All posts by Olasco Noble

Nigeria Army participates in NAFEST

For the first time in the history of National Festival of Arts & Culture, NAFEST, the Nigerian Army will make appearance at the iconic cultural tourism festival which begins today, November 7, 2022, signaling a closer relationship between civilians and the military.  

“The Nigerian military is a strong partner in the quest to have a peaceful, united Nigeria, and it is the same message which NAFEST, through our rich diverse culture, wishes to sustain. And you will agree with me that security is a strong pillar for cultural preservation and promotion.

The unprecedented military response to Nigerian cultural tourism narrative came after Otunba Segun Runsewe, DG, National Council for Arts and Culture, NCAC, paid a visit to the Chief of Defense Staff, General Lucky Irabor, in Abuja where he requested for the presence of the military at Eko NAFEST as a means of building stronger relationship with civilian population.

“So, we are happy the CDS, General Lucky Irabor, will deploy the three sister military architecture of the Army, Navy and Air Force, to showcase their social responsibility platforms and other sundry activities which the civilian population can leverage on for a greater Nigeria,” Runsewe said. 

Otunba Runsewe also said no one should panic at full military presence and deployment during the one-week festival, Eko NAFEST 2022.

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Manchester United still on goalkeeping targets; De Gea sinks.

Manchester United have scouted Porto and Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa at least half a dozen times this season as Erik ten Hag considers his long-term options to be the club’s number one, 90min understands.

Ten Hag and United’s decision makers have a big choice to make in goal over the coming months, with current number one David de Gea out of contract in June 2023.

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United have an option to extend the Spaniard’s contract by a further year but the decision to proceed on that is complicated by De Gea’s salary, which sits among the club’s most expensive contracts at around £375,000 a week. Long-term concerns over De Gea’s capability to adapt to Ten Hag’s system mean he may no longer justify the earnings.

De Gea is open to renegotiating his deal to extend on reduced terms, but as it stands United are considering all options on the table as well as looking at alternatives. Costa is among them, though United’s potential task of signing the player became more difficult this week as the 23-year-old signed an extension to his contract with Porto until 2027 – with a raised release clause of €75m.

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Such a move would come at great expense to United and they are also known to be targeting additions at right back and at centre forward in 2023, while central midfield remains an area in need of strengthening, while already having overspent on their summer budget in 2022.

United scouts are understood to be pushing the idea of pursuing Costa to decision makers, and he does fit the bill of a modern day goalkeeper – which both Liverpool with Alisson and Manchester City with Ederson have justified in recent years – capable of strong reflexes and distribution. Costa has also become renowned for his incredible record of saving penalties.

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The club are understood to be in quandary of how to proceed in goal, with 90min learning that Ten Hag is falling for De Gea’s work ethic and presence around Carrington and on the pitch. De Gea made a miraculous double save during Thursday’s win over Real Sociedad and also earned United three points in the win over West Ham on Sunday, with outstanding saves from Kurt Zouma and Declan Rice.

United also have Dean Henderson, who has long eyed the club’s first choice goalkeeping slot, out on loan with Nottingham Forest at present and are due to make a decision on him upon his return at the end of the season, while Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak has long been admired.

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Video: Psquare hilariously reunited with fans on AMAA stage

Organizers of the prestigious Africa Movie Academy Awards, AMAA, last weekend, pulled out all the stops again and packaged another show that will not be forgotten in a hurry by the regular attendees.

It was a show stopper parading the best in the film sector in Africa. The award night best known for its glamour, glitz and spark lived up to its billing even when it looked like the continental reward show had been reduced to a board room event.

The organizers of the show indeed did everything last Sunday night to deliver a world class event. Hosted by Funnybone, Chigul and Kachi Offia, the show held at the Jewel Aeida Hall, Lekki, Lagos, honoured the best films and stars of 2022. The week-leng event facilitated by the Lagos State government brought back the glory of AMAA.

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With several nominees from different parts of Africa and the diaspora in attendance, the 2022 AMAA was spiced with memorable performances from Choc City’s Young Jon and Candy Bleakz, Zadok, and Yinka Davies.

But the highpoint of the night was the P-square’s electrifying performance. This is the second time the singing duo would be performing together in the country after their reunion. The first was when they organized the Psquare Reactivated Concert in 2021at the Livespot Festival.

The duo’s outing last Sunday was an indisputable proof of reclaim of their lost spot in the Nigerian music scene. The crowd couldn’t contend their excitement, seeing the duo performing together on the same stage again after years of break up and beefing each other. It was a moment never like before.

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The duo dressed in camouflage opened the floor singing their 2007 hit song, “Do Me” featuring Waje and “Bizzy Body” from the 2015 album “Get Squared.”

But when they performed “No One Like You” from their third studio album “Game Over”, the whole place erupted in excitement as everyone took to the floor, dancing and singing with them. Indeed, it was a happy reunion of sorts with the fans of P-Square who have been longing to behold their idols perform together again after their reunion last year.

The presence of actress Rita Dominic also caused a stir at the show, after it was rumoured months back that she and her husband, Fidelis welcomed a set of twins. Rita stormed the show decked in black skirt on blue tops with a black handbag to match. The beautiful actress was making her first public appearance after her traditional marriage which took place early in the year. She still looks gorgeous and enthralling but no protruding baby bump in sight.

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If this year’s AMAA is anything to appraise, the show still retains its glamour and glitz. Gone are the days when who’s who in the African film sector would embark on shopping spree to steal the AMAA show. But all that was missing at this year’s outing as the show was a blend of old and new film stars, reality stars, singers and comedians.

The likes of veteran actor, Richard Mofe Damijo, Keppy Ekpeyong Bassey, Bimbo Manuel, Jennifer Eliogu, Ejike Asiegbu, David Akande, Dickson Iroegbu, Daniel K .Daniel graced the occasion.

Other attendees were Wole Ojo, Daniel K. Daniel, Enyinna Nwigwe, Deyemi Okanlawon, Yemi Blaq, Osas Ighodaro, Denrele Edun, Sola Fajobi, Tony Akposeri, Osita Iheme among several others.

Ifeanyi’s Death: Entertainers to have indoor swimming pool.

Emotions have continued to run high since the sudden death of Davido’s son, Ifeanyi, hit the public space like a thunderbolt.

The three-year-old toddler reportedly drowned in a pool at the singer’s Banana Island residence on Monday, October 31, 2022.

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Ifeanyi’s death came exactly three years after another superstar, D’banj, lost his one-year-old son, Daniel jnr in similar circumstances. The singer was in Los Angeles, the United States, for the BET Awards when the sad incident took place. In the same way, Davido and his baby mama reportedly travelled to Ibadan for a family gathering when the unfortunate incident happened.

However, since the painful exit of the toddler, the public space has been awash with feelings of agony, grief and despair.

Even when the bereaved parents haven’t broken their silence, the public reactions to the sad incident have said it all. Nonetheless, we went to town during the week to ascertain the level of danger it poses by erecting an indoor swimming pool.

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While some of the entertainers who spoke with us on the issue said they have nothing against people beautifying their courtyard with a tasteful swimming pool, others believed that having an indoor pool exposes our loved ones to the danger of death.

For Bob-Manuel Odukwu, actor and Special Adviser on Entertainment, Leisure and Tourism to Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State, having an indoor swimming pool is the prerogative of the individuals who build it and the motive for desiring it.

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According to him, while desiring the pool, there’s need to consider the security of the occupants of the building, especially children and young adults.

“Tragedy of children drowning in indoor swimming pools is not limited to celebrities. I know a family who lost one of their twins in their indoor swimming pool even when members of the family were around. The man was away in Abuja on a business trip when the sad incident tok place. I commiserate with D’banj and Davido on the loss of their dear children respectively. We need to learn from these tragedies to avoid reoccurance of the incident in the future,” Bob-Manuel said.

Describing indoor swimming pool as part of luxury, popular actor and skit maker, Nosa Rex urged parents to ensure the pool is protected to avoid endangering the lives of your children.

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“I have a pool, I have fenced it round and I am trying to get a cover for it so that when I am not in the pool no one will have access to it. I feel everyone just needs to be careful,” said Nosa.

On her own, actress Uche Elendu said it’s not a bad idea for families to have pools in one’s courtyard, stressing that such pool should be well secured for the sake of the children who can be very adventurous.

“Despite strict instructions children might still find their way to practice what they see, so most times physical barriers help much more than words or surveillance.

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“This is a very traumatic experience, I haven’t been able to wrap my head around Ifeanyi’s demise. It hurts me terribly, it has happened to other kids in commercial pools too, and this is due to negligence, because if someone was watching, it won’t be a fatal case. I took my kids swimming last week and my eyes were constantly fixed on my younger daughter for some reason while she was in the pool. I don’t think I can let them go swimming in my absence anymore, nannies can be absent minded,” Elendu said.

Muma Gee, on part advised that while erecting indoor pools, parents should pay extra attention to little ones in the house.

Ace-comedian, Julius Agwu, however, has a different mindset saying he doesn’t believe in having indoor pools because of the safety of the children within the vicinity.

“I remember that they asked me if I wanted a swimming pool where I’m staying now. And I replied, no. This is because I already knew that it is very harmful to kids and even to teenagers and adults. If you need to swim you can go out to a swimming club or pool and swim. I’m so sorry for the loss of Davido’s son,” Agwu stated

After Twitter sale, Jack Dorsey launches “Bluesky”

Jack Dorsey, the founder and former CEO of the microblogging website Twitter, has launched a new social media platform called “Bluesky.”

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This happened just a week after business tycoon and owner of Tesla cars, Elon Musk,took over ownership of Twitter.

Drsey’s new app, which is in its testing stage, already has over 30,000 people signed up for its beta testing within two days of the announcement.

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According to Business Insider, Bluesky’s website stated that the new platform gives creators independence from platforms and developers and the freedom to design, allowing users to choose their experience.

Dorsey co-founded Twitter 17 years ago and briefly served as its CEO. He returned as CEO from 2015 to 2021 when he resigned.

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Meanwhile, Bluesky has announced a number of job openings which include mobile application developer, react native expert, animation creator, and UI site manager.

Kwara gov appoints Skit maker, Cute Abiola as his aide.

Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has appointed famous skit maker, Abdulgafar Ahmed Abiola, popularly known as “Cute Abiola” as his Special Assistant on Creative Industries.

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Abiola is a former Navy Officer who reportedly resigned to concentrate on his entertainment business.

Born on April 28th, 1996 in Ilorin, Kwara State, Abiola is well known for his comedy skits with the identity of Lawyer Kunle.

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The governor said the appointment takes immediate effect.