Perspective

YVENT KOUTURE presents to you “FACING THE GIANTS”, It’s first annual intensive training seminar organized to equip young Nigerians with key skills that will ensure success in the practice of the business of event s’ management with the major focus on events decoration.

FACING THE GIANTS is a 2 day interactive, skill acquisition and practical seminar dedicated to providing a platform for young people to hone their skills, gain more knowledge and see the possibility of becoming entrepreneurs or trainees in the events industry.

We are gathering seasoned events stylists and providers, the best in their areas of specialization to train and charge young people to become C.E.Os in the not too distant future.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

Graduates (unemployed and employed)
Undergrates
Budding entrepreneurs (in the events industry)
Anyone who is ready to confront their fear (A GIANT) and start something. Read the rest of this entry »

After eight years of producing and hosting the acclaimed studio talk show, New Dawn, Funmi Iyanda is back at the helm of a different kind of show. The new project is called Talk With Funmi.

Guests were offered a sneak preview of this new show at a screening which took place at the Silverbird Cinemas on Friday 16th October. Mr. Frank Edoho, presenter of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, was at hand as compere of the event.

Guests began to fill up the venue long before the scheduled start time. In attendance was Governor of Lagos State His Excellency, Babatunde Raji Fashola, and his Oyo State counterpart, His Excellency Adebayo Alao Akala, as well as industry stalwarts from various sectors of the corporate world. The screening began at 5.30 prompt.

The audience got to experience a selection of great moments from the series—from a day out with Charlie Boy and the Okada riders in Lagos to playing football with Governor Fashola and the All Stars. From standing at the foot of the breathtaking Idanre Hills to mixing music with ID Cabasa and 9ice at their studios.
The enthusiastic response from the audience demonstrated by the continuous applause and cheers is a positive predictor for the success of the show. Speaking after the event to the press, Governor Fashola said the media is an asset that should be used to the country’s benefit. “This programme simply shows that we can deploy every medium, not just TV, for good. Let us tell more of our own good stories because nobody will tell it for us. That is the message of this show.”

Another guest, Mrs. Bridget Oyefeso-Odusami was effusive in her praise. “I found the show to be very real in portraying Nigeria from successful people to people on the street. It showed the breath and depth of our people. I would love more Nigerians to be as passionate and real in portraying Nigeria as Talk With Funmi has done.”

To round up the successful evening, guests were treated to a reception at Cubes Bar and Restaurant.
Talk With Funmi is an exciting new programme that captures people around Nigeria. It is a thought provoking, illuminating and entertaining journey into the life of Nigerians from all over the country.

Funmi Iyanda journeys from state to state talking with Nigerians from every sphere of life. The show talks to people everywhere – capturing discussions ranging from the hard hitting stories of the day to everyday challenges of Nigeria with some light-hearted banter and fun along the way. With the first season of recording already completed in some states, don’t be surprised if TWF soon shows up at your doorstep.

Beautifully produced and shot on high definition video, Talk With Funmi is a technical masterpiece. The excellent cinematography and deep, rich colours of the production provide tactile pleasure. TWF is an artistic blend of documentary, reality television and talk show and thus resists categorization. The result is groundbreaking and innovative television from a production team led by award-winning director Chris Dada.
With 36 states, over 200 ethnic groups and 140 million people, Nigeria is alive and teeming with vibrant stories. Nigerians are a people who love to talk, and Nigerians still have great stories to tell – stories of joy, laughter, hard work and success. Stories of suffering and harrowing pain; stories of hope and resilience in spite of all odds.

For Funmi Iyanda, Nigeria’s move towards its fiftieth independence anniversary is the perfect opportunity to capture transformative Nigerian conversations—conversations that will ignite meaningful change.
“Nobody can tell our stories the way we can. It is time for us to stop aping other people and be ourselves, telling our stories with knowledge, intellect, creativity and truth.”

The TWF journey promises to be one that is fresh, eye opening and fun and will be broadcast to TV audiences across Africa.

Talk With Funmi is an Ignite Media production.

I have heard and read so much about violent activities during campaign period, during elections and post elections.

Watching this video make my heart bleeds for my dear country. Why would a state Governor and his cronies descended on journalists who are out for their duties.?

It’s a SHAME.

For young Nigerian web designers, here is your chance to contribute to Nation building and win national recognition. Can you design a website? Then here is your chance to make a mark in the web design contest of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development in partnership of Youngstars Foundation.

Web Specification
Your web site should be interactive and able to accommodate data base and online workshops/forums.

Interested young designers are to submit their entries which should include:

-A 2 paged website dummy for The Federal Ministry of Youth Development including the Home page and the Navigation page.

-Curriculum Vitae.

-Passport photographs

-2 referees.

Eligibility: Only Nigerian Nationals aged 18 – 35 years, resident in Nigeria. Read the rest of this entry »

In Nigeria, living in the North and being in the entertainment industry might not always be a bed of roses because as far as the entertainment industry is concerned, the north might still be backward in that area.  Interestingly,  inspite of this wrong insinuations, there are a lot of talented entertainment practitioners who have been consistent and have also paid their dues in the industry.  Be it in fashion, music, modeling, broadcasting, acting, comedy and others.  Kano particularly has had a fair number of show biz practitioners who are actively involved in contributing their quota to the growth of the industry.

Tokunbo R.U. Adeyemi whose runway name is GOLAD, is a cool-headed and consistent face in the modeling and acting industry in Northern Nigeria.  He has modeled for so many top designers and hopes to hit the international scene some day.  In an interview with Emmanuel Gabari, at the venue of a recent fashion show held in Abuja the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria,  Tokunbo tells his story about how he got into the modeling industry.  Here are excerpts:

HOW DID YOU GET INTO MODELING?

Well, it all started way back in my childhood days.  I have always been a very neat and Fashion-conscious person.  So from my primary school days, I have been receiving  lots of awards and recognitions for being the best well-dressed pupil.  It went on to my secondary school days at St. John’s Boys Model School , Edo State where I was appointed the Social and Uniform Prefect.  Professionally, it  began when I followed a very close friend of mine to a fashion show auditioning and one of the designers saw me and walked up to me to say she would like me to model for her.  I was a bit scared because I had not been on the run way before.  But due to my interest in fashion, I agreed and surprisingly, I was the first act or model to step out and show case the clothings for the evening and I got a lot of applause from the audience.  That really inspired and encouraged me to continue because deep inside of me, I was very tensed but the applause I got helped me push through the night at the fashion show.  Since then, it’s been from one fashion show to another, and am grateful to God for it. Read the rest of this entry »

The Future Project, Nigeria was, from the 6^th to 12^th of July, selected to represent Nigeria at a youth exchange sponsored by the European Commission in Latvia. The Republic of Latvia is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe – bordered to the right by Russia.

The youth exchange was part of a large scale project, Sharing World Youth Skills, financed by the European Commission and organized by Code International, The Netherlands and Youth Leaders Coalition, Latvia in partnership with organizations from Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Ghana, Cote d’Ivore, Bolivia, Brasilia and Mexico. The Future Project, Nigeria/The Future Awards was the only organisation from Africa.

Read the rest of this entry »

I met Temitope Florence Adejumo recently and agreed to grant this interview. Temitope is a Gospel artist that just launched her first album recently. Enjoy…

Can We Meet You?

I am Temitope Florence Adejumo, also known as T. P. Crown. I am from Ojah Community of Akoko Edo Local Government in Edo State. I am the fourth born in a family of eight and I stay on the Mainland, Ebute Metta to be precise.

Who is Temitope Adejumo

I am a Gospel Artiste just out with my debut album titled So Good. I am an hospitable person and I love being with people and caring as well.

Can You Describe A Day In Your Life?

My day is never complete without giving praise to the Almighty God. This is what I love doing from sunrise to sunset. I also spend a lot of time on composing and rehearsing my songs.

What Do You Love About What You Do?

What I love about singing is that whenever I minister in songs, it bless and save lives, all to the glory of God.

Your Educational Background

I am currently a student of the MUSON School of Music. Hope to pursue a Music Course in the University pretty soon.

Read the rest of this entry »

Hello people!

How was your weekend? I had this interview with Emmanuel Gabari over the weekend. Emmanuel is a KANO-based broadcaster cum musician.

He talked about his life, family, music career and so on. Enjoy

Can we meet you?

My name is Emmanuel Gabari.

Who is Emmanuel Gabari?

Emmanuel Gabari

Sometimes it is very difficult to describe who Emmanuel Gabari is, but let me try. He is a complete gentleman. A hardworking and multi-talented person. He is a broadcaster with Radio Kano FM, a musician, a reporter with Abuja based National Waves Magazine, a social worker, a motivational speaker, Master of Ceremony and lots more. He is from Oghara in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State. He is married with three children, two boys and a girl.

Can you describe a day in your life?

Are u asking about the most memorable day of my life? Or just how each day starts for me?

I have had many most memorable days in my life. One was the day I got married. The second was the day my first child was born and another was when I got a double promotion in my office. I’ve had so many memorable days.

Also for how a normal working day starts for me: I will say I work round the clock. I wake up in the morning, say my prayers with my family, prepare for work and face a busy day ahead. It’s either getting stories, news items, interviewing people for the magazine I write for, or doing media consultancy for others, or getting materials like CDs and information for the radio programs I present and then do my little business alongside other activities of the day. I tell you, it’s always a hectic time for me. But thank God am moving on.

Read the rest of this entry »

In recognition of the success of Nigeria’s most respected youth event: The Future Nigeria Awards; the Africa Union (AU), “in considering a best practice necessary for adaptation during the review of its ongoing Youth Innovative and Creative Awards”, last month moved to adopt strategy from The Future Awards to implement one of its key youth development strategies continent-wide.

Through its Department of Youth, Human Resources and Science and Technology, the AU organized a strategy review workshop on its proposed Africa Union Youth Volunteer Corp in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and the over 35 participants representing leaders of youth networks across Africa unanimously proposed to work with RedSTRAT (organizers of the Awards) to integrate the communication strategies that have had unprecedented success in capturing and sustaining the attention and buy-in of young people and the media in Nigeria.

Emilia Asim-Ita of The Future Nigeria Awards with Arm Awad, Egypt's representatives

RedSTRAT’s PR Director, Emilia Asim-Ita, was one of the three Nigerian representatives at the summit which was also facilitated by Emmanuel Etim, Winner in the Best Use of Advocacy category of the 2009 Awards. She was appointed to head the media committee for the entire project. Read the rest of this entry »

Innovation means a new way of doing things. The goal of innovation is positive change, to make someone or something better and innovation leading to increased productivity is the fundamental source of increasing wealth in an economy. MTN, the leading telecoms brand in Africa and the Middle East is always at the forefront of innovation and change. This time, MTN Nigeria is set to introduce novel products and services to address established customer “needs” in unique ways at the forthcoming MTN INNOVATION DAY events. The event promises to be unique and memorable. Read the rest of this entry »