THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2015
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The Midweek Magazine
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E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com
NEW magazine focused on leading professionals and politicians will be in circulation by Monday, Au-
gust 10. The magazine, called The Interview, will be a monthly, with the major stories rendered in Q & A format and published by Banc & All an Abuja-based content and publishing company. The maiden edition headlines among other premium content, an interview with former Governor Donald Duke in which he shed new light on two former Nigerian presidents – Umaru Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan – and sounds a note of warning to the governing APC. It also features a no-holds-barred interview with the CEO of Channels TV, Mr. John Momoh; the brave new world of virtual and augmented reality; and Nigeria Icon List. A statement by the Managing Director/Editor-In-Chief, Mr. Azu Ishiekwene, said, “The Interview will provide answers and solutions to the questions that affect the lives, well being and aspirations of its readers and consumers in a style and language that fit their busy lifestyles. “It will be a magazine that consumers, especially young professionals, can connect with and to which they can look to for answers to burning questions. Our aim is to be retailers of premium content and a strong catalyst for sharing.” In a pre-roll out comment, journalism professor at Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois and Nigeria’s number one satirist, Olatunji Dare, said the magazine, “deserves to be well- received.” Journalist, former publisher of Citizen magazine and leading columnist, Mohammed Haruna, described the debut, as “simply great.” He commended the quality of the interviews and the columns. The Founder/CEO of Cable Newspaper Ltd, Mr. Simon Kolawole, said, “The Interview has arrived on the scene in time to douse the growing belief that there is no more room in the ‘Inn’. “With its creative layout, fluid writing, quality interviews and exciting subject mix. The Inter-
Arinze’s root of change at Alliance Francaise
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Duke headlines The Interview roll-out From Azu Ishiekwene
MAGAZINE
combination of beauty and brains.”
view, in my opinion, offers the best chance to revive the sagging interest in our magazine industry. It’s a
•Ishiekwene Managing is the Director/Editor-In-Chief of The Interview
SOLO art exhibition, The root of change, by Ato Arinze, will open on August 8 and run
through 22nd at the Alliance Française Complex, 239 Herbert Macaulay Way, Alagomeji, Yaba, Lagos. The exhibition will feature a series of 27 drawings compact with symbolisms and intense messages aimed at sparking and taunting the sub-consciousness of viewers. The works examine the vicissitudes and similitude of change in a bid to encourage and incite the viewer’s perspective. Arinze said: “Whether we pay attention to the build-up of change or not, it encompasses and defines the totality of our existence. These dynamics and dualities of change will be examined through the collection of early and recent pencil drawings of spiritual and mystified intone on the quest and effect of change on the society and individual.” The works, according to the ceramist and sculptor, are inspired by his quest for enlightenment and by his distant observance of people’s reaction to changes in their environment. An interesting facet of The root of change is that it veers from direct political, social or religious inclination but symbolically intones droplets intended to stimulate the viewer’s perception, thoughts and understanding of what appears before him/her. It challenges the immediacy of first sight, and requires viewers take a step back, think twice and relate each piece as they come together to drill into the root of change. The choice of graphite on paper plays down on the distraction that colours obtain and enables viewers focus solely on the works. Whilst, some are wont to
By Ozolua Uhakheme Assistant Editor (Arts)
VISUAL ARTS frown at what might appear as the explicit, carnal portrayal of the genitals, this is a conscious attempt by the artist to define the bareness of our existence. Our encounters and dealings are implied by the artist with subtle intents at romance and the results of such. Arinze was born and raised in Lagos, but hails from Onitsha in Anambra state, where he had his secondary school education and his first two years of polytechnic education. Later he obtained his higher diploma at Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, specialising in Sculpture and Pottery in 1991. He has been practising as a full-time studio artist from then, and occasionally freelances as a sculptor, workshop instructor, art promoter and art consultant. His preferred media is clay, for pottery, and fibreglass, for sculpture.
•Arinze
‘Lotto is stock exchange of common man’
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HIEF Kessington Adebutu, founder and CEO of Premier Lotto Limited (PPL), also known as Baba Ijebu, has admonished youths to learn to crawl before walking. The pool magnet gave the admonition when members of the Youth Advancement for Qualitative Education Africa (YAQE), a non-profit organisation, was in his office to
By Hannah Ojo
LOTTERY present an award to him in recognition of his philanthropy and support for the young ones. Adebutu, who will clock 80 in some months, told the youth that the secret of his look at 79 is doing things in moderation.
Asked how he was able to rise from nothing to a multi-billionaire, he said:“It is God’s grace, that is why our front office is full of people. I should appreciate God. That is why I give back to the society and the less-privileged. God has done wonders in my life. Some people work harder than I do. At my age, I should be living on my reserve but I thank God that I am still making money.
I am very grateful to God, I don’t hide it”. Responding to a question on his succession plan for his business, Adebutu affirmed that the plan has been perfected and sealed. “I have my six children working with me. Whether I am around or not, they work. I came back from a trip on July 1, and I am going back on holiday. The business goes on.
ALL FOR ‘UNCLE SAM’ AT 80
•Fawehinmi and Kayode Komolafe
• From left: Osoba, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Idowu, Amuka
So my succession plan is perfect”. On the influence of lottery business on the society, Adebutu said the influence of the game on the society is enormous. “People have reservations, they are getting it wrong. I continually say that lotto is the stock exchange of the common man on the street. Shares crash at times, but when you game, you can win, you can lose.”