The Lagos State has flag-off the graduate internship programme for unemployed youths in the state in a bid to give them opportunity to develop employability skills which are often vital in securing employment.
Speaking at the flag-off of the three-month programme at the Onikan Youth Centre, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria on Thursday, Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Babatunde Durosimi-Etti said the programme would catered for 2,000 in the four phases.
Under the first phase, he said the first 250 graduates would embark on paid internship to companies in partnership with the state government so that they could acquire the needed skills to make them employable or be self-employed at the end of the programme.
L-R: Dr. Yakub Bashorun, Permanent Secretary, Wealth Creation and Emplyment; Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Babatunde Durosimi-Etti and the Managing Director, Mac Tay Consulting, Elizabeth Rotimi during the flag-off of the internship programme on Thursday
Durosimi-Etti stated that the three-month paid internship scheme was designed to give candidates an opportunity to develop employability skills which were often vital in securing employment.
“At the end of the 3- month’s programme the interns would have gained valuable applied work experience, build up their professional network and would have been exposed to possible niche entrepreneurial opportunities and strengthened their professional’s skills and interpersonal relationships in structured setting,” he said.
He decried the rising wave of unemployment in the country as well as non-possession of employability skills by graduates, thus making them unfit for the labour market.
The commissioner added that 30 percent of knowledge acquired to be employable was through formal training while 70 percent was acquired through other forms of certifications,
“This is why the Lagos State Government deemed it fit to have programme like this for the youths to enable them acquire employable skills. The value chain process is that if you go out there and perform, the employer may retain you or you may want to be self-employed and the Employment Trust Fund is there to help you. Take advantage of this opportunity,” he said.
A cross section of youths preparing to undergo intership programme during the flag-off
Permanent Secretary, Wealth Creation and Employment, Dr. Yakub Bashorun said the programme was a deliberate policy of the current administration to sharpen the skills of graduates through paid internship programme, saying that the selection process was seamless.
“We wrote over 300 firms in Lagos and some of them have given us number of spaces, the ball is in your court, don’t disappoint us,” he said.
Bashorun said the programme had four objectives, which included exposing the youths to a particular job or profession in the industry; improve on their network of contact; give them opportunity for possible placement in the company they undergo their internship and to strengthen their inter-personal skills and relationship.
The permanent secretary said at the end of the programme, the youths were expected to have garnered experience and build on their network, adding that for the three months duration of the programme, each youth would be paid by the government a stipend of N25,000 per month.
He said the employer might also want to offer them another stipends to complement what government would be paying them, saying that government would put machinery in motion to monitor the interns for the three months period.
Managing Director, Mac Tay Consulting, Elizabeth Rotimi, the company in partnership with the government in facilitating the training said the selection process was transparent.
She said the programme would enable the youths acquire employability skills that would help them in the future.
On November 18, 2024, fans woke up to the shocking news that Wizkid’s latest single, “Kese (Dance)”, had suddenly vanished from the Apple Music Nigeria Top 100.
Just days ago, the song had been proudly sitting at the number one spot. This abrupt drop sparked widespread speculation, with many fans and industry insiders suspecting that Apple Music had penalized the track for streaming manipulation.
Such drastic deductions often indicate stream deductions or “chart-drinking,” which are common penalties that Apple Music enforces against artificial streaming boosts.
Adding fuel to the controversy is Wizkid’s “Kese (Dance)”, released on November 15, 2024, as the second lead track from his forthcoming album “Morayo”.
Within hours of its release, “Kese” soared to the top of the Apple Music Nigeria Top 100, demonstrating Wizkid’s enduring popularity and dominance on the charts.
However, the unexpected removal of the song from the charts sent shockwaves through social media, leaving fans divided. Some believe Apple Music may have acted to curb stream farming, while others argue it might simply be a technical glitch.
Historically, Apple Music has taken stringent measures to crack down on streaming manipulation, especially against high-profile artists.
This latest move, if confirmed as a penalty, would be one of their strongest actions yet against stream farming. However, the possibility of a glitch cannot be entirely dismissed, as similar occurrences have happened before.
Fans now eagerly watch to see if “Kese (Dance)” will rebound to its previous chart-topping position. A quick recovery would lend credence to the glitch theory.
Meanwhile, a continued absence would suggest that Apple Music has indeed taken a firm stance against streaming irregularities—even against a major act like Wizkid. For now, all eyes remain on the charts to see how this drama unfolds.
The 2024 AFRIFF celebrated exceptional African cinema through a vibrant week-long showcase of talent, creativity, and storytelling excellence.
Filmmakers, actors, and cinema enthusiasts gathered from across the continent to participate in screenings, masterclasses, and engaging panel discussions at the 2024 AFRIFF.
This 13th edition of AFRIFF demonstrated unprecedented diversity in African storytelling, featuring compelling narratives that captivated audiences through multiple genres and languages.
In the 2024 AFRIFF, carefully curated selections sparked meaningful conversations about contemporary African experiences while highlighting the continent’s rich cultural heritage.
Also, at the 2024 AFRIFF Globe Awards ceremony, outstanding films earned recognition for their artistic merit, technical excellence, and powerful storytelling.
These winning productions represented various African perspectives, from intimate personal narratives to broader social commentaries.
Let’s explore the complete list of winners who made their mark at this prestigious celebration of African cinema.
Jury Awards
Jury Prize: Freedom Way | Directed by Afolabi Olalekan | Nigeria
Jury Special Mention: Memories of Love Returned | Directed by Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine | Uganda
Feature Prizes
Best Feature Film: Phoenix Fury | Directed by Ifeoma N. Chukwuogo | Ghana, Nigeria
Best International Film: Calladita (The Quiet Maid) | Directed by Miguel Faus | Spain
Best Director: Ifeoma N. Chukwuogo for Phoenix Fury
Special Mention: A Ghetto Love Story | Directed by Daniel Oriahi | Nigeria
Best Male Performance: Alexander Hakim in The Dog
Best Female Performance: Uzoamaka Onuoha in Agemo
Best Screenplay: Bode Asiyanbi for The Man Died
Documentary Prizes
Best Documentary: Mother City | Directed by Miki Redelinghuys | Brazil, South Africa
Best International Documentary: Memories of Love Returned | Directed by Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine
Special Mention: Dan Bature Kudawa | Directed by Charles Solomon | Nigeria
Best Documentary Short: From God to Man | Directed by Lansana Mansaray | Sierra Leone
Short Film Prizes
Best Animation: Hadu | Directed by Damilola Solesi | Nigeria
Special Mention: Leon and the Professor | Directed by Chekwube Okonkwo | Nigeria
Best Short: Adunni | Directed by Tola Falonipe | Nigeria
Best International Short: Cookie Box | Directed by Adam Żurawiecki | Ghana, Malta
Best Student Short: Last Minute | Directed by Nicole E. Emechebe | Nigeria
Special Mention: Flawed Cupid | Directed by Emerald Obahiagbon, Feyisayo Rotimi | Nigeria
First and foremost, Wumi Toriola’s film ‘Queen Lateefah‘ has achieved remarkable success, surpassing ₦300 million at the box office and securing its position among Nollywood’s top-performing films.
Subsequently, the film joins other blockbuster successes such as ‘Ajosepo’ (₦257.2 million) and ‘Ajakaju’ (₦252.8 million). Moreover, ‘Queen Lateefah’ now stands as the seventh highest-grossing Nollywood movie to date.
Additionally, it holds the distinction of achieving the highest earnings for a non-December release, a period typically known for peak box office performance.
Throughout its theatrical run, the film has consistently broken records. Initially, it garnered ₦57 million in its opening weekend.
Furthermore, within just three weeks of its premiere, the film exceeded the ₦200 million milestone. By mid-October, consequently, the box office receipts had accumulated to ₦216 million.
Under the distribution of Cinemax and the direction of Adeoluwa Owu, the film presents a compelling narrative. Specifically, it follows Lateefah Adeleke, a 30-year-old businesswoman who portrays herself as a world traveller with high social status.
However, her encounter with Jide Rhodes, a 35-year-old businessman, eventually exposes her carefully constructed facade.
In contrast to her claims, Lateefah emerges from a background of extreme poverty as the only child of an illiterate mother.
Finally, the film features a stellar ensemble cast including Kunle Remi, Femi Adebayo, Nancy Isime, Bimbo Manuel, Elvina Ibru, Enioluwa, and Gbugbemi Ejeye.
As a result of these combined elements – compelling storyline, strong performances, and strategic release timing – ‘Queen Lateefah’ continues to demonstrate the growing commercial potential of Nollywood productions.
