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.

MEET DAN AKINLOLU, NIGERIA'S HIGHFLYING CONTENT EDITOR/WRITER IN SOUTH AFRICA

Dan Akinlolu is a Nigerian born South African base writer and producer; a one time prize winning writer with South African Writers’ Circle (SAWC) and Australia’s BLM. He has contributed and published in literary journals both within and outside Africa including the University of Michigan State’s - The Offbeat (USA), Bruce Cook’s - Author 2008 & 2009 publication (USA) and BLM’s E-zine (Australia); he was the only African commissioned to participate in a fiction anthology, "The Quest: Alliance" with Aim Higher Books, USA.

Dan resides in South Africa where he works for M-Net/MultiChoice Africa, as writer and content editor and he also produces music video/TV projects with his partners on weekends.He has just completed his new novel and a collection of short story for his literary agent, Helen Osbourne.

He told GISTMASTER that he is ready to go all the way in the quest to fufil his vision.At the moment, he is involved in the DAVIDIC project.Check the poster below for more details. He is reacheable via

:dan.akinlolu@multichoice.co.za

If you are in South Africa make plans to be there!

GISTMASTER PRESS RELEASE:DOCTOR OF SHOES SCHEDULE 3 DAY INTENSIVE SHOE MAKING SEMINAR IN NIGERIA

Nigerians in different part of the world continue to do the nation proud with their talents. One of such persons blazing the trail is Shola Benson, a Nigerian entrepreneur in the footwear industry, based in Dublin, Republic of Ireland. Shola Benson, who can best be described as a creative streak, started out back home in Nigeria, up North in Zaria where he first obtained a Certificate in Footwear Manufacturing at Federal College of Chemical and Leather Technology, Zaria.
Still itching to take his passion to the zenith, Shola went to the United Kingdom where he obtained an advanced National Diploma in Footwear Technology at the renowned Cordwinners College now known as University London College of Fashion. With over two decades of experience in the manufacturing, design and marketing of footwear, Doctor of shoes, as he is popularly known, has been actively involved in designing and marketing footwear products hence developing his international alliances in the global footwear market, most especially in Italy.
He currently consults for a wide range of Europe-based footwear technologists / professionals in the areas of manufacturing, design of accessories and market penetration strategies for the emerging markets of Africa. With the fashion radar presently on Nigeria, alongside the economic state of high rate unemployment, SB is planning to make a home coming visit,which would aid help revive the foot wear manufacturing industry immensely.
He would be holding various skill enhancing seminars and workshops in other to empower, educate and alleviate poverty. His main goal is to inject the footwear industry with the glamour and prestige it so lacks in other to boost its growth. Hence creating more job opportunities and professionally produced footwear.

WIFE DELIVERS BABY GIRL FOR TOP NIGERIAN RADIO PRESENTER,DAN FOSTER

Click on www.gistmaster.com to read more. Thanks!

PHOTOS OF YORUBA ACTRESS RONKE OSHODI OKE IN HER WEDDING GOWN!

It is no more news that Yoruba actress, Ronke Ojo popularly known as Ronke Oshodi Oke got married to an auto dealer, Omogbolahan last weekend in Lagos.Want to see what she looks like in her wedding gown.

Bursty and sexy, Ronke Oshodi Oke is one of the most versatile actresses in Yoruba movie industry.  At a point she granted an interview where she said there is nothing bad about pre-marital sex because the two parties need to know their level of performance in bed before marriage.
  Click here to read about another yoruba actress,Folake Odusanya popularly known as Flakky ididowo
   

ARIK AIR'S ABIMBOLA WEDS HANDSOME ADEKUNLE OF OCEANIC BANK

It was the turn of Abimbola Adefuye and Adekunle Adaramola of Oceanic Bank to get married recently. It was done with so much fun and glamour.Please, click on www.gistmaster.com to see more photos

VAL DAY:SINGING COUPLE, TUNDE AND WUNMI OBE SET TO HOLD CUPID BALL ABOARD NIRE PREST BOAT CRUISE

Tunde and Wunmi Obe are about to hit the industry with a bang as their annual lover’s gig- Cupid ball enters the third year.
Already tagged ‘Sleek, Sassy and sailing’, the 2008 Cupid’s Ball is scheduled to hold aboard The Nire Prest Cruise Linear ‘This year’s edition of Cupid ball is an exclusive one’ says Tunde Obe, 50 couples will be taken on a 5 star cruise through the Lagos water ways. it will be a cruise filled with fun, laughter, food, champagne, a lingerie fashion show and good music from the baddest band in the land- Dejavu featuring T.W.O’ Tunde discloses.
Over the years, the romantic ball has often been held around the Valentine’s period, providing a pleasant atmosphere for lovers to wine and dine. The event became the most talked about Valentine’s event since it debuted in 2007, and then in 2008, it made a statement. With its usual blind date and lingerie fashion show sections, couples have gotten used to getting more than they bargain for.
But this year, the couples have a lot of activities packed up for the yearly gig ‘it will be no different this year’ says Wunmi Obe. ‘We will have the usual lingerie parade, celeb blind date, but there is a special thrill this year’.
The first edition of Cupid’s ball first held at Eko Hotel and suites in February 2007, while the second edition held at Lagoon restaurant, Ozumba Mbadiwe, Victoria Island.
‘We were looking out for something different and since it is a lover’s gig, we thought it would be better for us to add a little adventure to it, that was why we decided to go sailing this year’ Tunde Obe says
This year’s event which is being put together by their Kopy Kats entertainment outfit will take place in Nire Prest, a floating restaurant that will take off from admiralty way in Lekki, Lagos and will feature other artistes ‘the red carpet starts at 5pm and the boat will take off at 6pm prompt, it’s a gig to look forward to’ Wunmi says on a final note.
Tunde and Wunmi Obe first made an appearance in the Nigerian Entertainment scene in The Charly Boy Show, a TV program that rocked our screens in the 1990s, and went on to release their album ‘Sealed’ in 1999, which was followed by ‘T.W.O’ in 2003 and then ‘4 real’ in 2007. Their annual Valentine’s gig ‘Cupid ball’ started in 2007.
The event is scheduled for February 14, 2009, and will be supported by Now Muzik, Sound city, Nigezie, Encomium, City People, New wave production, Prime Time Entertainment and a host of others