Showbiz
UBA Sponsored Ebola Movie ‘93 Days’ Ready For Nigeria Premiere
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Tuesday, September 13, 2016, has been fixed for the premiere of the Ebola movie, ’93 Days’ in Nigeria.
The event will take place at The Rock Cathedral, 4th Roundabout, Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos.
‘93 Days’, a movie which depicts the true account of how Nigeria faced its first case of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and conquered it, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on Friday, September 9, 2016.
The TIFF has built a reputation for only screening the best films from around the world.
UBA co-sponsored the production of the movie, which is a profound story of courage and sacrifice and the call to duty at the risk of one’s life.
The movie ‘93 Days’ is about the men and women who risked their lives and made sacrifices to save Nigeria from the consequences of the Ebola Virus outbreak.
UBA, as a pan – African bank, played a significant role in the fight against the Ebola virus in the sub region and was pleased to support the story of how the spread of deadly virus was stopped in Nigeria.
In the midst of the crisis UBA kept its banking doors open every day in the three of the most affected countries including Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, an unprecedented act of corporate courage on the part of the bank and its dedicated staff.
The banking halls of UBA were kept open to ensure that the residents of the affected countries were able to sustain economic activities, as there was the risk of a severe economic crisis following the rapid spread of the epidemic.
UBA also donated money and materials to help stop the spread of the virus and through the UBA Foundation, made a cash donation of $1 million to Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea, which were the worst affected by the epidemic.
In addition, the bank donated trucks and other materials to help in the fight against the Ebola at the height of the epidemic.
Even though UBA took its support beyond the shores of Nigeria, ‘93 Days’ is centred in Nigeria, which was on the verge of becoming the epicentre of one of the most devastating diseases known to mankind, when a Liberian Patrick Sawyer (Keppy Ekpeyong Bassey) stepped on the shores of the country with the deadly and highly contagious virus.
The bravery of health workers at the First Consultant Hospital, where Patrick Sawyer was admitted largely ensured that the spread of the Ebola virus was contained.
Explaining why UBA sponsored the movie, Mr Charles Aigbe, Head, Communications said that UBA sponsored ‘93 Days’ to educate people about the magnitude of the threat Nigeria faced, as well as the remarkable courage shown by Nigerians who risked their lives to save millions of people.
Mr Aigbe said, “We cannot overstate the importance of recording this historical act of African heroism. For the first time on the big screen, the world will be able to see what extraordinary feats were accomplished when Nigerians united behind a common goal.
“This is an inspirational story that UBA believes must be told about the spirit of Africa: one of courage, resilience and persistence.”
‘93 Days’ tells the story of Nigeria’s eventual victory over the threat of Ebola that threatened the health of the country.
The movie highlights the selfless contributions of a few courageous Nigerians, particularly Dr Ameyo Adadevoh (played by Bimbo Akintola), whose dogged determination to keep the first Ebola victim quarantined at the hospital where she worked, eventually led to her own unfortunate demise weeks later.
The film features a star-studded, international cast including Hollywood actors, Danny Glover and Tim Reid, as well as Bimbo Akintola and Keppy Ekpenyong Bassey.
According to veteran filmmaker and co-producer, Mr Steve Gucas, “93 Days is a dramatic portrayal of the selflessness and bravery that Africa is known for. In telling this story, our aim is to create a feature film that will resonate with many people across the world, particularly in Nigeria and the African sub-region.”
Bolanle Austen Peters, co-producer, describes ‘93 Days’ as “a masterfully crafted incredible story of bravery and sacrifice and is definitely a must see. It showcases the best of Nigeria; it is powerful, gripping and an emotive piece. I am proud.”
The suspense filled thriller is directed by award-winning movie director, Mr Steve Gukas and features the best of international and African movie acts such as TIFF rising star, Somkele Iyamah Idhalama, Danny Glover, Tim Reid, Alastair Mackenzie, Bimbo Akintola, Keppy Ekpeyong Bassey, Bimbo Manuel, Charles Okafor, Tina Mba, Gideon Okeke, Paul Adams, Francis Onwochei amongst others.
’93 Days’ would be in the theatres from September 16, 2016.
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The fight against content theft intensified on Thursday as MultiChoice Nigeria led stakeholders in a Walk Against Piracy from Ikeja City Mall, Lagos, drawing a powerful mix of Nollywood actors, filmmakers, directors, writers, media personalities, regulators, students, and members of the public.
The walk was part of a broader national advocacy campaign aimed at protecting Nigeria’s creative economy from the escalating damage of piracy. Participants marched through the Ikeja axis, distributing flyers, engaging passers-by, and educating the public on the dangers of piracy and its impact on livelihoods.
Veteran actor, Saidi Balogun, one of the leading voices at the walk, described piracy as “a silent killer draining the lifeblood of the creative industry.”
“People see the glamour but forget the sweat, months of work, and the hundreds of jobs behind a single film,” he said. “When you pirate a movie, you are killing someone’s dream, someone’s job, and the future of an entire industry. It must stop.”
Screenwriter and producer, Obi Emelonye, warned that piracy poses an existential threat to the next generation of creatives.
“Piracy is a menace eating deeply into the industry. If we do nothing, young creatives coming behind us will inherit an economy with no structure, no revenue, and no incentive to create,” he stated. “We cannot allow that future.”
The regulatory perspective came from Charles Amudipe, Deputy Director of Operations at the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), who emphasised both the legal and personal risks tied to piracy.
“Piracy is a criminal offence under Nigerian law, punishable by fines and imprisonment,” he said. “Beyond the legal consequences, consumers who download illegal content expose their devices to malware, identity theft, and financial fraud. It is not worth the risk.”
During the outreach, members of the public raised questions about affordability and alternatives to pirated content. The team responded by highlighting accessible, cost-friendly, and legal platforms available to consumers, underscoring that entertainment can be enjoyed responsibly without breaking the law.
Caroline Oghuma, Executive Head, Corporate Affairs at MultiChoice Nigeria, explained that the walk was a continuation of MultiChoice’s long-standing commitments to consumer education. Last month, the company led a school sensitisation programme at Kuramo Senior College in Victoria Island, teaching students how piracy harms creators and how they can unknowingly participate in it.
“We want to catch them young, take this message into communities, and meet Nigerians where they are,” Oghuma said. “Today’s walk is a reminder that protecting intellectual property is everyone’s responsibility. What we are fighting for is the survival of Nigeria’s creative future.”
Other notable participants included members of the Intellectual Property Law Advocacy Network (IPLAN), lawyers, media executives, content creators, and fans of Nigerian entertainment.
MultiChoice Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to working with regulators, industry bodies, and stakeholders to champion policies, education, and enforcement mechanisms that safeguard creative work and ensure creators receive fair reward for their labour.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners (ANTP) has debunked viral news reports that that the chairman of its board of trustees, Mr Olalere Osunpaimo, well known as Lere Paimo, was dead.
In a public notice from the national Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the organisation, Mr Adejonwo Oluwafemi Femson, it was disclosed that the veteran action is “alive and well.”
Members of the public were advised to disregard the death rumour.
“We would like to inform the public that reports circulating on Facebook about the passing of Chief Olalere OsunPaimo (MFR) are FALSE.
“We have confirmed with Baba Eda Onile Ola’s wife that he is alive and in good health.
“Please disregard these false reports and be aware that they are being spread by unscrupulous individuals.
“Chief Olalere OsunPaimo (MFR), Chairman Board of Trustee Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners (ANTP), is alive and well.
“We urge everyone to verify information before sharing to avoid spreading misinformation,” the notice disclosed.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The duo of Nivea and inDrive has been announced as the title sponsors of TikTok’s 2025 Sub-Saharan Africa Awards, while Coca-Cola, Dis-Chem and PEP Stores are the category sponsors.
As title sponsors, inDrive and NIVEA (Beiersdorf) will play key roles in amplifying creator recognition, supporting event experiences, and on-the ground activations.
NIVEA (Beiersdorf) will sponsor the Creator of the Year award, while inDrive will present the Storyteller of the Year award, both reflecting a shared passion for innovation, inclusivity and celebrating African voices making a global impact.
In addition, Coca-Cola is sponsoring Food Creator of the Year award, Dis-Chem is for the Social Impact Creator of the Year award, and PEP Stores is for the Entertainment Creator of the Year award.
This year’s event is slated for Saturday, December 6. It would be used to celebrate the continent’s most inspiring and innovative creators who are using the platform to educate, entertain, and empower their communities.
“We are delighted to partner with TikTok, as we share a long-standing relationship across the globe, including in the Sub-Saharan region. TikTok is a unique platform that enables us to engage with young audiences in a language and format that truly resonates with them.
“We extend our gratitude to the company for organizing The 2025 TikTok Awards Sub-Saharan Africa and congratulate all guests and participants on this remarkable event,” the Marketing Lead of inDrive Africa, Mikita Ponarin, stated.
“TikTok is proud to partner with great local and regional brands that support Africa’s creative economy. What excites us about these partnerships is the shared vision.
“These brands are making a conscious choice to invest in African creativity at a pivotal moment. They see what we see: that when we uplift creators, we strengthen entire communities and economies across the continent,” the Head of Content Operations for Sub-Saharan Africa,” Boniswa Sidwaba, said.
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