NIGERIAN BILLIONAIRES WITHOUT UNIVERSITY DEGREE

NIGERIAN BILLIONAIRES WITHOUT UNIVERSITY DEGREE

Just as you might know that most of the big American names like Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, who run the American economy, were college drop-outs, it might also interest you to know that Nigeria’s economy is also in the hands of wealthy men who had very little education .They are very wealthy, especially in the Nigerian context. They are captains of different industries. They occupy the high tables of every event they attend; they are driven in the most expensive auto wheels; they employ the most educated of the society to manage their wealth yet they are the least educated of the society. They are the wealthy Nigerians who are illiterates. PASCHAL OGE OBI presents the list of super rich Nigerians who never saw the four walls of a University.

Number one on the list is Chief Rasaq Akanni Okoya, the chairman Eleganza Industries. This wealthy Industrialist never went to a University. Chief Rasaq knew from childhood what he wanted from life; he wanted to be a business man. He shunned school and focused on his business career. Chief started by helping his father in his shop then went on to sell ear rings and baby shoes at Oke Arin market in Lagos State. From there, he became a big time merchant in household goods. Today, Chief Okoya has become a self made billionaire, who has his own factory. The Aare of Lagos showcased the depth of his wealth by erecting the intimidating Oluwa Ni Sola Estate along Lekki-Ajah Expressway, Lagos. He also owns the popular Eleganza Gardens and Shopping Mall in Ajah.

Following behind is Samuel Adedoyin, he is called the Prince of commerce because he seems to possess the Midas touch. Samuel Adedoyin is the Chairman of Doyin Group of Companies. From bag distributor to a bag manufacturer! This Agbamu, Kwara State born business guru has built a business empire that spans from Medicine, household goods, to foods. When asked the secret of his business prowess, he said: “I think it’s because I am focused in what I do or that God helped me to be focused” He said.

Third on the list is the Aare Musulumi of Nigeria. Born Abdulazeez Arisekola Alao in 1945 to Raheem Alao and Olatutu Alao. He started as an apprentice in Gbagi market, Ibadan in 1960. Today, he has a business conglomerate that spans from Automobile, Oil and Gas, to Real Estate . With little education, he started with Auto sales ,Flour Mills and Oil marketing, later, he spread his tentacles into Real Estate, Insurance, banking and publishing. His golden moment was the military era. He took his business into Aso Rock and the result was, he became a major supplier of articles to government establishments, his company also was the major supplier of food to ECOMOG.

Chidi Anyaegbu is another big entrepreneur whose name must be mentioned. Chidi Anyaegbu is a transport magnate; he is the founder of the popular Chisco Motors. He was born into a less privileged background. His parents couldn’t afford his University education fees so they encouraged him to get married early in life. Due to this, he grew up trying to be successful. He wanted to be somebody his friends who had proper education would never feel better than. Today, most of his educated friends enjoy his benevolence.

Cosmas Maduka: He is definitely among Nigeria’s richest auto dealers.  Also born into a poor family background but never allowed that determine what life offered him .His father died early in life so he hit the street hawking petty goods for his mother, later he became an apprentice where he learnt the ropes of business.  He later became an importer of Motor Cycles and Spare Parts. He founded his company, Coscharis Group which is now one of the leading auto dealers in Nigeria with many subsidiaries under it. He is married to Charity Maduka and they are blessed with five children.

Oyin Jolayemi: Foremost Industrialist, Chairman DailyNeeds Industries. Born in 1940. Oyin was a local farmer before he relocated to Lagos from Kwara State. He started by hawking, street trading, even became a house boy at one point! His life changed when he met Alhaji Folorunsho Akosile who as at then dealt in Patent Medicine, this connection opened doors for him which led to the establishment of Daily Needs Chemist at Idumota Lagos .

Ahmed Onibudo: Owner of popular Lekki Peninsular Resort. This great man was once a Newspaper vendor! An Electrician and a local Printer. He only attended school up to Standard VI and this was made possible by late Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s free primary education but today he has become a force to reckon with. Can you imagine how great things come out of total hopelessness? Born in 1939 in Lagos, his father Wahab Onibudo was just a mechanic while his mother Akanke Kehinde was a petty trader. Their marriage didn’t last. After their separation, the young Ahmed had to grow up under the elderly hands of his grandmother.

Kanu Nwankwo: Former Super Eagles Captain is reputed to be the most successful footballer out of Africa, why you might ask. Because he is the most beautified footballer this continent can boast of. He has won everything besides the World Cup! Business wise, Papilo is also very successful, has built a business empire that cuts across photography, Real Estate and hospitality. He is married to Amarachi and they are blessed with two lovely kids. Internationally he has played for A-list Clubs like Arsenal FC, Ajax, WestBromwich Abion, Ajax Amsterdam, Inter Milan etc. The discovery of a heart ailment at Inter Milan couldn’t stop him from achieving his dreams instead, it pushed him to establish the now popular Kanu Heart Foundation which has really helped many ailing kids in Nigeria. Kanu Nwankwo is a magical figure both on and off the pitch.

Auston Okocha: Popularly known as Jay Jay, a miracle to behold on pitch! Jay Jay is at least one of the most phenomenal mid-fielders the world can boast of, many have argued that if Okocha was a White man, he would have been more celebrated than he is today. This dude didn’t care about school instead he focused his energy on developing deceptive dribble skills which has made him one of the richest sports men in the African continent. He started at Enugu Rangers, has played for  Eintracht Frankfurt of Germany, Fenerbache of Turkey, Bolton Wanderers, Hallcity of England etc. Laurels includes African Cup of Nations, 1994 and Olympic Football gold, 1996. He has successfully invested his money into Hospitality and Real Estate business.

Vincent Obianudo: Chairman Young Shall Grow Motors Ltd. This businessman never saw the four walls of a University but his company is definitely one of the leading transport outfits in Nigeria. He started the company in 1972 as a mini bus transport operator, plying only Enugu-Onitsha road. Today, almost four decades later, the company has grown into a powerful outfit boasting of nothing less than 500 buses plying across the West African region. This Anambra born man is also into other businesses.

godPasie: KOLA KUDDUS WOWS AT ARISE MAGAZINE FASHION WEEK

godPasie: KOLA KUDDUS WOWS AT ARISE MAGAZINE FASHION WEEK: He is young, creatively vibrant and dynamic! An epitome of a great Nigerian mind. He tells the story of a true proud African with his ...

KOLA KUDDUS WOWS AT ARISE MAGAZINE FASHION WEEK

He is young, creatively vibrant and dynamic! An epitome of a great Nigerian mind. He tells the story of a true proud African with his designs. He has been dubbed the new Alexander Amuso because his works show class and excellence. This dude was the genius who opened the just concluded Arise Magazine Fashion Week. His works left the audience mesmerized! When we asked about his super collection, here is what he had to say: "My collection "Urban Aficanus" tells a story of the urban man with love for his ethnicity. So he is definitely combining both the urban and the local style in what he wears and his life style. My strongest piece would be the African-Asian piece with a waist coat and a head gear which a lot of people loved on the runway"

A CALL FROM MR. PRESIDENT

As you read this this morning, I am busy parking my things. You wonder where on earth this paranoid Nigerian traveling to,right.Well, I will tell you. I was awaken this morning by a shocking call from Aso Rock! Did I hear you mutter "You can lie!"? Well believe it or not my flight and accommodation to and in Aso Rock have all been taken care of as you read, after all Mr. President wants to talk to me, Paschal Oge Obi. But what troubles me in all these is, I don't even know why he is interested in ME! Jehovah, na your hand I de o! Hope he is not mistaking me for being a member of Boko Haram? Thank God I am not from the North. On a more serious note I have made up my mind that when I get there I will tell him exactly what his pretentious aides do not tell him, as e be us for bele! How person go de use our money de enjoy A/C we go de suffer under sun, no be craze be that? I will tell him that most Nigerians are completely disappointed in him...yes! What they expect him to do , he is not doing. He is weak! A woman wearing trousers designed for men. I thought his people are known for swallowing the famous Sapele Water to ginger body, why is he not drinking it? But forget o, looking at Lucky Jo's eye balls, Omo you go know how many drums he has consumed since he entered office as Mr. President. I will make sure I, godpasie, tell him that it is a disgrace for Nigeria to be in the business of importing kerosene and feeding it to families across the nation like feeding students in dormitories; that it is ridiculous to have an irrational Sanusi as the axe man of CBN, I will also tell him that he should stop all these Kangaroo House of Reps Committees that can not bite.... I ve got to go now so I don't miss my flight to Rock City. Less I forget what would you tell Mr. President if he called you?

. Dangote gets nod to establish $20m cement plant in Liberia

Nigeria’s leading cement producer Dangote Cement, is making good its promise to expand its cement operations across Africa as it has recently made major inroads into Cameroon, Senegal, Zambia and most recently Liberia.

A recent approval by the government of Liberia, gave the company the nod to invest US$20 million in the country’s cement industry, following which the President of the group, Aliko Dangote, signed a 20-year agreement with the Liberian government in Monrovia last Friday. The agreement paves way for his company to build a cement factory at the Freeport of Monrovia.

The deal was sealed with the Freeport of Monrovia, National Port Authority (NPA) head, Matilda Parker, who congratulated the Nigerian investor for demonstrating African solidarity by choosing to invest in Liberia.

“I gratefully expressed my gratitude to you, Dangote, and your company for extending operations to Liberia,” she said.

The NPA boss, who signed for the government of Liberia, pointed out that this investment would help build up the Liberian economy. “It will speed up reconstruction, create more jobs and expand the economy,” Parker noted.

While responding, Dangote expressed his company’s willingness to work with the government and people of Liberia to ensure the production and supply of quality and affordable cement on the local market.

According to him, the new investment, Dangote Cement-Liberia, is committed to job creation for Liberians with an initial employment opportunity for 250 Liberians.

The Dangote Group CEO also pledged his company’s commitment to being law abiding, to include paying their taxes on time. The US$20 million investment is expected to kick off within six weeks

SENIORITY PALAVA TEARS OJUKWU'S HOUSEHOLD APART

The disadvantages of polygamy are beginning to play out in the family late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu left behind. Barely days after the remains of Eze Igbo Gburugburu were committed to mother earth, his two eldest sons – Debe and Emeka, Jnr. – have gone for each other’s throats. Not only that, the two of them have also decided to wash the family’s dirty linen in public. Emeka, Jnr. and Debe, by the way, are from different mothers. Emeka’s mother is Njideka, from Nawfia, Anambra. She also bore the Ikemba two other children – Mimi and Okigbo. Debe’s mother is Margaret, from Iwororie. She died in 2008 and had only him.
The later, who is actually the Ikemba’s second son, fired the first salvo. This was soon after Ojukwu’s death in London, on November 26, 2011, and following an interview granted by Debe where he had commented on plans for the burial as the first son of the family. As if on cue, Emeka, Jnr. had replied, warning that any person masquerading as Ojukwu’s first son other than him, should be avoided.
The matter was left at that until days later when it reared its head again. But shooting this time is Debe. According to him, some people are trying to steal his birthright and heritage. “I am the first child and son; nobody can take that away from me”, he had insisted. Continuing, he said: “There have been litigations over the estate my grandfather left behind and other members of my family felt they were going to use the litigations to blackmail me. That is why when they (family members) wanted to see President Goodluck Jonathan over the burial plans, they decided to be hostile towards me and ensured I was not part of the team that visited the president.
“Due to my nature, I decided not to allow the hostility impedes the burial activities of my father, a man I still respect so much, even in death…Despite all they tried to do to me, I was actively involved in the funeral activities. I was very visible in all the states where my father’s corpse was taken to for full military honour. The only place I was not actively involved was the burial in our home town, Nnewi.
That day, I had to attend to some private issues…”This was in his interview with The Punch.
To get to the root of the matter, an Nnewi, Anambra elder was consulted and here is what he told our reporter after pleading anonymity. “Indeed, Debe is Ojukwu’s first son and Emeka the second. However, the advantage Emeka is enjoying over Debe stems from the fact that Ikemba officially married Emeka’s mum unlike Debe’s. And because of that, most people see Emeka as the official first son and Debe, the unofficial first son.
“It is because of Emeka’s status that he is enjoying more visibility and acceptance from a wide spectrum of people. Debe’s issue would have been settled had the Ikemba, before his death, married his own mother officially. What I have told you is the true story, whatever thing any other person tells you is contrary to the custom and traditional of Nnewi people. Nobody is marginalizing Debe, we are just following our tradition”.
Meanwhile we had exclusively broken the story  of the war in the family weeks back. This was after noticing that at the Lagos event (pre-burial), it was Emeka that stood in for the family. Again, at the burial proper – where only he and his brother, Okigbo occupied what in Igboland is known as ‘nwogo’, acknowledging all those that came to the burial and also accepting their gifts. Debe was no where near there. Even when President Goodluck Jonathan and his team arrived, it was Emeka, Jnr. that again welcomed him. Likewise all the other dignitaries.
“Debe was like a spectator on that day”, lamented one observer. “He only strolled in with his group and also strolled out. He didn’t do anything of importance that day”.

Project Fame Eyo Drops New Video

Shortly after leaving the Project Fame Academy, in late 2011, Eyo, the second runner up in the competition, has decided to move his career forward. Having recorded quite a number of singles, the hardworking and ambitious young man, who hails from Akwa-Ibom State, just released the video of one of his most popular singles, Show for you eyes. Shot by Paul Gambit Obata of Gambit Pictures, Eyo who beat fellow Ghanaian contestant, Kesse, to emerge the second runner up, has joined colleague, Chidinma, who has two videos on air. He told us he will stop at nothing to improve his career.

MY HEART BEATS FOR THE DOWN-TRODDEN - UFUOMA EMERHOR

MY HEART BEATS FOR THE DOWN-TRODDEN

- UFUOMA EMERHOR

Ufuoma Emerhor is a different breed of the human specie.  As the first daughter of Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, OON, Chairman of Standard Alliance Assurance she is a silver spoon kid by birth. Schooled at the best schools in Nigeria and England. In her hand bag lies a First Class Certificate in Social Works which she obtained from Manchester Metropolitan University in England. All these brilliance, comfort and wealth she has locked up in the boot of life to drive on the rickety road of the less privileged. In this interview with Paschal O Obioha, she opens up on her pet project, Fair Life Africa Foundation and what life means to her. Enjoy the excerpt.

Let’s meet you

My name is Ufuoma Emerhor. I run Fair Life Africa Foundation; we support street kids by trying to give them a fairer life.

Take us through your growing up experience

My growing up experience, I lived in a village until I was six years old then we moved to Lagos, we stayed at Palm Groove, from there we moved to Anthony Village. We also stayed at Dolphin Estate in 1993 before I first went to England; I was 11 years at that time.  Licensed Victualler’s School was the school I and my sister attended there; it’s a boarding school in Berkshire. I came back to Nigeria in 1997, I went to Atlantic Hall to complete my Secondary education. I also went to Ivy College in Ikeja, I did one year A Level there. Then I went back to England, started a course in Computer Engineering, that was trying to do something that my Dad wanted not my wish even though I was alright at it. I got distracted by other things that I had passion for like working in the Ministry, taking care of the less privileged. I went into Social Works after trying my hands at some vocational works in England. I came in March 2010 to serve my country, NYSC. After which I started what I had always wanted to do, working with street kids. For the records, I studied Social Works at Manchester Metropolitan University; I came out with First Class, second division though. I majored in Children and Family.

Share the fun memory living under the roof of your parents as a child

I enjoyed all the travelling; I always enjoyed the road trips. The music especially those of Michael Bolton. I love the family time that we had, when we go away together and also the Sunday Breakfast we used to have together at home.

As an offspring of the Emerhor family, what will you say is the character your parents taught you that has shaped who you are today?

They taught me up to respectful, to be nurturing. They brought me up to value what I have

Now considering your silver spoon background, why did you throw away all the mouth watering jobs to run a Non Governmental Organization?

It is as valid as any other occupation in life; it’s always a question of motive, what you want in life. If you are driven by money, you definitely run away from this. If you are a criminal who wants to get involved in this to swindle people, you soon be found out. The reason I went into this is because I can’t stand injustice and inequality. I am also a natural advocate especially for issues like this. I always want to please God. I read in the Bible that real worship to God is helping the Orphans and Widows, I want to do that. I also considered being a Nun some time in my life. I just want to live a life that makes an impact. If we take care of our environment, if we take care of the needy, we will have the paradise that we seek. Money is only a tool and what it does is corrupt.

From parental angle, did you battle to convince your parents that you wanted to do this?

There was this fear of will I get their full support? They weren’t actually against or in support but what made it easier was the fact that they saw that it was in me. They thought about it and were like, this is where she is going, it could be worse. I had conversations with my dad on working with him or my mum; I had ideas of businesses to do on my own but nothing came out of them because they all died naturally

How did you start Fair Life Africa Foundation?

By the end of 2010, I wrote a proposal for Care Continuity Challenges Initiative which I shared with my Dad and he was like let’s do something with this, let’s set up a foundation so we started asking other people who run NGOs how to get registered, where are the children. We found out that they are at Kuramo Beach, we started visiting Kuramo in February, and also started doing programmes for the children every week. While we were doing that, we were also looking for where to situate the office then we found this ideal property. The more we searched, the more doors opened, besides time and money, we didn’t have any barriers. So far we have been learning on the job.

What is philosophy driving Fair Life Africa Foundation

Fair Life Africa, we empower people; we give them a fairer life because life is not fair. We can’t say we are giving them a fair life but we try to give them a fairer life by providing the basic needs in life, giving them more opportunities.   Trying to alleviate the vulnerable, strictly children.  We operate through social initiatives; Care Continuity Challenges is focused on street children. We are going to also establish other programmes that will focus on drug abuse, domestic violence, child trafficking and even issues like unemployment. House helps because they are also vulnerable. There are a lot of other potential areas we would diversify into but we are trying to stabilize and expand to other parts of Nigeria first. We are also hoping that other people would see that we are genuine, that we don’t seek anything for ourselves and be part of it.

Throw more light on the Care Continuity Challenge Initiative

It is a three stage holistic programme , going by the name, the first stage is care. This is the point of contacting the children, bringing them to our care centre, trying to know them and why they are on the street, getting them to open up so we can know how to help them . Providing for their basic needs.  Continuity is the point where we are concerned about their future, do they want to get back to their family, we  try to find family, get them talking again then try to minimize the risk of them running back to the streets again. The Challenge is that we won’t always find the family, the children might be Orphans or their parents might be highly abusive and even needs prosecution. When that happens, we have to put up a long term plan like long term accommodation to adulthood, get them to go to school or learn a trade that is if they agree to and also promise to behave in a way that will not damage our care system. We will do this until they become functional adults.

So far what are the challenges you have faced

Time and money and Nigerian mentality. Mentality like things can’t change, African time mentality.  The Police, the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, the Ministry of Youth Sports and Social Development, we have been trying to register since July last year, they have been telling us that they don’t have money to come and visit, they said we should come and pick them , when you go, they say you should come back. They make it so impossible to do your job. When you are trying to help correct something the government couldn’t fix. Another challenge is, people suspect you because of other people who used platforms like this in fraudulent ways. They might not want to support to your project; some prefer to support the bigger, well known organizations.

Recently you were given an Award by the International Women Society, how does it feel being recognized

It’s great, it feel good. It was an encouragement for the works that I have been doing through Fair Life Africa Foundation. The Award was also an encouragement to other young women out there to take up such responsibility. I feel privileged, recognized. I hope the recognition will make an impact in the support that we need.

What challenges has your background thrown to you so far?

One of them is that people think I am a bank account. People thinking that because I have a heart for the less privileged they can exploit that but they don’t know that it gets on my nerves and I can’t put up with it. People also treating me like what I am doing is a game, a part time job thereby not taking me seriously when to me it’s everything. 

“WHY I RELOCATED TO NIGERIA”

“WHY I RELOCATED TO NIGERIA”

- SKILLZ OF JJC AND 419 FAME

He is the man behind what could be termed the mass return of Nigerian musicians in Diaspora. He is the pillar behind the MOBO Awarding wining group, Big Brovaz; he is also the brain behind the monster hit making group, JJC and 419 Squad that rocked Nigerians all over the world. The story of Dbanj and Don Jazzy cannot be written without mentioning his name. He has worked with super stars like Jenifer Lopez, Genuwine, Lemar, Liberty X and Jemelia. He is none other than the young, multi talented Kano born, UK bred Abdul Rasheed Bello, a.k.a Skillz, a.k.a JJC, a.k.a. Dr. Octopus.  Paschal Chikero caught up with him recently. In this interview he reveals why he relocated to Nigeria, his new group, Big Boyz, life as a Kano boy and a JJC, Journey Just Come, in London. Enjoy:

Why did you relocate to Nigeria, what have you come to do?

For a long time I have been part of the Nigerian music industry but from a far away position. I feel the influences of the things I have done have actually reached out but I have not been able to feel the effect of it from my fans and even financially, I think it is my time to start to change it. That is why I am here and to contribute more and do what I have always done, provide platforms for other artistes to fly, I will explain further, a lot of people call me JJC, yes that is my name I like that but my close friends call me Skillz, the reason they do that is because I am that guy who does a lot of things well, I am Doctor Octopus. I am a video director, song writer; a producer, an artiste and I mentor a lot of people. I am a Jack of all trades not by pride but actually by deeds. A lot of the people I meet come to me to solve problems, for instance in UK, if you need to get a DJ or you need to know who to talk to for a particular thing in the entertainment circle, I was the man to meet. I did this for a long time. I did that so well that I started doing it with top record labels like Sony, EMI, and Universal. I was also doing deals with them, I created groups like Big Brovaz that signed and sold platinum for Sony. Obviously in Nigeria I created the 419 Squad which did very well. So I am here to continue doing the good works I have been doing.

The Nigerian music industry is booming right now and there are a lot of competitors, how are you going to position your brand to be the man to beat

Actually I have had my time, I think I retain a position in the Nigerian music hall of fame, so what extent I will do it again is left to my hard work and God, I am still just like before: passionate about pushing other artistes so my energy most time instead of just going on myself will also be used to push other artistes on the Big Boyz label like Lil Miss, Tipsy, Noni Zondi, King Lexi, 2Kris, Ab’ Fresh, Teebeo, I believe they are young, 19, 17 they deserve the opportunity. They have that passion I had when I was 19 and starting out. I was able to create new vibe because I was looking at life with fresh eyes and I have been here for a long time, I don’t want to see it with fresh eyes any more. It’s not so exciting any more, I don’t get excited when fans are cheering at me but they do, so I want to help them achieve what I have achieved or even do better.

That means Skillz is now in Nigeria to play the Godfather role to the younger generation

Not back to do it because I have always done that and I will always do that.

Let’s talk about how you started Universal Records’ Big Brovaz

I had a studio as I always have a studio. That time I was doing music production, I tried to get my stuff out there but I couldn’t because my accent in London was very Nigerian, so I started looking for other talented artistes and thought they deserve an opportunity to blow. We did an album which sold very well on the streets, they won the MOBO for Best Unsigned Artiste, record labels started knocking on my door.

Are we going to see a Skillz album that is separate from the Big Boyz all stars?

Definitely, I am recording songs, am always going to be recording songs; you might not see my album topping the chart. Some of the energy I am going to use to push my album will be used to push other artistes. I love music, I will always do music.

Where did the concept for the song We Are Africans come from and did you envisage from the beginning where the song has gotten to?

I had a very clear vision while recording the song and what I wanted to achieve with the song, I am only scraping the surface now, like I said the song is not a song it’s a movement. It started with trying to stop people thinking so individual in London, back in the days people just wanted to be Jamaicans and I did a song, Nigeria is the best land,  gba o! And people became proud of being Nigerians. Before you knew it there was this argument, no Ghana is the best land and the other says, no South Africa is the best place. I thought, you know what, let me do a song that we all can be proud of, a United African song that we can have different countries having its own version. Now we have a Nigerian remix, a Zimbabwean remix, a Sierra-Leone remix, we have a UK remix, and right now I am recording a Ghanaian remix and South African remix as well. The good works continue and who knows in the next  50 years there could be like 50 versions everywhere you have blacks. I am hoping that it will be something that will inspire the next generation to be proud of Africa.

As a young Nigerian who left Nigeria at the young age of 14, you have lived there over a decade now, how easy is it to go there and become a millionaire

I have been in England for 20 years, in the beginning it was not easy at all, I did all those JJC thing, doing cleaning job, security job but when you find your feet, if you are hard working. Nigerians are determined people and that helped me to rise up and I did live the good life. But what I have learnt is, no matter what there is no place like home. Back then while I was growing up, all I was doing was screaming with my music about my country to those who didn’t believe and how we should take care of home.

Now you came back at the time when Nigeria is struggling economically, the subsidy issues, how do you see the Nigeria you left England for?

I was part of the subsidy protest, for me I think the people and the government need to work together, we need to help the government so that they can give us the country we deserve because at the end of the day, the country belongs to us. The new generation needs to get into politics, the more we understand what is happening the better for us. You pay for light and you don’t see light and because there is no light, you can’t have water that means I can’t function properly. I think there is no proper communication link between the government and the people.

What is the idea behind Big Boyz Entertainment and where are you taking it?

Big Boyz Entertainment is a collection of creative people who provide services to the industry, it provides services to anyone who works with Video Directors, Managers, DJs, Music Producers, Editors.  It’s of people working together, it’s the whole concept of united we stand, divided we fall. In a couple of months we will release the Big Boyz All Stars album which is going to be a collection of all the Big Boyz artistes’ songs; I will also be in it.

People believe that in Nigeria there is no proper record label, you have done this in the UK, are you bringing the real thing into Nigeria with Big Boyz Entertainment?

There are a couple of things that will be done well but again you have to remember you are in Nigeria, the reason why the labels here don’t function like the ones abroad is because they are in Nigeria, you have to deal with the terrain as you find the terrain, what works in London might not work here. Over there the government supports the industry unlike its done here. In UK when your song is played on Radio, you get paid but over here, you pay for your song to be played. I will do my best to sort out things that artistes need like publishing, using organizations like COSSON to improve the life of the artistes etc.

You lived in the North but you are actually from Kwara State, a lot of people don’t know that. Let’s talk about who you are

My name is Abdul Raheed Bello, my dad is from Kwara State, and my mum is from Urhobo, Delta State. I was born in Kano State but regardless, I am African, Awoooo! I speak Hausa fluently, I mean I spent 14 years of my life in Kano but in my house what we speak is Yoruba that is why in my songs I use Yoruba language.

Let’s talk about marriage

I am not married but I am blessed with three lovely children. For me that is a blessing, they are my inspiration to work hard for them to have a good life.

Any plans of getting married soon

Common with every relationship that resulted to child bearing, I had marriage in mind but unfortunately for people like us who are into music who is a very jealous girl friend they didn’t work out that way.

How do you relax?

I love watching movies and I love travelling. Watching good scenes inspire me as a music video director.

Where is the best place you have ever been?

I love Cyprus, it reminds me of Nigeria. Malaysia, I love Norway as well.

What is the best movie you watched in 2011?

The Rum Diary, I watched the movie before subsidy was removed and the whole thing that happened during the subsidy protest happened in the movie. I love intelligent movies.

Which Nigerian outside the music circle inspires you

That is actually one thing I need to discover, Nigerian history. I am one of those lost Nigerians, I love Nigerian culture but I don’t know much about Nigerian history apart from what I have read on the internet, I don’t even see Nigerian TV contents about Nigeria. The only Nigerian I know well is Fela because there is much documentation on him; he was a man who stood for the people.

NOLLYWOOD CELEBRITIES IDENTIFY WITH EDEN LIFESTYLE CENTER

One man doing something extraordinary in the hospitality business in recent times is former Sheraton hotel boss, Ejimofor Emejulu, as he stepped out with a multimllion naira project known as Bistro Kilishi and EDEN Healthy Lifestyle Center. The center unlike other hospitality businesses has such entertainment   facilities such as Cinema,Restaurant, Gym center, Mini Library,Sauna and Massaging Facility and a monthly gig where Nollywood celebrities are hosted. We scooped that the center located at Wole Ariyo Street,off Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1, has become a beehive of activities due to the varieties of meal they offer such as Crocodile and Ostriches. Thus, a valentine package has been put in place to tantalize Nigerians at affordable prices. According to Mr Emejulu ' in Eden we believe in a prophylactic[preventive] philosophy to healthy living. We therefore offer our customers the opportunity of a lifestyle that reduces the risk of diseases.