Genesis Cinema, Play Zone, Bring Fun To City Mall, Onikan

Uzo Chikere

Movie and Game buffs who reside on the Lagos Island and its environs may just be in for more exciting times as Genesis Cinemas, a leading Nigerian cinema brand, and Play Zone, a fast growing family entertainment brand, are set to open shops at the renovated City Mall, Onikan.

This was announced last week by Mr.Emmanuel Efuntayo, Principal Consultant, Ibukun Efuntayo & Company, the managers of The City Mall, during the contract signing ceremony with the two new tenants.

The managements of Genesis Cinemas and Play Zone, expressed joy and excitement at the prospect of coming into The City Mall which is currently undergoing extensive renovations.

According to Opeyemi Ajayi, General Manager, Genesis Group, Genesis Cinemas is coming to the City Mall based on their conviction that the Mall is about to become a vibrant location once again, given the huge efforts by the current managers at repositioning it.

He said: “We believe in the plans and efforts of the City Mall management to turn the place to a vibrant location for the people on the Island. We bought into that plan because usually malls need cinemas and we think it’s a good business opportunity to partner with the new City Mall”

Opeyemi also assured movie goers that at the City Mall they would get the same quality of service and interesting movie experiences as they do in other Genesis Cinemas.

He added: “Our current and potential patrons should expect the same interesting movie experience that Genesis offers; as movies are released around the world they would be released here, just the way it is in other Genesis Cinemas”.

Also expressing their excitement at taking tenancy at the Mall, Dr. Akinyemi, Chief Operating Officer, Play Zone, explained that malls around the world are fast becoming entertainment centres and that the new City Mall has the potentials and facilities to serve their customers well.

She said: “We are exited about joining Genesis Cinemas here at the new City Mall because the trend with malls now is that they are fast becoming entertainment centres. With the cinema you also would need a game centre, and from what we can see with the on-going renovations the City Mall will soon become vibrant once again”.

On what games lovers should expect from Play Zone at The City Mall, Akinyemi said, “We are going to tailor our shop a little differently. We are going to have a restuarant in the game centre, a mini bowling alley, a lot more games and a toy shop. So we are hoping to provide a lot more services than we currently do in our flagship store”.

Both Opeyemi and Akinyemi expressed hopes that the management of the Mall will deliver on their responsibilities of ensuring that the Mall is a place people would love to visit.

Efuntayo, while expressing  his happiness, thanked the new tenants for identifying with the efforts of the management of The City Mall  to give it a face-lift and also reiterated the committment and readiness of his firm to deliver on their own side of the bargain.

He said: “We are indeed happy that these two high profile tenants are coming on board the City Mall, which we believe will add more to the footfalls at the Mall. People don’t just go to the malls for sight-seeing or services per se, but also for the tenant mix and their offerings. We intend to play our part by keeping up the service level in terms of making the Mall a safe and secured place for visitors, with professional parking management in and around the mall”.

Efuntayo also called on other businesses to take advantage of the upgraded facilities at the new City Mall to come on board as tenants, and by so doing be able to reach out to their customers on the Lagos Island and environs.

It would be recalled that the management of The City Mall recently announced the installation of brand-new escalators as part of the on-going renovation process.

Wande Coal Splits With Management Team

Uzo Chikere

The two-year association between the ‘Baby Hello’ exponent, Wande Coal and his management collapsed following irreconcilable differences and failure to reach a compromise on a number of issues.The Nigerian Pop act, reports said parted ways with his management team, Bankulli Entertainment led by Oluwaseun Abisagboola.

An insider source further revealed that Wande Coal’s attitude problems were a major factor for the split. “Wande Coal and Bankulli have been having issues for a while now largely due to attitude problems from Wande, but now they’ve finally parted ways when all efforts to resolve the matter amicably failed”, the source said.

Wande Coal parted ways with the Don Jazzy- led Mavin Records in July 2013, and he immediately floated his own record label called ‘Black Diamond Entertainment’, picking Bankulli Entertainment as his management company.

Before Bankulli came into the picture, Wande Coal was managed by Nana Abbey who had been his manager since his days in Mo’hits Records. Along the line, Nana and Wande parted ways amidst controversial circumstances.

Yet another sourcesaid: “Wande Coal had initially gone to have a meeting with Bankulli about five months before he left Mavin about and he already had his exit strategy from Mavin well planned, but he just doesn’t take things too serious”.

Bankulli was the A&R manager at Mo’hits, but was to later pitch his tent with D’banj as his manager in 2012 following the controversial Mo’Hits break-up. He dropped that job in 2013.

Prosper Paves Way With Save Our Nation

Uzo Chikere

Prosper Canice is obviously not the regular artiste in the strict sense. But the soft spoken member of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) recently took a courageous step into the music arena with the release of his debut single CD entitled Save Our Nation.

Prosper who does not play any musical instrument wrote and sang the song which is a blend of highlife, soul and a hint of calypso. He offered that contrary to what people perceive due to the tune’s title, that it is a call for Nigerians to develop as well as imbibe the right attitude towards uniting the nation.

Produced by Moshud of Sound Action, Save The Nation is a fore runner to his impending full length album planned for release in April. Presently the artiste is focusing his attention on striking a recording cum marketing deal with any good music label. In the meantime also he is embarking on promoting the work whilst putting finishing touches to his up-coming six-track debut album. 

Movie gets cinema release date

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Be Sickle Cell smart as Tunde Kelani's Dazzling Mirage gets released into cinemas across Nigeria soon

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Tunde Kelani's anticipated movie 'Dazzling Mirage' will hit the cinemas on February 20.

The movie which premiered on Friday, November 7, 2014, is aimed at raising awareness about the sickle cell condition and to help people make better informed decisions.

Written by Ade Solanke, 'Dazzling Mirage' is an adaptation of Yinka Egbokhare's novel of the same title.

'Dazzling Mirage' stars Lala Akindoju, Kunle Afolayan, Yomi Fash-Lanso, Seun Akindele, Taiwo Ajai Lycett, Bimbo Manuel, Carol King, Khabirat Kafidipe, Bukola Awoyemi among others.

King Of The Clippers To Battle For Honours March

Uzo Chikere

Barbing has become an art in its own right. Apart from serving as a means of livelihood for the increasing number of youth who engage the trade in numerous salons across the cities, it also provides the avenue for making their clients look good. To encourage people in the trade cum art, a competition tagged “The King of The Clipper: Barbers’ Battle” is to be instituted soon.

Oganised by Cashiff Communications Ltd, the competition is aimed at assisting the participants expand their knowledge in value added customer service techniques that will take the industry to greater heights, said the Creative Director, Olatunde Danisa who further stated that it would raise the standard of professionalism as well as highlight and celebrate talents in the barbing industry.

According to him, the competition will attract participants from seven zones in Lagos State from March to April 2015 with the 1st place winners from the seven zones engaging in a brain and skill tasking competition at the grand finale where The king of the Clipper 2015 will emerge. The grand finale will hold at the Freedom Park, Lagos.

Mike Ezuruonye Endorses Jonathan

Uzo Chikere

As the 2015 general elections draw nearer, Nigerian entertainers are torn in between President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and Muhammadu Buhari, the flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Nollywood actor, Mike Ezuruonye has joined the list of those who have openly declared support for President Goodluck Johnathan’s re-election bid.

Mike Ezuruonye shared a photo of him and Jonathan on Instagram with the caption, “Yes yes yes….Till 2019…Ohhhh yesssss”.

President Jonathan has invested a lot in the entertainment industry. The federal government recently launched the N2 billion Innovation Distribution Fund (IDF) aimed at improving the distribution of audio-visual content, cutting down on piracy, and better protect intellectual property in the industry.

Porn Star, Afrocandy Drops Video On Behalf Of GEJ

Also in a new video titled: “For the love of Country”, Mike Ezuruonye, Ini Edo, Yemi Blaq, Omoni Oboli and other top Nollywood stars showed their support for President Jonathan’s transformation agenda.

Meanwhile, some other Nigerian celebrities are rooting for Buhari, the presidential flag bearer of APC. One of Nigeria’s most successful rappers, Olamide Adedeji a.k.a Badoo endorsed Buhari,. Other music acts like Flavour, Banky W, MI, and Ice Prince recently shot a video the APC governorship candidate in Lagos State, Akinwumi Ambode.