Nigeria’s rave of the moment Orezi who is currently in South Africa shooting the video of his hit song, Rihanna, has actually succeeded in finding Rihanna and she arrived South Africa some couple of days ago-but she is from Mauritius not America!
When all efforts to get the American super diva Rihanna to feature in the multi million naira video did not work out, due to her very tight schedule, Orezi and his management team as well as his label, Sprisal Records, went online and decided to shop for a Rihanna look alike.
The search finally paid off when a ‘Rihanna’ sent in her entry from Mauritius. This young, beautiful ‘Rihanna’ named Kim was chosen above over 200 other contestants all over the world.
Orezi’s management has decided to stay mum on the cost of bringing this stunning beauty down to the shoot location in South Africa. However, an inside source squealed that Orezi’s label paid an initial deposit of 10, 000 dollars to ‘Rihanna’s master card account while her traveling arrangement to Johannesburg, South Africa revealed a Business class from Mauritius – South Africa (little wonder a source close to Orezi’s management said the video is worth N7.3m).
She is presently holed up in one of the biggest hotels in Johannesburg (incidentally the same hotel where Orezi and his team are staying in a pent house) and since her arrival, Kim spends most of her time in the company of Orezi going over the shoot plans. The Rihanna song video shoot started August 12 and will end on August 15.
On Monday, the company announced it had formed a special committee to explore “strategic alternatives” for itself. The company specifically said that it’s trying to “enhance value and increase scale in order to accelerate BlackBerry 10 deployment.” However, BlackBerry noted in the release that alternatives could range from joint ventures to partnerships to a sale of its operation to another firm.
So who might be interested in buying the once-mighty BlackBerry?
That’s the big question. Industry experts speculate that private equity firms may interested in pooling resources to buy the company. Others say the technology may be valuable to some of BlackBerry’s competitors. But one thing is clear: The company is looking desperate. Its precipitous slide in market share as it loses ground to rivals such as Apple, Android, and even Microsoft, is only getting worse. And the company needs to find a way to stop bleeding or risk going the way of other technology companies that have slid into obscurity — for example, think of Palm’s sale to Hewlett-Packard.
BlackBerry has been steadily losing subscribers and market share over the past few years. And in the second quarter of this year, just as it was rolling out three devices that take advantage of its new BlackBerry 10 operating system, the company seemed to be hit the hardest.
According to IDC, BlackBerry’s worldwide smartphone market share in the second quarter was 2.9 percent, compared with 4.9 percent during the same period in 2012.
While clearly Apple and Android have been the primary beneficiaries of BlackBerry’s losses over the past few years, the company is also facing competition from Microsoft and its Windows Phone 8 software, which is slowly gaining momentum.
In fact, in the first quarter of 2013, Windows Phones shipments surpassed Blackberry. And Ryan Reith, an analyst with IDC, said that trend continued in the second quarter and is likely to repeat itself in the third quarter, as Nokia works hard to drive sales of its Windows Phone devices.
Kevin Smithen, an equities analyst from Macquarie Securities, thinks BlackBerry is running out of options. As a result of this highly competitive market, Smithen said in a note to investors Monday that he isn’t optimistic about BlackBerry’s prospects for a sale or even to be taken private by an equity firm.
“Given the high cash burn and large subscriber losses, we are skeptical that financial sponsors will be able to assign leverage in order to take the company private,” he said.
And unfortunately for BlackBerry, he believes that things are likely to get worse for the company now that it’s formally announced it’s looking for a buyer. And if business customers and government agencies that had standardized on BlackBerry for years were debating whether to stick with the company or not, the announcement about looking for a buyer and the uncertainty about its future, could drive them to ditch BlackBerry. Of course, this would result in even more lost market share.
“We are concerned that this formal announcement could spook enterprise and government clients who may now question BlackBerry’s viability,” Smithen said.
Possible buyers
The biggest problem that BlackBerry faces is that it’s very unlikely it will find a buyer for its handset hardware business. And even though the company has a rock-solid e-mail platform that many large businesses have come to rely upon and its new BlackBerry 10 software greatly improves the Web experience, most of the established handset makers in this market don’t really need BlackBerry.
Possible strategic tie-ups with companies, such as HTC or Microsoft, have been batted around. But the truth is that these companies don’t really need BlackBerry’s hardware. And it’s difficult to evaluate the value of the software, which would likely be used in bits and pieces.
Some analysts have suggested that Samsung might be interested in BlackBerry. The company, which has built its smartphone business around the Google Android platform, appears to be trying to distance itself a bit from Google in an effort to differentiate its products from other Android smartphones.
One of the biggest threats to Samsung is that Google now owns Motorola. And as the company rebuilds its business to compete in the smartphone arena, it could put Google into direct competition with its Android licensees, such as Samsung.
Equities analysts at Jefferies believe that Samsung may be interested in BlackBerry to help it boost its own internal operating system. Samsung has been developing an operating system called Tizen, which it plans to use as a low-cost OS that can be used to help combat low-cost device makers in emerging markets.
“Starting a new OS from scratch is unlikely to be successful even for the largest vendor in the world,” the analysts said in a research note distributed to investors Monday. “But BB10 could provide a solid base for Samsung to develop its own ecosystem with its ability to virtualize Android and with around 150,000 apps.”
Still, a sale to Samsung looks like a long shot. And it’s also likely that BlackBerry’s assets could be split among several buyers. For example, the company has many mobile patents that could be attractive to a number of players. And the company’s messaging platform and enterprise server service business could also appeal to some buyers.
Could Chinese companies save BlackBerry? The companies that would likely be the most interested in buying a fully intact BlackBerry are some of the Chinese manufacturers such as Lenovo, Huawei, and ZTE. These companies are aggressively competing in developing markets with low-end devices. BlackBerry has done well in these markets with its lower-end BlackBerry Curve smartphones.
But it’s very unlikely the Canadian or U.S. governments would allow such a takeover to occur, since there would be huge security questions surrounding a merger with BlackBerry and a Chinese device manufacturer.
Such a merger would also doom the company’s sales in the U.S., where the government is already suspicious of these Chinese companies and the telecommunications gear they manufacture for wireless operators.
Last year, the U.S. House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence issued a report in which it warned against the use of any telecommunications gear made by Huawei and ZTE. The report recommended that the “Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) block acquisitions, takeovers, or mergers involving Huawei and ZTE given the threat to U.S. national security interests.”
Even if the Canadian government allowed Lenovo, Huawei, or ZTE to buy BlackBerry, it would be disastrous for the company’s U.S. business given that its large corporate and government customers, such as the Department of Defense, are even still using BlackBerry phones now because of its strong reputation as a solidly secure mobile e-mail platform. The Defense Department has recently approved the use of some Apple and Android devices.
A quick resolution is best
But one thing is clear: Whatever happens with BlackBerry needs to happen fast. The longer the company’s future is uncertain, the more money and customers it will likely lose, lessening its attractiveness to potential buyers.
“BlackBerry has supposedly been considering all options before,” said Avi Greengart, an industry analyst with Current Analysis. “Now they’ve just issued a formal statement about it. The danger is that the news could significantly weaken the BlackBerry 10 launch, which then impacts the value acquirers would have in the company.”
Edris is openly starting a beef between him and Don Jazzy. He wrote on his twitter page that he is disappointed at him, we hope this issue doesn't escalates into something else.
Let's keep our fingers crossed and see if Don Jazzy is going to reply him.
Hopes of quick resolution of the present face-off between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities were dashed on Tuesday as the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said the government has no resources to meet the union demands.
Foreclosing possible truce to the five-week old industrial action that has paralysed academic activities in the nation’s ivory towers, Okonjo-Iwela said the striking university lecturers were asking for N92 billion in extra allowances, maintaining that government lack means of picking the bill.
Speaking in Minna at the annual National Council on Finance and Economic Development meeting, the minister said that ASUU demand was coming at a time government was making efforts at reducing the structure of public expenditures.
The theme of the meeting is: “Restructuring Nigeria’s Finances.” She said, “At present ASUU wants the government to pay N92 billion in extra allowances when resources are not there and when we are working to integrate past increases in pensions.
We need to make choices in this country as we are getting to the stage where recurrent expenditures take the bulk of our resources and people get paid but can do no work.”
She declared that if the demands of the university lecturers are met and “we continue to pay them salaries and allowances we will not be able to provide infrastructure in the universities.”
The minister argued that when she assumed office “the share of recurrent expenditure in our total budgets had increased astronomically. “ “In fact recurrent expenditures accounted for about 77.2 per cent of the federal budget and we are now working to re-balance this ratio,” the minister adde
Lol here is what the president said about Kim and her boo, Kanye West and also read Kris Jenner’s reply after the cut.
“The American Dream involved some pretty basic stuff. A good job where you felt some security. A good education… People felt if they worked hard they could get there… I don’t think people went around saying to themselves, ‘I need to have a 10,000-square-foot house’… I think, there has also been a shift in culture. We weren’t exposed to the things we didn’t have in the same way that kids these days are. There was not that window into the lifestyles of the rich and famous. Kids weren’t monitoring every day what Kim Kardashian was wearing, or where Kanye West was going on vacation, and thinking that somehow that was the mark of success.”
‘I find it so odd that he’s picking on Kim Kardashian and Kanye West. Well, Kanye West, first of all, doesn’t go on vacation. Ever,’ And Kim Kardashian is the hardest-working young lady in the world. She never sleeps, she never stops, she never slows down and works so hard for what she’s got,’But, I wasn’t aware that you could only set the bar so high and that we could only dream so big,’
‘I bet the President has some friends with 10,000 square foot houses and he probably wouldn’t mind going over there when asking them to have a party for campaigning for dollars to run for president,’
She granted an exclusive interview with mienpamo where she said it all.
Why were you dethroned?
It all started when I got the Franchise for participation at the Miss United Nations Pageant on the 17th to 18th of April 2013.
Because I was getting late for everything, they immediately forwarded my invitation letter and other documents to facilitate my VISA application. In addition, they assigned to me an African Director whose job was to make sure I secure a Tourist Visa to Mexico were the finals would take place. I had all his details sent to me and I contacted him and we started working.
First he sent me Embassy requirements which I met but one thing never went well with me. And that was the Exaggeration of the visa fee from 30pounds to 700USD for each person and for 3 people, that would be #280,000 in Nigerian Currency, and I was to travel with my chaperone and personal director.
I paid him the sum of #70,000 for a start before he went ahead with the procession of visa.
Some days after we were invited for Biometrics and on getting there we also made another payment of 30,000. We got the Visa and promised to pay up when we return to Yenagoa.
When we got home, Mr Richard who was my personal director suggested I should do a Coronation Party for Recognition and attention and it came to pass with guests as Mr Zelly Mighty the African Director, Mr Jahn Basil the National Director, Sharon Mmezie Miss Unity Nigeria, Lynda Onwuka’ Queen Culture, Chisom Ubadike’ Miss Agulu, Amaka’ Runway Queen and so many others on the 19th of May.
The next day, 20th, I took them on a Courtesy visit to my State Govt’ Chief of staff and were received with warm hands. They were also given an Appreciation of 100,000.
Along the line, something camp up. I had a little problem and my personal director secretly suggested that I should be replaced by one Emilia Miebi. It came to my knowledge and I had him removed as my director.
A few weeks after, Mr Zelly invited us to Concord hotels for the Official unveiling of Delegates to Miss United Nations. I attended the event with my Manager/Chaperone, Miss Jessica. We were allocated to our rooms. While we were around, they called us for a meeting to discuss with us, I never knew they had it all planned. I was with Mr Zelly and he was beginning to irritate me with all Sex talks and proposals. Telling me, he can make me win if I go to bed with him. The next minute, I heard Jessica shouting out of annoyance and raining insults on Mr Jahn Basil for having locked up the room and attempted rape with force. We would have recorded the discussion but never knew the utilities of the phone we were using at that time. Though we had chats via sms on our phones. We also felt we would report to the UN pageant authorities by the time we arrive in Mexico.
We returned to our homes and went about flight bookings. But then, we got a message again from them saying they have been able to talk to some airlines in our favour and that they have reached a subsidised agreement of #420,000 instead of #456,050 flight ticket fee since we were travelling in numbers.
I and Jessica paid that amount to this account number… “Mr Zelly Chidi Mighty, 0211…..” and also prepared to leave from Lagos to Mexico on the 30th of June as the flight itinerary was booked. The event was to kick off on the 1st and end on the 7th of July 2013.
On getting to Lagos, we were informed that the pageant was postponed to October and the Venue shifted to Miami. When we reached were the other girls were staying, we asked them if the pageant truly was authentic due to the impromptu in changing dates, and if they knew much about these Directors but we got no for an answer.
I stand to say, Mr Zelly hides his identity and the other girls are aware but wouldn’t want to tell us. Often a time, he would always tell me that Miss Sharon and Lynda are his girls and no doubt I was always seeing them hug sexually and I also noticed they always inhabit a single room anytime they lodge. I believe the girls have compromised their dignity for a position because he had also promised me such a place in the Miss United Nations if I agree to go to bed with him.
I was yet to understand what he earlier meant by telling me Sharon and Lynda are his girls until I saw for my self how he Pimped them for men and how they always say yes to his commands whether right or wrong.
Anyway, since the pageant was no longer holding, we pleaded for our Tickets to be put on refund. At first they were reluctant, trying to convince us to keep it till the Miami trip because the other girls must have agreed. We stood our grounds and made them put our tickets on refund. They also told us that the refund process would take 5working days to be done and we agreed.
Later we realised they wanted to travel to Togo, to while away time and leave us behind, so we also thought of the fact that we don’t know these men to their offices and houses and if they eventually run away with our money, what would we tell those who are already in doubt about the whole pageant?
We decided to follow them to Togo after agreeing that everybody would pay 50,000 for all logistics.
We also did, just to follow up our ticket money. While we were there, we would remind them everyday if they had checked for updates about our Ticket. They brought back those Harassment again and because we would bluntly refuse all the time, they decided to hate on us with passion.
Treated us wrongly, always puts his girls first and us second in everything. And I never knew Mr Zelly, the African Director of Miss United Nations was a PIMP until the day we were all preparing to go for a party. We got all dressed up but before we could reach the venue for the party, these two(2) girls, Miss Unity Nigeria and Queen Culture were already there and Lynda was closely Leaning on one of the guy while Sharon was sitting on one of the guys lap. They were some Nigerian guys in Togo.
The rest of the girls were forced to question them why they were at the party before every other person and after hearing their explanations, especially from Sharon who confided in me and said in #quote, “Zelly insisted we should arrive here before anyone, that there were some men that he arranged for us to spend the night with, so they could give us some money to do some of the shopping here in Togo” she also said that Zelly also felt we would have reduced their chances of hooking up with the guys since I was always beating her to her beauty and looks.(i was laughing @this point) and we never saw them till the next morning.
A lot of Similar cases like this happened severally, even at the beach, we were made to arrive later than everyone. I mean i, Jessica, Steiner and Chisom with Amaka.
I Go Dye: “Yes, I have ordered for a Rolls Royce.” He confirmed to Encomium mag in a phone chat “And I think I deserve it because I have worked for it. You also know that I don’t like to flaunt my wealth and acquisitions, so I wish you wouldn't quote me” and we just did.
Lady Gaga has staged another odd publicity stunt for her new album by filming a bizarre video urging her fans not to buy her music.
The singer has been out promoting her new single,Applause,which was released this week, ahead of her new record ARTPOP in November (13) and her head line grabbing antics has so far included baring her backside in a sea-through bodysuit during a night out in Los Angeles and shooting a fully nude video.
However, she has confused her fans by releasing a short film in which she orders not to buy her new single or album.
The bad romance star, posted a link to the video, titled Lady Gaga is Over, on her twitter page. In the film, she is seen posting for the camera wearing a clear mask over her face as captions flash on screen declaring " Lady Gaga is no Longer relevant... Ever since born this way she is a flop...Do not buy her new single Applause on iTunes...Giver her no Applause...Don't dance to the song at all..DO NOT BUY ARTPOP".
The talented rapper, Kanye west is not taking any risks with his daughter and any paparrazi or stalker that may want to cross limits, so he’s getting 2 new cars for his new family.
One is the Iron Diamond is a car reputed to be kidnap-proof, resistant to land mines and rocket-propelled grenades.
The other is a Chevrolet Kodiak, similar to the Limo One used by Barack Obama.
Hip hop mogul West has also insisted both he and Kardashian have at least two bodyguards at all times, a source told Britain’s Daily Star newspaper.
Another idea West was reportedly toying with was employing body doubles of himself and Kardashian, with the lookalikes carrying a doll baby to throw attackers or kidnappers off the scent.
The SUV is being bought for Kardashian. It is called a Prombron Iron Diamond and made to military specifications by Latvian-based Dartz Motorz Company, which gained some notoriety with a model that featured leather made from whale foreskins. A Dartz was also the featured vehicle in the Sasha Baron Cohen movie, The Dictator.
The source of the story was unaware whether any kidnapping threats had already been made against the family, but said the fear was clearly in West’s mind.
Whether you want it or not, Blackberry Messenger will soon arrive to the Android platform. If you are eagerly awaiting its release, be careful, as scammers seem to be lurking in the shadow just waiting to fool you into downloading their fake apps.
Just a few months ago, an app claiming to be an official BBM application arrived to the Play Store scamming quite a few folks before it was finally pulled. Now BBM App by BBM Android has shown up in the Play Store, and looks to be the same (or a similar) app.
Bottom-line, this isn’t an official Blackberry app or even a working alternative. It should be avoided, simple as that.
What’s really interesting here is right in the description it says, “Due to Blackberry pulling this app, I have created an app to get the real app.” So right in the description we learn this is an app designed to download another app.
That right there should be enough to make you run clear in the other direction. If that’s not enough to deter you, the the app already has over fifty 1-star ratings and costs $1.50.
Most of the user complaints say the app never makes it past a white screen or says it will download the “real” app, but this process seems to fail or the app doesn’t do anything at all. Bottom-line, this isn’t an official Blackberry app or even a working alternative. It should be avoided, simple as that.
When the official BBM app does arrive, we’ll be sure to let you know!
Walking tall beauty Miss Faderera Mariah Omosowoeni is the new Miss LASU as she emerged the most beautiful girl in the campus beauty pageant on 4th July 2013.
The colourful pageant was held at the New Auditorium of the Lagos State University (LASU) that was packed with excited students, performing artistes, comedians, special guests and other members of the LASU community.
The event, which was organized by MLK Events in conjunction with the Lagos State University Student Union, paraded a number of beautiful contestants from different faculties of the university. At the end of the fun packed event, delectable and elegant Faderera Mariah Omosowoeni who represented Faculty of Education was crowned the new beauty queen of the Lagos State University. She got a cash prize and a brand new golf car.
A visibly elated Miss Omosowoeni has promised to reach out to fellow students during her one-year reign.
She also promised to be a good ambassador of the school even after her reign as queen.
Specifically Queen Faderera promised to contribute in the current effort to re-brand the image of the university with a television programme, which she titled ‘LASU on Point’. She also intends to embark on a beautification of LASU by creating a recreational park with a fountain in front of the faculty of Education. There are also plans to donate educational materials to students. The queen also hopes to, before the end of her reign, host an alumni dinner to celebrate LASU products that have contributed and are still contributing to society.
The much talked about and highly criticized 'adult-movie' produced by Afro Candy, with very explicit scenes has finally hit the Naija movie market, where such movies sell like hot cake. Titled Destructive Instinct , the movie sure has all the elements of "destruction" if you allow yourself to be carried away. But AfroCandy has hit hard again. See her latest outburst below: "At last, I have won the Battle ! DESTRUCTIVE INSTINCT FINALLY OUT AFTER ALL THEY DID TO STOP ME
God has shown them he is the only one that holds my Destiny, My All and All, the King of the Universe, the I am that I am, The Unchangeable Changer, Ancient of days, King of Kings and The Lord or Lords! Yes Sir! Thank you Three Persons in One God! They proposed for me but My Creator disposed. "So how do you all like me now? Thanks to all my Fans that made their orders and had the patience to wait, you are all wonderful. You can now receive your DVDs and Shame on all them people that wagged their dirty stinky mouths to say my movie will never see the light of the day….ha ha ha! I bet ya’all gonna go drink Rat Poison now and die… " FYI, you ain’t seen NOTHING yet! DVDs will be Available in Stores now! Go Grab your Copies ASAP! I guess some Nigerians will rush to buy the movie but does that make what she's doing right?
Dwayne Jones was relentlessly teased in high school for being effeminate until he dropped out. His father not only kicked him out of the house at the age of 14 but also helped jeering neighbours push the youngster from the rough Jamaican slum where he grew up.
By age 16, the teenager was dead - beaten, stabbed, shot and run over by a car when he showed up at a street party dressed as a woman. His mistake: confiding to a friend that he was attending a "straight" party as a girl for the first time in his life.
"When I saw Dwayne's body, I started shaking and crying," said Khloe, one of three transgender friends who shared a derelict house with the teenager in the hills above the north coast city of Montego Bay. Like many transgender and gay people in Jamaica, Khloe wouldn't give a full name out of fear.
"It was horrible. It was so, so painful to see him like that."
International advocacy groups often portray this Caribbean island as the most hostile country in the Western Hemisphere for gay and transgender people. After two prominent gay rights activists were murdered, a researcher with the U.S based Human Rights Watch in 2006 called the environment in Jamaica for such groups "the worst any of us has ever seen".
Local activists have since disputed that label, but still say homophobia is pervasive. Dwayne's horrific July 22 murder has made headlines in newspapers on the island and stirred calls in some quarters for doing more to protect Jamaica's gay community, especially those who live on the streets and resort to sex work.
One of Nigeria's most popular and talented dancers, Kaffy, recently showed the world the kind of body she's working with.
She shares a pic of herself as she spends some time toning up her body.
BlackBerry stock rose Monday after Canada's flagship technology company said its board has launched a formal review of its "strategic alternatives" � including the possibility of selling the smart phone company.
The company says the review could result in BlackBerry forming joint ventures, strategic partnerships or a sale of BlackBerry. It didn't specifically mention going private, an idea that has gained favour recently according to recent reports.
However, the long-anticipated formal strategic review � which will seek to get the best deal for BlackBerry shareholders � pushed up BlackBerry share prices.
RIMTimeline: Research in Motion's rise and fall
BlackBerry shares were rose more than 10 per cent, or $1.08, to close at $11.13 on the Toronto Stock Exchange, which is about $8 below the high in January when the stock was boosted by optimism for its BlackBerry 10 smartphones.
The rising stock is a sign of shareholder frustration, according to equity analyst Troy Crandall, of the Montreal-based investment firm MacDougall, MacDougall and MacTier.
The BlackBerry 10 has not met expectations since its debut in January and the company has long talked about turning around its sagging fortunes.
But investors "haven't really seen much come forth from management," Crandall told CBC News. "It's about time they did something."
BlackBerry also announced Monday that Prem Watsa, the head of Canadian insurance company Fairfax Financial and one of BlackBerry's key shareholders, has resigned from the BlackBerry board due to potential conflicts.
Fairfax Financial, which owns 9.9 per cent of BlackBerry, is reported to be in talks with private equity investors to find ways to take BlackBerry private and his departure is taken as a sign of potential interest.
Others who may want to buy the company could include the Canada Pension Plan, which has previously expressed interest, and private equity firm Silver Lake Partners, which reportedly has been in talks with the company on possible collaboration.
Buyers would have been easier to find a few years ago during the company's heyday, said Crandall, when Microsoft, Oracle and other big names were thought to be interested.
"But things have changed and [those companies] are not so interested from what we can tell," he said.
Watsa joined the Blackberry board in early 2012 as part of attempts to revitalize the company, previously called Research In Motion, as its previous long-time co-CEOs stepped aside and installed Thorsten Heins as chief executive.
"I continue to be a strong supporter of the company, the board and management as they move forward during this process, and Fairfax Financial has no current intention of selling its shares," Watsa said in a statement issued by BlackBerry.
The announcement comes amid unconfirmed reports that the Waterloo, Ont.-based company may go private � a move that could result in one or more investors buying out other shareholders and delisting the stock.
Last month, the company laid off 250 employees at its new-product testing facility, and in 2012 shed 5,000 jobs as it sought to regain its footing in the highly competitive smartphone market.
Heins said there are "compelling long-term opportunities" for the company's products including a new generation of BlackBerry smartphones, the BlackBerry Enterprise Server and a new secure global data network.
