Showbiz
Sahara Group, Kunle Afolayan Unveil Project’s Winner
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The foundation for the next success stories in Nigeria’s film industry was laid on Wednesday as Sahara Group announced Joseph Duke as winner of its ‘Grooming Film Extraprenuers with Kunle Afolayan’ project. Duke won with a documentary entitled ‘Give Us This Day’.
Duke’s documentary, which beat entries from 20 finalists, highlighted the challenges faced by entrepreneurs, including a story about caring for special needs children. More than 150 entries were received in the competition which began in June 2016 following the partnership between Sahara Group and the award winning filmmaker Kunle Afolayan, designed to identify and empower young film makers in Nigeria.
Chinenye Balogun and Alabi Kayode emerged first and second runners up respectively, with entries that showcased the creativity and resilience of Nigerian entrepreneurs.
The overall winner will undertake a six month internship with Kunle Afolayan, while all the three top finalists will attend the 2017 Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France with the support of Sahara Group.
The competition also attracted entries from outside Nigeria. Two of such entries stood out. They include: Daniel Ecwalu (Trash Cash – story based on taking children off the streets and empowering them) from Uganda and Akshay Makar (Climatenza – The happenings of Climate Change).
While announcing the winners, Tonye Cole, Group Executive Director, Sahara Group, congratulated all the 20 finalists for rising up to the challenge of taking their craft to the next level.
“You are lucky your generation has this kind of opportunity which Kunle Afolayan and I never had. When you get this kind of opportunity you take it seriously. At Sahara we are willing to go the extra mile to take entrepreneurship to a different level. That is why we created the Extrapreneurship platform to facilitate a meeting point for talent and opportunity. We believe you have the potential to be the best in the sector as well as change the narrative of Nigeria and the entire continent through your films,” he said.
Cole further explained that the competition is part of Sahara Group’s contribution to the development and growth of the Nigerian economy. He said the 20 finalists will be inducted into Sahara Group’s extrapreneurship hub where young entrepreneurs can access support to nurse their dreams to fruition.
Foremost film maker, Kunle Afolayan, who led the screening of the entries, said he was impressed by the documentaries. He said entries were assessed based on sound, lighting, production design and quality.
“I feel privileged to have seen all the documentaries,” he said, adding: “I believe you all have the potential to do even much more. You are the next big success stories we expect to emerge from Nigeria. There are a few things I observed. I saw a common trend in the entries where you all concentrated on telling stories which is common in Nollywood. However, there are certain elements that are vital achieving success in film making. What is very important is the production value. If your production value is poor your story will never fly no matter how good it is.”
Describing his success as a “pleasant surprise”, Duke said: I am very happy to have won the competition. I wasn’t expecting this at all. I am grateful to Sahara Group for the opportunity. I look forward to working with Kunle Afolayan.”
The competition challenged young Nigerian film makers to capture the spirit of entrepreneurship in Nigeria in a Docu-Film with the theme ‘My Nigeria, My Platform…Nigeria through an entrepreneur’s eyes’.
Meanwhile, Sahara Group has said it hopes to reach over 12 million youths via its Extrapreneurship Hub that will drive integrated economic empowerment programmes through strategic partnerships and support for innovative as well as scalable business ventures.
Some kids want superheroes. Some want animals. Others will happily sit through a funny story about a girl trying to figure out boarding school after being raised by goats.
That last one is Goat Girl, one of the new shows joining the kids’ lineup on GOtv this August. The series follows 13-year-old Gigi as she leaves the mountain life she knows behind and starts boarding school, where making friends and understanding human behaviour turn out to be a whole new adventure.
And Gigi is not the only new character young viewers will be meeting this month. August brings imaginative adventures, rescue missions, comedy, LEGO chaos and stories about friendship and family, giving different kinds of kids plenty to find themselves in.
For Kids Who Love a Rescue Mission: RoboGobo Season 2
Some children will always choose the show where somebody needs saving, and that is where RoboGobo comes in. Dax and the rescue team are back with upgraded Robo-Suits that can transform into Robo-Vehicles as they continue helping animals in trouble.
Season 2 airs Saturdays and Sundays at 12:25 pm on Disney Junior GOtv Ch 82.
For the Ones Who Want Something Funny: Goat Girl
Gigi’s story is probably not what you would call a normal school experience. Raised by mountain goats, the 13-year-old has to adjust to boarding school and figure out how to fit into a world that is very different from the one she knows. Her attempts to navigate friendships, school and human behaviour make Goat Girl an unusual and funny addition to the lineup.
It airs Monday to Friday at 5:20 pm on Cartoon Network GOtv Ch 89.
For the LEGO Fans: LEGO City: No Limits MAX
If your child can turn almost anything into an adventure, LEGO City: No Limits MAX should keep them busy. Jason and his friends find themselves dealing with zombies, cowboys, strange creatures and one particularly mysterious banana. Basically, you never quite know what is coming next.
The new series airs Monday to Friday at 4:20 pm from August 17 on Cartoon Network GOtv Ch 89.
For the Ones Who Love Family Stories: Wylde Pak
Lily and Jack are half-siblings who suddenly have to spend the summer together, while also helping out with their family’s pet grooming business. Naturally, things do not go smoothly.
Wylde Pak follows the pair as they navigate sibling rivalry, a new family dynamic and the everyday chaos that comes with working together. It is a story about family, friendship and figuring out how to get along when you have no choice but to spend time together.
Catch it Monday to Friday at 5:15 pm on NickToons GOtv Ch 86.
Something for Every Kind of Kid
The best thing about this month’s lineup is that there is no single type of child it is trying to entertain.
The little ones can follow Maisy’s imagination. The animal lovers have RoboGobo. Kids who enjoy unusual comedy can meet Gigi in Goat Girl. LEGO fans have another adventure to get into, while Wylde Pak brings family and sibling drama into the mix.
So when the inevitable “Mummy, what can I watch?” comes up during the holidays, you already have a few answers.
And with new stories arriving across CBeebies, Disney Junior, Cartoon Network and NickToons, they might not run out of things to watch anytime soon.
To upgrade, subscribe or reconnect, download the MyGOtv App or dial *288#. For catch-up and on-the-go viewing, download the GOtv Stream App and enjoy your favourite shows anytime, anywhere.
The Big Brother Naija Season 11 housemates facing possible eviction this week are Tram, Barry, Goddessa, Yusuf, Temi Nkem, Sultex, Abi, Araga, Flora, Nomy, Ricky, Kamsy, Sheba, Oyin, Keivo, Gerad and Bells.
The 17 housemates emerged from this week’s nomination process, which saw the housemates vote to save three of their fellow housemates from possible eviction.
Conspiracy Hour
Ahead of the nomination process, Biggie announced Conspiracy Hour, giving the housemates the opportunity to rally together, discuss their thoughts and share who they would like to save ahead of the nominations.
This was followed by the nomination process, where the housemates were asked to save three of their fellow housemates from possible eviction. Chimsom Chuka, the Most Influential Player of the Week, Neche, the Head of House, and Nomy, the Benchwarmer, were exempt from the process.
Cassi, Bluethopia and Gerad were initially saved by their fellow housemates. However, as Head of House, Neche had the power to remove one housemate from the list and chose to remove Gerad.
Neche Wins Head of House Challenge
Neche emerged as this week’s Head of House after going head-to-head with Chimsom Chuka in the final round of the Head of House challenge.
The final stage was an endurance test, with Neche outlasting Chimsom Chuka to claim the Head of House position and its accompanying privileges, including immunity from this week’s nominations.
Biggie Introduces BB Bucks
Biggie also introduced the housemates to BB Bucks, the official currency of the Big Brother house.
The BB Bucks have no value outside the house but can be earned through tasks, challenges and other activities. While the housemates can earn BB Bucks, they can also lose them depending on how they choose to use them.
The BB Marketplace will also open in the house, giving the housemates the opportunity to spend their BB Bucks on items and privileges available to them during their stay.
Voting Is Now Open
With the nomination process completed, voting is now open, giving viewers the opportunity to decide which of the nominated housemates will remain in the competition.
Fans can cast their votes through the MyDStv app, MyGOtv app or the official Africa Magic website before voting closes at 9:00 p.m. on Thursday.
Catch all the drama live and 24/7 on DStv channel 198 and GOtv channel 49. BBNaija Season 11 is also available to watch on DStv Stream and GOtv Stream.
For updates and exclusive news, visit the official Africa Magic Big Brother Naija page or join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #BBNaija.
The Big Brother Naija Season 11 House has recorded its first evictions on Sunday night, with Martins and Mercedes leaving the competition after polling the fewest votes from viewers.
Speaking with host Ebuka Obi-Uchendu after his eviction, Martins remained positive about what comes next, saying he plans to surprise the world with his next steps outside the House.
For Mercedes, the eviction was not something she considered a loss. She said she gave the experience everything she had and was proud of how she spent her time in the House. On what comes next, she revealed plans to perform globally while continuing to build her massage and concierge businesses. She also shared that one of her priorities is paying for her father’s surgery.
Chimsom Chuka Takes the First Most Influential Player of the Week (MIPOW) Title
While two housemates said goodbye to Biggie’s House, the evening also brought a new advantage for Chimsom Chuka, who emerged as the first Most Influential Player of the Week (MIPOW). The title earned him the betPawa Elite Award and immunity from next week’s eviction.
This adds another layer to the competition as the remaining housemates settle into the reality of the game, with strategies, alliances, and individual influence already beginning to take shape.
Nomy Receives Strike and Final Warning
Moments before the live eviction show, Big Brother summoned the housemates for a meeting following repeated violations of his instructions by Nomy. After addressing the importance of following the House rules, Big Brother issued Nomy a strike and final warning, making it clear that housemates cannot choose which of his instructions to follow.
With two housemates already out of the competition and Chimsom Chuka holding immunity for the coming week, the race for the N160 million grand prize is fast heating up.
Keep up with all the drama, suspense and gameplay in Big Brother Naija Season 11 on DStv channel 198 and GOtv channel 49, or watch it live on DStv Stream. Download the DStv Stream app and sign up – no dish, no decoder needed.
