Mandela: “A Beacon for the Global Community”

Former South African President,
Nelson Mandela,
 who recently clocked 93.

Would you ever dream of becoming a president and global icon if you lost your father at the age of nine, took arms early in life and got sentenced to life in prison?

That was the story of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela who spent 27 years in prison for his strong opposition to apartheid but after his release, became the first South African President to be elected in a representative democracy.

Mandela, who recently turned 93, became the 19th Secretary-General of the Non-Aligned Movement in 1998.

With over 250 international and local awards to his honour, Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.

Popularly called Madiba, the name of his Xhasa clan or “tata” (father), Mandela is revered as an embodiment of global peace and reconciliation.

Genevieve Nnaji Clocks 32

Nnaji, one of the most popular and highly valued actresses in Nollywood turned a year older a while ago.

The Mbaise-born talented Actress, Model and Singer was born on May 3, 1979. The globally-celebrated actress who first made her debut in the Nollywood in 1998 at age 19 with a movie “Most Wanted,” turned 32 years today.

The award-winning actress has over the years achieved impressive feat of being one of the most talented and celebrated actresses from Africa. Calm, cool, calculating and collected, the actress is always confident on sets. This is one attribute that has made her one of the most highly paid actresses in Nollywood. She has so far acted over one hundred movies both within and outside the Hollywood.

Aside from acting as a career, Nnaji has ventured into Modelling and Singing. The remarkable success of the “Face of Lux” Project which she championed positioned her as one of the leading models in the world.

Her musics also revealed another side of the multi-talented multiple award winner. Her accolades includee the Best Actress of the year award at the 2001 City People Awards and the Best Actress in a Leading Role award at the 2005 African Movie Academy Awards amongst others.

AriNews wishes Genevieve Nnaji many happy returns as her talents take her to places she never imagined. Happy birthday, rare gem!

Prince William and Middleton’s royal Wedding Enthrall Nigerians

Millions of Nigerians watched with admiration and awe on satellite television channels as Prince William and Kate Middleton were pronounced man and wife a while ago in London at the Westminster Abbey.

The couple was bestowed with the highly-esteemed titles of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge by William's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, to mark the prince's marriage.

The prince also took the titles Earl of Strathearn and Baron Carrickfergus, linking him to Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The spectacular royal union of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge reminded Nigerians of the similar wedding of Charles and Diana, the Prince and Princess of Wales.

As tens of thousands of people gathered to witness the public royal kiss of the couple, millions of Nigerians glued to their television sets watched with admiration the splendour of royalty, just as Monarchy sparkles in the face of the world.

The highly elated Prince William and Kate Middleton kissed twice on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after their wedding service in Westminster Abbey amid ear-splitting cheers of innumerable number of watchers.

At bars, banks, offices and homes across Nigeria, the discussions centered on the glamour and beauty of the global celebration.

Some Nigerians centered their arguments on whether or not a man should marry a woman who is older than him, arguing that the royal wedding is a lesson for some Nigerian men who would not marry women who are older than them.

It might interest you to know that Kate Middleton was a year older than Prince William before the two lovers tied the knot in a royal wedding broadcasted live across the globe to about two billion viewers and streamed on the internet like never before.