The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Entertainers

  • Entertainers meet Fed Govt over unspent film fund

    Entertainers meet Fed Govt over unspent film fund

    Following the recent lull in the disbursement of what is left of the N3billion World Bank intervention fund for the Nigerian film industry, some filmmakers, last Friday, visited the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, in Abuja.

    Led by notable film marketer, Mr. Gab Okoye, aka Gabosky, the group, expressed concerns over the N1.9 billion left of the grant, saying that the sum, having been earmarked for Innovative Distribution Fund (IDF) remains the most important aspect of the scheme, tagged Project ACT Nollywood.

    Former Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala had approved the disbursement of N300million and N800million for capacity building and film production respectively.

    According to Gabosky, the new leadership is still looking in the direction of possible misappropriations, thereby neglecting the most important aspect of the grant.

    He said: “The Minister assured us that something will be done very soon. She even called the Director of Project ACT Nollywood who explained how far they have gone with the project. The capacity building aspect has two elements; the individual capacity building fund and the institutional capacity building fund. They have completed the aspect that has to do with the individual capacity building. However, there are about four institutions that are yet to get the fund probably because some of them are yet to get the NUC accreditation.

    “Now, the Innovative Distribution Fund which is supposed to be the driving force for the other segments is still pending. Although they have not given anybody any money for this, but they are assuring us that the money is still intact.”

    Gabosky also revealed that the World Bank is no longer comfortable with the delay, and is contemplating funding music distribution. “We asked them why you won’t go into distribution of Nollywood. But they told us to direct the question to the Ministry of Finance. So we had to go to the Minister, and urge them to speed up the process.”

    Gabosky, who seems to have also applied for the IDF was optimistic that the issue will be attended to.

    “There are four groups to be interviewed for the IDF, and they are about interviewing the fourth group before subjecting the whole applications to a review. That is what has been happening. Without going there, we wouldn’t know because nobody answers their calls, nobody briefs us, and the movie industry stakeholders are so disorganised. We do not have a single forum where we would invite somebody and say we want to know this or that. We don’t even have a platform with which we can invite for example, the Copyright Commission or any other government agency to answer questions regarding their stewardship.”

    Among the delegation are Northern Nollywood icon Hajia Aisha Halilu, screen diva Joke Silva, singer Dapo Oyebanjo, aka Dbanj, Hon. Desmond Elliot, President of Association of Movie Producers, AMP, Ralph Nwadike, past Chairman of Marketers Association Norbert Ajaegbu and notable Executive Producer Charles Igwe.

  • Entertainers meet Fed Govt over unspent film fund

    Entertainers meet Fed Govt over unspent film fund

    Following the recent lull in the disbursement of what is left of the N3billion World Bank intervention fund for the Nigerian film industry, some filmmakers, last Friday, visited the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, in Abuja.

    Led by notable film marketer, Mr. Gab Okoye, aka Gabosky, the group, expressed concerns over the N1.9 billion left of the grant, saying that the sum, having been earmarked for Innovative Distribution Fund (IDF) remains the most important aspect of the scheme, tagged Project ACT Nollywood.

    Former Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala had approved the disbursement of N300million and N800million for capacity building and film production respectively.

    According to Gabosky, the new leadership is still looking in the direction of possible misappropriations, thereby neglecting the most important aspect of the grant.

    He said: “The Minister assured us that something will be done very soon. She even called the Director of Project ACT Nollywood who explained how far they have gone with the project. The capacity building aspect has two elements; the individual capacity building fund and the institutional capacity building fund. They have completed the aspect that has to do with the individual capacity building. However, there are about four institutions that are yet to get the fund probably because some of them are yet to get the NUC accreditation.

    “Now, the Innovative Distribution Fund which is supposed to be the driving force for the other segments is still pending. Although they have not given anybody any money for this, but they are assuring us that the money is still intact.”

    Gabosky also revealed that the World Bank is no longer comfortable with the delay, and is contemplating funding music distribution. “We asked them why you won’t go into distribution of Nollywood. But they told us to direct the question to the Ministry of Finance. So we had to go to the Minister, and urge them to speed up the process.”

    Gabosky, who seems to have also applied for the IDF was optimistic that the issue will be attended to.

    “There are four groups to be interviewed for the IDF, and they are about interviewing the fourth group before subjecting the whole applications to a review. That is what has been happening. Without going there, we wouldn’t know because nobody answers their calls, nobody briefs us, and the movie industry stakeholders are so disorganised. We do not have a single forum where we would invite somebody and say we want to know this or that. We don’t even have a platform with which we can invite for example, the Copyright Commission or any other government agency to answer questions regarding their stewardship.”

    Among the delegation are Northern Nollywood icon Hajia Aisha Halilu, screen diva Joke Silva, singer Dapo Oyebanjo, aka Dbanj, Hon. Desmond Elliot, President of Association of Movie Producers, AMP, Ralph Nwadike, past Chairman of Marketers Association Norbert Ajaegbu and notable Executive Producer Charles Igwe.

  • Entertainers add colour, as Dream Centre opens in Benue

    Entertainers add colour, as Dream Centre opens in Benue

    Makurdi, the capital of Benue State witnessed an unusual glitz, as celebrities such as Ghanaian actress Jackie Appiah, Nigerian comedian Gordons, and others joined the First Lady of the state, Mrs. Eunice Ortom, to honour popular enterpreneur, Love Idoko, who was launching a new event place, The Dream Centre.

    The event also had a large delegation of women made up of wives of commissioners, State Head of Service and heads of other government agencies and establishments at the commissioning ceremony of the edifice, as well as the clergy, led by the State PFN chairman, Rev Mike Ango.

    Guests lauded the initiative as one which has raised the bar of event centers in the Nigeria’s Food Basket State.

    Love Idoko told the gathering that she was inspired to set up the facility during her certificate course in West University UK. “I have travelled round the world and it bothered me that there is no world class event center in Benue State, so I said to myself that we would do something about it and here we are today.”

    Mrs. Ortom described the celebrant as an inspiration to other women in the state and Nigeria as a whole. ”Love Idoko is a source of inspiration to every young woman out there and I’m glad to be part of this platform, we will continue to support enterpreneural drive in Benue and I assure Love of my continual support and wish The Dream Centre successful business,” she said.

    Ghanaian actress, Jackie Appiah, who revealed that she had to cancel all her appointments to grace the occasion, said, “ Benue state has always been a place where I receive the most pleasurable reception outside Ghana, if only for Benue State I will keep coming to Nigeria. By the way, this is not about me; it is about Love and the newest event center in Nigeria, ‘The Dream Centre’. It is a pleasure to be here at the opening.”

    Other guests at the event are Justice J T Tsoho of the Federal High Court Lagos, heads of government and private organisations, beauty queens, and Board chairman of NTA, Chief Patrick Ogbu.

  • Entertainers strategise for Ambode’s victory

    AHEAD of the April 11 governorship election in Lagos State, supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC), especially the entertainers in the party, are strategising to ensure victory for their man.

    Under the aegis of League of Entertainers Candidates and Aspirants in APC (LECA), the body, comprising entertainers who participated in the party’s primary elections, aims to record more popular songs that will attract support for the candidate of the party, Akinwunmi Ambode, in the election.

    The members of the group include gospel act, Kenny St-Best (KSB), Dayo Adeneye, Desmond Elliot, Tony Tetuilla, 9ice and Tony One Week.

    According to KSB, LECA is putting together measures to repeat the performance of the party in the Presidential and National Assembly elections, towards ensuring that Ambode wins the election.

    “What we are doing here is to ensure that our candidate wins. The body comprises entertainers who contested in the primary. You are aware that some won, while some lost in the primaries. But we have all come together to join hands and work for our candidate in the election.”

    KSB, who was also part of the team that performed at campaigns for the president-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, expressed optimism that the APC candidate would win the election.

    “Believe me, we don’t nurse any fear. We have worked very hard to make sure that our candidate wins the election.”

    She expressed delight at the leadership style of the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who she described as a ‘leader of men’.

    “You cannot take anything away from this man. Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has proved to all that he is indeed a leader of leaders. His suave and robust leadership style has definitely rubbed off on the performance of the party at all levels.”

  • Entertainers key into programme

    Nollywood stars, filmmakers and musicians gathered in Lagos yesterday to discuss the proposed activities to mark the 100 years of the amalgamation of the Southern and Northern Protectorates.

    The meeting, held at the Yellow Chilli Restaurant, Joel Ogunnaike Street, GRA, Ikeja, was convened by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, who is the Chairman of the Centenary Anniversary Committee, and the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Chief Edem Duke.

    The meeting, coordinated by veteran actor Kanayo O. Kanayo, was attended by stakeholders from the Yoruba, Hausa and English film production wings of the industry.

    Duke said the Federal Government deemed it necessary to involve the entertainment industry in the project because it was the bedrock of the Nigerian brand and the creative power house on the African continent.

    Describing Nollywood as a contributor to the culture and tourism status of Nigeria and a foreign exchange earner besides oil, the minister urged filmmakers not to falter because of the challenges faced by their Colleagues, but should play a leading role in the centenary project as a creative industry.

    He said: “I enjoin you to use this opportunity to contribute in several ways and strengthen the Nigerian brand.”

    Senator Anyim, who presented a 24-page paper, entitled: “The Centenary Project: Concept Document”, urged the entertainers to develop a position programme to be fused into a larger Centenary celebration calendar.

    He said there is need to develop certain legacy- projects, including a city to serve as a hallmark of the Centenary celebrations.

    “The essence of the project is to strengthen the unity of Nigeria. Let us stress the need to remain as a country and become what the world wants us to become,” Anyim said.

    Said he: “It is important to note that the Federal Government has decided not to put money in the project. It is going to be funded by the organised private sector.”

    According to him, whatever programmes the filmmakers would be doing, they should understand that government would only come in by canvassing private sector support for the project.

    Senator Anyim, who said a theme song has been recorded by music icon, Onyeka Onwenu, noted that President Goodluck Jonathan would begin the activities leading to the celebrations on February 4 in Abuja.

    He noted that the programme is not to promote anybody or administration, adding that it is only by coincidence that it is during President Jonathan’s tenure that the country will turn 100.

    Kanayo, who spoke on behalf of the entertainers, said the industry would present a position paper soon.

    Actors and actresses at the meeting are: Mahmood, Ali-Balogun, Zeb Ejiro, Chico Ejiro, Bukky Wright, Stephanie Okereke, Alex Lopez, Fidelis Duker, Francis Onwoche, Joke Silva and husband, Olu Jacobs.

    Others include Segun Arinze, Charles Novia, Greg Odutayo, Jide Kosoko, Sanni Danga, Sani Muazu, Sunny MacDon W, Lilian Amah and Chinedu Ikedieze of the ‘Aki and Pawpaw’ fame.