E4PR Public Relations Blog For Showbiz and the Entertainment Industry

May 29, 2013

Nigerian group begins campaign against Examination Malpractice (PHOTOS)



 
As Nigeria continues to struggle on how to bail itself out of the present poor performance of students in schools and high rate of exam malpractice, a group known as CAEMI, an acronym that stands for Campaign against Examination Malpractice Initiative has officially declared its plans and efforts towards combating the present educational problem in the country.
In a press briefing held on Monday at Bolingo Hotel, Abuja, the group through its founder, Prince Chibuike Echem had disclosed that it was determined to take Nigerian education to another level through regular partnership with well-meaning Nigerians and the government. It promised to brand the nations education system and give it a new phase.
This is what the group said through  Prince Chibuike Echem , “We hereby call on well-meaning Nigerians and organizations to support this initiative so that this campaign will get to the grass root. This is one of the ways to eradicate corruption in our dear country by instilling good values like honesty, integrity, hard work, excellence, fear of God, patriotism, respect for constituted authority, dedication, value for human life etc. We in CAEMI strongly believe in transformation of Nigeria”


May 25, 2013

Governor Rotimi Amaechi defeats Jang to return as Governors’ Forum Chairman


Contrary to the expectation of the public that Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State may not return as the Chairman of the Governor’s forum, owing to the ongoing political tussle with  President Jonathan,   The Rivers state Governor has again been re-elected as the chairman of the Forum, defeating his opponent, Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State by 3 votes.
Mr. Amaechi won 19 votes from the 35 Governors present, while Mr. Jang, a late entrant to the competition garnered 16 votes. Only one Governor was absent.


Samsong, Chris Morgan, others storm Fred James Album launch


 
The most anticipated Album launch of one of Nigeria’s finest gospel artistes, Fred James, is finally here.
 Fred James, who is also known for his vocal prowess as a public speaker and youth enthusiast will be launching his debut album in Abuja on Sunday, May 26 2013.

The Launch tagged” outlive concert” promises to parade great gospel artistes in the music industry to include Mfreke Umoh, MadMo, Samsong , Chris Morgan and many more.  The event will hold at Livingword Ministries Auditorium ,1st Avenue Gwarimpa by Fidelity bank.


Also expected to grace the event, are Abuja Nollywood stars and other big celebrities in the entertainment industry.  Fred is a brother to the foremost UN youth Ambassador, David J.
.

May 18, 2013

Fred Amata @ 50 (Part 3): White Tie Charity Dinner & Stage Play + Read Charles Novia's Honest And Touching Piece About Our Nollywood Icon



After the success of the first two birthday celebrations respectively, in honour of Nollywood Icon, Fred Amata's 50th birthday, today is the 3rd and final celebration.

There will be a white tie dinner party and His Excellency Governor Fashola of Lagos State, will also be there to honour us with his presence. After ​this, Fred and his fellow A-list colleagues: Bimbo Manuel, Keppy Bassey, Segun Arinze, Monalisa Chinda, Kate Henshaw, Francis Onwochei and many others, will also dole out their acting skills in a stage play titled "The King Must Dance Naked".

For more information and invites, click here

Those of us that were at Fred Amata's first party hosted by City People two weeks ago and witnessed Zik Zulu Okafor, an accomplished producer and known orator, eloquently deliver a eulogy about Fred and the entire Amata family that would make Historians envious, would be excited to also read what well respected Nollywood director and critic, Charles Novia, has to say about Fred. Well, the wait is over now...check out his honest and touching piece on Fred below:


FOR FRED AMATA @ 50

I first met Fred Amata on television in 1989. It was the music video of King Sunny Ade's and Onyeka Onwenu's 'Choices', a family planning public enlightenment campaign. My first thought when I saw the young, handsome fellow on the screen was that he looked a bit like the then popular Zack Amata of the hit Nigerian soap opera, 'Behind the clouds'. Later, I discovered that he's Zack's younger brother and a 'No wonder!' sentence escaped from my lips.
No wonder what? At that time I didn't know why I made that sentence but after having known Fred Amata for close to twenty-five years professionally and eighteen years personally, more 'No wonder' bursts have come out of me over this Fred ever since.
When I first met Fred Amata in person at the grounds of the Nigerian Television Authourity in 1995, he was impeccably dressed and had a glittering fair complexion, with a boyish smile and a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. Someone told him I was an ex-National President of the Nigerian Universities Theatre Arts Students Association and Fred shook me warmly as if I was a Nobel Prize Winner. He was warm and very receptive. That first meeting made me take a liking to him.
I met him a few more times after that over the next couple of years and as my reputation as a script writer was steadily growing while I was still 'experimenting and learning' at NTA, he would always stop to chat with me and ask me if I was writing anything new. Fred has an innate respect for intellect and while he's grossly misunderstood by many people, he is very intelligent with an impressive ability to write screenplays himself and a powerful speaker with a good command of the English Language.
With a very friendly disposition, an open minded personality laced with streaks of the heroic flaws of the Dionysian characters all Theatre scholars know so well, Fred Amata could be said to be as human as God created any other. I deliberately alluded to his heroic flaws, as perceived by me, because I have silently de-constructed and re-constructed Fred Amata over the years. His tragic flaw, which is a positive quality to me, is his very friendly disposition and his willingness to make new friends every minute. Fred takes over a gathering whenever he's around and livens up the place! He receives people he doesn't even know warmly and is always ready to listen to anybody. And he's generous, both in giving and in warmth. Characters don't come any tragic than that, do they?
Still 'no wonder' that as open and warm as Fred is, he's easily irritated and flippant when situations piss him off and then he gets very acidic in his comments and very stubborn. Sometimes, a tad too stubborn.
When Fred gets that way, you cannot budge him. Like the Olumo Rock he would argue his point and if one has a counter-argument, he has a famous quip to drive home his point, 'Why do you think I would in any way accept your opinion?' And then the arguments continue till one person flops out and most of the time, it wouldn't be Fred! But all his friends love him that way. Rather, I should speak for myself! Lol.

All through these years, Fred welcomed me into his circle and through him, I became a friend and family member to his brothers, Uncle Zack, Ruke and his nephew Jeta in a bond of artistic and kindred proportions. Fred is a man who loves his children and would always beam with pride each time he talks about them, all three of them. I have been privileged to share great artistic and personal moments with Fred Amata. Its a privilege I cherish and don't take for granted. Like all great artistes, Fred has a gift and a curse. (Don't we all?) Its just an irony that his curse is actually his gift! And as a nation, Fred is actually a gift to our cultural sector. He's one of the pioneers of Nollywood as we know it, having been involved in the birth and shaping of an industry which though acclaimed to have 'grown from nothing', is actually an off-shoot of the foundations laid by his late father, John Efoghale Amata, who featured in the first movie shot in colonial Africa titled 'Freedom'.

As hard as it is to believe, Nollywood is actually a close-knit family, daggers and all. Fred is a pater familias figure to many in the industry who look up to him. My story about knowing him is just one of thousands who have inspiring tales of their friendship with Fred.
A few days back, at the novelty football match organised to kick start Fred's fiftieth birthday at the Campus Square Stadium, celebrities, ex-footballers and a motley crowd of well-wishers came in large numbers to honour the man. It was an impressive event. And with Fred, sometimes its hard to distinguish the man at fifty from the boy of fifteen. Whilst on the pitch, he would dance, shout, hail friends and play football simultaneously. I had to scream out 'Agbaya' at a point!
If Fred Amata is not an 'Agbaya' who has commendably re-defined the meaning of the word, then someone tell me why he participated in the 'Celebrity Takes Two' dancing reality show four years ago as the oldest contestant and so impressed the judges and viewers with his dancing skills that he came second! And for those who crave for pleasant surprises in a party, pray to see Fred on the dance floor as he displays his dancing skills from the past to the present. He dances the 'Azonto' fluidly, as if he was born to do it. And what wasn't Fred Amata born for, come to think of it? Acting? Directing? Writing? A sprinkle of more greatness is what's left to fulfil his destiny.
So, its no wonder that as Fred Amata celebrates his fiftieth birthday, the entertainment industry, politicians , fans and friends would look back at a career of excellence in acting and directing as well as a triumph of will and ambition and clink glasses and shout 'Cheers' to the maestro @ fifty. And as Fred receives and opens his packages, Nigeria acknowledges that he is a package we all collectively have received all through these years. We just didn't bother to open him. Till now.
Happy Birthday, Fred.



WOW!!! Charles Novia has really said it all and hit the nail on the head concerning the Fred that I have known for over two decades.

This tribute is so touching and takes me wayyyy back. I must add that Keppy and NY Ekpenyong were responsible for my very first introduction to Nollywood way back in 1993 when myself and NY were best of friends {we still are btw :-) } and that was how I met Fred and Ruke Amata, Matthias Obahiagbon, Obi Osotule, Victoria Inyama and many others, as we gathered frequently at Keppy's in Surulere. 

I left Nigeria later that summer to return to England, but we all kept in touch over the years and met periodically and ironically, when I returned to Nollywood four years ago, 'Celebrity Takes Two' for which I handled Fred's campaign and PR, was one of my first 'come-back' projects; so we go back a long way and whenever you see me with any of these BIG BOYS OF NOLLYWOOD, make una no find my trouble oh cos I'm like their lil sister and they don't joke with me! Hehehe! *only joking :-)*

Happy Birthday Fred my big bro. 50 no be beans mbok. Ama try ufan. Abasi odiong fi ette, onyung akama fi ke nsi nsi nsi nsi ke enying Jesus - AMEN!!!

Much love n' God's blessings,

Egor Efiok.










May 17, 2013

Uche Ogbodo Celebrates Her Birthday Today With HOT New Photos



Today is Nollywood actress Uche Ogbodo's birthday and she has released new photos from a recent photo shoot to mark it. I think she looks gorgeous.

My original Lady Gaga! Hehehe! ;) 


Happy Birthday girl!!!




Bellota Couture Adds A Feather To The Cap Of The Fashion Industry In Abuja As It Opens On Saturday

As Abuja fashion industry continues to expand, unbelievable innovations are beginning to take shape. Recently, the Capital City is beginning to have flashes of Fashion showrooms and event that have contributed greatly to red carpet events in Abuja.




It is with this growing transformation of the fashion industry in the FCT that Bellota Coutoure has officially announced its entry into the Abuja fashion market on   May 18, 2013 when it will lunch its world class fashion showroom in Abuja. The lunch which will be holding at DBM plaza , Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2 will feature its latest collection, the Designer behind the label, Ehinomen Ewalefoh popularly known as Ehis and other great heavyweight in the Entertainment Industry.





In an effort to follow her dream of transforming the Fashion Industry in Nigeria, Ehis abandoned her Degree which she obtained in physics from Ambrose Alli University, and embarked on a course in Milan, Italy and got her training at the Milan Fashion Campu, hence becoming one of few  Nigeria- Italian Fashion Designer who now designs for Nollywood stars, Musicians, Comedians and other people who crave for quality.





The event is expected to host most Nollywood stars, Abuja based musicians and other entertainers.

May 16, 2013

Charlyboy: The Gothic Me





The gothic mind is a limitless mind but you may choose to refer to me as creepy and weird. Why don’t you call me an individual with no particular direction? I’m here, far from you because the society has a limited philosophy and ideology. I stand afar from the scene because; I wouldn’t want to be limited by its inability to get out of the box. I want to remain outside of that limited-tiny box. Your world is too small for me to exist. I need a better space, even beyond the horizon. FREEDOM! Yes, freedom is all I seek, to simply break out of societal constriction. I’m unwaveringly flying like an urufia bird; you don’t know that name, because you are not free.
To start the story of my freedom, you must know this. Simply put, the society is a group of people with collective interest, though this could vary from community to community. However, every society must have collective ideas on morality, ethics and politics. Lord Devlin said, “the bonds which holds a society together are not physical but invisible bonds of common thought. If the bonds of a society were too far relaxed, members would drift apart. A common, morality is part of the bondage. The bondage is part of the price of the society; and mankind which needs society, must pay its price.”
But far from it, the Australian Values Study Section 35 submits, “one of the greatest problems of our time however, is that elites in politics, society, media and even in some religious organizations have turned their backs on the traditional conceptions of right and wrong. Some have done so deliberately- others support ideas and causes which have (for them) the unintended effect of undermining values to which they are committed.”
My fear however in this article as relatively tied to the above values study, is that if the institutors of these values and laws break them every now and then, how can other members of the society adhere or stay committed to these values and laws? A question, we can’t discard in this our “yarn”
 Based on the Judeo-Christian section 18:2, “people have to feel connected to a shared moral community. There is a yearning for morality that invariably is genetic-and far too many of us in this society have a hole in our souls because, day to day, it just isn’t there.”
Though laws and values are necessary factors in the society to help curtail anarchy, how do we justify that these common laws and values instituted by some cabal in the society are actually what truly defines one as living right or wrong? And how those following a particular trend or pattern determine your being right or wrong?

The society gave a structure of how life should be lived so there would be order, it didn’t state that we all must use the same pattern to arrive at what we all term as moral.
In every society, there are a set of people who stand out, regardless of any situation, they like to be referred to as the free thinkers or the gothic minds. Goths are mostly individuals who live their lives the way they want to, not conforming to a particular style; the way most people are subjected or told to live their lives. They are a group of people who listen and make up their own minds rather than accept the moral rules of the society because they are told to do so. Because many people are conformed to one style of living, these free thinkers are often rejected in the society. Many people have developed a misconception of who goths are, a lot of people term them as satanic or cultists because of their mode of dressing or approach to certain things in life. Fundamentally speaking, these are not true. Being different, taking another pattern, living their lives regardless of what others think does not make this free thinkers immoral or devoid of values. They only do what they do, the way they know how to do it. Goths have open mind and that’s what makes them unique and exceptional, they’ve refused to have enclosed minds like every other person in the society. These people are intelligent, they see beyond what ordinary eyes can see. Being a goth does not require any specific qualification, goths all have different interest, hobbies, fashion sense, religion, different occupation such as doctors, lawyers, tradesmen, even down to the common man. Their life style may vary, but their exceptional way of reasoning, their free way of thinking makes them stand out. Believably true, most goths have a high level of intelligent quotient. Because their thinking is quite deep, the public see them as weird, but that’s the beautiful path of being a goth. There are never afraid of coming out openly about who they really are or how they feel. Sadly, Undisputable is the fact that goths are people like everyone else even though they are distinct. Can the society freely express what bothers it without having some gothic traits? How can we ask political leaders questions when we conceal our thoughts in pretense? I express myself, and I ask question, because I want to be free at all time.
The brand, my brand has survived the test of time, because of its eccentricity and its ability to reason outside the box, process and analyze anything it hears or sees (Politics or whatever). Many have misconstrued who I’m, ‘but I no send una’. Some people are against why I act young, dress young or look young. Is there any rule that we must act certain ways when we get to certain age and what makes people think acting old when you are old justifies your being morally upright? Being different, doesn’t make anyone demonic. The fact is that even people, who might be demonic, do not go for a public display of it. Why is my supposed demonic power always in the glare of the public?
 Being free minded and distinct has made me to ask certain pressing questions, ordinary people cannot ask, making my brand an invaluable material that continues to be of  befit to our nation, our youth.
 The reasons our society has seized to grow are because, a lsot of Nigerian youth are docile, they accept everything they are told and swallow hook line and sinker, and they can’t sit up and make decisions for themselves. They are so afraid to ask questions even though everything is obviously going wrong.

The society is being raped by the government, but no one is aggressively asking questions. The youth have allowed their fates to be tied to leaders who in a free world do not exist. If only Nigerian youth could imbibe exceptional minds like the gothic minds and refuse to be subjected to frivolous societal rules. If only they knew, they can succeed with just freedom on their palm. Our society currently needs people who wouldn’t just settle for anything. People with the ability to decide for themselves what is true and what’s not. We need people with independent minds, despite the societal cord that ties everyone together.

But it is quite pathetic that intelligent and reasonable people have out of fear committed this nation into the hands of miscreants and misfits. The gurus at home and in diaspora should come return in search of freedom. The most sorry part, is how these evil perpetrators often meet to scheme new ideas while those who should be at the helm of affairs are nowhere to be found.

For a better society, people need to take responsibility, as it is the foundation of any leadership. When people run away from what they should do and lose hope to power mongers, then things might never change. We all must be willing to participate, only then can we push out leaders who are only in power to protect their own interest, and not for the freedom of the rest of us.

Also, there needs to be attitudinal change. Things need to revolve. Our youth need to think aggressively (not negatively). There is no need to be paralyzed with fear.
In this journey and quest for freedom, brainteasers need to come together and form alliance. There is a need for networking amongst like minds, to draw a plan and strategize on how this nation can properly run. Structures should be set up to automatically work against any bad governance or leadership. I Advocate for gothism, even as I remain gothic. This is my plea, a plea from the heart. Fight for your freedom today.


MattMax sets to direct Big Dada’s King Kong VIDEO




 South African based Hip-hop star, Big Dada has said that the music industry in Nigeria is undoubtedly one of the biggest in the world. Dada who returned to Nigeria to begin the shootings of his hit track, titled, King Kong, featuring T-Cross and Oral Cool this Friday, has lauded the effort of young Nigerians who despite the unfavorable environment have continued to excel.
Contrary to people’s expectation that  the fast growing rapper would move his crew to South Africa for his ongoing video project,  the Bosses Boss affirmed that Nigeria is a beautiful place, with all the talents to conclude work on his video. He said that being a patriotic Nigerian, it becomes necessary to return to the country to work with creative hands in the industry. He also affirmed that Nigeria has the largest entertainment market in Africa and second to the United States in the world, believing that despite the competition in the country, originality would sell any determined artiste to the world. According to Dada, South Africa may be a beautiful place to shoot one’s video, yet it cannot compete with Nigeria in the entertainment business. “ I live in South Africa, I do music there, but you can’t ignore Nigeria when it comes to the real entertainment business in the world. South Africa is still a baby compared to Nigeria in this business. I’m proud to be a Nigerian,” Dada said.
Presently, Dada’s hit track, King Kong is enjoying airplay on different radio stations across the country and in South Africa. Dada will commence his video project on Friday, and will be directed by Matt Max, a renowned video director who directed Olamide’s ‘Stupid love’, Dona Divas’ Gaga, and a host of others.