Entertainment
PH City Agog For Valentine Day
St. Valentine celebration is
here again! Today Friday 14th February 2014 is set aside to celebrate the true essence of love all over the world: Port Harcourt residents in the oil rich Rivers State are not left out of the celebration as most residents of Nigeria’s Garden City see it as an opportunity to embrace the flowers and cupid, put a little extra effort to slow their spouses that they are not taken for granted.
To ensure a successful celebration, most families have mapped out strategies to pamper their love ones with gifts, affection eating and drinking at exotic hangouts in the city. Showbiz personalities and operators of various entertainment outfits in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital have made serious preparations to give love seekers, families and friends a swell time.
The Tide Entertainment in a recent investigation discovered that most of the popular hangouts now wear a new look as some of the popular outfits have been refurbished and well equipped with exotic drinks of all brands, mesmerising lightening systems and other state of the art facilities, ambience and enabling environment to give their customers maximum fun and relaxation. The side attractions in most of this popular joints include professional dancers, artistes, comedians and Dise Jockies (DJs) who play both the old and new school songs to create an all round satisfaction for all classes of the fun seekers.
The Tide Entertainment who spoke with some of the residents found that they all want to celebrate this year’s val in grand style. According to the General Manager Clubs, Afrique Hotel Port Harcourt, Prince Victor Ifeanyi Mini, Valentine is like any other day in the sense that every day is a celebration of life. He disclosed that he will use part of the day to celebrate with his family, friends and well wishers, share love and affection and thank God for his mercies and blessings. He noted that valentine celebration is not to commit sins and encourage amorous relationships, but to come closer to God with thanksgiving.
Mr John Weli, a Port Harcourt based politician who is popularly known as Jonny B said,” I am going to pamper my wife and lavish gifts on her because love is being responsible for somebody or something unconditional, it is showing a deep part of you with tender kindness.
Also commenting on his plan for the valentine celebration, a Port Harcourt based Afro Hip hop singer and Reggae crooner.
Mr Ogwara popularly known as the “African King”, noted that this years valentine celebration is special to him as it will afford him the opportunity to thank God for his abundant mercies. He noted that the day will be celebrated with his wife and children, while his fans would be entertained with his latest song.
For Prince Opuada Sampson Bristol, transporter, Saint Valentine is a good day in remembrance of one who died for love. He stressed that even God gave his only begotten son that he should die for sinners which shows that love rules the world.
According to him, he would like to take his family and friends to some of the popular entertainment joints in Port Harcourt to celebrate this years valentine.
“I am going to lavish gifts on my girl, I will take her for dinner or just drive out with her, looking for the best pepper soup joint to entertain her, she is my val and anybody who is with me this festive period deserves an award”, he stated.
An ace comedian in the city Ubi Emmanuel popularly known as ‘Rugged Pastor’ observed that valentine is like every other day, the celebration and expression of love should not be limited to a day. Incidentally according to him, “I will be cracking jokes to entertain my friends and well wishers with my usual hilarious jokes at a comedy show here in the city as a way of giving back to the society that has made me, I would like to show love by making my fans to laugh, be happy and have wonderful relaxation.
A group under the aegis of Mama Gee International foundation, Port Harcourt chapter has finalised plans to celebrate the valentine day in a grand style. The body in a statement signed by its state chairman, Mr Promise Dokubo, said members have decided to mark the day for the love they have for one another despite their ethnic and religious diversities.
The chairman assure that it would be a day of fun, eating and drinking as members from all walks of life are expected to be present and well entertained.
According to the National chairperson of the orgainsation, Madam Love Akpabio popularly known as ‘Mama Gee’ Valentine day is a day to show love, gratitude and thanksgiving not only to humans but to God almighty. She said the occasion will be the first of its kind in the state and thanked her customers for their patronage over the years.
It would be recalled that saint valentine started as a liturgical celebration associated with St. Valentine who was imprisoned for performing wedding for soldiers who were forbidden to marry and for ministering to Christians who were persecuted under the Roman Empire during his imprisonment.
He was also said to have healed the daughter of his jailer Asterius. It was stated that before his execution, he wrote “from your valentine” as a fare well to her.
Today, Anglican communion as well as the Lutheran Church celebrate St. Valentine. Symbols that are used today include the heart shaped outline doves and the figure of the winged cupid. Since the 19th century, hand written valentines have given way to mass production of greeting cards every valentine.
Be that as it may, it is certain that it will be a dazzling night at most entertainment hangouts in the city of Port Harcourt, home of entertainment and hospitality as high caliber live musical concerts are expected to be held at those outlets to thrill fans with both foreign and “Naija Vibes” as well as an assemblage of popular comedians in their elements to make the night an interesting one to remember.
Musicians performing on stage
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.