Big Brother Nigeria Returns In January 2017

The Big Brother Naija (BBN) will return in January 2017, according to John Ugbe, the Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria.

Ugbe told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Wednesday that the return of the reality show was based on popular demand by people who wanted it back.

He said “the show has been well developed following the successes of past seasons of Big Brother Africa. “The Big Brother Africa is popular for its entertainment value and ability to showcase ordinary Africans from different walks of life.

“It is one of the ways the company is enhancing quality and varieties of contents available on its platforms. We decided to re-invent BBA, the reality show, once again by bringing back the Nigerian version.

“We are confident that it will draw pan-African audiences for the same reasons that Big Brother Africa did.”

NAN reports that auditions for Big Brother Naija will hold in Lagos on Nov. 26 and Nov. 27, 2016.

After a 10-year hiatus, BBN is coming back to educate, entertain and inform Nigerian audience about the culture and multi tasking jobs carried out in the show.

The return of the BBN reality TV show was based on the Big Brother Africa TV series.

The Big Brother Naija show will be aired on dedicated event channels on DStv and GOtv in January 2017.

The first edition of the show, after screening, saw 12 housemates vying for the coveted 100,000-dollar prize money by performing various mental and physical tasks.

At the end of the three-month stay in the house, Katung Aduwak emerged winner.

The show also produced other notable stars like Africa Magic’s Tinsel actor, Gideon Okeke, and TV personality, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu.

Big Brother Naija is sponsored by PayPorte, an online retail store.

Blogger's social network hits 50,000 users, dominates Google trends

Mr Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Google’s Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Anglophone West Africa, made the disclosure in a statement in Lagos.

Top Nigerian blogger, Linda Ikeji’s launch of a social network was top on Google search this week, an official of Google in Lagos said on Thursday.

Mr Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Google’s Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Anglophone West Africa, made the disclosure in a statement in Lagos, saying that the search was between Nov. 2 and Nov. 9.

“Google search trend this week moved between the tension-filled U.S. elections to Linda Ikeji social, the newly launched social networking site of famous gossip blogger.

“The awoof buying spree on Jumia online store along with some other exciting news also got people’s attention online,” Kola-Ogunlade said.

“Ikeji goes Social” this week witnessed the announcement of the latest competition to Facebook in Nigeria, the Google manager said.

“Top Nigerian blogger, Ikeji launched her new social network and hit 50, 000 sign-ups on the first day.

“Linda, who runs a blog that is widely known as a top gossip site, says she plans to pay users to gain more followers on the site,” he said.

According to Kola-Ogunlade, with a few hours remaining to the Nov. 8 elections, search for updates on the blood pumping US elections shot up on Google.

“Internet users wanted to know things like the latest forecasts, what time winners would be announced, and even the newest gaffes from either of the two contestants, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

“Up until the day of elections, citizens wanted to know who was likely to become the US President,” he said.

The Google manager said that folks went into frenzy search on Google when the ‘Awoof’ buying on Jumia Black Friday sales dates was announced by the online retail giant Jumia Nigeria.

He said that they offered buyers amazing discounts on the Website for quality products ranging from electronics, beauty and more.

“Jumia announced that this year’s Black Friday will start on Nov. 14 and end on the 25th and customers who spend 10,000 and above will win mouth-watering prizes,” he said.

He said that to calm the rumour, which went around over the weekend on the demise of Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, the state government sent out a statement refuting the death.

He said that the Director General, Media and Publicity, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, disclosed that the governor was on a two-week break outside the country approved by the state House of Assembly.

He said that in some other reports, the governor was said to be in Germany for an eye surgery.

“Several people went scampering for news on Kwara Poly all over the internet to know if indeed the polytechnic had increased its school fees," Kola-Ogunlade said.

He said that the Rector of Kwara State Polytechnic rebutted the rumour, saying people should stop listening to rumours that started on the social media.

Culled from: pulse.ng

OSHODI DEMOLITION: SHOP OWNERS CRY OUT FOR HELP

The mystery behind the demolition of some shops in one of the most commercially viable hubs of Lagos, Oshodi remains unraveled to owners of the shop.

While it has been said in the media that the Lagos State Government aimed at relocating the business men and women who own these shops, many of the shop owners have claimed that they were not giving any notice.

Some Shop Owners trying to pick the remains of their goods. (Photos by Remi Olatunde)

One of the Shop owners who preferred anonymity complained that it is not a kind gesture at all. He claimed that they were not informed about the demolition and that many or all of their goods were still in their shops at the time of the demolition.

A witness of the demolition said it happened on the eve of January 1 when all the shop owners had closed for the year and probably traveled. "I saw the Bulldozers and Caterpillars and some officers on January 1st, the entire shops were closed as at then", said the witness.

The Lagos State Government have since then maintained on the media that the aim was to relocate the business men and women to a newly completed block of shops not far from the demolished one.

The observation however is that majority, if not all of these shop owners are igbos. If there claim on not being informed about the demolition is true, i hope this is not a retaliation by the Lagos State Government on the crisis seem to be caused by the tribe in Lagos State during the last gubernatorial election in Lagos.

We wait for further reactions by the Lagos State Government.