LG Text Ed Video Featuring Actress Jane Lynch Aims To Curb Texting While Driving

LG Mobile Phones revs up parents with final LG Text Ed video, promoting safe mobile phone use behind the wheel




SAN DIEGO, December 23, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — With recent studies citing that mobile distractions such as texting can be even more dangerous than drinking and driving, parents are looking for answers on how to best educate and promote responsible mobile phone use to their teens. As part of her role in the LG Text Ed campaign, an educational program aimed at parents, Jane Lynch shot a series of entertaining and educational viral videos for LG Mobile Phones about mobile phone misuse. With the goal of educating parents about the importance of talking to their kids about responsible mobile phone use, the LG Text Ed video series addresses issues such as “sexting,” mobile harassment and text etiquette, while helping parents learn how to use mobile phones to communicate better with their kids. In the series finale, Jane drives right to the point and addressees the potentially damaging consequences of texting while driving.

In an eye-opening study conducted by LG Mobile Phonesi, 70 percent of teens accuse their parents of texting while driving, while only 44 percent of parents actually admitted to the behavior. In a similar study conducted by the Pew Research Center, presented during the Federal Communication Commission’s recent Generation Mobile Forum, 40 percent of teens said they’ve been in a car when the driver used a cell phone in a way that put themselves or others in danger. In the texting while driving video, Lynch confronts a classroom of parents about their own texting and driving bad habits and urges parents to model good behavior for their children. Using humor to get to the heart of the issue, Lynch helps parents help themselves by putting the phone away in the car and encouraging their kids to do the same.



“With 45 percent of teens admitting to texting and driving, it’s more important than ever that we provide parents with the tools to educate and promote safe and responsible driving habits,” said Tim O’Brien, vice president of consumer and trade marketing. “Through LGTextEd.com, parents have a centralized resource they can use to help keep their children safe when it comes to mobile phone use.”

Through the LG Text Ed Web site, www.lgtexted.com, parents can educate themselves about the dangers of texting while driving as well as learn strategies to use to help protect their children. Parents can also view the full Jane Lynch series including the newest Texting While Driving video on the Web site. LG also encourages parents to visit the LG Text Ed Facebook page, www.facebook.com/LGTextEd, where users can talk to one another, post questions and check up on Lynch’s latest classroom lessons.

LG Text Ed with Jane Lynch
Bringing her trademark intensity and flair to the LG Text Ed campaign, award-winning actress Jane Lynch is working with LG Mobile Phones to raise awareness about risky mobile phone behavior. In a series of comedic vignettes, which can be viewed on www.LGTextEd.com, Lynch tackles issues such as sexting, texting while driving, mobile bullying, and other questionable teen behaviors. At the end of each video, Lynch directs parents to LGTextEd.com where they can find professional advice and guidance to help promote safe and responsible mobile usage among their text- and tech-savvy families. Lynch, a new mom herself, masterfully employs her artistic abilities and the result is a video series that is both humorous and thought-provoking.

LG Text Ed
The LG Text Ed program, which was launched in early 2010, offers parents a number of articles, tips, videos and other content so they can educate themselves on the dangers of mobile phone misuse, employ strategies to help protect their children from potential problems, and discover how they might be modeling their children’s mobile phone behavior. Parents can find additional information on the LG Text Ed initiative and mobile phone misuse by visiting www.lgtexted.com.

About LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company
The LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company is a leading global mobile communications and information company. With its cutting-edge technology and innovative design capabilities, LG creates handsets that provide an optimized mobile experience to customers around the world. LG is pursuing convergence technology and mobile computing products, while continuing its leadership role in mobile communication with stylish designs and smart technology. For more information, please visit www.lgmobilephones.com.

About LG Electronics, Inc.
LG Electronics, Inc. is a global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, mobile communications and home appliances, employing more than 80,000 people working in over 115 operations around the world. With 2009 global sales of $43.4 billion, LG comprises four business units – Home Entertainment, Mobile Communications, Home Appliance, and Air Conditioning/Energy Solutions. LG is one of the world’s leading producers of flat panel TVs, audio and video products, mobile handsets, air conditioners and washing machines. For more information, please visit www.lg.com.


Media Contacts:
Demetra Kavadeles
LG MobileComm U.S.A., Inc.
(707) 328-5307
demetra.kavadeles@lge.com
Analisa Schelle
LG-One
(510) 292-5410
analisa.schelle@lg-one.com



i The LG Text Ed Survey, conducted by TRU Research and sponsored by LG Mobile Phones, is a national snapshot of texting behaviors among 13 to 17 year olds and parents of 13 to 17 year olds. The study was conducted online within the United States among 1,017 teens and 1,049 parents of teens.

ECOWAS Give a Final Warning to Mr. Laurent Gbabgo

Laurent Gbagbo

26 Dec 2010 15:30 Africa/Lagos



Cote d'Ivoire / ECOWAS give a final warning to Mr. Laurent Gbabgo

ABUJA, December 26, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Following a press statement isssued by ECOWAS on 20th December, 2010 which urges Mr. Laurent Gbagbo, the former President of Cote D'Ivoire to hand over power to Mr. Allassan Outarra, a request which Mr. Gbagbo has refused to adhere to caused ECOWAS Heads of State and Government to convene an extra-ordinary meeting in Abuja, Nigeria to find ways by which Mr. Gbagbo can be forced out of office.


11 Heads of State assembled in Abuja on Friday on the invitation of the Chairman of ECOWAS, H.E Goodluck Egbele Jonathan and the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Victor Gbeho to give a final warning to Mr. Laurent Gbabgo with the firm position that if Mr. Gbagbo continues to hold on to power illegally, ECOWAS will have no choice but to remove him forcefully, in an effort to allow the winner of the elections Mr.Allassan Outarra to assume office.


Sierra Leone's delegation to the Abuja extra-ordinary meeting on Cote D'Ivoire was led by President Ernest Bai Koroma and was accompanied by the Foreign Minister, Mr. J.B Dauda and the Information and Communication Minister, I.B Kargbo.


The Christmas eve meeting on Cote D'Ivoire was treated by the Heads of State seriously, because according to the Chairman Mr. Goodluck Jonathan, the international community expects ECOWAS to provide leadership in resolving the political impasse in Cote D'Ivoire.


The ECOWAS Heads of State believe that it is unacceptable for a country within the sub region to be ruled by two Presidents and two Prime Ministers.The same ECOWAS Authority also believes that Mr. Laaurent Gbagbo lost the elections and should therefore allow Mr. Allassan Outarra to take over power.


the United Nations Secuirty Council earlier in a Press Statement of 20th December, 2010 condemned in the strongest possible terms President Laurent Gbagbo's attempt to usurp the will of the people and undermine the integrity of the electoral process and any progress in the peace process in Cote D'Ivoire.


The Chairman of the African Union on 6th December, 2010 circulated a Press Release from the African Union to support the United Nations by suspending the participation of Cote D'Ivoire from all African Union activities untill the democratically elected President, Allassan Outarra effectively assume State Power.


Although Mr. Laurent Gbagbo still attempts to perform Presidential duties by usurping the State radio and television, bribing the military to support him and import mercenaries into Cote D'Ivoire to help him stay in office, the international community including ECOWAS believes that he should not continue to stay in office which lead to the imposition of sanctions and travel ban on him and his close allies.


The Heads of State of ECOWAS at their meeting in Abuja on Friday said that Mr. Gbagbo be given one final chance to make up his mind to vacate office.


In the spirit of brotherliness in Africa, three Presidents have been nominated by their colleagues to confront Mr. Gbagbo in Abidjan to encourage him to leave office without delay. The three Presidents can fly back with Mr. Gbagbo, as all ECOWAS countries are prepared to grant him assylum.


Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma who played a pivotal role in the discussions supports the ECOWAS,United Nations and Europpean Union positions that Mr. Laurent Gbagbo should hand over power to the man who actually won the elections, Mr. Allassan Outarra.



Source: Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

We Thank the Almighty God for our Victory!

Join me to thank the Almighty God JEHOVAH for seeing us through victoriously from the beginning of 2010 to rejoice with us as we celebrate another merry Christmas and prosperous New Year!


My new news and information portal 24/7 Nigeria launched only five months ago has become so popular that it has attracted both desperate spammers and hackers and ruthlessly hacked thrice and now being revamped after the last HACK-ATTACK.

May the good Lord and God of mercy forgive them, but may they repent and turn a new leaf of positive change in the coming year.

Cheers and God bless you all.


Faithfully,
Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima
The Publisher/CEO
International Digital Post Network (IDPN) Limited
The largest Nigerian Online News and Information Media Network

Côte d'Ivoire / Human Rights Council debates situation of Human Rights in Côte d'Ivoire

Breaking News: Invasion Threat As 14000 Flee Ivory Coast...





24 Dec 2010 03:41 Africa/Lagos


Côte d'Ivoire / Human Rights Council debates situation of Human Rights in Côte d'Ivoire

NEW YORK, December 23, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The Human Rights Council this morning opened a Special Session on “The situation of human rights in Côte d'Ivoire since the elections on 28 November 2010”.


Kyung-wha Kang, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, speaking on behalf of High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, reiterated the deep concerns of the High Commissioner, regarding the violations of human rights in Côte d'Ivoire. United Nations human rights officers were deployed across the country and were doing their utmost to monitor the situation and provide protection where they could. It had been impossible to investigate all the allegations of serious human rights violations, including reports of mass graves, due to restriction of movement of United Nations personnel. The current restrictions imposed by security forces and youth groups loyal to Mr. Gbagbo, which had hindered the capacity of the United Nations to deliver much-needed services and humanitarian assistance, must be lifted immediately. The Security Council had urged all Ivorian parties to respect the will of the people and the outcome of the election. The human rights violations must cease and the United Nations must be granted unfettered access to the population and perpetrators must be held accountable.


Member States of the Council and Observer States then took the floor. Most expressed their deep concerns about the human rights situation in Côte d'Ivoire, in relation to the results of the 2010 presidential elections, and the violence which had led to loss of lives and property. It was imperative for the Human Rights Council to pronounce itself on the situation in the country and address the issue. The Council could not remain silent when there was growing evidence of massive violations of human rights. States underlined the importance for the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire to implement its protection mandate. States also expressed support for the action of the United Nations and the efforts of the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States in Côte d'Ivoire.


Speakers further called for an immediate end to violence and expressed concerns at the alarming reports of press harassment, arbitrary arrests and detentions, formation of armed militia groups and extrajudicial killings. Former President Gbagbo's persisting intransigence to the will of the Ivorian electorate threatened to cast the country back into conflict. The presidential elections had been deemed fair and their results must be accepted by all Ivorian parties. It was imperative to uphold the integrity of the electoral process and to restore democracy immediately. The renewing of the mandate of the United Nations' mission in Côte d'Ivoire was indispensable for enabling the United Nations and the international community at large to continue supporting the peace process and monitoring the increasingly alarming human rights situation

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24 Dec 2010
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21:12	ContourGlobal Enters Joint Development Agreement With Guascor Solar and Places First 6 MW Solar Facility Into Operation
04:01	Northern Nigeria: Background to Conflict

A Short List of Money-Minded Resolutions for 2011

23 Dec 2010 00:02 Africa/Lagos

A Short List of Money-Minded Resolutions for 2011


PR Newswire

CHICAGO, Dec. 22, 2010

CHICAGO, Dec. 22, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- At year's end we often find ourselves faced with good intentions that just never happened. Something we wanted to do, but never got around to it. The Illinois CPA Society suggests it's not too late. Make the financial move you planned on making in 2010 your New Year's resolution for 2011. Check this short list from the Society for things you might want to do in the year ahead:

* Find a way to save. Could you take the $50 you just spent on that sweater and save it instead? Cut back on downloads or dining out? Look at what you spent this year for ideas.
* Set a reachable goal. Whether it's getting out of debt or buying a home, plan to accomplish something with your money in 2011. Put away a small amount each month towards your goal.
* Start a rainy day fund. Prepare for a layoff or health emergency by working towards having three to six months worth of living expenses socked away.
* Make a will. Not pleasant to think about, but you want to make things easier on your family and protect your assets. State rules may apply if you don't have a will. And who would have custody of your children?
* Check your credit report. You've been meaning to check it, but perhaps afraid to look. Use it as a starting point to get your credit in good shape. Go to www.annualcreditreport.com for a free report.
* Take steps toward retirement. Begin to contribute to your 401K plan at work - at least enough to get the match if one's available. If you're already contributing, consider an increase of 1 or 2 percent.


Need a little support? Turn to the Society's Find a CPA Directory online at www.icpas.org to locate a CPA in your community and to Twitter, @thriftitude, for money management tips from the Illinois CPA Society.

About the Illinois CPA Society

The Illinois CPA Society, founded in 1903, is the fifth largest state CPA society in the nation, with more than 24,000 members. It is the premier professional organization that represents CPAs in Illinois. During its over 100 years of existence, the Society has advanced the highest ethical and financial standards of the profession, and has been a leader in educating the public on financial issues.

SOURCE Illinois CPA Society

CONTACT: Judi Kulm, Communications/Media Manager, Illinois CPA Society, +1-312-993-0407 ext. 251, kulmj@icpas.org

Web Site: http://www.annualcreditreport.com

Advantages of Nokia messaging devices over BlackBerry

Nokia E72




No additional fee for data on top of service plan; works with any service plan/data provider.

Average cost of paid app $3.47
Easy set up of work and personal email in only 3 steps
Out of the box access to consumer email accounts such as Hotmail and Gmail
Stay connected to 10 personal email accounts at once
Immediate access to most popular IM communities
(Yahoo, Microsoft Live and Gmail)
High-quality 5MP camera with Carl Zeiss lens and one touch auto focus
Free Ovi Maps with Walk and Drive navigation
Ultra slim line design with Stainless Steel and Brushed Aluminum
Create separate, customized home screens for work and personal life.


BlackBerry Bold 9700




Must have additional BlackBerry data plan
($4+ for RIM vs $1.85 for Nokia)
Average cost of paid app $8.26
Over 10 steps to set up email on BlackBerry
Dedicated app needed for instant messaging
3.2MP camera
No free maps and navigation
BlackBerry 8mm thicker than Nokia E72
No ability to separate/tailor home screens





Advantages of Nokia messaging devices over BlackBerry




It is important that everyone in Nokia is aware of advantages of Nokia messaging devices so that we as ambassadors of the messaging range can engage in discussions about the difference between the BlackBerry and Nokia offering. Here’s where we think we are stronger:


• While BlackBerry wants you to be a BlackBerry person with their own communications tools, Nokia lets you to be you and work the way you like by using your choice of messaging solutions - Nokia offers a wide variety of ways to communicate including email & instant messaging and to update social networks. Wide range of devices in a variety of styles. Nokia’s portfolio carries over 100 email-enabled models. The BlackBerry range of devices only includes six QWERTY devices in the UK, and one touch device. For smaller budgets BlackBerry offers nothing.





• Affordable and predictable pricing - With Nokia Messaging, all consumer email and IM is included into the operator data plan There are no hidden costs, taxes, license fees like there are for BlackBerry. Research has shown that companies can save an average of £215 per year per employee by using a Nokia Eseries handset with Mail for Exchange or IBM Lotus Notes Traveler instead of BlackBerry. (Source Nokia Internal Research).



• Easy Email and IM set-up - Nokia messaging devices have an easy 3 step email set up, directly from the home screen of the device. No downloading the application, installing it and configuring the account like on BlackBerry. With Nokia you can directly access 90% of the world’s corporate email and IM through partnerships with Microsoft Mail for Exchange and IBM Lotus Notes.



As an example, the Nokia E72 wins over the BlackBerry Bold 9700 in some important areas: It has easier email setup with more email and IM service options, it’s less expensive, has a better camera, comes with OVI Maps with free walk and drive navigation and premium travel guide content, has faster web browsing speed, features a thinner design and stainless steel build, and allows for two tailored home screens.

Northern Nigeria: Background to Conflict

Northern Nigeria. Photo Credit: The Will

Dec 20, 2010 22:01 ET



Northern Nigeria: Background to Conflict


DAKAR, December 20, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Nigeria's far north is not the hot bed of Islamic extremists some in the West fear, but it needs reinforced community-level peacebuilding, a more subtle security response, and improved management of public resources lest lingering tensions lead to new violence.


Northern Nigeria: Background to Conflict,* the latest report from the International Crisis Group, examines the region's conflict risks. Violence has flared up there periodically for more than 30 years. Mainly in the form of urban riots, it has seen Muslims pitted against Christians, confrontations between different Islamic sects, and rejectionist sects against the state. The relative calm that much of northern Nigeria had enjoyed for several years was broken by the emergence in 2009 of Boko Haram, a radical group that appears to have some links to al-Qaeda.



Nigeria's northern emirs gave Prince Charles a royal welcome on his tour of the West African country this week. Here he arrives at the palace of the Emir of Kano (4th from right). Photo Credit: The BBC News

In the build-up to the 2011 national elections, the worst-case scenario is that local violence will polarize the rest of the country. This must be avoided through actions at the local, regional and national level.

“While some in the West panic at what they see as growing Islamic radicalism in the region, the roots of the problem are more complex and lie in Nigeria's history and contemporary politics”, says Titi Ajayi, Crisis Group's West Africa Fellow.
Many common factors fuel conflicts across Nigeria: in particular, the political manipulation of religion and ethnicity and disputes between supposed local groups and “settlers” over distribution of public resources. The failure of the state to assure public order, contribute to dispute settlement and implement post-conflict peacebuilding measures also plays a role, as does economic decline and unemployment. As elsewhere in the country, the far north – the twelve states that apply Sharia (Islamic law) – suffers from a potent mix of economic malaise and contentious, community-based distribution of public resources.

But there is also a specifically northern element. A thread of rejectionist thinking runs through northern Nigerian history, according to which collaboration with secular authorities is illegitimate. While calls for an “Islamic state” in Nigeria should not be taken too seriously, despite media hyperbole, they do demonstrate that many in the far north express political and social dissatisfaction through greater adherence to Islam and increasingly look to the religious canon for solutions to multiple problems in their lives.

On the positive side, much local conflict prevention and resolution does occur, and the region has historically shown much capacity for peaceful co-existence between its ethnic and religious communities. Generally speaking, for a vast region beset with social and economic problems, the absence of widespread conflict is as notable as the pockets of violence.

The starting point for addressing the conflicts must be a better understanding of the historical, cultural and other contexts in which they take place. The region has experienced recurrent violence, particularly since the early 1980s. These are the product of several complex and inter-locking factors, including a volatile mix of historical grievances, political manipulation and ethnic and religious rivalries.
“Northern Nigeria is little understood by those in the south, still less by the international community, where too often, it is viewed as part of bigger rivalries in a putative West-Islam divide”, says EJ Hogendoorn, Crisis Group's Acting Africa Program Director. “Still, the overall situation needs to be taken seriously. If it were to deteriorate significantly, especially along Christian-Muslim lines, it could have grave repercussions for national cohesion in the build-up to national elections in 2011”.



Source: International Crisis Group

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Dec 18, 2010
00:54	Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States and IOM Strengthen Cooperation
Dec 16, 2010
10:04	Strativity Group Announces 2011 Customer Experience Management Next Generation Certification Program
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Releases displayed in EST time
Dec 20, 2010
22:01	Northern Nigeria: Background to Conflict
Dec 18, 2010
00:54	Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States and IOM Strengthen Cooperation
Dec 16, 2010
10:04	Strativity Group Announces 2011 Customer Experience Management Next Generation Certification Program
02:46	Le Président de la Commission de l'Union Africaine participe à Alger à une conférence internationale célébrant le 50ème anniversaire de la Résolution 1514 de l'Assemblée Générale de l'ONU
02:44	The Chairperson of the AU Commission concludes visit to Algeria where he participated in the International Conference on the 50th Anniversary of UNGA Resolution 1514

How does a stargazer paint a star-studded sky?

Shaibu Husseini

How does a stargazer paint a star-studded sky?

Title: Moviedom…the Nollywood Narratives: Clips on the Pioneers
Author: Shaibu Husseini
Publisher: All Media International Ltd. [for African Film Academy: AFA)
Year of publication: 2010.
Reviewer: Professor Hyginus Ekwuazi

Moviedom…the Nollywood Narratives: Clips on Pioneers is somewhat like a sponge or a compressed towel. Its inherent absorbent capability vis-à-vis its information density, is, on the whole, remarkable. For neatly tucked into its 166 pages are: 67 biographical sketches of Nollywood stars [13 in Part 1: In the Beginning; 54 in Part 2: Nollywood is Born]; and a roll call of 17 tars [It’s a Wrap!] if we remove the 67 profiled stars in Parts 1 and 2, the balance of 120 becomes the number of stars yet to be profiled. In other words, Moviedom…the Nollywood Narratives is, like Nollywood itself, a continuing project—not necessarily like the typical Nollywood story that is incomplete if it doesn’t run into part 2 and beyond.




This book carries with it the burden of experience—the experience comprising Shuibu’s beat in and around Nollywood and his years as the Chair of the AMAA College of Screeners. However, in no instance does the work sag under such a heavy under. Rather, this rarefied experience has been nuanced into the work in a laidback manner that makes the book as highly reader friendly as it is readable. What more does one ask of a book?

If it is indeed true that every book contains within it the argument for how it should be read, then the subtle argument within these pages is this: a more revealing close-up on the work can result only from the interrogation of two inter-related contexts. In the first place, the broader context of the work—its antecedents, so to say. In the second place, the significance. Since the latter proceeds from the former, both are, to that extent, coterminous.

One needn’t look too far to see all too clearly how Moviedom…the Nollywood Narratives happens to be at the centre of a widening gyre of irony. In the early 90’s, Nigerian filmmakers signed a petition against Jimmy Ate, then the General Manager, National Theatre, for allowing reversal films/home videos to be screened in the cinema halls of the National Theatre—the very same National Theatre in whose banquet hall Nollywood stars gathered on Friday, 17th Dec, 2010] for the launch of this work that is to all intents and purposes a celebration of the home video. And that other blockbuster of an irony: till the middle 90’s the Nigerian Film Corporation [NFC] was still shouting from the roof tops that its statutory mandate didn’t include the video—the very same NFC whose current head and whose one time chairman have been profiled here among the stars of Nollywood.

The point here is that from 1903 when the first movie was shown in the country to 2005 when Nollywood was rated the second largest film industry in the world, the Nigerian film industry has passed through four defining stages: the Colonial Film Unit stage [the cine was the only format and the documentary the major genre]; the post-Independence period [again, the only format was the cine and the feature virtually eclipsed activities in any other genre]; the SAP [Structural Adjustment Programme] stage [the feature continued to dominate but the reversal film took over from the cine]; and, finally, the Post-SAP period [the home video completely took over the industry].

True, in the movement from periphery to social centricity, no single film, not even Living in Bondage, has done for us what The Sound of Music did for the United States. However, its short history notwithstanding, the home video has managed to become the cultural property of us all. It has joined politics and football as the admission tickets into the marketplace of social intercourse.

Herein, then, lies, perhaps, the greatest significance of this work: it provides us the much needed backward glance over the roads we have travelled.

Okome, unarguably one of the leading scholars of Nollywood, is insistent in his argument that the Nollywood film is, in effect, a broad canvass for the social history of this day and age. If we accept this argument, Moviedom…the Nollywood Narratives automatically acquires the value-added significance as the compendium of the films of the period from which this social history has to be distilled.

Two structural factors killed the celluloid film in Nigeria. One: the march of technology which brought with it a rival and cheaper means of making and packaging films. Two: Babangida’s structural adjustment programme which beggared the Naira in the international marketplace—making it impossible to sustain the celluloid culture.

But even while it was thriving, the celluloid was, as it were, wrapped in an asphyxiating blanket of anonymity. For instance, the British Film Institute dossier on the African film, issued in the early 80’s, lists only one non-Francophone filmmaker: Ola Balogun. In contradistinction, the home video is being very adequately documented both in academic studies and in works that target the general reader. An example of the latter that quickly comes to mind is Orji Onoko’s Glimpses of our Stars. Shaibu’s Moviedom…the Nollywood Narratives is spun from the same thread.

It is in the light of the foregoing that we must locate the gaps and dents in the work. Each profile here is like a citation. There is really nothing bad in this; but, to my mind, each profiled personality here would have come alive if only some words had been put in their mouth—if each star had spoken, briefly, on, say, their life value and or on their view of the industry, in the context of their role.

I know it’s arguable—but Nollywood is not unlike the child who stands on the shoulders of a giant and is, thereby, able to see much further than his mates: without the work done by the celluloid filmmakers, would Nollywood have been this big? I doubt it. All I am trying to say is that the tripod of the celluloid period ought to have been included or given adequate space in this work.

The tripod I’m alluding to? Ola Balogun/Francis Oladele [whose works were the first to put Nigeria on the global map of filmmaking]; Eddie Ugbomah [who holds the record for the highest number—13—of celluloid films]; and Hubert Ogunde/Ade Love [in whose footsteps the Yoruba filmmakers of today are following].

If Shaibu’s consistent featuring of Nollywood on the pages of The Guardian on Saturday and Sunday and his painstaking activities in the African Film Academy haven’t by now removed any lingering doubts about his love for the industry, this book should do that. Take it for all in all, Moviedom…the Nollywood Narratives does come across as Shaibu Hussein’s passionate love song to an industry he ardently loves—Nollywood, that burgeoning industry that we praise and cavil in the same breath.

~ Hyginus EKWUAZI
Department of Theatre Arts
University of Ibadan
Ibadan.

Emotions as Nokia Splashes Prizes in Cash Dash Promotion

Emotions as Nokia Splashes Prizes in Cash Dash Promotion

Mr. Rasheed Agoro is a Lagos based retiree who is being owed the sum of 450 thousand Naira as part of his retirement gratuity. Mr. Agoro’s optimism about prospect of being paid the money gradually waned as his repeated trips to Abuja yielded no fruits. Just when he gave, up got a call from Nokia informing him that he had just won the same amount of money in the Nokia Cash Splash promotion. In this age of scam calls, Mr. Agoro almost dismissed this call as another fast one by criminal elements in town. But this was real. Mr. Agoro was almost in tears when he picked up the check of 450 thousand naira in the Zain-Nokia Cash Splash promotion at a ceremony held at the Protea Hotel Ikeja. Other winners include Mrs. Bukola Aiyesimoju who was visibly excited as she received her cash prize of another 450 thousand naira.

The Zain-Nokia promotion, which was launched during Nigeria’s 50th Independence celebration, was Nigerians carting away a total of eighteen million naira in total. 5 people won N1millionwith with several others winning cash prizes ranging from 50 thousand Naira to 450 thousand naira. Before the grand draw in Lagos, draws were held in Abuja, Portharcourt and Kano.

Tunji Ademiluyi, Retail Customer Marketing Manager for Nokia West Africa said the move is part of effort by Nokia to reward loyal customers. He said the grand draw could not have come at a more auspicious time especial this yuletide when it is customary to give and receive gifts. The event is a climax of all the raffle draws that had been previously held in which several winners emerged. The promotion was aimed at encouraging Nigerians’ sense of pride in Nigeria as well as rewarding their loyalty to Nokia products and it was carried out across several states in the Nations four geo-political zones. The cash prizes ranged from fifty thousand Naira, one hundred thousand Naira, one hundred and fifty thousand Naira to four hundred and fifty thousand Naira only.

Other winners were, Okolo Victor, a student, Mrs Ronke Ajala, Wasiu Salami, Adeyinka Oshodi, Gabriel Adu and Theodore Gyuk who mentioned that the first thing he would do with the money was to purchase another Nokia phone.

Nokia is the world’s number one manufacturer of mobile devices by market share. Beyond its leadership status as a manufacturer of devices, Nokia is fast becoming a leading solutions provider in the converging Internet and communications industries providing internet services that enable users to experience media, messaging, maps and games.

President Goodluck Jonathan is going to Bring Back the Book

Photo Credit: Puku

President Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR, today launches the transformational "Bring Back the Book" literary campaign to revive a reading culture among Nigerian youths and he is also presenting his own book "My Friends and I: Conversations on Policy and Governance via Facebook". The venue is the Expo Hall of the Eko Hotel, Lagos.




"The time has come when educational opportunities must be for all; when knowledge must be promoted over the mad rush for materialism. Book culture, if properly put in place, will help promote a new Nigeria," said Mr. Oronto Douglas, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Research, Documentation and Strategy. "Four months after, the interactions with Nigerians on Facebook were turned into a book containing reactions and suggestions on issues of governance. The President joined Facebook not to belong but for the desire to engage, communicate and learn from Nigerians. In fact, the idea of government and governance being impenetrable and sacred should be smashed as government belongs to the people," he added.