M.A.C Aids Fund etc.

Back again, sooner than I thought :o)

I recently got messages from a few readers asking me to update the info I put on Naija networking sites and Aliko Dangote. So just to add to these:

• Aliko Dangote is actually the first Nigerian billionaire and second black billionaire - how's that :o)


• Two more Naija networking sites to look at are www.naijaconnects.com (looks really cool) and www.nigeria-connected.com

M.A.C Aids Fund

M.A.C is one of the most popular makeup brands amongst Nigerian and African ladies and around the world. I will be doing a feature on Make up as well as Nigerian makeup artists soon. But speaking of Makeup, M.A.C recently celebrated the M.A.C AIDS fund, which raised $100 million, in New York City last year. If you are interested in philanthropy and charity (focusing on AIDS and HIV), M.A.C can actually support you via a grant. Check out the fund website and apply, they take applications all year round. If you are keen to know more about this, they have a press section with articles talking about the fund.

As a customer, if this appeases you, keep buying the Viva Glam range from M.A.C. Eve is one of the faces of M.A.C as well as Fergie and Dita Von Teese. These ladies are spokesmodels for the M.A.C. brand.

Speaking of Eve, check out her video with Sean Paul for the song "Give It To You" below

Student Offer

Microsoft Office 2007 (used in Windows Vista) for just £38.95

Students can get Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007 for £38.95 compared to the £565.48 being sold on Amazon! All they just need to do is visit www.theultimatesteal.co.uk to get the latest version. See below for eligibility.

Who's Eligible?

1. The Individual must possess a valid e-mail address at an educational institution which contains the domain suffix 'ac.uk', 'ac.im', 'ac.gg' or 'ac.je' AND

2. Individual must be a student enrolled at a qualified educational institution in the United Kingdom, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man.

Finally, a comic strip from Ikebe Super for you (click to enlarge)

Earth Hour and Nigeria In The News

Earth Hour

On Saturday, March 29, 2008, Earth Hour invites people around the world to turn off their lights for one hour – from 8:00pm to 9:00pm in their local time zone. On this day, cities around the world, including Copenhagen, Chicago, Melbourne, Dubai, and Tel Aviv, will hold events to acknowledge their commitment to energy conservation.

http://www.earthhour.org/


CNN's Femi Oke on Nigeria and Telecoms (a must watch!)

Click here to watch (video should come up after the 15second advert)


BBC shows Nigeria's repairmen in pictures

Click on image below to view:

Also check out E-Magazine : MyNaijaMagazine

You can flip through and enjoy! Website - http://www.mynaijamagazine.com/

Lastly:

Left Brain vs Right Brain?

How do you know which side of your brain you use more? Some of us use the left more while some use the right, which one do you use? Click on the image below to find out.

Naija Naija Naija

Naija Social Networking Sites

Happy Easter in Arrears people. One of the things I'm focusing on in this post is our Naija versions of facebook.

I don't know if any of you remember the post I had on Naija5? As the name states, it is Nigeria's version of Hi5 - or, well, supposed to be.

As I pondered over this url for a minute, I thought whether they had an actual version of facebook i.e. Nigbook. I typed the url very slowly into my address bar - hoping, praying that this was not the case. I almost jumped for joy when I got this back - Nigbook result.

Sheesh must there be Nig everything? Nigbay (as in Ebay), Nig this, Nig that....

Anyway back to the social networking sites, I have recently discovered the following:


Central Station NG - Celtel's own version of facebook (dont ask!) but like every other money making sensible business, they've added a few extras like downloading music and ringtones, winning free tickets, etc.

Legwork.com.ng - Another meeting place for Nigerians (looks more like a shopping/dating/forum site) is expanding fast and was started by a young entrepreneur.



naNaija - An interesting one, I think its brand new, worth checking out.

Speaking of Facebook, a major vulnerability in the Facebook web security caused pictures of Paris Hilton to be leaked as well as private pictures posted by Mark Zuckerberg (Fbk creater) - more on the story here.

URLs for your perusal:

http://www.naija5.com/

http://www.centralstationng.net/

http://www.legwork.com.ng/

http://www.nanaija.com/

http://www.nigeria-friends.com/


More Naija stuff - What's On?

Dragon's Den Nigeria

Click on the image to visit the site.

Burma Boy Book Reading Tour

Click image below to see details and info of tour:

Apprentice Africa

Click on the image to visit the site.


Naija - What's Been On?

Leila Fowler Lagos Store Opens

The store opened yesterday and will consist of concessions from Peridot & Ruby, GLAM Indian Virgin Remi, Frenzii, Sweetface and Kimora Lee Simmons collection.

Check out the Leila Fowler website

Nayo's Album Release

The album was released in the UK on the 10th of March and can be ordered on the following websites:

WEBSITE -> http://www.nayomusic.com/

HMV -> http://www.hmv.co.uk/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=280;-1;-1;-1&sku=776187

AMAZON -> http://www.amazon.co.uk/African-Girl-Nayo/dp/B0013PJGCO/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1204209002&sr=8-1

INTERVIEW ON CELEBRITY CORNER -> http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=1437286070&channel=495713462

EXCLUSIVE DOWNLOADS: TIMES ONLINE -> http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article3461978.ece

FACEBOOK GROUP -> http://www.facebook.com/pages/NAYO/12423665655?ref=s

The V- Monologues



Directed by Wole Oguntokun aka laspapi (fellow blogger), the V-monologues was held in and around Lagos and Abuja. Featuring the very best of actresses and Funmi Iyanda, Check out a review on it here.

Speaking of actresses, I found this Essence Magazine article on our favourite Black Hollywood actresses - check it out




Naija - What's To Come

MBGN - coming soon...

More soon.....watch this space

Videobytes

First videobyte is for the song "Love Him Like I Do" a Gospel tune featuring Deitrick Haddon, Ruben Studdard, and Mary Mary.

Verdict = Nice song, okay.

Next is an american commercial for Trigon Blue Cross Shield (insurance) with two kids.

Verdict = cute, funny.

Third videobyte is the remix of Asa's Bi Ban'ke by Outta Town Entertainment.

Verdict = The video is not a real music video, it's more of shots of them recording in the studio which I am not keen on these days so I've added another Asa [Asha] video for her song titled "Fire on the Mountain". She's so talented.

More on Asa here and also check out her myspace

Crystal Eyez, Ash Thomas, Dangote, etc.

The weekend is finally here and I am really looking forward to it. Here are a few things to check out in your spare time this weekend.

Crystal-Eyez Makeup Artistry

Crystal-Eyez Makeup Artistry is your mobile makeup company whose aim is to reveal your flawlessness. Crystal-Eyez offers professional makeup services for all your events including weddings, proms, graduations, bat mitzvahs, birthdays and other special occasions. Crystal-Eyez also offers professional makeup services for photography such as beauty, commercial, life style, or fashion photo shoots or shows, as well as all media including film, TV and print.

Crystal-Eyez is based in Chicago, IL but will be willing to travel on assignments.

Crystal-Eyez has its prices listed on the website. The website also has monthly tips for you to make yourself look flawless at home without hurting your wallet. Also check out the website to view the crystal-eyez' gallery.

You have to look flawless on your special day, so let Crystal-Eyez reveal your flawlessness.

For appointments and enquiries check out www.bisidada.com/crystal-eyez or email crystal-eyez@bisidada.com


Ash Thomas

www.ash-thomas.com
http://www.myspace.com/ashthomasproductions

Ash Thomas records is a unique group which produces records from genres such as Afro Beat, Hip Hop, Jazz and RnB.

It consists of 5 members: Shaft, Tafero, KEX, OC & Aziz.

Watch Tafero in the video below:

Meanwhile, check out www.wetin-dey.com for all your Naija entertainment info!


News Bulletin: A Nigerian finally makes the 2008 Forbe's billionaire's list - Aliko Dangote at No. 334.

Nigeria's first billionaire hit the jackpot when his sugar-production company listed on the Nigerian stock exchange last year. Meanwhile, proposed initial public offerings of his flour and cement companies have stalled. Began career as trader at 21 with loan from his uncle; built his Dangote Group into conglomerate with interests in sugar, flour milling, salt processing, cement manufacturing, textiles, real estate, haulage and oil and gas. Closely linked to Nigeria's former president Olusegun Obasanjo.

Job Opportunities in Nigeria

Mobil and UNDP Job Vacancies

A. Mobil oil Nigeria PLc.(MON)
Job opportinities (Graduate/Experienced)
1.Engineering (Chemical/Civil/Mechanical)
2.Accounting
3.Economics
4.Physical Sciences(Analytical or Industrial chemistry,Maths and Physics)

More details visit www.phillipsrecruitmentonline.com


B. THE UNITED NATION DEVELPMENT PROGRAME (UNDP)
visit http:jobs.undp.org

Also visit www.hotjobsng.com


Youth Corper/Industrial Trainee opening at Nigerian Microfinance Bank

A recently licensed Microfinance Bank has openings for Industrial Trainees and/or youth corpers seeking to serve their 3-6 month IT period. Also, individuals who have completed their academic programmes but are yet to go for NYSC fall into this category.

If you fall within this category, please forward your cv OR the following details to the email address below NOT LATER THAN 1 WEEK from the date of theis publication:

Name
Contact Address
Mobile Phone
Email Address
Academic Qualification
Previous Work Experience (if Any)
Industrial Attachment Letter from school (where applicable)
References

Email:
interns@thestrategos.com
corpers@thestrategos.com

Visit www.thestrategos.com

Malaria and Breast Cancer Pink Party

Catch Malaria and get $4000 for it - volunteers would be bitten by infected mosquitoes in vaccine study - Read Story here

I imagine Nigerians scrambling for this money making scheme (or even offering to do it at half price), after all, malaria is not hard to catch in Nigeria!

Breast Cancer Pink Party

In association with Rendezvous and Breast Cancer Care, a live music session is being hosted at London's TIGER TIGER - “PINK PARTY” on THURSDAY the 13th of March, Haymarket, Piccadilly, London.

Featuring a host of amazingly talented unsigned artists from across the UK, providing a cocktail of Live Acoustics, Soul, R&B and Jazz.

"You will love every second of every performance!" --- Alex Irune ;o)

Please click on the link below for more details:

http://www.rendezvouslife.com/site/london/

ps. Wear something pink….;o)

UK Budget 2008

www.timesonline.co.uk/budget

Whatever is going to happen to the UK economy this year will directly or indirectly affect other economies in terms of trade, growth, debt, fuel duty, borrowing and investment, economic stability etc. As it is, the UK and U.S economies in particular, are currently financially turbulent. Watch the UK Budget being announced by the Chancellor Alistiar Darling.

Click here to watch it online

Super Tuesday

Hehehe - that is all I can say with regards to my being MIA (I'm back. It's my own version of Super Tuesday today i.e. feeding you with random info from Hollywood.

On Kanye West:

Kanye Preps Book And Internet Search Engine

Before Kanye West launches his ‘Glow In the Dark' tour, which many estimate will be the year's highest-grossing tour, the rapper, producer and author will release a book and his own Google powered search engine.

While the book deal for Thank You and You're Welcome was confirmed as early as mid 2007, excerpts from the book of 'Kanye-isms' have now been released on Kanye's official blog at KanyeUniversecity.com. West, who co-wrote the book with fellow Chicago native J. Sakiya Sandifer, says it will be filled with 'creative humorous and insightful philosophies and sketches used in creating my path to success'.

On the digital front, West has also launched the Internet search engine searchwithkanyewest.com

Searches on the site will be powered by Google and Ask.com, but they will also give fans an opportunity to earn an online currency called 'Swag Bucks.' After accumulating a certain amount of Swag Bucks, users can redeem them for autographed CDs, MP3 downloads, clothing and other exclusive Kanye West Merchandise.

'Being one of the top music artists of his generation, Kanye has a large and dedicated fan base', said Prodege VP of Marketing, Ron Leshem. 'This is the perfect way for fans to support Kanye, while also earning a chance to win some amazing prizes for themselves.' More information on Thank You and You're Welcome and Kanye's search engine are available at KanyeUniversecity.com and SearchwithKanyewest.com

Also check out Kanye's blog - http://www.kanyeuniversecity.com/blog/

On Beyonce:

From Kanye's blog, I got this info about these Closed Front Cage Sandals With Ankle Pads by Balenciaga at $4,175 a pair. Check out beyonce in them:

And speaking of Beyonce, check her out in this green number beside MJB on the Green Carpet of Movies That Rock Event

On The Great Debaters:

The Great Debaters (2007) is a film produced by Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Productions. It is directed by Denzel Washington who also stars in the film along with Forest Whitaker, Kimberly Elise, Nate Parker, and Jurnee Smollett. The film is based on the true story of Melvin B. Tolson, who, while at Wiley College formed a debate team that beat Harvard in 1935 during the national championships.

On The 33000:

Bringing it all the way back, I'd like to feature The 33000 brought to you by OneNumberNG - The number one Directory and Content Service Provider in Nigeria. Need info on any service in Nigeria? Just text the number and you get your information.

Looking for phone numbers, addresses and websites of companies and organisations?

33000 WILL SORT YOU OUT E.G. LOOKING FOR VIRGIN NIGERIA?

Just text VIRGIN NIGERIA to 33000 Within minutes you'll get an automated reply that gives you the ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER(S), FAX NUMBER(S) and WEBSITE.

Information 24 Hours a day/7 Days a week.

With over 100,000 companies in 36 cities of Nigeria.

Need a specific branch of a company then just text the COMPANY NAME # CITY e.g. VIRGIN NIGERIA ABUJA and send to 33000 Its that simple.