OUT AND ABOUT AT THE SUPERLATIVE LAUNCH OF THE INCREDIBLE MONALISA MAGAZINE

JULIUS AGWU & MONALISA CHINDA

FLORENCE ITA-GIWA, BETTY IRABOR, MONALISA & HELEN AJAYI UNVEILING THE MAGAZINE

MONALISA CHINDA

EUNICE EFOLE

ELVINA IBRU

We were one of those who wanted to see what the whole hype about the Monalisa Magazine was all about. In our mind we had thought far and wide and concluded that, what can they do to better what was already on ground. And the truth be told at the end of the razzmatazz that was part of the unveiling of the maiden edition of the magazine that would most definitely win many awards, we saw why it was a project very close and dear to the heart of the publisher, Monalisa Chinda & her partner Lanre Nzeribe. 


Not only were we bowled over, we were and still are totally impressed by the whole package, 300 plus pages of sheer excellence and magnificence,all colour, all gloss, of the very best of international standards. It can stand side by side any magazine from any part of the world without flinching. Kudos to the publisher Monalisa Chinda for a very good or should we say an excellent job well done. The quality of this international lifestyle journal of note from Nigeria, Africa is unparallelled.

MORE INFO & PICTURES AFTER THE BREAK. PLS CLICK ON READ MORE BELOW



We heard that this labour of love, couldn't have cost the duo not less than $80,000 dollars, this is just a conservative estimate ooooo and the 80,000 dollars is just for the printing and cost of shipping about 5000 copies in from where it was printed. The quality of the truly first of its kind luxury lifestyle magazine from Nigeria is totally outstanding. Each 300 plus pages magazine is said to have cost the publishers about $16 dollars each . Can this super quality and number of pages and content be sustained? Hopefully!!! Reasons for that is that, if the focus and never say die attitude poured into making this maiden edition happen is sustained, the bi-monthly winner, would come out effortlessly again and again. 

How did the launch itself go? Apart from the fact that it is now obvious, that it is impossible for Nigerians to keep to time, it went well. The invitation card had said 5pm. But nothing started until about 2 hours 30 minutes later. The venue you all already know was the 5-star Intercontinental Hotel, on Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. The spot used inside the hotel was the terrace on the 5th floor, which has this unbelievably beautiful or should we say magnificent view of some parts of Victoria Island. Men!!!!!The view at night is sublime and totally surreal. The lateness in starting didn't dampen the atmosphere at all in any way. As people were sipping on one thing or the other and chatting excitedly waiting with bated breath to see what was going to be unveiled. 

The guest-list at the event didn't disappoint also in any way, that was one pointer to us that it was going to be a cool evening. We saw the likes of Genevieve Publisher Betty Irabor, who looked gorgeous in her white outfit, she was escorted to the event by her husband, the CEO of Inspiration FM, Soni Irabor, at least 2 ex-beauty queens were present, still looking every inch like beauty queens, many years after they both wore the crowns. The incredibly gorgeous Miss Nigeria 1979, the ageless Helen Ajayi, who we cannot still believe clocked 50 not too long ago came looking sweet. The other beauty queen that graced the occasion with her husband in tow, is the extraordinarily beautiful Anita Queen Iseghohi, MBGN 2004. Anita came looking totally exquisitely gorgeous in her silver Herve Leger dress, her gentleman husband, Mr. Tom Iseghohi came in later. Others at the event were the likes of AliBaba & wife Mary Akpobome, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, Dr. Vivian Oputa, Chico & Joy Ejiro, Zik Zulu-Okafor, Segun Arinze was the day's mc, ably assisted by the gorgeous Ireti. We saw Princess Nina, Eunice Efole, Mr. Kool, Julius Agwu, Rukky Sanda, Ezinne Chinkata, Lolade Majekodunmi, Queensly Osagie, Mpho Laing, Emem Isong, Wole Aboderin, Julie Odia, Reze Bonna, Moussa Moussa who took the cover photograph and many other guests too many to mention. 

It was a great night, and many willingly showed great support for a good job well done, Florence Ita-Giwa bought her own copy for N500, 000, while some of the other special guests bought theirs, for amounts not disclosed. The beautiful journal we hear would be sold for N5000 per copy on the magazine shelves.  Music at the event was supplied by Godbless and the Eboni Band and they did a good job playing a medley of the best of Nigerian & other good songs from all over. As usual at such events like this, there was much to drink and eat. All in all it was a great occasion and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. 

Lanre Nzeribe showed that he was a partner indeed as he was up and about all through the evening making sure all went well and that the guests were well sorted out. Creed perfume was visibly present at the event courtesy Alali Hart's Montaigne's Place or is it Clarins as major supporters of the magazine.Heritage Bank was also very well represented especially as they are partners in progress who contributed immeasurably towards the birth of the journal.

Lest we forget, Monalisa looked gloriously fantastic on the night, the photographs taken didn't do her justice at all. You all needed to have seen her to know what we are talking about. Her bejeweled ankara outfit was a stunner by many miles.

ALIBABA & SONI IRABOR

PRINCESS NINA

LOLADE MAJEKODUNMI

SORAYA ONYEKWELE

GODBLESS

CHICO EJIRO

MOUSSA MOUSSA

MR. KOOL

SEGUN ARINZE

JULIUS AGWU

MARY AKPOBOME

EUNICE EFOLE & MARY AKPOBOME

SHARON REKANA OJONG

SENATOR FLORENCE-ITA GIWA

DE VIVIAN OPUTA

ESTELLA OGBONNA

MONALISA CHINDA

MONALISA & SEGUN ARINZE

BETTY IRABOR

MONALISA CHINDA & BETTY IRABOR

EZINNE CHINKATA

THE UNVEILING

FLORENCE ITA-GIWA

BETTY IRABOR, MONALISA CHINDA & HELEN AJAYI

MPHO LAING

MARY AKPOBOME & ZIK ZULU-OKAFOR

TYNA EZENMA

EMEM ISONG

EZINNE CHINKATA & MONALISA CHINDA

MONALISA CHINDA & ESTELLA OGBONNA

AZUKA OGUJUIBA & JOY EJIRO

AZUKA OGUJUIBA

JOY EJIRO

ANITA ISEGHOHI

MARY URANTA

WOLE ABODERIN

JULIE ODIA

THE NEW MAGAZINE

MONALISA CHINDA & LANRE NZERIBE

REZE BONNA