WE HAVE BEEN JEGA'D BUT THE FUTURE OF NIGERIA IS STILL IN OUR HANDS...

                        'Jega'd' AS WE ARE
                       WE MUST STILL VOTE...

Like many Nigerians across the nation, the day I got my voter's card, I was filled with excitement that for the first time I would be doing more than talking about the change I wanted to see in Nigeria, for the first time, my voice would be heard in the way of my vote but 'Jega'd' and tried as our hope and excitement for the nation may feel today I look within for the renewal of faith in our dear country Nigeria knowing that for as long as I have my voter's card, I have a stake in the future of Nigeria and even if we get 'Jega'd' a few more times...(God forbid), let us collectively resolve within ourselves that we will be a part of changing Nigeria for good. Indeed, the future is here, the future is now, the future is in our hands and a million 'Jegas' cannot take that from us..

NIGERIA MUST CHANGE YOU AND I MUST BE A PART OF THAT CHANGE..

STAND UP AND BE COUNTED

NIGERIA CALLS...PLEASE OBEY!!

DELIVERING A NEW NIGERIA - WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER AFTER ALL "WE ARE THE FUTURE"

After the build up and anticipation of saturday's elections, it was a huge disappointing anti-climax when  INEC Boss, Professor Attahiru Jega, announced the cancellation of the day's events due to logistical issues. It does indeed seem that his motives are noble, that indeed he is dedicated to the ideal of holding  free and fair elections in Nigeria however, we cannot ignore the fact  that people feel despondent at the turn of events. Many that had never voted before turned up and to have been told their efforts were in vain may have been too discouraging, but I certainly hope it won't stop them from coming out on
the 9th (Assembly elections), 16th (Presidential elections) and 26th of April (Gubernatorial elections) to do it all over again because we are all in this together.
Nigeria MUST change and we all have to do whatever it takes..Let us keep our eyes on the ball, we cannot afford to let this slight set back get us down. VOTE we will, if Nigeria is to ever change it must begin with us after all, "We are the future...We are part of this..Nigeria is NOT OVER, we have just begun.." Let us encourage and build up one another but what better way than in the words of a true lover of Nigeria ....The Award winning singer,TY Bello, whose video comes perfectly timed after 5 years away from the music scene, charging us to keep our eyes fixed on the future of our great nation Nigeria..Listen to every word and be truly blessed and lifted to once again renew your faith in Nigeria ...God bless our nation - Nigeria!



LYRICS – "The Future"

VERSE 1

We are the future
We are the dream
We are the nation
We are part of this

Yes we are so amazing
That’s the least we shall be
At the heart of the nation changing history

BRIDGE
How can they say that we are finished
We have just begun
When we have no where else to run to
We have no where else to go

So get out of the way
Out of the way Of the land of our dreams
We are the nation we are part of this
We are the nation we are part of this

CHORUS
Ooooh, Carry the song
Carry the sound
The future is here
The future is here
Goodbye yesterday
Tomorrow is now for the taking
The future is here
The future is here

VERSE 2
I am the future
I am the dream
I am the nation
I am part of this

Yes I am so amazing
That’s the least l shall be
At the heart of the nation changing history

BRIDGE/CHORUS
The future
The future has
The future has come

UK CELEBRITY BRIDAL COUTURE DESIGNER,YEMI OSUNKOYA OF KOSIBAH CREATIONS TO SHOWCASE AWARD WINNING COLLECTION AT OAKEN EVENTS FAIR IN LAGOS 6TH-8TH APRIL 2011

A-List Designer Yemi Osunkoya

The Oaken Special Events Fair - Flare to be held at The Eko Hotel and Suites Victoria Island, Lagos, 6th-8th April 2011 has lined up the best of the best in special events organisation and on the runway the very Best of Bridal Fashion in Seasoned Couture Designer, Yemi Osunkoya, a phenomenon every woman wishes to experience. 

Yemi a totally amazing creative, uses his craft and signature use of corsetry to accentuate and celebrate the feminine form. As part of 'Flare', he will be showcasing his amazing designs as well as consulting with Nigerian Brides. Although Yemi lives and creates his bridal masterpieces in the United Kingdom, the seeds of Yemi Osunkoya’s fascination with fashion in general and bridal wear in particular were sown at his first high society wedding in Nigeria. From then on, whenever he accompanied his parents to social gatherings, he would feel compelled to draw the dresses and guests after the function.  So began his life-long love of figurative drawing.  As he entered his teenage years, Yemi fell under the spell of the glamour and sophistication of Bob Makie’s costumes for Diana Ross and Anthony Price’s gravity defying gowns for Jerry Hall.  A career in fashion design was beckoning.

After a degree in Textile Design at Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria, Yemi completed his studies at the Paris Academy of Fashion, Oxford St, London, gaining top marks in both men and women’s wear. Yemi completed his studies in 1991 in London at the height of the recession.  But, undaunted by the economic climate and determined to make his own mark, Yemi decided to strike out on his own and founded his own design label Kosibah. It was natural that he would name the company in honour of his greatest supporter: his mother, Cosiba. The name Cosiba comes from the Republic of Benin and is the Day Name given to a female child born on a Sunday.  However, in deference to the Yoruba tradition of not addressing elders by their first names, Yemi changed the spelling of the company name slightly as a mark of respect.

Yemi has worked hard to make Kosibah a truly global brand, but with clientele particularly well represented in the UK, USA, West and South Africa and the Caribbean.   Among his celebrated clients, Yemi counts Lady Janet Boateng, Dianne Abbott MP, Kelly Rowland, Alesha Dixon, Sheila Ferguson, Hollywood actress Indra Ové, Louise Rose and members of several royal families in Nigeria and Ghana. Still on Yemi’s wish list of celebrities to dress are Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, Padma Lakshmi, and Keira Knightley.Despite A-list success, Yemi’s designs are firmly rooted in the desire to make every woman look and feel good.  Drawing on his African roots, Yemi’s designs celebrate the curves and shapes of real women.  His signature use of corsetry and draping creates gowns that flatter and enhance every woman’s figure.  And his long experience of providing a personal attentive service to each of his clients means that he is now an expert in providing exactly what his clients want.

He also draws inspiration from the vibrant, multicultural life of London which is now his home.  The capital’s diverse populations allow Yemi to fuse influences from across the world into his designs with the luxurious fabrics, sumptuous embellishments and meticulous attention to detail associated with the finest traditions of Parisian couture.

Real Bride, Elizabeth looking absolutely gorgeous..
in one of Yemi's creations

When Charlotte, daughter of Lady and Lord Boateng got married,
 she chose Yemi Osunkoya to create her perfect wedding dress...

When Alesha Dixon, UK Musician and Strictly Come Dancing star got married she chose
Yemi Osunkoya to create her dream dress..

Another real life Bride..Hawa

Real Bride....Onyeka..looking glorious on her big day!

As Kosibah reaches its 20^th Anniversary, which would be celebrated with a gala event in September, Designer Yemi will be making things a bit easier for discerning brides-to-be in Nigeria by taking consultation appointments at Eko Hotel on the 6^th and 7^th of April  to coincide with his visit to Lagos for the Oaken Fair, with the view to returning later in the year to do fittings for brides that commission a Kosibah gown.

 For further booking information, send an email to Yemi or leave a message for him on the Kosibah Facebook Fan page . For more information about the Oaken Special Events Fair visit their website here

WORLD ACCLAIMED EVENT DESIGNER, PRESTON BAILEY, INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED BALLOON AND RESPECTED BALLOON ARTIST, TOPE ABULUDE, AWARD WINNING BRIDAL DESIGNER, YEMI OSUNKOYA, ARRIVING IN NIGERIA FOR SPECIAL EVENTS FAIR “FLARE”!

American Celebrity Event Designer
 Preston Bailey 

We all witnessed the revolution in the Nigerian music industry which came riding on the back of ingenuity of Nigerian Breweries, This Day, and House on the Rock which was demonstrated by organising music concerts of international standards with Top notch artist such as R.Kelly, Beyonce, Donnie Mcklurkin etc performing before a live audience.

Now like spectators at a stage play, we will watch as the design industry goes through a complete makeover and emerges a beautiful swan as the industry prepares to receive world’s pre-eminent design legend, Preston Bailey, International acclaimed Balloon Artist and designer Tope Abulude and Celebrity bridal designer, Kosibah in Lagos this April.

Preston Bailey, Tope Abulude and  Kosibah will be the featured special guests at “FLARE”! – The Special Events’ Fair holding at the Eko hotel & Suites, Lagos, from the 6^th-8^th of April, 2011.

The first-of-its-kind Cosmopolitan themed FLARE – where style meets fanfare, will be a conglomeration of over 200 events’ suppliers showcasing their products and services. The Fair will feature a 3-day exhibition and will have an estimated attendance of about 4,000 guests.

There will be over 40 hours of workshops & training sessions from society’s lead-role mentor figures such as; Kelechi Amadi-Obi (CEO, Kelechi Amadi-Obi studios), Tara Durotoye (MD, House of Tara), Mrs. Bukky George (MD, Health-plus Pharmacy), Miss Uche Eze (MD, Bella Naija), Mr. Tosan Jemide (MD,Cakes by Tosan), Seyi Olusanya (Creative Director of Cedar Events Organisers) just to mention a few. Highlights of the Fair include interactive full-day workshop with Tope Abulude, speaking sessions by the  design icons, runway fashion show by Kosibah, live performances and the grand finale.

Preston is the creative genius behind several Hollywood Celebrity weddings and lavish parties for the rich and famous beginning with the Queen of talk herself – Oprah Winfrey. He has over 30years of experience in the industry.

Tope Abulude is the Brain behind Balloon Inspiration. His background knowledge is evident in all aspects of his work and has earned prestigious awards such as the Designer of the year at the 2000 International Balloon Arts Convention.

Kosibah is the much-celebrated label established in London, 1991, belonging to our own, Yemi Osunkoya – the celebrity designer whose clientele is well represented in the UK, U.S.A and all over Africa. They have been known to include several Hollywood actresses and the very stunning, Miss World, Agbani Darego.

The Special Events’ Fair - FLARE, is an initiative of Oaken Events Limited – an event management and design company. 

Oaken Events, believes that Nigeria has been unfairly depicted in the international media over the years. Oaken is well aware of Nigeria’s position, as it were, a community trying to redefine herself and project a positive image of a people united by the strength in their diversity. Hence, Oaken was inspired to put together an event that would portray Nigeria positively by bringing to light the viable businesses that exist and fostering a long-term affair between local and international participants. Ultimately, this would pave the way for Nigeria to emerge as the preferred destination for tourism, leisure and build a trusted platform for business in Africa.

Below are some of Preston Bailey's breathtaking event decor pictures...

Whatever you do, DO NOT miss FLARE, attendance is free on 6th and 7th however you must register to gain entry. Tickets are required for the grand finale on the 8th. For more information visit the Oaken Events Fair website by clicking here