By Taiye Olayemi
Ilebaye Odiniya has emerged winner of the Big Brother Naija “All Star” reality show.

She defeated other housemates to clinch the N120 million cash prize at slake during the finale of the show on Sunday in Lagos.

Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, the host of the show, made the announcement.

The 22-year-old graduate of Criminology and Security Studies from Kogi was the third housemate to be evicted from Season 7 of the reality TV show in 2022.

Her victory makes her the third female to clinch the BBNaija top prize.

Ilebaye will also be walking away with some other consolation prizes.

Mercy Eke, who was the first runner-up, won the season four of Big Brother Naija in 2019, becoming the first woman to win the reality show.

Mercy bagged N60 million during the ‘Pepper Dem’ edition.

31-year-old lawyer from the ‘Double Wahala’ edition, Cynthia Nwadiora, popularly known as CeeC, emerged the second runner-up.

Adekunle Olopade, a 27-year-old digital consultant and entrepreneur from Lagos State, emerged the third runner-up with Pere Egbi as the fourth runner-up and Cross Okonkwo, the fifth runner-up.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the show began July 23 with 20 housemates, with four houseguests joining later in the course of the show.
(NAN)
Edited by Folasade Adeniran

By Josephine Obute

The Regional Head for Creative Economy, British Council, Brenda Fashugba, on Saturday announced the introduction of an empowering project for Filmmakers, “Film Lab Africa”.

Film Lab Africa is a transformative Pan African initiative  by the British Council dedicated to empowering emerging filmmakers and TV producers starting from Nigeria, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Fashugba, who is also the Head of Arts and Creativity in Nigeria, while addressing newsmen, said the project would boost the Nigerian film industry which is second largest in the world.

She noted that the project would be exposed to anyone with good Nigerian content with £5,000 each, adding that  it would also be in partnership with Nollywood Stars.

Fashugba also said the selection process would be through registration online with the provided sites.

“We celebrate the launch of Film Lab Africa, a transformative Pan African initiative by the British Council dedicated to empowering emerging filmmakers and TV producers starting from Nigeria.

“This marks the beginning of an exciting journey—one that holds the promise of not just shaping the future of the creative industry but also of fostering collaboration, innovation, and cultural enrichment.

“We are set to introduce the birth of a programme that will become a catalyst for change, a platform for creative expression, and a hub for forging lasting connections,” she said.

Fashugba added that the Film Lab Africa was not just a programme , but  a testament
to the British Council’s commitment toward nurturing talents, promoting cross-cultural collaboration through the creative economy.

“It reflects our belief in the transformative power of storytelling, and it is a resounding affirmation of our dedication to supporting the arts and creative industries.

“ Film Lab Africa will provide aspiring filmmakers and television producers with tools, knowledge, and resources needed to craft compelling narratives and make their mark on the global stage.

“Through comprehensive capacity-building initiatives, technical training, mentorship, and workshops, participants will embark on a journey of self-discovery and creative exploration.

“We will emphasise the art of mobile phone cinematography, delve into the intricacies of short film production, and navigate the complex terrain of film and television industry’s business.

“ In doing so, we will not only empower individuals but also contribute to the growth and sustainability of Nigeria’s creative economy,” she said.

According to her, the council envisions a future where Nigerian filmmakers and TV producers are celebrated on the global stage, where their voices resonate far and wide, and where their stories inspire change.

She called on other stakeholders to embrace the creative spirit that united all and also join hands in shaping a brighter, more vibrant future for Nigeria’s creative industry.

NAN also reports that Fashugba was in company of the Regional Arts  Director, Sub-Saharan Africa, Farai Ncube and Chikodi Onyemerela, British Council Nigeria’s Director of Programmes. (NAN)www.nanews.ng

Edited by Vivian Ihechu

Edited by Folasade Adeniran

By Taiye Olayemi

Spotify, global online streaming platform has revealed South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and Angola as the top five countries consuming podcasts in Africa.

Ncebakazi Manzi, Spotify’s Podcast Manager, Sub-Saharan Africa, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in commemoration of the International Podcast Day slated for Sept. 30 annually.

According to him, the rise of podcast listenership in Nigeria has been exponential in the past couple of years, increasing by 222 per cent between 2021 and 2022.

“This places Nigeria as the second country consuming podcasts the most in Africa right after South Africa.

“Nigeria is followed by Kenya, Ghana and Angola. These five countries make up the top five African Spotify countries with the most podcast listeners.

“September 30 is International Podcast Day, and we have seen the podcast landscape continually evolve and gain traction in Nigeria.

“The demographic at the forefront of this transformation is Generation Z (Gen Z).

“With its accessibility and diversity of content ranging from storytelling to information sharing and entertainment, podcasting has become a popular choice for Gen Z listeners.

Manzi said that according to Spotify’s data, Nigerian Gen Zs aged between 18 and 24 years constituted a sizable segment of podcast listeners, accounting for 50 per cent of the total streams, for the last 90 days.

He said they were followed by listeners aged 25 to 29 years contributing 21 per cent of the streams.

According to him, in the Sub-Saharan Africa region, Gen Z also tops the listenership rate with 39 per cent of the total streams coming from them.

“Gen Z is revolutionising the podcasting landscape, and their appetite for diverse content is shaping the future of audio entertainment in Nigeria.

“We remain committed to elevating podcasting and amplifying the voice of podcasters in Nigeria and beyond.

“The spotlight falls on The HonestBunch Podcast, I Said What I Said, Menisms, So Nigerian and Tea with Tay as the top local podcasts in the hearts of Nigerian listeners.

“Their leading position comes as no surprise, given their widespread popularity among the Gen Z and Millennials.

“This is attributed to their engaging and entertaining content, their keen awareness of trending subjects and their unfiltered and candid conversations,” he said.

On preferred podcast listening times among Nigerians, Manzi noted that Spotify data shows that most listeners tune in to podcasts from 7.00 a.m. to 9.00 a.m, possibly while commuting to work, sitting in traffic or getting ready for the day.

He said Spotify had made it easier for anyone to create and grow a podcast, through Spotify for Podcasters.

“It is a one stop shop to upload or record content, add interactive features like Q&A or polls, all while keeping track of a show’s growth through advanced analytics.

“And for the listeners, Spotify is always working to create new ways to make it easier to listen, discover and engage with their favorite podcasts, and are rolling out new tools including auto-generated transcripts, expanding podcasts chapters and updating podcast show pages.

“As podcasting continues to evolve, keeping a close eye on Gen Z’s preferences and behaviours will be crucial for all stakeholders in the podcasting ecosystem in Nigeria.

“Especially, as they lead with 50.9 per cent of the total population in the country,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Christiana Fadare

By Deborah Akpede

The police in Lagos have confirmed that music promoter, Balogun Eletu, aka ‘Sam Larry” was in custody and currently assisting with the ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of 27-year-old singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, a.k.a Mohbad.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, made this known on his verified Twitter handle@BenHundeyin.

Hundeyin did not disclose whether  Sam Larry was arrested or he turned himself in.

”He is currently assisting with ongoing investigation,” the image-maker said.

NAN reports that Mohbad died on Sept. 12 and was buried on Sept. 13, but was exhumed on Sept 21 for autopsy.

Many fans and celebrities in some states took to the streets in protests following Mohbad’s death.

They demanded that justice be done as they suspected that there was more to Mohbad’s death than met the eye. (NAN)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

By Deji Abdulwahab

Sen. Chris Adighije has described the groundbreaking of Abia Industrial Innovation Park (AIIP) initiated by the state government as a double feat with multiple benefits for the state, country and West Africa at large.

Adighije, who said this in a statement in Abuja, said the initiative of Gov. Alex Otti’s administration was a blessing.

According to him, the park will create immense job opportunities for the people, shore up government’s revenue and attract foreign investments.

“To birth an idea of an AIIP is novel, and a double feat with multiple benefits, not only for the state, but for the country, the West African subregion and the Continent at large.

“To start with, the idea is long overdue to help harness the state’s innovative and industrial drives into a systemic corridor that can be monitored and invested into, in a more scientific way.

“The AIIP, as is currently designed and projected, will create immense job opportunities for the people of the state, and for other Nigerians as well, while also shoring up the government’s internally generated revenue (IGR).”

According to him, it will also attract foreign investments from other places within and outside Nigeria, as it would also in turn, create a better export net for products from Aba, and/or, other parts of the state.

“As products from the AIIP travel to other places on the continent, and even outside Africa, the economy of scale resulting from this would further improve Per Capital Income of individuals and households.

“It will allow for increase in taxes cum government income,” Adighije said.

He congratulated the governor and people of the State for recording the monumental achievement.

He stated that since May 29, 2023 when Gov. Otti was sworn in, the issues and discussions of governance in Abia State had taken a positive dimension in the areas of education, Infrastructural development, security, economy and others.

“I join the government and people of Abia to celebrate this onerous feat of positioning our Dear State on the World map.

“For long Abia State has been the darling of commerce and technological innovations that has endeared it to people and places beyond the shores of Nigeria.

“Products from Aba have traveled to Bamali in Mali, Dakar in Senegal, Aswan in Egypt, Ashanti in Ghana, to list a few places in Africa.

“In Europe, Madrid in Spain, London in UK, Oslo in Norway, Heidelberg in Germany, just as Kyoto in Asia’s Japan, Sydney in Australia, among others, all bear testimonies of the ingenuity of people in Abia State.

“Such words as “Aba Made” is a common cliche among Nigerians, whether it is spoken with patriotism or otherwise,” he said. (NAN)

Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Edited by Folasade Adeniran

By Deji Abdulwahab

The Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr Garba Abari, says patriotism and active citizens participation will help Nigeria to achieve  national growth and development.

Abari said this in Abuja on Tuesday at a news conference to commemorate the 2023 National Citizens and Patriots’ Day.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the National Symbols Day is celebrated every Sept.16, while Citizens and Patriots Day is commemorated every Sept. 30.

”The importance of patriotism to national development cannot be overemphasised as it takes patriotic citizens to develop a nation and citizenship without patriotism is perhaps, the greatest bane of any nation or community.

“It goes without saying that the Nigeria of our dreams can only be achieved by a collective effort of patriotic citizens.

“It is the love we individually have for our fatherland that will translate into our posture towards the rule of law,

constituted authority, national interest, national image and other issues connected to patriotism,” he said.

The director-general said good citizenship stemmed from patriotism, adding that, the concept of citizenship had evolved beyond having a legal right to participate in the affairs of the state.

“Today, it connotes having a personal sense of belonging to a given community. Culturally, citizenship speaks to the consciousness of a common cultural heritage with specific fellows.

“Therefore, for us as Nigerian citizens to contribute meaningfully to the development of our nation, we must possess a personal sense of belonging in Nigeria while respecting and upholding our cultural heritage as a people.

“Such disposition is the bedrock of patriotism and national heroism,” he said.

He said that the symbols day was observed yearly to remind Nigerians when the country’s Coat-of-Arms and National Ordinance was signed into law in 1960 ahead of Nigeria’s Independence Day.

“The day is used to reemphasise the need for citizens to handle Nigeria’s national symbols with pride, loyalty and respect as instruments that represent the sovereignty and presence of Nigeria.

“These national symbols include the Nigerian Constitution, National Flag, National Anthem, National Prayer, National Pledge, Coat-of-Arms, Seal of the Nigerian President, Nigerian Passport, National Identity Card and the National currency.

“Sept. 30 is also used to celebrate citizens who have made outstanding patriotic contributions to national development,” Abari said. (NAN)

Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Isaac Aregbesola