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Estilo Da Vida, a ground-breaking Nigerian lifestyle, tourism and hospitality consultancy firm announces the Afrobeats Hall of Fame (ABHF) Awards and Induction Ceremony — the first of its kind in Africa, created to pay homage and honour African achievements in music, showcases the African pride of the entertainment industry to celebrate the historic and cultural significance of African music. Honouring the artistry and the contributions made by those who have played major roles in the dissemination and creation of the art of African music, part of its objectives include inspiring and engaging African people through the power of African music, building a serious level of credibility, respect and acceptance across Africa and the world to celebrate the historic and cultural significance of African music. Devoted to putting African entertainment legends on a pedestal with the help of leading figures in the industry, Chairman of ABHF's Blue Ribbon panel, Kenny Ogungbe, during the Media

Many Nigerians today feel overworked, pressured, and squeezed to the point of anxiety, depression, and disease. And it does not seem to get any better. However, as the saying goes... 'All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.' There is a leader who sees relaxation as an effective way of cushioning the negative effects of hard work. That man is Governor Ifeanyi Ugwanyi, a PDP member and leader in the South East - the governor of Enugu state. Paradoxically, the best way to get more work done may be to spend more time doing less. Research shows that strategic renewal — including daytime workouts, short afternoon naps, longer sleep hours, more time away from the office m, more frequent vacations — boosts productivity, job performance and, of course, health.  It is based on this premise that the all round governor of Enugu State, Gburugburu is trying to bring back old Enugu parks which he has demonstrated by branding ENUGU UNITY PARK to an international standard and has also start

  Former Barcelona talisman and Paris Saint-Germain superstar, Lionel Messi has been awarded the 2021 Ballon d’Or. At a star-studded ceremony in Paris on Monday evening, the 34-year-old Argentine forward was crowned the world’s best player for the seventh time. It is a record seventh occasion overall after seeing off strong competition from the likes of Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski, Real Madrid’s Benzema and Chelsea’s Jorginho. Buzz had been growing for weeks that the Argentine was a cert for soccer’s highest individual accolade. The brainchild of France Football magazine journalist Gabriel Hanot, the Ballon d’Or is widely seen as the most prestigious award in the footballing calendar. Stanley Matthews of Blackpool and England was the inaugural winner while Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United and Real Madrid have dominated the 21st century, winning 12 times between them.  

  Operatives of the Lagos Command of the EFCC have arrested 60 suspected internet fraudsters during an awards ceremony at the Conference Hotel in Abeokuta, Ogun State. The event tagged “Peer Youths Awards”, investigation revealed, was organized to reward high-level internet fraudsters. Items recovered from the suspects at the point of arrest include exotic cars, electronic devices, laptop computers and mobile phones. The suspects will soon be charged to court.

Intrigues and conspiracies are building up to unravel among the senatorial districts and governorship aspirants in Enugu State as the political parties fine-tune strategies to either select or hold primaries for their flag bearers in the 2023 gubernatorial election.  The group, known as Nkanu West for Good Governance (NWGG) under the umbrella of the People Democratic Party Youth Wing in Enugu State made the declaration this weekend after a brief stakeholders and leaders meeting and consultation in the local Government.  On the forthcoming governorship election in the state by 2023, the national coordinator of the group Mr. Anthony Ibe said, “While reiterating that the PDP must continue its Zoning formula for the Governorship elections, we wish to commend all the Gubernatorial Aspirants of our party in Enugu State, for their matured politicking, we also want to remind the state and national governing body of the zoning formula in the state to mitigate marginalization of any group.” He f

  BBNaija star, Khafi has opened up about her feelings during and after pregnancy. Khafi, who married fellow housemate, Gedoni,  after they met on the show, revealed that she and her husband were apart for most of the pregnancy and also during delivery. Gedoni had issues getting a visa to the UK, whereas, Khafi, who grew up in London, didn't have such problem. She said that she resented having to do pregnancy alone and at some point, she feared it was the beginning of the end for them. She added that for the first week or more after she gave birth on her own, she felt resentful towards her husband. She said she would see him going out to drink with friends in Nigeria while her body had just gone through the ''worst torture'' and she had to raise their child on her own in London. She explained that this made her feel resentful initially. She added that she didn't want to go through pregnancy and raising a child alone after watching what her mother went through. 

In its bid to demonstrate increased commitment towards promoting financial inclusion and women empowerment, Nigeria’s retail lender, Unity Bank Plc has launched Yanga Account, a new retail product designed to deepen beneficial impact on Micro Small and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs operated by women in the mass market retail space.  As a product targeted to boost the Nigerian women entrepreneurs, the initiative was intended to create Yanga Experience, from promoting the business, capacity building to health insurance scheme for Yanga Account holders.A statement by the Bank said that the benefits for signing up to Yanga Account are summed up as ‘The Yanga Experience’.  This means that as we target every woman in the mass-market retail space, the Yanga account holders will enjoy many benefits including stress-free savings and investment, access to the services of dedicated Sales Agents, Agency Banking services close to the location of their businesses, special business seminar and training o

Zainab Ahmed, minister of finance, budget and national planning, says Nigeria will remove fuel subsidies by 2022 and replace them with N5000-a-month transportation grant to the poorest Nigerians. Speaking at the launch of the World Bank Nigeria Development Update (NDU) on Tuesday, the minister said the grant will go to about 30 to 40 million Nigerians who make up the poorest population of the country. She said the final number of beneficiaries will depend on the resources available after the removal of the fuel subsidy. “The subsidies regime in the [oil] sector remains unsustainable and economically disingenuous. Ahead of the target date of mid-2022 for the complete elimination of fuel subsidies, we are working with our partners on measures to cushion potential negative impact of the removal of the subsidies on the most vulnerable at the bottom 40% of the population. One of such measures would be to institute a monthly transport subsidy in the form of cash transfer of N5,000 to between

Realness Institute once again makes a huge impact on the African creative sector in partnership with Netflix, the world’s leading streaming entertainment service, through its 2022 Episodic Lab and Development Executive Traineeship (DET) programmes to support screenwriters and mid-career industry professionals from Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya who are seeking opportunities to develop their original story ideas, in any genre and are looking to enhance their skills as story consultants respectively. With millions of Africans being very talented and creative, Realness Institute offers the Episodic Lab participants the opportunity of pitching their incubated stories to Netflix executives at the end of the programme. It also offers DET participants a deeper understanding of the story development process, exposure to a more nuanced approach in the support of writers whilst simultaneously holding writers accountable for their creative work. DET participants will work alongside creative prod

The foundation concert 2 with Sunny Neji, Faze, Durella, Terry G, Jazzman Olofin, Professor Linkin, Iyanya, Skales, Klever J, Ruff Rugged and Raw, Tony Tetuila, Artquake, Praiz, Djs Humilty, Charlie Shee, Boombastic and Hotega. Efe Warri boy and more.   On this 2021 edition, we are honouring late Dr Stella Ameyo Adadevoh and late Rashidi Yekini for their great service to humanity and the nation.   Venue: BLVD Lagos 69 Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.   Time: 6pm   Tickets : Reg 5k, a seat at a table 100k and table for 8 500k.   Get your tickets from ariiyahtickets.com and nairabox.com  LIMITED TICKETS AVAILABLE.   For enquiries 08172705542 or 07031319794   Supported by Motomedia, BLVD Lagos, Smile Global Entertainment.   Media partners: Naija fm, classic fm, lagos talks fm, beat fm. Rhythm 93.7fm. Lasgidi 90.1fm Silverbird tv, hiptv, mtvbase, Rave tv, pop central, goldmyne tv,

The trial of Patrick Akpobolokemi, a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, and three others for an alleged N8.5 billion. fraud before Justice Ayokunle Faaji of a Lagos Federal High Court, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) calling a staff of Zenith Bank Plc, as its seventh witness. Akpobolokemi is standing trial alongside a retired Major-General and  a former Commander of the Joint Military Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield, Mr. Emmanuel Atewe, and two other staff of the agency, Kime Engozu and Josphine Otuaga. All the defendants are standing trial on an amended 22-count charge bordering on money laundering. One of the counts reads: “That you, Patrick Ziadeke Akpobolokemi, Major General Emmanuel Atewe, Kime Engozu, and Josphine Otuaga sometimes in 2014, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Court, with intent to defraud, conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence to wit: conversion of the sum of N8,53

Justice Ayokunle Faji of a Lagos Federal High Court, today, adjourned further hearing in the on going trial of the convicted former BankPHB Managing Director, Mr. Francis Atuche and Charles Ojo who are standing trial before the court on alleged N125 billion fraud till February 22, 2022. Atuche is currently serving a six year jail-term passed on him by Justice Lateefat Okunnu of an Ikeja High Court of Lagos State, N25. 7 billion fraud. He was convicted and sentenced on the fraud on June 16, alongside Ugo Anyanwu, another bank Chief. Atuche and Ojo are currently facing trial before the court on 45 counts charge of conspiracy and illegal and unlawful granting of billions naira of loans to some companies, Futureview Service Limited, Petosan Oil and Gas Limited, Tradjek Nigeria Limited and Extra Oil Limited. The EFCC accused the two them of reckless granting of several billions of loans between 2006 and 2009 to Platinum Capital Limited, a company in which they both have interest. The loans

Rev. Yinka Badejo, widow of Rev Wilson Badejo, ex- General Overseer of Foursquare Gospel Church Nigeria has passed on at age 72. Church Times reports that she d*ed in the early hours of Friday, November 12, 2021, after a protracted illness. She d*ed a little over three months after her husband, who d*ed on August 7, aged 74. According to reports, family sources reveal she fell ill before her husband passed on, but she outlived him till November 12, when she also answered eternal call.  

The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola has said he does not know where the camera he recovered at Lekki Tollgate after the #EndSARS protests is. Fashola who disclosed this during an interview on Arise television said he handed the camera to a Lagos State government official. When asked what was the content of the camera, he said, “You should not be asking me. “You have the tapes showing that I handed it over to the government of Lagos. So you have all the recordings. I think your people were there. “So don’t ask me what happened to the camera. I don’t know.” Recall that the former governor of Lagos State, had visited the Lekki tollgate in October last year to assess the damage caused in the aftermath of the #ENDSARS protest. He also spotted a camcorder at the toll plaza which he handed over to a government official. The viral footage of Fashola’s “recovery” became a meme on social media and trended for several weeks.  

Former Managing Director of Fidelity Bank Plc, Nnamdi Okonkwo has refuted claims that he is in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC). In an exclusive interview with The Source magazine on Monday, the seasoned banker who was recently appointed GMD of First Bank Holding Company said “I cannot be in my bedroom and somebody somewhere will be saying, EFCC has arrested me and that I have be in custody’ of the anti-graft commission for days”. The magazine had, last week, reported that the former Fidelity Chief executive was not arrested by the Abdulrasheed Bawa led EFCC, following report by some online publications that he was indeed, taken into custody by the commission. Premium Times, an online newspaper claimed that “details of Mr Okonkwo’s arrest remained sketchy Sunday night although some sources said he was being questioned over his role in the transfer of $153.3 million from the Nigerian National Petroleum Commission in favour of Diezani Alison-Madueke, Ni

Enugu State born entertainer, Tplay has revealed Nigerian music stars, he'd like to work with. The singer and composer, while feeding question on fellow singers he would love to work with, said Davido, Wizkid, Olamide, Flavour, Burnaboy are his top choice. "The likes of Flavour, Davido, burna, wizkid, Yemi Alade and Olamide are major names I can't wait to do a song with, they inspire me a whole lot. Every Nigerian artistes is making an impact in their own right with their music, but we must always acknowledge those who paved the way for the rest of us coming from behind, shout out to all everyone doing music" Tplay whose real names are Hyginus Ikechukwu Ezeme also revealed how music started for him, and what he would have been doing, if he wasn't doing music; "A few things were major parts of my musical journey. I started as a producer. Now here I am Singing to the world. If I was doing music, I will be doing business, I would have been a full time businessma

By Chief Johnmary Anagolu Born in Obinagu Udi, in Enugu state 70 years ago. Today, we celebrate Sir. Dr. Eric Chukwuma Chime, Ochiliozua 1 of Obinagu Udi. Sir, you are a true parthfinder. Your urge for survival gave birth to Rico group of Companies, which is a household name today.  You are known for your kind gestures to humanity. Your free medical outreach in Enugu state have changed a lot of lives. Residents Iva Valley of New market ,  Agu Owa, Enugu Ngwo and other suburbs of the state can testify to this.  Under Rico group, you have conducted free surgeries by bringing in the best specialists.  Like Rev. Paul Afade of St. Johns Anglican church, Aguagbo, Ekulu, Enugu state, stated during your recent medical outreach that obviously, those that you gave relief through your medical outreach are not ignorant of their health situation, just that they cannot afford it. Your youth empowerment program has also touched and change most of our youths to become great business/career men and wom

Fast rising singer, Hyginus Ikechukwu Ezeme popularly known as Tplay has said one of the things that makes him differ from other singer is his personality. In a chat with Zebra News, the song writer while highlighting some of his uniqueness as a singer also hinted on his plans to work with other artistes. "First of all, nobody is an Island, no entertainer is perfect, we are all striving to be better in our craft. The first thing I know that stands me out among other music artistes is my personality, then follow by my style of music. I am unique in my own right and so is every other artistes, both the struggling and the established ones too" he opined. On His plans to work with big Nigerian names, "I have plans to work with lot of artistes, particular those I draw inspiration from, I am talking about the likes of Davido, Wizkid, Olamide, Flavour, Burnaboy, including our very own diva, Yemi Alade. And this is not to cap others, No! I respect and appreciate ever artistes wh

Unfortunately for Nigerian businessman, Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi, chairman and chief executive officer of Nestoil Group, it has been one week, one trouble, The Witness reports. Recall, weeks ago, the EFCC, swooped in on the businessman and sealed his expansive residence on Modupe Alakija Crescent, formerly known as Ikoyi Crescent. The ultra-modern property was marked with the anti-graft agency’s signature red ink, indicating that it was under investigation. However, after several hours, which were followed numerous phone calls to some highly influential people, the red ink was washed off the property. Latest findings by The Witness revealed that one of the Nigerian new generation banks has reinstituted its battle against Azudialu-Obiejesi and his Nestoil Group, over an unpaid loan amounting to the tune of N20.3 billion. In a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the lender alleged that Azudialu-Obiejesi and his company have refused to service or pay the said

Sterling Bank Plc has received commendation from poet and novelist Lola Shoneyin who is the founder and Director of the annual Ake Arts and Books Festival. This year's edition featured thirty events, including book chats, panel discussions, documentary and film screenings, a poetry video album, an art show-case and a music concert. The festival curated five intergenerational conversations that reflected the 2021 festival theme: Generational Discordance. In her closing remarks at this year’s edition of the festival, which held virtually for the second year because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Shoneyin said, "Having Sterling Bank by our side makes our heads swell. From their commitment to the belief in the transformative power of our stories and for helping us document and archive our ideas, we thank you.” She said Ake Festival is the envy of cultural entrepreneurs and organisations across the African continent, adding that Sterling Bank has become the code word for companies that

Ghanaian gospel singer, Celestine Donkor has revealed why she uses a "veil to cover up her seriously favoured backside".  Donkor who noted that she is aware of how God has favoured and blessed her with a "huge backside", said she chose to cover it up with a veil so people can concentrate on her voice and songs.  Her post on Facebook read;  Someone asked me why almost all my dresses have a veil at the back, the person said my dressing is becoming one way. >>Well here is my answer: I am very much aware that God has seriously favoured my backside That thing my mama gave me is heavy-duty Since my teenage days, people like staring at my behind. So I decided to always cover it as much as I can with a veil so they can “focus on my voice and my songs” So I am sorry you are gonna be seeing more veils I hope my answer makes sense though #JesusIsLord #OnlyYou #weHaveATESTIMONY

  Until he got shamed by some Nigerian banks over unpaid loans, the life of Dr. A.B.C Orjiako bloomed like a prairie dotting the promenade of acclaim. This minute, however, the world unfurls for the Chairman and Co-founder of the energy company in bleak blossom. There is no gainsaying the uncanny resemblance between him and the lead character of Anezi Okoro’s famous novel, One Week, One Trouble. Like the 1972 novel’s character, the businessman has been hugging negative spokes of the limelight in the past few months. Like a sewer rat fleeing the onslaught of an unrelenting charwoman, Orjiako is running hither, thither  in the wake of an order from a Federal High Court instructing his company not to transact with him anymore. The court, sitting in Lagos blocked Seplat Energy Company from transacting with its Chairman and Co-founder, Orjiako. The oil and gas firm disclosed this on Tuesday in a statement signed by Edith Onwuchekwa, Director Legal/ Company Secretary. Justice Yellin Bogoro o

In 2015, when Ugwuanyi came on board, seeing the level of decay in the fire service sector, he expressed his displeasure and promised that his administration will do all that is needed to be done in other to reposition the fire service stations in the state. Almost seven years after, a SUBEB member, Hon. Nnaemeka Charles Eze expresses this joy, "Enugu state boasts to have the most responsive fire service in the country courtesy of our working governor. On so many occasions, the governor personally visited the victims of fire disaster in the state and assisted them with funds to cushion the effect of the fire disaster. Imagine how the victims felt knowing that the number one citizen of the state was with them in their trying times. Gburugburu is the man!" "My amiable governor has done well in the fire service sector, by not only providing standard fire service stations at all the three senatorial districts, but also, updated and upgraded all the old equipment to latest on

A Federal High Court in Lagos has summoned a lawyer Mr O. Awowole to show cause why he should not be sanctioned for failing to present a defendant, Princess Oluwatoyin Kolade, that he allegedly undertook to produce in court. Justice Peter Lifu ordered Awowole to appear on Tuesday, November 9, following Kolade’s failure to honour a hearing notice for her arraignment last Thursday on an alleged $32 million fraud charge. The lawyer was also absent when the matter, marked: FHC/L/407C/2019 was called. Kolade,a top society lady is one of 11 people facing a 10-count charge of $32million fraud preferred against them by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF). The defendants include four Indian men – Prem Garg, Devashish Garg, Bhagwan Simgh Rawat and Mukul Tyagi and two Britons – Marcus Wade and Andrew Fairie, said to be at large. The others, apart from Kolade, are Metal Africa Steel Products Ltd, Wilben Trade Ltd, Fisolak Global Resources Ltd and Kannu Aditya India Ltd. At

About 10,000 cheering Barcelona fans were at the Nou Camp on Monday afternoon, November 8, where the Spanish legend vowed to restore the club to its former glory.  'I don't want to get too emotional,' he told them. 'So I can just tell you one thing - we are the best club in the world. And we will work with the highest standards to have success. We cannot accept defeats or draws, we have to win every game.'  'We are going to work to try and win many titles, thank you very much, this is an emotional moment for me. 'We need you. Especially during the bad moments. We are in a difficult situation as a club. We need you more than ever.' Xavi then proceeded to sign a contract while his family and friends watched on a few metres away. He then posed for pictures while holding up a Barcelona shirt with his name on the back.  The manager has joined on a two-and-a-half-year deal after he paid half of the £4.3million release clause to his former side Al Sadd. Xavi wa

 Justice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday sentenced a former chairman of now-defunct Pension Reforms Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, guilty to 61 years’ imprisonment but to run concurrently for eight years. The court had found him guilty of inducing staff of Fidelity Bank to open bank accounts for him without conducting due diligence and money laundering. Delivering the judgement, Justice Abang also found him guilty of concealing his true identity as signatory to accounts opened in UBA and Fidelity Bank by using the identity of his family members without their knowledge. These accounts were said to have cash deposits of N300 million, N500 million and N1.5 billion. The court held that Maina stole monies meant for pensioners as he could not prove where he got same from. Justice Abang also held that through Maina’s service as a civil servant, his salary and emoluments would not amount to the monies in these accounts. The court further held that the prosecution (the Eco

  A Federal High Court in Lagos has restrained Shebah Exploration and Production Company Ltd, Sheban Petroleum Development Company Ltd and Dr Ambrosie Orjiako and persons acting on their behalf from withdrawing from the accounts of nine other defendants and 29 banks. Justice Yellin Bogoro made the interim order while granting ex parte Mareva application applied for by Zenith Bank Plc through its counsel, Mr Kemi Balogun, SAN, in the matter of an alleged $78,426,578.64 debt. The injunction restrained the trio and their proxies in Nigeria, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland, the European Union and any jurisdiction worldwide, pending the hearing and determination of Zenith’s motion on notice. The 4th to 9th respondents are Seplat Petroleum Development Plc; Zebra Energy Nigeria Ltd; Glencore U.K Ltd; Abbey Court Energy Service Ltd; Neimeth Pharmaceutical International Plc; All Trustees, Proxies, Agents, Nominees and all individuals or bo

  Nigerian lender, Unity Bank Plc has handed out a total of N10 million in prize money as business grants to 30 NYSC members in the latest edition of its flagship Youth entrepreneurship and empowerment initiative, Corpreneurship Challenge held across ten states recently.  The competition, already in its 7th edition, produced the 30 winners during the final business pitch for the 2021 Batch C Stream I corps members, which took place simultaneously across 10 NYSC camps in Lagos, Bayelsa, Ogun, Benin, Enugu, Sokoto, Akwa Ibom, Osun, Kano and Abuja. Conceived as an Entrepreneurial Development Initiative in 2019, a part of the lender’s strategic drive to penetrate the youth market, the Bank doles out cash prizes of N200,000 as a business grant for each of the second runner up, N300,000 business grant for the first runner ups and a star prize of N500,000 for each of the Corpreneurship Challenge winners.In this latest edition, some of the winners included Madukwe Juliana Uchenna, who claimed

Sterling Bank, through its One Woman proposition, has organised a free breast cancer screening and education event for women in Lekki area of Lagos as a way of giving back to its host community. Speaking at the event, Group Head, Products and Proposition with Sterling Bank, Gbenga Adegoke said the bank is partnering with Quality and Selfless Empowerment Foundation (QSE), owned by Olori (Queen) Sekinat Elegushi because health is one the five sectors of the Nigerian economy that Sterling Bank is focusing investments in under its HEARTS of Sterling, adding that the other sectors are education, agriculture, renewable energy and transportation.  He said the bank through the programme is targeting women who do not have access to quality healthcare and they are also creating enlightenment regarding cancer, remarking that they also want the opportunity to render banking services to the unbanked community by granting them loans among others. Also speaking, the Head of One Woman proposition at S

  Anambra State Governorship Candidate of the People's Democratic Party PDP, Valentine Ozigbo has reacted to some purported videos that are currently in circulation on social media. One of the videos shows line up of children, men and women receiving cash of N400 and a Can of Malt from a supposed PDP member, with intent to buy their votes ahead of Saturday Governorship Election. In a short disclaimer sent exclusively to Zebra News, Ozigbo while rubbishing the videos, said it's the Handiwork of rival parties who feel threatened by the impact of the PDP. "Our attention has been drawn to some videos circulating on some online media blogs in which PDP is wickedly projected as sharing N400, cans of drinks and matchbox to people of Anambra state.  This video is an act of desperate oppositions who are out not only to discredit PDP, but are ultimately determined to ridicule our dear Anambra State. PDP is not known for such dehumanisation of human persons and we therefore urge the