Monday, August 14, 2017

Investing in Women Key To Sustainable Peace in Nigeria and DR Congo – UN Deputy Chief

UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed addresses Security Council meeting on ‘peace and security in Africa.’ UN Photo/Manuel Elias.

Investing in Women Key To Sustainable Peace in Nigeria and DR Congo – UN Deputy Chief

NEW YORK, 10 August 2017 / PRN Africa / -- Investing in women and girls must be central to global efforts towards sustainable peace and development in both Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the United Nations deputy chief said today.

“Both have dismayingly low levels of women's political participation and are experiencing conflicts marked by extremely high levels of sexual- and gender-based violence,” said Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed as she updated the Security Council on her recent trip to the two African countries.

Saturday, August 12, 2017

Nigeria Set to Benefit From Deep Sea Mining – Dr. Dakuku Seeks Support on Capacity Building

Dr. DAKUKU PETERSIDE, NIMASA DG (PRNewsfoto/NIMASA)

Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA): Nigeria Set to Benefit From Deep Sea Mining – Dr. Dakuku Seeks Support on Capacity Building

LAGOS, Nigeria, August 11, 2017  /PRNewswire/ --

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dakuku Peterside has stated that Nigeria is set to benefit from the deep sea mining through effective harnessing of the opportunities by working with the International Seabed Authority (ISBA).

The NIMASA DG who made this known at the opening ceremony of the 23rd Assembly of the International Seabed Authority (ISBA) held in Kingston, Jamaica said that irrespective of the numerous resources in Nigeria, there was the need to work more closely with the ISBA in the area of seabed resources exploration.

Dr. Peterside who led the Nigerian Delegation to the event commended ISBA on its role in the optimal utilization of seabed resources among maritime stakeholders and solicited for assistance in the area of capacity building to survey deep sea and establish data base of mineral resources available for the benefit of all mankind.

Wednesday, August 9, 2017

Without the Biafran War, 10 Million Igbos Would Not Have Been Born


Without the Biafran War, 10 Million Igbos Would Not Have Been Born
(In memorial tribute to all those we lost in the Biafran War.)

If the unforeseen circumstances that caused the tragic Biafran war of 1967-1970 did not occur, the history of Nigeria would have been different from what it is today.
More than ten million Igbos would not have been born, including the most celebrated Nigerian celebrity gossip blogger, Linda Ikeji, Bella Naija, Laila Ikeji, Don Jazzy, Flavour, PSquare, Yemi Alade, Nwankwo Kanu and J.J.Okocha.

Major-General Aguyi Ironsi would not have been the unfortunate first military Head of State of Nigeria; Colonel Yakubu Gowon would not have become the second military Head of State; Generals Murtala Mohammed, Olusegun Obasanjo, Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida, the late Sani Abacha, Abdulsalami Abubakar and successors would not have become Heads of State or Presidents; there would not have been creations of 36 states and Abuja would not become the federal capital; Mr. M. K. O. Abiola would not have become a billionaire and presidential nominee and no June 12 Crisis; there would not have been an Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, because he would not have been a Senator, Governor of Lagos State or Asiwaju.

Dates of Attacks On Igbos and Christians in Northern Nigeria and the Biafran War



Dates of Attacks On Igbos and Christians in Northern Nigeria and the Biafran War

1945 Jos Riots:- Hundreds of Igbos killed

1953 Kano massacre:- Hundreds of Igbo massacred

July 1966:- Over 300 Igbo officers of the Nigerian Army murdered

1966:- Over 50,000 Igbos, men, women and children massacred all over the North


1967-70:- Over 3 million souls lost in the civil war in the name of 'one Nigeria'

Other situations where Igbos have been killed are:
Kano, 1980
Maiduguri, 1982
Jimeta, 1984
Gombe 1985
Zaria, 1987.
Kaduna & Kafanchan, 1991.
Bauchi & Katsina, 1991.
Kano, 1991.
Zangon-Kataf, 1992.
Funtua, 1993.
Kano, 1994.
Kaduna, 2000.
Kaduna, 2001.
Maiduguri, 2001.
Maiden Crisis-Setember, 2001
Kaduna, 2002.
Jos-November, 2008.
Beheading of Gideon Akaluka in December of 1996 in a POLICE STATION in Kano
Saint Moritz killed December 2001
25. Post April, 2011 Presidential Election: 10 youth-corps men & women and numerous citizens murdered because a Christian Southerner was elected.
Jos Christmas Eve 2010.
Madalla Christmas day 2011.
Mubi January 6, 2012.


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Tuesday, August 8, 2017

Top 10 U.S. Feature Film Production Locations in 2015 and 2016


The film and TV industry supports 1.9 million jobs in the U.S. and generates $121 billion in wages–  including $50 billion in wages for jobs directly related to the industry — according to the MPAA’s latest data.
 Top 10 U.S. Feature Film Production Locations in 2015 and 2016


According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, over the last 2 years, film and television production has amounted to over 950,000 jobs and some $56.9 billion in wages.

A total of 513 feature films between 2015 and 2016 shot the majority of their production in the United States.  With 35 U.S. states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico currently offering some form of production incentives, IFTA Research tracked feature film production (both independent film and studio productions) in the U.S. for 2015 and 2016 to determine what the Top 10 primary shooting locations were over the two-year period.

Accounting for 29.4% of total U.S. feature film production and creating more than 198,000 total jobs amounting to $21 billion in wages (37% of total wages earned for the state), California held strong as the number one state with 151 feature film productions calling Los Angeles and other regions of the state their primary shooting location.
New York followed close behind at number two with 101 features taking advantage of the Empire State’s offerings.  These films accounted for 19.7% of feature film production and provided more than 90,000 total jobs and more than 53,000 production jobs totaling $10.2 billion in wages earned.
The Peach State, Georgia has long been a popular shooting location.  Over the two-year span, it reined the top southern state for film attracting 65 features (12.7%), which allowed for 28,656 direct jobs and 12,518 production jobs, which amassed to $1.9 billion in earnings.
The second most popular southern state for production, Louisiana, which offers one of the most attractive production incentive packages in the U.S., had 28 film productions call the Bayou State home.  These productions created 11,547 direct jobs, 7,667 production jobs and $505 million in taxable wages -- much needed for its local economy.

While the top four – California, New York, Georgia and Louisiana -- together accounted for two thirds of the primary production locations in the U.S. (345 films), three states tied at number five -- Massachusetts, New Mexico and Ohio. Each boasted an impressive 19 films over the two-year period and combined were responsible for 14,101 direct jobs. Massachusetts saw the biggest job impact with 10,228 direct jobs and 3,421 production jobs with earnings of $587 million.  Ohio also saw a substantial increase in production growing from three films in 2012 to nine and 10 films in 2015 and 2016 respectively.
Texas came in at number six on the list with 9 features, but ranked number three in terms of direct jobs created with 40,993 accounting for $1.831 billion in wages.  Pennsylvania and Utah were next on the list at number seven and eight with eight and seven productions respectively.  Pennsylvania’s productions created 14,756 direct jobs with earnings for the Keystone State accumulating nearly $794 million.

Click here to read the complete report.

FOCUS 2017 for International Film Productions


FOCUS 2017
The Business Design Centre, London, UK. 5-6 December, 2017.


Do you produce content for film, TV, advertising and interactive entertainment?  Then FOCUS is an unmissable event in your industry calendar. It’s designed to help you get your productions made and grow your business. And it’s completely free to attend.
Network with professionals in the creative screen industries
Attend two days of industry seminars, workshops, panel discussions and presentations.
Explore a world of location filming, production support services and facilities.
Meet with international film commissions, locations and production services
Get up to speed on the latest film incentives from around the world
Pre-schedule meetings using our online scheduler
Relax and enjoy a drink in the FOCUS Lounge and LIMELITE and ARIZONA – SNEAKY BIG STUDIOS bars!
See the 2016 programme here.

At FOCUS 2016 there were over 160 exhibitors, including location providers, film commissions and production service companies from 55 countries. Territories represented included:

ARIZONA * AUSTRIA  * BALEARIC ISLANDS * BARCELONA/CATALONIA * BELGIUM * BHUTAN * BRAZIL * BULGARIA * CALIFORNIA * CANARY ISLANDS * CHINA * COSTA RICA * CROATIA * CUBA * CZECH REPUBLIC * DALLAS * ENGLAND * ESTONIA * FINLAND * FLORIDA * FRANCE * GEORGIA * GERMANY * GREECE * GREENLAND * HUNGARY * ICELAND * INDIA * IRELAND * ITALY * KAZAKHSTAN * LATVIA * LITHUANIA * MALAYSIA * MALDIVES *  MEXICO * MONGOLIA * MOROCCO * MYANMAR* NAMIBIA * NEPAL * NETHERLANDS * NORTHERN IRELAND * NORWAY * PANAMA * PHILIPPINES * POLAND * PORTUGAL * ROMANIA * SCOTLAND * SERBIA * SOUTH KOREA* SRI LANKA * SWITZERLAND * THAILAND * TUCSON * TUNISIA * UKRAINE * WALES * VIRGINIA

Click here for more.

Monday, August 7, 2017

WHO and Partners Take On Malaria: The Top Killer in North-Eastern Nigeria


WHO and Partners Take On Malaria: The Top Killer in North-Eastern Nigeria

GENEVA, 04 August 2017 / PRN Africa / -- Following more than 8 years of conflict in Borno state in north-eastern Nigeria, some 3.7 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance and all are at risk for malaria. WHO estimates that every week, around 8500 people are infected with the disease in Borno state. With the high transmission season for malaria lasting through October, WHO expects these numbers will increase.


In Borno state, WHO estimates more than half of deaths recorded are currently due to malaria, more than all other causes of death combined, including cholera, measles and hepatitis E. A highly vulnerable population, consisting largely of children (58.8%), is at risk of disease outbreaks.

It is Wrong To Call Genevieve Nnaji A "Nollywood Starlet"


It is Wrong To Call Genevieve Nnaji A "Nollywood Starlet"

There are two instances I have seen where foreign publications erroneously called the most celebrated Nollywood actress, Genevieve Nnaji a "Starlet" and I felt slighted by it. The most recent one was by popular film writer and curator, Nadia Denton, curator of the Beyond Nollywood part of the Black Star season at the British Film Institute (BFI) and the author of The Nigerian Filmmaker's Guide to Success: Beyond Nollywood.
She called the Nollywood diva a "Nollywood starlet" in "7 Nigerian Filmmakers Extending the Nollywood Narrative" on the CNN.

It is wrong to call Genevieve a  Nollywood starlet! It is like calling a fully grown eagle an eaglet. 


2017 will be 30 years of Genevieve Nnaji's career as an actress which started decades ago in 1987 when she was an 8-year-old child actress in the popular TV soap opera, "Ripples" of Zeb Ejiro, one of Nigeria's most accomplished TV producers and filmmakers, before the emergence of Nollywood. She is one of the veterans and an indisputable Nollywood diva and an icon of modern African cinema.  Therefore, it is  intellectually and professionally inappropriate to call her a "Nollywood starlet" in 2016!
Only someone who does not know the definition will do that. And a click on Google search will give you the definition. "A Starlet is a young actress promoted and publicized as a future star, especially in motion pictures; a small star or other heavenly body."

Even one of the fast rising Nollywood actresses, Adesua Etomi, the star of the highest grossing Nollywood movie,  "The Wedding Party" who joined Nollywood recently is no longer a starlet, but a full-fledged star in the Nigerian film industry.

Genevieve Nnaji has played leading roles in more than 50 movies and has won many notable awards you can see the list on Wikipedia.
She became the first actress to be awarded Best Actress at the 2001 City Peoples Awards; she  won the inaugural Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) for Best Actress in a Leading Role in 2005, making her the first actress to win the award; in 2009, she was referred to as the Julia Roberts of Africa by Oprah Winfrey and in 2011, she was honoured as a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic  by the Nigerian Government for her contribution to Nollywood.



 

~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima, Publisher/Editor of NOLLYWOOD MIRROR®Series. https://www.amazon.com/author/ekenyerengozimichaelchima

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR®Series Books 1 and 2.
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Sunday, August 6, 2017

I Am A Survivor of GENOCIDE!


Hey there Michael,
I am a Yazidi refugee and survivor of genocide. On August 3, 2014, ISIS waged an attack against my family and entire community in Sinjar, Iraq.

Thousands of Yazidis were killed or kidnapped, obliged to convert, or forcibly displaced. I was among more than 6,000 girls and women who were held captive as sex slaves.

Today, not a single ISIS militant has been prosecuted for war crimes perpetrated against my people. Join me in calling on the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to take swift action.


At the Global Citizen Festival in Hamburg last month, Global Citizen Ambassador Demi Lovato and I issued a rallying cry to world leaders: hold ISIS accountable by referring these crimes to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

More than 100,000 Global Citizens have taken action and supported my plea. But we must do more.

The ICC has previously refused to examine these crimes, citing a lack of information. Despite this setback, there is still hope for justice. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has the ability to establish a Commission of Inquiry to collect evidence on ISIS genocide crimes against the Yazidis.

We must rise together to Level the Law. Join me in taking action to achieve justice for all Yazidis.

With hope,
Nadia Murad,
United Nations Goodwill Ambassador and Global Citizen.



Friday, August 4, 2017

65th Annual Convention Of The Redeemed Christian Church Of God Programme


65th Annual Convention Of The Redeemed Christian Church Of God Programme


It is with exceeding joy that we want to welcome all God’s children to the 65th Annual Convention of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, 2017, with the theme: Hallelujah.

Hallelujah as we are aware is the shout of praise to our God. Praise is so important to God that He dwells inside of it. “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.” (Psalm 22:3).

This is why in heaven the shout of Hallelujah must never cease because that is God’s throne. In one single chapter of the Book of Revelations, it was revealed how four in consecutive times the shout of Hallelujah rang in heaven. (Rev. 19: 1, 3, 4, & 6) Little wonder everything is in place and in order over there. But not only in heaven must praise not cease, on earth also the shout of God’s praise must never cease. The trees of the forest are continually clapping their hands. (Is. 55:12) Jesus Christ hinted, while He was here in the flesh, that should praise cease from man, the stones will immediately jump into action, shouting God’s praise. (Lk. 19:40)

If in heaven, everything is in place and there is order because the shout of hallelujah does not cease and this they diligently carry out. We would want to promise God on our behalf, that at this year’s convention, we will do like they do it in heaven.

We are therefore optimistic, with the cooperation of all of us during this convention, what has been out of place in our lives will start to fall into place.

In the area of our physical health, everything out of place will fall into place. This is because the presence of the One who inhabits praises will so saturate everywhere on this Camp Ground such that on merely stepping here your health will jump back into place. We should expect the same to happen to our spiritual health. Every one of us will experience a touch of revival in the mighty name of Jesus.
Those who have been termed barren should start to rejoice because what has been out of place all these while is coming back into place.
The Bible says: “ He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the Lord.” (Psalm 113:9).
What has been out of place in our businesses, academics, ministries and career will come back into place. Wherever God finds worshipers we can be sure there will be encounters of fullness of joy and pleasures for evermore (Psalm 16:11).
Can I then ask you to get ready to join the rest of the children of God to give God the glory, honour and worship due to His Holy Name during this convention of Hallelujah? And we can assure you, on behalf of my Daddy that you are in for a great time.
Come with experiences, because expectations shall not become disappointment (Prov.23:18). Come, ready to attend and to be punctual at all meetings. Come, ready to worship Him in spirit and in truth for such the Father seeks to worship Him (John 4:23-24).

You are welcome.

Faithfully,
Pastor E.A Adeboye,
General Overseer.