I left my full time job to focus on my acting career —Ogbebor (Tribune)
Nollywood actor and producer, Martins Omosigho Ogbebor, better known as Martini, has said that he left his job for acting.
Speaking in a recent interview, the actor, who revealed he started acting in 2016, said “I remember leaving my full time job to face my acting career without any sponsor or source of income. It was really crazy”. He was all thanks to Itele D’icon, his boss, for making it smooth for him and gives God the glory now.
Explaining that he can’t really figure out what influenced his acting career, Ogbebor said, “all I know is that it’s in-born. I think it’s what I’m destined to do. If I should leave acting for something else, I don’t think I’ll be fulfilled or happy. This is what gives me joy and it’s what I have passion for. So, I’m doing what makes me happy and also making money from it”. Read more
Customs intercepts arms, military uniform at Lagos ports (Nation)
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Tin-Can Island Customs Command, Lagos, yesterday said its officers intercepted 11 rifles and six pistols, including their ammunition, alongside banned drugs in different containers at the Tin-Can Island Port between January and middle of March, this year.
Addressing reporters at the port, its Area Controller, Dera Nnadi, disclosed that due to an ongoing investigation, the source of the arms and ammunition would not be disclosed at this period.
According to him, “the main reason for bringing all of us here today is to showcase the successes that we have recorded in partnering with our partner agencies in the area of enforcement”. Read more
Lagos discounted food markets open Sunday (Punch)
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has ordered that food products at the “Ounje Eko” food markets be sold at a discount in all five divisions of Lagos starting on Sunday, March 17.
A statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, on Friday, noted that the markets will offer Lagosians a 25% discount on staple food items like rice, beans, gari, bread, eggs, tomatoes, and pepper.
The statement read, “In order to prevent sharp practices and ensure the foodstuff reaches a large number of Lagosians, a voucher system will be introduced as the pilot scheme kicks off. Read more
Insecurity: Sack non performing security chiefs, APC leaders tell Tinubu (DailyTrust)
Following the high rate of kidnapping and general insecurity in the country, the Forum of All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairmen has asked President Bola Tinubu not to spare any security chief that fails to live up to expectation.
Addressing State House correspondents after a meeting with Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, on Friday, secretary of the forum, Alphonsus Oga Eba, said insecurity in the country was discussed in their meeting.
Eba, stated that “On the question of the kidnap of pupils in Kaduna State, yes it forms one of the issues about the general insecurity in the country that we raised as a matter of concern to Mr. President.
Restore integrity of 2024 budget, PDP tells FG (Leadership)
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to restore the integrity of the 2024 budget by immediately ordering an open investigation into the alleged insertion as well as a holistic review of the budget.
The party also accused the senate of seeking to use diversionary press statements to suppress the demand for an open investigation into the alleged improper insertion of N3.7 trillion for non-existing projects in the 2024 budget.
The party in a statement by its national publicity secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, asserted that from the incoherent, knee-jerk and dismissive statement issued by the APC leadership in the senate on Thursday, it was clear that it was jittery that an open and detailed investigation into the allegation would further expose the perpetrators and how money was allegedly shared among APC lawmakers. Read more
Uzodimma, Oramah meet, explore opportunities for $1.5b investment in Imo (ThisDay)
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has met with the President of the Africa Export Import Bank (Afreximbank), Prof. Benedict Oramah in Cairo, Egypt, where the duo discussed in details the investment potentials of Imo State.
During his inauguration for a second term in office early this year, Uzodimma had assured that he would intensify efforts at exploring avenues that would make the abundant human and natural resources in Imo State exploitable.
A statement from the Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the Governor, Oguwike Nwachuku, stated that the Governor was passionate about turning the huge arable land, gas deposits and other abundant natural resources in Imo State into sources of revenue generation for the State and employment opportunities for the unemployed youth demography. Read more
NIJ mourns as staff member dies (Punch)
The Nigerian Institute of Journalism has mourned the death of one of its longest serving staff members, Mrs Bola Ala.
Late Ala, who died on Thursday, February 29, 2024, was one of the longest serving and Senior Executive Officers (Accounts) of the institution, according to a statement by the mono-technic spokesperson, Tolulope Ojemuyiwa.
While speaking at the Nights of Tributes on Thursday, at the school’s auditorium in Ogba, Lagos, the NIJ Provost, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, said the deceased would be greatly missed as a humble mother figure to all. Read more
Our disruptive approach turning Enugu fortunes around, Gov Mbah says at London lecture (Vanguard)
Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, says only radical thinking and creative approach to governance, such as adopted by his administration, could stimulate rapid economic development in the 36 states of Nigeria, given the nation’s brand of presidential federalism, which excessively vests the nation’s revenues in the centre, thereby hindering bold social and economic development.
The governor stated this during a public lecture entitled “Enugu State, Nigeria: New Political Leadership; Bold Economic Vision – Spotlight on the Health and Education Strategies” which he delivered at the London School of Economics, LSE, Thursday evening.
Mbah maintained that the exigencies of the times in Nigeria required bold and unusual solutions that come from thinking outside the box, hence his administration’s ambitious economic vision and the radical policies and programmes being executed in health, education, security, water, and road infrastructure. Read more
Abortion funds at Olivia Rodrigo concerts no longer allowed to distribute contraceptives (Variety)
Abortion organizations hosted at Olivia Rodrigo‘s “Guts” tour will no longer be distributing emergency contraceptives at the singer’s concerts.
Organizers tell Variety that after widespread media attention, local abortion funds were told Thursday afternoon that they were no longer allowed to hand out free emergency birth control pills and other reproductive health resources at the concerts.
According to three sources at local abortion funds, that decision came from Rodrigo’s team and was relayed over Slack by the National Network of Abortion Funds, which partnered with the pop star to set up booths at each of her North American tour stops. Jade Hurley, the communications manager for the DC Abortion Fund, says the NNAF said Rodrigo’s team preferred they no longer pass out lubrication, condoms and Plan B because “children are present at the concerts.” Read more
Baywatch star Nicole Eggert shaves her head after cancer diagnosis with help from daughter (Hello!)
Nicole Eggert delivered a brave update on her cancer journey on Thursday when she shaved her head
In a video posted on Instagram, the Baywatch alum picked up her clippers and began shaving her hair off to the Beastie Boys’ song, “Fight For Your Right”.
Nicole appeared upbeat and smiling as she got rid of her locks. Her daughter, Keegan, 12, helped her mom by shaving the parts at the back of her head where she couldn’t reach. Read more
T.I. jokes about “new age” trap rappers in Comic View stand-up set (HipHop DX)
T.I. has flexed his comedy chops during an appearance on BET’s revived Comic View, humorously poking fun at “new age” trap rappers.
In a clip circulating on social media, the Atlanta rap legend playfully compares today’s trap music stars with trailblazers like himself, Jeezy and Yo Gotti.
“Listen, the first generation of trap music — people like me, Jeezy, Yo Gotti — we were rapping about things we had done, got away with and moved on,” he said. Read more
Daryl Hannah was working on a John Candy “love story” when he died (People)
Daryl Hannah is remembering her late costar John Candy — and their project that could have been.
“What a great man,” she tells PEOPLE when asked about the March 4 anniversary of his death. “He was just so lovely.”
On the set of 1984’s Splash, directed by Ron Howard and co-starring Tom Hanks, Hannah, 63, recalls Candy as “such a beam of warmth and light and humor, just wonderful. I just loved him.” Read more
Squid Game actor O Yeong-Su convicted of sexual harassment (Standard)
Golden Globe winning Squid Game actor O Yeong-Su has been given an eight month suspended prison sentence after being convicted of sexual harassment.
The 79-year-old South Korean, best known for playing Oh Il-nam in the Netflix series, was charged in 2022 with sexually assaulting a woman twice.
Mr O had denied the claims, which date back to 2017, and has seven days to appeal the verdict – which AFP reports that he intends on doing. Read more
Billie Piper says she resents being asked about Laurence Fox (RTE)
Billie Piper has spoken about how she deals with her ex-husband Laurence Fox’s controversial comments.
The Doctor Who actress was married to actor turned political campaigner Fox from 2007 until 2016 and they have two sons together, Winston and Eugene.
She told British Vogue that she “had to make some choices and a divorce speaks for itself” and that his family, including his sister Lydia Fox and her husband Richard Ayoade “might have a more interesting take” on him. Read more
Fani Willis accepts resignation of deputy Nathan Wade in Trump Georgia case (Guardian)
The Fulton county district attorney on Friday formally accepted the resignation of her top deputy with whom she had a romantic relationship, ensuring she would continue to prosecute the criminal case against Donald Trump over efforts to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia.
The move by Fani Willis came shortly after the judge overseeing the case ruled that the relationship had created enough of a distraction that either Willis or the deputy, Nathan Wade, needed to step down.
The choice to step down was straightforward and expected, and Wade submitted his resignation to allow Willis to stay on as lead prosecutor against Trump and dozens of allies indicted on charges of violating Georgia’s state racketeering statute. Read more
Swiatek dismantles Kostyuk to reach Indian Wells final (StraitsTimes)
Top seed Iga Swiatek produced a near-flawless performance to cruise past Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk 6-2 6-1 and into the Indian Wells final on Friday, remaining on track for her second title of the year.
The 22-year-old Pole could take on the U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff in an intriguing title clash if the third-seeded American can beat ninth seed Maria Sakkari of Greece in the second semi-final later.
“For sure I’m happy with the performance. I think it was the cleanest match I played here. It’s already a great tournament,” Swiatek said. Read more
Team-mate relationships in women’s football “challenging but not inappropriate” – Asante (BBC)
Relationships between team-mates can be “challenging but not inappropriate,” says ex-England defender Anita Asante.
Chelsea boss Emma Hayes said on Thursday that player-coach relationships and player-to-player relationships are inappropriate.
Hayes also said relationships between team-mates can be hard for a coach to navigate.
“I just don’t think it [player-to-player relationships] has any relevance to this issue at hand,” Asante said. Read more
Luton Town Osho pulls out of Nigeria’s friendlies against Ghana, Mali (ThisDay)
Nigeria’s interim coach George Finidi will not be able to count on the services of Gabriel Osho for the national team’s upcoming friendlies against Ghana’s Black Stars and Mali’s Eagles later this month.
Osho did not receive the medical all-clear to link up with the Nigeria squad for the first time at their training camp in Marrakesh, Morocco next week.
The former Reading development squad skipper would be devastated as he had been hoping to make his debut for Nigeria’s senior national team in March, nine years after he was dropped from the Golden Eaglets squad to the 2015 Fifa U17 World Cup. Read more
Arsenal offer £60m as Mikel Arteta targets summer transfer for former player (Football365)
Arsenal are lining up a deal for Real Madrid midfielder Brahim Diaz ahead of the summer transfer window, according to reports.
The Gunners are currently having a brilliant season with Mikel Arteta leading them to first place in the Premier League with ten matches to play.
Their penalty shootout victory over Porto in the last-16 of the Champions League has seen Arsenal move into the final eight of the competition, where they will face Bayern Munich. Read more
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk regrets provocative comments and admits: “I shouldn’t have said that” (Mirror)
Virgil van Dijk admits he regrets what he said in the aftermath of Liverpool’s Carabao Cup final win over Chelsea.
Van Dijk scored the winner deep into injury-time at Wembley to give the Reds a hard-earned trophy. The Dutchman was the man of the moment and Liverpool posted a short clip on social media which showed Van Dijk proclaiming: “they thought I was finished” followed by a knowing shrug.
The snappy line was a response to those who questioned the towering centre-back during a difficult 2022/23 season in which Liverpool could only finish fifth in the Premier League. Now he’s back at the top of his game and with the benefit of hindsight, Van Dijk wishes he hadn’t said the line, which has been viewed 1.5m on Twitter. Read more
PGA Tour player directors encouraged to meet with LIV backers (ESPN)
Jordan Spieth and Adam Scott said the player directors on the PGA Tour board are being encouraged to meet with the Saudi Arabia wealth fund leader behind LIV Golf, a sign that could spark talks of an investment.
Golfweek reported Friday evening a meeting could happen as soon as Monday, the day after The Players Championship. It cited two sources who said it was unclear if Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of the Public Investment Fund, had committed to the meeting.
“I’m not sure that I can say much more other than we’re being encouraged to potentially meet with them,” Spieth said, adding that it was “probably a good thing that the entire board should if there’s going to be any potential for a negotiation.” Read more