Ten ways to love your ten-year-old girl

Managing kids is a taxing job any day no matter the age of the child involved. When they clock ten particularly, the job gets tougher. For girls, the responsibility is more enormous. However, you shouldn’t worry your head so much about this because all you need to do is love her. Here are some ways to love a 10 year old today and everyday as she enters a new chapter of her growing up adventure.
1. Put her at the head of the table. Your girl has things to say and she needs an audience. By making sure she gets a turn now and then at the head of the table, you let her and your family know it’s totally okay for your girl to command the attention of a room. You’ll be surprised at how savvy she is and how much she has to say about things that matter to you, too.
2. Ask her to tell you her dreams and take notes. Inside every mother is a ten year old girl trying to get out. Now is the time to give her hopes and aspirations full airtime--these tender dreams hold the keys to the truest version of her best self. Don’t be scared if she says she wants to be the next Hannah Montana touring the globe--little girl rockstar dreams have more to do with the deep wish to be seen and respected than anything else.
3. Let her glory in every single moment of inflated selfconfidence. Did she make the honour roll? Discover she can swim the length of the pool after all? Let her run with her happiness and pride as far as it will take her. Too often we encourage our girls to be demure and modest when a healthy dose of uberconfidence will take her so much further.
4. Ask other people to be quiet so she can finish her story. She’s chatty, yes, but wouldn’t you rather know every last thing on her heart instead of watch her sulk in the back of the car? Turn off your need to get her in line and take a turn listening to the twists and turn of her drama- loving life.
5. Indulge her promiscuous love of books. Turn her curiosity about grown-up things into a sophisticated knowledge of good literature. Now is the time to introduce her to the tried and true favourites of your own girlhood along with some new titles that will stretch her mind
6. Turn up the music. Though her kind of music is far different from yours, you need to play along to get the best out of her. There’s a certain kind of joy for her in this that you just can’t duplicate anywhere else.
7. Remind her she doesn’t have to be in a hurry to grow up. She’s trying out her power moves, I know--groaning and moaning when you ask the simplest thing or waiting to see if you’ll lose it if she dares give you the eye roll. Don’t forget that underneath all that attitude is a little girl who probably still needs to sit on your lap, to have you brush out her hair or hold her every once in a while as she drifts gently off to sleep. Be bold in asking for hugs and insisting on tenderness between you in quiet moments. She needs it and you do, too.
8. Institute girls’ night out. Admit it, there’s a part of you that is dying to see the latest, greatest girl movie with all the cheese whiz and over-the-top acting. Here’s your chance to do girlhood all over again, so do it right by giving your girl all the things you missed the first time around- -time alone with your mother learning what it means to be a girl from her unique perspective.
9. Be her best cover. She’s keenly aware of where your family rules fall in the continuum of lenient to strict in the kid stratosphere. Help her navigate the differences by being her best excuse when the invitations on the table feel inappropriate for your family’s sense of sensibility. The same works in reverse when she knows your invitation will be met with reserve by more cautious parents. Let her know you’ll help her not be embarrassed by the inevitable disconnects.
10. Dance with your girl like you are her mate. She’ll love laughing at your moves and you’ll be delighted to learn as she shows you a thing or two. Let her see it’s okay to be silly, to not do it right and to let your heart go- -especially for the sake of goodhearted fun.

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‘My wife uses Juju’

• I am afraid she will harm me with her charms. I am not ready to

die now; separate us before she kills me —Husband

• I used charm for prayer, not to harm him. —Wife

An Igando Customary Court in Lagos has dissolved a 40-year-old marriage between Kareem Adesina (65) and his estranged wife, Memunat, 56, over the woman’s infidelity. The court president, Mr R.I. Adeyeri, said that all efforts to reconcile the couple had proved futile, as the petitioner insisted on the divorce. “The court has no choice than to dissolve the union, in spite of the fact that the wife still claims she loves her husband. “Both parties are no longer husband and wife, they are free to go their separate ways,” he said. The court ordered that the petitioner should allow the respondent to pack her belongings in the presence of police officers and court officials. Adeyeri also ordered the petitioner to pay N50, 000 as rehabilitation cost for the respondent. Kareem had filed a suit seeking the dissolution of his marriage. He said he could no longer tolerate his wife’s regular visits to witch doctors. “My wife is very fetish and uses juju (charms). I am afraid she will harm me with her charms. “I am not ready to die now; separate us before she kills me,” he said. He also told the court that Memunat had become uncontrollable. “She goes out and returns home late, sometimes, she does not even come home,’’ Kareem said. Above all, Kareem said he no longer loved his wife. However, Memunat, 56, said that her husband abandoned her and their five children for another woman. “There was strong love between us, but when my husband married another woman, things turned upside down. “He has deserted us for the past nine years, I have been the one responsible for the upkeep of the children,” she said. The 56-year-old trader said that she used charms for prayers and not to harm the petitioner. Memunat pleaded with the court to save the marriage, saying that she still loved her husband

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Ali Baba reveals shocking entertainment secrets

‘I collected N1.5m from Satzenbrau while Fela got N500,000’

… advices upcoming musicians on how to become successful

It’s not for nothing that Ali Baba is regarded as the King of Comedy. Presently, however, he’s more than just the King of Comedy. He’s a pillar in the entertainment industry, and without him, the industry will just not be developing the way it should. So when NuffNoiz Entertainment decided to hold a boot camp for upcoming artists to educate them on how to become musically successful, Ali Baba was one of the people they approached to come and educate the greenhorn artists with his wealth of knowledge about the industry. And because of his status as one of the industry’s frontliners, he accepted to speak at the camp, despite his busy schedule, for one basic reason: he likes to support new entertainers. 

That character is already known of him in the comedy sector where he carries his fellow comedians, both the established and the upcoming, along through every necessary way he can support them. The boot camp held at Swe Bar, City Mall, Onikan, Lagos. Its kickoff time was scheduled for 10am. Ali Baba got there promptly. He got there before many of the upcoming artists who were to benefit from the camp. And because he got there on time, the organisers had no choice but to begin the camp as soon as possible with the few artists, artist managers and other music industry people who were present. 

And so Ali Baba began to mentor the upcoming artists. He expressed disappointment at the fact that entertainers don’t like to develop themselves. He said he once orgainsed a training seminar, just like the boot camp, to educate entertainers, and it wasn’t well attended. But when he held a party, more than the number of people invited came, and that was when he told them that they preferred to come to the party, rather than the training. So he adviced the boot camp attendees that they’ve to keep developing themselves, have to keep getting more and more education related to their field because talent is not enough and it has to keep being developed. Just in case some of the upcoming musicians were wondering if he was qualified to speak on music, since his area of speciality is comedy. According to him, all his years in the industry, over twenty-five of them, have made him have a sound knowledge of the music sector more than most musicians even, and he regularly carries out research on the entertainment industry just to keep himself abreast of its trends. 

“There’s no luck in this entertainment business,” he declared. “People think those who blow were lucky. No. In order to blow, you must package your talent as a service, and when you do so, people will pay for it. “To ensure that your talent becomes sought after, you must sing songs to entertain and draw people to the dance floor. You must develop your talent as there’s no talent you have that cannot be made better. “Some people are waiting for people to come and pick them up and help them become successful. It doesn’t happen like that. You have to develop yourself and then present yourself in the right manner in order to get noticed and then picked up.” With his advice connecting with his audience, he began to outline what an upcoming musician must do to become successful. “The selling points of a musician are his lyrics, the production of his song, its mixing and mastering, the type of language used in the song, the song’s rhythm and melody, live performance of the song, radio air play of the song, the quality of its music video, movies, night clubs and DJs playing it, stores, online promotion, fans and followers, awards, mixtapes, live events, interviews, music competitions, ring tones and other factors, even piracy, that an artist must engage in to ensure that his song and his brand will become successful. “But how many of you engage in all the promotional tactics I’ve mentioned?” he asked the aspiring musicians Continuing, he said, “If those things I just mentioned are what will help a song become successful, these are the ones that will kill the song. Government ban, poor production, artist himself, no air play, greedy on-air personalities, beef/swear words, absence of live performances, piracy, lack of music videos, and no radio air play. “You see, most artists don’t understand the industry. They just want to blow. They don’t think of the market which they must understand first. Part of understanding the market is that you must do songs that are for specific occasions like weddings. “If you do a wedding song, it’ll ensure that you are always able to get one wedding or the other to perform at. The same thing with a birthday song. In understanding the market, you must learn from the people before you. You must listen to your competition and do songs that will outlive the trends as showbiz is dynamic and if you stick to the same style, you’ll get lost.” He then explained that his ability to evolve is what has kept him relevant for over twenty-five years in the game. 

“When I started, I was able to realise fast that people didn’t have the patience for long jokes so I started giving them quick, short jokes, basically yabis, that I’ll yab someone, everyone laughs and I’ve moved on fast to another joke.” Concluding, he added that humility is very important for success. “You have to be very humble at all times to make it in this game and stay successful. I remember that when I started making more money than many other entertainers, I didn’t start being arrogant because I knew I was making more money than them. 

“For instance, there was a show by Satzenbrau back then that I was paid N1.5m and Fela was paid N500,000. Fela was bigger than me and I got more money than him, but I didn’t let it go to my head. So, humility is very important.”

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Why do men watch porn?

What’s with men and their porn addiction? Are you a woman who wonders why men watch porn the way they do? Well, here’s an explanation that’ll put your mind at ease. 

Most women have a problem with men and their interest in pornography. Somehow, realising that their man ogles other women in the nude seems to piss them off. Well, any normal woman would be pretty pissed off by this.

While men think porn is sexy, women think it’s obscene and tacky. Men think porn is a way to see many more naked women without really being unfaithful. Women think watching porn is infidelity! Now, not all men and all women feel this way. But certainly, most of them do.

Why can’t a man just watch his woman in bed?

A man could sit up in bed and stare at the beautiful woman sleeping in bed with him, and he may do that too. But he could do that anytime he wants, so really, where’s the novelty in that?

Women should know that most men don’t watch porn every single night. They do it now and then, most often when they’re feeling bored. And even when they watch naked women online or in tapes, they don’t always see the same girls again and again.

Why do men like porn?

Men like porn for a lot of reasons. Here are a few that could help you understand his interest in all things naked.

He gets to see more boobs

A man can never see enough of boobs. All breasts may seem like the same for women, but those subtle dissimilarities between one pair and another make the men want to see all of them. 

He gets to learn new things in bed

Most of the time, men watch porn only to satisfy themselves. But every now and then, men watch porn because it’s funny or completely unique. It’s a fun pastime that men enjoy.

He thinks it adds to the pleasure of masturbation 

Almost all men have spent a big part of their single life with the little boy in their pants. And every now and then, he misses the times he’s spent with the little guy. Hanging out with his hands in his shorts can at times, even feel a lot better than sex. There’s no stress, and the fun time can stretch on for hours. And the best part, he gets to see so many naked women while having fun at the same time.

 He is curious

Every time a man sees an attractive and desirable woman, one of the first things he does is wonder how she looks beneath her clothes. With so much curiosity, it’s easy to imagine why men can’t wait to see and learn about different women’s body parts. 

Will your guy watching porn affect your relationship?

No. His interest in watching porn has nothing to do with the relationship status. To a man, porn isn’t his way of cheating on you or fantasising about other women. It’s just one of his favorite pastimes when he’s feeling restless or bored.

But will he ever compare you to a porn star he likes? It’s obvious he will. Has he ever asked you to try something new or kinky in bed all of a sudden? It’s probably an inspiration from pornography. But whether he compares you or not, a man’s mind is developed enough to realise that what he sees in porn isn’t real, at least to him. It’s just a fantasy girl stripping herself off and moaning at everything she sees. And men like it!

Will he love you less because he sees other naked women?

No. Somehow, watching porn doesn’t seem to affect most men, unless they’re addicted to it and can’t live without it. No research or scientist has been able to conclusively prove the real reason behind why men like porn just yet. Perhaps, it’s just his desire to see more naked women 

 and feel good about it. After all, no man is ever satisfied with the number of naked women he sees in his lifetime.

Should a woman be bothered by his curiosity?

Don’t be. Men hardly ever think their interest in porn qualifies as cheating. Instead, cuddle up with him and watch a few movies yourself. 

Think of it this way: A woman watches romantic movies all the time. And she would definitely be able to relate to the feelings of love and affection the actors share on screen. A woman may enjoy the movie, but does that mean she’s falling for the actor in the movie because she felt all those emotions?

She may even wish her man was more like the romantic actor in the movie. But does that really change anything in real life? No!

And that’s the same thing with men and porn. They may watch women flaunting their assets in pornography, but they soon forget all about it. 

Now that you know why men watch porn, relax and stop worrying about it. It’s just a movie and those boobs are just another pair of several breasts that he’ll admire in his lifetime. At the end of the day, you’re the beautiful woman he sleeps with and he likes his life just the way it is! Well…hopefully!

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How young are you?

There are seven categories of aging. With age as such a crucial feature of a person’s identity, we are at loss as to who the person is, if we lack such information. Yet, age as society perceives it, is not a very good indication of knowing a lot about a person. Think of the older-than-her-years hyper mature 15-year-old who could easily pass for 22. How about the older adult who lives down the street from you whose sprightly step would rival that of someone 40 years her junior?

It’s time to throw aside this narrow and imprecise measure of your identity and move on to the next step, which is to calculate your true age. As it turns out, your true age will not be a simple number, but a combination of where you stand along seven dimensions. In a nutshell, age is multidimensional.

So what are the seven categories of age?

First is chronological age, which is defined as the number of years a person has lived. This is the one we’re all very familiar with.

So the big question is how old are you? And you will answer; I am so many years, months, and days old. Because of the ease and familiarity everyone has with chronological age, many tests and programmes are based around it. Most 5-year olds are ready for kindergarten; most 16-year olds have matured enough to drive; and many 65-year olds are ready to retire.

Chronological age is just a rough indication of age; it’s just the most convenient way.

Biological or physical age, which is a description of an individual’s development based on biomarkers, a recordable molecular or cellular event like blood pressure, respiratory capacity, aerobic power, blood glucose levels, etc. Here we’re looking at the individuals as they are, not necessarily when they were born. Physical aging can be described by grey hair, wrinkled skin, fragile body, hazy eyes. It is age of our bodies in regards to critical life signs.

Psychological age, which is the perception of how old one feels. This is about ones mental outlook on life. For example, a person who is older may feel younger and vice versa. Psychological age is thus not necessarily equal to chronological age. A person can, therefore, have a psychological age that exceeds their chronological age if they are mature or at least feel older than they really are. This may be common in adolescence when young teens that feel older than they really are engaged in behaviours typical of late teens and early adults.

Emotional age is about how we adjust to circumstances that cause us to be rational or irrational. How we handle conflict and resolve misunderstandings are markers for our emotional maturity. Emotional age may follow chronological age, or may lag behind, or be ahead.

Intellectual age is how we think critically about ourselves and the world around us. Are we open or closed minded? The ability to reason and think critically can benefit our life experiences. Staying updated, flexible and curious about life can help to develop a youthful level of intelligence.

Social age: This reflects your position along the so-called “social clock” of life. The social clock is based on the set of expectations that people in a given culture have about when life’s major events “should” occur. We can divide the social clock into the two major areas of life: family and work. The family social clock of our culture expects that people become parents at some point in their late 20s or early 30s, at which point they also are married or in a serious relationship. We become grandparents, according to this clock, in our 60s, reflecting the fact that our children are following a similar social clock. The work social clock says that we graduate from secondary school in our late teens, and then from university a few years later, at which point we start our career. We retire in our 60s, and at that point the work social clock stops ticking.

Functional age: It is defined as a combination of chronological, biological, social, intellectual and psychological ages. Here, instead of focusing on one aspect at a time, we are summarizing them to create a more holistic picture of a person. Functional age would give you the clearest understanding of a person.

This type of age is not often used because you will need a lot of expert input to give the clearest understanding of how old the person is.

Food for thought

How old do you feel? Forget what the calendar says, and even forget what your functional ages are.

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I’m a fashion addict –Ruth Ayabina, model

Bayelsa State-born Ruth Ayabina, who grew up in Lagos, is a Nigerian model making the country proud in Ghana. This Human Resource Management undergraduate of Zenith University College, Accra, Ghana was discovered after a beauty pageant where she came out the first runner-up. Ever since, she has not ceased being hot on catwalks. In this interview , she speaks about her modelling career and what thrills her most.
 You studied human management, why did you opt for modelling?
I have always had a passion for it right from when I was little. I have always watched the TV, read fashion magazines, do the look and pose. Now that I have grown and with the right body, I opted for it.
 Can you relive your first time on the fashion runway?
I was scared and jittery the very first time. Though I had done similar things, that first day I felt quite different. But I looked at the crowd, did my thing, walked well and I really did fine for the camera. I wasn’t camera-shy because I had been on beauty pageants before. It was somehow similar. I was in my school pageant when I was in 100-level and I came out first runner-up. Then I did another one and I’m also about to do another pageant immediately I’m back to school.
 What thrills you most about modelling?
I love and I’m bold to face the camera. They make me feel good about myself.
 Can you counsel those that want to join the modelling world?
To start with, when people hear that someone is into modelling, they tend to think of the negative part of it. It’s not always like that. Don’t be weighed down by those negative thoughts of people. For instance, when I came into modeling, I started with beauty pageants. From there, I got to know many people. When you are doing pageants, a lot of people come in as judges and they have agencies. I got to know people who told me that I was good and that I could also do well in modelling. There and then, an agency picked me up, trained and groomed me to become a model. For those out there that want to be models, I think they should start by going for pageants first.
 Haven’t you had challenges in your career?
I have had some challenges! I have once been duped. I paid ignorantly to dupes for a fashion show and behold there was no such show. When I got to the location that day, I saw some other models who were also duped like me. We were more than 15 girls who paid N15,000 each. You can imagine how much the person made all together. It’s challenging at times but the passion keeps me going. I don’t have any regrets becoming a model.
 Who are you aspiring to be like in modelling?
Naomi Campbell! She has been there for a while. I love her zeal and passion for what she does. She started out small and later almost everyone got to know her.
 You once said in instagram that fashion is your addiction, can you explain?
I love everything about fashion. I can be in my house, not doing anything for that day, I would start bringing out my clothes and begin to blend them. In the fashion world, it is called play-dress-up. So, I love to do play-dress-up in my room and get to know what looks good on me. Another day when I want to go out, I would just pick it up and wear. I play with fashion, it is my addiction.
 Have you ever imagined the world without fashion?
A world without fashion is numb. It’s boring and out of the ordinary. Thank God there is fashion because I don’t know what the world would have looked like without it. Fashion gives people the creativity, knowledge and ability to make something out of nothing. Because most of the clothes we wear, these things we see, if you get to know what they make them from, you would be amazed. I went for a photo shoot one time, the necklace and everything I had were made of nails, false nails. They used it to make nice necklace and earrings. It’s all fashion.
 Where do you think some models are getting it wrong?
I think it is the notion some of them have about going to see some big people behind just to get to the top or get jobs. You can get to your peak joyfully when you work hard for it. And you get more fulfilled remembering that you didn’t have to use your body to get to where you are. They always rush into it, they don’t take things in bits. Because when you rush into it, at the end of the day someone might blackmail you and you don’t feel satisfied. The guilt would begin to show that you knew what you did to get to that position. But when you get there gradually, you would be proud of yourself.
 When you want to attend a glamorous event, how do you dress to stand out and show who you are as a model?
My mother is a fashion designer and a style aficionado, so she puts me right most of the time. She designs what I wear. With her help, I have got to know how to dress well for events. It depends on the type of event I’m getting set for. If it’s an evening thing, I would wear a straight gown with slit.
 Where do you think some ladies are getting it wrong in fashion?
What some girls need to understand is that not everything you see fits. They see some kind of dresses on people or mannequins and they just wear. But on your own body, it doesn’t look good on you. You have to wear what looks good and befits your confidence. Someone fair who wears something flashy would look too flashy. If you are dark and you wear something flashy, it complements your complexion. People abroad wear what suit their weather whereas some of us don’t even consider that. I went out one day and I saw a girl putting on summer boots. The weather here is hot, you don’t wear that.
 How do you blend your colours?
I don’t like flashy colours, I’m not a flashy person. I like cool colours like brown, white, grey etc.
 What fashion accessory forms a larger part of your wardrobe?
My shoes! Because there is this indisputable saying about shoes, that they give you a class. Even though you dress simple and put on a pair of nice classy shoes, you would still look good.
 Fashion is about covering up your flaws and flaunting, if need be, your good sides. What part of your body wouldn’t you mind flaunting?
I show off my legs; they are long and good to be flaunted. And I’m free flaunting them.
Are there some skimpy outfits you aren’t daring enough to model?
I can model everything because if you begin to be choosy about the things you model, you wouldn’t get to where you are aiming at. I can model bikini but I can’t do nude. But there are some nudes that can be done, maybe you use your hands to cover up some vital areas so that they don’t get the whole body. But the revealing nude, I can’t do because it doesn’t speak well of my family. I consider my family too in what I do.
 As a model who had worn some mind-blowing styles on various fashion runways, what advice do you have for fashion designers?
I think fashion designers should devise something that people can wear. I say this because at times some of the dresses they give us (models) to wear on fashion runways are just somehow that you begin to ask yourself who exactly would wear this. Let them give us something unique, something that can be worn outside the runway.
 Can you define your style?
My style is comfort. I don’t follow vogue.
Tell us styles you can’t be seen wearing.
You can’t see me wear tubes or bustier. I can wear a very short dress, I mean extremely short but not bustier because I’m very passionate about my boobs. Whenever I’m given a tube/bustier to model, I often see myself trying to pull it up and that shows I’m not comfortable in it. But I can wear the shortest of skirts. But to show off my boobs? No! It feels like I’m revealing my whole body.
 What lesson has life taught you as a model?
As a model, life has taught me that your time would surely come. You don’t need to rush it. Because when you rush, you might get there but you may end up regretting or you start having guilt. I think you should take your time and let it go gradually. That is how fame comes or success comes. You have to struggle to get there. But when you get it the other way round, it doesn’t last.
What is your philosophy of life?
My philosophy about life is take your time, do what you love best, trust God and you will get there.
 What do you like about the Nigerian fashion designers?
They are really trying, not doing badly and they are advancing. I think they have really upgraded.
 Do you hope to attend international modelling competitions in future?
That’s my aim. I want to be an international model and make the country proud.
 How do you come about those poses you strike on your pictures?

During my leisure, I try some poses and that happens without knowing that I have a shoot to do. I just do it on my own, so, when I eventually have a shoot, those poses would keep reflecting back on my mind. At times, I do some unconscious poses that come out great, so that’s how it works for me.

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Project Fame provided me platform to meet people –Ruky Olotu

Ruky Olotu is the first-runner-up Project Fame Season 7 ( 2014); the talented female artiste talks about her new video ‘Show Them’ released by her group R-CUBE and other vital issues in this interview  

Can you tell us more about your life after Project Fame?
It has been interesting, Project Fame provided me the platform to meet other people and really enter the music industry and because of that I was that, I was able to meet quite a number of celebrities and music stars. In all, it’s been good after Project Fame. For me, personally I’ve learned so much and become a bit comfortable. I’ve actually been happier after Project Fame and more confident and happier.

Was Project Fame instrumental to your singing career?
I did a couple of songs back in 2010 before the 2014 auditioning. Because I was still in school, I was not able to focus but I had already started singing but that also helped me because I was already doing music then I met people who now directed me to apply for Project Fame.

How many albums do you have to your credit?
I don’t have any album yet. We are still working on that. What we are trying to do is to at least bring a few singles that would circulate the market before we bring out the album. That is what we are doing at this level.

Could you tell us more about the group R-CUBE?
R-CUBE is a girl band group which consists of me, my sister and cousins Rouna and Rubunu, we just shot a video. I just released it last week and it is on promotional level and we are still trying to get more radio play. As soon as this single is out there in the market and people are hearing it, we may not even waste time before we will bring out more.

What is the song all about?
The song “Show Them” is basically a contract between me and the person that will wear the Versace dress that he bought from Aba market and the person who wears a Versace dress that he bought from a Versace shop. They will wear it and people might not even know the difference. They will wear it and will go to the same place and event and we were like, whatever you value and whatever you have, you should offer the world. You don’t have to go and kill but we should be content with what we have and show it out confidently. We highlighted everything like if I’m wearing a Brazilian hair or if I’m wearing a human hair, it doesn’t matter, it is your choice really. People are driving Mercedes Benz and you are entering Keke Napep, it doesn’t matter, Show Them.

What do think is unique in your songs that will make you create impact in the music industry?
First of all, we want to start by bringing our music with what people can see even if they are in primary school and we want to reach out to the younger group and to our age group as well. The thing that will make us stand out is because of the fusion in our music- how we mix the genres together because I’m more of the RnB, jazz and pop. People say I’m pop. My sister is RnB and Reggae and then my cousin is jazz and soul. Listening to our songs, you will hear the difference generally that we combine into one song to make it work.

What challenges are you confronted with and how do you intend to overcome them?
My present challenges right now is first of all circulation and getting my music to a wide range of listeners and viewers. Basically the marketing, I can say that is the biggest challenge and if I can get a setup that will really help push the songs out there, that would be really nice- people that have the right channel, big promoters, people that know what they are doing and have done it before.

What are your plans, do you want to go fully into music or you want to practice your profession?
My profession is still there and I intend to use what I studied in school to help me with some areas of what I’m doing but for now I want to focus on my music.

After Project Fame, have you had other performances?
Yes, we have performed in Freedom Park, Lagos, we have performed in Industry Line, we have performed in MTN Project Fame and a couple of other performances as a group.

Do you have plans of remaining as a group or as Ruky?
I’m Ruky in R-CUBE and we still want to express individuality so that when people are listening to us, they could differentiate who is who that is singing and also when we decide to do our singles people can choose anyone us they want to preferably listen to. In R-CUBE, we want to have dynamism- a particular way of handling things.

Where do you hope to see Ruky in the next three years?
MTV Award, BET Awards, Grammy Awards and others by God’s grace. I intend to have been able to gotten a name out there that when they hear a song, they will know I sang it and be able to reach very far even across Africa. I want my song to heard across, Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Ghana etc.

You are youth corps member, a musician and an artiste. How do you combine these three personalities?
That is not easy at all. Sometimes, I don’t even feel like I’m an artiste. Sometimes, I get uncomfortable and angry maybe if they just wake me up that I have to perform somewhere in a particular radio station and maybe I have my NYSC CDS the next morning; this is very annoying. It is not that easy to double that entire but I am hoping to be better and hoping to learn.

So far have you faced any form of harassment in the industry?
I’m very much aware of that and I don’t want to say that I’m dating but put myself in a situation whereby that wouldn’t happen or I might not come across that. So I’m that it wouldn’t happen to us and the fact that we are all girls, that may be a disadvantage but we want to dwell on the trend that we have as a group and see how we can build on that and avoid such.

Who is or are your role models in the music industry both in Nigeria and outside?
First of all, I have the Mary Mary Sisters. They had a huge influence on me while I was growing up and my younger sister. I have Grandy, Beyonce, Kelly Rowland, Mary Debrde. In Nigeria I would mention Eva, Waje and Omawumi.

Are you planning to go for any reality show again in the future?
No I don’t. Could you tell us more about yourself? I studied Business Information Systems at the University of East London. I love to dance, to sing, and to make new cool friends.

What advice do you have for the young ones who would like to tow your line?

You think about what you want to do and what kind of song you want to sing about and believe that is your calling and if it is, don’t let anyone talk you out of it. Don’t let anything discourage you and push forward and put everything in the hands of God. Be positive, do good and never lose faith. If you believe, then you would see.

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How actresses make and spend money

Here is a glimpse into the spending patterns of Nigerian screen actresses
GENEVIEVE NNAJI
An icon in her own world, a screen goddess and the queen of Nollywood, many describe her as an industry of her own. The Best AMAA Actress in a Leading Role in 2005, Genevieve Nnaji is arguably the most popular actress in the Nigerian make-believe movie industry. She has over 10,000 registered fans on her website genevievennaji.ning.com and receives about 3,000 letters from fans all over the world every week. In September 2009, Oprah Winfrey named her one of the 100 most famous people in the world.
She is also by far the highest paid actress per movie and the first to earn a million naira in a single movie. By 2009 she raised the bar and she was paid $45,000 in movie IJE produced by Chineze Anyaene. A model and also a singer, in 2004 she became the Face of Lux and subsequently was involved with a beverage drink and detergent. She would release her debut album, Longolongo in Ghana, a move that raked in cash from her associations in the political circles of West Africa. Between 2004 and 2006 she earned a whooping of N31.3 million.
Major part of the money N14.7 million came from her two-year deal with Lux ($100,000). With no great interest in real estate she has two buildings in Lagos and another one in her home town, Mbaise. She launched her clothing line St. Genevieve in 2008 started with N20 million. She also signed another contract for Loya milk as well as becoming the face of MUD cosmetics.
Omotola Jalade Ekeinde
She is the princess of Nollywood, bold and a beauty to behold. Many believe she shares the same status with Genevieve Nnaji and together they are the two biggest actresses in Nollywood. Omotola takes it easy with her life and also has great passion for cars.
She drives more expensive cars than any actress in Nollywood and her garage is estimated to be worth millions. The mother, model and musician has recently stepped up her game in the music industry. Her first album Gba was her first introduction to the music industry but her sophomore album Me, Myself & Eyes has defined her as truly talented. The production and promotion of her album cost her a whopping N13 million.
KATE HENSHAW NUTTAL
Humble and hardworking, her income suffered a setback lately following the termination of the Glo Ambassadorial deal, but none the less, she is what one may call the silent millionaire. She became one of the actresses to try out other ventures. Spared by the tabloids’ bashing, the African Movie Academy 2008 Best Actress winner has graced the screen of Nigerian television like an amazon. The screen star who also has a daughter, Gabrielle, is a business woman to the core. Although she often appears classy, she spends wisely on what she wears and only travels abroad for business rather than pleasure. She does not drive very expensive cars and she lives a purely average and normal life. The Cross River-born star has her own company which specialises in different businesses but with passion for real estate. She currently has three buildings and several landed properties scattered all over the country.
CHIKA IKE
Chika is one of the actresses with the most enterprising spirit, and had actually started thinking of investing her resources shortly after she started. She owns a restaurant which caters to a high profile clientele in her neighborhood, and shortly after, she added a night club to that. Although Chika has not been part of any telecoms endorsement deals, reports suggest she has some branding deals under her desk. She took delivery of a Range Rover jeep, as a way of commending herself for all the hard work.
PATIENCE OZOKWOR
The Enugu star is nicknamed ‘’Mama G’ in Nollywood. She got into acting, the career that brought her money and fame because she was sacked as a broadcaster. The sack wrecked her and her household, as they battled with the life of an ailing husband. But opportunity called when she met Chika Okpala, aka Zebrudaya, who offered her a chance to appear in a commercial he was shooting then. That gave her the lee way into Nollywood, where she is one of the best-paid actresses.
Also a musician, she has been consistent in the industry and her roles have been applauded. She is very diverse in her investments but also has several landed properties. She lives at Enugu GRA, a mansion she completed two years ago and owns some businesses in the metropolis. Mama G shocked people when she handed out cars as gifts to her daughters getting married.
INI EDO
She has remained very consistent and has proved time and time again that she was born to be a star. Ini believes in landed and housing properties and has invested in this area more than any other Nollywood sister. She has five buildings, one in Abuja, to her credit and another one to be completed by the end of the year.
Most of the buildings are being rented to tenants. The actress, model and producer presently has nine landed properties which she either plans to build upon, fence for keeps or lease. She has produced a movie Memories of The Heart. She also stunned the world when she moved into a brand new house in Lekki after her marriage crumbled.
Mercy Johnson
Definitely her new husband, Prince Odiniaose Osagie, must be proud that his wife is worth some millions of naira. At the moment she remains the most controversial actress in Nollywood. The movie, The Maid, was not enough to woo Nollywood fans to her, but 19 Mackaulay Street revealed her to be the Nollywood sensation. Since then she has never looked back. Many argue that the tens of movie scripts that come her way are due to the fact that she’s is not a Glo ambassador, but the actresses does not see it that way.
In the past three years she appeared in more movies than any other Nollywood actress. By 2008 Mercy Johnson had appeared in fifteen movies and earned N11.4 million from movies alone. The following year, she earned N13 million and she featured in the Emen Isong hit movie, Guilty Pleasures. She is also an investor in properties and she is about to complete two houses at the moment. She also owns landed properties in Ajah area of Lagos.

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How Omotola’s Daughter, Meraiah Made N2.4 Million From Advert

Nollywood actress daughter, Omotola Jalade, Meraiah, seems to be one of the richest kids among the Ekeinde’s dynasty after she along with her mother were made brand ambassador of popular seasoning.

Omotola stated that in the year 2014, she got a lot of endorsement deals like the knorr and her daughter made the sum of N2.4 million out of it.

According to her while speaking with Olisa on the Truth, she said, “I got a lot of endorsements last year. Like Knorr. My daughter actually made 2.4 million on that endorsement.”

It seems Meraiah being the second daughter of the actress, is actually toeing the same line with her mother towards becoming a celebrity as she is virtually seen with her mother at some events.

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Don Jazzy becomes global ambassador for Johnnie Walker...

Mavin boss, Don Jazzy has just been unveiled as a global ambassador for Johnnie Walker, a brand of Scotch whisky owned by Diageo that originated in Kilmarnock, Scotland. 

The award winning producer made the announcement yesterday on Twitter. This now adds to his growing list of endorsement deals which already includes MTN, Konga, Loya Milk and others.... 

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