BE INSPIRED! HOUSE OF TARA CEO, TARA FELA DUROTOYE FEATURES ON CNN AFRICAN VOICES

Tara Fela-Durotoye, Chief Executive Officer of Africa's leading beauty brand, House of Tara - who is iconic for setting up the first make up studio and establishing Nigeria's first make up school in 2004 - spoke to CNN's African Voices, a weekly show that highlights Africa's most engaging personalities, exploring the lives and passions of people who are shaping change in Africa.

Since hosting the first ever gathering of makeup professionals in Nigeria, Makeup In Nigeria Conference (MINC) in 2014, Tara has made several appearances on premium global platforms including the New York Forum Africa (NYFA), France24 and Africa 24 by Reuters.In this interview, Tara shares deep secrets behind her passion, building a business from scratch in Africa and how she has used as a tool for empowering young women to build businesses whilst adding value to the country.“My story became one of inspiration to others of the possibilities that exist in our country, don't just get a job, do something that is tied to a purpose. It should be all about purpose," said Tara Fela-Durotoye. “I started a mentorship program to mentor young girls because to make impact, I need to share my story with the next generation and I always tell my mentees that it’s their responsibility as women to develop other women.

Speaking on the brand's achievements, she said; “Today we have about 14 make-up schools across the country where people have been trained to become make-up artists. I can confidently say that for 80 % of the make-up artists that are active players in the industry today, either working as entrepreneurs or working within other beauty brands, are trained by House of Tara. And I think for me that is the greatest joy.”The feature included appearances from some of her mentees: Gbemisola Adebayo of @hegaiandesther, Arese Ugwu of @smartmoneywitharese, Iroghama Ogbeifun of @hairvenhaircare, Peculiar Beauty, and other brilliant entrepreneurs.

The brand, House of Tara currently has 20 studios in 11 states, with plans to build more studios across Nigeria in the Niger Delta and northern regions. It also has plans to extend across Africa into, Kenya, Ghana and South Africa by the end of 2015.Watch repeat broadcasts on DSTV channel 401 on the following days:

Sunday: 4:30am, 12:30pm, 7:30pm
Monday: 3:30am, 11:30am, 6:30pm
Tuesday: 5:30am
Wednesday: 10:30am

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"MO ABUDU HAS CONQUERED A CONTINENT": CNN's LEADING WOMAN PROFILES "AFRICA'S OPRAH"

CNN has profiled Mo Abudu, Executive Chairman and CEO of EbonyLife TV
and first black woman to own a pan-African TV channel, EbonyLife TV, as
one of the continent's leading women.

'Mo' as she is fondly called was interviewed on 'Leading Women' - a show
that connects it's audience to extraordinary women in the world - as a
talk show host and media owner who presents the vision of a very
different Africa. The show celebrates women at the top of their field,
exploring their careers, lives and ideas.

With EbonyLife TV, Africa's first Global Black Entertainment and
lifestyle network, Mo has won acclaim for building a TV network creating
1,000 hours of fresh, engaging, original and premium homegrown
programming yearly. And there are plans to unveil even more channels -
all under the EbonyLife brand.


Calling her "Africa's Oprah", CNN notes that Mo Abudu’s greatest
achievement and what makes her story remarkable is not just conquering
African TV - but doing it without any prior media experience.

"There were many knock backs along the way, many people telling me 'you
can't do these things," said the British-born entrepreneur in an
interview with CNN's Stephanie Busari. "But I think what's important in
life is that you believe in yourself and the things you can do."

Click HERE to read the article and video from CNN

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ALEX OKOSI SPEAKS ON CNN AFRICAN VOICES!

Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President & Managing Director of VIACOM Media Networks will make a special appearance on CNN African Voices this weekend. CNN African Voices highlights Africa's most engaging personalities, exploring the lives and passions of people who rarely open themselves up to the camera. The Nigerian-born entrepreneur will speak on his contribution to the development of one of the world's most influential media companies. Okosi will also talk about how he helped the company understand the power and value of the African market. Other influential Africans that have been featured on CNN African Voices include Supermodel Alek Wek, Hollywood Actor, Djimon Hounsou, Somalian Musician, K’Naan, Nigerian Film Director, Obi Emelonye, Nigerian Olympian, and Chioma Ajunwa.

Alex Okosi, helms the pan-African business operations of VIACOM Media Networks. He is responsible for managing the growth and development of Viacom multichannel entertainment portfolio, spanning 48 countries in sub-Saharan Africa with iconic kids and youth brands MTV, MTV Base, VH1, BET, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon.

You can catch Alex Okosi interview with CNN's Nkepile Mabuse on CNN Channel 401 on these days: Saturday, September 22nd - 08:30am, 03:30pm, Sunday, September 23rd - 09:00am; 06:30pm, Monday, September 24th - 10:30am, 05:30pm and Tuesday, September 25th – 05:30am

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OMOTOLA NAMED NIGERIAN ACCENT REPRESENTATIVE BY CNN

On August 18, 2011, Nigeria once again scores high on the international scene as CNN lists the Nigerian accent as the 5th sexiest accent in the world! and guess who was mentioned as the true
representative of the sexy accent? Omotola Jalade Ekeinde.

This feat is surely not surprising as Omotola has always been known for excellent skills in delivering her lines. She doesn’t speak like a Briton or American, she reps Naija fully with her tongue, origin and stardom. She’s truly an advocate of everything good, sexy and Nigerian.

Attached is the CNN link of the story: http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/life/worlds-sexiest-accents-130333

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Is Nigerian accent the 5th sexiest accent worldwide?

According to Jordan Burchette of CNN, the Nigerian accent is the 5th sexiest accent in the world. Dignified, with just a hint of willful naiveté, the deep, rich “oh’s” and “eh’s” of Naija bend the English language without breaking it, arousing tremors in places other languages can’t reach. Kinda makes the occasional phone scam worth the swindle.

The top 6 world sexiest accents are as follows: Italian , French, Spanish, Czech, Nigerian, and Irish.

Source | CNNGo.com

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Christmas Eve bombings in Jos

(CNN) -- Five blasts went off in the Nigerian city of Jos Friday night as residents were clebrating Christmas Eve, leaving dead and injured, a regional government official said.

The exact number of casualties was not determined, but an eyewitness said he counted eight dead.

Choi Gyang, a special advisor to the governor of Nigeria's Plateau state, said two bombs went off in the Angwa Rukuba area of Jos. Within five to 20 minutes, three more blasts happened in the area of Kabong.

"We have a lot of casualties and are struggling to cope," he said.

Hassan John, a Jos resident and journalist with the media department of the Anglican Diocese of Jos, had just come out of church about 7 p.m. (1 p.m. ET) when he heard the sound of the first explosion. He rushed to the site and "by the time I got there, there were women crying, people screaming. It was all chaos, people were screaming, blood everywhere."

"I counted eight corpses," John said.

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