Entertainment
Grass To Grace The AY Story
Nigerian Comedian, Ayo Makun popularly known as Ay has trended on the news today, following a report which claims that his wife, Mabel has left him. While Mabel has deleted her Instagram account, the rib-cracker reacted to the report, saying that it is only a ‘gossip’ from jealous fellows who are not happy with his success.
However, here are 10 things you probably do not know about AY.
AY has been married more than six years to Mabel Makun, a director at Corporate World Entertainment LTd. AY met his wife at University when he was putting on “The Most Beautiful Girl in DELSU” (Delta State University) beauty contest and was trying to get Mabel to be part of it. Mabel turned the pageant down because she was too busy with schoolwork at the time. They have a daughter, Michelle.
AY admitted to Nigeria Films. com that getting married seemed to land him more female fans.
A Nigerian Pastor and leading televangelist, Rev. Chris Okotie, is often the subject of AY jokes. When asked why he began mimicking Okotie, AY told Nigerians Films com “I love to mimic him because of his person, character and good command of English. I decided to do that while his sermon tagged, ‘Apocalypses’ was on the TV. I wanted to do a joke people could relate with then and that was how it started”.
At his University in Delta State, AY won the award for Most Fashionable Student on Campus, Most celebrated students on campus and best showbiz promoter. He also won the Most Celebrated Theatre Arts Student award and the Jaycee Club Socio-Cultural personality award.
AY studied theatre arts in university and as a child he was the head of the drama team at his church. AY was in charge of casting and directing his church productions. In university, he went on to contribute jokes to the Delta State Radio Station.
Growing up, before getting into event planning-AY worked as a dry cleaner, bartender, a scavenger and a barber. He calls himself “a product of the street”.
AY got his start as a personal assistant to comedy legend Ali Baba. The two met when AY invited Ali Baba to perform in a comedy show he was organizing at his university. Ali Baba was so impressed with AY’s organisational skills he invited him to work for him in Lagos, Nigeria where he gave him accommodation and a job as personal assistant and event manager. AY eventually went on to open at shows for Ali Baba.
Today, he has risen to be the Chief Executive Officer at Corporate World Entertainment and earns around $1.7 million per year.
One of AY’s first breakthrough moments wasn’t planned. At the “Made in Warri” 2005 show, Ali Baba surprised AY by calling him on stage and asking him to perform for five minutes. Organisers didn’t know this would happen. AY did so well that he was officially invited back for the next show.
AY is the oldest son in a family of seven children. His family is from Ifon in the Ondo State of Nigeria, but he was raised in the Delta State. He and his wife come from different tribes but their families never showed any issue with that.
Mabel Makun said in an interview with My New HitMan Writes. Com that she was impressed when she learned that AY managed to stay very focused while at Delta State University, even though he’d recently lose his parents when they met.
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.