Buhari challenges Africa’s public broadcasters to develop rich content

President Muhammadu Buhari has challenged public broadcasters in Africa to pay attention to the creation of content in order to take their rightful place and be a catalyst for growth. Declaring open the 9th African Union of Broadcasting (AUB) General Assembly in Abuja on Thursday, the President, who was represented by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said public broadcasters in Africa should use the power of their reach to invest in good quality content for the viewers, saying that in the media industry, ‘content is king’. ”Broadcasting is not just about equipment, and technology is not an end itself but a means to an end. There has been too much focus on equipment without massive investment of time and resources into content,” he said. The President cited the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) as an example of a public broadcaster that has leveraged on content to dominate the media space, adding: ”They have become the catalyst for growth in the production and channel industry with spin-offs like BBC FOODS, BBC PRIME, BBC WORLDWIDE, etc. Their catalogue of content that they now sell all over the world is admirable.” He said the creation of content and world class production would create jobs, provide revenue for government and quality entertainment capable of increasing the broadcasters share of the advertising pie. ”Therefore, I challenge you to be the stimulant for growth in your creative industries and serve the promotion of culture. You must not lose the younger generation who are fast changing their view of television, what they watch and how they watch it. If the issue of content is not addressed urgently, public broadcasters in Africa that once dominated the broadcasting landscape will have no viewers in the next 10 years,” President Buhari said. He also said African countries must not see the Digital Switch Over as a simple crossover from Analogue to Digital ”but an opportunity to provide enhanced services, quality programming, interactive content and a new and vibrant media industry that will help grow the economy of the various African countries and create jobs”. President Buhari said Nigeria had recorded significant achievements in her digitization effort and is willing to share her experiences with the AUB member countries He urged the AUB, formerly known as the Union of African National Television and Radio Organizations, known by its French acronym URTNA, to retake the initiative of ensuring that more African viewers are able to watch global sports events like the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics. ”URTNA used to get the radio and TV rights for broadcasting such events to African viewers, using the public broadcasters, instead of the practice now that some individual marketing companies will simply secure the rights and price such beyond the reach of national broadcasters, thus limiting viewership to the few who can afford pay TV subscription. The AUB must work hard to regain its lost glory in this respect,” the President said. He urged AUB member countries to explore and exploit the commercial viability of the services of the Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) for the socio-economic benefits of Africa and the world at large. The Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), the two largest radio and television networks in Africa, are the official hosts of the 9th AUB General Assembly.

Ohaneze disowns Biafra agitators, says Biafra died in 1970

OHANEZE Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio –cultural organization, has dissociated itself from the activities of the Biafra agitators, who had been protesting in many cities in the South East and South –South, saying that Biafra died in 1970 with the surrender by General Philip Effiong, to the Nigerian troops. Addressing reporters in Awka Friday, the chairman, Forum of State Presidents of Ohaneze in the seven Igbo –speaking states, Dr. Chris Eluomunoh said that no right thinking person would support what he called the madness by some youths, who were being deceived to engage in something they cannot finish. He said: “You will notice that Ohaneze has been very silent on the issue of Biafra insurgency, though the youth wing of Ohaneze has been speaking on it. Ohaneze, as the Igbo cultural group, cannot support Biafra and we dissociate ourselves from it totally.

Naira faces tougher pricing in forward contracts

Despite seeming iron clad position of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, backed by both the presidency and the newly inaugurated minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, the short and medium term outlook of the foreign exchange, forex, market points to significant decline in the value of Naira. CBN & Exchange rate: Naira & Dollar Vanguard investigations last week show that most Forex Forward Contracts at the over-the-counter, OTC, market segment puts US Dollar to Naira rate at steady depreciation. Forex or currency forward contract is a binding contract in the foreign exchange market that locks in the exchange rate for the purchase or sale of a currency on a future date. It is essentially a hedging tool that does not involve any upfront payment. In the One month forward contract last weekend one US Dollar was quoted at N202.20, down from N201.57 while three month contract was N212.10, down from N208.58. The six month contract depreciated week-on-week to N222.18, down from N216.94 while 12 month contract showed a depreciation to N230.11, down from N228.76. The depreciation recorded in the forward contract was coming even at the backdrop of a slight appreciation in the value of Naira against US Dollar in the CBN-managed currency market segment closing the week at N198.53/ USD1.00 as against N198.76/ USD1.00 in the previous week. CBN clearing rate and interbank rate closed stable at N197/USD and N199.10/USD respectively. Financial analysts at Cowry Asset Management Limited, a Lagos based financial investment house, who corroborated this development linked it to the fallout of the strict enforcement of the requirements of Bank Verification Number, BVN, in transactions at the bureau de changes, BDCs. In their research report on the market they stated “this week, we expect the Naira to continue to slide against the dollar at the parallel market segment due to supply shortage occassioned by the implementation of BVN”. Also another financial sector investment house, Afrinvest Group, last weekend indicated that Naira value would be facing significant bashing in the weeks ahead. According to them “analysis of activities in the forwards market shows traders are pricing the Naira within the range of N225.00 and N230.00 (1-year forward) as Naira is still believed not to be trading at its true value” apparently referring to the CBN-managed valuation in the official market segment. At the parallel market last Friday, Naira continued to depreciate against the dollar, trading for as high as N232.00/USD1.00. Concluding on its forex market report for last week Afrinvest said, “the increasing activity in the parallel market has been attributed to the full execution of the BVN requirement for financial transactions. “Operators at the BDC have complained to the apex bank that the requirement for the provision of a customer’s BVN before executing a forex transaction has driven a lot of customers to the parallel market due to fears of their accounts being used for malicious activities. “The reduction in activity at the BDC has left the operators with large volumes of unsold foreign currencies. “The BDC operators have called on the apex Bank to extend the already passed deadline for the compliance on the use of the BVN. We do not expect the CBN to reverse its stance on the use of BVN for FX transactions and expect the currency to trend at current level next week”. Reacting to the alleged fears in using BVN at the BDCs Director, Corporate Communications Department of CBN, Alhaji Ibrahim Muazu wondered why anybody should be afraid of submitting BVN for transactions, adding that there was no threat in giving BVN for foreign exchange transactions. Muazu had told Vanguard previous week that “this probably has to do with people with illicit flows, and not for fear of the BVN itself. And for people with illicit flows, they are avoiding documentation, the way they avoid the banks. “To us, if not for the likely impact on the black market, it is a good development because it means the foreign exchange market is now demand driven. For example, if you go to the banks for ‘Form A’ foreign exchange transactions, it requires more than the BVN. Submitting BVN for transactions is not a security threat. The BDCs cannot access the account details of their customers; they would just have the BVN for reporting purposes. “The BVN is just an identity; the BDC cannot see your account details. It is just like asking you to submit your passport photograph. And the purpose is to make sure that people don’t buy foreign exchange above the limit allowed by the law. There is a limit of $4,000 per individual per quarter. If one person buys $4,000 from one BDC, and another $4,000 from another BDC, there is no way anybody can verify it is the same person. All these things are supposed to be controlled by the BVN. All we want to clarify is that there is no threat in giving your BVN, it is an identity, in as much as you can give your passport photograph or even utility bills, as required for operation of dormant account. “It is unfortunate if they are going to the black market and the black market does not have enough supply; but for us if they don’t buy from the CBN, if the CBN dollar is not sold, it would come back to us or there would be no demand for dollars next week, and this means we are conserving reserves. The only problem is the funding source for the black market will be limited and the price is high. But if I can give my BVN and buy dollars, maybe at N200, why should I go to black market and buy at N250? So the genuineness of the transaction is clear.”

Ecobank unveils online marketplace, Mymall Nigeria

Ecobank Nigeria has unveiled an online marketplace, www.mymall.com.ng targeted at driving the growth of the small and medium enterprises sector in Nigeria. Speaking to journalists at the sideline of the unveiling in Lagos, Head, SME Business for Ecobank Nigeria, Sunkanmi Olowo, said: “Mymall Nigeria is an online platform where our customers can open a shop online. We have developed a site where they can rent a shop and then be able to sell to the whole world. Today you hear of Jumia and Konga, that is the kind of thing we want to do for our customers so that SMEs who do not have the money to build an ecommerce platform, by virtue of belonging to Ecobank SME club, they can have a shop which the bank has developed for them through a partner and run their shops and sell to the whole world. By doing that, they are able to expand their businesses instead of just opening brick and mortar shops, which are more expensive, with this platform; they can do a lot more.” To trade on the online mall, he said: “First, you have to belong to an Ecobank SME club. This requires the customer to have an SME account with Ecobank. If you have any of our SME accounts, you are qualified to join our SME Club online mall. But even if you do not have an Ecobank SME account, all it takes is for you to approach an Ecobank or go to the website and then apply.” Also speaking, Deputy Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Tony Okpanachi said: “Mymall Nigeria is a website where customers can post their goods and services online and sell. It is a way of giving access to our SME customers to be able to reach more of their customers across Nigeria. We are creating a platform for our customers who necessarily do not have to have their own websites like Jumia and Konga. They can rely on the malls we have provided for them. We also provide payment platform and logistics for them so that they do not have to invest in having their own infrastructure before they trade. We also know that as a bank, our outreach is so wide, so we make it possible for them to reach more markets and enhance their businesses.” On what motivated Ecobank to venture into e-commerce, Okpanachi said: “Every customer these days wants convenience. Convenience is all about easy access to be able to do your transactions. The days when people go into the physical malls and offices to do transactions are almost over, people want to sit in their offices and homes and be able to do their transactions. Given that, we know that e-commerce is now the way to go because people have their electronic devices that they want to transact easily with and still get the same kind of experience and satisfaction that they would have derived if they had done it offline. That is the trend that is taking over the world.” And both for the consumers and sellers, it is more convenient than the physical presence that they used to have before. So as a bank, we are also aligned with what is more convenient for our customers and that is why we are adopting ecommerce.”

My unforgettable sensual role —Chrisabel Egbenya

Beautiful and sexy Edo-State born Nollywood actress, Christabel Egbenya, has done so many films since she came into the movie industry. She has talent and she has brought it on in many of her films but like every actor, there are some roles that still haunt or define their careers. For Christabel, her role in Room 202, where she got rather too cosy with Frank Artus hasn’t left the tongues of some people who believed the actress really turned on the fire. Besides acting, what other business do you do? I’m planning to open my own cosmetic shop and to produce my personal movie soon. You don’t seem to hang out with your friends and colleagues? Yes, because in the industry, when you start having a lot of friends, it brings you down, your name will get damaged and gossips will be flying. So I like staying on my own, when it’s time to work, we go and work. When I don’t have a job, I go back to my house and think of other things to do. If I have money and want to chill somewhere, I do that. I don’t really have time for all those coming together with other actors, sit down and gossip, because I have a future outside the industry. I plan to get married one day and have children. So, I like to protect my image, I don’t want all those dirty things, so I just have to avoid a lot of things. Don’t you think that would affect your career, not mixing up with your colleagues? Christabel Egbenya No, I talk with them, we chat on BBM and all, but when it comes to hanging out together, I am not cut out for that. If for instance, I’m invited to an event, I go and we all laugh and talk together. But if it’s being very close to them, I don’t. It exposes everything about you and nobody will value you again, you won’t have personal secrets. When we go to events or while we are on set, we are friends, we do things together. But visiting our individual homes or travelling to places together is out of it. Are you saying that actresses gossip a lot? No, that’s not what I mean, though some of them do. Is it true that Nollywood has been turned to a harem of prostitutes where girls come to showcase themselves for rich men? I don’t know. The industry is very big, so some people can come in because they have the talent for acting, while others can come in because they want to show their bodies to men, it’s up to them. Personally, I came into Nollywood because I have the passion for acting. So far, in the movies I’ve done you’ll discover that I’m real. I act like myself, I don’t want to be like anybody. I don’t want to show my boobs and all. I just do my thing well the little way I can. And so far, if I get a job, I do it and when I don’t, I don’t go about bearing gifts and looking for favours from people to get roles. All I do is pray and fast everyday. When I get a job, I do it well the way I can. You refer to God a lot; are you now a born-again Chrsitian? (Laughs) I’m a born again o, I want to be close to God. A lot of things are happening these days and without God, you’re going nowhere. How did you feel playing a raunchy role in ‘Room 202’? When they brought the script, I read it and they told me the people I would sleep with in the movie. I just had to get into the character and I started acting it out. It was fun and those people are my friends. How does it feel getting into character that involves a lot of kissing and smooching, don’t you get turned on? I don’t get turned on because there are people there; the director and other crew members, so why will I get turned on, so I just act that part. How real is the kissing? It’s real. The kisses are real. In ‘Kingdom of Pleasure’, ‘Kingship’, Frank Artus and I kissed and touched very well because he’s my friend. We were always on set together and we talk once in a while, so we had to make it real. What role did you and Frank Artus play in that movie? In ‘Kingdom of Pleasure’, Frank Artus came back from America and he was asked to marry his late father’s wife, Ngozi Ezeonu who was much older as tradition demands. He refused because he wanted me. So, he used to come to town to visit me and we make love. In the movie, ‘King’s Throne’, I also did a raunchy role with Frank Artus where it looked as if we had real sex, like he was really inside me and I was enjoying it. Most people believed it was real, but the people who were in there know that we didn’t do anything. Does it mean that being friends with the person you’re paired with makes it easier to interpret some roles? Yes, it could; though, I don’t know about others. But for me, when you’re used to somebody it helps. There are some guys they’ll bring, you’ll do it (kisses and all). If they bring someone who is not attractive, you might not find it easy. But when they bring the likes of Yul Edochie, Mike Ezuruonye, Majid Michel, Joseph Benjamin, all these fine guys (Laughs), you’ll play it well, even when the director is cutting it, you wouldn’t want it to end. But there are some other people you’ll be reluctant to do such roles with. How many movies have you done so far? I’ve done about 60 movies. What’s your biggest asset as an actress? Before I used to say my boobs, but not anymore. Now, I would say it’s my bum. About two years ago, I noticed my bum just popped out from nowhere. Special note: As regards mixing up with my colleagues, why I don’t associate with them is first of all due to the fact that outside the whole movie thing, I love being alone. I don’t live with my parents or anybody, I like staying alone. In Nollywood, when we have somewhere to go, I go with them and when there is no movie business, I stay alone. So, it’s not as if I don’t associate with them, I have a lot of them as friends. The mature ones like Mr. Ibu, Chinwe Owoh, Chinwetalu Agu, Joy Kalu, Francis Duru and others. I’m not very close with the young ones except during locations or on social network.

2face,Wande Coal, Basketmouth, others for comedy concert

…Helen Paul, Chigurl, Lil Kesh, several others billed for Naija FM Comedy Jam Top shots in the Nigerian entertainment scene including 2Face Idibia, Wande Coal, Basketmouth, Bovi, Seyi Shay and many others have been announced as performers at the annual comedy concert, Naija FM Comedy Jam courtesy indigenous radio station, Naija 102.7 FM. The 4th Edition of Naija FM Comedy Jam, which holds on November 21 at Muson Centre in Lagos, will feature recognition and celebration of comedy acts and personalities as well as the most outstanding comedy shows for the period under review. Naija FM OAPs, Ushbebe, Sabina and Lady J will host the show. The awards segment will include various categories like; Upcoming Comedian of the year, Online Sensation of the year, Sitcom of the year, Comedy Actor of the year, Comedy Event of the year, Comedian of the year and Hall of Fame. From modest beginnings at the turn of the century, the Nigerian Comedy industry has grown enormously over the past two decades to become Africa’s largest comedy market and an important global comedy hub with trailblazers like Basketmouth and Bovi taking Nigerian comedy and culture to a global audience. Giving his thoughts on the event, General Manager Megalectrics, Deji Awokoya commented, “The Naija FM comedy jam has become a signature platform through which we appreciate our radio listeners and this fourth edition promises to be the best yet. It is a celebration for our listeners, for the performers and for us as the Nigerian comedy scene continues to grow and break records beyond our most optimistic projections when starting out.” The Radio station will also be giving one lucky winner a return ticket to Turkey. It will be recalled that last year, a lucky ticket holder emerged a winner of a government-approved plot of land in Lagos. Naija FM Comedy Jam is supported by Peak Milk, St Remy, Turkish Airlines, Birdie Technologies, Hip TV, Black House Media and Nigezie.

Boko Haram Ranked Ahead Of ISIS For Deadliest Terror Group

As much of the world remains focused on the Islamic State and its horrific attacks in Paris, another radical band of extremists has, by one account, captured the infamous title of the world’s deadliest terrorist group: Boko Haram.

Boko Haram, the militant group that has tortured Nigeria and its neighbors for years, was responsible for 6,664 deaths last year, more than any other terrorist group in the world, including the Islamic State, which killed 6,073 people in 2014, according to a report released Wednesday tracking terrorist attacks globally.

The death toll in Nigeria mounted on Wednesday, with a bombing in Kano State in northern Nigeria, not even a full day after Boko Haram was suspected in an explosion that killed and injured dozens in another nearby region.

In Kano, the authorities said that two female suicide bombers detonated vests at a cellphone market at about 4 p.m., killing at least 12 people and wounding dozens.

Witnesses and Red Cross officials said that as many as 50 or 60 people died, though the number could not be independently confirmed. Officials accused Boko Haram in the attacks.

In a statement Wednesday, President Muhammadu Buhari called for Nigerians to stay vigilant, saying that even his recently intensified military operation against Boko Haram could not prevent every attack.

“President Buhari reassures Nigerians that his administration is very much determined to wipe out Boko Haram in Nigeria and bring all perpetrators of these heinous crimes against humanity to justice,” the release said.

Pres. Buhari, who took office in May, ran on a platform of eliminating Boko Haram, which he has pledged to do by the end of December, as well as cutting back on corruption that has dogged the nation.

This week, Pres. Buhari accused the previous administration’s national security adviser, Sambo Dasuki, of pocketing more than $2 billion that had been allocated for warplanes, helicopters and other military gear to fight Boko Haram. Mr. Dasuki has denied the allegations.

Pres. Buhari has announced recent victories against Boko Haram, including seizing bomb-making materials and winning battles in the forest.

But still the bombings have come at a rapid clip in recent weeks, bringing death to a food market in Kano, areas of Niger and Cameroon and a village in Chad, prompting officials to call a state of emergency there.

Boko Haram has pledged its allegiance to the Islamic State, but it is unclear what support the group is giving Boko Haram beyond assisting with publicity.

The report released Wednesday, from the Institute of Economics & Peace, said the Islamic State and Boko Haram were responsible for half of all global deaths attributed to terrorism.

Last year, the deaths attributed to Boko Haram alone increased by more than 300 percent, the report said.

The report found a drastic increase in terrorist attacks last year, with the majority occurring in three countries: Iraq, Syria and Nigeria, where other militant groups besides Boko Haram operate.

“In Nigeria, private citizens are overwhelmingly targeted, most often with firearms resulting in very high levels of deaths per attack,” according to the report.

Security experts, regional authorities and Western military officials have credited Pres. Buhari’s renewed push against Boko Haram for scattering the group, which gained notoriety in the United States when it kidnapped scores of schoolgirls and seized entire towns in northern Nigeria.

They say the string of recent attacks on various public places is evidence that the group is grasping to gain real ground and is no longer as capable of holding territory. Still, attacks in crowded spots like schools and markets, long a staple of Boko Haram’s mayhem, can be extremely deadly.

This is the third year the economics and peace institute has released its Global Terrorism Index, a study of terrorist activity around the world. The index is based on data collected as part of a program run by the University of Maryland dedicated to the study of terrorism around the world.

In Cameroon, the report said Boko Haram had expanded its reach into the country with bombings.

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