tansali paparazzi

A recent phenomenon has been taking over people in the entertainment field.  As a way of interacting with their fans and communicating with the outside world, they set up first, websites then Facebook accounts and now Fanbook sites when they exceed the 5,000 ‘friend’ limit. You see stars with websites like Genevievennaji.fanbook.ning.com, omonioboli.fanbook.ning.com etc
I have always wanted to know the brain behind this ingenious development and a name keeps popping up… Ope Banwo.  Just who is Ope Banwo? Where does he come from? Why is he in entertainment?  What exactly does he do in entertainment? Well, you know the saying, ‘be careful what you ask for because you just might get it?’ Well, its too true because I recently checked my email and there sitting in the inbox was a mail, inviting me to attend a seminar organized by … you guessed it! Ope Banwo.  I attended and after it was over, on behalf of nollwooduncut.com, I had a chat with him… a very enlightening and fulfilling one and I left, convinced I had met next great entrepreneur to take over the business world in the 21^st century! You think that’s too high a praise for him? Read, judge for yourself and see why I have dubbed him ‘Entrepreneur Extraordinaire!’

NWU:  Hello Sir.  It’s a pleasure to meet you.

OB:  Same here Bola, how are you?

NWU:  Fine thank you.  You’re the man behind the fanbook.ning.com which is said to be Nigeria’s alternative Facebook for the stars. Can you tell us more about that?

OB:  Fanbook.ning.com are a series of websites set up by me for several of our Nigerian entertainers specifically in the music and film industry.  Stars such as Genevieve nnaji, Omoni Oboli, Susan Peters, Fred Amata, Obesere ….all have fanbook websites built and maintained by me.

NWU:  How many do you have in all?

OB: fifty seven.

NWU: I beg your pardon? Fifty seven websites?

OB:  yes …. for the entertainers.

NWU:  You must be a very rich man!

OB:  That’s what people say but contrary to what you think, its all free!

NWU:  No way!

OB:  Its true!  Go and ask them.  They didn’t pay a dime to me.  I build and maintain the site and pay hosting fees for all the sites.

NWU:  You must be a great philanthropist!  How do you make your money?

OB:  Philanthropist? My dear, I’m one of the shrewdest, capitalist you can think of!  (general laughter)

NWU: So how are you making your money from all this?

OB:  Good question.  Through leverage.  Each of these sites has thousands of members. For example, Genevieve has over 9000 signed up members and growing… that’s just one fanbook site. Not to mention the other 56.  Overall, I have access to about 70,000 people who are members of the various websites, so I can market whatever I’m selling to them. Even if just a fraction of that number respond, then its okay with me.
 

NWU:  Now I see….

OB:  Facebook should be an addendum to fanbook.ning.com because Facebook allows only 5,000 members unlike your own site which is limitless.  Another point is that those that sign up are core fans and not just ‘friends’ who don’t really care about you, the Star. The Stars also get the opportunity to chat with their core fans, interact and both parties are pleased with that.

NWU: You wear many hats…so just who is Ope Banwo? I heard you were into films at one time….

OB: Im Ope Banwo, a lawyer by training and an entertainment marketer by design.  I studied law at the University of Ife, graduated in 1985.  I was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1986 and the American Bar in 1997.  I have worked for over 20 years as a lawyer in Nigeria and over 15years as an immigration lawyer in the United States of America where I have a thriving practice.  I’m happily married with children.

NWU:  From law why go into entertainment?

OB:  Why not entertainment?  Which professionals do you see servicing that industry?

NWU:  So you are a lawyer to the entertainers?

OB: That as well as into artiste management and promotion. I also broker deals and get endorsements for them. Along the line I also run a music outfit called Stingomania  Entertainment.

NWU:  When are you going into film production? I know there was a time you ran Dove Media, the film/radio/internet arm of the Redeemed Church of God.

OB:  I will go back into film but not just yet.  Right now, I’m concentrating on promoting my artistes on Stingomania Records.

NWU:  How many are they?

OB: Sixteen in all.  We have finished shooting some videos and very soon the public will feel their impact.

NWU: Right now we are at a seminar you organized on immigration.  Tell us more about that?

OB:  Though I’m into entertainment, I’m a lawyer by profession. An aspect of my law firm handles immigration.  So far in Nigeria, I have not seen anyone specializing in that even though there is a great need for it.  I have noticed Nigerians would rather give a Tout, N400,000 to procure fake visas for him than give a qualified immigration  lawyer N100,000 to process genuine visas.  I don’t know why.  I hope to change that.

NWU:  So what services does your firm offer Nigerians?

OB:  Our immigration and emigration services include visa documentation and processing, visa appeal and petition for re-consideration, international recruitment and placement to name a few.  We have braches in Lagos and Nebraska, USA.

NWU:  Hmm… I wish we could go on but let me stop here.  Thank you so much for having this chat with me.

OB:  It’s my pleasure. 

  used with permission from www.nollywooduncut.com