Friday, July 29, 2011

Russia to build Nigeria’s first nuclear power plant

As part of efforts  to boost Nigeria’s electricity generation capacity, the Federal Government is set to sign an agreement with the Russian Federation that will culminate in the building of the nation’s first nuclear power plant.


Consequently, Minister of Science and Technology, Prof Ita Oko-Bassey Ewa, yesterday in Abuja, received a 7-man delegation from the Russian Federation, preparatory to the signing of a draft project implementation agreement between the two nations for the proposed nuclear power plant.


Ewa disclosed that the proposed power plant was a major component of the agreement between the two countries in 2009, saying” a draft project implementation agreement has been prepared and ready for signing”.


The Minister, who regretted the delay in the consummation of the agreement since 2009, assured that “follow up meetings are now being initiated to discuss modalities for its implementation.”


He noted that Nigeria was in dire need of diversifying its energy generation base as part of the overall goal of making the nation’s energy sufficient, adding that “government activated the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission, NAEC, as the pivotal promotional agency to achieve the objective.


Speaking earlier, Director-General of the Russian State Corporation, RUSATOM, and leader of the delegation, Mr Nikolay Spassy, stressed that nuclear power plants were a safe method of generating electricity, assuring that the Russian Federation had an enviable record in the building of such plants.


Vanguard


Related story: Russian President Medvedev first visit to Nigeria




Thursday, July 28, 2011

Super Eagles drop two places in FIFA Rankings


Nigeria's Super Eagles have dropped two places in the latest FIFA Ranking, which has Spain remaining the best ranked side in the World and the Netherlands coming second, followed by Germany in third and Brazil in fourth position.


According to the list released Wednesday in Zurich, Nigeria, who were ranked 41st in the June ranking, were only able to scoop 636 points to now stay in the 43rd position, while Cote d 'Ivoire are the highest ranked African team on the table, sitting pretty in the 14th position. Egypt, who are placed 34th, are the second best ranked team from the continent with 735 points.


Nigeria's next opponent in an international fixture on August 9 in Warford, Ghana, have also dropped three places in the July edition of the ranking. The Black Stars after slipping in the previous ranking, now occupy the 36th spot on the log after an impressive seven-month on the high which ended last month due to the devaluation of points.


Ghana lost a significant 39 points which also affected the team's placing on the continental table.


Fifa says a total of 88 matches were taken into account for the July edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, almost a third of which were part of this year's Copa America, which therefore had a considerable impact on this month's positions. Copa America champions, Uruguay are in the fifth position, thanks to their heroics at the tournament which ended weekend in Argentina.


The next release date of the monthly ranking is on August 24.


Vanguard


Related stories: Eagles Drop As Black Stars Rise On FIFA Rankings


FIFA Threatens to Ban Nigeria again



Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Video - 2face Idibia's interview and performance on The Monique Show



Related stories: CNN takes notice to the Nigerian booming hip-hop industry


Nigerian artists clean house at MTV Africa Music Awards




Monday, July 25, 2011

Video - The megaslums of Lagos



In 1950, Lagos had a population of just three hundred thousand. By 2004 well over thirteen million live there. By 2015 it would have grown to twenty three million according to one estimate. This video report studies how uncontrolled population growth has made one of the world's largest cities one of the world's largest slums.


Related stories: Video - Floodwaters submerge Lagos


Nigeria opposition slams BBC over Lagos documentary


CNN does special on Lagos


Lagos ranked 5th worst city in the world



Abuja Auto Crash - Survivors Tell Their Tales


For someone who had just undergone surgery, Hussein Abdul-Azeez looked incredibly strong and cheery as he lay on a hospital bed in Asokoro General Hospital. The plasters on his right shoulder were the only evidence that less than half an hour earlier he had been wheeled out of the theatre after an operation to correct the anatomic structure of his fractured spatula.


Hussein is one of the surviving victims of last Monday's multiple auto crashes on the busy Abuja-Keffi Expressway, which, according to the National Emergency Management Authorities (NEMA), claimed 20 lives. An eyewitness at the scene of the crash said that she counted 25 dead bodies.


Two beds away from Hussein lay Ifeanyi, the driver of the trailer which lost control and crashed into oncoming vehicles. Ifeanyi sustained few leg wounds from the accident, and is now rapidly recovering from his injuries. Recounting the incident, he explained that he had been on his way from Lagos and was heading to Nyanya when he suddenly lost his brakes as he went down a steep slope at the Kugbo strip of the expressway.


Ifeanyi narrated that he frantically struggled to head the trailer into a nearby gutter, but soon lost his bearings and before he could do anything else, the trailer had climbed the separating structure, somersaulted and gone crashing down upon the vehicles approaching on the other side of the road.


He was brought to Asokoro General Hospital unconscious, along with the two other people who had been in the trailer with him. They only sustained minor injuries and were immediately discharged from the hospital.


When asked if he felt in any way responsible for the incident, Ifeanyi paused thoughtfully and responded with a firm determination that it was not his fault.


Two beds away, Hussein silently celebrates his life, as he also recalls the incident. He had been driving his Mazda to his mechanic's workshop at Kugbo. Not too long after making a u-turn at Abacha Barracks, he noticed the swerving trailer approaching from a distance, but could hardly make a move to save himself before it had crossed over to his lane and crashed into his Mazda as well as several other vehicles.


"I am a survivor", Hussein, a married fashion designer quietly whispers as he remembers the incident. Aside from the physical injuries sustained during the accident, Hussein is also recovering from the emotional wounds he has been nursing since the death of his four-day old baby boy earlier this month.


Head of the Emergency Medical Services and Orthopaedic Surgeon at Asokoro General Hospital, Dr. Sule Ahmed, explained that of the 15 victims brought in from Monday's auto crash, only three were admitted.


According to Dr. Ahmed, two of the cases were severe, and one of them who sustained head injuries had to be transferred out for neuro-surgery within the city.


Regarding the medical expenses of the accident victims, Dr. Ahmed explained that the Ministry of the Federal Capital gives an 'open cheque' for the treatment of mass casualties in incidents such as this.


Dr. Ahmed also noted that since the ban on commercial motorcycles (okadas) from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the volume of accident victims received at Asokoro General Hospital had significantly reduced from an average of 15 a day to about seven.


He went ahead to commend Nigerians for the sympathy and generosity shown to others in times of crisis, especially people from all walks of life who troop into the hospital to donate blood to save such accident victims.For someone who had just undergone surgery, Hussein Abdul-Azeez looked incredibly strong and cheery as he lay on a hospital bed in Asokoro General Hospital. The plasters on his right shoulder were the only evidence that less than half an hour earlier he had been wheeled out of the theatre after an operation to correct the anatomic structure of his fractured spatula.


Hussein is one of the surviving victims of last Monday's multiple auto crashes on the busy Abuja-Keffi Expressway, which, according to the National Emergency Management Authorities (NEMA), claimed 20 lives. An eyewitness at the scene of the crash said that she counted 25 dead bodies.


Two beds away from Hussein lay Ifeanyi, the driver of the trailer which lost control and crashed into oncoming vehicles. Ifeanyi sustained few leg wounds from the accident, and is now rapidly recovering from his injuries. Recounting the incident, he explained that he had been on his way from Lagos and was heading to Nyanya when he suddenly lost his brakes as he went down a steep slope at the Kugbo strip of the expressway.


Ifeanyi narrated that he frantically struggled to head the trailer into a nearby gutter, but soon lost his bearings and before he could do anything else, the trailer had climbed the separating structure, somersaulted and gone crashing down upon the vehicles approaching on the other side of the road.


He was brought to Asokoro General Hospital unconscious, along with the two other people who had been in the trailer with him. They only sustained minor injuries and were immediately discharged from the hospital.


When asked if he felt in any way responsible for the incident, Ifeanyi paused thoughtfully and responded with a firm determination that it was not his fault.


Two beds away, Hussein silently celebrates his life, as he also recalls the incident. He had been driving his Mazda to his mechanic's workshop at Kugbo. Not too long after making a u-turn at Abacha Barracks, he noticed the swerving trailer approaching from a distance, but could hardly make a move to save himself before it had crossed over to his lane and crashed into his Mazda as well as several other vehicles.


"I am a survivor", Hussein, a married fashion designer quietly whispers as he remembers the incident. Aside from the physical injuries sustained during the accident, Hussein is also recovering from the emotional wounds he has been nursing since the death of his four-day old baby boy earlier this month.


Head of the Emergency Medical Services and Orthopaedic Surgeon at Asokoro General Hospital, Dr. Sule Ahmed, explained that of the 15 victims brought in from Monday's auto crash, only three were admitted.


According to Dr. Ahmed, two of the cases were severe, and one of them who sustained head injuries had to be transferred out for neuro-surgery within the city.


Regarding the medical expenses of the accident victims, Dr. Ahmed explained that the Ministry of the Federal Capital gives an 'open cheque' for the treatment of mass casualties in incidents such as this.


Dr. Ahmed also noted that since the ban on commercial motorcycles (okadas) from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the volume of accident victims received at Asokoro General Hospital had significantly reduced from an average of 15 a day to about seven.


He went ahead to commend Nigerians for the sympathy and generosity shown to others in times of crisis, especially people from all walks of life who troop into the hospital to donate blood to save such accident victims.


Leadership


Related story: Multiple car crash kills 32 in Abuja



Friday, July 22, 2011

Video - Nigerian government admits police force is 'overzealous'


The Nigerian government has for the first time admitted that its soldiers were "overzealous" in their fight against a radical Muslim group.

The military has been accused of extra-judicial killings and causing the deaths of civilians during its crackdown on the Boko Haram sect.

Boko Haram, whose name means "Western education is sacrilege" in the local Hausa language, has waged a violent campaign against Nigerian police and politicians.


Aljazeera


Related stories: Nigerian police out of control according to Amnesty International


Family of executed Boko Haram Leader Threaten to Sue Police


Police gun down 70-year old man who refused to pay bribe




UK deports 61 Nigerians

The United Kingdom on Thursday deported 61 Nigerians, including three minors, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.


The deportees were flown into Nigeria in the early hours of the day in a chattered aircraft.


Those deported include 47 males and 11 females who were received and screened at the cargo terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport by the officials from the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS).


An immigration source, who pleaded anonymity, said they were deported for immigration-related offences.


Some of the deportees who spoke with NAN alleged that most of them were sent back because their visas have expired.


A deportee, Eniola Adefuja said that her visa had expired since May and she was still in the process of renewing it when she was picked up by the police.


She added that she was not allowed to pick up her personal effects before being flown to Nigeria.


Another deportee who simply identified herself as Juliet, claimed that she was also arrested by the British Immigration officer over expired documents.


“My visa expired and they said I could no longer reside in the UK; that is why I was brought back home,” she said.


234Next


Related stories: UK Govt Deports 52 Nigerians


South Africa deports 100 Nigerians




Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Siasia Names Osaze Against Ghana


Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia on Tuesday named a 22-man list for the international friendly against Ghana Black Stars on August 9, with Osaze Odemwingie included in the list.


Osaze was excluded from Super Eagles last two matches, the first against Argentina in Abuja which the team won 4-1 and the African Cup of Nations qualifier against Ethiopia that the team drew 2-2 in Addis Ababa.


But last week, the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation intervened in the imbroglio, ending the rift.


The inclusion of Odemwingie has put to rest any form of misunderstanding between the player and the coach.


The list with made up of six strikers, six midfielders, seven defenders and three goalkeepers included Obinna Nsofor, Victor Anichebe, Ikechukwu Uche, Ekigbo Ehiosun and Emmanuel Emenike.


Mikel Obi leads the pack of midfielders that also has Fegor Ogude, Joel Obi, Kalu Uche, Emmanuel Ekpo and Solomon Okoronkwo.


Defenders are Taye Taiwo, Chibuzor Okonkwo, Gege Soriola, Elderson Echiejile, Joseph Yobo, Yusuf Ayila and Efe Ambrose.


The three goalkeepers as usual are Vincent Eyiama, Bamidele Aiyenugba and Chigozie Agbim.


Daily Independent


Related stories: Osaze Odemwingie Escapes Siasia Axe


Peter Osaze - Life is good at West Brom


Samson Siasia appointed as new Super Eagles coach




Multiple car crash kills 32 in Abuja


At about 3.15pm Nigeria time today, along Nyanya Karu road, where about 32 persons lost their lives. The accidents occured on the highway leaving traffic backed up for miles in both directions. Rescue workers were at the scene to help any  survivors and recover bodies from the mangled remains of several cars involved in the accident.


Sahara Reporters 




Don Jazzy Confirmed As Producer On Jay Z And Kanye West Album


Mo’Hits C.E.O and sole producer Michael Collins better known to the public as Don Jazzy has been confirmed as a producer on US rappers Jay Z and Kanye West’s upcoming collaborative studio album titled ‘Watch The Throne’.


There had been news about Don Jazzy adding his creativity to the album as soon as he and the entire Mo’Hits crew got signed to Kanye’s G.O.O.D Music a few weeks ago but the producer who hardly talks said it was only a probability in a press conference held in Koko Lounge.


The official track list hit the World Wide Web some hours ago and was confirmed by Hip-hop websites HipHopDx.com and Complex.com. Don Jazzy co-produced ‘Lights off’ which features Beyonce. Other producers on the song are Kanye West, Mike Dean, Jeff Bhasker and Q-Tip. Added vocals on the song come from Seal, Mr Hudson, Don Jazzy, Bankulli and Ricardo Louis.


Speaking with the Mo’Hits hit maker through an E-mail correspondence, Don Jazzy tells Nigerian Entertainment Today (NET) ‘Yes it is true sir. Kinda excited about that. Considering it’s like my major first. And see the amount of heavy weights I worked with. We thank God’.


The producer also let us in on his stay to the Big Apple, ‘We (Don Jazzy and D’banj) haven’t relocated to New York but we kinda spend a little bit more time than normal now just because we need to be closer to a few of the clients we’re working with at the moment.’ He stays somewhere in Soho. He doesn’t share the same apartment with D’banj.



The production for ‘Watch The Throne’ is below…


01 No Church In The Wild f. Frank Ocean (prod. Kanye West & 88-Keys)


02 Lift Off f. Beyoncé (prod. Kanye West, Mike Dean, Jeff Bhasker, Q-Tip & Don Jazzy)


03 Niggas In Paris (prod. Hit-Boy, Kanye West, Mike Dean & Anthony Kilhoffer)


04 Otis f. Otis Redding (prod. Kanye West)


05 Gotta Have It (prod. The Neptunes & Kanye Wwest)


06 New Day (prod. The RZA, Kanye West, Mike Dean & Ken Lewis)


07 That’s My Bi**h (prod. Q-Tip, Kanye West & Jeff Bhasker)


08 Who Gon’ Stop Me (prod. Sham “Sak Pase” Joseph, Kanye West & Mike Dean)


09 Murder To Excellence (prod. Swizz Beatz & Symbolyc One)


10 Welcome To The Jungle (prod. Swizz Beatz, Mike Dean & Ken Lewis)


11 Made In America f. Frank Ocean (prod. Sham “Sak Pase” Joseph & Mike Dean)


12 Why I Love You f. Mr Hudson (prod. Mike Dean & Kanye West)


13 Illest Motherfucker Alive (prod. Southside, Kanye West & Mike Dean)


BONUS TRACKS


14 H.A.M (prod. Lex Luger, Kanye West & Mike Dean)


15 Primetime (prod. No I.D.)


16 The Joy f. Curtis Mayfield (prod. Pete Rock, Kanye West & Mike Dean)


NET


Related stories: Video - D'Banj signing record deal with Kanye West


How we sealed record deal with Kanye West - D'Banj


Kanye West signs Dbanj and Don Jazzy to G.O.O.D music label


Nigerian artists clean house at MTV Africa Music Awards


CNN takes notice to booming Nigeria hip-hop industry



Monday, July 18, 2011

Video: CNN profiles Nigeria’s booming art industy


CNN's Christian Purefoy meets Nigerian artis Gerarld Chukwuma who makes his art with recycled phone cards and tin.




Branding of Children As Witches to Be Criminalized

A UK-based anti-child abuse charity organisation, AFRUCA, is working with UK groups to make branding of African children as witches a criminal offence in the United Kingdom.


AFRUCA Founder and Director, Debbie Ariyo, who disclosed this in London over the weekend at an event to mark the organization's 10th anniversary said children brought to the UK from Africa were often branded as witches and victimized by their guardians.


"We are working with UK's National Working Group to stop this practice and make branding of children as witches a criminal offence", she said, disclosing that most of its victims and victims of other child abuse practices were from Nigeria.


Debbie stated that the AFRUCA project in Nigeria, which would be launched in December this year, was established to "address issues of child abuse and exploitation at source", anticipating that the organization's operation in Nigeria would be "phenomenal".


She disclosed that the organisation had trained more than 4,000 parents on the best parenting practices that would stop their children from being taken to care homes, lamenting that a huge number of parents have lost the custody of their children to care services due to bad parenting.


In her remarks, Ekiti State first lady, Mrs Bisi Fayemi, lamented that appalling cases of child abuse and exploitation happen on a daily basis, and urged those who could make a difference to act to "stop the culture of impunity" by the perpetrators.


She said Ekiti State had taken the lead in the implementation of gender policy which outlaws discrimination against women and children, and promotes their rights and needs and enhances their chances in life.


Mrs Fayemi, a well-known activist for the less privileged in the UK, commended AFRUCA for its work against child abuse and child exploitation, saying that the organisation has helped many victims to heal and rebuild their lives.


Daily Trust


Related stories: Return to Nigeria's Witch Children


The Young Turks cover witchcraft in Nigeria




Friday, July 15, 2011

Video - Nigerian primary schools in dire state





Primary schools in Nigeria are in a dire state as they greatly suffer from a lack of resources and unqualified educators to teach young pupils.

In Lagos State, home to Nigeria's most populous city, Lagos, more than 1,000 primary schools are dilapidated lacking basic classroom furniture, electricity, and running water.

Part of the problem is that primary education in Lagos State has suffered from decades of under-investment while the population of those that need to be taught increases.

Babatunde Fashola, governor of Lagos State, is trying to close to close the gap on years of neglect. Under his governorship, more than 2,300 new classrooms have been built and many renovated.


Al Jazeera


Related stories: 15 year old Nigerian teenager gets admission to Harvard


Sixteen child hostages freed




Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Video - Floodwaters submerge Lagos



A day of heavy rains causes flash floods in Lagos, Nigeria.


Unfortunately, Reuters reporter Lindsey Parietti isn't aware that Lagos is no longer (hasn't been for quite a while) the capital of Nigeria, it's Abuja.



 


How Nollywood Could Thrive More With Online Video Streaming

Online video viewing is growing rapidly, there is no doubt that majority of Global Internet bandwidth in the near future will be used to stream video over many different Internet connected devices like smartphones, tablets, PCs and connected-TVs. According to a recent report from Gartner Research,online ads are now more engaging than most other ad forms and are projected to rise 22% within the next 12 months. Online ads are predicted to gradually surpass every other form of advertising including TV which is now the biggest. This shows that online media including online video is evolving and will soon stand to compete with the video we watch on our TV sets.

As far as Nollywood’s (video) business is concerned, their main distribution channels are CD and DVD sales, other smaller channels are sales of rights to African movie channels and lately some movies are being shown in cinemas first before being released on DVDs and CDs. With every business, the distribution reach and number of distribution channels can ultimately affect the bottom-line. Nollywood should pick up online streaming as a small revenue source to bring in some extra sales for now, because in the future, online streaming could turn out to be the major revenue source for the movie industries around the World.

Online video streaming/downloading used to be the threat to major movie studios and TV networks and is still so till today, but with the rise of Netflix, Hulu in the US and iLoveFilm in the UK, also with Youtube getting into the professionally produced video content business, so many producers are thinking twice about fighting this unavoidable shift. Hulu for example, is on-course to pay around $300 million to its content partners in 2011 alone, and the amount is bound to increase next year. Youtube which started as a small startup project with short free user generated videos during the days when online video business seemed not be commercially viable due to cost of bandwidth and scaling (before cheap cloud data services like that of Amazon) is now Google’s cash cow after search advertising. They have now shown many aspiring online video businesses the way to make money from online video.

A recent Forbes article by Mfonobong Nsehe estimated Nollywood to be a $800 million industry. So, if Hulu could pay $300 million to content owners in a year, then, there is enough money in online streaming to take care of Nollywood. Well, I know Nollywood for now can not generate as much money online as Hollywood makes, but we are looking at margins here. Compare costs of producing a Hollywood movie and that of a Nollywood movie and you’ll find out that Nollywood doesn’t have to get close to Hollywood in revenues in order to earn bigger profit margins, in percentage of course. The major problem studios in Hollywood have with online streaming is the question, “if the web and digital would ever replace the huge money they make from video sales and payments from networks?” Online video has been stigmatized as a money losing business. Online ad sales couldn’t match the big amounts TV networks charged for placing ads. As far as Nollywood is concerned though, cost of production is relatively low as stated by the same Forbes article by Nsehe, therefore the revenues from online ads that seemed meager to Hollywood (Although they are now beginning to embrace online TV, at least in plans for the future), the same amount could be a huge bump up to Nollywood’s revenues.

The point I am trying to make here is, Nollywood is going to have a much easier time switching to digital streaming than Hollywood. The main problem is revenue and revenue from online ads wouldn’t be so bad for Nollywood due to cost of production compared to that of Hollywood, just compare the prices original DVDs of Hollywood and those of Nollywood sell for. With the rise of ecommerce in Africa, soon many Africans would be able to buy a movie or TV show episode with a simple click of the mouse or through their mobile phones and they would feel comfortable making such a transaction digitally since the amount isn’t so high.

Whenever I try to pitch my online video service to content owners, I find them reluctant to try online streaming, and those that have tried it tell me how disappointed they are with the earnings. Well, At a small scale, the compensation you get as a content owner may be small, but if you produce content good enough to be viewed over and over again and even be shared with the viewer’s friends through email and social media, then your views will explode and so will the earnings.

All in all, the good news is, even online ads will earn more in the future and more money making innovative online video startups will be created thanks to the likes of YouTube.

One thing content makers need to keep in mind is, quality is key.


Nigerian Films


Related stories: Video - ZR-7 theatrical trailer is here


Nollywood will win international award


CNN covers the Nollywood industry



Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Nigerian actress sentenced to death by hanging

Friday was a sad day for Miss Rabi Ismail, an Hausa actress, as a 7-man panel of Justices of the Supreme Court, okayed her death by hanging.


The embattled actress, who was based in Kano state, was accused of drowning her boyfriend, one Mr. Ibrahim Auwalu alias Zazu, in 2002, after she allegedly administered sedative drugs on him.


The apex court held that having considered the proof of evidence tendered against the accused person by the Kano state Directorate of Public Prosecution, DPP, it found her guilty of culpable homicide punishable with death.


The deceased boyfriend of the actress was said to have lost his consciousness shortly after he finished eating a doped Eclairs sweet handed to him by the accused person.


Following a detailed investigation that was conducted into the matter by various security agencies in the state, the actress was accused of complicity and was subsequently charged to court by the Kano state DPP.


Consequent upon her arraignment and trial before a Kano state High Court in 2002, the accused person was found guilty of culpable homicide contrary to section 221 (b) of the Penal Code and was accordingly sentenced to death by hanging.


Dissatisfied with the verdict of the trial court, Miss Ismail went before the Kaduna Division of the Court of Appeal, pleading it to overturn the death sentence slammed against her.


To her dismay however, the appellate court upheld the decision of the lower court, adding that she should be hanged immediately.


As a last resort, the actress proceeded to the Supreme Court, begging it to save her life.


In its lead judgment prepared by Justice Francis Fedode Tabai, the apex court noted that the accused person failed to place sufficient evidence capable of convincing it that she did not murder her deceased boyfriend on December 25, 2002.


It equally held that having examined the confessional statements of the accused, the depositions of all the witnesses that were called in the matter, as well as records of trial within trial earlier conducted by the lower courts, it did not see any reason to interfere with the decisions of either the trial High Court or the Appellate Court.


Therefore, the 7-man panel of jurists found her guilty as charged and accordingly okayed her death sentence.


Reacting to the judgment, counsel representing the Kano state DPP, Ms. Binta Lawal, said the state was only interested in ensuring that justice was done for both the deceased man and the accused person, stressing that the death sentence handed to Miss Ismail would not be celebrated.


Vanguard


Related stories: Killer Policeman to Die By Hanging


Pete Edochie shares his experience of being kidnapped




Monday, July 11, 2011

Tech expert Saheed Adepoju featured in WIRED


In its August 2011 edition, WIRED UK Magazine switches on its searchlight with a feature on Africa’s new tech opportunities. The magazine which is now on sale, showcases five African technology entrepreneurs including Encipher‘s Saheed Adepoju (Nigeria) and mPedigree‘s Bright Simons (Ghana).


According to WIRED, Encipher will give Africa’s market leading mobile-telephony company MTN a demonstration of its Android-powered tablet, Inye once internal testing has been completed. MTN, on the other hand would be a major distribution platform for the product, thereby putting the co-founder’s work in shops alongside international brands such as Apple’s iPad and Samsung’s Galaxy tab.


Beyond its functionality, the founders hope that the Inye’s local origins will give it an edge on rival brands, as they have also been working on local-language services, including a product that helps health workers to identify and explain symptoms in local languages.


As for mPedigree, Simons has signed deals with every telecom company in Ghana to convince them to work not just with mPedigree but with each other to create a single toll-free number across all networks, so that the service would be available free of charge to all Ghanaians.


The company is also working with government bodies and pharmaceutical manufacturers in Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda and has already closed deals
to protect six million packs of antimalarials, amebicides, anti-inflammatory agents, oral care products and nutritional supplements, and has discussions and trials going on across Africa and south Asia.


The magazine also features Agosta Liko of Pesapal (Mpesa), Joe Muchero, Google’s Head of sub-Saharan Africa, Isis Nyong’o of Inmobi and Stephan Magdalinski of DealFish and Kalahari.


Download a PDF version of the magazine feature here.


Techloy


Related stories: Video - Saheed Adepajo launches tablet computer to rival the ipad in Nigeria 


Okonjo-Iweala seeks renaissance in science and tech


Google maps Nigeria



Pirated Nollywood movies flood Uganda

Despite being popular, most Nigerian movies sold in Uganda are pirated, affecting the producers' income, officials from the West African country have complained.


Alex Eyengho of the Association of Nollywood Core Producers (ANCOP) while in Uganda recently, noted that work from Nollywood-Nigeria's movie base was being sold on the streets for less than $1 (about sh2, 600).


"A 20-in-one DVD is sold for less than $1. The pirates are the publishers who are known as the marketers in Nigeria," he told Vanguard newspaper.


But Ugandan film makers complained that the pirated Nigerian movies were stifling the growth of the movie industry here.


According to Eyengho, "security stickers" would soon be attached to all movies as a way of differentiating original from the pirated copies.


ANCOP officials late last month met with Uganda Federation of Movie Industry (UFMI) to seek solutions to the problem.


Commenting about the discussions between the two bodies, UFMI boss Dr. Eddie Nsubuga said: "We are working with the Nigerians because we want our industry to grow."


The partnership, Eyengho pledged, would be "reciprocal."


New Vision


Related stories: Video - ZR-7 theatrical trailer is here


Piracy stunting Nollywood growth


CNN covers the Nollywood industry




Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Video - Highlights from Canada vs Nigeria Women's World Cup match



Here are the video highlights of Nigeria's victory over Canada in the FIFA Women's World Cup hosted in Germany.


Related story: Jonathan hails female football team


FIFA congratulates Nigerian police on security


 




Nigerian activist hackers take down Nigerian army website

An anonymous group of Nigerian hackers earlier today took down the website of the Nigerian Army Education Corps(www.hqnaec.org) according to a twitter announcement sent to SaharaReporters.


NaijaCyberHacktivists posted their signature image on the website as also posted a youtube video about a virus that takes down nuclear reactors in Iran known as Stuxnet.


The Nigerian hackers announced that the latest attack on Nigerian website was in celebration of "Nigerian Army day" a celebration the group said should not have happened.
 
NaijaCyberHacktivists previously attacked several Nigerian government websites including the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and The National Poverty Eradication  and posted protest letters on their home pages.


Sahara Reporters


Related stories: WikiLeaks cables: Shell's grip on Nigerian state revealed


Wikileaks Set to Name the Country's Treasury Looters


Hacker attempts to help victim of Nigerian 419 scam recover $400,000




Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Video - ZR-7 theatrical trailer is here



"When life in boarding school got tough...we got even"

TJ is a young man in his late twenties, the first draft of his book titled ZR-7 is long overdue for the publisher to review. He decides the entire draft will be recorded on a tape recorder and only his butler (Alphonso) is an actual witness, he begins to tell his story as the action comes alive.

The story is a Classic life of boarding school adventure involving TJ with six of his friends (Rolly-D, Chiedu, UK, Tokunbo, Femi & James) while in JSS 1 (7th grade). The boys are initially shocked by all the hoops they have to jump in order to survive teachers, prefects, wicked seniors, dining hall food, thieves, cutting grass, washing toilets, discovering a Bushbaby, puppy love and all the other regular experiences anyone in a public Nigerian boarding school would experience. But when TJ and the boys accidentally see a man and two female students in an uncompromising position, what they do with that information is not their only problem in school, but the resulting scandal would change their lives far beyond their wildest dreams...

Written and Directed by Olufemi D. Ogunsanwo & Udoka Oyeka

Director Of Photography Bishop C. Kagho Idhebor

Editor Chidi Nwaozomudoh

RELEASE DATE: August 2011

http://www.zr7themovie.com
http://www.karmacauseproductions.com


Related story: Video - ZR7 trailer