Recall that AY had in an interview claimed that N30,000 owed him by Basketmouth started their longstanding beef.

He said he stood-in for Basketmouth at an event but he attempted to outsmart him by lying that the client has not paid for the gig, which he later found out from the client to be false.

But while featuring on the latest episode of The Honest Bunch podcast, hosted by media personality, Nedu, Basketmouth debunked AY’s claim, insisting that there was no client involved.

According to him, he was never friends with AY, and that the working relationship they had was a one-off deal.

He said, “It’s 2023, my kids don grow. My son is going to be 14 next month. Everybody don dey grow.

It is so sad say na this kind gist [my beef with AY] dey social media. 2023, after elections. After all these things. Ukraine dey fight war, we dey talk of 30 thousand [naira].

“I been no want talk about this thing [my beef with AY]. Many people don ask questions and I don ignore. But just to set the record straight. Number 1, AY is not my friend. We have never been friends. I have never visited his house. I have never personally invited him to my house.

I never ever call am one day say ‘o boy, where you dey? Make we hangout’. Nothing like that don ever happen.

“And it’s easy to tell, if you look around social media, you will never find a picture of him and me. So, we were never friends.

Make I talk the truth. The reason I used style mind my business, na because of when there was that coming together [between AY and I], I heard something that threw me off. I heard some things wey I no supposed hear or know. As I hear am, I was like ‘what the f*ck! Really?’ I no supposed know. And I no fit tell am [AY] so I kept quiet.

The kind of person I’m, I go wait make you do something first. All these ones wey him [AY] dey talk, no be wettin make me give am space be that. It’s something else!

“That incident [30k] sef, I don forget. But I dey use that one as distractions because you know the kind person wey I be. If I dey talk right, I dey talk left because I no dey like make person know my moves.

So, it was only one job. And that job when I heard say them never pay am. I told Magnums, ‘please, pay him’. And they paid him. He omitted that information. I know the move. The guy [AY] dey promote shows; he needs to sell tickets. That’s the truth.” (sic)

The post AY and I were never friends – Basketmouth opens up on N30,000 debt claim appeared first on Sunrise News.

The filmmaker recently stated this via his verified Instagram page.

According to him, to “live and survive” in Nigeria, one must be a member of a certain cult.

He shared a poster that reads, “Nigeria. To live and survive in it, one must belong to the cult. – YemiSolade.”

He captioned it, “It is real”, using the hashtags “cult”, “cultism”, “cultic”, “survival”, and “depressed”.

His post elicited mixed reactions with some fans expressing worries he may be depressed.

The post One must belong to cult to survive in Nigeria – Yemi Solade appeared first on Sunrise News.

Credits to Bayanni for his amazing song “Body” for which inspired me to do my version of his song.

See Video of California Love (Refix) by Mardee below:

You can follow Mardee on Instagram @Mardee1 for more of his songs and videos.

The post VIDEO: Mardee – California Love (Refix) appeared first on Sunrise News.

Okusanya, who is the Group Managing Director of CMC Connect (Perception Managers), and the first African to be inducted into the prestigious International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO) Hall of Fame celebrated the milestone with a thanksgiving service held in his honour at the Grace Assembly Church, Oregun, where he worships as ordained pastor.

Present to felicitate with the celebrant were family and friends, close associates, industry colleagues, Royal fathers, business partners and well-wishers.

Notable among eminent personalities at the occasion are the CEO of Airtel Africa, Dr Segun Ogunsanya; Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, the Osile of Oke Ona Egbaland and his three delectable Oloris; Nigeria’s former Foreign Affairs Minister General Ike Nwachukwu; former Lagos State PDP governorship aspirant, Mr. Jimi Agbaje; Chairman Phillips Consulting, Mr. Foluso Phillips; Senior Pastor of Trinity House, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo who officiated the ceremony; Board Chairman of CMC Connect Limited, Mr. Akin Opeodu; Executive Director, CMC Connect (Perception Managers) Mr. Raheem Olabode; and the Director, Re-ignite Public Affairs Limited, Mr. Tola Odusote, and the Group CEO of RED Media Africa, Adebola Williams.

Other industry chiefs at the event are Chairman, of The Troyka Group, Mr. Biodun Shobanjo; one of the three owners of EKO Hospital, Dr. Sunny Kuku; CEO of Sony Music, Chief Funlola Okunowo; former Managing Director of Sterling Bank Plc and former Board Member of CMC Connect Limited Mr. Tunde Dabiri; CEO of STB McCann Sir Steve Omojafor, and a host of other dignitaries too numerous to mention.

Hordes of well-wishers poured glowing encomiums on the celebrator, while close family members rendered heart-warming goodwill messages via large screen.

In his message, the officiating minister, Pastor Ighodalo, extolled Badejo-Okusanya’s good nature whom he described as a man that lived his life for Christ. He admonished guests to continue to love God and humanity by doing good to their neighbours.

The resident pastor of the Grace Assembly, Pastor Femi Paul, described Yomi Badejo-Okusanya as his loving brother. He praised Yomi’s late mother for bringing up such a jewel adding that as a good woman, she brought up good children including himself, as his adopted mother.

Pastor Paul called out some elderly group of women from the Nigerian Widows Association. The women danced out praising the celebrator, whom they described as a benefactor, who has been caring for their needs for many years. A group of children from the youth wing of the church also came out to sing for the birthday boy, while two of them stayed back to play beautiful birthday tunes with their violin and saxophone to guest’s delight.

The old students of the celebrant’s Alma Mater; Igbobi College, also trooped out to sing their school anthem proudly in honour of Mr Badejo-Okusanya, who is the first Vice President of the Igbobi College Old Boys Association (ICOBA).

It was a glorious day for Mr. Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, a proud Ijebu son from the Ijebu Imodi area of Ogun state.

The post Yomi Badejo-Okusanya Nigeria’s PR Czar, celebrates God’s goodness at 60 appeared first on Sunrise News.

Shanu Obadiya, a microfinance banker, has been crowned the beauty queen at the just concluded Miss Epe Division pageant.

Ms. Obadiya was crowded at an event organised by Our Days Media at Magville Hotels, Epe, Lagos State, at the weekend.

The event, tagged “Making Heritage/Cultural Tourism Work for Sustainable Development in Lagos”, featured bespoke fashion and cultural display, creativity, music, dance, intellectual prowess, comedy, and other forms of entertainment, witnessed other winners.

The Miss Epe Division winner went home with N200,000, while Miss Tourism, Boluwatife Kayode, and Miss Culture, Omotunde Omotolani, received N150,000 and N100,000, respectively, while other contestants received consolation prizes of N40,000 each.

In an interview with journalists, one of the judges, Chief Mrs. Iyabo Osifeso, adjudged the event as a wonderful platform to unwind, stressing that it was important for people to take time off work to recreate.

“Let’s have more of it. Without money, the organisers can not do much. So, they need more sponsors, from the little I can see, so that we have a more robust and bigger programme. If there’s no money, they would be limited in what they want to do, so, they would need more sponsors so that many more people can be invited to participate,” she said.

Also, another judge on the panel, Dr. Vivian Adeyemi, a professional Counsellor and staff of the Lagos State University of Education, LASUED, Michael Otedola Campus, Epe, told journalists that the atmosphere of the contest was the best gathering anyone could find for leisure and relaxation.

She commended the organisers for their resilience and dedication even though sponsorship threatened the success of the event. She also revealed her hopes of seeing more support for the programme in the nearest future to unite all strata of the Epe community.

“It’s been an interesting event and it goes a long way to show that people are genuinely concerned about what is happening in their environment and they want to see that social life in Epe, tourism, and the culture of the community is showcased and not just wherever they are but even among the young ladies who are the present contestants and possibly something that these young ones can take along in their future endeavours,” Dr. Adeyemi said.

“As for the contestants, it’s an eye-opener for them. It shows them that the sky is just their starting point, that there are lots of opportunities – not just in their academics but in their social life and they themselves are also becoming a representation of who a young lady of Epe is.

“They are also going to be an ambassador, win or no win, every eye is on them. They already have that status of an ambassador of this community and we expect that they would be able to caution themselves and their behaviors so they would not represent the community in a bad way.”

On his part, Mr. Yomi Agbaje, the organiser of the event and CEO of Our Days Media, said he was optimistic that the beauty pageant would be bigger and better with adequate sponsorship.

He averred that irrespective of political affiliations, programmes of such magnitude that are capable of furthering the placement of Epe on a global pedestal should be supported by well-meaning and public-spirited individuals, organisations, and the government.

Agbaje added that, through the pageant, the contestants were making contributions toward creating awareness and resolving issues affecting society.

“We will keep creating opportunities for our girls to thrive. We are particular about ensuring that we register them for international pageant contests. Many of our audience traveled from far and wide to network and have fun which is the hallmark of tourism and that is the more reason why the pageant is tagged promoting tourism, creating opportunities,” he said.

“Our judges are educationist with beauty pageant experience. They tested the intelligence of the contestants who paraded their beauty and exquisite outfits with tricky questions and this made some of them lose out. In the end, the most qualified queen emerged.

“As a result of sponsorship issues, the winner would have got a car while the 1st and 2nd runners-up would have gotten 1-million-naira worth of empowerment grant and 50 thousand naira respectively.

“Special thanks to Hon. Noheem Balogun who supported this project with one Million Naira, the CEO of BASAM Food Store USA, Prince Saheed Salam, and Hon. Alebiosu. MC Max, Police Boys, Impact Performance Alliance (IPA) troupe, Magville Hotels, Dr. Olart Photography and other media houses and several others that I can’t remember to mention have been exceptionally supportive.”

Earlier, Mrs. Iyalabake addressed the gathering on the theme of the event tagged “Making Heritage/Cultural Tourism Work for Sustainable development in Lagos.”

It was also gathered that honorary awards were also presented to some notable guests at the event.

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A billionaire  who earned the bragging right of building from scratch, from a modest background to the thriving business that she runs today. 

She actually runs a furniture company, which is unarguably one of the biggest indegenious furniture companies in the whole country. 

The furniture company has evolved into what is today known as The Chair Centre Group, an indegenious multi-billion naira conglomerate that is an umbrella for several companies: The Chair Centre Limited, SOKOA Chair Centre Limited, Furniture Manufacturers Mart, TCC Security Systems, and Cubes and Boxes Limited.

All of these firms have earned a place in the highly competitive global industry. This morning, I spent over three hours on YouTube watching the 30th anniversary ceremony of her business, The Chair Center Group, and it was a worthy investment. 

Walk with me as I share with you the takeaway that I picked from the YouTube video.

Enjoy!  What is known today as The Chair Centre Group was established by Mrs. Ibukun as Quebees Limited in 1989 when she was 25 years old.  Themed “The Entrepreneur, Her Business, Her Country, Her Future,” there was so much to learn from the event as well as the company’s story.

These are a few of the lessons.
The Power of Relationships:  Mrs. Awosika said “the story of Chair Center Group is the story of people, opportunities, and support.” The keynote speaker was Mr. Fola Adeola (co-founder and pioneer MD of GTBank), and I learned the most from his speech.  He first met Mrs. Awosika in Kano in 1987, while she was undergoing her mandatory youth service at the Kano office of leading accounting firm Akintola Williams & Co. His friend and colleague at Continental Merchant Bank, Mr. Tayo Aderinokun, introduced her to him. (Incidentally, both men would later partner to set up GTBank in 1990.)

At that time, Mrs. Awosika was still a spinster and known as Bilkisu Adekola, and she met Mr. Aderinokun through his wife, with whom she went to the gym regularly. She calls Mr. Adeola and Mr. Aderinokun her “adopted big brothers.” They were all young.

She was in her early twenties, while they were in their early thirties.  After her NYSC, she returned to Lagos but did not want to work in accounting anymore and was open to exploring something else. Fola Adeola gave her a note to the MD of Alibert (a furniture company), and she was interviewed and offered a job at the Awolowo Road Ikoyi showroom of the company.

She worked there for only 3 months and decided that she wanted to be a furniture manufacturer, so she quit and set up her own company. She credits Fola Adeola for being the “vessel that God used to set her on the path to destiny.” It was therefore fitting that Mr. Fola Adeola would be the keynote speaker at the company’s anniversary celebration, 30 years later. 

Mr. Tayo Aderinokun has passed on, but Mrs. Awosika spoke glowingly about him. In the early days of the company, there were projects that she did not have the capital to execute; Mr. Aderinokun would lend her money from his personal account to execute the projects. Later on, he set up a finance house, First Marina Trust Limited, from which she got loans because her company was “too small” for banks to support.In response to a 2004 Federal Government policy that banned the importation of furniture into Nigeria, Mrs. Awosika approached Sokoa SA, a French company that manufactured furniture on her company’s behalf in France, to set up a factory in Nigeria.  She did not have the resources to go it alone. Sokoa agreed to partner with her by investing for a 21% stake in the new company Sokoa Chair Center, while the bank set up by her adopted big brothers, GTBank, invested to get a 32% stake with Mr. Tayo Aderinokun, who became the Chairman of the Board of the company. I had to pause and ponder these questions. Who am I supporting? Who is supporting me? What relationships am I building, and what stories will we be telling in a few decades?  

Humble Beginnings:  

Mrs. Awosika started her business by recruiting one carpenter, who went on to recruit six other people. She could not afford any machines, so she used the tools the carpenters already had. They operated out of an unfinished building next to her carpenter’s house in Ejigbo, which could only be accessed by Molues. She tried to open an account with a bank, but their response was that her company was “too small to have an account with them.” Nonetheless, she was not deterred.  

She said, “We were the smallest furniture company, but with dedication, we were able to get the biggest projects.” Within six months of setting up, she got a contract with Texaco. The payment for this project enabled her to buy a few second-hand machines from furniture manufacturing companies in Nigeria. Chief Adeojo and Chairman Elizade both commented at the event that people should not be afraid to start small.

Is it not ironic that the Chairman of the Board of the oldest bank in the country today was once perceived as running a business too small to operate a corporate bank account?  Persistence and Focus:  Almost every speaker at the event I watched attested to the fact that Mrs. Awosika is a very focused and persistent entrepreneur.

Fola Adeola said, “You will want to help her.” You won’t be able to help it. You won’t want to not help. She does not take “no” for an answer. “She does not give up.”

Since its inception in 1989, Chair Center has only focused on the manufacture of office furniture. The company has had many challenging moments, and there were times when they could simply have gone under or quit. However, both she and the company faced them and simply grew through them. 

Faith in God and the Right Perspective 

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Jide Sanwoolu, shared an interesting encounter with Mrs. Awosika that challenged him. He said a parish of the RCCG (King’s Court) was having a program, and she was one of the speakers. Unfortunately, her son was involved in a ghastly motor accident that day. He said the expectation was that she would not attend, and they would understand and pray for her and her son.  

However, she turned up and still spoke and blessed lives. She said nothing would stop her from being in God’s presence and with his people..It reminded me of the Platform Young Professionals Bootcamp, where she said that when horrible things happen to her, she says, “Iwo wahala yi, ise mi ni o n se” (this problem or challenge, you are working for me or in my favor).  

At the anniversary event, she said every time problems arise, she prays and says, “God keep me calm, grant me grace and wisdom.” “Please show the opportunity or way out of this challenge.”Legacy  Fola Adeola asked a profound question, “Who are the Chair Center’s products, and not just what are its products?” .

In other words, Mrs. Awosika’s legacy has got to go beyond building outstanding furniture that stands the test of time and also building great people so that the business can outlive her. She seems to be on that path already.

It was truly inspiring to watch the anniversary ceremony, and it defines the woman celebrating her 60th birthday today. An inspiration to my generation of entrepreneurs  A woman who is not afraid to share her love for God, and it is infectious to watch. 

The post Former First Bank Nigeria, Ibukun Awosika is 60 years old today appeared first on Sunrise News.

The beloved comedian, 35, who buried his father barely six weeks ago, according to a source close to the family was billed to remarry in the early days of 2023.

Peteru, a household name in comedy circles due to his unique mimicry was until his demise, one of the fastest-rising comedians who had made a name in the South- West of Nigeria, having worked with the foremost Nigerian entertainers. He was also an MC, a brand influencer and an On-Air Personality in Ibadan, Oyo State.

He is survived by his mother, siblings, and son.

Since the news broke on social media, messages and posts eulogizing the late comedian have poured in from entertainers and fans alike.

In a statement issued by the Owomoyela family announcing his death, Peteru’s family asked to be allowed to grieve and mourn the huge loss.

The post Comedian Peteru dies of colon cancer six weeks after father’s burial appeared first on Sunrise News.

Here are the pictures of dignitaries at the event.

The post PICTURES: VP Osinbajo, Tinubu, Govs Sanwo-Olu, Abiodun, Oyetola, other dignitaries at the funeral of Lady Evangelist Grace Akeredolu, mother of Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State appeared first on Sunrise News.

Weeks after getting married for the fourth time to Olori Mariam Anako, an Ebira from Kogi State, and also getting betrothed to Olori Elizabeth Opeoluwa Ogunwusi nee Akinmuda in Magodo, Lagos, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi is set to take two more wives this October.

The Ooni of Ife will be getting married to Tobi Phillips, popularly known as Queen Tobi Phillip (QTP) and Princess Ashley Adegoke before his 48th birthday later this month.

Tobi Phillips is a graduate of Marine Science from the University of Lagos and a former Beauty Queen.

Tobi Phillips is a long time acquaintance of the Ooni. It was initially speculated that she would be replacing Olori Zainab Wuraola who walked away from her marriage to the monarch in 2018.

Ashley Adegoke is a chartered accountant and currently runs NGO that caters to less privileged kids and widows through the Ashley Adegoke Foundation.

She has a Masters in Accounting and Finance from the University of Greenwich, and currently runs her businesses in the United Kingdom.

Ashley’s late father, Jacob Adebiyi Adegoke was a Prince of the source.

The post Ooni Plans Double Weddings Ahead Of 48th Birthday this October appeared first on Sunrise News.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, of Lagos State, has congratulated wife of the APC Presidential flagbearer, and Senator representing Lagos Central, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on the occasion of her 62nd birthday.

Sanwo-Olu in a statement issued on Tuesday said Senator Tinubu over the years, has emblazoned her name as an advocate of social justice, a philanthropist and a voice of the voiceless.

Senator Tinubu, who was Lagos State First Lady between May 29, 1999, and May 29, 2007, and is currently representing Lagos Central Senatorial District since 2011 in the Senate, clocks 62 today, Wednesday, September 21.

Sanwo-Olu described the wife of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, as a great asset to Lagos State and Nigeria, noting that she has contributed immeasurably towards nation-building.

Senator Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu said, is a strong supporter, reliable partner and pillar of support to Asiwaju Tinubu, noting that the former Lagos State First Lady through her pet projects, Spelling Bee and the New Era Foundation, became a reference point in women and youth development in the country.

The Governor said the three-term senator has contributed immensely to humanity, governance and the ruling party’s success, growth and development with her laudable programmes and achievements both as former First Lady and now as law maker.

He said: “On behalf of my wife, Ibijoke and the good people of Lagos State, I heartily congratulate the distinguished Senator Oluremi Tinubu on the occasion of her 62nd birthday.

“Over the years, you have written your name in gold as an advocate of social justice, a philanthropist and a voice of the voiceless. And through your pet projects, Spelling Bee and the New Era Foundation, you’ve become a reference point in women and youth development in the country.

“You have played critical roles in the growth and development of Lagos State and Nigeria, thereby setting examples for other women in leadership and governance. Your input in national growth as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a pragmatic testament to visionary leadership.

“You are a good ambassador of Lagos State and we are proud of your achievements in the Senate as one of the most active, visible, and vocal legislators in the Red Chamber. “On this 62nd birthday, I pray for continued God’s guidance, good health, and more of your service to humanity, Lagos, and our country.”

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