Entertainment
Behold! Nollywood’s All-Time Favourites
In this special feature on Nollywood actresses, we are showcasing actresses whose look and personality have created an occult followership and fan base for them. They are on top of their game, quite feasible, stylish and know what time is it when it comes to fashion and style. Being stylish is not just about good look. A sexy diva should posses carriage, charisma, elegance and knows how to combine her ensembles. We are presenting to you our 2012 – 13 Nollywood Actresses that made it to our list after carefull scrutiny not in any particular order. They are Nollywood darlings.
Omotola Jalade – Ekeinde
The very talented actress got married to Capt. Matthew Ekeinde at the tender age of 18 and has 4 children. Apart from being one of the most successful Nollywood actresses, she is also a singer.
Her first role in a movie came in the film “Venom of Justice”(1995). Omotola Ekeinde burst into the Nollywood film industry with the movie “Mortal Inheritance” (1995) where she played a sickle-cell patient who fights for her life even when she knows she might not be able to live. At the end of the day, she has a baby and eventually lives. This film which received good reviews won her awards for her role in the movie and is still known as one of Nigeria ‘s best movies ever made. Ever since then she has not looked back and she has starred in blockbuster movies like “James Women Play”, “Blood Sisters”, “All My life”, “Last Wedding”, My Story. The Woman In Me” and host of others. In the year 2005, she launched her music career. She’s fondly called “Omosexy” by her large fans because of her pretty look and well carved out body.
Chika Ike – In a highly competitive industry with multi talented actors and actresses, it is still easy to pick out this leggy actresses whose trademark smile reminds one of Leonardo Da Vinci’s principle portrait – the Monalisa and like the master- piece. The covetous beauty started acting at age six in her local church and watched a lot of movies while growing up: this became the inception for inspiration and challenge to join the movie industry.
In the year 2008, the dark haired beauty Chika Ike became an unexpected star after she was cast in a leading role as an African Princess in an epic movie called Mirror of Beauty which was shot on 35mm to the international scene and was shown in seven cinemas in London (Odeon and Cineworld) where it was premiered. In September 24, 2011, Chika opened an upscale fashion accessories store, Fancy Nancy Collections in the city of Abuja. The Federal Capital Territory, which is now a must shop-store for those discriminating, yet fashionable taste.
Genevieve Nnaji- Genevieve Nnaji started her acting career as a child actress in the then-popular television soap opera “Ripples” at the age of 8. She was also featured in several commercials, some of which included Pronto beverage and Omo detergent. In 1998, at the age of 19, she made her debut in the growing Nigerian film industry with the movie “Most Wanted.”
Her subsequent movies-”Last Party,” “Mark of the Beast,” and “Ijele” (which is still considered to be one of her best epic performances to date)-brought forth an icon to be loved and adored by many. In 2009, Genevieve made history by being the first Nigerian actress to be profiled on ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show”. With strings of endorsement and top rated movies, Genevieve is believed to be the highest-paid and most desired actress in Nollywood today.
Tonto Dike – Tonto Dike (born June 9, 1985) is an actress from Rivers State and is of the Ikwerre tribe. In 2005 she competed against other contestants on a reality TV show called The Next Movie Star; she was the first runner up. Dike’s appearance on the show was as a means of getting closer to the “big time”, she says, and her start in the Nigerian movie industry came soon after. Tonto’s sensual roles in movie no doubt shot her to the top of the ladder and she’s currently one of the most sought after Nollywood actresses. She studied Petro-chemical engineering at the University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt.
Ini Edo- She was born on April 19, 1982. Ini Edo began her film career in the year 2000, and has featured in more than 50 movies since that time. Born in Calabar, Cross River State, into a family of six, this indigene of Akwa lborn, attended Cornelia Connelly College in Calabar for her secondary school education, and crowned it with a diploma in Theatre Arts from the University of Uyo in Akwa Ibom. Ini Edo later went on to study for a full degree in English at the University of Calabar, Cross River State,
Mercy Johnson – She was given birth to in Lagos on April 14, 1984, even though she started out her primary school education in Calabar where she resides with her biological father. Mercy afterwards relocated to Lagos State when her daddy was transferred, where she continued her schooling at the Nigerian Navy Primary School.
The celebrity went to Rivers State for her secondary education in addition to Nigerian Navy Secondary School in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Right after her secondary education, she auditioned for a role in ‘The Maid’ a movie that’s to launch her into stardom. Since then she has acted in over one hundred movies.
To be Continue.
Entertainment
“French Up Your Career” PH, 2025 :Consul General Of France Harps On Proficiency In French
The Consul, General of France in Nigeria, Laurent Favier has encouraged French Learners to improve their skills on the language, as there are lots of opportunities up for grabs on the job market with fluency in French Language, saying that there are many other career paths which are often less well known to learners of French.
Participants at the “French Up Your Career” event held in Port Harcourt.
Favier who disclosed this during the just concluded third edition of the seminar tagged “French Up Your Career” organized by Alliance
Française, Port Harcourt explained that learning French doesn’t mean adding a language to your resume. It rather provides learners with new opportunities. Irrespective of their area of interest, be it diplomatic and International relations, international development, translation and Interpretation or journalism.
According to the Consul General, it was important to create awareness for young Nigerians in Port Harcourt who desire to have better understanding of how been fluent in French can create diverse career opportunities for users of the languages in Nigeria and the world at large, emphasizing that proficiency in French could possibly make learner a bridge between Nigeria and fast-developing regions.
“You previously heard this morning about how you can improve your French skills. This afternoon you will discover how being fluent in French can provide a significant edge on the job market and lead to professional careers that you may not have even considered before,”
“This event comes at the right time, as it launches the celebration of the richness and diversity of French-speaking cultures, which will mobilize us for more than a month throughout Nigeria and alongside other French-speaking countries,” Favier added.
He further highlighted that French is spoken by over 300 million people across the world, saying that, it’s one of the official languages of the United Nations, the European Union, and the African Union.
“There are many neighbouring African countries to Nigeria ,who have French as one of their primary languages of communication including Cameroon, Chad, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. So, what does this mean for you as students here in Nigeria?” He asked
“These sectors in which the French Embassy is often mobilized are the business and marketing field for example, as French is often the preferred language in many multinational companies, particularly those in the energy, oil and telecommunications sectors. I’m thinking as well in technology and IT,” he said
He noted that French-speaking countries in Africa are investing heavily in tech, innovation, and infrastructure, revealing that companies in Tech are looking for bilingual professionals to assist with software localization, customer support, and managing projects in French-speaking regions.
“The French embassy is not only mobilized to help learners discover promising sectors. We are also providing our support and expertise in
training teachers and optimizing university programs,” he summed up
Also, the linguistics cooperation attaché, French Embassy in Nigeria, Magaly Losange, who also gave a lecture at the seminar, in an interview with Newsmen said that the main purpose of the seminar was to be more informative and supportive to those who want to make a skill out of French Language,saying that as the linguistics cooperation attaché of the French Embassy it is her duty to promote French language through culture.
She cited traditional stereotypes as a major challenge affecting the growth and development of French in Nigeria, as school, teachers at the primary and secondary level in most cases teach French using the traditional way, where students learn French, but could not put words and grammar together as a skill for communicate.
“French is important. I don’t see French as colonization, l see French as a key to embrace globalization, l hope that learners will be inspired and ready to embrace the global village,” Losange said.
She however said that the French Embassy is working to ensure that equipments to facilitate the learning of French is put in place to enable learners improve their skills fast, which in two to three years learners should be able to communicate with French, advising learners to be intentional with learning the language, through social media and other workable devices to advance their skills for certification and better opportunities.
Highlight of the event which had about 250 participants in attendance was the eloquence award ceremony where students were awarded for their eloquence in French language by the Director, Alliance Française Port Harcourt, Mrs.Marina Lacal alongside the Linguistics cooperation attaché of the French Embassy in Nigeria, Magaly Losange.
After two edition of the seminar it was the turn of the Alliance Française, Port Harcourt to host the Third edition.
It would be recalled that the first edition of ” “French Up Your Career” event was organized at the Alliance Française Lagos on October 23, the second one at UNILAG on November 24, 2024 respectfully.
Popular Nigerian comedienne, Tomama has revealed how she waited for Afrobeats superstar, Wizkid outside the bathroom.
She shared this while recounting her encounter with the singer at a recent event with heavy security.
In a video posted on her Instagram page, Tomama explained that she waited by the bathroom in an attempt to have a one-on-one conversation with Wizkid.
She stated that she positioned herself near the restroom, hoping Wizkid would eventually use it, giving her the perfect opportunity to speak with him.
“Wizkid, I saw you, and I waited for you to pee, but you didn’t even stand up from where you were sitting. You just stayed there. All your crew members standing around got up to go pee. I was standing by the bathroom, waiting for you to come pee so that you would notice me,” she said.
Content creator and actor, Mr Macaroni has opened up about his financial struggles, saying he was both a victim of a scam and a failed investment in 2021.
He revealed that after losing all his savings, he resorted to borrowing to settle pending commitments and slipped into N500 million in debt.
He admitted that he is financially reckless and generous, impacting his financial stability negatively.
In lengthy post shared via his X handle yesterday, Mr Macaroni wrote, “Sometime around 2020/2022, I was a victim of a scam and simultaneously a failed investment that cost me all I had saved at the time. It shook me deeply but I told no one about it. If you know me well enough, you would know I do not like to share my problems. I could be going through the worst and at the same time helping others solve their own problems but I just would never share mine.”
“After I lost all the money I had then, Trouble started when I had to borrow money from different sources to settle all pending commitments and also fulfill certain responsibilities I have always believed were mine to fulfill. I make money in millions so I never thought borrowing money to pay back with interest could ever be a problem. But I got too comfortable and it took me a long time to realise that I was using the money I was earning to pay back interests. Also, my financial recklessness did not help. Please don’t borrow money! But if you must, please be responsible.”
The actor stated that 2024 marked a pivotal moment in his acting career but it was also the most challenging year for him as he faced over half a billion naira in debt.
Mr Macaroni revealed that his frustration grew worse after he was betrayed by someone he considered “a friend and sister.”
He added that with the support of family and friends who stood by him during his trying times, he now “feels better than I have felt in the last three years!”
The comedian stated that he decided to finally share his story to encourage others who are going through challenges.