Business

Helen Paul Celebrates 17 Years on Stage with ‘Life Burial’

Published

9 years ago

April 27, 2016

Multiple award-winning entertainer, Helen Paul, has celebrated her 17 years on stage with the release of her anticipated play, ‘Live Burial’. The event was held amid pomp and ceremony at the University of Lagos Guest House yesterday, Sunday, 24 April.

During the event, which was attended by Prof Olumuyiwa Adebanjo-Falae, (Dean, Faculty of Arts, UNILAG), Barrister Femi Bamisile, Chief Charles Nwoji and Dr. Otun Rasheed among others, Helen Paul also unveiled members of her drama troupe officially.

Prof Adebanjo-Falae, who was the chief launcher of the day with his wife, described Helen Paul as a “special breed. Her husband is lucky to have her, and she is lucky to have a gentleman like him too because without his support and sacrifice, she can’t be where she is.”

Chief Charles Nwoji, who gave Helen Paul her first official public performance as a singer in Abuja in 1999, narrated how he met and discovered the entertainer’s singing prowess almost two decades ago before she was given the opportunity to participate where she emerged the Best Gospel Act.

According to Dr. Otun Rasheed, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Lagos, a genius is someone with one percent aspiration and 99 percent perspiration. He further described Helen Paul as a “focussed lady I have been monitoring from her undergraduate days. She started the idea of writing ‘Life Burial’ five years ago. It is thoroughly edited and I can boldly say that it can compete anywhere in the world.”

‘Life Burial’ is a boisterous comedy on gender relationship, but such relationship between a licentious man, Chief, and his assorted women. Apart from Anike, the only woman that Chief married, marriage and love is a game in the life of the other characters.

In playing the game of love and marriage, Chief maintains a clear distinction between the woman he married, Anike, and the other women who got married to him. Unfortunately, the whole game takes a fatal turn when envy mixes with desire and denial.

In the play, laughter is made an antidote to a confusing and confused world. In an amorphous world where social values are derided, where truth and honesty are evaded and the law is made to look as a buffoon, nothing is left but the surprises of being and becoming.

The playwright, Helen Paul, wrote ‘Life Burial’ as a doctoral student in the department of Creative Arts, University of Lagos. She is one of the finest TV presenters, a stand-up comedian, an actress and above all, a scholar and critic of theatre and performance.

“She is unique in her quest for knowledge despite being acclaimed as a star in the big screen. What types of drama, then, can one expect from Helen except one carefully designed to instruct by entertaining. The play is a good drama with full potentials for the stage. I recommend it to all without reservation,” Dr Osita Ezenwanebe, Associate Professor of Theatre Arts, UNILAG rapped.

Helen Paul recently toured some Nigerian universities with her crew to present ‘Live Burial,’ her first work as a playwright.

The tour started from the University of Lagos, before moving to the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) and Redeemers University, where the drama received accolades from veterans like Olu Jacobs, Joke Silva and Dr. Ahmed Yerima.

Helen Paul said the second phase of the successful tour is scheduled to kick-off later in the year. “Interestingly, we have actually received messages from some international schools requesting that we bring ‘Live Burial’ to their respective institutions. But we would be starting from Cameroon soon,” she stated.

Business

Senator Gbenga Daniel Celebrates Aare Adetola EmmanuelKing at 50

Published

5 hours ago

April 17, 2025

Sahara Weekly

Senator Gbenga Daniel Celebrates Aare Adetola EmmanuelKing at 50

The distinguished Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Navy, His Excellency, Otunba Engr. Gbenga Daniel, has extended warm congratulations to Aare Adetola EmmanuelKing, Chairman/CEO of Adron Group, on the occasion of his 50th birthday.

In a heartfelt message, Senator Daniel praised Aare Adetola EmmanuelKing for his outstanding dedication and immense contributions to the Nigerian housing sector. He described the celebrant as a shining example in the business community, whose passion and commitment have left an indelible mark on the real estate industry across Nigeria.

“You are indeed a source of inspiration to your generation and a shining example within the business environment. There is no doubt that you had written your name in an indelible ink across Nigeria and most especially among the real estate developers,” he wrote.

Senator Daniel also acknowledged Aare Adetola EmmanuelKing’s conferment as the ‘Otun-Asiwaju of Remo Christians’ by the Ogun State branch of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), as a reflection of his God-fearing nature, philanthropic spirit, and commitment to humanity.

The senator offered prayers for good health, greater accomplishments, and many more remarkable years ahead for the business mogul.

He concluded by affirming his highest regards and admiration for the celebrant

Business

From Loss to Land: CBEX Victim Gifted Plot in Ibeju Lekki by Swedish Follower

Published

8 hours ago

April 17, 2025

Sahara Weekly

From Loss to Land: CBEX Victim Gifted Plot in Ibeju Lekki by Swedish Follower

CBEX Crash Sparks Outrage, Tears and Unexpected Kindness: Swedish Fan Gifts Nigerian Investor a Plot of Land

The dramatic crash of the CBEX investment platform has triggered a wave of public outrage and heartbreak across Nigeria and beyond, with scores of users lamenting the loss of millions in life savings, business capital, and retirement funds.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), along with the Internet Fraud Unit, has reportedly launched a probe into the circumstances surrounding the platform’s sudden collapse. The investigation comes amid mounting pressure from angry investors demanding justice and restitution.

As thousands take to social media to share their personal experiences and financial devastation, one story has stood out—not for its tragedy, but for the unexpected act of generosity that followed.

In a recent Facebook post, Nigerian digital creator Ivan Eagle shared that a Swedish follower, deeply moved by his emotional account of the CBEX fallout—originally reported by Legit.ng—gifted him a full plot of land in Lagos.

“A follower in Sweden just gifted me a FULL plot of land in Lagos after reading my CBEX story on Legit.ng,” Ivan wrote.

He revealed that the property is a 600-square-meter plot in Ibeju Lekki, one of Lagos State’s fastest-growing residential hubs, where land prices under reputable developers like PWAN reportedly start at ₦30 million.

“For those of you who live in Lagos, you all know how Lagos is gradually evolving into Ibeju Lekki, and how residential regions covered by reputable real estate firms in the area have been SOLD OUT,” Ivan added.

A Silver Lining Amid a Financial Storm

The CBEX collapse has left a bitter taste in the mouths of thousands of investors, many of whom believed they were participating in a credible digital asset investment scheme. Online forums and Telegram groups have since been flooded with screenshots of losses, emotional breakdowns, and desperate calls for recovery.

However, Ivan Eagle’s story has become a rare glimmer of hope, showcasing the unexpected humanity that sometimes arises in the aftermath of financial tragedy.

As investigations deepen, questions remain over CBEX’s regulatory compliance, investor protections, and whether its operators will face legal consequences. For now, the EFCC remains silent on the details but has urged victims to submit official complaints through its designated reporting channels.

Business

Prof Lawan Bala Buratai Appointed Vice Chancellor of Nigerian Army University Biu

Published

10 hours ago

April 17, 2025

Sahara Weekly

Prof Lawan Bala Buratai Appointed Vice Chancellor of Nigerian Army University Biu After Rigorous Selection

In a significant leadership transition at one of Nigeria’s foremost military-civilian academic institutions, Professor Lawan Bala Buratai has been appointed as the new Vice Chancellor of the Nigerian Army University Biu (NAUB).

The appointment was announced following an intensive and merit-based selection process conducted by the Governing Council of NAUB at the Armed Forces Officers Mess and Suites, Asokoro, Abuja. The Council, under the chairmanship of Dr. Awwal Moriki, concluded its deliberations and formally presented the letter of appointment to Prof Buratai in a brief but momentous ceremony.

Dr. Moriki, while congratulating the new helmsman, described the selection as the culmination of a transparent and rigorous process aimed at identifying a visionary academic leader who embodies the university’s core values of excellence, discipline, and innovation.

With this appointment, Prof Buratai succeeds Professor Kyari Mohammed, whose single five-year tenure is widely credited with laying a strong foundation for the university’s academic and structural growth.

The Nigerian Army University Biu (NAUB) was established in 2018 as a unique public institution owned by the Nigerian Army and designed to serve both military personnel and civilians. Located in Biu, Borno State, the university was conceived as a strategic response to the security and developmental challenges facing Nigeria and the wider Sahel region.

NAUB is focused on entrepreneurship, innovation, defense studies, and technology-driven research. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs in diverse fields ranging from engineering and environmental sciences to social sciences, computing, and military history.

What sets NAUB apart is its civil-military partnership model, which aims to foster mutual understanding and collaboration between Nigeria’s armed forces and the general populace. The university plays a key role in developing indigenous solutions to security challenges while also contributing to national capacity building and economic resilience through education.

With increasing national and international recognition, NAUB continues to attract scholars and partnerships across Africa and beyond, committed to transforming it into a world-class institution in security and development research.

Professor Lawan Buratai, a respected scholar and administrator, is expected to lead the university into its next chapter—deepening academic standards, expanding infrastructure, and strengthening NAUB’s role in national transformation.

His appointment signals a continuity of vision with a renewed focus on excellence, innovation, and service to the nation.