Thursday 20 September 2012

I GET FAVOURS HERE AND THERE, THE BIGGEST IS A MURANO JEEP FROM A FAN


Other times for instance when I pulled over wrongly and I am supposed to get fined but because of my face, I was let off the hook. I have seen things even beyond me and I just wonder and ask why God has decided to favour me. I won’t say that this one or that one is the biggest. But the one that amazed me till date is a car gift from a fan. I got a call one day and the person asked if I’m Bimbo Omo Getto. 



I answered in affirmation then he said, I’m a huge fan and he started saying a lot of things. Next he said that he wouldn’t want to embarrass me but would like to give me a car gift. I was like are you kidding me or is this a scam?

To show how serious he was, he offered to send his driver to deliver the Murano Jeep to me. I have seen a lot. Some people have told me that if I do the role over and over again, they will still watch it. But I tell them that as an actress, if I can do that very good, that means I can also do the same role extremely better, Bimbo recalls how she got a big one from a big fan of hers. When asked if she saw the car gift coming her way the time it did, hear what she said, “no, I didn’t. I had a car that I was using before that Murano Jeep came in.”

What Bimbo did not comment on is what happened afterward with the fan, if he asked for anything in return of the good gesture. However, we are happy for her that a fan has really appreciated her effort without asking anything in return.

Culled from Goodlice.com.ng

How Wealthy Nigerians Spent $6.5bn On 130 Private Jets In 5 Years


According to a report from Punch, the growing penchant for private jets acquisition has cost wealthy Nigerians a sum of $6.5bn (N1.02tn) in the last five years. Aviation sources reveal that the luxury trend, which rose by 650 per cent between 2007 and 2012, is encouraged among the rich by the need for privacy, fear of insecurity and the urgency required by modern business.

Private jet ownership in Nigeria has grown by 650 per cent, from 20 jets in 2007 to over 150 jets in 2012.



According to documents sighted in aviation agencies, the development means that wealthy Nigerians acquired, at least, 130 private jets with a sum of N1.02tn ($6.5bn) within the last five years.

This put the private jets aviation market in Nigeria (the monetary value of all private jets in the country) at N1.18tn ($7.5bn), using $50m as the average cost of each brand new private jet.

A private jet goes for between $40m and $65m, according to the websites of major private jets manufacturers, like Bombardier of Canada; GulfStream and Hawker Siddley of United States; and Embraer of Brazil.
According to findings, the common brands of private jets in Nigeria are Gulfstream 450, 550 and 650; Bombardier Challenger 604, 605; Global Express; Embraer Legacy and Falcons; and Hawker Siddley 125-800 and 900XP.

Top aviation officials told our correspondent on Friday that Nigeria currently rivalled China as one of the two fastest growing private jet markets in the world.

An official with in-depth knowledge of the situation, who spoke under condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment on the matter, said most of the jets were bought by top politicians, oil magnates and other business moguls in Nigeria.

He explained that the economic downturn in Europe and the United States had made Nigeria and China to become two of the fastest growing private jet markets in the world.

He said, “Two countries buying private jets now are China and Nigeria. Europe and America are going through turmoil; so, their people are no more buying. This accounts for the trend that whenever some of the private jet manufacturers develop any new jet, they take them to Nigeria and China.”

“The private jets in Nigeria are owned by top politicians, oil magnates and business moguls. It is difficult to get the real identities of owners of some of the private jets in Nigeria because they buy them through some foreign companies in North America, especially the US. The foreign company then leases it to another company in Nigeria.”

Investigation by our correspondent also revealed that there were still several private jets on order by wealthy Nigerians. Some of the jets, it was learnt, would be delivered this year, while others would be delivered in 2013 and 2014.

A top official of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, who asked not to be named, said representatives of the owners of the private jets on order had already notified the agency about the order. This, he said, was necessary for the purpose of registering the aircraft in Nigeria. According to him, some of the private jets also come with foreign registration credentials.

The Managing Director of Aero Airlines, Captain Akin George, had recently commented on the increasing number of private jets being parked at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

He particularly lamented the fact that most of the private jets carried foreign registration credentials. He had subsequently called on the authorities concerned in the country to make registration processes in Nigeria friendly and attractive.

During a recent visit to Abuja, our correspondent observed that over 40 private jets were parked at the terminal.

The CEO of another airline also said that during political meetings or big functions in Abuja, over 50 private jets were usually seen parked at the Abuja airport.

These, he said, were different from the ones parked at the Lagos and other major airports across the country.

“If you go to the old local wing at the Abuja airport, there is virtually no place to park private jets again,” he said

Just on Thursday, a team of officials from the headquarters of Bombardier in Canada arrived at the Executjets Private Hangar at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, to showcase one of their latest private jets, Global 6000.

The team was led by the Sales Director, Africa, Bombardier Business Aircraft, Mr. Robert Habjanic, who said that the team was on a tour of 12 cities in Africa, including Lagos. Habjanic, who spoke with a few aviation journalists, told our correspondent that Nigeria was the company’s largest market in Africa, with about 35 Bombardier-made business aircraft currently flying its airspace.

He said the team had also showcased the relatively new business jet in other parts of the world.

He confirmed that “private business in Nigeria has been growing tremendously in the last five years.”

He attributed this to the fact that “Nigeria is an emerging market.”

The growth in the purchase of private jets in Nigeria has also led to the development of multimillion dollars private jets hangars, where repairs and maintenance could be done in the country. Some of these include Execujets Nigeria Hangar, Caverton Hangar and EverGreen Hangar, all located at the Lagos airport.

Speaking on the development, industry expert, Mr. Olumide Ohunayo, said, “The economy is expanding, with increasing investments within the country and the region. This will invariably necessitate instantaneous travel that scheduled airlines cannot provide.

Also the privacy needed in a country filled with paparazzi can be an issue. Increasing political and religious issues are contributory. By and large, it will continue to increase if the economy continues with a lot of diversification inputs that naturally spread wealth. (punch reports)

Keep in mind that on top of this list are the most corrupt politicians on the surface of the earth.

While thousands are struggling to make hens means daily, some people are busy lavishing on private jet.

God dey o.

Culled from Goodlife promotions

GEJ gives millions of Naira & national awards to 2012 Paralympiads


During the event, the president announced a cash prize award of N5 million, N3million and N2 million to each of Nigeria's Paralympic Gold, Silver and Bronze winners respectively. 



Other Olympians who didn't win any medals will receive a cash award of N500, 0000. Their officials will receive a cash award of N2.5 million each. In addition, each of the six paralympic Gold winners will be conferred with the national honour of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) on Monday September 17th. 

Also, each of our Falconets shall receive a cash award of N1million as a token of appreciation from the federal government. Their coaches will get N1.2 million each.

Culled from goodlife.com.ng

CANADIAN MAGAZINE RATES STEPHANIE OKEREKES WEDDING AS BIGGEST OF 2012


The magazine covers the diva’s glamourous April 21 wedding to Linus Idahosa with a showcase of photo access into Stephanie’s makeup process, wedding gown and basically the prep for Stephanie’s special occasion.



Next Big Thing describes Stephanie’s marriage ceremony as the ‘Biggest Wedding in 2012

Nigerian professor becomes first black VC of University of Illinois


The 63 year old professor is a naturalized American physicist of Nigerian descent. He was the Dean, College of Engineering at the University before the University Board of Trustees selected him to be the next Vice Chancellor for Academics Affairs and Provost, University of Illinois at Urbana-Campaign.



Professor Adesida assumed that position last month, August 2012.

Culled from Goodlife.com.ng

Monday 17 September 2012

SOUND SULTAN 12 YEARS ON STAGE CONCERT


The singer-songwriter-performer used a brilliant assembly of poetry, choreography, pantomime, drama, and song, to create an unforgettable night for the thousands that came out for his 12th anniversary concert.

The Harbour Point auditorium must have been more than pleased with Sound Sultan, his band, the Crown Troupe, DJ Jimmy JATT, the many guest acts, and the creative team, for a brief but near-excellent show that proved that not all concerts held outside the Eko Hotels’ insanely expensive yet structurally and technically  inflexible hall, are subpar.



A veteran by all definitions, Sultan did not seem like he was trying to prove any point, yet that’s exactly what he did – showing, with each set, that he’s not in the league of today’s hit-drunk pop stars who have no qualms miming at their own concerts.

Starting from his debut album ‘Kpsheew— the sound of a Frustrated Mouth’, he worked with the band to deliver Jagbajantis, ghen ghen and more, with minor tweaks only ardent fans would notice.

Lanky and fragile in person, the boldness and courage of his lyrics made many compare him with Fela since the early 2000s. Last night, he brought back those memories again, with the power of his lyrics, with some of his Fela-inspired costumes, and with a surprise Afrobeat set that featured that genre’s king Femi Kuti.

But Femi was not the only king that came out to jam with Sultan. Africa’s king of pop and a legend in his own right 2face Idibia joined his friend for a thought-provoking performance of ‘bush meat’; while M.I, arguably the leader of Nigeria’s hiphop community, joined Sultan for their conscious collabo  ‘2010’.

Just before M.I and 2face, the concert paid a powerful tribute to hip hop, with an elaborate freestyle session featuring some of the rappers that matter today: Yungsix, Ice Prince, Ikechukwu, Dr SID and Uzi. 2face and Timaya would have made that list, had the show’s director not chased them off stage, midway into their ambush freestyle skit.

Unpredictable from A to Z, a fashion session engineered by co-host IK Osakioduwa would lead into a performance of Sultan’s ode to plus-sized women ‘Orobo’; just as a brief stand-up act by Koffi (who was at his best last night, despite the initial lukewarm reception) would lead into, first a drama featuring Sound Sultan as groom-to-be who waits impatiently for his bride-to-be (Tiwa Savage) during a traditional Yoruba engagement ceremony; and later a Sultan-Tiwa duet of ‘Oko won lode’. With Crown Troupe members as support cast (friends of the groom, friends of the bride, parents-in-law etc), and Koffi as overzealous MC, the wedding episode continues, with 9ice performing for the ‘couple’, before Fuji giant Adewale Ayuba emerges, to entertain them with hits from the 22-year-old evergreen Bonsue LP, getting us all on our feet, screaming – such incredibly scripted; almost impeccably executed show that the words of no writer can fully capture.

In spite of noticeable sound hitches and repeated dead air, and a few performances that failed the test, this low budget concert gets a first class – where many before it, for example, the Davido O.B.O. concert, fails woefully. Young boys like Davido should actually have been at Harbour Point last night, taking notes.

Welcome to the Legends’ club, Sound Sultan. Please take a bow.

ISOKEN OGIEMWONYI Wins 2 MILLION!

Isoken wins a whooping N2,000,000 cash prize and a Tour of London Fashion Week courtesy British Council who will also be hosting 30 other Young Creative Entrepreneurs from different parts of the world!




The search for the 2012 MTN Lagos Fashion & Design Week/British Council Young Creative Entrepreneur Award winner included online applications and rigorous screenings in Port Harcourt, Abuja and Lagos. The panel of judges included Bukola Kajero and Ibobo Chukwuma representing sponsors MTN, Ojoma Ochai from the British Council, Veronica Ebie-Odeka of Vane Style and fashion designer Lanre DaSilva-Ajayi.
Young entrepreneur Isoken is a graduate of Law (LLB Law – Hons.) from the University of Nottingham with a PGD in Hospitality Administration from GIHE, Switzerland and an MSc in Management from BPP London. She has been in the business of fashion since 2006.
The 2012 MTN Lagos Fashion & Design Week will kick off on the 24th of October.