Access Bank CEO dedicates N1bn to building schools in North, reiterates importance of child education

Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc., Herbert Wigwe, recently reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to the educational development of children in Nigeria, highlighting it as one of the most important tools to sustaining the future of the country.

Wigwe said this while addressing attendees at the Access Bank/UNICEF Charity Shield Polo Tournament which held at the Guards Polo Club, United Kingdom.

Nigeria currently holds the unenviable position of having the highest number of out-of-school children in the world. A problem that Wigwe said Access Bank, in collaboration with UNICEF, aims to solve using funds raised through the high profile polo tournament.

“The number of out-of-school children in Nigeria is very worrisome, and if not tackled adequately does not bode well for the future of Nigeria. Access Bank identified this problem over 10 years ago and through the polo tournament has made considerable strides in improving the educational system in Nigeria. We will not relent in our efforts to ensure that Nigerian children are given the requisite educational foundation to succeed,” Wigwe said.

“We know the challenge before us is great, but we will surmount it through collaboration with relevant international, government and private stakeholders. We will continue to give, because our children are our tomorrow. So far, we have been able to raise over N1 billion and every kobo will be invested providing educational infrastructure, starting one Northern state at a time because that is where we find the highest number of out-of-school and displaced children,” he adds.

Wigwe went further to explain that government buy-in was key to the achievement of the financial institution’s set goals, citing and thanking the Kaduna State government for its support in the implementation of its projects.

Access Bank is already making a telling impact through its charitable projects, recently completing the refurbishment of a 12,000-capacity school and is set to complete another that will cater for an additional 1,200 students at the end of July. These efforts have not gone unnoticed, as the Kaduna State government has committed to replicating every project that the bank will implement in the state. 

This year’s Charity Polo Tournament was a huge success with several local and international dignitaries in attendance including the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II; British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing CB, among others.

Burna Boy announces 7th body of work: "African Giant"

The year started off great for the Afrofusion artiste, Burna Boy with hits like “Killing Dem”, featuring Zlatan, “Dangote”, “Anybody” and “Pull up”, which was released on Monday 22nd July 2019. This 7th body of work is a testament to his development and growth as an artist.

It is often said, both in religious texts and folklore, that the number 7 is an auspicious sign from our guardian angels that one is on the right life path. It means one will overcome all obstacles and realize success in all endeavors.

Every song on this album stands out, from the musical arrangement to the message which is both introspective and thoughtful.

We are treated to the sounds of the motherland - Africa, with collaborations from Grammy award-winning musicians Angelique Kidjo and the “Junior Gong,” Damian Marley on the track “Different” and features from a cross selection of critically acclaimed artists like M.anifest from Ghana , Jeremih, Future and YG from the United States, Jorja Smith from the United Kingdom and Jamaican dancehall artiste Serani.

How Davido emerged Nigerian Celebrities On Instagram Rich List 2019

Nigerian Music superstar, David Adeleke, popularly called Davido has emerged the richest Nigerian on Instagram, with his single post valued at over N26 million.

According to Instagram Rich List 2019 by Hopper HQ 2019, Davido holds the second position in Africa and occupies 38th position on the global rating.

Mohammed Salah, Egyptian and Liverpool football star is the richest African celebrity on Instagram and occupies spot 26 at the global level.

Davido is one of the active Nigerian celebrities on Instagram and he makes use of the social media platform to share information about his career and life.

The “IF” crooner, has 11.8 million followers on IG as of Thursday, July 25, with each of his posts valued at 74,000 US dollars, approximately 26 million Naira.

Other Nigerian Celebrities who made the IG rich list are Wizkid, Funke Akindele, and Tiwa Savage.

Wizkid gets 49,700 dollars (which is close to 18 million Naira) for each post, standing at 46th position on the global rating, with over seven million followers.

Actress Funke Akindele Bello is the 45th celebrity globally with over eight million followers and gets 50,500 dollars which is (over 19 million Naira).

Tiwa Savage is the 48th on the list with over 7.5 million followers, earning 47,200 dollars (17 million Naira).

U.S. Universities Offer $7.5m in Scholarships to Nigerian Students

More than 303 Nigerian students from the 17 states of southern Nigeria have received no less than $7.5 million in full or partial scholarships from 225 American universities and colleges to study in the United States for the 2019-2020 academic session.

Acting United States Consul General Osman Tat disclosed this in Lagos on Tuesday during the 2019 EducationUSA pre-departure orientation for students who have received offers of admission and scholarships to attend U.S. colleges and universities this fall.

Noting that the U.S. remains a top destination for international students, Acting Consul General Tat explained that the list of acceptances for Nigerian students for the upcoming academic year has been quite impressive, cutting across many of the 50 U.S. states.

“I congratulate each one of you on your tremendous success. This is a very important step in your life. I encourage you to make the most out of your time in the United States to acquire the requisite skills and knowledge needed to support Nigeria’s development,” Tat told the group of U.S.-bound students.

The students have been accepted for undergraduate and graduate degree programs at top notch U.S. institutions ranging from Ivy League universities, liberal arts colleges, women’s colleges, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), to community colleges.

They include Stanford University, The George Washington University, Johns Hopkins University, Purdue University, Tufts University, Boston University, Emory University, and Howard University, among many others.

The pre-departure orientation is intended to assist students to prepare for their move from Nigeria to attend a college or university in the United States. The event included interactive sessions on topics such as travel planning, adjusting to life in America, safety on campus, and F-1 visa rules for international students.

Participants also had the opportunity to meet with students currently studying in the United States who offered tips on how to prepare for the U.S. academic, social, and cultural environment.

Among the departing students are 13 EducationUSA Opportunity Fund grantees —10 undergraduate and 3 graduate students, with full scholarships — who received financial aid to cover the up-front cost of obtaining admission.

Annually, through the Opportunity Fund Program, the U.S. Consulate’s EducationUSA Advising Centre assists talented low-income students who are good candidates for admission to U.S. colleges and universities, by funding their application process.

According to the latest Open Doors Report, published annually by the Institute of International Education, Nigeria is the 13th highest sending country of international students to the U.S., with about 12, 693 Nigerians currently studying in the United States.

Nigerian storyteller, Hollywood producer set to shoot $20million film on world's deadliest disease

*Ben Amushie 

Popular Hollywood producer, Ernest Harris is currently shopping for a huge sum of USD20 million to produce an action packed film, 'Universal Donor' that is bound to take the world by storm.

The film, which will be shot in three continents,including America, Africa, the Middle East and Europe is scripted by a United States-based Nigerian story teller, poet and playwright, Ben Eze Amushie. It will be produced in partnership with RockCity Entertainment.

' When I was approached for this film, I was immediately hooked,' says Harris. ' The script is absolutely one of the best I have ever read. And that saying a lot because I get a lot of scripts offered to me. And when I saw the list of the International film stars the producers are targeting, I was definitely on board. I am very excited about this project,' he added.

'Universal Donour' is Amushie's yet to published novel, which is being adapted into a film. It's an action thriller that explodes with fury in the deserts of Iraq, sun kissed city of New York and remote jungles of Nigeria. Medical researchers, doctors and politicians work feverishly to find a cure for a virus that is wreaking havoc in New York City. The white-knuckle action is propelled by an American military hero who was betrayed by his own in Iraq.

The story unfolds as a terrible and unknown virus threatens world order with a disease with no known treatment protocol. To contain the virus, the American President and his allies, order a military blockade of Nigeria, where the virus was isolated for the first time. No fly zone is quickly imposed ; all ports of entry are shut down, cutting off a major oil supply to key western countries in the process.

In an exclusive chat with NollyNow, Amushie who was in the country recently, said the essence of the film is to change, if not just for a brief moment, the negative narrative usually associated with Nigeria. “This is because many a time, the stone that the builders refused goes on to become the head cornerstone,” he added.

According to Amushie, he's bargaining with his American partners to feature some A-list Nollywood stars in the film, which shooting will commence as soon as they

INI EDO: When marriage failure turns things around *Her fears, weaknesses and triumphs!

 Ini Edo's journey into the world of make-believe remains a case of fulfilled expectations. At the time she debuted in the industry in 2003, featuring in the movie,” Thick Madam,” the actress was oblivious of what would become of the lifetime journey.

But sixteen years after she took that bold step, Ini Edo can tell better, if the journey didn't worth the trouble. In any case, the dark-skinned screen diva has enjoyed more accolades and followership than she had received knocks and condemnations, following her screen characters and lifestyle. She became the producers' favourite after starring in “World Apart” in 2004, and since then, she has featured in more than 100 movies and rated as one of the highest-profile actresses in Nigeria and Africa at large. Following her popularity then, the movie marketers attempted to sanction her, fingering her arrogant attitude on set and lack of commitment as part of the reasons for their proposed action against the actress.

However, while she was enjoying the spotlight, she was hit by cupid’s arrow as she married her United States-based ex-husband, Philip Ehiagwina. The marriage, contracted in 2008, crashed in September, 2014, following accusations of domestic violence and cheating. Though the marriage did not produce any child, it was, however, the darkest moment of Ini Edo's life, and many doubted if she would ever overcome the trauma.

Speaking on ‘Rubbing Minds,’ a Channel Television programme back then, the actress cited irreconcilable differences and incompatibility as the major reasons for the crash of her marriage.

She also blamed distance as part of the reason for the crashing of her marriage, insisting that closeness should have saved her marriage since her former husband was in America, while she was in Nigeria.

“Staying together would have helped to save our marriage. Because it would have enabled us to understand each other more. May be it would have helped but I’m not sure,”she said.

Like every other woman who wouldn't be happy, when her marriage crashes, Ini Edo felt so much emotional pain, not even when the bad news kept trending on social media for months.

Amidst all her pain, the beautiful actress explained how she tried to keep her marriage to no avail. “I tried to keep my movie roles as decent as possible when I got married. But naturally, there are certain roles you won’t be allowed to play. Even when you are allowed to play them, you can reject them not just because of your husband but you also have relations as well.”

“I tried not to regret the time I spent in marriage, but I would say, it’s been an experience. I have learnt a lot from it. It has made me a stronger person. It has also made me wiser and more mature.”

However, despite her defence, many believed that Ini was too reckless to be in marriage. But the Akwa-Ibom State-damsel insisted that the reports of infidelity on her part were a conscious and malicious attempt to tarnish her image. For her, the crashing of her marriage was a painful phase in life, which should not be used to judge her future. And true to her belief, the end of her marriage marked a turning point in her life.

Ini Edo rose above her fears and weaknesses, taking her destiny into her hands after her marriage crashed. She became more visible and things started looking good for her. It was at that point, the actress was appointed as the Special Assistant to the Akwa Ibom State Governor on Culture and Tourism by Udom Gabriel Emmanuel in 2016. She has made a fortune out of signing many contracts and starring in many blockbuster movies. Being a superstar actress, Ini Edo was in the recent past chased after by many glamorous brands for endorsement contracts. Most famous among them were Slim Tea Nigeria and Noble Hair, all of which had brought her hundreds of millions of Naira. What's more, the number of her awards is equally impressive as her net worth.

In her spare time, Ini Edo engages in many charitable causes. She has many causes close to her heart that she gives both her time and resources to and is known for her big heart. The glamorous star is also known for her knockout style. Never one to do things by halves, Ini is all about high-octane style and she always looks perfectly turned out. Not resting on her oars, the actress is indeed living her dream more as a single than as a once married woman. Her achievements in the shortest time would shock you. Reports had it that the happening actress had fleets of posh cars in her garage and some houses. Her most notable house is located in Lekki, Lagos, which she bought after her divorce. The list of cars in her garage ranges from a Range Rover SUV, a BMW and a rather masculinity-looking car, a G65 Mercedez which she bought for more than a half the price of her other cars, N40 million. It was also rumoured that the actress recently added a bullet proof Lexus to her fleet of cares.

For anything, Ini Edo has no reason to brood over her crashed marriage. In fact, one wonders if she ever remembers that she was once married. A visit to her Instagram page or any of her social media platforms, could indicate what this beautiful actress is up to: A captivating display of fashion, style and luxury, all rolled into one. At 37, Ini Edo has surpassed the expectations of her critics.

When it comes to beauty and style, the actress has dished the ultimate pepper stew and her over five million fans are licking as much as they can. She's becoming a fashion icon. From colourful outfits, to black and red numbers, Ini carefully chooses her colours and has taught everyone a lesson in looking fly and owning it.

Known for playing daring and captivating roles in movies, the actress is said to have eyes for handsome and powerful men. She was once romantically linked to the likes of Jim Iyke, Koko Master, D’banj, but the rumours were either denied by Ini,or unfounded.

Recently, the Brown Sugar, as she fondly calls herself, celebrated her 37 birthday, and it was a day to remember by some of her friends and family members who turned up for the birthday bash. After the birthday bash, the actress did not fail to wet her fans' appetite with super stunning birthday shoot photos, which she posted on her Instagram page. It goes to say that Ini Edo rarely missed anything in marriage, even as it's rumoured that she's got another brand new butterfly in her stomach.

French's Canal acquires ROK film Studio

French media giant, Canal has acquired the ROK film studio from VOD company IROKOtv for an undisclosed amount.

Founded by Jason Njoku in 2010 and backed by $45 million in VC, IROKOtv boasts the largest online catalog of Nollywood film content in the world.

Nollywood is a movie genre popularized in Nigeria that has become Africa’s de facto film industry and one of the largest globally, by production volume.

Based in Lagos, ROK film studios was incubated to create original content for IROKOtv, which can be accessed online anywhere in the world.

Actress and producer Mary Njoku—IROKOtv CEO Jason Njoku’s wife—founded ROK studios and will stay on as Director General under the Canal+ acquisition.

Owned by media conglomerate Vivendi, Canal+ looks to give Mary more production resources, without disrupting ROK’s creative chemistry.

“We are acquiring the talent of Mary,” Canal+ Chief Content Officer Fabrice Faux told TechCrunch on a call.

“We will provide administrative support, finance, and equipment, but otherwise it is our intention to give Mary maximum autonomy and creative freedom,” he said.

Mrs. Njoku’s creative work so far has led ROK to produce over 540 movies and 25 original TV series, according to company data.

Through ROK, Njoku has expanded Nollywood’s formula for producing films on low budgets, largely shot on location in Nigeria, that connect with African audiences wherever they are. One of ROK’s more recent popular productions is Ojukwu , a period series set in an 1800s Nigerian village, in which Njoku directs and acts.

“Nollywood is Africa…We tell the African story. You can bring a Nigerian story, a Ghanaian story, a South African story…we talk the same drama. So Africans can connect to the average Nollywood story anywhere in the world,” Njoku told TechCrunch.

With the ROK acquisition, Canal+ looks to bring the Nollywood production ethos to other countries and regions of Africa.

“It’s not that easy to produce an interesting movie for $20,000. People in Nigeria, particularly Mary and IROKO, know how to do that,” said Faux from Canal+.

“We want her to bring that to French speaking Africa. Because we need more African content and we need the industry to develop in French speaking Africa.”

Faux would not divulge the acquisition price but confirmed there is a cash component of the deal. “This is key for Jason…to developing the VOD aspects of IROKO,” he said.

Under the deal, ROK will continue to create unique content for IROKOtv, ROK’s four existing channels—three on

DSTV and ROK Sky in the UK—as well as Canal+’s Africa and global channels.

The ability to reach a larger network of African consumers on the continent and internationally is another acquisition play for Canal+. Nollywood online content has proven the ability to find demand anywhere Africans are, including diaspora populations abroad. IROKOtv’s top-three streaming countries are Nigeria, the US, and the UK, according to a company spokesperson.

“We’ll now be able to do things in English speaking and French speaking African markets…and gain access to an advertising market where we believe there’s huge potential for growth,” said Faux.

The ROK acquisition is not the Canal+ Group’s first collaboration with IROKOtv. The media company joined a $19 million Series E investment in 2016, that also saw Canal+ and IROKO launch a French VOD channel. This was shortly after Netflix announced it would go live in Africa, though with little original African content. Netflix i has since started to commission film content from Nigeria .

VOD tech startups, such as IROKOtv, have worked to take African film online, where it can be better distributed and monetized. That’s become less of a hard road, given the continent’s improving mobile and internet penetration paired with better bandwidth and falling data costs. There has been some attribution and loss. In 2017, Y-Combinator-backed French language VOD startup Afrostream , which had raised over $100 million in VC, shuttered—ending subscription services in 24 African and 5 European countries.

Canal+ and ROK are open to producing content for other VOD and production outlets, according to Njoku and Faux. “We could [for Netflix], or we could create a production corner on another VOD service,” said Faux.

On the possibility of pursuing an African film with crossover appeal to non-African audiences—particularly in the wake Black Panther’s success—ROK CEO Mary Njoku did not rule it out.

“I have been tempted in the past and am tempted today, but I want to focus on making the channels we have now the best Nollywood channels out there she said.

Breach of Contract: Aggrieved customer drags Western Union, Polaris Bank to court

An aggrieved customer of Western Union Money Transfer, Queen Irene Cole, has dragged the world leading money transfer service, before the Ikeja magistrate court, Lagos, over alleged breach of contract.

In a suit No: MIK/3652/19 with the title ,“ Writ/Claim for Breach of Contract”, which was made available to Sunday Vanguard, Queen Irene also joined the new generation bank, Polaris Bank in the suit.

Irene who's based in Las Vegas, claimed that she transferred the sum of 900,00 US Dollars, the equivalent of of N302, 598,45k through the Western Union Money Transfer, from Las Vegas in the United States to Lagos, on the 3rd of July, 2019, and until now, has not received they said money.

According to the business woman, upon fulfilling the conditions for their service, the Western Union Money Transfer promised her that the money would be transferred to Lagos, within minutes as the company equally sent a letter to her to withdraw the money from any local bank that is an agent of the Western Union Money Transfer. The woman claimed that she approached Polaris Bank, at Allen Avenue, Ikeja, with the Money Transfer Control Number(withheld). But she was not given the said money as previously agreed with the Western Union Money Transfer from the Polaris Bank Plc.

She is, therefore, demanding to be paid the sum of N5,000,000,00(Five Million Naira) as general damages, including her initial N302,598.45 and the sum of N2,450 as charges for the service.

Meanwhile, in a letter, she addressed to the Manager, Polaris bank, in Allen Avenue, Ikeja, and dated the 5th of July, 2017, Queen Irene who is the Chief Executive Officer, Queen Atlantic Resorts, said it wasn't her desire to hold Polaris Bank accountable for the Western Union's incompetency and or, outright fraudulent activities and deprivation, but that the bank is their agent and equally liable.

Her words: “They cannot offer me service in minutes, deprive me of my money, open me up to all kinds of liabilities and after these acts simply return my money when they feel it's convenient for them to do so in the country of their choice as opposed to where I need it.”

“Even their liability agreement that has all the clauses for favour their constant breach of contract cannot place them above liability for their action.”

“ In any case, I have given Western Union adequate notice, of my intent to sue, notice that is commensurate, within the time frame of these international transfers.”

The case comes up at Ikeja magistrate court, Lagos, on the 30th of July, 2019.