Entertainment

GLO – Powering Ambition

Published

1 year ago

November 26, 2023

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

Powering ambition is not a premise, it’s a promise, happens to be the catchphrase as communication giant, Globacom, embarked on a no holds barred activities to mark it’s 20th anniversary, with the sole aim of unveiling new communication direction for its operation.

Revered as a leveler in the telecommunications operations in Africa, especially in Nigeria, Glo’s influence precedes it, and with the newfound direction in signing most Nigerian entertainers and celebrities, it has become not only the network to beat, but the network of choice.

Consequently, on November 25, the mega company, under the leadership of Africa’s top liquid billionaire, Michael Adenuga, rolled out the drums to give Nigerians a show of a lifetime at the Eko Hotel and Suites. The much talk about shindig featured superstars of the entertainment industry, including the wave making Asake, whose ‘Lonely at the Top’ is sitting pretty atop most charts, and buga master, Kizz Daniel.

Other artists featured were Chike, Gordons and Tobi Bakare.

In electrifying displays, the artists gave the guests a time of their lives, keeping them on the feet, and swinging to and from to uncorruptible rhythm of originality flow from the sounds and steps of the mega stars.

The major highlight of the evening with GLO was the raffle draw, which saw a good number of Nigerians winning first class tickets of Lagos to London round trip.

It is worthy knowing that GLO, since 2003, when it officially kickstarted operations after a few summourtable hiccups, the company has remained in the forefront pioneering and powering the healthy ambitions of not a few Nigerians with the latest in their long list of sign-ons being Asake, Kizz Daniel and Chike.

Others artists, sportsmen and entertainment buffs under the GLO being continuously powered to their ambitions are boxing superstar, Anthony Joshua, hurdles queen, Tobi Amusan, comedian Gordons, actor Tobi Bakare and a host of others.

Globacom has always been associated with the development of the Nigerian music industry, since its inception, from its involvement with Nollywood and leading Nigerian music talents to the sponsorship of music shows such as Rock ‘n’ Rule, GloNaija Sings, Laffta Fest, and the world’s number one music singing talent reality TV show, X Factor. Others are Slide and Bounce concert, an entertainment tour which went round all the Geo-political zones of the country as well as Glo mega Music show, another platform through which Globacom entertains and delights Nigerians.

These programmes are meant to discover and help nurture budding talents. The company also supports the movie industry in Nigeria (Nollywood) and in Ghana (Ghollywood). Many of the actors and actresses in both countries have been chosen as Glo Ambassadors, thus projecting the continent in a refreshing light through African movies.

Globacom brought the world’s biggest dance reality show, Battle of the Year, to Nigeria. The winners in seven different categories went home with mega millions in cash, space wagon , and also bagged an opportunity to represent at the global edition of the competition.

Indeed, no corporate organization has had the kind of assemblage of entertainment heavyweights as it brand ambassadors as Globacom. All through the years, the cream of the country’s musicians, footballers, actors and comedians have either been signed on as brand ambassadors or featured in the company’s television commercials. The long list includes veterans such as late Osita Osadebe, late Oliver d’Coque, King Sunny Ade, Ebenezar Obey, Nelly Uchendu, Mikel Obi, Victor Moses, Osaze Odemwingie and Emmanuel Emenike. Others are MI Abaga, D’Banj, PSquare, Rita Dominic, Ini Edo, Flavour, Wizkid, Davido, Basketmouth, Gordons, I go Dye, Juliet Ibrahim, Matter Ankomah, Joselyn Dumas, Michael Essien, former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Anthony Joshua and track queen, Tobi Amusan.

GLO has also powered cultural engagements across the country, the latest being the recently concluded Ofala festival in Anambra State. Others include Ojude Oba in Ijebu-Ode, Lisabi in Abeokuta, Imeori in Abiriba, Oru – Owerri in Imo state, Afia- Orlu In Nnewi, Abia –Ugwa in Isialangwa in Abia State and counting.

The list of GLO’s phenomenal impact in powering ambitions to fruition remains inexhaustible, and continues to grow on a daily basis.

A game hanger, and originator of many firsts, GLO is reputed as the following based on words reported by the firm:

“Since inception in 2003, Globacom has been true to its resolve to provide world-class communications and digital services through constant deployment of latest technologies in line with the corporate promise to build a robust ICT network infrastructure that would consistently deliver value to its esteemed customers.

“Glo has been at the forefront of revolutionary changes in the telecommunication sector in Nigeria. It crashed the cost of acquiring SIM cards in the country from about N25,000 to just about N200. The network also disappointed bookmakers as it launched operations on a Per Second Billing platform, a feat others had described as impossible to achieve until another five years.

“Prominent among the innovations Glo pioneered in Nigeria are Blackberry, Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), Magic Plus, Glo Direct, Glo Fonepals, Africhat, Glo Mobile Internet, GloFleetmanager, M-Banking and Glo Mobile Office. Glo was also the first to launch 2.5G, 3G and 4G LTE networks. It also singlehandedly built an international submarine cable, Glo 1 to connect West Africa directly to the United Kingdom and the rest of the world. It also connects 12 nations in the West African sub region, including some of them that are landlocked.

“Glo1 is credited with crashing the cost of internet services and is today the preferred cable system by global OTT providers. It connects thousands of kilometres of national fibre to all parts of Nigeria.”

GLO is a force to reckon, and that’s difficult to behold.

Entertainment

Court Bars Public Viewing of Movie, ‘Gang of Lagos’

Published

17 hours ago

March 13, 2025

Eric

A Lagos High Court in Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) has banned public viewing and streaming of a controversial film titled, “Gang of Lagos”.

The order was contained in a consent judgment delivered by Justice Idowu Alakija.

It followed terms of agreement between parties in the suit delineated LD/6903GCM/2023 between Isale Eko Descendants Union & 2 Ors against Amazon Web Services and 11 others.

The judge agreed with the submission of the applicants that the movie erroneously portrayed and disparaged the cultural heritage of “the well respected Eyo Masquerade of Lagos and the peace-loving nature and the long standing traditions of the Isale-Eko People.”

Justice Alakija ordered the defendants in the matter to “tender an unreserved apology to the applicants in this regard”.

Justice Alakija also asked the defendants to tender an apology to the applicants, Isale Eko Descendants Union.

“In consideration of the mutual promises contained herein and in full and final settlement of all the claims in this suit, the parties hereby agreed that the 3rd to 11th respondents shall jointly issue a letter recognising the applicants’ position that the movie titled, “Gangs of Lagos” erroneously portrayed and disparaged the cultural heritage of the well-respected Eyo Masquerade and the peace-loving nature and the long-standing traditions of the Isale-Eko People, and shall therein, tender an unreserved apology to the applicants in this regard.

Entertainment

TEMS: Stainless, and Noiselessly Breaking Barriers

Published

2 weeks ago

March 2, 2025

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

Nigeria’s born music prodigy, Tems, who was born Temilade Openiyi, is nothing short of sensation, a force to reckon with, and if her profile is anything to give by, a clean sheet of zero scandal. Tems is one celebrity singer, whose name only resonates with the positives, and has consciously made herself scarce with any form of bad energy. She is a celebrity worth celebrating.

Born on June 11, 1995, and looking forward to her 30th birthday, Tems, in two short months of 2025, has landed landmark achievements that have left his peers and contemporaries gaping in wonderment.

On February 13, 2025, she landed for the second time in her prolific seven years old professional musical career, the prestigious and dream of every singer, the Grammy Award. She is also an Oscar nominee in singing, songwriting and producing. And only last weekend, narrowly lost out at the Mobo Award to a fellow Nigerian.

At the Grammys, Tems saw off the likes of Yemi Alade, Burna Boy and Wizkid to take home the Best African Music Performance Grammy for her hit Love Me Jeje. The category is running for its second year. Its introduction has been widely acknowledged as a recognition of the impact of African artists on the global music scene.

Aside from the Best African Music Performance, Tems was nominated in two other categories – Best Global Music Album for Born in the Wild and Best R&B Song for Burning. Across her career she has now received eight nominations in all.

While making an emotional acceptance speech, she said her “heart was beating so fast”.

The beautiful singer also praised her mother on the Los Angeles stage.

“Wow, dear God thank you so much for putting me on this stage and bringing this team, and tomorrow is my mum’s birthday and this is her first Grammys.

“I just want to thank you mum,” she said gesturing towards her, “because she has done a lot for me and my brother.”

Love Me Jeje, which samples a line from Seyi Sodimu’s 1997 Nigerian classic of the same name, has racked up 125 million listens on Spotify and 21 million views on YouTube.

The award places Tems on top list of Nigerian to have two Grammys to her name after winning the Best Melodic Rap Performance in 2023 for featuring on Future’s hit Wait For U.

Also in February, the Dowen College, Lagos product, who is also a graduate of a Monash South Africa, for her tertiary education, where she obtained a degree in Economics, joined the San Diego FC ownership group as a club partner ahead of their 2025 MLS expansion season.

While her move makes her the first African woman to own – in part or full – a professional team in the USA, it however, adds to the growing number of African women who are taking ownership roles in clubs outside Africa.

The SDFC chairman, Sir Mohamed Mansour noted in a statement that “We are delighted that Tems has joined San Diego FC as a club partner.

“Tems is a globally significant artist who will help us to reach new audiences and spread the word about our unique project, which of course has its foundations in sub-Saharan Africa through the unique Right to Dream organization.”

Delighted, she took to her Instagram handle to share her excitement about her investment, expressing her deep connection to football.

She wrote: “Hey San Diego, it’s Tems, and I’m so excited to be a part of SDFC. I am thrilled to join San Diego FC’s ownership group and be part of a club that celebrates creativity, culture, and community. Football unites people in a powerful way, and I’m eager to help build something special in San Diego.”

“I have always loved football. Growing up, I watched my brother play with his friends, and I was always intrigued.”

Reports have it that beyond her ownership ambitions, Tems is also committed to developing young football talents through a partnership with Right to Dream Academy, pointing to the parallels between music and sports in providing opportunities for young people.

Following her landmark achievements, celebrated Nigerians, especially politicians, have reached out to her in congratulations. President Bola Tinubu, while commending the singers, said she brought “pride” to the country on the global stage for the “second time”.

Tems took her destiny into her own hands when in 2015, she made up her mind never to listen to any other music while she craft hers so as to have her own distinct originality devoid of sounding like popular celebrity singers. She took more steps towards self production, coming out in 2018 and 2019 with know singers before hitting her album in 2020.

She began making a name for herself in 2018 with the release of her self-produced debut single Mr Rebel.

Tems gained further attention in 2019 with Try Me. Her international profile was boosted after being featured on Wizkid’s song Essence, which earned her several award nominations, including one for a Grammy.

She has received various accolades throughout her career, including multiple NAACP Image Awards, a Soul Train Music Award and BET Awards.

She however, rose to prominence after being featured on Wizkid’s 2020 single “Essence”, which peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart following the release of the remix version with Justin Bieber. The song earned her a Grammy Award nomination. That same year, she was featured on the song “Fountains” by Canadian rapper Drake.

The Wikipedia captured more of her rise as follows:

“In 2020, Tems released her debut extended play, For Broken Ears. Her second extended play, If Orange Was a Place (2021), was released after she signed a record deal with RCA Records. In 2022, Tems’ vocals from her song “Higher” were sampled by Future on his single, “Wait for U”, which led to her being credited as a featured artist alongside Drake on the song. It debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100, making her the first African artist to debut at number one and the second Nigerian artist to top the chart. The song earned her the Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance. Tems covered Bob Marley’s “No Woman, No Cry” for the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack album in July 2022 and in the same month, her song “Free Mind” from her debut EP debuted on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 46 and breaking the female record for longest charting number one song on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart. She also co-wrote and rendered background vocals on the song “Lift Me Up” by Rihanna, which earned her nominations for the Academy Award for Best Original Song, the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song and the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media.

“In 2024, Tems released her debut studio album Born in the Wild to critical acclaim. The album reached the top thirty in the Netherlands, Switzerland and in the United Kingdom where it peaked at number 24. She further embarked on her ongoing Born in the Wild Tour, a supporting world tour. Tems received three nominations at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards for Best Global Music Album, “Burning” for Best R&B song and won “Love Me JeJe” for Best African Music Performance.”

Throughout her career, Tems has received many accolades, including two Grammy Awards, a Billboard Women in Music Award, four NAACP Image Awards, four BET Awards and three Soul Train Music Award.

In her seven shirt years in the music industry, Tems has given mean to her name, Temilade, which translates to “the crown is mine”.

A Nigerian of Yoruba origin, Tems relocated with her family to the United Kingdom in her infant days, but returned to Nigeria when she was five years old. She had lived in Ilupeju, Lekki and Ajah.

Tems early beginning was fraught with challenges among which is the bullying she suffered at high school because of her voice. Undeterred, she joined her school choir at 11, and soon began singing in falsetto. It was the sharp eyes of her music teacher that discovered her, and went ahead to coach her towards becoming a voice in piano playing. Tems often practiced singing with her brother, who often accompanied her on guitar.

Tems has not looked back since her first single debuted in 2018, the shenanigans of the Ugandan government against her and Omah Lay in 2020 notwithstanding. She is a role music, who has consistently remained on the winning without stain, and without noise.

Entertainment

Glo-sponsored African Voices Hosts Patoranking

Published

4 weeks ago

February 16, 2025

Eric

Nigerian music star, Patoranking, is guest this week on the Glo-sponsored African Voices, the magazine programme of the Cable News Network (CNN) International.

He will share the story of how he rose from the slums of Lagos to global fame to host of the programme, Larry Madowo.

The programme will equally host Ghanaian Derrick Cobinnah, who has been using his “Forces Help Africa” to turn round for good the fortunes of Ghanaian war veterans.

Patoranking, whose full name is Patrick Nnaemeka Okorie, hails from Onicha in Ebonyi State. He was born in Lagos on 27 May 1990. He is a Nigerian Afrobeats and reggae-dancehall singer and songwriter who starred out in life as a street musical performer.

He has won notable awards including Headies, Vodafone Ghana Music Awards as well as the MTV Africa Music Award in recognition of his hit albums including God Over Everything (2016), Wilmer (2019), Three (2020) and World Best which was released last year.

Patoranking has used his wealth and his position as a UNDP Regional goodwill ambassador to champion the cause of youth development in Nigeria.His counterpart, Derrick Cobinnah, has been employing his Forces Help Africa, a non-government organisation to render help and support to war veterans who are sick, injured, displaced or destitute.

The current edition of African Voices started airing on DSTV Channel 401 om Saturday, with repeats coming up on Sunday at 7p.m. and at 4 a.m. on Monday.