NEWS

Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, have promised to give 99% of their personal wealth to their charitable initiative

Published

7 years ago

December 4, 2019

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, have promised to give 99% of their personal wealth to their charitable initiative.

The couple is steering their Facebook stock towards the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), which is awarding millions of dollars to projects like eliminating all disease and improving equity in education.

In their first-ever joint network TV interview, the two spoke about what they want to accomplish with the philanthropic endeavour.

Speaking on “CBS This Morning” the couple revealed their plans to give back through their charitable initiative, the CZI company, that turned four years old on Tuesday and has about 400 employees.

Zuckerberg said: “There are a lot of philanthropies that try to bring capital, right? And help fund important work. But there aren’t that many that have the capability to build tools to empower different folks who are on the front lines.”

Chan added: “Teachers, doctors, scientists — we don’t have the right tools to do that. And Mark has such incredible experience of building tools.”

The couple has promised to give the initiative 99% of their personal wealth, mostly in the form of Facebook stock.
“One of the promises that you gave… was you want to eliminate all diseases,” King said. “I heard that and I went, ‘What?’”

Zuckerberg replied: “Well, we’re not going to do that ourselves, but… we do think that it will be possible to cure, prevent, or be able to manage all diseases by the end of this century.”

King noted that it sounded almost “fantastical” and a little “pie-in-the-sky,” to which Chan said: “Setting audacious goals is important, and we need to think about beyond what’s possible.”

Chan said one of those goals is to map every single cell in the human body.
She added: “You would think that we already know all the cells and what they do, and the thing is, we don’t … and we need a reference.”

Zuckerberg said such a biological map could serve as a “very basic building block for a lot of biological research to happen on top of that.”

Recalling how they began working together on the initiative, Zuckerberg said: “One of the first things that she said to me was, ‘Okay, if we’re going to work together on education, you need to go be a teacher somewhere.’ And I was like, ‘I can’t be a teacher. I’m running this company. It’s a public company. I don’t have time to do that.’ And she was like, ‘No’. She was like… ‘There’s no way that we’re going to do this work together if you don’t get some experience doing this.’ So I started this after-school program on entrepreneurship.”

Chan told CBS co-host Gayle King she felt it was important for her husband to gain that practical experience because, “one, it’s so rewarding… and, two, it makes you feel what you read in the news… in a visceral way … and I want you to have that deep gut feeling of, like, ‘This is critical.’”

Entertainment

G Sound Studio Presents Lagos Next Star Music Festival & Talent Hunt 2026

Published

2 weeks ago

October 12, 2026

Baba Blow

The Nigerian entertainment scene is set for another exciting celebration of music and emerging talent as G Sound Studio presents the Lagos Next Star Music Festival & Talent Hunt 2026, an event designed to discover, showcase, and support the next generation of music stars.

With its focus on discovering talent and providing practical creative opportunities, the Lagos Next Star Music Festival & Talent Hunt 2026 invites aspiring musicians to step forward and showcase what they can offer.

For artists seeking a platform to perform, build connections, and pursue greater recognition, the event could be an opportunity to put their talent in the spotlight.

Interested participants and attendees should contact the organizers directly to confirm registration requirements, prize conditions, and other event details ahead of the festival.

Organized under the theme “Where Talent Meets the Spotlight,” the festival aims to provide aspiring musicians with an opportunity to showcase their abilities, connect with the entertainment community, and take a step toward greater visibility in the Nigerian music industry.

One of the major highlights of the Lagos Next Star Music Festival & Talent Hunt is its talent competition, which offers opportunities for participants to compete for first, second, and third-place prizes.

According to the event promotional materials, winners can look forward to valuable career-support opportunities, including free studio sessions, free music production, free music promotion, and a free video shoot.

These opportunities could help upcoming artists improve their sound, strengthen their musical identity, and gain exposure as they work toward building sustainable music careers.

The event also encourages aspiring performers to take advantage of the platform to demonstrate their creativity, stage presence, originality, and musical potential.

Registration Details and Participationd 👇

Interested talents are invited to register for the competition. The advertised registration fee is ₦10,000.

Prospective participants are encouraged to contact the organizers through the official social media handles or the WhatsApp contact provided on the event flyer to obtain the registration form and confirm the participation requirements.

Registration and enquiries:

Instagram: @dmartin_opchial
Instagram: @gsoundoftheyearstudio
WhatsApp: +234 902 195 7914
Email: Dmartinprobeat@gmail.com

Beyond the talent hunt, the festival is expected to bring together music lovers, performers, creatives, and entertainment enthusiasts for an evening of live performances and networking.

The event flyer lists several performing artists, including Ovuemax, Mohyen, Sanny Gee, Kushflow 15, Diago, Evron Diver, Milli Moree, Pehgy, Sherico, Egbebomo, Younglucki, and Dmartinpro.

The red carpet is scheduled to begin at 6:00 PM, while the main show is scheduled for 8:00 PM.

With a combination of emerging performers, a competitive talent showcase, and music industry opportunities, the festival is positioning itself as a platform for aspiring artists looking to take their next step.

Event Details At A Glance 👇

Event: Lagos Next Star Music Festival & Talent Hunt 2026
Presented by: G Sound Studio
Date: Saturday, November 28, 2026
Red carpet: 6:00 PM
Main show: 8:00 PM
Venue: De City Lounge, 108 Badore Road, opposite Regal Star School, Badore, Ajah, Lagos
Registration fee: ₦10,000, as advertised
Talent hunt prizes: First, second and third-place prizes, with additional creative opportunities advertised for winners

Stay connected to Blow Naija Media for more entertainment news, music updates, artist features, and events from across Nigeria.

Entertainment

Emersonnoni Unveils Bold Promo Shots as He Prepares Next Musical Chapter

Published

3 weeks ago

September 30, 2026

Baba Blow

Rising Nigerian Afro-Pop artist Emmanuel Oghenekevwe, widely known as Emerson and now requesting to be addressed as Emersonnoni, has released a fresh set of promotional photographs ahead of his next musical project.

The visuals mark a confident step forward for the Ughelli South, Delta State native, who has been steadily building momentum since the February 2026 release of his single Ask Of Emerson (featuring Snazzygrin).

That track, produced by Gluck Beatz and written by Oghene Kevwe Emmanuel, showcased his blend of Afro-Pop energy, storytelling, and contemporary Nigerian sound.
With the new promo images, Emersonnoni appears to be setting the tone for a more defined personal brand.

Entertainment

MAIDEN MOEISHA CREATIVE EXPERIENCE HOLDS THIS FRIDAY

Published

4 weeks ago

September 25, 2026

Baba Blow

MAIDEN MOEISHA CREATIVE EXPERIENCE HOLDS THIS FRIDAY

Utibe Utuk

All is set to host a gathering of artists,innovators,creative entrepreneurs,young talents,students and industry professionals as the MOEISHA Creative Experience 2026 takes center stage.

The event, which brings together diverse voices and ideas around art,technology,culture and the future of the creative economy is scheduled for Friday,September 25th from 4pm,toprovide a platform for participants to connect,share ideas,showcase their creativity and explore emerging opportunities at the intersection of art,innovation and technology at Ibom LED Centre.

A major feature of the gathering will be the official launch of The Moeisha Foundation,an initiative focused on empowering young women and fresh school leavers with creative skills and opportunities in digital entrepreneurship.

The foundation is expected to provide opportunities for young people to develop practical skills,discover their creative potential and explore sustainable pathways within the growing digital economy.

Beyond the celebration of creative expression,the MOEISHA Creative Experience is designed to promote networking,collaboration and knowledge sharing among participants from different areas of the creative industry.

The event will take place at Ibom LED,Ibom E-Library,Ibb Way,Uyo,Akwa Ibom State,with free entry for participants. Artists,students,young entrepreneurs,industry professionals and lovers of culture are expected to attend the gathering.

Some of the speakers and panelists to grace the event are Mandu Akpekong (Public Speaker), Sukmama Akpanusong (Tech Entrepreneur),Utonne Ekefre (CEO Latonne Signature) and Emmanuel Udosen (CEO Coddatech Nigeria Ltd), with performances by Udo Mariam, Psc Ben, Ferric Wondaz, Carlos Umoh and Evelyn Praiz to spice up the evening.

The convener,Mekmfonabasi Essien,an artist,creative visionary and curator,said in a chat with this reporter penultimate week that the event was conceived as an avenue to bring people together and create opportunities for meaningful connections within the creative space.

According to her,for a creative community like Uyo,which continues to explore new ways of turning talent and ideas into opportunities,the MOEISHA Creative Experience 2026 provides an avenue for participants to connect,create and discover new possibilities.

She called on young people in Akwa Ibom and neighbouring cities to take advantage of the gathering,describing it as a networking hub capable of opening doors for greater collaboration and creative partnerships.