Folorunsho Alakija is the new Richest woman in Africa

Nigerian oil tycoon, Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija, is now the richest black woman in the world with an estimated fortune of $7.3 billion.

Mother of four, Alakija, 62, unseats Winfrey as the richest black woman in the world.

According to Forbes, Oprah Winfrey is worth $2.9 billion. Africa boasts 55 billionaires and they’re worth a staggering $143.88 billion in total, according to pan-African magazine Ventures Africa.

Alakija started her career as a secretary in a bank in the mid 1970s. She then studied fashion in London and returned to Nigeria to start a label, Supreme Stitches. 

But her biggest break came in oil. In 1993, her company, Famfa Oil, was awarded an oil prospecting license, which later became OML 127, one of Nigeria’s most prolific oil blocks.

The company owns a 60-per-cent stake in the block, valued at around $7.3 billion, Ventures Africa has reported

Khloe Kardashian - I'd Still Divorce Lamar Odom ... If I Could Find Him

Khloe Kardashian isn't bailing on her divorce -- she fully intends to follow through one year after filing -- the problem is she can't schedule a sit down with Lamar Odom.

Sources close to the Kardashian's tell us Khloe has been unable to meet with her estranged husband to finalize terms of the divorce with their lawyers ... despite numerous attempts.

We're told the ex-basketball star isn't responding to calls from Khloe or her attorney -- and he's very rarely popped up in public. Certainly not long enough to make things official. Our camera guys spotted LO 3 weeks ago ... and he seemed more than fine leaving the divorce/marriage in limbo.

Remember, Lamar once said he wasn't convinced Khloe would see the divorce through.

However, KK definitely wants to cut the cord for good. We're told her best case scenario is meeting Lamar to settle up -- but worst case ... she will file a default judgement if he doesn't respond soon.




Source: TMZ

ACTRESS KRISTIN CHENOWETH BATTLING FLU AFTER CHRISTMAS

Actress/singer Kristin Chenoweth has been left bedridden in her Oklahoma hometown after she was struck down with influenza days after Christmas.

The Glee star flew back to her home state to visit family and friends for the holidays, but her plans to leave over the weekend to get back to work have been thwarted due to ill health.
She reveals she missed her flight because she was feeling so unwell and is now asking fans to pray for her health.
Taking to Twitter.com, she writes, “I got the flu. In bed in Oklahoma. Missed my flight. Ugh (sic)… If your a prayin person please pray for me. Flu really bad. In chest. Body aches. Gotta rehearse Friday. God help me.”

Season of Surprises: Youth Corper win MTN's N50million house

The MTN sponsored weekly TV game show, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire (WWTBAM) took a new dimension over the weekend, as sponsors MTN, rode on this platform to give out a house worth N50million naira to a deserving winner, Miss Omotola Akinsola, as part of its numerous surprise packages for Nigerians, in its on-going Season of Surprises campaign.

Special episodes of the TV game show tagged “Who Deserves To Be Surprised”, were aired on TV stations all over the country on the 21^st and 28^th December 2014, to the amazement of many viewers. Sponsors MTN, in conjunction with Ultima Limited, had called on Nigerians to nominate whoever they feel deserves to be surprised during this yuletide. Such a person, they said, must have influenced or touched their lives in a positive manner.

According to the organizers, many nominations were received in this regard and it took a painstaking process to select the eight nominees with the most compelling stories, to come and have a chance of making it to the hot seat, not only to play for the regular star prize of N10million, but to also have a surprise chance of winning a house worth N50millon, courtesy of MTN.

Of the eight nominees who were invited for the show, Omotola Akinsola, a Youth Corp member and Mrs Iyabode Olasumbo Sodiya-Dawodu were the lucky two, who made it to the hot seat. Omotola Akinsola made it to the hot seat in the first episode and won a sum of N250,000, while Mrs Iyabode Olasumbo Sodiya-Dawodu tried her luck during the second episode and also won a sum of N250,000. With both contestants at par, show host, Frank Edoho, ushered viewers into another anxious moment, as both Omotola and Iyabode were made to play the fastest finger game, so as to determine who wins the star prize of a N50m house.

Omotola’s joy knew no bounds as she was announced winner, after being the fastest of the duo, to answer the N50m question. In an emotion laden voice, Omotola, expressed her happiness as she thanked MTN for surprising her in such a wonderful way. “This surprise largesse is an encouragement for me to do more and to follow my passion to a point that will influence the youth, even at a global level”, Omotola said. 

Not done yet, MTN had another surprise package for the runner-up, Mrs Iyabode Olasumbo Sodiya-Dawodu, as show host, Frank Edoho, announced to the delight of the viewers, a surprise gift of a brand new KIA car to be presented to her. While expressing her joy at winning the car gift, an obviously elated Iyabode said it all came as a surprise to her, as she never envisaged it. 

The star prize winner, Omotola  Akinsola is a Director at Jumpstart Academy, a Non-Governmental Organisation that supports and currently sponsors more than two hundred and fifty public secondary school students in the area of counseling and tutorials. According to her, she recruits mentors from various universities within the country, to help in achieving her aim of motivating the youth in the society.  Surprisingly, it was for this reason that Omotola was nominated for the “Who Deserves To Be Surprised” show by her friend, Mr  Mayowa Daniel, who said he was moved by the passion, dedication and sacrifice that Omotola has displayed so far, in motivating the youth in the society.

Through its Season of Surprises campaign, MTN, has since the 1^st of November 2014, created lot of exciting moments all over the country as the Company continues to unveil various surprise packages for Nigerians.

BRITISH ACTRESS KAYA AND BENJAMIN WALKER ENGAGED

British actress Kaya Scodelario and her partner Benjamin Walker are engaged.
The Maze Runner star took to Instagram.com on Sunday to post a photo of herself kissing her new fiance, with her new engagement ring visible on her left hand.

She added the caption, “(Walker) thank you for making me the happiest woman in the world.”
Scodelario and Walker met on the set of their new film The Moon and the Sun in Melbourne, Australia, and she recently told Britain’s You magazine they have been maintaining a long-distance relationship as the Flags of Our Fathers actor lives in New York and she is based in London.
However, 22-year-old Scodelario, who is 10 years younger than her new fiance, also revealed she is moving to the Big Apple.
Another photo posted on Sunday, which featured herself, Walker and her mother, featured the caption, “Showing mum around our new home I love NY.”
Scodelario previously dated her former Skins co-star Jack O’Connell and English actor Elliott Tittensor, while Walker was married to Meryl Streep’s actress daughter Mamie Gummer. They split in 2013 after less than two years of marriage.

THE GAME AND TYGA TAKE PART IN L.A. PROTEST OVER COP KILLINGS

Rappers The Game and Tyga were among the thousands who participated in a march in Los Angeles on Saturday to protest against the controversial police killings.

The Los Angeles natives, along with hip-hop producer DJ Mustard, joined activists who took to the streets of Hollywood as part of the Millions March Protest, demonstrating against the recent grand jury rulings which cleared police officers over the death of two African-American men, Michael Brown and Eric Garner, in separate incidents.
Various photographs and videos of the music stars in the crowd were posted on social media showing them wearing T-shirts emblazoned with the slogans “Are ((WE)) Next?” and “Black Lives Matter”.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the demonstration was peaceful.
The West Coast version of the Millions March comes weeks after a similar event in New York City. Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons and rapper Nas were among the celebrities who joined 30,000 protesters in the crowd marching through the streets of the Big Apple.

POLICE RECOVERS WEAPONS FROM TWO MONARCHS

The police in Ogun State have recovered a cache of arms from the palaces of two monarchs whose supporters recently attacked residents in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area.

Hoodlums who had taken sides in the lingering chieftaincy dispute between the two monarchs over the stool, used dangerous weapons, including guns and set ablaze buildings and cars during last week’s violence which lasted for two days. Several people were also seriously injured.

But while carrying out a house-to-house search on buildings in the town, the police recovered arms as well as other dangerous items and arrested nine suspects.

The police said that 12 locally-made single barrel guns,two pump action guns,191 cartridges,two machetes, one axe,charms and masquer­ades regalia were recovered in one of the palaces while the butt of a locally-made single barrel gun was recovered from another Oba’s palace.

Police Public Relations Officer, Muy­iwa Adejobi, said in a statement that one of the monarchs had also been impli­cated by some suspects over a “shooting and wounding” incident that occurred at a petrol filling station in Agbado area of the state on Boxing Day.

Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent, also disclosed that the feuding tradition­al rulers have been summoned by the police command “for interrogation and proper investigation on their involve­ments in the crisis that rocked the area for days.”

The police spokesman said: “The crisis was brought under control with the efforts of the Area Commander in charge of Otta, ACP Titilayo Kayode and the Divisional Police Officer, Otta, CSP Gabriel Idibe before the matter was transferred to the Department of Crimi­nal Investigation on the directive of the Deputy Commissioner of the Police in Department of Finance and Adminis­tration and second-in-command, DCP Haliru Gwandu, for thorough investiga­tion.

“This investigation prompted the police teams from the Department of Criminal Investigation, Police Mo­bile Force,coordinated by the Deputy Commissioner of police in charge of Department of Operations, in the state command, DCP Egberebi Egbuson, to conduct search and raids on the palaces and premises of the two disputing rulers on December 27 at night time.”
The PPRO said the suspects will soon appear in court after the investigation into the matter is concluded. 

Election violence: Jonathan and Buhari should caution their supporters – Sule Lamido

Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, has accused President Goodluck Jonathan and Major General Muhammadu Buhari, of inciting Nigerians to violence, by their electioneering actions and inaction.

According to Lamido, the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress, are directly and/or indirectly encouraging their supporters to make provocative statements that could heat up the polity during and after the elections.

Lamido made the comments over the weekend at a rally of the PDP for the presentation of flags to candidates vying for different elective posts of the party.

The governor bemoaned the inability of both candidates to caution their prominent supporters and members of their parties, from making divisive comments, adding that Jonathan and Buhari should be held responsible if the election is marred with violence.

He said: “As our leaders, both personalities should caution their supporters to guard their utterances not to allow such incitements to drift the country into chaos”, adding that such utterances “do not augur well for the country’s political stability, nor its development”.

“It is disheartening for any responsible citizen to allow such unscrupulous statements. It ought to be condemned by all and sundry for the sake of peace, and oneness of the country as a corporate entity”.

“We won’t succumb to either sectional nor religious politics or bigotry, or personal agenda aimed at destabilising the corporate existence of our great country” Lamido added.

Furthermore, he cited the post-election violence recorded at the 2011 election, saying that “We must strive hard not to allow a recurrence.”

Manchester United will improve in 2015 -Van Gaal

Louis van Gaal felt festive fatigue caught up with Manchester United in their goalless draw at Tottenham but insisted his squad will continue improving in 2015.

The dutchman slammed the Premier League fixture list ahead of a trip to White Hart Lane, which came two days after Boxing Day’s 3-1 home win over Newcastle United.

United will head into their New Year’s Day encounter at Stoke City third in the table and Van Gaal is confident there is more to come from his side in the second half of the season.

“Of course, of course, of course we shall be better [than the first half of the season]. So watch,” he told reporters.

On the dropped points at White Hart Lane, he added: “I have said already, one month ago, what I think about this. It’s scientifically proven that the body cannot recover within 48 hours.

“The second half was much different to the first half. And not only for Manchester United, also for Tottenham because they can play much better than today.

“And also my team could have played in the second half much better. But you cannot do that and also my colleague [Mauricio] Pochettino has changed three players. It’s not for nothing.”

The 0-0 draw leaves United 10 points adrift of Premier League leaders Chelsea and Phil Jones vented his frustration after the visitors saw a number of chances go begging.

“We created numerous chances in the first half and perhaps should have been three or four nil up at half-time but it wasn’t to be,” Jones said.

“In the second half they came out and pushed us to the end. We knew that would happen but we stayed resilient and we kept a clean sheet.

“It’s nice to get a clean sheet but ultimately the lads are disappointed not to have taken all three points. I thought Falcao and Robin [van Persie] were terrific today, it just wasn’t our day in front of goal.”

He added: I think fatigue is always going to kick in with two games in three days but it’s the same for every club in the Premier League.

“You have to do it, we have done it, and now we look forward to the game against Stoke on Thursday.”

Olamide Unleashed the Beast at his Live Concert Last Night (Photos)

The people of Lagos came out in numbers last night to support rapper Olamide at his LIVE Concert at the Eko Hotel Convention Centre Victoria Island, Lagos. Check out the stars that showed up and killed the show. More pics after the cut.

Wizkid

Oge Okoye Shares Photos From Her Son's Birthday Party in Spain

 

 Nollywood actress Oge Okoye threw a birthday party for her son in Spain where they are based.

She posted:

"We all celebrate with you maa love...so much love for you here in Spain baby....never knew I could get this much here. whaoooooo! can't wait to open up all this wonderful gifts..am sorry ma little girl is exploding with envy...ooh baby I would try and make it up to u...I love u both so much.#love #chibyke/Stan junior#honeybooboo. shine on. The sky is your starting point...I know you'll make us proud. Time is ticking."

Continue to see more photos below...

 

Delegates reject plan to replace Kashamu with Daniel

Otunba Gbenga Daniel

No fewer than 700 delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party from Ogun-East senatorial district, on Sunday, rejected the plan by the party’s National Working Committee to replace the winner of the senatorial ticket, Buruji Kashamu, with the former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel.

They expressed this displeasure during the district’s senatorial meeting in Ijebu Igbo.

Led by their chairmen from all the nine local government councils making up the senatorial district, the delegates insisted that Kashamu, who is the Chairman, Mobilisation and Organisation of the PDP in the South-West, won the ticket and that they would not tolerate any substitution.

It will be recalled that Kashamu and Daniel had contested for the senatorial ticket of the Ogun-East senatorial district, which was won by Kashamu. Daniel allegedly withdrew from the race two days to the primary.

The chairmen noted that any attempt to replace Kashamu with Daniel or any other person would spell doom for the PDP.

A leader in the party, Solomon Osinbajo, who countered the planned move by the party in Abuja to substitute Kashamu with Daniel, urged the state chairman, Adebayo Dayo, to forward their complaints to the national body.

In his response, Dayo confirmed that there were moves to substitute Kashamu’s name with Daniel’s, whom he said did not participate in the primary which produced Kashamu.

He said, “The former governor had written my office to withdraw from the race two days to the primaries. There is no way the choice of the delegates would be changed.”

Kashamu said that the party’s leadership in Abuja came up with a list tagged ‘Unity List’, which he said would lead to imposition and cause a lot of problems.

Meanwhile, there were fears over the weekend that supporters of a former Speaker, Dimeji Bankole, were planning to defect to other political parties.

Our correspondent gathered that this might not be unconnected with the alleged failure of the national leadership of PDP to put its feet down over its directive that the December 8, 2015 governorship primary in Ogun State was illegal.

The leadership went ahead last Friday and upheld the primary which was won by Gboyega Isiaka.

Only three governorship aspirants participated while nine others stayed away.

PDP, APC disagree over Awolowo

Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo
| credits: www.ynaija.com

A People’s Democratic Party chieftain in Ogun State, Chief Olukoye Ijaduoye, has said that presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), will not win in the state during next year’s presidential election.

Ijuduoye said that Buhari’s military government brutalised Yourba sons upon assumption of power, stressing that the people of the region will not vote for the former Head of State on that account.

The PDP chieftain, who spoke in Akure on Sunday said, “The people of Ogun State and the entire South-West will reject the former dictator with our votes for detaining Chief Obafemi Awolowo.”

Ijaduoye also lamented the detention of a former governor of the state, the late Chief Bisi Onabanjo.

But the Director, Communications, Buhari Campaign Organisation, Mr. Dele Alake, described the allegations as an attempt by the PDP to distract Nigerians from the many problems facing the country.

He said Buhari never detained Awolowo and also denied the allegation that Buhari was a tribalist.

Alake told our correspondent that the tribunal which tried Onabanjo comprised both Yoruba and Hausa and wondered why the PDP would twist facts.

He said, “In the first instance, the allegations are puerile, illogical and not factual. We said we would not engage them on mundane issues but focus our campaign on germane issues that affect the welfare of Nigerians. It is only when they have nothing to say that they resort to mudslinging and all kinds of abuses and hurling of insults.

“The allegations are not true. Will the man care to know that Buhari’s driver of many years is a Yoruba man. In any case, Buhari never detained Awolowo; that is the lie of the century. He never detained Awo for one day.

“I never heard of that and I was an active reporter at that time. They are just propagating rumours and insults in order to divert the attention of Nigerians away from salient issues such as corruption and infrastructural decay.”

Rihanna Rocks Red Hot Bikini Body

Bad gal style!!!

Riri and her bestie Melissa rock their bikini body in Barbados for the  Holidays.

She and bestie Melissa made the pool their first stop and they kicked off the stream of selfies like usual.

Wizkid Fan Replies Etcetera

Mr Etc or should I say Unsuccessful musician turned writer’? Anyways  I read your six weeks well composed piece about Wiz kid’s In My Bed song which inspired me to waste my Daddy-ly Paid Bis to cast around Google about you, it was so fascinating learning you were once a musician (soul/soft rock artiste, something like the world known Asa) even though we never heard bout you or your song(s)  (You got to thank Google for keeping your records).

I also learnt you’ve wrote lost of piece About artistes and public figures which led me to believe that people with your sense of humor shouldn’t be among us, Keeping your opinion about a celebrity’s life style or doings to yourself  won’t do you harm, sharing it among people like you ‘is allowed’ *in M.i’s voice* though your write up about the Rave of the moment  ‘in my bed’ song ain’t bad but WHO CARES about your opinion? Huh… Your fans? You’ve got any? Or Your 3,923 twitter followers…  OH I dig, you believe wizkid is arrogant so you’re expecting a reply from a niggah just  to top blogs headline for another day?! (Sorry I had to use my psychic thing on you).

LOL! Comparing Wizkid’s in my bed song to any of Artquake’s is just out of  line, it’s like comparing Dotun cool fm to you…  Oh yeah, also heard you left the Unreached industry to be an OAP and i hope say you dey get money *in Olamide’s voice* we both know you never made dine in the industry 4years ago

Make sure to send some of your cool pictures to bloggers, they have only one picture of  you wearing a coat, and don’t forget this also ‘Having a sense of humor is one of the greatest assets a person can have’.

True Or False: Pie Chart Showing Why African's Attend Weddings

Do you agree? I think that 1% given to 'to celebrate the marriage' is incorrect. I attend weddings to celebrate the couple, and infact, it's a rule that I must  eat before leaving my house, so I never get bothered about food. I happen to know a  lot of people who have the same mentality concerning weddings and 'Owambe' parties in Nigeria generally.

Annie Idibia, Juliet Ibrahim & Emma Nyra at OLIC(Photos)

Last night was Olamide's concert and the whole industry stepped out for it..Annie Idibia, Juliet Ibrahim and Emma Nyra looked really fab

Desmond Elliot Interview With Golden Icons

This NEVER RELEASED interview of Desmond Elliot was done in the Summer of this year '2014', but could not be released due to some technical issues.
This interview is explosive and all i see is a winner in Desmond!

Desmond Elliot's Interview: The root of our problem in Nigeria starts with Tribalism, and not realizing that we are ONE: Watch 

Nollywood Ace Director/Actor  Desmond sat down with Emma Emerson of Golden Icons to discuss several topics including: his career, transitioning from an actor to a director, who earns more between Nigerian musicians and

Nollywood actors; on how Lagos as a city can benefit from Nollywood. When asked to list the top endorsed actors in Nollywood, he mentioned his humble self and others including,Genevieve Nnaji, Mike Ezuruonye, Chioma Chukwuka Akpotha, Funke Akindele, and Ini Edo, just to mention a few.

Part 2 of this interview got a little more interesting, as IT got down to his family, and talks about being married for 11 years, how he handled having 2 sets of twins, and addressed the previous online rumor that he relocated his family to the United States.  

Below is an excerpt from Part 2 of this Interview on his LOVE for his country ‘Nigeria’:

Desmond: I am hoping for a Nigeria that is very fantastic says Desmond Elliot;

Emma: Do you think that is ever possible

Desmond: Extremely Possible

Desmond: Let me tell you why

Emma: Why?

Desmond: The former 10 year olds are now 18; and the former 18 year olds are now 36, so Information is increasing; and don't forget, Nigeria as a.. as a people, is specially created.

Emma: For what?

Desmond: We are specially created; do you know why we are special? I'm not joking now.. I mean it, cos' I've been almost everywhere, and I see a Nigerian in almost every country I've been to; and my question is: What are they looking for?

You must always see that a Nigerian is a powerful being, and we are beginning to understand that. The only thing we need to do now is teach our youth.. and let them understand that.. Listen, we are powerful beings. Our Major devil or demon is: the old thinking of why I am a Yoruba man and I shouldn't be talking to an Igbo man; or Why I am a Hausa man, and I shouldn't be talking to an Igbo man.

Emma: “You think Tribalism is the biggest issue” in Nigeria

Desmond: It's in it, and let me tell you who passes it across

Emma: Who?

Desmond: Our Parents!!  Our Parents... You know why? Immediately now…. Imagine kids…. Once a child comes.... I use my kids as an example….They come here to America…. They don't look…. they don't care if you are white or black, or blue or yellow.. Until you ask the question, is Jamie White or Black... You understand.... because they don't care!!

He further continued to describe the scenario, and then made one of his biggest punch lines... The moment we ‘Nigerians’, realize that we are SAME.... If we must grow first, then you must see yourselves as ONE.

40-Year-Old Man Killed By His Own Dog

Eddie Cahill, was reportedly killed by his eight-year-old dog, Fat Boy.The 40-year-old was found at home by his wife Bianca Rodriguez, WGNtv.com reports.

According to UK Mirror, she had been spending the day with her family but returned home around 5pm.She found the animal with blood in its mouth and her husband’s body lying on the living room floor covered in bites.

Animal control officers were called and the dog had to be tasered to get it under control. It was then killed at the request of the family.

The family say the death was a freak accident, adding that Fat Boy had been given bones for Christmas and Cahill may have been "playing keep away" with the animal.

Police said the officer who attended the scene in Indiana wrote Cahill had been previously told by his wife to have the dog destroyed because it was violent and unpredictable.

However, Rodriguez denied this and said the family had never before had problems with the dog. She said:

"They were playful dogs.One slept with the girls and the other slept with me and my husband. I don't want people to think bad of pit bulls. It was a freak accident. He loved the dogs.”