Showing posts with label Africa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Africa. Show all posts

Friday, July 14, 2023

Happy Birthday To Prince Nduka Obaigbena, A Great Achiever and Outstanding Leader

Happy Birthday Prince, Nduka Obaigbena; CON; Duke of Owa Kingdom. 
Chairman & Editor-in-Chief of the THISDAY Media Group and ARISE News Channel.


I wish you many happier returns for the blessed day with all the thanksgivings to Almighty God for beautiful long life and more prosperity.
Cheers Sir!

Faithfully,
Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
Publisher/Editor,
NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series
Nigeria Daily Twitter
New Nigeria on Pinterest


Tuesday, July 4, 2023

Shaka Ilembe is the Best, Biggest and Greatest African Epic Historical Drama Series


Shaka Ilembe is the Best, Biggest and Greatest African Epic Historical Drama Series




"Shaka Ilembe"is the best, biggest and greatest African epic historical drama series so far in the history of filmmaking and TV productions in Africa and one of the best epic drama series in the world.

In the content and context of the subject in production, and casting, directing, production design, set design, costume design and cinematography with naturalistic characters and realistic scenarios of the historical events, you can see the evidence of the professional excellence, experience and expertise of the producers. The series have been exciting and thrilling to watch on DStv.
The Directors, Academy Award-nominee Angus Gibson (Mandela) and Teboho Mahlatsi are geniuses with Desiree Markgraaff, the EP. 

The movie set will be good for international art and architecture exhibition at the BIENNALE ARTE 2024 of the 60th International Art Exhibition that will take place from Saturday 20 April to Sunday 24 November, 2024 in Venice, Italy.

https://www.labiennale.org/en/art/2024

I published the news release from the MultiChoice Group since 2022 on my Nigerians Report on https://nigeriansreportng.blogspot.com/2022/05/africa-epic-historical-drama-series.html.

Set in the 1700s, "Shaka iLembe" tells the story of the making of the iconic African king, with iterations from his early childhood through to adulthood.

The awesome King of Zulus, Shaka kaSenzangakhona  (c. 1787 – 22 September 1828) has inspired writers and producers and was the inspiration for my own short story in 2020, "Shaka The Great: The Rise and Fall of the Greatest African King"
https://nigeriansreportng.blogspot.com/2020/09/shaka-great-rise-and-fall-of-greatest.html

"Shaka Ilembe" should be a must watch for every filmmaker, storyteller and other creatives in Africa, especially in Nollywood and Kannywood of the Nigerian film industry.

As I have always emphasized that South Africa has the best and biggest film industry in Africa.
What makes a film industry is more than the mass production of movies in thousands annually, but includes having film and TV markets, film commissions and movie merchandise as shown in the awesome production of "Shaka Ilembe" that is worth more than US$2 billion in the market valuations of the film tourism boosting the hospitality industry of South Africa and the movie merchandise of the fashion designs and accessories of the rich culture and lifestyles of Zulu people. A celebration of the culture of the haute couture and architecture Zulu Kingdom.
I will really love to visit the movie set.

"Shaka Ilembe' is a case study for sociocultural, socioeconomic and sociopolitical studies and anthropology of South Africa in African Studies and the history of filmmaking in Africa.

Producer: Multichoice Studios of the MultiChoice Group.

See more details on https://www.dstv.com/mzansimagic/en-ng/show/shaka-ilembe/season/1

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
Publisher/Editor,
NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series
Nigeria Daily Twitter
https://twitter.com/nigeriadaily
New Nigeria on Pinterest
www.pinterest.com/nigeriansreport
https://www.amazon.com/author/ekenyerengozimichaelchima
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelchimaeyerengozi


Tuesday, June 20, 2023

TECNO Continues Partnership with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) To Support More Refugees in Africa for Higher Education


PRESS RELEASE
TECNO Continues Partnership with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) To Support More Refugees in Africa for Higher Education
At the end of 2022, over 108.4 million people were forcibly displaced, up 19.1 million on a year earlier, marking the largest ever single-year increase

TECNO continues partnership with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to support more refugees in Africa for higher education (1)
(Source: TECNO Mobile | 2 hours ago)

TECNO continues partnership with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to support more refugees in Africa for higher education (2)
(Source: TECNO Mobile.

Access Multimedia Content

BEIJING, The People's Republic of China, June 20, 2023/ -- Innovative technology brand TECNO (www.TECNO-Mobile.com) announced today the strengthened partnership with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, to support its Refugee Scholarships Programme DAFI (Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative) for the second year. The partnership aims to provide higher education and internship opportunities to refugee scholars in Africa, unlocking their full potential to thrive as adults, and ultimately contributing to equal access to education for all.

At the end of 2022, over 108.4 million people were forcibly displaced, up 19.1 million on a year earlier, marking the largest ever single-year increase. Higher education is vital in restoring hope and dignity to people driven from their homes. DAFI programme supports refugee students around the world through full scholarships for undergraduate studies. The aim of the programme is to help promote refugee self-reliance through increased access to opportunities to earn academic qualifications, develop knowledge and skills to improve preparedness for employment and entrepreneurship, and to empower students to contribute to host communities during displacement and upon return.

With support from TECNO and other partners, a total of 2,533 new refugee scholars were enrolled in higher education with DAFI scholarships in 2022 and the refugee tertiary education enrollment rate has increased from 3% in 2020 to 6%. Through the renewed partnership, 20 more refugee scholars will be provided with essential tuition costs, and related support for things like transport and books – which can be crucial to enable young people to complete their studies. In addition, TECNO will provide internship opportunities at its branches or subsidiaries in Africa for refugee students if the national policy allows and their qualifications match the positions.

TECNO has been partnering with UNHCR to support refugee’s education since 2020. From Educate A Child (EAC) programme to support the improvement of refugee children’s education in Africa, ensuring refugee children’s right to education and ultimately contribute to equal access to education for all; to DAFI scholarship to increase the access for young refugees to tertiary education and employment opportunities.

Vanno Noupech, UNHCR Representative in China, expressed appreciation for TECNO’s continued support. “UNHCR welcomes this renewed partnership,” he said. “Investing in tertiary education is an investment not just in the students – the leaders and role models for tomorrow – but in their communities. We hope more private sector partners like TECNO will join hands with UNHCR to address gaps in refugee education globally and spread the message of solidarity.”

Jack Guo, General Manager of TECNO said,  “As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility endeavours, TECNO keeps giving back to the communities where our business is present. With strengthened partnership with UNHCR in the DAFI programme, we continue to support more young refugees to access higher education, acquire knowledge, develop skills, and help them build a better life for themselves, make positive contributions to their communities, and work together for a brighter future for Africa.”

Launched in 1992, UNHCR’s Refugee Scholarship programme DAFI is the largest and longest running higher education refugee scholarship in the world. To date, DAFI has supported over 21,000 young refugee women and men to obtain a higher education qualification. The DAFI programme was implemented in 55 countries in 2021. Africa is DAFI’s largest programme region with 34 countries.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of TECNO Mobile.
 
For more information about the press release, please contact:
Transsion Holdings
Wen Wen, Corporate PR
wen.wen@transsion.com

UNHCR Representation in China
Chen Yao, Communication/Public Information Associate
cheny@unhcr.org

About the UNHCR:
UNHCR is the UN Refugee Agency, a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people. UNHCR leads international action to protect people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. It delivers life-saving assistance like shelter, food and water, helps safeguard fundamental human rights, and develops solutions that ensure people have a safe place to call home where they can build a better future. UNHCR also works to ensure that stateless people are granted a nationality. For over 70 years, the organization has helped tens of millions of people restart their lives in partnership with governments, non-governmental organizations, civil society and the private sector. In recognition of its work, UNHCR was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1954 and 1981. For more information, please visit: www.UNHCR.org

About TECNO:
TECNO is an innovative technology brand with operations in over 70 countries and regions across five continents. Since its launch, TECNO has been revolutionizing the digital experience in emerging global markets, relentlessly pushing for the perfect integration of contemporary, aesthetic design with the latest technologies. Today, TECNO has developed into a recognized leader in its target markets, delivering state-of-the-art innovation through a wide range of smartphones, smart wearables, laptops and tablets, HiOS operating systems and smart home products. Guided by its brand essence of “Stop At Nothing”, TECNO is committed to unlocking the best and newest technologies for forward-looking individuals. By creating stylish, intelligent products, TECNO inspires consumers worldwide to never stop pursuing their best selves and their best futures. For more information, please visit TECNO’s official site: www.TECNO-Mobile.com   

SOURCE
TECNO Mobile



Saturday, June 10, 2023

The Mobile Film Festival Africa unveils its 2023 in Rabat

Sunday Mapya from Tanzania, director of "I Have a Dream Too" and winner of the Grand Prize Africa

(Source: United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) 

PRESS RELEASE

The Mobile Film Festival Africa unveils its 2023 in Rabat

Guests were able to discover all the films in this year's official selection (54 films from 21 African countries)

Access Multimedia Content
https://uclga.africa-newsroom.com/press/media/the-mobile-film-festival-africa-unveils-its-2023-winners-in-rabat?lang=en

RABAT, Morocco, June 9, 2023/ -- The Mobile Film Festival Africa unveiled the winners of its 2023 edition at a prize ceremony held on Thursday June 8 at the Renaissance cinema in Rabat, an event part of the "Rabat, African Capital of Culture" program celebrations.


From left to right, Gad El Maleh, Jury President, Kamal Lougleb, director pf "The Guardian of the Walls" and winner of the Grand Prize Morocco, HEM Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, minister of Youth, Culture and Communication
(Source: United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) 

From left to right, Mr. Morris Mbolela, Deputy Secretary General of UCLG Africa, Bruno Smadja, Founder of the Mobile Film Festival Africa, Gad El Maleh, Comedian and Jury President, HEM Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, minister of Youth, Culture and Communication
(Source: United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa)

Guests were able to discover all the films in this year's official selection (54 films from 21 African countries), as well as the prizes awarded by a jury chaired by Gad Elmaleh and including Samia Akarriou, Sofia Alaoui, Françoise Ellong, Rafiki Fariala and Fibby Kioria.

For its second pan-African edition, organized in partnership with United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) and the Kingdom of Morocco's Ministry of Youth, Culture  and Communication, the Mobile Film Festival has set up production grants worth a total of $51,000. These grants will enable the winners to make a film with professional resources and support from the Mobile Film Festival. Here are the winners:

Grand Prize Africa ($ 10,000)- I Have a Dream Too by Sunday Mapya - Tanzania

Grand Prize Morocco ($ 10,000)- The Guardian of the Walls by Kamal Lougleb - Morocco

This prize is accompanied by a 10-day screenwriting training residency at ENS Louis-Lumière in Paris, offered by the Institut Français du Maroc.

French Speaking Film Award ($ 5,000)- The Peninsula Dream by Nelly Brun Elvire Behanzin - Benin

This prize, supported by TV5 Monde, is awarded to a film from a country member of the International Organization of Francophonie.

ACP - EU Culture Award (5 000 $)- PAASWAAAD (Password) by Shandra Daisy Apondi - Kenya

This prize is supported by the ACP-EU Culture program.

Best Script Award ($ 5,000)- uççş²Iا دq⁄ زي (Like a Matchstick) by Sami Iskander - Egypt

This prize is supported by Canal +.

African Female Director Award ($ 5,000)- Life in Pink by Vanessa Pellegrin - Morocco

Best Actress Award ($ 500)- Kenza Salahddine in Life in Pink - Morocco

Documentary Film Award ($ 5,000)

Blindness by Bongani Ndaba - South Africa

Best Film from the Democratic Republic of the Congo ($ 5,000)

Nature's Heroes by Gael Bolila - DRC

This prize is supported by Rawbank and illicocash.

Best Actor Award ($ 500)- Yakaru Talibé (A Beggar’s Dream) by Abdoul - Senegal

Best Actor Award ($ 500)

Famille Odiri/Udo in Human Migrant - Morocco

Enthusiasm for this second pan-African edition was evident right from the call for films, with a  huge turnout (886 films from 40 African countries received), and continued throughout the online festival phase, with media coverage across the continent and internationally.

International visibility will be also ensured throughout 2023, with screenings at film festivals, associations and cultural institutions, as well as the 600 cinema screens in 31 African countries showing films from the official selection.

To make them as accessible as possible, the films are offered with subtitles in French, English, Arabic, Portuguese and Spanish.

One of the specificities of the Mobile Film Festival is its 100% digital dimension. All the films are available on all our social networks (Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok).
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa).
 
Please, contact us for all interview requests with the directors, the festival organization and the jury members.

Press Contact:
Claudia Rodríguez Press Relations Africa
WhatsApp : +33 787 14 15 40
Téléphone : +33 140 09 89 65 Email : presse@mobilefilmfestival.com
WhatsApp for your questions: https://apo-opa.info/3N2L8ye

About the Mobile Film Festival:
The Mobile Film Festival is an international short film festival founded in 2005 based on a simple principle: 1 Mobile, 1 Minute, 1 Film. Our goal is to support, expose and mentor the upcoming talented filmmakers from all over the world, through grants and technical support to help the winners shoot a professional short film.

The Mobile Film Festival is also 100% digital, in order to reach the largest possible audience. Since 2015, the Mobile Film Festival has received 6414 films from 157 countries, 134 million views and awarded more than €360,000 in grants to the winners.

CGLU Afrique:
The umbrella organization of local and regional governments in Africa was founded in 2005 in the town  of  Tshwane, South Africa, following the unification of three continental groups local governments, namely the African Union of Local Authorities (AULA); the Union of African Cities (AVU); and the Africa chapter of the União das Cidades e Capitais Lusófonas (UCCLA). UCLG Africa (UCLGA.org) brings  together  51  national  associations  of local and regional governments from all regions of Africa, as well as 2,000 cities and territories of more than 100,000 inhabitants. UCLG Africa represents more than 350 million African citizens. A founding member of the world organization UCLG, it is the regional chapter for Africa. UCLG Africa's headquarters are based in Rabat, capital of the Kingdom of Morocco, where it enjoys diplomatic status as a Pan-African International Organization. UCLG Africa also has five regional offices across the continent: in Cairo, Egypt, for North Africa; in Accra, Ghana,  for Central Africa; in Libreville, Gabon, for Central Africa; in Nairobi, Kenya, for East Africa; and in Pretoria, South Africa, for Southern Africa.

Programme Capitale Africaine de la Culture:
The African Capitals of Culture program is supported by United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa). It aims to make culture the fourth pillar of the sustainable development of local authorities, to promote the definition and implementation of cultural policies at the territorial level, and to develop mutually beneficial partnerships between local authorities and actors and promoters of cultural activities, with a view to developing public and private ecosystems capable of making the most of culture to regenerate self-esteem and citizenship, develop decent jobs, particularly for young people and women, and contribute to the international influence of African and Afro-descendant culture.

UNESCO:
UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. UNESCO programs contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals defined in the 2030 Agenda and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015. Among many other activities, UNESCO supports the development of audiovisual production for and by young people and women in particular, especially on the African continent.

Programme ACP-EU Culture:
The ACP-EU Culture Programme is an initiative implemented by the Organisation of  African,  Caribbean  and  Pacific States (OEACP) with the financial support of the European Union (EU). This programme illustrates the   desire to stimulate the potential of the cultural and creative sector and its contribution to the socio-economic development of ACP countries. With a budget of € 40 million covering the period 2019-2026, the programme is focused on: (i) encouraging entrepreneurship and cultural and technological  innovation,  as  well  as  the participation of young people; (ii) creating new jobs and increasing the income of artists and cultural professionals;

(iii) improving the quality of ACP cultural productions; and (iv) enhancing the value of ACP cultural productions and artists on international markets. For more information, visit www.ACP-UE-Culture.EU and follow ACP-EU Culture via Twitter / Instagram / Facebook / LinkedIn.

France Médias Monde Groupe:
Watch and listen to the world. France Médias Monde, the group in charge of French international broadcasting, comprises the news channels France 24 (in French, English, Arabic and Spanish), the international radio station      RFI (in French and 16 other languages) and the Arabic-language radio station Monte  Carlo  Doualiya.  France Médias Monde broadcasts to the world in 21languages. Its journalists and correspondents offer viewers, listeners and Internet users comprehensive coverage of world events, with a focus on cultural diversity and contrasting viewpoints via news bulletins, reports, magazines and debates. 66 nationalities  are  represented  among  the  group’s employees. Every week, RFI, France 24 and Monte Carlo Doualiya attract 244,2million contacts (2021average). Those outlets have a combined 95million followers on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram  and rose to 2.2billion views and streams in 2021. France Médias Monde is the parent company of CFI, the French media cooperation agency and also a shareholder of the French-language general interest TV channel TV5monde.

LAFAAAC:
LAFAAAC is a mobile training app where you can find high quality courses on the jobs of creative and cultural industries (audiovisual, cinema, music, fashion, video games, etc.), accessible without internet, once downloaded. LAFAAAC is a new digital university!

TV5MONDE+:
TV5MONDE, the world's French-speaking channel, is delighted to be a partner of the Mobile film festival, which celebrates the creativity of the continent's young talents. Thanks to the ease offered by digital technology, mobile phones make it possible to tell beautiful stories whose main actors are the women and men of the continent. The TV5MONDE prize will be awarded to the best Francophone film. On our sites and on our social networks, ten of  the fifty films in competition will be proposed to you. Enjoy the festival!

RFI, une chaîne radio de France Médias Monde:
RFI (Radio France Internationale) is a French news and current affairs public radio station that  broadcasts  worldwide in French and in 16other languages*. RFI is broadcast on 152 different FM frequencies, via short wave relays, on 30 different satellite signals throughout the world and also on the internet and dedicated apps. RFI is  also broadcast across the globe via more than 1950 partner radios. It draws on the expertise of its Paris-based editorial teams and a unique global network of 400 correspondents to provide news bulletins and features offering listeners the means to better understand the world. Some 61.4million listeners around the world tune into RFI   every week, and its digital platforms attract an average of 21.2million visits a month (2021 average) while 29.4million followers stay connected via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. *Brazilian, Cambodian, Chinese, English, Fulfuldé, Haitian creole, Hausa, Mandinkan, Persian, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Swahili,Ukrainian, Vietnamese.

France24, une chaîne de télévision de France Médias Monde:
France 24, the international news channel, broadcasts 24/7 to 481.4million households around the  world  in  French, Arabic, English and Spanish. The four channels have a combined weekly  viewership  of  97.8million  viewers. France 24 gives a French perspective on global affairs through a network of 160 correspondent located    in nearly every country. It is available via cable, satellite, DTT,  ADSL, on mobile phones, tablets and connected   TVs, as well as on YouTube in four languages. Every month, France 24’s digital platforms attract 23.2million visits, 132.8million video views (2021 average) and 59.9million followers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

MCD, une chaîne radio de France Médias Monde:
Monte Carlo Doualiya is a French radio station that broadcasts in Arabic from Paris to the Middle East, Mauritania, Djibouti, and Sudan, on FM, via satellite and via partner radio stations. It provides news bulletins and magazines, with a strong focus on culture, live broadcasts, conviviality and interaction. Its editorial team and  worldwide network of correspondents provide coverage of world news to 10.4million listeners every week. Monte Carlo Doualiyais a radio station based on the values of universalism and freedom for listeners of all ages.The station is also accessible via its website, which is one of the most modern of all Arabic-language sites, and via its app and through a range of cable and satellite packages. MCD attract 1.9million visits to its digital platforms every month (2021 average) and 4.6million followers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Jawjab:
Jawjab is a creative studio, a production company and a place for creation of all sorts. This subsidiary of Ali n' Productions was founded by Nabil Ayouch in 2016, and has distinguished itself by the originality of its content, the diversity of its know-how and the values it holds. Through its platforms, the studio aims to promote the values of gender equality, inclusion and freedom of speech, and is committed to opening up  discussion  on  the  issues specific to Moroccan society, with humility and kindness. A desire that crystallized with the launch of JATWJABT     in 2022, the country's first feminist and inclusive media, which highlights topics related to women and minorities rights.Jawjab focuses its efforts on creating strong concepts, driven by the creativity and expertise of its teams, to birth unique productions that contribute to the development of the Moroccan audiovisual field. Jawjab was rewarded in 2019 with the Samir Kassir prize, awarded by the European Union for the best audiovisual production of the year.

HIT RADIO:
HIT RADIO S.A. is an independent Moroccan Media Group that started its activities with the launch in 2006 of a music radio for Moroccan youth. It was the first radio to broadcast news flashes in Darija the moroccan slangs, to expose the new Moroccan music scene and to launch a "Free Antenna" in Morocco. HIT RADIO is actively participating in the improvement of the national media landscape in a innovative and independent spirit.

With a positioning focused on music, entertainment and freedom of expression, HIT RADIO is listened nowadays by more than 3.4 million daily listeners in Morocco and more than 2 millions per month abroad through the digital audio streaming. Since 2012, the HIT RADIO concept was extended to 9 sub-Saharan countries: Central African Republic, Burkina Faso, Congo, Togo, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Burundi, Chad and Niger.

La Tribune: le média de la transformation et des territoires:
Faced with the acceleration of major digital, ecological and societal transitions, La Tribune is asserting itself in the French media landscape as "the newspaper of the changing world". As a reference media in the economy and finance sector, La Tribune relies on a heritage of 30 years of innovation and sectoral presence in all territories. As a local economic newspaper, its editorial expertise is based on a network of journalists in touch with  the  real economy in the regions and in the major cities.

In a world saturated with information, La Tribune's vocation is to provide a rich and useful expertise. Far from  being exhaustive in its treatment of current events, its editorial staff strives to decipher the subjects at the heart of its editorial line, subjects that are forward-looking and offer solutions in a cross-cutting theme such  as:  the  industry of the future, finance, technological revolutions, entrepreneurship, energy transitions, aeronautics, space and air transport, and the intelligent city in all its components (mobility, commerce, housing, etc.).

CANAL+:
CANAL+ Group is a leading media company and pay-TV operator. CANAL+ Group has a wide  international  footprint with a presence in Europe, Africa and Asia. CANAL+ Group totals 23.7 million subscribers worldwide, including 9 million in mainland France. With STUDIOCANAL, CANAL+ Group is also a European leader in the production, acquisition and distribution of feature films and TV series. It is also a leading player in free-to-air television with a pole of several channels, as well as an ads sales agency. CANAL+ Group is wholly-owned by worldwide integrated content, media and communication group, Vivendi.

SOURCE
United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa)


Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Speech By Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, President, African Development Bank Group: Inauguration Lecture for the New President of Nigeria

Africa: Speech Delivered by Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina - President, African Development Bank Group: Inauguration Lecture for the New President of Nigeria on 27 May 2023 at Abuja, Nigeria

PRESS RELEASE
Speech Delivered by Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina - President, African Development Bank Group: Inauguration Lecture for the New President of Nigeria on 27 May 2023 at Abuja, Nigeria
The African Development Bank was ranked last year by the Washington D.C.-based Center for Global Development as the “Best Multilateral Development Bank in the World”
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, May 30, 2023/ -- PROTOCOLS

Your Excellencies,

I wish to thank President Muhammadu Buhari for his personal invitation to me to attend the ceremonies for the swearing-in of the incoming President-elect, H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Congratulations Mr. President on Nigeria’s 7th consecutive democratic transition.

Congratulations to the incoming President and Vice President.

I wish to thank the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Chairman, and members of the Presidential Transition Council, for inviting me to speak at this inauguration lecture for the incoming President of Nigeria.

It is such a great honor, to share my views and perspectives, as the nation gets ready to have a passing of the baton between H.E. President Muhammadu Buhari, and the incoming-President, H.E. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

It is your turn!

I wish to congratulate you Mr. President for your stewardship of Nigeria for the past eight years. Thank you very much for all your strong support for me, as President of the African Development Bank Group.

Without your strong support for me in 2015, and then in 2020, I would not have been President of the African Development Bank. There is a saying that “anyone that is sent on an errand must come back and report to the one who sent him or her.” Mr. President, you sent me on an errand, and I am here to give you a report.

I am pleased to let you know that the African Development Bank was ranked this year by Publish What You Fund as the “Most Transparent Institution in the World.”

The African Development Bank was ranked last year by the Washington D.C.-based Center for Global Development as the “Best Multilateral Development Bank in the World”.

Dear Mr. President, as you leave, you can take pride that the mission for Africa is being well executed.

I wish to congratulate the incoming President, H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, who will take over the mantle of stewardship of Nigeria tomorrow.

I am delighted that my very dear friend and brother, President Uhuru Kenyatta, former President of Kenya was invited to deliver the inauguration lecture. He was a great leader for Kenya.

I am sure he must be wondering why there are two Kenyans on the same panel.

Well… I lived in Kenya for close to ten years.

I remember, one day when then President Goodluck Jonathan visited Kenya and I accompanied him as a minister, as the two Presidents were introducing members of their delegations, President Jonathan said, “Meet Dr. Adesina, Minister of Agriculture”, to which President Kenyatta responded, “Yes, Adesina is the Kenyan on loan to Nigeria as Minister.”

We all laughed!

Thank you, President Kenyatta, for your incredibly insightful and excellent speech.

Your Excellencies,

The election of a new President always elicits hope.

Nigeria will be looking to you, as President Tinubu, on your first day in office, with hope.

Hope that you will assure security, peace, and stability.

Hope that you will heal and unite a fractious nation.

Hope that you will rise above party lines and forge a compelling force to move the nation forward, with inclusiveness, fairness, equity, and justice.

Hope that you will drastically improve the economy.

Hope that you will spark a new wave of prosperity.

And hope must be brought to the present, as hope deferred makes the heart grow weary.

Your Excellencies,

The starting point must be macroeconomic and fiscal stability. Unless the economy is revived and fiscal challenges addressed boldly, resources to develop will not be there.

No bird can fly if its wings are tied.

Nigeria currently faces huge fiscal deficits, estimated at 6% of GDP. This has been due to huge federal and state government expenditures, lower receipts due to dwindling revenues from export of crude oil, vandalism of pipelines and illegal bunkering of crude oil.

According to Nigeria’s Debt Management Office, Nigeria now spends 96% of its revenue servicing debt, with the debt-to-revenue ratio rising from 83.2% in 2021 to 96.3% by 2022.

Some will argue that the debt to GDP ratio at 34% is still low compared to other countries in Africa, which is correct; but no one pays their debt using GDP.

Debt is paid using revenue, and Nigeria’s revenues have been declining.

Nigeria earns revenue now to service debt—not to grow.

The place to start is to remove the inefficient fuel subsidies.

Nigeria’s fuel subsidies benefit the rich, not the poor, fueling their and government’s endless fleets of cars at the expense of the poor. Estimates show that the poorest 40% of the population consume just 3% of petrol.

Fuel subsidies are killing the Nigerian economy, costing Nigeria $10 billion alone in 2022. That means Nigeria is borrowing what it does not have to if it simply eliminates the subsidies and uses the resources well for its national development.

Rather, support should be given to private sector refineries and modular refineries to allow for efficiency and competitiveness to drive down fuel pump prices. The newly commissioned Dangote Refinery by President Buhari—the largest single train petroleum refinery in the world, as well as its Petrochemical Complex—will revolutionize Nigeria’s economy.

Congratulations to Aliko Dangote for his amazing $19 billion investment!

Your Excellencies,

There is an urgent need to look at the cost of governance.

The cost of governance in Nigeria is way too high and should be drastically reduced to free up more resources for development. Nigeria is spending very little on development.

Today, Nigeria is ranked among countries with the lowest human development index in the world, with a rank of 167 among 174 countries globally, according to the World Bank 2022 Public Expenditure Review report.

To meet Nigeria’s massive infrastructure needs, according to the report, will require $3 trillion by 2050. According to the report, at the current rate, it would take Nigeria 300 years to provide its minimum level of infrastructure needed for development.

All living Nigerians today, and many generations to come, will be long gone by then!

We must change this. Nigeria must rely more on the private sector for infrastructure development, to reduce fiscal burdens on the government.

Your Excellencies,

Much can be done to raise tax revenue, as the tax-to-GDP ratio is still low.

This must include improving tax collection, tax administration, moving from tax exemption to tax redemption, ensuring that multinational companies pay appropriate royalties and taxes, and that leakages in tax collection are closed.

However, simply raising taxes is not enough, as many question the value of paying taxes, hence the high level of tax avoidance. Many citizens provide their own electricity, sink boreholes to get access to water, and repair roads in their towns and neighborhoods.

These are essentially high implicit taxes.

Nigerians therefore pay the highest ‘implicit tax rates’ in the world.

Governments need to assure effective social contracts by delivering quality public services. It is not the amount collected, it is how it is spent, and what is delivered. Nations that grow better run effective governments that assure social contracts with their citizens.

Your Excellencies,

We must rebalance the structure and performance of the economy.

A very common refrain in Nigeria, with every successive government, is “We need to diversify the economy.”

But is it so?

The economy of Nigeria is one of the most diversified in Africa, with the oil sector accounting for only 15% of the GDP, and 85% is in the other sectors.

Nigeria’s challenge is not diversification. Nigeria’s challenge is revenue concentration.

This is because the oil sector accounts for 75.4% of export revenue and 50% of all government revenue.

The solution, therefore, is to unlock the bottlenecks that are hampering 85% of the economy. These include low productivity, very poor infrastructure and logistics, epileptic power supply, and inadequate access to finance for small and medium-size enterprises.

Nigeria must also shift away from import substitution approach to export-focused industrialization. Nations do not thrive through import substitution; they thrive from export-bound industrialization.

Your Excellencies,

For faster growth, Nigeria must decisively fix the issue of power, once and for all.

There is no justification for Nigeria not having enough power.

The abnormal has become normal.

Nigeria’s private sector is hampered by the high cost of power. Providing electricity will make Nigerian industries more competitive.

And it is not brain surgery.

Take two examples: Kenya and Egypt.

With the support of the African Development Bank, Kenya, under President Kenyatta, was able to expand electricity access from 32% in 2013 to 75% in 2022. What an incredible achievement within 10 years!

Today, 86% of Kenya’s economy is powered by renewable energy. And in one project—the Last Mile Connectivity Project—the Bank’s support allowed Kenya to connect over 2.3 million poor households to electricity—that is over 12 million people provided with affordable connection to grid power.

In 2014, Egypt had electricity deficit of 6,000 megawatts, but by 2022 it had 20,000 megawatts of surplus power generation capacity. Amazing!

I commend the Government of Nigeria on the recent commissioning of the several power projects. But there is still much to do.

Nigeria should invest massively in renewable energy, especially solar. The African Development Bank is implementing a $25 billion Desert-to-Power program to provide electricity for 250 million people across the Sahel, including the northern parts of Nigeria.

Your Excellencies,

For inclusive development, Nigeria must completely revive its rural areas.

Nigeria’s rural areas are forgotten and have become zones of economic misery.

To revive and transform these rural economies, we must make agriculture their main source of income, a business and a wealth creating sector. To be clear, agriculture is not a development sector. Agriculture is a business.

The development of Special Agro-industrial Processing Zones will transform agriculture, add value for agricultural value chains and attract private sector food and agribusinesses into rural areas.

Special agro-industrial processing zones will help turn rural areas into new zones of economic prosperity and create millions of jobs.

The African Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development are currently supporting the implementation of a $518-million Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones’ program in 7 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

We are ready to help expand this to every state in the country. We are equally ready to help revamp agricultural lending institutions to help modernize the food and agriculture sector.

Your Excellencies,

The best asset of Nigeria is not its natural resources; Nigeria’s best asset is its human capital. We must invest heavily in human capital to build up the skills Nigeria needs to be globally competitive, in a rapidly digitized global economy.

We must build world class educational institutions, and accelerate skills development in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, as well as in ICT and computer coding, which will shape the jobs of the future.

Your Excellencies,

There is an urgent need to unleash the potential of the youth. Today, over 75% of the population in Nigeria is under the age of 35. This presents a demographic advantage. But it must be turned into an economic advantage.

Nigeria must create youth-based wealth.

We must move away from the so-called “youth empowerment programs”. Youths do not need handouts. They need investments. The current banking systems do not and will not lend to the youth. Special funds, while palliative in approach, are not systemic and are also not sustainable.

What’s needed to unleash the entrepreneurship of the youth in Nigeria are brand new financial ecosystems that understand, value, promote and provide financial instruments and platforms for nurturing business ventures of the youth at scale.

The African Development Bank and partners including Agence Francaise de Developpement and the Islamic Development Bank launched the $618 million I-DICE program to develop digital and creative enterprises. They will create 6 million jobs and add $6.3 billion to Nigeria’s economy.

Your Excellencies,

The African Development Bank is currently working with Central Banks and countries to design and support the establishment of Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Banks. These will be new financial institutions, run by young, professional, and highly competent experts and bankers, to develop and deploy new financial products and services for businesses and ventures of young people.

Several African countries plan to establish Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Banks.

Nigeria should establish the Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank.

Your Excellency, Mr. President-elect,

Nigeria’s economy needs to soar!

You have an opportunity to make history.

History by building a resurgent Nigeria.

A united and prosperous Nigeria.

It is Nigeria’s turn!

I wish you all the best for success.

May God bless—and help you.

And may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

SOURCE
African Development Bank Group (AfDB)



Sunday, May 28, 2023

VIDEO: FOR THE RECORD: FAREWELL SPEECH BY MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA




FOR THE RECORD: FAREWELL SPEECH BY MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA


My fellow Nigerian brothers, sisters and friends of Nigeria.

2. I address you today, in my last assignment as a democratically elected President of our great and well-endowed nation, with a deep sense of gratitude to God, a great deal of appreciation to the Nigerian people and a modest sense of fulfilment.

3. Today we mark and celebrate another peaceful transition of power from one elected government to another in our steady march to improve and sustain Nigeria’s democracy.

4. This year we witnessed the most keenly contested Presidential Elections since the first Republic and this demonstrates that our democracy is getting better and more entrenched with each election.

5. We must as a nation improve and sustain gains we make in the electoral process, on an incremental basis for Nigeria to take its rightful place among Nations.

6. Our democracy provides for, allows and encourages seeking redress for perceived injustices, enabling some candidates and political parties that did not agree with the results to go to court.

7. Irrespective of the outcome of the various cases, I urge all parties involved to accept the decision of our courts and join hands to build a better Nigeria.

8. I salute the doggedness and resilience of all the Presidential Candidates and their political parties for believing in our judicial system by taking their grievances with the election results to court.

9. In the course of the campaigns, we had argued and disagreed on how to make Nigeria better but we never disagreed or had any doubts that Nigeria has to be better.

10. As your President, I call on all of us to bring to bear the strength of our individualism, the power of our unity, the convictions of our beliefs to make Nigeria work better and together with one spirit and one purpose.

11. To my brother, friend and fellow worker in the political terrain for the past ten years - Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu -, I congratulate you on the realisation of your dream, which was propelled by a burning passion to put Nigeria amongst the leading nations of the world.

12. You have indeed worked for this day and God has crowned your efforts. I have no doubt that your passion for excellence, reliance on competence, fairness in relationships, commitment to equity, loyalty to the country and desire for Nigeria to be globally relevant would come through for you, under God’s guidance, as you lead our country to levels higher that I am leaving.

13. You are the best candidate among all the contestants and Nigerians have chosen well.

14. The last eight years have been an exciting experience in my desire and commitment to see a Nigeria in which public goods and services are available, and accessible within a united, peaceful and secure nation.

15. Fellow Nigerians, on the strength of your overwhelming support for me and my political party, I started this journey with a great deal of promise and expectation from you. I never intended to be just politically correct but to do the correct things that will make meaningful impact on the lives of the common Nigerian.

16. This high expectation was not misplaced because, like the ordinary Nigerian, I had grown tired of watching the country progressively moving away from the path of correctness.

17. To ensure that our democracy remains resilient and our elected representatives remain accountable to the people, I am leaving behind an electoral process which guarantees that votes count, results are credible, elections are fair and transparent and the influence of money in politics reduced to the barest minimum. And Nigerians can elect leaders of their choice.

18. We are already seeing the outcome of this process as it provided an even playing field where persons without any political God-Father or access to money defeated other well-resourced candidates.

19. The Nigerian economy has become more resilient due to the various strategies put in place to ensure that our economy remained afloat during cases of global economic downturns.

20. You would all recall the supply chain disruptions and economic downturn that the world witnessed between 2020 and 2022 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The deftness of our response to the pandemic still remains a global best practice.

21. Furthermore, we increased the ability of the poor and rural Nigerians to earn a living, provided more food for millions in our villages and gave our women opportunities to earn a living.

22. Young men and women in urban centres were also supported to put their skills into productive use. Our administration also provided an enabling environment for the private sector to engage in businesses for which their return on investments is guaranteed.

23. The private sector proved a strong partner in our drive to build a resilient and sustainable economy as evidenced by the growing number of turn-key projects in various sectors of the economy.

24. In the course of revamping the economy, we made some difficult choices, most of which yielded the desired results. Some of the measures led to temporary pain and suffering for which I sincerely apologised to my fellow countrymen, but the measures were taken for the over-all good of the country.

25. Mindful of the need to ensure adequate infrastructure to drive economic growth, we completed age-long projects and processes notably amongst which are the Petroleum Industry Act, completion of some power projects, completion of the second Niger bridge and various important roads linking cities and states.

26. Our battle to ensure that all Nigerians live in a safe and secure environment has achieved considerable results. As I complete my term in office, we have been able to reduce the incidences of banditry, terrorism, armed robbery and other criminal activities considerably.

27. To sustain the gains made so far, I call on all Nigerians to be more vigilant and support the security agencies by ensuring that our values defined by being your brothers’ keeper govern our actions.

28. Up-till now, I still grieve for our children still in captivity, mourn with parents, friends and relatives of all those that lost loved ones in the days of the senseless brigandage and carnage. For all those under unlawful captivity our Security Agencies are working round the clock to secure their release unharmed.

29. Fellow Nigerians, you know how dear the desire in my heart is, to rid the country of corrupt practices that had consistently diminished our efforts to be a great country.

30. I did pursue this commitment relentlessly, in spite of the expected push back. I am happy that considerable progress had been made in repatriating huge sums of money back to the country and also taken over properties illegally acquired from our common wealth.

31. To improve service delivery, we began the implementation of a number of reforms aimed at producing an Efficient, Productive, Incorruptible and Citizen-oriented (EPIC) Federal Civil Service and the results are beginning to show.

32. On the international scene, Nigeria’s influence continues to grow as exemplified by notable Nigerians occupying headship and leadership positions in renowned global bodies.

33. Our democracy is built on and continues to thrive on the principles of separation of powers. The leadership and members of the National Assembly deserve my appreciation for their patriotism which did not detract from their roles as a check to the executive arm.

34. I also want to use this opportunity to express my appreciation to a good number of Nigerians who provided their support and encouragement to help me navigate the exciting journey in moving Nigeria forward.

35. I cannot and will not forget the millions who prayed for me during my illness in my first term of office. I am constantly praying for you and for Nigeria to thrive in peace.

36. As I retire home to Daura, Katsina State, I feel fulfilled that we have started the Nigeria Re-Birth by taking the initial critical steps and I am convinced the in-coming administration will quicken the pace of this walk to see a Nigeria that fulfils its destiny to be a great nation.

37. I am confident that I am leaving office with Nigeria better in 2023 than in 2015.

38. I thank you all. And may God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

My Testimony on the 2015 Presidential Election, published by Lulu and Amazon.



Wednesday, April 26, 2023

You Engage, You Win - Applications, Engagement Strategies and Business Services

PRESS RELEASE

You Engage, You Win - Applications, Engagement Strategies and Business Services

The technology used by Grywit has an opinion of innovation on international scale and can be used as an employer branding and recruitment tool

GDANSK, Poland, April 26, 2023/ -- We have a solution, for increasing the motivation and commitment of your employees. As Grywit (www.Grywit.pl), we create mobile applications that, based on gamification and positive psychology, become an ideal tool to support businesses.

A word of introduction - about Grywit

Grywit has been dynamically developing on the Polish market for years, offering strategy building services and creating web applications and platforms that increase engagement and achieve goals with the help of new technologies. Our offer also includes comprehensive training and development, loyalty and sales programs.

We have also started to develop our business in Africa and would like to expand our activities there. Through GITEX Africa 2023, we would especially like to attract new partners who would like to join our projects, support them and help us promote them on a larger scale. We are also looking for new customers, and hope to gain them through participation in GITEX. GRYWIT's offer is very rich, so we think we can contribute a lot to the whole event.

The technology used by Grywit has an opinion of innovation on international scale and can be used as an employer branding and recruitment tool.

We know the challenges you can face, because we were "in your shoes" for a dozen of years. Our CEO has tested the solutions we propose as a manager and director at General Electric Company. She was tring to solve challenges with employees / clients using traditional methods. However, they were not effective enough, so she decided to create a new way to change the behavior of employees and customers. The method she developed proved to be so effective that she resigned from the position of managing director at General Electric in order to found Grywit and be able to improve other companies.

What is gamification?

Gamification [1] - using schemes and mechanisms known from games outside the context of games, especially in various group activities, to increase the involvement of people performing specific tasks. The technique is based on the pleasure that comes from overcoming subsequent achievable challenges, competition, cooperation etc.

Gamification allows people to engage in activities that are in line with the author's expectations, even if they are considered boring or routine. Gamification is most often used to achieve one of three goals:

achieving a higher level of user involvement,

changes in user behavior (e.g. new habits),

stimulating innovation

In our solutions, we combine gamification with instant feedback ('here and now' feedback), mutual appreciation, social engagement loops, interactive communication and a sense of influence. This is the result of research carried out in companies that show that combining all these aspects in one application gives the best results.

We have an opinion in innovation on an international scale.

"The implementation of Grywit technology is innovative on an international scale, which should be launched as soon as possible to revolutionize today's services (...) to bring about innovation, efficiency or commitment.”

What are our areas of cooperation?

Employee motivation programs and loyalty for customers

Wellbeing and pro-ecological programs for employees

Applications for events, conferences and anniversaries

Apps for training and competence building

Learn more about Grywit: www.Grywit.pl 

We are also starting a project called "Justmotive".

Justmotive is a platform whose main tool is a mobile application. We give the opportunity to our clients to create their own dedicated application that will help them develop their business in the online space.

At the moment, we are in the process of expanding our platform. In addition to the part that brings together experts who can run their courses and trainings in the online space through our app and increase engagement with their audience, we also have six other parts of the Justmotive platform. These are: Justmotive Experts, Justmotive Fashion, Justmotive Artists, Justmotive Sport, Justmotive MLM, Justmotive Connect and Justmotive Edu.

1] Source: https://apo-opa.info/43YS4V7 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Grywit.

GRYWIT Anna Jankowiak
Ul. Sopocka 7
80-299 Gdańsk, Poland
Tel.: 602-775-961
anna.jankowiak@grywit.pl

SOURCE
Grywit



Tuesday, April 25, 2023

NTA Can Launch Cable TV Network within 12 Months

The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) can launch a cable TV network within 12 months to compete with MultiChoice of South Africa and StarTimes of China.

Majority of Nigerians cannot afford the increasing subscriptions to the cable TV networks in Africa's most populous country of over 220 million people.

The solution is having a Nigerian owned cable TV network with subscriptions affordable to majority of people in Nigeria.


NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series

The first and the best book series on Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry published since 2013.





Sunday, April 16, 2023

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR : The Celebration of The Legacy of Peace Anyiam-Osigwe in Nollywood and African Cinema


The name of Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, MFR; will be written in gold in the history of Nollywood and African Cinema. 
I made the 2013 edition of the annual Africa Movie Academy Awards, (AMAA) the cover story of the first edition of the NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series to celebrate the unprecedented legacy of her visionary leadership in Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry. 
 
The first edition of the NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series documented the phenomenal first indie film industry in Africa producing thousands of home videos telling stories of Nigerians from the past to the present that caught the attention of the rest of the world to say WOW! African magic! That made Ivorian rebels in the bush to stop fighting during their civil war when a shipment of Nollywood DVDs arrived from Lagos. That Zambian mothers said their children were now talking with accents copied from Nollywood movies. That when a President of Sierra Leone asked Genevieve Nnaji to join him on the campaign trail he attracted record crowds at rallies, because of her. 
Yes, Nollywood is our African magic that hooked the world. 



The maiden edition of NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® SERIES is a celebration of the best of Nollywood with a full coverage of AMAA of 2013 with the theme, AFRICA ONE that epitomized the pan African Spirit of African Cinema. 

The following feature on the 20 years of the naming of "Nollywood" is dedicated to the legacy of Peace Anyiam-Osigwe. It will be published in the third edition of the NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series celebrating 40 Nigerian female filmmakers in Nigeria and the Diaspora.

20 Years Since The New York Times Named #Nollywood

Norimitsu Onishi was the Chief of The New York Times’s southern Africa bureau, based in Johannesburg when he discovered the phenomenon of the first indie film industry in Africa in 2002 in the hustle and bustle of Lagos city, the heart and soul of the guerilla filmmakers of Nigeria.

How The Times Named ‘Nollywoodin 2002

"It’s like Hollywood or Bollywood but in Nigeria — Nollywood!I told my editor."
Norimitsu Onishi.

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/11/insider/how-the-times-named-nollywood.html

The name of Nollywood has become the identity of the Nigerian film industry even though the making of the genre started in the 1980s which I have chronicled in my widely read and shared article, 

The Nollywood Phenomenon: From Analog to Digital - SHADOW & ACT
https://shadowandact.com/the-nollywood-phenomenon-from-analog-to-digital-2

The article shows the evolution of Nollywood over the years and how the digital cinema revolution has made a critical impact in the advancement of Nollywood since 2002.

It is now 30 years since the production of the first Nollywood blockbuster, "Living in Bondage" by Chris Obi Rapu in 1992 written and produced by Kenneth Nnebue and Okechukwu Ogunjiofor. And as we say in Lagos, many waters have passed under the Eko Bridge from 1992 to 2022.

Traditional filmmakers of the old school of filmmaking on celluloid still say Nollywood is video and not cinema. But top people in the global film industry said: Every region has unique stories to tell. And we should encourage them to tell their stories first and not be hindered by the technical requirements for professional film production. That the first thing is to supply on demand, because it was the overwhelming quantity of Nollywood home videos in the 1990s that attracted the rest of the world before the improvements in the quality. 

There have been significant improvements in the quality of the movies as Nollywood filmmakers have been adapting to current developments in filmmaking by using the same digital cinema cameras used by their counterparts in Bollywood and Hollywood following international standards in film and TV productions.

The improvement in the quality of the content has attracted the leading International acquisition and distribution companies, major studios and OTT video streaming services from America and Europe. Netflix, Disney and Amazon are now demanding for the best content in Nollywood and well produced movies have been acquired. 


There have been international productions of Nigerian movies featuring top Hollywood actors such as "The Amazing Grace" of 2006 directed by Jeta Amata, written by Jeta Amata and Nick Moran and produced by Jeta Amata and Alicia Arce with top roles by Joke Silva, Nick Moran and Scott Cleverdon; "Black November" directed by Jeta Amata in 2012, starring Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Mickey Rourke, Kim Basinger, Fred Amata, Sarah Wayne Callies, Nse Ikpe Etim, OC Ukeje, Vivica Fox, Anne Heche, Persia White, Akon, Wyclef Jean and Mbong Amata; "30 Days in Atlanta" directed by Robert O' Peters and produced by AY Makun in 2014 starring Starring AY Makun, Ramsey Nouah, Richard Mofe Damijo (RMD), Desmond Elliot, Vivica A. Fox, Lynn Whitfield, Karlie Redd, Majid Michel, Omoni Oboli, Racheal Oniga, Yemi Blaq and Juliet Ibrahim; "A Trip To Jamaica" directed by Robert O' Peters and produced by AY Makun in 2016 starring AY Makun,Funke Akindele, Nse Ikpe Etim, Dan Davies, Eric Roberts and others; "Esohe" directed by Charles Uwagbai and Robert O' Peters in 2018 starring Jimmy Jean Louis, Misty Lockheart, Desmond Elliot, Chris Attoh, Bimbo Manuel, Ufuoma McDermott, Toyin Aimakhu, Jemima Osunde and Monica Omorodion Swaida; "A Soldier's Story 2" of 2020 directed by Frankie Ogar and produced by Martin Gbados, starring  Eric Roberts, John J Vogel Jr, Alex Usifo, Akin Lewis, Segun Arinze, Linda Ejiofor, Somkele Idhalama, Michelle Dede, Daniel K. Daniel, Tope Tedela, Baaj Adebule, Samabasa Nzeribe and others; "Christmas in Miami" of 2021 directed by Robert O'Peters and produced by AY Makun starring Ayo Makun, Osita Iheme, Richard Mofe-Damijo, IK Ogbonna, Kent Morita, Raquel Lamanna, Manoj Chandra, Malcolm Burtchett, Nadya Marie, Tanya Price, Barry Piacente and Catherine Olsen and Adah Obekpa's "The American King" of 2021 starring Enyinna Nwigwe, Nse Ikpe-Etim, Andrew Howard and Nick Moran who has been playing prominent roles in the international productions of Nollywood movies since the 2000s to date. 
"The American King" directed and produced by Dr. Adah Obekpa, a Nigerian medical doctor in America. The romantic comedy featured famous African American singer, Akon with top Hollywood and Nollywood stars.

It is importan we document the new developments in Nollywood since 2002 to date for film history and film studies. That is why I working on a documentary film on "Nollywood Rising: The New Generation".

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
Publisher/Editor,
NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series,
The first book series on Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry published since 2013.
https://www.amazon.com/author/ekenyerengozimichaelchima
Special hardcover editions are available for purchase from Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.

 

#Peace #Peaceanyiamosigwe #Nollywood #Nigeria #Africa #movies #cinema #TV #series #filmmaking #filmmaker #legacy #film #building 
































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