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Lagos Boosts Creative Industry with Interest-free Loans, Free Training

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The Lagos State Government has urged film makers, movie producers, content creators as well as others in the creative sector to take advantage of the intervention funds approved for film production purposes and also explore the windows of opportunities and free trainings provided by the present administration for creative practitioners.

Commissioner for Tourism Arts and Culture, Pharm. Mrs Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf made gave the advice while speaking at the event commemorating the second year anniversary of Mr. Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration at Alausa, Ikeja.

She said that the present administration is greatly committed to improving the quality and standard of film production and the advancement of the huge potentials in the State’s entertainment sector to international standard with its recent partnerships with some household names in the creative sector.

Akinbile-Yussuf disclosed that the Ministry recently entered into partnership with two creative firms, reputable for film production in the country and beyond; Delyork Academy and EbonyLife Academy to train 1,480 creative practitioners in Digital Film making, Documentary, Fashion, Arts and Craft etc.

She informed that this gesture by the government is informed by the need to bridge identified skill-gap in the creative sector and to position residents of the State who are in the creative field to compete globally with their contemporaries.

“As an additional palliative and support for film makers, Governor Sanwo-Olu, earlier this month, approved the constitution of 9-man committee members comprising of veteran film makers and some senior government officials to oversee a seed fund that would be dedicated for film production purposes,” Akinbile-Yussuf added.

According to her, this initiative by Governor Sanwo-Olu, is aimed at addressing financial challenges inhibiting quality film production in the State, stressing that Governor Sanwo-Olu has said that a support up to 40million naira could be accessed based on the recommendation of the committee.

Reiterating that the several interventions by the State Government to the creative sector of the State was in line with the THEMES Agenda of the present administration, especially the Entertainment and Tourism Pillar, the Commissioner called for the involvement of corporate organizations and individuals in empowering more creative practitioners through Lagos State Creative Industry Initiative, LACI.

Akinbile-Yussuf explained that LACI is a concept of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and an umbrella for the coordination of all creative partnerships with the Ministry.

She noted that the activities of the Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board, LSFVCB, an Agency under the Ministry is essential to the fulfillment of ideas, innovations and programmes being implemented in the Creative Industry.

“LSFVCB oversees the activities of the film industry in the State and had in the last two years carried out its duties of ensuring that filming activities by all movie producers are achieved within appropriate guidelines and conditions established by law”, Akinbile-Yussuf stated.

The Commissioner added that the agency issued 60 film shoot permit to individuals and corporate organization to shoot their films within the State between 2020 to date, stressing that the figure would have been more but for covid restrictions.

She noted that, “Although the COVID19 pandemic dealt with the entertainment sector last year when we have to shut down sector basically, however, the agency was able to license 15 Associations and Practitioners to fully go about their businesses of improving the film industry.”

Speaking on the importance of registering as movie practitioners with LSFVCB, the Acting Executive Secretary of the Agency, Adebukola Agbaminoja said that registered practitioners have an edge over unregistered filmmakers in benefitting from the government.

Agbaminoja advocated meaningful film contents, capable of bringing about positive and desired changes in the society, just as she frowned at the way the business of filming activities is done by some practitioners across the metropolis without recourse to the ethics of film making.


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MTN Launches One TV with Free-to-View, Pay-as-You-Go

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MTN Group has begun rolling out MTN One TV, a new entertainment proposition designed to make digital video content more accessible, relevant, and flexible for customers across African markets.

MTN Launches One TV with Free-to-View, Pay-as-You-Go

Introduced in line with MTN’s Ambition 2030 strategy, MTN One TV brings together local storytelling, live channels, international programming, and market-specific viewing options tailored to how customers across the continent access and pay for digital entertainment.

The proposition is designed to give customers greater choice in how they watch content, with viewing models that may vary by market and can include free-to-view content, advertising-funded experiences, pay-as-you-watch access, and subscription offerings.

Depending on local availability, customers may also be able to pay through airtime, Mobile Money, and other locally supported payment methods, helping to reduce common barriers to streaming access.

Beyond enhancing customer experiences, MTN One TV creates new opportunities for African creators, broadcasters, advertisers, and ecosystem partners by helping connect content to wider audiences through MTN’s scale across connectivity, payments, and digital services.

By bringing together a broad mix of content experiences under a single proposition, MTN aims to support greater content discovery, broader audience reach, and sustainable growth across Africa’s digital entertainment ecosystem.

Anchored in MTN’s strategic platforms of Connectivity, Fintech, and Digital Infrastructure, MTN One TV forms part of the Group’s broader ambition to build digital experiences that create value for customers while enabling participation and growth across Africa’s digital economy.

“Entertainment is increasingly becoming an important gateway to digital participation,” said Selorm Adadevoh, MTN group chief commercial, strategy and transformation officer.

“Through MTN One TV, we are leveraging the scale of our connectivity, fintech, and digital capabilities to make relevant content more accessible while creating new opportunities for Africa’s creative and digital economies. This is aligned with our ambition to deliver digital solutions for Africa’s progress.”

MTN One TV is being introduced progressively across MTN markets through a phased rollout approach that reflects local market needs, existing services, and partnership opportunities.

Over time, MTN will bring together a combination of video capabilities, content partnerships, and customer experiences under the MTN One TV brand to create a more consistent and scalable entertainment proposition across its footprint.

Through MTN One TV, MTN continues to extend its role beyond connectivity by combining entertainment, payments, and digital services to deliver experiences tailored to the needs of African consumers.

The rollout supports MTN’s Ambition 2030 vision of leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress while expanding access to digital entertainment across the continent.

 


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IATA Drops Bombshell: Nigeria Among World’s Most Expensive Countries to Run an Airline

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International Air Transport Association (IATA) has identified Nigeria as one of the most expensive countries in the world for airline operations, citing high taxes, charges and operational costs that continue to weigh heavily on local carriers.

IATA Drops Bombshell: Nigeria Among World's Most Expensive Countries to Run an Airline

IATA’s Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, Kamil Al-Awadhi, disclosed this during the association’s Annual General Meeting held in Rio de Janeiro.

Al-Awadhi said that although Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, had been pursuing reforms aimed at improving the aviation sector, airlines operating in the country still faced enormous cost pressures.

According to him, the high-cost operating environment has continued to affect the profitability and competitiveness of Nigerian airlines, making it difficult for the industry to realise its full potential.

He noted that excessive taxes, regulatory charges and other operating expenses remained major obstacles to airline growth across the region, with Nigeria ranking among the most challenging markets from a cost perspective.

Al-Awadhi urged member states of the Economic Community of West African States to adopt a proposed 25 per cent reduction in aviation taxes and charges to ease the burden on airlines and passengers.

According to him, lowering taxes and charges would reduce airfares, stimulate passenger traffic and strengthen the competitiveness of carriers operating within West Africa.

He stressed that a more supportive policy environment was critical to unlocking the economic benefits of aviation, including increased trade, tourism and regional integration.

Industry stakeholders have consistently advocated lower taxes and regulatory fees, arguing that the current cost structure makes air travel less affordable and limits the growth of the sector.

IATA’s latest remarks add to calls for governments in West Africa to implement policies that will promote a more sustainable and competitive aviation industry across the region.


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NASENI Trains 50 Women in Kano on Renewable Energy Technologies Under She-Powers Initiative

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The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), under the leadership of its Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, has trained 50 women in Kano State on inverter and battery technologies through its She-Powers Energy Initiative.

NASENI Trains 50 Women in Kano on Renewable Energy Technologies Under She-Powers Initiative

The three-day programme, held at the Technology Incubation Centre, Farm Centre, Kano which ended yesterday, was designed to equip participants with practical renewable energy skills, promote women-led enterprises, and enhance sustainable livelihoods.

 The initiative forms part of NASENI’s broader commitment to empowering women, creating economic opportunities, and expanding participation in Nigeria’s growing clean energy sector. It also aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by supporting job creation, entrepreneurship, and inclusive economic development.

 Through targeted interventions such as the She-Powers Energy Initiative, NASENI continues to demonstrate its commitment to leveraging technology and innovation to improve lives and drive sustainable development across the country.

Photos: Participants at the She-Powers Energy Initiative training organised by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) held at the the Technology Incubation Centre, Farm Centre, Kano yesterday.


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