Goodluck Jonathan, Gov. Godswill Akpabio Pump N3.50B Into Nollywood

A lot of stake holders in Nollywood witnessed the Presidential dinner with them yesterday, March 2nd at the State House, Marina.

The president hosted a presidential dinner to celebrate Nollywood at 20. First Lady Patience Jonathan, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra State governors and lots of important people were at the dinner.

At the event, President Goodluck Jonathan promised to pump N3 billion into Nollywood in order to empower the industry. Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom also promised to finance a N50million 'Goodluck Jonathan Prize Award' which will be shared by the best Nollywood actor, actress, film maker and other award categories.

According to one of the attendees, our movie icons, directors, marketers etc were moved from TBS from where they were conveyed to the State house in a coastal bus.

All the important people in Nollywood were at the event - Genevieve Nnaji, Chidi Mokeme, Oge, Okoye, Fathia Balogun, Aki and Paw Paw, Olu and Joke Jacobs, Segun Arinze, Stephanie Linus, Patience Ozokwor, Zack Orji, Madam Kofo, Desmond Elliot, Chiwetalu Agu, Cynthia Amadi, Amaka Igwe, Dickson Iroegbu, Zeb and Chico Ejiro, Kunle Afolayan, Tunde Kelani, Andy Chukwu and several others.

HIV Baby 'cured' by early Drug treatment

HIV Particles

A baby girl in the US born with HIV appears to have been cured after very early treatment with standard drug therapy, researchers say. 

The Mississippi child is now two-and-a-half years old and has been off medication for about a year with no signs of infection. More testing needs to be done to see if the treatment - given within hours of birth - would work for others.If the girl stays healthy, it would be the world's second reported 'cure'.

There is currently no cure for HIV. This latest case of a baby girl in the US who was treated within hours of birth and has since been disease-free off HIV medication does not mean we have found this Holy Grail. While the findings are encouraging, it remains to be seen if the treatment will provide permanent remission.

Experts also say the same treatment would not work in older children and adults with HIV as the virus will have already become too established. Public health doctors say prevention is still the best way to beat HIV. If expectant mothers with HIV are given anti-HIV treatment during pregnancy and then have a low-risk caesarean delivery and do not breastfeed, their babies have a 98% chance of being HIV negative.

Aston Martin found rotting in a garage after 30 years is put up for sale for £100,000

It may look like a rusty wreck, but this ultra-rare Aston Martin will still set you back a pretty penny – and will cost a further £250,000 to restore to its former glory.

For the 1949 Aston Martin Two-Litre Sports was just the fourth car built by the iconic British car company after it was bought by David Brown. The much-coveted car, which retrospectively became known as the DB1, is one of just 15 ever made and nine still in existence.

President Goodluck Jonathan and Dame Patience receive highest National Honour in Cote d’Ivoire

President Goodluck Jonathan was conferred the highest honour in Cote d’Ivoire, the Grand Cross of the Order of the Nation on Friday March 1 during a state visit. Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara hosted a banquet which also saw First Lady; Dame Patience Jonathan conferred the honour of Commander of the Order of the Nation, reports claim.

Ouattara said it was in gratitude of Nigeria’s contributions to peace, stability and progress in Cote d’Ivoire. President Jonathan said Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire must continue to strengthen their bilateral cooperation which citizens and others in the West African sub-region will benefit from.

“As partners, driven by shared values and a common strategic objective, namely, the security, stability and prosperity of our sub-region, we must continue to build on the historical bond of friendship and solidarity which have served our two countries in the past. “My challenge and also President Ouattara’s challenge, is to intensify this partnership for the benefit of our citizens and the entire sub-region of West Africa.

“We must fight poverty collectively through pooling of our resources, value-addition, intra-regional trade and promotion of investments,” President Jonathan said. Jonathan expressed gratitude for the honours given to him and his wife, thanking the president including the people of Cote d’Ivoire

Kanye caresses Kim K's bare breast in shoot for French magazine

Kanye West is photographed holding Kim Kardashian's left breast as she gazes at the camera in a photoshoot for French magazine L’Officiel Hommes’ Spring 2013 edition. What do you have to say about this duo? Romantic huh?...See more photos after the cut...

House Of Rainbow, Nigeria-Gay-Only Church Is Back In Operation

Less than five years after Nigeria-only gay church, House of Rainbow, was attacked by some Lagos residents and consequently closed down in Nigeria, the church has returned to the country with three secret groups in the African most populous nation.

With this development, Nigeria appears to lead other countries where the church currently operates.

Founded by Nigerian-born gay, Rev. Rowland Jide Macaulay, House of Rainbow, which came to Nigeria in 2006, is “an inclusive and affirming religious community open and welcome to all people including sexual minorities and marginalised people, a monthly gathering of ‘people of faith’ for ‘prayer and praise’, which focuses on the person’s journey towards reconciliation of sexuality and spirituality.”

Macaulay, a trained lawyer and son of a reverend who owns a massive church in Lagos, is leading the comeback even though he remains in self-imposed exile in London, where sources said he currently enjoys lots of financial sponsorship for the movement.

The Man Incharge of the VATICAN until New Pope Is Elected

CARDINAL Tarcisio Bertone, who was the Deputy to Pope Benedict XVI, whose resignation took effect Friday, would be in charge of the over 1.2 billion Catholics across the world until a new Pope is elected later this month by the College of Cardinals.

The Italian and Vatican diplomat was born on December 2, 1934, and is currently Cardinal Secretary of State and Camerlengo. He will serve as (day-to-day) administrator of the Holy See and acting head of state of the Vatican City State.

He previously served as Archbishop of Vercelli from 1991 to 1995 and Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, when Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) was Prefect, and Archbishop of Genoa from 2002 to 2006. Bertone was elevated to the cardinalate in 2003 and named Cardinal-Bishop of Frascati on May 10, 2008.

D’banj unveils tracklist for new album - ‘D’Kings Men’

D'banj's album - D'Kings Men drops 30th march, 2013. He has unveiled the tracklist for the album. See the details after the cut...

Kwara State Commissioner of Police shot dead in Enugu

Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Chinwike Asadu, was shot dead around 10 pm last night near his home in Amorji Nike area in Enugu State by unknown gunmen. His driver and orderly who were with him at the time of the attack were shot too but were not killed. They are both lying critically ill at the hospital.

The commissioner visited his home in Enugu at the weekend and was driving into his personal residence after dropping a visitor off when he was attacked and killed. Unfortunately he only took his orderly and driver with him when he went out that evening. His official police escort team that came with him from Kwara were in his house. The police have vowed to find the commissioner's killers.

Killers of 15 year old Nigerian boy, Junior Nkwelle, found guilty of manslaughter

The 14 year old girl who ordered the stabbing of 15 year old Nigerian boy, Junior Nkwelle, for being ‘disrespectful’ was found guilty of manslaughter yesterday March 1, 2013. 

Junior and his friends had been playing football near his home when an argument broke out. The teenage girl claimed Junior had insulted her during the argument. She then called her 16 year old boyfriend on the phone to a housing estate in Brixton and ordered him to ‘teach Junior a lesson’. The boyfriend thrust a carving knife once into Junior's chest, killing him. This happened in September 2012.

The teenage girl and her boyfriend were cleared of murder by a jury yesterday, but they are facing long prison terms after being  found guilty of manslaughter.

 Witnesses said they heard the girl boasting that she had arranged for someone to stab the teenager and she later went home to fetch a kitchen knife.

Friends Forever? Omosexy and Genny...

For a long time now spanning several years, the tale in town has always been that Nollywood’s top two actresses, Genevieve Nnaji and Omotola Jalade-Ekehinde are at daggers drawn.

Even though they have co-starred in several movies, the bitter tale wouldn’t go away.

Even when they came out separately and at different times to refute that there was bad blood between them, that even though they were not the best of friends but they were not enemies, the dirty rumour persisted.

The two divas might finally have respite from the tale now with their public display of friendship during the week at Omotola’s 35th birthday celebration in Lagos.

Not only did Genevieve attend the party, she and Omotola hugged tightly, cut the cake together and were generally a bit intimate.

Is Pretty Ebube Nwagbo Scared of Marriage?

Speaking about her marital status in a recent interview Ebube said:

Yes I am still single. The reason is that I am someone who has always believed in love. It is a big deal to me so if I have to do it, it has to be right. I am a strong believer of love. I get lots of proposals; it is so crazy I do not know who to give a chance to. I think it is a price I have to pay for stardom. Sometimes when anybody comes my way, I do not know who wants to be with me for the right reasons. I believe when that day comes, I will definitely figure out who that person is. It is not easy. What I should be talking about is not relationship but marriage. I want to go into marriage and be in it for ever. No one goes into marriage thinking of divorce, but it happens. We try our best. I think I am kind of scared, but I just have to give it a try whether I like it or not. It just has to happen and happen right; at the right time.

What do you think peeps?

Uche Jombo Rodriquez and husband at her 'My Life, My Damage' movie premiere in Lagos.

 

Uche Jombo and her husband Kenny Rodriquez walked the red carpet at her movie premiere yesterday. My Life, My Damage premiered at Ozone Cinemas Yaba. See more photos after the cut..

Cross River Governor Liyel Imoke returns to Nigeria after 3 months

After three months away from Nigeria to receive treatment for a supposedly minor health concern in the US, governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke is back in the country. He came into the country yesterday around 6:50pm via a British Airways flight. We'll hear his story soon.

Cardinals begin Pope’s selection process •Above 80-year-old cardinals exempted

WITH Pope Benedict XVI now officially in retirement, Catholic cardinals from around the world began, on Friday, the process of picking the next leader of the world’s largest church.

Some details are still  not clear, owing to Benedict’s break with the tradition that papacies end with a pope’s death, so these “princes of the Church” will first hold an informal session before traditional rounds of talks begin on Monday.

No front-runner stands out among the 115 cardinal electors, those aged under 80 due to enter the Sistine Chapel for the conclave that picks the new pope, so discreetly sizing up potential candidates will be high on the cardinals’ agenda. They will also use the general congregations, the closed-door consultations preceding a conclave, to discuss future challenges such as better Vatican management, the need for improved communication and the continuing sexual abuse crisis.

Benedict ended his eight-year reign on Thursday, pledging unconditional obedience to whoever succeeds him to lead the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics at one of the most problematic periods in the Church’s 2,000-year history. “The discussion we have in the congregations will be most important for the intellectual preparation” for choosing a pope, said Boston’s Cardinal, Sean O’Malley, adding that the electors were already preparing spiritually for the vote by intense prayer.

2face and Annie Macaulay's Traditional Wedding Invitation Card

2face and Annie Idibia's traditional wedding will hold on Friday March 8th at the brides hometown. Their white wedding will hold 23rd of March in Dubai. The invitation card for their traditional wedding is out! See it above and another one after the cut...

The More You Look, The Less You See: What do you Really See?

Open your eyes well....Is she sitting with her legs closed or open?

Pope Benedict XVI Retires. Leaves the Vatican

Pope Benedict XVI left the Vatican by helicopter on Thursday afternoon, arriving at the papal summer residence in the final hours of his nearly eight-year, scandal-dogged papacy. His retirement formally takes effect at 8 p.m. local time — three hours after his departure — when he will become the pope emeritus. The Pope tweeted:

View more photos after the cut....

Celebrities model Yomi Casual's 2013 design collection

The award winning designer, who is also AY comedian's younger brother, just unveiled his 2013 collection which features celebrities such as - Ebube Nwagbo, Desmond Elliot, Chinedu Ikedieze, Susan Peters, Uti Nwachukwu, See more photos after the cut....

Office Romance: One in 10 admit to having sex in their office, survey shows

One in ten workers have had sex in their workplace, according to a survey released today. A  surprising number of employees not only admitted to a flirtation with a colleague but said they'd gone as far as consummating the relationship on the premises, according to the Houston Chronicle.  And if you haven't had sex in your workplace, you've probably thought about it - with almost a quarter of those surveyed (22%) saying they fantasized about being involved in steamy scenes around the office. 

Office romance: 1 in 10 have admitted having sex in the workplace in a survey for a recruitment firm. Almost 40% have had a relationship with a co-worker. A good idea: A majority of respondents said there was nothing wrong with dating a co-worker but Glassdoor says office couples should follow some basic rules to keep love and work apart. Almost half (41%) also said they suspected their co-workers had become intimate in their place of work.