Entertainment
Saraki Doles Out N5m To Nollywood
The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) received a boost recently when the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki donated the sum of N5 million to the Guild for the ailing actors and actresses.
The kind gesture was made during a courtesy visit by members of the Guild at the Lagos residence of the Senate President.
While briefing the No. 3 citizen about the recently launched AGN foundation which is mandated to generate a N500 million endowment fund for ailing actors and also to engage in community development project, the President of AGN, Mr Ejiezie Emeka Rollars said: “Veterans who have contributed to the development of the industry most times do not have anything to fall back on after several years of service.
Some move on to other businesses or sectors while others faces vanish with time. In recent past, the Guild has lost prominent veteran actors to serious illness once to certain medical conditions which could have been averted if there was a medium or platform set aside to harness the strength of the association to fund medical treatment of our own or a source for funding from philanthropists or Nigerians to help rescue their legends.
Actors like Enebeli Elebuwa, Justus Esiri, Arshley Nwosu, Sam Loco-Efe, Muna Obiekwe, Peter Bunor, Prince James Uche and others have been lost due to certain medical conditions and whose souls are resting in the bosom of the Lord. “Recently, we lost Chike Osuji in Owerri, he was laid to rest on September 13 in Awka, Imo State, he lamented.
In his response, elated Saraki who described the actors as great ambassadors of the country promised to initiate all necessary legislative structures to make the movie practitioners have conducive environment to ply their craft.
He said,” Let me thank the AGN president for bringing us together. You have made a lot of us proud, you have worked hard to support our government, you have shown truly that we have great capacity anywhere else in the world. Surrounded by stars, I am seeing here, any politician will not allow the opportunity slip away because we don’t recognise your talent and kind of people we have. I would like to change that, not because of you but because the country needs it.
“This is a decent industry, the economy will not grow by chance but it’s my belief that if duly supported, Nollywood will not only be number one in the world, but will create job opportunities, increase the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and reduce poverty among several other advantages. Hollywood is great today because the American Government supported and funded the industry, same can be possible for Nollywood.”
Excited, former president of AGN and chairman AGN foundation fund raising, Mr Segun Arinze, thanked the Senate President for the kind gesture and promised that his donation would be used judiciously for the benefit of the ailing actors.
Other actors who accompanied Rollers include former Presidents of AGN, Ejike Asiegbu and Zack Orji, Chiwetalu Agu, Wash Waziri Hong, Umah Shehu, Ebere Okaro and Monalisa Chinda- Coker. Others are Ayo Binta, President of Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Zulu Okafor, Lilian Bach, Ronnie Diko, Nkechi Nnaji and Chita Agwu Johnson.
Also in the entourage were Mirabel Etuk, Benedict Johnson, Prince Ifeanyi Dike, Chairman Board of Trustees (BOT), AGN, Frank Dollas, National PRO, St. Madona M. Johnson and National Treasurer among others.
Entertainment
“French Up Your Career” PH, 2025 :Consul General Of France Harps On Proficiency In French
The Consul, General of France in Nigeria, Laurent Favier has encouraged French Learners to improve their skills on the language, as there are lots of opportunities up for grabs on the job market with fluency in French Language, saying that there are many other career paths which are often less well known to learners of French.
Participants at the “French Up Your Career” event held in Port Harcourt.
Favier who disclosed this during the just concluded third edition of the seminar tagged “French Up Your Career” organized by Alliance
Française, Port Harcourt explained that learning French doesn’t mean adding a language to your resume. It rather provides learners with new opportunities. Irrespective of their area of interest, be it diplomatic and International relations, international development, translation and Interpretation or journalism.
According to the Consul General, it was important to create awareness for young Nigerians in Port Harcourt who desire to have better understanding of how been fluent in French can create diverse career opportunities for users of the languages in Nigeria and the world at large, emphasizing that proficiency in French could possibly make learner a bridge between Nigeria and fast-developing regions.
“You previously heard this morning about how you can improve your French skills. This afternoon you will discover how being fluent in French can provide a significant edge on the job market and lead to professional careers that you may not have even considered before,”
“This event comes at the right time, as it launches the celebration of the richness and diversity of French-speaking cultures, which will mobilize us for more than a month throughout Nigeria and alongside other French-speaking countries,” Favier added.
He further highlighted that French is spoken by over 300 million people across the world, saying that, it’s one of the official languages of the United Nations, the European Union, and the African Union.
“There are many neighbouring African countries to Nigeria ,who have French as one of their primary languages of communication including Cameroon, Chad, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. So, what does this mean for you as students here in Nigeria?” He asked
“These sectors in which the French Embassy is often mobilized are the business and marketing field for example, as French is often the preferred language in many multinational companies, particularly those in the energy, oil and telecommunications sectors. I’m thinking as well in technology and IT,” he said
He noted that French-speaking countries in Africa are investing heavily in tech, innovation, and infrastructure, revealing that companies in Tech are looking for bilingual professionals to assist with software localization, customer support, and managing projects in French-speaking regions.
“The French embassy is not only mobilized to help learners discover promising sectors. We are also providing our support and expertise in
training teachers and optimizing university programs,” he summed up
Also, the linguistics cooperation attaché, French Embassy in Nigeria, Magaly Losange, who also gave a lecture at the seminar, in an interview with Newsmen said that the main purpose of the seminar was to be more informative and supportive to those who want to make a skill out of French Language,saying that as the linguistics cooperation attaché of the French Embassy it is her duty to promote French language through culture.
She cited traditional stereotypes as a major challenge affecting the growth and development of French in Nigeria, as school, teachers at the primary and secondary level in most cases teach French using the traditional way, where students learn French, but could not put words and grammar together as a skill for communicate.
“French is important. I don’t see French as colonization, l see French as a key to embrace globalization, l hope that learners will be inspired and ready to embrace the global village,” Losange said.
She however said that the French Embassy is working to ensure that equipments to facilitate the learning of French is put in place to enable learners improve their skills fast, which in two to three years learners should be able to communicate with French, advising learners to be intentional with learning the language, through social media and other workable devices to advance their skills for certification and better opportunities.
Highlight of the event which had about 250 participants in attendance was the eloquence award ceremony where students were awarded for their eloquence in French language by the Director, Alliance Française Port Harcourt, Mrs.Marina Lacal alongside the Linguistics cooperation attaché of the French Embassy in Nigeria, Magaly Losange.
After two edition of the seminar it was the turn of the Alliance Française, Port Harcourt to host the Third edition.
It would be recalled that the first edition of ” “French Up Your Career” event was organized at the Alliance Française Lagos on October 23, the second one at UNILAG on November 24, 2024 respectfully.
Popular Nigerian comedienne, Tomama has revealed how she waited for Afrobeats superstar, Wizkid outside the bathroom.
She shared this while recounting her encounter with the singer at a recent event with heavy security.
In a video posted on her Instagram page, Tomama explained that she waited by the bathroom in an attempt to have a one-on-one conversation with Wizkid.
She stated that she positioned herself near the restroom, hoping Wizkid would eventually use it, giving her the perfect opportunity to speak with him.
“Wizkid, I saw you, and I waited for you to pee, but you didn’t even stand up from where you were sitting. You just stayed there. All your crew members standing around got up to go pee. I was standing by the bathroom, waiting for you to come pee so that you would notice me,” she said.
Content creator and actor, Mr Macaroni has opened up about his financial struggles, saying he was both a victim of a scam and a failed investment in 2021.
He revealed that after losing all his savings, he resorted to borrowing to settle pending commitments and slipped into N500 million in debt.
He admitted that he is financially reckless and generous, impacting his financial stability negatively.
In lengthy post shared via his X handle yesterday, Mr Macaroni wrote, “Sometime around 2020/2022, I was a victim of a scam and simultaneously a failed investment that cost me all I had saved at the time. It shook me deeply but I told no one about it. If you know me well enough, you would know I do not like to share my problems. I could be going through the worst and at the same time helping others solve their own problems but I just would never share mine.”
“After I lost all the money I had then, Trouble started when I had to borrow money from different sources to settle all pending commitments and also fulfill certain responsibilities I have always believed were mine to fulfill. I make money in millions so I never thought borrowing money to pay back with interest could ever be a problem. But I got too comfortable and it took me a long time to realise that I was using the money I was earning to pay back interests. Also, my financial recklessness did not help. Please don’t borrow money! But if you must, please be responsible.”
The actor stated that 2024 marked a pivotal moment in his acting career but it was also the most challenging year for him as he faced over half a billion naira in debt.
Mr Macaroni revealed that his frustration grew worse after he was betrayed by someone he considered “a friend and sister.”
He added that with the support of family and friends who stood by him during his trying times, he now “feels better than I have felt in the last three years!”
The comedian stated that he decided to finally share his story to encourage others who are going through challenges.