On Sunday 27th may 2012, Charity Lounge Lagos held her Children Day Celebration for the physically challenged students from Wesley schools for the hearing impaired 1&2 and Pacelli School of the blind. The whole idea of the event was to support the children and reach out to them in every way they can for their second edition.The event was graced by some important personalities like Multiple Award Winning Actress, Halima Abubakar, the General Manager of Chocolate City, Mary Ero (representing the CEO, Mr. Audu Maikori), Hakym da Dream, Yinka Lamborghini, representatives from Stand up to Cancer Naija and the Brown Heart Foundation Volunteer Doctors were there to conduct BP checks and fast rising artistes present at the occasion gave exhilarating performances.The event started with the opening prayer by Fabian, a gospel artiste, the national anthem was taken by Essence, DJ Smooth of Rhythm FM invigorated on the wheels of steel while MC Abbey cracked up the audience with his dance steps.                    Alex Akhigbe of Passion Life House International, made a keynote presentation on the birth of a new nation in community service. Charity is the act of giving and helping. Our being alive today is not by our might, we are given an opportunity to do as much as we can. No blessing is too much, everybody present there had something to say about the act of charity. For Halima Abubakar, she supports anything that has to do with charity and was glad to be amongst the lovely children. For Lamborghini, entertainment is the only thing that can tell the government and society some things and they'll try and listen. According to him, the artistes and celebrities are powerful tools in the society, and when asked why the media was present there, he said 'the reason why the media is involved is so as to inform the society on what the celebrities do'.Mary Ero, the chairperson of the event gave two theories, the first was to leave legacies for the people coming behind and the best way to do that is by helping the children because they are the future of tomorrow. The second theory was that of commitment in supporting charity courses, and that they shouldn't hesitate to call on them in chocolate city if there is any humanitarian work to do, because they'll always be there.Mary Ero set the ball rolling with the auction. There were different items to be auctioned and each went for different prices. The first item was the essential bridal handbook by Funke Bucknor Obruthe of Zapphaire Events which goes for 12,000 but it was auctioned at 7,500, the pair of shoes went for 3,500 with the market price of 10,000,the toy abacus went for 1,000,the picture frame and notebook went for 4,000and the t-shirts went for 5,000. The fashion auction was supported by Ajeh Clothing and Shegz kool.The children of Wesley Schools for the hearing impaired 1&2 and those of Pacelli School of the blind were very happy about the charity event organized for them, they were all filled with smiles on their faces as they danced, ate and drank. The event was later moved outside where the fun continued.At the end of the event, Stand up to Cancer Naija Lagos representative, Chidinma Ifepe commended the organizers of the Charity Lounge Lagos and encouraged everyone to continue to help people when need be. The presentations of items were made to both coordinators of the schools.The event was supported by Public Spirited Individuals, Corporate Nigeria and the Nigeria Media.The Official Induction Ceremony of the fantastic five which Includes Nollywood Star Stella Damasus, Pop artiste Innocent '2face' Idibia, Comedian Julius Agwu, Broadcaster Funmi Iyanda and Corporate Executive, Gerald Azonobo and those shortlisted for the initiatives  are The Future Project, Lamboginny Say No to Crime, Save Laura Campaign, Bake for Change and Kuth Foundation was postponed to the 8th of July at Troy Lounge to accommodate more fun experiences for the children at the event which was coordinated by Skriptures with Debbie.According to the Resident Representative in her closing remarks to the Media, Seyi Funmi Ajimushe "We are incredibly excited about all the young people we have managed to bring together to volunteer for a good cause and we are encouraging more to believe in our competence to deliver on our humanity promise to put the Fun in Fundraising. This generation wants to be different from the last, but how can it be practically done? It begins with you, but when we refuse to make commitment under the disguise of what is in it for us… we will be unable to achieve it. This initiative takes the first huge step to heed to the clarion call that charity does not only begin at Home-ARE YOU MAKING A DIFFERENCE? "
Photo courtesy of 'Lara Tiamiyu!

An ibadan-based (Nigerian) writer Rotimi Babatunde has emerged winner of the 2012 Caine Prize for African Writing.

Babatunde's story about Nigerian soldiers who fought in the Burma campaign during World War II singled him out from other four shortlisted writers and landed him the highly coveted £10,000 ($15,700) prize.

Presenting the award at the Bodlelian Library, Oxford, United kingdom on July 2nd, the chair of judges, Bernardine Evaristo described the winning story as "ambitious, darkly humorous and in soaring, scorching prose exposes the exploitative nature of the colonial project and the psychology of independence."

During BBC's Network Africa interview, the visibly happy Babatunde explained that

"The story is about African soldiers who go to Burma and came back with a sense of new realities and new possibilities. The boundaries that the main character, Bombay, witnessed in Nigeria fell away during the heat of the campaign.

He lost his reverence for the colonial officers.

Babatunde will also have the opportunity to go to Georgetown University, USA, as a writer-in-residence for a month at the Lannan Center for Poetics and Social Practice.

The Caine Prize for African Writing is an annual literary award for the best original short story by an African writer, whether in Africa or elsewhere published in the English language. The £10,000 prize

was founded in the United Kingdom in 2000, and was named in memory of the late Sir Michael Harris Caine,

former Chairman of Booker Group plc.

Source: BBC

Not that Karounwi olakunle, fondly called Kas has dumped music for acting, the good-looking singer who became famous after his hit song, 'fimile' is just dipping his hands in another pie which is acting.

And surprisingly enough he's playing the lead role in a new movie which has been titled 'THE TWIN SWORD. Interesting!!!

Shot in locations in Northern Nigeria, the film was produced by Samaila Vangawa and directed by Geoff Galadima.

Source: Bononline

Five Nigerian celebrities namely: musicians Banky W and Sasha, Footballer Kanu Nwankwo, Actress Funke Akindele and On Air Personality/Comedian Yaw all carried the London 2012 Olympic Torch on Sunday July 1st, in Coventry, United Kingdom.

It was indeed a magical game! Spain clinched its third title after thrashing Italy 4 nil in the 2012 European Championship.

The first set of goals were delivered by David Silva and Jordi Alba during the first half while Fernando Torres and Juan Mata added two more in the final minutes to seal the victory completely.

The Champions won the Euro 2008 title four years ago in Vienna and followed that with the World Cup title in Johannesburg in 2012.

Kudos to the Spanish team for this historic achievement/ milestone