NIGERIAN YOUTH TO REPRESENT NIGERIA AT THE WORLD YOUTH CONGRESS

The 5th world youth congress is an international platform focused on youth and sustainable development. It brings together the most active young leaders who are changing their communities. As a result of our active commitment to our community, cultural values and our work to achieve the millennium development goals we got an invitation as a young journalist and as a young activist to be part of a dynamic programme designed to be a catalyst for action.
This years world youth congress is to be held in Istanbul Turkey as the European capital of culture which brings us to the history of one of the oldest civilizations of the world - which is now the 2nd fastest growing modern economy in the world after China, crossroads of civilisations - a meeting point of two great continents.
With the theme of the congress "IMCEE" a Turkish word which refers to an ancient tradition of solidarity – working collectively for the common good. We hope to work collectively to make poverty history in our lifetimes - and create peace, human rights, democracy, trust, volunteerism and a prosperous green economy that will bring sustainable happiness to every race and nation on the earth.
Through various thematic and skills workshops, action projects, seminars, roundtable table discussions, cultural events, we hope to return to Nigeria to make a mark and impact the young minds to get involved and support the various Millennium development goals through different action projects in communities, schools and environs. The deadline to achieve the MGD's is 2015, we need to act now and collectively work together with the government, students, leaders, and companies etc to make earth a better place to live, because earth is our own.
We need private companies and the government to support our active participation and to fly the Nigerian flag at the congress by sponsoring us for this life changing event. Nothing is free even in Freetown, so we employ private companies to showcase their products and services through us at the congress in Istanbul. We would be delighted to forward proposals for your co-operation. Please let the support keep coming in, thank you all.
For more information about the congress or sponsorship consideration, please contact:Adewole Lanre
wisdomelite@gmail.com, 08029314720

Or

Dickson Popoola
popoola_dickson@yahoo.com, 08053407994.

MAZE COUTURE's Story: From Naija to London with Style

London based Fashion Designer Maze Couture is fast becoming a fashion industry leader who has the expertise and understanding of designing clothes which reflect classic style, transforming the wearer to look effortlessly stylish and timeless.

His clothes do not conform to current trends yet represent the zeitgeist, resulting in a distinctive look and fit that will stand the test of time.

Maze is a Nigerian/British designer. Fashion is a long lived passion to maze. He went on to study Civil Engineering and graduated from Greenwich University, UK. Maze started his step of the fashion ladder, like many, by creating many designs for friends and family, working at the back room of high end luxury fashion brands, which is where he acquired his true taste and hunger for making it big in the fashion industry.


Since the ‘behind the scenes’ experience Maze has been thrown into the spotlight and worked with a number of highly respected fashion houses and companies in the UK, where he learnt areas in the business such as buying, merchandising, pattern design, bespoke tailoring and of course design.

With a wealth of experience, knowledge and contacts, maze went on to launch his own label maze couture (twenty10) in January 2010. The label is based on being able to offer its customers limited edition pieces which generally do not conform to short-lived fashion trends, preferring to offer pieces which will remain classical, highlight his client’s needs and above all fit the body as if the garments were made especially for the individual, although that is not far from the truth, as bespoke tailoring is also Maze Couture forte.

Disappearance of a Genius

It started like a child’s It was more like trial and error at the beginning when Olaitan Oladapo Olaonipekun started his versatile rapping style, going from one street to the other. Gradually he became an adult and chose the stage name 'Da Grin' meaning 'The Evergreen'. He quit at 26, not only from the entertainment scene but totally from the face of the earth. OLAITAN BALOGUN writes about the soft-spoken, well reserved, versatile rapper that lived a short life but made an impact so great

Dagrin was admitted to Lagos University Teaching Hospital LUTH after a horrible accident in the early hours of Wednesday April 14. He ran into a parked truck and was rescued by the police on duty to the hospital. The accident occurred in front of Alakara Police Station off Agege Motor road in Mushin, Lagos. After operations and treatment he later died on Thurday April 22 in a private ward inside LUTH. What a tragic end!

HUSTLING days

"I remember when I was hawking,
Coming home from school I must hawk.
If I prove strong-head not to hawk
I will be beaten up, punished
What is that thing on earth I have not hawked,
Beans, Garri, Cassava flour even Tanfirin
Sometimes I was into hairdressing,
you can't believe this if I do your wife's hairstyle
Am a sharp boy, am not an idiot or stupid.
For that, people find me like Bin Laden,
While I was 14 - 15 years
Mumsy will say Ola you are good for nothing,
But I want to prove her wrong,
I stole their money in a canteen,
They beat the hell out of me,
I took phensic and support it with pilatin"
The above intro tells the story of dagrin’s hustling days.

ACHIEVEMENT

Surely, after the rains comes the sunshine. After hawking, he ventured into other businesses but in less still doing music. Then, he was mocked, insulted and disgraced. But, after the CEO album he became the choice of everyone.
Less than a year after he dropped the album CEO, he became the long awaited Messiah. Any songs he was featured turned to everyone's favorites. "You see, they now looked for me like diamond" Dagrin said in one of his track Make Doe.
In less than a year, he achieved a lot of things which many of his peers are still struggling to get for many years. He worked with So Sick (Gino's younger brother), Dokta Frabs, Bigiano, Dark Poet, T-Frizzle, Omawunmi, Isolate and other younger artistes to promote their talents. Others are YQ of 2Koncept Ent in Efi Mile, with 9ice in Loni Ni (New single from 9ice). With KSB in Turn Me around. D-squad featured him and Thouzar in What You Know?
He was featured in new video of JJC with Femi Kuti, Eldee, DJ Zeez, Kel, AY and so on. Oritse Femi featured Dagrin and Rymzo in Mercies of the Lord (Remix). Kode - Where Dem Day featured Dagrin. Also Kurt One and Dagrin. Iceberg Slim featured him in I Made It. Fresh ft Dagrin - Too Much Money, Tee Blag ft Dagrin - O ya Pa. KO9DZ - Olewu featured Dagrin. Never out Kabakaba is a new one from Konga he featured Dagrin and Remi Aluko. Too many but to mention few. Jazzman and Dagrin - Ere kere.
Gone were the days when he played free shows. He now had recognition from corporate bodies and other well meaning Nigerians. The Glo G-bam show, Oniru beach valentine show, Arise African Fashion Collection Fall 2009. Kennis Musiceaster fiesta, AY show at the Federal Palace Hotel and Casino and so on.
He had many works which he didn't finish, but it's so sad that he left us while we are enjoying his style of music. He left while he was at the peak of his game. Also at the prime of his game. Its painful.

CONDOLENCES

Both the electronic and print media have been paying tributes to Dagrin. There was candle light tribute to Dagrin in New York on Friday a day after his death. Also on Sunday in UNILAG. Other artistes paid their tribute last Wednesday. Also his facebook fans have already bombarded the site by posting condolence messages.
Dagrin is even greater in death than while on the face of the earth. I pray God will draw him close and give him everlasting peace. He had said in his new exclusive single titled "If I Die" that no one should cry for him, so that he can have peaceful rest.
I know you are now resting with the Lord its goodnite and not goodbye.
Miss you my great pal, DAGRIN.



26 Years After...

Some 27years ago
A woman laboured in pains
She groaned
But smiled when the baby came out
On that day he was called names like bouncing baby boy and so on
He grew up to be known as Oladapo
He attended Rosemary Nursery and primary, Good Shepherd Nursery and Primary, Community High School, Egbado College
and Computer Tech. Institution

27 years after

That Oladapo turned out to be the rock
Not the run-of-the-mill rapper,
But an oddity given it suave, diffident persona,
Rap was just your best form of expression
You listened to a lot of R&B, a little bit of rock,
But, chose rap as the best channel to express your pains and emotions,

As you tried it out, saw it worked and kept on doing it
No wonder you took over all the control rooms in the city
You’re a touch bearer

Those who know you not,
See you as the best-ever when it comes to tight rap
But those who have worked with you
Knew you as an uncommon patriot.
Who knows that life is not just a style
But that the purpose of life
Is a life of purpose

From you

I have learnt that in our daily life
If we can smile, if we can be peaceful and happy
Not only we, but everyone will surely benefit from it

But why, why so soon?
When the world just started to feel little from your river of talent
Though the street has lost its CEO
But your words, I mean your soft-spoken words
Will always lead us right

Posterity will judge you kindly
Not only as to the things which you have done
But also to those which you have omitted
By carrying them along in your swag-like
So as to leave to others the pleasure of discovery

On behalf of other youths,
I say we miss you so much,
Olaitan Oladapo Olaonipekun,
Barack O'GRIN.


You Say



My style of music comes in my mother's tongue and I have massive fans. I wouldn't like to disappoint them. My style of music will remain till I die, jooooooo.
Dagrin


They Say

Dagrin… dis so crazy but who can question PAPA GOD decision, no amount of tears can brig u back 2 us. I pray u find God's love and peacefully rest in his bossom. We were praying 4 ur recovery and eagerly waiting 2 watch u perform@ next month Hip Hop Awards. U will always b dear 2me. Ur infectious and humble personality will always b buried in my numskull. Azuka Ogujiuba


If tears could bring you back we have a river of it available. If it cost money we would have provided
Money sacks larger than Ibori's loot bags. In ur short stay on earth you made an impact that a library of words can't explain. Though the streets have lost you, your words will always ignite our path and lead us out of poverty.
Odu Black


Gone too soon Dagrin came at a very harsh tym when d world has just began to smile on you. I 4 sure will definitely miss u on be half my humble self and my family am saying rest in peace.
Lawal Yaqoub

I believe God needs a rapper like u in heave das y he called you bro RIP, go and sing for ur God bro. ND Nwankwo

God show ur wonder, plz wak ma luv Dagrin, lik u woke Lazarus in d BIBLE. Beckyblack