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Tag: producer

  • HP Zendo laments life as independent producer

    HP Zendo laments life as independent producer

    Fast rising Nigerian singer, Hope Ogun Omumati aka HP Zendo, has described the life of an independent artist as being tasking and financially draining.

    The Edo State born entertainer, who just released the remix of his hit single, ‘E Don Cast,’ featuring CDQ said, “Being an independent artiste is not easy at all, the huge funds associated in promoting my music is not a joke at all.”

    As an Afrobeats and Street hop artist, HP Zenco promises to deliver major hit tracks for his teaming fans this year as he also prepares to embark on his European tour soon.

    “On February 7, 2024, I dropped ‘E Don Cast,’ featuring CDQ and the single has been receiving massive airplay nationwide. It gives me joy sharing my feelings through my music. Music in itself is life. My background as someone from the street and African home where your parents strive everyday to put food on the table inspires and keeps me going. We thank God Almighty for where we are now and it can only get better. We keep chasing the bag. Plans are also on top gear for my European tour,” he added.

    Hp Zenco’s music is also inspired by the social economic situation in the country FAST rising Nigerian singer, Hope Ogun Omumati aka HP Zendo, has described the life of an independent artist as being tasking and financially draining.

    Read Also: ‘The wife hunter’ will help audience navigate relationship complexities – Producer

    The Edo State born entertainer, who just released the remix of his hit single, ‘E Don Cast,’ featuring CDQ said, “Being an independent artiste is not easy at all, the huge funds associated in promoting my music is not a joke at all.”

    As an Afrobeats and Street hop artist, HP Zenco promises to deliver major hit tracks for his teaming fans this year as he also prepares to embark on his European tour soon.

    “On February 7, 2024, I dropped ‘E Don Cast,’ featuring CDQ and the single has been receiving massive airplay nationwide. It gives me joy sharing my feelings through my music. Music in itself is life. My background as someone from the street and African home where your parents strive everyday to put food on the table inspires and keeps me going. We thank God Almighty for where we are now and it can only get better. We keep chasing the bag. Plans are also on top gear for my European tour,” he added.

    Hp Zenco’s music is also inspired by the social economic situation in the country. He dropped his EP with seven tracks in December 2023 featuring some of Nigeria’s top rated artists including Danny S, Base one and more.

  • ‘The Passport of Mallam Ilia’s animation movie underway – Producer

    The Passport of Malliam Ilia’, the classic novel of late Nigerian literary legend, Cyprian Ekwensi, will soon be made into an animated feature film by Magic Carpet Studios.

    Executive producer and CEO of the Studios, Mr Ferdinand Adimefe told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday, in Abuja that they had acquired full rights of the book from HEBN PLC Publishers.

    Magic Carpet Studios, one of Nigeria’s most prominent animation studios, received wide acclaim in May for winning the ‘Innovative category’ at the first UN Sustainable Development Goals Action Awards in Germany.

    Speaking on the importance of developing the novel into an animation film, Adimefe said, “The Passport of Mallam Ilia is one of the most widely read young adult novels of the late 90s.

    “The animated movie project aims to connect the younger generation with the older one.

    “It will provide an exciting twist to an already familiar story while exposing the younger generation to the remarkable work of the late iconic writer.

    “The Plot of the novel which explores colonial Northern Nigeria, and tells a story of love, loss and revenge, provides the right element for an amazing movie,” he said.

    Published in 1960, twelve years after it was written, ‘The Passport of Mallam Ilia’ remains one of the few twentieth century books that still appeals to young readers.

    It is a story of Mallam Ilia who spent a greater part of his life seeking revenge for wrong done to him by one Usman.

    Though he was able to avenge the wrong done to him, it came at a very high price. This novel explores themes of trust, betrayal and revenge.

    Ekwensi wrote hundreds of short stories, radio and television scripts, and several dozen novels, including children’s books.

    ‘People of the City’, published in 1954, was his first book to garner international attention. His novel ‘Drummer Boy’ (1960) is still praised as one of the most powerful descriptions of a poor street artist.

    In 1968, he received the Dag Hammarskjöld International Prize in Literature and in 2001, he was made an MFR; in 2006, he became a fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters.

  • Producer of WWW to reward fans ahead of movie premiere

    Ahead of the movie premiere set for the cinema from February 9th, 2018, producers of Wetin Women Want (WWW), Ultimate Communications, have announced a N25, 000 cash reward for whoever is able to make a ‘reasonable’ representation about what cwomen really want through a video contest.

    According to a statement by Abiodun Jimoh, writer and director of the movie, fans are asked to make a 60-second video, stating what in their opinion, women want from men in relationships.

    “We want ladies to make one minute video telling us what they want from men in their relationships and marriages,” said Jimoh.

    “The men too are not left out; we want them to also make a minute video detailing what they feel women want from men. The person with the most convincing explanation gets a N25K cash prize and will also be invited to the premiere of  ‘Wetin Women Want’.

    “The movie is an expose on what women want in a relationship and the confusion that comes with understanding the needs of women. ‘Wetin Women Want’ is not a regular Nollywood movie of romance but a movie that delves into managing relationship and depicting what women want in various fashions.

    “We have made a very good movie. We have put into consideration the fans that will part with their hard earned money to watch this movie and we believe that we have created magic that can keep them glued to their seats at the cinemas till the end credits roll in,” Abiodun Jimoh expressed optimism on the opportunities the movie has at the cinema.

    According to Jumoke Odetola, one of the cast, “the movie opens the human mind to a lot of the dynamisms of women. It is beyond expectation, a loving woman wakes up one morning and becomes a monster. And you begin to wonder what went wrong.”

    WWW, which was produced by Seun Oloketuyi, parades actors like Daniel k. Daniel, Katherine Obiang, Oge Okoye, Mercy Aigbe, Adaora Ukoh, Anthony Monjaro, Jumoke Odetola, and others.

     

  • Producer drags Silverbird Cinema to court

    Producer drags Silverbird Cinema to court

    Producer of award-winning Nollywood movie, ‘The Boss is Mine’, Okechukwu Oku has sued the management of Silverbird Cinemas, Uyo for breach of exhibition contract, demanding N10 million as damages.

    Explaining the rationale behind the move, Oku said the screening of the movie was scheduled to hold at the Silverbird Cinema, Uyo in early 2016 but the management of the outfit failed to live up to its bidding. He stated that to the chagrin of guests who turned up in large numbers to grace the premiere, the cinema failed to produce the needed electricity to power the cinema.

    “I was embarrassed to say the least. Everybody we expected was present. We were all seated by 3pm, expecting the film to come on when the lights went out. When we approached the management of the cinema, they told us that their generator was faulty. This lingered on till 9pm. By then, the guests had left,” Oku lamented.

    He revealed that since then, he has sought the attention of the outfit to settle the issue amicably but to no avail.

    ‘The Boss is Mine’ is the story of an enterprising young man who comes to a decision to employ a cleaner and a cook in order to ease his fiancée’s return.

    A production of Oracle Films, the movie stars the likes of Imeh Bishop Umoh, Mike Godson, Daniella Okeke, Mary Ogbonna, Sapphire Obi, Osita Chukwu and a host of others.

    Despite the setback, its lead act, Imeh Umoh recently won the best actor in a comedy at the 2017 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Award for his role in the movie.

    The actor beat Ayo Makun (A Trip to Jamaica), Bovi Ugboma (It’s Her Day), Blossom Chukwujekwu (Ghana Must Go), Mike Ezuruonye (Brother Jekwu), Okey Uzoeshi (The Life of a Nigerian Couple) and Amechi Muonagor (Meet the In-Laws) to win the award.

  • N40m scam: Court remands movie producer, Seun Egbegbe, one other in prison

    N40m scam: Court remands movie producer, Seun Egbegbe, one other in prison

    Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos yesterday ordered a Lagos socialite and movie producer, Mr Olajide Oluwaseun Kareem, popularly known as Seun Egbegbe, to be remanded in prison custody for alleged foreign exchange scam of over N40 million and hundreds of thousands of dollars and pound sterling.

    Egbegbe will be in the custody of prison authorities pending hearing of his bail application.

    Operatives of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID)of Lagos State Police Command, Panti-Yaba, yesterday arraigned Egbegbe, before the court on 36 count charge bordering on conspiracy and fraud.

    He was arraigned alongside his accomplice, one Oyekan Ayomide.

    In the charge marked FHC/L/40c/2017, filed before the court by the SCIID’s Head of Legal department, Mr. Effiong Asuquo, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), the two suspected fraudster were alleged to have between 2016 and February 2, 2017, defrauded the BDC Operators at various places in Lagos State to the tune of N40.647 million; $29, 800,00 USD; and £4, 815 United Kingdom Pounds Sterling.

    The offences according to the prosecutor, Mr. Anyigor Innocent, are contrary to sections 8 and 1(1)(a)(B)(3) of Advance Fee Fraud and  Other Related Offences Act 2006, and punishable under section 1(1) of the same Act.

    Among the BDC operators allegedly defrauded by the defendants include Issa Adamu, Mohammed Sanni, Jubril Ado, Hassan Amodu, Bala Mohammed, Sanni Hassan, Abdullahi Mumuni, Suraju Garuba, Mutairu Shuaibu, Sanusi Muhammad, Kabiru Jubril.

     Others are Barowo Abdullahi, Yahu, Abubakar Musa, Abdullahi Babatunde, Nasir Musa, Umaru Haruna, Umaru Sanni, Mohammed Bello, Mohammed Alli, Abdulrazaq Sanni, Tairu Musa, Sulaiman Sheu, Amadu Abda and Dauda Ibrahim.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty. Owing to their not guilty plea, the prosecutor, Mr. Anyigor, urged the court to remand them in Prison’s custody pending trial.

    But their counsel, A. O. Gbadamosi, pleaded with the court to give date for the hearing of his clients’ bail applications.

    He informed the court that he is yet to file the application.

    Justice Oguntoyinbo granted the request of the defence and ordered that the two defendants be remanded in Prison’s custody

    She thereafter adjourned the matter till March 10, for trial.

  • As UI becomes private energy producer

    Two exciting historical milestones unfurled recently at the nation’s premier university -University of Ibadan (UI), which deserve and require the attention of all stakeholders in higher education in this country and beyond so as to support the momentum of development.

    First, UI which is the first as well as the flagship of post-graduate studies in the county was ranked as the 600th best university in the world by a global higher education ranking organization called The Times Higher Education (THE). Given the fact that UI is the first and only Nigerian university in the first 1,000 best universities globally, the good news is not only cheerily received, but heartily propitious.

    The ranking organization had considered Ibadan’s level of teaching, research, citation of scholarly publications, industry income and international outlook among other parameters.

    This 2016/2017 Times Higher Education ranking has finally put to rest the erroneous notion in certain quarters that “no Nigerian university is good enough to be among the best 1,000 universities in the world”. Ibadan has finally broken the jinx. UI has breasted the tape by joining the elite club of global players in tertiary education. UI is certainly astir.  The first and the best university in the most populous black nation in the world is clearly cresting the storm, having been producing world -class graduates, who are making waves all over  the world in the last 65 years. UI will be 68 years old this month – November. Indeed, this latest global recognition calls for celebration for it takes standard to stand out.

    It is indisputable that UI which parades the highest number of professors in this country has all it takes to be among the best 100 universities in the world, but for some national albatrosses including poor infrastructures and what some people call “Nigerian factors”. But with continuous self-reinvention, hard work, dedication and the desire not only to remain a local champion, but a global player with application of best practices, there will be light at the end of the tunnel.

    However, still gloating over this positive rating, I think the current Vice Chancellor, Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka deserves commendation for dexterously consolidating on the achievements of his predecessors. Being a scientific scholar with a solid background in Geology, Prof. Olayinka has cleverly deployed resources towards the information and communication technologies, thus, favourably projecting UI for global glare. This is certainly one of his major achievements so far. He must therefore maintain it.  Efforts should be geared towards networking with thousands of passionate alumni such as a former Lagos State chapter chairman of UI Alumni Association, Sola Oyetayo who is ready to go extra mile for the betterment of UI.

    The second interesting historical milepost unfolding in the university is as trailblazing as it is revolutionary: UI is becoming the first university in private electricity production in Nigeria. The university recently performed the ground-breaking ceremony, which attracted dignitaries from far and near, preparatory to 10 megawatts solar plant. In other words, UI can now be classified as an Independent Power Producer, (IPP) thereby, singularly generating 50-60 percent of her daily electricity power requirement when the project becomes fully functional. According to the chairman, UI Power Improvement Programme, Prof. Adeboye Olatunbosun, the project will become operational before the end of this year.

    This plant, when completed has numerous and multiplier effect of electricity availability, not only for UI but also for neighbouring communities and Ibadan as a whole. It will be business for UI as it will be selling electricity to Ibadan Electricity Board. The cost of running generators will reduce. The project will enrich the quality of research, development and capacity-building programmes in renewable energy and energy efficiency. More importantly, students’ unrest over power outage and unavailability will be a thing of the past; consequently, there will be peace on campus.

    But before UI begins to reap the juicy fruits of this plant, there is still some distance to destination. Prof. Olatunbosun explained that though, the German-supported Project “promises bounteous dividends, UI still has to obtain license from Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) as a private power producer. Besides, federal government still needs to make money available for the final stage of the solar plant”. However, with the recent launching of Energizing Education Programme Initiative (EEPI) of the federal government, which is a collaborative effort of Education and Power, Works and Housing Ministries to ensure self- sufficiency in power supply to all 40 federal universities in the county, it is almost certain that this  UI pioneering effort will succeed.

    Electricity is a vital component in the production of world-class graduates. Indeed, without electric power, teaching, learning and research will simply amount to a charade, resulting in the output of poor-quality certificate holders.

    In view of the prospects of this project and its anticipated succour, intending beneficiaries must be grateful to the German government for the support it is providing. The original idea of this 10 MW solar plant was conceived at an interactive session between the immediate UI past VC, Prof. Isaac Folorunso Adewole who is now health minister and the then German Ambassador to Nigeria, Frau Janetzke Dorothy Wenzel. Prof. Adewole in his characteristic candour had told the former ambassador that electricity was a major problem confronting the university.

    The then VC consequently solicited the technical support of German government.

    Close to three years, negotiations involving UI, federal government of Nigeria and the German government were sustained before eventually culminating into the recent take off of the project. Prof. Adewole deserves credit for his superlative human relations skills with which he was able to convince the former German Ambassador, while similar commendations should be accorded Prof. Olayinka for sustaining the dream.

    The German government has been so benevolent to UI over the years. According to Prof. Olayinka, “we thank the German government for supporting our Bachelor of Arts in German programme in our Department of European Studies. A lecturer of German is always on our staff fully funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (GAES). German government also supported the establishment of the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies (CEPACS) in UI. You gave generous funding support to many postgraduate students from Nigeria and other countries to come to Ibadan to pursue their Master degree in Humanitarian and Refugee Studies. At the last count, no fewer than 48 members of our academic staff, including my humble self, have benefitted from the prestigious Alexander von Humboldt Research fellowship. We look forward to your continued support and assistance”, the VC told the gathering including the current German Ambassador, Bernard Schlaheck.

    Power supply to the university community is from both the national grid (through the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company IBEDC 132/33kV feeders) and from the University owned generators. The university has 49 backup generators which range from 27KVA-2000 KVA.  A substantial proportion of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) is committed to settling electricity bills and the purchase of diesel for generators. But with the coming of this planned 10MW solar plant, the narrative will certainly be altered.

     

    • Saanu is of the Directorate of Public Communication, University of Ibadan.
  • Queen Febisola debuts as producer with Obitun

    Queen Febisola debuts as producer with Obitun

    Burgeoning singer, dancer and actor Febisola Abosede Fagbamiye, is set to blaze the entertainment industry with her first produced movie titled Obitun.

    The movie will hit the market soon.

    Known in the entertainment sector as Queen Febisola, the actress discovered her talents as a student at Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo State. Since delving into acting in 2003, she has featured in many movies such as Adun Ife, Sisi Onidan, Ombo 2, Onitemi, Eberu Adigun, Ajoke Onijo Oge, and Eji Iberu to mention a few.

    Queen Febisola, who is Lagos-based, also plays traditional genre of music. And over the years she has performed at Omo Iyalode, Oju Oba, Eje Oba, Adete, Ogbese, Ayanmo and Isese. She had also produced musical albums titled Uwagbale, Gbotemi, Isise.

    Born in the early 80s, Febisola was educated in Ondo State – Methodist Primary School, Okitipupa and Orere Grammar School, Ile Oluji for SSCE. She then proceeded to Adeyemi College of Education of where she later graduated.

  • ‘US, biggest oil producer  after overtaking Saudi’

    The US has  overtaken Saudi Arabia and Russia to become the world’s biggest producer of oil as extraction of energy from shale rock strengthens the nation’s economy,according to  Bank of America Corporation.

    U.S. production of crude oil, along with liquids separated from natural gas, surpassed all other countries this year with daily output exceeding 11 million barrels in the first quarter, the bank said in a report  yesterday.

    It  became the world’s largest natural gas producer in 2010. The International Energy Agency said in June that the U.S. was the biggest producer of oil and natural gas liquids.

    “America is now the world’s leading producer of oil and gas,” Francisco Blanch, the bank’s head of commodities research in New York, said in the report. “The American shale revolution has had a transformational effect on the U.S. and global economies in recent years. Low energy prices are a key edge of the U.S. economy.”

    Oil extraction is soaring at shale formations in Texas and North Dakota as companies split apart rocks using high-pressure liquid, a process known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. The surge in supply combined with restrictions on exporting crude is curbing the price of West Texas Intermediate, America’s oil benchmark. The U.S., the world’s largest oil consumer, still imported an average of 7.5 million barrels a day of crude in April, according to the Department of Energy’s statistical arm.

    U.S. oil output will surge to 13.1 million barrels a day in 2019 and plateau thereafter, according to the IEA, a Paris-based adviser to 29 energy-consuming nations. The nation will lose its top-producer ranking at the start of the 2030s, the agency said in its World Energy Outlook in November.

    Production growth outside the U.S. has been lower than the bank anticipated, keeping global oil prices high, Blanch said. Partly as a result of the output boom, WTI futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange remain at a discount of about $7 a barrel to their European counterpart, the Brent contract on ICE Futures Europe’s London-based exchange.

    Rising U.S. oil supplies come as an Islamist insurgency threatens output in Iraq, the second-largest producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries after Saudi Arabia. Territorial gains in northern Iraq by a group calling itself the Islamic State has spurred concerns that oil flows from the south could be disrupted. Exports from Libya have been disrupted by protests, while Nigeria’s production is crimped by oil theft and sabotage.

  • UK-based Nigerian filmmaker honoured for Jand Hustle

    UK-based Nigerian filmmaker honoured for Jand Hustle

    EHIZOJIE Ojesebholo, United Kingdom-based Nigerian filmmaker and producer of Jand Hustle, recently won the Efere Ozako Best Experimental Film at the 10th edition of the Abuja International Film Festival (AIFF 2013).

    Jand Hustle is a documentary-comedy about a Nigerian called Jimmy Bendel, who travelled from West Africa to East London in search of greener pastures but finds out things are not the same as he had read about or heard from people who had travelled abroad.

    Artistes that featured in the movie include Rachael Oniga, Kevin Hallett, Onoh Kallista, Oyinka Yusuff, and Okechukwu Chima. It was co-produced by Funmi Adesanya (UK), Ibironke Ojesebholo (Nigeria) while Associate Producers include Vitor Okhai, Cheah Kar Mun, Yejide Akomolafe and Oliver Aleogena.

    Ojesebholo holds a Diploma certificate from Sound and Audio Engineering, (SAE), London and a Degree in Filmmaking from Middlesex University, London and he is a member of Directors Guild of Great Britain.

  • Nollywood producer dies

    A  Nollywood producer and former Chairman of Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) in Bayelsa State, Favour Ogosi, is dead. He was 45.

    His wife, Lizzy, said he died yesterday after a brief illness.

    She said: “He complained of severe stomach pains at midnight and he woke me up to take him to the hospital. While we were there, he was crying, the doctors tried their best but he died just before 6am.”

    Governor Seriake Dickson condoled with the family, describing the late Ogosi as the god of Bayelsa’s movie industry.