Entertainment
Behold, Nollywood’s Boldest Babes
It is no gainsaying the fact
that Nigeria’s movie industry known as Nollywood, the third movie clan in the world after Hollywood of America and Nollywood of India is among the three main sectors of the nation’s entertainment clan, namely comedy, music and movies, but going by available records, Nollywood has recorded more controversies and scandals.
Some of the most celebrated in this field include the following actresses who are in the A-List (Class in the make believe industry.
Tonto Dike: She is seen by movie buffs as the most controversial and scandalized actress in the history of Nollywood. Apart from falling on stage in London, she is also fond of picking quarrels with her colleagues. Some years back she took on a popular Gollywood cum Nollywood actor Van Vicker, while on movie location in Festac town of Lagos State. She was reported to have puffed cigarette at the A-List actor and damned the consequence.
She was also reported to had not hidden her hatred for Mercy Johnson who many believe act more than her. Years ago, the Ikwerre, Rivers State born screen goddess was in the heat for controversies for her role in soft porm film released to the market where she acted alongside Jibola Dabo and Mona Obiekwe.
The fair complexioned role interpreter is also said to be friendly with alcoholic drinks and smokes heavily. She has been said to have had affairs with a few music stars including Don Jazzy Iyanya amongst others, but has not sustained any of the affairs for long. What makes her case surprising for many is the fact that she does not care about what some of her actions could do to her career.
Empress Njamah: Though she has been missing in action in Nollywood, these days, but prior to this time, she has been involved in few scandals that put her in the front page of entertainment magazines.
Her relationship with popular musician Timaya was without controversial news stores and gossips. It was reliably gathered that Timaya was reportedly beaten up by some military officers because of her.
Apart from that, news went viral on the internet about her alleged sex scandal with ‘big eyes’ (Segun Arinze) and taken the guy to a high level of romance, but the story turned out to be lies.
Ini Edo: This Akwa Ibom State born actress also had to do with many controversies, mostly sex scandals. Some years ago was alleged to have warmed the bed of a state governor from the south –south region of Nigeria.
It was even reported that the first lady of the state got wind of it and allegedly stopped the actress from her amorous affairs with the governor. Ini Edo who is now married to US based, Edo State born businessman, Philip Ehiagwina was in the news few years ago for allegedly patronizing a club with a man. The news raised dust at that time as her husband claimed she was not in the club as at that time as reported.
Genevieve Nnaji: She has also been involved in some scandals. Some years ago she was in the news for allegedly lubricating the “Lolly Pop” of a top and highly transit politician who obeys the land porting very well. Even that, the new brand ambassador of Etisalat was alleged to have fought dirty with a fellow actress over access to the presidency as well as the alleged romance with the Koko-master, D-banj.
The A-List actress has also been scandalized on issues that border on sex on several occasions and she is said not to be having a stable relationship till date.
Uche Iwuji: She is another actress with more than one scandal trailing her, some years ago, she was involved in a nude scandal mess with another lady while she was a student of University of Lagos (UNILAG). The same incident resurfaced late 2013. Apart from her nude photograph which went viral in the internet she was alleged to have had extra marital affair with a bank managing director.
It was reported that in late 2013, her marriage with an oil and gas bigboy, Juwon Lawal crashed because of the alleged affairs with the banker.
Last weekend, the Kogi born businessman released a statement that the marriage which was contracted in November 2012 has ended. The 15 month old marriage produced a baby boy in August 2013.
According to the oil magnate the marriage broke down due to irreconcilable differences bordering mainly on Uche’s alleged past alliances with men. She has always been unlucky with relationships as her past affairs with various men have always proved unrewarding.
She is seen as a god mother by some up and coming actresses in Nollywood especially those in the Yoruba movie industry. Sometime she was said to have pimped a colleague, Iyabo Ojo for Senator Musilnie Obanikoro during the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship stint in Ghana as High commissioner to the country.
It was during this time Iyabo took her crew to Ghana to shot some parts of her film titled ‘Arinzo’. The actress has also been romantically linked with some men in the past. She is presently married to an American based Nigerian.
Additional report from first magazine.
Entertainment
“French Up Your Career” PH, 2025 :Consul General Of France Harps On Proficiency In French
The Consul, General of France in Nigeria, Laurent Favier has encouraged French Learners to improve their skills on the language, as there are lots of opportunities up for grabs on the job market with fluency in French Language, saying that there are many other career paths which are often less well known to learners of French.
Participants at the “French Up Your Career” event held in Port Harcourt.
Favier who disclosed this during the just concluded third edition of the seminar tagged “French Up Your Career” organized by Alliance
Française, Port Harcourt explained that learning French doesn’t mean adding a language to your resume. It rather provides learners with new opportunities. Irrespective of their area of interest, be it diplomatic and International relations, international development, translation and Interpretation or journalism.
According to the Consul General, it was important to create awareness for young Nigerians in Port Harcourt who desire to have better understanding of how been fluent in French can create diverse career opportunities for users of the languages in Nigeria and the world at large, emphasizing that proficiency in French could possibly make learner a bridge between Nigeria and fast-developing regions.
“You previously heard this morning about how you can improve your French skills. This afternoon you will discover how being fluent in French can provide a significant edge on the job market and lead to professional careers that you may not have even considered before,”
“This event comes at the right time, as it launches the celebration of the richness and diversity of French-speaking cultures, which will mobilize us for more than a month throughout Nigeria and alongside other French-speaking countries,” Favier added.
He further highlighted that French is spoken by over 300 million people across the world, saying that, it’s one of the official languages of the United Nations, the European Union, and the African Union.
“There are many neighbouring African countries to Nigeria ,who have French as one of their primary languages of communication including Cameroon, Chad, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. So, what does this mean for you as students here in Nigeria?” He asked
“These sectors in which the French Embassy is often mobilized are the business and marketing field for example, as French is often the preferred language in many multinational companies, particularly those in the energy, oil and telecommunications sectors. I’m thinking as well in technology and IT,” he said
He noted that French-speaking countries in Africa are investing heavily in tech, innovation, and infrastructure, revealing that companies in Tech are looking for bilingual professionals to assist with software localization, customer support, and managing projects in French-speaking regions.
“The French embassy is not only mobilized to help learners discover promising sectors. We are also providing our support and expertise in
training teachers and optimizing university programs,” he summed up
Also, the linguistics cooperation attaché, French Embassy in Nigeria, Magaly Losange, who also gave a lecture at the seminar, in an interview with Newsmen said that the main purpose of the seminar was to be more informative and supportive to those who want to make a skill out of French Language,saying that as the linguistics cooperation attaché of the French Embassy it is her duty to promote French language through culture.
She cited traditional stereotypes as a major challenge affecting the growth and development of French in Nigeria, as school, teachers at the primary and secondary level in most cases teach French using the traditional way, where students learn French, but could not put words and grammar together as a skill for communicate.
“French is important. I don’t see French as colonization, l see French as a key to embrace globalization, l hope that learners will be inspired and ready to embrace the global village,” Losange said.
She however said that the French Embassy is working to ensure that equipments to facilitate the learning of French is put in place to enable learners improve their skills fast, which in two to three years learners should be able to communicate with French, advising learners to be intentional with learning the language, through social media and other workable devices to advance their skills for certification and better opportunities.
Highlight of the event which had about 250 participants in attendance was the eloquence award ceremony where students were awarded for their eloquence in French language by the Director, Alliance Française Port Harcourt, Mrs.Marina Lacal alongside the Linguistics cooperation attaché of the French Embassy in Nigeria, Magaly Losange.
After two edition of the seminar it was the turn of the Alliance Française, Port Harcourt to host the Third edition.
It would be recalled that the first edition of ” “French Up Your Career” event was organized at the Alliance Française Lagos on October 23, the second one at UNILAG on November 24, 2024 respectfully.
Popular Nigerian comedienne, Tomama has revealed how she waited for Afrobeats superstar, Wizkid outside the bathroom.
She shared this while recounting her encounter with the singer at a recent event with heavy security.
In a video posted on her Instagram page, Tomama explained that she waited by the bathroom in an attempt to have a one-on-one conversation with Wizkid.
She stated that she positioned herself near the restroom, hoping Wizkid would eventually use it, giving her the perfect opportunity to speak with him.
“Wizkid, I saw you, and I waited for you to pee, but you didn’t even stand up from where you were sitting. You just stayed there. All your crew members standing around got up to go pee. I was standing by the bathroom, waiting for you to come pee so that you would notice me,” she said.
Content creator and actor, Mr Macaroni has opened up about his financial struggles, saying he was both a victim of a scam and a failed investment in 2021.
He revealed that after losing all his savings, he resorted to borrowing to settle pending commitments and slipped into N500 million in debt.
He admitted that he is financially reckless and generous, impacting his financial stability negatively.
In lengthy post shared via his X handle yesterday, Mr Macaroni wrote, “Sometime around 2020/2022, I was a victim of a scam and simultaneously a failed investment that cost me all I had saved at the time. It shook me deeply but I told no one about it. If you know me well enough, you would know I do not like to share my problems. I could be going through the worst and at the same time helping others solve their own problems but I just would never share mine.”
“After I lost all the money I had then, Trouble started when I had to borrow money from different sources to settle all pending commitments and also fulfill certain responsibilities I have always believed were mine to fulfill. I make money in millions so I never thought borrowing money to pay back with interest could ever be a problem. But I got too comfortable and it took me a long time to realise that I was using the money I was earning to pay back interests. Also, my financial recklessness did not help. Please don’t borrow money! But if you must, please be responsible.”
The actor stated that 2024 marked a pivotal moment in his acting career but it was also the most challenging year for him as he faced over half a billion naira in debt.
Mr Macaroni revealed that his frustration grew worse after he was betrayed by someone he considered “a friend and sister.”
He added that with the support of family and friends who stood by him during his trying times, he now “feels better than I have felt in the last three years!”
The comedian stated that he decided to finally share his story to encourage others who are going through challenges.