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Celebs on plans for the New Year

It’s a new year, and everyone is hopeful that it will bring with it goodwill, favour and prosperity.

Celebrities are not left out; while they are grateful for what 2015 brought, they are making plans to make the year a good one.

ENCOMIUM Weekly spoke with a number of stars and they shared their plans for the new year…

 

GWEN ELOHO, actress and beauty queen

2015 was an eventful and successful year for me on many fronts. I had a lot of high points- my engagement to the man of my dream, my courtesy visits to notable Nigerians such as Hon. Godwin Ebosa, The Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, Chief Ayiri Emami, amongst others; my award as the most outstanding Beauty Queen in Nigeria and my graduation from Ekiti State University. I didn’t have any low point as far as I can remember. My plans for 2016 will be unfolding as time goes on. My marriage and my reality TV show are already slated.

 

EMMANUEL IKUBUEZE, actor and model

The highlight of 2015 for me was closing the year with an endorsement deal with Brandy Almondia, the first made in Nigeria premium brandy. My low moment was not winning the entertainment personality award at the NEA Awards in New York, but I foresee a better award this year.

I am still on my goals and plans for 2016. I intend to keep doing bigger movies and pushing my brand. Also, I plan to take the project, RAW campaign to high schools and universities as I plan to continue my advocacy on domestic violence against women.

For the new ideas, I really cannot give them out yet. They are still in the planning phase and they will unfold gradually in the year.

 

COSSY ORJIAKOR, actress

Highlight of 2015 was receiving an award and recognition from Europe Golden Awards hosted by Mr. Isaac Izoya and my second highlight is meeting a notable figure  Georgia state Senator, Mrs. Donzella James in Germany, who I later saw to her hotel room and offered her a rose flower.

While in Nigeria, she visited me in my Lekki, Lagos home, I was so overwhelmed.  As per low point, I don’t do lows, I always find a way to distinct myself.

My plan for 2016 is to be spontaneous and allow God to guide and protect me while I rock. Besides, God loves sinners and all have sinned.

 

SAIDI BALOGUN, actor and producer

Last year was hard. Piracy contributed to my lows in 2015. Most of the movies I did were pirated and it really pulled me down. But I was able to overcome the problem. Now, I am prepared for 2016.

My plan is to do a good movie this 2016, and I intend to get it done by working internationally to make the movie stand out from others.

I am going to include working on other countries to improve my movies, myself and other countries will come together to work. Presently, I am working with Ghana and I intend to work with more countries.

 

TOLU MEDUNA, artiste

My high for 2015 is my new solo single, Eko Lagos and my finished album. I’m excited about it and can only hope for the best. My low in 2015 is the poor economic situation of Nigeria, it was undeniably tough and one can only pray it gets better.

My plans for 2016 are, first I’m working on my music video shoot which is going to be released in the first quarter of this year. Also to come out with my album and hopefully, my fashion/clothing collection later in the year, I intend to take it one step at a time, tactically and prayerfully.

I also plan taking a trip around the country and overseas, depending on the pocket. Branding myself as an ambassador for peace, love, unity and progress, I’m open to partnership from like minds.

 

DEYEMI OKANLAWON, actor

I’m grateful to God that I had a pretty and amazing 2015. I featured in a number of movies and series across West Africa. In Nigeria there was Road To Yesterday, alongside Genevieve Nnaji, which got me multiple nominations at the 2016 AMVCA, and Beyond Blood which was shot in Lagos and London and would be released on January, 15, 2016 in cinemas across Nigeria. In Ghana, I also worked on quite a few projects including If Tomorrow Never Comes, alongside Yvonne Nelson which got me the Best Actor in an African Collaboration at the Ghana Movie Awards (GMA), and An African City series which starts airing from January 24, 2016. I also won Revelation Of The Year at the Best Of Nollywood (BON) awards, while other projects I was on also got nominations at the 2016 AMVCA.

While 2015 was dedicated to creating brand awareness and recognition, in 2016, I’ll be taking out time on building brand value which I hope would be of benefit to producers in order to attract the much needed audience to Nollywood films in the cinema. In 2016, I would plan to be more selective and place more emphasis on the quality of the project and pedigree of producers and their teams that I work with. I look forward to working with the likes of Emem Isong, Kunle Afolayan, Mildred Okwo, Uduak Oguamanam, Tunde Kelani, Charles Novia, Omoni Oboli, Izu Ojuwku, etc. Hopefully, headline at least one TV series with a major studio such as Mnet and Iroko.

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LAWRENCE ONUZULIKE, Producer

2015 started on average note due to the uncertainties in the country generated by activities surrounding the presidential election. However, the year ended well for us with our latest movie winning an award.

In 2015, the low periods seemed to surpass the high periods. The lack of security, epileptic power supply, scarcity of petrol and host of other issues limited our operations. In fact, we had to shelve some projects as they seemed unattainable with the situation. However, the success of our movie, Little Ryan and the success of our Abuja real estate section towards the end of the year gave us reasons to stroll into 2016 with bold smiles on our faces. I didn’t travel outside the country for the entire 2015 because I wanted to be around and monitor situation of things. However, this year will see me doing more travelling. We plan to return to auto import, premiere our movies and comedy series, play more roles in Abuja real estate and take it from there.

 

TAMARA ETEIMO, Actress

2015 was good to me, just like every human I had my high and low moments. In my career, there were locations that weren’t conducive for me as a person but because one is portraying a certain character you have to forget about yourself, not also forgetting that there were times that I enjoyed playing certain characters as well. That’s one thing I love the most about my job, being different persons at different points.

My plan for 2016 is to grow higher and bigger than what I am, to get better in what I do and to meet up with the goals I set out for myself. I am known for not letting cats out of the bag. The good thing with our profession is that, whatever idea you have will still be obvious so I urge you to wait patiently and see what I have to offer and I assure that you will not be disappointed. It is going to be a great year by God’s grace.

 

BIOLA IGE, Actress

2015 was a good year for me. Some things changed while others stayed the same, not a very interesting story but in all ramifications, I still got some moments of enthusiasm. Low point not being able to fulfill some of the enormous potentials in me as 2015 gradually drew to an end.

Looking at the high point, I took up one aspects of my talent being a writer. It is gradually coming together, writing a biography of a hard working man in other to inspire the young ones and other things that I can’t go into details for now. In 2016, I’m looking forward to accomplish and being a Mrs. and finishing writing the book I started in 2015, hopefully having my own show. Hard work, dedication and determination and the spirit of I can, would help in the execution of all these dreams in 2016

 

BEVERLY NAYA, Actress

2015 was a fantastic year for me. The high point was achieving the goals I set out to achieve. And I didn’t have any low point. In 2016, I hope to be better than last year and to surpass my achievements. For early this year, you should expect Surulere, which is produced by Mildred Okwo and will be out in February, Tinsel and a whole of others.

 

DIDI EKANEM, Actress

2015 was a year full of lessons for me, there were good and bad times. Overall, it was good year. I’m not a New Year resolution person but I want to become a better me this year in terms of acting skills and my attitude. I’ll work on my talent.

 

HALIMA ABUBAKAR, Actress

2015 was an amazing year both in my life and career. Although, it started dull, I thank God it ended well because I became more matured. Also, in my career, Alhamdulillah, we ended the year with two amazing movies, Hard Way to Freedom and How I was Raped from my stable. And of course, outside my production company, I acted the roles I have always wanted to act. Then my charity foundation finally kicked off.

Although, I have been doing this for 11 years, without a name, it has got a name now- Halima Abubakar Youth For Tomorrow. Everything happened in 2015. I praise Allah for that.

Concerning 2016, Ma’sha Allah, the year is still very young. But I am planning well to ensure everything fares well during the year. I am sure everything will kick off before the end of January because for now, I am still on vacation. As soon as I am back, work starts. Hopefully, 2016 will be my year of receiving what I have not received.

 

KIKELOMO KUOJO, actress and producer

2015 has come and gone, and I appreciate God for His blessings and protection throughout the year. That’s even the year I recorded a boom in my career. I also got a car and my career, indeed, earned me more recognition during the year. I thank God for everything. Although, piracy actually frustrated everybody, including producers, actors and marketers, I think we all still have every reason to celebrate the industry during the year.

Then my plans for 2016 are to ensure I do everything possible to boost my career, and this can be achieved by attending to issues according to order of preference. Also, as Master of Ceremonies (MC) I still need to work on my contacts so that I can maintain my clients and even get new ones. I should not allow being an actress and a producer sweep my job as MC. God willing, I know things will be much more better this year.

Encomium

Written by Encomium

A media, tech and events company.

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