Photos from the first ever YouTube Music Awards 2013

YouTube hosted the inaugural YouTube Music Awards, a celebration of music honoring the artists and songs that YouTube fans have turned into global hits over the past year

The event went down at Pier 36 in New York City on Sunday, November 3, 2013. The awards show was streamed live on the internet and hosted by Jason Schwartzman and Reggie Watts with live performances by Lady Gaga and Eminem.

Eminem won the ‘Artist of the Year’ award

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Nigerian Born Enobong Wins U.S. UBF International Heavyweight Title

Nigerian born boxer, Enobong Umohette brought down his opponent, former USA Olympian, Dante Craig at the 2nd round to clinch the UBF International Heavyweight Boxing Title.

In what was to be a sensational 10-round battle, Enobong achieved the unthinkable, succeeding as a promoter and fighter and, at the same time, capturing the UBF International Heavyweight boxing title by a 2nd round TKO win over Craig.

Umohette entered the fight with only 9 fights to his record and faced Dante Craig who won 15 of his 20 wins by TKO and held 4 national and international titles.

The Nigerian born pugilist, in his victory speech showed his respect for the USA Olympian and thanked Nigerians, friends and well-wishers for their support.

Nollywood Veteran, Pa Ola Ogungbe Passes On

Nollywood has lost one of its own – ace actor, Pa Ola Ogungbe, better known as Papa Paragon is dead.

The aged actor died last night at a hospital in Abeokuta after a brief illness.

Until his death, Papa Paragon, the father of top actor, Segun Ogungbe was a member of the Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (ANTP), Abeokuta, Ogun State chapter.

A woman once refused to marry me because I had no car – Saka

In a recent interview with Punch, Hafiz Oyetoro popularly known as Saka and his wife, Olaide, relive the experience of their 10-year-old marriage and more.

How did you meet?

Hafiz: She was a final year student of the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education while I was a lecturer in the school. The first time I saw her, she had come to the school to submit her final year project. I was with a friend of mine who knew her. I just told my friend that I would love to meet the lady and he facilitated a meeting between us.

Tiwa Savage, Tonto Dikeh & Others Attend Annie Idibia’s Baby Shower [PHOTOS]

A surprise birthday party was thrown for Annie Idibia at her home by fellow Nollywood acts and friends recently.

Annie is currently pregnant with her second child for husband 2Face Idibia.

See photos from the parri!

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Nollywood Actor, Jim Iyke Refutes Marriage Rumours

Police Disrupt Rebel Governors’ Meeting in Abuja (PHOTOS)

Policemen drafted from the Asokoro Area Command in Abuja disrupted a meeting by five of the seven aggrieved governors of the Peoples Democratic Party in Abuja on Sunday night.

The policemen were led by the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the command, Mr. Nnanna Ama.

According to reports, CSP Nnanna Ama, in orange polo shirt barges into the G7 governors meeting with some officers and asked the governors and others at the meeting to disperse or be arrested.

The rebel governors were at the Kano State Governor’s Lodge to meet on their grievances against the PDP and how to marshall their points ahead of their planned meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan.

Oby Ezekwesili blasts politicians - Says ‘Nigerian masses are like abused wives’

Former Minister of Education and former World Bank Vice-President Africa Division, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, has said the relationship between Nigerian citizens and their political elite is like that between an ‘abused wife’ and her husband. But in what looks like a veiled call to action, the former minister seems to attribute Nigerians’ governance-induced suffering to their docility.

“The relationship between citizens of Nigeria and their political elites is like the one between an abused wife and her husband. A people that too quickly forget and move on to the next salacious exploits of their political elite are their own nemesis!” She said.

In separate tweets on her Twitter handle, Mrs. Ezekwesili expressed her disdain for how the present crop of leaders run the Nigerian economy, saying: “Not even grocery shops run their affairs like this… such vagrant public finance management is contemptuous of citizens.

Russian teenager sells her virginity for less than £18,000 on auction site

A teenager from Russia has sold her virginity for less than $30,000, it is reported.

The unnamed 18-year-old known only by the nickname Shatuniha advertised on an online auction site describing her condition as 'new - not used'.

From Siberia, she proposed meeting in a hotel in the city of Krasnoyarsk where she wished to be paid before sleeping with the man who exceeded her minimum price.

Russian police said they would not investigate since she and the buyer had broken no laws.

See Photos from Patience Jonathan's Foster Mother's Funeral Service

See photos from the burial ceremony of the first lady, Patience Jonathan's foster mum in Okrika, Rivers State.

President Jonathan, VP Namadi Sambo, Governor Goodswill Akpabio, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Governor Theodore Orji and several prominent Nigerians were at the burial. 

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Sunny Neji Celebrates 12 Years of Marriage [PHOTOS]

Oruka singer, Sunny Neji, yesterday celebrated 12 years of marriage to his wife, Peace – the couple got married on November 1, 2001.

Here’s his sweet message to his beloved wife;

“Wao, it’s 12 years already and you are still the one who makes my heart skips a beat. You are still the one I wake up with. You are still the one I share my plans and dreams with.

“You are still the one I pray with. You are still the one I love coming home to because you are the one. Thanks God for you darling wife. Thank you for accepting me for who I am. I love you and always will. Happy anniversary sweetheart.”

I’m not dating Michael Bobby Obodo, he is a colleague – Jackie Appiah

I am Jackie Appiah, a Ghanaian but was born in Canada in the early 80s. We moved back to Ghana in 1993. I had a very happy childhood with lots of friends.

One of the biggest actresses in Ghana

I feel blessed and favoured. God has honoured me with this precious talent. He has made me known across the globe, and I have made people laugh and cry. I am happy to be in this profession and I am happy my people appreciate the work that I do, especially my fans.

Me and Nollywood

Nigeria is like my second home. I think the acceptance was buoyed by the fact that I won the best supporting actress at Africa Movie Academy Awards. I came back the following year, got an award as the best actress in leading role and each time I came around, producers contacted me to take up roles in their movies and that was it.

D’banj Talks about his DKM album, his businesses & more in Trace Urban Interview [VIDEO]

In this interview with Trace Urban, D’banj reveals why he is referred to as Eja nla; he also talked about his DKM album and DB Records. The Kokomaster made mention of how Mo-hits Records was formed and he spoke also of his general view of music.

Check the video below;

Generator Suppliers and Govt. Contractors forced me to resign – Nnaji

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Fourteen months after his sudden exit from President Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet, ex-Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, on Friday opened up on the “powerful interests” he claimed forced him out of office.

Nnaji accused unnamed generator and diesel suppliers as well as sundry government contractors in the power sector of being behind his sudden resignation from office.

Nnaji, who is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Geometric Power Limited, however, took glory for the successful handover of the successor companies of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria  which took place on Friday.

The former minister spoke at Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun State, where he delivered the institution’s 5th Convocation Lecture entitled: “Towards a Sustainable Value System for Economic Growth.”

Tweet of the Day: ‘Ghanaians are suffering’ – Yvonne Nelson to Pres. Mahama

New Music: Waje – Omini Knowest (Prod. By E-kelly)

Listen to Waje new song titled ‘Omini Knowest’

Goa’s Death Update: Authorities demands judicial probe + Congress leader, his son and police officials linked to narcotics mafia

53 Nigerians were detained late Thursday night after a mob of about 200 of them blocked a National Highway over the death of a fellow national, (see story here).

Consequently, the Goa Congress, on Friday demanded a judicial probe into the murder of the Nigerian national, allegedly by the narcotics mafia, and the subsequent blockading of the National Highway No.17 for hours Thursday.

Addressing a press conference in Panaji, Congress spokesperson Reginaldo Lourenco said that his party was also open to a high-level probe into the findings of a legislative committee, which indicts senior Congress leader Ravi Naik, his son Roy and police officials for links with Goa's narcotics mafia.

"The manner in which Goa's main arterial road was held to ransom for six hours by a Nigerian gang only goes to show that the home ministry has failed. The corrupt policemen are too scared to touch the drug mafia," Lourenco said.

I’m blessed to have the kind of husband I have – Lami Philips

It is not often you come across a chic and beautiful woman who is all over town telling everyone who cares to listen how much she loves her husband. At least that's what Lami Philips is trying to do with 'Baby', a track she said she dedicates to her husband. She recently completed the video in London and back at home WG ran into the suave beauty at an event where she talked about her career, her kind of music and more.

Excerpts:

You look so beautiful even without any make-up

Thanks. Fact is that I just got back from rehearsals for a new video I'm shooting and I got all sweaty but had to quickly wipe my face with a towel inside the car

“Whenever you see Maurinho, you see motivation” – John Obi Mikel

Midfielder John Obi Mikel believes Jose Mourinho's "win, win mentality" will lead to another era of success at Chelsea.

Mikel said Mourinho had returned to the club this summer with the sort of swagger which convinces players they can do better.

"This game is all about winning and the manager that brought this transformation of winning to this club is back now," Mikel told Chelsea TV.

"He still has the same idea of how he wants us to approach every game with a win, win mentality.

22 Lagos Pupils Fall Unconscious After Inhaling Gaseous Substance

There was confusion at Ogba Junior Grammar School, Lagos, on Thursday after about 22 pupils fell unconscious.

Punch Metro learnt that the incident was caused by a gaseous substance emitting from a neighbouring laboratory, close to the school. The chemical was said to have engulfed the entire school.

When our correspondent visited the school premises, it was deserted. However, a security guard, who did not identify himself, said the incident occurred around 1pm.

He said, “I was just by the gate when I perceived this offensive smell. I quickly ran to a corner and covered my nose with my shirt.

“Pupils came running, saying some of their colleagues had fainted. When the smell subsided, teachers rallied around and rushed them to a hospital.

Nigerian Ministry of Defence Website Hacked and Defaced by Moroccan Ghosts

Some months ago, an Irish hacker, Paddyhack attacked Nigeria’s official website, www.nigeria.gov.ng; this time, another government site has been hacked.

The official website of Nigerian Ministry of Defence (http://www.mod.gov.ng/) has been hacked and defaced by renowned hackers from Moroccan Ghosts hacking group (see photo above).

The site was hacked few hours ago, and the home page was left with a deface page along with a message; “Moroccan Ghosts, The Sahara is Moroccan!”

As at the time of writing this piece, the site has not been restored.

Justin Bieber Buys $850,000 House For His Dad and Siblings

19-year-old pop star, Justin Bieber has spent $850,000 to buy his family a new house on a sprawling rustic estate in Canada.

The singer purchased the five-bedroom apartment in a small town near his birthplace of Ontario, for father Jeremy and his half-siblings, five-year-old Jazmyn and three-year-old Jaxson.

This isn’t Justin’s first real estate investment to date. In fact, he purchased his current home in Calabasas CA for a cool $6 million in 2012, in addition to buying his mom her own sweet multimillion dollar California house.

“Wizkid is not a threat…I’ve apologised to Sesan and his Camp” – Davido

Sometime last year, Wizkid was asked if he considers Davido a threat, the singer said “All the stories of beef and quarrel between both of us are mere rumours. Davido is my friend and I respect him. I don’t consider him a threat at all. We both make good music that people love.’’

Meanwhile, in a recent interview with Punch, a similar question was posed to Davido; he was asked if Wizkid was a threat or a music rival – his response was more like a rehash of Wizkid’s. “Not at all. The rumour is cool. But I see nobody as competition or threat. God is behind me, so I just go into the studio, do my music and everything is fine. I develop and write most of my songs in the studio,” he stated.

UNN Graduate, Dennis Okike wins Gulder Ultimate Search [PHOTO]

Twenty-year old graduate of Electronics Engineering from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Daniel Okike, has emerged winner of the 10th edition of the Gulder Ultimate Reality Show.

With the victory, the Abia State native has won N10m and a brand new Mitsubishi Pajero.

The guy that had initially said he intended to establish a successful international import and export business outsmarted Edmund Umeabuani and Ifunanya Onike in the waters of the Usaka River, where the battle for the ultimate symbol held.

But it is a fair story for Onike, too, as she is the Last Female Standing, winning an added one million naira.

Aki and Pawpaw Stopped From Shooting Movie in Ghana

Nollywood super-stars, Chinedu Ikedieze and Osita Iheme fondly referred to as Aki and Paw Paw have been stopped from shooting a movie in the Eastern Region of Ghana.

According to online reports, the director of the said movie flouted some regulations of the Film Producers’ Association of Ghana (FIPAG), hence the directive to stop production.

Meanwhile, the association PRO, Mr. Michael Ola disclosed to nydjlive.com that the association had no misgivings about the duo but believed the right procedure had to be followed.

Aki and PawPaw have been asked to officially obtain the necessary documents from Nigeria which includes their working permit as well as make payments for the continuation of the shoot.