Rest in peace Sonny Okosuns

This goes out to a very great Nigerian musician Sonny Okosuns who died in the US at the weekend. He was aged 61 years. He died from colon cancer. Okosuns music blessed me as a young chap growing up in the 80s and he was a great voice that rose up against Apartheid in South Africa. He performed during Nelson Mandela's inauguration as President of South Africa in 1996, it was a result of the recognition of his immense work for that nation. He was popularly called Ozzidi King

Rest in peace compatriot. We shall never forget you.

South Africa: Why?

O why Africa do you kill your own?

I cry when I see people whose freedom was fought for by the whole of Africa now turning against people who fought for them.

O foolish Bantus, when will you learn not to bite the fingers that fed you when you were in need?

Thieving South Africans

The manner in which poor South Africans are taking their anger is escalating as a BBC report yesterday says that President Thabo Mbeki's house has been burgled by yet to be identified assailants. Last week the Nigerian Parliament called for an investigation into how it is that an incresing number of Nigerians are being robbed on arriving at South Africa's airports. See story here

I'm sure the Rainbow nation must be very embarrassed by these incidents coming at a time when it is working towrds hosting a successful World Cup in 2010.

Wenger after Martins

Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger is after Naija striker Obafemi Martins but will it come to pass? There have always been rumours aout MArtins moving to The Emirates. I HOPE IT FINALLY COMES TO THE LIGHT OF DAY THIS TIME. See a link to the original story here

Young Journalist of the Year Award

Photo: Myself(left) and Segun Adeoye, Young Journalist 2007 in the office at TELL, May 1, 2008.

SEGUN ADEOYE EMERGES WINNER, YOUNG JOURNALIST AWARDS
Thursday 27th March 2008, Segun Adeoye of Tell Magazine emerged as the young Journalist for the year 2007. This was made known at the award presentation ceremony of the 2nd Young Journalist Awards held at the Conference hall, LTV ground, Agindingbi, Ikeja, Lagos .
Segun Adeoye, who topped the scoring sheet from the results received from the panel of judges, carted home the star prize of a brand new Laptop computer and an award plaque. The stories that won him the award are attached.
Speaking at the award presentation, Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin, Sunday Editor of the Nation Newspaper who was Chair of the Award presentation ceremony said “the Young Journalist Awards is to encourage young journalists to take their job more seriously.”
Mr. Deji Elumoye, NUJ Lagos council Vice Chairman stood in for the council Chairman as Guest of honour. Other special guests at the ceremony included Ms. Joke Kujenya, Mr. Chido Onumah, Mr. Lanre Arogundade amongst a host of other journalists. According to Mr. Kingsley Obom-Egbulem, a member of the panel of judges, “the reports by the entrants were really very challenging and of very high standard”.
Other prizes awarded at the ceremony included a multi-purpose Ericsson phone, presented to Toyosi Ogunseye of News star Newspaper; 1st runner up and a digital camera to Rafiu Ajakaye of Daily Independent Newspaper; 2nd runner up as well as consolation prizes to other nominees.
The Young Journalist Awards is an initiative of Media Career Services (MCS), a media training and research organization devoted to promoting excellence in media practice in Nigeria .
The 2nd Young Journalist Awards was supported by Posterity Media Nigeria, Journalist Against AIDS, JAAIDS, Nigeria , International Press Centre, IPC, and an anonymous donor.
Media Career Services, which has over the years organized several trainings for the development of journalists in the country, is the publisher of STOP PRESS; the career moulding newsletter for journalists in Nigeria , amongst other journalism career enhancing publications.

Ja Rule at Ghana Music Awards

It was the 9th Ghana Music Awards on Friday 25 April and rapper Ja Rule was in Accra to perform where he also recieved an award for his contributions to the world of entertainment. He wowed the audience with his delivery of his hit songs. Watch video below.Nigeria's P Square were also honoured on the night with the Best African Act. They beat Kenya's Nameless and fellow Nigerian 2Face to the award.