Interview: I'm a Sucker For Love - Uru Eke

Uru Eke is a fast rising actress in the Nigerian entertainment industry popularly known as Nollywood. Born and raised in England, Uru Eke studied Business Information Technology at the University of Greenwich, London. She also worked as a Business Acceptance Test Analyst for five years before venturing into films and movies. Here, she speaks with Weekend Magazine about her budding career and more.

The Interview

How long have you been in the movie industry?

I have always been in and out of Nollywood from 2007 to about 2010, but have been actively focused on it now from May 2011 till date.

Was there any career that interested you before you started acting?

Sure, I worked in an IT firm before changing course.

On a scale of ten, how stressful is your acting career?

It has its pros and cons but more pros I would say.

What are your strong points as an actress?

Hmmm....I'd like to leave that to the directors I've worked with to answer, but I try my best to bring everything to whatever role I'm given to play. I try to be real about it and maybe that is one of my strong points...just maybe.

Tell us what your first audition was like

My first audition was for an Obi Emelonye film in London sometime in 2005. I used to work as a care support staff and had to be on a night duty the same evening Obi was holding his audition. I thought I could quickly make the audition and then rush off to work, but before it got to my turn to audition, I had to leave, because my colleague at work was blowing up my phone to show up for duty. So, I never actually got to audition that night.

Tell us how your passion for the acting started

My career as an actress has been an unconventional one. I studied Business Information Technology at the University of Greenwich, London. I then went on to work as a Business Acceptance Test Analyst for five years. While working there I always played with the idea to star in films and movies. It's just that I never had the opportunity. When the chance presented itself, I grabbed it with both hands and here I am today. I am also glad that I did.

Are you satisfied with the roles you have played in your acting career?

I'm happy with the roles I have played so far; all of them have been a joy, but not completely satisfied as I haven't been fully broken yet.

As a celebrity, how well have you handled your popularity?

God has been amazing and constantly held me up and together. I come from a humble beginning and sometimes forget that I might be popular and to be honest I don't even know if I am (laughs).

What special recognition or award have you received in your acting career?

I got an award recently in Dublin; it came as a huge surprise and honour as we were only there for the premiere of 'Last Flight to Abuja'. For that I am very glad.

For you, what do you think is the hardest part of being a celebrity?

Nosy people, but I guess it just comes with the territory, so you just deal with it, but most times they can be real thorns in your flesh. So, I have just learnt to ignore and move ahead in life.

WM: If you have an opportunity to change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Erm ... maybe to be more tolerant of people. I tend to switch off people quite easily if they step out of line, so these days I'm being more patient.

So far, what is your favourite part of the job?

It's a job that I'm crazy about and absolutely love. I love everything about the job.

What is your take on the Nigerian entertainment industry?

The Nigerian movie industry is fast changing direction and producers are stepping up their game in terms of quality and movie standards. Nollywood is going big and you never can tell it could be bigger than Hollywood. It's a great time for Nollywood I must say.

What were your dreams as a child?

To be a singer/dancer, but hey I'm an actress so, it's close right (Laughs)

What is your favourite type of movie genre?

Romance! I'm a sucker for love. I love romantic movies.

What is your favourite inspirational quote that you live by till date?

"Nature compensates the man who dares to pursue his dreams" by Ireal Ikoku. Believe me when I say this has stuck with me for years.

Who do you count as your mentor?

Absolutely Bimbo Akintola, she can do no wrong by me.

What is the one thing you would like to accomplish before the end of this year?

I would love to end the year featuring in a smashing film.

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Photos: Police Arrests Suspected Child Kidnappers

 

The Ogun State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has arrested two suspected child kidnappers in different parts of Abeokuta.The two suspects – Ronke Akindele and Life Nwem – were arrested in Eruwon and Idi-Ori areas of the city respectively when they attempted to kidnap their victims in separate incidents.

Akindele attempted to kidnap one-year-old Basit, who was playing in company with his three-year-old brother in front of their house at Eruwon.Adetarami said the child’s mother had gone into the house to get water for him to drink when she suddenly heard her elder child shouting that somebody had taken Basit away.

He said, “She ran out and went after the suspect who immediately dropped the baby and attempted to escape. But the suspect was apprehended by our men who were on surveillance patrol in the area.

“It took a reinforcement of our men before the suspect could be taken away from the scene because the people insisted on lynching her.”

The suspected child kidnapper, who the corps said had already admitted committing the crime, said she was sent by a paint dealer (name withheld) in Ago-Oko, Abeokuta.

“Preliminary investigations by the corps have shown that there could be some accomplices,” Adetarami said.

The second suspect,  according to him, Nwem, had been disguising in the Alapa Unity Housing Estate, Idi-Ori area as a deranged person for quite some time until last Friday when he attempted to abduct nine-year-old Itunu, who was on her way to school.

The NSCDC said, “The arrest of the suspect was made possible following a distress call we received at our headquarters in Oke-Mosan. Men of our Armed Squad raced to the scene of the incident and arrested the suspect.

“He was always pretending to be a mad man but he was said to be in the habit of using money to entice children in the community. But nemesis caught up with him as he attempted to kidnap the girl who was going to school.

“But all efforts to get the suspect to say something have so far proved abortive. However, the case shall be transferred to the appropriate agency.”

Itunu’s father, Kayode, told our correspondent that he rushed out of the house when he heard his daughter crying but was confronted with the sight of the suspect chasing her with a cutlass.

Kayode said in his attempt to save his daughter, the suspected kidnapper bit him on his leg but he was eventually over-powered by other residents who responded to his distress call.

The Ogun NSCDC boss therefore warned parents to always ensure that their children were never out of their sight.

“Mothers and all other citizens should be very cautious and conscious. Never allow your children to go out of your sight for a second. These kidnappers could be hiding anywhere within your vicinity,” he said.

PUNCH

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Trekking Festival In Lagos As Okada Transportation Is Banned

Governor Fashola has given lagosians an early christmas gift. As you prepare for xmas season, better train for the trekking festival, it’s a double celebration and everyone is invited. The heavier your pocket the lesser you train and vice versa. If you wanna LEARN HOW TO TREK, come to Lagos. Im thinking of opening a TREKKING SCHOOL.

My two cents or kobos about the ban is, first this dude Fashola crept in like a lamb now I see a lion dishing out elitist policies. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with banning okada I think the demerits outweigh the merits, but first put an effective and efficient alternative in place before your Dracula policies in place. Every policy has someone who pays for it and another who it pays. A good policy should pay more people while a few people pay for it. This policy seems to pay the few rich who own cars and the masses who don’t own cars and can’t afford taxis pays for it.

 “Ma tii ma rii..”, that is Tom, Dick, Hannah, Harry and Wazobia are now trekking to their various destinations in various parts of Lagos as the Lagos State government under the leadership of Gov. Fashola has banned the use okada as a means of transportation.

Oh well if you don’t have a car and can’t pay for a cab, you are a citizen of this new Trek Nation. Have you noticed how hellishly hot it is recently? Now incorporate the scorching heat into an equation with variables like empty stomach, long distance, dusty environment, heavy traffic, carbon monoxide pollution, pickpockets community,  alaye/tout infested vicinity, etc, equals an individual really worn out lock stock and barrel, sweating and smelling worse than shit and probably lost his phone and wallet. That horrible painter will paint sweat patches under peoples’ armpit, especially girls. I really hate the sweat patch under armpits, it disgusts me and makes me wanna throw up. God help you if you are going for an interview.

The motorists don’t even make it easier on the trekking nation. They won’t stop for pedestrians to cross the road not even at zebra crossing. They drive without knowing roads signs and what they mean. But they will blame the okada as the demon on the road that cause all the accidents. To me by default every okada man is at fault until proved otherwise but I support them completely when they are right. Some motorists are worse than all okada nation wrapped in one. You know those drivers that while driving they make up, make out, send text, make calls, etc. Yeah your parents, siblings, friends or even you is one of such terrible drivers.

The irony of this ban is that the same Governor Fashola who during his election campaign distributed motorcycles and helmets to okada riders to win their vote has now turned unto them like a predator on a prey devouring them and their means of livelihood. Could it be he just used them to get what he wanted like the average naija politician and now dint give a damn about them? That is possible, the heart of man is wicked the bible says.

Over 3000 motorcyles or okadas destroyed. Imagine walking into Dangote's companies and destroy them, can that happen?

On the flipside, according to health practitioners walk is good for the body. Yeah but there’s time for everything. You can’t dress up for a wedding and then start excavating the sewage system. So if you are coming to Lagos stay better learn how to trek. Actually put it on your CV and you will get the job.

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CPC Blasts labour Leaders Over Call For Sanusi's Sack

The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) has dismissed the call by the Nigeria Labour Congress for the sack of Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, as hypocritical, cheap and opportunistic.  Mallam Sanusi had recommended to the federal government the firing of 50 per cent of its workers in view of its overwhelming recurrent expenditure.


“Whilst we do not agree that the cause of the exorbitant recurrent expenditure is wholly due to the size of the public service work-force and that the sacking of half its size is the solution to the identified problem, we believe the call for the call for the sacking of the forthright Public officer for volunteering his personal opinion is equally preposterous,” CPC said today in a statement signed by Rotimi Fashakin, its National Publicity Secretary.

CPC that the fiscal indiscipline of this Jonathan-led administration has exacerbated Nigeria’s malaise, and that rather than vilifying the CBN governor for expressing a personal opinion, the important thing ought to be meaningful discourse on how to extricate Nigeria from the financial recklessness of the PDP-led Federal Government.

“As a Party, we have equally taken note of the ignominious manner this present crop of Labour leadership truncated, in January 2012, the people’s popular refusal to yield to the exploitative tendencies of the Nation’s rulers,” the statement said.

“In the course of scuttling the people’s revolt, some of these Labour leaders got appointed into some dodgy committees that were not primed to achieve result. This is why we view this call by the Labour leaders for Sanusi’s sack as a cheap, opportunistic (albeit languid) ploy to crawl back to the people’s reckoning.”
It warned that responsible leadership is about selflessness and consistency, and advised Nigeria’s labour leaders to critically examine the policies of governments nationwide which impinge on the well-being of the people “instead of looking for scape-goat for cheap populism.”

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Ojukwu's Will Reveals Unknown Daughter While Bianca Gets Lion Share Of Estate

The will of the late Ikemba Nnewi, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, was on Friday presented to the family with his widow, Bianca, getting the lion’s share.The presentation by the Chief Registrar of the Enugu High Court, Mr Dennis Ekoh, was witnessed by Bianca, Mr Val Nwosu, Ojukwu’s first cousin, and Mr Mike Ejemba.

In the will, the late Ojukwu identified one Tenny Haman as one of his children. Ojukwu listed the children as Tenny Haman, Chukwuemeka Jnr, Mmegha, Okigbo, Ebele, Chineme, Afam and Nwachukwu. The Ikemba gave the Casabianca Lodge at 7 Forest Crescent, GRA, Enugu, two property at Jabi and Kuje in the FCT as well as all his money and personal effects to his widow. He also said that Bianca should replace him as the trustee in the family company, Ojukwu Transport Ltd, while also giving her two plots of land in his village at Nnewi. He, however, added that if she re-married, the land should be taken away from her.

The first son, Emeka Jnr., got the family house at Nnewi, while the newly mentioned daughter, Tenny Haman, got the Jubilee Hotel located in Zaria, Kaduna State. The Biafran warlord also shared other landed property in the village among all his children. Ojukwu listed the trustees and executors of the will to include Bianca, Emeka Jnr and Mr James Chukwuneme.

Ojukwu and Bianca: she takes the bulk of the will. Reacting to the will, Bianca, who is Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain, expressed satisfaction with its contents.

“It was a fair will. This time round, he did not disappoint us,’’ she said.
The ambassador, however, expressed shock at the disclosure of a new daughter in the family, whom she said had never been mentioned by her husband.

None of Ojukwu’s children was present at the presentation of the will. A man who claims to be Ojukwu’s first son has already filed a legal action in a Lagos court on the will. Chief Debe Odumegwu Ojukwu who claimed to be the eldest child of the late Ojukwu had slammed a N100 million suit on his father’s widow, Bianca and six others, accusing them of preventing him from managing his estate.

In the suit filed before a Federal High court in Lagos, Chief Debe alleged that the defendants prevented him from performing the dust to dust rites during the burial of his father and also prevented him from managing his estate. Also joined in the legal battle are Ojukwu Transport Limited, Professor Joseph O. Ojukwu, Engineer Emmanuel N. Ojukwu, Mr. Lotanna Ojukwu, Emeka Ojukwu, Mr. Patrick Ojukwu, Mrs. Margret Mogbo, Nee Ojukwu, the Inspector-General of Police and Mr. Ibrahim Mukhtar, former Commissioner of Police Anambra State, now an Assistant Inspector-General of Police.

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Plane Crash: Taraba Governor Danbaba Suntai Brain-Damaged

The Governor of Taraba State who was involved in a jet crash, and was flown abroad for medical treatment is now brain dead according to saharareporters.

''Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State, who was seriously injured when his plane crashed on October 25 in Yola, capital of Adamawa State, has suffered extensive brain damage and failed to recognize members of a presidential delegation that visited him at a hospital in Hanover, Germany.

A source close to a senior member of the delegation described the trip to see Mr. Suntai as highly secretive. SaharaReporters learnt that members of the delegation had officially traveled to Vatican City in Rome to witness the consecration of Archbishop John Onaiyekan as a Cardinal of the Catholic Church. After the ceremony in Italy, the delegation then made a quick detour to Germany to see the injured Mr. Suntai.

A trip put together by  Gladys Modupeola Quist-Adebiyi, a staff of the Protocol Department at the Presidency was led by Senate President, David Mark, the delegation included Governor Ibrahim Yakowa of Kaduna State, President Goodluck Jonathan’s chief of staff, Mike Oghiadomhe, also on the delegation was John Kennedy Opara, the secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) and the Chaplain of the Presidential Villa Chapel, Venerable Obioma Onwuzurumba.

Our source said members of the delegation were shocked to see Mr. Suntai in a vegetative state. “His condition was so bad that they could not publicly disclose his condition after they returned to Nigeria,” said the source. SaharaReporters gathered that Mr. Suntai suffered brain damage in the crash of the small plane he was piloting. The crash happened a short distance from the Yola airport. Initial reports from eyewitnesses said Mr. Suntai had died, but it later emerged that he had survived the crash, albeit with critical injuries. He was transferred to the National Hospital in Abuja before being airlifted to Germany after President Jonathan had visited him and given a rosy picture of his condition. Four state officials traveling with Mr. Suntai in the crashed plane were treated in hospitals in Adamawa and later transferred to Germany for treatment after a public outcry.

Since Mr. Suntai’s airlift to Germany, officials of the Taraba State government have engaged in propaganda, claiming that the governor was making remarkable recovery. But our sources, including an official of the state government, admitted that Mr. Suntai’s mental faculty had deteriorated since the accident and that his memory was virtually impaired.

“It is possible that he suffered brain damage because there was some delay before he could be taken abroad,” said a state official.

Contacted by SaharaReporters, a Taraba-born political activist who is based in Abuja said he had also heard about the visit to the ailing governor by Senate President Mark's delegation. He wondered if Mr. Mark’s silence on Governor Suntai's health status signaled a scheme by President Jonathan to delay the swearing in of the deputy governor as the substantive governor.

“We all know how President Umaru Yar’Adua’s people continued to deceive Nigerians that the man was recovering well and how they even brought him back in a comatose state and declared that he was in control of Nigeria,” said the activist. He added: “I hope President Jonathan and the PDP are not planning a similar scenario whereby they will declare that Governor Suntai is in control – until they find a malleable successor who suits them.”

The activist stated that the Presidency should state the truth about the injured governor’s condition to enable the people of Taraba to move ahead with a new administration. “The fact that the people of Taraba have not heard from or seen the governor since the air crash on October 25 2012 means that the man is no longer fit to govern them,” he said.

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World AIDS Day, Know Your Status, Be Aware

Today is World AIDS Day. Do you know what AIDS is? Do you know your status. Be aware. Be informed. Dont discriminate, it can be you.

HIV MODES OF NOT TRANSMITTING HIV

You CANNOT get HIV through hugging, kissing, crying, coughing, sneezing, shaking hands, being friends or through normal daily interaction with people who have HIV or AIDS

You also CANNOT contract the virus from swimming pools, lakes, baths or showers, from toilet seats, door knobs, towels, clothing, food or drink, cups or glasses, dishes, silverware, straws, drinking fountains, toys, books, paper, telephones, office equipment or furniture

HIV is NOT transmitted through vomit, sweat, stool or nasal secretions, tears, urine or saliva.

Additionally, you CANNOT get HIV through mosquito or other insect bites, since HIV does not reproduce inside insects. Even if a mosquito bites an HIV positive person, the virus will NOT reproduce in the mosquito. The mosquito will not be infected and thus cannot transmit the HIV

HIV MODES OF HIV TRANSMISSION
Having vaginal or anal sex without a condom with someone who is infected.

Having contact with the blood of someone who has HIV. This could be having a blood transfusion from someone who is infected with HIV

From a mother who has HIV to her baby: HIV can pass to the baby during pregnancy, during the birth of the baby, or through breast-feeding. Only about one in three babies born to HIV-positive mothers get HIV.

Receiving an injection from an unsterilized needle that was previously used by someone with HIV.

Heterosexual transmission is the route by which most people with AIDS have become infected with HIV worldwide This category of AIDS cases is also among the most rapidly increasing.

A few facts about HIV
* Over 90% of people with HIV were infected through sexual contact
* You can now get tested for HIV using a saliva sample
* HIV is not passed on through spitting, biting or sharing utensils
* Only 1% of babies born to HIV positive mothers have HIV
* You can get the results of an HIV test in just 15-20 minutes
* There is no vaccine and no cure for HIV

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Nollywood Actress Silifonia Beaten To Death By Her Lover

Silifa Ladeji

I hate hearing stories like this. I cant stop wondering what will turn a lover into a killer. Was the love all one big giant fat LIE? Ladies and guys if possible, please when you see these signs bold written on the wall, just walk away before its written on your coffin.

Upcoming Yoruba actress, Silifa Ladeji also known as Silifonia, has bled to death after her lover severally physically assaulted her during a misunderstanding  which led to her death on Wednesday.

A friend of the actress, said that Silifonia who was heavily pregnant before her sudden demise had been a victim of battery and assault in the hands of her lover.The suspect is currently at large, while the corpse of Silifonia has been deposited at an undisclosed mortuary.

Dontwait till it gets this bad. Do not be a victim to assault, speak up and save your life.  Silifa Ladeji  couldn't but you can make a change today!

 May her soul rest in peace

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Tonto Dikeh And Terry G Recording New Song

TerryG And Tonto Dikeh Recording A New Hit Song

Quitters never win. Oh well surprisingly Im yet to hear her first single that was musical calamity. All the bad press left me with no appetite to massacre my eardrums lol.

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World Famous Motivational Speaker, Author Zig Ziglar Is Dead!

This man was a huge icon in a class of his own.

American author, salesman, and motivational speaker, Zig Ziglar, passed away November 28, 2012 after a short bout with pneumonia. He was 86 years old.

For those of us who have listen to him or read his motivational books, he will be sorely missed! We are grateful for all his contribution(s). He surely left a huge legacy behind!

May his gentle soul Rest In Peace!

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