any man who finds a wife, finds a good thing.”

Perhaps the fans and admirers of the ‘love birds’ will have to brace themselves for a symbolic wedding of two of the most celebrated artistes on this side of the globe in the nearest future.

Meanwhile, D’banj plans to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his music career anytime in 2014. As expected, the singer aims to roll out the proverbial drums to celebrate in style what he describes as the overwhelming success of his foray into the Nigerian music scene.

The one-time harmonica wielding artiste has, indeed, made tremendous progress in his career since his monster hit, ‘Tongolo’ was released in 2004.

The artiste, who wormed his way into the highly competitive international music market after signing on to Kanye West’s G.O.O.D Music in 2011, no doubt, has finally found his bearing as an entertainer since he parted ways with Mo’Hits. Source. http:///O3elhV54of

just a few days after Iyanya was hacked on Twitter and Facebook, hackers have turned their attention to ghana actress Yvonne Nelson...and you can see some crazy stuff they are tweeting....Lol

A fierce gunfight launched  against the fundamentalist Islamist group, Boko Haram, by Camerounian soldiers has led to  the killing   of no fewer than 180 insurgents and two gendarmes  around a Nigerian  border with Cameroun.

It was gathered that during the battle which took place on Tuesday evening, many of  the wounded insurgents   were also arrested.

About 200 rifles, 70 machine guns and heavy military hardware were said to have been  recovered from the insurgents by the soldiers.

A reliable military source confirmed the development  to our correspondent shortly after the the Nigerian Army in Kano State disclosed that it  had foiled a plot to bomb Kano during the forthcoming  Sallah festival  by uncovering  a bomb factory in Gezawa Local Government Area.

It was gathered that the Camerounian authorities directed  the soldiers to launch the  attack against the Nigerian   gunmen, who had earlier on Tuesday,  ambushed and killed two gendarmes on patrol in  the border community.

Our source said the  soldiers, while  pursuing   the insurgents, sent a signal to   their Nigerian counterparts,   to be on the alert to avoid  the escape of the fleeing insurgents.

 According to the source, the  number of those killed,  the arrests and  the  recovered arms   indicated that many  Boko Haram  members, who were forced out of Nigeria through military operations, had already “settled comfortably”  in Cameroun.

He said, “The Camerounian troops have been involved in a serious confrontation with the insurgents. They have killed over 180 of them.

“Almost 200 rifles and 70 machine guns were recovered from them by Camerounian  soldiers.

 “What led to this operation was that the Insurgents killed two  gendarmes on patrol around the border with Nigeria on Tuesday. I think this angered them to order a comprehensive raid of the hideouts of the insurgents.

 “You can see from the casualty figure and the level of seizures that they were already comfortable in that part of Cameroun until this incident.

 “Ironically, the Camerounians who had  been reluctant in spite of complaints by Nigeria at the diplomatic level are the ones now  reaching out to us to ensure that the fleeing insurgents are not allowed to escape. So, I can tell you that the heat is on them.”

 It was also gathered that  Nigerien soldiers  in  the Multinational Joint Task Force  killed an unspecified number of  Boko Haram members on  some island communities  near Lake Chad on Sunday.

Investigations   revealed that the Nigerien component of the MNJTF  went after  the insurgents on learning of the killing of one of them.

Our  source said  the intensified military action against the insurgents had made the nation’s northern border rather too  hot for them.

 When our correspondent contacted the Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen Chris Olukolade, he said,  “Our neighbouring countries, either through the instrumentality of the Multi National Joint Task Force or through their security instruments,  are involved in operations to complement what we are doing against terrorism.

“I am aware that the MNJTF and  Nigerian security agencies   are combing everywhere for any strange movement in our  territory,”  Olukolade said.

Also in Abuja on Wednesday,  the Commander ‘3’  Brigade of the Nigerian Army,  Brig. Gen Illiyasu Abba, said that  operatives raided a house in  Gunduwawa,  Gezawa LGA and discovered a bomb factory.

 He  told journalists at a press briefing in Kano  that  bomb making items recovered from the factory were meant to carry out attacks in Kano during the  Sallah and other festivals this year.

 A young man suspected to be a child of the owner of the   house  rented out   to the suspected terrorists was shot dead.

Abba  said, “At about 2 am on October  8, a combined team of the JTF troops and Department of State Services raided two Boko Haram terrorists’ hideouts at Gunduwawa village in the Gezawa Local Government Area.

 “The raid, which was conducted following a lead on intelligence reports, made no arrests as the terrorists fled the village on the approach of the JTF troops and DSS personnel.

 “The weapons  and other dangerous materials were meant to wreak havoc on Kano during the Eid-el-Kabir and other festivities before the end of the year.’’

 He listed Improvised Explosive Devices, ‘two AK 58 with 193 rounds of 5.56 mm ammunition, one AK 47  magazine with 107 rounds of 5.56 millimeter ammunition, bows and arrows as some of the recovered items.

Three primed cylinders of IEDs, one primed explosive suicide back pack, 18 empty IED cylinders, 24 detonators,   a small bag of fertiliser,  IED timers  cortex wires, three remote control devices, five Motorola hand held radios, four communicators, six alarm clocks, two cartons of  nine -volt batteries, a scale, one external hard drive and one heavy duty charger/battery were also recovered from the house. Source. http://www.punchng.com/news/180-bharam-insurgents-killed-by-camerounian-soldiers-military/

http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.punchng.com/news/ASUU-doctors-strike-ll-end-soon-says-jonathan/&sa=U&ei=5JpVUoLcM5KZ0QWKoYHoCA&ved=0CAsQFjAA&usg=AFQjCNF9gi5lDymSrNncznhbB4hvAlux0Q. Source

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday said that because of the importance his administration attached to the medical and educational sectors, he was determined to do all within his powers to resolve all issues that currently lead to labour disputes and strikes in both sectors.
 
Resident doctors and members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities are currently on strike.
Jonathan promised to resolve the labour crises while granting audience to a delegation of the Nigeria Medical Association led by its National President, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
 
His promise was contained in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, at the end of the closed-door session.
 
“I believe that we must manage both (education and medical) sectors in such a way that nobody engaged in them will think of going on strike again. We will continue to proactively evolve measures that will help us to permanently overcome the problems that lead to strikes by health and education professionals,” the President was quoted as saying at the meeting attended by the Minister of Labour, Emeka Wogu, Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu and other top government officials.
 
Jonathan reportedly assured the delegation that his administration would take necessary actions to ensure that the right conditions were created for Nigerian medical professionals to stay at home and avail Nigerians of their skills and expertise instead of migrating to other countries.
 
He said his government was determined to correct a situation where about 25,000 Nigerian medical consultants were currently practising in the United States alone as confirmed to him by President Barack Obama.
 
He described as an anomaly a situation where this huge number of Nigerian medical experts were abroad and yet the nation could not treat its sick people in its own hospitals
 
He said, “There is clearly a missing link somewhere and we will do everything possible to fix it. We will continue to work with professional bodies and all stakeholders to come up with more policies and actions that will help us overcome current challenges in our medical sector.
 
“We will work with the National Assembly to ensure the quick passage of the National Health Bill. We will take prompt action to reconstitute the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria. We will also consider recommendations for the establishment of the Office of the Surgeon-General of the Federation.
 
“I believe that we must always do what is best for our country. We will review all the other issues you have raised and act accordingly. When things are done properly, issues of welfare and remuneration in the health sector will disappear.”
 
The President also promised that the Federal Government would explore the option of creating a special intervention fund that would facilitate the rapid establishment of more centres of medical excellence across the country.
 
Source: PunchNG http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.punchng.com/news/ASUU-doctors-strike-ll-end-soon-says-jonathan/&sa=U&ei=5JpVUoLcM5KZ0QWKoYHoCA&ved=0CAsQFjAA&usg=AFQjCNF9gi5lDymSrNncznhbB4hvAlux0Q

Olatunji Okunsanya, the son of MIC boss, Tunji, who died along with his father, in plane crash on Thursday tells KEMI LAWAL, why he chose funeral business

Can you tell us about yourself?

My name is Olatunji Okunsanya and I work for MIC.  I also run LPS, a funeral consultancy service provider. It is a personal role I have decided to take up and a summary of being an ambassador for the dead.  I have a father and a mother who are hardworking. I am the second child of the family and I have an elder sister who is a celebrated makeup artist.

What does it mean to be an ambassador for the dead?

In every institution that we have , everything is properly taken care of but nobody talks about the dead and they  have issues ranging from the laws governing them, burial spaces  and so much more. What we do is we speak with people and we have been able to build a relationship with the federal and state governments plus private institutions to take good care of the dead. A dead person has a right to be visited by its family 50 years after if the burial space is intact. A dead person has a right to a decent burial. So, we liaise and give practical solutions.

You read banking and finance, what are you doing with funeral services?

The fact remains that I was born into this business. My grandfather started MIC in 1946 and my father at some point created something out of it. He was able to take the business to greater heights. Therefore, it has been a thorough foundation for me. It is just what I have done from primary school through secondary school and then to the university.  When I was much younger, my friends used to say I used to open the newspapers from the back to read about obituaries.

So even at a very young age, you were not scared of caskets?

I cannot be scared because this is what I have seen all my life. I was literally born in the midst of caskets and my nuclear family has not done anything apart from caskets. What does not talk does not have control over you.

Why did you not study to be a mortician instead of getting a finance degree?

I have a diploma in psychology, a degree in banking and finance and I have so many international affiliations with funeral consultancy services. That background was necessary to have a vast idea of what is going on and not just you being limited. I did that to learn a little more outside the jurisdiction of what I do.

In the process of doing your job, do you betray emotions?

Yes. Primarily the funeral director is a human being. The bible talks about the fact that it is good to go to where they mourn. When you go to places like that, you are reminded about the fact that life ends one day. It helps you to move closer to God. For the funeral director, everyday of his life is about people mourning and that is tougher. You get emotional but you do not betray emotions.

Are there times you feel like opting out of the business?

At no point in time can I opt out. It is all about a personal advancement and revolutionising the industry. My job is not a funny or strange one because someone has to do the job.

Have you had any queer experience in the course of doing your job?

First, I am a Christian. I have my faith in God and it is unshaken. He has given us power to tread paths that people fear. So, such superstitions do not come to play in my life. My faith tells me that what cannot talk has no control over me so if someone dies and you wrap up the person, I did not kill the person. I was only contracted to give the person a befitting burial so there is nothing to fear.

Do you get funny reactions when you tell people what you do?

I offered to meet up with you(the reporter) somewhere else because I was worried you might not be comfortable talking to me in the midst of caskets. I hear all sorts: ‘If you were the only man left, you will not marry my daughter.’ Some do not even want to give you a handshake because they believe you have ulterior motives. If they think deeply, they would realise that we actually run an institution that should be celebrated. Death is the only constant thing. The only constant thing they would put after everybody’s name learned or not is RIP. Therefore, if someone has taken the bold step to take care of the only constant thing in life, we should be given some credit.

When marriage comes eventually, I do not think my prospective in-laws should worry about what I do, what they should worry about is if I can take care of their daughter. How I make my money should not be an issue.

Did your father insist you toe this line?

At no point did he insist and until tomorrow, he does not.  That will also help me with my children because I will give them the best of everything and they will have the opportunity to decide what they want to be in life. It is not compulsory they take after me or their grandfather or great grandfather.

 Are there any highpoints in this profession?

Yes, there are because you would realise that  a lot of people look forward to meeting you. I have had opportunities of meeting people because I have provided this essential services for them. We do not have to knock their doors to get their audience.

You are wearing black now; does it have anything to do with your job?

Not exactly. Maybe it is because I am used to it or we deal with many people that mourn. If I wear a yellow shirt or tie to where people are mourning, I will look out of place. I am not always in black; I wear white, grey and other colours. I feel very comfortable in my native attire and I wear loads of them.

How do you relax when you are not working?

Because I have a lot doing as an ambassador of the dead, I do not have time to relax. I am always in the middle of a new challenge.

Are you under pressure to outdo your father?

You cannot outdo a man that is still on his feet, energetic, fit, a pacesetter and enjoys what he does. The pressure instead is to be a success story. He has been able to transform an industry from something to everything. I cannot even step into my father’s shoes because they are too wide. When your hobby is your work, nobody can come close to you.

I have been to morgues and there are no escorts or sirens there, there is no posing in the morgue, there are no celebrities there. You put people under six feet and you realise that the cars and the houses do not fit in. I have come to understand that when people die, nobody has jumped into the vault and said bury me along. So, it makes me see things differently. At the end of the day, when they say everything is vanity, I am in a better position to talk about it because I have seen it all. http://www.punchng.com/news/mic-okusanya-sons-last-interview-death-is-the-only-constant-thing-olatunji/