Entertainment

Farin Ruma WaterFalls To Become New Nollywood Village – Lai Mohammed

Published

5 years ago

April 2, 2021

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, says with the scenic discription and beautiful vegetation of Farin Ruwa Waterfalls in Nassarawa State, the site will soon become another Nollywood village.
The minister stated this on Saturday in Lafia, during a courtesy visit to Governor Abdulahi Sule of Nassarawa State. It was gathered that the minister was on a two- day visit to the state for the inspection of Farin Ruwa Waterfalls site, to showcase the states tourism and investment potentials.
In the entourage of the minister were the Directors General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Alhaji Nuhu Kangiwa and Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation, Mr. Folorunsho Coker.
Also in the minister’s entourage were Special Adviser to the President attached to the minister, Mr SegunAdeyemi and Mr Williams Adeleye and a team of Journalists.
“I have no doubt in my mind that with the proper promotion, we will turn it around and make it the destination for film and music promotions. We will also create around the area, a resort and a destination of the tour for vacation and holiday makers”, he said.
Lai Mohammed commended the governor for his vision of promoting the tourism potentials of the state and building infrastructure around its tourism sites.
“The governor got it right with the realisation that the major obstacle to tourism is infrastructure, it is commendable that about N3 billion has been used to construct a road to the Farin Ruwa Waterfalls. The vision of the governor in seeing that tourism is promoted in earnest is laudable” he said
The minister announced the offer by NIHOTOUR to train 13 young men and women from Nassarawa State, one from each LGA a tour guide. According to him, tour guides are a very important aspect of tourism.
The minister also stressed the position that creative industry was Nigeria’s next oil and itemised the successes so far recorded by the federal government in repositioning the sector. Earlier, the state Governor said the potential in Farin Ruwa Waterfalls was more than tourism, with capacity to generate 40 megawatts of electricity and 40,000 acres of Irrigation land for Agriculture.
He said that when he visited the waterfalls and discovered the biggest challenge was road network, the state awarded a N3 billion contract for the road network leading to the water falls.
“We have just taken over the road we spent N3 billion contract for the road and the road has been completed. I also want to use this opportunity to thank president Mohammadu Buhari for approving the contract for the construction of a dam at the site. With all these in place, I can say that we have completed the cycle and what we are waiting for is for the minister to promote the waterfall so that investors will key into it”, he said.
The governor said that the bottom table of the waterfalls could generate 15 megawatts of power while at the dam itself after construction is completed, they could easily generate 25 megawatts of power totally 40 megawatts capacity.
He called on potential investors to take advantage of the top of the waterfalls as a conference centre could be built there.
Located in Wamba Local Government Area of the state, about 120 km away from Lafia, Farin Ruwa waterfalls has been described as one of its kind in Africa due to its height which is above 450 metres.
The torrential force of the gushing water from the fall which could be mistaken for white smoke earns the Farin Ruwa in Hausa Language which translates to white water in the English Language. It was gathered that the state government was planning to build a film village resort at the site of the waterfall to create a blend of culture.

By: Jacob Obinna

Entertainment

Funke Akindele’s Behind The Scenes Crosses ?1.77bn

Published

2 days ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

Funke Akindele’s Behind The Scenes becomes Nollywood’s highest-grossing film of 2025, earning ?1.77bn in under four weeks.

Multi-award-winning actress and producer Funke Akindele has done it again, and this time, the numbers speak louder than applause.

Her latest film, Behind The Scenes, has officially emerged as the highest-grossing Nollywood film of 2025, pulling in an astonishing ?1.767 billion in less than four weeks.

The Tide Entertainment reports that Funke Akindele Makes Box Office History as Behind The Scenes Crosses ?1.77bn
Earlier in its release cycle, the film’s distributor, FilmOne Entertainment, revealed that Behind The Scenes smashed five opening-weekend records, including the highest single-day gross ever recorded on Boxing Day, with ?129.5 million in one day. That announcement already hinted that something unusual was unfolding.

Reacting to the milestone, FilmOne described the moment as both surreal and communal, crediting audience loyalty for pushing the film to the top spot once again as the number-one movie of the weekend. And that sentiment feels accurate. This wasn’t just ticket sales; it was momentum.

What makes this achievement even more striking is that Behind The Scenes is Funke Akindele’s third film to cross the ?1 billion mark. Before now, there was A Tribe Called Judah, and then Everybody Loves Jenifa, a film that didn’t just open big, but went on to become the highest-grossing Nollywood film of all time. At this point, it’s no longer a fluke. It’s a pattern.

Part of Behind The Scenes’ success lies in strategy. The film enjoyed advanced screenings on December 10 and 11, quietly building curiosity and conversation before its nationwide release on December 12. By the time it officially hit cinemas, audiences already felt like they needed to see it.

Then there’s the cast. The film brings together a lineup that feels deliberately stacked: Scarlet Gomez, Iyabo Ojo, Destiny Etiko, Tobi Bakre, Uche Montana, and several others. Familiar faces, strong fan bases, and performances that kept word-of-mouth alive long after opening weekend.

Still, beyond timing and casting, there’s something else at work here. Funke Akindele understands Nigerian audiences. Their humour, their pacing, their emotional buttons. She doesn’t guess, she calculates, experiments, listens, and refines. That understanding has slowly turned into box-office dominance.

Behind The Scenes crossing ?1.77 billion isn’t just another headline; it’s confirmation. Funke Akindele has moved from being a successful actress to becoming one of the most reliable commercial forces Nollywood has ever produced. Three-billion-naira films don’t happen by luck. They happen when storytelling, business sense, and audience trust align.

And right now, that alignment seems firmly in her hands.

Entertainment

Adekunle Gold, Simi Welcome Twin Babies

Published

2 days ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

Popular Nigerian music stars, Adekunle Kosoko, widely known as Adekunle Gold, and his wife, Simi, have become parents again this time to twins.

The award-winning singer shared the joyful update on his Snapchat story on Wednesday, confirming the expansion of their family.

“Asked God for another child and he blessed me double,” she wrote.

While the couple has not yet disclosed the gender of the newborns, the announcement has sparked an outpouring of warm wishes from admirers, fellow celebrities, and industry colleagues.

Speculation had intensified in December when Simi posted a video on Instagram accompanied by the caption, “From my baby, for my babies.”

The clip showed her with a growing baby bump, fueling anticipation that another child was on the way.

Their latest blessings arrive just weeks after Simi highlighted a scene from Adekunle Gold’s newly released music video, “My Love is the Same,” further stirring excitement among fans.

The Tide Entertainment reports that Adekunle Gold and Simi who tied the knot in 2019 after a long history of friendship and musical synergy remain one of Nigeria’s most admired entertainment power couples. Both artistes were once signed to X3M Music before soaring into mainstream acclaim.

The pair welcomed their first child, Adejare Kosoko, fondly called Deja, in May 2020.

Entertainment

Jesse Flames Opens 2026 With ‘Praise The Lord’ Featuring Magnito

Published

2 days ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

After closing out 2025 with the release of “Praise the Lord” featuring Magnito, Jesse Flames enters the new year with renewed clarity and purpose, continuing to build a body of work rooted in intention rather than noise. In a moment where Afrobeats is moving faster and louder than ever, his approach remains measured and deliberate, prioritizing meaning, craft, and longevity over momentary attention. The official music video arrives January 10.

Following the momentum of his breakout single “FLEX,” “Praise the Lord” represents a shift from celebration to grounding. Reflective and soulful, the record centers gratitude, growth, and perspective, capturing a quieter confidence that resonates beyond a single moment.

“This song is about recognizing the full picture,” Jesse shares. “The work people see and the work they don’t. The lessons, the setbacks, the growth.”

The collaboration with Magnito, a respected voice in Nigerian hip hop known for his sharp lyricism and cultural authenticity, adds depth and weight to the record, reinforcing its themes of resilience, faith, and self reflection.

Released in December at the height of Detty December, “Praise the Lord” became a natural soundtrack for both celebration and reflection as the year came to a close. With the video arriving in January, the record takes on new meaning, opening the year as a tone setter rather than a reset.

Born in the United States, raised in Festac, Lagos, and now based in London, Jesse Flames brings a global perspective to his sound, blending Afrobeats, hip hop, and melodic soul into something sleek and intentional. His music reflects lived experience and cultural nuance rather than trend chasing.

The Tide Entertainment reports that with over 11 million streams, performances at O2 Brixton Academy and OVO Arena Wembley, and coverage from The Guardian and Business Post Nigeria, Jesse’s rise has been steady and self made. Looking ahead to 2026 and 2027, he is preparing for collaborations with Ice Prince, M.I Abaga, and Smurlee.

“Praise the Lord” ft. Magnito is available now on all streaming platforms.