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The elegant stallion, Onyeka Onwenu, attains the biblical age of 70. Columnist Chido Nwakanma pays a fitting tribute to a Nigerian media, arts, and entertainment icon.

Congratulations to Onyeka Onwenu on attaining the Biblical three score and ten.

More than congratulations, however, I write to thank Onyeka Onwenu for happening in our lifetime. It has been 42 years since Onyeka Onwenu burst into our lives on vinyl and tube.

Happy birthday, Her Father’s Daughter

She is the investigative reporter at the Nigerian Television Authority that reported on “A Squandering of Riches”. It traced the paths of the wastage of Nigeria’s resources in the oil fields and boardrooms. The squandering of our riches is still the story.

Onyeka Onwenu, daughter of Nigeria and Igboland, has played excellently on the Nigerian media, arts, and entertainment stages. She has been an advocate for women’s rights and served in politics and government.

She lit up Nollywood with excellent performances in various roles and films. She valiantly lost to patriarchy and dirt as she sought grassroots political office.

One of the most poignant memories I have of Onyeka Onwenu happened in 1987. I was the young Regional Correspondent for THISWEEK magazine in Port Harcourt. Onyeka the performer dazzled at the Civic Centre. Then she performed her all-time best “One Love”.

The hall bubbled and bubbled. People left their seats. It was standing room only.

I still feel the energy and love in that hall.

All of us on social media are celebrating her ahead of her actual birth date.

Understandably.

Onyeka Onwenu was born on 31 January 1952. She is a singer/songwriter, actress, human rights activist, social activist, journalist, politician, and former X Factor series judge.

The elegant stallion

The Nigerian press used the oxymoron Elegant Stallion to describe her. It resonated because of her attributes of strength, elegance and seeming male qualities.

Onyeka served as chair of the Imo State Council for Arts and Culture and from 2013 as Executive Director/CEO of the National Centre for Women Development.

As an employee of the NTA, Onwenu made an impact as a newsreader and reporter. In 1984, she wrote and presented the internationally acclaimed BBC/NTA documentary Nigeria, A Squandering of Riches which became the definitive film about corruption in Nigeria as well as the intractable Niger Delta agitation for resource control and campaign against environmental degradation in the oil rich region of Nigeria.

Born a broadcaster

A former member on the board of the NTA, she has also worked as a TV presenter, hosting the shows Contact (1988) and Who’s On? (1993) both on NTA Network, her Wikipedia entry notes.

Onyeka graduated BA in International Relations and Communication from the Ivy-League Wellesley College, Massachusetts, and obtained an MA in Media Studies from The New School for Social Research, New York. She worked for the United Nations as a tour guide before returning to Nigeria in 1980 to complete her mandatory one-year national service with the NTA.

Nigerians know her mostly for music. Her contributions are outstanding.

Hear Wikipedia, again: “Originally a secular artist, Onwenu made the transition to gospel music in the 90s, and most of her songs are self-penned. She continues to write and sing about issues such as health (HIV/AIDS), peace and mutual coexistence, respect for women rights, and the plight of children. She began her music career in 1981 while still working with the NTA, releasing the album For the Love of You, a pop album that featured an orchestral cover of Johnny Nash’s “Hold Me Tight”, and her second album Endless Life was produced by Sonny Okosun. Both records were released on the EMI label.

Onwenu’s first album with Polygram, In The Morning Light, was released in 1984. Recorded in London, it featured the track “Masterplan” written by close friend Tyna Onwudiwe who had previously contributed to Onwenu’s BBC documentary and subsequently sang back-up vocals on the album. After her fourth release, 1986’s One Love which contained an updated version of the song “(In the) Morning Light, Onwenu collaborated with veteran jùjú artist Sunny Ade on the track “Madawolohun (Let Them Say)” which appeared in 1988’s Dancing In The Sun. This was the first of three songs the pair worked on together; the other two – “Choices” and “Wait For Me” – centred on family planning, and were endorsed by the Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria who used “Choices” in their PSA.

Onwenu’s final release on Polygram was dedicated to Winnie Mandela, the subject of a song of the same name which Onwenu performed live when Nelson Mandela and his wife visited Nigeria in 1990 following his release from prison.

Onwenu diverted to Benson and Hedges Music in 1992 and released the self-titled Onyeka!, her only album with the label, after which she made the transition to Christian/gospel music. Her latest collection, “Inspiration for Change,” focused on the need for an attitudinal change in Nigeria.

She is in partnership with Paris-based La Cave Musik, headed by a Nigerian cultural entrepreneur, Onyeka Nwelue and a UK-based Jungle Entertainment Ventures, headed by musicologist David Evans-Uhegbu. La Cave Musik is set to release her collection titled “Rebirth of a Legend”. In recognition of her contribution to music and arts in Nigeria, she has been celebrated by professionals like Mahmood Ali-Balogun, Laolu Akins, Charles O’Tudor, and former PMAN president Tony Okoroji among others in the arts industry in Nigeria.

In 2013, Onwenu served as one of the three judges on X Factor Nigeria.”

As Onyeka attains the biblical age of 70, she owes no one, neither Ekwe nor any other.

A Nollywood Personality

She is also a Nollywood personality. Note that a personality has passed the level of a star! “Onwenu’s first movie role was as Joke, a childless woman who adopts an abandoned baby in Zik Zulu Okafor’s Nightmare. She has since featured in numerous Nollywood movies, and in 2006 she won the African Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance in the movie “Widow’s Cot”. Then she was also nominated that same year for African Movie Academy Award for “Best Actress in a Leading Role” in the movie “Rising Moon”. She was in the movie Half of a Yellow Sun with Chiwetel Ejiofor and Thandiwe Newton, and Lion Heart (2018).”

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As Onyeka attains a biblical 70, we can look back at her musical corpus which is rich and variegated.

Which Onyeka Onwenu song touched you the most? Which one moves you even now? “You and 1” was the entry song for my wedding reception. I loved it that much.

Then there is Ekwe. My friend Chukwuma Nwokoh loved its insouciance yet calmness in our undergraduate days. Chukwuma says now: “My favorite Onyeka song is “You and I”. Ekwe is next. Loved and infatuated on her the first time I saw her picture because of her low cut then.”

I also consider “Bia Nulu” evergreen. Bia Nulu marked her passage into gospel music. Do you remember “Iyogogo” that reminds me of village life? Or her praise song to mothers, “Ochie Dike”? Her collabo with Phyno on Ochie Dike refreshed it and made it contemporary.

Friend, which Onyeka Onwenu song or performance is your favorite? It is her 70th, so tell her.

Thank you for Onyeka Onwenu in our lifetime.

Happy Birthday, Ada Nnaya, Ada Igbo, Ada Nigeria. HBD Onyeoma.

“After the death of my father, we were faced with several challenges including paying my school fees and my mother was faced with the difficulties of raising stipends to pay my school fees and that of my brother so, at the age of sixteen, I came around Bureh beach where I joined the Surfer club to learn the sports from the male surfers in the club; but it wasn’t a smooth sailing run for me, I recall the first time I tried to learn the sports, I drowned gulping some gallons of water, I was rescued thereafter,  my colleagues recused me”.

I stopped for a while because I was scared to death, but after some time, my passion and desire to succeed and create a legacy as the only Female surfer in my country Sierra Leone encouraged me to continue to learn the sports and over the years, I have built my self-confidence, learning lots of tricks in the sports with loads of experience and today I am glad to say that I have started sharing my experience with some kids around the vicinity.”

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“I am proud to be the only Female Surfer in my country Sierra Leone and I want to leave a mark of legacy through this sports.”

As Barcelona matches into the Anfield turf with a huge 3-goal cushion after beating Liverpool 3-0 in the first leg, all odds were that they would complete the job and make it to the final of this year’s UEFA Champions League.

But they were stunned by The Reds’ four unreplied goals which knocked them out of the Champions League and secured Liverpool a second successive final berth.

Meanwhile, footballlive.ng reported that before the match, Nigerian singer, Kcee, had promised to give one million naira to @mrchidozie (a die-hard Liverpool) on Twitter if his team wins. As it turns out, Barcelona lost and Liverpool won.

Having fulfilled the promise, the details of the transaction and what ensued earlier is attached below.

A fan with a social media (Instagram) username, yu.suf8987, has begged Emeka Okonkwo popularly known as E-money, a famous Nigerian billionaire, entrepreneur, investor, business tycoon and the chief executive officer (CEO) of Five Star Music, to accept him as his tailor even for only one day.

E-Money is the immediate younger brother to Nigerian famous musician Kcee. He is known to throw the cash. That is, he is philanthropic and has assisted a lot of people.

Writing on E-Money’s page, the fan wrote:

yu.suf8987 Uncle E-money please can I be your tailor, even if it’s just for one day. I know my life will change. 🙏🙏🙏

The fan knows that the billionaire businessman is a fashion freak, with him seen severally with designer clothes. Information has it that the billionaire’s clothes are made in the country. 

As the argument for or against teen actress, Regina Daniels, marrying billionaire businessman, 59-year-old Ned Nwoko from Delta State, her elder brother, who gave his name as Sweezeedaniels, on Monday, took to his social media page to blast those against his sister’s choice, calling them haters.

He said that love is a beautiful thing and wondered why his little sister had come under intense bashing from some Nigerians.

sweezeedaniels Love is a beautiful thing. So allow everyone have their choice and be happy. Why hate on my lil sis.  🖕 🖕 🖕 Haters.”

She wrote on her Instagram.

Meanwhile, rumour has it that the beautiful 19-year-old actress is already four months pregnant for the billionaire businessman.

While so many people doubted his commitment to give as promised, popular Nigerian musician, Wizkid, has asked fans following him on his Instagram account to drop their account details.

While wishing his fans a blessed week through his social media account, he urged them to drop their account details for a blessed week.

“God’s blessing is coming your way very soon. If you believe, say AMEN. -Drop your account details for some New Week blessings and you must be following –“

The response was massive as so many of his fans dropped their account details. However, we gathered that quite a number of them received token from the popular musician. We chatted with an instagram account holder with username: righollins_clothing_foot, who also sent his account details and he confirmed receiving in his diamond account with number 0046130285.

“It Does Happen To Men” Breaks The Myth

In a sane society, people would laugh over the perspective of domestic violence by a female against her male counterpart. In fact, to some people,  such a thing is more of an exception, and could not be contemplated. It sounds incredible and borders on the impossible. But in today’s world, is it?

Over the years, the issue of domestic violence has become a threat to the psyche of victims who may be spouses, irrespective of the legal or domiciliary status of the relationship in which it occurs. Physical and sexual assault accompanied by verbal intimidation and physical abuse is never accepted as a norm in any society. Yet, there are individuals who have suffered low esteem due to their inability to find a listening ear they can confide in, to explain or discuss their challenges.

However, women have enjoyed much publicity because of their assumed vulnerability to the overpowering strength of the man. Notwithstanding, there are also women whose violent and temperamental disposition has taken a bitter toll on the personality of a spouse who chooses not to retaliate, or hit a woman.

 It Does Happen To Men is a real-life diary of the day-to-day challenges a man went through in marriage. The author, James Mackie, encapsulates in realism the experience in the hands of a typical woman with an upending character that demeans the personality of a man. It cancels the general thought that men often do take advantage of the opposite sex, because of their assumed weakness.

It is a must-read for couples, singles, marriage counselors, scholars, and religious leaders, etc. You never can tell, someone out there may need to be saved from the horrors of domestic violence within the hallowed precincts of a family in your neighborhood.

“It Does Happen To Men” serves as a voice and provides a line of action to take when marital tides get rough and tough with uncertainties.

*Mackie is a professional life coach and a motivational speaker who is passionate in giving back to society. Watch out for an exclusive interview with the author.

Kylie Jenner Forbes is now officially the youngest self-made billionaire according recent Forbes release for list of billionaires, the youngest member of the famous Kardashian family, has over taken initial record set by Mark Zuckerberg, who at the age of 23 became the world’s’ youngest billionaire

Kylie, who became popular through reality TV show “Keeping Up with The Kardashians”, and gradually became a social media icon through her display of her cosmetic brand with her Kylie Cosmetics company a relatively company which that started in 2015.

In less than two years her company generated a stunning income of over $900 million in just two years from selling her products online as well expanding her range of cosmetics products which includes lipstick to different shades of makeup products, she has a huge follower-ship on social media, which is doing her business loads of good.

She is without no doubt, a role model to the youths across the globe who abuse the use of social media for non-profitable ventures. Today she sells her products online and uses the social media to link up with individuals and companies that would help boost her trade creating online stores she is without any doubt brave young woman have braved the odds to achieve an enviable success in business within a short period

If she continues to push her brand the way she does currently by the year 2025 she would be hitting the trillion-dollar mark.

If Nigerians think the that danger of yahoo boys, particularly as it affects women’s underwear, will abate so soon, they are mistaken as the desperate young men desirous of making quick money continue to look out for ways of soaking women’s pants with charms in order to use them for rituals.

It has been gathered that one Rachael Godwin, a physiotherapist with the National Orthopedic Hospital in Igbobi area of Lagos, has fallen victim to the yahoo boys’ menace. In this situation, it was a case of a dog eating the bone around his neck as her boyfriend identified as Olumide gave her a pair of pants laden with charms for money ritual.

Rachael, 32, recounted her ordeal when she was forced to wear the pants, leading to her loss of senses thus: “I met Olumide in January 2018 on a BRT vehicle that was travelling to Ikeja from Ikorodu. I work at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, as a physiotherapist.

 “We started talking and became close friends and lovers. He told me that he had gonorrhea and I treated him. I guess he must have hypnotised me such that I really didn’t know what I was doing. I gave him my entire savings; he even lodged at a hotel at Kosofe, Ketu, for four months and I paid the bill of N185, 000.

“He later took me to his father at Ikosi. They live in a very unhealthy environment, which made me to pity them and I offered to help. I rented a house for myself in November 2018 and he visited me in the house that same month,” she said

A distraught Rachael said that sometime in December 2018, Olumide visited her home and told her he intends to buy a Toyota Venza which he looked up on the internet and informed her it would cost N11.8 million. She explained that when she asked him how he would raise the money for the car, he requested that they should open a joint account for that purpose.

 “I used my land documents to get a loan and even promised to gather all I had in my account. My trouble started on December 14, 2018, when he came to my house and gave me one of my pants to wear. I refused to wear the pants because I was not comfortable with the request. He called one of my neighbours, Helen, who helped him to force me to wear the pants. After I was forced to wear the pants, I lost my senses and was taken to my mother’s house.

 “I was taken to Ibadan for treatment and I got better. I did not suspect him then. I kept relating with him. On December 31, 2018, I went to a church for thanksgiving. I was given some prayer points to be said at midnight.

 “While I was praying sometime in January, Olumide started shouting, ‘Stop praying, they have wired the money, it is only $2,000 from Alaska in the USA,” she said

She immediately alerted the police and he was arrested.

Speaking from his detention cell, Olumide denied the allegations leveled against him by Rachael. In his confessional statement, he reportedly stated that he was shocked to discover that the $2,000 he got from the United States amounted to only N750,000. He said he gave Helen N300, 000 and also gave part of the money to an unnamed man.

Confirming the arrest, the spokesperson of the state police command, CSP Chike Oti, said on the case was still being investigated at the command headquarters and that Olumide would be charged to court at the conclusion of investigation.