Entertainment
Zee World, Telemundo, Killing Nigerian Movies – Zebrudaya
Veteran comic actor, Chika Okpala, popularly known as Chief Zebrudaya has lamented that foreign Television Channels like Telemundo and Zee World have won Nigerian fans over to the bletrinent of local channels as indigenous drama series were being ignored.
He stressed that foreign soaps like Mexican soups, Telemundo and Zee World and the rest of them have flooded our TV screens now and our indigenous TV series are suffering. Those popular programmes like The New Masquerade, Cock Crow at Dawn, the Village Head Master, Hotel De Jordan etc were left to slip away.
The legendary actor disclosed that the lack of sponsorship has hindered the production of most TV series in the country,. The 69 years old comic actor also noted that old TV series were left abandoned because sponsor withdrew.
He said the dwindling economy is the major problem of production in the country and lack of sponsorship has contributed to the dearth of programmes on TV stations in the country.
Chief Zebrudaya expressed optimism that if those programmes were still being aired, actors, actresses producers, directors and many Nollywood practitioners be employed and people will be entertainer also. The private sector complained about the economy and without the economy being vibrant you cannot push the people, they cannot do productions without it yielding something substantial to take care of the families.
“If you engage an artiste and he performs for free today, tomorrow, he may not because he has to pay his rent and take care of other things”, he said.
The Nigeria comedy pioneer and entertainment icon his advised the Federal Government to factor in the role of the entertainment industry in national development stressing that key actors are not recognized in Nigeria. They were being celebrated in other countries like Gambia, where the president of Gambia honoured over 17 of them with a plot of land in choice locations in the country but generally I have not seen the Nigerian society being special to us, they don’t even know that we exist”, he stressed.
Okpala who spoke during a press briefing in Abuja to announce the public presentation of a new movie titled “I Believe” which stars Desmond Eliot, Patience Ozokwor and other key Nollywood actors supported by the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) disclosed that government has not been supportive to him and some other colleagues who were part of the popular 80s comedy show, “The New Masquerade.” They only think of themselves and ignore others.
He noted that only one individual called prophet T.B. Joshua of the synagogue Church of All Nations responds to the problems of people “if he calls you and wants to honour you, he will give you one car and one million naira, which Nigeria as a whole cannot do”. He cried out that even the suggestion by the former finance minister Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala that the nations entertainment industry was adding a lot to the growth of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Nigeria has been swept to aside and thrown away”.
Okpala stated that they know that there is no event or gathering that takes place in Nigeria today without entertainment, yet government don’t want to recognize the industry.
The Lennox K. Black International Prize for Excellence in Medicine is a prestigious accolade awarded by Thomas Jefferson University, recognising outstanding individuals.
The actress was honoured with the Lennox K. Black International Prize for Excellence in Medicine by Thomas Jefferson University in America in recognition of her outstanding contributions to social activism and impact through her work.
This remarkable achievement, they said, highlights her dedication to societal well-being and marks her as the first Black recipient of this distinguished award.
The Tide Entertainment reports that the Lennox K. Black International Prize for Excellence in Medicine is a prestigious accolade awarded by Thomas Jefferson University, recognising individuals who have made significant contributions to the medical field, promoting scientific discovery and advancements.
Named after Lennox K. Black, a Canadian manufacturing executive known for his philanthropic efforts and service on various boards, including Thomas Jefferson University, the prize celebrates excellence in medical innovation and global contribution to health and medicine.
The actress is renowned for her activism and impactful work in areas concerning women’s health and rights, including her efforts to combat issues like fistula and gender-based violence.
According to the award organisers she has been instrumental in bringing about social change through her films and campaigns. They added that her work extends beyond borders, affecting lives and policies internationally, embodying the spirit of the Lennox K. Black International Prize.
On receiving the award, Stephanie expressed her gratitude and reaffirmed her commitment to using her platform for social good.
“This recognition goes beyond me; it is for all the women and girls fighting for a healthier, safer world. It amplifies our message and our work. It strengthens my resolve to continue advocating for gender equality, social justice, and improved maternal and reproductive health in Africa,” she said
Susan Aldunge, Interim President of Thomas Jefferson University, admired the actress, saying, ‘‘Your ability to educate while humbly addressing the cultural obstacles impeding progress for young women is commendable. Your intelligent, personal take on the necessary human rights changes has deeply impacted all lucky to encounter you. Congratulations once more on this well-deserved award and the acknowledgement of your efforts.’”
Ms Aldunge further said that Thomas Jefferson University, a leader in medical education and research, hosts the award to underscore its mission of improving lives through innovation in health care.
‘‘The university is proud to honour Stephanie Linus, whose work aligns with Jefferson’s values of creativity, collaboration, and compassion in pursuing excellence in medicine and beyond.
“Awarding the Lennox K. Black International Prize to Stephanie Linus celebrates her achievements and signals a broader recognition of the importance of social activism in medicine and health,” she added.
“Her pioneering efforts continue to inspire and effect change, paving the way for a healthier, more equitable world’’.
Stephanie, who was named Chairperson of the Nigerian Official Selection Committee (NOSC) for the Best International Feature Film (IFF) category of the Oscars in August 2023, is best known for her 2015 advocacy movie ‘Dry’, which tells the story of a 13-year-old girl whose parents marry her off to a 60-year-old man, with devastating consequences.
Ilebaye’s revelation came just after Phyna had publicly called out the organizers for withholding some of her prizes.
Phyna, who revealed this to Newsmen insinuated that Ilebaye broke the gender code by announcing that she got her full prize money.
She also stressed that she would continue to demand for her balance, stating that she worked hard for the money during the show’s 72-day duration.
“I believe I should at least get what I worked so hard for 72 days. You all suddenly remembered your alert screenshots and IG Live………… Common……one among others is 1BTC which is over 80m in today’s market.
“To those who got their money in full
I’m happy for you. As a poor man’s child, let me ask for my money and other items remaining.,” She added.
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