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‘Shanty Town’, ‘Herdsmen’, ‘Underbelly’ Dominate BON Nomination List

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Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards has officially released nominations lists and categories for the 2023 Nollywood award ceremony. Stylised as BON Awards, the annual film event honors outstanding achievements in the Nigerian movie industry.

In the just-released nominee list, Shanty Town, Herdsmen, and Underbelly dominate the line-up of various categories.

Shanty Town, a 2023 Nigerian crime thriller created by Xavier Ighorodje, Chichi Nworah and produced by Chinenye Nworah, bagged 15 of the total 29 categories of the BON Awards.

The six-part series released to Netflix on 20 January 2023 featured series stars Chidi Mokeme,

Ini Edo, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Nse Ikpe-Etim, Sola Sobowale, Nancy Isime, Shaffy Bello, Ali

Nuhu and a host of other actors brought their A-game to make the series one of the most wattheir and talked-about in the year under review.

Also leading with 11 nominations is Herdsmen produced by Chloe Coko and directed by Toka Mcbaror. The movie which was shot in Kaduna is based on mix fiction and first-hand experience, takes a look at the herdsmen-farmer crisis in Nigeria.

The movie which boast of stars like Efe Irele, Ali Nuhu, Nura M.C Khan, Colins Baror, Chuks Chyke, Broda Shaggy, Perry, Ime Bishop Umoh and others as it talks about the the misconception about herders and how evil people have used the good name “Herdsmen” to perpetrate crimes.

Nonetheless, Underbelly also takes the stage with 11 nominations. The movie is produced by Tunde Aina. The movie is a thrilling and suspenseful epic that explores the themes of love, betrayal, and survival in a harsh and unforgiving environment.

Underbelly is the story of two friends who travel from the western part of Nigeria to the north in a pursuit of greener pastures. Things Fall apart when one of them falls in love with the wrong woman.

BON Awards which was first held in December 2009, in Ikeja, Lagos State has continued to be a creative strata for the Nigerian movie industry. Every edition of the award ceremony is usually hosted by different states in Nigeria including Ogun, Oyo, Kogi, Kano, Ekiti, Delta, Abia amnig others. The host state for the 2023 edition will be unveiled soon.

This year’s edition of the annual award ceremony will hold on December 22. A full compilation of the award ceremony is listed below.

BEST CHILD ACTOR (FEMALE)

Nominees

1. Princess Kosi (The Other one)

2. Angel (Here Love Lies)

3. Fisayomi Amodemaja (Keji)

4. Darasimi Nadi (Obara’m)

2. BEST SOCIAL MESSAGE Nominees

1. Black Harvest

2. Asa

3. Sister

4. Herdsmen

5. SHANTY Town

3. BEST SHORT FILM

Nominees

1. Za

2. Agogo

3. A Playboy’s nightmare

4. She was not at war, I was

5. Tales of the browbeaten

4. DOCUMENTARY

Genius in Disguise

5. SPECIAL EFFECT

Nominees

1. Underbelly

2. Herdsmen

3. Shanty Town

4. Ite

5. Inadvertence

6. SOUND TRACK

Nominees

1. Obara’m

2. The other one

3. Underbelly

4. Herdsmen

5. Inadvertence

7. SOUND

Nominees

1. Shanty Town

2. Here Love Lies

3. House of Secrets

4. Herdsmen

5. Obara’m

8. BEST USE OF COSTUME

Nominees

1. Dice

2. Herdsmen

3. Underbelly

4. Ite

5. Shanty Town

9. SCREENPLAY

Nominees

1. Afamefuna

2. Asa

3. 50/50

4. Here love lies

5. The other one

10. USE OF FOOD

Nominees

1. Ifedichie

2. Time Travel

3. Inadvertence

4. Here Love Lies

5. 50/50

11. BEST KISS

Nominees

1. Kiki Bakare/Mimisola Daniels (Egun)

2. Efe Irele/Shawn Faqua (House of Secrets)

3. Olu Adebamowo/Kiitan Bukola (Square One

12. BEST USE OF MAKE UP

Nominees

1. SOJ

2. Shanty Town

3. Underbelly

4. Herdsmen

13. EDITING

Nominees

1. House of Secrets

2. Shanty Town

3. Black Harvest

4. The other one

5. Keji

14. PRODUCTION DESIGN

Nominees

1. Underbelly

2. Herdsmen

3. Black Harvest

4. House of Secrets

5. Shanty Town

15. CINEMATOGRAPHY

Nominees

1. House of Secrets

2. Shanty Town

3. Ite

4. Herdsmen

5. Underbelly

16. MOST PROMISING ACTOR

Nominees

1. Smart Conrad (Underbelly)

Nura Mc Khan (Herdsmen)

3. Olu Adebamowo (Square one)

4. Olaiya Temitope (Inadvertence)

17. MOST PROMISING ACTRESS

Nominees

1. Tierny Olalere (Inadvertence)

2. Chinelo Enemchukwu (Ifedichie)

3. 50/50 (Funke Tanimola)

4. Olusola Adeola (Time Travel)

18. BEST INDIGENOUS

Nominees

1. Afamefuna

2. Obara’m

3. Ifedichie

4. Underbelly

5. Herdsmen

19. IGBO FILM

1. IFEDICHIE

20.BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE (YORUBA)

Nominees

1. Ibrahim Yekini (SOJ)

2. Jide Awobona (Square one)

3. Funsho Adeolu (Asa)

4. Olaitan Jewola (Alebu Ara)

5. Muyiwa Ademola (Time Travel)

21. BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE (YORUBA)

Nominees

1. Kiitan Bukola (Egun)

2. Habiba Jinad (Alebu Ara)

3. Damipe Adekola (Ite)

4. Jumoke Odetola (Square One)

5. Regina Chukwu (Adaba)

22.BEST ACTOR IN A YORUBA MOVIE.

Nominees

1. Rotimi Salami (Adaba)

2. Ibrahim Yekini (Igboro)

Kiki Bakare (Egun)

4. Niyi Johnson (Time Travel)

5. Mustipha Solagbade (50/50)

23. BEST ACTRESS IN A YORUBA MOVIE

Nominees

1. Mercy Aigbe (Romola Alakara)

2. Damilola Oni (Ite)

3. Anike Ami (Igboro)

4. Mimisola Daniels (Egun)

5. Debbie Sokoya (Keji)

24. BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE ENGLISH

Nominees

1. Stan Nze (Underbelly)

2. Ali Nuhu (Herdsmen)

3. Zubby Michael (SHANTY Town)

4. Kalu Ikeagu (The Other one)

5. Femi Jacob (House of Secrets)

25.BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE ENGLISH

Nominees

1. Princess Nwokoye (Strained)

2. Omowunmi Dada (Here Love Lies)

3. Jasmine Naza Onyia (Ifedichie)

4. Nse Npe Etim (SHANTY Town)

5. Lillian Amah (The Other One)

26. BEST ACTRESS IN AN ENGLISH MOVIE

Nominees

1. Tracy George (Strained)

2. Lucy Ameh (The Other One)

3. Ini Edo (SHANTY Town)

4. Najite Dede (House of Secrets)

5. Chinelo Enemchukwu (Ifedichie)

27. BEST ACTOR IN AN ENGLISH MOVIE

Nominees

1. Chidi Mokeme (SHANTY Town)

2. Kelechi Udegbe (The Other One)

3. Tim Shelburne (Here Love Lies)

Shawn Faqua (House of Secrets)

5. Smart Conrad (Underbelly)

28. DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

Nominees

1. Biodun Stephen (Sista)

2. Dimeji Ajibola (Shanty Town)

3. Tope Oshin (Here Love lies)

4. Toka Mcbaror (Herdsmen)

5. Kayode Kasum (Obara’m)

29. MOVIE OF THE YEAR

Nominees

1. Shanty Town

2. Underbelly

3. Here Love lies

4. Herdsmen

5. Black Harvest

 

BIG STORY

CPC Bloc And Buharists Reaffirm Commitment To APC And President Tinubu, Call For Party Chairmanship

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In a live interview earlier today on AIT, political analyst and committed Buharist Chief Okoi Obono-Obla —former member of the National Executive Committee and Secretary of the defunct CPC Merger Committee—addressed recent speculation regarding the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) bloc and Buharists within the All Progressives Congress (APC), following the transition of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Responding to reports that certain former government officials are considering a move to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) or aligning with a so-called coalition, Okoi stated firmly:

“These individuals do not represent the leadership or the collective will of the CPC bloc. As a Buharist and one who participated in the foundational merger, I can confirm that the CPC bloc remains solidly within the APC and stands fully behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

He emphasized that suggestions to defect run contrary to President Muhammadu Buhari’s legacy and enduring support for the APC:

“If those advocating a move to the ADC were genuine followers of President Buhari, they would respect his clear position. Our leader has declared he remains a member of the APC and deeply appreciates the platform the party provided for his presidency from 2015 to 2023.”

Okoi also conveyed a strong demand from the CPC bloc regarding the future leadership of the APC:

> “The CPC bloc is earnestly calling for the position of the next APC National Chairman to be conceded to our bloc. We are united in our clamour for Senator Tanko Umaru Al-Makura—our respected leader and a committed party stalwart—to assume this vital role.”

This reaffirmation not only signals loyalty to President Tinubu and the APC, but also outlines the CPC bloc’s expectations for inclusive party leadership, rooted in shared history and trust.

 

@ Okoi Obono-Obla#

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BIG STORY

NELFUND To Launch Job Portal Linking Student Loan Beneficiaries To Employers By 2026

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The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has revealed plans to introduce a centralized job portal by 2026 aimed at helping student loan recipients secure employment opportunities both locally and abroad.

This initiative forms part of broader strategies to strengthen the effectiveness of the student loan program and guide graduates toward financial stability.

While speaking at a media briefing in Abuja to commemorate one year since the loan scheme’s inception, NELFUND’s Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr, clarified that although the agency does not promise jobs, the planned job portal is intended to ease graduates’ entry into the workforce.

Sawyerr mentioned that the portal will compile job listings from government bodies, private companies, and foreign employers interested in hiring Nigerians.

We don’t just give a loan and leave students on their own. This job portal is our way of supporting their journey towards economic stability, he said

No repayment without employment

Sawyerr reaffirmed that repayment of student loans will only begin when beneficiaries secure employment and have completed their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

If you don’t have a job, you don’t pay. And when you eventually get a job, your repayment starts fresh.

Once employed, 10 per cent of the beneficiary’s monthly income is deducted automatically by the employer and remitted to NELFUND, following verification through the NELFUND employment register.

If an employee is laid off or resigns, the deductions stop. And in the event of death, the loan is written off. The family is not harassed, he said.

Institutions must refund duplicate payments

On the matter of students who made fee payments before NELFUND disbursed funds to their schools, Sawyerr urged institutions to fulfill their obligation and refund the affected students.

We’ve received multiple petitions from students who paid under duress, only to find their fees had also been paid by NELFUND.

Institutions must refund this money. It’s disappointing that some schools have ignored this responsibility, he said.

He further explained that anti-graft agencies have begun investigating: Investigative bodies like the ICPC and EFCC have stepped in to question certain institutions over delays or refusals to refund.

To ensure the right return of funds, he recommended: If an institution cannot refund directly to the student, they can pay the money back to us and we will ensure it gets to the rightful student.

Over 3.2 million student records in system

Mustapha Iyal, the Executive Director of Operations, shared that the Fund currently oversees over 3.2 million student records and anticipates receiving around one million additional applications by the end of 2025.

Basically, our projection right now, we have about 3.2 million students in our system.

What we’re looking at this year, from now to the end of the year, we’re looking at about one million applications. We’re not pushing. We’re not saying that it’s compulsory.

But we’re looking at how we can support one million applications to make sure that no one is dropping out of school, he stated.

What you should know

NELFUND has broadened its scope by launching a loan program that also funds vocational and technical education to empower Nigerian youth seeking practical trade skills. The pilot phase of this scheme will start in Enugu between late June and mid-July 2025.

According to Executive Director of Operations, Iyal Mustapha, the initiative will offer interest-free loans to cover tuition, transportation for attending full-time technical schools, stipends for living expenses, and even tools upon training completion.

Applications will be submitted via NELFUND’s portal, and once the system is active, applicants will be matched with certified vocational training centers in their region.

 

Credit: Nairametrics

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BIG STORY

UK To Reduce Voting Age To 16 In General Elections

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The British government announced on Thursday its intention to grant voting rights in general elections to 16- and 17-year-olds, marking a significant shift that would place the UK among countries with the lowest voting age globally.

This move stems from a commitment made by the ruling Labour Party before gaining power last year, and is part of a broader set of proposed reforms to the democratic process, which some have described as “in crisis” due to issues like low voter turnout.

The proposal is expected to spark debate, as opponents argue it could be politically motivated, with younger voters perceived as more inclined to favour the centre-left Labour party.

“I think it’s really important that 16- and 17-year-olds have the vote, because they are old enough to go out to work, they are old enough to pay taxes, so (they) pay in,” Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.

“And I think if you pay in, you should have the opportunity to say what you want your money spent on, which way the government should go,” Starmer added.

To implement the change, the government will need to present legislation in parliament, where it holds a solid majority.

Globally, only a few countries allow citizens as young as 16 to vote in national elections, according to online sources.

These include Austria — the first EU member to reduce its voting age to 16 in 2007 — along with Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, and Cuba.

Labour ministers argue the reform is designed to “modernise our democracy” and increase participation, while also matching the voting age already used in elections for devolved parliaments in Scotland and Wales.

Other planned reforms include the adoption of automated voter registration — a system already in place in Australia and Canada — and allowing UK-issued bank cards to be accepted as valid ID at polling stations.

These proposals come after the former Conservative government implemented laws requiring voters to present photo identification, which the Electoral Commission reported resulted in around 750,000 people being unable to vote in last year’s election.

Harry Quilter-Pinner, executive director of the Institute For Public Policy Research, described the proposals as “the biggest reform to our electoral system since 1969”, when the voting age was reduced to 18.

He estimated that lowering the voting age and introducing automated registration could add as many as 9.5 million new voters.

“Our democracy is in crisis, and we risk reaching a tipping point where politics loses its legitimacy,” he said, expressing his support for the proposed changes.

 

Credit: AFP

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