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Runsewe Enjoins Nigerians to Unite Against Religious, Ethnic Biases 

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Chief Olusegun Runsewe, Director General (DG) National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC)
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By Tony Obiechina, Abuja 

The Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe has enjoined Nigerians to unite against forces of ethnic and religious biases that are bent on dividing the country.

He made the plea in Abuja on Saturday, at the launch of a book titled “Random Nigerianna” authored by Halima Dalhatu, Special Adviser to the immediate past Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed.

 

Runsewe who was the chairman of the occasion, noted that “Nigeria has suffered and lost so much due to ethnic and religious sentiments, hence the need for a gradual re-orientation on the need to gradually put sentiments aside and work together for national growth and development,”

On the book, Random Nigerianna, he said it served as a wake up call on the unity and diversity of the country and why the youths, who he said are pillars of development can adopt strategic approach to leadership.

“Random Nigerianna preaches our unity in diversity and serves as a motivation to spur our youths to greatness. As part of our mandate in the agency, we will ensure that the book is taken to all cultural establishments across the 36 states of the country as a way of preaching our unity,”

In her remarks, the former Finance Minister commended the author for her resilience in combining her tight work schedule to write the book and wondered, “how did you do it?”

The author, Halima Dalhatu said the 114 page – book, which is the first of her publication “was conceived out of the desire to change the narrative about Nigeria and it’s huge diversity and preaching the gospel of unity amongst diverse ethnic groups and religion”.

She further pointed out that writing the book enabled her to discover herself as well as “develop the habit of reading to open up the mind”.

About N30m was realised at the book launch, with the highest donation coming from the chief launcher, Alhaji A.A. Abdulkadir, who was the Chairman of the occasion.

Otunba Runsewe purchased 200 copies for his organisation besides his personal donations.

 Special guests of honour, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, her husband, Architect Shamsuna Ahmed as well Abdulkarim Baba of Spine and Label Books Ltd also supported the book launch. 

The book was reviewed by Mr Reginald Ihebuzor, Prof Amirikpa Oyigbenu and Hajiya Lantana Ahmed.

Entertainment/Arts/Culture

It’s not Tinubu’, Femi Kuti Reveals Nigeria’s Real Problem

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Afrobeat legend, Femi Kuti has claimed that President Bola Tinubu is not the major problem facing Nigeria.

He argued that the main problem with Nigeria was institutional corruption, stressing that if Nigeria had a good judicial system, Tinubu wouldn’t have been able to contest for the presidency in the first place, due to the multiple allegations against him.

Speaking in a recent episode of the Good News Naija podcast, Kuti said corruption in Nigeria was deeply rooted, emphasising that all the people entrusted with leadership across every sector belonged to the same class of corrupt elite.

“Do you think Tinubu is the problem? The judiciary that didn’t stop him from getting there in the first place is a problem. If all the allegations against him are true, how did he contest?

“If we had men and women of calibre and integrity, he wouldn’t have been able to contest in the first place,” he said.

Kuti added that the systemic corruption in Nigeria was enough to dash the hopes of young Nigerians in the country.

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Ayra Starr’s Mother Promotes ‘Starr Girl’ Album on Lagos Streets

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The mother of Afrobeats star, Oyinkansola Aderibigbe, popularly known as Ayra Starr, Nene Aderibigbe, has promoted her daughter’s forthcoming ”Starr Girl” album on the streets of Lagos ahead of its Friday release.

Aderibigbe, popularly known as Genzmummy on Instagram, shared a video showing herself, the singer’s sister and other women promoting the album.

The caption reads: “We declare stargirl album to God in the name of the father and the son and of the holy ghost”

The women were dressed in matching black outfits and purple headgear while holding placards promoting “Starr Girl”.

The placards carried messages including “Stargirl album out on the 14th of August” as the women promoted the forthcoming project on the streets.

The street campaign comes as Ayra Starr prepares to release “Starr Girl”, her third studio album, following 19 & Dangerous, and The Year I Turned 21.

Aderibigbe, was born in Cotonou, Benin Republic, and raised in Lagos, Nigeria. She rose to prominence after signing with Mavin Records and releasing her self-titled debut EP in 2021.

She subsequently released 19 & Dangerous in 2021, followed by The Year I Turned 21 in May 2024.

Her 2022 single “Rush” earned a nomination for Best African Music Performance at the 66th Grammy Awards.

Ayra Starr had earlier announced that “Starr Girl” would be released on Aug. 14, with the project expected to mark her latest album release.

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Nollywood: Villain Roles My God-given Niche, Says Patience Ozokwor

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Veteran Nollywood actress, Patience Ozokwor, popularly known as Mama G, says she believes God gave her a niche to effectively portray witches, wicked mothers-in-law and other villainous characters in films.

She said this during a livestreamed interview with content creator, Carter Efe, while speaking on her long-standing career playing such roles in Nollywood productions.

According to Ozokwor, she does not support evil or injustice as a person, but fully commits to any negative role she is given in order to deliver it convincingly and pass moral lessons to viewers.

“I think God gave me that niche.

I hate every ill because I don’t like injustice, war and rancour. When you give me those roles, I try to bring everything into them,” she said.

According to her, her portrayal of villainous characters is a deliberate effort to make audiences reflect on the consequences of their actions and appreciate the importance of living right.

“If you are taking part in any of them, you have to be careful and know the end thereof, for the end justifies the means.

“Know what will happen to you if you live a terrible life, and know what you will gain if you are a good person,” she said.

With an acting career spanning decades, the Enugu-state born actress has featured in several Nollywood blockbusters, and she is acclaimed widely for her strong and often villainous characters.

Among other accolades, Ozokwor won the Africa Movie Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actress in 2012 and 2013.

Ozokwor was among the top 100 Nigerians honoured by the government to celebrate the amalgamation of the northern and southern protectorates in 2014, and  received the Merit Award at the 2023 Africa Magic Viewer’s’ Choice Awards.(NAN)

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