Bekederemo! You Have Left Us in the Storm

A Tribute To John Pepper Clark-Bekederemo (6 April 1935 – 13 October 2020)

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Bekederemo! You Have Left Us in the Storm

A Tribute To John Pepper Clark-Bekederemo (6 April 1935 – 13 October 2020)

https://nigeriansreportng.blogspot.com/2020/10/bekederemo-you-have-left-us-in-storm.html

Bekederemo! 

Bekederemo!! 

Bekederemo!!! 

Great son of Ịjọ Empire! 

Why have you left us in The Boat. 

In the turbulent storm? 

Without even A Reed in the Tide. 

Behold the bloodshed of the Casualties.

Shot by the demons in uniform. 

See the bloodshed of the martyrs of the revolt

Our revolution gainst the State of the Union. 

Our nation is like The Raft adrift down the River Niger. 

Even the gods of Ozidi have taken to their heels.

We are marching with our bare feet.

As we stomp on the street.

The echoes of our screams rent the skies 

In A Decade of Tongues.

Ivbie is swearing at the Union Jack.

Blaming John Bull for the pepper in our eyes. 

But she forgot that her uncle Okoli sold our crude oil well to Shell. 

And General Chevron carried our oil drums to America, Their America. 

Our fish are floating in the oil spillage. 

Thousands fled our Izon Kiagbodo village.

Even The Masquerade of Ngbilebiri has stopped dancing. 

Who can dance to the Song of a Goat? 

In the hysteria of Nigeria?

Bekederemo! 

What are you going to tell

Achebe and Okara?

What are you going to tell Saro-Wiwa?

Tell them the truth, that all is not well.

Bekederemo!

Bekederemo!!

Bekederemo!!!

Farewell.

- By EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chima, author of "Scarlet Tears of London, The Prophet Lied and other books.

https://www.amazon.com/author/ekenyerengozimichaelchima

über Nollywood

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? 

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.

Panda Opens On 17th October

 

Panda Opens On 17th October 

- By Ingram Osigwe 

Somewhere in Sabo, Yaba, Lagos lies a sprawling master piece of creative thinking. It is the Panda Event Complex Ltd. Note that rather than the normal cliche "centre" associated with places events are held, Panda has a suffix "Complex". And Panda is indeed a complex in all ramifications. History will be made on 17th October, 2020 as it opens its doors for the public. 

Panda is a complete, radical departure from the old normal. In Panda, you have a new but rare normal, a complete package and one- stop place for hassle- free events. For a church or what some people call White wedding, Panda Event Complex has simplified the entire process both for intending couples and their guests. 

The chaotic and nerve- tasking nature of Lagos traffic has made commuting from church to venue of a wedding reception a nightmare for new couples and their guests but Panda has clinically solved all these. How? The uninitiated may ask. This is how: Located at plot 112 commercial Avenue, oyadiran estate, sabo yaba, Panda Event Complex Ltd is ringed by good access roads: Adekunle, Alagomeji, yaba, third mainland bridge, jibowu, oyingbo, Herbert Macaulay, commercial avenue, sabo police station. And wait for this: In Panda Event Complex are orthodox and Pentecostals churches namely St Dominic's Catholic church, Ecwa, Presbyterian church, Methodist, Assemblies of God. 

The Complex also houses a large parking space to accommodate various businesses, two halls for 1000 guests and 400 guests sitting. There is also a hotel consisting of 42 rooms (studio, standard, deluxe rooms, suite & executive suite) as well as outdoor and indoor restaurant, executive bar and outdoor bar. For the comfort of the public, all the halls are equipped with superb air conditioning systems. There are also choice cuisines. 

The complex is well secured by alert and efficient security personnel manning strategic positions and complemented by digital security devices, including CCTV.

This is in addition to sharing neighbourhood with Army and police formation with the vicinity. In strict compliance with COVID-19 preventive protocols, Panda Event Complex Ltd has automatic COVID sanitizers at strategic locations. 

The import of all the above facilities is that the Complex provides maximum comfort for the public, including guests and organisers for all strata of events. 

Panda also boasts of superstores for those interested in shopping. For quick withdrawals of cash, there are ATM points in the plethora of banks in Commercial Avenue, Sabo which is adjecent the complex A round- the clock power supply to the Complex ensures uninterrupted comfort. Panda Event complex eliminates stress, anxiety and stress often encountered by organisers of events and guests in the metropolitan Lagos. For a church wedding for example, a church, a reception hall, hotel accommodation for guest and newly wed couple, a bar etc are all situated in one place there by aiding a seamless holy matrimonial and process leading to it. 

Contact Telephone numbers: 

08096035414 

07059970606 

08097000084 

07016804962 

08060012186 

Panda Event Complex.....experience the passion of hospitality. 

No 112, Commercial Avenue, 

Oyadiran Estate, Sabo, 

Yaba, Lagos. 

Instagram : @pandagroup_ Twitter:@pandaeventhome 

Facebook: @pandaeventcomplex 

Email: pandaevents2010@gmail.com

Reformation of the Nigerian Police Force in Nation Building

 

IGP Muhammed A. Adamu, NPM,mni; Inspector General of Police.

The reformation of the Nigerian Police Force is not possible without the restoration of the human dignity of Nigerian police officers.

Majority of Nigerians dislike Nigerian police officers; calling them all sorts of derogatory names and accusing them of corrupt practises without any consideration for the patriotic service of the entire Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

Bribery and brutality have become the most common public complaints about Nigerian police officers. But we cannot complain about the problems with the NPF without addressing the causes of the problems and then recommend the solutions.

The different administrations of the federal government from military regimes to the civilian administrations, have failed to improve the NPF in operations and living conditions. 

The indignities of the nauseating living conditions of majority of Nigerian police officers have made them to disregard human dignity. When you see the horrible state of the police barracks, you will not be surprised by their violent nature. They are not happy to be cramped in congested broken and stinking  barracks where officers and their families have to queue to use toilets and bathrooms. And they are among the worst paid police officers in the world. 

The shameful state of Nigerian police barracks have made news headlines over the years and reported recently by the Pulse.

Inside smelly and decaying police barracks in Lagos [Pulse’ Special Report]

https://www.pulse.ng/news/local/inside-smelly-and-decaying-police-barracks-in-lagos-pulse-special-report/5

President Muhammadu Buhari has emphasised that the government must improve the Nigeria Police Force in training, logistics and welfare.

The following should be done without delay:

Happy Nigerian police officer.

Nigerian police officers.

* Demolition of all the dilapidated old police barracks and building new barracks with modern amenities and utilities.

* Increase the salaries of police officers.

* The minimum entry level of the Nigeria Police Force should be OND, followed by compulsory one year  training in the Police Academy for junior police officers and HND/Degree for senior police officers or three years in the Police Academy. 

* Review of the curriculum for Police Academy in comparison with the standards of the police academies of advanced countries.

* improve the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of the Nigeria Police Force in every community in Nigeria.

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima 

Publisher/Editor,

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR®Series

247 Nigeria (@247nigeria) / Twitter

https://mobile.twitter.com/247nigeria

https://www.amazon.com/author/ekenyerengozimichaelchima

International Day of the Girl 2020: We Do Not Wait Tomorrow

#GenerationEquality Spoken Word: We do not wait tomorrow

International Day of the Girl 2020

The theme for this year, “My voice, our equal future”, reimagines a better world inspired and led by adolescent girls, as part of the global Generation Equality movement.

Girls worldwide are demanding a life free from gender-based violence, access to health, skills, recognition and investment as leaders of social change.

UN International Day of the Girl Child: My Voice, Our Equal Future

On International Day of the Girl Child, 11 October, amplify the voices and rights of girls everywhere.

The theme for this year, “My Voice, Our Equal Future”, reimagines a better world inspired and led by adolescent girls, as part of the global Generation Equality movement.

-, UN Women.

International Day of the Girl Child, 11 October 2020: Keeping the promises made to girls in Beijing in 1995

Format

News and Press Release

Source

• UN HRC

GENEVA (9 October 2020) – On the occasion of the International Day of the Girl Child, UN human rights experts* have highlighted the vulnerabilities of girls in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and called on Governments to unlock young girls' potential and keep the promises made to them in Beijing, 25 years ago.

Twenty-five years ago in Beijing, China, the world made promises to girls all around the globe. Governments promised them they would take all necessary steps to safeguard their equal rights and ensure that girls achieve their full potential. World leaders promised to eliminate all forms of discrimination and violence against girls, to provide them opportunities on an equal basis with boys, to promote and protect their rights, to eliminate the economic exploitation and to empower them to participate in social, economic, political and cultural life. They were promised an enabling environment, where their spiritual, intellectual and material needs for survival, protection and development are met.

This year, while we commemorate the invaluable progress made in promoting gender equality over the last 25 years, the COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us of the existing inequalities and discrimination that girls face and their particular vulnerability in the context of this pandemic. In a joint statement in July 2020, the experts noted that over recent months it has become clear that women and girls have been disproportionately impacted by these inequalities, with lockdown measures highlighting pre-existing gaps and exacerbating deep rooted gender-based discrimination and violence.

Although girls and children in general have in large part not been hit directly by COVID-19, they are the primary victims of its potential long-term effects. School closures and the sharpened digital divide within and between wealthy and poor countries are eroding years of progress in girls' access to education. Overall, about 11 million girls might not return to school this year, adding to the 130 million who were already out of school before the pandemic. Girls who are forced to stay at home due to school closures are more exposed to domestic violence and face higher risks of child marriage and early pregnancy. Restrictions on the provision of health services, such as pre and post-natal care, termination of pregnancy and the availability of contraceptives, imposed by many countries to address the excessive demands on health services caused by the pandemic, adversely affect young girls. The fragile economic situation of their families has increased the risk of exploitation of girls, including in trafficking for the purpose of labour or sexual exploitation. Digital technologies may pose a significant risk for girls if not properly regulated. In the context of COVID-19, as more girls are not regularly attending school, the risks of trafficking online for the purpose of sexual exploitation has significantly increased. Worldwide, many girls who lived through the peak of the pandemic will see their future lifetime earnings fall precipitously and possible employment opportunities shattered. Girls who are already victims of intersecting forms of discrimination, including but not limited to indigenous girls and minority girls, girls with disabilities, migrant girls and rural girls, are at the risk of being further marginalized.

At the same time, we have witnessed the incredible power and resilience of girls worldwide. We have seen them become change-makers instead of passive spectators. We have listened to them, as human rights defenders, demanding that world leaders ensure their rights to education and to participate in cultural life, as well as equality, environmental justice, sexual and reproductive rights, democracy and accountability. We have supported their calls for the right to live a life free from violence and harmful practices, to complete their educations and eliminate all forms of discrimination.

As countries deal with the devastating consequences of the pandemic, governments have the unique opportunity to re-think societies and address long-lasting structural inequalities. Young girls need to be at the centre of policy-making processes and contribute to the design of age-sensitive social protection schemes. Countries must value the disproportionate share of household chores carried by young girls and ensure access to vocational training and economic resources.

Finally and most importantly, at this historical moment, societies must reconceptualise traditional gender roles to unlock young girls' potential to contribute to their communities and societies. As empowered girls today and as the future leaders tomorrow, they will address this century's biggest challenges. This will only be possible if countries build back better for a fairer and more equal society, a society where girls' voices are heard, welcomed and respected and their views are acted upon, and where girls' rights are protected and promoted, everyday, everywhere.

On today's International Day of the Girl Child, States must reflect on whether the promises made to girls 25 years ago have been realised. We owe this to the young generation of girls that are facing this pandemic. We owe this to the young girls full of hope who believed that this world could be a more equal place with the adoption of a visionary Platform for Action for gender equality. On International Day of the Girl Child, we must accelerate our commitment to ensure that the future we committed to 25 years ago for every girl, everywhere, becomes her lived reality."

ENDS

(*) UN experts: Ms. Elizabeth Broderick (Chair), Ms. Alda Facio, Ms. Ivana RadačIć, Ms. Meskerem Geset Techane, Ms. Melissa Upreti (vice-Chair), Working Group on discrimination against women and girls; Ms. Karima Bennoune, Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights; Ms. Koumbou Boly Barry, Special Rapporteur on the right to education; Ms. Mary Lawlor, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; Mr. Fernand De Varennes, Special Rapporteur on minority issues; Tlaleng Mofokeng, Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; Ms. Mama Fatima Singhateh, Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children; Mr. Tomoya Obokata, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences; Ms. Siobhán Mullally, Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children; Ms. Dubravka Šimonović, Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences.

Author of "The Triumph of Achilles" Wins the 2020 Nobel Prize for Literature

#NobelPrize @nytimesbooks @TheAcademy @CNN @Oprah @netflix @Marvel @AmericanFilm @NPR
"The Triumph of Achilles" by American poet Louise E. Glück, winner of the 2020 Nobel Prize for Literature.
She is a great poet.
I can produce a film adaptation of this classic poem. pic.twitter.com/kYoLgs1Lfu

— 247 Nigeria (@247nigeria) October 8, 2020

 

 

Glück shares a birthday with Immanuel Kant and is the author of thirteen books of poems and a fierce collection of essays. She is the Rosenkranz Writer-in-Residence at Yale University, and for eight years served as judge for the Yale Series of Younger Poets, a service of which she remains immensely proud. As a poet she’s so decorated that if she were a general you’d have to squint into the glare of her: the Bollingen Prize for Vita Nova (Ecco, 1999), the Pulitzer Prize for The Wild Iris (Ecco, 1992), the National Book Critics Circle Award for The Triumph of Achilles (Ecco, 1985), the Wallace Stevens Award, the Lannan Literary Award—on and on. We spoke for several hours one July afternoon at her home in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Her immaculate apartment is adorned with artwork by the poet Mark Strand, and out back breathes her beloved garden, transplanted here from Vermont thirteen years ago.

Internal Tapestries: A Q&A With Louise Glück | Poets & Writers

https://www.pw.org/content/internal_tapestries

Join Us For The First Ever Dolby Summit

Register for Dolby Summit OCTOBER 29TH, 2020 BROADCAST BEGINS 8AM PDT 

Join us for the first ever Dolby Summit, a live online gathering of the content distribution, media and entertainment industries, powered by and delivered in Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. 

Gain key insights into ecosystem momentum from a curated group of industry innovators and groundbreaking creators, and engage with them as they examine how the industry is delivering exciting content experiences while overcoming the challenges of 2020. 

See the full program and register your attendance below. 

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The Manifesto of Biafra and the Future of Nigeria

THE BIAFRA MANIFESTO 

Biafra is a portion of eastern and southern Nigeria that many will rather call their own separate country. The Biafra Manifesto is a seminal dissemination of this potential conflict in Nigeria, at the tip of Western Africa, that could kill a million people and displace millions more. Biafra is a beautiful dream to some, an imperative hope to some and an ugly, hopeless rhetoric to some. In a world where global and conscious reaction to conflict rises post scriptum The Biafra Manifesto raises a cry for the world to stop and look before the storm, not after; as it did in Rwanda in 1994. There is now only one power on earth that can stop the movement of Biafra from escalating to the next devastating carnage in Africa. The Biafra Manifesto clearly identifies what that power is – and how best to use it, before it is too late. 

About the Author

 

THE AUTHOR, Nigerian writer and humanist, Odega Shawa, was born in Eastern Nigeria in the decade after the Nigeria – Biafra civil war. He grew up in the east and commands first-hand experience of the soul of the agitation for the Biafra self-determination struggle. An eloquent columnist, he has written extensively on social media platforms, expressing the need for a pacifist ethic in the social dynamics of Nigerian politics. His numerous works include the novels, Flowers in the Dream of a Mad Man and Long Juju – and the book, The Gospel According to Niger Delta Militants. He attended the University of Lagos, lives in Lagos and currently is the GM at Linda Ikeji Media.

The Importance of a Database, Library and Museum for the Nigerian Film Industry

The Importance of a Database, Library and Museum for the Nigerian Film Industry

Having a database, library and museum for the Nigerian film industry will increase the local and international appreciation of Nollywood and Kannywood in the global film industry.

I have severally emphasised the importance and significance of a database, library and museum for the Nigerian film industry for the immense benefits to Nigeria, socioculturally, sociopolitically and economically. 

I have seen cases of ignorance in the articles, books, documentaries and other publications by foreign authors and directors, because of the lack of a database, library and museum for the Nigerian film industry. In many of the publications, Kannywood, the dynamic and vibrant Hausa language film industry of northern Nigeria is excluded, but Nollywood, which is actually predominantly made up of film and TV productions in the official language of English, Igbo language and Yoruba language becomes the primary representation of the Nigerian film industry.  

The foreign film journalists, film writers, film students and film scholars land in Lagos, meet and interview the notable directors and actors based in Lagos and rush back to America and Europe to publish their articles, reports and books and produce their documentary films on Nollywood. But if you ask them:

"Did you meet the famous "Baba Wande" (Kareem Adepoju) of the Yoruba language TV series and movies? 

They don't even know he existed?

"Did you interview the popular Igbo actor, Amaechi Muonagor?"

"Minagoy?"

"No! Not Minagoy. He is not French."

Don't even bother to ask them about any of the top actors and movies in Kannywood.

Baba Wande

Lest we forget, before the bestselling Igbo language  home video, "Living in Bondage" in 1992, there was the bestselling Hausa language movie, "Turmin Danya" (The Draw) in 1990.

Okay, right now in Nollywood, who is talking about Rahama Sadau's new movie,  ‘Mati a Zazzau"?

 Amaechi Muonagor

Rahama Sadau

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR®Series is the first book to celebrate Kannywood actresses on the same level with Nollywood actresses.

Most of the foreign publications on the Nigerian film industry are superficial and show lack of comprehensive researches and studies by the authors. 

This is why having a database of Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry is important, because of the ignorance of the public and others on the biographies and filmographies of Nigerian directors, producers, screenwriters and actors. 

The AGN, DGN, AMP and ITPAN don't have any database of the members. That is why I have severally proposed that there should be a Nollywood database, library and museum for the benefit of public information and education, film studies, African studies, film tourism and movie merchandising.

I obtained the documents of the British Colonial Commission's inquiry and court trials of the principal participants in the Aba Women's Riots in 1929 and I also obtained the letters of Rev. Sister Mary Slessor to her sister about her missionary life and work among the Efik people. These important documents are for the benefit of Nigerian history and also for the benefit of Nigerian filmmakers who want to do the film adaptations.

 

The Nigerian Film Corporation, National Film Institute and the professional bodies in the Nigerian film industry should cooperate to have the database, library and museum for Nollywood and Kannywood.

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,

Publisher/Editor,

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR®Series

247 Nigeria (@247nigeria) / Twitter

https://mobile.twitter.com/247nigeria

https://www.amazon.com/author/ekenyerengozimichaelchima