Fifty… Celebrating African women coming of age

Fifty… Celebrating African women coming of age 

By Prisca Sam-Duru 

There was no better time and better tool to celebrate African women that the screening of the blockbuster movie, titled Fifty which largely showcases femininity like never before. Chronicling the highs and lows of women coming of age, Fifty was screened to mark the 2016 International Women’s Day. The screening came courtesy of EbonyLife Films which hosted about 200 women to a special private champagne screening of the record smashing FIFTY at the Genesis Deluxe Cinemas in The Palms shopping mall Lekki, Lagos. Directed by Biyi Bandele, Fifty has been described as Mo Abudu’s quest to showcase African women coming of age, loaded with increasingly similar aspirations and dilemmas faced by their contemporaries everywhere, while yet navigating unresolved traditions and obligations. The star-studded special screening had in attendance a special blend of movie and music personalities, captains of industry and socialites including leading characters from the movie, Ireti Doyle, Omoni Oboli, Nse Ikpe Etim, Kemi ‘Lala’ Akindoju and Uzor Osimkpa who were rewarded for their roles in the film. 



Also present were music sensations Omawunmi and Ruby Gyang, Mosun Ogunbanjo, Nollywood actress Kehinde Bankole and ‘woman’ of the moment Olajumoke Orisaguna amongst many others. Fifty opens with Tola (Dakore Akande) weeping silently in pains while obviously, waiting up late for her stray husband who oblivious to her, has found solace in the warmth of another 

: Actress, Fifty, Kemi  Lala - Akindoju; Actress, Fifty, Iretiola Doyle; Producer,  Fifty, Mo Abudu; Model, Olajumoke Orisagunna, and Actress, Fifty, Omoni Oboli, at the special VIP screening of Fifty in commemoration of  international Women’s Day

woman. She is soon to find out to her chagrin that it is someone close. Now, that is typical of life in most broken homes. While Tola exhibits attitudes of a frustrated shrew at fifty, Gynaecologist, Dr Elizabeth (Ireti Doyle), a single mother, is busy frolicking with her toy boy who is bent on sucking her dry; body, soul and finance. At the same time, she navigates through disentangling herself form continuing being at loggerheads with her daughter who despises her for sleeping with her boyfriend. Kate, (Nse Ikpe Etim) on her part, battles childlessness and refusing to accept the report of the doctor that she has cancer, resorts to seeking help in the Church while her jobless husband busies himself, gambling away her hard earned money. For Maria( Omoni Oboli) at fifty, she is single and detests children but when she reaches ‘heaven’ through the arms of lawyer Kunle, (Wale Ojo) Kate’s husband, she lets her guards off in those moments of ecstasy and this results in pregnancy. And the saga continues. Mo Abudu, Founder of EbonyLife Films and Executive producer of ‘FIFTY’ said, “It is international women’s day and I thought it would be nice to extend a gesture to women everywhere of all ages and background and treat them to a private screening of our movie FIFTY. This is also a girl’s night out that had champagne, popcorn and special cupcakes served all in a bid to celebrate women as we all have a story worth celebrating.”

IWD: Aisha Babangida, Bello-Olusoga others train women
By Prisca Sam-Duru

 Chairperson of Better Life for Rural Women (BLW) Hajiya Aisha Babangida and Chairperson, Access Bank PLC, Mrs Mosun Bello-Olusoga were among the team of eminent Nigerians that trained women at the Civic Centre, Lagos as part of activities held to celebrate the 2016 International Women’s Day. Organised by SME 100 Nigeria and Rubbies Vocational School, the special conference tagged ‘Pledge for Parity: Empowering the 21st Century African Woman’, featured trainings in the areas of politics, agriculture and technology with the objective of empowering women to live out their full potentials. In his opening remarks, Executive Director, SME 100 Mr Charles Odili said the time has come for Nigerian women to be competitive on a global level in the areas of politics, agriculture and technology. The country he noted, can only develop substantially if women make efforts at being professionals in these male-dominated sectors. Launching the training plan for 1,000 Women Empowerment Training Programme, which is part of their annual commitment to move the women sector forward, Executive Director, Rubbies Vocational School, Mrs Orode Ryan-Okpu said there would be training in diferent vocations that best suit their locality. The training according to her, would be conducted by partnering with the House of Tara for the Make-up category, Otres Restaurant for catering category, Nuts About Cakes for baking category etc. She further stressed that, “Women in the rural areas in the country would not be left out of the training programmes plan for 2016.” The speakers unanimously called on women to fight collectively against the scourge of poverty by becoming empowered with necessary skills that challenge the status quo. In her presentation, Aisha Babangida emphasised on education of the girl child as key to empowerment of women in order to drive the much needed change in the country, adding that “ Individuals require tools and enabling environment to succeed.” She charged women to look beyond the limitations of gender inequality, social and economic poverty and rather than continuous striving for equality with the men, women should engage in ventures that would make them better. Other vital issues raised during the conference were, the need to encourage women and girls’ interest in mathematics, science and technology based subjects and careers; for women to sit on corporate Boards which as noted, would do Nigeria good as women are more honest, dedicated and can drive the country’s economy forward. In attendance at the high profile event were, Former Governor of Delta State, Mr Emmanuel Uduaghan, Commissioner for Women Affairs, Lagos State, Hon Lolade Akande; APC Women Leader, Chief Mrs Kemi Nelson; Founder, Harvesters Farms ltd, Mrs Mosun Umaru; CEO, Signal Alliance, Adanma Onuegbu; Executive Director W.TEC, Oreoluwa Somolu; Nollywood actress, Omoni Oboli and many others.

Lagos Theatre Festival, an ambitious display of site theatre

Lagos Theatre Festival, an ambitious display of site theatre

By Prisca Sam-Duru

Features of the 2016 Lagos Theatre Festival especially with regard to spell-binding theatrical performances, were eloquent indication of how the event has grown bigger, bolder and better. Art enthusiasts, Caucasians, sponsors and those in the creative industry were among individuals in attendance at the grand opening of the biggest performing arts festival which ended at Freedom Park, Lagos on Sunday. It was the 3rd edition of the theatre fiesta and in all ramification, the festival was an extravaganza of exciting music, dance, spoken word, musical and stage plays.

The Lagos Theatre Festival 2016 is part of the UK/Nigeria 2015–16, a major season of arts in Nigeria geared towards building new audiences, creating new collaborations as well as strengthening the already existing relationship between the United Kingdom and Nigeria.

The festival featured over 60 performances from the stables of the finest of local and international production houses such as Bani Productions, Comic Republic, Creative Arts Collection UNILAG, Make it happen Productions, Thespian Family Theatre, Troopers Arts, Women in Arts and many more including 4 International productions from the UK!. Events were held at over 15 venues 

including Freedom Park, Muson Centre, Terra Kulture, University of Lagos, Bogobiri, etc, throughout the duration of the festival. There were also special workshops for actors, creative writing, directors and producers.

The week-long theatre festival which began on Tuesday 23, ended Sunday 28 February, attracted Nigeria’s most celebrated actors, writers, directors, producers, singers with a host of arts, culture and theatre enthusiasts. Also in attendance were their British counterparts.

At the opening ceremony, guests were treated to good music by popular artiste, Isaac Geralds which was followed by a play titled, Every Single Day produced by Kemi 'Lala' Akindoju for Make it Happen Productions. Every Single Day was staged behind the iGrove radio, Freedom Park Lagos. The play featured Linda Ejiofor as Linda, Patrick Diabuah (Pastor), Martin Iwuagwu (Landlord's son), Rita Edward (Mother), Rotimi Oluwo (Barman), Ife Salako as Land lord, Paul was the police officer while Funmi Ajibade acted as Area girl. It tells the story of Linda, a mature single lady who has diverse dehumanising experiences to contend with in her daily life. The play echoes the negative impression the society has on mature single women who are most often, treated with disrespect.
Guests present at the opening include the Lagos Commissioner for Arts and Culture, Mr. Folarin Coker, Yeni Kuti, Wana Udobang, David Evans, Bikiye Graham - Douglas, Artistic Director, Lagos Theatre Festival, Kenneth Uphopho and many more.
In her opening remarks, the Country Director, British Council Nigeria, Connie Price said “The programme of performances produced by Nigerian and British theatre makers, is part of UK/Nigeria 2015-16, a major season of arts aimed at building new audiences, creating new collaborations and strengthening relationships. Programmed in association with a host of partners, the festival features more than 30 projects and more than 80 events in art, fashion, design, theatre, dance, music, literature and film throughout Nigeria and includes showcases of Nigerian arts and creative industries in the UK. Partnerships between Nigeria and British artists, institutions and organisations are at the heart of the season.”

A major focus of UK/Nigeria 2015-16 Price further stated, “Is on creating access to art, new digital work, art in public spaces and working with young people.”

The Lagos State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism Mr Folorunsho Folarin-Coker said “Lagos State is proud to host this festival, the largest out door festival in Nigeria and I dare say, West Africa. The festival presents opportunity to showcase talents and creativity and heritage of our great city and in line with our administration's resolve to create a year round programme of arts, culture, entertainment and tourists attracting events across the length and breadth of the state. I’m pleased to say that from four productions in 2013 the festival has grown to 40 productions and about 100 shows. In the subsequent years, we would like to see even more expansion from Agege to Epe, to Badagry and Ikorodu and we would find ways to work with the British Council to see how we can achieve this expansion.”  

Adeleye's book on good leadership for launch

Adeleye's book on good leadership for launch

By Prisca Sam-Duru

As part of its contributions to ensure that Nigerians begin to enjoy good governance, Segun Adeleye Foundation For Good Leadership In Africa (SAFFGLIA), a new initiative to promote good governance in Africa, is to be inaugurated at the Afe Balalola Hall, University of Lagos on March 10, 2016.

The launch at an intellectual setting in the presence of top business executives, government officials including ministers, governors, scholars, future leaders, and the media will also feature the presentation of the 1^st SAFFGLIA African Leadership Lecture by the Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed. 

Mohammed, a lawyer and former National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will speak on a topic ‘Setting Agenda For Good Leadership In Africa’ at the event where a book, ‘So Long Too Long Nigeria’ authored by Segun Adeleye, founder of SAFFGLIA, will also be launched.

Adeleye, President/CEO, World Stage Limited, a journalist, author and media entrepreneur said SAFFGLIA was founded to leverage on his experience over the years to help in whichever way possible in the development of leadership culture in Africa, as his way of giving back to the society henceforth.

“From my exposure over the years through interactions with business organisations and top government officials both at home and abroad, I’m concerned about how the issues of leadership failure and lack of corporate governance robbed our country and the continent the opportunity to be great,” he said

He listed the objectives of SAFFGLIA to include; To carry out activities and projects that will encourage governments across Africa to embrace good governance in order to uplift the standard of living of the people. We will employ all possible means including legal actions to achieve this; To draw attentions to activities of governments from local to national levels and encourage/compel them to do things in best interest of the people; To engage in leadership training programmes that will raise new generation of positive leaders who will champion the spirit of development of their societies in Nigeria and Africa; To provide scholarships in higher institution level to youths with leadership quality in Nigeria and other African countries.

Others include, To promote research into good leadership in Africa; To engage in research into alternative policies to existing government policies that are not working; To provide counselling, support and care for people that are unjustifiably victimised by bad governments in Africa; To organise Annual SAFFGLIA African Leadership Lecture, seminars, briefings, workshops and interventional programmes on issues of good leadership; To engage in opinion moulding, empowerment, and building confidence of people on how to make their governments accountable; To develop SAFFGLIA Good Leadership Africa Index (SGLAI) as a barometer for measuring performances of leaders across Africa; To encourage/recognise leaders that are doing well through The African Man Award and To establish the African Hall of Fame for distinguished leaders both in the public and private sectors.