A Nigerian based in the United Kingdom, Babatunde Tomori, has shared with us what motivated him to drive his ‘Danfo’ from London to Lagos.
Tomori reveals some of the highlights of his travel across the continents, the people he met and he expressed a desire to travel as far as South Africa.
Anthony Joshua has reserved special praise for his heavyweight counterpart Oleksandr Usyk ahead of their upcoming world championship fight at the Jeddah Super Dome in Saudi Arabia on August 20.
Usyk dominated the Englishman during their previous Wembley bout that saw Joshua lose his world title belts for the second time in his career.
Despite cutting a more brash attitude in the build-up to the rematch, Joshua demonstrated his respect for Usyk who stayed to fight in Ukraine when Russia began their invasion of his homeland.
The 35-year-old was part of the Ukraine Defence Battalion and was responsible for going out on patrols as Usyk joined the frontline to protect his country from invaders.
The world champion eventually departed Ukraine after being urged by injured victims of the war to leave and begin training for his heavyweight showdown in the middle east.
Joshua, 32, took time to honour his rival’s commitments to fighting for his country, admitting he would have done the same to protect his home.
“If it was me, yes, it would definitely have an impact and I don’t know if it would be positive or negative.
I don’t know how I would deal with it but I know it would be tough.
“I have never lived in anything like a conflict like that, so I don’t know the sort of ramifications it would have on me.
“I respect what he has done 100 per cent. It’s his home, isn’t it — you have to defend your home.
“It is such a shame that civilians get the worst end of the bargain in wars, when it is a political issue. He is just trying to defend his community so I respect him.
“I think I would have done the same, not as a boxer or a warrior, just as a general person.
Joshua, from Watford, has endured a very different build-up to his meeting with Usyk, first jetting off on a global trip to find a new trainer, before settling with serial winner Robert Garcia as he ditched long-standing trainer Rob McCracken.
Joshua also admitted the rescheduling of the fight was no issue for his camp as they wanted to give Usyk all the time he needed to prepare for his heavyweight title defence
The Big Brother Naija season 7 held its second live eviction show on Sunday evening and two housemates were disqualified.
Ilebaye and Khalid became the third and fourth housemates to leave the show respectively.
The show host, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, made the announcement during the live show, which also featured electrifying performances from Mavin’s Crayon and Magixx.
Earlier in the week, Adekunle from Level 1 became the Head of House and he was given the power to nominate five housemates from Level 1 for possible eviction.
Adekunle nominated Ilebaye, Khalid, Groovy, Phyna, and Bryann for possible eviction.
Following the votes from the viewers, Ilebaye and Khalid were ushered out of Big Brother house after coming bottom in the list.
Khalid’s eviction was welcomed with tears from Daniella, who is in a romantic relationship with the latest evictees.
After his eviction, Khalid noted that his relationship with Daniella was “serious” during his stay in the house.
The duo had caused a stir in the house and for the audience following their sexual activities under the duvet.
Christy O and Cyph from the Level 2 house became the first evictees for the season during the live show last week.
Before the show last week, Big Brother had disqualified ex-Miss Nigeria, Beauty Tukura, after she received double strikes for breaking the house rules.
With Khalid and Ilebaye’s latest eviction, only 19 real housemates are on the show.
While Deji and Modella are fake housemates, Rachel and Chizzy are Riders.
Nigerian female sensation, Temilade ‘Tems‘ Openiyi has made music history yet again after breaking another record.
Since she set out with her melodious track entitled, ‘Try Me’ in 2019, Tems has continued to warm the hearts of the world till she got meritorious attention a few years ago.
“Things are changing for sure. I think more women are believing in themselves, I think more women are coming out and realising that they can do it,” Tems said in a recent interview.
She added: “When things like that happen, the economy opens up. Conversations open up and there’s more spotlight on the whole country because it’s not just about the men. There’s now something new, something fresh, something different.”
Currently, the singer and songwriter is topping US Billboard Hot 100 chart as she becomes the first African artist to have five entries on the world chart, and Nigerian with the most entries.
This is coming with her recent affiliation with Beyonce on a single entitled, ‘Move’ debuting at number 55 on the chart, dated August 13, 2022.
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has said he would have had 12 biological children.
Adeboye, however, said that what he could not have himself biologically, he had through thousands of his church members whom he tagged his “spiritual children”.
The octogenarian preacher stated this on Saturday during the Holy Ghost Service of the 70th Annual Convention of the church which was held at RCCG International Headquarters situated along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Adeboye said 67 babies – 41 boys and 26 girls – were delivered at Redemption City during the one-week programme as of Saturday morning.
The programme, with the theme, “Perfect Jubilee,” began on Monday, August 8 and will end on Sunday, August 14, 2022.
The former Mathematics lecturer at the University of Lagos and University of Ilorin said the RCCG is “a mission where God multiplies and very soon, there will be nothing called barrenness in our midst”.
When he asked church members who had their babies in the last one year to come out, our correspondent observed that a large number of parents danced forward with their babies to the altar areas both in the new and old auditoriums of the church.
See the homes where there used to be sorrow but now there is joy. I love children because my father in heaven loves them. If I had my way, I would have had 12 of my own but what I couldn’t have biologically, I can now have,” Adeboye said as he received the women and their babies.
He added that God asked him to name what he wanted for this year’s convention of the church and he asked for babies. He said God promised him 110,000 babies for waiting couples.
While speaking on the influx of worshippers at this year’s convention, Adeboye said the church would build more dormitories before next year to accommodate the overflow.
Singer, Oluwatobiloba Anidugbe, aka Kizz Daniel, fulfilled his promise to perform for free for his fans in Tanzania on Friday, August 12, 2022, after he had earlier disappointed them.
The singer put up an impressive performance to the excitement of his fans as they sang along to some of his hit songs including Buga, Oshe, Mama and Yeba.
At a point during his performance, he paused and said, “I want to know if I have the real Kizz Daniel fans in the building tonight. I am talking about the fans from 2014 because I want to test you guys and you have to pass the test. Are you ready to pass the test?”
He then performed some of his other hit songs such as Woju, Laye and One Ticket.
However, his performance had some disruptions due to the poor sound from the technical crew. He had to abandon his live band and rely on the disc jockey for the rest of his performance.
One of the highlights of the show was when he brought out the flag of Tanzania on stage, and apologised for failing to perform last Sunday. Also, his outfit was in the colours of the country’s flag.
After he performed Buga, he said, “I think I have to come back because I owe you guys a proper show because this sound is not making me enjoy my performance tonight. I promise you guys that I will come back. I love you and I thank you and the promoters for coming out tonight.”
Recall that on Sunday, August, 7, 2022, the singer failed to perform at a show he was contracted to perform at in the East African country. This angered fans who went on to destroy properties at the venue of the show. The singer was consequently arrested by the police.
Nigerian music legend, Tuface Idibia has reacted to reports that he impregnated a banker.
Recall that Tuface recently apologised to his wife, Annie and children, tagging himself as a ‘shitty’ husband and father, same time reports that he impregnated a banker went viral on social media.
However, his manager, Efe Omorogbe in a statement on Saturday described the report as ‘fake news’.
Efe said there was no iota of truth in the report and Nigerians should disregard the rumour.
We would like to put it on record that the “why” Tuface apologized is exactly what was explicitly spelt out in the same post – the pressure of almost a quarter of century of superstardom and a wish to focus on making music without the burden of high expectations of a role model.
“Reports of him getting anyone pregnant are totally false and malicious and we urge well-meaning media platforms and members of the public to completely disregard such. It is fake news.”
Nollywood Actor Alex Ekubo has expressed deep pains over the untimely death of his friend turned brother, Otu.
The multi-brand ambassador shared a video of himself and his friends, compiled from their humble beginning until his demise.
Alex Ekubo expressed deep pains, stating he is in too much pain because his friend died without considering their plans.
Alex Ekubo also noted that his friendship with Otu started twenty years ago, right from when they were friends at the University of Calabar, UNICAL
Sharing the video on Instagram, Alex Ekubo wrote: 20 years my friend, 20 years my Brother.
I’m in too much pain.
This wasn’t the Plan Otu.
We started this dream together in Unical 2002, why would you leave me halfway.
Why Otu, why?
I’m confused
I’m still in shock.
The Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria, has said it will launch its biometric Identity card at its forthcoming first National Executive Council Convention.
PMAN president, Pretty Okafor, noted that the card was developed in partnership with Zenith Bank.
At an event held during the week, Okafor said, “PMAN is proud to announce that its new and improved biometrics ID cards will be issued to the first batch of registered members across the country.”
Urging invited guests to honour the invitation, Okafor said, “The event promises to set the ball rolling for greater things to come for the advancement and betterment of the entertainment industry in Nigeria and beyond.”
PMAN’s second Vice President, Zaaki Azay, added, “The progress in PMAN is borne out of the synergy and unity in the association, made possible through a series of court judgments that have authenticated and reaffirmed Pretty Okafor as the national leader, and has prohibited any act of factionalisation within the musicians’ union.”
Delegates from across the country are expected to attend the NEC meeting, where discussions will revolve around the biometric card registration drive.
Big Brother Naija is undoubtedly the most talked about reality TV show in the country. While the housemates are free to express themselves, there are rules and regulations they must abide by during their stay in the house. Since its inception, some housemates had flouted some of those rules, and were disqualified. The last housemate to be disqualified was Beauty Tukura, who was booted from the show last Sunday. Saturday Beats take a look at these disqualified housemates
Beauty Tukura
Beauty Tukura, a former Miss Nigeria (2019), was disqualified from the ongoing seventh season of the show tagged, ‘Level Up’.
She was disqualified from the show after she fought with a fellow housemate, Groovy, because he danced with another housemate, Chomzy. She and Groovy were an item in the house.
The week before that, she had been aggressive towards another housemate, Ilebaye, as she pulled her wig.
While announcing her disqualification from the show, Big Brother said, “Your actions last night were out of line. You should have managed your emotions. You removed your microphone; you threw another object at Groovy after throwing your glasses and wig at him.”
In a video posted on social media during the week, Beauty apologised for ‘letting down’ her fans. She said, “To everyone who’s been riding with me or supporting me, thank you.
I am so sorry I left like this. Alcohol got the best of me. Beauty will do better.”
Erica Nlewedim
Erica Nlewedim participated in the 2020 ‘Lockdown’ edition of the show. She was disqualified from the show on Sunday, September 6, 2020, after she had received two strikes and a last warning from Big Brother.
Erica’s disqualification followed her attack on a fellow housemate, Laycon. She was also accused of preventing the then deputy head of house, Prince, from entering the head of house’s lounge. Also, she poured water on a bed in the lounge, and made attempts to speak with the camera crew.
However, she has continued with her acting career. Some of the movies she has featured in after leaving the house are ‘Bitter Rain’, ‘Devil in Agbada’, ‘The Blood Covenant’, and ‘Made in Heaven’.
Natacha Akide, aka Tacha, was disqualified from the Season four edition of the show tagged, ‘Pepper Dem’. Her offence was having an altercation with another housemate, Mercy Eke, which led to physical assault.
After her disqualification from the show, the Rivers State indigene has made a name for herself with her involvement in business and social activism.
Khloe and K-Brule
In February 2018, two housemates— Oluwabusayomi Abiri (Khloe) and Kelvin Brouillette (K-Brule)— in the third edition of the show tagged, ‘Double Wahala’, were disqualified after they received their third strikes for inappropriate behaviour.
K-Brule got his first warning after he jumped from the first floor of the BBNaija house. While some people believed he was drunk, others said it was because he wasn’t comfortable with fellow housemates, Anto and Lolu, kissing each other.
He was handed a second strike when he wanted to attack another housemate, Dee One, during an argument. However, he was held back by other housemates, Lolu and Angel.
On the other hand, Khloe described K-Brule’s mother as a whore during an argument which caused both of them to get strikes.
Khloe was prevented from being physically harmed by K-Brule by other housemates after he had threatened to hit her. After receiving their third strikes, both of them were disqualified from the show.
Kemen
In 2017, Ekemini Ekerete, aka Kemen, was disqualified from the second edition of the reality show. The Akwa Ibom State indigene was said to have touched a fellow housemate, T-Boss, inappropriately when she was asleep.
Though Kemen has constantly stated that he was not guilty of the allegation levelled against him, it undoubtedly left a dent on his career and public image.
He currently works as a fitness enthusiast and personal trainer.
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