Entertainment
NFVCB Boss, Sam Dede, Highlight Gains Of ION Festival
The Ion film festival has been described as the biggest thing to happen to the Nigerian Movie Industry as it has created opportunities for practitioners in Nollywood to partner with their counterparts in Hollywood, Bollywood and other film industries in the world. Thanks to the Rivers State government for being the first state in Nigeria to host the international event for the first time in the African continent.
Speaking on distribution network as one of the key issues that militate against the growth of the movie industry in Nigeria, The Director General of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Mr Emeka Mba noted that the censors board is doing every thing possible to sanitise the movie industry in Nigeria and to put a stop to piracy through their distribution network. He said NFVCB is not film maker or distributor, but trying to regulate the industry to enable it meet with international standards.
The NFVCB boss stressed that the truth of the matter is that distribution derives from content, if the industry and distribution systems are weak, it will manifest itself with piracy, reduced sales among others which is what is happening now in the industry.
He said what the board has done in the past two years is to try and engineer a process that will yield a structure in the industry which is called the new distribution frame work based on the laws on ground to segment the industryal and make room for structure to take place within the industry, not to produce or finance films.
The Director General also noted that piracy manifest when there is weak distribution in the industry. He said movie producers should take advantage of the festival because the gains are enormous. According to him, Nollywood has struggled over the last 15 years and we have gotten to this level. What we need now is to be firmly implanted, create the connections between the other industries. He said Bollywood of India share, the same similarity with Nollywood, they were informal, but now working together with government and industry people coming together as a result, have created an industry that makes Bollywood thrive today.
He said, Nigerians should learn from what Bollywood has done, he maintained that though there is no one module to follow, the foundamental code code is that we must have a structure because it stimulates growth and guarantees sustainable growth as well as standard because when they are lacking you will find fragmentation in the system”.
On the role of government, he said the Nigerian market is commercially oriented, adding that government can give financial incentives, encourage training and making sure that film institutes are supported and help facilitate the easy export of Nigerian movies, but we must be clearly minded on what government should do because if we want government to come in fully, it might not be to the interest of the industry, because it might come to a stage where they will be looking for handouts from government.
Also speaking with The Tide Entertainment, a top Nollywood actor, Sam Dede of the Isakabafame said the ION international film festival is a welcome development, but Nollywood has to gain from it if not there is no justification spending the tax payers money on the event.
He said with the big names in Hollywood, Bollywood, Gollywood etc, Nollywood should be able to learn from them in other to move the industry forward which is the goal of the international event.
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.
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.
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.
-
News5 days ago2026 Budget: FG Allocates N12.78bn For Census, NPC Vehicles
-
Sports4 days agoAFCON: Osimhen, Lookman Threaten Algeria’s Record
-
Politics4 days agoRivers Political Crisis: PANDEF Urges Restraint, Mutual Forbearance
-
Politics4 days agoWike’s LGAs Tour Violates Electoral Laws — Sara-Igbe
-
Sports4 days agoPalace ready To Sell Guehi For Right Price
-
Sports4 days agoArsenal must win trophies to leave legacy – Arteta
-
Sports4 days agoTottenham Captain Criticises Club’s Hierarchy
-
Sports5 days agoNPFL To Settle Feud between Remo Stars, Ikorodu City