Opinion: Becky Anderson Or Christiane Amanpour?.

Hello Beautiful People!,

My colleagues and I had this electrifying intellectual argument yesterday. We shared different thoughtful points, but failed to agree with each other.

The argument was: Between Becky Anderson and Christiane Amanpour (both works for CNN) which of the two, has the best journalist prowess?.

Brief Profile: Christiane Amanpour.

She is CNN's chief international correspondent and anchor of Amanpour, a nightly foreign affairs program on CNN International, starting in April 2012. In addition, she is the global affairs anchor for ABC News, providing international analysis of important issues of the day for ABC News programs and platforms, and anchoring primetime documentaries on international subjects.

Brief Profile: Becky Anderson.

She is one of CNN International's highest profile anchors. She hosts the network's flagship news & current affairs programme, 'Connect the World', which airs weekdays in the prime-time EMEA line-up at 9pmGMT.

Becky has extensive business journalism experience including posts with the UK's ITN, CNBC Europe and
Bloomberg. She began her career in
journalism as a print reporter with
various business publications in Arizona.

Please follow on Twitter @BnSpeaks

Hello Beautiful People!,

My colleagues and I had this electrifying intellectual argument yesterday. We shared different thoughtful points, but failed to agree with each other.

The argument was: Between Becky Anderson and Christiane Amanpour (both works for CNN) which of the two, has the best journalist prowess?.

Brief Profile: Christiane Amanpour.

She is CNN's chief international correspondent and anchor of Amanpour, a nightly foreign affairs program on CNN International, starting in April 2012. In addition, she is the global affairs anchor for ABC News, providing international analysis of important issues of the day for ABC News programs and platforms, and anchoring primetime documentaries on international subjects.

Brief Profile: Becky Anderson.

She is one of CNN International's highest profile anchors. She hosts the network's flagship news & current affairs programme, 'Connect the World', which airs weekdays in the prime-time EMEA line-up at 9pmGMT.

Becky has extensive business journalism experience including posts with the UK's ITN, CNBC Europe and
Bloomberg. She began her career in
journalism as a print reporter with
various business publications in Arizona.

Please follow on Twitter @BnSpeaks

NIGERIAN MODEL TO WATCH: HELEN KUZI

Nigerian Model To Watch: Helen Kuzi.

Ezenwanne Helen Kuzi is a Nigerian model and an aspiring actress who
started her career as a child model just before she turned 7 and started acting when she was 5 years old.

An indigene of Nneobi, Anambra state, the 22 year-old is one of the rising stars in the Nigerian Model and film industry and also she is a talented dancer. Having been in the industry almost all her life, Kuzi has featured in
numerous commercials, and competitions, including: Nnamdi Azikiwe University 2013/2014 Dancing Competition ( She won the award - she is a 400level student of the prestigious University ). Peak milk online contest (she managed 3rd position).

Kuzi is 5.6ft in height and weighs 54kg.

Meet here on the following platforms:

Facebook; Ezenwanne Helen Kuzi.
E-mail: helenkuzi@gmail.com
Instagram: HelenKuzi

Dairy 109 ~Benneth Nwankwo

Beautiful People!.
Now you are reading my dairy unrestricted and free of charge. You know better than I do that a dairy is naturally accessible to its owner ONLY, but I have given you the unreserved privilege to flow through my secrets. It is rare if not impossible to find people do this.......in fact if you are not ready to reflect on the words I have written below this paragraph, please kindly stop reading. I am not foolish to have made this diary available for public consumption. Be a gentleman or woman.

You all are beautiful people and I immensely appreciate you all. All of you. I admire the extraordinary things you do, and how beautifully those things are done. Now, here is the reason for publicising my diary: Misconception about Writers.

Most of you are not nice to writers. The actions of most you towards writers are concrete enough to forcibly make a writer throw away his pen and summit to beer - parlouring. Why are you people like this?. I am really not happy about this. Just look me - a full grown up writer who is not bold enough to grow mustache, suffering because some people wrote my chapter wickedly. Benneth and Beautiful people!.

"What do you do for a living?", she asked. "Writing", I told her with a dazzling smile and added mechanically "I am a writer".

Her luminous smile died. It seemed as though her pointed nose would soon fall and her ebonized long hairs which I had initially admired seemed to be shorter than they had been. I observed the contempt in her voice. I am not sure she'd wanted to ask - that is if I should call it a question - the sentence just flew out from her mouth. "Apart from writing what else do you do really?".
In the heat of that moment; I gave her no reply and managed to disgracefully walked away feeling the traumatic bangs of her words in my head. This thing happened in 1916 and the pain is still much around today, 2015. Beautiful people why are you like this?.

Similarly, in 1903, I found a fiancé. Olamipo was her name and I admired the beautiful texture of her skin. They felt like tomato paste. I wrote poems about her eyes, lips and physique. She was a picturesque and my conviction about making her my wife was proven beyond my pen. I recall that cool evening when I finally proposed to her; the response was simple; come and see my parents.
I recall driving to their residence at Ikeja - a bungalow with five functional elevators. The two dogs stationed at the gate didn't respect my London suit, they gave me the reservation of a notorious thief. I think I heard one barked my name, trying to pull forward despite the oversized chain it was bounded with.

I finally saw my in law to be; he didn't even apologize for making me wait in my car while the Gatemate chained the yellow monsters they called dogs.
Olamipo did the introduction and she didn't forget to include how we met. Then her Father quickly followed with someone question: My name, age, state......occupation?. A writer. He didn't say much but there was much in what he said. He concluded by telling me he would get in touch with me without even asking for my phone number, email address( RealBenneth@gmail) or Facebook Id (Benneth Nwankwo Page).
Would it be unethical if he had politely asked for my Twitter handle (@BnSpeaks)? At least he would easily tweet me with the requirements for performing marriage rites as prescribed by their culture. It would never be a bad idea asking for my Instagram handle (@BnSpeaks) for the sole aim of sharing photographs of certain undescriptive items say sizable tubers of yam and cola nuts. Why was he like that?. I have not received any response and up till today I am still single but writing.

In today Nigeria, writers are barley respected - at least I had little respect in the 60s. The then dreaded military governments of Nigeria respected us much and more often than not, some of us - the defiant ones - were made tenants behind bars. I recall Gowon ordered the arrest and inhuman detention of Soyinka and I. There were few beautiful people within his cabinet and it was quite easy to get information on demand. I sent Professor Wole Soyinka a video on BlackBerry messenger, warning him on the impending danger then fled to Benin. It was in Benin that the news of his detention got to me and I tearfully broke down. I was not only weeping because of his unlawful detention; It rudely occurred to me that the message was not sent due to poor network coverage. In my subsequent hand written letters to him, I pleaded for his forgiveness and promised to pursue his release.

Ultimately he was released! A band of writers, headed by me assiduously wrote to the international power brokers and mounted pressure on Gowon's government until Wole was freed. I personally wrote to the White house requesting for merciless economic sanction; it was granted upon receipt.

Listen beautiful people, writers are the backbone of an effectual nation. Show me a great nation and I will show you great writers. Look at Nigeria, just examine our country; where are our writers? Where are they? Writers have been demoralized!. How many of you beautiful people are ready to buy a Nigerian book? How many of you read at least a book per month?. It is painfully. If you think writing is a morsel of fufu, write a story. I do not enjoy the cryptic companionship you beautiful people gives to writers in this country. Some you of you deserves a miserable poem.
In 1967, after returning from Whitehouse where I had a private dinner with the US President Barack Obama, two beautiful people hastily visited my home in Victoria Inland Lagos, Nigeria and made me do things I would never repeat in my lifetime. They religiously lied to me about the quality of my works then suggested it was time I publish them since the spotlight of Whitehouse was on me. I accepted and hastily self published a book "Youthship and Challenges" - a collection of my articles on challenges confronting most Nigerian youths. I will not write about the reception but I can tell you authoritatively and free of charge that it had in 2012, thankfully gone out of print. Since 1967!.

Beautiful people, our writers must be appreciated. Look our writers are dying and when a writer dies, books dies and when books dies; ideas dies and when ideas dies; life ends. That's all for now.

Please follow me on Twitter @BnSpeaks.

THE POETRY COURT: POETS OF THE MONTH.

THE POETRY COURT

We are glad to announce to you that from May 2015 ThePoetryCourt will be having POETS OF THE MONTH.

These are the details of how we will be arriving at our "poets of every month"

1: We have four weeks in a month, so we will start with a shortlist of ten (10) poets for every month.

2: ThePoetryCourt will search online for quality poems within two weeks of every month then we will announce our shortlisted poets at the end of the second week of every month. The shortlisted poems will also be announced, every second week of the month, for all to read.

3: Poets and lovers of the art will then cast votes, by sending the names of three poets, in the order at which they want the poets to come on as our POETS OF THE MONTH.

To Vote For Your Nominated Poets, Send:

Names of the poets, titles of their poems, and a brief reason of why you want them to be our Poets Of The Month.

3: Votes will run, all through the end of the second week through to the third week of the month.

We will be announcing our poets of the month to the world, by publishing their poems and short bio on our blog.
www.thepoetrycourt.blogspot.com


The time is here again, let's rock poetry together forever.


'May the best poets be shortlisted and may the best poets be our POETS OF THE MONTH'



We are also compiling a list of African poets (Spoken Word Poets, Written Poets, and Promoters of Poetry) to celebrate National Poetry Month, this April 2015. Tagged THE POETRY COURT AFRICAN POETS ENCYCLOPEDIA 2015.
In there you will find POETS that ROCK.

Our AFRICAN POETS ENCYCLOPEDIA will be published on our blog before the end of April 2015.

POETS ROCK

You can also now send in your short stories, and essays to our gmail account.
Don't forget to send your picture and a short bio, max 100 words.


Like us on Facebook - The Poetry Court

Follow us on Twitter - @thepoetrycourt

Blog - www.thepoetrycourt.blogspot.com

BBM - 26728637

You can also join us on Whats app, by simply requesting 08176861035

For support, sponsorship and partnership call:

Osigwe Benjamin
08069257714

Usman Lawal Iyoma
08082960017

Benneth Nwankwo

Benneth Nwankwo.

Born, Benneth Onochie "Ikechukwu" Nwankwo, in Nanka, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Language: Igbo/English.
Nationality: Nigerian.
Ethnicity: Igbo.
Religion: Christianity.
Popular genre: Fiction.


Benneth Nwankwo (Benneth Onochie "Ikechukwu" John Nwankwo) is a multidimensional African (Nigerian) writer ( ghost writer), Satirist, Blogger, Publicist , entrepreneur and motivational speaker. He is the author of "Youthship and Challenges".


LIFE.

Benneth was born in Nanka, Anambra state, Nigeria. He was raised in Lagos state, Nigeria, where he presently live.

WRITINGS.

Inspired by the works of some mainstream African writers and poets - notably - Chinua Achebe, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Buchi Emecheta, Ben Okri, Wole Soyinka, Okey Ndibe, Ikhide Ikheola ,Tope Folarin, Elnathan John and Ngugi Wa
Thiong'O. Benneth, established his
name among the front ranks of contemporary African writers. His works bears the hallmarks of mastery - compelling, narrative, gripping and suspense.

His debut "Youthship and Challenges" - a coalition of his articles on the challenges confronting Nigerian youths, received wide acclamation and as well became a vademecum to many Nigerian youths. Other works includes: The Day We Died (2015), and Take Me To America (2014).

He is presently working on a novel, and his short stories and, editorials appears in BN BLOG, and other online media. He is a member of the Association Of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Lagos chapter, and has been ranked by critics as "one of the future leading African writers".

Benneth Nwankwo

Benneth Nwankwo.

Born, Benneth Onochie "Ikechukwu" Nwankwo, in Nanka, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Language: Igbo/English.
Nationality: Nigerian.
Ethnicity: Igbo.
Religion: Christianity.
Popular genre: Fiction.


Benneth Nwankwo (Benneth Onochie "Ikechukwu" John Nwankwo) is a multidimensional African (Nigerian) writer ( ghost writer), Satirist, Blogger, Publicist , entrepreneur and motivational speaker. He is the author of "Youthship and Challenges".


LIFE.

Benneth was born in Nanka, Anambra state, Nigeria. He was raised in Lagos state, Nigeria, where he presently live.

WRITINGS.

Inspired by the works of some mainstream African writers and poets - notably - Chinua Achebe, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Buchi Emecheta, Ben Okri, Wole Soyinka, Okey Ndibe, Ikhide Ikheola ,Tope Folarin, Elnathan John and Ngugi Wa
Thiong'O. Benneth, established his
name among the front ranks of contemporary African writers. His works bears the hallmarks of mastery - compelling, narrative, gripping and suspense.

His debut "Youthship and Challenges" - a coalition of his articles on the challenges confronting Nigerian youths, received wide acclamation and as well became a vademecum to many Nigerian youths. Other works includes: The Day We Died (2015), and Take Me To America (2014).

He is presently working on a novel, and his short stories and, editorials appears in BN BLOG, and other online media. He is a member of the Association Of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Lagos chapter, and has been ranked by critics as "one of the future leading African writers".

Interview with Maryann Nwankwo, an event planner, Interior and exterior designer, and a makeup/makeover artist.

Interview with Maryann Nwankwo, an event planner, Interior and exterior designer, and a makeup/makeover artist.

Maryann has been kind enough to do a little interview with us. Get to know her a little better....

Born: Nwankwo Maryann Oluebube, 29th of October 1994. She hails from Nanka, Anambra State. The founder of SureGirl Makeover, and a final year student of Mary Sumner Vocational Institute Awka.

BN BLOG: We are honoured to meet you. Thank you for honouring our request.

MARYANN: (shots a dazzling smile) It's my pleasure and I'm very pleased to be here.

BN BLOG: How did you
come to specialise in event planning, makeups, cake making and decorating?.

MARYANN: I will first give all glory to God, who in his infinite mercy, made it possible for me - I started out as nobody. Very difficult. (Laughs). Frustration is the honest
answer. I trained as an event planner and I was managing little events. At that stage, back in 2013, you plan everything. Over
the years, I specialised more on other stuffs - designing and makeovers.
Then I started my own
company - SureGirl Makeover. The frustration
came about because I was
fed up with having to often rearrange and sometimes pay more for my client's cakes.(takes heavy breath). I started saying to myself "Okay Maryann,
you really need a solid
strategy here, you need
proper resourcing" . For a
long time, I would just say
that. I would say "You need a strategy. What's your?. (Giggles). I thought about learning cake making. A good idea. I trained in cake making. Do I pay for cakes again? No.

BN BLOG: Wow! What a fighting and realistic spirit...

MARYANN: (cuts short). Nothing stops a determined mind.

BN BLOG: Yes indeed. How long have you been in this field - rather - fields.

MARYANN: (laughs). Two years now. Yes two years. I started in 2013. Thanks be to God. I haven't been counting!. (looks stunned)

BN BLOG: How would you describe your work style?.

MARYANN: Work Hard,
Play Hard. I love to get the
job done and do it right. Meeting deadlines, successfully completing
tasks and give the task at hand my dedication is
important; but you have time to have
fun, enjoy what you are doing and the people
you are working with. If
you dont love what you do
then its harder to stay
motivated. I just love my job.


BN BLOG: Give an example of a time
when you felt the greatest
sense of accomplishment in
your job?.

MARYANN: I take my work very
seriously and honestly I'm not
finished with a project until I
feel a sense of accomplishment. Like I earlier said, I love my job.

BN BLOG: Describe your experience
with event planning, cake making, makeup and makeover in terms of meeting your clients demands?.

MARYANN: Challenging but fun. Nothing is ever easy. I just want my customer to be satisfied with what I offer. And I don't regret going any length to achieve them.

BN BLOG: Describe your specific
skills and experience related
to Event Planning.

MARYANN: I am hard working,
patient which comes in handy,
I have good interpersonal
skills which will help me to
communicate with customers
and I am resilient. You need resilience, some people are quite difficult to handle. ( laughs).

BN BLOG: If you were hired, when
could you start?.

MARYANN: Right away. Wetin I dey wait for?.
This is an opportunity and
company I am excited to get
started with.

BN BLOG: How has your education prepared you for a career as an event
planner?.

MARYANN: Yes if course, It did. What would I have become without education?. I thank my family for giving me the opportunity. I learn - still learning - those skills from school. I am presently a final year student of Mary Sumner Vocational Institute Awka. (Giggling). I blended well.

BN BLOG: What type of event planning are you
most interested in? Corporate events? Social events?.

MARYANN: OK call me jack of all trade.(Laughing). I specialized in all kinds of event planning. Social and cooperate. I don't limit my ability. Wedding, burial, naming ceremony, birthday, house commissioning....etc. I am in for all.

BN BLOG: What experience do you have with promoting events (through ads, social networking, etc.)?.


MARYANN: I forgot to mention about my computer training. I trained in computer - computer networking. Advertising my brand wasn't really a tough one for me and my company - SureGirl Makeover. We employed Facebook platform, my profile is Nwankwo Maryann . We have what's app: +2348108661520.
We have email: Nwankwo_maryann@yahoo.com. And I'm thankful for BBM, our pin is: 28613031.
I think African business owners have really come to realize the importance of social media. We have some ads on websites. We are on the global stream.

BN BLOG: Impressed I must say!.

MARYANN: (clapping hands). thank you.

BN BLOG: Tell me about a time when you avoided a near disastrous situation that almost ruined an event?
What was your impact on
correcting or avoiding the
situation?.

MARYANN: luckily, I have
honestly never had a situation
happen like this before. If i
was to have a disastrous
situation that almost ruined
an event I would need to make sure my
team and I are ready for
everything and always have a back up plan for everything. Nothing is impossible.

BN BLOG: What are some
strategies you use for
managing and prioritizing
work for yourself when there is too much work and too few staff members to
complete the tasks at hand?.

MARYANN: I write
everything down and
prioritize. I know strenghts
of everyone in my team and I delegate
accordingly. I motivate my group and keep them focused to the goal. Like I said before, Nothing is
impossible and as a team we can complete
any task.

BN BLOG: Finally what is your motivation?.

MARYANN: I wouldn't say I have this particular motivation. (Giggles) well, God is my motivation....Another is striving to become an independent woman. Basically independence motivates me always.


FOLLOW ON TWITTER @BnSpeaks