Monday, May 30, 2011

CHUDE JIDEONWO'S ADDRESS @ THE YOUTH'S LUNCH WITH THE PRESIDENT

“We are watching you, Mr. President.”

Being Text of a Speech Given By Chude Jideonwo, Managing Partner of Red Media/The Future Project, at the Pre-Inauguration Youth Lunch with President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday, 24 May, 2011.
I was a bit worried when I was asked yesterday to speak about youth corps members and corruption at the same time. Beyond the ‘C’ in both words, how does one link both? But then it hit me.
You see, sir, the issues are simple: the National Youth Service Corps, like many Nigerian institutions that are ailing, needs urgent reform. It is the reason The Future Project, in conjunction with EnoughisEnough Nigeria, Sleeves Up, AIESEC and the National Youth Council, has activated the youth-led #ProtectTheCorpers campaign, which is urgently demanding this reform.
But beyond that, the question is: why hasn’t this change come – even after so many years and so many lives lost? Why is it so difficult to restructure a scheme that has been ridden by neglect of its young people, lack of basic amenities from uniforms to water in camp, a complete inability to provide these young people with genuine learning opportunities and a total collapse of the original intent of this programme to forge unity?
Sir, it is corruption. People who benefit from this corrupt, inept system will fight tooth and nail, rain and shine to ensure that they continue to plunder the commonwealth. They cannot want change, they do not want change, and they never will. And now sir, these corrupt people are part of this government… your government, and therefore your responsibility.
Therefore, the times call for you, dear sir, to make a sharp break from the past and impress us – and we are not easy to impress - with the sheer strength of character to fundamentally restructure our state of affairs. Good intentions are great, a positive disposition is desirable, and your personal credibility is not in doubt, but those cannot dislodge such a fundamentally flawed system.
Sir, you have a prime opportunity to be a hero and change this system - for good - in a way your predecessors have sadly been incapable of.
We will be watching sir. But we won’t just watch, we will demand it, and we will work to make sure that we get it. We will hold you to every one of your promises.
God keep you sir, and God bless Nigeria. END.

TY BELLO'S ASCENDANCY

''Seest thou a man diligent in his business?, he shall stand before KINGS-people of means,influence,Rich/Wealthy etc: he shall not stand before mean men-Inconsequential or of non-repute.''

A man's gift-Talent/Skills/Calling-maketh room for him,and bringeth him before great men-Authorities,Powers,Rulers,People of Influence etc

This 2 quotable quotes perfectly describes the sublimely talented & blessed Ace photographer TY Bello,being a photographer to the people that counts is only just one of her gifts, she is also a trained lawyer and an award winning musician, who was formerly of that fantastic group KUSH, before she later successfully going solo:remember that hit track-the Land is Green.




Many years back, If one were to tell friends,family members etal, that one was going to become a photographer, especially if the financial means to support having proper education is available, most likely that person would be castigated to high heavens or would be told to have his/her head examined, its that same vocation that was not too attractive to many then, that some very well educated individuals have turned into very lucrative profession now, the likes of Kelechi Amadi Obi reputed to be the best fashion photographer in Nigeria, Uche James Iroha reputed to be one of the most artistically gifted photographer around, others like Ade Plumptre,Yetunde Ayeni Babaeko & TY Bello who has taken the art of taking potraits to another level.

This individuals and many others not mentioned here have upped the ante, and have shown that photography is not just about point & shoot, but is a major art form, and like Sculpting,painting etc it needs diligence & strong passion to seperate one from the pack.  For example, TY has been a favorite of the well heeled & influential for some years now, her talent or is it gift, through hardwork & diligence has connected her, I dont know if anyone saw the family potrait of the 1st family recently as published in the THISDAY Style magazine, I can say matter of factly, that I have never seen the 1st, lady look that young & beautiful before, that is a testimony of how good TY is, to the extent that she seems to have become the official photographer to the 1st family. I also saw her at the innaguration of the president in Abuja, running around near the motorcade, carrying her signature Afro hair, making sure to position well to take the best shots. Its definitely the best of times for this very talented lady and one is praying for a continual ascendance.

ECHOES OF ARISE AFRICA FASHION WEEK 2011-part 2

HELEN ADEGITE




CHIOMA ONYECHI-MD CHILLY'S WARDROBE



DIMEJI ALARA

MUSTAFA HASSANALI






JOKE ADEPASHE & FRIENDS





SHALEWA

RITA




OHIMAI ATAFO & FRIEND



UGONNA OMERUO & SASHA P

JOKE ADEPASHE




NIKE BALOGUN



LATASHA NGWUBE

ONAH NWACHUKWU

RUKA MOMODU

BIANNI OKUNGBOWA






UGONNA OMERUO OF HOUSE OF NWOCHA

MICHELLE DEDE










TOKE MAKINWA






KEHINDE EBIE

OMOME OSIME







APRIL ABANULOR






OMOWUNMI AKINNIFESI

TOPE ISIBOR





WALE ADEYEMI




YVONNE VIXEN EKWERRE & LIZ GAVY


ALALI HART



TOKE MAKINWA











HELEN & ANNE

KORTO MOMOLU


DANIELLE ALLEN


FUNKE & DANIELLE





JENNIFER OBAYUWANA



BUKKY TIJANI













JUMAI SHABA

JEMILA SHABA













ITUEN BASI





ATEDO PETERSIDE



ABIOLA ADEGOKE & FRIEND

JENNIFER OBAYUWANA & FRIEND

JOHN OBAYUWANA

PASTOR WALE ADEFARASIN


JACINTA POWELL,YVONNE NWOSU & TOKE MAKINWA

FEMI ATILADE



Many of those who came during the 3 days fashion week, came dressed to the nines, it was like their was a style/fashion competition going on, while many were spot on and got it going very well, some were totally out of it, but in all it was a breath of fresh air, and we at MM recommend that the fashion week could become a twice yearly thing, which would give opportunities to budding but unknown talents to be discovered and it would also expose talents in other areas of fashion & style-Stylists,Make-up artists,Choreographers,Publicists etc. Here is a part 2 of those who came.