Showbiz
Fashion Designer Tasks FG on FX Stability, Says 2024 Will be Good for Business
By Bon Peters
A Port Harcourt-based fashion designer, Ms Angela Wells, has said she’s optimistic 2024 would be a good year for business, though she tasked the federal government to redouble its efforts to ensure stability in the foreign exchange (FX) market.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of her annual event tagged Shop and Chop in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital recently, Ms Wells maintained that 2023 was a turbulent year for business, noting that it was by the grace of God that many entrepreneurs survived.
On the reason behind such assertion, the fashion expert noted that the exchange rate was not stable, insisting that the federal government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, should redouble efforts to ensure that naira is strengthened.
“Those of us who deal in imported materials for our attires did not find it funny in 2023. A situation you will wake up and your supplier tells you Dollars today is exchanging for N1,000 or above, only what you do is to struggle to survive,” she said.
“In a situation where you have already agreed with your customers on the price and quality of the materials, you would still have to design according to agreement and specifications despite the increase in the purchasing of the materials for the work,” Ms Wells added.
Ms Wells is the chairman and chief executive of Precise Look International, a fashion-designing business concern. She hails from the Ugwunagbo local government area of Abia State and runs one of the exquisite traditional fashion shops in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
She said her thrust for organizing an annual fashion show was to draw the attention of the state government to the need for fashion tourism, insisting that such can attract more revenue to the state government and generate employment for the youth even as she called on people of the same vision for collaboration for fashion exhibition in Rivers state.
It would be recalled that the event, which featured a fashion exhibition, masquerade displays, and high-life music, attracted many persons from all walks of life.
The programme offered participants a 50 per cent discount on every traditional attire purchased, free food for every buyer, gifts for all the children, and others.
Giving a historical account of her business, Ms Wells said she started her business in 2000 with the N10,000 she saved from the sale of oranges.
“It was in the year 2000, here in Oruworukwu, Rivers State, that I started this business with only N10,000 which I saved from the sale of oranges.
“I was pushing wheelbarrow around, hawking traditional dresses and others but today, when I look back and see what I have achieved so far, it is only God that I give all the glory,” she recounted.
On the challenges faced during her early stages, she said, “It wasn’t easy for me, a young girl hawking dresses in a wheelbarrow, and you know, my customers were mainly men, most of them who patronized me would always want to go down with me, but in all these, I was able to overcome because I was focused, committed and resilient.”
On the get-rich-quick syndrome in society at the moment, especially among young girls who depend on selling their bodies for money, Ms Wells admonished them to learn a trade to sustain themselves.
“If I can survive with N10,000 then, you can also survive no matter the amount you use in starting the business, I assure you determination is the key,” she emphasised.
Looking into the 2024 business climate, Ms Wells noted that though it would not be rosy at the beginning, “this year will be better than last year.”
The fight against content theft intensified on Thursday as MultiChoice Nigeria led stakeholders in a Walk Against Piracy from Ikeja City Mall, Lagos, drawing a powerful mix of Nollywood actors, filmmakers, directors, writers, media personalities, regulators, students, and members of the public.
The walk was part of a broader national advocacy campaign aimed at protecting Nigeria’s creative economy from the escalating damage of piracy. Participants marched through the Ikeja axis, distributing flyers, engaging passers-by, and educating the public on the dangers of piracy and its impact on livelihoods.
Veteran actor, Saidi Balogun, one of the leading voices at the walk, described piracy as “a silent killer draining the lifeblood of the creative industry.”
“People see the glamour but forget the sweat, months of work, and the hundreds of jobs behind a single film,” he said. “When you pirate a movie, you are killing someone’s dream, someone’s job, and the future of an entire industry. It must stop.”
Screenwriter and producer, Obi Emelonye, warned that piracy poses an existential threat to the next generation of creatives.
“Piracy is a menace eating deeply into the industry. If we do nothing, young creatives coming behind us will inherit an economy with no structure, no revenue, and no incentive to create,” he stated. “We cannot allow that future.”
The regulatory perspective came from Charles Amudipe, Deputy Director of Operations at the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), who emphasised both the legal and personal risks tied to piracy.
“Piracy is a criminal offence under Nigerian law, punishable by fines and imprisonment,” he said. “Beyond the legal consequences, consumers who download illegal content expose their devices to malware, identity theft, and financial fraud. It is not worth the risk.”
During the outreach, members of the public raised questions about affordability and alternatives to pirated content. The team responded by highlighting accessible, cost-friendly, and legal platforms available to consumers, underscoring that entertainment can be enjoyed responsibly without breaking the law.
Caroline Oghuma, Executive Head, Corporate Affairs at MultiChoice Nigeria, explained that the walk was a continuation of MultiChoice’s long-standing commitments to consumer education. Last month, the company led a school sensitisation programme at Kuramo Senior College in Victoria Island, teaching students how piracy harms creators and how they can unknowingly participate in it.
“We want to catch them young, take this message into communities, and meet Nigerians where they are,” Oghuma said. “Today’s walk is a reminder that protecting intellectual property is everyone’s responsibility. What we are fighting for is the survival of Nigeria’s creative future.”
Other notable participants included members of the Intellectual Property Law Advocacy Network (IPLAN), lawyers, media executives, content creators, and fans of Nigerian entertainment.
MultiChoice Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to working with regulators, industry bodies, and stakeholders to champion policies, education, and enforcement mechanisms that safeguard creative work and ensure creators receive fair reward for their labour.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners (ANTP) has debunked viral news reports that that the chairman of its board of trustees, Mr Olalere Osunpaimo, well known as Lere Paimo, was dead.
In a public notice from the national Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the organisation, Mr Adejonwo Oluwafemi Femson, it was disclosed that the veteran action is “alive and well.”
Members of the public were advised to disregard the death rumour.
“We would like to inform the public that reports circulating on Facebook about the passing of Chief Olalere OsunPaimo (MFR) are FALSE.
“We have confirmed with Baba Eda Onile Ola’s wife that he is alive and in good health.
“Please disregard these false reports and be aware that they are being spread by unscrupulous individuals.
“Chief Olalere OsunPaimo (MFR), Chairman Board of Trustee Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners (ANTP), is alive and well.
“We urge everyone to verify information before sharing to avoid spreading misinformation,” the notice disclosed.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The duo of Nivea and inDrive has been announced as the title sponsors of TikTok’s 2025 Sub-Saharan Africa Awards, while Coca-Cola, Dis-Chem and PEP Stores are the category sponsors.
As title sponsors, inDrive and NIVEA (Beiersdorf) will play key roles in amplifying creator recognition, supporting event experiences, and on-the ground activations.
NIVEA (Beiersdorf) will sponsor the Creator of the Year award, while inDrive will present the Storyteller of the Year award, both reflecting a shared passion for innovation, inclusivity and celebrating African voices making a global impact.
In addition, Coca-Cola is sponsoring Food Creator of the Year award, Dis-Chem is for the Social Impact Creator of the Year award, and PEP Stores is for the Entertainment Creator of the Year award.
This year’s event is slated for Saturday, December 6. It would be used to celebrate the continent’s most inspiring and innovative creators who are using the platform to educate, entertain, and empower their communities.
“We are delighted to partner with TikTok, as we share a long-standing relationship across the globe, including in the Sub-Saharan region. TikTok is a unique platform that enables us to engage with young audiences in a language and format that truly resonates with them.
“We extend our gratitude to the company for organizing The 2025 TikTok Awards Sub-Saharan Africa and congratulate all guests and participants on this remarkable event,” the Marketing Lead of inDrive Africa, Mikita Ponarin, stated.
“TikTok is proud to partner with great local and regional brands that support Africa’s creative economy. What excites us about these partnerships is the shared vision.
“These brands are making a conscious choice to invest in African creativity at a pivotal moment. They see what we see: that when we uplift creators, we strengthen entire communities and economies across the continent,” the Head of Content Operations for Sub-Saharan Africa,” Boniswa Sidwaba, said.
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