ADEBOYE OBASANJO MARRIES DAISY NYADA

Story by Niyi Tabiti

Chief Reporter

One of the sons of former President Olusegun Obasanjo,Major Adeboye Obasanjo got married on Saturday 9 February 2008 in Abeokuta,Ogun State.The military officer married former Miss Daisy Nyada at a talk of the town wedding.It took place inside the new hilltop mansion,said to have cost Obasanjo about a billion Naira to construct.

A friend that called me from the party hinted that Gbenga Obasanjo was absent,obviously because he has been declared a persona non grata in the house.Important dignitaries such as Governor Gbenga Daniel,Oba Adekunle Aromolaran,Senator David Mark and Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola were in attendance.

Once I get accross to my friend,I will post some pictures (Click here to see wedding pictures of Adeboye and Daisy Nyada).I was actually busy at Ikoyi Polo Club.Oh!I have some interesting gist and pictures from the event too.I promise to post it on Monday.
 

ECOBANK MD, SOVEREIGN INSURANCE BOSS, OTHERS APPLY FOR BOAT CLUB MEMBERSHIP

By Niyi Tabiti
Chief Reporter

By the time you are reading this piece the managing director of Ecobank Plc,Mr. Ambah Offong would be warming up to integrate himself into the elitist Lagos Boat Club on Awolowo Road,Ikoyi.Other prominent people that have also applied for membership of the club include Olasupo Shasore, a notable legal practitioner and Ajayi Oluwaseun,the suave managing director of Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc.
Members of the club comprises of the movers and shakers of the Nigeria economy, society and politics.In Nigeria,you have to belong to the club,where the right people belong.

Clubs where you have such 'heavy weights' include Ikoyi Club,Boat Club,Lagos Island Club,Lagos Country Club,Polo Club,Golf Club and Yoruba Tennis Club.

Jim Ovia,the Managing Director of Zenith Bank also has a special boat caucus alongside his friends, Femi Otedola (People call him Ote-dollar) and Alhaji Aliko Dangote.Their boats is right at the civic centre 'jetty',Ozumba Mbadiwe,Victoria Island. There are other nameless billionaire clubs scattred accross Nigeria.

Pix shows Mr.Offong of Ecobank Plc

TOP SOCIALITES STORM LAGOS POLO GALA NIGHT

Story & pictures by Niyi Tabiti
Chief Reporter

As earlier predicted by http://www.niyitabiti.blogspot.com/, the king of juju music, King Sunny Ade indeed dazzled a lot of wealthy Nigerians and silver spoons when he played at the Gala night of Lagos Polo Club yesterday.The party was sponsored by Kolawole Ogunbajo led Avis Nigeria Limited.
The social secretary of the club, Prince Kunle Tejuosho ensured that all the invited guests had the best of time.Expectedly, there were showers of money on the musician of the day as all the big boys and babes came prepared.
Abayomi Folawiyo, the son of wealthy Baba Adinni of Nigeria, Alhaji Iyanda Wahab Folawiyo showed that he is a socialite per excellence. He sprayed KSA to the extent that we lost count of the amount. Prince Ade Adetona, the first son of Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona ensured that the Ijebu people are not naïve when it comes to ‘clash of currency’. He danced and sprayed the musician with N1, 000 Naira notes.Muyiwa Ige was also praised by the musician.Muyiwa,a close pal of Ade Adetona is the son of Nigeria’s former Attonery General, Late Chief Bola Ige.Taiwo and Kehinde Adebowale also enjoyed the praises of KSA.
Those who made the party a night to remember included Olu,son of billionaire businessman,Chief Harry Akande.I didn’t see his lover, star actress,Dakore Egbuson.Man about town,Wole Aboderin was also there. He was one of the best dressed that night.Dayo Onabolu,the socialite popularly known as Jomoto of Canada was also in attendace.Others are Saheed Kekere-Ekun (Saheeto),Bola Adegoke,owner of Da Grotto,Yetunde Tejumola,Bayo Amusan,Muka Amusan,Bode Makanjuola,Ronke Ademiluyi (Rukkies),Francis Ogboro and wife,Tonia.Muhammed Babangida was also at the night party.I must not forget to mention 'fine boy' Abe Ibrahim.I didn't see Bashir Yar'dua at night.Probably,we went to relax after a fatal fall from the horse back that afternoon.He once had the same fatal experience at Ibadan Polo Club.Ismaila Yar'dua was in attendace

Pix 1 -Prince Ade Adetona on the dance floor with King Sunny Ade.

pix 2-Babes enjoying themselves.

pix 3-Yomi Folawiyo spraying King Sunny Ade

Pix 4-Yetunde Tejumola (right) and friend

pix 5-Olu Akande (middle) having a nice time

BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION ANNOUNCES NEW POINTS SYSTEM BEGINS

By Niyi Tabiti
Chief Reporter

Details of Britain’s new Australian-style points based immigration system (PBS) were announced yesterday (6 February 2008) as the Government published the rules for highly skilled foreign workers applying to come to the UK.
In a statement signed by Dele Oladokun,the media & public affairs officer of the British High Commission, Abuja and made available to www.niyitabiti.blogspot.com today (7 February 2008),the regulations will start coming into force on 29 February when any highly skilled foreign nationals currently working in Britain who want to extend their stay will need to apply under the new system.
In April, the new system will begin to be rolled out overseas when anyone from India who wants to work in the UK as a highly skilled migrant will need to apply under PBS. By the summer the new highly skilled system will operate worldwide.
Speaking from Delhi during a visit to discuss how PBS will work with the Indian Government, Borders and Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said:
"Our points system is starting on time and on plan. I’ve no problem with taking the best systems in the world, like Australia’s points system, and bringing them to the UK. This is a key part of the huge shake-up to our border security this year."
"The points system means only those migrants Britain needs can come to the UK. We know that migrants contributed to our economy to the tune of £6 billion to GDP in 2006. A strong system for highly skilled migrants is vital to Britain winning these benefits because these migrants are well-educated and pay lots of tax."
"We want India to come first because India is Britain’s most important market for highly skilled migrants."
The Highly Skilled tier 1 will build upon the success of the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme by continuing to attract the most talented people with the skills the UK needs to remain a global leader in the fields of finance, business, and technological innovation.
The announcement follows the completion in January of the Border and Immigration Agency’s global rollout of fingerprinting for all visas three months early. Now every person in the world coming to the UK on a visa has their fingerprints taken and their details checked against watch-lists – if they’re on the list for the wrong reason they can’t come in and could be banned from applying to come again for up to 10 years.

KING SUNNY ADE SET FOR POLO GALA NIGHT

Story & photo by Niyi Tabiti

Chief Reporter

King Sunny Ade would be on the bandstand now tommorrow ( 7 February 2008) as members of the Lagos Polo Club treats their themselves and their guests to an exciting time.The event is their gala night for this year's tournament.Expectedly, king Sunny Ade would be 'blessed' with all kind of currency bills available in the world.

I told earlier that membership registration at the polo club cost half a million Naira (about $4,200).The club also comprises some of Nigeria's super rich guys.Ladies such as Toyin Fagbayi and Dudun,wife of Peterside Atedo,Managing Director of IBTC, also play polo ( female category).

TODAY IN NIGERIA:CELTEL, TINAPA REVEALS STAKE IN THE INTERN BUSINESS REALITY SHOW

Story and Photo by Niyi Tabiti
Chief Reporter

Few hours ago in Lagos, Nigeria, the sponsors of this year’s edition of The Intern Business reality show affirm their commitment and resolve to promote a new crop of entrepreneurs with rare talents.They intend making the participants employers rather than making them employees
Last Year, the reality show was sponsored by Bank PHB.All the 10 finalists were offered employment opportunities. Two of them, however, declined to work with the bank. They prefer to do their own private businesses.
The press conference took place at Vault opposite Mega Plaza, Victoria Island. According to Ofem E.Ofem, the purpose of the second edition is to reach for greater heights. When asked why the event was not sponsored this year by Bank PHB,the previous headline sponsors,Ofem said We don’t want to create more employees. We want to create small scale businesses through the finalists, instead of having people who work for sponsors. We want a situation where the finalists can be set with some money, lets say N2 Million Naira. If 9 people get that amount, multiply the effect on the economy...”
Chris Adetayo,the sponsorship manager of Celtel disclosed that Celtel would continue to be partner in progress to fantastic ideas aim at promoting Nigerian youth. He disclosed that the commitment of Celtel to the last West African Idol is still a talk of the town to date.
Daniel Ologunleko, the representative of Tinapa Business Resort at the press conference said people should rest assure of a wonderful show .He said TINAPA business resort is ready to host the housemates in Cross River State.
The reality show would be shown on AIT International, across Europe and some parts of USA.It would also be on local TV stations across the country. Billed to start in March,it would be for 13 weeks.

Pix show-Chris Oyetayo,Ofem,Hamilton and Ologunleko at the press briefing this afternoon (6 February 2008)

NIGERIA'S MOST CONTROVERSIAL HIP HOP COUPLE SAYS "STARTING A CHURCH IS A CALLING"

Story & Photo by Niyi Tabiti
Chief Reporter

This afternoon, I had a phone conversation with a friend who works in one of Nigeria’s leading radio stations. She gave me a lead into a story on hip hop singer, Soul E
She hinted that Nigeria’s most controversial hip hop couple, Emmanuel Okose, popularly known as Soul E and his better half, Queen Ure Okezie seems to be taking their church project seriously. I couldn’t argue with her because I have come to realize that ‘anything can happen’ especially in showbiz.
“Soul E turns church owner or pastor?” I asked myself. I learnt they are using their residence on Adeyemo Akapo Street, Omole Estate Phase 1, right now. I could not reach Soul E on the phone but he told my friend that the Church thing with Ure is a calling from God. He also disclosed that they already have about 50 committed members .

It should be recalled that the couple were sent away by their pastor,Rev.Chris Okotie of Household of God.Okotie disapproved their liaison, insisting that it was ungodly.
Soul E and Ure became the most talked about couple in town last year due to the age difference between them. While Soul E is said to be 24, Ure his beautiful wife is about 35 years. Lot of people was against it because such thing is rather strange in Africa. Some people even think it is part of showbiz gimmick until Soul E followed Ure to her hometown for the normal traditional do.Today,they live together.
Ure, daughter of a former minister in Nigeria, use to work with First Inland Bank. The well connected Ure also drives choice cars, a more reason people think Soul E was only out for ‘gold digging’.Gold digging or not,Ure has re packaged Soul E.He looks chubby and now dresses like a true showbiz personality.

The first time I saw Ure and Soul E together was at the residence of RMD.Iretiola Doyle had her 40th birthday there.RMD was not at home but Jumobi, his wife hosted everyone right.Patrick Doyle,the husband of the celebrant was also a perfect host.

Soul E and Ure came in the midnight and enjoyed themselves thoroughly.The party was shortly before their romance went public.To say the truth, I never knew they were dating.I knew Ure was a banker, I thought,she was only being 'friendly' with a bank customer.You know the 'marketing, marketing' stuff.At the party, I only tried to get the picture of Funlola Aofiyebi's boyfriend.She had been hiding the fellow from journalists.She realised what i was trying to do and said "I know what you are trying to do.When she was leaving around 3 a.m in a jetta car with the guy I said "goodbye" and she answered with emphasis "You toooooooo, goooood night!"