theelites : January 2014

Friday, 31 January 2014

UNVEILING DUNDUN PETERSIDE, THE QUEEN OF LAGOS POLO TOURNAMENT

The chairman and founder of IBTC Chartered Bank, Atedo Peterside is one of the Nigerian elites who have passion for the game of polo. The consummate banker never misses any of the polo tournaments. In spite of his heavy work schedule, he ensures that he participates in the tournament annually. But what is unknown to many people, is the fact that Peterside's passion for polo was ignited by his wife, Dundun Abiodun. We gathered that she actually introduced her husband to horse riding, during their

courtship years. Later, this hobby metamorphosed into the game of polo for the couple.

Dundun is now a top member of the Lagos Polo Club. For so many years, she held sway as the only female member of the club. It wasn't until recently that she was joined by another female member, Toyin Martins. A mother of three lovely children, Dundun has been riding horses since childhood. Eventually, when she met Peterside, she introduced him to the game. Over the years, the couple has become an integral part of the Lagos Polo Club.

KHAIRAT GWADAGBE GOES INTO FOOD BUSINESS

After completing her term as a Senator in the National Assembly, Khairat Abdulrasaq Gwadabe now has found a new vocation, with which she keeps herself busy. The 52-year old, has veered into the booming fast food business, with the setting up of Drumstick Fast-food chain. The venture is a franchise she bought from a company in South Africa. So far, Senator Khairat has set up two outlets in Abuja-Miatama and Wuse, and one each at The Palms, Lagos, Jos and Lokoja. The successful turnout of these outlets seems to have buoyed her determination to set up more outlets in other major towns in Nigeria. Blessed with a charming personality, Khairat is the daughter of Chief Folorunso Abdulrasaq, the first Senior Advocate of Nigeria from the northern Nigeria. She is an active member of the Nigerian Senators’ Forum, and is also a member of the National Dialogue Committee, which was set up by President Goodluck Jonathan during the last Independence celebration. Khairat has been preaching the gospel of Drumstick to her friends and associates. And when she is not running her chain of outlet, Khairat enjoys the company of her husband, Colonel Lawan Gwadabe, the former Military Governor of Niger State and her nine-year old son.

FLORENCE ITA GIWA'S PLAN FOR 68TH BIRTHDAY

On Wednesday, February 19, Senator Florence Mayen Ita-Giwa will clock 68. To mark the event, the celebrated society matriarch plans to host a grand party. The party has been billed to hold at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island. Ita-Giwa, who looks ageless, as she gets older, is putting all plans in place to make the party worth the while of her friends and admirers.

After she resigned as Special Assistant on National Assembly Matters to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Ita-Giwa was appointed as a member of the board of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, by the present administration. However, Mma Bakasi, as she is fondly called, also keeps herself busy by indulging in a lot of social activities. The ageless looking style maven does a lot of socializing, in the company of her best friends, Sisi Abah Folawiyo and Yewande Onilere.

FUNKE ADEDOYIN AND HER YOUNGER 'FRIEND'

Former Minister of State for Health, Funke Adedoyin is not a lady that is given to frivolities. She is one very tough lady, who brooks no nonsense from anybody. However, like every other person, Funke is human and she is susceptible to emotions. One area in which she has been able to exhibit this trait is in her love life. Funke, the second daughter of Prince Samuel Adedoyin, the foremost industrialist, enjoys the company of matured and intelligent men. Presently, she has been enjoying the company of a certain Gboyega. This guy is reported to be in his early 40’s, and is from a prominent family in Ibadan, Oyo State. It is gathered that Funke and her ‘friend’ have stuck to each other ever since they met a couple of years back. Funke trained as a Pharmacist and also attended the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, Kuru, Plateau State, which is one of the most prestigious institutions in the world. Funke was once in a serious relationship with Otunba Segun Fowora, the former husband of Senator Gbemi Saraki. But she is rarely linked, romantically with any man. Funke is also a very close ally of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who is her political mentor and godfather.

AFTER DUMPING EX-LOVER, GRACE EGBAGBE GIVES LOVE A WIDE BERTH

Those who have been hoping to see Grace Zemaye Egbagbe, the former NTA top shot fall in love again, can kiss their expectation goodbye. The style maven has decided to give love a wide berth, for now. She is just happy with how her new life, which has been devoid of the dramas and hoopla that characterized her last affair. Invariably, Egbagbe has resolved to make the most of her life in retirement to optimal level. She is also looking forward to marrying off her two children in a not-too-distant future. Meanwhile, Egbagbe has finally put behind her, the sleazy experience she went through, following the crash of her celebrated affair with her former beau, Lanre Nzeribe. While the affair lasted, Egbagbe and Nzeribe had a swell time, flaunting their affair to the exasperation of their friends. Although, Egbagbe, the creator of the 80s popular TV soap, Cock Crows At Dawn, is almost 20 years older than her lover, the yawning disparity in their ages hardly imposed any problem on them. However, some close friends of Egbagbe feared that her younger lover might break her heart the same way he did his former lovers. Nzeribe, who is currently involved in a love affair with star actress, Monalisa Chinda, had been romantically linked with several celebrity women like Liz Benson, Grace Ashafa, Stella Damasus, Munachi Abii, Folake Odutola and many others.

Meanwhile, Egbagbe, whose affair with former Vice-President Alex Ekweme produced a son, Nkeymka, was reported to have ignored her friends’ warning and stuck to her lover. She even toyed with the idea of marriage, but had to dump the idea when she found out that another woman, Folake Odutola, a nightclub owner, was sharing Nzeribe with her. Somehow, the lovers reconciled after a while and re-ignited their affair. Of course, Odutola felt devastated when she realised that she had been dumped for Egbagbe. She decided to engage Nzeribe in a messy battle, which delved on a business agreement they entered into in the heat of their steamy affair. Subsequently, this battle took a toll on Egbagbe and she took a walk out of the relationship. And she has never looked back since then.

BEST OF NOLLYWOOD CELEBRATES JIDE KOSOKO AT 60

Veteran actor, Prince Jide Kosoko clocked 60. To mark the milestone anniversary, Best of Nollywood, BON organized and hosted a two-in-one event in his honour on Wednesday, January 29 in Lagos. The first part of the celebration was a lecture, titled 'Paradigm Shift to Excellence and Global Market' and this was held at Eagles Park Hotel, Ikeja. An elaborate birthday party later took place at Troy Lounge, Ogba.
Below, are pictures from the two events.

Thursday, 30 January 2014

WATCH EXCLUSIVE CLIPS FROM KUNLE AFOLAYA'S NEW MOVIE, OCTOBER 1

Here's a brand new clip from Nigerian producer-director-actor, Kunle Afolayan's upcoming crime drama, currently in post-production, titled October 1 (also the official date Nigeria declared its independence from the UK in 1960).

Produced by his Golden Effects production company, the film is set in 1960, against the backdrop of Nigeria's independence, and is said to be of the serial killer genre.

Written by Tunde Babalola, here's how it's described:

... a psychological thriller detailing the activities of a northern police detective, Dan Waziri who was posted to the western region to unravel the mystery behind a series of female murders in the community. He soon discovers that the prime suspect is Aderopo, the prince of the community. Waziri, however does not have plenty of time as he is expected to bring the Prince to book before the Nigerian flag is raised on October 1.

October 1 stars Sadiq Daba, Kehinde Bankole, David Bailie, Kayode Olaiya, Nick Rhys, Fabian Lojede, and Demola Adedoyin.

Afolayan's last film, the romantic-comedy Phone Swap, a film we covered, screened internationally, in 2012, and is available via digital platforms currently.

And the film he made before that, the thriller, Araromire (The Figurine), is now available for streaming on line on Ndani.TV, which is, in short, an online video streaming website that features primarily Nollywood cinema - or what the founders call "the best of New Nollywood as well as the classics."

Check out the new clip from October 1 below, and underneath you'll find the film's full trailer, and a poster for the film

FACES AT DAYO BUSH'S CHIEFTAINCY CEREMONY

Last Saturday, 25 January, the ever socially vibrant town of Ijebu wore a festive glow as the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona (CFR), conferred the Otunba title on some members of the royal family. One of the recipients of this title was Hon. Yacoob Ekundayo Bush-Alebiosu, a member of the House of Representatives. Bush-Alebiosu is a descendant of the Gbelegbuwa Ruling House. His parents, Chiefs Busura and Funmi Alebiosu were conferred with the Otunba titles by Oba Adetona in the 80's. Bush-Alebiosu was conferred with the title of Otunba Fuwagbuyi of Ijebuland. This title had remained vacant ever since its bearer, Chief Adeniran Ogunsanya (SAN), the foremost statesman and lawyer par excellence, died in November 1996.

Bush-Alebiosu is serving his second term in the House of Reps. The ELITES gathered that one of the factors that enhanced his nomination was his towering achievement in the National Assembly. Bush-Alebiosu chairs the House Committee on Treaties and Agreements. His passion for people-centered and welfarist legislations has endeared him to many. He has sponsored bills such as the Tobacco Regulation and Control Bill, Regulation of Consumption of Caffeinated Energy Drinks, Air Passengers’ Rights Bill and several motions. His cerebral and robust contributions to debates and legislative activities remain a landmark among his peers.

An Architect by profession, Bush –Alebiosu distinguished himself as a thoroughbred professional in the nation's building and construction industry before his foray into partisan politics. His candour, charisma, and philanthropy are rare among his generation. Bush-Alebiosu comes from a prominent political dynasty of Pa. Busura Alebiosu, a former Majority leader in the Lagos State House of Assembly during the Second Republic regime of Governor Lateef Jakande’s administration.