celebrity radar - gossips
As an Igbo person, I have anchored more of Yoruba events than Igbo events – MC Ice
As an Igbo person, I have anchored more of Yoruba events than Igbo events – MC Ice
Popular broadcaster, Master of Ceremonies, comedian, and entertainer Micah Aruocha may not be known by his name but when MC Ice is mentioned, he comes to mind. The most astonishing aspect of his 22 years career is that he does more of emceeing Yoruba events than Igbo or general events, Infact, he leaves mouths agape whenever he introduces himself at the end of any event he anchors.
Aruocha who is a graduate of ND Mass Communication, Olabisi Onabanjo University, B.SC. Criminology, NOUN, and PGD Mass Communication (NOUN), and presently a Master’s student is also a Special Traffic Mayor with LASTMA and a special celebrity ambassador with NDLEA.
He speaks about his career with SAM ANOKAM.
Tell us what informed your becoming an MC.
I used to be known as MC Icewater but now MC Ice for the past 13 years because I rebranded. Icewater is not as conventional as it sounds. It is actually an acronym for Intercontinental Entertainer with a Taste for Enjoyment and Razzmatazz. I am an entertainer and I love to be regarded as an entertainer because I am a comedian’s entertainer. I do not just believe that I am an entertainer. I do not just go to events to crack people up, I would rather anchor an event because I am more funnier than just doing two to three minutes and I’m off. We all have our callings and that makes it strong and competitive for those who have a niche for what they do. I am not a comedian but I am an entertainer even though I am more funnier than some of my colleagues.
I think I have a flair for anchoring events and I have been doing this for 22 years. I started when I was 18. The first wedding I anchored is what I use as a benchmark to know how long I have been in the industry. The 22nd anniversary of that wedding would be in July. I still have the pictures of that event. I think I was born to do this. Nobody in my family does this. I remember traveling with my father to the east after the 1993 election issues and my aunt has this Uche Ogbuagu’s comedy cassette, ‘Bad Condition.’ And I could adlib word for word of Ogbuagus’s jokes before we returned to Lagos. After then, I started looking for other parts of his CD. Unlike people would say that Ali Baba influenced them but typically for me, Uche Ogbuagu did even though I have not met him one on one. There was an event we could have anchored together two years ago but he couldn’t make it down. I would say he influenced me but in my style of presentation, I have been able to carve a niche for myself but listening to Bad Condition volumes 1, 2, 3, and even the one with Sam Loco Efe, with a whole lot of celebrities. I will also give props to Akin Akindele. I remember spoiling my father’s Deeper Life tape of Pastor Kumuyi to dub, Akin Akindele’s Time Na Money show on Raypower before he moved to Star Fm. I have been on his programme even as an intern. I respect Akin Akindele a lot.
Are you known more as an MC or broadcaster?
I started off as an MC. I love anchoring events. Radio is what we do daily. I have been on Radio now for 16 years. I started on Radio on April 28, the year then Governor Bola Tinubu handed over to Fashola. I was into anchoring events before Radio came along. From Eko FM, back then, I have also been on Agatha Amata’s Rave TV, I have been on Rainbow FM for my gospel show. Lagos Traffic radio came up and started broadcasting 11 years ago. I started with them and to LTV where I was analyzing newspaper reviews in pidgin English and also took the evening news before I had to rest because of my schedules.
Five years ago, I had to quit my services with Eko FM even though I am still in the complex and under the same government because of my timing. I was anchoring, Joli Joli Avenue which is still on but being run by my peeps and one of my protégées. As a broadcaster people listen to you more. There are people who listen to you who might never meet with you just like the case with Uche Ogbuagu. As an MC you meet with dignitaries. As the bible says that the gift of a man makes way for him, he will stand before kings and not mere men. I have been able to meet with the president, former president, Lagos governor, different commissioners, heads of parastatals and all that. I think I am good at what I do.
How competitive is your job as an Igbo person anchoring even more of Yoruba events?
As an MC speaking Yoruba fluently, with Yoruba MCs, I am an Igbo person from Abia, Umuahia South to be precise and at times people wonder, how I manage to maneuver within the system. Yoruba people are very accommodating and the problem for me is that I have anchored more of Yoruba events than Igbo events. I mean speaking the language itself. I have no issues. I have a lot of Yorubas as friends. I remember my friend MC Kirikiri when I just started, he would say Ice, make us go so, so and so place. I have a lot of them as friends and they don’t see me as a challenge.
Have you anchored a Muslim event, if yes tell us your experience as a Christian, and if no, is it one of the challenges you intend to conquer?
I attended a Muslim secondary school, Awal Islam Model College, Agege, the same school Buba Marwa finished from, Musilu Obanikoro, many of them. I finished from there in 1999. By virtue of attending a Muslim school, I attended with the kids of the great Salati, a very versed cleric in Islamic knowledge. I do ablution once in a while, while in school. I have anchored more than 50 Nikkai’s. The first time I did it was a bit challenging. I was almost about to shout praise the Lord. As a Christian, I am very accommodating. If I am asked to anchor an event on Sango worshippers’ turf, I will go there and do my job. What I tell myself is that I am doing my job. I’m just like an actor who could act as a Muslim today, act as a Christian tomorrow or do anything that he is required to do. The irony of it all is that most times when I finish a Yoruba event and introduce myself, they would be like how? Some people tell me say you don lost for Yoruba land. It is good for me.
What makes you unique?
I think my versatility, my vast knowledge of current happenings, and a good command of the language. I remember having a fan in Ijebu Ode way back in Eko FM unlike now that I have upward and mobile people by virtue that I present on Traffic Radio except for one who doesn’t have a car and would say he has not listened to me on the radio before or never heard the voice or the name. I do a whole lot of jingles, I have done a whole lot of translations for government, and private institutions when they need to get to grassroots from pidgin to English. Even of late, I did one on the need for subsidy removal just some weeks ago. I think all these stand me out and the ability to maneuver. I was talking about the Ijebu Ode fan before I digressed. Finally, a friend met with her and they started talking the friend asked if she had met me and the other one said she did she know that this MC ICE was formerly a teacher. I was taught the English language in Oru, Ijebu as an undergraduate student of Olabisi Onabanjo University where I studied Mass Communication. It was surprising to her that I could speak English and they had to call for the other person to believe. I used to think I had lost it at a point but not anymore, Infact, it gives me joy. It is like an actor who poisoned somebody in a movie and then you see that same person in the market forgetting that that person only interpreted a role and you try beating them up because you think what he has acted was bad thinking it was reality. I am versatile and can adapt to any function.
What kind of event would you wish to anchor that you haven’t done so far?
I don’t there is no kind of events I have not anchored except the Shango or Babalawo own but I have done something close to that with Ara. That event would be an inaugural ball because observing protocols is a tall order. If you are not careful, those who are working with the person in charge of the event or their principals will rubbish you because they know the rules. That event would be it for me like a president handing over to another president or governor handing over to another but I have anchored something related to that like the pre-inaugural or post-inaugural but not the main deal. That one has to deal with protocols nothing else.
What makes a good MC?
The ability to make light of events as it comes. Spontaneity. Versatility. Being vast and prompt! Then, the ability to recognize faces. One has to be ahead of events as a broadcaster. As a broadcaster, I read the news and I get to know a bit of this and that. It is just being vast and being available to deliver at every point in time no matter whose ox is gored
How easy is it for you in the business given so many talents on the internet?
Though we are many but the clients are not dumb. They know what they want. Do you want somebody that would crack you up and the event would be a flop or somebody that would get the job done? I give it to them especially the skit makers, the online guys, they are doing well but there is always a niche for everybody as every space is not your space. I have seen one or two of them who would come to the event and try to make people laugh. You can just come and do your skit and leave the stage. The sky is big enough for every bird to fly and Infact as Ali Baba would say, we do not have enough comedians yet, maybe until we have comedians knocking on your door, or on a third mainland bride asking to tell a joke for N5k.
Who is your target audience?
My target audience is upward and mobile persons, the young at heart, teens, and any other category. But when I am on the radio, I do not have a target audience.
What are your plans for the next 10 years?
The level I have gotten today, I knew I would get there but I never knew I would get there easily. No wonder the Psalmist says count your blessings one by one. I will be 40 by June 28. And when I tell people of what God has done for me it is like how possible? I was telling somebody that I have a daughter in boarding school and he was surprised. He sees me and doesn’t see that little seriousness and somebody who must have all of that, I think I learnt that from Charley Boy. Don’t allow whatever you have been able to do be seen by people as a big deal. I don’t see it, I just see the goal. And in 10 years’ time, as my name connotes, Intercontinental Entertainer, I see myself going Intercontinental, how it will work out I don’t know but just as God has been directing my steps from birth, He will do His thing.
Celebrating Sir Edwin Ogidi-Gbegbaje At 60 By Jimmy Enyeh
Majority of Deltans are unanimous in their submissions that the name of
Sir Edwin Ogidi-Gbegbaje, a celebrated top civil servant and retired permanent secretary in Delta State Government House has been recorded in the good side of history.
As he clocked 60 today, family members, friends, associates and well wishers have been falling over themselves to pay tribute to a kind hearted and jolly good fellow.
Edwin, a scion of the famous Gbegbaje family in Ekpan, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State, a family noted for producing top bureaucrats and influential public servants.
For 35 years until he retired in January 2024, he added values to Delta State civil service, deepening its positive nuances and was one of the people that nurtured the civil service of the young state upon creation in 1991 to its now enviable heights, setting it along with others on a trajectory that has made it one of the best in the country.
Gbegbaje’s story is far from the proverbial rags-to-riches . He was born into comfort and high society, but suddenly lost his affluent parents in his first and third years at the University of Jos, but with good counsel and guidance of relatives who were bureaucrats, Edwin Ogidi-Gbegbaje made a career choice that saw him becoming a permanent secretary at 46, a very rare feat in those days.
In an interview conducted three years ago to celebrate his 57 years, he offered a glimpse into his life, challenges and triumph. “I come from the larger Gbegbaje family in Ekpan, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State. We have quite several branches of the genealogical tree. We have the Abesan. The patriarch of the family is Chief Gbegbaje Dasone.
“We have Oloyo Gbegbaje and Ogidi Gbegbaje. My parents were civil servants like myself. My mum was a social welfare officer who rose through the ranks.During the late Ambrose Ali administration in Bendel State, she was appointed permanent secretary. My father was a medical doctor.
“He was the first radiologist in the defunct Bendel State and second in the country. My father was the chief consultant radiologist in Bendel State. I also have an uncle, Mr. K Gbegbaje who was a permanent secretary. When he retired, he became the Chairman of Bendel State Civil Service Commission. I have an uncle who was the first Accountant-General of Kwara State. He was in the northern civil service in the 60s.He later became Chairman of National Oil. I am from a family of bureaucrats. I attended Emotan Primary School in Benin.
“I proceeded to Edo College. When I left Edo College, I had the desire to leave Benin. Even when I was admitted into UNIBEN to study Economics and Statistics, I wasn’t enthusiastic. So, I got admission to study Political Science in Jos in 1981. Prof Emovon from UNIBEN was the Vice-Chancellor in Jos at the time. As I was entering, Jos ceased being a campus of the University of Ibadan. I was there from 1981 -1985. I graduated before my 21st birthday.
“Unfortunately, I lost my dad as I was entering the university in 1981. When I was just getting into my third year, I lost my mum.
It wasn’t easy being the eldest among my siblings. In fact, I was encouraged to come for Christmas holiday in Benin without knowing that the evening of my arrival in Benin was the period of my mum’s service of songs.
“I didn’t have an inkling that such a thing had happened. I didn’t even hear that she was ill. I was shocked when I saw canopies in my compound at Ovie Whiskey Avenue close to Ekhewan Campus. A prominent Jos-based businessman from Ughelli encouraged me to visit home for Christmas.
“I graduated in 1985 and taught at a secondary school in Iko-Eket, Cross River State. Just as I was finishing, there were some advertisements for jobs. I didn’t see the one for NNPC early enough.Towards the end of 1988, my uncle who was the Chairman of Bendel State Civil Service Commission, said since I couldn’t get a private sector job, I should participate in extended interviews, especially since I had sat for ASCON examination.
“He advised me to start a career in the civil service. By the end of 1988, letters of appointment were out. I wasn’t conscious of the fact that the person who resumes first becomes the senior in service. I didn’t resume early. My uncle said I was supposed to have resumed instead of waiting to resume in the New Year. A few of my friends who were conscious of it had resumed and they became my seniors in service. I resumed on January 3, 1989.
“That was how my career started. We were supposed to come in as administrative officers Grade 7, but at that time there was a decree. So, by the time we came in, we were designated as personnel officers. We were regarded as the special class.
“Upon the creation of Delta State on August 27, 1991, we all had to move to Asaba. In fact, the movement was swift.
We were all not fully prepared for the swift movement. There was a surge of human beings into Asaba with the state creation. A lot of us couldn’t get accommodation in Asaba when we came. In fact, I stayed in Ibusa for nine years. It was when I met my wife that we moved to Asaba. A lot of my colleagues were sleeping in the offices then.
On his retirement, the Delta State governor praised Gbegbaje’s contribution to the growth of the state.
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, at the retirement thanks-giving service of Gbegbaje, urged civil servants in the state to emulate his virtues.
Speaking at a grand reception in honour of the celebrant at the Events Centre, Asaba, Governor Oborevwori described Ogidi-Gbegbaje as an intelligent, humble, diligent, transparent, process driven, selfless, accountable and compassionate bureaucrat.
While congratulating the retired Permanent Secretary for his diligent and patriotic service to the state, Oborevwori said Ogidi-Gbegbaje was very helpful in the last seven months of his administration.
According to him, “a lot has been said about Sir Eddy Ogidi-Gbegbaje and I also have a personal experience about him while I was Speaker and in the last seven months as Governor of Delta State, we have worked very closely and he helped me to settle down quickly.
“Sir Ogidi-Gbegbaje played his role very well, he is diligent in his duties and was always giving good and useful advise wherever he worked.
“Your service to humanity is something worth emulating and I must say that I enjoyed working with you. I congratulate you for 35 years of unblemished and meritorious service to the government and people of Delta State.
“We are going to miss you, the civil service will miss you, the machinery of government will miss you, you are retired but you are not tired, and your service is still needed.
“I want other civil servants to emulate your commitment to duty. So my message to other civil servants is that they should emulate Edwin Ogidi-Gbegbaje.
“If you look at his journey in the civil service from Bendel to Delta, you see his commitment to duty. Today, he has finished strong and we rejoice with him and his family”.
Chairman of the occasion and former Minister of Information, Professor Sam Oyovbaire, congratulated the celebrant for a successful retirement from service and urged other civil servants to emulate his kind virtues and commitment to duty.
From all indications, Edwin Ogidi-Gbagbaje is worth celebrating, he has touched numerous lives in the last six decades.
At the cusp of his 60th anniversary, the social and the civil service landscapes pulse with milestones he has achieved thus reasserting his worth as a rare force of nature. As family and friends join him in celebrating his 60th birthday, the image that pops into head is that of his genius and the passionate intensity he possesses, literally squizing water from stone as far as the public service is concerned. His brilliant performance as a permanent secretary, Delta State Government House, has earned him another appointment. He is currently the Chairman, Delta State Bureau for Pension and has been giving a splendid account of himself.
“In All Life’s Hardships, Keep Your Smile” By Prudent Ludidi
Let’s talk about a powerful tool that can help you navigate life’s challenges with confidence, resilience, and hope. That tool is your smile.
Life can be tough. It can throw us curveballs, test our resolve, and push us to our limits. But in the midst of hardship, it’s easy to lose sight of what truly matters. We forget to smile, forget to laugh, and forget to live.
Your smile is more than just a facial expression. It’s a symbol of strength, courage, and determination. It’s a beacon of hope that shines brightly, even in the darkest moments.
When life gets tough, it’s tempting to frown, to cry, or to give up. But I urge you to do the opposite. Smile. Smile through the tears, smile through the pain, and smile through the struggles.
Smiling doesn’t mean you’re ignoring your problems or pretending everything is okay. It means you’re choosing to rise above, to find the silver lining, and to focus on the good.
Your smile has the power to transform your mindset, inspire others, diffuse tension, and heal emotional wounds. It’s a powerful antidote to stress, anxiety, and fear.
Think about it. When was the last time you smiled? Really smiled? Not just a polite smile or a forced grin, but a genuine, heartwarming smile?
Smiling can:
Reduce stress and anxiety
Boost your mood and energy
Improve your relationships
Increase your resilience
So, how can you keep your smile shining bright, even in the face of adversity?
Find the humor in difficult situations. Laughter is a powerful way to shift your perspective and lighten the load.
Practice gratitude daily. Focus on the good things in your life, no matter how small they may seem.
Surround yourself with positivity. Spend time with people who uplift and support you.
Take care of your physical and mental well-being. Get enough sleep, exercise regularly, and prioritize self-care.
Remember, your smile is contagious. It can light up a room, brighten someone’s day, and change the atmosphere.
In all life’s hardships, keep your smile. It’s a reminder that better days are ahead, that you’re stronger than you think, and that you’re not alone.
Your smile is your superpower. Use it to overcome obstacles, to uplift others, and to create a ripple effect of joy and positivity.
Don’t let life’s challenges steal your smile. Keep shining, keep smiling, and keep pushing forward.
You are stronger than you think.
You are braver than you feel.
And you are capable of overcoming anything that comes your way.
So, smile. Smile with confidence. Smile with courage. Smile with hope!
celebrity radar - gossips
Lagos State’s Stability is a Barometer for Nigeria’s Stability – Amb. Tukur Buratai
Lagos State’s Stability is a Barometer for Nigeria’s Stability – Amb. Tukur Buratai
The Former Chief of Army Staff (COAS, Nigerian Army) and Former Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, Ambassador (Lt General rtd) Tukur Yusufu Buratai, CFR has said that Lagos State has all the qualifications of a modern city and is one of the most populated cities in Sub – Saharan Africa. He went further to affirm that Lagos is also indicative of the degree to which Nigeria’s economic, political, social, and cultural landscape is deeply embedded within the global system.
He made this assertion on Wednesday 20th November, 2024 as the keynote Speaker at the Second Edition of the Lagos State University of Education Security Summit, with the theme: Insecurity, Cost of Living and Good Governance in the 21st Century.
Ambassador Tukur Buratai, while delivering the lecture in a paper titled: Lagos in Nigeria’s National Security and Defence Architecture: An Analysis.
Ambassador Tukur Buratai postulated in his paper that, “The presence of strategic military installations, the verse Atlantic Ocean and extensive coastline has placed Lagos State on the strategic defense map of the Armed Forces of Nigeria”, He said further that, ” While the sea provides a strategic economic status it could also be vulnerable to external attacks across the ocean”.
In his paper, Ambassador Tukur Buratai reiterated that the Lagos State government should begin to look at the options and implications of having its own security.
Ambassador Tukur Buratai also emphasized the urgent necessity to bolster our nation’s troop level to 800,000. He said a larger and more robust force will enhance operational readiness, improve our country’s capacity to respond to various contingencies, and strengthen our alliance on the international stage.
He also called for the establishment of a Marine Corps for the Nigerian Navy to be strategically stationed in key regions such as Lagos, Borno, Cross River, and Port Harcourt.
He also raised the pressing issue of the persistent lack of stable power supply in Lagos. He asserted that the Lagos State Government must urgently prioritize the development of independent power generation.
Ambassador Tukur Buratai also lauded the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s strategy regarding security in Lagos, which provides an example for governor’s throughout Nigeria. He said the governor recognizes that genuine security transcends mere physical presence or reactive measures. He commended the governor’s innovative approach, which has redefined the urban governance, and has also set a benchmark for other states to follow.
Ambassador Tukur Buratai also recalled that during his tenure as the Chief of Army Staff, he had the distinct privilege of witnessing the fruitful collaboration between the Nigerian Army and Lagos State under the leadership of Former Governor Ambode and now Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Ambassador Buratai, during the lecture, also appluaded the Lagos State Government on its infrastructural development in Lagos State, especially the Red and Blue Railway lines.
Ambassador Tukur Buratai also commended the Federal Government interventions in the development of Lagos State, while applauding the construction of the Lagos to Calabar Highway, he adviced the Lagos State and Federal Government on the security implications of opening up the high way, he suggested to the government to be proactive by early planning for its security when opened and becomes operational.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the Lagos State University of Education, Prof B. B Lafiaji-Okuneye welcomed Ambassador Tukur Buratai to the institution. In her words, she said, ” The great warlord and global peace ambassador is visiting our great institution for the first time. Sir, we appreciate you and what you stand for. Your desire for a Nigeria that is peaceful and safe, where the citizens and residents are free and are given every opportunity to prove their worth and contribute to the growth and development of the nation is evident “.
While making his contribution during the summit, the Commissioner of Tertiary Education, Lagos State, appreciated and commended Ambassador Buratai for adding value to the security summit and more importantly adding value to the Lagos State University of Education. The Commissioner also drew the attention of the participants of the summit to parts of Ambassador Buratai’s paper, where he elaborated on the strategy of social inclusiveness rather than the use of force to curb insecurity.
The Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Barr Tolani Sule on behalf of the Lagos State University of Education, presented a Plague of Honour to Ambassador Buratai for his role in nation building.
Other discussant at the Summit included, HRM, Oba Kamorudeen Animashaun, (Arolugbade 11, the Oloja of Epe Land and the Vice Chairman, Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs), HRM, Oba Momodu Afolabi Ashafa ( The Aladi of Ijanikin Kingdom), HRM, Oba (Dr) Aina Josiah Olanrewaju ( IKUYAMIKU 1, the Oloto of Oto Awori Kingdom) and HRH, Oba Babatunde Ogunlaja JP ( ALADESHOYIN, the Paramount Ruler of Odo – Noforija Kingdom), all of whom spoke on the theme :Insecurity, Cost of Living and Good Governance in the 21st Century.
The event which was attended by various Traditional Rulers, Members of the Governing Council and Senate of the Institution, the Commissioner of Tertiary Education in Lagos State, Barr Tolani Sule, Captain of Industries, Security and Para Military Chiefs in Lagos State, various invited guests and the students.
Ambassador Tukur Buratai’s delegation to the summit included, Lt General Lamidi Adeosun (rtd), Former Chief of Policy and Plans, Nigerian Army, Colonel Emmanuel Adegbola (rtd), Comrade Oladimeji Odeyemi, Alhaja Toyyibat Adeosun, Alhaji Isa Dogo amongst others.
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