Entertainment

NICO partners Censors Board on inclusion of cultural content in Nollywood

Published

2 months ago

March 22, 2024

The National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) has indicated interest to partner with the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) on inclusion of at least 20 percent of cultural content in films produced in Nigeria.

This agreement was reached when Chief Biodun Ajiboye, Executive Secretary of NICO received Dr Shaibu Husseini, Executive Director of NFVCB, in his office in Abuja, to explore areas of collaboration toward achieving the renewed hope agenda of the present administration.

Ajiboye, in a statement through his Media Aide, Caleb Nor, on Thursday, said the level at which Nigerian films had permeated the social fabrics of the world was a clear indication that films were the most potent instrument for behavioural modification.

He said unless Nigeria gets to the point of having a proper cultural identity and character, its search for a national identity would remain a mirage.

“Until a nation has proper cultural identity, it cannot have a national identity and when a nation does not have a national identity, it cannot have a national character.

“The Chinese saw culture as a very important and potent part of life and national development.

“When they were trying to come up with the Chinese revolution, culture was the most important thing they took with them and you and I can see where China is today in the equation of the world.

“We need to reach a consensus between us in the form of policy realignment. We want to ask humbly that if you can allow at least 20 percent of cultural content into all the films you want to approve as a matter of policy.

“We cannot afford as a people to ignore or neglect our cultural antecedents and therefore must return to our cultural values.

“If we are able to retrace our steps back to our cultural values, we are likely to have a saner society than what we have today. All these issues of banditry, kidnapping and corruption are as a result of the neglect of our cultural values.

“We stand before the world today to either rescue Nigeria or allow it to perish.

“We have a responsibility to key into the renewed hope agenda of Mr President such that in every situation we find ourselves, we should be able to contribute positively to the success of this administration,” he said.

In his remarks, Husseini said the board had the responsibility of regulating the content, exhibition and distribution of films and whatever the Nigerian society watches.

He noted that the visit was to seek ways of partnership with the institute in carrying out its orientation programmes where they could have a spot to talk to people about the need for media literacy.

“Media literacy has a lot to do with understanding and appreciating the different kinds of contents people watch.

“We are moving from a stage where we are no longer bothered about censorship because we don’t want people to claim that we are stopping them from expressing their creative abilities.

“We are also moving to a scheme where we want to be encouraging movies that speak to us as a country on how resilient we are as a people.

“We are also thinking about encouraging a lot of people to go into language films because we are fast losing our languages; and I know one thing; NICO has institutionalised and it is known for its indigenous language programmes.

“We want to partner with you in our effort to encourage a lot of language movies. We want a situation where we can produce more language movies where we can also help NICO in their instructional language programmes,” he said.

Related Topics:Censors Board NICO Nollywood

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Entertainment

Bobrisky jailed 6 months without fine option for Naira abuse

Published

3 weeks ago

April 12, 2024

NewsDirect

A Federal High Court in Lagos State, on Friday, sentenced convicted cross dresser, Idris Okuneye (alias Bobrisky), to six months in prison for abuse of the Naira.

The court did not give the cross dresser an option of fine.

Bobrisky was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The court convicted him on April 5, following his guilty plea, but reserved sentence until April 9.

The court had ordered Okuneye to be kept in the custody of the EFCC pending sentencing.

However, due to Federal Government’s declaration of April 9, April 10 and April 11 public holiday, the case could not proceed as scheduled.

On Friday, Justice Abimbola Awogboro sentenced the convict without an option of fine.

The judge held that imprisonment would take effect from the date of the cross dresser’s arrest.

Okuneye was taken away by EFCC operatives immediately after his sentencing.

The EFCC had, on April 4, filed a six-count charge against Okuneye.

The charge bordered on Naira mutilation and money laundering.

He was consequently arraigned on April 5 and he pleaded guilty to the first four counts.

The court struck out the last two counts following an application by the EFCC.

On April 5, Mr Bolaji Temitope, a prosecution witness and Assistant Suprintendant of EFCC, gave evidence before the court and narrated the circumstances surrounding prosecution of Okuneye.

After review of the facts of the case, EFCC counsel, Mr Suleiman Suleiman, prayed the court to convict the cross dresser.

According to EFCC, Okuneye committed the offences on March 24, at Circle Mall, Jakande, Lekki, Lagos State.

The commission stated that Okuneye tampered with the cumulative sum of N400,000 while dancing during a social event, by spraying same.

Okuneye also sprayed various tranches of money such as N20,000 and N50,000 at various events in 2022 and 2023, according to EFCC.

The offences contravene Section 21(1) Central Bank Act of 2007 and Section 19 of Money Laundering Act of 2022.

Entertainment

‘I’m not in competition with Kizz Daniel, he’s the one competing with me’ – Portable

Published

4 weeks ago

April 9, 2024

NewsDirect

Controversial Nigerian singer, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has stated that he is not in any competition with his colleague, Kizz Daniel.

He, however, said the ‘Buga’ crooner is the one who is competing with him.

Speaking in a video message shared via his social media page recently, Portable said common sense should tell fans that he is the rave of the moment.

He said, “Kizz Daniel is the one dragging position with me. Some fans don’t have brain, if you have brain you will understand I’m the one reigning. Kizz Daniel and I dominating the chart now. Any song we drop, goes to number one.”

Entertainment

Nicki Minaj makes history as most successful touring female rapper

Published

4 weeks ago

April 9, 2024

NewsDirect

Nicki Minaj has broken the record for the highest grossing tour by a female rapper in history.

According to American statistic company, Touring Data, the US-based Trinidadian hip-hop star also broke the highest-grossing concert by a female rapper in history, with $2.858 million at Madison Square Garden in New York on March 30, 2024.

Her ‘Pink Friday 2’ tour has officially become the most successful tour by a female rapper, grossing $34.9 million from 220,000 tickets sold in its first 17 shows.

“@NICKIMINAJ’s ‘Pink Friday 2’ officially becomes the most successful tour by a female rapper in history, with $34.9 million from 220,000 tickets sold in its first 17 shows,” Touring Data tweeted.

She earned $34.9 million from just 30 percent of the tour. She is expected to gross $100 million at the end of the tour later this year.

Recall that the “Queen of Rap” said she would consider including Nigeria on her ‘Pinky Friday 2’ tour if enough fans showed interest after a Nigerian fan frowned at the exclusion of Africa from her world tour venues.

It remains to be seen if she would include Nigeria or any other African country in the tour.