People I`ve Kissed With Passion On Set-MARY URANTA

Mary Uranta is an established actress in Nollywood. The whereabouts of the beautiful damsel has been a subject of gossip for a while until recently when News Editor, Faith Irabor encountered and spoke to her at length on where she`s been. Get set for her honest truth. 

Where in God’s name have you been?

Oh my God! Everybody keeps asking this question. I have been around.

Yeah, we hardly see you even on screen these days?

You have not been seeing me or you don’t get to buy movies and that’s exactly the way it is with a lot of people, all our people are used to, is DSTV, Africa Magic where they show old movies, I have been working my ass out for crying out loud since the beginning of this year.

Okay can you mention some of your new works?

I have done a lot of jobs this year and I don’t even know where to start from. We have Haram it’s about to be out, Mistress, Angel of My Life, about to be out, and many more and still everybody keep asking where I`ve been, I have been working.

What then do you think is responsible for this?

Maybe it’s because I am not the outgoing type, maybe because I don’t even go to events.

But why would you as an actress not be the outgoing type?

I honestly do not know, I just know that I don’t really like going out when I am not working and it has become a part of me and funny enough am not an introvert, though I don’t just like to be seen at places. I have said to myself that from now till December I will keep partying so that people would see that I am not an introvert and also fun to be with.

For the sake of those who have lost the memory, can you still remind us the movie that brought you into limelight and when?

Waoh! That’s a big one, okay I think Girls Hostel in the year 2001 but because I was still in school, I did one or two films, and ran away for two years or less but got back fully in 2005 when I did the movie titled Tea or Coffee and Secret Mission. And my roles in these two movies also re-lunched me into the industry when they were released. I have been around ever since and everything has been good with me.

How would you define your person if you’re asked to?

Naturally, I’m a quiet person. Most Nollywood producers believe that because Mary is quiet, she deserves roles that portray her true nature. So, all the roles I have been playing overtimes in movies are roles that have really interpreted my real person. For sometimes now, I have broken that jinx because I don’t want to be stereotyped. Each time there is a good girl role to be played in a movie, I would be the person to be invited to pick up such role. At a point, I said to myself, if there is no such role to give to me again, it means that there wouldn’t be any job for me again. So I have decided to start demanding for more challenging roles.

And how has this been able to contribute to your career?

Recently, I broke away from that chain, when I acted the role of a school girl as well as a prostitute in a Ghanaian movie titled “Cold Passion and Real Passion.” People who have seen that movie commended me for a job well done. Some people said they never believed I could interpret the role very so well. I think it was because of how I interpreted my role in that movie that got me a similar role I played in Stanley Ebonine’s new movie. It’s not like the usual role I used to play in the past, where producers would cast me as a Church girl, a lawyer and all that. Today, I have been able to break away from that chain. It does not mean that I still wouldn’t play those kinds of roles anymore. But I don’t want to be stereotyped.

You have a very polished accent. What’s your educational background?

Thanks. I studied Secretarial Administration at the University of Science & Technology in Rivers State. I also attended   Holy Rosary Girls Secondary school; it’s a Catholic school and Sacred Heart primary school also a Catholic school. I also travelled out of the country to update my knowledge sometimes last year 2011. I went for a six months’ programme at the London School of Arts. I felt there was need for me to add something to my Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Why Secretarial Administration?

When I got admission to study Secretarial Administration, at the University of Science & Technology, Port-Harcourt, my friends were surprised that I was going to study the course. To them, studying Secretarial Administration would take me away from actualizing my dream of going into the acting profession. They advised that I should apply for courses like Theatre Arts and Mass Communication. But since Secretarial Administration was what I was offered to study at the university, I had no choice than to accept the offer. Again, I didn’t want to continue to wait until I’m lucky to secure admission to study the right course. After all, it is not everybody that is in the industry today read Theatre Arts. Yet they are all doing very well in their respective areas of specialization

You’ve also been able to maintain a scandal free profile?

Yeah, Scandal has not hit me because I live a quiet life. Even if scandal hit me today, I will know that somebody is after me. I have got parents who are watching my back and also, brothers out there who are giving me their supports. I cannot afford to disappoint them. That’s why I always do my things peacefully. If eventually I’m hit by scandal tomorrow, I will feel bad because of my Dad who is a man of God and my mum who’s actually behind me and gives me advice from time to time. Though my parents know the kind of daughter they have. They wouldn’t be moved if they hear any negative story about me. I grew up in the church, and my father is one of the leaders of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Port-Harcourt.

From my observation it seems, you’ve lost some weight?

Yes you’re very correct, I just decided to cut down some food intakes and watch my weight because I want to look like my mates. I want to keep looking good.

 But are you sure it’s not because you’re threatened by the new faces flocking the industry because you’re one of the actresses that have been around?

Never, nobody can be a threat or push me away o whether you’re coming today or you’ve been there. I have senior colleagues that are still relevant so also will I remain relevant even if one million new faces join the industry because my style is unique and not the same with anyone else. All the same I wish them well.

You just talked about style, what’s your style?

Like what I have on my ears is my style! I mean my earrings, it’s unique and it`s like my identity. I did it myself, I do my things and I like to be simple.

What’s your fashion statement?

Fashion is good being simple and people still see you and appreciate whatever you wear.

Where is Mary from?

 I am from Rivers State, Okpobo to be precise.

Why are you still single?

(Laughs) that question is kind of hard and I really can’t say anything to that. My belief is when the time is right, the right man will come.

How do you define your right man?

I don’t have to define a right man in anyway. Though I want a man who would love me for me, and understand me completely that is what I tell God whenever I pray about this.

Can you marry a fellow actor?

Hmm, well I have never thought about this neither have I imagined it.

Can you marry someone from the entertainment industry?

I don’t know please.

Have you ever dated one before?

 No, I haven’t sincerely.                                                                      

Okay which actor did you have a crush on when you were just coming up?

(Loud laughter) but if I don’t say anybody again now you would say I am lying or even pretending but that’s the truth.

Who was the first actor you had a deep kiss with on a movie set?

Who did I kiss? I kiss a lot of people in the movies but the main person I really kissed and felt like oh my God I am kissing a friend is Ghanaian actor Prince David Ossei and with Desmond Elliot.

What footprints would you want to leave behind when you’re no longer acting?

For my simplicity, calmness and humility and that I am a happy girl

Thanks for your time

I also appreciate yours.

Am Taking Abike Dabiri`s Seat In 2015-HON. OLUKOGA, Fashola`s S.A Education

Hon. Fatai Olukoga is the Special Adviser on Education to the executive governor of Lagos, Barrister Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), the experienced politician who retired as permanent secretary in the civil service told Faith Irabor his political plans come 2015. It is an interesting chat.

How would you describe yourself sir?

Well, as you already know my name is Hon. Fatai Olukoga , and I am the Special Adviser on Education to Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola .

What’s your score sheet for the Fashola`s administration especially in the area of Education?

Yeah, the administration has really gotten a lot of improvements in terms of the standard of classrooms that we have now, which is conducive for learning, it has also improved in the area of curriculum, we have given more books to students and there are lots of mock exams that prepare them for their final exams like WAEC or NECO and while you’re taking the exams if you do not pass, forget about going to the next class and also if you do not pass, Lagos State Government would not pay for your exams and this has made a lot of our students to struggle hard, and get serious with their studies.

What were the structures that were on ground before you joined the train and what are your contributions?

Okay, the same structures that have been there right from the days of Governor Bola Tinubu and Jakande unlike the Military era. 

How exactly do you mean?

Yeah, Jakande tried as much as possible to get lots of land to build structures to hold on and these are what Tinubu laid on to build good class rooms that are very conducive for learning. And Fashola also picked it up from there. For example go to Agidingbi Grammar School, Mogaji Grammar school in Ojodu, and so on.

You’ve just talked about the secondary school, let’s go to the tertiary institution now, for example we have the case of the Lagos State University LASU where students are ask to pay through their nose?

Let me tell you that there is no way you can get your tertiary education free, it’s not free  even in America, they pay between Twenty to Thirty thousand Dollars for you to get it, but in Nigeria we have Universities where students pay less and still get subsidized, what we call Bursary awards  and scholarships. Pointing back to why the school fees were increased, these are the things that happened  through the panel that was set up to look at the many strikes that happened in schools, it was even this panel that said school fees must be increased in order to have standard facilities in our campuses. The school fees was improved to One Hundred and Ninety Four thousand Naira which is the minimum and the maximum is Three Hundred and Forty Eight thousand naira and with that  we still have a lot of them that are on scholarship and bursary awards. The non indigenes go to their state to get this money and come to Lagos state government to pay peanuts for getting best education. Our university is the best in Medicines, Law and Engineering. Go to their hostel in Ikeja, you will see that it’s of high standard with air conditioned facilities.

But I don’t want to believe that we still can’t achieve this without the school fees being increased?

Exactly, it is not the fees that would bring all that. If you look at the students that are coming in, let’s assume one thousand students pay the one hundred and ninety four thousand naira, you know how much that is if you calculate, while the Lagos state Government is putting about  six Billion Naira yearly to improve the facility. If you go there, you will see the central library going on, so also is the Senate building, we also have the Law library just completed and well furnished, the science faculty, transportation and all are going on there.

What did the government do on the protest that held weeks back?

Well those who protested are not the real students of LASU.  They are from the external campus. What happened about the protest is because the National University commission has directed that the external campus be scrapped and it’s been abolished since last year 2011 and it’s only those who are there that we are waiting for to finish their programmes and we can’t have new admission.  It’s like a face out and they will get their certificates.

But do you think this is fair?

Yeah I think it’s good, they are scrapping it because you can’t compare the type of education they are getting to those at the main campus. These are people that go to work and would attend classes only in the evenings, they have the means and could easily want to lure lecturers to pass them if they need to, even though lecturers might refuse. So these are the issues. Let me also say that those that conducted the rally have their reserve. We wanted to know their actual numbers because some of them would write exams and not pay, so these are their grouse but the issue has been resolved.

So we won’t be seeing more of such protest?

No no no… they have also come to realize our point, though they were being used by the owner of the institution and we know because their school fees has not been increased, and the increase at the main campus does not affect them.

As an adviser on Education, what’s your view on the propose changing of University of Lagos to MAOLAG in memory of late Chief M.K.O Abiola?

 Well to me, the Federal government should have first taken the opinion of the people before they do it and that’s what they have not done. They just woke up and say University of Lagos should be named after late M.K.O Abiola. The school has been in existence for over fifty years and they just want to change it all of a sudden. This is an institution that has made its name and mark in the area of education. I think what the federal government should have done is to create a new institution and name it after Abiola rather than the way they went about it. I think it has gone through reading in the National Assembly.

Do you think it would go the way they want it?

To me, it may not be because there are lots of agitation and people are no longer sleeping and are kicking against it.

Would you say Governor Fashola has done well in area of Education?

Yes of course, and that’s why everybody is coming to understudy Lagos because of the way things are been done in Governance, education, environment, medicine, transportation and so on. It’s a model and nobody can doubt the ability of the current governor.

On a lighter note, how do you find time to relax?

I unwind whenever time permits and besides we are used to it. I was in the system before and retired as a permanent secretary and I went back after retirement to join politics so it has been part of me and I don’t see any difference again.

Can you run us through your educational background?

I attended Ansarudeen College Isolo,  after I left St. John School for my primary school. I attended Makome’s college to do Medicine but after going for some practical classes, I fainted and I realized I couldn’t cope with it, so I was given Diploma in Applied Science. I also had my Bsc. in Social Science and masters in Marketing & Industrial Relations. I am an author of a book titled Managing People and I also co author Personal Income Tax in Nigeria.

Do we see you contesting for any post come 2015?

Let me say this, in 2011, I ran for the House of Representatives, Ikorodu Constituency same as where Abike Dabiri came from so because of the party decision that Abike has to continue because she’s doing well, we all had to accept that she did it again but now that she has gone for third term, am sure that position would be vacant and I am going to fight for it.

It’s been nice chatting with you?

Thanks.   

I Clothe Agbani Darego, Tiwa Savage, Goldie and Co.-TOJU FOYEH

She`s the new kid on the bloc as far as creativity is concerned in the fashion business, that’s Toju Foyeh, Future Awards` New Designer of The Year 2012. There`s no gain saying that, Toju is not one of the run of the mill fashion designers owing to her clientele base and score-sheet in so long a time. The drop dead beauty fielded questions with News Editor, Faith Irabor during a recent meeting in Ikoyi, Lagos where she spoke on her art of fashion designing and unique selling point. Below are the excerpts:   

Can we get to know how you came about the idea of your kind of business?

I’ve always known that I wanted to go into fashion and actually my parents owned a fashion house when I was growing up and my grandmother was a designer as well, so it’s something I’ve always known I wanted to do and after I finished my Law degree I decided to go to a fashion school and then I moved back and I set up.

But how prepared are you for the industry considering the fact that it`s quite challenging?

Hopefully my style, because I am focusing more on evening wears and I know a lot of Nigerian celebrities often want to come out in the best evening gowns on the red carpets. Besides we already have lots of designers who are focusing on more smart types of clothing or more different types of clothing so I’m focusing on this specific area.

You said style would stand you out, in your own context what’s your definition of style?

Style for me is a reflection of your personality as well as a reflection of your mood and those are the general things that inspire me and I feel with the types of fabrics that I work with as well, I have a unique selling point.

What kind of materials do you use?

See, it depends, let me explain again that what I focus on mostly is evening gowns and that’s what is going to be seen in my store though there would also be designs made with other fabrics and also at affordable rate. Then I also get some fabrics for my evening wears abroad.

So we won’t be seeing the usual Ankara made fabrics in different styles?

No, I don’t think so

But you’re wearing a beautifully designed short gown with Ankara fabrics?

Yes, I agree but I mean this is not what I planned on selling at my store so, I don’t want to follow the trend of what everybody is already doing, what I want to have at my store is stuff that you might not get to see anywhere else, everyone is making Ankara so if you don’t have to come to me for Ankara you can go down the road for Ankara, so what you see at my store will be things that you wouldn’t see down the road.

But would you put your evening dresses to suits trends in our local fabrics?

When you say local fabrics what do you mean? Ankara is not local fabrics, it`s not made here I mean it`s not a Nigerian fabrics, it`s made in Denmark.

On the contrary how do you intend to break into the market and stay on top because it’s highly competitive?

That’s why I said earlier about my main selling point, it is going to be a combination of stuffs like I said, it’s going to be my own interpretation so it could be fabrics, it could be colours, it could be cuts, it could be forms, I mean dress forms and things like that, like if you want me to make you an Ankara dress, it’s going to be an Ankara dress but not the regular type that you see down the road, basically it`s the details that will make my clothes stands out.

So who are your targeted clients, then are students, I mean fashion conscious girls welcome too?

I think it might go a bit too mature for secondary school girls so I would say the age range would probably be from 21.

How do you describe the other outfits in your store?

Yes, the store is going to be loaded with different designs and styles ranging from the likes of chiffon blouses, baggy pants, evening wears and the rest, but like I said I’m not going to stop doing my evening wear thing 80 percent.

You won the Future Awards 2012 New Designer of the year amidst other strong contenders, what would you say was the magic?

I feel really honoured for even being nominated for the award, I mean I was surprised. I remembered telling a friend of not being too sure I could win it because the category was tight and as for the magic I will say God and the couple of jobs that I have done.

Can you mention some?

(Laughs) I think I did a lot but I did it in a short space of time. I remembered being noticed since 2010 when we started clothing Tiwa Savage, I started working with Tiwa as far back as then and even till now and in 2011 we did Arise fashion week which was also huge, followed by series of magazine covers including Wow Magazine cover, Genevieve Magazine. We’ve also clothed Agbani Darego, Waje, Goldie and many more.

Which would you still see as the most challenging?

 I think the Newspaper outfit on This Day style basically because we had to make 2 outfits neatly with This Day newspaper and for, I think MBGN and Miss Nigeria, that I think has been my most difficult challenge till date because you are working with Newspaper, It`s not like working with fabrics, it`s not like sewing something, you actually need to construct it with things like glue, pins, hangers, it was pretty tough but thank God it came out fine.  For the This Day one, I basically have to form a shape to make to a blouse to actually make the base and then put on the paper and that involved things like cutting the paper into different pattern. And then I worked on different projects as well as Charity shows and then Arise 2012, I also did African Fashion week last year 2011 and I also did New York Fashion week last year 2011, so in a short pace of time I’ve actually done those things.

Where are you from?

Osun State

Are you married?

This is the second time you have asked me (laughs) do I look old enough to be married

How old are you?

I just turned 24

Are you in any relationship?

Can’t discuss that

When you are not doing fashion designing, what do you do?

Baking, cooking. I bake different things, pies, pizza, cakes, I enjoy baking I also cook a lot and I went to cooking school when I was very young.

Any embarrassment in the course of the job?

I think I once had a client, I won’t call it an embarrassment but I think she was just trying to be smart really, she asked for something, so say for example she asked for this dress and came to the show room, she wore it she was fine, she wore it out then she came back after wearing it, she wore it in my store and looked in the mirror left, right everything was fine then she wore it out then she came back oh no maybe you should take the sleeve, let’s make it sleeveless so I took off the sleeve, she looked left, right was okay with it, wore it out (laughs) came back and was like…, the things is that she kept trying to alter the dress so that each time it look like a different dress. That was crazy but I generally have happy clients, I always form a relationship with my client, a lot of my clients are now my friends, generally everything has been good so far.

It’s been nice chatting with you?

Thanks too.

I Regret Ever Leaving ACN But….-TUNDE BRAIMOH

Hon. Babatunde Braimoh is one of the powers that be in the political circle, not only in Lagos but throughout the nation and this is due to his privileged comradeship as an erstwhile member of the lower chamber of the National Assembly, Federal House of Representatives. A renowned member of the Nigeria Bar Association, the high profile politician was in his best form when he spoke to News Editor, Faith Irabor recently. You would enjoy the interview.

  A lot of people have been wondering why your sudden low profile lifestyle?

I am still around and still go out when I should, though everything has to be with modesty and moderation. Like you know I am a Lawyer and I`ve been at the bar for over twenty five years now, so I have been around and I am still in politics.

I was going to ask about that aspect too?

Yeah, what people fail to realize is what you just mentioned. I mean people believe I am not relevant politically just because I am not holding any political post. Sometimes circumstances of life dictate that you may have to step aside for others to have their own turns but that is not to say that you are out, even if you’re down. And what I know is once the quest for service is there, it will come to pass, it’s only a matter of time and my own quest have stood the test of time, so I can never be frustrated. This has been part of me from my childhood days.

Let’s talk about growing up?

Yeah growing up was fun, it was exciting and interesting. You won’t believe that I have always love politics from time, I mean as early as my primary school days and I have always been active, it even contributed to my peculiar brilliance because I was always the class captain of my class. When I got to secondary school, my brilliancy dropped because I lost some years in the early ages to some sicknesses so I didn’t finish when I ought to and it affected me. I didn’t even read Primary six, I didn’t even do well in my early stages of secondary school so I lost the leadership though still active in other areas. I lost captainship in my class but not in my hostel, so these things were always there. People look at me for decisions on critical matters at that stage, so it materialized clearly when I got to my HNC class then. I attended the College of Art and Science in the then defunct Oyo state now Osun State. That was when my leadership status was clearly defined, I didn’t run for any election per se. I also attended Ogun State University.

In other words Politics has always been part of you?

Yes, I have been doing it since then and I remember nominating  people for various posts including the post of the hostel chairman, I have always prefer to champion while somebody else would be there. I was observing and evaluating issues.

Presently you’re not in active politics, are you coming out in 2015 for any post?

I cannot tell.

Why?

Because I don’t want to tell and because I have other focus and I am also a responsible leader in my community and  Chief in several communities apart from my Otunba title, I am also a leader in the Mosque in my community.

But I don’t think that should hinder you?

Yes, I am just telling you why I cannot confirm my 2015 political ambition. I am also a father of young kids as well as a husband to a pretty wife, in a nutshell am a very busy man. I am a lawyer, entrepreneur, a father, husband and leader.

What if an appointment comes?

I have not said am not running for election, all am just saying is that, I have other focus and besides it’s not every time that one must occupy a political seat. Okay take for example if an election is coming in 2015, I would start campaigning in 2011 or 2012, then I am not serious. I have things to do, even if I have all the wealth in the world, there must be a purpose to which I must channel the wealth. Besides I have limited wealth, and they are being competed for by a lot of responsibilities. What I will just say is even if I can tell, I will not tell, that’s the truth of the matter.

Okay even if you will not tell and you’re running in the next election, will it be under ACN this time?

Of course! You know I have done that before and I regretted every step I took out of ACN. Because we thought there was no ideology but we now know that Ideology is not about anything that is clearly defined, it may not be in Nigeria`s context, but it is a flock, a togetherness, of same bird fellows and that’s the truth. Most of my mates are in the ACN and when I left and went out of it, I was like a fish out of the water and I knew it and regretted it.

But why did you leave in the first place?

Yeah, I and a whole lot of people left because we felt there were no clear ideology, if you would observe most of the people that came from PDP to ACN had left back too to their natural habitat and hibernation, an example is big names like Atiku Abubakar. We just felt there was no clear ideology and anybody could be anywhere, what matters is your mission and your person but it’s very clear now that you have your soul mates politically. For example they would make you rich in the PDP if that’s your goal but at the same time, they will destroy you immediately you have any issues with them and even worse than when you joined them but in ACN, we are not a party of very rich people, but they will develop you intellectually, physically and in leadership qualities, that you can even rise from the position of Counsellorship to the president if opportunity permits, it’s a kind of capacity building even if there are no immediate returns as someone in a political office. All these are now clear to all of us.

 So do you still attend the regular party meetings in your constituency?

Of course, I am a very big leader in my constituency. We have our meetings from time to time I even had to escape from a meeting to be here.

So how do you find time to relax?

Well it’s not easy but we are coping.

What would be your major priority peradventure you are in any political office again?

It would be to give the greatest happiness to the greatest number of people, welfares, live and let live, I want to be rich and I won’t pretend about that, like some people would claim but this is me that have not been in power for about ten years and I don’t think poverty smells around me, I think reasonably, I have demonstrated that I can take care of myself. People that made mistake of evaluating me because they do not know me before I got into power, they’ve had the opportunity of knowing me after I left power. I am still in the lime light, I ride good cars, I live in good houses and I wear good clothes, that’s what I want for every Nigerian. I don’t want to wear tattered clothes, live under the bridge and will not pretend that poverty is sweet, there is nothing good about poverty. The necessity of life must be available to all and sundry.

What to you are the bases of life like you’ve mentioned?

Feeding, Healthcare services, clothing, decent accommodation and of course education, these are the five basics things that must be available to all and sundry, that is my priority.

What is your philosophy about death?

From the earth we came from there we shall return. When my time comes nobody can stop it. I don’t believe anybody can kill me with all that I have seen but I believe that when the time comes even if I don’t go out, if I am to die inside I will die, no person gave me my life, no person can take it except the Almighty Allah and I believe death must come, we only tend to forget. When you see people who are lucky to have been advanced in age forgetting that they would die, but I don’t forget.

The year is running to an end, are there any outlined targets that you still hope to achieve?

The truth is, I don’t outline anything because man proposes and God disposes, when you set goals for yourself, it must be dangerous, I am already hypertensive, I have high blood pressure, I am a patient of hypertension so I don’t work like that. I take things as they come, there is nothing I can outline.

Finally what would you want to be remembered for?

Somebody that came, that lived a life. Living a life is very important, to me when you are alive you must live by example, you must be a model a nd people must be able to watch you and I thank God that by and large I have been able to achieve that. My birthdays are never planned, but people who believe in me celebrate my birthdays including the high and mighty. I feel so humbled and honoured, I thank God that even on earth, I am being remembered.