Mr Olumide's Blog .com |
- 10 Ways To Stop Cliques In Your Church
- Question of the day! Does anyone have an answer to this? | Mr Olumide's Blog
- Braless Blac Chyna steps out in orange | Mr Olumide's Blog
- Photos from DJ Olu' friend Chime's burial | Mr Olumide's Blog
- Super cute photo of Kim Kardashian and Saint West | Mr Olumide's Blog
- Blossom Chukwujekwu And Wife Maureen Celebrate First Wedding Anniversary | Mr Olumide's Blog
- I Bought 15 Cars, Built 4 Houses With My Human Parts Business - Suspect Confesses | Mr Olumide's Blog
- World’s Biggest Bank Robbery Foiled by Brazilian Police (pics)
- One Sure Way To Find Out Your Purpose In Life
- Always Make Out Time To Reinvent Your Relationship - Daddy Freeze | Mr Olumide's Blog
- Dakore Egbuson is stunning in new photo | Mr Olumide's Blog
- Evans’ Lawyer Accuses Police Of Extorting Over N50M, Other Valuables From Client | Mr Olumide's Blog
- Lai Mohammed says Buhari has diagnosed Nigeria’s problems and all will be well soon
- Poor Infrastructure was my Largest Obstacle – CEO Konga
- NYSC Member Empowers 35 Kids, Youths With New Skills
- One Sure Sign A Person Is A Mature Christian
- Photos From Audu Ogbe's Son's Wedding In Abuja
- 4 Surprising Tricks To Lose Weight While On Vacation
- PRAYER FOR TODAY
- Interesting Developments at The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment
- I Can Not marry A Poor man - Iyabo Ojo | Mr Olumide's Blog
- I Wish I Did Not Marry So Many Wives, But It Is My Destiny - Adebayo Salami | Mr Olumide's Blog
- To say our relationship is incredible, is an understatement - Iceberg Slim talks relationship and more | Mr Olumide's Blog
- More stunning photos from Yomi Casual and Grace Onuioha's Wedding | Mr Olumide's Blog
- I have no plans to leave music for comedy - Kiss Daniel | Mr Olumide's Blog
| 10 Ways To Stop Cliques In Your Church Posted: 15 Oct 2017 02:53 AM PDT  Too often, otherwise well-meaning believers stifle others from becoming healthy, contributing, loving members of the body of Christ, simply by being unaware of how they've formed cliques. It's good for church members to be close, but a close church can become a closed church -- and that's a problem.Here are 10 ways your church can stop cliques: 1. Be Aware of Nonverbal Cues That Separate Insiders from Outsiders My friend felt a nervous excitement when she signed up for the church women's retreat -- alone. It wasn't easy to do, but she reasoned that spending a weekend with other Christian women would allow her to meet badly needed friends and integrate more quickly into the life of her new church. Her confidence was short-lived. After Friday night dinner, she walked alone to the auditorium as other women strolled with friends, their happy chatter a reminder that she was an outsider. Oh well, at least I'll get a good seat, she thought, trying to stay positive in an uncomfortable situation. She walked toward the front and was shocked to see every seat taken, saved by the Bibles that women had placed there before dinner. She moved further back, only to find the same thing. The only seat open was a corner one on the very last row. Every Bible on every chair seemed to scream, "You aren't welcome here. We already have friends, and you aren't one of them". Of course, this was not the intent. Still, it was a memory she never forgot. 2. Model Inclusiveness from the Top My friend (the one who ended up sitting in the back corner) later became the Women's Ministry Director of a large, thriving church. Because she experienced first-hand how isolating church can be (even unintentionally), she made it her goal to model inclusivity. She not only talked about being welcoming but also modeled it, making sure every person -- whether on the leadership team or on the fringe -- felt equally valued and included. She prayed for those things, too. And guess what? God honored her heart and her prayers. In all the years she served as Women's Director, her ministry was marked by unity and love; in fact, the single most common observation newcomers made was "the women here are so loving and welcoming!" And no wonder, a clique-free church starts from the top. 3. Encourage Other-Centered Thinking and Acting Most churches have greeters. Many even set aside a minute or two during the worship service to greet those seated close by. While these things are good, they're just the start. It does no good if greeters aren't truly warm and friendly, or the welcome time leaves newcomers left standing alone. The key to making these things work is to be other-centered. Other-centered churches are made up of other-centered people. And here's the key: other-centered people actively look for others to include. Being other-centered is not a function of your personality; it's the fruit of your heart. Jesus was the ultimate other-centered person. He initiated conversation with the woman at the well; He saw Zacchaeus in the sycamore tree and invited him down to talk; He called Matthew to follow Him while Matthew was sitting at the tax booth. And even though Jesus had an inner circle of 12 disciples, their closeness never isolated people from Christ; instead, their closeness to Christ served to bring others close, too. 4. Stop Grumbling and Complaining in it's Tracks While most of us tend to think of cliques forming through bonds of relationships, cliques can also form through bonds of resentments. For example, get a small group of people together who are upset about the style of worship music their church sings, and you have a clique. Or a group who shares the same distaste for the pastor's style of preaching, or the youth pastor's ministry style, or the way the budget is allocated, or…you get the point. Cliques can form around common interests, but they can also form around common complaints. Want to know what happened to the clique that complained and grumbled about Moses? They were destroyed. Ouch. God doesn't mess around with cliques like this. 1 Corinthians 10:10 warns us against becoming a part of a clique who complains: "And do not grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer." 5. Expand Volunteer Base In most churches, 10 percent of the people do 90 percent of the work. Not only is this profoundly unhealthy (not to mention, unbiblical), but it also fosters division between those who do and those who don't. This division is fertile soil for cliques to grow. Every church can make sure that it has ample opportunity for people to contribute by using their gifts. It must also be certain that opportunities to serve are easily accessed by folks who aren't already involved and "in the know". When people can't break into a church's inner circle -- or don't know how -- they feel marginalized. Marginalized people never stay. But when a church expands its volunteer base, it expands its capacity to be a healthy, vibrant, clique-free place to worship Christ. 6. Don't Show Favoritism It's natural to gravitate toward people like us, or people we deem "worthy" of us. But God warns His body not to show favoritism. James 2:1 says, "My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism." Wow! This is not a suggestion -- it's an outright command. Favoritism comes in various forms in today's culture, not all of them obvious; for instance, church programs might favor married couples over singles or divorced folks. Other factors like clothing style, whether or not someone has tattoos, race, ethnicity, socio-economic levels, and education can affect whether or not someone is included or excluded. God's kingdom is for everyone. Christ's church is not simply a place for people we deem acceptable; His church is a place where people can be accepted. Church should be the ultimate clique-free zone. 7. Make Sure Some Ministries Have an Open Door Policy Years ago my husband became the teaching pastor of a large church. We made a mid-year move -- November to be exact. Eager to meet friends, I inquired about joining a women's Bible study, only to find out I would need to wait until January to begin; in fact, there was not a single group or ministry I could join mid-session. I remember thinking that the women's ministry leader didn't seem to consider how difficult her policy made it for a new person to integrate into life of the church, not to mention make friends. But then again, she already had friends. She was already solidly settled into her comfortable church life. She was part of the clique, and didn't even realize it. Of course, not all ministries can -- or should -- have an open door policy. But some can, and some should. Every church needs a few options for folks to join at any point; otherwise, the church is unknowingly creating a culture of cliques. 8. Don't Use Insider Language As a speaker, I travel across the country speaking to churches of all stripes. I've noticed a common thread between groups who seem particularly clique-free and those who aren't: their word choices. And it's not the word choices you might think. For instance, when someone says, "to sign up for XYZ, see Sally", they're implying that everyone knows Sally. Of course, people in the church clique know Sally, but what about everyone else? What about the guest the church is trying to reach? Or the person who attends church occasionally? Churches also unintentionally perpetuate cliques by what they name their ministries. Years ago, my mom was involved in a church group called BYKOTA, which stood for "Be ye kind, one to another". Without knowing it, the very name these women chose created an "in" group and an "out" group. Who else would possibly know what BYKOTA stood for, except the women who were in the group? 9. Invite Others in This one might seem obvious. But reality tells us that too often churches and church members don't take the initiative to invite others in. Why? Because inviting others in takes us out. Out of our comfort zone. Out of our familiar routine. Out of our nice, safe, predictable life. But inviting others in also takes us out of a life of stale, powerless Christianity. The Leadership Pastor at our church likes to say, "Church gets exciting when people start inviting". Jesus said, "Go make disciples" (Matthew 28:18) He didn't say "stay in your safe little clique and hope others figure out how to follow Me". 10. Mix it Up Although we might like our small groups to stay the same, or our Sunday school class to be made up of people in our same life stage, it's good to reach beyond our boundaries and live life with people we might not otherwise choose. Not only does this prevent cliques, but it also opens the door to new growth possibilities for us as Christ-followers; for instance, if a group includes folks in different seasons of life, the older members can share their wisdom, and the younger members can share their zeal. If a serving team, worship team, or hospitality team is comprised of different types of members, the capacity to genuinely love and care for people from all walks of life is expanded. It's a win-win and a great way to prevent cliques. [written by Donna Jones]  culled from Olu famous Mr Olumide's Blog |
| Question of the day! Does anyone have an answer to this? | Mr Olumide's Blog Posted: 15 Oct 2017 02:27 AM PDT   culled from MPNB Mr Olumide's Blog |
| Braless Blac Chyna steps out in orange | Mr Olumide's Blog Posted: 15 Oct 2017 01:57 AM PDT |
| Photos from DJ Olu' friend Chime's burial | Mr Olumide's Blog Posted: 15 Oct 2017 01:57 AM PDT |
| Super cute photo of Kim Kardashian and Saint West | Mr Olumide's Blog Posted: 15 Oct 2017 01:57 AM PDT   culled from MPNB Mr Olumide's Blog |
| Blossom Chukwujekwu And Wife Maureen Celebrate First Wedding Anniversary | Mr Olumide's Blog Posted: 15 Oct 2017 01:57 AM PDT  Nollywood actor Blossom Chukwujekwu and his wife, Maureen, are celebrating their first wedding anniversary today October 15th. I once met an Aunty of B on my first Trip to meet his Parents officially. She looked at me and said in Igbo "I always wondered what the woman that would win the heart of this man would look like" and I asked why and she said also in Igbo "This Man U see here has the rarest and the best kind of heart, God combined the heart of his Mum and Dad and gave it to him. Fast forward to 1 Year Later and I will tell you first hand wat I have learnt from B - I have grown to Never intentionally make an Enemy - I have grown to Never Gossip about anyone Good or bad - I have learnt to Give, Give and Give - I have Learnt to Love God and still be super Crazy n Fly - I have learnt to be Patient (this was hard but he was patient to put me tru it) - I have learnt to try to make peace and give Peace - I have learnt that I am beautiful, fruitful and Solid - I have learnt How to give Love and never Hate Regardless of the situation - I have learnt the value of Friendship - I have learnt Positivity - I have learnt that Loyalty is Key - I have learnt how Powerful my tongue is - I have learnt to have a longer temper even tho sometimes I still want to bring down the roof? - I have learnt how strong silence is - I have learnt to forgive and accept People the way they are Oh, I can go on and on cos it's a Very Long list. Am Amazed at how I got so Lucky. 1 Year Later, and I still have butterflies everytime I See You. Happy Anniversary to Us Baby?? #1YearDown99ToGo??  culled from MPNB Mr Olumide's Blog |
| Posted: 15 Oct 2017 01:57 AM PDT  A 67-year old suspected ritualist have been arrested by the Ogun state police command. The man, who specializes in buying and using human parts for rituals, was arrested alongside 2 members of his gang. "I am a farmer and an herbalist. We were doing a foundation in Itoko where I wanted to build a house; there. We saw these bones and we packed them in a bag and that is all. However, when we wanted to do money ritual, he brought a dry skull for the purpose. What we did was to grind the skull and add other ingredients, including a white dove and local soap. It has been up to 20 years since I have been in the business. I don't use human parts all the time. I only do once in a while. I have built four houses and bought up to 15 vehicles since 1980 when I started this business" he said 32-year-old Sodipo, the man's accomplice said he was unaware of his activities. "I am a farmer. I know baba (Aremu) to be an herbalist, because he usually comes to see my landlord. I also trained as an herbalist. Someone came to me requesting for money ritual and I directed him to baba who negotiated and collected N75, 000 from the client but the ritual failed. The man called me to complain and I asked him to collect his money. He wasn't ready to collect the money, he wanted it repeated but it failed again. I didn't know anything about the skull. I didn't take any skull to him. I only specialized in working for petty traders to boost their trade". Adebayo Mudasiru and Rashid Abass, the second syndicates said they bought human parts for N12, 000. "They specialised in killing people for the purpose of using human parts for rituals. A team of Federal SARS sighted two men on motorcycle with a suspicious bag and were forced to stop and be searched. Recovered from their bag were fresh and dry human parts' the police boss said 36-year-old Mudasiru who claimed to be an Islamic cleric, said : "We were coming from Itoku to buy some of the ingredients. We didn't buy the human flesh at Itoku. We collected them from someone in Ijemo area of the town. We were aware of the contents. Human parts are used for money rituals. We actually wanted to use them for ourselves, to draw people's attention to us and we have been in this job for about five years. We bought the parts from a cleric; the teeth are not costly. I don't know how many but we bought them for N2, 000; we bought all the human parts, including the skull and flesh, for N12, 000. We went to an Islamic school in Ijaye area of Abeokuta and we have been doing this, though we didn't learn this in the Islamic school. What we do is to burn the human parts, mix the charred remains with local soap and snail water and use it to bath. We haven't done it before but that is what we were taught. We were taught to mix lizard, human parts, snail water and other ingredients, we don't really know how the charms function but that is how we were taught" he said His accomplice, 33-year-old Abass, said: "It is the person who gave us the ingredients that gave us the human parts. He is the one who taught us the way to use them and it is for money ritual. It is the same day we collected it that we were arrested".  culled from MPNB Mr Olumide's Blog |
| World’s Biggest Bank Robbery Foiled by Brazilian Police (pics) Posted: 15 Oct 2017 01:48 AM PDT  Like seriously? How did they do it? The thieves hoped to steal up to £250m, police said, and planned to carry out the raid this weekend but luck failed them. Several bullet-proof cars, suspected of having been prepared as getaway vehicles, have been impounded as part of the police operation. "This would have been the biggest bank robbery in the world," chief investigator Fabio Pinheiro Lopes told the Guardian. "They are an extremely dangerous and organised gang with a long history, including some violent crimes like homicide. If you look at their ages most are above 35 – well above the age of your average Brazilian criminal," he added. The gang are understood to have invested at least £750,000 to fund the construction of the tunnel and other logistics. Among those arrested is a lady who used a false name to rent the house where the tunnel began. Suspicions were aroused when police in the north of the city were alerted to the construction of an unusually luxurious house. It turned out to be the gang's temporary headquarters. Undercover officers rented a neighbouring building and monitored communications and movements. Police say the gang's leader was Alceu Ceu Gomes Nogueira, 35. He is also suspected of having been involved in an attack on cash deposits in Paraguay in April, when nearly £10 million was stolen and a police officer was killed in a long gun battle. Sao Paulo police said that he told them he worked as a farmer and had no connection with the robbery. Had the plot succeeded, it would have dwarfed Brazil's previous biggest heist, when thieves made off with 3.5 tonnes of cash, worth £35 million, from a regional office of the Brazilian central bank in the city of Fortaleza in 2005. On that occasion, a tunnel was also built from a rented home near by.It is believed that Nogueira is heavily involved with a notorious gang called the PCC (First Command of the Capital). It is believed that he commanded a prison riot in 2006 at the behest of the PCC, the same year the gang mounted a series of bloody attacks which brought São Paulo to its knees. Another alleged accomplice is Marcos Paulo Chini, 44. He was serving a jail sentence in the northern state of Maranhao after being convicted for his part in a bank robbery in 2015. In May this year he disappeared while he was temporarily released for a Mother's Day visit. 12 of the 14 people arrested have previous convictions, including murder, robbery, drug trafficking, and illegal possession of weapons. The tunnel was high enough for a person to stand inside, and supported with metal and wooden beams. Rail tracks had been laid to transport the banknotes. Police said that they had also seized construction materials and workers' clothes that were scattered throughout the area. Frozen food to provide for a large team of labourers was discovered.   Police have yet to ascertain whether the two operations are connected. Notorious criminals in action!  culled from Olu famous Mr Olumide's Blog |
| One Sure Way To Find Out Your Purpose In Life Posted: 15 Oct 2017 01:48 AM PDT  That might be the easiest or the most difficult question you will ever ask, and the reasons for that are pretty obvious. The consequences of that decision are far reaching, having the potential to affect your quality of life, level of fulfillment and how you will be remembered long after you're gone. No pressure. You've no doubt read lots of books and articles on finding and following your passion and purpose. You've probably also tried a few different things; college degrees, careers, mission trips, volunteer activities all in a bid to try to figure it out. I have, too, and I have come to one conclusion: My purpose is found in the place of passionate, daily pursuit of God. You see, I grew up seeing my mother pursue God with all her heart. She was all my siblings and I had as we had lost my father months before I was ever born. My mother was my mentor. I saw her passion for God. More importantly, I saw that while things were difficult from time to time, we always made it through and difficult times did not stop her from being a blessing to others and teaching and encouraging God's people. I wanted that. So I began to pray. I remember one week in my first year in college when I prayed so intently and passionately for God to show me my purpose. I wanted to know in clear terms what His plans for my life were. What I would do and in what way I would touch lives. The answer came in a matter of days and it wasn't what I was expecting. As a matter of fact, God sent someone to deliver the message, someone in another city whom I wasn't even close to and hadn't seen for months. The Lord told me 'Don't worry about purpose. Simply follow me and do whatever I say to do per time." That was the day my perspective changed. I believe that purpose is not something you find at the top of a mountain or in the midst of a strange community of people. Purpose is your journey through life, with God. It is the stops and starts, the winding path that builds you up and fulfills God's ultimate plan of which you are a part. Following that path will mean you leave an indelible impact on your sphere of influence no matter how large or small that is. So rest easy. If you're daily following the Lord, doing His will, walking with Him in the little details of life and seeking His face in everything, He will take you through the path He has destined for you. The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him. Psalm 37:23 (NIV) He will give you direction and tell you what's next as long as you're listening and tuning into Him. If you hear nothing for long periods of time (and that will happen) trust the process; keep on working out the last instruction He gave you. Do what your hands find to do and do it diligently. He will never lead you astray. Okay. This sounds simple and easy, you might say. Simple, yes, but never easy. Why? Because we get distracted! We take detours, doubt His love, retreat in fear, follow plans we conjured up for ourselves or worse still get caught up in comparing our life with others or following paths laid out for us by other people. That's what really makes it difficult. That's what messes things up and makes us tired and question whether we were made with a purpose or not. Your purpose is to do His will and follow Him every step of the way, wherever He takes you. The journey might take you through the pulpit, behind a mahogany desk on Wall Street or through the dusty streets of a rural community; but one thing is sure, wherever you go your heart will be full. So trust God. Trust His process and plans for you. Seek Him with all your heart and watch Him use you like He really wants to. [written by Remi Roy]  culled from Olu famous Mr Olumide's Blog |
| Always Make Out Time To Reinvent Your Relationship - Daddy Freeze | Mr Olumide's Blog Posted: 15 Oct 2017 01:27 AM PDT  OAP Daddy Freeze is definitely enjoying his relationship with his 'bae.' The couple, looked cozy in new loved up photos shared on Daddy Freeze' IG page. He captioned the photos:
  culled from MPNB Mr Olumide's Blog |
| Dakore Egbuson is stunning in new photo | Mr Olumide's Blog Posted: 15 Oct 2017 01:27 AM PDT  The actress and mum of two wowed in a new photo shared yesterday for her birthday. She captioned the photo: Thank you Lord for this day of my birth. For your constant love, guidance and support...For the work of my hands and my precious family..For my friends and fans that show me nothing but love ❤️ I am grateful and remain expectant for your blessings.  culled from MPNB Mr Olumide's Blog |
| Evans’ Lawyer Accuses Police Of Extorting Over N50M, Other Valuables From Client | Mr Olumide's Blog Posted: 15 Oct 2017 01:27 AM PDT  According to Premium Times, the lawyer, Olukoya Ogungbeje, petitioned the Police Service Commission on Friday. The petition captioned reads in part: "For the avoidance of doubt, it is our secured brief that in the course of investigating our client while being detained, the following under-listed items were forcefully and corruptly extorted from our client: 1. The sum of N50 million cash. 2. Another sum of N5 million sent by our client's wife as pressured by the above policemen. 3. 25 Mack Trucks forcefully taken but not listed as exhibits in the ongoing criminal trial of our client. 4. Brigade wristwatch worth $117,000 5. Pendant cross worth $70,000. 6. Necklace worth $25,000 7. Virtu Phone worth $30,000. 8. Virtu Signature Phone $17,000. 9. $10,000 cash extorted by ASP Phillip Rieninwa. 10. 5 Pieces of Saphono Rucci Diamond Rings worth $100,000 11. Lexus 470 Jeep. 12. Grand Cherokee Jeep. 13. L 400 Mitsubishi Bus. 14. Toyota Highlander (Gold Colour). 15. 85 Inches Samsung Television set worth N6.5million amongst others. The lawyers added that, "our client also confided in us that one (Amaka Offor) his girlfriend was sexually molested and abused," the petition read. The petition urged the Police Service Commission to conduct an investigation into the incident and invoke appropriate sanctions including dismissal against the culpable police officers. "Sir, you would agree with us that these allegations are too weighty to be ignored by any right-thinking Nigerian. We are using this medium as our own way of galvanizing institutional sanity, cleansing and reform in the Nigeria Police Force as an institution. As we speak, the brother in law and other relations of our client are still being detained and tortured without being arraigned before a Court of law," the petition added.  culled from MPNB Mr Olumide's Blog |
| Lai Mohammed says Buhari has diagnosed Nigeria’s problems and all will be well soon Posted: 15 Oct 2017 01:23 AM PDT  Imagine you were the spokesman of the opposition party, what would be your assessment of this government? Off course you don't expect me to answer that question! I can tell you that if I were the spokesperson of the PDP today, I will do what I did as the spokesperson for ACN, for APC and AC; which is, I would address issues, I would do my homework thoroughly, I would not make any allegation that I cannot back by evidence. That is what makes the difference. It is not just about to criticise a policy but to get it right. Would you say you have delivered on your agenda two and a half years into office? I thank God for the privilege of serving as a minister of information and culture. I can see that in under two and a half years, that this government has delivered largely on all its promises. I will start with insecurity. When we came in 2015, there were 24 local governments in this country that were under the sovereign control of Boko Haram. Today, as I speak, not one local government is under the control of Boko Haram. Boko Haram has been decapitated. Boko Haram has been thoroughly degraded; they can no longer function as a parallel army as they were doing. Before now, Boko Haram was active in Plateau State, they attacked Bauchi, Kano had a regular taste of their terror, Kaduna State was not spared, Niger State and even the Federal Capital was not spared, and not to talk of the epicentre which was Borno. But as I speak today, the military has been able to recruit them to cowardly attacks to soft targets. There is no army in the world that can overcome that as we witnessed recently in Barcelona, Paris, and London. So, for us, it is a triumph that we have been able to subdue Boko Haram, their territorial ambition has been cut short, life has returned to normal in most parts of the Northeast today. This thing did not come by accident. I think it came because we had a focused programme. The first thing the president did was that he ordered the relocation of the command and control of the army to the epicentre of the war itself. He held meetings with the Lake Chad Basin Commission comprising of Niger, Cameroon, Benin Republic, Chad, and Nigeria. It was the collaborative efforts of the four countries with Nigeria and our Sahel partners that reinvigorated the Multi-National Joint Task Force, and then the morale in the army was improved, new service chiefs were appointed. We also reached out to the G8, reached out to Western Countries, who also saw an honest and committed leader and assisted us; and today, the Northeast is a far different place than what it used to be two and a half years ago. And if anybody wants further proof that normalcy has returned to the Northeast is the fact that the finals of the last football league was played in Maiduguri about a month ago between the Mountain of Fire Football Club and El-Kanemi Warriors. That shows that normalcy has returned. O yes, we have challenges facing us, not just in terms of cowardly attacks and abductions, but also because of the success of the military, thousands of people who had been in captivity have now been released and we are now grappling with issues of how do we resettle them, how do we feed them, how do we ensure that medical supplies are enough? And most of all, how do we ensure that civil authority is returned, rehabilitation is done, and the people moved from the IDP camps to their various towns and villages. The Federal Government has set up both the presidential commission on Northeast Initiative and also the Bama Initiative to ensure that destroyed facilities, houses, hospitals are put in place. What is happening in the Northeast today is a regional crisis, it is not just about the Northeast of Nigeria, it is about the entire Lake Chad basin which contains about 20 Million lives. Despite your assertion in December 2015, the Boko Haram group still holds on to portions of territory in the Sambisa Forest and hold the captured Chibok Girls. Does that not counter your claims? I don't think that there is any contradiction. It is not correct that Boko Haram is holding ground in Sambisa Forest. A final remark sir? Nigeria is back, we are out of recession, the government has never lost focus, and we believe that we will definitely leave this country better than we met it. We seek the cooperation of all and sundry. If there is no stability there can be no development. We should all remember that it is because we have a Nigeria that is why we have a South-South, that is why we have a Northeast, that is why we have a North-Central. We should all work with the government in fighting corruption, and we should all do our bit to ensure that the economy recovers fully.  culled from Olu famous Mr Olumide's Blog |
| Poor Infrastructure was my Largest Obstacle – CEO Konga Posted: 15 Oct 2017 12:48 AM PDT  Adekoya explains that poor infrastructure in Nigeria was one of the largest obstacles he faced when launching Konga. He notes that introducing e-commerce to the country meant that organizing logistics "was a nightmare". In response to this, Adekoya came up with a simple solution: "We ended up building our own logistics infrastructure that covers every state in Nigeria." Despite building infrastructure across Nigera, Konga parcels sent from sellers across the country must still travel on many poor roads. This means that the company is unable to offer delivery times of less than five days. Adekoya says that this is an ongoing conundrum for the company: "How do you get to the places the fastest? That's what we live and breathe every day! It depends where you live [on] the road network. At any given point in time, we do keep to our five day average. We're trying to bring that down to four days, but it's really challenging." This wasn't the only issue faced by Adekoya and his team. He explains how many Nigerians were suspicious of online shopping when Konga began: "There's a lot of history around Nigeria and online fraud, so people were already skeptical about putting their card details online [to make] transactions and many people hadn't even started using things like online banking." As a result, launching the online shopping site involved ensuring that the customer felt confident in the company. Adekoya explains: "In terms of educating people on making payments online and the fact that it's actually safe, there was a lot of work that needed to be done." Adekoya's company soon launched KongaPay, a pay-on-delivery service which eliminates the need for customers to enter sensitive information online. Customers only complete their payment when their goods are delivered to their satisfaction. Ashers asks if this service has had a detrimental effect on Konga's potential profits because customers are able to change their mind on their purchase. Adekoya answers: "Today, about 20 percent of products will come back because of pay-on-delivery. It's something that we have to deal with." Regardless of this, Adekoya attributes KongaPay to the company's success: "Now with KongaPay, we're giving customers a little bit of comfort around paying online. I personally feel like without giving the customers the flexibility of getting their money back very quickly, it becomes difficult to sell [products with] prepay." Another one of Konga's successes is the Konga Marketplace, a service which allows anyone to become a seller on the site. Adekoya explains: "The marketplace is a fantastic phenomenon for us. You have about 250 to 300 thousand products now from different merchants which our customers have access to." Konga also provides much support for the sellers to ensure that they are making their businesses better. Adekoya outlines the steps the company has taken to improve Konga Marketplace: "We have about 75 thousand registered merchants and we've trained these people on a regular basis in terms of customer service and how to pack products. We've created a platformed where merchants can come and expand their business." Adekoya tells the programme that he is satisfied with Konga's success: "As a business model, we are quite happy with where we are today. Investors are happy with us. The staff are happy… and merchants have been able to enrich their businesses. It gives us a lot of joy."  culled from Olu famous Mr Olumide's Blog |
| NYSC Member Empowers 35 Kids, Youths With New Skills Posted: 15 Oct 2017 12:23 AM PDT  The corps member trained 11 Almajiris and one adult in various skills, 16 youths in agricultural best practices and seven prisoners, all within Kaduna metropolis. NAN reports that Somtoo, a law graduate from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, who hails from Azia in Anambra state, was deployed to Kaduna and subsequently posted to a law firm known as Abdulahi Ibrahim & Co., Kaduna North area of the state. Speaking to newsmen in Kaduna on Saturday after the final phase of the empowerment project, he said his passion to help the needy pushed him to do what he did for the beneficiaries. According to him, as a corps member and in partial fulfilment of my NYSC programme, I engaged in three CDS including Almajiris empowerment project. "I have empowered 11 boys and one other adult in various skills acquisition and also responsible for their feeding within the training period. "I trained about 16 youths on agricultural best practices in such a way that they could see agriculture beyond subsistence level and explore several opportunities available to them to make them job creators in agric value chain. "I also had the opportunity to empower seven prisoners in skills acquisition and secured the release of one of them who was convicted with an option of fine. "In addition to that, I equally made an arrangement for these prisoners on how to apply the skills acquired to produce some things needed in the prison. "This I believe will help them to become better citizens and prepare them for the outside world after serving their prison terms, especially for those that were not convicted for capital offence", he said. According to her, my objective in empowering all these people, who are not related to me in any way; I have developed passion for Nigerian youths and children irrespective of religion, ethnicity. "Seeing a youth without any means of income is a concern to me. "Also, seeing children begging in major and back streets touches me greatly when they can actually do something better to improve their standard of living and those around them. This is why with few sponsors I had, we were able to add value to some people's life," she said.  culled from Olu famous Mr Olumide's Blog |
| One Sure Sign A Person Is A Mature Christian Posted: 15 Oct 2017 12:13 AM PDT  During a recent ice storm, I posted on Facebook a photo of the ice-covered branches outside our window. Among the comments was one from a neighbor: "Liz, do you have power at your house? We don't." My heart went out to them. But did my hand reach out to them? No, this girl stayed home, stayed warm, and prayed for them. Of course, I came up with all kinds of reasons — okay, excuses — not to act. • Their power will come on any minute now.As usual, I missed the point. The act of charity, the loving gesture, was what mattered. Not the gift itself, but the giving. God gently but firmly showed me the error of my thinking. If you want to be closer to Me, Liz, then you need to give like Me. This is why we study God's Word. Not just to understand it, not just to meditate on it. God wants us to do it. He calls us to act. And He gives us the power to do so. Most of us would rather not be called a do-gooder — a person who tries to help those in need yet does so in a way that's naive, annoying, useless, even prideful. But we all want to do good. This verse shows us the difference between doing a good thing and doing a God thing. Do not withhold good . . . Proverbs 3:27 I sure wish this translation put a more positive spin on things, like "Do everything you possibly can" (ERV) or simply "Do good" (EXB). That's what the original Hebrew gives us — a single word, towb, which means "beautiful, pleasant, good, agreeable." Yet most versions urge us, "Don't hold back good" (NIRV) and "Never walk away" (MSG). That's because our flawed human nature prods us to keep rather than give, hoard rather than share, and withhold rather than extend. Whether it's money, time, or the place we call home, we guard them as if they're ours instead of blessings from God, entrusted to us so we can care for others. It's not that we're selfish or greedy or controlling. Oh no. We just want to make sure people have earned the right to whatever we give them. . . . from those to whom it is due, . . . Proverbs 3:27 Due? Sounds like these people not only "deserve it" (NLT), but they're also "entitled to it" (CJB). Why? Because they "need help" (EXB), and we're meant to provide it by the Lord's design. God considers us worthy so we can consider others worthy. God blesses us so we can bless those around us. There's nothing here about requiring those in need to prove it, take a number, fill out this form, or stand in this line. God's Word says just the opposite. Don't hold back. Share. Do good. Be generous. Give with joy, because "God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7) The verse that follows this one in Proverbs makes it clear God is talking about giving something tangible, something material: "Do not say to your neighbor, 'Come back tomorrow and I'll give it to you' — when you already have it with you," (Proverbs 3:28) when "the money's right there in your pocket" (MSG). Open your hand. Hold it out. Help. . . . when it is in your power . . . Proverbs 3:27 This isn't Jim Carrey strutting around the set of Bruce Almighty, lip synching to "I've Got the Power." This is you, filled with the Holy Spirit, quietly, humbly serving God by giving to others "whenever you possibly can" (GNT). Wrapped inside the original Hebrew phrase is the word el for "God," and yad, meaning "hand." God puts the power in our hands, saying, "Go. Give." The power comes from on high, and so does the provision. We may sing, "He's got the whole world in His hands,"3 but it's more than that, dear friend. We're His hands to the world. As The Message puts it, "Your hand is God's hand for that person." When is it in your power? Right now. . . . to act. Proverbs 3:27 That's right. Just "do it" (ASV). Reach out your hand. Since "it is within your power" (VOICE), then by all means "help" (NET). The Hebrew here is an active verb, telling us to "accomplish, do, make." Not merely think about, but act upon. We must give, or we risk losing all the joy of having. By the power and conviction of the Holy Spirit, He teaches us to say no to clutching our money with both hands and say yes to sharing our time, our money, our energy, our prayers, and our hearts with those in need. As Paul wrote, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9) Lord Jesus, help me not give up, become weary, or opt out.[written by Liz Curtis Higgs]  culled from Olu famous Mr Olumide's Blog |
| Photos From Audu Ogbe's Son's Wedding In Abuja Posted: 15 Oct 2017 12:13 AM PDT    Present at the event include Governor Ortom of Benue state, his Deputy, lawmakers, ministers, etc.  culled from Olu famous Mr Olumide's Blog |
| 4 Surprising Tricks To Lose Weight While On Vacation Posted: 15 Oct 2017 12:13 AM PDT  Jumia Travel shares 4 surprising tricks to lose weight while on vacation. Walk More The best part about being on vacation is that you get to walk more which helps you lose weight, and use your walks as a form of sightseeing. Walking is a great leisurely way to shed some of those extra calories gained during your vacation without putting in so much effort, like you would with high intensity workouts or exercises. One of the best ways to encourage yourself to walk during vacations is to try to ensure that your hotel is located in the center or close to the center of whatever town or city you are in, this way it can also make the whole process easier for you. If You Must Eat Snacks, Eat Fruits as Snacks If you're out and about and just want to put something in your stomach, take fruits instead of sugar, fatty and calorie filled snacks. Fruits are healthier for you and will provide you with better nutrients to keep you going compared to sugary and fatty snacks. You'll definitely end up feeling much better about your body and much healthier. Enjoy One Treat a Day Vacations are for having fun, letting loose and relaxing. You don't need to be so hard on yourself because you are trying to lose weight. You can allow yourself to occasionally have a treat or two, and enjoy some sugary and fatty goodness, but you need to be disciplined about it. As much as you are letting yourself indulge occasionally, don't act like a child and over do it; be sure to exercise restraint. Once you can exercise restraint, you are free to savour and relish each bite of your portion controlled indulgences. Make it a 'Fitcation' The fact that you are calling your vacation a 'fitcation' doesn't mean you would spend the whole time obsessing over your weight and everything you eat. It simply means that you would be responsible for the way you eat and kind of foods you put into your body, and that you will also plan fun activities during the vacation that will help keep you occupied and active. Try to keep moving with fun activities during your vacation, but make sure it is with outdoor activities that you genuinely enjoy and have fun at. In addition, be sure to also relax from time to time, as relaxing helps to slow your body down, reduce cortisol and help prevent unnecessary weight gain.  culled from Olu famous Mr Olumide's Blog |
| Posted: 15 Oct 2017 12:13 AM PDT   culled from Olu famous Mr Olumide's Blog |
| Interesting Developments at The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment Posted: 15 Oct 2017 12:13 AM PDT  The Honourable Minister, Okechukwu Enelamah led the team to the Informal WTO Ministerial Gathering in Marrakech, Morocco, where he had talks with counterparts from Iran; host country, Morocco and other members of the KENSA Group (Kenya, Egypt and South Africa). At the ministerial meeting chaired by HM Enelamah, the conversation centred on the construction of a single market in Africa. Enelamah reiterated the need for a strategy to stay relevant in the midst of diversity. Here's the biggest takeaway from his speech: "This is a moment when our approaches must combine realism with pragmatism, non-dogmatism and acceptance of responsibility. In Nigeria, we have decided to accept responsibility." The Minister also met with China's Vice Minister of Commerce, Wang Shouwen; Nigeria's Ambassador to Morocco, Baba Garba and the Director General/Chief Negotiator, Ambassador Osakwe. On Tuesday, NIPC received the team from United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). The team's visit was essentially to provide technical support to NIPC for the development of an iGuide for Nigeria. What is an iGuide and why does Nigeria need it anyway? Here's how it works: Investors will have a field day with an online platform that provides information on business costs, opportunities and investment requirements. Meanwhile, the team at NIPC got on the move too. First stop was Akure where we attended the formal launch of the Ondo State Development and Investment Promotion Agency (ONDIPA). Then in Lagos, we presented a speech at a FGN-Union Bank Breakfast Meeting with embassies, consulates and trade offices. We'll wrap this up with great news... Between January and August 2017, the sum of $22 billion has been attracted as foreign direct investments for 41 projects across 22 states of the country. The investments came from UK, China, Indonesia, Belgium and Japan.  culled from Olu famous Mr Olumide's Blog |
| I Can Not marry A Poor man - Iyabo Ojo | Mr Olumide's Blog Posted: 15 Oct 2017 12:12 AM PDT  The mom of two, who was once married said if marriage does come up again in her life, she will consider it but won't say yes to a poor man. "If marriage comes along, yes I will consider it. Then, I used to say that I didn't want to get married again because of the stress involved. Now, I have had a rethink. But I can't marry a poor man. Some people will say I shouldn't say that, but I am a blunt person. For someone like me, there is no love without money. I am a celebrity and I am expected to maintain a certain lifestyle, which is expensive." Iyabo also revealed she has 7 people she is taking care of: "I have a lot of responsibilities. As a breadwinner and celebrity, how do you expect me to marry a poor man? Where do you expect us to start from? I am not ready to add any man's problems to mine. I don't need the man to be very rich, but he must be able to feed himself and me. You don't even have to cater for my other responsibilities." On her ideal man: "We all have our defects. When you keep looking for an ideal man, a good one will pass you by. I just need a man who is responsible for himself first before me. Once he is hungry for success, every other thing will follow." But, she quickly admitted that nothing could make her settle for a man who would be scared of her success. "The kind of man I want in my life has to be more successful than me. When I bought my personal assistant a car, people said I didn't want her to marry. I told them that I don't expect her to marry someone who does not have a car as well. You say what you want out of life; we shouldn't deceive ourselves. It is a choice to die in poverty and I have chosen not to die in poverty. I cannot flow with someone who wants to die in poverty," she said.  culled from MPNB Mr Olumide's Blog |
| I Wish I Did Not Marry So Many Wives, But It Is My Destiny - Adebayo Salami | Mr Olumide's Blog Posted: 15 Oct 2017 12:12 AM PDT  The actor who has been in the movie industry for decades, talked about his career, family and more in a new interview with Sunday Scoop. What stirred your interest in the movie industry? From a very young age, I had always been interested in anything that had to do with arts and culture. I grew up in Lagos Island and there were a lot of activities that went on there in those days. Were there theatre practitioners you looked up to in those days? Of course. There were people like Hubert Ogunde, Ojo Ladipo, aka Baba Mero, Oyin Adejobi, Ayinla Olumegbon, among others. What were the steps you took before joining the theatre industry back then? I used to watch a TV series, Village Doctor, produced by Hubert Ogunde, and that was what inspired me. I also used to watch Ayinla Olumegbon's plays because where they used to have their rehearsals was not far from our house. Also, at the back of my school, I used to hear drumming and I was very curious as to where it was coming from. One day, I decided to go and watch them, and I later joined them. Their name was the Young Stars Concert Party. The criteria for joining them was that one had to pay a huge sum of money, which was one pound, one shilling. I had to source for the money, and when it was complete, I joined them. What was the reaction of your parents when you wanted to start acting? There was no parent that supported their children going into theatre production in those days. Particularly in the town where I come from, religion was taken very seriously. I was also the first child, and people felt it wasn't proper for me to become an actor. The profession was looked down on in those days, and they only respected people like doctors and lawyers. It was quite tough in those days. But I thank God that today, the story has changed. When did your parents start accepting your choice of profession? They only started accepting me when stardom came and there was one particular incident that changed their minds. One of my siblings was supposed to attend a school, but he wasn't given a letter of admission, even though he had earlier been shortlisted. On one fateful day, my uncle asked me to drive them to the school, and when we got there, a crowd of people swarmed around me chanting my name. When we got to the office of the admission officer, the man also received us well and asked me what I wanted. We were immediately given the admission letter. That incident convinced my people that the path I was on was the right one for me. Did you have any other ambition apart from being an actor? I had the ambition to become a lawyer but I didn't have the opportunity to pursue it because there was no money at that time. Was it because of your ambition to become a lawyer that you encouraged your son, Femi, to study law? I never discussed that with him. It was entirely his decision to study law and I supported him. As a matter of fact, my godfather, Alhaji Femi Okunnu, is a lawyer, and I named Femi after him. I worked with him as his personal assistant when he was the Federal Commissioner for Works. What was the first production you partook in?  The AdebayosIn terms of stage plays, the first production I took part in was titled, B'aiyebayehun, and I acted the role of a witch doctor. Before the production, three of us auditioned for that part before I was eventually selected. That was in 1971. But we had been doing television series since 1969 with Baba Mero, who was the leader of the Young Stars Concert Party. But the name of the group was later changed to Ojo Ladipo Theatre. Can you recall the names of your contemporaries who you started the profession with? I will mention the names of those that are still acting because if I call the names of those no longer doing the job, many people wouldn't know them. There were people like Iya Awero, Tajudeen Gbadamosi, the late Osumare, Jinadu Ewele, among others. What were the challenges you faced in those days? There were lots of challenges but we weren't doing the job just to make money; we were passionate about it. Back then, while acting, I was also working at the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing as a library assistant. Whatever money I made from my regular job, I ended up spending it on theatre productions. Sometimes, we would want to go and stage plays, but there wouldn't be money to print posters or do any form of advertisement. Which production do you regard as your breakthrough? It was the television series that brought me stardom because people liked it, and we were well appreciated. In terms of stage plays, it was Ogbongbemiga, which we staged at Glover Hall in Lagos Island that was the breakthrough for me. A lot of people came to watch that play and they really loved it. Which was the first home video you appeared in? I didn't start doing home videos on time because we were producing on celluloid then. I remember that I shot my first cinema movie in 1985 and it was titled, Ogun Ajaiye, followed by Omo O'rukan in 1987. In 1989, I shot Eri Okan. However, I started shooting home videos in 1993, and my first movie was Asewo to re Mecca. Asewo to re Mecca was a very successful movie, how were you able to put it all together? The process starts from writing the story. I just wanted to teach a lesson on the covenant that people have with God. It was about two prostitutes who went to Mecca and they vowed that they wouldn't return to their dirty pasts. However, one of them reneged, while the other kept her promise; and they both got the appropriate rewards for their actions. It was the same experience we used to shoot cinema movies that I applied in making that film. I felt that the home videos that were made in those days could be improved upon, and eventually Asewo to re Mecca became a classic. What were the things you considered before choosing the lead actresses for the movie? For the lead roles, the physiques of Sola Sobowale and Toyin Adegbola were exactly what I was looking for. And they are also talented because we carried out auditions, and they passed. I didn't really face any challenge while shooting the movie because there was money, and marketing was also good in those days. What was the biggest thing you gained from the movie? I made profits and it boosted my profile. It also changed the face of home videos that were being made then. How many movies have you produced thus far? I have produced 17 movies. Have you ever undergone any training as an actor? Yes, I did. When it comes to training, practical experience is the most important. All those times we used to go for rehearsals, we were training. At a time, I joined the British Council where I was also trained. I later attended a school that was affiliated with the University of Lagos. Meanwhile, I also read books on stage production and attended lots of seminars and workshops. Do you often involve your children in your movie productions? I didn't involve them when they were younger because they were still in school. But I had a group called Awada Kerikeri, and whenever my children were on holiday, they usually followed me to our rehearsals. However, now that some of them have joined the industry, we work together. What was your initial reaction when your children expressed interest in joining the movie industry? I didn't feel bad. I only mandated them that they should all complete their education, and whatever they wanted to do after that was entirely up to them. I don't force them to do anything. What advice did you give them when they wanted to join the industry? I advised them based on my experience, and they have been following it. Even till date, whenever there is anything that they are confused about, they come to meet me and I guide them. I tutor them on how to behave, how to relate with their fans, among others. I cannot have this much experience and I wouldn't pass it on to my children who are in the same field with me. Has there ever been a time that you went out with Femi and more fans swarmed around him than you? There is no father that wouldn't be happy at such a thing because it is a thing of pride. But it's never like that because just as fans come around him, that's the same way they come around me. How do you feel whenever you hear or read negative reports about your children? Whenever I hear anything like that, the first thing I do is to find out whether it is true or not. Not everything that is written is actually true. If I find out that what they did is wrong, I have ways by which I correct them. And if they are being lied against, I would feel bad and fight against it because such things can damage their reputations. Considering that you have a large family, how were you able to ensure that they grew up in unity and love? It is simply the grace of God, and not by my own doing. I am happy that there is unity and love in my house; and all my children are progressing. What qualities must an actor possess to be successful? Firstly, you must be passionate about the job and also be talented. One should also undergo training, and practice it the way it ought to be done. If you do those things, people would accept you. What are the things you feel are wrong in the movie industry at this time? Our major problem is piracy and I believe everybody knows that. We need to get our marketing and distribution channels straightened out. We also need funds to produce good movies. With the benefit of hindsight, is there anything you wish you had done differently? One thing I may have termed a mistake, but which I consider to be destiny is raising a large family. How do you unwind? I've always been dedicated to my job so I don't really have much time to unwind. However, I like to be in the midst of my childhood friends talking and having fun. I also listen to indigenous music by people like Yusuf Olatunji, Haruna Ishola, among others. I could also decide to stay home and rest. Have you ever harboured thoughts to become a singer? No, I am not a singer. But music is intertwined with theatre, and I often compose songs for movies. How do you like to dress? I like to dress simply, neat and presentable. My life is very simple; I drive simple cars and do all my things in a simple way.  culled from MPNB Mr Olumide's Blog |
| Posted: 15 Oct 2017 12:12 AM PDT  Love in the air. Rapper Iceberg Slim, is all in for his relationship with actress Juliet Ibrahim. Speaking with Sunday Scoop, the rapper revealed just how much he loves his woman adding that he was blown away by her. Read excerpts from his interview: What are some of the most memorable moments of your childhood? One of the most memorable moments of my childhood was when my dad came home one day after work, and told me, "Get dressed, we're going downtown.'' Little did I know he was taking me to Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, to watch WWE 'Monday Night Raw,' live. Considering that you were born in New York, how much of Nigeria did you know while growing up? Growing up, I didn't know much about Nigeria. Prior to me moving to Nigeria in 2012, I had only traveled to Nigeria twice; when I was three and when I was six. The only thing that resonated with me over the years was the music. My dad played a lot of Nigerian music in the house, and we also attended a Nigerian church. What struck you the first time you visited Nigeria? The first time I visited Nigeria was when I was three. I really don't remember anything about that trip, apart from stories that my family told me. According to them, I was talking to a baby chicken, asking it to be my friend. How did growing up in America impact the man you have become? Growing up in America has had a huge part to play in the person I've become. Although some may see it as an advantage, living in America isn't a bed of roses. I've fought many battles; socially, economically, mentally, and even physically. It has made me strong and resilient. You once said you were introduced to the sounds of KSA and Shina Peters at a young age; was your father a musician? My father wasn't a musician, but he loved music. He played so much music around us, and if he wasn't around, you would notice his absence. I had a genuine love for music because of him. Consequently, when I was seven , I decided that I wanted to join the church choir. Since you started as a chorister, why didn't you become a gospel artiste? I was a chorister and an instrumentalist in the choir, I don't think that classifies me as a gospel artiste. Once I developed a liking for hip hop, I was automatically drawn to it, and that's when I started creating my own. Why did you drop out of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice? I decided to leave college because of my passion for music. Most of the time, when I was sitting for lectures, all I could think about was making music. I always knew I had a higher calling. It was a hard decision, but I followed my instincts. You used to write poetry; what themes did you usually write about? When I was writing poetry, I'd often write about the outside world as I saw it, or I'd write about life from a perspective other than mine. I enjoyed writing sonnets the most. Why did you stop writing poetry? I stopped writing poetry when I started writing my rap lyrics. Although in a sense, they're one and the same. When was the first time you knew you wanted to do music? The first time I knew I wanted to do music was after the first song I ever recorded. After playing it for several people, the general consensus was that I was 'very talented' and that I should continue. At that point I knew it was my calling. Your name, Iceberg Slim, is gotten from an American pimp; why did you choose that particular name? The name was given to me when I was 16, by my cousin, Bleu. He said I had so many girls around me that I should be called a pimp. At that time, I had no idea who the original Iceberg Slim was, but the name sounded cool, so I stuck with it. Why didn't you decide to pursue your music career in the United States? I didn't want to pursue a career in the United States because I wanted to stand for something bigger. I was seen as a typical African-American aka Black guy; however I am a Nigerian. I want to be known as a Nigerian musician, not a Black or African-American musician. But in order to do that, I would have to connect with my people; my fellow Nigerians. That was what influenced my decision to move to Nigeria. How exactly did you get into the entertainment industry? I got into the entertainment industry simply by listening to and following instructions from my cousins. My cousin, Wole Olowokere, aka Bleu, was an intern with the music group, Ruff Ryders, back when DMX was topping charts. He gave me a lot of pointers and advice on how to set myself apart from everyone else, and how to master my craft. Wole's elder brother, Tunde, aka Buck 3000, was a producer and engineer for Murder Inc. Records when Ja Rule was arguably the biggest artiste in the U.S. He took me around a lot, and I learned so much just from watching and listening to many professionals. I later started to apply the things I picked up, and people eventually started to notice me. You once attended the Institute of Audio Research; in what ways is that helping your career? Attending the Institute of Audio Research is one of the best decisions I've ever made. I learned so much about production, audio engineering, editing, and even how to score movie soundtracks. IAR has given me indispensable knowledge about film and audio. How would you define your sound? My sound is unique and rare. I'd define it as one of a kind. How many songs have you produced? Once I moved to Nigeria, I actually stopped producing. However, I'm always involved in the production of any beat I record on. I like working hand-in-hand with the producers. I produced the song, The Game Needs Me by Sauce Kid, which was on his African American album. Some people say rap music is not profitable in Nigeria; how do you intend to thrive? Fortunately for me, I don't only rap; I sing as well. I actually started singing before I even knew how to rap, from being in the church choir then to being in my high school choir. Nigeria, however, is evolving in terms of the music and the sounds that are being accepted, so I'm hopeful. What do you consider the highlights of your career? One highlight of my career is that I recorded a song for the hit American crime-drama series, Blue Bloods. The song was used in Season One, episode two of the series. That's a milestone in my life; not only my career! What are the challenges you face in the course of your career? Over the years, the major challenge I faced was trying to find my niche in the Nigerian music industry. The first hurdle was me trying to fine-tune my sound and style to be relatable to the average Nigerian. I then had to learn pidgin English, as well as improve on my Yoruba to infuse those elements into my music. You once had a collaboration with Jarule; how did that come about and what was the experience like? The collaboration wasn't planned. I was in the studio with Buck 3000, recording a remix to Plies' Plenty Money. When we were done, we sat there playing it back, Ja Rule walked in. He was singing along with us while the song was on playback for about five minutes, then he looked over at me, and in his deep husky voice, he said, 'Yo Ice, can I jump on this joint with you?" And the rest is history. It was a humbling experience, and I'm forever grateful. Apart from Ja Rule, which other American artiste do you have any form of relationship with? Over the years, I've been privileged to meet many American artistes. It would be unprofessional to start name-dropping though. You've worked with 2face and Tiwa Savage; which other Nigerian artiste would you like to work with? I would love to work with Lara George, Wande Coal and Simi. I'm probably their biggest fan, and they don't even know it. You have not been so vibrant in the Nigerian music industry, what's responsible for this? After getting everyone's attention, I was still in the process of finding my own self. Even after all the love Too Much Money featuring Banky W got, I was still unsure if Nigeria was ready for that type of sound. I then began to experiment with different sounds, styles, and beats, all while trying to perfect the Nigerian accent and swagger. It was an uphill battle. Do you think you have been accepted by the Nigerian music industry? By God's grace, I think they are finally starting to accept me. The love I've been getting all over the country, following the release of my latest single, Oluwa has been nothing short of amazing. I'm thankful. How active are you in the Ghana music industry? I was on Tiwa Savage's Shout Out with Sarkodie, and I also featured Shatta Wale on the remix of my single, Wave. These songs received good airplay in Ghana, although I haven't done any formal promotion over there. You have a wonderful relationship with Juliet Ibrahim; what was the point of attraction for you? Juliet is an amazing woman. When we first met, I was intrigued by her peculiar choice in music. After we spoke for a little bit, I was blown away by her intelligence, ambition and kind heart. How would you describe your relationship? I don't think there are words to describe the relationship. To say it's incredible would be an understatement. Do you consider yourself a romantic man? Yes, I'd consider myself a romantic man. What's the most romantic thing you've ever done? The most romantic thing that I've ever done was to get matching tattoos with the woman that I love. What are your hobbies? I enjoy playing and watching basketball. I also love watching movies. How do you unwind? To unwind and blow off steam, I try to go to the gym about four or five times in a week.  culled from MPNB Mr Olumide's Blog |
| More stunning photos from Yomi Casual and Grace Onuioha's Wedding | Mr Olumide's Blog Posted: 15 Oct 2017 12:12 AM PDT |
| I have no plans to leave music for comedy - Kiss Daniel | Mr Olumide's Blog Posted: 15 Oct 2017 12:12 AM PDT  The singer, who recently showed his comedy side by dropping skits on social media, has opened up on this talent making it known that despite enjoying his comedy side, he has no plans of leaving music for it. "I have no plans to delve into comedy; music is my major talent. If you listen to my new song, Yeba, you would notice that there are traces of comedy in it. You would also note that I started uploading those comedy skits about a month before Yeba was released, so it was just a strategy to promote the song. It was a means of creating awareness," he said. On the success of his new song; "There has been a massive outpouring of love from all angles and I really appreciate it. It feels good when people appreciate what you do, and it motivates one to do even better."  culled from MPNB Mr Olumide's Blog |
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