The Passion of Christ

Captured this Passion of Christ procession on Good Friday along Agidingbi Road as I drove out in the morning. I'd always seen scenes like this on TV and in the papers but it was my first live view. So I parked by the kerb and shot a few images as the procession by St Leo's Catholic Church moved along the road towards Coca Cola Junction.

By the way, did you notice the hair? Wonder how well coiffed Christ's hair was as he was led like a lamb to the slaughter on Calvary.

Goal.com Nigeria launch party

L-r: Dan Price, Business Development Manager Perform, Lolade Adewuyi, Chief Editor Goal.com Nigeria, Deacon Ayo Ositelu, Editorial Board member The Guardian, Daryn Wober, Managing Director Global Business Development Perform, Tokunbo Adodo, Marketing Manager Non-Alcoholic Drinks, Nigeria Breweries, Ita Bassey, Senior Brand Manager Gulder, and Olayiwola Onafowokan, Head of Value Added Service, Etisalat Nigeria at the launch of Goal.com Nigeria, Oriental Hotel, Lagos on Friday March 30.

Daryn Wober, MD Global Business Development, Perform Media

 The world's biggest football website Goal.com launched its Nigeria edition on Friday March 30 at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island. Here are some photos from the event. Read an article on the website. 

Goal.com Nigeria Chief Editor Lolade Adewuyi

Lolade Adewuyi, Thisday's Kunle and Dan Price

Goal.com Nigeria writers Babajide Alaka, Bode Oguntuyi and Emeka Nwani

Sports broadcaster Mitchell Obi, Osa Unwede of 70th Precinct, Daryn Wober

MC Bimbo Adeola

Perform's Stewart, Lolade, Dan, Daryn and Goal.com columnist Bode Oguntuyi

Goal.com hostesses

Arise Magazine Lagos Fashion Week - KIKI Clothing

I was invited by my friend Titi Ademola of KIKI Clothing to her show at the recent Arise Magazine Lagos Fashion Week on Sunday. Here are a few shots from the event. I sadly could not wait till the end to see Ozwald Boateng's designs but it was a delight to see super model Oluchi walk the ruway, my first time of seeing her.It's my first time of taking photos on the runway, didn't prepare for it as I sat in a tight corner of the hall but I hope you get an idea of the show through these shots.

KIKI Clothing models

Designer Titi Ademola of KIKI Clothing Accra, Ghana

Super model Oluchi

Red carpet photos from Soul Diaspora's premiere in Lagos

Award winning film Soul Diaspora had its Nigerian premiere at the Ozone Cinemas, Yaba on Saturday January 28. Odera Ozoka's story about the troubled life of a Nigerian immigrant in Los Angeles days before the 9/11 attacks won the 2009 African Movie Academy Awards for best film from a director in the Diaspora. Lead actor Saidu Abu also got a nomination for his gritty performance in the best actor category. On Saturday, the Lagos audience got a look at the film sthat has garnered so much praise at many festivals worldwide. Personally, I wasn't disappointed. Can't speak for others who came in expecting a regular Nollywood melodrama. Director Odera had warned me ahead of time that this was not "a date movie" when I asked if I could come with a friend. It's a noirish story of loneliness in a foreign land, stereotypes, hate, culture shock and the anger and suspicion that followed the attacks on America in September 2001. No plot spoilers here because the movie will open to audiences later this year and I would like for everyone to get shocked by the tragedy of the movie. Here are a few photos from the red carpet event.

Nollywood actress Steph-Nora Okereke

Nollywood actor Emeka Ike

Director Odera Ozoka with his Mother

The film's star Sadiq Abu

"Chuks" and "Ene" of Tinsel

Journalist Lolade Adewuyi, film producer Clotilde Delavennat and actor Sadiq Abu

The Women of #OccupyNigeria

Waka music singer Salawa Abeni joined voices with the people at the Gani Fawehinmi Park on Tuesday. Beside her is Joe-Okei Odumakin, a fiery civil society leader who in her own right has become a rallying point for the masses.

 The OccupyNigeria protests have continued into the second day and my attention has been drawn to the role of women in the demonstrations. They have played big roles as much as men in the struggle against tyranny against the Nigerian people by their government. Here are a few of the women I captured during these protests.

Journalist Lolade Sowoolu tweets on her mobile phone during protests at the Gani Fawehinmi Park

Star actress Bimbo Akintola showed up at the OccupyNigeria protests in Ojota to denounce the government

Activist Chioma Ogwuegbu displays her Nigeria colours at the OccupyNigeria protests in Ojota

This young lady joined the protests against fuel subsidy removal at Ojodu.

With a smile, this young lady asks the government to rescind its decision.

#OccupyNigeria: The birth of a neighbourhood protest

Dayo Fadugba leads a handful of young men at the start of the protest in Ojodu

 I was privileged to be part of the beginning of a protest in my neigbourhood as the #OccupyNigeria protests against the removal of government subsidy on petroleum commenced today. Dayo Fadugba, former publicity officer of the Obafemi Awolowo University students union, called a group of young men together on Sunday night to sensitise them about the issues on ground. I got wind of it and attended. The stage was set for protests on Monday morning and I was duly woken up by Fadugba's phone call at 7:16am informing me that they were about to commence.

Without as much as a shower, I jumped out onto the streets, camera in hand, to meet about seven young men, Fadugba inclusive, as they sang around the Ishaga Ojodu-Abiodun area denouncing the government position. We moved from house to house, street to street urging parents to release their young people to join in the protests that affects one and all.

Fadugba said: "You provide water for yourselves, you subsidise your own electricity, you send your children to private schools, they graduate but cannot get jobs and the government wants you to keep quiet, what has the government done for you? If you fight you may win but if you don’t fight you have definitely lost".

From a handful of people, the crowd grew into almost a thousand signifying the anger of many Nigerians at their government's anti-human policies. We moved towards the Ojodu-Abiodun Police Post where Emeka Nwonyi, the divisional police officer, asked the young men and women to protest peacefully even as he acknowledged the fact that policemen also feel the pinch of the policy.

The procession then moved to the Berger Roundabout where it occupied before moving on towards Omole and onwards to Ojota where the larger #OccupyNigeria party was being held.

From seven people to more than a thousand, there is power in the peoples' anger.

A banner says: We no fit shout

Writing the signs

Protesting for his future

Bring an end to corruption

No to fuel subsidy removal

Fadugba addresses Emeka Nwonyi, divisional police officer of the Ojodu-Abiodun Police post

Young people are angry at their government

Emeka Nwonyi, DPO Ojodu-Abiodun Police post addresses the protesting crowd 

Nothing that goes up ever comes down in Nigeria

From a small beginning, the crowd grows into a mammoth and moves to Berger Roundabout

Clapping against government tyranny

Fuel price hike portends hell for many Nigerians

The Angel of Dustbin Estate

Tolulope Sangosanya with children of Dustbin Estate at her resource centre

Tolulope Sangosanya founded the Love On The Streets (LOTS) Charity Foundation to cater for the less privileged children living around Pako in Ajegunle, Lagos. The neighbourhood is better known by its other name, Dustbin Estate.

Having experienced a life of challenges herself, Tolu has found her calling in taking care of the needs of educational needs of the children in the area. Growing up Tolu could not read. After overcoming her disability, her family got a prophecy that she was going to die before her 25th birthday.

"I used to tell myself that I am special but couldn't read and write,"  Tolu told me. "How can I get to this stage when I thought all was well and then they say that I shall die?"

And so came the desire to leave a legacy behind. It was the reason behind LOTS Charity. Not only did she not die, her charity has survived and is giving succour to more than a hundred kids at the rented apartment where she operates a resource and literacy centre in the Ajegunle neighbourhood. "I can relate and empathize with them because I had a late start in life. All they need is love."

In 2010, Tolu was awarded the prize for the best use of advocacy at The Future Awards. She continues to give her time and attention to the children of Dustbin Estate where she is assisted by Priye and Emmanuel Bayoko, two siblings who grew up in the neighbourhood.

"I'm doing it for the future of the kids," said Emmanuel. "I believe in Nigeria's future."

(Please see link to help Tolulope Sangosanya's work with the children of Dustbin Estate)

The slum where the kids and their families live

Tolu with her assistants Priye and Emmanuel Bayoko

Ikeja City Mall Opens

The Ikeja City Mall was commissioned today by Lagos governor Babatunde Fashola. A long line of customers queued up outside to receive freebies from the major retailers that include Shoprite, Twice As Nice, Silverbird Cinemas, Mr Price, NIKE, etc. 


Mr Fashola said the mall "restores Ikeja back to its rightful place as the retail hub of Lagos. This development provides an inspiring vision of what can be achieved through collaboration between the development partners, regulators, government officials and tenants. Ikeja City Mall brings world-class retail and leisure facilities to Lagos. I am excited to see my fellow citizens in the mall today, relaxing and having fun.”

 Well, I can tell you, this will become a veritable playground for Mainlanders during this Christmas. 

Shopping time

Governor Fashola

*Photos courtesy of Adewale Adelola