Oh no! Yaba tech

It feels like Yaba college of technology has been around for a lifetime. Well 1947 till 2015 is a long time. Age is usually associated with wisdom and excellence, albeit because there's been time to practice over and over again. So, it's been with great dismay that I have being privy to the accommodation challenges of the new undergraduates and the way in which the school administration is handling the matter.School resumed in May 2015 for the freshers, yet the hostels were not opened, two months down the line the hostels have still not been opened. The school authorities don't seem to be perturbed by the fact that some of these students are coming to Lagos for the first time and do not have anywhere else to go, if they assume that those living in Lagos no matter the area, Sangotedo, Epe etc can be coming from home, what about the student whose home is in Owerri, Imo state or Benin in Edo state? How do they get to classes everyday? Is living off of campus not supposed to be the last resort if the school as usual admits more students than it can cater for? This dismal state of affairs led to many of the students sleeping in the lecture halls at night. As if the no hostel was not bad enough, the school has now told the students not to sleep in the classrooms anymore, yet the hostels are still not opened. So, where should the students be then? Was the school not aware that students would be coming once the school opened or that they would need accommodation? Yaba college of technology is not a backyard little school by any standard, I bet the parents as far back as in the east who rejoiced when their wards gained admission into the "cradle of education" did not think their children will be stranded. There is no student union representation which is an oddity and hence the students have no one to speak on their behalf. The enormous challenges facing the Nigerian students are already daunting without this extra baggage. Someone should be held accountable.

God and the Football

God is our father. He is everything a great father should be and more. So much more. This is what I believe. This is what I know. Now, I know there are people who think and say there is no God, or, that even if there's a God, he doesn't care about what happens to us. Of course I disagree. I know for a fact that God is interested in every aspect of our lives, our careers, our family, our health, our sports... Like football for instance. In my country Nigeria we love the game of football almost to a distraction. I remember some time ago, while I was on Eko bridge inside a BRT bus waiting the traffic out, from my vantage point, I could see people playing football on a lawn tennis court. I thought it was hilarious.
I remember thinking to myself that if such a phenomenon as snow falling were ever to occur in Nigeria, rather than Ice skate, we would still set up goal posts on the ice and play football. Such is our passion for the game.
Football games on impromptu fields are a common sight especially on weekends. So, passing a group of boys getting ready to play on my way to church this morning was not noteworthy. I just felt as usual that boys take longer to get into God and the whole church business. However, on my way back from service, the game was in full swing with the boys kicking away. One of them kicked too hard and the ball got to the road. They screamed to get the motorists attention and save their ball. The motorists slowed down and one boy was about to get on the road to retrieve the ball when this black SUV driven by a respectable looking man comes up with children leaning out the window, and bursts the ball with a loud POP.
We all froze. The car although had slowed,  did not stop, the driver just looked around and we made eye contact because I was looking to see this person that was so mean. He continued going at a leisurely pace. Didn't even apologize or acknowledge what he'd done. His windows were wound down and he was obviously coming from a church. We all just stood and stared at the burst ball. You could see the hurt on the boys' faces. As I resumed my walk home, I imagined what those boys must be feeling. How their day was ruined by a heartless man who was coming from church. I imagined them one day saying "those church people are very wicked" and then recount the incident. Recently it has dawned on me that those of us who claim to know God misrepresent him a lot. We make God look like the bad guy.  A friend of mine says anytime she goes to an audition and they pray, she writes the job off, because she knows that at the end of the day, either the producers won't pay or the job will be crap. But they will first of all use the name of God to cover the crimes they intend to commit. It's sad. God is not shady or unjust. He is wise, kind, rich in goodness and mercy, loving. His intrinsic nature is GOOD, so why make him look like a jack ass?
God is the good guy.

EDEN ATTAI

Another phase is here. The phase of interviews. So my first guest in this phase will be(drum roll....) Me.This is a first of a first. My first gig as an interviewer and Eden's first sit down with an interviewer.
As an interviewer I thought about what people would love to know about my guests and well what I'll like to know about them and went in. It was funny at first asking myself questions but after a while we got into it. I Started with this " So who is Eden Attai?" Enjoy.
  Eden Attai is a performer. I grew up wanting to be a high fashion model but unfortunately I didn't grow past 5'4 inches and no amount of heels could get me to that gorgeous intimidating 5'11 height of the super models. It was depressing for a while because I thought beautiful girls had to have long hands and legs for days. Well, that's what I read somewhere. So it was goodbye to haute couture and fabulous trips around the world. You know they say models have the best lives.

My foray into acting wasn't dramatic at all. I have always loved entertainment. I started acting from Church where I used to play the bad girl. The other girls used to want to play Mary or the good girl so that left the bad girl for me. I sang and danced in church and later in Secondary school and the university but it was not serious then. They were just things I did. After my NYSC I asked myself if I wasn't afraid of failure what would I do? And my answer was acting. So, I came home went to register at an acting school and that was it.

I studied Biotechnology at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri.
My first Job was a theatre play; kakadu the Musical directed by Kanayo Omo. It was very exciting for me. From then I've gone on to do other jobs, movies, series, radio drama, webisodes, theatre. Some of my jobs: Wide awake, Tales of Eve, Nectar, Remember me Oh Lord, wetin matter, John Zerebe, Beyond doubts, the odds. I just finished a job that I know is a game changer; Zone 222 directed by Rogers Ofime. It's a great show.
 I think like in all things the Nigerian film industry is evolving and I'm excited to be part of it.

 I absolutely love and enjoy my job . I love the characters and the becoming of someone else and of course the travelling. I feel it's a priviledge to be a medium to bring a story or a character to life. It's awesome truly. Well, there are parts l hate; the waiting and the uncertainties of auditioning.
 I have been blessed and highly favoured by God who has been looking out for me because there
is always someone taller, shorter, more beautiful, better singer, more talent, bigger backside, bigger chest, better physigue more everything... To get jobs in the midst of that plus all the other shenanigans that go down is just God. I'm thankful.

I admire a lot of people in the industry. Mercy Johnson is what I call an actor. I see method acting in her craft. I admire Bimbo Akintola's fiery delivery. Loved Liz Benson's poise and the mother of them all aunty Joke Silva's elegant delivery and of course Genevieve Nnaji whom my mother calls " my Genevieve ", she'll buy any movie so long as Genevieve's face is there. For the men RMD has been and still is the boss for me.I wrote my first script for him when I was in School. I was heartbroken when he retired, I'm glad he's back. My film with him will still get shot someday.

I love action movies as well as drama.
 I love food and cooking so I know that dieting isn't my thing.
 My fashion sense is simple and elegant. I love Vintage clothes although i'm yet discover a go to store for them.I love shoes a lot but definitely not like Imelda Marcus.
If I wasn't an actor, I'll be an air hostess.