news
WHY I WANT TO HELP SOME OF OUR AGED NOLLYWOOD VETERANS – Foluke Darmola Salako
![]()
Nollywood actress of many years in Nigeria, Foluke Darmola Salako, has revealed in a no holds bare interview with the National Mandate newspaper on why she wants to float a social welfare intervention scheme to help intervene in the harsh situations some of the aged and generational Nollywwod actors are passing through at the moment in their private lives in today’s Nigeria.
According to the delectable theatre practitioner, she said she was close to some of these actors and she is aware of the hard times they are going through at the moment, which needs the urgent intervention of all well meaning Nigerians to help put smiles on their faces again.
“Some of these actors have put in so much over the many years in the growth, progress and development of the entertainment and Nollywood industry in Nigeria, and so, they do not deserve to be neglected, forgotten or left alone to continue to wriggle in economic hardship and pains just like that in a country they have done so much to act as veterans to contribute to the growth of the theatre and entertainment industry agelongly in the country.
I am very close to many of them and I am always sad, when I see them look abandoned in their pitiable situations or when I receive calls consistently from some of them, telling me the ugly stories of what they have been passing through in their health and economic challenges.
Some of these evergreen veterans even call me on phone most times to ask me to assist them with money, which under normal circumstances they should be able to afford to attend to their situations.
So, I thought about it and I decided to help build a platform in the form of a pension scheme to help them have access to monthly stipends through my NGO to intervene in their situations.
I am also in the industry and I could be one of these helpless aged veterans tomorrow. So, I am taking it upon myself to use the platform of my NGO to help build mutual trust funds to alleviate their sufferings and intervene in their failing health situations.
We are in a make belief industry, where people think because we are celebrities, all is well with us.
Those who are okay among us are okay, and those who are not, are not.
We all live in a country, where hardship hits many people so hard and Nollywood celebrities in Nigeria are not excluded.
That we are hardship free is not the picture. We may be popular on screen, but that does not mean we do not have critical needs we are also battling with in our private lives that need the humanitarian attention of all well meaning Nigerians and our fans across the globe as humans.
I have come up with this initiative to sensitize the world about this fact and reality, and to draw the attention of Nigerians to the fact that we also could be vulnerable needies, who deserve the kind gestures of humanitarian Nigerians.
Over the years, we come on social platforms to beg for the financial interventions of Nigerians, when some of us have critical health and economic challenges. But, for how long can we continue to constitute social nuisance in this regard?! For how long will this continue?! This is a situation that is demeaning in itself.
Actor Mr. ‘A’ is sick, please come and help with money to pay his medical bills have been the order of the day in our industry. But, with this initiative I am under taking for the economically vulnerable, aged and forgotten ones in our midst, I am optimistic that it would go a long way to arresting, alleviating and reducing the ugly situation.
It is an initiative to consistently raise funds into a mutual benefit assurance pool and will be run in collaboration as well as in partnership with credible insurance and pension organisations.
We are already in progressive talks with IBTC pension managers; Crusader pensions; ECO Bank and co. for partnership and collaboration operations.
They will be involved in the running of the scheme, and on the long run, will always be there to help take care of the health situations of these veterans and also assist to provide money for them to survive optimally on monthly basis.
We will thereafter use part of the money we are able to build to invest in the production of TV series and a recreation cum production house that could always help to bring them back to active social and productive acting lives again.
I, therefore, call on all Nigerians of humanitarian nature and kind hearts to support and help to build capital funds for the successful running of this initiative.
This is about what we are trying to do. It is purely a not for profit humanitarian project. I am only passionate about helping these aged ones among us in the industry to live healthily, productively and happily again.”
Mrs. Foluke Daramola Salako has, however, announced the hosting of a gala event, which will see to the bringing of these actors together for celebration, honour and formal launch of this initiative to kick start in earnest.
The event, which will host many prominent and kind hearted Nigerians has been slated to hold on Friday, November 29, 2019 at the prestigious Anchor event centre in the heart of Ikeja in Lagos.
On the list of those expected to grace the occasion are Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; his wife, the distinguished Senator Oluremi Tinubu; the governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide SanwoOlu; the speaker of the Lagos house of assembly, Honourable Mudashiru Obasa; the wives of all the governors in the South West; Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi; Iya Aladura Esther Ajayi; Taiwo Afolabi, Sifax boss; Chief (Mrs.) Remi Adiukwu Bakare and many others across Nigeria on the list.
news
Araraume Felicitates President Tinubu on his birthday. Hails his Reform Agenda and National Milestones
![]()
Senator Ifeanyi Araraume has congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the occasion of his birthday, praising the President’s leadership style and the series of reforms that have shaped the direction of the country since he assumed office.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Araraume described President Tinubu as “a courageous reformer whose decisions continue to redefine Nigeria’s economic and governance landscape.” He noted that the President’s first year in office has been marked by bold policy choices aimed at stabilizing the economy and laying the groundwork for long term national development.
Araraume highlighted the removal of the petrol subsidy as one of the most significant economic decisions in recent decades, saying it demonstrated the President’s willingness to confront long‑standing structural challenges. According to him, the policy, though demanding, has redirected national resources toward infrastructure, social investment, and other critical sectors.
He also commended the administration’s unification of the foreign exchange market, describing it as a major step toward restoring investor confidence and strengthening Nigeria’s global competitiveness. The senator noted that the reforms have attracted renewed interest from international partners and signaled a commitment to transparent economic management.
Beyond economic restructuring, Araraume pointed to ongoing infrastructure expansion as evidence of the administration’s focus on national development. He cited the acceleration of key road projects, renewed efforts to expand rail connectivity, and the push to improve power generation and distribution as initiatives that reflect the President’s long term vision for a more productive Nigeria.
The senator further acknowledged the government’s interventions in agriculture, including support for mechanization and targeted programs aimed at boosting food security. He said these efforts are essential to reducing dependence on imports and strengthening local production.
On the diplomatic front, Araraume praised President Tinubu’s engagements across Africa and beyond, noting his role in strengthening regional cooperation within ECOWAS and advancing Nigeria’s interests on the global stage.
“As we celebrate this milestone, it is important to recognize the resilience and determination with which President Tinubu has approached the task of nation building,” Araraume said. “His commitment to reforms, economic stability, and democratic governance continues to inspire confidence in Nigeria’s future.”
He wished the President good health, renewed strength, and continued wisdom as he leads the country through what he described as “a defining period in Nigeria’s history.”
news
Araraume Salutes Tinubu’s Vision, Lists Key Achievements on Birthday
Senator Ifeanyi Araraume has congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the occasion of his birthday, praising his leadership style and the series of reforms that have shaped the country’s direction since he assumed office.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Araraume described the President as “a courageous reformer whose decisions continue to redefine Nigeria’s economic and governance landscape.” He noted that Tinubu’s first year in office has been marked by bold policy choices aimed at stabilizing the economy and laying the groundwork for long-term national development.
Araraume highlighted the removal of the petrol subsidy as one of the most significant economic decisions in recent decades, saying it demonstrated the President’s willingness to confront long-standing structural challenges. According to him, the policy, though demanding, has redirected national resources toward infrastructure, social investment, and other critical sectors.
He also commended the administration’s unification of the foreign exchange market, describing it as a major step toward restoring investor confidence and strengthening Nigeria’s global competitiveness. The senator noted that the reforms have attracted renewed interest from international partners and signaled a commitment to transparent economic management.
Beyond economic restructuring, Araraume pointed to ongoing infrastructure expansion as evidence of the administration’s focus on national development. He cited the acceleration of key road projects, renewed efforts to expand rail connectivity, and the push to improve power generation and distribution as initiatives that reflect the President’s long-term vision for a more productive Nigeria.
The senator further acknowledged the government’s interventions in agriculture, including support for mechanization and targeted programmes aimed at boosting food security. He said these efforts are essential to reducing dependence on imports and strengthening local production.
On the diplomatic front, Araraume praised Tinubu’s engagements across Africa and beyond, noting his role in strengthening regional cooperation within ECOWAS and advancing Nigeria’s interests on the global stage.
“As we celebrate this milestone, it is important to recognise the resilience and determination with which President Tinubu has approached the task of nation-building,” Araraume said. “His commitment to reforms, economic stability, and democratic governance continues to inspire confidence in Nigeria’s future.”
He wished the President good health, renewed strength, and continued wisdom as he leads the country through what he described as “a defining period in Nigeria’s history.”
news
APC Convention: Party Eyes Consensus for National Leadership Selection
The All Progressives Congress has confirmed that it plans to adopt a consensus approach for selecting its national leadership during the party’s convention scheduled for March 27–28, 2026, in Abuja.
The Assistant Secretary for Media and Publicity for the APC National Convention 2026, Mary Ikoku, disclosed the plan during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday.
On the issue of elective positions during primaries, Ikoku said the party had not yet decided how these would be handled, noting that decisions may vary depending on local political dynamics.
She explained, “APC, for this convention, I am aware and can say that the party is adopting consensus for this convention. As to whether they are adopting consensus for elective positions, I do not have an answer to that because politics is local.
“So, I believe that, at the end of the day, when it comes to the issue of elective positions, the persons who would emerge aren’t often what you would want to make consensus in every space.”
Ikoku also addressed the Electoral Act’s provisions, which require political parties to register members online within a specified timeframe and outline acceptable methods for candidate selection.
She said these requirements posed challenges for some parties but reflected preparedness—or the lack thereof.
“We have an electoral law that defines the models for these elections. Direct primaries and consensus have been allowed, while indirect primaries have been taken out.
“That is the current law of the nation, passed and assented to. Now, why do you think other political parties will have issues with that?” she asked.
“That would be to say there are levels of unpreparedness of these political parties. Any political party that is worth its salt should not wait till election season to start preparing for the run for office and all of these congresses.
“It is something they would have planned ahead of time. So, when you are not proactive as a party, these kinds of situations can challenge you deeply,” she added.
Ahead of the convention, the party began screening aspirants for key positions in its National Working Committee , including National Chairman aspirant Nentawe Yilwatda and National Secretary hopeful Ajibola Basiru.
Other NWC members seeking to retain their posts include National Youth Leader Dayo Israel, Deputy National Chairman (North) Ali Bukar Dalori, National Legal Adviser Abdulkarim Abubakar Kana, National Woman Leader Mary Alile Idele, and National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka, among others.
-
news5 years agoUPDATE: #ENDSARS: CCTV footage of Lekki shootings intact – Says Sanwo – Olu
-
lifestyle6 years agoFormer Miss World: Mixed reactions trail Agbani Darego’s looks
-
health5 years agoChairman Agege LG, Ganiyu Egunjobi Receives Covid-19 Vaccines
-
lifestyle5 years agoObateru: Celebrating a Quintessential PR Man at 60
-
health6 years agoUPDATE : Nigeria Records 790 new cases of COVID-19
-
health6 years agoBREAKING: Nigeria confirms 663 new cases of COVID-19
-
entertainment1 year agoAshny Set for Valentine Special and new Album ‘ Femme Fatale’
-
news10 months agoBREAKING: Tinubu swears in new NNPCL Board