It was an evening of happiness, conviviality, and camaraderie, on Saturday, March 30, 2024, as members of the Realtime Moviearts group hosted a reception in honour of the new Executive Director of the National Film and Video Censors Board, Dr Shaibu Husseini.
Members of the Realtime Moviearts group, made up of publishers, editors, and ceo’s of media outfits, gathered inside the arena of the COSON house in Ikeja to rejoice with and celebrate Dr Shaibu.
The reception, designed as an informal evening of fun and yabis for members, had veteran entertainment broadcast journalist, Segun Adebowale, as the compere, GM COSON, Bernice Eriemeghe and COSON chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji as special guest of honour.
The close-knit event kicked off with prayers by Business Day topshot, Nonye Iwuagwu Ben-Nwankwo, after which members of the group were introduced.
A number of Realtimers used the opportunity to talk about the Shaibu they knew. From Nonye to Dorah Osas, Bidemi Dairo, Alozie Uzokwu, Yemi Oladeinde, Nkarenyi Nkonu, and Juliet Bumah, it was one word of praise, endearment, and appreciation after the other for the man fondly called CJ by Realtimers.
The eulogies weren’t complete until COSON chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji, spoke about the Shaibu he knew and The Nation’s Assistant Entertainment Editor, Gbenga Bada aka BARON gave the toast at the event. Other members at the event were Sunday Adebayo, Kunle Rasheed, Sam Anokam, Darlington Abuda, Tony Nwanne, Mandy Umoh, Funsho Arogundade, and Tosin Ajirire.
With food, chops, and drinks in the house, all the 27 members of the group urged Chief Okoroji to present a plaque to Dr Shaibu, who attended the reception alongside his adorable wife, Ruth Shaibu.
The new ED, a versatile dancer himself, led his friends to the dance floor after a heartwarming and promised filled thank you speech that took over 10 minutes.
Before Segun Adebowale officially declared the reception over, members of Realtime, who are now based in diaspora were connected, and they equally had one good thing or the other to say about the actor, dancer, culture administrator, journalist and film critic as well as communication teacher, who would henceforth supertend the NFVCB.
Realtime, conceived as a whatsapp group with eminent entertainment journalism practitioners, as members, was founded over 10 years ago by Justin Akpovi-Etsade with Dr Shaibu Husseini as the coordinator.
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