I often move around in bullet proof cars and armoured tanks in Somalia — Nigerian-born UN Gender Expert Victoria Nwogu

Victoria Nwogu is a young, sassy female who has been able to conquer the academia. A lawyer who would have loved to be a judge if she was not working for a United Nations agency, Nwogu is always on the move. She has traveled across the globe working on issues of development and the advancement of mankind.

But in between, Victoria finds time to enjoy life, build a family and impact the lives of others. At present, living in volatile Somalia, Victoria shares her lifestyle with us, in this interview with Paul Ukpabio.

Would you say your early life influenced the person that you are today?

My early life was idyllic. My father was the center of our world. He did all he could to provide a good middle class life for me and my siblings. He had a brilliant –though a paternal- relationship with my mother; she had a job, but he was indulgent, the sole provider and he always made her laugh. They chattered away endlessly and he turned everything into a huge joke for her. They were

NITAD ends 2016 Conference making case for new ways of learning

By Paul Ukpabio  

The world has moved away from command and control, into a learning organisation. This was disclosed by Mr. Richard Okhumale the lead speaker at the 2nd annual training conference of the Nigerian Institute of training and development (NITAD).

The conference which took place at the Administrative staff college of Nigeria (ASCON) Badagry, Lagos, Nigeria, was tagged “Learning and development: catalyst for sustainable value creation”

.

The speaker in his lecture, said

Washington neighbourhood ready for the Obama family

By Courtney Subramanian

President Barack Obama is trading in the White House for a nine-bedroom mansion tucked away in a wealthy Washington neighbourhood.

The president and his family will move into an 8,200-square-foot (790sqm), red-brick home about two miles (3.2km) from his current address after he leaves office in January.

The Obama family still own a home in

Houston (USA) based ABN TV hosts Children’s Day party in Abuja, as ex- Minister Kema Chikwe steps in as Mother of the Day

Comfort Okoronkwo: Head of ABN TV in Nigeria

 For all the lovely children in Abuja and its environs, today Friday 27^th of May which is celebrated as Children’s Day, will be a day to remember in a long while. That is because, Houston based television station which is very popular in America, is hosting children today, to a grand party that promises lots of side attractions that includes games, horse-riding, swimming, pageant show and music by

Kwara Gov Abdulfatah Ahmed drags Fathia Balogun, other star acts to Ilorin

Sensational Fathia Williams Balogun, is among top theatre practitioners that will be performing in a stage play today, Friday, 27th May, 2016, in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. The event is in celebration of this year’s Children’s Day.

 The stage drama, titled, ‘Asa Wa’ (our tradition), is a theatrical presentation of the realities and effects of modernization on our culture.

‘Asa Wa’ is a stage play conceptualised by

Paul Ukpabio's Blog goes to America as Offot Ukwa Association holds 3 Day Convention in Dallas

This weekend promises to be a weekend like no other, as members, friends and well-wishers of Offot Ukwa Association convene in Dallas, USA, for the Association's 5th Anniversary Convention and Fundraising Event.

  

The event which has been well promoted in and outside the United State of America will take off

TBS: From A Crime Hub To A Court Of Civility

Tafawa Balewa Square

 By Patrick Wisdom (Charge Room)

Every privileged soul that have had the opportunity of coming to Lagos must have at least one story about staring down the barrel of a gun or the edge of a knife (the poor and working class are mugged and robbed just as often), and there were few better targets than the players heading to Industry Night at Sip Lounge or the popular Tafawa Belewa’s Square (TBS) or Race Course as was commonly called then.

Lagos is a city of

Food Nigeria: Exhibition and Conference 2016 ends with loud applause

At the opening ceremonies

By Paul Ukpabio

With over 6000 visitors, 150 exhibitors and participation of countries from different parts of the globe, the Food Nigeria Exhibition and Conference 2016 which took place at high brow Eko Hotel, Lagos, came to a close at 5pm yesterday.

All through the 3 Day event, Eko Hotel remained a beehive as people trooped in to take part in the well organised event that also had free conference with topics being: prospects in food Nigeria, challenges in food Nigeria, Import control and certification, food safety management and food distribution management.

Many organizations stood out

Dad planted music in me –Bongos Ikwe’s daughter Jessica

Jessica Bongos

Like her father, you only get to hear Jessica’s songs, but you hardly see her except on stage.  That’s how so much she takes after her music legend father, Bongos Ikwe. Predicted to be one of the few music talents that will take 2016 by storm, Jessica Bongos is already showing great promise. 

When she released her

Baroness of Dudley Halima Fernandez gets world attention at Cannes 2016

Baroness of Dudley Halima Fernandez

This year's Cannes Film festival, the 69th edition has turned out as sensational as ever, living up to its annual billing.

And as usual, the best part of the world class event remains in the memories that will trail celebrities right from the red carpet all through the duration of the festival. 

For every

Gloria Ibru gathers friends in a colourful tribute for Late Nomoreloss

Gloria Ibru

Even Late popular Nigerian singer and songwriter Olumuyiwa Osinuga, more popularly known as NOMORELOSS, must have stood up that particular evening from his closet in the grave, and danced when Queen of Nigeria's Jazz and Soul music, Gloria Ibru, gathered friends

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode cuts tape at CFAO Yamaha Motor showroom and assembly line

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2^nd right); President, YAMAHA Motor Corporation, Mr. Masaya Otsuka; Chairman, Management Board, CFAO Group, Paris, France, Mr. Richard Bielle and Chairman, CFAO YAMAHA Motor Nigeria Limited, Mr. Gbenga Oyebode during the grand opening ceremony of CFAO YAMAHA Motor Nigeria Limited Showroom and Assembly Line at Amuwo Odofin Industrial Scheme, Apapa- Oshodi Expressway, May, 2016.

When Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi told the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth

Former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor now traditional ruler, Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, shocked guests at the launching of Sir Olaniwun Ajayi's book at Muson centre in Lagos recently.

Here is what he said...

Now Trending: TUFACE...bags honorary award from Igbinedion University

courtesy: Ifreke Nseowo-Connoisseur

I became an instant celebrity when I had a baby after 13 yrs of waiting - Ex-IGI Group Deputy MD Folasade Adetiba

As a Deputy Director at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Folasade Adetiba played the big league in her chosen legal profession. Up on the wall in her Lekki based  office in Lagos is a framed photograph of ex-Military President Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida while inspecting something of note with the ex-Attorney General Chief Bola Ajibola and Folasade Adetiba with him. This particular photograph struggles for space with numerous awards here and there in the spick and span office. Mrs Adetiba, also a former Group Deputy Managing Director of IGI, is a product of her father, a Reverend of the Anglican communion. So much fond memories which she shares with us, including her working days at IGI. She spoke to PAUL UKPABIO.

You retired few years ago madam, what do you do now?

I run a foundation that is dear to my heart, one which I started then with seed support from friends of mine. It’s called Support Bridges Initiative. I practise Law, I am a UK accredited mediator, a solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court, a teacher and legal consultant. I sit at the family court of Lagos State, a child rights consultant and expert and I am the legal secretary of the diocese of Lagos Anglican Communion.

Tell us about your early days

My early beginning had a good influence on who I am today. I was born into the Olulade family. My late father was a Reverend of The Anglican Communion; he was a Vicar in two Anglican churches both in Abeokuta and Ibadan. My mom was a professional, a Sunday school teacher. We grew up in a close-knit family where children were taught values that God wanted them to imbibe. We grew up knowing that the family is

DG calls for collaboration between FIIRO and NIFST

(L-R: Dr Gloria Elemo; Director Production, Analytical Services and Laboratory Mnagement, Dr (Mrs) Yemisi Asagbara, and Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST) Mr Sunday Bamgbose during the courtesy visit by NIFST to the Director General of Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, Lagos recently. Story by Paul Ukpabio, Photo: Biodun Adeyewa.)

The Director General of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, Dr (Mrs) Gloria Elemo, has called for a working unity between the research body and the Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST).

Addressing the Exco members of the body who paid her a courtesy call at

My mates called me Daddy, but I’m comforted I got a First Class Honours -Style buff, Elkanah Mowarin

Elkanah Mowarin, the Best Graduating Student of Mass Communication department was certainly the cynosure of all eyes at the 2016 convocation ceremony of the University of Lagos. He joined 177 others who bagged First Class degree from the institution for the 2014/2015 graduating set.

Apart from his record CGPA of 4.74 from the department that is not popular for producing many First Class students at convocation, the obvious fact that he is much advanced in years than most of his graduating mates drew attraction to him.

In this interview with Paul Ukpabio, the marketing communication expert revealed

Lagos assures of June completion date for 114 LG roads ...Says Council Election Will Hold This Year …Pulls Down Gated Streets In 84 Locations

Governor Ambode

Lagos State Government on Thursday assured residents of the June completion date for the construction of 114 roads currently ongoing across the 20 Local Governments and 37 local Council Development Areas in the State.

The State’s Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Hon. Muslim Folami made this revelation during the week, at the ongoing Ministerial Press Briefing to herald the first year in office of the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration.

Lagos

According to him, the State Government under the leadership of Governor Ambode, will live up to his words, as it commences roads under construction across the 57 Councils, with a total of 114 roads to be completed on schedule.

“Let me assure you that the 114 roads being constructed across the State would be delivered soon,” Folami said.

He also added that, "no fewer than 6,000 direct and 3,000 indirect jobs have been created in the local government areas of the state since the inception of the road constructions.

The team

The Commissioner also confirmed that Local Government Elections would take place this year. “You will recall that there was a judgment on the administration of local governments, but the State Government appealed that judgment, so it is still in court now, therefore, I cannot say much more than this, what I can only confirm and say categorically is that the local government election would be held this year but, I cannot say specifically give you a date”, he said.

Highlighting some of the strides of his ministry in the last one year, Folami said they successfully coordinated the affairs of the local government as well as administering traditional institutions and improving the standard of living of communities in all the 20 Local Governments areas and 37 Local Council Development Area of the state.

Folami also said that the State Government during the period under review, approved upgrading and appointment of 605 Obas, Chiefs and Baales, while he averred that their welfare and capacity building have been given the utmost attention that it deserves.

Making a case for the pulling down of 84 street gates, he clarified that, this was done to create 24 hours access to such places, which were hitherto shut against motorists before 12 midnight deadline.

He explained that out of the 148 street gates earmarked for demolition across the state, 84 of them had been pulled down for failing to abide by Government’s instruction to leave them open till 12 midnight.

According to him, “the Ministry promoted 24-hour access through gated streets in the State with the involvement of Community Development Associations in the State. So far, enforcement in 84 locations has been effected as at April, 2016. This is being done to improve security, free flow of traffic, safety of lives and properties of all citizens in the State,” he said.

Also speaking, the Special Adviser on Community and Communications, Hon. Kehinde Bamigbetan, explained that his office has successfully resolved six communal disputes, intervened in community and local government issues in the state, just as he said that his office initiated the coordination of community media for effective coverage of community news and events.

Bamigbetan said that the local government information officers are now being coordinated for effective information dissemination on government programmes and activities at the local level in addition to the initiation of the market branding and engagement process that would take information dissemination to all nooks and crannies of the state.

BUHARI’S SECRET IDENTICAL TWIN BROTHER

• Bashorun J.K. Randle, OFR, FCA

President Mohammadu Buhari

When Professor ‘Folabi Olumide chose Harbour Point, Victoria Island for the celebration of his 80th birthday, he failed to produce his secret identical twin brother-President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, but we shall come to that later.

Bashorun J K Randle

The party was not meant to be “the party of the year.”  It was just great fun and the ambience was a perfect score – food, drinks, music, poetry, dancing plus a review of two books written by the celebrant.  Such infectious joy and abundance of conviviality are increasingly rare while we are under siege as we ponder on the destiny of a nation that has been ambushed by vandals, bandits and marauders.  All the same, the celebrant accompanied by his radiant wife Folasade made the event memorable by reminding us that even if its only by a thin cord, we are still connected with civilization.

Up-close and personal with AMVCA 2016 Best Male Actor, DKD

 The emergence of Abuja boy and Nollywood rave of the moment Daniel K. Daniel as Best Male Actor in a drama, at the 2016 AMVCA has been greeted with joy and positive reactions by movie watchers.

The announcement at the event of March 5 by Kate Henshaw, alongside RMD was simple and short: " And the winner is.... (silence, followed by a prestige pause)....DKD!". But the famous pair that presented that high-point award of the night could not hide their excitement. Neither could the audience, and the conference hall in Eko Hotel, Lagos erupted in spontaneous approval. A group of young men spontaneously arose and almost carried him to the stage. They could have passed for friends and relations, but, alas, all but one turned out to be jubilant fans that could not hold back their excitement.