LEKKI CIRCLE MALL SET FOR DECECEMBER 2015 COMPLETION DATE

L-R: Principal Consultant, Ibukun Efuntayo &Co, Emmanuel Efuntayo,

Development Manager, RMB Westport, Roy Hamlyn,MD/CEO,Estatelinks, Gbenga

Olaniyan,Leasing Manager, Broll Nigeria, Obiajulu Uzoigwe,Lead Architect,

Stauch Vorster Architects International, Paul Symondson at the Circle Mall

and Circle Business Centre Tenant Forum, held at Circle Mall, Lekki,Lagos.

Circle Mall, a multipurpose shopping mall and business office space currently being constructed in the Jakande axis on the Lekki Express way will be set for business by December 2015.

This was disclosed by the Development Manager of Westport RMB, Mr. Roy Hamlyn. Westport RMB is the major developer and investor in the

TOP SOCIALITE,OKOYA AWARDS SCHOLARSHIP TO 40 STUDENTS

[caption id="attachment_6668" align="alignleft" width="426" caption="Mrs. Folashade Okoya"][/caption]

By Niyi Tabiti

Top socialite and industrialist, Chief Rasaq Akanni Okoya and his wife, Folashade have awarded schorlaships to 40 less priviledged students in tetiary institutions in Lagos State.

Folashade Okoya said the schorlaship scheme is part of her husband's vision to empower youth through education.She noted that her husband, who is the Chairman of Eleganza Group of Companies,RAO Property and other business concerns has been a great supporter of the educational sector through his philantropic gestures. He has been helping a lot of indigent students, he has also donated books and given support to various schools in the past.The students would get N100,000 each.

Before now,the Okoya's are known to host some of the most flamboyant parties in town. Only few people in Nigerian can out do the Okoyas when it come to hosting parties.

Click here to see Rasaq Okoya's wedding to Sade Okoya and how he celebrated his 68th birthday.

Biola Okoya-the fashionista

Lanre and Sophia Okoya's wedding-The carnival, the photos the gist

More gist from Okoya and Sade's wedding inside their palatial estate

ADE BAKARE ANNOUNCES 2009 ENTRIES FOR THE YOUNG DESIGNERS CREATIVE COMPETITION AWARD 2009...ABIMBOLA FASHOLA OTHERS SLATED TO ATTEND

The 2^nd Young Designer’s Creative Competition / Award will be held on the 7 March 2009 at the new Federal Palace Hotel,Victoria Island with the first Lady of Lagos State, Mrs Abimbola Fashola as the Special guest of honour. She also attended the inaugural edition.
The YDCC started in 2006 and was first held in May at the Civic Centre in the presence of the former first Lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu.

It was Founded by Ade Bakare due to constant demand by young designers who wanted to work with him. He also opened a shop in Victoria Island in 2005 to cope with his clients orders, though still based in London, England. The YDCC is a way for him to bring his expertise to the Nigerian fashion industry and also to empower new talent.

Bakare lectures on fashion in England where he trained. He is also involved in fashion workshops and trade fairs
The 1^st event was very successful and attracted almost 500 entries from all over Nigeria. Ten finalists were selected and then showcased their clothes at the event. They were also given cash prices and received lots of publicity in the media.
The event was attended by a lot of high profile people such as Mrs Opral Benson, Mrs Folorunsho Alakija, Mrs Kay Ovia, Grace Egbagbe, Mrs Teju Phillips, Mr Dele Momodu, Mrs Tosin Bakare, Senator Ita Giwa, Mr Bisi Olatilo, Biola Okoya and Mr Akin Ariyo.
The panels of judges included Mrs. Helen Ajayi of my style solutions,Funmi Iyanda,a leading media personality, Remi Osholake popularly known for her clothing line,REMI LAGOS, Ruth Osime the Style Editor of This Day Newspaper group, Mudi,another designer of note,Yahaya, Abubakar Tafawa-balewa,a publisher. Others are Mrs. Aima Lijadu, Mr Taofik Okoya, Mr Bobby Eke and Binta Sukai.
The compere was Mrs. Yemisi Kuti.This year; the prices are a bit higher with the winner also granted a 2 month placement at Ade Bakare Couture.
The 10 finalists will be given cash prizes to make up their designs and the designs will be shown on the day of the show in front of an esteemed audience.

UNCOMMON FASHIONISTA:WHEN BIOLA OKOYA STEPS OUT LAST NIGHT AT CITY PEOPLE FASHION & STYLE AWARDS

Biola Okoya use to be one of the most talked about big girls in Nigeria until she fizzled out of social scene for sometime. Now, it look as if the flamboyant daughter of billionaire business mogul, Alhaji Rasaq Akanni Okoya is back on the scene!

When it comes to partying, Biola was in the top league of those who organise the most sassy and flamboyant parties in town (The kind that you see even top brass socialites begging for invitation)

All that have reduced and you can only catch her at few parties these days. http://www.niyitabiti.com/ sighted her last night ( 3 August 2008) stepping into the venue of the City People Fashion and Style Awards at MUSON Centre, Onikan.She came with Nma Bakassi, Chief Mrs. Florence Ita-Giwa.

My camera could not resist taking those gold rings she wore on her feet!Here, it is captured and arrowed by http://www.niyitabiti.com/
Once married to childhood love (Akinwande Johnson) , Biola is the fifth child of her father and second child of her mum. Party or no party, she regarded as one of the brains behind the vast business empire of her father which spans manufacturing, property etc.

She was the topic of gossip bewteen two socialites that saw her at MUSON Centre last night. One of them said she was suprised to see Biola at the party. She also wondered why the 42 year old mother of three has not remarried years after her official divorce from Mr.Johnson. The lady also asked if it was true the gist that Biola relocated abroad some years back to ease the tension of controversial stories written about her every now and them by various tabloids.

The other one said she was not suprised that Biola spent so much money on fashion accessories, afterall she is very dedicated to the day to day running of her father companies.

Hmmm...she works hard and plays hard (Like my friend would say) ...I concluded!( abi mo paro ni?)

YET ANOTHER CARNIVAL IN OKOYA'S HOUSEHOLD AS LANRE FORMALLY WEDS SOPHIA

Pix 1-Demola Olota
Pix 2-Bisola Dejonwon
Pix 3- Osile of Egbaland,Oba Adedapo Tejuosho (Middle) and Okoya's first daughter who married his own son,Lanre.
Pix 4- The Couple
Pix 5- Okoya thanking some high society women who came to celebrate with his family.The Eleganza boss even gave some 'something'.If my eyes serve me right, he gave them money.
Pix 6- Biola Okoya and Senator Florence Ita-Giwa.Biola describe Ita-Giwa as her second mum.

Story & Photos by Niyi Tabiti

Chief Reporter

Nigeria’s top celebrity men and women, once again, gathered at the residence of Chief Rasaq Akanni Okoya for another talk of the town shindig. The event took place yesterday.
This time around, the Chairman of Eleganza Industries pulled notable citizens together for the wedding ceremony between Risikat Sophia Onifade and his son; Lanre.The ceremony took place inside Okoya’s magnificent Oluwa Ni Sola Estate, Ajah.

The event is coming barely three months after the Billionaire himself formally married Sade, his youngest wife and mother of four of his children at the same venue.
Dignitaries at the event included former Minister of Industires,Chief (Mrs) Nike Akande,Wife of former Lagos State Governor,Chief (Mrs.) Oluremi Tinubu, the Asipa of Lagos, Chief Ahmed Onibudo,Prince (Dr.)Samuel Adedoyin,Bola Awosika,Wife of former Minister for Petroleum,Mrs.Nike Agunbiade-Etiebet,Madam Kofo (Abiola Atanda),The Osile of Egbaland,Oba Adedapo Tejuosho,Olumide Harry Akande,Senator Florence Ita-Giwa and several others. Of course the Okoya’s were also well represented.
Right from the First wife,Alhaja Kuburat,Bola,Biola,Aina,Sade,Bimbo,Taofeek,Hadiza and their cousin Bisola Dejonwo and her mother Alhaja Wosila Okoya-Badmus,it was fun galore.
Demola Olota was on the band stand and he thrilled the guests.

Sophia is an half -caste and she has been with Lanre for some time. The two believe this is the best time to formalise their union.

The Chief Bridesmaid was Katia Kumar while the Best Man was Adeniyi Akadiri. The Bride Maids list included star actress,Dakore Egbuson (In fact she caught the bouquet and Olu Harry Akande later told http://www.niyitabiti.blogspot.com/ not to worry because marriage may come sooner than expected.

Others are Safiya Ibrahim,Sola Adewunmi (daugher of Chief Niyi Adewunmi, the top aide of Chief Mike Adenuga of Globacom),Abebi Akerele and Vicky Monyah.

On the groom side, we had the likes of Olumide Osoba (son of former governor of Ogun State,Aremo Olusegun Osoba),Lare Ajagun,Shobuleola Ogunlesi,Olayi and Idris Okoya.

We gathered got her gown from Milano in Italy.Sophia's hair was doine by Supreme Salon.Guess what?Taofeek Okoya, the groom's brother did the decoration (The guy is also into doll making)