TFA Nominee Party Pics!

It went down on the 12th of November (wednesday), at Waka Restaurant, Sanusi Fafunwa, Victoria Island, Lagos!


Comedian, Jedi, who emceed the event, digging it down with Entrepreneur of the Year nominee, Mosun!

Yours Truly with Linda Ikeji of the delicious legs!

The megastar's in the room!

Fela Durotoye - Deliciously Dapper!

It's Don Jazzy Again!

Guess who!lol

TY Bello with Fela Durotoye

You can see PLENTY of pics HERE

Hillary Finds Her Voice...

Funny, all the time Hillary was leading in the polls - I wasnt impressed. As far as I was concerned, she was only coasting because she was the most viable; not because of who she was/is.

Fire Mark Penn! I used to scream to myself. He wasnt doing enough to communicate the essence of Hillaryland - so that once Obama stepped up his opportunistic attacks, and abandoned the politics of hope with which he hoodwinked Americans desperate for change, her lustre began to fade...

For someone like me who reads up ACTIVELY on Hillary, and can boast of solid insight into her personality as much as public persona can allow, I know that she's the best choice for America, and if she would only show a bit of why she is the best - why her evolution into a political heavyweight is the biggest asset the Democrats need now ... she wuld be there. She needed to stop being formidable alone - she needed to start communicating ..

Well maybe I should say thank Obama and that irritant Edwards for their attacks! Now the Hill opens her mouth and she's talking ... her soul is seeping through - and I know she will regain her traction.

Hear her:

"That work means knowing when to find common ground and when to stand your ground," she said. "If you are too unyielding, then you are likely to end up with nothing to show for it. If you are too compromising, you may very well give up your principles and your values. You've got to find that balance." (Read the full piece HERE)

"You dont get change by hoping for it (read Obama and his romantic tales of change and hope), you dont get change by demanding it (read Edwards and his annoyingly slippery tirade against Corporate America), you get change by working for it."

The Des Moines Register endorsement captures the essence of Hillary, and is a must read for everyone who wants to be convinced on why she is THE BEST CHOICE. I was overjoyed that they captured so brilliantly the very thoughts I have about Hillary. The very thoughts that will make her win.

Hear them:
"Indeed, Obama, her chief rival, inspired our imaginations. But it was Clinton who inspired our confidence. Each time we met, she impressed us with her knowledge and her competence."

HERE is another Hillary story that wins my heart.

You will hear more and more about her and why exactly I can;t get enough of her as the days go...

Runaway blogger!

People,

SO MUCH has been happening since the last time I wrote on these pages, and it's such a shame that I've not had time to blog. I would have tried but my blogger has simply REFUSED to sign in since AND I havent been able to find space to go use somoene else's!! Seriously man. I get so increasingly busy I wonder how I manage to get it all together - people ask, but I truly, TRULY dont know! It's grace. Unmerited. Unlimited.

It's strange at this point - everything is going so well; it is just a dream come true for me! I am SO thankful. Unfortunately, the only blot on that is how I dicsover those people who are closest to you are sometimes the greatest stmbling blocks to ur moving froward and my gift to myself in the new year is to get rid of them slowly, painfully but surely - as I come to the painful fact that I can't allow anyone kill my joy!

The Future.. Awards, The Apprentice Africa, my NYSC posting etc etc - there;s SO much to say. The nominees party for the awards held this last wednesday and it was such a blast! Dbanj, Ashionye, DOn Jazzy, Linda Ikeji, Ebuka etc ... Hopeflly I will blog properly on that anedput put up pics.

However, I must say that for someone who is enamoured with Hilary Clinton it;s a shame I havent blogged much about her here. It's SO sad to see Hilary slipping in the polls - the only true liberal in that race (at least amongst the top 3), she is a remarkable, brilliant woman and will make such a formidable and successful leader. She might still win, sans the toga of inevitablility, and I certainly hope she does. EVerytime I read a bad story about her, I mourn, it hurts me like it's a personal loss! (Just had to blog that! More on that too later!)

I wil respond to ur comments before the day ends.

Sorry about the random blogging - I am in a rush to the airport AND there;s only 24 hours in a day, AND I have SO much to say!

Stay well people! (And kudos to the great spirits who have found the will t keep blogging! Btw, you DO know that naijafineboy is in town right?!)

Cheers!
Chuderi

Mikel Obi, Chimamanda, TY Bello, Don Jazzy, Others, Make The Future.. Awards Longlist for 2008!

After four weeks of grueling research and investigation, following the close of nominations in November, the Central Working Committee for The Future.. Awards is glad to release the definitive list of the brightest and best young people Nigeria produced in 2007!

With the excitement that has built up in the past few weeks – this is a list that young Nigerians from all around the world have been waiting for! Understandably so, since the list came out a bit later than usual this year. Adebola Williams, Operations Director for the awards explains, “This year the nominations we received more than tripled – it was truly massive! It’s no doubt due to the extensive national media campaign and tours – and we are most grateful to our media partners. And not just any nominations, we got a diverse and impressive pull. It was arduous wading through them, but what can we say really? We like to think it’s what you get when you do an awards like this that people have come to believe as credible and trustworthy.”

As usual, from the thousands of nominations (47, 234 this year) 120 nominees (8 per category) have been selected for the race towards the ultimate prize. In all the 15 keenly-contested-for categories, there are brilliant, high flying young achievers all between the ages of 18 and 31. It is fine cocktail of the famous and the seemingly obscure, the skilled and the talented, professionals and artistes – a truly balanced representation of the next generation.

From TY Bello, who is on the long list for two awards, Artist of the Year and Young Person of the Year, investment guru Boye Olawole and others for Professional of the Year, through the likes of D’banj and Psuare for Musician of the Year, Tosin Dekalu, Chika Nwobi, Funke Bucknor and co for Entrepreneur of the Year. And with others like Mak Kusare of BBC’s Wetin Dey, Joke Jaiyesinmi of Hip TV, Abdulkareem Baba Aminu of Daily Trust, Ayeni Adekule of Thisday, divas like Genevieve Nnaji, Oge Okoye and Ini Edo battling it for Actor of the Year, and for the first time ever, a sports personality, Mikel Obi, emerging, for Young Person of the Year, this is one list you have to read through!

The 4-stage judging process begins immediately, with the Independent Audit Committee, headed by Dr. Reuben Abati and having such credible Nigerians as Ms. Sienne Alwell-Brown, Mr. Dapo Olorunyomi, amongst 30 others screening through this list to decide who will be crowned as icons of the future!

Further information can be gotten on www.thefuturenigeria.com



THE LIST

Professional of the Year
Ike Ochonogor – FedEx
Temitope Ogunfayo – Procter & Gamble
Adebayo Omole – Matrix Solicitors
Boye Olawoye - Investment Banking Group
Lola Talabi – Cadbury Nigeria
Bode Makanjuola – Caverton Group
Omowale David Ashiru - Accenture
Noble Igwe – Virgin Nigeria

Artist of the Year
Karo Akpokiere
Jide Alakija
TY Bello
Ogunnubi Babadeji
Chukwuma Ngene
Seyi Taylor
Adolphus Opara
Abraham Oghobase

Music Producer of the Year
Alex Yangs
Don Jazzy
Mosa
ID Cabassa
Jeremiah Gyang
Wole Oni
Jokaynie
Mr. Daz

Screen/Programme Producer of the Year
Mak Kusare – AveHill
Michael Oyeyiola - Soundcity
Lamide Opere – Nigezie
Seke Somolu – Wetin Dey
Effiong Eton - Silverbird
Soji Ogunnaike – Real Time
Joke Jaiyesinmi – Hip TV
Nasir Muazu – BBC

Musician of the Year
Obiwon
Olu Maintain
Konga
Ashionye
Psquare
Dbanj
De Indispensables
Faze

Best Use of Technology
Adejuwon Saheed
Femi Odewunmi
Ayorinde Olalekan
Mubarak Mohammed Abdulahi
Icebox Studios
Olufemi Akande
Odufuye Bamidele
Seun Medunoye

Best Use of Advocacy
Emmanuel Etim
Toyosi Akerele
Temidayo Israel
Olatorera Majekodunmi
Adeola Akinremi
UNITeS
Oyebisi O. Babatunde
Amina Alli

Entrepreneur of the Year
Abiodun Ajibola - CGMIE Consulting
Tosin Dekalu – Lady Cobbler
Funke Awobokun – Cocktails In & Out
Funke Bucknor – Zaphaire Events
Gbenga Ashiru – Nebula Media
Bukola Adubi – Miccom Resorts
Chika Nwobi – Mtech
Mosunmola Umoru – Honeysuckles PTL

On-Air Personality of the Year
Adaure Achumba
Keke Adenuga
Nike Coker
Lamide Akintobi
Denrele Edun
Mike Magic
Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi
Ebuka Obi-Uchendu

Journalist of the Year
Samson Adeoye – The Guardian
Ayeni Adekunle – Thisday
Azuh Amatus – The Sun
Abdulkareem Baba-Aminu – Daily Trust
Adedeji Ademigbuji – National Standard
George Elijah Otumu – The Week
Nonye Iwuagwu – The Punch
Julie Odia - Simply Woman

Best Use of Goodwill
TELD
Generation 4 Change
Do Sumthing Positive
Utopia
AIPA- Against Illiteracy Poverty and AIDS
Shade Ladipo
Omowunmi Agagu
Ngozi Ekeh

Entrepreneur of the Year (Beauty & Style)
Omoyemi Akerele
Toni Payne
Okunoren Twins
Muyiwa Osindero
Banke Meshida
Linda Ikeji
Lisa Folawiyo
Bunmi Oyeniyi

Actor of the Year
Genevieve Nnaji
Ini Edo
Funke Akindele
Ali Nuhu
Osita Iheme
Mike Ezuruonye
Oge Okoye
Nonso Diobi

Magazine of the Year
RISE
Juice
Bubbles
Applause
Dynamix
Acada
Tripz
Blast

Young Person of the Year
Mikel Obi
TY Bello
Oluchi Orlandi
D’banj
Chika Nwobi
Toni Payne
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Mubarak Muhammed Abdulai

TFA Organisers Grab Awards of Their Own!

Let's blow our own trumpet jare!lol

PRESS RELEASE

TFA Organisers Grab Awards of Their Own!
As if to further validate their credentials as resource for Nigeria’s biggest youth event, two of the directors of RedSTRAT, organisers of The Future.. Awards, have been declared winners of some of the nation’s most prestigious awards.

At Nigeria’s numero uno media event, the Nigerian Media Merit Awards, hosted by the Osun State Government on the 17th of November 2007, and in the presence of such veterans including Prince Tony Momoh, Chief Ajibola Ogunshola, Amb. Segun Olusola, Mr. Dele Adetiba, Mrs. Duro Onabule, Mr. Bode Alalade, amongst other judges, the RedSTRAT Creative Director, Chude Jideonwo, was named the Entertainment Journalist of the Year, for selected copies in market leader, True Love West Africa.

The youngest recipient of the 2007 NMMA, at 22, Jideonwo, who also got called to the Nigerian bar just two days before the awards, is a prominent freelance writer whose by-lines can be found in Time Out, Made, Farafina. Thisday, The Guardian amongst others.

Following from that, Emilia Asim-Ita, 20, has been declared one of the winners of the highly coveted Leap Africa Youth Leadership Awards, for her sterling work with what was for many years Nigeria’s leading youth talk show, Youth Talk (on the NTA). The awards presentation holds on the 22nd of November, in conjunction with the International Youth Foundation.

Incidentally, the two award winners are together the presenters of Rubbin’ Minds - a weekly talk show on the Channels Television Network; Sundays at 3pm that has become the most prominent media voice of young people on the national stage.

This is indeed more power to their elbows as they get ready to deliver another punch that will yet again win the nation’s admiration, setting standards and giving inspiration, through the event, to thousands of youth around the country.

It will be remembered that The Future… Awards, which the London Metropolitan University recently referred to as ‘the biggest youth award in Africa’ is being held in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Education on the 13th of January 2008 in Lagos. Further information can be gotten on www.thefuturenigeria.com


For further information or details, please contact me, Adebola Williams, on 08027064260. Best regards!

The newest Barrister/Solicitor in Town!

On wednesday, I was called to the Nigerian Bar.

On thursday, I was enrolled at the Supreme Court.

We thank God for all the progress He grants us. But at the risk of soundcing anti-social I was not excited about any of it, and though I kept up the act cause it was one day my dearest dearest mum was so proud about, I forbade most other people around me from making too much of it.

I see nothing to be proud of in graduating from college. Tens of thousands of graduates come out of Nigeria yearly, and at least 5000 people were called to bar with me this week - so what is there to be so proud of?

Now, my albino friend who, with both parents dead, left his village in Edo State, went through tears and blood, severe physical and financial difficulties, to graduate along with us, with a 2'1 Degree at University and another at Law School, and was the only Unilag graduate from our set to win a Law School prize is a story I can celebrate. And I do. Examples like his make it extremely difficult for anyone to have any excuses for failure.

What I AM excited about is the fact that with school done with and all the certificates receieved, the second and most important phase of my life begins. Let the REAL games begin!

Do YOU have what it takes?

From Biodun Shobanjo: 'You're Fired!'

The man called 'Godfather of Nigerian Advertising', Biodun Shobanjo has joined the A-list cadre of business moguls as the US' Donald Trump, the UK's Allan Sugar and SA's Tokyo Sexwale as a consortium of The Executive Group, Storm Vision and Bank PHB has unveiled him as CEO for The Aprentice Africa!

The debonair icon, Biodun Shobanjo, at 63, is Chairman of the Troyka Group, which is the holding company for Nigeria's biggest ad agency, Insight Grey, SKG2, Optimum Exposure, Media Perpective, MediaCom, Quadrant and Halogen, employing over seven thousand Nigerian men and women.

The Godfather is bringing this intimidating resume to bear in coaching 18 young African men and women on the principles of business, success and winning.

For him, "Winning is not the most important thing, it's the only thing."

Applications are now being accepted from young Africans all over the world - people with brilliance and street-smarts. Apply on www.theapprenticeafrica.com. Do you have what it takes?