Entertainment
SYNPOSIUM, ARTS EXHIBITION AGAINST FEMALE VICTIMIZATION EXCITES PH RESIDENTS
It was a funfare last Saturday when
National Gallery of Arts, ( NGA) Port Harcourt, Rivers State in partnership with French Embassy in Nigeria and Alliance Francasie in Port Harcourt, held a two day synposium and Visual Arts Exhibition.
The event which took place at Alliance Francasie building Herbert Marculay Street Old GRA in Port Harcourt, with the theme ” Victimized” was witnessed by people from all works life including students and notable male and female artists in Nigeria.
Speaking at the occasion the coordinator of Alliance Francasie in Port Harcourt Mrs Marina Lacal said the organization was poised to promote culture, education , scientific domains, teaching of French Language and help to eradicate women violence and the girl in Nigeria.
According to her, the French Embassy in Nigeria has equally develop structural operational collaborations with different stakeholders in development of human rights and environmental protection.
” I want to say that investing to prevent violence against women and girls remains crucial in 2023, as violence continues to be widespread violation of human rights.
“Despite the adoption of laws in many countries weak implementation and discrimination social norms persist . Approximately 736 million women, nearly one in three have experienced physical or sexual violence from intimate partner. Especially social media has increased with 38 percent of experiencing social media violence” Mrs Lacal said.
Speaking Head of station/cuator National Gallery of Art, in Port Harcourt, Mrs Uwaoma Ideli Agudosi, said NGA was committed in championing against social vices issues through visual and arts.
She equally said that the aim of the symposium/exhibition was not only to educate but to equip victims with appropriate information needed for survival.
” I want to use this medium to promote peaceful coexistence among the male and female folks. Also to promote and encourage visual arts as a strategy for achieving rapid economic growth in the State and Nigeria at large.
” I further advice men to stop any form violence against women and girl child. I thank all the invitees who are here to witness this event you all are wonderful”, She stated.
Also speaking at the event the Publicity Secretary of International Federation of Women Lawyers ( FIDA) Rivers State chapter, Mrs Sophia Afolayan, who was the keynote speaker, said violence against women was caused by lack of training the boy child.
According to her, for victimization of the woman or the girl child to stop the woman must be economic independent and women should know their rights.
” Women should have legal awareness and we should make them know their rights. Victims of rape and other abuses should speak out” she said.
Highlights of the event was drama presentation by students and film show depicting how women were sexually abused.
By: Tonye Orabere
Spotify yesterday revealed a significant surge in heartbreak song streams in Nigeria during the Valentine’s Day season, with a 626 percent increase between 2022 and 2024.
This was disclosed in a statement issued in Lagos, Nigeria by Spotify’s Head of Music, Sub-Saharan Africa Phiona Okumu.
Okumu said, “Spotify data reveals a surprising trend, a massive surge in heartbreak song streams.
“Nigerians are turning to their playlists to express their emotions, with a staggering 626 per cent overall growth in heartbreak streams from 2022 to 2024.
“This Valentine, the sound of love is accompanied by the sound of heartbreak, and the data shows it’s louder than ever before.”
She said on Valentine’s Day, most surprisingly, male listeners streamed heartbreak songs at a significantly higher rate than female listeners, with a 362 per cent increase compared to 169 per cent among women.
“This could suggest that men resonate with the feeling of heartbreak more and turn to music as a private outlet for processing emotions.
“Whatever the reason, one thing is clear, when love is in the air, so is heartbreak and Nigerian men are pressing play on their pain more than expected.
“While Valentine’s Day is often celebrated with grand gestures, heartbreak is a common theme on Valentine’s Day -more than what’s publicly shown,” she said.
Nigerians will join their counterparts across the world to mark the 2025 Valentine’s today.
Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has joined MLS side San Diego FC’s ownership group as a club partner.
SDFC announced today that Tems joined the ownership group through her company, The Leading Vibe.
In the process, Tems became the first African woman to be involved in MLS ownership.
“We are delighted that Tems has joined San Diego FC as a club partner,” SDFC chairman Sir Mohamed Mansour said in a statement.
“Tems is a globally significant artist who will help us reach new audiences and spread the word about our unique project, which, of course, has its foundations in sub-Saharan Africa through the unique Right to Dream organisation.”
Reacting to her addition as the latest partner in SDFC’s ownership group, the singer said: “I am thrilled to join San Diego FC’s ownership group and to be part of a club that celebrates creativity, culture, and the power of community.
“Football has a unique way of bringing people together, and I am excited to help build something special in San Diego, a city that thrives on diversity and innovation.”
Fashion and beauty entrepreneur, Toyin Lawani, has claimed she is enduring back pain and that her spine is degenerating.
Lawani revealed this in a video posted on social media last Tuesday.
In the clip, she opened up about her experience with epidural anesthesia, an injection administered to pregnant women in the spine to reduce pain during childbirth.
The mother of three claimed that since receiving the injection, she has not felt like herself.
She accused doctors of not fully informing women about the long-term side effects of epidurals.
According to Lawani, she received the anesthetic injection during the birth of her last two children.
She said, “When you hear ‘epidural,’ run. Doctors tell you about the side effects but do not tell you about the long-term effects on your body. I have about three friends having the same issues that I am having.
“Like, I am just 42, how did I end up with spine issues? I have a degenerating spine. I have implants in my spine. I go paralyzed. I can’t stand for a long time. I can’t even breathe properly sometimes because it affected so many things in my body when I had the surgery.
“They will not tell you because you just want the pain to go away. I have had two epidurals. I had my first as natural birth. The last two were epidural. The last one I had epidural because I had to undergo a surgery and I had no choice.
“See, the pain does not stop. My back is killing me and my spine is degenerating.”