Entertainment
Catholic Priest renovates classrooms, other facilities at alma mater to mark his 40th birthday + Photos
*Decries rate of out-of-School children
*Seeks subsidised school fees, collaborative efforts to tackle menace
By Francesca Iwambe, Abuja
A Roman Catholic Priest of the Archdiocese of Abuja and Parish Priest, St Monica’s Sauka, Rev Fr James Adakole Ali, has donated renovated classrooms and other infrastructure to St Jude and Simon Minor Seminary, Kuje Abuja.
Father Ali, an alumnus of the institution, who made the donation as part of the activities to mark his 40th birthday anniversary, noted that the essence is to enhance education for the students of the school.
The Catholic cleric, who lamented that nothing much has changed since he graduated from the school years ago, said his choice of celebrating his birthday with the students was a way of remembering his root where he began his vocational training.
He said, “The motive behind celebrating my birthday here is because I decided to remember my root where I began my vocational training to the Priesthood. This was where I decided to become a priest.
“Looking at the infrastructures here, I realised that not much has changed. This is my own little way of giving back. If every old student in Nigeria can help to develop their respective schools, Nigeria education will be better”.
On the growing rate of out-of-school children in the country, Fr Ali called on the federal government to subsidise fees as well as support low-cost private schools.
“What must be done going forward is for [federal] government to have a policy that will support low-cost private schools because it’s been seen as a solution.
“Education is expensive, ignorance is even more expensive. The best thing to do to reduce the number of out-of-school children is to subside school fees. Private schools are very expensive because government schools have failed. Strike, poor infrastructures, lack of experience teachers.
“You realise that parents cannot afford to pay the school fees. This all boils down to the issue of bad governance. On the part of the church, we are doing out best by giving scholarship to some students who are less privileged . On my part also as a priest, the little I can do is pay school fees to one or two parishioners depending on my straight”, Fr Ali added.
Calling on Nigerians to vote rightly in the forthcoming general elections, Fr Ali said it is only when we have leaders that can make good changes in the country that we will be able to see the desired changes in the education sector.
“There is need for Nigerians to vote rightly in the forthcoming general elections. If we vote in leaders that will be able to make changes in our country, we will begin to experience changes in our education sector and every other sector in Nigeria.
“Our leaders have failed us. Its because they do not know what to do but because they are not directly affected, they have decided to ignore that aspect. I hope the coming election will pave way for Nigeria to be a better place with good and successful leaders that will leave behind legacies that we can hold onto”, Fr Ali added.
Responding, the Rector of the Seminary, Rev Fr Dr Justin Eke commended Fr Ali for the kind gesture.
He also called on other graduates of the school to key in, adding that there is still much that is needed to be done in the school.
Ghanaian Nollywood actor Van Vicker has marked his 21st wedding anniversary with his wife, Adjoa Van Vicker, sharing heartfelt reflections on their journey together. In an emotional Instagram post, he expressed gratitude to God and offered insights into the complexities of marriage, describing it as a “bed of thorns and roses” filled with both beautiful moments and challenges.
Van Vicker emphasized the importance of marrying the right person and understanding them deeply. He highlighted that staying “in love” is crucial, stating, “the desire to want to stay married” motivates him to continue their journey together. He shared his belief that while marriage has its difficulties, love remains a beautiful experience, saying, “I have no regrets about being married and staying married.”
In his post, he reflected on their 30-year relationship, stating, “I am blessed to have my wife, Adjoa Van Vicker, by my side all these years.” He prayed for the grace to continue navigating the challenges of marriage and expressed his appreciation for the love they share.
Last year, Van Vicker surprised fans by celebrating their 20th anniversary, emphasizing that their journey began three decades ago and recognizing their marriage as a profound blessing.
Happy anniversary to the couple!
Award-winning artist Davido has declared his fourth album, *Timeless*, as his best work to date. In an interview with comedian and actor Broda Shaggi during the unveiling of his new Puma collection, Davido discussed his fashion choices and shared insights about his music.
Reflecting on his style, Davido stated, “They say I like to dress like a rapper because I love urban fashion. I love wearing T-shirts, jeans, and sneakers to look comfortable. You will find me in a suit when it’s time to collect money. Sometimes, I also wear Agbada.”
Released on March 31, 2023, *Timeless* achieved remarkable success, setting records for first-day and first-week streams on platforms like Spotify Nigeria, Audiomack, Boomplay, and YouTube. The album received a Grammy nomination for Best Global Album and produced hit singles such as “Unavailable,” featuring Musa Keys, which earned a Grammy nod for Best African Song Performance, and “Feel,” nominated for Best Global Song Performance.
In the interview, Davido hinted that his upcoming album will surpass *Timeless*, a sentiment he echoed earlier this year when hosting American content creator Kai Cenat. Fans can look forward to the new album’s lead single, a collaboration with Jamaican star YG Marley.
The film *dire, featuring Kehinde Bankole, has garnered four nominations at the Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards. FilmOne Entertainment announced this achievement via their Instagram, highlighting the film’s exceptional cinematography and performances.
The nominations include:
– Best Cinematography
– Best Actress
– Best Costume
– Best Production Design
Released on Netflix on January 13, 2024, Adire earned ₦8 million in its opening weekend. The BON Awards, established in 2009, recognize outstanding achievements within the Nollywood industry and feature over 30 categories.
The film follows a young female fashion entrepreneur, played by Kehinde Bankole, who grapples with the consequences of her dark past as a sex worker. It was created and written by Jack’enneth Opukeme, who also acts in the film, and directed by Adeoluwa Owu, also known as Captain Degzy. The cast includes notable names such as Femi Branch, Kelechi Udegbe, and Yvonne Jegede.
In addition to Adire, Jagun Jagun leads the nominations with a total of 12.
Van Vicker Celebrates 21st Wedding Anniversary: “I Have No Regrets”
Davido Declares ‘Timeless’ His Best Album
‘Adire’ Secures Four Nominations at the Best of Nollywood Awards
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