Actress Yvonne Okoro Becomes New Face Of PZ Cussons Ghana

Yvonne Okoro one of the seven biggest female actors in Ghollywood has been selected by healthcare products and consumer goods PZ Cussons Ghana LTD as the company’s new face.
The actress seems to be very excited about her new role as ambassador, Yvonne tweeted and posted photos from the shoot. ‘Excited much’. No word yet if the deal will extend to PZ Cussons Nigeria.

The Ghanaian actress was on set last weekend to shoot series of commercials as part of her first duties as PZ brand ambassador.

THE TRUTH ABOUT BIG BROTHER AFRICA STAR, MELVIN ODUAH

When you meet Melvin Oduah for the first time, the first thing you observe is his unassuming humility. He's a smart and talented young man that strives to get to the top. He is an actor cum model many people want to see onscreen. He radiates an impeccable taste that marvels people who know him very well. He can sometimes appear to be extremely unapproachable, but it is his modesty that weeds out every doubt about him. Having been recognized as one of the amazing contestants in the Big Brother Africa The Chase, it's an established platform for him to be heard and appreciated in the society.
Melvin was born into the family of Mr. & Mrs. Johnny Oduah. He has a twin sister, Melvina and they are the first born of their parents, followed by another set of twins, Tony and Tonia. He had his secondary education at the Lagos State Model College Kankon, Badagry, Lagos and attended the University of Port-harcourt where he obtained his B.Sc in 2007 before going to the Lagos State University where he got his PG in Business Administration. Melvin combines acting, modelling and presenting. When he's on movie set, he pays full attention to the craft and when he has modelling jobs or presenting, he does that passionately. The system works for him.

He's a multi-talented youth and has several awards to his credit. As a model, he's been rewarded by the Nigerian Model Achievers Awards (NMAA) as the most promising model of the year. As an actor, he's won the TAVA awards for his role in a sitcom, HAPPY FAMILY. He's got other awards from some entertainment outfits.

However, it is poignant to say that he has not been living under the shadows of anybody as many people think. He's gradually creating his own world and hopes to live in it. Melvin, who has been an inspiration to many African youths and has a special flair for the entertainment industry. His journey started years back when he participated in the Gulder Ultimate Search and came first runner-up; he proceeded further to do Mr. Nigeria beauty pageant and got rewarded as a runner-up. That's a platform for him. Did he give up like an average youth would have done? That's an emphatic NO! When the Big Brother Africa audition came up, he joined the crowd to be a part of those to be auditioned and was lucky to grab the opportunity to be in the big brother's house with music vixen, Beverly Osu as Nigerian representatives.

I had a long chat with him for the first time during the 9th edition of the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) and he comes across to strike me as flexible young man who really knows what he wants in the society and chooses to direct his life instead of letting the society and wide-ranging views decide for him.

Currently, he's leveraging on the platform of being one of the finalists that participated in the Big Brother, The Chase competition and has won the hearts of those that love entertainment because of his good carriage. He's become a voice to lots of young people and that prompts him to always be fair and objective. His humble mien remains a surprise to many and that keeps getting him global recognition.

On social networks, he hasn't failed to appreciate those whose words were a part of impetus for going this far and his fans for their constant support and encouragement.

Pa Kasumu Fights For Survival At LUTH, Begs For N12m

Renowned Nollywood actor, Kayode Dosumu, well known as Pa Kasumu, is not in the best of health at the moment. The man is dejected and is fighting for survival at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), where he's receiving treatment. We learnt that he is being treated for heart related disease, which is affecting his sight and needs nothing less than N12million to undergo a full treatment to make him survive the battle with death. 
We also gathered from a report that efforts are now being made to save him from dying. 

Calls are been made to make donations to his bank account; 
Olukayode Olugbenga Odumosu;
Diamond Bank
Account number: 0036059543.

The actor has been battling with re-occurring illness since 2009. Recall that in 2011, news went round that he reportedly suffered from stroke, but bounced back and was at the first edition of AfricaMagic Viewers Choice Awards held in Lagos in early 2013.

Nigerian lawmakers are the highest paid in the world!!!!

The jumbo salary being paid the country’s legislators, which ranked the highest in the world, according to a new study, has attracted sharp criticisms from Nigerians across the country, including economists and lawyers.
A report by The Economist magazine revealed that Nigerian federal legislators with a basic salary of $189,500 per annum (N30.6m) were the highest paid lawmakers in the world.
Quoting data from the International Monetary Fund and The Economist magazine of London, the study looked at the lawmakers’
basic salary as a ratio of the Gross Domestic Product per person across countries of the world.

According to the report, the basic salary (which excludes allowances) of a Nigerian lawmaker is 116 times the country’s GDP per person of $1,600.

The $189,500 earned annually by each Nigerian legislator is estimated to be 52 per cent higher than what Kenya legislators, who are the second highest paid lawmakers, earned.

An Associate Professor of Economics at the Ekiti State University, Dr. Abel Awe, said the lawmakers’ jumbo salary was indicative of the huge gap between the poor and the rich as well as between the ruler and the ruled.

He said it was unfortunate that the country was running the costliest democracy in the world.

Awe said, “This is part of the reason why 70 per cent of the nation’s budget is allocated to re-current expenditure. We are using a huge chunk of the nation’s resources to service just less than 1,000 people in a country of over 160 million people.

“We are running the costliest democracy in the world.  We can’t develop this way when we spend huge money to service a few people. How will you get money for productive activities to expand the economy? An average Nigerian cannot access good medical care, good roads and other basic things of life when the legislators are smiling to the bank.

“This democracy is satanic. We have to review this democracy. The cost of maintaining the lawmakers is outrageous. What they are taking is too much.”

An economist, Mr. Henry Boyo, said the study had shown clearly that the cost of governance in Nigeria was very high.

Boyo, who noted that the cost of governance was predicated on the provisions of the Constitution, said it was high time Nigerians cried against the bloated cost of governance.

He said, “Our legislators’ actions or salaries are actually accommodated by the Constitution. In the past, we had less money and we had enough as a country. People are asking for a change of Constitution.

“It is unfortunate that it is the people who will do it that are the ones in charge. The legislators will not vote against themselves.”

The Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, said although Nigeria remained a complex environment, that did not justify excessive wages.

“We cannot underestimate what it takes to bring law and order to a state that has been in a virtual state of anarchy for years, but there’s no justification for excessive compensation,” he said.

The Chief Research Analyst, Stakes Capital, Mr. Sanyaolu Kehinde, said this was an obvious case of how politicians were running government.

He said, “There’s nothing to justify the amount these people are earning because we don’t see the work they are doing. It also exposes the fact that we don’t value work. We prefer to reward work not done. The Nigerian politician is not service-driven.

“If we have 12 elections in one year, I can assure you that we will still not have good leaders because the system is faulty. The number of people who are not service-driven in Nigeria is high. There are only a few good people in Nigeria, very few people are left who are not thinking about themselves.”

The Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja Branch, Mr. Monday Ubani, said the legislators had created “a big hole” in the nation’s treasury.

Ubani, who scored the legislators low on output, said they had failed to justify their fat pays, adding that their submissions in both legislative chambers “are at variance with that of sovereign Nigerians.”

He called on Nigerians “to decide whether we need both Houses, and if yes, whether on part time or full time basis.”

Ubani said, “This is a fact already and well known to Nigerians and the world. It is not a new story. What is baffling is that their legislative output is not commensurate to the amount of salaries and allowances they are earning.

“Take for instance, the ongoing constitution amendment. Their propositions and submissions on almost all the important clauses are at variance with that of the sovereign Nigerians. Both Houses have created a big hole on our national treasury.”

On his part, human rights lawyer, Mr. Bamidele Aturu, lamented the wide disparity between the earnings of the citizens and their legislators, who according to him, are the idlest, yet earn the most in the world.

He said what was obtainable in Nigeria was a parody of democracy whereby the ruling class earned well but preferred to subject the issue of N18,000 minimum wage to debate.

Aturu said, “We are running a parody of democracy in this country. It is a democracy for the rich. The people are getting poorer for building a nation, while the politicians are getting richer for doing nothing. Those who are not creating wealth in the country are sitting on the wealth of the people, and those who are creating the wealth, the workers, are being paid peanuts.

“Can you imagine there is still a raging and scandalous debate among some governors on whether or not to pay N18,000 minimum wage? Yet we are in a nation where the idlest legislators are being paid the highest in the world.”

The National Assembly has, however, rejected the report that its members are the highest paid lawmakers in the world.

While reacting to the report published in The Economist magazine on Monday, the spokespersons of the two chambers of the National Assembly described it as grossly exaggerated.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Information and Media, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, said the report was misleading and incorrect.

He said it was easy for anyone to verify what Nigerian lawmakers earned given that such information could be obtained from the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission.

Abaribe said, “My reaction is that the report is incorrect. It is very easy for anybody to know what we earn by going to the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission.

“The report is not correct because it did not emanate from the RMAFC, because that is the only body that determines what a lawmaker earns.”

In the same vein, the spokesman of the House of Representatives, Mr. Zakari Mohammed, dismissed the report as incorrect.

He said, “Whatever is being written is mere exaggeration and does not reflect what is accurate. They fail to realise that what we take as salaries are different from what we use in running our offices.

“These are two different issues. Most times, people just lump everything together and claim that it is our monthly salary; that is not correct. At the appropriate time, we shall react, because it is not just about the House but the National Assembly. The National Assembly will react at the right time.”

The report had suggested that a Nigerian federal lawmaker earned $189,000 or about N30m annually.

The magazine also published details of the annual salaries of legislators in other countries, some of which include Ghana, $46,500; Indonesia, $65,800; Thailand, $43,800; India, $11,200; Italy, $182,000;  Bangladesh, N4,000; Israel, $114,800; Hong Kong, $130,000; Japan, $149,700; and Singapore, $154,000.

LIST OF HIGHEST PAID NIGERIAN ARTISTES

A list of top Nigerian highest paid hip-hop artistes was recently released by Encomium magazine; perfectly researched and confirmed.
The list had the music duo of P'Square topping it as the highest paid hip hop act. The music duo are learnt to be charging between N9 and N10 million for a show within Nigeria.
D'banj comes second on the list with a charge between N6 and N7 million to grace any event in the country. 
Before the split from Mo'Hit, D'banj topped the list with charges between N7 and N8 million while P'square was N5 million.

2face comes the third highest paid artiste on the list. Although his fee is not consistent, He is said to be charging between N5 and N6 million. It was learnt that 2face because of his love and passion for the art easily adjust fees and not always keen like other acts on their particular amount.

Wizkid is the fourth on the list with a gracing fee of N4 to N5 million. Artistes like Owawunmi who actually is the highest paid female star, Flavour, Timaya and Olamide charges N3 million. Others in this category are Darey Art Alade, Duncan Mighty, andChocolate Music artistes, M.I and Ice-Prince.

The likes of Iyanya, Davido, Wande Coal and Tiwa Savage are in the league of artistes that go for N2.5 million, while D’Prince, Dr.Sid and one time highest earning artiste, 9ice collect N2 million respectively. Naeto C and Waje are said to be in the category of N1.5 million.

1- Psquare – N10million

2- D’Banj - N 8million

3- 2Face – N6million

4- Wizkid – N5million

5- Omawumi, Darey, Duncan Mighty,Olamide, Timayah, Flavour, M.I, Ice-Prince – N3 million

6 - Iyanya, Davido, Wande Coal, Tiwa Savage – N2.5 million

7 - 9ice, D’Prince, Dr. Sid – N2 million

8 - Neato C and Waje - N1.5 million.

Nollywood Movie Awards [SEE LIST OF NOMINEES]

Nollywood Movies Awards,the much-awaited movie awards slated to hold on Saturday 12th October, 2013 at the prestigious Intercontinental Hotel, Lagos, has rolled out the list of those who are eligible to win.

The nominated actors and their works are thoroughly done without any bias.

See below for the full list.

BEST MOVIE:

1. Hoodrush

2. Journey to self

3. The Meeting

4. Phone swap

5. Udeme mmi

6. Mrs Somebody

BEST LEAD ACTOR:

1. Bayo Alawiye – The Gods are still not to blame

2. Gabriel Afolayan – First Cause

3. Iyke Adiele – Broken

4. OC Ukeje – Hoodrush

5. Moses Armstrong – Udeme mmi

6. Wale Ojo – Phone swap

BEST LEAD ACTRESS:

1. Rita Dominic – The Meeting

2. Nse Ikpe Etim – Mr & Mrs

3. Mercy Johnson – Dumebi

4. Funke Akindele – Maami

5. Bimbo Akintola – Hoodrush

6. Uche Jombo – Mrs Somebody

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:

1. Imeh Bishop Udoh – Udeme mmi

2. Akin Lewis – Heros & Zeros

3. Bimbo Manuel – Broken

4. Gabriel Afolayan – Hoodrush

5. Afeez Oyetoro – Phone swap

6. Bob Manuel Udokwu – Adesuwa

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:

1. Ngozi Ezeonu – Adesuwa

2. Barbara Soky – Bridge of Hope

3. Ada Ameh – Phone swap

4. Chelsea Eze – Hoodrush

5. Mary Chukwu – Broken

BEST ACTOR INDIGENOUS:

1. Ekere Nkanga – Kokomma

2. Wole Ojo – Maami

3. Segun ‘Lanko’ Ogunremi – Odasan

4. Imeh Bishop Udoh – Udeme mmi

BEST ACTRESS INDIGENOUS:

1. Tope Brass – Odasan

2. Belinda Effah – Kokomma

3. Obonganwan Bennet-James – Udeme Mmi

4. Funke Akindele – Maami

BEST INDIGENOUS MOVIE:

1. Udeme mmi

2. Odasan

3. Maami

4. Kokomma

BEST DIRECTOR:

1. Mildred Okwo – The Meeting

2. Lancelot Imasuen – Udeme mmi

3. Dimeji Ajibola – Hoodrush

4. Kunle Afolayan – Phone swap

5. Tope Oshin Ogun – Journey to self

BEST EDITING:

1. Paul Apel – Mr & Mrs

2. Yemi Jolaosho – Phone swap

3. Victor Ehi-Amedu – Adesuwa

4. Dimeji Ajibola – Hoodrush

5. Okey Benson – The Meeting

6. Kunle Adejuyigbe – Journey to self

BEST SOUND DESIGN:

1. Obi Emelonye – Last flight to Abuja

2. Semiu Adewuyi – Kokomma

3. Carl Raccah – Journey to self

4. Olukunle Adegbite – The Gods are still not to blame

5. Alex Njuguna – The meeting

6. Dimeji Ajibola – Hoodrush

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY:

1. Alfred Chia – Heros & Zeros

2. James Costello – Last flight to Abuja

3. Shalom Uyi Enabulele – Broken

4. Yinka Edward – Phone swap

5. Jim Bishop – The Meeting

6. Byron Ene – The Gods are still not to blame

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:

1. Tunde Babalola – Maami

2. Mildred Okwo/ Tunde Babalola – The Meeting

3. Rita C Onwurah – Udeme mmi

4. Dimeji Ajibola – Hoodrush

5. Tchidi Chikere – Dumebi

6. Kemi Adesoye – Phoneswap

BEST COSTUME DESIGN:

1: Jaiye Owolabi – The Gods are still not to blame

2. Titi aluko – Phone swap

3. Ekene Okoye Mpon: Kiss and the brides

4. Yolanda Okereke/ Aminat Olateju – Journey to self

5. Wanger Ayu/ Rosaline Ijejem – Mr & Mrs

6. Iyen Agbonifo – Adesuwa

BEST MAKE-UP

1. Temisan Etsede – Adesuwa

2. Touch of Glamour/Tobi Jeje- Phillip & Korede Olowoyo – Journey to self

3. Tracy Iyoha – The Gods are still not to blame

4. Jennifer Alegieuno – The Meeting

5. Olivia Obasi – Broken

BEST SET DESIGN:

1. Pat Nebo – Phone swap

2. Adeoye Bakare – Heros & Zeros

3. Hilary Patrick – The Meeting

4. Sango B’ Song – Last flight to Abuja

BEST SOUNDTRACK:

1. Truth – The Meeting

2. Luke Corradine – Last flight to abuja

3. Patrick Mathias – Hoodrush

4. Slam – Udeme Mmi

5. Truth – Phone swap

6. Oludare Olateju – The Gods are still not to blame

BEST DIASPORA MOVIE:

1. Man on ground

2. Alaalo

3. Turning point

4. The past came calling

5. Secret past

BEST SHORT MOVIE:

1. Unspoken

2. 15 Minutes

3. Epitaph

4. Ogondah

5. Blink

6. Till Death do us apart

BEST RISING STAR MALE:

1. OC Ukeje – Hoodrush

2. Ifeanyi Kalu – Kokomma

3.Bobby Obodo – Mrs Somebody

4. Uti Nwachukwu – In the cupboard

BEST RISING STAR FEMALE:

1. Linda Ejiofor – The Meeting

2. Belinda Effah – Kokomma

3. Ijeoma Agu – Hoodrush

4. Rachel Isaac – Daisy

5. Tehila Adiele – Broken

6. Tess Abubakar – In the cupboard

BEST CHILD ACTOR:

1. Ayomide Abati – Maami

2. Adeola Faseyi – Married but living single

3. Regina Ojeogwu – Wave of Glory

4- Obiora Samuel Olife – Broken Silence

Federal Government suspends Dana Air license again

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended
the operations of Dana Air...again. The suspension was
announced on Sunday night October 6th by the Coordinating
General Manager for the aviation parastatals, Mr. Yakubu
Dati.
The NCAA said it shut Dana’s operations to enable it conduct
an operational audit of the carrier and its planes. This
suspension makes it the third time the NCAA would ground
Dana Air over safety and other related issues since the crash
of Dana flight 992 that killed over 150 passengers in June
2012.