Entertainment

By Uzair Adam Imam

The appointment was disclosed in a statement Friday by the Special Adviser to the President ( Media & Publicity), Chief Ajuri Ngelale.

President Bola Tinubu has given his nod to the appointment of Ali Nuhu, aka the King of Kannywood, and ten other distinguished individuals to spearhead various agencies under the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, and Creative Economy.

The appointments could be seen as a strategic move to foster growth and innovation in the arts, culture, and creative economy sector.

The recently appointed Chief Executive Officers are set to bring a fresh wave of leadership and expertise to their respective roles:

1. Tola Akerele: Takes the helm as the Director-General of the National Theatre.

2. Dr. Shaibu Husseini: Assumes the role of Director-General at the National Films and Censors Board.

3. Mr. Obi Asika: Appointed Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture.

4. Aisha Adamu Augie: Steps into the position of Director-General at the Centre for Black and African Arts and Culture.

5. Ekpolador-Ebi Koinyan: Appointed Chief Conservator of the National War Museum.

6. Ahmed Sodangi: Assumes the responsibility of Director-General at the National Gallery of Art.

7. Chaliya Shagaya: Takes on the role of Director-General at the National Institute of Archeology and Museums Studies.

8. Hajiya Khaltume Bulama Gana: Appointed Artistic Director of the National Troupe of Nigeria.

9. Otunba Biodun Ajiboye: Assumes the position of Director-General at the National Institute for Cultural Orientation.

10. Ali Nuhu: Takes charge as the Managing Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation.

11. Ramatu Abonbo Mohammed: Assumes the pivotal role of Director-General at the National Commission for Museums and Monuments.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Last week marked a historic moment in Kaduna as Athletic Football Academy emerged triumphant in the Under-13 Bundesliga Cup, defeating Kuso Boys in a thrilling final match at the Secret Heart Stadium in Kaduna Police Barracks.
 
The intense competition, which kicked off in August 2023, witnessed the participation of 24 youth teams, captivating the attention of football enthusiasts across Kaduna.
 
Athletic Football Academy’s stellar performance in the final secured them a resounding 3-0 victory, clinching their first Under-13 Youth Cup.
 
The final match saw the presence of former Nigerian Premier League players and those who had showcased their talents abroad.
 
Bakin, among the esteemed guests, presented the awards. Yassir Awwal, a standout player from Athletic, claimed the spotlight by not only leading his team to victory but also securing the coveted title of top scorer with an impressive tally of seven goals.
 
Awwal’s remarkable talents earned him the Golden Ball and a pair of prestigious football shoes.
 
While Athletic Football Academy celebrated their grand triumph with the sizable cup, Kuso Boys Football Academy received a small trophy for their commendable efforts in the competition.
 
The Bundesliga’s influence is evidently growing in Kaduna and Northern Nigeria, as the tournament successfully garnered attention from football fans and inspired the youth.
 
Also, former players, industry professionals, and DW Hausa station representative Mohammed Mohammed, who doubles as the Bundesliga ambassador, expressed delight at the competition’s impact.
 
Mohammed, who dedicated five years to organising the tournament, noted the importance of nurturing young talents. He noted that this was not the first Bundesliga Cup in Kaduna but the first exclusively for youngsters aged 13 and under.
 
The aim is to boost children’s confidence and foster interest in the German Bundesliga, a sentiment echoed by Mohammed.
 
Expressing satisfaction with the young players’ performances, Mohammed highlighted the need for continued support from the Bundesliga, DFL, and the German football organization.
 
He believes that such backing will elevate the competition’s standards, enhance the Bundesliga’s reputation in Kaduna, and extend its influence to major cities like Kano and throughout Northern Nigeria.

By Uzair Adam Imam

In a spectacular event held at Tahir Guest Palace on Friday, PR Nigeria, in collaboration with Daily Nigeria and Arewa Agenda, recognized and awarded thirty exceptional youths under the age of thirty for their outstanding achievements in various fields.

The ceremony aimed to showcase the remarkable talents of young individuals from northern Nigeria who are actively contributing to the development of their states and the nation as a whole.

Dr. Musa Sufi, one of the organizers, highlighted the significance of the event, stating that it serves as a testament to the innovative minds thriving in northern Nigeria.

He emphasized the need to present these accomplishments to the world, inspiring and motivating other young people to strive for excellence in their endeavours.

Addressing a prevalent issue, Dr. Sufi pointed out the communication gap between the older and younger generations, emphasizing the lack of mentorship for the youth.

He urged both the government and non-governmental organizations to innovate and develop initiatives that align with exploring the immense potential and strength of young people.

Among the esteemed awardees was Aliyu Idris, a final year student at Bayero University. Expressing his joy, Idris acknowledged the challenges of being selected among over seven hundred nominees and considered his education award as a prestigious recognition.

He attributed his success to determination and unwavering commitment to achieving his goals.

Abdulhafiz Abdullahi Aliyu, another awardee from Jos, expressed his excitement about being recognized for his organization, Sunna Techlap, which he established within a year.

He shared his gratitude for the acknowledgement and the opportunity to receive the award, emphasizing the pride of being invited from Jos.

The event drew a distinguished audience, including notable academics such as Dr. Bala Muhammad, and Dr. Sule Yau Sule, Dr. Kabiru Sufi Said, and prominent figures from the Kannywood industry, including actresses like Mommy Gombe and producers.

The diverse attendance underscored the broad support for celebrating and encouraging the accomplishments of young individuals in the northern region.

As northern Nigeria takes a step to bridge the generational gap and provide recognition to its talented youth, the hope is that these initiatives will continue to inspire and foster a culture of excellence and innovation among the younger generation.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Manchester City reign supreme as world champions after a mesmerising 4-0 demolition of Brazilian giants Fluminense in the Club World Cup final.

Pep Guardiola’s men etched their names in global football history, capping a phenomenal season with the ultimate trophy. 

City’s dominance was relentless. Alvarez struck early, Nino gifted an own goal as Alvarez and Foden added two more, leaving Fluminense chasing shadows.

This emphatic victory is more than silverware; it’s a coronation. City, after years of European and domestic mastery, finally conquer the world stage, proving themselves the planet’s finest. 

Guardiola, architect of this triumph, hailed his players: “This cup is a testament to their relentless pursuit of excellence.” This win transcends City; it bolsters English football, crowning them the fourth nation to conquer the world, showcasing the Premier League’s global might. 

Manchester City’s World Cup victory isn’t just a footballing feat; it’s a cultural beacon. Their dedication and teamwork inspire fans worldwide, proving that the sky’s the limit.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The UEFA Champions League bids farewell to its traditional group stage, paving the way for a radical Swiss-style format commencing next season. 

The tournament will expand its elite field to 36 teams, all converging into a singular league group. 

Clubs will face a challenging schedule, engaging in eight matches against eight distinct opponents.

This shift promises to deliver heightened competition and a diverse range of matchups. 

The top 8 teams excelling in the league will clinch an automatic berth in the knockout stages, incentivizing stellar performances throughout the group phase. 

Teams concluding the group stage from 9th to 24th place will embark on intense play-off battles.

Only 8 triumphant teams from these encounters will earn the coveted spots in the Round of 16.

By Misbahu El-Hamza

My discomfort taking pictures of people in a social event is obvious even to some people around me; friends and families.

There was a time I was commissioned by a place I once worked for to cover an event, a woman honorably stood from her seat and whispered in my ears, “please try to avoid me in your photos.” “Thank you so much for letting me know, Hajiya.” I replied. To this day, I respect the woman, but had she known, it was also against my wish doing that.

Now I know better how to cover an event with people consent. A skill I learned in 2023. But how about the streets?

I love #streetphotography. Looking at most of my photos, you’ll notice that I rarely capture people in my frame. That’s partly because I don’t like being interrogated for pointing my camera and shooting at random strangers, rightly, against their will.

It made me so uncomfortable for someone to perceive that I breach their privacy. So, I choose to capture only landscape and other objects I found interesting.

However, in Nigeria — at least in my experience, even pointing your at your feet can provoke anger. People will question you for that aggressively.

Let me further illustrate two experiences: a few months ago in Benue State, I bought yogurt in a restaurant opposite a market and noticed a beautiful statue of a milk cow. While taking a photo of it, a police officer, holding a gun obviously to intimidate me, questioned why I hadn’t obtained permission from him. This was a man emerging from nowhere near the restaurant. With my assertion that I didn’t know permission was required, he grew angrier. Eventually, I realized he sought only for a bribe, and I insisted we consult the restaurant manager. And that’s why he reluctantly let me go with my photo.

Fast forward to an LGA in Kano State where my colleague and I saw a remarkable solar plant at a healthcare facility generating 24/7 electricity. When I tried to capture it on my phone, from a distance, three hostile men confronted us, questioning why we were “staring” at the plant without their permission. Staring at it! They treated us as if we were informants or criminals. One of them even threaten us — and I dared him to try laying hands on any of us. But eventually, witht the arrival of the officer in charge of the facility, that hostile man was even the one stopping a bike for us at last.

As much as I respect people’s privacy (which is one reason why I don’t fly my drone these days), I understand that streetphotography is a hard thing for me in this country because people are unnecessarily angry. Even as you try to avoid them, they’ll find a reason to engage you.

This year alone, I have developed more than five extraordinary ideas of streets photography with northern Nigeria as the setting, but I am still skeptical. And I wonder how photographers developing content around this area do it without much troubles.

Please, how can I peacefully execute my projects in 2024 without inviting trouble on the streets?🤔

— Misbahu El-Hamza is a social analyst from Kano State, Nigeria.

By Sabiu Abdullahi 

The 24-year-old Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen, has secured the coveted CAF 2023 Men’s Player of the Year award. 

Osimhen’s stellar performance in the 2022–2023 football season, particularly with Napoli in the Serie A, played a pivotal role in this triumph. 

Osimhen faced stiff competition from top-tier players like Achraf Hakimi of Morocco, Sadio Mane of Senegal, and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah. Standing tall at 1.85m, the Nigerian striker’s outstanding achievements mark the end of a 24-year wait for Nigeria since Kanu Nwankwo last received the honour in 1999. 

During the 2022–2023 football season, Osimhen’s thunderous form propelled Napoli to their third Scudetto in 33 years, following the era of legendary Diego Maradona. 

His remarkable feat of scoring 26 goals in the league not only contributed to Napoli’s success but also made him the first African to claim the top scorer award in the domestic Serie A league. 

Osimhen’s accolades continued to accumulate as he clinched the Italian league’s best striker prize and secured a spot in the Serie A Team of the Year. 

Breaking George Weah’s record as the highest-scoring African player in the Italian league, Osimhen further solidified his status by winning the AIC award, the Italian Footballers’ Association Player of the Year, in December.

 Despite Nigeria’s early exit from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Osimhen showcased his prowess by netting 10 goals in the tournament, including an impressive seven against São Tomé and Principe. 

Since making his senior debut for the Super Eagles in June 2017, Osimhen has accumulated 20 goals in 27 appearances. 

The pinnacle of Osimhen’s remarkable journey came on Monday in the Moroccan city of Marrakesh, when he clinched the CAF 2023 Men’s Player of the Year award.

 By Ahmad Deedat 

Nigerian international singer Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, has got much attention as he pledged to donate the whopping sum of one hundred million naira to children this Christmas. 

Wizkid announced his philanthropic plans for this year’s Christmas on his verified Instagram handle on Monday. 

The singer’s philanthropic gesture is in honour of his late mother, Jane Dolapo Morayo Balogun.

Wizkid lost his mother on August 18, 2023.  

He wrote, “100M for the kids for Christmas ! Lord bless us all 😇 start in Surelere tonight!” All in Morayo’s name! The love of my life!”

By Aliyu Yakubu Yusuf

It is challenging for any group of players that has won all the available trophies on offer to maintain the same focus and motivation the following season. There’s only one way for any club to win a treble of league title: UCL and the domestic cup. That way is downwards. In this context, I am not overly surprised about Manchester City’s struggles so far this season.

Pep Guardiola is a gaffer who prioritises control and patient buildup in the middle of the park. The current Manchester City team lacks these attributes. Their matches are often chaotic end-to-end affairs that produce plenty of goalscoring chances. This isn’t a quintessential Guardiola team that routinely deprives their opposition of a sniff of the ball, let alone scoring opportunities. I attribute Manchester City’s recent travails to three critical factors:

1. Rodri’s frequent suspensions

Manchester City have lost four games so far this season. A common denominator in all these games is that Rodri missed ALL of them. Make that what you will.

2. Kevin De Bruyne’s Injury

Do I even need to mention the importance of the blond Belgian to this team? Julian Alvarez has deputised in the KDB role, often admirably. However, the Argentine is no midfielder and will never bring the same midfield control and assurance.

3. Gundogan’s Departure/Kovacic’s Poor Form

Pep Guardiola signed the Croatian as a direct replacement for Ilkay Gundogan, who left for a Bosman ruling in the summer. The German was a cornerstone for Manchester City for several years. True, Kovacic is no Gundogan. Still, he has often been poor whenever he steps onto the pitch. He was subsequently relegated to the bench. Guardiola and City surely expected more from the former Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Chelsea man.

There you have it. For the record, I still expect Guardiola to sort things out and mount a title challenge as usual. Come the end of the season, the Citizens will be there or thereabout. Write them off at your own peril.

Aliyu Yakubu Yusuf wrote from Kano, Nigeria. He can be contacted via aliyuyy@gmail.com.

By Tajuddeen Ahmad Tijjani

If excellence means possessing good qualities in an eminent degree and superiority in virtue, Mrs. Mba, the Executive Director of Cooperate Services in the Niger Delta Power Holdings Company (NDPHC), is a personification of it all. Beyond meritorious service to the nation of Nigeria, her journey has been nothing short of extraordinary, marked by unwavering dedication and exceptional achievements.

One of Mrs. Mba’s notable accomplishments has been her role in spearheading initiatives to address Nigeria’s power crisis. Through her strategic vision and tireless efforts, National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP) has been making progress in increasing Nigeria’s electricity generation capacity. Her tireless effort towards ensuring a stable and reliable power supply continues to impact businesses and households, fueling economic growth and improving the quality of life for millions.

Her leadership style has been a source of inspiration for her colleagues and subordinates. Under her stewardship, NIPP has witnessed significant improvements in corporate governance, efficacy, and transparency. Moreover, corruption and favoritism have never been her portion; she believes in merit and ability to deliver, which is the only yardstick that would propel every organization, not only NIPP.

Beyond professional feats, Mrs. Mba is becoming a champion in social responsibility, where she actively engages herself in community development projects, promoting sustainable practices, and empowering local communities. Her achievements in this regard are clear for all to see and appreciate. I can only mention a fraction of her distinct accomplishments in service to God and humanity. Through her passion for environmental conservation and social welfare, she is leaving indelible marks on the regions served by NIPP; though, NDPHC’s footprint cuts across every nook and cranny of the country.

Mrs. Nkechiyelu Mba embodies the values of integrity, excellence, and service to the nation. Her meritorious service to Nigeria in the realm of energy and corporate governance has not only transformed the power sector but also served as an inspiration for future generations of leaders. I foresee that Nigeria will attain its full potential with her caliber in the energy sector. Again, her legacy is one of unwavering dedication to the betterment of her country, making her an exceptional and revered figure in Nigeria’s history of public service. On a personal note, I cherish and adore this woman of substance, who is a mother, the voice of the downtrodden, and an inspirational leader to the unborn generation.

History is more than the path left by the past; it can influence the present and shape the future. Mommy, I’m certain that history will be kind to you.

Tajuddeen Ahmad Tijjani writes from Abuja.