By Femi Ogunshola

Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of House of Representatives, says the film industry contributes 2.3 per cent to the nations Gross Domestic Product (GDP) with over 2,500 movies produced annually.

Gbajabiamila said this at a Two-Day Leadership Master class Training for Nollywood Actors organised by House Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu on Friday in Abuja.

He said it was expedient to acknowledge and celebrate Nollywood Actors and Actresses as well as others who made up the Nollywood entertainment industry.

He added that with talent, fortitude, and extraordinary resilience, they had built a globally competitive entertainment industry in spite of the challenges and constraints in the nations environment.

With adequate investment, a supportive regulatory environment, better training and capacity development, Nollywood will grow beyond our present dream and surpass our highest ambitions.

It falls on all of us in government, the private sector and across the society to identify ways we can help the industry reach the heights and we all know is possible, he said.

He said that beyond the questions of economics and profit, there was the issue of the critical role of Nollywood in influencing culture, defining national character, and promoting national identity.

As actors and entertainers, you directly exert tremendous influence on the lives of hundreds of millions of Nigerians, they are impacted by the roles you play, the stories you tell and the realities you explore in your movies, he said.

Gbajabiamila said that this come with a responsibility to tell stories that inspire goodness, motivate thoughtful acts, encourage fraternity, and uplift the human condition.

You also have a responsibility to tell the best stories of our beloved country. I do not propose to turn you into cheerleaders for a Nigeria that does not exist.

But the stories of men and women thriving through adversity and innovating for prosperity needs to be told, and it falls to you to tell those stories,he said.

Elumelu, in his remark said the training, was a much needed strategic multisectoral effort to guarantee the desired rebound and repositioning of the movie industry in Nigeria.

He said that the training would retool the drivers of movie industry in the countrty to efficiently play their roles of effectual propagation and promotion of our rich national heritage, ideologies and values.

He added that this would help to revamp the sector as an economic hub in our nation and the West African Sub region.

Nigerians are passionate about the movies you produce as it sees their personal and shared challenges, struggles, anxieties, aspirations and achievements in the lives of the characters you aptly portray, he said.

Mr Emeka Rollas, National President, Actors Guild of Nigeria, (AGN) said that knowledge was essential to leadership development and sustainable society.

He said that Actors must work together to pursue a sustainable society and a sustainable path to economic growth and better the industry through qualitative leadership.

We need leadership sustainability in the industry through training and retraining to enable us grows the business to keep meeting global demand.

The training will enhance our management skill, strategic plan, thought process, new adaptations, risk management among others, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Muhyideen Jimoh

Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare has charged the contractor handling the rehabilitation of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Abuja to complete work by June.

The minister gave the charge on Friday in Abuja after an inspection tour of on-going work at the facility.

Dare, who expressed satisfaction with the quality of work at the stadium, however, stressed the need to fast track the pace of work.

I am satisfied with the progress so far, the delivery date is now June.

There are technologies attached to football pitches like this, when you see standard pitches, it is not just about the sand and grasses, but there are underbellies of technologies like the water sprinklers, among others.

We are trying to get things right so that with proper maintenance, we wont be drawn back to it for another 10 years, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Adeniji Adesoji, Executive Director, ARON Nigeria Ltd, the contractor handling the project, had on Monday pledged to conclude the project by May after some delay.

The rehabilitation of the stadium is being handled by Alhaji Aliko Dangote through the Federal Governments Adopt a Pitch initiative.

The minister also used the inspection to give an update on Team Nigerias preparation towards the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

We are done with the National Sports Festival, now as a country and a Ministry, our eyes are on the Olympics for which we have started a 100 days countdown.

In another seven to 10 days the camps will be opened in Lagos, Port Harcourt , probably Delta and Florida where we have most of our relay team athletes.

From there other members of the team will be joining them and possibly we will have another camp in Europe, he said.

Dare maintained that preparations for the Olympics never stopped even with the effect of COVID-19 and preparations for the just concluded National Sports Festival (NSF).

We will try to maintain a 60 to 70 days camping by doubling the 25-30 days camping we used to have in the past, the minister added. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Shedrack Frank

Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa on Friday commended the states contingent to the just concluded National Sports Festival (NSF), Edo 2020, as they received a rousing welcome in Yenagoa.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state placed third at the end of the festival with 56 gold, 55 silver and 58 bronze medals, a feat it achieved for the first time in its history at the festival.

Receiving the contingent at the entrance of the Government House, Diri congratulated them for making the state proud by their spectacular performance.

Diri said it was heartwarming that they surpassed the previous fourth position record set in 2006 at the NSF in Abeokuta, Ogun when he was the Commissioner for Youth and Sports.

He urged the athletes to begin preparation for the next festival slated for Delta in 2022 and promised to give them the necessary support toward a better outing.

Diri described as inconsequential, unverified claims about the state being denied some medals over the state of origin and nationality of some its athletes.

He said its indigenes represented the state at the festival and there was no iota of truth in such claims.

Let me on behalf of the government and good people of Bayelsa congratulate you. You have made not only yourselves proud, but you have also made the people of Bayelsa and indeed the Ijaw race proud.

This is just the beginning. By coming third, you were presented a trophy of an eaglet. What that tells you is that you have to go for the eagle next time.

So, preparation for the next festival resumes from tomorrow. That is the only way you will break your record again by next year when you go for the NSF in Delta.

When you were about leaving, I gave you a charge. While I was commissioner for youth and sports between 2006 and 2007, we had a record. For the first time, Bayelsa clinched the fourth position at the NSF in Abeokuta.

My charge to you was to break that record. Today you have made me proud by breaking that record. In the history of Bayelsa, you have come home with a trophy from the NSF.

We shall announce a date when your government will formally receive you. For now, welcome back and congratulations to the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Daniel Igali, the Director of Sports, other officials, coaches and our great athletes, he said.

Presenting the 300 athletes as well as the officials, Igali, said the state won gold in virtually every event it participated in.

According to Igali, Team Bayelsa surpassed the expectation of everyone, including his, that of the directors and management of the sports ministry.

He said that one of the female athletes, Ifiezibe Gagbe, singlehandedly won 8 gold, 2 silver and 5 bronze, totaling 15 medals in swimming.

The commissioner, who presented the trophy won by the contingent to the governor, said that the state was ready to surpass the feat in the next festival.

He thanked the governor for the massive support and motivation to the team before and during the games in Edo. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Nicholas Obisike

Some athletes that represented Enugu State at the just concluded National Sports Festival (NSF) in Edo have called on the state government to improve the welfare of its athletes.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Enugu State placed 22 on the final table with seven medals including three gold, one silver and three bronze.

Meanwhile, the athletes, who spoke to NAN on Friday in Enugu,

blamed their poor showing at the event on inadequate commitment by government.

One of the athletes, Silver Ezeikpe noted that the state government needed to do all it could to retain its best athletes.

Ezeikpe, who is the head coach of Para Athletic but competed and won gold medal at the festival, said that the states contingent did not have good preparation for the event.

He however, said that the athletes did well considering their level of preparation and the inability of the government to take good care of them before and during the festival.

According to him, the athletes did well considering that they won seven medals during the NSF.

He said that the 2021 edition of the NSF was the first time athletes from the state were winning up to seven medals.

Ezeikpe said that the state competed in five sports, adding that para athletes won two medals.

Also, a Super Heavy Weight Boxer, Kelly Obayemi appealed to the state government to take good care of its athletes for better performances ahead.

Obayemi, who won silver medal in super heavy weight boxing, said he felt sad losing the final bout.

Obayemi said that some of the athletes would have done better if some officials of the State Ministry of Sports had accompanied them to the event.

When contacted, a Director in the ministry, Boniface Onovo, said that the state government was able to meet 80 per cent needs of the athletes before their departure for the NSF.

Onovo said that the state was represented by 50 delegates made up of 38 athletes and 12 officials.

Our performance this year is far better than the previous ones whenwe only won one medal in each outing. Our athletes surprised us because we have not had it so good for many years, Onovo said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Igbaugba Ehigimetor

Former Super Falcons coach Godwin Izilein says the signing of Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa by Kano Pillars FC is a big boost for the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

Izilein told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin on Friday that Musa should be commended for taking such a decision.

He said the player took the best decision which would keep him in good shape, urging other players like him to take a cue from him and not remain idle.

Musa took the right decision, instead of remaining idle without a club. This decision will not relegate him or make him less of a good footballer, but put him in good shape.

I want others like him (Musa) to put pride aside and emulate him.

My conclusion is that this is a big motivation for the Nigerian league. Several people and indeed the whole world now have something positive to talk about our league.

NAN reports that Musa had on Wednesday put pen to paper to play for the Kano Pillars FC in the NPFL.

Musa had been out of contract since October when his last contract with a Saudi Arabian side expired.

Musa had earlier played in the UK and Russia. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Opeyemi Aremu-Gbemiro

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security in Ekiti, Dr Olabode Adetoyi, says the state government is concluding plans to institutionalise rice pyramid programme in the state.

Adetoyi said the plan would make Ekiti the largest rice producer in the South-West and one of the largest in the country.

He said this on Friday, when he visited rice farmers in Ijero, Ikoro, Igbemo and Aisegba Ekiti to interact with them on how the programme would be achieved.

He said that Gov. Kayode Fayemi had invested heavily to open up about 1,500 hectres of land for lowland and upland rice farming, which is expected to engage 12,000 people.

According to him, the state government, in collaboration with the Federal Government and private investors, will provide the farmers with improved paddy rice, fertilizer, tools, chemicals and other incentives that will guarantee bountiful harvest.

The commissioner charged the farmers to embrace the governments support in order to ensure food security, employment and wealth creation for improved living condition.

The Chairman of Agbegbemi Farmers Association, Rev. Micheal Oyewumi, appealed to the governor to prevail on the Ministry of Environment to allow the association access to more land in the area to grow rice.

At Igbemo Ekiti, the commissioner urged the people to cooperate with the governments contractor handling the clearing of land in the area.

He said that the project was designed to open up the area for farming and that government had no intention to take over their land.

Also at Aisegba Ekiti, he pleaded with the Elerebi of Aafin, Aisegba Ekiti, who are the custodians of the land to allow the contractor to pull down the palm trees.

He said that if not removed, the palm trees would impede the use of tractors and combine harvesters and also harbour birds on the rice field.

Adetoyi said the national leadership of the Rice Farmers Association would be in the state to see how it could assist the government to achieve its rice pyramid programme. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Habibu Harisu

KebbiGovernment has partnered Oxfam to Open Government Partnership (OGP) initiative aimed at improving transparent service delivery in governance in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state is the 20th in the list of states that subscribed to the European Union backed programme in Nigeria, aimed at promoting good and participatory governance.

Speaking at the beginning of a three-day stakeholders training on Friday in Sokoto, Mr Usman Faleye from Oxfam, the implementing partner of European Union OGP, said Kebbi would attract a lot of benefits by joining the programme.

Faleye, who is the Governance and Influencing Coordinator of Oxfam, told stakeholders that action plan would be reviewed and presentations obtained from experts on 2021 to 2022 action plan and its development.

It will help the state toward improving service delivery, attract investors and donors.

It will also bring back the trust between the government and the citizens of the state because citizens will now begin to have their voices in budget and policy process, Faleye said.

On the commitment of the state to the programme, Faleye said that by joining the partnership, the state showed its preparedness and commitment to transparency and accountability for improved service delivery.

Hajiya Aishat Usman, Permanent Secretary, Kebbi State Ministry for Budget and Economic planing, expressed the state governments commitment to programmes that would foster transparency.

He noted that Gov. Atiku Bagudu would always welcome such initiative.

When we have a government that is accountable and transparent, we are building the confidence of donors and investors, she added.

She assured that the governor would continue to support the programme and unveil more action plans in order to achieve success.

NAN reports that different presentations were made and the event witnessed questions and answers as well as commitments from civil society organisations in Kebbi. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Chimezie Anaso

Chief Ekene Enefe, a chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra, says the party is working assiduously to ensure it emerge victorious at the Nov. 6 governorship election.

Enefe spoke on Friday at a grassroots mobilisation campaign in Ogbunike Ward 1 and Ward 2 in Oyi Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

The chieftain, also the party leader in the area, commended APC members for their massive turnout during membership registration/validation exercise of the party.

He said that it was an indication that they desired change.

Enefe, however, called on the party to conduct a credible and acceptable primary election.

Oyi and Ogbunike in particular are supposed to be one of the most developed communities in Anambra but we are disappointed with the APGA government.

We are ready to support our party, the APC, to win the Nov. 6 election and that is why we are mobilising strongly.

Our only appeal is that the leadership of APC should allow the candidate that will emerge to be a true reflection of the wishes of the people, a free and fair primaries will increase our chance by 50 per cent, he said.

Mr Benjamin Ezeako, an official of APC in Oyi LGA expressed delight that the party was gaining ground in the area.

We have been supporting the party in government in Anambra but we are ashamed with what we have as dividends of democracy.

That is why we are throwing our weight behind APC because it is the party that will rule the state in 2022.

We dont want APGA anymore even though the first lady is our sister, we are calling on the entire Anambra people to support APC for better governance in the state, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Trading on the Nigeria Exchange Ltd ended on a positive note on Friday with the market capitalisation appreciating by N124 billion due to gains in some blue chips.

The market capitalisation increased 0.61 per cent to N20.310 trillion, from N20.186 trillion recorded on Thursday.

Also, the All-Share Index rose by 236.12 basis points or 0.61 per cent to 38,808.01 points in contrast with 38,571.89 achieved on Thursday.

An analysis of the price movement shows thatChams led the gainers table in percentage terms, appreciating by 10 per cent to close at 22k.

UAC Property came second with 9.72 per cent to close at 79k, while Guinness appreciated by 9.26 per cent to N31.85 per share.

Northern Nigeria Flour Mills gained 9.18 per cent to close at N5.35, while PZ Cusson added 8.43 per cent to close N4.50 per share.

On the other hand, Japaul Gold topped the losers chart in percentage terms, dropping by 10 per cent to 63k per share.

Sterling Bank trailed with a loss of 9.76 per cent to close at N1.48, while FCMB Group dropped 8.90 per cent to N2.66 per share.

Mutual Benefits was down by 6.11 per cent to 34k, while GlaxoSmithKline dipped 5.88 per cent to N6.40 per share.

Fidelity Bank emerged the most traded stock with an exchange of 46.15 million shares achieved in 179 deals.

FBN Holdings accounted for 33.99 million shares in 209 deals, while Guaranty Trust Bank transacted 33.465 million shares in 237 deals.

Mutual Benefits traded 20.45 million shares in 31 deals, while Mansard traded 14.09 million achieved in 127 deals.

In all, the volume of shares traded dipped by 17.82 per cent as investors bought and sold 262.51 million shares valued at N2.44 billion in 3,528 deals.

This was against a total of 319.43 million shares worth N1.78 billion traded in 4,158 deals on Thursday. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Florence Onuegbu

Lagos State topped other states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in 2020, realising a total of N418.99 billion in the year.

This is indicated in the National Bureau of Statistics Published Internally Generated Revenue for State level for Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020.

It showed that in spite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the EndSARS mayhem, Lagos State increased its IGR by 5.08 per cent.

The state generated a total of N114 billion in first quarter of 2020; N90.51 billion in second quarter, in N107.84 billion in third quarter, and N106.63 billion in fourth quarter, making a total of N418.99 billion.

The states 2020 IGR of N418.99 billion increased by N20.26 billion, when compared with N398.73 generated in 2019.

The report indicated that Lagos State contributed a share of 32.08 per cent of the total IGR of N1.31 trillion realised by the states in the country in 2020.

The 36 states and FCT IGR figure hits N1.31trn in 2020 compared to N1.33trn recorded in 2019. This indicates a negative growth of -1.93 per cent year on year.

Lagos State has the highest Internally Generated Revenue with N418.99bn recorded, closely followed by Rivers with N117.19bn while Yobe State recorded the least Internally Generated revenue, the NBS report indicated.

The Lagos State 2020 IGR showed that the state realised N278.89 billion from the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) taxes; N17.07 billion from Direct Assessment, Road Taxes contributed N12.14 billion, while a total of N51.79 billion was from the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) revenue.

Following after Lagos State is Rivers with 8.97 per cent N117,19 billion IGR in 2020; FCT generated N92.06 billion with a share of 7.05 per cent, Delta contributed a share of 4.57 per cent with N59.73 billion IGR while Kaduna generated N50.77 billion 3.89 per cent.

Ogun State contributed 3.89 per cent with its N50.75 billion; Oyo 2.91 per cent with N38.04 billion, Kano had 2.44 per cent share with N31.82 billion, Akwa Ibom had 2.35 per cent with N30.70 billion and Anambra had 2.14 per cent after generating N28.01 billion in 2020.

Also, Edo generated N27.18 billion 2.08 per cent; Ondo realised N24.85 billion 1.90 per cent; Enugu, 1.81 per cent with N23.65 billion IGR; Osun had 1.51 per cent with N19.67 billion; Kwara, 1.50 per cent N19.60 billion; and Plateau had 1.46 per cent with N19.12 billion revenue.

Zamfara generated N18.50 billion having a share of 1.42 per cent; Kogi had 1.33 per cent with N17.36 billion IGR; Imo realised N17.08 billion with 1.31 per cent; Cross River had 1.24 per cent with N16.18 billion; and Abia had a percentage of 1.10 with its N14.38 billion.

Kebbi generated N13.78 billion 1.05 per cent; Ebonyi State had 1.04 per cent with N13.59 billion revenue; Bauchi generated N12.50 billion 0.96 per cent; while Nasawara followed on 0.96 per cent with N12.48 billion.

Bayelsa had 0.93 per cent N12.18 billion; Sokoto realised N11.80 billion 0.90 per cent; Borno had 0.89 per cent with N11.58 billion; Katsina on 0.87 per cent with N11.40 billion; Niger generated N10.52 billion 0.81 per cent; while Benue stood at 0.80 per cent with N10.46 billion

Ekiti had 0.67 per cent with N8.72 billion; Jigawa on 0.66 per cent with N8.67 billion; Gombe had 0.65 per cent with N8.54 billion; Adamawa, 0.64 per cent share with N8.33 billion; Taraba, 0.62 per cent with N8.11 billion; and lastly, Yobe, 0.60 per cent with N7.78 billion IGR. (NAN)

Source: NAN News