Funsho Arogundade
Celebrity Fan Date, a novel avenue that would allow Nigerian stars bond with their fans on a monthly basis, has been created.
The special event with its maiden edition holding in February at Lagos Oriental Hotel, Lekki, Lagos, will features Nollywood actress and producer, Funke Akindele.
On the novel idea, Kemi Otegbade, CEO, Heartlink Group, the consulting partners and event organizer, said the Celebrity Fans Date is conceived to bring the fans closer to their favourite stars in a relax manner.
“Our Nigerian stars have been perceived as selfish or inhuman, Celebrity Fan Date series will show the world that this is far from the truth. They love charity and some of them even have NGOs of their own,” Otegbade said.
She stated that the CFD is also aimed at inspiring youths and upcoming ones that hard work and consistency pay; and that you can be what you want to be if you set out to do so wholeheartedly.
CFD will also feature other A-list artistes including Ali Baba, the king of comedy; Korede Bello, Mavin Records rising star and a host of others.
Otegbade explained further that to be able to meet their favourite Stars, fans will contest through a downloaded app available on Google app store on all smart phones to compete to win as the FAN of the month.
The pre-selected Celebrity of the month will pick the winning number in a transparent manner through raffle. The winner would then go on a celebrated date with his/her favourite Celebrity.
During the date, the fan of the month will put the Celebrity on the hot seat for about 20 minutes. They will sit together, interact and dine on same table in front of a live audience.
He or she would ask questions that will unravel the success story of the star, same with the members of the live audience who can also throw in few questions of their own.
There will also be a photo session of the Celebrity and Winner Fan which will be used on all social, electronic, print media and on billboards for one month till the subsequent Celebrity/Fan emerges.
Celebrity Fan Date will also give back to the society by giving a percentage of proceeds from the project every month to Heart of Gold Hospice, a motherless baby’s home for autistic children for the first one year.
A representative from the home will be present at all the events. Another orphanage will be selected for the subsequent year.
The Celebrity Fan Date has an advisory board committee comprising seasoned professionals in the media, movies and showbiz as a whole.
They include Jahman Anikulapo, a culture activist; Mrs. Jemitola Fulani-Ojo, Edo State, Commissioner for Women; Femi Odugbemi, a renowned producer; Mr. Alfred Okoigun and Tony Uranta.
Others are Oscar Udofia, former GM, STV; Mayor Akinpelu, Publisher, Global Excellence; Lady Ada Chukwudozie; Gbenga Omotosho, editor, The Nation and Bimbola Sunmola.