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 Actor Urges Men to Keep Confidence Level High in Approaching Women

Nollywood actor, Yul Edochie, has urged men to always keep their confidence level high when approaching women for relationship.
The renowned movie star, who took to his Instagram page @yuledochie to give the advice, said building one’s confidence as a man in approaching a lady makes the person to get the right choice.
According to him, being frightened by a woman’s success is not the best, adding that not all women are interested in money, but in a man’s qualities, logic, personality and appearance.
He added that a lady’s wealth should not prevent a man to express his feelings, especially when truly in love.
” If she is rich and you, shishi no dey your side, but you like her, tell her you like her.
” If you want to date her tell her. Not all women are after money.
” Some women are moved by the quality of the man, his reasoning, behavior and looks.
” Tell her how you feel, she will either say yes or no, she no go kill you.
” Whetter you are rich or poor, as a human being keep your confidence level high.
“Even your confidence can make her like you, ‘Money is not everything ‘, he wrote.(NAN)
Entertainment/Arts/Culture
Why I Love to Show My Body- Blue Aiva, Evicted BBTitans Housemate

Tebatso Mokoana, popularly known as Blue Aiva, one of the evicted housemates of the Big Brother Titans show, says she loves showing her body to encourage the young ones to be comfortable in their skins.
Blue Aiva, who was often found showcasing her body in the course of the show disclosed this during a virtual interview with newsmen on Tuesday.
Newsmen report that the trio of Blue Aiva, Nana and Miracle Op, were evicted during the live show on Sunday as they had the least votes among eight housemates nominated for eviction.
“I love to show my body, I embrace my body and I respect myself a lot.
I show my body because I just want the young people to know that they can be comfortable in their own skin.“I am not scared of showing my body because I know my body is banging,” she said.
The South African professional dancer and Disc Jockey said her experience in the big brother titans show was amazing as she expressed her gratitude to the organisers of the show.
When asked if she was intentionally seducing her fellow housemate, BlackBoi, who she was having an affair with, she said she was only being flirtatious with him.
“I know I was flirtatious with him but was not seducing him and he was just in love with me.
“I will really miss everything in the house, the tasks, Friday night game and all, I am happy I got the experience,” she said.
The 22-year-old dancer predicted that Kanaga, one of the housemates currently on the show, would likely be the overall winner.
She disclosed her plans to establish a dance and music studio where she could further touch on the younger ones, to teach them dance.
According to her, this will be done after she must have toured different countries to observe and learn their dance culture. (NAN)
Entertainment/Arts/Culture
Khaid, Tempoe, Poco Lee Among Emerging Artistes for 2023- Spotify

Spotify, an online streaming platform has announced Khaid, Tempoe, Poco Lee and more as emerging artistes, music lovers could look out for in 2023.
Phiona Okumu, Head of Music, Spotify’s Sub-Saharan Africa disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
Okumu said that according to Spotify data, some other emerging artistes across African continent were: Bayanni, Brume, YKB and Kaestyle.
According to her, the Ghanaian emerging artistes were: Reggie, Snypa, Mellissa, Beeztrap, Kotm and Samsney.
“Emerging artistes from Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda are: Wanavokali, Kinoti, Misee, Billions, Njeri, Anjella, Killy, Phina, V-BE, Liam Voice and Axon.
“From South Africa, we have Pabi Cooper, Boontle RSA, Uncle Waffles, Nkosazana Daughter, Young Stunna, Jay Jody, Blue Tape, Khanyisa, Lwah Ndlunkulu, Will Linley, Droomsindroom and Officixl.
“Few things are quite as exciting as discovering new talent to listen to on repeat, fans can add to their favourite playlists and lean on for emotional support over the course of the year.
“For fans of African music on Spotify, 2023 promises another roll-call of amazing artistes, ready to break through to fame and mainstream streaming success,” she said.
Okumu noted that African music had consistently unfurled waves of new, fresh talent every year who have propelled the global interest in Afrobeats, Amapiano and its many other sub-genres.
She said 2022 was a breakout year for artistes like Buju, Costa Titch and Asake, whose success propelled them into Wrapped top lists at the end of 2022.
“And while those talents took their voices to the main stage, a slew of rising stars was also laying the groundwork for their own breakout year.
“Some of these musicians are primed to release their best music in the coming months, others have enjoyed early success on Spotify, and shown many indications of even greater success on the horizon.
“Some others are relatively new elements, developing new takes on familiar sounds that harken towards major shifts in popular music,” she said. (NAN)