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How I started with Selling Pepe and Vegetables on the street. Edo Businessman and Philanthropist, Joseph Osawaru.

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7 years ago

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He’s humble Business man who always focus on God and dedicated to working Hard, Joseph Osawaru has been doing Edo State proud with his Philanthropist gesture and Youth empowerment. He recently opened the long awaited Exquisite Homes 2 Hotel and Lounge in Benin City, Edo State the first of its kind to revive Entertainment and Hospitality Business. In this exclusive interviews with Ben tv London’s Adeniyi Ifetayo, He discuses his grass to grace Story to inspire the youth and the reason behind the sudden fame of Exquisite Homes 2 hotel and Lounge. Enjoy the excerpt.

What makes your Exquisite Homes 2 hotel and lounge difference from Others?
Exquisite homes 2 hotel and lounge is a very unique one, looking at edifice, we try to bring in a new innovation in hospitality business because when you travel abroad, you will see different hotels and structures so I decided to bring this one not only Nigeria alone but to my State (Benin City,Edo State). Most of the hotels we have in this state don’t have lounge. You don’t expect your guests to lodge and be looking for where to hangout and have fun. We decided to bring these concepts of having an hotel and a lounge at the same time. Ever since we opened, we have had 50% patronage which is very good for a start. The environment is well secured in terms of security, that’s why people like to come here. When I drives in here and looking at the edifice and how we transform this place, it gives me Joy.

During the opening ceremony, you brought Zlatan Ibile and a week after you brought Naira Marley and other notable comedians to party here and it was a massive show, what are you trying to achieve with this entertainers?
You know, when you opened a new place and our people here love Entertainment and to visit new place so I decided to bring in the rave of the moment in Entertainment industry Zlatan Ibile the Zanku Master and Naira Marley to come and thrill our people and make them feel what’s happening at Exquisite Homes 2 Hotel and Lounge in the heart of G.R.A so when we brought zlatan, we didn’t collect a dime from our people, it was a free show so we also brought Naira Marley back to back, it was free show as well. I want give back to my people, make them happy and Music is very key to achieve this. Like one of my friends will say “A soul that does not love music is Dead”. Music brings Joy and Life. We will not stop here so we are planning a big one in December to bring in Kiss Daniel or Wizkid. In fact, we are in touch with Wizkid just waiting for him to give us a date in December. We have done it before and we will do it again. I want to commend Naira Marley for his professionalism, despite the fact that all flight coming to benin were canceled, to my greatest surprise, he came by road and I gave kudos to him. All our customers are happy when they saw him because Exquisite homes 2 don’t just talk but we act and fulfill our promises.

Customer’s satisfactions and Maintenance are things that can make a customers to come back, how do you plan to maintain these core values?

Customer satisfactions and Maintenance are not negotiable, even before all my staff resumes, I took them to Protea for One Month training to see how its been done. I want to make sure we give our Custormer “Protea Standard “ and thanks to the General manager that collaborated with us when we started to make sure the dream becomes a reality. He said “If you want to do a thing like this, service is the key” when you give your customer the best service because they are paying for it and left their home so you must give them the best, better than what get in their various houses. We want to serve you better and stick to customer oriented service. If you want to retain your customers in the hospitality business, it all depends on your services. We also have deposit with our vendors , electricians, plumbers are on ground to attend to any repairs and Maintenance. We also have yearly maintenance so that every year we will do General Maintenance so that it will always look as a new hotel.

Some said you’re an entertainer, some said you are a businessman while some said you are a Philanthropist, who is Joseph Osawaru?
Well they’ve said it all, You know when you’re dancing on the street, you can rate the level of your performance so its only the spectators that can say you are danced well. When you are good, people must know and when you’re bad people must know it and they will say it. The reason why we are diversifying is to empower my people and creates jobs to help ease the burden of the government and to reduce crime because an idle mind is the devil workshop. As some of our people are working here, I don’t think they will be thinking on how to commit crimes so I’m just a partner in progress. I’m not going to stop here, God helping us, we will build five stars hotel in the next two years, All these are just to empower my people at home before we expand to other states.

You have been doing well for your people, if you get a ticket from your people to represent them at the National Assembly, will you take a shot at politics?

Well, I’m a businessman for now but if my people come to a conclusion in the nearest future that I should represent them so that I can serve, why not I will, Its all about service but at the moment, I don’t belong to any political party.

What’s your advise to the Youth that are looking up to you as a role model?
My advice for them is for them to be focus, they should not run above their shadow, don’t look that man riding Mercedes Benz or Range Rover now because your time will come. I was not born with a silver spoon , I was born in the village because my Parents were farmers so when I came to benin, I started with “Garri School “ then there was no nursery school, I did a manners of petty trade even after school hours. I started hawking from my primary school, I started with Pepe, vegetables then I graduated from there selling sweet, biscuits and chew gum in the traffic light. Bendel line (Now Edo line) and Ogbe stadium used to be our preferred location to hawk. I used to trekked to a long distance and he got to a point my Daddy said that he had a lot of children so everybody should go and fend for themselves. I was paying my school fee through my petty trade but I had the belief that I have a greater future. My dear youth be focus, embrace God and stay out of crime.

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Sahara weekly online is published by First Sahara weekly international. contact [email protected]

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Laffmattazz Announces Strategic Partnership with First Bank of Nigeria Limited for 2026 International Tour

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1 week ago

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April 24, 2026

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Laffmattazz Announces Strategic Partnership with First Bank of Nigeria Limited for 2026 International Tour

 

 

 

Laffmattazz, one of Nigeria’s foremost comedy and live entertainment brands, is pleased to announce its official partnership with First Bank of Nigeria Limited for the highly anticipated Laffmattazz 2026 International Tour, themed “Next Chapter: A New Season of Laughter.”

 

Now in its 15th year, Laffmattazz—the brainchild of renowned Nigerian comedian Gbenga Adeyinka (Gbenga Adeyinka 1st)—has evolved into a cultural phenomenon, celebrated for its seamless fusion of comedy, music, and live stage performances.

 

The 2026 tour, which kicked off on Easter Sunday, April 5th, 2026 at the Jogor Centre, Ibadan, marks a significant milestone in the brand’s journey. Building on over a decade of success across Nigeria, this year’s edition signals a bold expansion into the international market, with a multi-city run in Canada, alongside major stops in Akure, Abeokuta, and Lagos.

 

This strategic partnership with First Bank of Nigeria Limited underscores a shared commitment to excellence and innovation. It is also aligned with FirstBank’s First@Arts initiative—a significant and ongoing program dedicated to supporting the creative arts, entertainment, and cultural sectors. Through this initiative, FirstBank provides financing, advisory services, and actively fosters a sustainable value chain for artists and creative entrepreneurs, while supporting key industry platforms such as the Nigerian Entertainment Conference.

 

Speaking on the collaboration, the Laffmattazz team stated:

 

“We are delighted to welcome First Bank of Nigeria Limited as a strategic partner for the Laffmattazz 2026 International Tour. As we mark 15 remarkable years of Laffmattazz, this partnership reinforces our vision to take premium Nigerian entertainment beyond borders, while delivering even bigger, better, and more memorable experiences for our audiences.”

 

As a key partner, First Bank will enrich the tour through innovative customer engagement initiatives, experiential activations, and exclusive fan experiences across all tour locations.

 

With its distinctive blend of humor, culture, and live entertainment, the Laffmattazz 2026 Tour is poised to connect audiences across cities and continents, bringing laughter to thousands of fans worldwide.

 

⸻

 

About Laffmattazz

 

Laffmattazz is a premier Nigerian comedy and entertainment brand, now in its 15th year, renowned for its vibrant live shows and nationwide tours. Founded by Gbenga Adeyinka 1st, the brand continues to deliver high-quality experiences that celebrate creativity, culture, and laughter.

 

About First Bank of Nigeria Limited

 

First Bank of Nigeria Limited is Nigeria’s oldest financial institution, widely respected for its legacy of trust, innovation, and customer-centric financial solutions that support economic growth and development. Through its First@Arts initiative, the Bank continues to play a pivotal role in empowering the creative industry and driving sustainable growth across the sector.

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Opinions divided over Pasuma Jaiye Kuti proposed wedding 

Published

1 week ago

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April 23, 2026

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Opinions divided over Pasuma Jaiye Kuti proposed wedding 

 

 

The current threading in *entertainment* world of speculated society marriage between oganla Fuji, Wasiu Alabi Pasuma with Nollywood icon, and widely acclaimed Queen of the tube jaiyeola Kuti has brought out different opinions amongst the fans and entertainment personnel.

 

What started as a rumour and mirage is gradually turning to reality and some fans are saying it’s not possible for Jaiye Kuti who is one of the scandal free Nollywood actress to be involved in such an unholy union with Pasuma

Most people who spoke with our correspondence, are of opinion that such a marriage can only happen in a mirage sessions and in Nollywood movies that apart Jaiye Kuti been responsible and married with children, Pasuma is someone who have vowed not to married and have a woman under his roof.

But to some also, it’s not impossible as artistes are known to be engaging and married to each other after denied and counter claims, which made and at the end they will go ahead and married . With this most people believe that truly there’s marriage in offspring for both celebrities While both parties refused to comment on the trend controversial issues about the whole issue , the world is anxiously waiting if this well circulated story of Pasuma getting married to Jaiye Kuti will come to pass or it will turn out to be a mirage.

Either way the die is cast as all eyes will be on Jaiye Kuti and Pasuma with searchlight on Nigeria entertainment industry once again

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celebrity radar - gossips

PRESIDENT TINUBU CONGRATULATES OTEGA OGRA ON ELECTION TO WORLD FEDERATION OF ADVERTISERS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

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1 week ago

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April 21, 2026

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PRESIDENT TINUBU CONGRATULATES OTEGA OGRA ON ELECTION TO WORLD FEDERATION OF ADVERTISERS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

PRESIDENT TINUBU CONGRATULATES OTEGA OGRA ON ELECTION TO WORLD FEDERATION OF ADVERTISERS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated his Senior Special Assistant on Digital Engagement, Strategy and New Media, Mr Otega Ogra, on his election to the Executive Committee of the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA).

 

The election took place today at the organisation’s Annual General Meeting, held during the Global Marketing Week Conference in Stockholm, Sweden.

PRESIDENT TINUBU CONGRATULATES OTEGA OGRA ON ELECTION TO WORLD FEDERATION OF ADVERTISERS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

President Tinubu described the development as a significant step for Nigeria’s growing influence in global communications.

 

He noted that Mr Ogra’s emergence as the only representative from West Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa on the Executive Committee reflects the depth of Nigerian expertise and the contribution of a new generation of young Nigerian professionals to global industry standards.

 

Mr Ogra was elected to the Executive Committee on the platform of the Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN), underscoring the role of Nigeria’s organised advertising and marketing industry in shaping representation at the global level.

 

The WFA is the leading global body for advertisers, representing over 150 multinational and Fortune 500 companies, alongside national advertiser associations across more than 60 countries, with a combined annual marketing spend running into hundreds of billions of dollars. Its Executive Committee is the organisation’s highest decision-making body, responsible for setting priorities and guiding global policy on responsible advertising, media transparency, sustainability, and the evolution of digital ecosystems.

 

President Tinubu noted that Mr Ogra’s election is both a personal distinction and a strategic opportunity for Nigeria and the African continent, placing them at the centre of global conversations on brand trust, platform accountability, innovation and the future of marketing and communications.

 

The President commended Mr Ogra, who also serves as Vice President of ADVAN, for his sustained contributions to strengthening Nigeria’s marketing and communications ecosystem, drawing on a career spanning leadership roles across the banking, manufacturing, and public sectors.

 

“Otega’s election reflects the growing recognition of Nigerian expertise and affirms our capacity to contribute meaningfully to the frameworks shaping global markets,” the President said.

 

President Tinubu added that the achievement aligns with his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in advancing the creative economy, strengthening digital governance, and positioning Nigeria as a competitive hub for innovation and enterprise.

 

Josh Faulks, CEO of the Australian advertiser association (AANA), and Simon Michaelides, Director General of the UK advertiser association (ISBA), also join the leadership team.

 

Current members of the executive committee, David Wheldon, President and Philip Myers, Deputy President, who is also the Chief Institutional Affairs and Corporate Communications Officer at Ferrero, continue in their current roles, as do all regional vice presidents.

 

 

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