Entertainment
2019: ‘How Nigerians Spent N76bn In Cinemas’
Nigerian spent almost seven billion naira (N6,976,882,087) to watch films in the cinemas in 2019. The report is based on the data provided by cinemas and gathered by cinema Exhibitions-Association of Nigeria (CEAN).
The year opened with ‘Aguaman”, Chief Daddy and ‘Up North’ sitting on the top three of the chart with estimated combined earnings of N68,263,512 million. Earnings remained low for February, making it the lowest growing month with a total of N291.8 million.
By March, viewership picked up steadily and the earnings were almost doubled from that of February leading to a total of N434,432,431. It was gathered that earnings from April climbed from N186,929,188 million in its third week to N342,382, 389 in its final week.
The month closed with estimated total earnings of N734,151,060 million due to a major boost from Disney’s end game. In may there was a massive dip in earnings similar to that experienced in February with End game’, The Intruder and ‘Longshot’, it earned a total N367,498,554 million.
June opened with N161,132,714, but closed with N100,663,647 leading to a total earning of N576,322,779 million in July the highest grossing film for the period was Blind ‘Lagosians, the film grossed the highest in come in cinemas in June. In the first week of July, the movie earned N37.4 million.
For the last weekend in August, Blind Lagosians settled at member 20 with “once upon a time in Hollywood” struggling at number 19, the ‘Get up’ had dropped to number 5.
It was gathered that cumulatively, the cinemas earned over N3 billion in the first half of 219 and over N1.2 billion in July and August of the same year.
In September, Angel Hs Fallen’ topped the box office with a gross of N40,434,564 million it was followed by fast and furious: Hobbsand Shaw and Nollywood film. The millions which debuted at number three raking in N10,046.476 million.
‘Angel has fallen’ remained on top for the second week with ‘Hustlers’ debuting at number one at the third week: By the end of the month, cinemas earnings had dropped by 13 percent with Rambo: Last Blood at number one.
In October ‘Love is War’ started strong with N141,228,280 in first week, fast and furious: Hobbs and Shaw Sank to bottom in its 10th week, the same was the case for the ‘Lion King’ which was in its 12th week.
However, ‘Joker’ snagged the number one spot by the second week of October with the cinema gross totaling N83,703,650 that week. By the third week Gemini man’ pushed ‘Joker’ to the second place and Nollywoods ‘Chrastor Baby’ debuted at number three.
At the final week, the four top films week maleficent ‘Black and Blue, Gemini man and Joker in that order with Chraster Baby at number six. The total gross was N88,063,047 million.
November opened with terminator: The Park fate on top ranking in N37,267,747 million maleficient now in its third week earned N18, 459, 252 million in second place.
Nollywood was at the sixth place with Sluator Baby which made N4,298,150 million and living and Bondage: Breaking free debuted in its first weekend at number seven. The second week Living in Bondage: Breaking Free sat on top in its first full week and made N48,492,825 million pushing terminator to second place. Elevator Baby dropped to number eight and the week closed at N114, 331,989 million.
Living in Bondage continued its winning streak and suffered only seven percent decrease, but was pushed to second place by the end of the month ’21 Bridges’, ‘The Ghost’ and ‘The House of Truth’ debuted at seventh place.
December opened with living in Bondage redeeming its number one spot, followed by ’21 Bridges and Frozen. The total gross of the week N85,863,384 which was a hundred percent increase. By the third week there was another 44 percent increase with ‘Jumanji debuting and making N59,313,872 million and ‘Your Excellency’ grossed N36,652,637 million.
Entertainment
“French Up Your Career” PH, 2025 :Consul General Of France Harps On Proficiency In French
The Consul, General of France in Nigeria, Laurent Favier has encouraged French Learners to improve their skills on the language, as there are lots of opportunities up for grabs on the job market with fluency in French Language, saying that there are many other career paths which are often less well known to learners of French.
Participants at the “French Up Your Career” event held in Port Harcourt.
Favier who disclosed this during the just concluded third edition of the seminar tagged “French Up Your Career” organized by Alliance
Française, Port Harcourt explained that learning French doesn’t mean adding a language to your resume. It rather provides learners with new opportunities. Irrespective of their area of interest, be it diplomatic and International relations, international development, translation and Interpretation or journalism.
According to the Consul General, it was important to create awareness for young Nigerians in Port Harcourt who desire to have better understanding of how been fluent in French can create diverse career opportunities for users of the languages in Nigeria and the world at large, emphasizing that proficiency in French could possibly make learner a bridge between Nigeria and fast-developing regions.
“You previously heard this morning about how you can improve your French skills. This afternoon you will discover how being fluent in French can provide a significant edge on the job market and lead to professional careers that you may not have even considered before,”
“This event comes at the right time, as it launches the celebration of the richness and diversity of French-speaking cultures, which will mobilize us for more than a month throughout Nigeria and alongside other French-speaking countries,” Favier added.
He further highlighted that French is spoken by over 300 million people across the world, saying that, it’s one of the official languages of the United Nations, the European Union, and the African Union.
“There are many neighbouring African countries to Nigeria ,who have French as one of their primary languages of communication including Cameroon, Chad, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. So, what does this mean for you as students here in Nigeria?” He asked
“These sectors in which the French Embassy is often mobilized are the business and marketing field for example, as French is often the preferred language in many multinational companies, particularly those in the energy, oil and telecommunications sectors. I’m thinking as well in technology and IT,” he said
He noted that French-speaking countries in Africa are investing heavily in tech, innovation, and infrastructure, revealing that companies in Tech are looking for bilingual professionals to assist with software localization, customer support, and managing projects in French-speaking regions.
“The French embassy is not only mobilized to help learners discover promising sectors. We are also providing our support and expertise in
training teachers and optimizing university programs,” he summed up
Also, the linguistics cooperation attaché, French Embassy in Nigeria, Magaly Losange, who also gave a lecture at the seminar, in an interview with Newsmen said that the main purpose of the seminar was to be more informative and supportive to those who want to make a skill out of French Language,saying that as the linguistics cooperation attaché of the French Embassy it is her duty to promote French language through culture.
She cited traditional stereotypes as a major challenge affecting the growth and development of French in Nigeria, as school, teachers at the primary and secondary level in most cases teach French using the traditional way, where students learn French, but could not put words and grammar together as a skill for communicate.
“French is important. I don’t see French as colonization, l see French as a key to embrace globalization, l hope that learners will be inspired and ready to embrace the global village,” Losange said.
She however said that the French Embassy is working to ensure that equipments to facilitate the learning of French is put in place to enable learners improve their skills fast, which in two to three years learners should be able to communicate with French, advising learners to be intentional with learning the language, through social media and other workable devices to advance their skills for certification and better opportunities.
Highlight of the event which had about 250 participants in attendance was the eloquence award ceremony where students were awarded for their eloquence in French language by the Director, Alliance Française Port Harcourt, Mrs.Marina Lacal alongside the Linguistics cooperation attaché of the French Embassy in Nigeria, Magaly Losange.
After two edition of the seminar it was the turn of the Alliance Française, Port Harcourt to host the Third edition.
It would be recalled that the first edition of ” “French Up Your Career” event was organized at the Alliance Française Lagos on October 23, the second one at UNILAG on November 24, 2024 respectfully.
Popular Nigerian comedienne, Tomama has revealed how she waited for Afrobeats superstar, Wizkid outside the bathroom.
She shared this while recounting her encounter with the singer at a recent event with heavy security.
In a video posted on her Instagram page, Tomama explained that she waited by the bathroom in an attempt to have a one-on-one conversation with Wizkid.
She stated that she positioned herself near the restroom, hoping Wizkid would eventually use it, giving her the perfect opportunity to speak with him.
“Wizkid, I saw you, and I waited for you to pee, but you didn’t even stand up from where you were sitting. You just stayed there. All your crew members standing around got up to go pee. I was standing by the bathroom, waiting for you to come pee so that you would notice me,” she said.
Content creator and actor, Mr Macaroni has opened up about his financial struggles, saying he was both a victim of a scam and a failed investment in 2021.
He revealed that after losing all his savings, he resorted to borrowing to settle pending commitments and slipped into N500 million in debt.
He admitted that he is financially reckless and generous, impacting his financial stability negatively.
In lengthy post shared via his X handle yesterday, Mr Macaroni wrote, “Sometime around 2020/2022, I was a victim of a scam and simultaneously a failed investment that cost me all I had saved at the time. It shook me deeply but I told no one about it. If you know me well enough, you would know I do not like to share my problems. I could be going through the worst and at the same time helping others solve their own problems but I just would never share mine.”
“After I lost all the money I had then, Trouble started when I had to borrow money from different sources to settle all pending commitments and also fulfill certain responsibilities I have always believed were mine to fulfill. I make money in millions so I never thought borrowing money to pay back with interest could ever be a problem. But I got too comfortable and it took me a long time to realise that I was using the money I was earning to pay back interests. Also, my financial recklessness did not help. Please don’t borrow money! But if you must, please be responsible.”
The actor stated that 2024 marked a pivotal moment in his acting career but it was also the most challenging year for him as he faced over half a billion naira in debt.
Mr Macaroni revealed that his frustration grew worse after he was betrayed by someone he considered “a friend and sister.”
He added that with the support of family and friends who stood by him during his trying times, he now “feels better than I have felt in the last three years!”
The comedian stated that he decided to finally share his story to encourage others who are going through challenges.