NIGERIA STOCK EXCHANGE WINS THE AFRICAN REGULATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD

On July 25th 2015, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) was named the African Regulator of The Year at the 6th African Business Leadership Forum & Awards organized by African Leadership Magazine in United Kingdom (UK). 

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A BILLION NAIRA REVENUE RAKING POSSIBILITY: LAGOS CARNIVAL

Ever thought of why England, Brazil, Germany and other countries spend so much to keep their carnivals going. The answer is simple. They make more than they spend. The ratio of the expenditure on this carnivals to the revenue is like pouring a cup of water into an ocean. The hospitality, aviation, beverage, fast food, bureau de change, banking industry and others are beneficiaries of such events.

Lagos carnival celebration like Nottingham carnival show cases the artistic, cultural and joyful spirit of Lagosians. Prior to 2010 when Ex-Governor of Lagos State - Babatunde Raji Fashola put up a team headed by Mr Adeogun Adeola that organized the first Lagos carnival, many communities organize street carnivals at a chosen time in the year to wine, dance and dine. These carnivals usually occur at Easter or the month of December and January, depending on each street’s organizers. However, the earliest recording of a carnival in Lagos was 1881 after the completion of the Holy Cross Cathedral on Lagos Island - Called Carreta. It used to be held three times a year- Easter Monday, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

But with Lagos State government intent to build and brand itself as a mega city, such initiative like the Lagos carnival was birthed. The carnival allows participants to showcase effigies like; camels, butterflies etc.

The glamorous carnival procession is within the Ikoyi axis and the grand rendezvous for everyone is the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) – a Remembrance Arcade (with memorials to World War I, World War II and civil-war victims) and the 26-storey Independence House.

Some of the junior and adult carnival groups include Locomotion, Oko Faji, Obalende, Isale-Eko, Ogba, Africarebeanna, Ikeja, Surulere and Lafiaji.

Some of the dignitaries and celebrities that have graced the carnival so far are; Ex-Governor of Lagos State (Babatunde Fashola), Abimbola Fashola, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire (Ex-Deputy Governor of Lagos State), Chief (Mrs) Kemi Nelson, Mr Disu Holloway (Ex-Commissioner for Tourism, Lagos State), Professor Wole Soyinka, Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi (Business mongul), Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi, Oba of Lagos (Oba Rilwan Akiolu I), Oba of Badagry (Whenu Aholu MenuToyi 1), Late (Chief) Molade Okoya Thomas, American film star - Danny Glover, Opral Benson and many more.

The future is bright. We can only be hopeful. God bless Nigeria! God bless Lagos!

Effigy of Obafemi Awolowo

Effigy of Prof Wole Soyinka

Effigy of Late Fela Kuti

Credit: The Punch Newspaper, Leadership Newspaper, Thisday, CP Africa, Lukesh Photography, Bella Naija, Village Square.

THE BIRD EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT

Asa (Pronounced "Asha")

Hahaha! Guess I caught your attention with the topic. Okay! Do you remember the sound track for the 2007 movie “The First Cry” - Kokoya? Or the popular GTBank welcome song in all its buildings – Place to be?

The artiste responsible for the lovely piece of music is Bukola Elemide (Popularly known as ‘Asa’). Born in Paris, France to her Nigerian parents. Asa’s family returned to live in Nigeria when she was two. It was during this time she got herself acquainted and inspired by her father’s musical collection. Collection which included the likes of Ebenezer Obey, Aretha Franklin,  Fela Kuti,  and Mavin Gaye.

Twenty years later, Aṣa returned to Paris where her life as an artist took off. She got signed to Naïve label and in 2004; she met her manager and friend Janet, who introduced her to Cobhams Emmanuel Asuquo, who became her musical partner and producer. This partnership resulted in the release of her first album in 2007 ‘Asa’ which won her the prestigious Constantin Award in 2008 and Headies Album of the year (2008). She has since released ‘Live in Paris’ (2009), ‘Beautiful Imperfection’ (2010), and ‘Bed of Stone’ (2014).

Asa during a video shoot

Prior to the release of her first album Asa (pronounced “Asha”), she (Asa) confessed she wanted a very peaceful, soulful sound for the whole album. Something that will connect with lots of people that have lost hope. According to her, “she felt that through her music she could help these people see life in another way. Which is why, at the end of the day, hope is the one theme that connects all the songs." The insightful and passionate tracks on the album like `Bibanke`, 'Fire On The Mountain' and the anti-slavery-themed 'Jailer' saw Asa rise to the top of her game with an almost unbelievable global appeal .

Are you going to be in France this month? Asa – the African pop queen with global acceptance will be performing at the “Festival de Thau – Meze, France 17^th July 2015”, Pleins Feux Festival (Bonneveille) 25^th July 2015, and “Festival du Bout du Monde – Crozon, France 31^st July – 2^nd August 2015”.

Asa performing in France - Jolly little fellow

 Credit: Asa-Official, Wikipedia, T.I.N Magazine, Blues and Soul, and CNN African voices

ONE OF AFRICA'S MOST INFLUENTIAL FIGURE

Though an alumnus of Harvard Business School's Advanced Management Programme, Tony Elumelu had his education in Nigeria contrary to the norm that it has to be white to be right. A graduate of economics.  Known for his philosophy “Africapitalism”, a development model he propagated. According to him, Africapitalism sees the African private sector as the catalyst in ensuring Africa’s sustainable social and economic development.‎

In 2011, he was listed as one of the 100 most influential people in Africa by New African magazine and in 2012 Forbes Magazine recognized him as one of "Africa's 20 Most Powerful People. A year later, Mr Elumelu was awarded the Leadership Award in Business and Philanthropy by the Africa-America Institute (AAI). African Business Icon at the 2013 African Business Awards. Also, ESI-Africa, frequently described as "Africa's power journal", named Mr Tony Elumelu in its 2015 'ESI Most Influential Figures in African Power' list in January 2015.

Tony Elumelu, who is the current chairman of Heirs Holding and founder of Tony Elumelu Foundation, was responsible for the acquisition of Standard Trust Bank by United Bank for Africa (UBA) when he became chairman of UBA in 2005. In five years he transformed UBA from a single-country bank, to a pan-African institution with over 7 million customers in 19 African countries.

Tony Elumelu with President Buhari

Elumelu (CON, MFR) serves as an Advisor to the USAID’s Private Capital Group for Africa (PCGA) Partners Forum. He sits on the Nigerian President's Agricultural Transformation Implementation Council (ATIC). He is also vice-chairman of the National Competitiveness Council of Nigeria (NCCN) whose formation he was a key driver in, and serves as Co-Chair of the Aspen Institute Dialogue Series on Global Food Security. He also serves as a member of the Global Advisory Board of the United Nations Sustainable Energy for All Initiative (SE4ALL) and USAID’s Private Capital Group for Africa Partners Forum.

Tony Elumelu with President Barrack Obama

Tony Elumelu is happily married to Awele and they have five daughters and two sons together.

"Everything I have today is because of Africa, I was born here, went to school here, I work here and I'm achieving some level of financial comfort here" - Tony Elumelu

Credit: Heirs Holding, Tony Elumelu Foundation, UBA Group Plc, Wikipedia