Nigerian Newspapers
Why we make sex look real in our movies —Ghanaian actress Yvonne Okoro
Yvonne Okoro wormed herself into the hearts of movie lovers in 2002. The actress who recently premiered her first production Contract featuring Hlomla Dandala at the Silverbird Cinema, Ikeja got a lot of approval from friends and colleagues for a beautiful outing. In this interview with DUPE AYINLA-OLASUKANMI, the petite actress talks about her new ground with AMAA, why she is still single amongst other issues.
CONGRATULATIONS on the success of your movie premiere
Thank you very much.
What was the idea behind Contract?
We had different scripts, but ended up choosing this one. The idea is to shed more light on surrogate parenthood. This is an issue that has not been tapped into right now in Africa. A lot of people are using surrogate these days, but have nothing to do with the woman. They pay the woman to have a baby for them and that is all. It is one of those issues that are not talked about, and we felt it will be a good thing to talk about but in a funny way.
How did you get Hlomla Dandala to feature the movie?
We had a long list of people, and he has not been used in any major West African movie apart from South African, Jacob’s Cross. Also I didn’t want the usual faces which are either Ghollywood or Nollywood. We wanted someone outside. And we were also thinking on how to breach the gap between Nollywood and Ghollywood. We felt it has to be an Africa thing and when we were checking, his name came up first. I must tell he is a great actor.
Tell us how you were able to showcase the three stages of pregnancy without any flops?
With this movie, we didn’t want the usual style of pregnancy. So I went to London to order for the first stage, second stage, and third stage baby bumps. That’s why you didn’t see any knots at the back. The baby bumps is just like a swim thing that you just wear.
What about the scene of the Quadruplets?
(Laughs) We got somebody who had gave birth at the hospital. And they were very happy to be part of it. Ken is very good at technicality and was able to bring one baby to become four. I don’t know how they did it, but one baby will come and then they will take it from a different angle. We were lucky because they were twins and we kind of took them at different activities and time.
Being your first, how long did it take you to do the whole production and how much did it cost?
It took us about a month to shoot and another four to six months to do the post production. A lot was put in it. I don’t want to disclose the amount. Because I wanted to bring different people, I wanted every detail to be perfect. I didn’t say I want to do a low budget movie and have it quickly done. I mean that is the reason I wanted to do my own movie and be able to control want I wanted.
Your first movie and you have six nominations for AMAA 2013. How do you feel?
I don’t think there are words to describe the feeling seriously. I knew the movie was a great one because everyone that has watched the movie from different time has said a lot with attention to details. An actress was actually the one who called me and said you know you got six nominations in AMAA and the only Ghanaian actress nominated too. I got up and started screaming and my sister asked me if I am surprised. Well I think I am more attached to it because it is my first.
It is different when I get nominations for other people’s works. It is a great feeling. Being the only Ghanaian actress nominated, they had better give it to me (laughs). I was surprised; Lydia Forson was the one who tweeted me. The first thing I thought about was pressure, because there is that pressure then to succeed.
How do you intend to keep up this tempo that you have attained?
Maybe I have to pray more. Really it is been challenging because everybody expects your next movie to be better. That is where the pressure comes in, the pressure for you to snap. You tend not to live your life or be you. You tend to live the life and expectations of others.
That is not what I want. I want to be able to be me. I don’t want they say this movie is good, which means my next movie I need to put in more money. I want to be able to do what my heart and soul tells me. There is that challenge, but also the pressure to remain humble. That is the thing about my family, when sometimes my mum would send me to get something and I will be like ‘Moma’, do you know who you are talking to? And she will like will you go and get that thing before I get angry. And I am like you guys don’t respect me o. At times we will be walking on the road and people would like do you know her, she is on TV. It is like she has totally forgotten who I am. They have a way of humbling you, to make you feel like nothing.
Why are you taking the movies around the countries?
Well with the kind of money I put into it, I need to get it back. Also, it is a very good movie and I wanted everybody to see it. I just want people to see and feel how a good movie can be too. I have premiered it in Ghana, London and Nigeria; it will be going to Gambia soon and America.
Tell us your experience as a first timer?
I think I was lucky to have Sparrow Production on board because they were able to organise most of the logistics. All I did was to pay the money and get involved. From the location to props, they were more involved. Mostly what they do is like get three locations and call me to come and check them out.
So I go with the Director, Shirley and they ask which I prefer. We all bring our heads together and choose the one that is the best. It was a lot of work and I respect producers a lot now. It made me realize that I am a terrible producer. I am just hoping that with my next one, I will be more involved.
How did you come about the name Chinyere and Okoro?
My dad is a Nigerian, an Igbo man from Abia, married to a Ghanaian woman. My full names are Yvonne Chinyere Okoro Okereke. I am supposed to speak Igbo, I speak some like come and go and get me something. (Laughs)
Tell us about the movie you did in France?
I was in school and it was a very low budget movie that the school wanted to do. I auditioned for the movie because I was bored. It was in French. I auditioned and the woman was amazed and she said I am a good actor. So she sat me down and told me to go into acting once I better my French.
And my friend said to her that I was a Ghanaian actress. She asked if I would love to be in the movie so I said I would love to but my French would be funny. So we got to work and practiced and it went very well. I saw the trailer recently when I went there, but I don’t think it is out yet.
What are your doing aside promoting Contract at the moment?
I have a playground I am building for the less privilege, I mean the mentally handicapped. That is what I have been putting my time into. And I will also be on set of Adam’s Apple season II.
Is building this playground a means to get money from the Government?
I am sure there are times that people here and there do that but I am sure that there are others who have a good mindset too for what they are doing. For me, I didn’t get any sponsor. It is my own personal money, I took it out, and I said I wanted to do something without having to go from one door to the other.
I didn’t want people to come and say that I am using the money I collected from them inappropriately so I said I would use my money to build the playground. Recently, what I did was to organise a party and it was my money too. I never wanted to have an NGO, because I wanted to be able to do what I want to do. I didn’t want it to be on a particular thing, I want to be able to help in different situation.
I want to do it in such a way that, every year on my birthday I choose a particular thing I want to do for the society. Maybe there will be time, when I will need help, but now for me it is more like a thank you thing to my fans. I do have an NGO which I started two weeks ago. It is a home for the old. I opened it in my late grandma’s name Elizabethan Senior Home. This one too I didn’t get funds from anywhere. I wake up and if I say I want to do something, I do it. Because I always put a portion of whatever I make aside for projects that I want to do.
What is the reason for the humanitarian work you are doing for the society?
I think I am just blessed and my mom always tells me not to forget where I came from. Sincerely I don’t come from a poor family. I and my family have been blessed throughout. I have always thought of other people, where they came from and the ups and down they face. And I have had it very rich from family to the kind of schools I went to how I lived. I can’t forget, because He has done so much for my family to live the kind of life we have lived. So I had to do something on my own to my fans. And I think that is the reason I haven’t gone to anybody for help.
Why are you still living with your parents?
They refuse to let me move out. I think they still want to keep me grounded. They say it is not the African tradition. They said I have to get married before I move out. So I am still there. I remember recently I said to them I have seen a house, and they were like where, when you get a husband and your husband takes your hand, you can move out. My father is very traditional. I think all these are just t keep you grounded. But I don’t mind, I don’t pay bills. So I just said to myself why am I even fighting? So I am taking full advantage, I am using them very well and they are allowing me. So I am very happy.
Are there plans to bring the man home soon?
(Laughs) I am very single right now. They will have to wait for a while when God gives me the right man. I think I want to continue living with them. I am single and I think I haven’t had the time too. I am always on my guard because you want to know the kind of people who come to you. I don’t want to talk about my private life. When it happens, it happens.
Why do Ghanaian actresses love exposing their body?
I think sometimes when you are acting, you feel like doing something that you want to be remembered for. Maybe in the course you overdo it. It depends on the script. I think in Ghana we wanted to start something, like a Trans-setter. I remember in those days, when people are kissing and they do it tackily, and we are thinking if you can’t kiss, then don’t do it. So I think we ended up doing it well or we are overdoing it. The truth of the matter is it exists in our culture.
Our culture does not allow topics like sex and nudity but in a way sometimes I think we are also being hypocritical. A Hollywood movie will come, we will watch it and be happy and compliment them. I think if you are going to do nudity, you should not do it in a tacky way. It should be done with what will conform to our culture. I think it is about choice, if you think you want to remove yourself and think it will help your character and you don’t have a problem with it, it is fine.
So far, have you done any sex scene?
Someone like Shirley does sex scenes, but they have a way of doing it and it does not look tacky. I don’t do it because when I go back home I will be spanked. I remember for Adam Apple, there was a sex scene and I said to her, I can’t do it. You have to let me know how you are going to do it.
So she said we are not going to do it in a tacky way. You sit down you kiss the guy and we take it from different angle. So there were times that we were not even kissing at all. We were just moving our heads and then they will say cut. And then we lay down and they will drop the hand of your bra and top and take the upper part from different angle and that is it. In the end, it looks like you are naked. That day we were doing it, she had to sack everybody. So it was remaining Shirley, I, the Director and the Cameraman.
The Nation
•Deploy more personnel as army chief vows to wipe out terror group
•Security beefed up at N’Assembly
Deji Elumoye and Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja
Abuja, Nigeria’s seat of power, is under a massive security cordon following threats of attacks by insurgents and the increasing wave of banditry in the contiguous states of Kaduna, Kogi, Nasarawa and Niger States, THISDAY’s investigation has revealed.
There has been a wave of kidnappings in the outskirts of the federal capital, notably Pegi, Tuganmaje and Kuje among others, which the police have battled in recent times.
The security situation in and around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was heightened by the pronouncement of the Niger State Governor, Mr. Sani Bello, that Boko Haram fighters who he said sacked 50 villages in the state and hoisted the terror group’s flag, were about two hours drive away from the FCT.
Security has also been beefed up at the National Assembly as operatives, yesterday, thoroughly screened every vehicle approaching the National Assembly complex in Abuja.
The deteriorating security situation nationwide prompted the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, to warn that the 2023 general election may not hold, demanding the declaration of a state of emergency as well as the convocation of a national conference.
However, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, yesterday restated the Nigerian Army’s determination to annihilate Boko Haram.
But the Governor of Katsina State, Hon. Bello Masari, cautioned against declaring a state of emergency, saying doing so isn’t the solution to combat the security challenges facing the country.
The security of the nation’s airports was also in focus yesterday as the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) said there was no threat to them.
THISDAY’s investigations showed increased presence of troops, police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) personnel and intelligence operatives at the three strategic entrances to the city notably, Keffi, Zuba and Gwagwalada.
More checkpoints were also mounted around Gwagwalada and Keffi.
THISDAY also observed increased intelligence deployment at the entrance and the borders of FCT with contiguous states.
Beyond the borders, there were more deployments and police patrols inside the city and increased intelligence deployments as well.
Security sources told THISDAY: “There are deployments here and there but they are routine. Alertness is key to a secure environment.”
It was also learnt that security agencies were involved in frenzied meetings throughout yesterday.
The meetings, coordinated by the office of the Chief of Defence Staff under the new joint operational strategy of the armed forces, were aimed at coordinating a joint response to possible threats of attack to the FCT.
“I understand the security teams have been meeting for some days now and if you look around you, you will notice that there are increasing patrols and numbers of security personnel. The threats are not been taken lightly,” a source said.
National Assembly workers, lawmakers and visitors also had a harrowing experience accessing the legislative complex due to heightened security in the area.
Security operatives thoroughly screened every vehicle approaching the National Assembly complex in Abuja, impeding both human and vehicular traffic.
The Sergeant-at-arm of the National Assembly and other security agencies supervised the operations, leading to huge traffic build-up inside the complex.
Legislative staff, visitors and lawmakers were seen patiently waiting for their cars to be searched so that they could go ahead with the business of the day.
Some staff and visitors at some point got tired of waiting and were seen alighting from their cars to trek from the gate to the complex.
Meanwhile, the ONSA has said there is no threat to the nation’s airports.
A statement by the Head of Strategic Communication, Mr. Zachari Usman, said the reports of threats to the airports were an internal correspondence of security threat assessment misconstrued as security threat to the airports.
PDP Demands State of Emergency
In a related development, the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, yesterday demanded the declaration of a state of emergency, warning that the 2023 general election might not hold if the federal government failed to tackle insecurity.
He called on the federal government to summon a national conference to address the spike in insecurity.
Secondus added that the national caucus of the party will meet today to discuss the state of the nation.
Addressing members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) in Abuja, Secondus said: “We are worried Abuja is not even safe. It is no longer politics. We got alert of plots to bomb and burn down our airports.
“We urge the federal government to declare a national state of emergency in security. There is the need to call a national conference to discuss the insecurity in the country.
“There may not be any election in 2023 in Nigeria due to insecurity. This government must listen to the people. The Buhari government should call a national confab to discuss security and state of the nation. It is no longer politics. This time we are not playing politics. Let’s keep politics aside and move the nation forward.”
He said the country had been grounded, regretting that there had been no matching response from the federal government.
Secondus said in the past, terrorism in the North was confined to the North-east, but with the report of Boko Haram occupying villages in Niger State, terrorism had spread to the North-central
“Herdsmen are also menacing in the West; gunmen causing havoc in the East; and the militants in the South; all killing, looting, raping, maiming and burning down homes. The situation is bad; Nigerians all over are living in fear,” he said.
The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, said the problem of Nigeria was outside of the PDP headquarters, while pledging the support of the Senate to the declaration of state of emergency in security.
Abaribe said he deliberately decided not to speak on the floor of the Senate but to allow the APC senators to speak so as to avoid being accused of giving a partisan colouration to the issue of insecurity.
He stated that only electoral reforms would give victory to the opposition party in the 2023 general election and ensure a democratic defeat of the APC-led federal government.
Also, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, commended the NEC and the PDP leadership for their collective efforts at resolving the House leadership crisis.
The NEC meeting adopted the position of Secondus, calling on the federal government to convoke a national conference to discuss the state of insecurity in the country, according to a communiqué read by the National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan.
Army Chief Vows to Wipe Out Boko Haram
The army yesterday reiterated its commitment to wipe out Boko Haram.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, told reporters in Maiduguri, Borno State that Boko Haram had been defeated in many encounters and would continue to be defeated until it’s annihilated from Nigeria.
“We will take on Boko Haram decisively, and we are committed to the focus of the operations, which is the total annihilation of Boko Haram from Nigeria,” he said.
The COAS, who was visiting the headquarters of Operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri for the fifth time since his appointment four months ago, said the visit was to boost the morale of the troops, reassure them and listen to any issues affecting them.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Farouq Yahaya, lauded the visit, which he said had continued to boost the morale of the troops.
“We are honoured, we are grateful, we are encouraged by those visits. You provided us guidance, logistics and other things we required. We are most grateful for those visits,” Yahaya said.
State of Emergency Won’t Solve Security Challenges, Says Masari
Katsina State Governor, Hon. Aminu Masari, has, however, said declaration of a state of emergency won’t solve the security challenges facing the nation.
Masari, who spoke yesterday with journalists after meeting with the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari at the State House, Abuja stated that he was against the recent call by the House of Representatives for the declaration of a state of emergency in the security sector as it would not solve the problem.
According to him, declaring a state of emergency will not achieve the desired effect as the security structure and personnel to be used to execute the emergency are already overstretched in a bid to safeguard lives and property.
Sourced From: THISDAYLIVE
Tribune Online
Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has recorded 62 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 165,110. The NCDC disclosed this on its official Twitter handle on Friday. “55 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria; Lagos-21, Yobe-19, Ogun-6, Akwa Ibom-3, Kaduna-2, Plateau-2, FCT-1, Rivers-1.” YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE COVID-19: Nigeria Recorded […]
Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
Tribune Online
Sourced From: Tribune Online
By Olasunkanmi Akoni
The people of the South East region have been urged to explore the power of negotiation and mutual settlement in the face of ongoing killings and security challenges in the zone because the east can not afford another war at present.
Stakeholders from the South-East geo-political zone made the remark on Thursday, at the unveiling of the book, “Igbo, 50 years after Biafra,” written by Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Drainage Services, Joe Igbokwe, held at Ikeja G.R.A.
Speaking at the unveiling of the book, the chairman of the occasion, Mr. Cutis Adigba,
urged the people of the South-East to learn to build bridges across the country, so that they can realise their ambition of producing the next president of Nigeria.
Adigba urged leaders from the zone to discourage the move and agitation by some youths in the South East to go to war and secede out of Nigeria.
Also read: Banditry: Disregard viral video, Niger State gov’t urges residents
He said that Igbo have always found it difficult to rule Nigeria because they refused to build bridges across the six geo-political zones that made up Nigeria.
While describing the agitation as uncalled for, Adigba noted that after two decades that Nigeria returned to civil rule, the Igbo has predominantly identified with only one political party.
He maintained that remaining in one party can not advance the cause of the people of South East and cannot make them realise their objective of producing an Igbo man as president.
He maintained that the publisher of the book, Igbokwe played politics outside his state, so that the Igbo race can be integrated with one another race.
Adigba said the failure of the Igbo to reintegrate with other ethnic nationalities politically was responsible for the retrogression of the race in Nigerian politics.
Igbokwe, also addressing guests on the occasion, maintained that the Igbo are not advancing politically because they refused to be integrated into National politics, lamenting that, despite their success in business, they are not successful in playing politics at the national level.
Corroborating Dimgba, Igbokwe noted that there was the need for the Igbo people to stand up and build bridges so that their objective of producing the next president of Nigeria could be realised.
According to him: “I have decided to raise my voice, I hope my people will hear me while trying to quell the effect of the war, our people are spoiling for another war, mayhem is being unleashed in Igbo land, and there is palpable fear.
“Those who could speak have lost their voice, mindful of the consequences of their actions, I am calling on all Igbo leaders to speak up because all actions carry consequences, consequences of the silence will be too dastardly to sustain.
“Those silently supporting the wild wind should be careful or else they hand over to their children,” he said.
Igbokwe urged those spoiling for war to jettison their plan and embrace dialogue, urging them to learn from the South West region that despite the challenges faced after the annulment of the June 12, 1993, election, they did not go to war, and the region had the opportunity of producing two of her sons for presidential position in 1999.
“You have to build bridges to become president of Nigeria, but it is unfortunate the Igbo are burning bridges.”
Speaking at the event, Chief Uche Dimgba who is the coordinator of Igbo in All Progressives Congress, APC in Lagos, described Igbokwe as “a Frank, fearless and reliable leader, who based his views on issues and stand by his opinions, and we the Igbo have confidence in him and believe he can lead us aright.”
“He is a leader we Igbo believe in and we will follow him. If he can serve all the governors produced in Lagos State since 1999, he is a better man to follow because he possesses all the experience that can be of benefit to Igbo both at home and in the diaspora.”
The post Attacks on S’East: We must explore all options of negotiation — Stakeholders urge Igbo appeared first on Vanguard News.
Sourced From: Vanguard News
The government said that no worker should stay back beyond 6:00 p.m. within premises of buildings undergoing construction.
The post Insecurity: Lagos bans occupation of abandoned buildings appeared first on Premium Times Nigeria.
Sourced From: Premium Times Nigeria
%22%20transform%3D%22translate(.6%20.6)%20scale(1.17188)%22%20fill-opacity%3D%22.5%22%3E%3Cellipse%20fill%3D%22%23fff%22%20cx%3D%2249%22%20cy%3D%2290%22%20rx%3D%2269%22%20ry%3D%22101%22%2F%3E%3Cellipse%20fill%3D%22%233e4b5a%22%20rx%3D%221%22%20ry%3D%221%22%20transform%3D%22matrix(18.18098%20254.35104%20-65.5502%204.68552%20198.3%20212)%22%2F%3E%3Cpath%20fill%3D%22%233e98e1%22%20d%3D%22M207.7-5.3l55.5-7.8%2023%20164.4-55.4%207.8z%22%2F%3E%3Cellipse%20fill%3D%22%2353aeed%22%20rx%3D%221%22%20ry%3D%221%22%20transform%3D%22matrix(-2.12327%20-30.36412%20119.36714%20-8.34696%2035.4%20194.8)%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fg%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
Military, Police Ring Abuja to Forestall Boko Haram Attack
UFC: Usman gets N584m after beating Masvidal
Insecurity: Lagos bans occupation of abandoned buildings
Buhari Will Win In 2019: US Institute
The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) has predicted that President Muhammadu Buhari will win the 2019 election. The organisation...
Why Buhari Deserves Second Term – Lai Mohammed
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said that President Muhammadu Buhari deserved second term election because,...
Atiku Presidential Campaign Council: PDP Releases List of Members
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday released the list of party members to handle the campaign team of the...
Obasanjo Forgives Atiku, Endorses Him For President
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday said he has reviewed his stance on not backing his former deputy for the...
Buhari, Atiku In Battle Of Integrity Over 2019 Poll
THE brickbats continued yesterday between President Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. The All Progressives Congress (APC) and...