To say Helen Paul is multi-talented is saying the obvious. The graduate of University of Lagos is a comedienne, singer and actress.  She’s popularly called “Tatafo”, a witty kid who addresses and lampoons societal issues in a satirical manner. The show has, over time, garnered massive and ardent listenership/followership in Lagos and several other states of Nigeria.  She tells Adetutu Audu there’s nothing greater than making her audience happy.

YOUR baby voice brought you to limelight. How are you able to achieve this?

I watch cartoons a lot. Besides, I love children very much, and this has given me the privilege to imitate them perfectly.

You have your hand in many pies. At what point did you decide the academy?

The academy has always been part of my dreams, even as a little girl. I have always dreamt of a day when I would establish a school that would impact knowledge on the people and subsequently help make a better society. Yes, I have my hands on many things, but it is God that has been giving me the strength to move on.

Where do you draw your inspirations from?

My inspiration comes from God and the things around me. I interact with my audience. Most of the time, if I’m backstage, I see through. I’m to understand the stage  if it is a proscenium stage, I know the audience will face me directly; if it is an arena stage, the audience will sit round me, so I have to look for a way to move round the stage in such a way that everyone sees me. Sometimes, I get there early to meet people buying tickets, so I observe what they are wearing. I also try to understand if they are from the elite category or ordinary people in the society.

You recently performed at an event with the first lady in attendance. How would you describe the experience?

It was a fantastic experience, not because she is the first lady, but because she is one of the women I respect very much.

What comes to your mind when you mount the stage to perform as a comedienne?

The priority of any entertainer is to have a good show at any given time. Nothing greater can be in my mind than to make my audience happy.

While growing up, who influenced you in life? The good, the bad and the ugly

No particular individual, but I will rather say the society influenced me. I lived in areas where I mixed with all classes of people. I lived where there were area boys, and I also lived among the elite class, that is why I can also imitate any of them perfectly. I have seen the negative and positive sides of the society, but I chose to be influenced by the positive aspect.

No doubt you are a star. Share with us the pains and gains.

I see myself as the girl next door; I can walk on the streets when I feel like, stop by the road to buy roasted corn and plantain, name it. Most times, it is people that remind me that I’m a celebrity. I just enjoy myself, that’s the truth.

You are an actress, comedienne, TV host, business woman. For you, which is fulfilling?

Everything is fulfilling. I enjoy doing all of them, and it is the combination of all these jobs that make me Helen Paul. It would not be fair if I say this particular one is fulfilling to me.

How do you juggle as a wife, mother and a career woman?

I give all the glory to God for giving me a husband that is very understanding and supportive. The credit goes to him and God. He has been very supportive. He makes life very easy for me and I pray it continues like that forever. I say a big thank you to my husband. He is making it work, not me.

Is there any difference between Helen Paul at home and “Tatafo”?

The Helen Paul at home is a wife and mother. “Tatafo” is that inquisitive small girl on radio. She is a radio personality. “Tatafo” wants to know everything. Most times, she pokes her nose into issues that are none of her business. She uses satire a lot as well.

Craziest thing a fan has done to you?

It was a day a fan slapped me. She said, ‘wow, Tatafo! I always enjoy your comedy and skits. You’re such a funny and naughty girl…’ and the next thing I saw was a slap on my face. It was crazy because the slap hurts and it was in a public place. And because she was an elderly woman, I could not complain.

What dictates your dressing?

May be my mood. I just wear what makes me comfortable at every point in time.

How would you describe your style?

Style, for me, is freedom; freedom to express myself and to be myself. It is simple, natural and classy.

Which fashion item is hot for you?

Every fashion item is hot they all have their respective importance.

Secret of your success in marriage?

The secret is the fact that God gave me a friend and brother as husband.

MARY Charles is a big player in the beauty industry; she is one of the earliest pioneers of permanent make-up and tattoo in Nigeria.

Her creativity aided her popularity among those that call the shots in the party circuits and contributed to her climb up the ladder of success as her studio was a beehive of activities for well-heeled Nigerians.

A frequent reveller, she never fails to attract notice, especially with her admirable dress culture. For about two years, the news making the rounds was that her non-appearance at classy grooves was not unconnected with the dwindling fortunes of her business.

The Edo State mother of twins has no doubt returned to social reckoning with her appearance in social functions in recent time.   She was among the guests at Senator Florence Ita-Giwa’s Mother’s hen party, hosted for her own friends at the Sky Lounge, Eko Hotel, Lagos.  Charles rubbed shoulders with other socialites among whom were Princess Yetunde Onilere, Grace Egbagbe, Ireti Asemota, Ruth Osime, Ndidi Obioha,  Nkiru Anumudu, Data Okorodudu and Hajia Abah Folawiyo.

AS you grow older, there are a number of things that are likely to change about your outlook. One of such things is your hair and it is sad to discover that you are losing that thick lush hair that you had when you were younger. The good news, however, is that you can have beautiful hair if you give the hair the attention it deserves.

The first thing to do is to create a regimen. Here you would decide how often you are going to “shampoo” and deep condition your hair. Co-washing should be your method. You may decide that you want to and condition every three to five days and seal the moisture in with a light oil. Deep condition every week if you have time, and no less than twice a month.

Alternatively, if your hair is dry, co-wash your hair. Co-wash means wash your hair with conditioner, not shampoo. Since the 40s, shampoo was made with the same drying product as laundry detergent. If you must wash your hair, dilute you shampoo with 75% water and 25% shampoo. If you have product build up, use a mud rinse in your hair instead of drying soap.

Black hair has tiny nicks in the cuticle layer which makes it harder for natural scalp sebum to distribute to the ends of your hair. These nicks also cause breakage, so handle your hair with care and keep it moisturised. A huge misconception is that black hair is coarse, coarse means the “strand size” not the texture.

Experts, however, inform that black hair is rarely coarse, instead black strands’ are finer than any other group – which is why it cannot take heavy handling. It is also better to choose products with a lot of organic ingredients and try to avoid products with mineral oils and petro oil.

Aloe Vera is the same PH of your hair which is four and will close your cuticles and make your hair shiny and smoother than ever before. The ends of your hair are the oldest, instead of the old myth of “greasing your scalp,” oil your ends to stop it from breaking from rubbing against your clothes. Also avoid using “grease” in your hair.

Most black hair needs extra moisture, but stay away from products with petroleum. Petroleum makes hair stiff, dry and greasy. Instead of grease, try natural oils (coconut, jojoba, olive, or castor) or natural shampoos and conditioners which are great for your hair because they don’t have all those sulfates, sodiums, and preservatives in them. They also give your hair a nice shine to it.

If you use heat styling products on your hair, try and cut it down to two-three times a month if you can, and make sure you use a heat protection shampoo and moisturiser, or a good serum/spray on your hair before flat ironing or curling. Finally, it is very important to comb you hair carefully. Use a wide tooth comb to comb your hair, stop buying bristle brushes or thin combs which will get caught in your hair and snap it off.

SINCE the arrival of their second baby, rap sensation, Naeto C, and his wife, Nicole, had been off the social scene. But the former headliner of Hennessy Artistry made a grand entry with his wife at the Hennessy Artistry club tour in Abuja last weekend. Naeto C, the son of the former Minister of Aviation, Kema Chikwe, and Nicole tied the knot in July 2012. The couple were secondary school lovers at Atlantic Hall, Epe, Lagos. Naeto C’s wedding was undoubtedly the most expensive wedding ever in the Nigerian music industry, and the reception met up to this feat with the presence of celebrities and assorted drinks served.

DAPO Lam-Adesina, the Oyo State Commissioner of Industry Applied Science and Technology, is cooking something new. The son of the late former governor of Oyo State, Lam Adesina, is eyeing a seat in the lower chamber of the national assembly, come 2015.

The younger Lam Adesina wants to represent Ibadan North East/South East federal constituency.

Just a few weeks ago, Dapo visited Ibadan Motherless Babies Home, close to the University College Hospital, Ibadan, where he generously donated food and relief materials in celebrating his 36th birthday.

JAMES Ibori, the former governor of Delta State man Friday, Lulu Tokunbo Enaboifo, who was appointed as the Executive Director, Finance and Administration to the Nigeria-São Tomé & Principe Joint Development Authority, JDA, on the recommendation of Mr. Ibori and was forced to resign from the plum job after the hues and cries about his questionable character, has been off the social radar for a while after his tenure at the JDA.

The Chairman/CEO, Mega Structures Nigeria Limited and the former governor were like five and six when the going was good. But following the predicament of the embattled former Delta State governor, Enaboifo has stylishly withdrawn from the public glare.

The fun-loving Edo State-born Enaboifo enjoyed his relationship with the Oghara chief before the long arm of law caught up with the latter.

Sources said Enaboifo rode on Ibori’s influence when he was nominated as the Chief Logistics Officer of the late Yar’Adua’s presidential campaign team. This paid off, as he was later appointed as Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Nigeria-São Tomé & Principe Joint Development Authority by the late president.

The paths of the two friends, we gathered, crossed during their sojourn abroad, and when the Delta State chief became a governor, he invited his old friend home.

DAVID Kolawole Vaughan, aka DAKOVA, is cooking something new. The Lagos Island-born designer who now runs a thriving night club in Abuja is eyeing politics again.

DAKOVA who ran into trouble waters a few years ago, no thanks to his incursion into politics, may have learnt his lesson and sources said he is staging a big comeback.  The PDP chieftain is eyeing a senatorial seat and he is already creating awareness for his ambition.

DAKOVA started the DAKOVA brand sometime in 1986, and took the entire nation and subsequently the continent by storm, with his foray into the world of fashion. The brand became the very definition of fashion back then in the 80′s.

Before one could say Jack, he eased out of the fashion scene to concentrate on politics and hospitality. Though he did not have an impressive outing politically, his nightclub enjoys huge patronage in Abuja.

Alero Fafowora’s label, Hallero Couture, is over a decade and still waxing stronger. The delectable fashion designer in a chat with ADETUTU AUDU shares her journey to the top and why she hates bright colours despite churning designs in these colours. 

AFTER her secondary school education at the International School, Ibadan, popular fashion designer, Alero Fafowora of Hallero Couture, got admission to read Economics at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, but she has been destined for the needle and thread business.

At the same time, she was offered admission at the Yaba College of Technology to study Textile and Fashion Designing and she jumped at the opportunity. To the chagrin of her elated father who thought he had gotten an Economist in the family, the talented designer explained that she pursued a career in fashion designing.

“My father was angry that I preferred fashion designing to Economics at Obafemi Awolowo University. He lamented that if he had known, he would not have bothered himself to send me to the International School, Ibadan,” she expressed.

So, how has it been since then? “It is been exciting and challenging,” Alero said. After her Ordinary National Diploma at the Yaba College of Technology, she explained that she proceeded to the London College of Fashion. After her course, she had a stint with the popular United Kingdom label, Red or Dead. The experience, she said, gave her control of the UK’s fashion scene. “The experience I garnered at Red or Dead helped me when I eventually set up my fashion house. While in the UK, I felt the need to come back home and do something. And I discovered that there’s always a ready market in Nigeria. Once you have a good product, people are ready to buy,” she stated.

Her breakthrough, however, came when a lady met her friend who was wearing her design in a church in UK. “Somehow, my clients can identify my outfit anywhere. My outfits simply stand out. For me, finishing matters a lot and I take the pains to ensure that my outfits have neat finishing because I believe that makes the outfit,” she enthused.

The Nigerian experience, she said, has been worthwhile and financially rewarding. Her major challenge is getting good staff to work with. “I have learnt to take the not so perfect ones, so that I can train them. I don’t like those ones who are already set in their ways because they find it difficult to take instructions. They often insist on doing it the way they’ve been taught and not the way I want it done,” she offered.

How has she been coping amidst competition in the industry? The mother of three pointed out that there is no market like Nigeria. According to her, “designers have a lot to offer and the sky is the limit. People are always willing to pay if you can give them a good product. I’m quite particular about my finishing. You can make a very simple dress but the finishing makes the difference. I believe my clothes should sell themselves and fortunately I’ve never spoilt anyone’s outfit. But the truth is, there are mistakes that you can turn into another style.”

But she also pointed out that people see things differently. She added that there are a lot of dressmakers but few designers. Many just get tailors to do it for them, and don’t have a clue about what designing is all about. Having been taught in school that one can get inspiration from anywhere and anything, the designer who also provides wardrobe for beauty queens said her source of inspiration is her environment.

“And I’m also not restricted to fabrics. I can work with any fabric. But I specialise in contemporary designs. Even when I’m using African prints, I make them into contemporary styles,” she emphasised.

Noted for flowing gowns, Alero said seeing her clients wear her outfits’ gives her joy.

She therefore promised that whatever fashion trend will give her clients an edge at functions, she will give her utmost best to satisfy them.

She recently opened an all-new outlet on the fashion high street of Bishop Oluwole in Victoria Island. The new flagship store which is simply called HEYCH (pronounced hey-ch) is Hallero’s first retail store. Under this brand, the main thrust is affordable style as the designer has an array of pocket-friendly ready-to-wear pieces and fashion accessories for the style sensitive woman and man on the go.

Another new style collection on Hallero’s label is “The Ibadi Aran, a European concept in iro and buba, which she said you can wear it with gele, some wear it with neck-cloth, it is very, very easy to wear and you can be creative with it. “While designing it, we were thinking of something that is not too much but solid and easy to wear and the patronage has been so amazing,” she gushed.

Alero Fafowora loves to pamper herself, especially her face and skin.  Tell us that the best beauty advice she ever received was to wash her face before sleeping and always moisturise her face, get a toner and a cleanser. “Nothing on earth will stop me from washing my face before I sleep. I wear make-up all day, so I need to clean and cleanse, so that by night my skin can be renewed” she pointed out.

What would she not be caught dead wearing?  Despite churning out great designs in bright colours, the mother of three cannot be caught in such colours. “Bright colours; I don’t like them at all.”  Her style, she said, is simplicity; very simple and sensible.

What part of her body does she cherish most and what does she eat to keep in shape?

“My eyes. For me, my face is the attraction for me. I don’t just eat anything. For instance, I don’t eat fatty foods. I now settle for fish because it contains proteins. Anyway, I don’t usually eat much.”

Alero Fafowora’s label is over a decade and still waxing strong. Her loving father, she said, is now proud of her when he realised her creative ability. “When my father saw that I had the talent and I was doing so well, he has accepted his fate.”

BISHOP Chris Kwakpovwe,  publisher of Our Daily Manna, the Christian prayer guide, who lost his father, Pa Stephen Kasoro Kwakpovwe, a few months ago, in Ughelli, Delta State while he was  away in the United States, has begun plans to give the deceased befitting rites of passage.

The grand celebration of life holds between November 27 and 28 in Delta State. The late Pa Stephen Kasoro Kwakpovwe was a retired grade one principal of several secondary schools under the then Bendel State and Delta State, and was survived by a wife, 12 children, 33 grandchildren, sons and daughters-in-law.

EVER since her emergence on Nigeria’s social circle several years ago, Ladunni Akin-Olugbade, pretty wife of Prince Bolu Akin-Olugbade, the Aare Onakakanfo of Owu Kingdom has continued to make statements with her captivating dress sense and humility.

The Masters Degree holder in International Law and Diplomacy behind upscale boutique, ‘Steppin-Out’ Boutique on Opebi Road is passionate about what she wears and sunglasses. Though she is publicity-shy, she can never be missed in a crowd.

ABIOLA, the widow of the late socialite and businessman, Alade Olatunji, aka Toto Abuga, has moved on and found a new calling. The mother of three who has relocated back to England is now studying theology. Aside this, she now concentrates more on fabric business. Her outfit, Olori fabric, sources disclosed, supply quality fabrics for Lagos party makers.

Abiola was a woman of means before she married the late Abuga. He was assassinated on the 8th of June, 2008. The late socialite had a good number of choice properties and automobiles to his name at home and abroad. Not long after his death, his mother, Madam Kehinde Olatunji, dragged his wife to court over her late husband’s property. Eventually, the court ruled in favour of the family.

SINCE her graduation a few months ago, Florence, aka DJ Cuppy, the daughter of billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola, has been living her dreams.  The fast-rising female disc jockey who is now running her Master’s programme in Business Music Management played host to friends at a house warming for a new apartment in New York last weekend.

The twenty-one-year-old entrepreneur is big in London and also plays regularly in Dubai and Paris.

CHIOMA Madubuko, the Company Secretary, Dangote Salt Plc, has been a staple on the social scene. In her 50s, nothing in her look suggests she is a grandmother. Petite and light skinned, she remains one of the matriarchs of high society. The lawyer and former banker has slowed down. She is noted for choice attires and matching accessories. Her appearance at gigs always leaves mouth wide open.

DESPITE the rumour making the rounds that all may not be well in the home front of successful banker, Yetunde Kakulu, the graduate of University of Ilorin has continued to soar high professionally.

Kakulu has been appointed as the Managing Director of Keystone Bank’s subsidiary in Uganda.  Until the appointment, she was a Divisional Head in the bank’s Northern Division.

Her foray into banking has spanned over 20 years, garnering experience variously as operations manager and business manager with some of the leading banks in Nigeria before being head-hunted by Keystone Bank to be part of the change management team.

IBADAN-based popular hotel, De Castle Inn, owned by Brigadier General Raji Alagbe Rasaki, (retd) is up for grabs.  Sources revealed that the hospitality haven located on Queen Elizabeth II Road, in Agodi, now bears a bold “For Sale” inscription. The former military administrator’s reason, we gathered, is not unconnected to the fact that the hotel is experiencing low patronage unlike when it first started.

THE wedding ceremony between Ogechi Nnkoleyin and Nnamdi Ndemenze will not be forgotten in a hurry for those who attended the classic wedding.

Solemnisation of the union was held at the Catholic Church of Presentation GRA Ikaja, after which the wedding train moved to Excel Event Centre Oregun, where guests were treated to a sumptuous reception. Olusegun Rapheal captures it all

TINSEL star, Matilda Obaseki, has jetted out of the country in preparation for the coming of her second child.  The heavily pregnant Matilda was spotted in Los Angeles with her 2-year-old son.

Matilda tied the knots with her beau, Arnold Mozia, in September 2013 after she announced her engagement in early 2012 and welcomed a baby boy in September 2012.

THE wedding ceremony between Miss Oluwatosin Damilola  Olorunleke and Folarin ‘Wande Aragbaiye took place at The Cathedral of Saint Barnabas, Sabo-Oke, Ilorin. The reception was held at Folusho Hall and Royal Fame Garden, Kulende Estate Junction, Sango  Road, Ilorin .TAIWO ABIODUN was there

SOME years ago when controversial lawyer Fred Ajudua built his all-marble Victoria Garden City (VGC) home, so many people marvellod at his display of wealth and style. Then the house which was put at about N300 million was the cynosure of all eyes because it was styled after an Arabian building. But today, the story has changed. The dome house has become a shadow of its former self. Apart from the fading paints on the wall, weeds have taken over the building completely.

NEXT Movie star, TV reality show boss, Sola Fajobi, has stepped up his game once again as the creative entrepreneur with a new mega distribution platform to boost the Nigerian entertainment industry. The new venture called eForce Entertainment Company, which is housed in his former night club, located in the heart of Ogba, Ikeja, is expected to provide easy access to entertainment and creative works such as Audio CD, DVD, Nollywood movies in DVD, Decoders, Tickets to events, books.

His major goal of setting up the outfit is to create the best distribution system that will check the excesses of pirates, deliver quality content to people at their touch-points at the best rate and thereby gradually reduce the motivation for pirates.