MODEL OF THE WEEK-TRACY ONYEKACHUKWU

BY IFY


Can you spot her in the crowd? Well she is the naive looking girl in a yellow dress, sitting with her legs crossed. Starting off from a humble background , all TRACY had going for her at the time were fairy tale dreams of what she wanted to be- a model and schooling overseas. With a background like hers , this was just impossibe. So big were these dreams that ‘fear’[as she puts it] would not allow her ever voice out such. But she was strong willed and determined, she knew she would achieve it someway, somehow.


After wining the crown of Elite model look organised by Beth Modelling Agency- here in Nigeria, things started to happen for this "Chic"




Today, TRACY ONYEKACHUKWU’S dreams are being fulfilled as she is the first Nigerian to be a part of the ELITE MODEL LOOK, a world class model management and a totally unidentical twin, is on her way to the United Kingdom where she would be executing her three year contract with ELITE MODELLING AGENCY. TRACY started by relocating to lagos after the passing away of her father in umunede Delta state where she stayed with her mother. In a bid to survive in the harsh city of lagos, TRACY took up a job as a sales girl in computer village cynem investment ltd. It was while working there that she first heard about BETH MODELLING AGENCY.




Still not loosing sight of her dreams, TRACY enrolled as one of the 15 girls who took part in the Elites models look that was taking place at the time. Today TRACY who is the pride of her family and Beth modelling agency, would be walking the same road the likes of TYRA BANKS, NAOMI CAMPBELL, CINDY CRAWFORD etc all walked as ELITE was their propelling force. 5’10ft tall, TRACY is on point with achieving her dreams, as she struts her way into placing Nigeria once more on the map of world class models. See how she s blazing the ramp at the London fashion week.

Face Washing Tip: Use a Washcloth

A great way to gently exfoliate skin is simple: use a washcloth. The fabric naturally rids face of excess oils, dirt and build-up.

-Also, don't want to re-use a washcloth too many times.

- Do treat yourself with a warm washcloth every once in awhile (the warmer the washcloth, the more spa-like the cleansing).

-You can even get fancy with special peppermint oils. A quick nuke in the microwave and that scented washcloth will make you feel like you're in Veni Vici spa on Ligali Ayorinde, Victoria island , getting pampered for 5,000 naira.

Zain Boosts SMEs with ‘OgaLine’

Zain, the leading mobile telecommunications provider in Africa and the Middle East, has announced the introduction of ‘OgaLine’ from Zain My Business, a unique package that is specially designed to assist and improve the efficiency of mobile usage for business owners and their workforce.


‘OgaLine’ from Zain My Business is a result of extensive research conducted across several Zain markets to uncover what entrepreneurs require from their mobile service provider to support their day to day commercial activities, so they have the peace of mind and more time to grow their businesses.
‘OgaLine’ from Zain My Business comes with several ground-breaking features that will, for the first time in Africa, allow business owners to manage mobile communication costs throughout their commercial enterprise by controlling both budget and airtime usage, as well as being able to transfer airtime to those who are part of their ‘OgaLine’ mobile network.

Business owners may have up to 50 people on the service, as the package is sold with an oga and a worker line initially, with the option to increase to 49, the number of worker lines. These proprietors and entrepreneurs will then be able to manage and monitor their staff or worker mobile phones by using the oga line to send airtime anytime, anywhere to them as ‘OgaLine’ from Zain My Business is part of Zain’s ‘One Network’ platform that covers 22 countries across Africa and the Middle East.
 With the new package, business owners can also determine and allocate exact call time needed for specific business transactions, control budgets, and make mobile calls between ‘ogaline’ and workers’ line at a discounted rate.
 “We are proud to be the first telecommunications operator in Africa to offer a world class innovation that will empower business owners, entrepreneurs and proprietors to conduct their businesses in an all new, impressive fashion. This is, without a doubt, an extension of our brand promise of a ‘wonderful world’ to informal - small and medium scale business owners in Nigeria,” said Alain Sainte-Marie, Chief Executive Officer of Zain Nigeria.
 All lines under the ‘OgaLine’ from Zain ‘My Business’ package have access to the usual prepaid Zain Value Added Services – One Network, roaming,, Voicemail, WAP, information services, MMS, social network, inspirational services, caller ring back tone, data roaming etc. – at the standard rates.

According to the Chief Commercial Officer of Zain Nigeria, Shamel Hanafi, the introduction of the new package is an expression of Zain’s commitment to continuously support and boost informal enterprises in Nigeria as the product will help drive business efficiency and productivity, thereby growing the Nigerian economy.
“We consider this product launch an epoch-making occasion because we are entering into a new phase of our journey to empower and help Nigerians, especially business men and women in the informal sector of the economy, to enjoy a wonderful world,” said Hanafi.

For more details on the dynamics of “OgaLine from ZainMy Business’, please visit http://www.ng.zain.com/

HOW TO CARE FOR… Ur’ Handbag

BY OBY



INTERIORS
Many bags are lined with canvas, nylon or pig suede. To clean, gently pull the interior inside out and use a standard lint roller to pick up debris.


Zippers
Keep these fasteners working smoothly by running a piece of natural beeswax (found in hardware stores) over a zipper’s open teeth.



HANDLES AND STRAPS:
Residue from lotions can discolor and age material-another good reason to keep hands clean. Also, don’t overstuff a bag; too much weight can weaken stitching or damage straps.


HARDWARE:
Deep scratches or cracks on metal are virtually impossible to repair. But bag and shoe repair shops can replate hardware to hide finer flaws.


EXTERIORS:
Leather, of course, is a skin, so keep it happy and moisturized with a leather conditioning cream. There’s no reason to treat it with a protectant or a silicone spray, caught in the rain? Run for cover, then dab-don’t wipe –moisture away.


BOTTOMS:
Structured bags with stiff bottoms often have “feet” (metal rivets incorporated into the base) to protect the leather against scratches and stains. Feet can also be added by a professional.

MY DESIGNER HAUS - RECREATION SHIRTS

THE COLLECTION
The collection, themed Patterns and Prints is a fresh fusion of western and ethnic fabrics to create shirts that are not only accessible but also stylish. Past collections were focused more on western fabrics, but with the new collection, there is a flirtatious edge mingling with African and western fabrics simplicity with an ethnic fringe.

Pattern&prints aptly describes this marriage between the two worlds and this would surely take our Recreation lady a notch higher in CLAS.

Recreation shirts is geared at Re-create"ing" the norms of how women wear and enjoy their number one wardrobe staple: Shirts. The vision is to provide alternative stylish shirts for the discerning woman of style. The Recreation woman is pure CLAS! She is Confident, Lovely, Accessible& Stylish.



TALE’S FASHION PROFILE
Tale’s fashion foray started when she went to fashion school at 16 and learnt the ‘traditional rudiments of cut and sew’. She simply put this flair at the back burner to pursue a degree in Accounting and an MBA. Her love for fashion was rekindled during her MBA when she did cases like Kate Spade, the designer who started her accessory and then fashion line after her own schooling. This led her to put her 7 year corporate career to rest to learn pattern making.
These combined with her love for retail led her to start a shirt line called ‘Recreation’ with the inspiration to make wardrobe staples more stylish and versatile. Recreation is gradually transforming to offer more pieces for the stylish upwardly mobile woman.
Her industry role models include Anne Fontaine, Karen Millen and Naracamicie. As a commercial designer she strives to continue to create stylish affordable clothing.

ZAIN NIGERIA UNVEILS STATE-OF -THE -ART CONSUMER POINT IN LAGOS

Niyi Tabiti
News Editor

As parts of efforts to promote consumer satisfaction, Zain Nigeria, one of Nigeria’s leading telecom companies recently unveiled a state of the art consumer contact point in Lagos. Gistmaster gathered that Zain is committed to serving its numerous consumers and provide them with unique mobile services experience.

Photo Caption:

1. Babatunde Williams, Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Corporate Matters; Khaled Khorshid, Chief Operating Officer, Zain Nigeria; Shamel Hanafi, Chief Commercial Officer, Zain Nigeria; and Tamer Halbouny, Director of Sales, Zain Nigeria, during the commissioning of Zain’s new state-of-the-art Consumer Contact Point in Lagos at the weekend

2. Susan Onuigbo, Sales Support Team Member showing the guest of Honour, Babatunde Williams, Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Corporate Matters and Khaled Khorshid, Chief Operating Officer, Zain Nigeria how to operate one of the gadgets a visual display device) deployed for customers use, during the commissioning of Zain’s new state-of-the-art Consumer Contact Point in Lagos at the weekend

HOUSE OF TARA BEAUTY WORKSHOP

Learn the basics of makeup in 1 day: gele tying, everyday look, engagement look and more. (certificates will be awarded).

Date: 27th February, 2010 (Ikeja)
Venue: 22a, Omotayo Ojo street, Ikeja, Lagos
and
Date:6th March, 2010 (Victoria Island)
Venue: 9a, Oko Awo street, Victoria Island, Lagos
Time: 11am-3pm.

NIGERIA BILLIONAIRE OBA OTUDEKO BATTLE FOR ZAIN TELECOM AND $10.7 BILLION BHARTI AIRTEL ACQUISITION

By Niyi Tabiti
News Editor/www.gistmaster.com

The Chief Executive officer of Zain Telecom,Nabal Bin Salama has said there is no need for the public to be worried over the current ownership dispute that is facing its Nigeria operations.Salama made the statement in India last week.



Salama said he is confident the dispute involving two major 'minority' shareholders in its Nigerian operations would be resolved soon. It should be recalled that Nigerian Billionaire and investor, Mr.Obafoluke Otudeko, whose company owned 14 per cent of Zain (through his company, Broad communications) and South Africa’s Econet wireless had publicly questioned the acquisition of the 65 per cent controlling shares of Zain by Bharti Airtel.


The aggrieved parties thereby went to court to terminate the potential acquisition because it did not follow due process.Otudeko and co also said the company should have given them the benefit of refusal of the stakes before inviting Bharti


Salam said the judgement in the case is yet to come and that they are in a good position so no one should panic.


Bharti is set to acquire 65 per cent of Zain Nigeria for a whooping sum of $10.7 billion dollar. Economic Times report that the company’s stock fell by 12 % last wee due to panic on the side of investors.


Last week Otudeko’s Broad Communications said it has won a temporary injunction at the Federal High Court restraining from managing the Nigerian unit. It also said, it is ready to enforce the injunction.

Who wins this Nigeria business battle? Lets keep our fingers crossed!

SHEILA OKONJI BRINGS HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL TO NIGERIA

Sheila Okoji

Photo 2-Kaffy...photo 3-Stella Damasus NzeribeFor lovers of Disney’s record-breaking 2006 movie High School Musical, here’s some piece of good news!The American televised musical movie is coming to Nigeria for the first time ever, and already the licensees at Kidztrust (headed by international Entertainment tycoon Sheila Okonji Ashinze) are setting plans in motion to make this a reality.

 ‘We are doing all we can to make this work” Ashinze told journalists last week. She continues, “We are in the process of activation, right now, we have a team going round universities to enlighten the students about high school musical and you need to see the excitement on their faces’.
 Sheila has over time led KiDZ TRUST into

SOCCER STAR, KANU NWANKWO SET TO RELEASE MOVIE, BOOK

Africa’s most decorated football player, Kanu Nwankwo has joined the ranks of global figures whose compelling stories have been immortalized on the silver screen (i.e. Pele, Muhammed Ali, Maradona and Mike Tyson). But Kanu takes it a notch further as his feature is to be released simultaneously with his biography, after the World Cup in South Africa. Kanu considers this movie and book to be his heartfelt gift to Nigeria on her fiftieth anniversary, to Africa and indeed the world. This was contained in statement made available to gistmaster  today by James Amuta, the project publicist.



Titled Lion Heart: The Kanu Story, the movie is a documentary feature, directed by BBC London-trained Nigerian director Bayo Awolaja, and produced by Neil Oyenekan (Dragons Den Nigeria, Taking Sides, 2002, UK). The Executive Producers include Kanu Nwankwo, Lighthouse, IBST Media, Worldwide Management Ltd. and Connect Marketing. The movie is currently being filmed in Nigeria, London, Amsterdam, the USA, South Africa and India, and has a plot that chronicles Kanu’s inspiring rags to riches story from a unique perspective that delves into his journey into the world of soccer from his humble beginnings in Owerri, to his struggle with a near fatal heart condition at the peak of his football career, to his heart surgery in Cleveland, Ohio, and back to his tribulations and triumph at Arsenal, Ajax, Portsmouth etc. In addition to his exploits on the football pitch, the movie also unveils one of the most recognizable UNICEF ambassadors as a mentor, business man, husband, and friend. According to the Lighthouse Productions CCO, “ this film isn’t just about Kanu the footballer, we intend to reveal the Kanu story through interviews with all the world renowned players , coaches, administrators, including his wife, his child-hood friends, his doctors and those people that played very important roles in his life – it’s going to be a three dimensional documentation of Kanu’s story according to Kanu, his fans, and his critics too – it’s definitely going to be compelling and well –balanced, because we intend to highlight the challenges he’s encountered and how he overcame them, in order to inspire many young Africans with his exceptional story of hope, determination and success”


Explaining the plot a step further, the film director, who used to work with BBC Wales, added that “it’s not just about Kanu and his story, but Lion Heart: The Kanu Story is a film with a strong message that will greatly touch audiences across the globe, because despite the fact that his role as a great sportsman is emphasized, yet the salient themes in the movie revolve around determination, overcoming tribulations, triumphing over life-threatening obstacles and circumstances in life to soar to heights of iconic greatness”


Kanu expressed his excitement when he spoke about the project, saying, “I’m a very private person, but it has been a very interesting experience to watch my colleagues, team mates, coaches, doctors, fans, friends and family telling my story in a very passionate manner – this movie humbles me – I can see the aspects of my life that the world identifies with, and it’s not easy to open up your life to the world, but then it is very noble to do so in order to inspire those who wish to do the things you have done – at least so that they can see how you did it”


But why do we have to wait until after the World Cup to see this movie? And to this Kanu replied, “the producers have been working tirelessly for a very long time now, but I believe this World Cup should be part of the film, whether I play or not, I definitely want the experience to be part of the film…”


Lion Heart: The Kanu Story is scheduled for a global premiere in September, but so far the film parades an excellent cast of renowned footballers from some of the teams Kanu Nwankwo has played for, alongside coaches, and revered FIFA officials, all passionately telling the story of a true African icon in more than 4 languages.


An official movie trailer, posters, and snippets from the projects have been scheduled to be leaked to the media soon. Also, an interactive website is also in the works, and fans can participate in fun trivia for a chance to win a front row seat at the London premiere of the movie, with lots of other interesting goodies.

WHERE WILL U TO BE THIS WEEKEND ?

ONE DAY SALES @ LEILA FOWLER

Leila Fowler biggest One Day inventory clearance event
Everything, YES EVERYTHING is on sale up to 60% discount off.
Date- One day only 21 February 2010 from 12am – 7pm

Address- 215B Etim Inyang Crescent, Victoria Island
Lagos, Nigeria


TRUE LOVE VALENTINE SPECIAL



The True Love Team invites you to a fun filled and romantic evening to celebrate valentine with lots of music, flowers and wine to go around. Entertainment would be provided by Teju Babyface and fashion by Ituen Bassey. There would be attracive prizes be won.

Date: Saturday, February 20th

Venue: Eko Hotel Banquet Hall, Adetokunbo Ademola Street. Victoria Island, Lagos

Time : 4pm – 9pm

Ticket: N15,000

For registration call Jennifer on 08087184121

Limited seats available