A Precious Night at the NAACP Image Awards

Considering where all the accolades have been going recently, it wasn't much of a stretch to predict big things for Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire at the 41st Annual NAACP Image Awards.
Not only did Mo'Nique pick up her zillionth Outstanding Supporting Actress honor, most likely en route to ruling on Oscar night, but Precious won a leading six awards Friday, including Outstanding Motion Picture, Director for Lee Daniels and Writing for Geoffrey Fletcher.
Gabourey Sidibe, more of a long-shot to take home an Oscar than either Mo'Nique or Sandra Bullock, who was sitting a few seats away, was named Outstanding Actress.
"Hello!" began the 26-year-old newcomer, who always manages to pleasantly surprise with her bright and bubbly disposition, such a contrast to the downcast, depressed teen she played on the silver screen.
"It is an honor to be nominated, but it is so awesome to win. I love winning!" Sidibe exclaimed, going on to thank God, "for ordering my steps," and her "teachers"—Mo'Nique, Paula Patton, Sherri Shepherd and Mariah Carey.
Morgan Freeman was named Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture for channeling Nelson Mandela in Invictus.
"It's hard to believe—not hard to take," the sonorous screen veteran said of his win. "There's a lot of people to thank. I'm not going to go through all of them because you don't know most of 'em," he quipped, though he did single out Clint Eastwood and his longtime production partner.
On the television side of things, Tyler Perry's House of Payne continued its dominance, winning Outstanding Comedy Series for the third straight year.
It's namesake was also honored with the NAACP's annual Chairman's Award, while Wyclef Jean was the recipient of the Vanguard Award.
CSI: NY star Hill Harper, who cohosted the ceremony with Anika Noni Rose, also netted his third straight win for Actor in a Drama Series.
Best Actress winner Jada Pinkett-Smith, who plays a tough-as-nails nurse in Hawthorne, was not on hand to collect her trophy, one of only a few handed out during the two-hour portion of the evening captured for prime-time TV.
Harper took a stroll into the audience during the show to point out some of the luminaries in attendance: Freeman, who he insisted should be addresed as "Sir Morgan Freeman"; Mo'Nique and Sidibe ("You should have been on that Vanity Fair Hottest Young Female Actress cover," he told her); and Bullock, who Harper pretended to confuse with another couple of prominent brunettes.
"You are so beautiful!" he said. "I fell in love with you in Pretty Woman! And in Ghost, when you made that clay pot? Incredible!"

Chris Rock was also in the house, where his latest directorial outing, Good Hair, was named Outstanding Documentary.
"Hey! I was not expecting to get anything tonight," he began. "Wow, you make a lot of movies for money, make movies to get hot and make more money...and you do other movies to get even more money.
"I made this movie just for black people," Rock asserted, prompting some rather enthusiastic applause from the crowd.

On the musical end of things, Maxwell and Mary J. Blige, whose Stronger With Each Tear was named top album, were named Outstanding Male and Female Artist. Keri Hilson collected her first Image Award for Outstanding New Artist.
The NAACP Image Awards honor achievements by people of color in film, television music and literature.
Here is a partial list of winners from the 41st Annual NAACP Image Awards:

FILM
Motion Picture: Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire
Actor in a Motion Picture: Morgan Freeman, Invictus
Actress in a Motion Picture: Gabourey Sidibe, Precious
Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: Adam Rodriguez, Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself
Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: Mo'Nique, PreciousIndependent Motion Picture: Precious
Foreign Motion Picture: The Stoning of Soraya M.Documentary: Good Hair
TELEVISION
Comedy Series: Tyler Perry's House of Payne
Actor in a Comedy Series: Daryl "Chill" Mitchell, BrothersActress in a Comedy Series: Cassi Davis, Tyler Perry's House of Payne
Drama Series: Lincoln Heights
Actor in a Drama Series: Hill Harper, CSI: NYActress in a Drama Series: Jada Pinkett Smith, Hawthorne
Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special: Gifted Hands
MUSIC
Male Artist: Maxwell
Female Artist: Mary J. Blige
New Artist: Keri Hilson
Duo, Group or Collaboration: Black Eyed PEas
Song: "God in Me," Mary Mary
Album: Stronger With Each Tear, Mary J. Blige

FORBES TOP 25 - CELEBRITY RICH LIST

Power Rank	Name	Pay Rank	Web Rank	Press Rank	TV Rank
1	Mel Gibson	1	3	6	5
2	Tiger Woods	4	8	2	12
3	Oprah Winfrey	1	44	19	8
4	Tom Cruise	12	6	24	16
5	Rolling Stones	11	25	9	21
6	J.K. Rowling	3	34	54	3
7	Michael Jordan	20	10	15	15
8	Bruce Springsteen	8	28	38	26
9	Steven Spielberg	6	32	42	36
10	Johnny Depp	35	27	28	23
11	David Letterman	17	55	22	9
12	Peter Jackson	20	18	23	28
13	Angelina Jolie	44	5	40	29
14	Cameron Diaz	26	11	47	44
15	Jim Carrey	7	42	46	35
16	Michael Schumacher	4	19	30	92
17	Jennifer Aniston	50	23	43	38
18	Kobe Bryant	47	15	4	2
19	Beyonce Knowles	57	4	10	11
20	Rush Limbaugh	29	49	29	4
21	The Eagles	15	53	12	59
22	David Beckham	35	24	3	41
23	Howard Stern	28	26	62	10
24	Julia Roberts	51	2	37	36
25	Peyton Manning	16	75	27	62

ANITA ISEDEH

Rhythm 93.7's Anita Isedeh aka Omalechanwa  is radios definition of wild, sassy and sexy. Full of energy and small craze, Anita is as beautiful as her voice.

Aside from the free airtime that she "dashes" her listeners during her show which runs on weekends from 2 till 6 pm, Anita's show is a family show which life's issues are discussed, up coming ad made celebrities are iterviews, gossips and gists are also un-covered.

We love Anita although she goes out of line sometimes, maybe due to her "highness".

Last weekend her topic for discussion was "if you would spend 24 hours with a celebrity, who would it be"... or something along that line. A listener sent a text saying it will be Anita and another celeb.. and they'd be doing 'something'... Anita blurted out immediately "so ou want to do a twosome abi?" Anita for crying out loud, that was nasty!! I looked over at my 12 year old cousin who's an avid listener as he asked me.. "What is the meaning of twosome?" I nudged him silence as an answer but being the investigative person he is, I later saw my little cousin checking the dictionary.. probably for that word.

Aside from your little mistake, keep doing what your'e doing dearie.. but keep our airwaves clean.

Revealed: The blonde football club secretary at the heart of Ashley Cole sex scandal

The blonde secretary alleged to have slept with Ashley Cole has been named.
Vicki Gough, 30, is pictured below arriving to work at Liverpool FC yesterday - arch rivals of Cole's club Chelsea.
Football fans named her in internet message boards yesterday and now tabloid newspapers have published her picture.
The details emerged as a fragile Cheryl Cole was spotted dining out with friends in Hollywood last night, emerging from the Katsuya restaurant flanked by bodyguards.

Unmasked: Football secretary Vicki Gough, the woman who allegedly bedded Ashley Cole after spending two nights in hotels with him at the end of 2008

The Anfield club are now investigating to see if Gough's alleged relationship with Cole impacted on the club.
A spokeswoman for Liverpool FC told MailOnline: 'We are aware of the story and will examine the facts to see if they have any bearing on the club.'
Insiders said the secretary's job could be on the line if she is deemed to have brought the Premiership club into disrepute.

Revealed: Gough arriving for work at Liverpool FC yesterday and , right, Cheryl Cole out in Hollywood last night

It is claimed she spent two nights with Ashley in a hotel rooms in Lincolnshire and Birmingham in late 2008.

 

Football forums also claim she had been linked to two other premiership stars in recent months.
Three weeks ago, she was allegedly spotted leaving a trendy Liverpool restaurant with a top striker.

Night out: The singer was flanked by bodyguards as she left the Katsuya restaurant and wore her hair in curls

When the allegations emerged last week, the woman attempted to keep her identity a secret over fears she would lose her job.
But she was outed by Birmingham City fans, where she used to work, who named her on the online forum The Small Heath Alliance.
One wrote that Cole's secret fling was with 'our old football sec Vicki Gough,' adding: 'I feel a new chant coming on. She works at Liverpool now. Pop in and ask for her.'

Flight for this love: Cheryl leaves Heathrow Airport on Wednesday, right, and, left, after a quick outfit change, arrives at LAX Airport in Los Angeles

The secretary, said to be a valuable member of Liverpool FC, spoke to The Sun last week on condition of anonymity.
But after her picture was published in today's Daily Star, The Sun also followed suit.
In her interview with The Sun, Gough described how during her second encounter with Cole at the Radisson Hotel in Birmingham in December 2008, Ashley turned up the television so their antics couldn't be overheard by Chelsea team captain John Terry.
She is the second woman to be linked to Cole in recent weeks.
Topless model Sonia Wild said she received naked photographs of the England player on her mobile phone in June 2009.
Ashley publicly admitted taking the photos on his phone, but denied he had sent the lewd images to Wild.

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Late night encounters: The woman at the centre of the latest claims alleges she met Ashley at the Forest Pines Hotel in North Lincolnshire on October 29, 2008, and again a month later at Birmingham's Radisson hotel

After taking the images while 'larking about', he claims he gave the unregistered, pay-as-you-go phone to a friend, who must have sent the photos pretending to be him.
Ashley said: 'I can't believe I gave a phone away that still had stuff in its memory. I thought I'd deleted it. It seems I was wrong as someone has used it to pretend to be me.'
But his denial was undermined when Gough came out of the woodwork and it was reported he had sent her similar messages and more than 300 texts nine months earlier from the same phone.
It light of the allegations, his humiliated wife flew to Los Angeles on Wednesday after giving a performance at the Brit Awards in London the night before.
Her spokesperson declined to comment on the singer's private life, but said Cheryl planned to record some extra tracks for her album 3 Words with The Black Eyed Peas.
Friends of the X Factor judge said she is planning to divorce her husband after the recent allegations.

Marriage trouble: Cheryl Cole, pictured with Ashley last July, has fled to Los Angeles following the allegations of his affairs

The couple experienced a previous rocky patch in January 2008 when hairdresser Aimee Walton claimed she had a drunken sex with Ashley.
Friends of The X Factor judge claim that a split will be announced 'within weeks' after she flew to Los Angeles without her wedding ring, the Mail has learned.
They say the 26-year-old Girls Aloud singer has gone beyond the point of 'riding out' the storm over their relationship  -  and could soon fire the starting gun on a fight over the couple's assets.
The couple failed to sign a pre-nuptial agreement before their lavish wedding in July 2006, meaning a split is likely to result in a costly divorce battle.
She said at the time: 'I think that's defeating the point. We're getting married because we're committing ourselves to spend our lives together. No ifs and buts.'
Although a millionaire in her own right, Cheryl is significantly less wealthy than her husband. Last year, the Sunday Times Rich List estimated their joint worth at £13million  -  almost all of it accrued after their wedding.
That figure is likely to be much higher now.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1252061/Ashley-Cole-affair-Vicki-Gough-Liverpool-FC-secretary-named-mistress.html#ixzz0gjTZSo4q

Disney’s High School Musical comes to Nigeria

20 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL NIGERIA

1. High school Musical Nigeria on stage is an adaptation of the 2006 movie that has become the most successful Disney Channel movie
2. High school musical Nigeria is Disney’s latest and most recent teen property with exclusive license granted to KIDZ trust spearheaded by entertainment entrepreneur Sheila Okonji Ashinze.
3. The high octane music and dance contest is looking out to produce Nigeria’s Gabriella and Troy.
4. Auditions will be staged in Lagos and Abuja and is open to anyone between the ages of 15-25 and successful contestants will be chosen by a team of celebrity judges.
5. The cast of high school musical Nigeria includes industry professionals in the art of singing, dancing and acting.
6. The original High school musical is a contemporary musical comedy about Troy and Gabriella.
7. The show will be sponsored by First Bank of Nigeria PLC.
8. The lucky contestants that are crowned Nigeria Troy and Gabriella would have a chance to further their career in the UK.
9. The shortlisted contestants will enter the training booth camp where they will undergo further training and elimination until the HSM cast is complete.
10. The High School Musical booth camp will be televised and broadcasted across Nigeria.
11. The team at High School Musical on stage includes Kaffy, Stella Damasus, Tarilla Thompson and Emmanuel Ayalogu.
12. Authors and critics have described High School Musical as a modern adaptation of Romeo and Juliet.
13. High School Musical was originally filmed at East High School located in Salt Lake City Utah
14. High School Musical when released in May 2006 recorded a total sales of 1.2 million copies
15. Till date, High School Musical is in three parts.
16. Throughout the project in Nigeria, there would be a number of giveaways and prizes for all participants
17. The High School Musical soundtrack was number one on billboard 200 twice.
18. Peculiar to High School Musical are terms like Auditions and Call backs.
19. It is speculated that since its release in 2006 till date, High School Musical has been seen by 225 million viewers.
20. Kidz Trust is Nigeria’s licensee for High School Musical on stage.
WHO IS DOING WHAT
* Owners Disney
* Licence Kidz trust LTD
* Territory Nigeria
* Sponsors First Bank of Nigeria Plc
* Director Tarilla Thompson (Nollywood director)
* Choreographer Kaffy
* Vocal Coach – Stella Damasus
* Acting Coach – Emma Ayalogu
* Executive Director Sheila Okonji-Ashinze

Some of the crew members at a recent retreat

Tarila Thompson, Iyke Temple and Emma Ayalogu 

Crew members brainstorming

Voice coach – Stella Damasus

Choreographer – Kaffy

ODDLY ENOUGH

Ohio police officers get drunk — on purpose

DAYTON, Ohio – Law enforcement officers in southwest Ohio were chugging down alcoholic drinks this week as part of a training exercise on how to give field sobriety tests. Several police officers and deputy sheriffs in Montgomery County volunteered to drink so colleagues could practice conducting the tests given to suspected drunk drivers.

Dayton officer Will Wright says officials wanted officers to drink until they had slurred speech, glassy eyes and a lack of coordination.
One test required intoxicated officers to walk heel-to-toe down a line and then hold up one leg to demonstrate balance.
Wright says he hopes the exercise at the Dayton Police Academy helped officers gain a better understanding of how to deal with impaired drivers.

Woman accused of sending daughter to steal purse

INDIANAPOLIS – An Indianapolis woman faces a theft charge for allegedly coaxing her 5-year-old daughter into stealing a woman's purse at a restaurant. According to a probable cause affidavit, a 24-year-old woman admitted asking her daughter to steal the purse Feb. 14 at a Chuck E. Cheese restaurant. The woman allegedly told officers she pointed out the purse she wanted her daughter to take and urged her to "Do it for Mommy" when the victim wasn't looking.
An arrest warrant was issued Thursday for the woman, who faces charges of theft and contributing to delinquency of a minor.
Her 27-year-old boyfriend faces theft and assisting a criminal charges. Police said the woman's daughter brought the boyfriend the purse after taking it from a booth.

Air mail: Crews search wilderness for mail bags

KALISPELL, Mont. – A cargo plane door opened in flight over Montana and likely turned two bags into air mail. Crews are searching the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex for the two priority mail bags that might have fallen out of the plane last weekend.
Alpine Air reported that a cargo hatch on the twin-engine turboprop opened during the flight between Billings and Kalispell and the pilot was unable to close it. The plane carried about 3,000 pounds of mail.
Postal workers aren't sure any mail is missing, but if any is, they say it's likely two bags, or about 25 packages.
Weather hampered the search on Thursday for the bright orange mail bags.
Kalispell customers who believe they're missing priority mail packages are asked to call the Kalispell Post Office.
___
Information from: KCFW-TV, http://www.kcfw.com

Tribes show best camels at beauty pageant

Reuters – Camels are seen as spectators place their bids on them during the "Camel Beauty Contest and Camel …

Ten golden-colored camels adorned with sparkling ornaments line up for the finale of a beauty contest in one of the UAE's northern emirates, awaiting the selection of two proud winners.
Gulf Arabs from across the region gather in a large sandy plot in Ajman to sit in for a four-hour competition, which will see the selection of the best out of 150 camels every day.
The three-day spectacle should end with the top two finalists bagging luxury cars, while a remaining eight win cash.
In an effort to preserve the Gulf Arab country's cultural legacy, the government encourages camel rearing through funding and festivals where the desert animal is paraded for beauty, and sold in auctions.
The festival also serves as a meeting point for the country's tribes, residing in the rural parts of the United Arab Emirates. Tribesmen are paid by the government to rear camels and preserve a pure lineage of the country's breeds.
"The UAE's heritage is linked to camels and this festival emphasizes this. Traditions and customs lie in maintaining our history," said Saeed al-Aameri, who owns a large camel farm and is a participant in the pageant.
The camels are judged on different criteria, depending on the breed. The body is divided into five sections, with 20 points each, to mark beauty and elegance.
After the prettiest camels are selected, based on the length of neck, curve of the humps, structure of the body, height and general appearance, the camels' owners are sworn in to vouch for purity of lineage and proprietorship.
"I swear that this camel is local, not hybrid...a pure breed and is fully owned by me," said one of the finalists, standing beside his camel.
At the auction, after the pageant, Gulf Arabs gather to place their bids or sell for the highest price on offer.
Some camels could be sold for as much as 16 million dirhams ($4.36 million), said one participant.
The festival takes place three times a year in Ajman and Abu Dhabi, said the event's executive director, Shalal Rzooqi al-Shimri, adding the event was popular in countries including Oman, the UAE and Qatar.
"With the festival, we want to encourage cultural tourism and preserve our heritage," said Shimri.

Women only: airline to have female toilets

 Women flying Japan's All Nippon Airways will have a toilet all to themselves from next month, with the airline designating one restroom on most international routes as female-only.
The airline said in a statement it was responding to "numerous requests for this service," adding that the toilet would be located in the rear of the plane and be available to women passengers from all classes.
An airline official told Kyodo news agency that ANA decided to designate women-only lavatories based on a 2007 online survey in which 90 percent of the women polled said they found the idea attractive.
The official also said women do not like using shared toilets as men sometimes leave the seat up. She said demand for women-only toilets was especially high among passengers taking long flights.
Men would be allowed to use the lavatory only in emergencies or when there were very few female passengers on the flight, the ANA statement said.
South Korea's Korean Air has been offering similar facilities and ANA rival Japan Airlines designates lavatories for priority use by women, the ANA official told Kyodo.
Toilet etiquette appears to be an important part of ANA's policy -- the airline had previously asked passengers to use the lavatories before they board flights so as to reduce the overall weight of the plane, which would ultimately be better for the environment as it would mean less fuel usage.

Which celebrity has the worst grammar?

It's not easy being in the public eye all the time, having your every move and statement recorded. You can't even leave the house wearing an extremely short skirt and no underwear without the darned paparazzi photographing your posterior for posterity.
Still, this is no excuse for bad grammar. Our task now is to decide which celebrity deserves to win the SPOGG Award for Most Appalling Celebrity Grammar. The contestants:

President George W. Bush

We're not the sort to kick a man when he's down (frankly, we're not fond of upright kicking, either). But President Bush really ought to know the plural of the word "child." After all, he's the father of twins.
While running for president, he asked, "Is our children learning?" Then, on Sept. 26, 2007, he proved that this wasn't a one-time fluke when he said, "Childrens do learn."

Paris Hilton

Paris Hilton produced a T-shirt that said, "THATS HOT," cheating the poor apostrophe from its rightful place on her bosom. What's more, she sent Lindsay Lohan a text message that said, "i chill with perez, but not enough for your name to get broughten up." Broughten? Is she the only text-messager who likes to lengthen words?

Courtney Love

It's perhaps unfair to judge Courtney Love by her grammar. It's not even English she's writing on her blog. And we quote:

have a beer with?
i would never votefor a presidenty based on the "person id most like to have a beer witH" Fox transparently obvious talking point. Its maddeningly sexist and mostly its DUMB.
Beer isnt even GOOD. i mean REALLY. "ahh ahm a gonna belly up to the sports bar and have a brewski y'all want one?"
i mean who has really had more than TEN beers in thier life on my blog?

Top 10 steals of the week (fashionista).

Pair Tracy Reese's asymmetrical floral frock with satin purple pumps; $275 $82.50.

 

 

Pair ASOS rhinestone necklace with a structured top to really make heads turn; $43.11 $17.24.

 

 

Throw on Rumor's sweater jacket over leggings and a tunic to shrug off the winter chill; $68 $47.50.

 

 

Pair Newport News' tweed skirt with a short-sleeved blouse and pumps for a day in the office; $64 $49.

 

 

Wear Rampage's open cardigan over a plain black shirt for a Missoni-inspired look; $49 $32.83.

 

 

Slather on pink lip gloss to complement Dogeared's cherry quartz drop earrings; $46 $29.90.

 

 

Cinch Charlotte Russe's geometric dress with a red wide belt to accentuate your waist; $29.99 $14.99.

 

Add sass to a gray mini or little black dress with Steve Madden's magenta pumps; $79.95 $39.98.

 

Pair Gianni Bini's purse with your favorite little black dress for a classy look; $89 $44.50.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jennifer Lopez No Longer an Epic Talent

Michael Caulfield/Getty Images

The question mark that punctuates Love? just got more pronounced.
Not long after literally flopping at the American Music Awards, Jennifer Lopez has parted ways with her longtime label, Sony's Epic Records.
"Jennifer had a wonderful relationship with the Sony Music Group, and they have shared many successes together, but the time was right to make a change that best serves the direction of her career as an actress and recording artist, she is grateful and appreciative to everyone at Sony for all that they accomplished together," Lopez's manager, Benny Medina, said in a statement Monday.
But this also means that Lopez's upcoming seventh studio album is now homeless, so we must ask, What about Love?
The album was due out in April but, according to Deadline Hollywood, which first reported the Epic-Lopez split, Love? isn't finished yet and might never be completed.
Of course, one theory is that Sony dropped Lopez because the creative well had run dry, but the official word remains that her contract had simply expired and the parties amicably opted not to renew.
We expect she'll be back on her Louboutins in no time, however. J.Lo's camp is already said to be negotiating a deal with another label, and the songstress will pull double duty on Saturday Night Live this weekend as both host and musical guest.

Hilary Duff's $1 Million Engagement Ring

Fame Pictures, Inc.

Hilary Duff's NHL-playing fiancé, Mike Comrie, knows how to give good ice. 
A source close to the Edmonton Oilers center, 29, tells us that the engagement ring he gave the former Disney star, 22, cost—gulp—$1 million...
The source tells us that Comrie bought the14-karat princess-cut sparkler in Las Vegas.
After two years of dating, Comrie popped the question while he and Duff were on a recent vacation in Hawaii.
A wedding isn't the only thing these two have in the works. Our source also tells us the pair are close to buying a $10 million home in Beverly Hills. (While he probably takes home a nice paycheck from the Oilers, Comrie also happens to be an heir to Canadian home furnishings retail empire, The Brick.)
A rep for Duff declined to comment.
Comrie has proven himself to be a generous beau. Just a few months after they became a couple in 2007, he reportedly bought his ladylove a $100,000 Mercedes.

Michelle Obama Ready to Roll With the Cast of Glee

Matthias Clamer/FOX

The kiddies have more than a big bunny to look forward to at the White House Easter Egg Roll this year.
"white. house. obama. yes. kbye," tweeted Glee star Kevin McHale Monday, referring to the fact that the cast of his Emmy-winning show has been invited by First Lady Michelle Obama to perform at the White House during the annual event on April 5.
"Two words... White house!!!!!!" tweeted Naya Rivera, while Amber Riley added, "Singing at the white house. I'm in total disbelief... So excited to meet my President and First Lady!!!! Yay!!!"
"so unreal. love me some obamz," McHale wrote.
And apparently the "obamz," particularly Sasha and Malia, love them some Glee, according to EW.com, which first reported the presidential coup.
________
Michelle Obama is known for her frequent sartorial success, but check out the duds the Glee gals have been sporting in our Fashion Spotlight gallery.

Its all in the mind ---- The City of Lagos

Undoubtedly the most popular place for events and also the most expensive in the City of Lagos, we present to you the Civic Centre.

 

Pic by Lolade Adewuyi. They are a product of his imagination and are displayed here as a matter of public

 service to people who are interested in the city of Lagos, Nigeria.

Truely Blue

Early life

She attended Herbert Macaulay School in Lagos, Nigeria, and then went to the University of Ibadan where she graduated with a degree in Geography.
Fresh out of university Funmi explored her deep passion of sports and for people when, between 1995 and 2003, she became an active member of the NFA. It was during this time that Funmi was consulted to act as chairperson to Nigerian sports legend Charity Okpara as well as Chioma Ajunwa, who two years later went on to win an Olympic Gold Medal.
She reported on the 1999 female World Cup, the All Africa Games in Zimbabwe, as well as the Sydney Olympics in Australia. She also worked on a documentary on the team that participated in the African Cup of Nations in South Africa in 1996.

Good morning Nigeria

She produced and presented "Good morning Nigeria" a magazine show. The show became a hit, with its "Heroes" segment which exalted the achievement of deserving members of the society and "Street Life", which unlike many shows at the time went out to the streets in search of compelling stories of the challenges Nigerians face.

The show beamed its searchlight on injustices to Nigerians, especially vulnerable members such as women and children. The show was syndicated on national television and in other states like Jos & Benin. In addition, her broadcast credits include Milo World Of sports (Presenters).

New Dawn and other work

Armed with the experience gained during the era of "Good morning Nigeria" Funmi sought a bigger platform to reach people and in 2000 she began presenting the programme "New Dawn".
"New Dawn with Funmi" started in 2000 and ran daily on NTA 10 Lagos. The success of the show made it the longest running independently produced programme on NTA. The programme has used its influence as a vehicle for social change and transformation by advocating the cause of the vulnerable members of the society with a bias for women, youth and children. Some of the shows initiatives include the "Change-A-Life" programme and foundation that has provided educational scholarships to over 50 young children, interventions in healthcare to needy members of society at no cost to beneficiaries, youth mentoring programmes as well as documentaries.

Funmi has also written regular columns in Tempo Magazine. On occasion she still serves as guest columnist for Farafina Magazine. She has also written for PM NEWS, Punch, Daily Trust & Vanguard Newspapers.

End of New Dawn

Funmi announced on her blog that after eight years, New Dawn was coming to an end with a broadcast of the final show in September. "What I’d like to say though is this: I was done on the dawn, done with inspiring people (which I never set out to but honoured to have achieved), I am set now to ignite those who would like to come along with me to exciting new possibilities the beginning of which will be a brand new show."

Talk With Funmi

After eight years of producing and hosting the acclaimed studio talk show, New Dawn, Funmi Iyanda is back at the helm of a different kind of show. The new project is called Talk With Funmi. Talk With Funmi will premiere exclusively on DSTV’s Africa Magic channel at 7pm on February the 7th 2010.

 

Personal life

Funmi's maintains a personal blog.
Her efforts have been recognized with over 10 awards since 1999.
Funmi serves on the Board of Action Aid International Nigeria, Positive Impact Youth Network amongst others and is an ALI fellow.
In her spare time Funmi reads, watching movies and supports her favourite football team, Chelsea FC.