By Precious Akutammadu

Nigerian movie makers have announced the resumption of their groundbreaking first features project as the crew returns to set for the film shoot “Kill Boro”.

Steve Gukas, Visionary Director, Native Filmworks and Michelangelo Productions said in a statement on Wednesday that the “First Features” project was part of an effort to elevate Nigerian cinema.

“Kill Boro is currently filming in Port Harcourt,” he said.

Gukas, who is a seasoned filmmaker renowned for works like “93 Days” and “A Place in The Stars”, said that the elevation of the cinema would come in form of nurturing emerging talents with top-tier industry expertise.

“Kill Boro”, a highly anticipated addition to our 12-film slate, is being directed by Courage Obayuwana, a protégé of the project.

“The First Features project is focused on nurturing and empowering a new generation of visionary film directors.

“It provides training and funds the production of the first feature films by these exciting new voices in the Nigerian film industry.

“As “Kill Boro” begins filming, it marks not only the continuation of our mission to empower emerging filmmakers but also a testament to the vibrancy and innovation driving Nollywood into the future,” Gukas added.

He said that the First Features project’s mentorship program had renowned industry professionals like John Demps, Antonio Ribeiro, Tolu Ajayi, Cristina Aragon, and George Kallis.

Gukas said that the renowned filmmakers would provide insights into the intricacies of film and television production, equipping emerging directors with the skills necessary to direct feature-length films.

Dotun Olakunri, co-founder of the initiative and an influential figure in Nollywood, emphasised the importance of the project, saying that it was also to bolster the talent pool in Nollywood.

“We firmly believe investing in the next wave of filmmakers is essential for the industry’s continued growth.

“With the evolving landscape of Nollywood, including the entry of streaming giants like Prime Video, initiatives like First Features play a crucial role in upskilling local talent and ensuring that Nigerian cinema continues to captivate global audiences.”

“First Features achieved its first milestone last year with the release of “Cake,” a feature film directed by Prosper Edesiri.

“The film which showcased the potential of the human capacity development project featured stars like Tope Tedela, Sophie Alakija, Patience Ozokwor, and other Nollywood stars,” Olakunri said.

According to Olakunri, the success of “Cake,” First Features has led to the conclusion of production on “Love & Life,” a gripping drama directed by Reuben Reng that stars Rita Dominic, Nse Ikpe-Etim, Chidi Mokeme and Michelle Dede.

He also said that production had been concluded on another feature film, “It Blooms In June”, directed by Korede Azeez, starring Femi Jacobs, Kiki Omeili, Susan Pwajok, and Kem Ajieh.

Olakunri said “Love & Life” would be released in October this year, bringing another captivating contribution to Nigerian cinemas. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Emmanuel Afonne

By Kadiri Abdulrahman

TAJBank Limited, one of Nigeria’s foremost non-interest banking services providers, has won the Global Islamic Finance Award (GIFA) 2023 for its ‘Best Sukuk Deal of the Year 2023.

According to a statement from TAJBank, it’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr Hamid Joda, was also decorated with the “Most Promising CEO of the Year 2023” award.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the awards held in Senegal, was witnessed by the country’s President, Macky Sall, and other global leaders and bankers.

Over the years, GIFA has recognised over 500 governments, individuals, and institutions, commending their significant contributions to the estimated four trillion dollars Islamic finance industry.

In his remarks, Joda commended the GIFA leadership for the global recognition.

“We are grateful to the award organisers for recognition of the bank and my humble self for the GIFA 2023.

“As we keep saying, these awards and several others TAJBank had received in the past three years will further encourage us to do more in surpassing the expectations of our growing customers,” he said.

He said that the bank would continue to ensure quality products and services delivery and value-addition to its customers and their businesses.

The bank’s Executive Director and Co-Founder, Mr.Sherif Idi, also commended the customers for their increasing confidence in TAJBank to offer them superior products and services.

The GIFA Chairman, Prof. Humayon Dar; commended the winners for their hard work, persistence, and innovative strategies to be able to make giant strides even in the economic climate.

NAN recalls that the listing of TAJBank’s N10 billion Sukuk bond on the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) in February enjoyed an unprecedented support from investors, recording of over 30 per oversubscription.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

By Perpetua Onuegbu

The Federal Government is committed and passionate about solving housing deficit in the country.

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Mr Ahmed Dangiwa, made the pledge when he received Gov. Dikko Radda of Katsina State in Abuja on Tuesday.

By Cecilia Ologunagba

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday called on world leaders to affirm democratic governance as the best guarantor of the sovereign will and well-being of the people, saying military coups are wrong.

Tinubu said this in his inaugural statement to the 78th session of the General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York.

The UN correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Tinubu, who delivered his address to the world leaders at 8p.m. local tine, spoke on behalf of Nigeria and Africa.

“Military coups are wrong, as is any tilted civilian political arrangement that perpetuates injustice. The wave crossing parts of Africa does not demonstrate favour towards coups.

“It is a demand for solutions to perennial problems. Regarding Niger, we are negotiating with the military leaders.

”As Chairman of ECOWAS, I seek to help re-establish democratic governance in a manner that addresses the political and economic challenges confronting that nation, including the violent extremists who seek to foment instability in our region.

“I extend a hand of friendship to all who genuinely support this mission,’’ he said.

Tinubu, however. told the leaders of Nigeria’s accord with the objectives and guiding principles of the world body: peace, security, human rights and development.

“ In fundamental ways, nature has been kind to Africa, giving abundant land, resources and creative and industrious people.

“Yet, man has too often been unkind to his fellow man and this sad tendency has brought sustained hardship to Africa’s doorstep.

“To keep faith with the tenets of this world body and the theme of this year’s Assembly, the poverty of nations must end.

”The pillage of one nation’s resources by the overreach of firms and people of stronger nations must end. The will of the people must be respected. This beauty, generous and forgiving planet must be protected,’’ he said.

According to him, as for Africa, we seek to be neither appendage nor patron and  we do not wish to replace old shackles with new ones.

Instead, the Nigerian leader said: “we hope to walk the rich African soil and live under the magnificent African sky free of the wrongs of the past and clear of their associated encumbrances. We desire a prosperous, vibrant democratic living space for our people.

“To the rest of the world, I say walk with us as true friends and partners. Africa is not a problem to be avoided nor is it to be pitied. Africa is nothing less than the key to the world’s future.’’

The UN correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Tinubu was accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar,  the Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the UN, Amb. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande and the Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.

Other Nigerian officials on the delegation are: Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate and Minister of Industry Trade and Investment, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anita.

Also on the delegation are: Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo; Minister of Solid Mineral, Dele Alake; Minister of Arts and Culture, Hannatu Musawa; and Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu.

Others are: Akwa Ibom Governor, Umo Eno; Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo; Gov. Uba Sani of Kaduna; Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe; and Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq of Kwara, among others. (NAN)  (www.nannew.ng)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

By Ismail Abdulaziz

President Bola Tinubu has urged UN member states to show more commitment to the crackdown against terror financing, economic sabotage, and illicit mineral and arms smuggling in the developing world.

This is contained in a statement issued by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity in Abuja.

Addressing the 78th UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, Tinubu also called on member states to compel firms and nationals from their countries from participating in the pillage of the African continent’s resources, which has led to several unrest.

“The fourth important aspect of global trust and solidarity is to secure the continent’s mineral rich areas from pilfering and conflict. Many such areas have become catacombs of misery and exploitation.

‘’The Democratic Republic of the Congo has suffered this for decades, inspite of the strong UN presence there. The world economy owes the DRC much, but gives her very little.

“Foreign entities that are abetted by local criminals, who aspire to be petty warlords, have drafted thousands of our people into servitude to illegally mine gold and other resources.

‘’Billions of dollars meant to improve the nation now fuel countless violent enterprises. If left unchecked, they will threaten peace and place national security at grave risk.

‘’Given the extent of this injustice and the high stakes involved, many Africans are asking whether this phenomenon is by accident or by design,” he said.

Member nations, Tinubu said, must reply by working with us to deter their firms and nationals from this 21st century pillage of the continent’s riches.

‘’To keep faith with the tenets of this world body and the theme of this year’s Assembly, the poverty of nations must end. The pillage of one nation’s resources by the overreach of firms and people of stronger nations must now end,” the President said.

The president noted that his aggressive economic development diplomatic push for new investment has been demonstrably effective in presenting Nigeria as business-ready, adding that the ease of doing business was not the major challenge to large scale investment.

“The question is not whether Nigeria is open for business. The question is how much of the world is truly open to doing business with Nigeria and Africa in an equal, mutually beneficial manner.

‘’Direct investment in critical industries, opening their ports to a wider range and larger quantity of quality African exports, and meaningful debt relief are important aspects of the cooperation we desire,” the President said.

Tinubu said that the global fight against climate change cannot be based on a “one size fits all” approach, adding that nations must cooperate in the design and implementation of their own strategies, which are tailored to their respective socio-economic strengths and weaknesses.

“African nations will fight climate change, but we must do so on our own terms. To achieve the needed popular consensus, this campaign must accord with our overall economic efforts.

“In Nigeria, we shall build political consensus by highlighting remedial actions which also promote the broader economic good.

‘’Projects such as ‘The Great Green Wall’ to stop desert encroachment; halting the destruction of our forests through the mass production and distribution of gas burning stoves; and the provision of employment through local water management and irrigation projects.

‘’(These) are examples of efforts that equally advance both economic and climate change objectives simultaneously.

‘’Continental efforts regarding climate change will register important victories, only if established economies were more forthcoming with public and private sector investment for Africa’s preferred projects and initiatives,” he noted.

The President also urged the world to see Africa as a place to equal opportunity and potential rather than a continent to be pitied.

“Walk with us as true friends and partners. Africa is not a problem to be avoided, nor is it to be pitied. Africa is nothing less than the key to the world’s future.”(NAN)
edited by Sadiya Hamza

By Oluwafunke Ishola

President Bola Tinubu has called on African leaders to increase investment in African youths toward enhancing socio-economic development of the continent. 

Tinubu said this during a Breakfast Launch of the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) Impact Report, held on the margin of the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meeting in New York. 

The report has the title, “The Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme: A Decade of Impact”.

The report highlights the significant contribution of the TEF’s flagship 100 million dollars Entrepreneurship Programme in advancing Africa’s socio-economic development. 

The programme was organised by TEF, United Nations Development Fund (UNDP) and United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) GEN-U, a global partnership to skill and connect young people to opportunities in education, employment and social impact. 

Tinubu, represented by the Minister for Trade and Industry, Doris Uzoka-Anite, said that African leaders aren’t doing enough for the citizens as regards socio-economic development. 

“I don’t think we are doing enough as Africans for Africa. I think we need to do a lot more. 

“Tony Elumelu is the major person driving investment in SMEs, supporting the youths, entrepreneurship, and start-ups. We need to challenge ourselves more, go a bit further. 

“Africa has some of the richest people on the planet, we have a resource rich continent, a huge population of young people, and I think that we need to take that challenge upon ourselves as Africans, to support one another,” he said. 

Tinubu said that Africa should desist from its reliance on donor funding, noting that such should support what had already been established and not show Africans the way to do things.

He noted that Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) were the engines of Nigeria and African economic growth, adding that they contributed almost half of the national GDP, and more than 80 per cent of employment. 

“And this is why we owe them every support that we can make available,” he said. 

Tinubu added that the right infrastructure which includes regulations, property rights, access to justice, protection from unfair competition, power, roads and ports access would be provided.

Similarly, Mr Tony Elumelu, Chairman, TEF, noted that the foundation took a bold step to transform Africa 13 years ago, by enhancing entrepreneurship development and galvanise African solutions. 

Elumelu noted that TEF had lit a beacon, noting that support and collaboration was required to make the beacon shine brighter and better. 

“100 million dollars is a drop of water in the ocean compared to what we need in Africa. Young Africans need economic support. 

“We’ve seen the devastating effect of climate change, how our young ones due to hopelessness are migrating and living in difficult situations. We want to put a stop to that,” he said.

To achieve that, Elumelu called for collaboration and increased investment in young Africans, bringing more women to economic activities and alleviating poverty. 

“Poverty anywhere is a threat to all of us everywhere,” he said. 

Earlier, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Somachi Chris-Asoluka, said TEF had empowered young African entrepreneurs from all the 54 African countries.

Chris-Asoluka noted that TEF had surpassed its target and funded 18,000 entrepreneurs and disbursed over 100 million dollars, directly, as seed capital to entrepreneurs who had created over 400 thousand jobs across African countries. 

She said that 91 per cent of businesses supported by the foundation were still active, generating significant revenue of over 2.3 million dollars and creating jobs.

According to her, the foundation has boosted gender representation, noting that the goal is to create a brighter and inclusive future for Africa. 

Ms Ahunna Eziakonwa, Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Africa, UNDP, said UNDP partnered TEF due to shared interest that drives development across Africa and globally. 

Eziakonwa noted that Africans wealth was its population which constitutes 70 per cent of young, vibrant and innovative Africans. 

“It is our loss if we don’t invest in them because that is the future of prosperity,” she said. 

She called for enhanced collaboration and investment to strengthen economic development of African youths. 

Also, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, said that TEF’s work aligns with Lagos State programmes on economic empowerment and poverty reduction. 

Sanwo-Olu said that collaborative efforts must evolve, to enhance the scale of Impact to deepen inclusion, equity and fairness. (NAN)

Edited by Olawunmi Ashafa

By Ismail Abdulaziz

President Bola Tinubu says Nigeria is now more ready to take its rightful place in the global business environment.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

The president stated this when he played host to a delegation consisting of the global leadership of an oil and gas transnational giant, ExxonMobil, in New York.

According to Tinubu, Nigeria is no longer settling for crumbs and leftovers on the investment agenda of the world’s most prolific energy conglomerates.

Tinubu said that following an illustrious private sector career as a professional accountant in the oil and gas industry, he has proven his capacity to take difficult decisions as President.

He added that he was best prepared to solve problems and crush all bottlenecks standing in the way of new and large-scale capital flowing into Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

“The knotty issues require direct supervision on my part. Despite many contending obligations, I will sit down and oversee the process of removing these encumbrances to job and wealth creation for the Nigerian people.

‘’We know the industry. We grew up in it. We are positioned to solve the problems, and we are pragmatic, and we will solve the problem,” the President said.

ExxonMobil President of Global Upstream Operations, Liam Mallon, assured Tinubu of his new and personal commitment to the country.

He added that he was well placed to reciprocate the President’s efforts with new investment as he pledged new production of nearly 40,000bpd in its Nigerian operations in phase one of a new investment push.

“What you told us was that your team would collaborate with us, and that has proven true. We have made significant progress since we last met.

‘’We are growing our production, and we are working hard on expanding in the deep water production. We appreciate your efforts, and we will respond in kind,’’ the ExxonMobil President stated. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Folasade Adeniran

By Rita Iliya
Niger Government on Tuesday says plans were underway to commence construction of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) permanent orientation camp.

Alhaji Abubakar Usman, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), said this at the 2023 Corps Employers Workshop with the theme: “Improving Corps Members Welfare and Enhancing Corps Stakeholders Relationship in the Post Golden Jubilee Era.”

Usman, represented by Alhaji Habibu Abdulkadir, Permanent Secretary, Economy Affairs, said that Gov. Umaru Bago was committed to revamping the NYSC permanent orientation camp to provide conductive accommodation.

“As representative of the SSG, I was involved in a meeting toward redesigning and development of the NYSC camp, which will be a desired destination for every youth corp member in Nigeria,” he said.

He commended the scheme for organising the workshop aimed at improving the welfare of corps members and ensuring their well-being.

In her remarks, Mrs Abiodu Olubukola, Acting Director of NYSC, North Central Area Office, said the workshop was a platform to exchange ideas on how to improve service delivery from the scheme and corps employers.

Olubukola, represented by Mrs Chinwe Nwachukwu, Deputy Director with NYSC, urged participants to pay attention to resource persons and contribute meaningfully in order to gain better insight to resolving their challenges.

Also speaking, Mrs Abdulwahab Alidat, NYSC Coordinator in Niger, said the workshop was to review issues that would enhance relationship between corps members, corps employers, other stakeholders and the scheme.

“We are here to proffer solutions to some of the problems and challenges we are facing in respect of this relationship, we want to air our views and want feedbacks from our corps employers,” she said.

She appealed to corps employers to improve corps members’ welfare, their security and mentor them as youths.

The coordinator appreciated the governor’s effort to make the orientation camp one of the best in the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that highlights of the workshop was presentation of awards to outstanding corps employers and distinguished personalities such as chairmen of Mokwa, Bosso, IBB Specialist Hospital and the governor. (NAN)

Edited by Dorcas Jonah and Isaac Ukpoju