Why Nollywood Filmmakers Have Failed To Qualify for the Oscars and Cannes

The popularity of Nollywood as an African phenomenon in modern filmmaking has made headlines all over the world since the booming home videos film industry was called "Nollywood" in 2002 by the Canadian journalist, Norimitsu Onishi, the Chief of The New York Times' subSaharan Africa bureau, based in Johannesburg.
Nollywood has been ranked as the second largest film industry behind Bollywood of India and ahead of Hollywood of America. But Nollywood movies have failed to qualify for the biggest competitions of accolades in the global film industry. The majority of Nigerian filmmakers in Nollywood and Kannywood are still not well informed on how to qualify for the official selections of the annual Cannes Film Festival and nominations for the annual Oscars. They don't even have the mindset of the international filmmakers who compete for the best awards in the world.

IMF Wants VAT Reforms in Nigeria To Benefit the Poor

Nigeria: Mobilizing Resources to Invest in People

WASHINGTON, 03 April 2019 / PRN Africa / -- Spending on health and education in Nigeria is among the lowest in the world. To fund these crucial sectors, Nigeria will have to maximize the amount of revenue it raises.

Diversifying the government's revenue base, increasing non-oil revenues, and securing oil revenues, will all be critical, says the IMF in its latest economic health check of sub-Saharan Africa's most populous economy.

We Lost Billions of Naira, Because of the Postponements of Elections

The postponement of the 2019 general elections in Nigeria caused the postponement of the film production of many movies in #Nollywood.

I would have started the principal photography of "I Saw Her on Orlando Martins Street" today on the Lagos Island.
Majority of Nigerians don't even know that Corporate Nigeria lost billions of dollars, because of the postponements of the elections from February to March. Nigerian economy lost more than the costs of the elections.

Filmmakers, distributors and exhibitors lost millions of dollars in Nigeria during the elections. Ask the cinemas what they lost during the Saturdays that millions of voters went out to the polling booths to cast their votes. Calculate the costs of postponements of the elections on businesses in the largest economy in Africa.

~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima
Publisher/Editor
NOLLYWOOD MIRROR®Series.

Gen. Yakubu Gowon Recommends Examplary Leadership To Christians in Public Office

Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd), GCFR, Former Head of State of Nigeria was the Chairman of the public presentation of a new book, "Exemplary Christians In The Nigerian Public Square" by Rev. Emmanuel Oladipo, the former International Director of Scripture Union International.

The event was held on Saturday March 23, 2019 at the Chelsea Hotel in Abuja.

The Master of Ceremony was Mr. Tolu Oladipo, the son of the author.

The book was reviewed by Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi, Chairman of the Editorial Board of ThisDay newspapers and a former Presidential Spokesman for the late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, GCFR.

20 African Innovative Tech Startups in London for the First Go Global Africa

20 African Innovative Tech Startups  in London for the First Go Global Africa

African tech talent touches down in London to participate in Go Global Africa programme

LONDON, 25 March 2019 / PRN Africa / --

Twenty of Africa's innovative and exciting tech startups have arrived in London to take part in the first Go Global Africa programme.

Twenty of the most innovative and exciting development-focused startups from Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa arrived in London  today to take part in the first Go Global Africa programme.

How Online Marketplaces Could Create 3 Million Jobs in Africa by 2025

How Online Marketplaces Could Create 3 Million Jobs in Africa by 2025

Public and Private Sector Collaboration Can Unlock the Potential of These Digital Platforms to Spur Economic Growth on the Continent With Little Risk to Existing Businesses and Workforce Norms, a New BCG Study Finds

KIGALI, Rwanda, March 26, 2019  /PRNewswire/ -- Online marketplaces such as Jumia, Souq, Uber, and Travelstart could create around 3 million new jobs by 2025 across Africa. These digital platforms, which match buyers and providers of goods and services, could also raise incomes and boost inclusive economic growth with minimal disruption to existing businesses and workforce norms. These are among the findings of a new report, titled How Online Marketplaces Can Power Employment in Africa, released today by Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

Click here to read the complete news release.

Covenant Christian Coalition Affiliate in Nigeria Bringing a Message of Hope in the Midst of Turmoil

Covenant Christian Coalition Affiliate in Nigeria Bringing a Message of Hope in the Midst of Turmoil

ABUJA, Nigeria, March 26, 2019  /PRNewswire/ -- Over mountains, through valleys and raging rivers, into some of the most dangerous and remote corners of Nigeria, a determined group of indigenous missionaries are bringing food, supplies, and the message of Christ to numerous isolated villages that have never heard the message of the Christian faith—whose inhabitants have never before held a Bible in their hands or heard the name of Jesus.

IFC, Africa RE to Develop New Insurance Market for Nigeria's Farmers

IFC, Africa RE to Develop New Insurance Market for Nigeria's Farmers

LAGOS, Nigeria, 26 March 2019 / PRN Africa / -- IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, today announced that it has signed an agreement with Africa RE, a pan-African reinsurance company headquartered in Nigeria, to help thousands of small holder Nigerian farmers more easily access insurance to protect their crops and livelihoods.

President Kagame, Glo's Bella Disu Seek Collaboration for Africa's Regional Integration

President Kagame and Mrs Bella Disu during the meeting.

President Kagame, Glo's Bella Disu Seek Collaboration for Africa's Regional Integration

LAGOS, Nigeria, March 27, 2019  /PRNewswire/ -- Rwandan President, Paul Kagame and Globacom's Executive Vice Chairman, Mrs Bella Disu, on Monday began discussions on the use of digital technology to help the march towards economic prosperity in Africa. The two leaders held a private meeting after the opening session of the two-day Africa CEO Forum taking place in Kigali, Rwanda.

Farewell To Gabriel Okara, the Father of Modern Nigerian Poetry

Farewell to the Father of Modern Nigerian Poetry, Pa Gabriel Okara who passed on Sunday night of March 24,  in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state of the Niger Delta, a month to his 98th birthday.

Gabriel Imomotimi Okara (born  April 24, 1921 -  March 24, 2019) was a Nigerian poet and novelist who was born in Bumoundi in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The first Modernist poet of Anglophone Africa; best known for his early experimental novel, The Voice (1964), and his award-winning poetry, published in The Fisherman's Invocation (1978) and The Dreamer, His Vision (2005
.

Awards and Recognitions:
1953: Best All-Round Entry In Poetry at the Nigerian Festival of Arts, for "The Call of the River Nun"
1979: Commonwealth Poetry Prize, for The Fisherman's Invocation
2005: NLNG Prize, for The Dreamer, His Vision.
2009: Pan African Writers' Association  Honorary Membership Award
2017: Gabriel Okara Literary Festival.