Friday, December 20, 2013

Nollywood is Our Shining Light! - President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria


 “Whenever I travel abroad, many of my colleagues, Presidents of other countries, ask me about Nollywood. Nollywood is our shining light. Africans are very proud of Nollywood. That is why we are here today to celebrate the success story of this national, continental and global brand.”
~ President Goodluck Jonathan.


Read the complete special commendations of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for his unprecedented financial and morale boosting support for Nollywood with the N3 billion grant for Project ACT-Nollywood and the $200 million Entertainment Intervention Fund in NOLLYWOOD MIRROR®.

Click here to order NOLLYWOOD MIRROR®.

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® By Michael Chima Ekenyerengozi

Paperback: List Price: $40.00 $38.00 You Save: 5%
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There are also comprehensive features on Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards (AMVCA), Nollywood and the Global Film Market, Silverbird Cinemas, The Coming of IMAX To Nigeria and so much more in 102 pages in full colour. And the cover celebrates the "Man of the Moment in Nollywood", Kenneth Gyang, winner of the Best Film Award and Best Nigerian Film Award at the 2013 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) for his first feature “Confusion Na Wa”, that also won four more awards for Best Screenplay, Movie with Best Production Design, Director of the Year and Movie of the Year at the recent 2013 Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards. The cover is in the beautiful symbolic green and white colours of Nigeria, the home of Nollywood and green also means abundance of fertile land, rich harvest and success.

Nollywood has done what neither Americans Hollywood nor Indians Bollywood has done! Stopped battles at the war fronts!

Did you know that Ivorian rebels in the bush stopped fighting when a shipment of Nollywood DVDs arrived from Lagos? 


 NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® is the best publication on the best of nollywood in colour and glamour with all the glitz and razzmatazz of the news makers in 2013!

  • TOP 10 SEXIEST NOLLYWO0D DIVAS
  • TOP 20 NIGERIAN FILMMAKERS
  • NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® RED CARPET 
  • IS NOLLYWOOD DOCUMENTARY?
  • NOLLYWOOD RELOADED
  • WHY MANY NOLLYWOOD MOVIES CANNOT MAKE HOLLYWOOD BOX OFFICE?
  • DEAR NOLLYWOOD, NOBODY FORGETS A GOOD MOVIE!
  • PIRATES ARE THE BIGGEST EARNERS IN NOLLYWOOD
  • NOLLYWOOD MIRROR CAFÉ IMAX THEATRE 
  • RITA DOMINIC ON THE BOOK COVER OF THE GOVERNOR’S WIFE 
  • DESMOND ELLIOT ON THE BOOK COVER OF CONSPIRACY OF LAGOS
15% OFF ORDERS OVER 50 COPIES.
20% OFF ORDERS OVER 100 COPIES.
30% OFF ORDERS OVER 500 COPIES. 

Email:publisher@nigeriansreport.com for these special discounts. 

Click here to order hardcover version of NOLLYWOOD MIRROR®.


~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima

 
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Thursday, December 19, 2013

South Africa Fails To Deliver Nelson Mandela's Education Vision



17 Dec 2013 09:55 Africa/Lagos

South Africa fails to deliver Nelson Mandela's education vision


VADUZ, Liechtenstein, December 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
http://www.worldreview.info
 
South Africa is facing an education crisis. It has failed to uphold the dream of former South Africa leader Nelson Mandela - to provide equal opportunity to the nation's young through education, writes World Review author Dr Pauline Dixon, senior lecturer in International Development and Education at the University of Newcastle, UK.


'Mr Mandela, who led the nation from apartheid to democracy, believed that education was key to emancipation, social mobility - and to the future prosperity of  South Africa . Yet this principle has still yet to be realised,' she says.


Results from South Africa's Department of Basic Education school monitoring survey in 2011, which looked only at public schools, shows that minimum standards were not met in 14 out of 15 indicators. Main concerns include teaching posts not being filled, the lack of curriculum being covered in a week, and the high number of pupils who are unable to access library facilities and enjoy basic physical infrastructure such as school buildings, grounds, furniture, equipment and apparatus believed essential to impart education.
'The teaching of mathematics in rural and poor schools is the worst in southern and eastern Africa ,' says Dr Dixon. 'Children in poorer African countries such as  Lesotho  and  Zambia  are out performing children in  South Africa . Findings by the Centre for Development and Enterprise show that less than one quarter of Class 6 teachers were able to answer Class 6 maths questions correctly.'
'It is not surprising that between 2000 and 2010 the number of public schools dropped by nine per cent while the number of independent schools increased by more than 44 per cent. The number of pupils enrolled at independent schools has risen by more than 50 per cent in that period.'
South Africa's education system is now seeing an alternative developing - a de facto privatisation of schooling. Studies show that there is a small, but growing low-fee private schooling sector in South Africa.
The growth in independent education is relatively new. But it is displaying innovation and a keenness for people to get involved - driven by two factors - profit and the demand created by the inadequacy of public schooling.


'Some argue that South Africans have forgotten that change can come from the grassroots, from ordinary people acting in their own best interest. But in years to come the expansion and growth of low-cost private schools - through parents voting with their feet - might overcome some of the acquiescence to state domination.'


Read the full World Review report here

 
About the author
World Review author Dr Pauline Dixon is a senior lecturer in International Development and Education at Newcastle University in the North East of England. She is Research Director of the E.G. West Centre at the university and Degree Programme Director of the Masters in International Development and Education. She lectures in economics, education policy and quantitative methods. Dr Dixon's research in India, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, China, and Tunisia, investigates education for the poorest living in slums and shanty towns.


Copyright
Please attribute any copyright to © 2013 Geopolitical Information Service, and provide a hyperlink to the http://www.worldreview.info website.


Contact information
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Headquarters: Herrengasse 21, 9490 Vaduz, Liechtenstein

 RECOMMENDED GIFT OF THE MONTH: NOLLYWOOD MIRROR®
By Michael Chima Ekenyerengozi
ISBN: 9781304729538
Click here to order.
http://www.lulu.com/shop/michael-chima-ekenyerengozi/nollywood-mirror/paperback/product-21362333.html

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Carat Voted Agency of the Year at 3rd Annual iMedia Agency Awards

17 Dec 2013 15:57 Africa/Lagos Carat Voted Agency of the Year at 3rd Annual iMedia Agency Awards

Winners include 360i, DDB, Wieden + Kennedy, The Media Kitchen

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Carat took top honors as Agency of the Year during an awards gala celebrating the 3rd annual iMedia Agency Awards, Tuesday, Dec. 10, at the iMedia Agency Summit in Scottsdale, Ariz. Joining Carat were agencies winning awards in nine other categories, garnering the top votes from a field of 50 finalists.


(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131217/PH34691-a)
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131217/PH34691-b)

This year's 50 finalists in ten categories were selected from a pool of more than 200 nominees by a senior level advisory panel including members from Google, Sony Pictures, RocketFuel, Southwest Airlines, AOL, Turner, and GE. More than 15,000 public votes were cast by the marketing community to select the ten winners for this year's awards.

The winning agencies in each category were:
  • Carat: Agency of the Year
  • Likeable Media: Best Small Agency
  • The Media Kitchen: Campaign of the Year
  • Wieden + Kennedy: Best Agency for Branded Entertainment
  • 360i: Best Agency for Social Media
  • DDB: Best Agency for Digital Out of Home
  • Team One: Best Agency for Video
  • LatinWorks: Best Agency for Multicultural Marketing
  • iProspect: Best Agency for Performance Marketing
  • MXM Hyperfactory: Best Agency for Mobile
"It's an honor to be recognized for our leadership and work, especially by our peers who selected Carat for this accolade," said Doug Ray, Global President, Carat. "It's a true testament to our ability to create better business value for brands through our consumer insights and command of media convergence. I'm incredibly proud of the team at Carat and appreciative of their ongoing hard work and dedication."
"The voting community had a difficult job this year," said Marti Funk, SVP, iMedia Communications. "The work showcased by all of the finalists and winners was very impressive."
Complete coverage of the 3rd annual iMedia Agency Award winners can be seen at:
http://www.imediaconnection.com/iMediaLists/2013/agency-award-winners/

 
ABOUT IMEDIA COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
iMedia Communications, Inc. is the leading event and media company for senior digital marketing, media, and advertising leaders. The hub of the imedia community is imediaconnection.com, a daily publication and discussion forum. The iMedia event portfolio includes the iMedia Agency Summit, iMedia Brand Summit, and more. (For more information see: http://www.imediaconnection.com/summits/)


ABOUT THE IMEDIA AGENCY AWARDS
The iMedia Agency Awards recognize the most future-forward agencies and campaigns in digital marketing. The award advisory board includes executives from Kellogg's, Sony Pictures, Google/YouTube, Turner Broadcasting, and Southwest Airlines. Nominations and voting are 100% driven by the marketing community. Winners were announced at the Dec. 10 awards gala at the iMedia Agency Summit in Scottsdale, AZ.

 
Contacts
Bethany Simpson, Marketing Director, iMedia
949.382.7918
Email

Read more news from iMedia Communications, Inc.
SOURCE iMedia Communications, Inc.



 
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Thursday, December 12, 2013

Call for Entries for 2014 iREPRESENT International Documentary Film Forum



The Call for Entries for the 2014 iREPRESENT International Documentary Film Festival is now open.

 In the last 3 years, over 100 films has been screened at the annual festival. After three successful festivals, the I-REPRESENT INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENATRY FILM FORUM proudly announces the unveiling of the THEME and LOGO for the 2014 IREP INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL. THEME OF THE FESTIVAL The generic thematic thrust of the annual IREPRESENT
 INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL is "AFRICA IN SELF-CONVERSATION", but the 2014 edition would explore the theme: The Rhythms of Identity.
The theme will explore what defines us as Africans in our Music, Poetry, Dance, Theatre, Film, rituals and our daily experiences.




Entries should be submitted to:
iREPRESENT International Documentary Film Forum,
No 3 Bishop Lanre Obembe Close,
Off Emmanuel High street,
Ogudu GRA, Lagos,
Nigeria.

For more information, please visit www.irepfilmfestival.com




 
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Wednesday, December 11, 2013

LINE launches LINE Santa Claus Charity Project To Grant Users' Wishes

 

LINE launches LINE Santa Claus Charity Project To Grant Users' Wishes

 



LOS ANGELES, Dec. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- LINE Corporation, owner and operator of the free call and messaging app LINE, today announced the launch of its charity project LINE Santa Claus, and invites its users worldwide to participate in the event, themed "Building a Brighter Tomorrow for our Children."

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131211/SF31887)
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130118/SF44696LOGO-a)


LINE Santa Claus is a charity project that will be carried out within LINE's Official Account system. Using the ON AIR feature, which lets official accounts receive messages from users, LINE will ask its user base of over 310 million to send their wishes under the theme of "Building a Brighter Tomorrow for our Children."
Submissions will be accepted between noon on Friday, December 13 and 11:59 pm on Sunday, December 15 (GMT+9). After a review and selection process within LINE, wishes will be selected and announced on Christmas Day. Starting in 2014, LINE will start working on a project to make the chosen wishes* a reality, and will post status updates on the LINE Team official account, as well as its official Twitter, Facebook, and other social media accounts.


"We further wish to enrich the communication of people around the world, and as such, we added LINE Santa Claus charity project to let LINE users make a tangible contribution," said Akira Morikawa, CEO of LINE Corporation. "To that end, we are asking all of our users to give us their thoughts on what we should provide the children, which are the future of our world."


*The number of wishes that will be granted has yet to be determined.
Event Details
Event Title
  • LINE Santa Claus
Details
  • The LINE official account LINE Santa Claus (LINE ID: @linesanta_2013_en) will be opened globally with support for seven languages.
  • Using the ON AIR feature, LINE users will submit their wishes under the theme "Building a Brighter Tomorrow for our Children."
  • The submissions will be reviewed and the results will be announced on Christmas Day.
  • Plans to begin fulfilling the wishes will begin in 2014. (The completion date will be announced after selection).
How to participate
  • Add the LINE Santa Claus official account as a friend.
  • Using the official account's ON AIR feature, the user can submit a wish, reason for the wish, and their nationality in text form.
  • The LINE team may contact users who have submitted wishes to confirm the details of their wishes.
Event duration
  • Account opens: Tuesday, December 10, 2013
  • Wishes accepted: From noon on Friday, December 13 to 11:59 pm on Sunday, December 15 (GMT +9)
  • Announcement: Monday, December 25
Languages supported
  • English, Japanese, Korean, Chinese (Traditional and Simplified), Spanish, and Thai
Access for smartphone users
  • From the More tab, go to Official Accounts > New Official Accounts or find the account in its respective category.
  • From the More tab, go to Add Friends > Search by ID, and input the LINE ID "@linesanta_2013_en." Add the account from the search results.
About LINE Corporation
LINE Corporation is based in Japan and develops and operates the LINE app for smartphones. Since launching in June 2011, the LINE app has grown into a global service used in 230 countries, ranking first in the free app category in 60 countries. LINE offers free one-to-one and group messaging, as well as free domestic and international voice and video calls. LINE also includes a wide array of social elements such as fun and expressive stickers, a personal Home, a Timeline, and numerous LINE family apps, including LINE games and LINE camera. For more information about LINE, please visit http://linecorp.com/en/.


SOURCE LINE Corporation
CONTACT: Jaime Tero/Angie Fife, onechocolate communications, line@onechocolatecomms.com, 415-989-9803
Web Site: http://www.linecorp.com/en



 
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The Most Beautiful and Most Colourful Publication on Nollywood Now in Hardcover

The Most Beautiful and Most Colourful Publication on Nollywood Now in Hardcover 

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR®, the most beautiful and most colourful publication on Nollywood in 2013, a celebration of the best of Nollywood is now in hardcover!
The hardover edition released yesterday in the US will be available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other international booksellers.
There is 50% discount for bulk orders from 500 copies.


NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® showcases the best of Nollywood; from the accomplished filmmakers to the accomplished actors and hottest actresses and also includes special commendations of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for his unprecedented financial and morale boosting support for Nollywood with the N3 billion grant for Project ACT-Nollywood and the $200 million Entertainment Intervention Fund and Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State for his generous life saving interventions for notable Nollywood actors and actresses; sponsoring the production of "Champions of Our Time", the best family movie in Nollywood and the Nollywood Upgrade Fund. There are also comprehensive features on Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards (AMVCA), Nollywood and the Global Film Market, Silverbird Cinemas, The Coming of IMAX To Nigeria and so much more in 104 pages in full colour. And the cover celebrates the "Man of the Moment in Nollywood", Kenneth Gyang, winner of the Best Film Award and Best Nigerian Film Award at the 2013 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) for his first feature “Confusion Na Wa”, that also won four more awards for Best Screenplay, Movie with Best Production Design, Director of the Year and Movie of the Year at the recent 2013 Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards. The cover is in the beautiful symbolic green and white colours of Nigeria, the home of Nollywood and green also means abundance of fertile land, rich harvest and success.


The publication includes articles by Shaibu Husseini, the foremost Nigerian film critic, member of International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI); Chair of the AMAA College of Screeners and author of “Moviedom, the Nollywood Narratives: Clips on the Pioneers” and Femi Odugbemi, multiple awards winning filmmaker, writer and photographer. Trained in Film and TV Production at Montana State University, Bozeman, United States; former President of the Independent Television Producers Association of Nigeria (ITPAN) when he convened the popular Lagos International Forum on Cinema, Motion Picture and Video in Africa, the first Nigerian international film festival that attracted participants and professionals from across the world; a member of the Advisory Board of the School of Media and Communications (SMC), Pan African University, Nigeria; Provost of the Orange Academy Lagos, Nigeria's first practical school of Idea and Brand Management; Co-Founding Executive Director/Festival Director of iRepresent International Documentary Forum and CEO of DVWORX Studios Lagos.


NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® is also the first Nigerian publication released in three different media formats for worldwide distribution. Read NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® (Nollywood Reloaded) and NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® (NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® SERIES in the best selling Kindle Fire Edition.
Kindle Fire HDX 7", HDX Display, Wi-Fi, 16 GB. Kindle Fire HDX 8.9", HDX Display, Wi-Fi, 16 GB.

Read the NOLLYWOOD MIRROR®, Paperback edition.


Read the NOLLYWOOD MIRROR®, Hardcover edition.


 About Kenneth Gyang:

 
Kenneth Gyang on the set of Cinema Kpatakpata's first feature film, "Confusion Na Wa" with award winning Nollywood hunk OC Ukeje and Ikechukwu Omenaihe.


I have been following the captivating career of Kenneth Gyang as an ambitious young filmmaker since he was 19 when I interviewed him in 2006 for the highly esteemed Black Film Maker magazine, the foremost publication on blacks in the film industry, published in the UK and that interview “Young At Art” is still distributed widely by HighBeam Research and followed by my special focus on THE BEST OF NOLLYWOOD in the same year.

 Kenneth Gyang is a young filmmaker in Nigeria and was born in Barkin Ladi of Plateau State, Nigeria. He studied Film Production at the National Film Institute in Jos and screenwriting at Gaston KaborĂ©'s IMAGINE in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Two of his short films as well as a script titled "Game of Life" were selected for the Berlinale Talent Campus 2006 and "Mummy Lagos" was well received as an official competition entry. "Mummy Lagos" was also selected for the Sithengi Talent Campus as part of the Cape Town World Cinema Festival in South Africa. His film "Omule" won Best Documentary Film at the 1st Nigerian Students International Film Festival in 2006 and "Mummy Lagos" also won Best Film at the Nigerian Field Society Awards organized by the German Cultural Centre, Goethe-Institut, in Lagos as well as the Jury Special Mention at the ANIWA Festival in Ghana. Kenneth has worked with the BBC World Service Trust, directing their high quality TV drama "Wetin Dey", which was presented at the International Emmy World Television Festival in New York City, USA.. He has also worked with Communicating For Change as an Associate Producer on "Bayelsian Silhouettes", a series of seven short films on HIV/AIDS and he also co-wrote, produced and directed "Finding Aisha" TV series for the Nigerian production company Televista.  

Kenneth Gyang on the definition of Nollywood:

I think this whole issue of ‘Nollywood, no, not Nollywood’ is being stretched to its breaking point so much so that at this year’s FESPACO, the prestigious film festival in Africa, Professor Wole Soyinka presented a paper about it called “A name is more than the tyranny of taste”. He talked about how in Yorubaland a name may mould a child so you don’t find any Yoruba parent giving their babies names that embed evil meanings. Personally I’ll say this, Nollywood followed in the Bollywood/Hollywood bandwagon. When the Indian film industry in Mumbai was tagged Bollywood, no-one cut it some slack. A whole ton of look-alike films were churned out in overwhelming quantity but with time, they started raising their game. In the opposite direction, France is synonymous with art films but you still have tons of popcorn movies emanating from there. For me, the totality of films coming from Nigeria make up what is known as Nollywood and I’ll rather spend my time making films that matter than worry myself with the name of industry.
~ From Weekly Trust.


 
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Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Jumpstart Africa to Revolutionize How the World Supports Africa



10 Dec 2013 14:45 Africa/Lagos

Jumpstart Africa to Revolutionize How the World Supports Africa

Pioneering Crowdfunding Platform Connects People with a Passion for Africa with the Continent's Brightest Minds to Help Them Raise Money for their Innovative and Creative Projects


Indiegogo Campaign Launches Today

MARRAKESH, Morocco, Dec. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Jumpstart Africa today announced the launch of its Indiegogo campaign to raise needed funds to complete the build of its revolutionary crowdfunding platform, JumpstartAfrica.com.  Pioneering in every way, Jumpstart Africa is the first to imagine a better way in which the world can lend its support to the continent's brightest minds to help them raise money for their innovative and creative projects.  The Indiegogo campaign (www.igg.me/at/jumpstartafrica.com), which starts today, has a funding goal of $40,000USD to also provide the needed resources to find and help local African entrepreneurs in making their dreams and projects a reality.


(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131210/PH30497-a)
(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131210/PH30497-b)


Bridging the gap between Africa's current banking system that fails to help innovative African entrepreneurs emerge, Jumpstart Africa will operate with complete transparency so that those who contribute via the platform will always know exactly where their money goes – to the African entrepreneurs, innovators and artists it was meant for.


"Many avid supporters of Africa believe that aid given to Africa actually hurts Africa," said Ahmed Zikrem, CEO & founder, Jumpstart Africa.  "We propose a new way of giving directly to an entrepreneur who is going to start a business that will solve a problem, provide jobs and stimulate local economies.  We want to empower the people of Africa – not give them a fish but help them to fish on their own."


Jumpstart Africa has built strong relationships with top innovation centers, incubators, and associations throughout Africa to help people reach out and support its initiative.  Some of the exciting projects that will be on JumpstartAfrica.com at launch include:
  • Unmanned Ariel Vehicle : Moses Gichanga from Kenya has developed a low-cost Unmanned Aerial Vehicle technology to help monitor and prevent poaching and the slaughter of wildlife in Africa.
  • Solar Cooking Stove : Rose Twine from Uganda has developed a low-cost smokeless solar stove that can also charge your phone and light your house for the price of only two months of regular charcoal consumption.
  • TeaBag Water Filter : Professor Eugene Cloete and his team at Stellenbosch University in South Africa have developed an affordable water filter called a "teabag" that fits into the neck of a standard sized water bottle.
Zikrem continued: "Did you know that many of the products used on a day-to-day basis by consumers around the world were invented by Africans - the traffic light, the elevator and the pressure cooker?  Obviously, these kinds of ideas have greatly impacted people worldwide and we have noticed that Africa's talented entrepreneurs are growing in numbers and are creating innovative solutions that will propel Africa's future."


About Jumpstart Africa
JumpStart Africa is a revolutionary crowdfunding platform developed with one goal in mind: to help build a better future for Africa.  By empowering Africa through technology, this pioneering startup wants to be a leader in helping create sustainable growth and boost economies in the region.  As part of its corporate mandate, Jumpstart Africa contributes ten percent of total profits to chosen local and international charities.  At launch, the platform will feature an amazing variety of tech, business, creative and environmental projects.  For more information, visit www.jumpstartafrica.com.


For more info, contact :
James Little 
JumpStarter PR 
Email 
310-529-9793
Read more news from Jumpstart Africa
SOURCE Jumpstart Africa
Web Site: http://www.jumpstartafrica.com





 
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Monday, December 9, 2013

Young African Leaders Apply Now for Washington Fellowship

9 Dec 2013 12:00 Africa/Lagos

Young African Leaders Apply Now for Washington Fellowship 


-- "We need young Africans who are standing up and making things happen not only in their own countries but around the world… Africa's future belongs to its young people." - U.S. President Barack Obama

 
WASHINGTON, Dec. 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is the new flagship program of President Obama's Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). President Obama launched YALI in 2010 to support young African leaders as they spur growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance peace and security across Africa.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130628/DC39165LOGO)


The Washington Fellowship, which begins in 2014, will bring 500 young leaders to the United States each year for academic coursework and leadership training. The program will create unique opportunities in Africa for Fellows to put new skills to practical use in leading organizations, communities, and countries.
Washington Fellows will attend academic and leadership institutes focused on Business and Entrepreneurship, Civic Leadership, or Public Management. A select number of Fellows will also gain hands on experience in internships at U.S. businesses, civil society organizations, and public agencies.


Young leaders from across Africa are strongly encouraged to apply. The online application for the Washington Fellowship is currently available at www.irex.org/applyyali. Completed applications, including all supporting documents, are due by 12:00 midnight Eastern Standard Time, Monday, January 27, 2014. More information is available at youngafricanleaders.state.gov.


Participating countries include: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is a program of the U.S. government and supported in its implementation by IREX.

 
CONTACT: Jennifer Nevin Anderson, +1-202-628-8188, communications@irex.org
Web Site: http://www.irex.org




 
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Half of a Yellow Sun Gets Distributors in UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand!




I bring you the good news that Nigeria’s most expensive film at the moment Half of a Yellow Sun has found distributors, according to Tambay A. Obenson of Shadow and Act, international sales have been brisk, as the sales company representing the film, Metro International Entertainment, reported that it has sold UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand rights to the Biafran War film, an adaptation of famous author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Orange Prize-winning novel of the same title. Metro said that it is currently fielding "multiple offers" from USA distributors and finally we have the first official movie posters of Half of a Yellow Sun!


 




















    BOOK OF THE MONTH:

    So much has been written and published on Nollywood, our Nollywood, the phenomenal Nigerian film industry producing thousands of home videos telling stories of Nigerians from the past to the present and has caught the attention of the rest of the world to say WOW! African magic?

    Nollywood Mirror

    Paperback, 104 Pages
    (1 Ratings)
    Did you know that Ivorian rebels in the bush stopped fighting when a shipment of Nollywood DVDs arrived from Lagos? Did you know that Zambian mothers said that their children now talk with accents copied from Nollywood movies? Did you know that when the 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 has hooked the world. The maiden edition of NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® is a celebration of the best of Nollywood.



     
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    The Famous Nigerian Actor Meets the Famous Nigerian Filmmaker in Canada

    Famous British-born Nigerian actor Chiwetel Ejiofor met the famous Nigerian filmmaker Lancelot Imasuen at the world premiere of "Half of a Yellow Sun" on Sunday September 8, 2013, in the Winter Garden Theatre at the 38th Toronto International Film Festival, Canada.

    Right now Chiwetel Ejiofor (star of Inside Man, American Gangster, Salt, 12 Years a Slave) is trending in Hollywood as one of the best contenders for the Best Actor Oscar at the 86th Academy Awards coming up on Sunday March 2, 2014, at the Dolby Theatre, Angeles, California, for his unforgettable role as "Solomon Northup" in Steve McQueen's 12 Years a Slave, a 2013 British-American epic historical drama.

     Lancelot Imasuen (director of Entanglement, Home in Exile, Bent Arrows, A Private Storm, ABCs of Death 2, Invasion 1897) is the buzz of the moment in Nollywood for one of the most ambitious movies in the Nigerian film industry, his historical epic Invasion 1897 based on the invasion of the Benin Kingdom by the British Empire in 1897 and how they carted away the priceless ancient artifacts belonging to the kingdom. And he is also trending in Hollywood for being the only African director among the 26 selected directors making the short horror thrillers of The ABCs of Death 2 series.

    Lancelot Imasuen with Mitch Davis, an associate producer of The ABCs of Death 2. 
    Mitch is the famous director of The Other Side of Heaven , a 2001 American adventure drama film, and has also written and directed Windrunner and A House Divided, a modern-day tale of Jewish man's undying love for a Palestinian woman in Israel.  


    ~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima


     
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