The Patrick Doyle family was in an especially good mood in the Yuletide, as it rolled out the drums to celebrate not just the season but according to Patrick, “God’s infinite goodness towards the family” with special emphasis on his wife Iretiola’s rising profile as an actress. Special note was made of her recent clinching of the Golden Icon Academy Movie Award in Houston USA, and the Nollywood Movie Award both for the Best Actress in a Leading Role category for her performance in Torn (a psycho thriller) as well as her Africa Magic Viewers Choice Award (AMVCA) nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her character in Gidi Up (an Ndani TV Drama series).
A thanksgiving service was held in the morning on Sunday, December 21 at The Household of God Church, where Pastor Chris Okotie poured encomiums on the couple for their fortitude and devotion to the things of God and their profession. He enjoined them to remain steadfast even as members of the church were encouraged to go all out to vote for Iretiola in the AMVCA category in which she was nominated.
The couple treated close friends and family members to a lavish barbecue/mini fashion fiesta in the evening. It was an intimate and fun affair, with a full compliment of trendy pace setters in the business, media and the entertainment industry.
Representing the cast of Tinsel were Victor Olaotan (Iretiola’s onscreen husband), Gideon Okeke, Carol King and Udoka Onyeka. Chairman of the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Chief Tony Okoroji, a long time family friend of the Doyles was there with the General Manager of COSON, Chinedu Chukwuji. Present too were TV icons, Ruth Benemasia-Opia, Agatha Amata; Nollywood diva, Monalisa Chinda, and Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of qed.ng, Olumide Iyanda.
The fashion display featured swimwear designs by Antoinette Williams a London-based Jamaican designer as well as sassy day time casual pieces from Ara Ewa a Lagos-based fashion house.
Iretiola revealed that including a fashion segment in the day’s celebration is a precursor to the reintroduction of her hugely popular but rested TV fashion Show Oge with Iretiola.
The family no doubt has every reason to be thankful for a great year 2014. Feelers from the grapevine indicate that 2015 is expected to be an even greater year, with more awards for Mrs. Doyle for her role in a recently shot blockbuster and her unveiling as ambassador for some premium brands, as well as Mr. Doyle’s rising profile as a behind the scene media and political strategist.
