Tuesday, July 26, 2016
Video - Nigeria gearing up to promote local industry
Nigeria's the government is gearing for campaign to promote domestic market for locally manufactured products. The campaign dubbed buy Nigeria is part of efforts to boost the economy and reduce hard cash expenditure on imports.
Video - Regional offensive struggling to defeat Boko Haram
Thousands of Nigerian refugees live in Niger. They've been waiting to go home but hope's slowly fading for them. The regional force tasked to tackle Boko Haram militants are struggling in their final push against the militants.
Nigeria cancels plans to build 'Kannywood' village
Nigeria's government has cancelled plans to build a "film village" in the northern state of Kano after opposition from Muslim clerics and social media.
More than $10m (Ј7.6m) had been budgeted to provide state-of-the-art facilities for the Hausa language film industry, known as Kannywood.
The government said the project would create thousands of job opportunities and promote cultural activities.
Muslims clerics have said that the project would promote immorality.
People on social media also called on the government to stop the plan.
Locals have said the project is not a priority - they say the government should instead focus on the revival of dams for agricultural development in the area.
A presidential adviser, Abdurrahaman Kawu Sumaila, announced the cancellation of the project saying that the people have had their say, and the government has heeded them.
A leading Kannywood actor and director, Ali Nuhu, told the BBC that he was confounded by the decision.
Ever since its creation more than 20 years ago, Kannywood has attracted a lot of criticism from the conservative society in the mainly Muslim city.
It has been accused of encouraging teenage girls to run away from home in the hope of becoming actresses.
Kannywood films are produced in the Hausa language and distributed in the Muslim-dominated north.
Most Nigerian films are produced in the south but in English and Pidgin-English.
This film industry, known as Nollywood, is the country's biggest cultural export and has made a name for Nigerian artists across Africa.
More than $10m (Ј7.6m) had been budgeted to provide state-of-the-art facilities for the Hausa language film industry, known as Kannywood.
The government said the project would create thousands of job opportunities and promote cultural activities.
Muslims clerics have said that the project would promote immorality.
People on social media also called on the government to stop the plan.
Locals have said the project is not a priority - they say the government should instead focus on the revival of dams for agricultural development in the area.
A presidential adviser, Abdurrahaman Kawu Sumaila, announced the cancellation of the project saying that the people have had their say, and the government has heeded them.
A leading Kannywood actor and director, Ali Nuhu, told the BBC that he was confounded by the decision.
Ever since its creation more than 20 years ago, Kannywood has attracted a lot of criticism from the conservative society in the mainly Muslim city.
It has been accused of encouraging teenage girls to run away from home in the hope of becoming actresses.
Kannywood films are produced in the Hausa language and distributed in the Muslim-dominated north.
Most Nigerian films are produced in the south but in English and Pidgin-English.
This film industry, known as Nollywood, is the country's biggest cultural export and has made a name for Nigerian artists across Africa.
Stephanie Busari to head CNN’s Multi-Platform Bureau in Nigeria
Leading the operation will be Stephanie Busari, who takes on the role of Supervising Producer, Africa. Busari will work across CNN’s newsgathering and digital operations, and will be the network’s first responder for all platforms.
Deborah Rayner, SVP, Newsgathering at CNN International, said: “This is a truly integrated role, and one that underlines CNN’s commitment to both Nigeria and Africa as a whole. Stephanie will work across our platforms on both news and feature content. In particular, she will head CNN’s Africa content across digital – responding to breaking news and managing our Africa features projects. She will also be central to CNN International’s coverage of the continent on television.”
Speaking on her new role, Busari observes that “To return to Nigeria at such an important time in the country’s history is a proud and exciting moment for me. This is such a vibrant country, full of possibilities, and as well as my broader remit looking at Africa as a whole this role will be about putting the many sides of Nigeria itself into sharper relief for the world.”
Since joining CNN in 2008, Busari has worked across some of the network’s most important African stories. In particular she was central to CNN’s coverage of the Missing Chibok girls, working alongside Senior International Correspondent Nima Elbagir.
A multi-award winning journalist, Busari began her career at the now-defunct London-based newspaper New Nation, which was aimed at the UK’s black and ethnic minority communities. She then moved to the UK’s Daily Mirror, where among other beats she covered Northern Ireland, reporting on some of the worst affected areas of “The Troubles”. While in Belfast she also launched and edited an award-winning lifestyle column for the paper. A native Yoruba speaker, she also speaks fluent French.
Related story: CNN to build multi-platform bureau in Lagos, Nigeria
Pastor who chained up son in Church for weeks arrested
Police say they rescued the boy and arrested Pastor Francis Taiwo after a tip-off in the town of Ota in south-western Ogun State.
Local media are running a photo of the victim, an emaciated young boy in chains, with a padlock around his neck.
State police say that it is one of the worst child abuse cases they have seen.
They say the boy's father admitted keeping him in chains, believing he was "possessed" because of his habit of stealing.
A police statement said that the boy had been held captive "with the help of members" of the local church where the pastor worked.
The case is now being handed over to Nigeria's national anti-trafficking agency (Naptip).
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