2face Idibia

Innocent Ujah Idibia (born in Jos, Plateau State) best known as 2face Idibia is a Nigerian hip hop musician and songwriter. He was a member of the defunct R&B/hip hop group Plantashun Boyz. Idibia hails from the Idoma ethnic group in the southern part of Benue State, in central Nigeria.He attended Mount Saint Gabriel's Secondary School in Makurdi,Benue State.

He schooled briefly in the Institute of Management & Technology, IMT, Enugu, one of the country's foremost higher institute of learning where he did his preliminary National Diploma course in Business Administration

D'banj

Dapo Daniel Oyebanjo (born in 1980 Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria),known commonly as, D'banj is a Nigerian singer-songwriter and harmonica player. "Dapo" is a nickname for the Yoruba name "Ifedapo" (meaning "Love came together").

Early life
D'banj was born to a successful artillery officer that commanded an artillery regiment and a street was named after him in Alamala barracks Abeokuta and a church dignitary mother, who hailed from Shagamu in Ogun State.

Due to his father's profession, he moved several times within Nigeria and also moved to India. D'banj was expected to follow his father's military career and was enrolled to the Nigerian Military School, Zaria at age eleven.

DIANE VON FURTENBERG

Diane von Furstenberg was born Diane Simone Michelle Halfin on December 31, 1946, in Brussels, Belgium. Her well-to-do Jewish parents, Leon, an electronics executive, and Liliane Nahmias Halfin, provided von Furstenberg with a comfortable childhood. Her mother, a Nazi concentration camp survivor, imbued her with the self-confidence and drive that helped her become one of the world's most successful fashion designers.

Von Furstenberg attended finishing schools in Switzerland, Spain, and England, and in 1965 entered the University of Madrid. Transferring a year later to the University of Geneva, she selected economics as a major.

She then worked briefly at Investors Overseas Ltd., a mutual fund company in Geneva.

The Princess Designer While attending the University of Geneva, Diane Halfin met Prince Eduard Egon von Furstenberg, heir to the Fiat automobile fortune. The two were married in Paris on July 16, 1969. At her wedding von Furstenberg, now Princess von Furstenberg wore a white piqué dress of her own design made by the fashion house of Dior.

That same year she apprenticed with Italian textile manufacturer Angelo Ferretti and was soon designing simple dresses using his silk jersey prints. The von Furstenbergs moved to New York City in late 1969, where her husband went to work on Wall Street. In New York Diane attempted to interest garment manufacturers in her sample designs.

In her early months of designing and promoting, she worked out of the dining room of her Park Avenue apartment.
Encouraged by designers Bill Blass and Kenny Lane and by Diana Vreeland, editor of the influential Vogue magazine, Diane von Furstenberg put together a collection of her dress designs. In April 1970 von Furstenberg revealed her first collection at the Gotham Hotel in New York City. The price range was moderate, from $25 to $100.

The Wrap Dress
Although her designs were a commercial hit, her marriage failed. Von Furstenberg aimed even more at making herself financially independent and stable. Because she had little experience in producing clothes on a large scale, von Furstenberg at first worked with major women's clothing manufacturers, but in April 1972 she established her own manufacturing business.

With the help of friend and entrepreneur Richard Conrad, and with a $30,000 loan from her father, Diane von Furstenberg opened a Seventh Avenue showroom. Although her designs were variations on items in her initial collection, she produced a new, very popular sweater dress named "Angela," after the black activist Angela Davis.

Next came von Furstenberg's enormously popular wrap dress. "Fed up with the bell-bottom jeans and sexless pantsuits of the day, she devised a slinky, moderately priced wrap dress that turned millions of mall mothers and working women into saucy sirens virtually overnight," noted J.D.

Polo sky in People. After only a few months of business, her wholesale sales topped $1 million.
In 1973 von Furstenberg bought an old farmhouse in Connecticut, where she retreated from her frenetic business life. In 1975 she separated from the prince, and in 1983 divorced him, retaining custody of their two children, Alexandre and Tatiana.

Expanding Business
With a good grasp of both design and economics, von Furstenberg augmented her fashion line several years after opening her showroom. She added jewellery, furs, shoes, scarves, and sunglasses to the articles bearing her signature. Later she conceived of a cosmetic line, including a fragrance named for her daughter, Tatiana. She branched into house wares: sheets, bath towels, and home accessories. Soon her trademark began appearing on fashions for children.

Her dynamic career and elegant looks kept her in the public eye. Diane von Furstenberg, the princess-turned-designer, was featured often in magazine articles and interviews. In 1977 she published Diane von Furstenberg's Book of Beauty. She appealed to working women because her practical designs acknowledged the growing number of career women. In 1984 von Furstenberg opened a Fifth Avenue boutique catering to women who desired a more luxurious type of women's apparel.

Dr. (Mrs.) Cecilia Ibru

Dr. Cecilia Ibru Born on March 22, 1946, received excellent secondary education at Saint Margaret’s Grammar School, Ilesha from 1960 to 1965. She proceeded to University Tutorial College , London from 1967 to 1968 where she obtained a Higher School Certificate.On the successful completion of her Secondary education Cecilia Ibru secured admission to read Sociology at the London University.

She graduated in 1971 with B.Sc (Honours) degree and thereafter proceeded to the North East London University for a Masters of Philosophy from 1975 to 1977. She also obtained a Certificate of Eligibility from the Council of Legal Education, London.
She commenced her career at the IBRU Organisation in 1978 where she held various positions.
In 1990, she joined Oceanic Bank as General Manager, Admin and Personnel later becoming Executive Director, Finance and Administration.
Cecilia Ibru became the bank’s Managing Director /CEO in 1997. She is chairperson, Sub-committee of the Bankers’ Committee on Small and Medium Investment Equity Scheme (SMIEIS) Member, Presidential Consultative Committee on SMIEIS, Member World Economic Forum.
She is a Fellow Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and Fellow Nigeria Institute of Management.
Since assuming office as Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, the bank has witnessed tremendous growth in all financial indices. Many distinguished Awards and Honours have been bestowed on Dr. Cecilia on account of her high flying performance. They include: African Banker of the Year, by IC Publications, Publishers of African Business, New Africa, Africa Banker Magazines; Award for Banking Support and Development in Nigeria , Business Africa 2005, Doctor of Management Technology 2005, Federal University of Technology, Owerri.

Dr Christopher Kolade

His Excellency Dr Christopher Kolade, CON (born in Erin – Oke, Osun State Nigeria in 1932) completed his secondary school education at Government College, Ibadan after which he studied at Fourah Bay College, Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Broadcaster
He is veteran broadcaster at point of his career, the Director – General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation,

Business man
He was Chief Executive and Chairman of Cadbury Nigeria Plc,

Teacher
He was colonial era Education Officer and more recently a Lecturer in Corporate Governance and Human Resources Management at the Lagos Business School, Nigeria

Service
Dr. Kolade has served in many national and international bodies, having been President of

The Nigerian Institute of Management (1985- 88),
The Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (1988- 93),
The International Institute for Communications (1973 – 75)
The World Association for Christian Communication (1975-82).
He received the medal of the Order of St. Augustine from the Archbishop of Canterbury (1981), and is also a Lay Canon of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in the Diocese of Guildford.

Man of Peace
Kolade has promoted community peace building projects as diplomat and as volunteer he is an advocate of achieving peace through track II diplomacy

Chika Sylva-Olejeme President International Peace Institute and High Commissioner Kolade
[edit] Man of Integrity
Kolade has promoted business integrity in Nigeria through his chairmanship of organisations like Integrity Organisation Ltd. GTE and The Convention on Business Integrity Ltd. GTE

Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

A director of the World Bank, was Nigeria's Finance Minister and then briefly Foreign Affairs Minister from 2003 to 2006, the first woman to hold either position.
During her tenure as Finance Minister, she worked to combat corruption, make Nigeria's finances more transparent, and institute reforms to make the nation's economy more hospitable to foreign investment. The government unlinked its budget from the price of oil, its main export, to lessen perennial cash flow crises, and got oil companies to publish how much they pay the government.

Since 2003 -- when watchdog group Transparency International rated Nigeria "the most corrupt place on Earth" -- the nation has made headway recovering stolen assets and jailing hundreds of people engaged in international Internet 419 scams.

Okonjo-Iweala is a former World Bank vice president who graduated from Harvard and earned a Ph.D. in regional economics and development at MIT. Her son Uzodinma Iweala is the celebrated young author of Beasts of No Nation

Gamaliel Onosode

Gamaliel Onosode, 65, is a beacon of hop of Nigeria a country troubled by all sorts of voices. A man of integrity in all aspects of life especially business and religious matters, Onosode commands high demand in corporate boardrooms and at public functions. At one point, Onosode was on the board of over 30 companies including blue chip firms like Cadbury, Dunlop, Vanleer, nal merchant Bank, and the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Project. It is like his very memberships of such boards give it added value.

He rose from executive assistant to regional controller f the organization. But he quit on principles in 1965 when he disagreed with is employer’s decision to finance the federal mortgage bank solely on its share capital. This set a trend that was to work Onosode's public career.
Unlike the typical Nigerian who will not quit in the face of irreconcilable differences, he proved otherwise. At the Nigerian Industrial Development Bank ndib which he joined later and Commerce Bank where he was pioneer chairman, he quit when he disagreed fundamentally with the way things were going there.

He prides in his sojourn and experience at CDC which moulded him. "But I will always remain grateful to that organization because I was well trained by it, because of the spread of projects all over the Commonwealth and I was given the opportunity to study everyone of those projects. I think more than anything that single important experience was responsible for what I am today." Every other work he did on experience acquired was not dramatically new as the cdc.

Onosode has a strong character and is a man of deep convictions. He believes that he picked these traits from proper upbringing by his parents and God's interference in ensuring that he not only got good training but also good examples to follow fro his Baptist minister father and mother.

On his quitting jobs, he says "it is a question of integrity. Some people say I am a coward, maybe I am. But I prefer to be that kind of coward. My view is that since I never asked for any position, the position doesn't bring anything to me. On the contrary, I try to take something into the position. So on the basis of that, I couldn't possibly have any problem quitting a position."

He surprisingly declared his membership of the United Congress Party of Nigeria, UNCP and ran for the party's senatorial nomination. He was disqualified but like the principled man, he remained in the party and participated its activities rather than quit politics, decamp to another party or protest over his fate.

He was presidential adviser on Budget Affairs during president Shehu Shagari's second term in office, and blames the country's problem on corruption and lack of integrity including distress in the banking industry. "There was widespread corruption, within the entire system. And if there is widespread corruption you can never get anything right. No policy can come up right."

He is chairman of the Niger Delta Environmental Studies Project which takes some of his time today. He was the first indigenous chairman/ceo of nal Merchant Bank and Chairman/ceo, Intercommerce and Consulting Associates Limited, his consulting firm. He is still chairman, Dunlop, and President, Institute of Stock Brokers. He is also a Baptist Deacon.
Newswatch June 29, 1998

Frederik Willem de Klerk

.Frederik Willem de Klerk was born in Johannesburg on March 18, 1936. He is the son of Senator Jan de Klerk, a leading politician, who became minister in the South African government. His brother Willem is a liberal newspaperman and one of the founders of the Democratic Party.
F.W. de Klerk graduated with a law degree from Potchefstroom University in 1958 and then practiced law in Vereeniging in the Transvaal.

F.W. de Klerk graduated with a law degree from Potchefstroom University in 1958 and then practiced law in Vereeniging in the Transvaal. In 1969, he married Marike Willemse, with whom he has two sons and a daughter. De Klerk was offered a professorship of administrative law at Potchefstroom in 1972 but he declined the post because he had been elected to Parliament as National Party member for Vereeniging at the time.

In 1978, F.W. de Klerk was appointed Minister of Posts and Telecommunications and Social Welfare and Pensions by Prime Minister Vorster. Under Prime Minister P.W. Botha, he held a succession of ministerial posts, including Posts and Telecommunications and Sports and Recreation (1978-1979), Mines, Energy and Environmental Planning (1979-1980), Mineral and Energy Affairs (1980-1982), Internal Affairs (1982-1985), and National Education and Planning (1984-1989). In 1985, he became chairman of the Minister's Council in the House of Assembly. On December 1, 1986, he became the leader of the House of Assembly.

As Minister of National Education, F.W. de Klerk was a supporter of segregated universities, and as a leader of the National Party in Transvaal, he was not known to advocate reform. In February 1989, de Klerk was elected leader of the National Party and in September 1989 he was elected State President.

In his first speech after assuming the party leadership he called for a nonracist South Africa and for negotiations about the country's future. He lifted the ban on the ANC and released Nelson Mandela. He brought apartheid to an end and opened the way for the drafting of a new constitution for the country based on the principle of one person, one vote.

Gov Babatunde Raji Fashola

Born on June 28th, 1963, at the Island Maternity Hospital, Lagos to the Fashola Family of Isale-gangan, Lagos, Babatunde Raji Fashola, also a direct descendant of the Shomade Family of Isale-Eko through his paternal grandmother, as well as a descendant of the Bashua and Suenu Families of Lagos, began his educational career at Sunny-Fields Primary School. Adelabu, Surulere in Lagos.

He then proceeded to Birch Freeman High School, Surulere, Eko Boys High School, Mushin and Igbobi College, Yaba, all in Lagos in pursuit of academic laurels for his secondary and post secondary education.
Focused, hardworking and determined right from the youth, Babatunde Fashola made up his mind early in life to study Law. It was this ambition that motivated him to seek and obtain admission into the University of Benin, to study Law.
As a brilliant budding scholar, the young Fashola came out with laurels earning the Bachelor of Laws, L.L.B (Hons) degree in 1987 from the University of Benin, an institution that had set for itself the most rigorous standards of academic excellence. Babatunde Fashola is a Patron of the Law Students Association of the University of Benin. He is the second law graduate of the University of Benin and the first member of the Nigerian Law School graduating class of 1988 to be conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

There is no doubt that in Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), Lagos State has been endowed by God with an exemplary leader whose noble vision and purposeful mission is inspired by a matchless passion for his beloved state. No wonder he was invited to Moments with Mo to showcase the greatness in not just Nigeria but in Africa.

Gov Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Bola Ahmed Tinubu (born 29 March 1952) was governor of Lagos State in Nigeria from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007. He is a founding member of the Action Congress (AC) political party founded through the merger of a faction of the Alliance for Democracy, a faction of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Justice Party (JP) and Advance Congress of Democrats (ACD).
Born in the city of Lagos,Tinubu left Nigeria in 1975 to attend

college in the United States.
After attending Richard Daley College in Chicago, Illinois, he proceeded to Chicago State University and graduated in 1979 with a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Administration, specializing in Accounting and Management.

After the results of the 12 June 1993 presidential elections were annulled, Tinubu became a founding member of the pro-democracy National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), which mobilized support for the restoration of democracy and recognition of the 12 June results. He went into exile in 1994 and returned to the country in 1998 after the death of military dictator Sani Abacha, which ushered in a transition to civilian rule.

In 1999, he stood for the position of Executive Governor of Lagos State on the Alliance for Democracy (AD) ticket and was elected.
Tinubu's first term in office was characterized by lofty promises (a new power plant to tackle the chronic energy shortages in the highly industrialized state; and transportation projects including the 4th mainland bridge, the reinitiation of the Lagos Metroline Project and rehabilitation of roads; improved welfare of state government workers; improved waste management, a new traffic management agency and rehabilitation of the bar beach waterfront).

Tinubu's tenure as Lagos State Governor ended on 29 May 2007.
He is married with five children.

Hugh Ramopolo Masekela

was born on April 4, 1939, in Witbank, South Africa. He began singing and playing piano as a child. But at age 14, after seeing the film, YOUNG MAN WITH A HORN, where Kirk Douglas portrays American Jazz trumpeter, Bix Beiderbecke, he took up trumpet, given to the young Hugh by Archbishop Trevor Huddleston, the anti-apartheid chaplain at St. Peters Secondary School.

Masekela had been greatly moved by the music he heard on the 78 RPM gramophone records of Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, Chick Webb,

In his teens, he fell in love with Dizzy Gillespie, George Shearing, Miles Davis, Clifford Brown, John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Horace Silver, Art Blakey, Lee Morgan, Kenny Dorham, Oscar Peterson, Bud Shank, Dave Brubeck, Paul Desmond, Stan Getz, Jackie & Roy Kral, June Christy Shorty Rogers, Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker, Bud Powell and Mahalia Jackson.

After Huddleston asked the leader of the then Johannesburg "Native“ Municipal Brass Band, Uncle Sauda, to teach Hugh the rudiments of trumpet playing, the young boy quickly proceeded to master the instrument. Soon, some of Hugh's music-loving schoolmates also became interested in playing instruments, leading to the formation of the Huddleston Jazz Band, South Africa's very first youth orchestra. Hugh went on to play in other dance bands led by the great Zakes Nkosi, Ntemi Piliso, Elijah Nkwanyana and Kippie Moeketsi. By 1956, Hugh joined Alfred Herbert's African Jazz Revue.

Following a Manhattan Brothers tour of the country in 1958, Masekela wound up in the orchestra for the KING KONG musical written by Todd Matshikiza. KING KONG set South Africa's first record – breaking blockbuster theatrical success, touring the country for a sold-out year with Miriam Makeba and the Manhattan Brothers' Nathan Mdledle in the lead. The musical later went to London's West-End for two years.

At the end of 1959, Dollar Brand (later known as Abdullah Ibrahim), Kippie, Jonas, Makhaya Ntshoko, Johnny Gertze and Hugh formed the Jazz Epistles, the first African jazz group to record an LP and perform to record-breaking audiences in Johannesburg and Cape Town through late 1959 to early 1960.

Following the March 21, 1960, Sharpeville Massacre - where 69 peacefully protesting Africans were mercilessly mowed down and the government banned gatherings of ten or more people - and the increased brutality of the Apartheid state, Hugh finally left the country. Hugh was helped by Trevor Huddleston and international friends like Yehudi Menuhin and John Dankworth, who got him admitted into London´s Guildhall School of music.
Miriam Makeba, who was already enjoying major success in the United States, along with Harry Belafonte, Dizzy Gillespie and John Mehegan later helped Hugh obtain admission to the Manhattan School of Music in New York. It was during this time that Hugh had the opportunity to meet Louis Armstrong, who a few years earlier had sent the Huddleston Jazz Band a trumpet after the chaplain told the trumpet king about the band he had helped start back in South Africa.

Masekela began recording extensively with Miriam Makeba and can be heard adding his trumpet, singing and arranging talents to some of the singer's very best records. By 1963, the trumpeter had recorded his first solo album, TRUMPET AFRICAINE, and the following year, Makeba and Masekela were wed.

Oluchi Orlandi

Onweagba's first name in her native Igbo language means "God's Work". Her father was a civil servant, and her mother was a nurse. She and her siblings (two brothers and a sister) lived on Ayilara Street, Ojuelegba, in Surulere, a low-income area of the Lagos (The Nigerian commercial capital) metropolis. During high school, she enjoyed playing tennis and ping pong. Supposedly, she was discovered while she was selling bread on the streets of Lagos in order to make ends meet.

In August 2005, she married her longtime companion, Italian fashion designer Luca Orlandi. On April 25 2007 their son Ugochukwu was born

Discovery and Breakthrough

Oluchi was discovered by an agent while selling bread on the street. At just 17, she was urged by a family friend to enter into the M-Net "Face of Africa" preliminary screening at the M-Net office in Victoria Island, Lagos. The agency groomed her to be one of Nigeria's entrants for the 1998 competition (now called the Nokia Face of Africa). This despite the fact that, growing up, she had maintained a relative ignorance towards fashion and modeling.

With the support of her family and friends, she decided to compete in the inaugural edition of the Face of Africa in 1998. This was the first-ever continent-wide model competition, organized by the South African channel M-Net in collaboration with Elite Model Management. She won the competition.[4] She was just seventeen years old. Elite Model Management awarded Onweagba a three-year modeling contract.

Career Trajectory
After moving to New York City, where she still lives, Onweagba graced the covers of Italian Vogue, i-D, ELLE, Untold, and Surface; she also was featured in Nylon, Marie Claire, Allure, and other national editions of Vogue around the world. She became the face of campaigns for Gianfranco Ferré, Gap, Express, Banana Republic, and Ann Taylor, as well as working for Victoria's Secret. Onweagba's runway experience has been with John Galliano, Christian Dior, Costume National, Chanel, and Giorgio Armani, amongst others, in London, Milan, Tokyo and Paris. She has worked with such notable photographers as Steven Meisel, Nick Knight, and Patrick Demarchelier.

Beyond modeling, she tries to serve as a role model for other aspiring talents in Nigeria, especially young girls. She volunteers her time and her image for such NGOs as LEAP Africa (an entrepreneurship incubator) and NIPRO. She also is continuing her higher education, having studied for an associate's degree in the New York City educational system.

After her three-year contract with Elite expired, she signed with DNA Model Management. A highlight of her career so far was when she was featured in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue four times, from 2005 to 2008.

Prof. Dora Nkem Akunyili

Prof. Dora Nkem Akunyili (OFR) was born in Makurdi, Benue State (Nigeria) on the 14th of July 1954 to Chief & Mrs. Paul Young Edemobi. She is a devout Catholic and is happily married to Dr. J.C. Akunyili, a Medical Practitioner and they are blessed with six children and a grand child. Her hobbies include reading and writing.

Prof. Akunyili, the Director General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), is an internationally renowned Pharmacist, Pharmacologist, Erudite Scholar, Seasoned Administrator, and a visionary leader.

Prior to her present appointment, she was a Senior Lecturer and Consultant Pharmacologist in the College of Medicine, University of Nigeria Nsukka (U.N.N.), Enugu Campus.

Educational Career:

Prof. Akunyili’s educational career started with her passing the First School Leaving Certificate with Distinction in 1966, and the West African School Certificate (W.A.S.C.) with Grade I Distinction in 1973 (both in Nigeria), which earned her the Eastern Nigerian Government Post Primary Scholarship and the Federal Government of Nigeria Undergraduate Scholarship respectively. It is remarkable that throughout her high school career, Dora Akunyili was always first in her class - a record that has never been broken in the school to date.

She got her B.Pharm (Hons) in 1978 and P.hd in 1985, both at University of Nigeria Nsukka (U.N.N.). Prof. Akunyili won the best student award in the school of Pharmacy in her very first year in the school and the Vice Chancellor’s Postgraduate and Research Leadership prize in Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences for 1984/85 and 1985/86 academic Sessions.

She was promoted to the rank of a Professor in October, 2000 by the same University.

Working/Professional Experience:

Prof. Akunyili started her working career as a Hospital Pharmacist in the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (U.N.T.H) Enugu in 1978. In 1981, she ventured into Academics as a Graduate Assistant (Research Fellow) in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, U.N.N. In the University system, she made a steady progress from lecturer I in 1986 until she was made Senior Lecturer in 1990. She transferred to College of Medicine, U.N.N. in 1992 and became a Consultant Pharmacologist in 1996. From 1992 to 1994, Prof. Akunyili served as a member of Anambra State’s Hospitals Management Board and State Advisory Council for Women Commission, and was appointed Supervisory Councilor for Agriculture in Anaocha Local Government of Anambra State, Nigeria from 1994 – 1996.

Prof. Dora Akunyili was appointed Zonal Secretary of Petroleum Special Trust Fund (P.T.F.), coordinating all projects in the five South Eastern States of Nigeria from 1996 - 2000. As a Scientist and a Scholar, she has presented 20 papers in various Local and International Scientific Conferences, published two books and 33 Journal Articles. She also supervised PhD and Masters candidates, and is currently supervising six Postgraduate students in the College of Medicine U.N.N.

Professor Wole Soyinka

Wole Soyinka is among contemporary Africa's greatest writers. He is also one of the continent's most imaginative advocates of native culture and of the humane social order it embodies. Born in Western Nigeria in 1934, Soyinka grew up in an Anglican mission compound in Aké. A precocious student, he first attended the parsonage's primary school, where his father was headmaster, and then a nearby grammar school in Abeokuta, where an uncle was principal.

Soyinka attended the University of Ibadan (1952-54) before earning a BA in English from the University of Leeds. From 1957 to 1959, he served as a script-reader, actor and director at the Royal Court Theatre, London, and while there, developed three experimental pieces with a company of actors he had brought together. Although African writers have traditionally viewed English, French, and other European languages as the tongue of the colonial power, the tool of stigma and imperialism, Soyinka made the decision to write in English in order to gain access to an international audience.

In 1960, Soyinka returned to Nigeria and founded the 1960 Masks, a theatre company that would present his first major play, A Dance of the Forests, in which the spirit world and the living world clash over the future of a half-born child.
In October of 1965, Soyinka was arrested for allegedly seizing the Western Region radio studios and making a political broadcast disputing the published results of the recent elections.

Soyinka served as head of the Department of Theatre Arts at the University of Ibadan (1969-72) and head of the Department of Dramatic Arts at the University of Ife (1975-85). In 1978, Soyinka founded another theatre company, the Unife Guerilla Theatre. Based out of the University of Ife, this company presented plays and sketches in parks, markets, and on street corners, attacking corruption and political oppression.

( Rtd) Gen. Ibrahim Gbadamosi Babangida

IBB as he is popularly known is a native of Minna born in August 17th, 1941 to his late parents who earlier migrated from Kuta to Wushishi. He lost his parents at the age of fourteen, he was left with the Herculean task of facing the world alone, he believes and submits to the wish of Almighty Allah as the only solution to all problems. He has his first stint of education at an earlier stage from the Chief Imam of Minna, Mallam Najoji, a noble and well respected scholar of immense knowledge who taught him so many things about life and the power of prayers.

IBB had his elementary education in Minna from 1950-1956 and gained admission to the provincial secondary school that was later changed to Government Secondary School Bida from 1956-1961. He was selected and recruited with other young men from the North in 1962. He attended the 6th course of the Nigerian Military College, Kaduna now called the Nigerian Defence Academy after completion, he proceeded to India to complete the first level officers course at Indian Military Academy, Dehradun and was commissioned a second lieutenant in late 1963.
IBB was appointed Chief of Army Staff in January 1984 after the return of the military rule in December 1983, he held unto this position under Major General Mohammed Buhari regime until the bloodless coup-d'etat in August 27th 1985 that overthrew the Buhari Regime. IBB got into the steering wheel of the country's most prestigious seat as President, Commander-in Chief of the Armed Forces in 1985.

IBB was married to Maryam Babangida nee Okogwu in September 1969 in Kaduna, they are blessed with four lovely children, Aishat Babangida, Mohammed Babangida, Aminu Babangida and Halimat Babangida. With his past managerial experience, he rose to become one of the most successful businessman in most human enterprises. His influence and popularity is clearly attested in the recent marriage of his daughter Aishat to Basheer Garba even after ten years of handing power to a transition govt.

(Rtd.)General Olusegun

General (rtd.) Olusegun Mathew Okikiola Aremu obasanjọ, GCFR, born circa March 5, 1937) is a retired Nigerian Army general and former President of Nigeria. A Christian of Yoruba descent, Obasanjo was a career soldier before serving twice as his nation's head of state, once as a military ruler, between February 13, 1976 to October 1, 1979 and again from May 29, 1999 to May 29, 2007, as elected President. His current home is Abeokuta, the Capital City of Ogun State

Ọbasanjọ was born in Ogun State, grew up in Owu, and he enlisted in the Nigerian Army in 1958. His name, Olusegun, means "God is victorious". He trained at Aldershot, was commissioned as an officer, and fought against the Biafran secessionists in the Nigerian Civil War. Although he did not directly participate in the military coup of July 29, 1975, led by Murtala Mohammed, he supported it and was named Mohammed's deputy in the new government.

With US President Jimmy Carter in Lagos, 1978.As chief of staff of Supreme Headquarters, Obasanjo sought advice from Rogerlay of Akobi and thus had the support of the military. He had earlier commanded the 3 Marine Commando Division of the federal army that took Owerri, effectively bringing an end to the civil war. His earlier war service had included being with 1 Area Command in Kaduna and acting as Chief Army Engineer, then commander of 2 Area Command from July 1967, which rapidly was redesignated 2 Division Rear, and then the Ibadan Garrison Organisation. In 1976, he was marked for assassination along with Mohammed and other senior military personnel by coup plotters, lead by army col. Dimka.
But one colonel was mistaken for Obasanjo, and was subsequently killed together with Murtala on February 13, 1976.

A low profile security policy adopted by Murtala in guarding very important persons allowed the plotters easy access to their targets. However, the coup was foiled because they missed Obasanjo and General Theophilus Danjuma, chief of army staff and de facto number three man in the country. The plotters also failed to monopolize communications, although they were able to take over the radio station to announce the coup attempt.

Obasanjo and Danjuma where able to establish a chain of command and re-established security in Lagos, thereby regaining control. Obasanjo was made head of state in a meeting of the Supreme Military Council. Keeping the chain of command established by Murtala Muhammad in place, Obasanjo pledged to continue the programme for the restoration of civilian government in 1979 and to carry forward the reform programme to improve the quality of public service.

The model for the second republican constitution, which was adopted in 1979, was modelled on the Constitution of the United States, with provision for a President, Senate, and House of Representatives. The country was now ready for local elections, to be followed by national elections, that would return Nigeria to civilian rule.

R. Kelly

As the undisputed king of R&B, R. Kelly never seems to be far from the current soul scene. Be it collaborating with his homeboy Snoop (“That’s That”) or trading verses with Ciara (“Promise Remix”), this Chicago soul man has displayed a consistent brilliance throughout his fifteen-year career.
Since 2002, R. Kelly has blessed his fans with a new album every year, and 2007 will be no different. While the rest of the music world slept, R. Kelly has been inside his famed studio the Chocolate Factory making countless beats, laying down mackadelic vocals and creating wonderful music.

Much like his musical forefathers Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield and Donny Hathaway (the latter two also hailed from Chi-town), R. Kelly makes songs for ladies lounging in suites as well as homeboys b-balling in the streets. Aptly titled Double Up, Kelly’s new disc features a wide ranch of songs that pushes the sonic envelope while staying true to his game.
“Everything I did in the past, I’m about to double up on it,” says the windy city maestro. In other words, the listener will not be disappointed with the fierce production, superior lyricism and hyper collabos one has come to expect from a Kells project. Just in time for summer, with its whirlwind of backyard barbeques and beach parties, Double Up is filled with enough anthems to dominate the season.

Firing the soul shot heard around the world, “I’m A Flirt (Remix)” is the self-expletory title of the first single. Over a smooth mid-tempo groove, R. Kelly lays down a bit of nightspot realness. “Soon As I See Her Walk Up In The Club (I'm A Flirt)/ Winking Her Eyes At Me, When I Roll Up On Them Dubs (I'm A Flirt)/ Sometimes When I'm With My Chick On The Low (I'm A Flirt),” he sings. Joining forces with his homies T.I and T-Pain, Kelly has constructed the perfect player’s anthem.

With an exquisite video shot by famed photographer Timothy Saccenti, the scorching single has already become a popular request on YouTube as well as in heavy rotation on BET and MTV. “Having worked with so many hip-hop artists over the last few years, I decided to throw some of that magic on my own record,” says R. Kelly.
Enlisting a posse of hard-hitting’ rhyme slayers for Double Up, Kelly proves himself a versatile performer who can vocally hang with anyone on the mic. From the big beat blast of “Rock Star” with six-time Grammy Award winner Ludacris to the bombastic appearance of Rick Ross on the thunderous “Put Some Money on It,” Kelly’s voice and outstanding production is pure fire.

Hooking up with his old buddy Snoop, the two do their thing on the title track. With a kick of killer bass, this song is bound to have folks house party sweating. Still, experimenting with his personal style of rap-singing, “Pull Ya Hair” will have women across the country smiling sexily while tightening their weaves. Later on the record, Kelly shares the mic with hometown boy Kanye West on the amazing “Hook It Up.”

Yet, for anyone who might think that the pied piper of soul has turned his back on ballads has another thing coming. “To me, rap and R&B are like two hands holding one another,” says R. Kelly. “Double Up is about 70% hip-hop, but, that being said, I’m always going to make songs for the ladies.” On Double Up, R. Kelly gives his fans not only want they want, he gives them twice as much.

Rio Ferdinand

Rio Gavin Ferdinand an English footballer was born on the 7th of November 1978. He plays at centre-back for Manchester United in the Premier League and at the international level for the English national football team

. He has achieved 70 caps for the English national team while being selected for three FIFA World Cup squads. He happens to be the current vice-captain of the England national team.
Ferdinand joined Manchester United in July 2002 for around £ 30 Million, breaking the transfer fee record once more. He won the Premier League, his first major club honour, in a successful first season at the club.
He has two sons, Lorenz and Tate, with his fiancée Rebecca Ellison. His family is known for footballing prowess: Brother Anton Ferdinand is also a centre-back and former England international Les Ferdinard is his cousin.
He was one of the personality guest that was featured in season Five of the Moments with Mo show.