Author: Ifetayo Adeniyi

Aiflix360 Gets Four Wins at India Film Festival Nigeria’s presence in the global film space has received a significant boost as AiFlix360 Films, an artificial intelligence–driven film studio founded by entrepreneur and filmmaker Dr. Ope Banwo, secured four major honours at the 2026 Nawada International Film Festival Awards (NIFFA) in India. ‎The awards were presented at the sixth edition of the festival held on January 4, 2026, in Nawada, Bihar, where AiFlix360 Films emerged as one of the most celebrated studios, winning across Documentary, Animation, Foreign Film, and Feature Film categories. ‎Among the winning titles, ‘Wakanda Is Real’ earned the…

Manny Ita Lagos has achieved a major international milestone after being named one of the seven must-visit global art destinations for 2026 by Artsy, a leading global art marketplace. The city was recognized as the “commercial and creative engine of African contemporary art,” joining an elite list of cultural hubs that includes Venice, Doha, Sydney, Bangkok, Philadelphia, and Malta. The ranking, authored by Maxwell Rabb and published on January 8, 2026, highlights the rapid evolution of Lagos from a regional hub into a central pillar of the global art market. This recognition centers on a “banner year” of high-profile projects…

Manny Ita The Nigerian music industry solidified its continental leadership on Sunday night as local superstars swept the major categories at the 9th All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), held at the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos. The star-studded event, hosted by Nigerian rapper Falz and Senegalese media personality Liliane Maroune, served as a celebratory climax to a week of cultural activities aimed at uniting the African continent through sound. ​Rema emerged as the undisputed “king” of the 9th edition, securing three major accolades, including the night’s top prize: Artiste of the Year. The 24-year-old “Calm Down” hitmaker also claimed Best…

Manny Ita The Nigerian digital space has been roiled by a bitter public exchange between popular streamer and skit maker Oderhohwo Joseph Efe, known as Carter Efe, and his partner, Emmanuella. The conflict, which unfolded across social media on Sunday, January 11, and Monday, January 12, 2026, has seen both parties level serious allegations involving physical abuse, financial abandonment, and domestic control. ​The controversy began when Carter Efe took to Instagram to announce that he had been “single for over a year,” claiming that his relationship with Emmanuella had derailed his career and mental health. The streamer alleged that the…

Manny Ita The Nigerian digital landscape has been dominated by a heated debate following an unconventional “presidential bid” by global music star Ayodeji Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid. During a series of late-night interactions on X and Instagram Live, the singer pivoted from music promotions to national governance, jokingly posting, “Maybe I should just be the President. At least the country will have ‘Steeze’ and good music.” He further introduced the “More Love, Less Ego Party” (MLLE Party), claiming its primary manifesto would revolve around providing “free premium vibes and zero stress” for all Nigerians. ​What began as a characteristic…

Late Oba Akran: Over 48 years of growth, development to Badagry Late Oba Akran  … a great loss to the people of Badagry and Lagos. The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has mourned the passing of the revered Oba of Badagry (Paramount Ruler of Badagry Kingdom) and Permanent Vice Chairman of the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs, Oba Babatunde Akran, the Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi I, who joined his ancestors at the age of 89. Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a statement issued on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Gboyega Akosile, described the departure…

Fidelity Bank Supports Quality Education Delivery in Makoko Tier-one lender, Fidelity Bank Plc, has reaffirmed its commitment to community development and educational empowerment with the donation of essential learning materials to schoolchildren in Makoko Community, Yaba, Lagos under its Fidelity Helping Hands Program (FHHP). The outreach, which was facilitated by the bank’s Legal Services Division, saw the presentation of school bags, notebooks, mathematical sets, writing materials, and other learning materials to pupils of Makoko Anglican Nursery and Primary School; Aiyetoro Nursery and Primary School, and Adekunle Anglican Nursery and Primary School in Lagos. Speaking during the presentation, Divisional Head…

First HoldCo announces new boards in non-banking subsidiaries First HoldCo Plc has named new board appointments across its non-commercial banking subsidiaries, as part of measures to strengthen governance, deepen oversight and position the businesses for sustainable growth. The diversified financial services group said the appointments followed regulatory approvals from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM). According to a statement issued by the group’s media unit on Sunday in Lagos, the board changes are aimed at injecting experienced professionals into the subsidiaries and aligning operations with international best practices in corporate governance. The statement said…

Funke Akindele’s ‘Behind The Scenes’ beats N2bn Nollywood filmmaker, Funke Akindele….Photo Credit: IG / Funke Akindele Nollywood filmmaker and actor, Funke Akindele, has further established herself in African cinema history as her latest release, ‘Behind The Scenes,’ crossed the ₦2 billion mark at the box office, becoming the first Nollywood film to achieve the milestone. The official announcement by the movie distributor, Filmone Entertainment…Credit: Filmone Ng The record-breaking performance was disclosed on Monday in a post on X by the film’s distributor, FilmOne Entertainment, which confirmed that the title has now grossed ₦2,103,039,706 in ticket sales. Stellar casts in the…

AFCON 2025: Algeria reacts to quarter-final officiating, petitions CAF, FIFA The Algerian Football Federation has said that it has submitted formal complaints to both the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) over refereeing decisions in its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final clash against Nigeria. The announcement was made on Monday via the official X handle of Équipe d’Algérie de football. The complaints were accompanied by a request for an investigation to clarify the controversial decisions and ensure appropriate action is taken in line with established regulations. In its statement, the FAF said…