ECHOES

On Sunday, the 89th Academy Awards take the stage at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Hosted by late-night talk show funnyman Jimmy Kimmel, it's guaranteed to be a night of glitz and glamour like no other. This year's Oscars are likely to be all about  La La Land . With 14 nominations, the Damian Chazelle-directed movie musical is tied with  Titanic  and  All About Eve  for the most nods ever received by a film at the Academy Awards. Last month, the song-and-dance showcase broke the record for the most Golden Globe wins in a single night, nabbing all seven of the awards it was up for. Whether first time nod or veteran nominee, every actor nominated will be on the edge of her seat. For Meryl Streep, it's potentially record-breaking: She earned her 20th nomination this year for  Florence Foster Jenkins . If she wins, Streep will tie Katharine Hepburn's tally for the most wins by an actress with four statuettes. Streep already has more Oscar nominations than any

Flash back to some 20 years ago, i could see myself  rising from the bed with a lovely smile on my face, mum in the kitchen preparing breakfast, dad already dressed up  ready for the day work. Life was so much easier even though people were still complaining of how corrupt the government was, but life was still far much easier and peaceful. Having twenty naira for the day's pocket money in school was like having a big cash on you. Here we are, 20yrs after in the same country, state and street where 20naira could buy you a hand full of biscuits and sweets, same 20naira today can only get u 2 sachets of pure water or 2 little frustrating biscuits.  2015, we the people asked and voted for a change, a better  government, that which have the interest of the people at heart, but what did we get instead? Pain, hunger, suffering, students dropping out of school, unemployment, inflation, devalued currency, missing president, paddling, same sorrowful and hopeless news daily, all hidd

THE Government has got its worst mark in six years for children’s rights with campaigners warning some of the most vulnerable are being rendered invisible. Awarding a D plus grade, the Children’s Rights Alliance said young victims of crime, homeless and poverty stricken youngsters, those from Traveller and Roma families and child refugees and asylum seekers are being left behind. The latest official figures, issued on Monday evening, revealed 87 families with 151 children became homeless in January in Dublin alone, that is one child becoming homeless every five hours. There are now 2,407 children living in emergency accommodation, hotels or B&Bs and 2,046 of them are in the capital. Focus Ireland director of advocacy Mike Allen said: “There is a real danger that we are beginning to view family homelessness as one of those unsolvable problems which is always with us. “Behind each of these numbers there is a real human being, a child wanting the same opportunities to l

A feast of love, a season of passion, an atmosphere filled with joy,care and Embrace. What does it mean to you, how do you see it, how best do you think it should be celebrated. The moment best fit to forgive, begin again, share the little you have with those who got none and hold unto that which you have. Remember there are children out there on the street who have never for once experience what it feels like to be loved and cared for. That is the utmost reason why this moment exist,not just for boyfriend and girlfriends, not just for family alone but for the amount of lives you can give hope to through Love, passion and care. HAPPY ST. VALENTINE'S DAY ECHOESMINDS WISH YOU ALL OF THE BEST OF LOVE. KNOW THAT YOU ARE LOVED AND SO CAN YOU SHARE THAT LOVE WITH THOSE OUT THERE ON THE STREET.

GENERAL FIELD Album Of The Year : WINNER:  25  — Adele Lemonade  — Beyoncé Purpose  — Justin Bieber Views  — Drake A Sailor's Guide To Earth  — Sturgill Simpson Record Of The Year : WINNER: "Hello" — Adele "Formation" — Beyoncé "7 Years" — Lukas Graham "Work" — Rihanna Featuring Drake "Stressed Out" — Twenty One Pilots Song Of The Year : "Formation" — Khalif Brown, Asheton Hogan, Beyoncé Knowles & Michael L. Williams II, songwriters (Beyoncé) WINNER: "Hello" — Adele Adkins & Greg Kurstin, songwriters (Adele) "I Took A Pill In Ibiza" — Mike Posner, songwriter (Mike Posner) "Love Yourself" — Justin Bieber, Benjamin Levin & Ed Sheeran, songwriters (Justin Bieber) "7 Years" — Lukas Forchhammer, Stefan Forrest, Morten Pilegaard & Morten Ristorp, songwriters (Lukas Graham) Best New Artist : Kelsea Ballerini The Chainsmokers WINNER: Cha