Entertainment
President Jonathan’s N3b Grant To Nollywood Generates Controversies
A recent report has it that
the N3 billion grant given to Nollywood practitioners to avail them the opportunity of being the best, is raising some controversies. The disbursement and operation of this grant are directly supervised by the Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
News coming in from Nollywood is that of mistrust and discord on the manner in which N1 billion has been so far spent just among an extremely few Nollywood practitioners.
According to information gathered, the first stage of disbursement of the grant tailored for capacity building has been completed by just 35 beneficiaries some of whom include.
Andy Amenechi, Paul Apel, Kingsley Omeoef among others, who have gone abroad for training facilitated by Project Act, a consultation company vetted by Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to disburse the grant for the capacity training for all cadres of practitioners within the film making industry which have gulped N300 million for just 35 people.
Right now, amongst the explanation that film makers are begging for borders on why practitioners from other guilds and associations were sidelined from benefiting from the capacity building training and how 35 people gulped the whooping sum of N300 million hence demanding for a published list of the beneficiaries from the association and guilds.
The second stage of disbursement for which N700 million has been set aside is – meant for production. However, beyond interviews, which they claimed is being carried out by nonprofessionals has only come out with shortlist of names while nobody has been given any money, probably in a swift reaction to the criticisms being generated, a statement was issued in Abuja by Mr. Paul Nwabuikwu, spokesman for Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, revealing that N300 million was for two segments.
The first component is a training fund for N150 million dedicated to training and skills acquisition for Nollywood practitioners in all competencies along the value chain of the industry which include script writing, directing, production and design, special effects, lighting, sound HD techniques, acting, cinematography make up and editing among others.
The statement further disclosed that the second component was the capacity development fund which was also worth N150 million. The final stage of Project Act Nollywood is distribution which has N2 billion attached to it and questions are also raised how this stage would be handled.
R&B star, Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has recounted the early-career challenges she faced, revealing that she was once booed out of the stage while performing at a school event.
Speaking in an interview with Newsmen, the Crazy Tings crooner shared that she wasn’t only booed but was also harassed with plastic bottles.
“I remember one time I was going to perform at my school as an up-and-coming singer and I thought I was going to receiving a standing ovation.
“But I got booed. They even threw plastic bottles at me,” she recalled.
Tems explained that despite the embarrassing incident and other such rejections, she remained determined to pursue a career in music.
The Tide Entertainment reports that Tems admitted that some of the initial rejections she faced could be due to her conviction to stick to her originality instead of doing covers or familiar sounds like most of her peers.
The Grammy-winning singer said looking back now, she is glad that she didn’t compromise her style despite the initial pressures.
A close associate of late singer Mohbad, Primeboy, has appealed for the artiste’s burial nearly three years after his death.
According to him, Mohbad’s body remains in the mortuary since September 12, 2023, pending burial arrangements.
The Tide Entertainment reports that in a statement Primeboy urged the family, public, and government to permit the burial, stating, “It’s been almost three years since Mohbad left us. His body is still in the mortuary. I’m begging the family, I’m begging the public, I’m begging the government, please let’s bury our brother. He deserves a befitting burial.”
It would be recalled that Mohbad’s death sparked public outrage, protests, and investigations. Ongoing autopsy examinations, police inquiries, and legal proceedings have delayed burial arrangements amid family disagreements and public scrutiny.
Nancy Briggs
