The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) said it approved and classified a total of 1,185 films between January and December 2025.

This was contained in a statement by Ogbonna Onwumere, Director, Corporate Affairs, NFVCB.

The figure represents an increase over the 1,088 films classified in 2024.

Onwumere said that the increase reflected a sustained growth and strong activity in the Nigeria’s film industry.

He also said that it indicated a consistently high level of engagement by filmmakers and distributors across the country.

According to him, the approved films cut across a wide range of genres and languages, showcasing the vibrancy of local film production as well as the continued submission of foreign-language films for classification in Nigeria.

He noted that English-language films recorded the highest number of approvals in the year under review, reaffirming their dominance in Nigeria’s film production landscape.

”Yoruba and Igbo films followed, while Hausa and other indigenous Nigerian language films appeared less frequently,” he said.

The NFVCB director of corporate affairs further said that the board however noted a broader representation of indigenous languages such as Nupe, Berom and Gbagyi, particularly in September 2025.

He said that the development highlighted Nigeria’s rich cultural diversity, adding that foreign-language films including those in Hindi, French and Japanese, were also classified during the year.

”In terms of audience ratings, data revealed a strong concentration of films classified under 15 and 18 ratings across all months, suggesting that most of the films approved in 2025 were targeted at mature audiences.

”Family-friendly classifications such as G, PG and 12A were comparatively fewer, pointing to limited production of children’s and general-audience content,” he said.

A monthly breakdown of the figure showed that May 2025 recorded the highest number of film approvals, with 173 titles classified.

Onwumere reiterated the NFVCB commitment to encouraging greater diversity in film production.

He said that the board would continue to advocate increased investment in family-friendly content and wider use of Nigeria’s indigenous languages.

He said that this would be in line with the Executive Director’s emphasis on cultural representation and inclusivity in the film industry.

He disclosed that in a bid to promote indigenous language films, the board had reduced classification fees for films produced in indigenous languages outside Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa.

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Nigerian Afrobeats star, Rema was the biggest winner at the 9th All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), which held at the Eko Convention Centre, Lagos recently.

The Afrobeats star clinched the coveted Artiste of the Year award at the ceremony.

Rema won the Best Male Artiste in Western Africa and Best African Artiste, Duo or Group in African RnB & Soul, underscoring his dominant influence on the continent’s music scene over the past year.

His triple win capped a colourful night that celebrated African music across regional and continental categories and drew top artistes, industry executives and cultural stakeholders from across Africa and beyond.

Meanwhile, Burna Boy, whose album titled “No Sign of Weakness”, won Album of the Year while Shallipopi’s “Laho” emerged Song of the Year and Phyno won Best African Artiste, Duo or Group in African Hip Hop.

In the regional categories, Singuila of Congo won Best Male Artiste in Central Africa while Cindy Le Coeur of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) clinched Best Female Artiste in Central Africa.

Eastern Africa honours went to Jux of Tanzania as Best Male Artiste as Denise of Madagascar emerged Best Female Artiste while Team Paiya of Côte d’Ivoire emerged Best African Duo, Group or Band.

In Northern Africa, Adviser of Mauritania won Best Male Artiste, with Egypt’s Sherine taking home Best Female Artiste.

Southern Africa saw Yo Maps of Zambia emerge Best Male Artiste while South Africa’s Nontokozo Mkhize won Best Female Artiste.

In Western Africa, Rema claimed Best Male Artiste while Ghana’s Wendy Shay emerged Best Female Artiste.

In the continental categories, Milo of Côte d’Ivoire won Best Male Artiste in African Inspirational Music, while compatriot Morijah clinched the female category.

Guinea’s Manamba Kanté won Best African Artiste, Duo or Group in African Pop, while Benin Republic’s Axel Merryl took Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African Contemporary.

Yemi Alade clinched Best Soundtrack in a Movie, Series or Documentary for “You Are”, while Senegal’s Bakhaw Dioum won Songwriter of the Year for “Choix”.

South Africa’s Ciza clinched Breakout Artiste of the Year while Qing Madi of Nigeria won Most Promising Artiste of the Year.

The night further highlighted African collaboration and diversity, with Shallipopi and Burna Boy’s “Laho” winning Best African Collaboration.

The 9th AFRIMA Awards once again reinforced the platform’s role in celebrating African creativity, unity and global cultural impact, with Rema’s multiple wins standing out as a defining moment of the ceremony.

American rapper A$AP Rocky has revealed that his mother once advised him to end a relationship with his then-girlfriend and pursue global music star Rihanna instead.

Rocky made the disclosure during an interview where he reflected on his long-standing friendship with Rihanna before their romantic relationship began.

According to the rapper, his mother was convinced Rihanna was “the real one” and repeatedly encouraged him to go after her, even when he insisted they were just friends at the time.

“Rihanna has always been my boo. I always f*cked with her,” Rocky said.

“My mother used to say, ‘I know you like this girl that you are with right now, but I want you with Riri.

Despite the encouragement, Rocky explained that he was grateful their relationship did not start earlier, noting that neither he nor Rihanna was ready for the level of commitment and family life they now share.

“I am thankful that my relationship with Rihanna started when it did. Because at any time prior to that, I don’t think I was ready for something like that. I don’t think she was either,” he added.

Rocky and Rihanna grew closer after he joined her Diamond World Tour in 2013. Romance rumours later intensified in 2020, shortly after Rihanna’s split from Saudi billionaire Hassan Jameel.

The couple officially went public with their relationship and have since welcomed three children together — their first in 2022, second in 2023, and third in 2025.

Rocky previously dated model Kendall Jenner between 2016 and 2017.