Buckle up Abuja, it's going to be an adrenaline rush quest, come this Sunday 20/12/15. Your itinerary shouldn't be sealed without being a part of these two tidal experiences. The "Koko Tour After-Party" featuring D'Banj and Friends: 2Baba, Timaya, Wande Coal, Tonto Dikeh, Vector, Naeto C, Oritse Femi, KaySwitch, 2Kris, Ketchup, Orezi, Banky W.
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TUFACE Idibia can be rightly said be part of creators of the modern Nigerian music. However, the artiste made use of his voice in 2015, to encourage youths not to be used as tools for violence was Tuface Idibia, with the flag-off of his ‘Vote not fight Election no be war” campaign, geared towards a violence free electoral.
The timely initiative was officially unveiled at a press conference held in Lagos on the September 30, 2014.
The campaign was put together by the 2face Foundation in partnership with Young Stars Foundation, National Democratic Institute (NDI), and other partner organisations.
The voter education campaign was aimed at promoting peaceful participation by Nigerian youth in the 2015 elections. The campaign seeks to encourage youth to make a commitment to shun violence and embrace peace.
Known for his uniqueness the legendary singer also made headline with his Fortyfied concert; celebration of a living legend, to mark his 40th birthday while also highlighting his achievements thus far, with the launch of a book.
The event attracted top notch personalities and colleagues from around the globe.
Adekunle Gold
ADEKUNLE Gold whose real name is Adekunle Kosoko has continued on a success path following his breakthrough into the Nigerian music scene with Sade 2014. Signed under YBNL Records, Adekunle followed up with Orente and early December, he released his third single,Pick Up, an inspirational song asking God to answer his desires.
His exploits enabled him to clinch the ‘Revelation of the Year in Africa’ award at the All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA 2015. Unknown to some people, Adekunle is also a graphic designer and designed the YBNL logo. As an artiste however, he enjoys regular airplay on radio and performs regularly at shows.
Small Doctor
SMALL Doctor comes raw, direct and full in your face. Known by his moniker, ‘Akeweje Oganla’, his peculiar style of music which blends fast tempo beats with street lingo and slangs has made him popular. And it is this street credibility that ensured the Mosquito crooner got a 2015 Headies nomination in the ‘Best Street Hop’ category, his first major nomination for an award. He however, will be battling for the title with Olamide (Bobo), Reminisce (Skilashi), Falz (Ello Bae) as well as as Masterkraft’s Indomie which features Olamide, CDQ and Davido.
Olamide
FOR Olamide whose real name is Olamide Adedeji, 2015 has been bountiful. The artiste who records his songs in Yoruba with a high dose of street slangs continued endearing himself to a growing global fanbase. His effort was rewarded with the award of ‘Best Male Artiste in West Africa’ at the All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA 2015. MTV Base also named Olamide at the Hottest Nigerian artiste 2015.
In November, he dropped his fifth album Eyan Mayweather. The founder of burgeoning music label, YBNL, also got seven nominations the highest for any artiste at the 2015 TooXclusive Awards. And in December, Google also recognised Olamide’s videos of Bobo, FalilaKetan, MeloMelo and Lagos Boys in its YouTube Rewind of 2015 which reviews videos that shaped the world in 2015.
Yemi Alade
SHE might not have found her Johnny, but musician Yemi Alade is blazing trails in the industry. She clinched the Best Female Artist in Western Africa at the All Africa Music Awards in November. Earlier in July, the 26-year old songstress got Best Female Artiste in Africa at the 2015 MTV Africa Music Awards, MAMA. In 2014, she released her first album, Kings of Queen which have garnered some awards.
D’banj
AFTER a brief hiatus from active music scene, Dapo Oyebanjo, more popularly known as Kokomaster D’Banj, released a visula EP titled ‘An Epic Journey’ to mark his 10 years of being an entertainer. In July, he won the Legendary Award at MTV Africa Music Awards, MAMA 2015.Confidential, one of the tracks on the album, features Hollywood actor, Idris Elba and rapper, Shadow Boxer.
D’banj who was appointed as Agriculture Ambassador by the Nigerian government last year also became the Brand Ambassador of Slot, and he received a brand new Porsche for that. After a spending seven years with Mo’Hits records with Don Jazzy, D’banj signed to Kanye West’s Good Music record label.Also, after a two-year break, D’banj is also set to revive his Koko Concert, taking the show to five Nigerian cities between December 5 and December 29.
The maiden edition of Koko Concert took place in 2010 in the United Kingdom while the subsequent year’s concert was held in Nigeria. The 2012 concert saw D’banj bring to Nigeria G.O.O.D Music acts Big Sean, Pusha T as well as Tinie Tempah and Idris Elba.
Supreme Mavin Dynasty
Arguably the most successful music group in Nigeria, the Supreme Mavin Dynasty led by Don Jazzy continued to be impressive. Though SMD’s first lady Tiwa Savage put to bed a baby boy and wasn’t so much active, it wasn’t the case for the rest of the crew.
The family – Don Jazzy, Tiwa Savage, Dr Sid, D’Prince, Di’Ja, Reekado Banks and Korede Bello came out with a single, Jantamantafollowing the mould of Dorobucci and Adaobi.
In August, Don Jazzy and Reekado Banks won the City People Entertainment Awards respectively for ‘Special Recognition’ and ‘Most Promising Act of the year (Male)’ categories while Mavin Records got the Record Label of the Year Award. Reekado Banks and Korede Bello’s videos have garnered over 1.2million and one million views respectively on Youtube. Tiwa Savage and Reekado Banks were also nominated for the 2016 KORA All-Africa Music Awards in the Best Female (West Africa), Most Promising Male Artiste of Africa categories respectively while Mavin’s Adaobi was nominated for Best Collaboration.
On their individual capacities, Don Jazzy became a Johnnie Walker Ambassador while Korede Bello was practically everywhere as his hit single, GodWin, trended on virtually every platform. GodWin won ‘The Song of the Year’ award at the 4th Annual Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards (GIAMA). Bello who is back in school for his HND even performed at President Muhammadu Buhari’s inauguration.
Reekado Banks, famed for his singles ‘Chop Am’ and ‘Katapot’ also did a foreign collaboration with one of Jay Z’s artistes.
Wizkid and Davido end rift
They are contemporaries yet the music industry has cast a sort of rivalry between Wizkid and Davido. This has made the young musicians to be pitted against each other to determine whose music is better, who is richer, who has the most awards and who has more fans.
Though this rivalry may be good for business, those expecting a collaboration had waited a while. The fans however, got their wish as Wizkid and Davido stunned industry watchers when they both performed at the grand finale of the Remy Martin club tour which held at Ocean View, Victoria Island, Lagos early December.
Though their new albums are due to be released in 2016, fans enjoyed the sight of Wizkid and Davido on the same stage at the same time before 2015 wound out.
ONE campaign
ONE Campaign, inspired by an advocacy organization ONE, made headline in the year 2015, with its focus on using prominent singers globally to preach against the impact of poverty on gender equality.
The campaign had seven prominent African singers -Victoria Kimani from Kenya, South African Judith Sephuma, Waje from Nigeria, Vanessa Mdee from Tanzania, Arielle T from Gabon, Gabriela from Mozambique and Selomor Mtukudzi from Zimbabwe – recorded the song ‘Strong Girl’ to address the gender inequality that they believe goes hand-in-hand with poverty. They sang their hearts out in the song.
The song is inspired by a recently released report by ONE, an advocacy organisation that aims to fight extreme poverty and preventable diseases particularly in Africa titled Poverty is Sexist: Why girls and women must be at the heart of the fight to end extreme poverty.
Lead singer of legendary Irish band U2 and founder of One Campaign, Bono, also paid a visit to Nigeria; Bono who is the front runner of One Campaign’s philanthropic movement to alleviate poverty in Africa got to meet with some of Nigerian celebrities like Cobhams Asuquo, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Waje and D’banj.
‘Strong Girl’ was produced by award winning music producer Cobhams Asuquo.
T he Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu yesterday said the Federal Government will not scrap the Petroleum Support Fund (also known as subsidy) but will, instead, embark on price modulation.
He denied saying the price of petrol will go up in January.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja, he said the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) will alongside the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) sit to determine the new template to arrive at a new price which will be subject to quarterly review in line with the price of crude oil.
He explained that government is planning to use N87 and N97 as a ceiling for the price modulation at every given time instead of fixing the fuel price without basis.
Kachikwu said: “ I did not say that refine product will sell N97 next year. That is not what I said. I said between a bound of N87 and N97. We are going to look at the prices.
“Today the price is close to N87 so there might be no need to change prices. By January, it may well go up slightly. By February it may well go up slightly. But March it may well go up slightly; by April, it may come down.
“So it is all a dynamic of what the price of crude is. So I have not put a static figure; myself and PPPRA will sit down to do the calculation to be able to announce what the PMS will sell for in January. We do not anticipate any major shift in the cost of crude today.”
The minister who lamented that the Federal Government spent an unbearable over N1 trillion on fuel subsidy this year said NNPC has to take measures to whittle some of the cost elements of the subsidy template.
He said government will now look at how to reduce its allocation to the Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF) and foreign exchange.
He said: “Now what we are doing is review the PPPRA template – how we can whittle down some of the cost elements – the cost for clearing, allocation for PEF? We will reduce – foreign exchange provision (what do we do with the foreign exchange so that some stability in the exchange rate (is acheived?)
“ It is a key component that when you deregulate, you are back to square one or so. So we are looking at how do we provide allocation in the oil industry so that there is certainty in terms in the regime for FS and that saves you the exchange component in the whole analysis.”
He said President Muhammadu Buhari has resolved that government will get a technical partner to repair and run the refineries and bring out its investment.
However, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has said removal of the subsidy will free over N700 billion annually which can be channeled to provision of infrastructure like roads, education, health service, power, security, creation of jobs and basic benefits for the poor in the society.
The statement said that while addressing a Policy Roundtable on Subsidy Removal Debate organized by the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, the Acting Executive Secretary, Dr Orji argued; “From NEITI’s independent audit report, over N4 trillion has been paid as subsidy to marketers from 2006-2012. The breakdown of the subsidy shows that N2.197Billion was paid as subsidy in 2006. This rose to N236.64Billion in 2007 and N360.1Billion in 2008. In 2009 the country paid N198.1Billion as subsidy for petroleum products and in 2010 the subsidy payment rose to N416.45Billion. The payments skyrocketed to N1.9 trillion in 2011. Payments of oil subsidy declined to N690Billion in 2012 following the subsidy protests across the country in January of that year”.
In the spirit of Christmas, Flux Factory presents “Final (Baba-Nla Cover)” by Speroachbeatz and E.C.O. The dynamic duo came up with a smashing cover to the already raving song by the starboy CEO. The cover adds some comic lyrics to the song.
Listen and share your thoughts!
Dishing out 2 videos instantly, here is “Eyan Mayweather” by YBNL’s head, Olamide off the album titled “Eyan Mayweather”.
Enjoy!
.To spend N369 m on Rio 2016 campaign
From Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) board has proposed a budget of N7.2 billion for the 2016 year. The board tabled the amount before the football stakeholders at the Annual General Assembly (AGA) held in Abuja on Wednesday.
Much of the federation's revenue is expected to be generated via government subventions, local sponsorship, FIFA grants and local competitions.
The federal government remains the biggest revenue stream for the 'Glasshouse' with its expected subvention for the forthcoming year put at N6.1 billion. Out of that amount, N5.8 billion is the money proposed to be spent on sporting activities, while N324,795,509 is budgeted for recurrent expenditure.
The football campaign by Dream Team VI at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro will gulp N369 million. The team handled by Samson Siasia recently won the African U-23 Championship in Senegal and will targeting Nigeria’s second soccer gold medal since the unmatched feat by their forerunners at Atlanta 1996.
The federation has estimated N89 million as the cost of international friendly matches to tune up the team,
while another N279 million is set aside for the team during the Olympic football competition proper in Brazil.
Sponsorship fees from Globacom, Guinness and other companies, amounting to N792 million will substantially augment the federation's revenue.
International football bodies FIFA and CAF will provide as grants $250,000 and $100,000, estimated at N79million while income from the local league will amount to N34.5 million.
ON December 14, 1972, Eugene Cernan became the last astronaut (so far) to stand on the Moon’s surface.
Top ten things you did not know about the moon
1. He was the last man to leave the Moon but only the 11th of 12 to arrive there. Harrison Schmitt exited the lunar module of Apollo 17 after Cernan.
2. Although other planets have larger satellites than our Moon, the ratio of our Moon’s diameter to that of Earth is the largest in the solar system.
3. The Moon’s origin is unclear but the most likely theory is that it resulted from a collision between Earth and another planet over 4 billion years ago.
4. The hypothetical body that collided with Earth all those years ago has been given the name Theia, the mythological mother of Moon Goddess Selene.
5. The Moon is slowly moving further away from Earth at about 4cm a year.
6. The average gravitational pull on the Moon is only a sixth of that on Earth.
7. The same side of the Moon always faces Earth but only 41 per cent of its surface is never seen.
8. The highest point on the Moon is higher above its surface than Mount Everest on Earth.
9. Of the 12 men who walked on the Moon between 1969 and 1972, eight are still alive. They are all in their 80s.
10. “You seen one Earth, you’ve seen them all.” (Harrison Schmitt).
Rock To Work takes a walk down plus size lane. We embark on a virtual journey of loving the fashion sense of bigger than average men. Plus, we’ll give you Five pointers on what’s best to wear if you are on the plus size.
Tip 1: Always wear pants that allow your thighs breath. When pant material becomes damp and sticks to the skin, it looks like wearing foil paper.
Tip 2: Every plus sized man must own a hat and glasses. Those two accessories can change a man’s appearance in a minute. Revamp from norm to stylish.
Tip 3: Folded pant bottom trend is very fashionable for the plus sized man and the best part of it all is he even gets to choose what length he wants it folded to.
Tip 4: Shorts never looked better on any man than the plus sized. In this piece of clothing, his body hugs the shorts fabric while defining his powerful things and legs.
Tip 5: When rocking a suit, the suit pant doesn’t have to be as slim fitted as required for an average sized guy.
Check out Images Below:
Being exposed to second-hand smoke causes the menopause to start up to two years earlier, a study has warned.
Smoking and living with heavy smokers brings on the change quicker before the age of 50 than non-smokers.
And one of the largest studies of its kind found an increased risk of infertility.
Current or former smoking was associated with a 14 per cent greater risk of infertility and a 26 per cent heightened risk of menopause before the age of 50.
The average age at the start of the menopause was significantly earlier among smokers than it was among those who have never smoked and who hadn’t been exposed to second-hand smoke.
CURRENT OR FORMER SMOKING
14%
26%
Greater risk of infertility
Raised risk of menopause before age 50
(Roswell Park Cancer Institute)
For heavy smokers, defined as over 30 a day, the menopause arrived almost 22 months earlier for those who said they had started smoking before their 15th birthday and 18 months earlier among those who smoked at least 25 cigarettes a day.
Women exposed to second-hand smoke at the highest level – 10 or more years of living with a smoker as a child, 20 or more years of living with a smoking partner who smoked at home, and 10 or more years working with a smoker – were 18 per cent more likely to have had infertility problems than women who had never been exposed to passive smoking.
The highest level of passive smoke exposure was associated with the arrival of menopause 13 months earlier than those never exposed to it.
HIGHEST LEVEL OF PASSIVE SMOKING VERSUS NEVER EXPOSED TO IT
18%
13
More likely to have had infertility problems
Earlier arrival of menopause in months
(Roswell Park Cancer Institute)
Danielle Smith, of the Department of Health Behavior at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in the US, said: “Our study demonstrates significant associations between lifetime tobacco exposure – by active smoking of current and former smokers and by independently studied secondhand smoke exposure – and women’s health issues of infertility and menopause occurring before the age of 50 years.
“It is one of the first studies of this size and statistical power to investigate and quantify active and passive smoking and women’s health issues.
“It strengthens the current evidence that all women need to be protected from active and passive tobacco smoke.”
The study was based on lifetime smoking habits, fertility problems, and age at natural menopause of 93,676 women taking part in the Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study.
All had gone through the menopause and were aged between 50 and 79 when they were recruited to the study between 1993 and 1998.
Details of tobacco exposure and fertility including that of the partner were available for 88,732 women.
And 79,690 had had a natural menopause.
Although the clinical significance of earlier menopause was not clear other studies have linked earlier menopause to a heightened risk of death from any cause.
PA
Deadly: Fags
And there are plausible biological explanations for the results as the toxins found in tobacco smoke are known to have various deleterious effects on many aspects of reproduction and to disrupt hormone production and activity.
Ms Smith added: “Our findings support the association between active smoking and infertility.
“The suggestive dose-response relationship between heavier smoking and infertility found in our analysis are similar to measures of association found in another large prospective cohort study.
“Associations between secondhand smoke and infertility have been studied since the 1980’s with mixed results, perhaps due to small sample sizes and/or methodological limitations.
“Using data from a large prospective cohort, our study adds to the evidence base by demonstrating significant associations between the highest secondhand smoke exposure during reproductive life and delayed conception.”
The study was published in the journal Tobacco Control.
News reports have revealed that the police Barracks in the Victoria Island area of Lagos State was engulfed in flames, yesterday, December 16.
The fire outbreak occurred in one of the block of apartments in the Police barracks situated at Kofo Abayomi street ,Victoria Island in Lagos.
As at the time the photos of the flames were taken, the fire services were yet to arrive at the scene, while residents did their best to put out the flames.
The cause of the fire outbreak has yet to be determined, although there was no mention of any loss of lives.
The extent of the damage caused by the fire is also yet to be determined.
This fire incident follows the fire outbreak which occurred at the Spar shopping Mall, lekki, earlier this week.
Roman Abramovich could be forced to pay Mourinho up to £10million after the Portuguese manager signed a four-year deal this summer.
With that deal only a few months old, and no clause in Mourinho’s contract, Sportsmail understands that the sacked manager will be paid by Chelsea until he lands another job.
As part of the settlement to leave by ‘mutual consent’, he is being paid £250,000 a week up to a maximum of £10m.
If he were to take a job next week they would only pay him nominal compensation, but an extended break from football would see him earn the full £10m.
Mourinho’s management career
Benfica (2000)
Uniao de Leiria (2001-02)
Porto (2002-04) 2 League titles, 1 Cup, 1 Champions League
Chelsea (2004-07) 2 Premier League titles, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cups
Inter (2008-10) 2 Serie A titles, 1 Coppa Italia, 1 Champions League
Real Madrid (2010-13) 1 La Liga title, 1 Copa del Rey
Chelsea (2013-15) 1 Premier League title, 1 League Cup
