Entertainment/Arts/Culture
Censors Board Trains, Gives Grant to 100 Youths in Nasarawa State

The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) has conducted training for 100 youths, drawn from different Local Government in Nasarawa State, on ventures in the movie industry and provided them with start-up packs.
The youths,including young filmmakers, were trained by officials of the board and other stakeholders as ‘Community Ambassadors’ of the NFVCB against unclassified films and on key subjects towards a successful career in filmmaking at the event held on Monday at Canal Olympia Site in Mararaba.
The young ‘Ambassadors’, especially those in film business, were empowered with startup grants and certificates by the NFVCB at the end of the training.
Mr Adedayo Thomas, Executive Director of the board, said that the event tagged “ Revisiting the Fundamentals of Cinema Culture” is part of the board’s Media Literacy and Empowerment initiative for young thespians across Nigeria.
“In other to support the empowerment of youths in the Nasarawa state, in line with the youth friendly policies of the President Buhari led Federal Government, the National Film and Video Censors Board selected the state as a beneficiary of its ongoing capacity building on Film Classification and Censorship for youths in North Central.
“As the key regulator of the Nigerian motion picture industry, the board has decided to bring practical knowledge of how to be successful in the sector to these passionate youths.
“As part of the empowerment initiative, we have brought experts from the academia and seasoned practitioners in the industry, to train these selected 100 youths .
“They will be trained on the role of NFVCB as well as the job openings in the film and video sector, and empowerment packs to aid the new roles as Ambassadors of the Nigerian Film Industry is to be given to them,”he said.
Thomas described the training as timely, and a prelude to the opening of the ongoing construction of a 300-seater capacity Green Multipurpose Cinema by CanalOlympia in Mararaba.
He added that the cinema, when completed would create jobs for youths in the state and beyond,and that made the training more useful.
Mr Simon Minkowski,Vice President of Canal Olympia worldwide, said the cinema is designed to be a space for talent incubation and platform for emerging talents, and would be ready for operation in November this year.
In his speech, the Governor of the State, Engr Abdullahi Sule expressed appreciation to the NFVCB for bringing the training to the state.
The Governor, who was represented by Mr Kwanta Yakubu, his Senior Special Assistant on Youth Development and NGO, however urged the beneficiaries to make maximal use of the experience and resources they received from the programme.
“I commend the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) for this initiative aimed at sensitizing our youths and women on the imperative of film classification and censorship, including the various opportunities in the film and video sector which our youth could leverage to empower themselves for self-reliance and prosperity,”he said.
Entertainment/Arts/Culture
Nollywood series “The Party” for premiere on Netflix May 30

Star-studded Nollywood series “The Party” is set to premiere on Netflix May 30, its producer has said.
The producer of the acclaimed series, Judith Audu, disclosed this in a post on her Instagram page.
The Party is a three-part murder mystery series that tells the story of how everyone became a suspect when a young, successful, newly married man died unexpectedly and dramatically.
The series, directed by Yemi Morafa, features a lineup of A-list Nollywood actors, including Shaffy Bello, Uzor Arukwe, Mide Martins, Kunle Remi, and James Gardiner.
The series showcases brilliant performances by Tope Olowoniyan, Ben Touitou, Ray Adeka, and introduces Eva Ibiam in a standout debut.
The Party, a fully independent production of Ope Ajayi and Captain of Sea Productions, was originally conceived as a feature-length movie.
However, after being acquired by Netflix, it was restructured into a three-part series.
Earlier, Ajayi, in a post on his social media page, said that the Netflix series was one that would keep the audience guessing about the culprit.
In his words; “You’ll never be able to guess who did it.”
He further added: “The performances are perhaps one of my favourite things about the series.
“Everyone brought their A-game!”(NAN)
Entertainment/Arts/Culture
Gay relationship: Nigerian Skit Maker Threatens Colleagues Over Requests

A Nigerian content creator, Chukwueze Odinaka, aka ‘Mama Uka’, has called on colleagues seeking for gay relationship with him to desist from such act.
Odinaka, who specializes in skit making, in a video clip message shared via his Instagram page, threatened to expose some of his colleagues and other men if they did not desist from such demand.
According to him, he is tried to be polite with his gay admirers, telling them that he is straight, but they have continued to make advances at him.
He added that since they were adamant to his refusal, he promised to expose anyone who approach him for a gay relationship regardless of their positions.
“This message is for my colleagues and others who do not want to respect themselves.
” If anyone comes to my DM again as my fellow man to ask me out, I will screenshot it and post.I won’t mind your status.
” And you know Nigerian blogs like that kind of news, they will post you. This is the last warning.
“I have tried to be mature about this by telling you privately that I am straight.
“I am a father, also I come from a very sacred place, Enugu Ezike. We do not misbehave
“If any of you comes to my DM again to ask me out, I will post it,”he wrote.
Odinaka professionally known as Mama Uka is a Nigerian comedian and content creator, who shoots comedy using the guise of an elderly woman. (NAN)
Entertainment/Arts/Culture
‘Sikandar’ top Netflix Nigeria Chart

‘Sikandar’, an action movie about a grieving king who finds new purpose by waging war against powerful enemies, has topped the Netflix film chart in Nigeria.
‘Fear Street: Prom Queen’, a slasher movie about a bloodthirsty killer stalking candidates for prom queen, came in second, while ‘Knock at the Cabin’ is ranked third on the chart.
‘Breaking’, a drama movie, ‘Lucy’ and ‘Exterritorial’ are forth, fifth and six respectively on the chart.
‘Inside Man: Most Wanted’, ‘Havoc’ and ‘Last Bullet’ are seventh, eighth and ninth on the chart while ‘A Lagos Love Story’ a romantic movie, rounds up the top 10. (NAN)