Nigerian Celebrities & The Media On The Red Carpet By Yinka Ayinla

I lie on my couch watching the Red Carpet moment of the Screen Guild Awards (SAG) on E. The paparazzi that filled the atmosphere was out of this world. So many celebrities from different walks of life in attendance and moving round the carpet to talk to different media houses granting them interviews, showing their outfits and giving the cameras those drop-dead-smiles for their fans back home. While watching on, something struck my mind and I went into a trance-like mode replacing all the Hollywood celebs on screen with our own Nigerian celebrities on the Red Carpet and behold I was awakened with the shock of a lightening. In reality and in dreams, the difference is super clear like 7UP.

What am I saying, you’re wondering right? I’ve attended shows and in fact I’ve been in the biggest events in the country and I always gaze in awe about things I see on the Red Carpet from our celebrities. Only in this country will you see celebrities take their time to dress up for hours on end in their hotel room with all the special effects they can apply on their faces and bodies just to look glam on the carpet for the cameras but eventually coming out to move into the hall, then they start avoiding the cameras or their bouncers or PAs or whoever is with them shoving off media personalities who are trying to get them interviewed and perhaps give them the cool connectivity with their fans. Truth is a manager in his right frame of mind will never barricade his client from the media because a real manager knows the worth of the media. Well, gone are those days where managers are always behind the scene and put their clients in the fore. What we see now is a manager fighting positions with his/her client trying to hit the spotlight too.

It is even worse these days that some celebrities (lemme keep their names off) go in via the back door just to avoid the cameras and media guys, why? I don’t know. Then why did you spend so much time to bake your face and spend thousands on styling only to go in to the event via the back door. As a friend of mine said, “they do all that just to post those beautiful pictures on Instagram and Snapchat and also to show off to their fellow friends wey dey beef them for the industry, lol”.

Funny thing, when these celebs were still struggling to hit limelight, we all know how most of them crawl to different media houses seeking interview and feigning friendship with them all in the name of them promoting whatever they bring but as them big finish media guys aren’t relevant no more. Meet some celebs on the carpet and the next thing they’d tell you or the PA will say “sorry we can’t talk to you”, lol.

Going back to the SAG award, I found out many important A List celebs were actually waiting in line to talk to the media. Moving from one media to the other with no discrimination,showing off the gorgeous and beautiful dresses and answering questions, even the most outrageous questions. But here, it’s a different story.

Let’s use this medium to school our presenters and their producers a little. Red Carpet appearance is way more than you just coming to show off as well and asking the usual stereotyped questions of “What are you wearing, how long did it take you to look good and bla bla bla, abeg make una chill for my side abeg”. As a media personality/broadcaster, it is your duty to do proper research about the event that is why many events have a press release before their events. Also, take your time to study and research about our celebrities to know about them and what to ask them on the carpet. Truth be told, many celebs grant you interviews to talk about their projects and what they have for their fans and they feel disappointed with the level of mediocrity of some presenters on the carpet. What’s the essence of looking all glammed up as a presenter/broadcaster with airhead and having no ideas of the rhythm and flow of questions to ask?

On a final note, our celebs should take the pains of spending time on the carpet to talk to the media before going in for the event and that is why it is called a Red Carpet (a special place carved out for celebs to meet and greet with the media and fans) NO CELEB IS BIGGER THAN THE MEDIA and also the media guys should also do proper research before holding the mic and take a position on the carpet. ADI-OS.

Yinka Ayinla is a media personality. Entertainment writer. A brand/celeb PR expert. The convener of Basketball Meets Music."

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3 Mega Events Set To Happen In Lagos, Abuja & PortHarcourt This Weekend!!!

The Internet has changed the world and so is the way we do business and make payments now.

Money has evolved from Trade by barter to paper money, ATM cards and now digital money also known as Cryptocurrency.

Bitcoin, the first digital currency was valued at 10 cent (N15.50k) in 2009, and as of today it's worth over $900 (N450,000). Bitcoin opportunity is expensive and almost gone.

History is about to repeat itself, with an even bigger, better, safer and more secure cryptocurrency known as "OneCoin". As at 2015, it was valued at 0.50 euros and today it is €7.85. This is the best time to Invest for profit.

OneCoin is launching the first ever cryptocurrency, mega deals, E-commerce platform (like Amazon, Jumia, Alibaba) with over 1 million merchants selling goods and services and accepting OneCoin as a means of payment. This is known as "Deal Shaker" (www.dealshaker.com). Furthermore, OneCoin will go public in 2018. This has a massive potential to shoot the value up drastically.


ATTEND OUR BUSINESS MEETING

Learn the basics of crypto currency, finance and global trading
Learn how to get massive return on your digital investment
Learn how you can Earn up to €35,000 weekly

At 3 MEGA LOCATIONS

Port harcourt: Emerald Hotel, rumuola junction, aba road

Lagos: 113 Allen Avenue Ikeja, opposite old Alade market

Abuja: Agura Hotel, opposite defense H/Q Area 10 Garki


Date: Friday 3rd - Sunday 5th February, 2017

Time: 11am & 3pm daily (Sunday is 3pm only)

Registration fee: N3,000 (business materials inclusive)

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Ed Sheeran Unveils The 60 Tattoos On His Body & Says 30 MORE To Go

He may appear to be the ultimate 'middle class pop star' but beneath his hooded jumpers and knitwear Ed Sheeran is hiding more than 60 multi-coloured tattoos and the pop star has spent much of the past few years increasing the amount of ink on his body, including spending more than 40 hours in a tattooist's chair in the past 12 months. The 25-year-old, who has an image of a lion on his chest (1st photo), says he has 30 more to go. Hehehe and just this last friday, Pastor still said tattoo is a symbol of satan o 😀 and asked those with one or many to come out.

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Elton John’s Husband Finally Granted British Citizenship After 27years

After 27 years living in Britain, David Furnish revealed he was granted British citizenship on Tuesday.

Taking to Instagram, the 54-year-old Canadian husband of Elton John shared a sweet snap of himself in the Chelsea Old Town Hall with sons Zachary, six, and Elijah, four, as he said he felt 'very blessed'.
The trio were pictured from behind as they gazed at a picture of the Queen.

The Toronto native captioned the shot: 'A very emotional morning for me. This morning, I was sworn in as a British citizen.

'As an immigrant, I moved to the UK more than 27 years years ago. I was welcomed with open arms. This spirit of acceptance, tolerance and diversity has allowed me to achieve a life beyond my wildest dreams.  I am a very blessed man, and I am extremely proud to now carry both British and Canadian passports. @eltonjohn #ShareTheLove.'

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Photo: Nigerian Woman Who Gave Birth In London Hospital With The Bill Of £500k Says She Will Never Be Able To Pay

One of the largest hospitals in the country is chasing a bill of more than £500,000 from a Nigerian woman who gave birth to quadruplets.

The 43-year-old, named only as Priscilla, went into labour three months early shortly after landing at Heathrow airport in November.

She had intended to give birth to the babies in Chicago, in the US, where she has family – but was turned away by border officials upon arrival.

They claimed that although she had a visa, she did not have required documents from a hospital stating that she had the money to pay for the birth.

Priscilla, a healthcare worker, said she was returning to Nigeria via London when she started having contractions.

She was taken to the Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital in west London, part of Imperial College Hospital, where she delivered the four babies.

One sadly died shortly after birth while another, a girl named Deborah, passed away on Saturday. The other two, Elijah and Esther, are still being treated on the hospital’s neonatal intensive care ward.
Staff estimate that the total bill for the highly complex birth and the care of the babies is already more than £500,000.

The cost of treating one baby in neonatal intensive care is £20,000 a week.

Priscilla is currently staying at a hostel run by a charity and is unable to afford the bill.

Her husband is in Nigeria, and cannot come to Britain to help take care of her as he does not have enough money for a visa or the flight.

Priscilla underwent IVF treatment, which has a high risk of multiple births, as she was struggling to conceive naturally due to her age.

She was told by her doctor to fly to the US to have her babies, as Nigerian hospitals do not have the ‘facilities to cater for the children’.

Her case is revealed tonight in the BBC 2 documentary Hospital, which exposes the pressures of health tourism on the trust.

When first warned of the high treatment costs by overseas visitor manager Terry Facey, she says: ‘I didn’t plan to come here.

‘It’s only money. Money can’t buy life. The last bill I had was £331,000 but – even if I worked every day – I would never earn that much money. My kids are priceless.’

Mr Facey, who has worked at the trust for 12 years trying to collect bills for overseas patients, says:

‘Those invoices are going to be huge ... 20 grand a week for each baby [in intensive care].

Mr Facey says other patients frequently ‘disappear into the community’ before he has the chance to hand them an invoice.

These have included a Palestinian man who had an operation to remove kidney stones and then discharged himself early.

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Governor Supports Tuface For February Protest

The Governor openly declared his support for tuface and the organisers last night online.

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543 Leprosy Cases Registered In Ebonyi State

Ebonyi State government, yesterday, said a total of 543 leprosy cases had so far been registered in the state between 2015 and 2016 for treatment. The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Daniel Umezuruike, disclosed this in Abakaliki while briefing journalists on this year’s World Leprosy Day.

He noted that 2,021 ex-leprosy patients with various disabilities require social economic rehabilitation in the state and that the government was doing everything possible to rehabilitate them.

He said leprosy was treatable and curable but that some of the disabilities cannot easily be treated as they cause permanent damage to the peripheral nerves and skin.


“We have been doing a lot to rehabilitate those with permanent disabilities. Every year, we erect at least six buildings to rehabilitate these patients in their various homes.”

He disclosed that six more buildings will be built for the patients by the state government as captured by this year’s budget. He regretted that most of the patients have lost their jobs because of the stigma associated with the ailment and called for elimination of stigmatization against the patients.

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10 Die, 80 Houses Torched In Fresh Taraba Violence

No fewer than 10 people have been killed and several houses burnt in fresh violence that erupted, yesterday, in Taraba State, witnesses say. However, police said six people died in the clashes between the Fulani and Mummuye ethnic groups in Lau Local Government Area of the state.

Since last Friday, there have been pockets of violence and reprisal attacks in some communities in the area. Between Friday and Saturday, eight persons were reportedly killed during communal clashes between the Mummuye and the Fulani communities of Lushi, Sakuwa, Hore Ladde and Garin Dogo.

Locals say yesterday’s violence started around 2 a.m. when a village, named Bonja, and Mayo-Kunga belonging to Fulani ethnic group, were attacked by suspected Mummuye youths. The attack on the Mayo-Kunga village led to reprisals attacks on neighbouring communities.

The Police Public Relations Officer for Taraba State, David Misal, said only six people were killed in the conflict. According to him, “since the Friday attack between the Fulani herdsmen and Mummuye farmers in Lushi, there have been reprisal attacks. “For now six, persons were confirmed killed on both sides, while several others have been arrested.” Mr. Misal, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, also confirmed that 80 houses had been torched.

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Look At Man Memed As Donald Trump's Half-Brother, But He Is Not

Lol, he is not his half-brother but the people of the world have preferred to name the African man to be the President's  Kenyan Half-Brother, lol.

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Barack And Michelle Obama Enjoy Well-Earned Holiday With The Bransons In Caribbean

After eight long years as the leader of the free world, Barack Obama has been enjoying some well earned down time.

After handing over the Presidential reins to Donald Trump, Obama, 55, and his family flew to Palm Springs for a long weekend before heading to the British Virgin Islands.

Barack and wife Michelle were spotted enjoying lunch with Sir Richard Branson and his family on the island of Anegada. Billionaire businessman Branson who was outspoken in his views on Trump - owns nearby islands Necker and Moskito.

The Obamas arrived in the Virgin Islands on Branson's private jet last Monday. The former first family looked happy and relaxed as they soaked up the Caribbean sun. More photos below…

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Policeman Breaks Woman’s Jaw For Not Telling Him Girlfriend’s Whereabouts

A 30-year-old woman, Oluchukwu Ezemaduka, is currently battling with a damaged jaw at a private hospital, West Care Specialist Hospital in Akowonjo, Lagos, after she was allegedly battered by a riot policeman, Idiahgbe Iyobosa.

Iyobosa, who is attached to a bank in the FESTAC Town, was said to have repeatedly hit the woman in the jaw with his service boots until blood gushed out.

Oluchukwu is the friend and roommate of Iyobosa’s girlfriend, Maryjane Anyagwa. The friends live on Awoyemi Street, off Coker Road, Ejigbo.


Punch Metro learnt that Iyobosa had visited his girlfriend in Ejigbo on Saturday, January 21, at about 9pm, with a view to passing the night at her place, but met only Oluchukwu at home.

He was said to have got enraged and resorted to the assault as the victim told him that she didn’t know Anyagwa’s whereabouts.

Oluchukwu, who managed to speak to a Punch correspondent from  her sick bed, said the policeman ransacked the apartment, looking for his girlfriend.

“I was not in the room when he came. As I was about to enter the room, I felt that somebody was there; I got a torch from a neighbour and shone it in the room. That was when I knew it was him. He had scattered everywhere.

“He asked me where his girlfriend was, I didn’t answer him. He asked me the second time and I told him that I didn’t know her whereabouts. He kicked me several times with his boots, breaking my jaw. He brought out a dagger and chased me outside. It was people, who saved me.

“The pain is too much for me. The doctor said I would undergo surgeries this week.”

Her friend, Anyagwa, stated that her relationship with Iyobosa was marred with threats and harassment, saying she was no longer interested in the relationship.

She said, “I was not around that day. When I came back the next morning, my neighbours told me that my boyfriend came to beat up my friend because he was looking for me. He thought she deliberately refused to disclose where I was.

“He usually assault me too. Most times, he would not notify me that he would pass the night in my place. He would threaten to deal with me if I report him to the authorities or quit the relationship. I was afraid.

“We started dating each other about a year ago. I later knew that he is married with two kids. The wife had warned me to stay away from her husband.”

An eyewitness and neighbour, Henry Okafor, said Iyobosa also attacked him that day when he cautioned him.

“He just came from nowhere and started beating the lady. He also attacked me. I didn’t fight him because he was in uniform,” he added.

Oluchukwu’s father, Mike Ezemaduka, who is based in Abuja, said he was shocked on seeing the condition of his daughter at the hospital

He said, “It was a serious injury and she will undergo two surgeries, according to her doctor. The doctor said she needed to recuperate a little bit before he could carry out the surgeries. The lower jaw was broken. We were told that she would no longer be able to chew if she didn’t undergo the surgeries, which will cost about N700,000. The policeman’s relatives have promised to pay the bill.

“My daughter is not his girlfriend; she has nothing to do with him at all. Why should he beat someone, whose room he barged into?”

It was gathered that the case was reported at the Ejigbo Police Station and Iyobosa was arrested.

The acting Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, Olarinde Famous-Cole, in a text message, said, “The incident was reported at the division for discreet investigation.”

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Four Rape11-Year Old Girl In Ibadan

Four suspects have been arrested by the Oyo State Police Command for allegedly raping an 11-year-old secondary school pupil in the NNPC area of Ibadan.

It was learnt that the girl was raped on Saturday by the men while hawking detergent for her mother.

It was learnt that two men on a commercial motorcycle had approached the victim and told her that they wanted to buy three sachets of the product, which cost N50 each.

It was gathered that after the men offered her N500 and she said she did not have change. The men told her to come with them to a location where she would collect her money.


After rejecting the idea, she was said to have been held and dragged to an uncompleted building where two other men were waiting.

A source in the area said the minor was raped by the four men.

She said, “The girl was able to identify her attackers which led to their arrest.”

The source, however, added that there was an attempt to cover up the crime, as the mother of the victim was offered money to keep quiet.

“The mother had separated from her husband. They have three children together and the victim is one of them. When she threatened to report to the police, they threatened to beat her up and later offered her money to keep quiet about the crime. One of the rapists has connection with the police and also boasted that even if she reported them, they would not be arrested. They didn’t show remorse for their sin,” the source added.

The Public Relations Officer for the state command, Adekunle Ajisebutu, who confirmed the arrest, said investigation had begun and that the suspects would be charged to court if found guilty.

He said, “The case was reported by the mother of the victim. Because of the seriousness of the crime, the state Commissioner of Police, Samuel Adegbuyi, directed that the case should be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation  and Intelligence Department of the command for a thorough investigation.”

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Jealous Lagos Trader Slits Boyfriend’s Throat While Sleeping

The 13-year relationship between a drink seller in the Abukuru, Ajegunle area of Lagos State and her lover, 38-year-old Kingsley Pereowei, has come to a gruesome end.

The trader, identified simply as Mary, reportedly slit Kingsley’s throat while he was sleeping in the early hours of Friday, left him in a pool of blood and went into hiding.

Punch Metro gathered that Kingsley, who screamed for help, died before residents could rescue him.

Although the immediate cause of the attack had yet to be ascertained, some residents said the couple’s relationship had been marred with incessant quarrels.


Mary was also said to have recently accused the victim of dating another woman in the neighbourhood.

The beer parlour, where Mary sold drinks and also lived with her lover, was under lock and key when a Punch correspondent visited the community on Tuesday.

Kingsley’s elder sister, Linda Pereowei, who resides on Orodu Lane, Ajegunle, was said to have gone to a morgue, where her brother’s corpse was deposited.

Linda later spoke with Punch Metro on the telephone, saying she was asleep around 3am on the day when one of the Kingsley’s neighbours came to inform her about the incident.

She said, “By the time I got there, my brother was dead. This is the 13th year that they have been dating each other. She cast a spell on my brother so that he would not be able to quit the relationship. No single child between them and they were not married.

“Sometime last year, she stabbed him in the head and eye. It took months before the wounds healed. She has achieved her aim. We are from Bayelsa State. Our father is late, but we still have an ageing mother. She has not been informed about his death. I want the police to ensure that she joins my brother in heaven. That is all I want.”

A resident, who gave his name as Alade, said the police from the Ajeromi division visited the scene and later arrested Mary.

Alade described Kingsley as friendly and peaceful, adding that the suspect usually harassed him because she knew he would not fight back.

“His death is painful to all of us. She must be brought to justice,” Alade said.

One of the deceased’s friends, Gloria Agbubo, wrote on her Facebook page in pidgin English that Mary was jealous that Kingsley was going after another lady in the community.
She said, “Kingsley was killed by his lover. The man was dating another girl.”

A shoe maker opposite the beer parlour, said Mary and Kingsley were in good terms when he left shop on Thursday.

“It was on Friday morning that a friend called and told me that Mary had killed him. I was surprised,” he added.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, said a postmortem would be carried out on the corpse of the victim.

“The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba, for further investigation,” she added.

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