NFVCB Tasks Nigerian Filmmakers, Associations On Professionalism

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August 2, 2023

Executive Director, Adedayo Thomas, of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) on Tuesday urged filmmakers, associations, and guilds in film productions to intensify efforts in promoting professionalism in the industry. The task was made during a stakeholders’ interactive session organized by NFVCB, in Lagos, Nigeria.

In his words, Adedayo stated that the associations and guilds must work on sensitizing their members to desist from cutting costs at the expense of achieving professionalism.

“Stop cutting costs at the expense of professionalism, I can only pick a few associations growing this industry, we should all be involved in moving the industry forward.

“I am happy at this point that NFVCB has been able to make your associations, guilds, and the federation formidable.

“No association has written to us in recent times that they need any form of assistance to host their events, this is because NFVCB has created the platform for you to be sustainable.

“We want you all to work more on being the true professionals that you are,” he said.

Thomas advised film producers and directors to work in synergy with the 19 registered associations and guilds, in ensuring actors, technicians, make-up artists, and all other players involved in the process of movie production are selected from the registered associations and guilds.

He said this would further strengthen the guilds and associations while practitioners in the industry who had yet to register with professional associations would be spurred to do so.

“I want you all producers and directors to make sure only registered association members are engaged in your films.

“This will make those gallivanting around the register while we clean up the quacks and your associations will become stronger.

“This can only be done through collaborations and constant engagement.

“This industry is like a tree with branches, collaboration is key,” he said.

Thomas hinted to the stakeholders that the annual digital conference for the industry would hold from Nov. 14 to Nov. 16 and proposed to honor the late Peace Anyiam-Osigwe.

He said that NFVCB received and censored 541 movies produced by the film industry in the second quarter, describing such a feat as laudable.

He noted that the issue of a downward review of censorship fees for stakeholders was not feasible, considering the increased cost of operations.

Earlier, Emeka Aduah, President, of Film and Video Producers and Marketers of Nigeria (FVPMAN), urged NFVCB to consider the downward review of censorship fees for producers given the economic situation of the country.

Also, Ikechukwu Okafor, a member, of the Association of Movie Producers (AMP), who supported the review of censorship fees, said this was necessary considering the low-income independent producers.

Okafor said this category of individuals only distribute their content on YouTube and generates minimal revenue.

On his part, Bolaji Amusan, National President of the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN), appreciated the efforts of the NFVCB executive director in strengthening the various guilds and associations.

Amusan appealed to the leadership of NFVCB to intensify efforts in moving the industry forward by working more with the heads of the associations and guilds.

Zamfara Governor To Revatalize Education Sector

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Nzubechukwu Anodo

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August 2, 2023

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Zamfara State governor, Dauda Lawal says his administration is committed to the revitalization of the education sector at all levels.

The Governor gave the indication when he paid an unscheduled visit to the College of Health Science and Technology, Tsafe.

The Governor’s race spokesman, Sulaiman Bala Idris said that the visit was to assess the level of infrastructural challenges confronting the school.

He said the Governor was taken around the school by the Provost, Hamisu Yusuf Yelwa, where he inspected and assessed the condition of the classrooms and students’ hostels.

He said part of the buildings inspected were blocks of classrooms, the Dauda Lawal Dare Complex which was constructed by the Governor as part of his philanthropic services years before he was elected Governor.

While assessing the female hostels, Governor Lawal interacted with some of the students occupying it.

He said the Governor was worried about the condition of the infrastructural decay in the college and vowed to take swift action in addressing the problem.

He tasked the Provost to provide a detailed report of their needs, in his effort to overhaul the educational sector in the state.

Over 150 Dogs Join Race To Support Venezuelan Shelters

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Koko Lawrence

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August 2, 2023

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People and their dogs attend a race to support Venezuelan shelters for animals, in Caracas, Venezuela. July 30, 2023. REUTERS/Efrain Otero

More than 150 dogs wearing colorful scarves on their necks participated alongside their owners in a race through Venezuela’s capital Caracas, which was organized to seek support for animal shelters in the country.

Runners and their pets ran for four kilometers (2.49 miles) across eastern Caracas in the second edition of the ‘Dog Running’ race.

Under Venezuela’s prolonged economic collapse, many have left pets in shelters or abandoned them on the streets. Household incomes have been hit by an annual inflation of about 400%, making it hard for pet owners to pay for the basic needs of their animals.

“In each edition (of the race) we support shelters that have taken in animals from the streets in precarious situations,” said Andreina Nedjme, organizer of the event.

All participants of the race paid $30 to run with their pets, aiming to give animals a good quality of life while they wait for a family, Nedjme added.

Runners interviewed on the sidelines of the race said they were happy to compete with their pets, noting such activities should be more encouraged in the city.

Katy Perry’s Backup Singer Turned Down Pop Music Career To Serve God

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Koko Lawrence

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August 2, 2023

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Tasha Layton had been touring with Katy Perry for four years when the backup singer was offered the chance to be a pop star – and she turned it down.

For the singer/songwriter, the timing was perfect. She was ready to share her testimony through the Christian music genre – and she went on to do just that. Layton recently released a new single, “Never,” which is inspired by how she turned to God during tough times.

“When I was growing up, I wanted to be in ministry full-time,” Layton explained in an interview. “I wanted to be married with a family. I just had this picture of what I wanted life to look like. I was in my 30s and that still hadn’t happened. I just thought, ‘What’s wrong with me? God, are you holding out on me? Did I do something to deserve this?’ The deepest part of my heart wanted this thing and it wasn’t happening. I just felt like I was forgotten and abandoned.”

“When I started writing this song, it had a lot to do with that,” she added.

Today, Layton is a happily married mom of two residing in Nashville where she makes music on her terms. She couldn’t have predicted how her story would unfold.

CBN Recovers $22m, N115.5 Excessive Charges

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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August 2, 2023

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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Tuesday says it has recovered $22.8 million and N115.5 billion for multiplicity of charges imposed on customers by the Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) over the past 11 years.

Its Director of Corporate Communications, Isa Abdulmumin disclosed this in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital at the 2023 CBN Fair with ‘Promoting Alternative Payment Chanels as Tools for Financial Inclusion’ as theme.

Abdulmumin said the monies were recovered from the banks in response to various complaints lodged by their customers ranging from excess charges being deducted from their bank account

He stated that the Consumer Protection Department of the bank received 35,453 complaints from the customers between 2012-2023 out of which 33,437 were resolved.

Represented by Esu Imo, the Corporate Communications Director noted that the CBN was irrevocably determined to ensure that no customer was overburdened adding that the mission of any bank should be to serve its customer without expecting any favour.

The CBN image maker said the essence of the recovery initiative was to enhance consumer confidence in financial service and promote financial stability as well as growth.

Abdulmumin warned that any financial institution that breached the provision of the consumers’ protection legal framework which allow fair treatment of customers risks heavy sanctions.

He restated the commitment of the bank to deliver on its core mandates of ensuring monetary and price stability through implementation of proactive and innovative policies and programmes to stabilize the economy.

Ekiti State CBN Branch Controller, Abiola Omotosho said the Fair was organized to interact with members of the public on the various polices and strategic interventions of the bank for sustainable economic development.

Omotosho urged Nigerians to embrace e-Naira as alternative payment platform for daily transactions to deepen financial inclusion and bolster the integrity of the country’s financial ecosystem.

Ayobami Adebayo Becomes 5th Nigerian To Be Longlisted For Booker Prize

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Koko Lawrence

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August 2, 2023

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The Booker Prize is given each year to the best novel written in English and published in the United Kingdom or Ireland.

Authors are nominated for the prize based on their quality and dedication to promoting art and literature.

Originally, the prize was exclusively open to citizens of the Commonwealth, Ireland, South Africa, and later Zimbabwe. However, in 2014, the eligibility criteria were broadened to encompass any novel written in the English language.

Ayobami Adebayo shot into the limelight with her debut novel, ‘Stay With Me’, which won the 9mobile Prize for Literature and the Prix Les Afriques. She was awarded The Future Awards Africa Prize for Arts and Culture in 2017. Now she has been shortlisted for the Booker Prize for 2023 and has been longlisted for her latest book, ‘A Spell of Good Things’.

The novel has been described as a “magnificent novel that illuminates Nigeria’s haves and have-nots, as well as the shared humanity that exists in between.”

Kenya Suspends Worldcoin Crypto Over Privacy Concerns

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faith Jegede

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August 2, 2023

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Kenya has suspended the Worldcoin crypto project that relies on an eye scan to verify a user’s identity, citing concerns about data protection.

Set up by OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman, Worldcoin, began operating in June in Germany and provides users with a private digital identity — a “World ID” — after they get their eye’s unique iris pattern scanned.

The project, according to its founders, aims to solve one of the main challenges facing the crypto industry which largely relies on pseudonyms to operate, leaving it vulnerable to spam bots and scams.

Users who registered with the project in Kenya were offered 25 free Worldcoin tokens worth about 7,000 shillings ($45), drawing thousands of people to multiple sign-up points in the capital Nairobi.

Interior minister Kithure Kindiki said authorities were “concerned” by the project and launched investigations to ascertain “the safety and protection of the data being harvested, and how the harvesters intend to use the data”.

“The government has suspended forthwith, activities of ‘Worldcoin’ and any other entity that may be similarly engaging the people of Kenya until relevant public agencies certify the absence of any risks,” Kindiki said.

Kenya is one of the most dynamic economies in East Africa but about a third of the population lives in poverty.

The country has been battling soaring inflation and a jobs crisis, particularly among the young, prompting many people to flock to register with Worldcoin in exchange for cash.

The project is already under scrutiny for running afoul of strict data privacy rules in Europe.

“Worldcoin has begun to collect data in France… which seems questionable as does the conservation of biometric data,” France’s CNIL data regulator told AFP last week.

After conducting an initial review, CNIL said it identified its counterpart in the German state of Bavaria as the lead agency in Europe to conduct a probe into Worldcoin, and said it supports their investigation.

More than 2.1 million people have signed up for Worldcoin across the world, with iris scans conducted in 34 countries, according to the company’s website.

Worldcoin is now trading at $2.37, up from the initial price of $1.70, according to CoinMarketCap.

NIS: Illegal Migrants Behind Most Crimes In Nigeria

By

faith Jegede

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August 2, 2023

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Illegal immigrants are behind most criminal activities in the country, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has said.

Kwara State Comptroller of NIS, Aminu Shamsuddin, made the statement while addressing journalists in Ilorin, during the 60th anniversary of the Service.

The comptroller noted that the country was surrounded by francophone countries, whose nationals desperately love to stay in Nigeria due to socio-economic hardship in their countries.

He added that NIS has had to take extra measures to scrutinize every immigrant at entry point.

According to him “These people think Nigeria is a paradise and, truly, we are the mother of Africa. They always struggle to be part of us and are ready to spend huge sums of money to obtain a Nigerian passport. They also get married to Nigerians in their bid to naturalise, which is why we painstakingly check every immigrant.

“Through our training, we can easily ascertain if someone is a Nigerian or not,” he said.

Shamsuddin explained that processes of scrutiny sometimes make the issuance of international passports take some time, and enjoined Nigerians to show understanding and patience.

According to him, NIS is closer to the people than other paramilitary agencies, due to the services it renders to the people.

Shamsuddin said the Ag. CG of NIS, Caroline Adepoju, directed the 36 states to celebrate the diamond jubilee.

NLC Proceeds On Nationwide Protests

By

faith Jegede

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August 2, 2023

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Despite court injunctions and long-drawn negotiation meetings, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is slated to, proceed with its planned protest against recent fuel price hike, tuition fees hike in public schools and withheld salaries of lecturers and workers in universities today

There had been doubts over the fate of the nationwide protest called to demonstrate against what Labor described as ‘anti-poor and anti-workers policies’ of government, with some saying NLC would as usual, chicken out at the last minute, especially after suspending a planned strike twice this year alone.

Rising yesterday from the rescheduled Presidential Steering Committee on Palliatives meeting with Organised Labour, comprising NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC), there had been insinuations that the labour leaders would rethink its planned nationwide protest but TUC president Festus Osifo, said the Organised Labour would consult with members whom they represent to reach a consensus on the next course of action before the day ends.

Osifo stated that while President Bola Tinubu’s palliative measures were welcoming, they were not comprehensive.

Meanwhile, Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, described Organised Labour as a listening organisation that would not go ahead with its planned protests after listening to President Tinubu’s national broadcast on Monday.

He said: “Basically, we laid out the plan and intervention of the President as you all heard in his broadcast. We made it clear that this was Mr. President’s initial roll out interventions and the conversations will be ongoing as we go along. So, we’re hopeful that they will do the right thing and not protest tomorrow (Wednesday).”

But in a swift reaction, NLC denied rumours making the rounds that it was reconsidering the nationwide protest, which it alleged was the handwork of fifth columnists. It insisted that despite all distractions, the Congress and its members were fully mobilised across the country and nothing has changed.

NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said the Congress neither reconsidered nor suspended the nationwide mass protest. Ajaero, in a statement signed by him, listed the Congress’ demands, which include the immediate implementation in good faith of the resolution with the Congress, jointly signed with the government and TUC.

It demanded the immediate reversal of all anti-poor policies of the government, including the recent hike in fuel prices, school fees and Value Added Tax (VAT).

Part of the NLC demands, Ajaero said also include the fixing of local refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna; release of eight months withheld salaries of University lecturers and workers.

Nigeria Stock Market Starts August on Negative Note

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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August 1, 2023

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Nigeria’s equities market started the new month of August on a negative note as investors continued to price-in the half-year (H1) financials released by some companies, most of them tilting towards poor earnings.

At the close of trading on Tuesday August 1, the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) All-Share Index and equities market capitalisation depreciated further by 0.23 percent to 64,192.20 points and N34.932trillion respectively as against preceding day’s 64,337.52 points and N35.011trillion.

“Considering that there are many stocks trading at attractive discount, we expect a
mixed sentiment in the market this week,” Futureview research analysts said at the beginning of this week.

In 7,935 deals, investors exchanged 762,097,373 shares worth N7.7billion. AIICO, UBA, AXA Mansard, ETI and FCMB Group were actively traded stocks on Tuesday.

Investors took profit in stocks likes Fidelity Bank which dipped most, from N8.60 to N7.75, losing 85kobo or 9.88 percent. It was followed by Ellah Lakes which was down from N3.93 to N3.54, losing 39kobo or 9.92percent.

The year-to-date (YtD) postive return dropped to +25.25 percent as the market further defied analysts expectations this week.

“This week, we expect the bullish sentiments in the equities market to persist on the back of the attractiveness of the market over the depressed rates in the fixed-income market”, said United Capital research analysts in their recent note.

They also believe the positive sentiments around the new policies will continue to drive the rally in the market, adding that they expect the commencement of the second quarter (Q2) 2023 earnings season will play an important role in the market’s direction.