Connect with us

Events

20th Abuja International Film Festival opens as film enthusiasts storm Nigeria

Published

on

The 20th Abuja International Film Festival, with the theme “Beyond Borders: Globalisation and Film Business,” kicked off with a grand opening ceremony that witnessed the presence of several notable figures in the industry.

Among the distinguished guests was the representative of the Minister of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, Hajia Hanatu Musawa.

In addition to Musawa, the festival had the honor of hosting ambassadors from Bangladesh, Vietnam, China, Cote d’Ivoire, and Egypt, along with other prominent personalities such as the DG of the National Film and Video Censors Board, the CEO of the Nigeria Film Corporation, and the CEO of Startimes, Joshua Wang. The event was also well attended by local and international filmmakers.

During the ceremony, the festival’s founder took the opportunity to reflect on its humble beginnings, when cinema spaces were scarce in Abuja.

He emphasized how the festival has been instrumental in fostering the growth of the Nigerian film industry, better known as Nollywood.

The ambassadors and high commissioners present at the event expressed their admiration for the festival’s success and longevity, offering commendations and goodwill messages.

They highlighted the sustainability and significance of the festival over its 20-year history.

The Abuja International Film Festival will continue for the next four days with a lineup of daily screenings, panel discussions, and other engaging activities.

The highly anticipated awards ceremony, where winners will be presented with awards in 16 different categories, is scheduled to take place on Thursday, November 2nd, 2023.

With its rich history and international participation, the festival promises to be an exciting showcase of global cinema.

Events

Wizkid performs ‘Troubled Mind’ at British Fashion Awards

Published

on

By

Wizkid, the Grammy-winning singer, delivered a breathtaking performance of his new song ‘Troubled Mind’ at the 2024 British Fashion Awards.

This year’s event, held on Monday night at the Royal Albert Hall in London, saw Wizkid perform in the presence of some of the fashion world’s most prominent figures, including British-Nigerian designer Tolu Coker, Dior’s Kim Jones, and Tom Ford.

‘Troubled Mind’, which serves as the opening track of ‘Morayo‘, Wizkid’s newly released sixth studio album, thrilled the audience as the singer poured emotion into the performance.

The night saw Jonathan Anderson, the Irish-born designer, clinch the coveted Designer of the Year award for the second consecutive year.

Celebrities including Rihanna and A$AP Rocky also graced the occasion, with Rocky receiving the Cultural Innovator award.

Born Ayodeji Balogun, Wizkid gained prominence in 2011 when he released his debut album ‘Superstar’.

He has released five additional albums including, ‘Ayo’ in 2014, ‘Sound From The Other Side’ in 2017, ‘Made In Lagos’ in 2020, ‘More Love, Less Ego’ in 2022 and ‘Morayo in 2024.

The singer has also received numerous awards, including a Grammy Award in 2021 for his collaboration with Beyoncé on the hit song ‘Brown Skin Girl’.

In October, ‘Made in Lagos’ was recognised as the most-streamed Nigerian album on Apple Music.

Watch Wizkid’s performance here

https://twitter.com/i/status/1863838191909732508
Continue Reading

Events

SEE FULL LIST: ‘Jagun Jagun’ wins six categories at 2024 BON Awards

Published

on

By

Femi Adebayo’s epic ‘Jagun Jagun’ has won six award categories at the 2024 Best of Nollywood (BON) ceremony.

The 16th edition of the BON Awards was held on Sunday night at the Sugar Factory Film Studios in Ilorin, Kwara.

Toyin Abraham Ajeyemi, the actress, hosted the award ceremony.

At the ceremony, Femi Adebayo’s epic film ‘Jagun Jagun’ was a standout entry, winning a total of six award categories.

These include “Best Actor”, Best Costume”, “Best Indigenous Film”, “Best Production Design”, and “Best Special Effect”.

Another significant winner was the film ‘Momiwa’, which took home “Best Editing” and “Best Screenplay”.

‘Jagun Jagun’ was nominated in 12 categories.

The Netflix original Yoruba film, released in August 2023, tells the story of a warlord respected within and outside his community.

The arrival of a young man reveals his insecurities, as he fears that his authority may soon be displaced.

See the full list of winners below.

Best Cinematography

  • ADIRE

Director of the Year

  • BAYO TIJANI & TOPE ADEBAYO (Jagun Jagun)

Best Social Message

  • UNLEASHED

Best Short Film

  • OUT OF MANY

Best Actor

  • FEMI ADEBAYO (JAGUN JAGUN)

Best Actress

  • WUNMI DADA (UNKNOWN SOJA)

Best Supporting Actress

  • MERCY AIGBE (ADA OMO DADDY)

Best Supporting Actor

  • KEPPY EKPENYONG (THE WEEKEND)

Best Editing

  • MOMIWA

Best Costume

  • JAGUN JAGUN

Best Sound

  • OFFSHOOT

Best Soundtrack

  • OLOKU ADA

BEST USE OF FOOD

  • NWANYI ABACHA

Best Indigenous Film

  • JAGUN JAGUN

Best Child Actor

  • NIFEMI LAWAL

Best Child Actress

  • DARASIMI NADI (UNKNOWN SOJA)

Most Promising Actor

  • OZECHI FRANKLIN IZUCHUCHUKWU

Most Promising Actress

  • CHIOMA OKAFOR

Best Production Design

  • JAGUN JAGUN

Best Screenplay

  • MOMIWA

Best Use of Food

  • ORISA

Best Kiss

  • HALIMA GANIYU & DAVID AKANDE (ETI KETA)

Best Special Effect

  • JAGUN JAGUN

Best Documentary

  • IS IT YOUR MONEY?
Continue Reading

Events

JCI Nigeria Hosts The 4th Edition Of The Global Digital Economy Summit

Published

on

By

The Global Digital Economy Summit (GDES) 4.0, held on 12th October 2024, at Park Inn, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria, accentuates the pivotal role of international trade, foreign direct investment, and technology diffusion in shaping economies worldwide, particularly highlighting the potential for digital inclusion and trade empowerment to achieve shared prosperity in Africa.

The summit, organised by Junior Chamber International (JCI) Nigeria in collaboration with JCI South Africa, JCI Zimbabwe, JCI Niger, JCI Benin Republic, and JCI Malaysia, attracted a diverse audience of entrepreneurs, professionals, undergraduates, and civil servants from across the globe.


Focused on “Digital Inclusion and Trade Empowerment: A Path to Shared Prosperity,” GDES 4.0 brought together leaders, innovators, and experts who shared insights into the vital role of digital technologies, intellectual property, and cross-border collaborations in shaping sustainable economic development, particularly in Africa.


The keynote address by Dr. Oluwatobiloba Moody, Director, World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), captivated the audience with his perspective on the importance of intellectual property rights in promoting innovation and economic growth.

His speech was a deep reflection on the challenges and opportunities presented by technological advancements.


A lively panel discussion featured experts such as Ezekiel Solesi, CEO of LIMBSimple, and Ayo Olajide, JCI South Africa’s Vice President, moderated by Ekezue Anthonia Ezenwa, JCI Nigeria’s 2024 Director of Business Opportunities.

They emphasised the necessity of digital skills for economic relevance and highlighted the importance of partnerships for business growth and sustainability.

Their insights affirmed the need for continual innovation in a progressively digital world, warning that businesses risk falling behind if they neglect emerging technological trends.


A notable highlight of the summit was the International Business Pitch Competition, which featured 10 finalists.

After rigorous training on pitch deck mastery, five finalists competed for top honours. AnyWash App (Omotola Olaifa) emerged as the winner, followed by SundryAgro Ltd. (Eyitayo Onigbinde), and FundCity (Deborah Abayomi), who took second and third place respectively.

These winners were awarded cash prizes, business development and intellectual property support from the World Intellectual Property Organisation and expert sessions with AfriGlocal Venture Capital, an important partner in this initiative.


The summit also featured goodwill messages from key figures like JCI World President Kaveen Kumaravel, and JCI Executive Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, Tetiweh Nzimah who highlighted JCI’s commitment to supporting digital innovation and youth engagement.

JCI Nigeria President, JCI Senator Sandra Ekene Efemuaye, praised the summit’s impact, encouraged participants to leverage the rich learning, networking opportunities and collaboration presented and commended the Directorate of Business Opportunities for successfully implementing a standard event.

National Director of Business Opportunities, Ekezue Anthonia Ezenwa, expressed her gratitude for the support from JCI leadership, recognising the Directorate’s role in the impactful gathering.


The outcomes of the summit were far-reaching. The top five pitch competition participants received vital business development and intellectual property support from WIPO, alongside expert sessions from AfriGlocal Venture Capital.

The partnerships and discussions set the stage for future collaborations aimed at ensuring the continued success of GDES and its initiatives.


The summit concluded with a call for governments across the globe to implement robust policies that protect digital economy assets and ensure digital inclusion for all.

It also highlighted the importance of continuous upskilling and innovation for businesses and entrepreneurs to stay competitive in an ever-evolving technological world.


We sincerely appreciate all our partners and sponsors for their dedication to the success of the summit.

We especially appreciate Bodex Media for promoting the summit’s impact across digital platforms and traditional media.


Attendees left the summit inspired to further integrate digital tools and innovative strategies into their pursuits, with anticipation already growing for the 2025 Global Digital Economy Summit 5.0, promising even greater opportunities and insights with a vision to further solidify the role of technology in creating a more inclusive, equitable, and prosperous future.

Continue Reading

Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

Most Read...