Friday, July 29, 2022

Nigerians Spend N730 Billion Annually on Sports Betting

Nigerians Spend N730 Billion Annually on Sports Betting

Nigerians spend over 730 billion Naira annually on sports betting and at least two billion naira is generated daily, recent research data shows.

Data also revealed that over 60 million Nigerian punters spend over 3, 000 naira daily placing bet stakes. At least there are 50 betting sites in Nigeria with the number growing annually.

Spending N730 billion annually on sports betting is significant for a country which the 2022 national budget is N16. 39 trillion.

Respondents, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), recently, said they placed bets to generate quick and easy income, and turn their passion for football into cash.

The report quoted a 28-year-old Fashion designer, Segun Mukoro saying, “Yes I bet and I do so weekly, especially when there is a league playing. When you have been betting for long, it’s easier to know what odds to play and what teams to bet on.


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Thursday, July 28, 2022

The Political Ignorance of Peter Obi and His "Obidients" on the 2023 Presidential Election

The Political Ignorance of Peter Obi and His "Obidients" on the 2023 Presidential Election

The North East and South East have challenges of widespread insecurity  caused by homegrown terrorists that will prevent majority of them from voting in the presidential election in 2023.

Many of the people shouting "Obidients" don't have and will not have PVCs on the date of the presidential election.

Both Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, and his followers are politically ignorant of the fact that the presidential election will be won by political expediency and not by popularity on the internet.

I have already seen several opportunists who want to exploit this popularity in various sharp practices.

Peter Obi has never won any election on self recognizance, but by the tribal hegemony of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the South East region of the Igbos.

The majority of Igbos will most likely vote for him. But outside the region, the Labour Party cannot win any state for Peter Obi even if all the Igbos in these states vote for him. Majority of non-Igbos will not vote for him. And without their votes he cannot win the presidential election.

Majority of the so called "Obidients" on Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp groups and Nairaland are ignorant of horrifying communal wars going on between the Igbos and other tribes. These hostilities will favour Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the incumbent national ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC) and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the main opposition party, People's Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 presidential election.

The fate of Nigeria in the general elections in 2023 will be decided by existential realities and not by emotional sentiments.


- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
Author of "The Victory of Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Dream: My Eyewitness Account of the 2015 Presidential Election", "In the House of Dogs", "The Prophet Lied", "Scarlet Tears of London" and other books distributed by Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other booksellers worldwide.

#Nigeria
#PeterObi
#Obidients
#Tinubu
#Atiku
#APC
#PDP
#APGA
#LabourParty
#insecurity
#terrorists
#voters
#PVC
#politics
#elections
#2023elections
#2023presidentialelection

Wednesday, July 27, 2022

“Rise” to Premiere on ESPN this August

 


PRESS RELEASE


“Rise” to Premiere on ESPN this August
Rise is based on the triumphant true-life story of the remarkable family that produced the first trio of brothers to become NBA champions in the history of the league

Access Multimedia Content

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, July 27, 2022/ -- Disney+ original film based on the true story of remarkable Antetokounmpo basketball brothers; Antetokounmpo: a Nigerian surname which, according to the Yoruba people of West Africa, means “the crown has returned from overseas”

ESPN Africa announced that the Disney+ original film Rise, will have its linear premiere across the continent on ESPN (DStv218, Starsat 248) on Monday 1 August at 20:00. Directed by Akin Omotoso, Rise is based on the triumphant true-life story of the remarkable family that produced the first trio of brothers to become NBA champions in the history of the league - Giannis and Thanasis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks and former Los Angeles Laker Kostas Antetokounmpo.

In this powerful, uplifting film, viewers will witness how one family’s vision, determination and faith lifted them out of obscurity to launch the career of two-time MVP Giannis and his brothers, Thanasis and Kostas. Last season, Giannis and Thanasis helped bring the Bucks their first NBA championship ring in 50 years, while Kostas played for the previous season champs, the Lakers.

After immigrating to Greece from Nigeria, Vera and Charles Antetokounmpo struggled to survive and provide for their five children, while living under the daily threat of deportation. With their oldest son still in Nigeria with relatives, the couple were desperate to obtain Greek citizenship but found themselves undermined by a system that blocked them at every turn. When they weren’t selling items to tourists on the streets of Athens with the rest of the family, the brothers would play basketball with a local youth team. Latecomers to the sport, they discovered their great abilities on the basketball court and worked hard to become world-class athletes. With the help of an agent, Giannis entered the NBA Draft in 2013 in a long-shot prospect that would change not only his life but the lives of his entire family.

Newcomers Uche Agada and Ral Agada - also real-life brothers - portray young Giannis and Thanasis, with Jaden Osimuwa and Elijah Sholanke as their younger two brothers, Kostas and Alexandros (“Alex”), respectively. Dayo Okeniyi (“Emperor,” “Shades of Blue”) and Yetide Badaki (“American Gods,” “This Is Us”) play their parents, Charles and Veronica (“Vera”), with Manish Dayal as Giannis’ tenacious agent, Kevin Stefanides, and Taylor Nichols as John Hammond, general manager of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Rise is directed by Akin Omotoso (“Vaya”) and written by Arash Amel (“A Private War”), with Bernie Goldmann (“300”) producing and Giannis Antetokounmpo and Douglas S. Jones as executive producers. Co-producers are Andreas Dimitriou and Michael Foutras.

Broadcast slots

Premiere:

Monday 1 August at 20:00

Repeat broadcasts:

Tuesday 2 August at 10:45 and 18:00

Monday 8 August at 20:00

Tuesday 9 August 10:45 and 18:00

How to tune in:

ESPN: DStv 218, Starsat 248 
  • All times are stated in CAT / SAST.
  • Schedule subject to change
For updates regarding the world of American sports, fans can connect to @ESPNAfrica on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or visit https://www.ESPN.com.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Walt Disney Company.
 
For any queries, kindly contact:
Jenny Griesel
Jenny Griesel Communications
Tel 083 406 3444 / jenny@jennygriesel.co.za

About The Walt Disney Company EMEA:
The Walt Disney Company has been in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) for over 80 years and employs thousands across the region. Between Disneyland Paris and its other iconic brands, including Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, 20th Century Studios and ESPN, The Walt Disney Company EMEA entertains, informs and inspires millions of consumers in more than 130 countries through the power of unparalleled storytelling. Disney+, the company’s direct-to-consumer streaming service, is currently available in 17 markets across Europe.

SOURCE
The Walt Disney Company



Sunday, July 24, 2022

The Facts Peter Obi is Hiding from Ignorant Nigerians


The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi for the 2023 general elections has secrets he is hiding from Nigerians and others in the world.
#PeterObi
#Peter
#Obi
#Labourparty
#Nigeria
#Nigerians
#elections
#presidentialelections
#2023

Saturday, July 23, 2022

Yoruba Cultural Troupe in Live Performance

 


Yoruba Cultural Troupe in Live Performance





Saturday evening, July 23, 2022.

Lagos, Nigeria

The celebration of the 9th birthday of Omogbolabo, aka "G-Boy", the first first born of Dr. Omoayena Odunbaku, the popular author of "OMOH" was an unforgettable evening of felicitations, thanksgivings and live cultural performance by a Yoruba troupe at the Agip Recital Hall of the Muson Centre in Onikan on the Lagos Island. The birthday party attracted hundreds of people as parents came with their children and other guests. The occasion concluded with launching of the comic book adaptation of her book by her son. For a 9-year-old, the drawings are outstanding and look as good as comics done by professional artists of Marvel Comics.


#Birthday #GBoy #Lagos #book #comics #Omoh #Marvel #music #Nigeria #Yoruba #people





Friday, July 22, 2022

DISCOVER MIP AFRICA 2022

DISCOVER MIP AFRICA


MIP Africa is a B2B market for film, television, and digital content distribution and co-production business in Africa. Whether you are involved in producing, distributing, financing or buying film and TV content for African audiences, MIP Africa is the Content Market that will put you face-to-face with the people, content and ideas to give your business a new doorway to huge opportunity.

Blood & Water's Ama Qamata

"As a female filmmaker, one of the key things you hope and dream for is to have your story represented on a global stage, and adds, “It’s amazing to see so many creative Africans, experienced and up-coming, coupled in one space, on one platform telling stories for our people and being the ones in charge of everything, from creating the stories to how we tell them- it’s incredibly special.’’
- Nosipho Dumisa, South African creative, writer, director and producer for Netflix's Blood & Water

https://www.fameweekafrica.com/en-gb/mip-africa.html

#film #netflix #television # #business #opportunity #digital #people #content #creative #b2b #africa #water #stage #writer #filmmarket #filmmaking #filmmakers #acquisition #distribution #africa



Thursday, July 21, 2022

Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima with Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook

 #ThrowBackThursday 

The Next Big Thing

The Alpha Man, Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima meeting with Mark Zuckerberg, the Cofounder and CEO of Facebook on August 31, 2016 at the Afrinolly Space in Oreggun, Lagos Mainland, Lagos, Nigeria.

My second meeting with Mark will be coming up after the release of my mobile video app, the next big thing for social media networking, news, entertainment, e-commerce and fintech which will begin the total decentralization of financial transactions and all from an app.

#Michael #Chima #markzuckerberg #mobilevideo #mobileapplications #mobileapp
#nigeria #ceo #socialmedia #networking #fintech #video #entertainment #facebook #commerce #transactions #streaming #video #decentralized
#decentralization #money #finance #africa #broadcasting #iot


Monday, July 18, 2022

UBA Group Expands to EMEA, Launches Banking Operations in Dubai International Financial Centre

Chief Executive Officer, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Authority, Prince Arif Amiri; Group Chairman, United Bank for Africa (UBA), Mr. Tony O. Elumelu; Governor, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), His Excellency Essa Kazim; Group Managing Director/CEO, United Bank for Africa (UBA) , Mr. Kennedy Uzoka; and Managing Director, UBA (DIFC Branch), Mr. Vikrant Bhansali, at the official launch of UBA (DIFC Branch), in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), on Thursday
(Source: United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) 

PRESS RELEASE

United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group Expands to EMEA, Launches Banking Operations in Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai

The UBA branch in the DIFC will service corporate & financial Institutions and customers across the Middle East with a core focus on correspondent banking, relationship management and advisory services.

LAGOS, Nigeria, July 18, 2022/ -- The United Bank for Africa (UBA) (www.UBAGroup.com), Africa’s global bank has been in operation for over seven decades. Today, the group is present in 20 African countries, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and France. The bank has extended its operations to the United Arab Emirates with the official launch of its new branch at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

United Bank for Africa Plc (DIFC Branch) will operate under the Category 4 license and will be regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), the financial regulatory agency of the special economic zone, the Dubai International Financial Centre.

The UBA branch in the DIFC will service corporate & financial Institutions and customers across the Middle East with a core focus on correspondent banking, relationship management and advisory services.

Through this new expansion, the UBA Group will be able to harness opportunities in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA), which comprise of 72 countries with an approximate population of 3 billion and a nominal GDP of US$7.7 trillion and thereby, reinforce its strong franchise as Africa’s Global Bank, facilitating trade and capital flows between Africa and the rest of the world.

Speaking during the launch of the new subsidiary in Dubai on Thursday, the Chairman, UBA Group, Mr. Tony O. Elumelu, explained that with the Group’s foray into the Gulf Region, UBA continues to focus on its strategic intent to lead the way when it comes to doing business in Africa. He said “Collaborating with our franchises in 20 African countries and the major financial centres of London, New York and Paris, UBA (DIFC Branch) will facilitate the financing of trade transactions between the Middle East and Africa, enabling trade finance and investments,” Elumelu said.

‘We have been looking forward to this day as it is the first time we will have presence in this part of the world. We know that our international expansion is incomplete if we are not present in the gulf’, he continued.

UBA's Group Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, who also spoke at the event said, “Today, we are formally on four continents across the globe, operating in 24 countries, serving over 35 million customers and still growing.

“We are the only bank with Nigerian origin that has extended out of Nigeria to the UAE. Those before us have come through other locations and that shows the strength and respect the Dubai authorities have for UBA. Our presence in Dubai affirms that UBA is a strong franchise, expanding its reach across the world,” Uzoka said.

“The authorities and business environment here in the DIFC is phenomenal and UBA is seeing Dubai as the gateway for Africa and that is why we are here, to be closer to our clients, to be partnering with them and facilitate businesses and trade flows into Africa through the UBA franchise. So, we are super excited.  

On his part, the CEO, UBA (DFIC), Mr. Vikrant Bhansali, said; “Trade, commerce and Investments in Africa is expanding in the Gulf Region and Asia. Leveraging the presence of UBA Group in global financial centres, UBA (DFIC) will enhance the ability of the group to facilitate access of Gulf investors and banks to African markets. We will finance trade, facilitate commerce and help grow investment in Africa, across all sectors.”

Arif Amiri, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Authority, said  during the ribbon cutting ceremony “UBA (DFIC) attests to the strong relationship between Dubai and Africa. It is a beautiful start as we are looking forward to achieving more interaction, channelling more trade and investments into Africa, and with UBA DIFC, we are closer to achieving our objectives. DIFC will continue to seek partnerships that will deliver winning relationships as we have just witnessed with UBA Group.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA).

Contact details:
Omede Odekina
Team Lead, External Relations
Mobile: +234-8162807921
E mail: omede.odekina@ubagroup.com
Website: www.UBAGroup.com

About UBA Group:

United Bank for Africa Plc is a leading Pan-African financial institution, offering banking services to more than thirty-seven million customers across 1,000 business offices and customer touch points in 20 African countries. With presence in New York, London and Paris and now the UAE, UBA is connecting people and businesses across Africa through retail, commercial and corporate banking, innovative cross-border payments and remittances, trade finance and ancillary banking services.

SOURCE

United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA)


Tuesday, July 12, 2022

Nollywood Must Stop Producing Many Crappy Movies

Nollywood Must Stop Producing Many Crappy Movies

The popularity of the phenomenon of Nollywood was based on overproduction of cheap home videos widely distributed and pirated in Nigeria and neighbouring countries in West Africa from VHS tapes to DVDs on the streets before the launching of cable TV channels between 2001 and 2004 and then uploaded by several authorized and unauthtorized people on YouTube from 2005 ; followed by the launching of Ibaka TV and iROKOtv in 2011.

The proliferation of low budget home videos in Nigeria made Nollywood the second largest producer of movies in the world after the Bollywood of India;  making news headlines all over the world and attracting both International vendors and investors. 

The biggest video streaming services in the world led by Netflix and Amazon are now competing for the best of the film and TV productions in Nollywood which compelled the producers to improve the quality of their movies to satisfy the criteria for international acquisition and distribution. But quantity is still the focus of the majority of producers and the production of substandard movies is doing more harm than good to the sustainable development of Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry.

The productions of cheap movies have left the few cable TV channels and streaming services saturated with movies which subsequently reduced the market value of Nigerian movies in comparison to South African, South Korean, Mexican and Indian movies in international acquisition and distribution. 

The frequency of productions in Nigeria is increasing the crappy movies in both Nollywood and Kannywood that I am ashamed to watch many of the movies with even top A-List actors. 
Did the highly esteemed actors read the screenplays before acting their idiotic roles? Or the temptations of being paid hundreds of thousands of naira made them to skip and waive professional standards?

We have submissions of hundreds of Nigerian movies and yet international buyers can only accept less than 20 movies every quarter. 

Many producers are now selling their movies for less than the costs of the productions. 

Is it not embarrassing to spend more than N3 million naira to produce a movie in Lagos, Asaba or Kano and you end up selling it for less than N500, 000 for two years on a local TV channel?
The local TV stations are now rejecting many movies, because they are saturated with dozens of movies and series submitted to them.
The local TV stations don't need to produce original movies and series, because they are cheaper to acquire from hundreds of unsolicited movies and series sent to them. 

It is not good to produce more than 1, 000 movies every year, but we can only count the best on our fingertips.


- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
Publisher/Editor, 
NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series,
Tuesday, July 12, 2022.
247 Nigeria (@247nigeria) / Twitter


Buy books by Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima on 

https://www.amazon.com/author/ekenyerengozimichaelchima


The Next Big Thing

 The Next Big Thing

Since 2014 I have been developing what will become the biggest and largest digital media network in the world and I have chosen to run with the vision Almighty God has shown me.
It is the greatest idea for the  digital media ecosystem.

I have shown only the MVP which will be a digital news media revolution in the history of modern news media in Africa.

My ultimate goal is the disruption of the  e-commerce and fintech industry by total decentralization of human interactions and transactions in every part of the world from the hand of everyone with a camera phone.
- Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
The CEO,
International Digital Post Network Limited,
Lagos, San Francisco, New York.


#ceo #digital #network #fintech #africa #commerce #news #lagos #sanfrancisco #newyork #communications #phones #transactions #payments

Monday, July 11, 2022

Nigeria in the Vicious Circle of Anomie

"Great nations have not been built by building houses and skyscrapers, but by building lives and leaders."

- Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
Author of "In the House Dogs" and other books.

When you do a comprehensive analysis of Nigeria and degradation of the government by corruption, you will see the genesis of the Nigerian crisis and the consequences which are now the worst fears and nightmares of widespread intellectual ignorance and violence.
It is unfortunate that while the educational institutions are collapsing, the federal government is celebrating pyramids of bags of rice and state governors are celebrating building flyovers while the drainage systems have collapsed.
The local governments cannot even clean up their streets with nauseating filthy environment of dirty inhabitants.

There cannot be good governance in the state of Intellectual ignorance and incompetence.
There is an epidemic of gullibility, irrationality and stupidity in every sphere of the dog eat dog Nigerian society.

The terrible predicament of intellectual ignorance is that the ignorant don't realize their ignorance. Living in denial of the truth is a common lifestyle among them. It is an oddity to be honest and straight.
The youths and elders are equally living in conceit and deceit.
Fathers and mothers have become pimps of their daughters.
The religious leaders are partners in crime of the rogue politicians and their rogue contractors in the private sector.

The country is full whited sepulchres
of rotten people with empty lives. And they don't even realize that they are empty in the vicious circle of their anomie.

-  By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
Author of "In the House Dogs" and other books distributed by Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other booksellers worldwide.









Wednesday, July 6, 2022

Confraternity of Christian Mothers Festac Celebrates with Mrs Muo

Obeying the Biblical admonition to Christians to rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn, members of the  Confraternity of  Christian Mothers, CCM from the Catholic Church of Visitation, Festac Town, Lagos on June 25, 2022, trooped out in their numbers to rejoice and felicitate with one of their own, Mrs Ann Muo at the wedding of her daughter, Augusta Ifeoma Muo.

The holy matrimony took place at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos.

The gaily dressed and vivacious CCM mothers proved to be their sister's keeper as they gave amble moral support to one of their own ensuring that the wedding was one of  the best organised social events in the recent time.

The bride's mother herself brought colour and distinction to bear on her daughter day of glory as her company, Spanset cakes & events ensured that everybody went home with a pack of cakes( different Flavours).

Founded in France over 150 years ago, the Confraternity of Christian Mothers was founded by lay women to discuss their struggles in raising their children and to pray for each other in a culture that had become increasingly opposed to Catholic values. 

CCM members who graced the wedding include Mother Esther Okereke, president Emeritus, Mother Vivian Obi, Ex Vice President,  

Mother Modesta Iguh president, Mother Adaku Agughasi, Vice President, Mother Ann Okorafor Treasurer.

Others include, Mother  Chioma Ekeh Provost, Mother Uche Emetarom, Financial Secretary 2, Mother Chinyere Chinedu, Provost 2, Mother Adaku, Ezeugo welfare.

Also in attendance were Mother Chinyere Aniaku member, Mother Uwandu Mabel, member, Mother Bibian Okeke, member, Mother Maryqueen Obelle, member, Mother Adaku Uzoukwu member, Mother Ifeoma Chukwueze, member, Mother Virginia Ogbatue member, Mother Rose Uchendu exco and Mother Onyeneke exco. Other notable guests @ the event include Chief Ingram Osigwe(EnyiOha) Chief Kevin Onyebara, Dr Obinna Okpara, Madam Blessed and Princess Ifeoma Agu. 

Indeed, Saturday, June 25th, 2022 will be a historic day for the families of Fidelis(Adizue) and Mrs Ann Muo and Chief John (Snr) and Mrs Fumilayo Adollo as their children, Augusta Ifeoma and John Jemin Jnr consummated their love at the Cathedral of Christ, Marina, Lagos.

The groom, an indigene ofJakpa, Warri North local government area, Delta State,  is a US-based Engineer while the bride who hails from Nnokwa, Idemili south of Anambra state, owns one of the latest boutiques in LEKKI phase 1, Lagos.

The rites of joining Ifeoma and John as husband and wife had begun a week earlier with a lavish but multi-cultural traditional wedding that witnessed a rich and enchanting blend of Igbo, Itsekiri and Yoruba cultures.

This was expected as the groom is Itsekiri with a Yoruba mother while the bride is Igbo from Anambra state.

The traditional wedding had in attendance Captains of Industry, politicians, professionals etc.

The galaxy of guests from virtually all parts of Nigeria gave the traditional wedding the colour of a pan-Nigerian event.

All Nigerian dishes which were served further added glamour to the wedding.

The colourful Itsekiri dance troupe ushered the groom amidst cheers.

The groom's mother, a Yoruba, added rich Yoruba panache to the event with breath-taking Yoruba eulogy and dance steps. 

Guests at the traditional wedding included a former Senator representing Lagos East senatorial district and current MD/CEO of the  Federal Housing Authority, Sen.Gbenga Ashafa among other notables.

The classy traditional wedding foretold the quintessentially glamourous church wedding that took place on June 25.

The reception which was held at The Bell Campbell Event Centre, Campbell Street, Lagos, witnessed pomp, pageantry and colour.

It attracted the high and mighty in the society with exotic dishes and wines made available to all guests.

***

Story by Chief Ingram Osigwe.