Daily Independent (Lagos)
Nkasiobi Oluikpe
27 November 2008
This weekend is set for celebration of achievements and laughter in Lagos and Abuja as fun-seekers set to unwind after a week of sweltering toils.
The fun-filled weekend blossoms tomorrow, with celebration of the 20th anniversary of the NiteShift Coliseum. Briefing newsmen on the anniversary preparations last week, the Guv'nor, Ken-Caleb Olumese, observed that given high mortality rate of entertainment outfits in the country, as evidenced from the fact that most of his contemporaries in the business have since gone under, and the fact that the Coliseum has been able to weather the storm for 20 years in the industry, calls for celebration.
The event, which is strictly by invitation, will be in two segments and will kick off with a red carpet reception because according to the Guv'nor, "the patrons of the club deserve even more," after which there will be 45 minutes of fireworks to signal the end of the red carpet reception. As part of the red carpet proceedings, there will be a media stand where personalities present can be interviewed by members of the press.
At 7p.m., the activities will move to the main venue, for a proper reception. As a way of giving back to the society, prior to the D-day, the Coliseum will pay a visit to motherless babies' homes.
The event will be spiced with music and comedy while four celebrities, Stella Damasus-Aboderin, Jennifer Eliogwu, Kate Henshaw Nuttal and Ohi Alegbe will compere the occasion. Also, awards will be given to selected long time members of the club in appreciation of their loyalty. To ensure the success of the event, latest hi-tech lighting effects have been installed at the Coliseum and the entire place is being given a facelift.
The 20th anniversary celebration is being made possible with the robust sponsorship of telecommunication giant, MTN and the Nigerian Breweries Plc.
Equally speaking at the briefing, MTN Marketing Manager, Bola Akingbade, who was represented by Senior Manager, Marketing and Strategy, Biodun Odejayi, stated that the communications company admires diligence, commitment and determination as traits of individual and corporate successes. These he said, have been displayed by Olumese.
According to the Guv'nor, the Coliseum management team was careful in picking sponsors to avoid a situation where there would be a cluster of sponsors.
Elsewhere in Ikeja, Lagos, also tomorrow, popular comedian, AY, will be getting married to his heartthrob, Mabel, at the Household of God Church. The service, which will be conducted, by the senior pastor of the church, former presidential candidate, Pastor Chris Okotie, will be a roll call of entertainment giants as they gather to celebrate one of their own.
According to the bridegroom, the wedding reception, which takes place at the same venue, has been packaged with all the elements of a showbiz, though strictly by invitation. Guests expect a day of merriment as comedians such as Ali Baba, Okey Bakassi, Gordons, I Go Die, Basketmouth, Tee A, Teju Babyface, Seyilaw, Elenu as well as many others will be thrilling them to rib cracking jokes.
Later in the day, Tee A takes centre stage as he hosts comedy lovers at Fantasyland, Ikoyi. The show, which is tagged Comedy Rave begins from 8 p.m. He will also be inviting fellow comedians to perform alongside in a bid to give his guests value for their money.
Other comedians expected to perform at the event include the king of comedy Ali Baba, MC Abbey, Teju Babyface, Jedi and Princess. In a bid to present a balanced show, musical artistes such as M.I., award winner Naeto C, Kelly Handsome, J. Martins, Shank, M.P. and 2 Shotz will provide the sounds handled by performing DJ Vinnie, DJ Neptune and DJ Bola Fresh Waves.
As their way of celebrating the landmarks they have made in marketing beauty to Nigerians, Sleek MakeUP will on Sunday November 30, treat its customers to a night of fun to mark its first anniversary and commemorate its success in its inaugural year.
As part of the package lined for the day, the beauty outfit has set out to treat invitees to a cocktail reception, fashion show, musical entertainment as well as an awards ceremony for its distributors and agents who have put in their best to bring its products to the doorstep of its various customers.
The event, which will take place at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos, will begin with the cocktail reception. The dress code is black formal wear for both sexes.
Award-winning duo, P-Square, Naeto C and Omawunmi are some of the artistes billed to thrill the audience to a night of entertainment and make the event a fun filled one. Also slated for the night is a fashion exhibition by the following celebrated fashion designers: Deola Sagoe, Ninos of London and Amede. They will be showcasing their latest stylish collections.
Sleek MakeUP, one of the leading mass-market colour cosmetic brand in the UK, aims at being an inspiration for women of all races, providing them with innovative and trend driven beauty products.
Also tomorrow through Sunday, the second edition of Nigerian Music Videos Awards (NMVA) holds at the Expo Hall of Eko Hotel and Suites. The award night proper will take place on Sunday. This will however be preceded by a Peace Concert tomorrow at the same venue.
Briefing journalists on the event earlier, the chief executive of Callivision Network, organisers of the NMVA, Cally Ikpe, disclosed that arrangements were on top gear to ensure a rare package for the concert and the award.
The NMVA, which debuted on December 2, 2007, not only encourages Nigerian producers and artistes in the music world, but also tries to put Nigeria in the world map as regard music videos. According to Ikpe, with the standard of music on the increase everyday in Nigeria, it has become necessary to curb mediocrity in the industry.
This year's award categories for the NMVA have been increased from 19 to 23. The hip-hop category has also been split into two vis--vis Mainstream Hip-hop and Afro Hip-hop, the latter accommodating very heavy African flavour.
Callivision, he said, had taken into consideration the fact that some videos were a combination of various genres hence they came up with the best contemporary Afro Music Video.
On the Most Popular Nigerian Music Video in Europe, it was explained that Callivision is to partner with Ben TV, which is to conduct a poll in Europe to that effect.
Peace was deliberately chosen as the theme of this year's awards as it is their belief that it is central to the well being of people everywhere. "The beauty of our nation as captured in videos can only be appreciated in an enduring atmosphere of peace. The Peace Concert billed for November 29 would have done justice to that," Ikpe remarked.
He stated in clear terms that videos that celebrate obscenity and violence would not be considered for nomination as the NMVA is dedicated to promoting the image of Nigeria in a positive light.
Still recovering from the hang-over of the Abuja Carnival and the first ever MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA), the nation's capital, Abuja, will on Sunday be celebrating the power of laughter as Basketmouth thrills his fans with his unique wits at the second edition of his show Basketmouth Uncensored at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel.
Away from Abuja, attention turns to Lagos the same Sunday as the 17th Presentation Dinner of Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME), holds at Sheraton Hotels and Towers. DAME is an independent, non-profit organisation that was established in March 1991 to reward talent, enterprise and excellence in media work. Individuals and organisations with a healthy interest in nurturing the media as a potent agent of national development fund DAME.
The fun-filled season extends to the Agip Recital Hall, MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos, at 6p.m. on Monday December 1, 2008, as Access Bank, a member of the Global Business Coalition, organises the command performance of an HIV/AIDS drama piece on the need to discourage stigma and discrimination, especially in the work place, against people living with HIV/AIDS, in commemoration with this year's December 1 World AIDS Day.
Global Business Coalition (GBC) is an umbrella of responsible businesses inaugurated to fight against HIV/AIDS stigmatisation.
HIV/AIDS is a disease that seems to have defied all known scientific and tradomedical research, affecting every stratum of life. It is a no respecter of person resulting in the devastating economic effect on countries with severe infection rate, Nigeria inclusive.
By signing a HIV/AIDS non-discrimination pledge, the coalition is sending a powerful signal to employees and their families, communities and stakeholders that their companies care and are doing their part to end stigma against HIV/AIDS carriers. "We are in the fight together," the coalition stressed.
According to the coalition, "Ending stigma is fundamental to winning the fight against HIV/AIDS. It is one way that working as a coalition we can play a more effective role in advancing the drive to defeat AIDS than any one company can do individually."
The coalition members include Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede (Access Bank Plc), Vikrain Pandit (Citigroup), Dave O'Reilly (Chevron Corporation) N.F. Oppenheimer (De Beers), Michael Delll (Dell), Andrew P. Witty (GlaxoSmithKline), Jean-Francois Van Boxmeer (Heineken), William C. Weldon (Johnson & Johnson), William H. Roedy (MTV Networks), David Stern (National Basketball Association), Marcia Silverman (Oglivy Public Relations Worldwide), Jeff Kindler (Pfizer Inc), Thomas H. Glocer (Reuters), Martin Winterkorn (Volkswagen), while Richard Holbrooke is the President.
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