ISSUE 123 >> ISSUE 124 >> ISSUE 125 (2010)

BASHORUN DELE MOMODU

With a multi-faceted guest-list, a great setting and no shortage of first-class entertainment, the 50th birthday of Ovation Publisher and Presidential aspirant, Bashorun Dele Momodu was marked with a big bang.

As someone who doesn't settle for anything less than the best, the day which had Elizabeth R's Mrs. Ibidun Ighodalo as Event Planner and Wale Oluwaleimu as Event Coordinator, bore all the hallmarks of a successful night-and typically of Bashorun Momodu, who like his magazine, is loud for a purpose, the ceremony was beamed live on AIT and streamed live on the internet on www.ondox.com.

Before this superlative celebration in Lagos, the city of London, England actually hosted the first ceremony to mark the golden jubilee of the African Icon.

It unfolded on May 16, 2010, the day he actually turned 50. Being someone who has never forgotten his beginnings and his Christian upbringing, Bashorun Momodu's main assignment that day was to praise and thank God. Thus, early that Sunday Morning, he, his wife, Mobolaji and for sons, headed to the popular Jesus House Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, in Brent Cross, North West, London for a special service.

Spirit-lifting prayers and soulful songs of praise were the highlights of the occasion, as the pastors and the congregation, united in prayers, for the celebrant and his family.

NOLLYWOOD STAR GENEVIEVE NNAJI  OPENS UP ON LOVE, LIFE AND THE PRICE OF BEING A CELEBRITY

Multi-talented and multiple award winner, Genevieve Nnaji has continued to wow her fans, breaking new grounds and injecting some freshness to her  craft as an artiste.

The delectable lady whose latest works Ije and Bursting Out are doing well at the box office has moved from acting, singing to fashion designing and now she has taken up modelling, by becoming the official face of Make Up Designory (MUD) cosmetics. In fact, she just returned from a photo shoot in Los Angeles, California, USA courtesy of MUD.

Born to a disciplined Catholic family of eight, Genevieve, who is the fourth started her acting career at the age of eight with Ripples, a popular soap opera on television then she has definitely gone on to greater things. In this extensive and exclusive interview, she spoke about life, love and more.

Welcome back from your MUD cosmetics photo shoot

Thank you.

How did it feel being covered in real mud for hours

It was tedious; it was cold, because it was real mud. They tried their best to keep me warm, I had fun doing it in general but it was a lot of work.

How do you manage to combine all your activities

Exhales. It's hard, it's demanding, but I try to hold things together.
          
Two years down the line, how has St. Genevieve fared

St Genevieve is doing very well, a lot of my clients are very happy with our work. Unfortunately, I've been extremely busy so I haven't been able to take it as far as I would have wished but then we still carry on with our yearly fashion show which is my own little way of giving back to Charity.

We look forward to doing this year's show which should be coming up in December.

AZUBUIKE OSSAI WEDS NWAMAKA ENENMOH AT COLOURFUL CEREMONIES IN LAGOS AND DALLAS, TEXAS

They are both Pharmacists practicing in the United States of America. They met last year, became friends, fell in love and now Nwamaka Brenda Enenmoh from Isieke Village, Oshimili South Local Government Area, Delta State and Azubuike Edmund Ossai who hails from Umuawo -Aligbondu Ndoni in Rivers State have decided to spend the rest of their lives together as husband and wife.

The love they have for each other reached a wonderful crescendo on July 31, 2010 when they said "I do" at the Covenant Church in Collinsville, Texas. The church service was  very exciting and enjoyable.

Service over, the wedding train moved to lovely Marriot Hotel for the reception which was chaired by Professor Sony Ohia. Of course, because of the illustrious families involved in this celebration, guests turned out in state of the art cars-from limousines to vintage wonder on-wheels.

UMAR  MOHAMMED  AND NURA

O Allah Bless and Guide this marriage to the very best of understanding, happiness, prosperity and success" This was the prayer of the Bawa and Zabzugu families when their children, Nura Abubakar Zabzugu and Umar Mohammed wedded in Accra, Ghana.

The couple began their journey to matrimony when they flew from their base in Accra on a chartered flight with their guests to Kumasi for the first leg of the ceremony.

At the airport that day, the wedding team was welcomed by a colourful cultural troupe, there were dancers, drummers and pipers. The whole airport was thrown into festivity.

When they managed to step outside the airport complex, the couple was awaited by two gleaming limousines. These wonder on wheels were to ferry them home, where they would then prepare for the day's events.

The bride as expected was the centre of attention, she was the cynosure of all eyes when her own limo cruised to the front of her family house in the heart of the Kumasi, Ghana's second largest city.

Later that day, the couple and their friends were hosted to an All White party at the New Great Hall of Kumasi Polytechnic. The party was fun-filled as guests were pampered all night long.

CHIEF MOLADE OKOYA-THOMAS MARKS 75TH BIRTHDAY

The celebrations that trailed the 75th birthday of Sir, Chief (Dr.) Alexander Molade Okoya Thomas MFR in Lagos attracted a lot of commendation from people who were privileged to be part of the occasion. Everything that happened was befitting of a man of his calibre, a man who has invested so much in the economy of Nigeria, a man who has touched many lives, a man who has done many good causes.

The widespread jubilation that accompanied his birthday was also reflected in the congratulatory messages published in numerous national dailies. He has written his name in gold, so it was not surprising that Chief Okoya-Thomas, the Asoju Oba of Lagos was given such a five star treatment by all and sundry.

The celebrations began with a thanksgiving mass at Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos. Afterwards, guests gathered at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, where the indoor sports hall was named after the celebrant. The hall was rechristened Molade Okoya-Thomas Indoor Sports hall.

This initiative of the Lagos State Government is the very least the State could do for man who has been a sports philanthropist for decades and has solely sponsored the yearly Asoju-Oba Tennis Championship.

MRS. BECKY EFEOTOR CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF  GOD’S GOODNESS
At 50, her angelic and beautiful face belies her age. That day she shone like a zillion stars and her huge, cheerful smile was so infectious.

It was obvious that UK-based entrepreneur and philanthropist, Mrs. Becky Aneroid Efeotor, was in the most joyous of moods. She was so grateful for hitting the landmark age-and all throughout the occasion, all she had to say was "Thank You God".
Her 50th birthday celebration, which was held inside the highbrow Orchard Suite of the Millennium Gloucester Hotel in Kensington, was a spectacular gathering of thanksgiving and praises to The Lord.

The elated Mrs. Efeotor told us that the day was an opportunity to show God's love. Using the Pidgin English popular in Nigeria, she said she just wanted to make shakara for the Lord. It was one event where she would express her happiness and rejoice over what God had done in her life all these years.

The party itself was a first-rate, colourful, grand and glamorous affair. It was planned to be an intimate celebration with close family and friends - and so it turned out to be.

THE CLASSY WEDDING OF IRENE UHUOTU AND JOSEPH BELLO
The exciting love story of adorable Irene Ozohu Uhuotu and handsome Joseph Asuku Bello that began some years back reached a crescendo in superlative style with a classy wedding ceremony in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on July 3, 2010.

As expected of the pair who are sticklers for perfection, they made sure their wedding celebrations was a well-planned and well-executed 3-part ceremony.

Their journey to matrimony actually began days before at the Uhuotu's residence in Etereku-Ihima, Kogi State on June 26, 2010-and it was one event that brought together the leading lights of the Ebira community including His Royal Majesty, the Ohinoyi of Egbiraland, Alhaji Ado Ibrahim.

CELEBRATING  TONY ELUMELU
Tony Onyemaechi Elumelu, has effectively begun the second phase of his work life with the birth of Heirs Holdings and the Tony Elumelu Foundation.  As Chairman of Heirs Holdings, he will be overlooking a quasi-venture capitalist firm that will play in select areas such as financial services, oil and gas, real estate e.t.c. Simultaneously he will be promoting the Tony Elumelu Foundation designed to help groom and develop African leaders in business and entrepreneurship.

This was however not to be expected from the visionary banker and businessman who has achieved much even at a young age of 47 when he retired from banking as the Group Managing Director of United Bank for Africa Plc, on account of the new policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) which limits the tenure of bank chiefs to 10 years.
The pedigree and accomplishments of Tony Elumelu, who retired  on July 31, 2010, are so numerous but let us enumerate a few;

PRINCESS ADEJOKE AKIOLU WEDS  ABDULATEEF SARO
Loves comes in different ways and when two people are destined to be man and wife, it will surely come to fruition. This is the story of Adejoke Kuburat, daughter of Lagos monarch, Oba Railwan Akiolu and her childhood sweetheart, Abdulateef Taiwo, son of Alhaji Umaru Saro.The two families have been close friends for over forty years while Kuburat and Taiwo have known  each other for the past twenty five years. They hitherto related to each other as mere friends but destiny ensured that they would become married and further cement the bond that exists between their families.

Their love story revealed that they were so close that years back, Kuburat will introduce Taiwo to her friends and Taiwo always does the same.  But one fateful day, Kuburat went to Taiwo's house to look for his twin brother, Kenny to collect a document.

At the house, she had a 30 minute conversation with Taiwo where they discussed issues concerning relationships especially with the opposite sex. In the course of their discussion, Taiwo discovered some attributes and qualities in her which he hadn't known all these years.

MUSTAPHA SULE LAMIDO AND ZAINAB ALIYU  UNITE IN MARRIAGE
The entire ancient Kingdom of Bamaina in Birnin Kudu Local Government Area of Jigawa State literarily stood still when  family, friends, associates and well wishers gathered to celebrate with the District Head, Alh. Mustapha Lamido, the Santurakin Dutse who was getting married to beautiful Zainab Aliyu.

The soft spoken groom is the son of the amiable Governor of Jigawa State, His Excellency, Alh. Sule Lamido, little wonder that the celebration of love was upscale and well-attended.

CELEBRATED MAN OF GOD Pastor Ituah IghodAlo opens  CHURCH, TRINITY HOUSE  IN LAGOS
Dashing man of God, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo has put paid to speculations concerning his future in the body of Christ. He has started a new congregation called The Trinity House.
The official inaugural service of the new church was a testimony to the clout, connection and love that the pin-striped suit loving Pastor and his wife, businesswoman, Ibidun have garnered over the years.

Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, which was the venue,  was filled with eager worshippers and a good number of celebrities who had come to witness the return of Pastor Ituah to the pulpit after his dramatic exit from Hope Hall, Gbagada, a parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

It was not just friends and family members that made out time, very respected men of God and Ministers came to support, encourage and bless Pastor Ituah as he begins the momentous journey as the leader of this flock.

It was therefore a very appreciative Pastor Ituah as he is fondly called that spent time thanking and paying tribute to all those who came and those who had been there for him and his wife, throughout the period he was going through very tough times in the body of Christ.

THE CLASSY WEDDING OF NURUDEEN UTHMAN AND AMINA ISAH JIBRIN
recently when family members, close friends, associates and well wishers gathered to witness the wedding of their children Nurudeen Uthman, a banker and Amina Isah Jibrin, a staff of the National Programme for Food Security, Abuja.

It was an eventful 4-day extravaganza which reached its height with the wedding fathia held inside the beautiful country home of the bride's family in Bida. Since this is the most important aspect of an Islamic wedding, it was the one ceremony that had the greatest turnout. Guests turned up from across the country to honour the couple and their families.