Isuofia Ends Age-long Communal Feud

Willie Obiano

Awka – The twenty-year-old intra-communal crisis in Isuofia town, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State has come to an end following the reconciliation of the two factions and the election of a new town union executive council.

Trouble started in 1997 when a quarter of Isuofia community announced its secession from the town, declaring that it was now Isuanioma Community which led to break down of law and order in the area.

While the communal crisis lasted, over nine buildings were torched and over thirty-six families fled their homes for fear of attacks while two persons were alleged to have been missing.

Consequently, the then Isuofia People’s Union Federated Executive functioned for about eighteen years which the rest of the community described the body as illegitimate.

But just last year a peace and conflict resolution committee was set up made up of clerics from the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Pentecostal churches and some stakeholders in the community which resolved the two-decade face off.

However, a lawsuit was filed shortly after the truce by Chief Samuel Nwankwo and eleven others against former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Prof Charles Soludo, eight clerics and twenty-two others which was however quashed by the presiding judge of Aguata High Court, Justice Obiora.

It was on the strength of this development that the two warring camps in compliance with the directives of Special Adviser to Anambra State governor on Chieftaincy and Town Union Matters, Ikechukwu Onyeabo, conducted its town union election to elect a new executive.

Speaking shortly after the election that produced Mr. Jude Okeke as the President General, Soludo told newsmen that it was a new dawn in Isuofia community.

“War or crisis is an evil wind that blows nobody any good and you can imagine what our community has lost in the last twenty years, socio-economically.

“I wish to announce my support for the new executive and I call on all and sundry both those that won the election and those that did not win to work together for the progress and development of Isuofia town.

“I also thank the Anambra State government for its role in ensuring peace in Isuofia town and we the people of Isuofia would ensure that we cue into all the developmental schemes and policies of this executive and the state government,” he said.

Zimbabwe: TB Joshua Fails to Meet Mnangagwa

TB Joshua coming to Zimbabwe.

Popular Nigerian preacher Temitope Balogun Joshua (TB Joshua) left Harare on Friday night after failing to meet President Emmerson Mnangagwa under unclear circumstances.

The government said the Nigerian had no scheduled meeting with Mnangagwa amid reports that the organizers bungled.

Vice-President Kembo Mohadi and Scholarships minister Christopher Mushohwe met TB Joshua, who was said to be eager to meet Mnangagwa.

Acting Information minister Simon Khaya Moyo said the government was not aware of TB Joshua's invitation and reports that Mnangagwa snubbed him were misleading.

"The president is not a snubber. We are not aware as the government of any meeting that was set up between the president and TB Joshua," he said..

Sources said one of the people that tried to arrange the meeting, Josey Mahachi, had approached Mnangagwa seeking his help to invite TB Joshua to conduct a day of national prayer.

"The president, while happy to have a national day of prayer, did not, however, want to be associated with one particular religious leader and instead said if churches in Zimbabwe organized the prayer meeting he would attend, but would not invite one prophet ahead of the other," said the source.

According to the sources, after failing to see the president, Mahachi tried without success to engage members of the first family to secure an appointment.

"Josey tried until late evening [Friday] to get some family members to assist, but it was turned down," the source said.

"This caused anger within the TB Joshua camp resulting in him leaving via the back door of his hotel to Robert Mugabe International Airport for Victoria Falls."

Mahachi's husband, Olusegun Agbeniyi, who was part of the team, which was managing TB Joshua's visit, said Mnangagwa sent Mohadi to meet the preacher because "of the sensitivity of the death of MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai".

Mohadi, Mushohwe, and Tsvangirai are some of the prominent local politicians who visited TB Joshua's church in Nigeria in recent years.

Nigerian Child Comedienne Emmanuella Lands Disney Acting Role

Seven-year-old Emmanuella Samuel, popular for the comedy skit "This is Not My Real Face Oh" has landed a Disney acting role. The young comedienne has gained a large following throughout the world. We wish her all the best in her career.

Small beginnings sometimes lead one to big places. The case of popular Nigerian child comedienne Emmanuella Samuel, who is popularly called Emmanuella, easily comes to mind. The seven-year-old who turns eight in July started out her entertainment career by featuring in the Mark Angel Comedy.

Mark Angel Comedy discovered Emmanuella through the acting school run by the Mark Angel foundation. Unlike other comedy skits that are produced in affluent places, Mark produced his comedy in the environment he found himself in. Emmanuella, however, started acting in Mark Angel comedy when she was five years old and only in primary one (grade one).

Emmanuella received wide acclaim around the world after the comedy skit "This is Not My Real Face Oh" went viral. The video has currently been viewed over 4 million times on YouTube. The Mark Angel Comedy channel has over 1.7 million subscribers, with videos gaining 1 million views within a week.

Emmanuella has been a recipient of various awards both within and outside Nigeria. In Australia, she was awarded the Princess of Comedy and Prominent Kid Comedienne awards.

A recent post on Instagram from an unverified Emmanuella account said, "Thanks, @disneystudios God bless everyone whose support has added to bringing us here. I never dreamed of being here so soon. I miss Success. I love you all."

Congratulatory messages have been pouring out both from the general public and Nigerian politicians. The Nigerian Senate President Bukola Saraki said in a Twitter post "your story is an inspiration. Come by the Nigerian Senate sometime, let's discuss how we can develop the potential of our young talents in the creative industry."

The Black Panther Fever

‘Black Panther’ is a movie that has been as talked about by Nigerians as much as the producer, director, cast and crew of the movie.

First was the powerful trailer that whetted appetites all around, without forgetting that it is a movie that paints Africa in a different light, away from the previous notions of Africa’s impoverishments.

The appearance of Nollywood’s Funke Akindele on the cast list turned things up a notch and the subsequent removal of her name and the addition of the beloved Genevieve Nnaji to the list, while dampening Nigerian spirits, failed to make it less anticipated.

This past Valentine’s Day, though quite eventful was dulled by the anticipation of the cinema release, which took place yesterday, February 16.

In fact, when many ‘Black Panther’ loyalists heard that Nairabox held a private media viewing of the movie at the Genesis Deluxe Cinemas in the Palms Shopping Mall on Tuesday, February 13, they were highly disappointed.

Lupita Nyong’o, speaking about the movie earlier in the week stated that she is more excited about “the celebration of pan-Africanism because this movie is really about a contemporary Africa relating very intimately with a contemporary America via the characters of ‘Black Panther’ and ‘Killmonger’. We’re talking about some really deep issues that we don’t often voice but we all feel.

Chadwick Boseman in his own statement said, “A lot of times, being (a black man) in Hollywood when you get material, you’ll read it and you’ll be like, ‘That’s not us.’ When I got the initial call from Kevin Feige, my hope was that they would have the courage to give ‘Black Panther’ its true essence and put somebody behind it that would have my same passion for what it could be. And they did that.”

The director, Ryan Coogler, explained his idea on changing the narrative of Africa. “The narrative about the continent that we know is actually a fairly recent narrative if you think about human history.   It’s a narrative that was born out of what happened when the countries of Africa were conquered. But the truth is that some of those places that people might refer to as backwaters — and these recent comments definitely aren’t the first time somebody has said something like that — were the cradle of civilization.   They were the first places to do anything that we would consider to be civilized. All the structures that we built in Wakanda, they’re taller structures of what you’ll find in Africa. Some of them we switched up — instead of mud, we used (the fictional super metal) vibranium — but those are buildings that you’ll really find in Mali, in Ethiopia, in Nigeria. I spent about three weeks in Africa (doing research for “Black Panther”) and I truly felt that seeing it for myself was necessary for my growth as a human being. That experience made me not only capable (of writing) this film, but it made me whole as a person.”

With these many accolades and expectations, ‘Black Panther’ has successfully created a fever all around the world, without leaving Nigeria out of the mix. Judging by the smiles of the first set of viewers, it was a fever worth catching.

Foreign Exchange Actors: The Nolly-Holly Mix

Genevieve

A dventure is the best way to learn. It is the norm all around the world for students of a certain country to study abroad at one of their school’s partner institutions. These foreign exchange programmes provide students with an opportunity to learn in a different country and environment, experiencing the history and culture of another country.

Jim Iyke

For some reason, it is a system that works and has over the years built synergy bThe term ‘exchange’ means that a partner institution accepts a person, but does not necessarily mean that the person has to find a counterpart from the other institution with whom to exchange.

These days, however, students are not the only category of people being exchanged, actors have joined the mix and even though it is not a full-blown programme, there is potential in such partnerships, as talents have been exchanged between countries.

Omotola

Nollywood is an industry that has grown exponentially over the years — up to the point that many who constantly quote that fact do not truly understand the ramification of that growth.

Ours is an industry that has able representation on the international movie market, both for the quality of films we produce and the number of movies we produce. Our movies tour world film festivals unabashedly and many international bodies have named the Nigerian movie industry as one to watch.

Initially, the foreign exchange started with smaller industries like Gollywood, but in the last decade, it has become the norm for Hollywood actors, Cinema of the United Kingdom actors and the likes to feature in Nigerian movies and movie produced in Nigeria by Nigerian filmmakers.

While we had all thought such talent exchange would be one-sided, it has been a mutually beneficial relationship. Talents have been swapped on several occasions, and it looks like it is an exchange programme that is here to stay.

Recollect the recent inclusion of Genevieve in the Black Panther movie.

Asides that, other Nollywood actors that have enjoyed the benefit of the talent exchange include: Osas Ighodaro in the 2015 movie, ‘Where Children Play’ where she starred alongside Grammy Award winner Macy Gray, Brian White and Teyonah Parris.

Jim Iyke in the 2013 movie ‘And then There was You’ with Garcelle Beauvais, Lynn Whitfield, Greg Vaughan, Leon Robinson, Kate Nauta and Brian White.

Stephanie Linus Okereke in ‘Boonville Redemption’. The American Western Epic movie also starred Pat Boone, Diane Ladd, Edward Asner, Emily Hoffman, Nicholas Neve Shari Rigby and Richard Tyson.

Omotola Jalade Ekeinde in ‘Hit The Floor’. In 2013, the actress made a cameo appearance in the first season of the popular drama series. She starred alongside Akon 6.

Olu Jacobs, an actor almost as old as the Nigerian film industry, has starred in several international films.

Nigerian actor, Stanley Aguzie also featured in ‘Vikings’ and ‘Into The Badlands’.

This is just as a number of Hollywood stars such as Isaiah Washington, Vivica Fox and Kim Basinger, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tomiwa Edun and the likes have featured in Nollywood films.

These actor exchanges have become quite popular and show enough potential to benefit participants because even though there are also many difficulties to be encountered, these talents improve themselves through the experience.

Video: Nigerian Air Force new drone Tsaigumi in hard strike exercise

The Nigerian Air Force on February 15, 2018, inducted the first indigenous operational Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, nicknamed Tsaigumi.

The Tsaigumi UAV, which was produced by NAF Aerospace Engineers in collaboration with UAVision of Portugal, would be used for Intelligence Surveillance and Recognisance operations in land and sea domains.

It could also be used for policing operations, disaster management, convoy protection, maritime patrol, pipeline and power line monitoring as well as mapping and border patrol duties.

In addition, it could be deployed for the protection of wildlife, weather forecast, and telecast.

Additionally, in the maritime domain, the Tsaigumi UAV could be used for search and rescue, coastal monitoring and patrol of Nigeria’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

The UAV, which is capable of day and night operations, has an operational endurance in excess of 10 hours, a service ceiling of 15,000 feet and a mission radius of 100km.

It has a maximum take-off weight of 95kg and its payload is an electro-optic/infra-red camera system.

Tourism has been relegated in Nigeria – Muyiwa Ladipo

The Ogun State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Rt. Hon. Muyiwa Ladipo, has said that tourism has been relegated in Nigeria. He said this at the Ogun State Ministry of Culture and Tourism when the Tourism Innovation and Development Advantage (TIDA) press team paid him a visit while on a tour of some tourist centers available in the ancient city of Abeokuta, Ogun State on Wednesday, February 7.

While addressing the organizing partners of TIDA and members of the press, Oladipo said “tourism in Nigeria is relatively new. I personally am pained that Nigeria, the giant of Africa, is the midget in tourism. You can imagine, till tomorrow, Nigeria does not have a tourist visa. So tourist coming to Nigeria would always come via visiting visa or business visa. For that alone, we have problems. But that is at Federal, no state is in charge of any visa. But respective states try as much as possible to promote themselves. We in Ogun State have tried as much as possible to get across to the whole world that Ogun State is a tourist destination.

“Some of us here must have heard about Olumo Rock even if you know of no other place. As a matter of fact, if you look at all the types of tourism across the world, Ogun has them. Talk about cultural tourism, educational tourism – Ogun State has the highest number of higher institutions in Nigeria, religious tourism – half of you here go to redemption camp, MFM Prayer City, not to forget Winners Chapel, Ogun is also one of the few states that thrive with ecotourism, which is the Ogun waterside axis of the state. Of course, there is medical tourism as well. So we have all this, and incidentally, we are trying to put them together and promote.”

He further shared that Ogun under the leadership of Governor Ibikunle Amosun is making efforts to promote tourism, also to prevent the culture from dying.

In his words, “We are inching towards making Ogun State a place to visit. We have even reconstructed Federal roads and we are not stopping. You will all give us kudos in the years to come.”

When asked his opinion on security in the country being one of the factors preventing the growth of the tourism sector, he explained that “Everyday in the U.S, people are being killed, so anywhere you think is safe isn’t really. It is for us to have a second look at what we do and how we go about it.

“But you and I must promote ourselves, let the world know that Ogun State and Nigeria as a whole is a place to visit. Our economy needs to diversify because crude oil is drying up and leaving Nigeria.”