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AFRIFF 2018: Mildred Okwo, Others Grace Accelerate Filmmaker Project

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By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Some notable names in the Nigerian movie industry on Monday, November 12, 2018 attended the second edition of the Accelerate Filmmaker Project.

The programme was made possible as a result of the partnership between Access Bank and Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF).

Present at the event were Nollywood veterans like Mildred Okwo, Niyi Akinmolayan, Victor Sanchez Aghahowa, Gloria Young and a host of others.

During the Accelerate Filmmaker Project, six short films created by seven finalists from the competition in conjunction with AFRIFF were premiered at the Genesis Cinemas in Lekki, Lagos State.

The finalists got the chance with industry elites in an interactive question and answer session during the screening, bringing about the depths to which the films were shot.

Finalists, whose films made it to the big screen include Chidinma Igbokweuche, who directed MMACHI; Ozioma Ogbaji, who produced STUCK; Samuel Olanrewaju – THE WALL; Bola Akanbi – THORN; Charles Obi Emere – WRONG CON and WALLFLOWER co-produced by Joel Adegboye and Seun Richards. The winner, who will be awarded an AFRIFF film-making scholarship to France, would be announced at the AFRIFF award ceremony on Saturday, November 17, 2018.

Speaking at the event, Head of Accelerate TV, Colette Otusheso, appreciated everyone who graced the event including mentors and the Accelerate team, whose collaborative efforts led to the celebration of a huge success.

On the short films, she said “These films are testimonies to the potential achievement metrics when a pool of people with a common goal come together to achieve greatness. The underlying foundation is the power of collaboration – a gift that is necessary to guarantee success in film-making”.

Project Manager of Accelerate Filmmaker Project, Bolanle Olosunde-Jenrola, who also anchored the event, talked about the experience so far and the growing challenges in paving the way forward for the next generation of filmmakers in the industry.

She also facilitated the interactive session between the young filmmakers and the audience after the screening of each film.

The Accelerate Filmmaker Project is a mechanism of Accelerate TV to give young people the chance to achieve their film-making dreams.

Over 700 applications came in when the project kick started back in March 2018 with the call for short films centred on the theme ‘Friendship’. From the entries, 50 candidates were longlisted, while 20 made the final cut and were engaged in a week long intense film-making training and mentorship programme under the tutelage of professionals in the Nigerian filmmaking industry, including Joke Silva, Seyi Babatope, Mildred Okwo, Lala Akindoju, Victor Sanchez Aghahowa, Lawrence Adejumo, Daniel Oriahi, Niyi Akinmolayan, Bibi Shasore, Ifeoma Chukwuogo, Bose Oshin, Uduak Oguamanam, Kunle Adejuyigbe, Bobo Omotayo, Feyisayo Ogundipe and Tolu Ajayi.

Eventually, all twenty pitched their film ideas to a panel of judges and seven finalists emerged to make their short films with Accelerate TV. All finalists were in charge of the directing and the production of their short films with the Accelerate crew and their films premiered on the Accelerate Day at AFRIFF 2017.

The films will be aired in a series called ‘The Social Experiment Series’ on the Accelerate TV platform and Youtube channel later this month.

Modupe Gbadeyanka is a fast-rising journalist with Business Post Nigeria. Her passion for journalism is amazing. She is willing to learn more with a view to becoming one of the best pen-pushers in Nigeria. Her role models are the duo of CNN's Richard Quest and Christiane Amanpour.

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MasterChef Nigeria: Loye Gets Burnt by Jollof Challenge

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MasterChef Nigeria Loye Jollof Challenge

The heat was turned all the way up in the MasterChef Nigeria kitchen as the Top 6 faced another Black Apron Day, where one contestant’s dream would come to a boil.

This week’s challenge was a true Nigerian classic with a competitive twist: the contestants had to create a Jollof Rice Feast inspired by two regions of Nigeria. With jollof rice sitting proudly at the heart of Nigerian food culture, the judges were looking for bold flavours, regional identity, strong execution and, most importantly, a dish where jollof was the star of the plate.

For Loye, however, the challenge did not come together the way he had hoped. He was not fully satisfied with the dish he presented, and the judges shared the same concerns. While there were elements of promise, they felt he did not hero the jollof rice enough in a challenge where the beloved dish needed to take centre stage.

Chef Stone acknowledged Loye’s potential, saying he could build himself into a MasterChef, but on the day, the dish was not enough to keep him in the competition. Chef Eros encouraged him to cook with more heart, reminding him that great food is not only about technique, but also emotion, confidence and connection.

After a tough tasting, Loye’s MasterChef Nigeria journey came to an end.

Also feeling the heat were Isabella and David, who joined Loye in the bottom three.

For Isabella, the challenge was an important opportunity to prove that she belonged in the MasterChef kitchen after last week’s disastrous cake bake. She hoped her jollof rice feast would be the dish to take her out of the danger zone, but the judges felt there were too many flavours competing on the plate.

David also found himself under pressure after failing to complete his dish on time, a costly mistake that landed him among the weakest cooks of the day.

But while some dishes struggled to find their rhythm, Favy had every reason to celebrate. Even with the immunity pin in her possession, she cooked with confidence and delivered the standout plate of the day. Her dish earned high praise from the judges for its great flavours, leaving her visibly emotional and overjoyed. In recognition of her outstanding performance, Favy was rewarded with a one-year supply of Sonia products, as well as an exclusive dining experience for her and her family at Ile Eros.

With Loye now eliminated, the competition has officially reached boiling point. The remaining contestants will need to bring more than just seasoning to survive — they will need heart, hustle and plates packed with purpose.

Produced by Primedia Group, MasterChef Nigeria is supported by a strong coalition of leading Nigerian brands, including headline sponsor Power Oil, alongside Indomie, Dano Milk, Malta Guinness, Sonia Tomato, Kiara Rice, Golden Penny Flour, Golden Penny Sugar, Golden Penny Garri, Golden Penny Semolina, Golden Penny Chocolate Spread, and Golden Penny Wheat.

MasterChef Nigeria continues on Africa Magic, where the search for Nigeria’s next MasterChef gets hotter with every challenge.

The show airs weekly on Sundays at 7 pm on Africa Magic Showcase and Africa Magic Family, with rebroadcasts on Wednesdays at 6 pm on Africa Magic Showcase and Thursdays at 12 pm on Africa Magic Family. 

Next week on MasterChef Nigeria, the kitchen gets even hotter as the remaining contestants fight to stay in the competition. With Loye gone and the finale getting closer, there is no room for half-baked ideas, shaky execution or dishes that miss the brief. The pressure is rising, the judges are watching every move, and one wrong plate could send another contestant packing.

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Veteran Nigerian Actor Kola Oyewo Dies at 80

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By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Veteran Nigerian actor, Mr Kola Oyewo, is reported to have breathed his last at the age of 80.

A popular Nollywood actor, Mr Kunle Afod, confirmed the news of the passing of the scholar, dramatist and filmmaker on Friday in a post on his Instagram page.

Before his passing, Mr Afod recently visited the university teacher at his residence, where he made monetary donations to him.

In his post on Friday, he announced the death of the thespian, saying “Tonight, we lost a true legend. Kola Oyewo has taken his final bow.”

“His remarkable talent, timeless performances, and immense contributions to the Nigerian theatre and film industry will never be forgotten. His legacy will continue to inspire generations to come,” he further wrote.

Recall that in an interview with Mr Afod, the deceased disclosed how his battle with prostate enlargement affected his acting career, which spanned over six decades.

Mr Oyewo began his acting career in 1964 with the Oyin Adejobi Theatre Group after he was born on March 27, 1946, in Oba-Ile, Osun State.

During his lifetime, he acted in several movies, including Saworoide, Super Story, Sango, and Koseegbe, amongst others. He also played the role of Odewale in Ola Rotimi’s play, The Gods Are Not to Blame.

In 1996, he became a lecturer at Obafemi Awolowo University and retired in September 2011 as a senior lecturer. He later moved to Redeemer’s University as the Head of the Department of Dramatic Art. He later worked at Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State, as a performing arts lecturer.

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Watching BBN and the World Cup Is No Longer a Location Thing

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dstv stream

Big Brother Naija Reunion is on, the World Cup tournament is kicking off, or that new DStv/GOtv series everyone has been talking about just dropped, and somehow, you’re not at home. Maybe you’re in traffic, at work, or just not near a TV. In moments like these, the real question is no longer “what’s showing?” but “how do I not miss it?”

That shift is precisely why the DStv and GOtv Stream have become more than just viewing platforms. They are now part of how people actually experience television on the move, at home, on phones, and in real time.”

Whether it’s someone trying to catch a live show while commuting, watching highlights during a break at work, or simply preferring to stream directly from their device instead of using a decoder, these apps have quietly changed how entertainment is consumed.

But beyond streaming and access, many users still don’t fully understand how to navigate them properly. Here’s a simple guide.

1. Getting Started

Download the DStv Stream or GOtv Stream app from your device’s app store and sign in using your DStv or GOtv account details.

Once you’re logged in, you’ll land on the home page, where you’ll find a mix of live TV, recommended content, trending titles, and recently added shows.

2. Watching Live TV

One of the easiest ways to use the platform is through the Live TV section.

Simply:

  • Tap on Live TV

  • Browse available channels

  • Select the channel you want

  • Start watching instantly

This is especially useful for:

  • Big Brother Naija live broadcasts

  • Football matches and tournaments

  • News coverage

  • Reality shows

  • Live events

You can move between channels just as you would on a decoder.

3. Finding Shows and Movies

For viewers who already know what they want to watch, the search feature offers a quick way to find specific shows, movies, channels, or sporting events without scrolling through categories.

The platform also organizes content into categories, making it easier to discover something new.

4. Catch Up on Missed Episodes

If you missed an episode because you were busy, the catch-up feature allows you to watch selected programs after they have aired. Instead of waiting for reruns, you can simply search for the show and pick up right where you left off. This feature is especially useful during busy periods when it can be difficult to keep up with daily shows.

5. Explore Recommended and Trending Content

The home page regularly highlights:

  • Trending shows

  • Newly added content

  • Popular movies

  • Recommended titles based on viewing habits

If you’re not sure what to watch next, this section can help you discover content you may have otherwise missed.

6. Accessing Showmax Content

One of the biggest additions to the streaming experience is the integration of Showmax content.

Viewers can now access a wide range of Showmax movies, series, and entertainment content directly through the streaming platform, making it easier to move between live TV and on-demand viewing without constantly switching services.

From international blockbusters to local favorites, there’s significantly more content available to explore.

7. Creating a Personal Viewing Experience

The platform allows users to:

  • Continue watching from where they stopped

  • Save favorite content

  • Browse viewing history

  • Discover personalized recommendations

This makes it easier to keep track of ongoing series and find content that matches your interests.

With the DStv Stream and GOtv Stream, live channels, catch-up viewing, on-demand entertainment, and Showmax content are all available in one place, making it easier than ever to watch what you want, when you want, and wherever you are.

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