The organizers of the Badagry International Film, Cultural and Sports Festival (BIFIF) on Wednesday said the maiden edition of the festival has  been slated to hold from Oct. 25 to Oct. 28.

Mr Viyon Awhanse, Chief Executive Officer of BIFIF, while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos said that the festival had so far generated over 3,000 film entries.

Awhanse noted that 30 of the  films would be carefully selected for screening in the course of the festival.

He said the aim of organising the festival was to reposition Badagry and make it attractive for local and International tourists.

According to him, BIFIF has considered films projecting spirituality, celebrating sports, culture and promoting tourism.

“This is a long-term project which we started in 2015, I am from Badagry, a town immensely endowed but nothing is happening in terms of tourism.

“This is my way of ensuring Badagry gains more feasibility to attract tourists: using the audio visuals because we discovered it is the best way to educate people about the potential in the town; people do not read again.

“We will be screening 30 films, 10 for each day of the festival.

“To also make the town and its people come alive and have some sense of inclusiveness, there would be sporting activities around the beautiful coastal area of Badagry.

“We will have tourists engage in 10km race along the shores of the coastal line as well as boat regatta, volleyball and beach soccer,” he said.

Awhanse noted that over 5,000 tourists were expected from Brazil, Asia, East Africa and more nations across the globe.

He said in the course of the festival, the town’s culture would be projected in the area of its unique traditional worship, languages and historical monuments.

Also, Mawuyon Ogun, Director of Media, BIFIF, said the theme for the festival, “Once Upon A Time”,

was carefully chosen to educate tourists to begin to see Badagry as a safe and secure town with hospitable and friendly people.

According to her, renowned filmmaker, Segun Arinze, is the festival director,” she said.

The Police in Lagos have confirmed that the Afrobeat musician, Azeez Fashola aka Naira Marley is currently in its custody in connection with the death of Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as MohBad.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, made this known on Tuesday night on his verified Twitter handle@BenHundeyin.

He said the Naira Marley was currently assisting with the ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of the 27-year-old singer.

“Naira Marley has been taken into custody for interrogation and other investigation activities,” Hundeyin said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mohbad died on Sept.

Many fans and celebrities in some states took to the streets in protests following the singer’s death.

They demanded that justice be done as they suspected that there was more to Mohbad’s death than met the eye.

Some called for the arrest of the music promoter, Balogun Eletu, aka ‘Sam Larry and Naira Marley over the multiple face-off with MohBad who parted ways with Marlian Records on a controversial note.

Sam Larry was arrested on Friday.

Popular Nigerian actress and filmmaker, Mercy Aigbe Adeoti has been honoured with a new title from the Muslim community.

Mercy who converted to Islam following her marriage to filmmaker, Kazim Adeoti, was honoured with the title of Arowoshadinni by ABD Azeez Islamic Foundation.

Sharing the good news on her Instagram page, she wrote;

”Hajia Minnah Anulouwapo Mercy Adeoti ( Arowoshadinni ) ❤️😍

So henceforth kindly add Arowoshadinni to my name 😄❤️😄😍

Big Thank you to ABD AZEEZ ISLAMIC FOUNDATION for this honour! 🙏🙏🙏”