Broadcasting
The Man Behind the Movies: Who is Tom Cruise?
M-Net Presents the Tom Cruise Pop-Up Channel which launched on DStv channel 109 earlier this month. And with its arrival, we thought this the perfect opportunity to take a closer look at the couch-jumping star, his stellar career and some fascinating facts about his extraordinary life as one of Hollywood’s biggest A-listers.
Let’s start at the beginning. To say that Tom had humble beginnings is an understatement. Growing up in near poverty and with an abusive father, his family was constantly on the move. He bounced around a crazy total of fifteen different schools and actually never learned to read until later in his life due to his crippling dyslexia.
Tom didn’t always want to become an actor. In fact, his first career aspiration at age 14 was to become a Catholic priest. This all changed in high school. While he was quite the jock, enjoying football and wrestling, a knee injury left him unable to play. Looking for another way to spend his time, he auditioned for the school’s production of Guys and Dolls and landed the starring role.
After school, Tom moved to New York and then Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. After a few supporting roles, his big break came in Risky Business, which we all still remember for that scene where he dances in his undies. However, if your memory is a little fuzzy on the specifics, we’ve got great news! Catch his first-ever feature film on Sunday, 05 April at 21:00 WAT for some late-night entertainment.
Yet, it was only three years later, when he starred as Maverick in Top Gun, that his status as superstar was cemented. You probably saw this on Sunday, 22 March at 17:10 WAT the 1986 instalment ahead of the June 2020 release of Top Gun: Maverick.
Just as the role Tom played in Top Gun has become synonymous with him, so too has Ethan Hunt in Mission Impossible. Can you believe that the first MI movie hit the screens all the way back in 1996? Six movies later, the franchise is still raking in the box office returns and at least two more instalments are in the pipeline. Luckily, we’ve got you covered with a daily dose of Mission Impossible movies starting from 24 March – and oh boy, do we enjoy the action-filled drama!
Surprisingly, despite starring in some of the most iconic movies of our time and earning billions of dollars at the box office, the one accolade that has always eluded Tom Cruise is the coveted Oscar statue. And we thought Leo DiCaprio had it bad.
No article about Tom Cruise would be complete without mentioning his contentious association with the Church of Scientology. He’s an outspoken advocate of the organisation and attributes its teachings for him overcoming his dyslexia. The Church even introduced him to his third wife, Katie Holmes.
Today, Tom Cruise has an enviable legacy. In 2006, both Premiere and Forbes Magazines ranked him as the world’s most powerful celebrity. Japan even declared a special day dedicated to this iconic Hollywood star due to the number of trips he’s made to the country. His films have crossed almost every genre from action to comedy to horror and suspense, and some of his roles will forever be cemented in our memory. Just read the phrase “Show me the moneeeeeey!” and you can’t help but conjure up Tom’s impassioned performance in Jerry Maguire.
Check out the Tom Cruise Pop-Up Channel, presented by M-Net which launched 20 March to 5 April on DStv channel 109 for these and other great titles like War of the Worlds, Interview with a Vampire, Rock of Ages, The Last Samurai and many others.
Don’t want to miss The Tom Cruise Pop-Up Channel, presented by M-Net Movies? Take up the DStv Step Up and Boost offer to get upgraded to a higher package at no extra cost.
Mr. Tim Akano, New Horizons Chief Executive Officer, took centre stage at the Nigerian Information Technology Reporters’ Association (NITRA) annual end-of-year meeting on Thursday, December 18, 2025, recounting the company’s remarkable growth and reaffirming free IT training for journalists.
Tim Akano, New Horizons Chief Executive Officer, in a group photograph with NITRA Members
Speaking directly to IT media members at the company’s training facility in Lagos, Akano acknowledged the critical role journalists played in supporting New Horizons during its formative years two decades ago.
He detailed how the firm evolved from a handful of staff to one of Africa’s leading ICT skills training organisations, now employing about 500 staff across multiple training centres nationwide.
Akano Spotlights Youth Training, University Partnerships
Akano highlighted that New Horizons has trained over 500,000 youths, particularly tertiary institution students, equipping them with practical IT skills essential for Nigeria’s digital economy.
He announced recent partnerships with universities, including a new agreement with Afe Babalola University, to scale hands-on training programmes for students.
“This growth would not have been possible without the media’s support in documenting our journey,” Akano stated, pledging continued free IT skills training for media members to remain competitive in the evolving digital landscape.
Reciprocal Support Defines Long-Standing Partnership
The venue hosting the NITRA meeting underscored Akano’s generosity; NITRA Secretary Chidiebere Nwankwo secured the free facility after contacting him—a gesture consistent with New Horizons hosting multiple association events and training IT journalists since its inception 20 years ago.
Participants shared personal testimonies of Akano’s support, including veteran journalist Aaron Ukodie, whose daughter—an Accounting graduate from the University of Johannesburg—received NYSC placement and IT scholarship at New Horizons.
The Guardian’s Yemi Adeyemi recounted Akano accommodating his editor’s child for mandatory IT training after other firms declined.
Members praised Akano’s commitment to human capital development as evidence of deep appreciation for the media community that chronicled New Horizons’ success over two decades.
National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has launched the NIMC Pre-Enrolment Portal to revolutionise the National Identification Number (NIN) enrolment process, enabling applicants within Nigeria and in the Diaspora to capture biodata online prior to biometric verification at enrolment centres.
NIMC
Accessible via penrol.nimc.gov.ng, the platform allows users to fill enrolment forms, schedule appointments, upload supporting documents securely, and manage personal details directly, thereby slashing congestion, minimising wait times, boosting data accuracy and enhancing overall service efficiency at centres nationwide.
NIMC Director-General and CEO, Engr. (Dr) Abisoye Coker-Odusote, spearheaded the initiative as part of the Commission’s technology-driven strategy to fortify institutional performance, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda that emphasises digital transformation, efficient public service delivery and inclusive national development.
Dr Kayode Adegoke, Head of Corporate Communications, highlighted key benefits including simplified biodata handling, confidential data protection through robust security measures, reduced physical centre visits and heightened operational effectiveness, urging all prospective enrollees to adopt the portal for a faster, citizen-friendly experience.[conversation_history]
The move underscores NIMC’s mandate under the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007 to manage the National Identity Database, issue NINs and foster a reliable digital identity ecosystem vital for national planning, with users advised to complete pre-enrolment online before heading to selected centres for biometrics.
MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF), a Pan-African film and television training institution, has announced the opening of applications for its 2026 intake.
MultiChoice
The fully funded programme is open to African graduates aspiring to become directors, filmmakers, scriptwriters, producers and storytellers.
According to MultiChoice, the nine-month accredited curriculum combines online learning with intensive in-person training, and is designed to balance theoretical knowledge with practical immersion.
MTF academies are located in Kenya, Nigeria and Zambia, and serve aspiring filmmakers from 14 African countries. Since its inception in 2018, the initiative has trained 296 filmmakers, with graduates producing more than 42 movies aired on DStv, GOtv and Showmax platforms.
Organisers said alumni of the programme have gone on to establish over 50 production companies, while many continue to work within the MultiChoice ecosystem.
Graduates have also won accolades at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, Kalasha Awards, Uganda Film Festival and Women in Film Awards.
Applications for the 2026 intake close on Feb. 27, 2026. Interested candidates can visit https://apo-opa.co/3XW53oE for programme requirements.
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