Entertainment

2021 World Tourism Day: Group Calls For Tax Holidays To Promote Tourism

Published

4 years ago

October 8, 2021

The Society of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (STPN) has called on government to reduce taxes and levies payable by investors in the hospitality sector, so as to promote tourism in the country.
Chukwuemeka Ogbu, Chairman, STPN, Enugu State, made the call on Sunday in an event to mark the ‘2021 World Tourism Day’ in the state under the theme: ‘Tourism for inclusive growth’.
The event was organised by the STPN, in collaboration with the Nigeria Tourism Development Cooperation (NTDC) and the Enugu state government.
According to him, granting of reliefs and tax holiday by government agencies would encourage and boost the tourism sector.
Ogbu noted that the tourism sector plays a significant role in employment and contributed to the country’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He, therefore, warned that any attempt to burden the industry with multiple taxes and levies would lead to negative growth in the sector.
The chairman pleaded with the Enugu State government to provide an enabling environment, through the provision of adequate security and access roads to tourism centres.
“For the industry to thrive in the state, certain urgent measures must be put in place.
“And there is the urgent need for the state government, through its Ministry of Culture and Tourism, to create activities and events that will promote culture, festivals and carnivals, during festive periods,” Ogbu said.
He added that the state was a good destination for tourism development due to the attraction of its various tourism sites.
The Zonal Coordinator, NTDC, South-East, Mrs Annette Ibe said the occasion offered the World Tourism Body, as well as member nations, the opportunity to create awareness on the impact of tourism and its social-cultural, economic and political value.
She described the world tourism day as a period of stock taking and performance evaluation, explaining that the theme for this year highlighted the power of tourism to carry every one along, from the biggest airline to the smallest family business.
Ibe said tourism in the 21st century had became a critical player in inclusive and sustainable growth.
Tourism sites, she noted, had taken on global significance in terms of the steep rise in their numbers, their economic contributions and cultural penetration of other societies.
“Nigeria has the size, the population, diverse cultural and physical attractions and all these make her one of the most lucrative nations for tourism inclusive growth.
“The South East Zone is equally endowed with rich tourism potentials which, when developed, will provide a multiplier effect in the area of job creation, revenue generation, socio-cultural integration and poverty alleviation”.
Also contributing, the General Manager, Enugu Tourism Board, Mr Steve Odo, noted that growth in tourism provided opportunities for job creation, improvement and equity.
Enugu has sustainable tourism potentials in place due to the relative peace and security in the state, he said, noting, “Tourism cannot thrive without peace and security. The state is secured and I thank Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for it.”
Odoh urged stakeholders in the industry to take tourism serious, as oil was gradually exhausting. ”So, think about tourism as if it is the only way.”
Mr Ugonna Ibeh, the Enugu state Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, also described tourism as an alternative means of generating income for the country, saying that the state had so many tourist sites which, if revamped, would enhance growth and development.
The commissioner, therefore, charged stakeholders to take ownership of these sites and develop them as tourism was private sector driven.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ‘The World Tourism Day’ is an annual and global event celebrated every 27th September, having begun on Nov.1, 1975 when the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) was founded.
As a specialized agency of the United Nations, it was saddled with the responsibility of promoting sustainable tourism around the world.

Entertainment

Funke Akindele’s Behind The Scenes Crosses ?1.77bn

Published

1 day 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

1 day 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

1 day 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.