Just Not Married Leads BON with Seven Nominations

Organisers of the Best of Nollywod Awards have released the list of nominees for the 2016 edition. The nominees’ list which was unveiled in Lagos to an exclusive audience comprising entertainment editors and select stakeholders in the movie industry has the comedy ‘Not Just Married’ getting the highest number of seven nominations.

‘Not Just Married’ was initially a short film on domestic violence titled, ‘Not Right’. It was upgraded into her first full feature popular Nollywood actress and producer, Judith Audu. The movie got a nomination for Stan Eze in the category of Best Actor in Leading Role (English). Judith herself got a similar nomination in the female category. Rotimi Salami is nominated twice as Best Supporting Actor and Most Promising Actor. The film is also ranked as one of the Best Comedy of the Year, Movie with the Best Screenplay and Movie with the Best Editing.

Other movies that are in hot contention in the various categories include ‘Something Wicked’, ‘The First Lady’, ‘Iche Oku’, ‘Woeman’, ‘Akaraaka’, ‘Hire a Man’, ‘Ghana Must Go’ and ‘A Soldier’s Story’. Twenty-two categories have been adjudicated on in the awards which is increasingly known for focusing on appreciation for talented Nigerians in the movie industry. The BON has award categories for the Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa movie industries. Another commedabel category is that slated for the Movie with Best Social Message. Contenders in this category include ‘Voiceless Scream’, ‘Leyin Ilekun’, ‘For the Wrong Reason’, ‘ATM’ and ‘Woeman’.

According to Niran Adedokun, President of the BON jury, the release followed weeks of screening of over 120 entries made up of feature films in English, Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo10 short films, five documentaries and seven television series.

While congratulating the nominees, Adedokun, also a popular newspaper columnist, acknowledged the resilience of Nigerian filmmakers for defying the current harsh economic realities to sustain their creative activities. He thanked organisers of the awards for the opportunity to serve while encouraging practitioners to continue to strive for excellence noting that the industry has unlimited prospects.

Aimed at recognising and promoting the best of films and filmmakers in Nigeria, the BON Awards, in less than one decade of its existence, has become the most authentic home grown platform honouring the richness and ingenuity of Nigerian cinema. This year’s edition shall be hosted by the executive governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ipkeazu.

BOOBOOSHA FEATURES KING
MANZANZA IN AFRICAN FESTIVAL
Still basking in the euphoria of her recent successful world music event at Melbourne, Australia, young Nigeria female music sensation on the rise, Juliet Obieh aka Booboosha is again set for another international session.

The Melbourne event that saw her performing with super crooner, Bracket and Emmet, is poised again to flaunt Nigeria image as Emete entertainment is set to bring a group of artistes together in Europe.
This time Booboosha will be performing with a King Sam Manzanza at the Africa festival show in Wellington.

“It was great to be on same stage with Barket and Emet with few others in Melbourne. This event will go down in history. I once sold garri to survive. That I now live abroad singing is the gift of God
“It shows that in life if you have confidence in yourself and believe that God has the power to turn your story around, it will happen.”

OKOTIE’S CHURCH HONOURS EX-QUEENS COLLEGE PRINCIPAL
The Household of God Church will roll out its red carpet on Sunday, December 18, to celebrate this year’s GRACE event; the church’s popular love feast, which holds on the last Sunday beforeChristmas.

During the colourful annual event, four charities will receive N1.5 million each from the Oregun, Lagos-based mega-church pastored by Rev Chris Okotie. These organisations are, Little Saints Orphanage, Spinal Cord Injuries Association, Sunshine Foundation and the Pacelli School for the Blind and Partially Sighted.

The highlight of the GRACE event is the KARIS award, given each year to a distinguished but unsung Nigerian whose contributions to society is not widely recognised. The church uses the GRACE platform to promote such individuals. Past awards span the broad spectrum of the Nigerian society.

They include late Head of state, Gen. Murtala Mohammed, Mallam Aminu
Kano, Hajia Gambo Sawaba, Dr. Tai Solarin, DIG Chris Omeben, Oba
Funsho Adeola, Chief (Mrs) Magaret Eko, Chief Gani Fawehinmi etc.
This year, the Karis awardee is a former Principal of the iconic Queens College, Lagos Mrs Iphigenia Efunjoke Coker. She will also receive a cash prize of N1.5 million.

CMC ROLLS OUT RED CARPET
The burgeoning association of professionals and enthusiasts in the Nigerian entertainment industry under the of Cornel Media Consult, CMC is set to roll-out the red carpet today in a grand event at The Planet. Proceedings at the event will be piloted by Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN.

Tagged ‘CMC All Stars Unveiling/Hall Of Fame’, the event will music, comedy, dance presentation of awards and interactive sessions of intellectual discourse on topical issues in the entertainment industry.

Leading to the grand finale, there had been activities like novelty football matches which featured very well known names in the entertainment industry.
Convener of CMC, Cornel Udofia has assured guests that they will be in the good company of the likes of DJ Gosperella, Righteousman, Ras Kimono, Eedris Abdulkareem, Kenny Blaq, King Wadada and such heavy weights entertainers.

DAVID GOES ON ‘JAIYE JAIYE’ TRIP
The ‘jaiye jaiye’ artiste on Jaiye Records label, whose real name is known to be David Abhulimen has set in motion the process for positioning himself on a high pedestal in the Nigerian music industry. He is a very easy going, humble, hard-working, humorous, intelligent, goal-driven and Christian centered young man. Born in Lagos, David hails from Edo state. After his secondary education, he journeyed to America to further his education. He has a double degree in Business Administration and Management Information System, and currently enrolled in a MBA programme at Lee University in Cleveland Tennessee where he earned his Bsc.

LINDA IKEJI TURNS DOWN $2M INVESTMENT
Linda Ikeji has reportedly turned down the staggering sum of two million dollar ($2m) investment into her recently launched social network site, LindaIkejiSocial (LIS).

According to a reliable source inside the Linda Ikeji Media brand, Linda, 36, turned down the deal after telling her team she doesn’t know the value of $2million in LIS as its a new brand.

The investors wanted a percentage of the social networking site for the value of $2million after seeing how fast the site is catching on. The money was suggested to be used in massive advertising for the new brand and for technical support but Linda is said to have turned it down.

A close confidante of Linda Ikeji revealed that this is not the first time Linda will turn down a major investment into her online business, as few years ago, she also rejected a major seven digit investment into her blog which eventually paid off as Linda currently enjoys the enviable position as Africa’s richest blogger.

The Linda Ikeji Social networking site within only three weeks of launch received over 150,000 sign ups and has since continued to grow steadily.
According to global tech monitoring site Alexa, the LindaIkejiSocial is currently listed as one of the most visited sites in Nigeria.