Thursday, June 23, 2022

LaVida Studios Secures the Biggest International Investment for Nollywood

LaVida Studios Secures the Biggest International Investment for Nollywood

LaVida Studios, one of leading film and TV productions centres in Nollywood has secured a US$50 million three-year collaboration with The Story Lab of the United States of America for 10 films and television projects focused on bringing African stories to the global stage. Focusing on both scripted and unscripted film and TV projects, the alliance will see production serviced exclusively by LaVida Studios for all Africa-based productions out of The Story Lab. This groundbreaking partnership is the biggest international investment so far in Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry.

LaVida Studios cofounded by Chioma Ude and Olugbenga Obadina is based in Lagos,the entertainment capital of Nigeria’s fast developing Nollywood, the largest indie film industry in Africa. LaVida is known for the award winning film, Seven on Netflix, as well as Third Party, Stuck and Eye-Witness for AfricaMagic/Showmax,

PAC Capital Limited has committed an initial $50 million for LaVida’s film and TV projects, including the collaboration with The Story Lab. The funding is being accessed from PAC Capital’s PanAfrican CCI Fund 1, a $100 million fund dedicated to financing film production and distribution in Africa.

LaVida and Dentsu are also planning to team with the African International Film Festival (AFRIFF) to create a joint initiative, AFRIFF/Dentsu & TV program which would recruit and support top African writing talent in creating original stories that appeal to a global audience.

Chioma Ude, founder of AFRIFF and managing partner in LaVida Studios, said: “We are thrilled to be working together with Dentsu and its The Story Lab team in the U.S. to bring authentic and compelling African stories to the world.”

The partnership, which is being spearheaded by Geneva Wasserman, executive VP and head of scripted content, The Story Lab U.S., who joined the organization in 2021, is thanks in part to her having already served as a board member for the AFRIFF network.

Wasserman said: “The combination of LaVida’s partnerships with top Nigerian creators and Dentsu’s global network and presence will serve as a bridge between these top content creators and the global market through this collaboration. We are honored to bring these stories to the world.”

Mike Ferry, head of The Story Lab U.S. added, “It is partnerships like this one which really help move the dial when it comes to discovering and elevating emerging talent. I’m so pleased we can be part of amplifying the diverse voices of Africa alongside our friends at LaVida and AFRIFF.”

LaVida Studios and Chioma Ude are represented by CAA and The Story Lab U.S. is represented by UTA.

"Expanding distribution infrastructure and access to African content globally; substituting the apprenticeship model in Nollywood for formal education and mentorship and; co-production with global production studios, are three major initiatives that will definitely take Nollywood to the next level. These are highlights of what the partnership between LaVida Studios and TSL is poised to achieve. It’s exciting times ahead," said Olugbenga Obadina.



Wednesday, June 22, 2022

The Unusual Story of Nollywood

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE UNUSUAL STORY OF NOLLYWOOD

The Unusual Story of Nollywood by Dr. Chika Christian Onu

Description

Through the mouths of credibility, the author exhumes the buried artifacts of the long-earthed stories of Nollywood. Together the mouths weave a shocking tale of film expectation through the ages of unimaginable discoveries in the North, East, and West of the country Nigeria. The Unusual Story of Nollywood is a didactic document that x-rays the seminal movie Living in Bondage and exposes the cluster of information that may not have been intentionally hidden from the public. The book is an array of simple and complex paragraphs, systematically organized groups of small and large sentences, phrases, and quotes. The book is simply expressionistic as it goes straight to appreciate both positive and negative precedence that precipitated the birth of Nollywood in Nigeria.



Tuesday, June 21, 2022

Ideato Federal Constituency and Dr. Pascal Obi: When Continuity Becomes the Only Road To Travel

Ideato Federal Constituency and Dr. Pascal Obi: When Continuity Becomes the Only Road To Travel

- By Clifford Dike 

The legendary British writer C.S Lewis, perhaps had Ideato North and South federal constituency and the exhilarating performance of its representative in the House of Reps, Dr Chigozie Pascal Obi in mind when he uttered the timeless quote:"mere change is not growth. Growth is the synthesis of change and continuity, and where there is no continuity there is no growth.

Conversely, a broad spectrum of Ndi Ideato ultimately shares C.S Lewi's sentiment on continuity judging by the current groundswell of support for his re-election to the House of Representatives

Who would not w.ant a continuation of a quality and people oriented representation? Nobody, of course and this explains why the Ideato nation insists it cannot afford not to return Dr. Obi to the House.

Apart from the need for him to continue with his superlative representation of Ideato people and delivery of dividends of democracy, political leaders and opinion moulders in constituency hing their desire for Dr. Obi's re-election on national interest as regards parliamentary stability and growth of participatory democracy such as ours.

The high turnover of federal Parliamentarians every four years, especially in the Southeast, according to them does not make room for a robust legislative experience as obtained in the United States and other participatory  democracies around the world where some Parliamentarians spend upward of two, three decades in the hallowed legislative chambers.

A beautiful road is the darling of motorists and thus they keep plying it. This maxim finds definitive expression in Dr. Obi whose three and half years legislative journey is replete with quantum achievements.

When he was elected to the House of Reps in 2019 to represent Ideato North /Ideato South federal, his constituents entertained no doubt about his preparedness and capability to perform and he has not disappointed so far.

It is for this reason that the mantra in the constituency today is: Pascal, ga na agara anyi ije na Abuja ( Pascal will continue to represent us in Abuja).

In just three and half years in the House of Representatives, Dr Obi has brought the Ideato nation and indeed Imo state to national consciousness  on the floor of the House through:  

*Urgent call on the federal government of Nigeria to carry out full rehabilitation and reconstruction of Akwakuma - Orlu - Mgbee - Obiohia - Urualla - Akokwa - Uga federal road. It was adopted by the House and equally captured in the 2021 budget.

*A motion urging the federal government of Nigeria to create one more Federal Government College (FGC) in Imo State. Every state has three except Imo. This received instant approval and Obi, a result-oriented Federal Lawmaker insisted that it will be sited in Ideato Nation.

*A motion for the extension of Federal Medical Center Owerri to Ideato. It was also approved and included in the  2021 budget.

*A motion for the total turnaround of the National Orthopedic Hospital Enugu vis-a-vis workforce, facilities and structures. It gained approval.

*A motion for the canalization of river banks. This will protect our communities from excessive flooding during the rainy season.

*A motion urging the federal government of Nigeria to build more Ear/Eye hospitals in other parts of the country since the only Ear/Eye Hospital is located in Kaduna. It was approved, hence Ear Center for Lagos and Eye Center for Owerri, Imo State.

*A motion on the looming reoccurrence of Ebola crises in Nigeria: The need for the federal government to put in place detective measures in our airports, seaports and land borders.

*Calling attention to the need to construct a perimeter fence at the Federal University of Technology (FUTO), Owerri.

All communities in the federal constituency bear witness to Dr Pascal Obi's socio-economic and infrastructural blitz.

This can be gleaned from the total number of boreholes  he has drilled at designated points within the following communities:

URUALLA

OBODOUKWU

DIKENAFAI

UGBELLE

ORIE UMUOBOM

UMUMAISIAKU

AMANATO

NDIANICHE UNO

OSINA

OBIOHIA

He has also either established or upgraded comprehensive Health Facilities situated.

AKPULU, OSINA, OZU - URUALLA, UMUOKWARA, AKOKWA, DIKENAFAI, OBIOHIA, NTUEKE, UMUMAISIAKU, UMUOBOM and OGBOKO.

Phase similar project is also  ongoing at UMUALAOMA, UMUAGHOBE, UMUCHIMA, UGBELLE, UMUESHI, FMC ANNEX UMUEZEALLA - OGBOKO

Ideato is prone to erosion hence Dr Pascal Obi is paying special attention to roads and erosion control in the constituency.

So far, to his credit are a 1.5 Km Road at Akpulu, a 1.5 Km Road at Nneato-Ogwugwu Dikenafai, erosion control at Obiohia,

Solar-powered street lights at Umukegwu- Akokwa, Ozuakoli - Urualla and Obiohia - Umuago road.

A firm believer in human capital development, Dr Obi has established a plethora of various skill acquisition and empowerment programmes and centres across the constituency and has also, through his influence, secured federal jobs for several qualified persons in the constituency.  

A seasoned optometrist who has transversed public life at a relatively young age, Dr Obi was born in 1970. He read Optometry at the Imo state university and later capped it with a Masters's degree in Public Health from the University of Nigeria Enugu campus.

A knight of the Catholic Church, Dr Obi joined the  Imo State Ministry of Health Owerri in 1998.

He would rather rise to become The Acting Director of Public Health and Primary Health Care in the ministry and also the coordinator, of the National Programme for Prevention of Blindness (Vision 2020).

Former  Governor of Imo State Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha appointed Dr Obi Permanent Secretary and Principal Secretary to the Governor, a position he held till August 2018 to seek elective office.

As another election year (2023) approaches, the mood in Ideato is that of unwavering determination to travel the Dr Pascal Obi's route once more,this time around through the Labour Party route.

As a deft politician who  correctly guages the mood of his people and weighs their political aspirations and interest, Dr.Obi has keyed into the raging Peter Obi and the Labour Party revolution for the overall interest of the Ideato Nation.

Labour Party and its Presidential candidate, Peter Obi has become a national movement, a moving train every right-thinking politician who wants the best for his people must join hence Dr. Pascal Obi wasted no time in hopping in on board.

From all ramifications,  the people's parliamentarian, the Avatar of Ideato politics, Dr Chigozie Pascal Obi ( Ugwusinachi) is a king awaiting formal crowning. The crowning will of course happen in February next year when the Ideato nation would have resoundingly voted him and the Labour Party for a return to Abuja!

***

Clifford Dike writes from Urualla, Ideato North, Imo State.


Nollycasting is Attracting International Casting Directors

Nollycasting is Attracting International Casting Directors


Nollywood diva, Stephanie Linus' Nollycasting.com is attracting international casting directors in search of new faces for film and TV productions, music videos, adverts and fashion shows.

"Nollywood actress, Onyinye Odokoro got a major role on Nollycasting for Sky Original TV Series' "Unwanted” in Italy where she is now acting alongside top actors," said Stephanie. 

"Unwanted" is produced by Sky Studios, Pantaleon Films and Indiana Production and directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel. 

Sky released first look images for the new Sky Original drama, “Unwanted.” Inspired by the book “Bilal,” an investigative book from journalist Fabrizio Gatti, the eight-part series tells the story of an undercover human rights defender who is helping migrants journey from Africa to Europe as they battle human traffickers and government officials. https://www.google.com/amp/s/variety.com/2022/tv/global/sky-unwanted-first-look-images-1235188198/amp

NBCUniversal Global Distribution are handling international sales of the series on behalf of Sky Studios. “Unwanted” is set to air on Sky and streaming service Now in all Sky territories. The release date has not yet been announced. 

Stephanie said she is already looking at the profiles of the actors and models on Nollycasting for the cast of her new film projects by Next Page Productions.

Casting directors in America, Spain, the UK, France and Italy have been asking for Nigerians and other Africans for roles in acting, modeling, TV commercials and music videos.

Nollycasting is free to use for both new and seasoned talents in the film and TV industry. In partnership with its subsidiary, Next Page Talents, the platform also provides customized talent management services for creative individuals who want to take their career to the next level. 

"It's easier than ever to cross that gap between having the right skills and finding the right job on Nollycasting.com. Creative individuals such as actors, models, music artistes and more can upload their profiles and highlight their skills, thereby positioning themselves to be discovered by casting directors who are actively recruiting for such roles" said Stephanie Linus who is currently in the United States of America in preproduction for one of her new film productions: a crime thriller on the triangle of human trafficking in America, Europe and Africa.
Visit https://www.nollycasting.com to see the international casting calls.



Saturday, June 18, 2022

The American King now Streaming on Roku

 The American King, the first Hollywood and Nollywood comedy to have theatrical release in the United States of America is now streaming on Roku

A mysterious priestess arrives in the USA to fulfill a 400-year-old prophecy: to choose an American King who will rebuild an ancient African Kingdom. Streaming on Roku.

#hollywood #nollywood #comedy #streaming #drama #nigeria #africa #africans #theamericamking #blacklivesmatter #leadership #america #movies 

https://www.roku.com/whats-on/movies/the-american-king?id=4b8e8d4b97da5e9b8da961635b393d56

Friday, June 10, 2022

Where Dogs Eat Dogs

Dog eat dog in capitalism.
- Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima

#Dogs
#capitalism
#society
#NIgeria
#success #art #communication #network #university #amazon #africa #writing #military #corruption #publichealth #television

I had early success becoming a
well paid professional TV scriptwriter at 18, the youngest in Africa writing for the weekly puppet drama on Channel 10 of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), the largest TV network on the continent: a public health illustrator for the John's Hopkins University's Population Communication Services (JHU/PCS) at 21; Art/Features Editor for the Kiddies World magazine at 24 and a national program consultant for the UNICEF in Nigeria at 25.

I was fully informed on both the legitimate and illegitimate businesses in Corporate Nigeria during the military administrations in Nigeria. But since the transition to civilian administrations from 1999 to date, I have seen that Nigeria has gone to the dogs caused by the insecurities of Machiavellian politicians and their beneficiaries without any dignity, integrity and nobility. The worst humans in any society are those without conscience and without shame. Their dog eat dog attitudes    made me to write "In the House of Dogs" distributed by Amazon.

The widespread corrupt practices and all forms violence destroying lives in Nigeria have been caused by the insecurities of majority of Nigerians. Insecurities manifest in various forms of human behaviours: from emotional insecurities to intellectual insecurities which can be seen in the irrationality and stupidity of majority of Nigerians.
Lack of intellectual comprehension can destroy a nation.

Thursday, June 9, 2022

Multichoice Delivers Steady Margins Despite Content Cost Normalisation

 

PRESS RELEASE
Multichoice Delivers Steady Margins Despite Content Cost Normalisation
The group’s linear pay-TV subscriber base (measured on a 90-day active basis) increased by 0.9m to reach 21.8m households

Access Multimedia Content

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, June 9, 2022/ -- MultiChoice Group (MCG, or the group) (www.MultiChoice.com), Africa’s leading entertainment company, delivered steady margins for the year ended 31 March 2022 (FY22).

Download document (1): https://bit.ly/3Q6YBpP

“Reduced losses in the Rest of Africa (RoA), a rebound in advertising revenues and a continued focus on cost containment enabled us to absorb the R1.1bn impact of a normalisation in content costs as live sport returned and we resumed our local content production post the COVID-19 lockdowns,” says Calvo Mawela, Chief Executive Officer.

“We continued to enhance our video entertainment offering and expanded the variety of services offered to our customers as we grow our entertainment ecosystem,” he added.

The group’s linear pay-TV subscriber base (measured on a 90-day active basis) increased by 0.9m to reach 21.8m households, comprising 9m in South Africa and 12.8m in the RoA. The 5% growth year-on-year (YoY) is subdued due to the tough economic environment and elevated subscriber growth during  COVID-19 related lockdowns in the previous year.

Here are a few highlights:
  • Revenue: ZAR55.1bn up 3% (up 7% organic)
  • Trading profit: stable at R10.3bn (up 1% organic, due to absorbing cost normalisation)
  • Core headline earnings: R3.5bn (up 6% as Forex impact was less negative))
  • Free cash flow: R5.5bn (down 3%, due to one-off prepayments)
  • Dividend: R2.5bn 565 ZARc per share (±4% yield)
MCG continued to pursue its differentiation strategy through local content, stepping up its local content production by 32% YoY to 6 028 hours and bringing its local content library close to 70 000 hours. Local content accounted for 47% of total general entertainment content spend and the group remains on track to achieve a target of 50% by 2024.

Seven major new channels launched, including two Portuguese-focused channels in Angola and Mozambique. In South Africa, the group’s co-productions such as Reyka and Recipes for Love and Murder were broadcast to critical acclaim and international interest.

SuperSport delivered world class productions given a bumper calendar of major sporting events. A record number of viewers tuned into Euro 2020, the British and Irish Lions rugby tour and the Tokyo Olympics. SuperPicks, a free-to-play predictor game and the group’s first product collaboration with KingMakers, was launched in Nigeria in August 2021 and already has 0.5m registered users. SuperSport Schools, now 100% owned by the group, continues to grow rapidly and broadcasted 5 249 live games of schools sport during FY22.

Growth in Connected Video users on the DStv app and Showmax service is outpacing the market. Paying Showmax subscribers were up 68% YoY, whilst overall monthly online users of the group’s connected video services increased 28% YoY. A major driver has been the focus to localise by expanding local payment channels and enabling local billing in various markets. In addition, local content was stronger than ever with titles like DevilsDorp, the Real Housewives franchise and The Wife. Showmax Pro delivered an enhanced customer experience, which included the Tokyo Olympics, Euro 2020 and every English Premier League game.  

On the product side, the announcement of DStv as official launch partner of Disney+ in South Africa is a further extension of the group’s aggregation strategy, which aims to bring customers more content, and convenient access in one central place via DStv’s connected devices.

DStv Internet, which was launched in September 2021, is growing strongly. The DStv Rewards program, which supports customer retention and has been successful in reducing dormancy, continues to gain traction with close to a million customers. Digital adoption continues to track well with around 75% of customer touch-points now being managed through the group’s self-service channels. Due to the ongoing global silicon chip shortage the DStv Streama launch has been delayed and is now expected to launch in the first half of the next financial year.

SEGMENTAL REVIEW

South Africa

The South African business faced an increasingly difficult consumer climate, with FY22 growth rates impacted by rising unemployment levels, intermittent loadshedding and a disruption caused by the July riots in Durban and Johannesburg.

Revenue increased 4% to ZAR35.6bn, supported by the rebound in advertising revenue and a 1% increase in subscription revenues, driven by subscriber growth in the mass market and the uplift from annual price increases. The return of live sport and other value adding initiatives contributed to reducing churn in the Premium base relative to the prior year. Trading profit declined 1% to ZAR11.0bn as the ongoing cost-optimisation programme only partially offset consumer pressure in the middle market and the normalisation of content costs and sales and marketing expenses.

Rest of Africa (RoA)

The Rest of Africa business benefited from the popularity of local content such as Big Brother Naija and live sporting events. Whilst revenue of ZAR17.9bn reflects a strong 14% organic increase, it is only 4% higher than the prior year due to the impact of translating Rest of Africa’s USD revenues at a stronger ZAR for reporting purposes. Trading losses amounted to ZAR1.2bn, which is a 24% improvement YoY on an organic basis. Local currencies held up better against the USD than prior years, resulting in an overall headwind on reported results of only ZAR0.1bn (FY21: ZAR1.2bn). Although liquidity challenges continued in Nigeria, the group successfully repatriated cash throughout the year, albeit at a premium to the official exchange rate.

Technology segment

Irdeto, was impacted by global silicon shortages affecting supply chains, as well as COVID-19 related disruptions in large markets such as India. Revenues of ZAR1.5bn, down 17% YoY (9% organic), were further depressed by the impact of a stronger ZAR upon translation from USD. The segment contributed ZAR0.5bn to group trading profit with margins strong at 33%. Irdeto gained additional market share in its core media security business by winning four new Tier-1 customer. It also grew its device security business, expanded its deployment of connected vehicles with Hyundai, and started new projects like providing security software to large logistics companies. 

KingMakers

On 29 October 2021, the group increased its shareholding in KingMakers from 20% to 49.23%. KingMakers delivered USD136m (ZAR2.0bn) in revenues, representing robust growth of 74% YoY. It recorded a loss after tax amounting to USD19m (ZAR0.3bn) as increased revenues were offset by investment in people, product and technology to further scale the business. Although revenues are still primarily generated in Nigeria, the group is now also active in Kenya, Ghana and Ethiopia.

Future Prospects

In the year ahead, the group will continue to drive penetration of its video entertainment services across the African continent by offering customers an array of unique and rich media content delivered in a convenient and cost effective way. Local content and select sporting events such as the English Premier league, UEFA Champions League and the 2022 FIFA World Cup will contribute to the growth in linear and streaming services.

Returning the Rest of Africa business to profitability in FY23, maintaining strong cash flows to support a healthy balance sheet and pursuing innovative products and services remain key pillars for long term value creation.

“As a platform of choice, our group will look to further expand our entertainment ecosystem by identifying growth opportunities that leverage our scale and local capabilities,” says Mawela. “We will continue to strive to be a trusted partner for our customers’ ever-evolving needs, enriching their lives by delivering entertainment and relevant consumer services underpinned by technology.” 
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of MultiChoice Group.
 
MultiChoice Group Contact Details:
Elizabeth Fourie, Senior Manager: Corporate Communications
Tel: +27 11 289 4735
Mobile: +27 83 482 5241
Elizabeth.Fourie@multichoice.co.za

Meloy Horn, Head of Investor Relations
Mobile: +27 82 772 7123
meloy.horn@multichoice.com

About MultiChoice Group:
MultiChoice Group (MCG), which listed in the Main Board of the JSE on 27 February 2019, is one of the fastest-growing video entertainment providers globally, delivering entertainment products and services to 21.8m households across 50 countries on the African continent. Its track record of more than 30 years is reflective of a commitment to provide audiences with only the best local, sport and international content.

MCG’s strong partnerships with distributors, installers and telecommunication companies, along with its well-established payment solutions, competitive pricing and choice of viewership packages continue to secure its place in the global market, while also providing solutions unique to the African market. Its direct-to-home (DTH), digital terrestrial television (DTT) and over-the-top (OTT) solutions enable the business to stay relevant and aligned to changing consumer habits while capturing new markets.

Content is at the very core of the business. MCG aims to deliver quality content anywhere, anytime and on any device through a comprehensive video entertainment offering at different price points. As pioneers in African video entertainment, MCG plays an important role in making information and entertainment easily accessible to Africans.

MCG aims to secure content rights in a manner that is cost-effective and reflective of the diversity of its audiences. Its substantial portfolio includes award-winning local content (a key differentiator in its service offering), a leading sport offering (including production capabilities) and access to international content, which is all shared on the group’s platforms: DStv, GOtv, Showmax, M-Net and SuperSport.

MCG has superior technology capability through the security solutions that Irdeto, its technology company, brings to the group. These solutions enable MultiChoice to protect its investment, create new offerings and combat cybercrime. With 50 years’ expertise in software security, Irdeto’s software security solutions and cyber services protect over 5bn devices and applications for some of the world’s best brands.

SOURCE
MultiChoice Group

Tuesday, June 7, 2022

Nollywood and the French Connection

NOLLYWOOD

Nollywood and The French Connection


Before the Nigerian government started supporting Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry with grants from the Project Act Nollywood and the NollyFund of the Bank of Industry (BoI), the French government through the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs supported the film and TV productions of selected Nigerian filmmakers. The French Audio Visual Attaché in Nigeria (2002-2006), Monsieur Pierre Barrot authored one of the first books on the phenomenon of Nollywood, "Nollywood: The Video Phenomenon in Nigeria" published by the Indiana University Press in 2009.

One of films sponsored by the French government, "Eternal" by Chike Ibekwe won the best film award (Ecrans Dór) at the 14th edition of Ecrans Noir Film Festival in  2010 in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Another outstanding film produced with the support of  Fonds images Afrique of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs was "Changing Faces";by Faruk Lasaki,  the first Nigerian film to be dubbed into French and broadcast by Canal France International in 2009 to all television channels in French-speaking Africa under the title "La Métamorphose".

Nigerian Films and TV series projects which benefitted from French production funding and were fully completed.

Projet

Producteur

ou réalisateur

Genre

Aide accordée

Origine

Année

Our husband has gone mad again

Albert Egbe

TV Series

(13 x 26 minutes)

40 000 euros

Fonds Images Afrique

2003

The Virgin ?

 

 

Tunde Kelani

TV Series

35 000 euros

Fonds Images Afrique

2003

Claws of the lion

Francis Onwochei

Feature Film

30 000 euros

Fonds Images Afrique

2004

Tides of Fate

Greg Odutayo

TV Series

40 000 euros

Fonds Images Afrique

2005

Eternal

Chikeh Ibekwe

Feature Film

40 000 euros

Fonds Images Afrique

2005

The Head of State

Jimi Odumosu

 

45 000 euros

Fonds Images Afrique

2005

Changing Faces

Faruk Lasaki

 

60 000 euros

Fonds Images Afrique

2005

Off Campus

Chikeh Ibekwe

 

35 000 euros

Fonds Images Afrique

2005

Relentless

Andy Amadi Okoroafor

 

Aide réécriture

 

100 000 euros

Fonds Images Afrique

2005

 

 

2006

 

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima

Publisher/Editor

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR®Series


Friday, June 3, 2022

Re: What Has Atiku Achieved? - Prof Akin Omoz-Oarhe

 A DAMNING WRITE-UP ON ATIKU

�� A County Ruled By Semi-illiterates Over The Years. As Permutations For 2023 Continues_

Still on Atiku Abubakar !!!

Prof Akin Omoz-Oarhe writes:

A fair comment.

1. He is far more educated than PMB. I do not mean possession of college certificate but having a broader outlook of life. So he would certainly have been less nepotistic and would not have inflicted this level of disunity on us.

2. But he was NOT a nice guy OBJ made us to know that. He was a crook from his mothers womb:

�Just imagine in those days when forgery was alien to us into the 1960s, he 'wangled' his way into Police College without the requisite WAEC qualifications. Certificate checks found him out. He failed Mathematics and was sacked.

�He went for training as a Sanitary Inspector. He became one but stole a litre of 'Izal' and got sacked.

�"Somehow he became a Tax Collector. It was found that with appropriate gratification, he halved the taxes due some people. He got kicked out.

�No record that he ever repeated his WAEC but he got a place in ABU to study for a Diploma in Sharia Law.

�Recruitment Agents wanted some people in the Custom. They found that he was once a Tax Collector and was a student in Police College. Good combination. He got the Custom job. He rose fast.

�One day, while on duty heading a Unit, a beautiful Yoruba girl, Atinuke, had crossed Seme Border to Republic of Benin (then Dahomey) and smuggled in some 'ankara' materials. On her return she was caught by the Customs and dragged to their boss Atiku. WAO! Atiku loved what he saw. He decided to give the law a human face. He asked his boys what the Customs charges would have been if not smuggled. They computered it and gave him the figure. He paid on her behalf and 3 months later married her as his first wife. Two of a type.

�Atiku continued to rise in the Customs. He moved to a Unit where it was their duty to open all containers that were imported into Nigeria as to ascertain what were inside and charged appropriately. It was lucrative. He made friends and money. How? He would open a container and find a car inside that could attract some millions of naira. He would declare that the container contained panadol, that attracted no duty. The owner would share the gain with Atiku. One of the beneficiary was an Italian. They became good friends via partnership in crime.

�Atiku soon recommended that the job in the Unit was beyond the staffing and that there was need for conducting firm to be engaged to carry out that duty on behalf of the government. The government accepted the recommendation. Very quickly, Atiku and his Italian friend set up Intel. Yes the famous Intel.

�Soon Atiku thievery became too much and the Government of IBB decided to sack him. Someone pleaded on his behalf. IBB gave him the option to retire. That's why Atiku got out of Custom as an Assistant Contoller of Custom.

�He got into politics. We know the rest of how he became the Vice President to OBJ.

�His problem with OBJ was because he had already engaged a marabout who tells him what political moves to make. In spite of having won the governorship of Adamawa, the marabout told him he would not rule as a governor. Something bigger was coming which he must take because that would lead him to be President of Nigeria. Soon OBJ offered him the position of Presidential running mate in the 1999 Presidential election. The marabout had already told him to accept the position. So he jettisoned the governorship position and ran with OBJ and won.

�His trouble with OBJ started because the marabout told him that he would from that position become a President. He did not care to ask when. So immediately he became the Vice President, he guessed that OBJ would do one term. So he immediately started working on replacing OBJ in 2003. OBJ got to know all about the marabout and then swore that Atiku would never get there.

�Lest we forget, once Atiku became the VP, in 2001, changed Intel contract to 20 years.

�Atiku was a devout muslim. The Muslim has a right to have up to 4 wives if the means is there. It was for Atiku. In those years as he struggled to be a state governor of Adamawa State, it became expedient to expand his connection. So he married the daughter of the Emir of Adamawa as his third wife. Then later a 4th.

�As a Vice President, Atiku met an Igbo lady in NTA who came to interview him. He liked the girl because she was sharp.

� Atiku expanded his business to the US. He was now collecting money from businessmen promising to open business opportunities for them in Nigeria. He needed someone to handle the US front. He remembered her Igbo TV friend. He pulled her out of the NTA and sent her to handle his US business.

�The two did so much together and were later both banned from entering the US.

�Atiku continued his struggle to be President. He already had one Yoruba wife and 3 Northern wives. He needed Igbo votes too so as to tell Nigerians that he is total Nigerian. He needed an Igbo wife for this. But he already had 4 wives. So he sacked the second wife to create a space for the Onitsha girl!!!

�1971, he secretly married Titilayo Albert, in Lagos, because her family was initially opposed to the union. His children from her include: Fatima, Adamu, Halima and Aminu.

�In 1979, he married Ladi Yakubu as his second wife. He has six children with Ladi: Abba, Atiku, Zainab, Ummi-Hauwa, Maryam and Rukaiyatu.

�In 1983, he married his third wife, Princess Rukaiyatu, daughter of the Lamido of Adamawa, Aliyu Mustafa.

�Abubakar later divorced Ladi, allowing him to marry a fourth wife Jennifer Iwenjiora Douglas.

However it was Ladi the second wife he divorced not Rukayatu

Atiku has 5 wives and 26 children!!!

My Take: Nigeria is being ruled by bunch of criminals! I have always said it that none of the people that have ruled Nigeria democratically, should have been the Head of State/President if education and knowledge of the job, (like the case of civilized countries) was a prerequisite. Just imagine the CV of Atiku. A con man par excellence!!! This country has gone to the dogs for too long, and she needs a surgical operation.

*******

Thinking Nigeria, But...

God Does Not Author Confusion.

A 14 year-old cannot be admitted into university to study, but a 13 year-old can be married.

A school certificate holder cannot become a director in the civil service, but a school certificate holder can become President and commander-in-chief of the entire country.

The country is among the major oil producing countries in the world, but it imports the fuel it consume.

The country has the highest number of foreign doctors in the UK and America, but its leaders travel abroad for their medical needs.

The country shoots armless protesters, but hold peace parleys *with bandits, kidnappers, and terrorists *.

The country rehabilitates terrorists, but their victims languish in refugee camps.

God did not create any country. He located human beings in different territories and gave them all empowerments to survive.

Whatever they turn out to be is entirely their choices and decisions.

UAE and Qatar are deserts converted to paradise.

Nigeria is paradise converted to hell.

Nigeria is epitome of confusion, and God is not the author of confusion.

Yet, we can right the wrong. It's our difficult but surmountable task. Yes, We Can...


2023: Professor Ikonne Sets to Adjust Abia's Sail

2023: Professor Ikonne Sets to Adjust Abia's Sail

- By Chief Maxwell Kanu. 

In the words of the American author, John Maxwell, "the pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The leader adjusts the sails.”

Professor Uche Ukonne perfectly fits into Maxwell's definition of a leader.

His emergence as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP's gubernatorial flagbearer is indeed a trigger for a new Abia.

Professor Ikonne's expected victory in next year's gubernatorial polls will be a fitting, proper and deserving call to service, a call to reinvent Abia by recalibrating its economy and infrastructure.

He is not coming to learn on the job.A consumate administrator and academic colossus, Professor Ikonne is eminently qualified, prepared and equipped with innovative ideas with  which he will be adjusting Abia's sail for the better when he becomes governor next year.

His exhilarating performance as the Vice Chancellor of Abia state University still resonates. 

Like a goldfish, Professor Ikonne has no hiding place. It is not therefore, a surprise that the PDP spotted him and saddled him with the task of deepening Abia's socio-economic and infrastructural ascendancy.

It is obvious that the party recognises  a competent leader, a doer and an achiever when it see one. For sure, the PDP sees one in Professor Ikonne.

With a plethora of youth and women organisations, civil society groups, academics and religious leaders as well as traditional rulers routing for him, Professor Ikonne is the man to beat in the 2023 Abia guber contest.

Born in Agburuike, Nsulu in Isiala Ngwa North, Abia State, Professor Ikonne's academic career spans over three decades.

He attended  Ngwa High School, in Aba  and later proceeded to Manila Central University, Philippines to study Optometry.

He also holds specialist master's degree programme in Hospital Administration at St. Jude College, also in the Philippines.On his return to Nigeria in 1985, Professor Ikonne served as consulting optometrist at the Park Lane General Hospital, Enugu, and was later to obtain a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Environmental Health Science from Abia State University.

In an ironic twist of fate, he would in later years, serve the University as Vice Chancellor.

From 2010 to 2014, Ikonne served as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Abia State University and was seconded to Abia State Polytechnic, Aba as Rector on what was described as  Rescue  Mission.

Upon returning to the University, he was appointed its 7th Substantive Vice-Chancellor in December 2015.

He also attained the following positions:

Head, Department of Optometry – Abia State University.

Director, Institute for Distance Education, Abia State University.

Acting Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, Abia State University.

Deputy Provost, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Abia State University.

Professor Ikonne is a member of several professional bodies and has sat on many professional and academic Boards and Committees including:

Member, Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria from 1993 to date

Chairman of the Education Committee, 1993 to date

Chairman, Disciplinary Committee, 2007 to date

Vice-Chairman, Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria, 2009 to date. He was also Registrar, Nigerian Postgraduate College of Optometrists.

Professor Ikonne has in his kitty, an avalanche of awards including,  the African Optometric Educator Award of the year 2003 and the Distinguished Meritt Award of the Nigerian Optometric Association, 2006.

If elected governor next year, Professor Ikonne will join the list of erudite academics, especially Professor who were/are in partisan politics and who offered quality leadership and contributed immensely to national development.

The roll call include the second Republic governor of the defunct Bendel state, the late Prof Ambrose Alli, former Education Minister,  

Professor Jibril Aminu, Former Vice Chancellor of ABU, Processor Ango Abdulahi, Late Minister of Petroleum, Professor Tam David West, Former Health Minister, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, Former Health Minister, Onikoye Ransom-Kuti, Former Education Minister, late Professor  Babs Fafuwa, Former Minister for Science and Technology, late Professor Godion Ezekwe, incumbent Governor of Borno state, Professor Zulum among others.

***

Chief Maxwell writes from Isukwuato, Abia State.