Category: Arts & Entertainment

LAGOS (Agency Report) — The European Union (EU) is developing new projects and funding opportunities to support cultural events and artistes across Nigeria and Africa.

EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, disclosed this on Saturday at the maiden Lagos Contemporary Circus Festival held at the National Theatre.

The festival, organised by the National Theatre with EU sponsorship, was held under the theme, “Circus in Motion”.

Mignot said the world was experiencing troubled times, making increased support for culture, the arts and the creative economy necessary.

“We need more cultural action, not less. We need more funding for culture, for the arts, for the creative economy,” he said.

He said the festival demonstrated the value of cultural partnerships, describing performances by Nigerian, Ethiopian, Ivorian and Swiss artistes as international, colourful and energetic.

“It’s really very international, colourful, full of energy and very modern, very contemporary,” Mignot said.

The envoy said the EU had supported the recent Kano Creative Summit organised by the National Theatre.

He added that the EU was partnering with film festivals across the country and would support the Lagos Biennial of Contemporary Art in November.

Mignot said the EU was developing projects aimed at empowering artistes across Africa and promoting greater collaboration between European and African creatives.

He said the EU wanted to fund more co-creations through training, workshops and other forms of artistic exchange.

“What we hope is to create a dynamic because beyond these shows, there are co-creations, trainings, workshops between all these artists,” he said.

Mignot expressed hope that the circus festival would continue in subsequent years, attract more sponsors and become a regular platform for international artistes.

The General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of the National Theatre, Tola Akerele, said contemporary circus combined dance, movement, acrobatics, sport and physical performance.

Akerele said the art form provided Nigerian artistes with opportunities to develop their skills and tell their own stories.

“Nigeria is a young contemporary circus festival, but there’s so much potential. Contemporary circus is dance, it’s movement, it’s acrobatics, it’s sport,” she said.

She said a successful outcome of the festival would be helping Nigerians understand contemporary circus and recognise its potential.

Akerele said the festival demonstrated Nigeria’s capacity to develop its own contemporary circus stories through collaborations with international artistes.

She also stressed the importance of sponsorship in making cultural experiences more accessible to the public.

“This is a free show. Everyone can come in. So, we want more of this. The community is here. Everyone can have access,” she said.

She said the festival attracted people from different age groups, including families, children, young adults and older people.

Akerele added that contemporary circus offered young Nigerians opportunities to develop skills that could take them to audiences beyond Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that guests arrived hours before the performances at Lawn A of the National Theatre, which quickly filled with spectators.

Some spectators stood as the crowd grew, while food, drinks, barbecue and popcorn vendors added to the festive atmosphere.

Lagos Blue Line trains also passed nearby at intervals, adding to the atmosphere around the venue.

The Ethiopia-Nigeria co-creation featured dancers, gymnasts, acrobats and a contortionist, whose performances drew screams of excitement from the audience.

Swiss performer and cyclist Jessica Arpin also engaged spectators during her performance at the festival.

Nigerian contortionist Samuel Udoh and Ivorian artistes performed using African costumes, props and sounds.

The audience remained engaged late into the night, watching the performances at the debut Lagos Contemporary Circus Festival.

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — Cardinal John Onaiyekan has called for sustained support for literary works, saying books remain relevant despite the rapid transformation of communication through digital technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Onaiyekan made the call in Abuja at the public presentation and launch of a trilogy — Oderaa, Quaeso Manus and In Vinea Domini — authored by Rev. Fr. Kenneth Agwu.

The cardinal commended Agwu for documenting his experiences, thoughts and reflections in the three-volume publication, describing the initiative as valuable to society.

He urged the author to continue writing and called on members of the public to support the publication, purchase and distribution of the books.

Onaiyekan noted that digital communication had revolutionised how people communicated, recorded information and retrieved knowledge.

He, however, said the emergence of AI had further transformed the communication landscape, making the future of information and knowledge increasingly difficult to predict.

The cardinal maintained that books would continue to play an important role in preserving knowledge and human experiences despite advances in digital technology.

He appealed to individuals with the financial capacity to support literary works by purchasing copies of the books for distribution to young people and those who could not afford them.

Onaiyekan noted that poverty remained a reality in Nigeria, stressing the importance of making knowledge accessible to disadvantaged members of society.

Also speaking, the Archbishop of Abuja, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, urged Nigerians to embrace gratitude and service as important values for building a better society.

Kaigama said every citizen had a moral responsibility to live honestly and truthfully, work hard and contribute positively to national development.

He called on political leaders and citizens to embrace selfless service and place the interest of society above personal gains.

The archbishop particularly encouraged young Nigerians to cultivate the habit of reading and writing, warning against excessive dependence on the internet and emerging technologies.

He said technology should complement rather than replace human reasoning, urging Nigerians to deploy their talents and abilities productively.

Agwu, the author of the trilogy, said the first volume, Oderaa, focused on human purpose and the possibility of discovering and fulfilling it.

He explained that the second volume, Quaeso Manus, examined the importance of assistance from others in helping individuals achieve their purpose in life.

According to him, the third volume, In Vinea Domini, centres on service to others, which he described as the foundation of every dignified achievement.

Agwu said the trilogy also reflected his experiences during his first decade as a priest, adding that achievement became meaningful only when it translated into service to humanity.

He said the process of writing the books taught him valuable lessons about perseverance and the importance of accepting honest criticism.

The priest recalled that he initially planned to publish his reflections as a single volume, but Onaiyekan challenged the idea and encouraged him to expand the work into three volumes.

Agwu described the trilogy as a call for Nigerians to recognise and appreciate positive contributions to society while holding leaders accountable when they fail in their responsibilities.

Earlier, Mr Wisdom Ikuli, Technical Adviser to the Bayelsa State Governor on Media and Public Affairs and chairman of the occasion, described Agwu as a priest whose life reflected gratitude, humility and selfless service.

Ikuli urged the public to support literary works that preserve ideas, experiences and values, while cautioning young Nigerians against the growing attraction to quick wealth.

He encouraged young people to embrace patience, discipline, hard work and personal development, stressing that perseverance through hardship could help build resilience, character and a more responsible society.

LAGOS, Nigeria (NPA) — Renowned political economist, scholar and public intellectual, Professor Pat Utomi, has reflected on the legacy of his influential television programme, Patito’s Gang, arguing that many of the security and governance challenges confronting Nigeria today were foreseen decades ago but ignored by political leaders and the public alike.

In a series of posts on his X account on Saturday, Utomi recalled the origins of the programme, which first aired 26 years ago and sought to create a platform for robust public debate as Nigeria transitioned from military rule to democratic governance.

According to him, Patito’s Gang was inspired by the need to reinvent the public sphere in the classical sense described by German philosopher Jurgen Habermas, where democracy and modernity intersect through rational public conversation and a vibrant marketplace of ideas.

“In its first run, Patito’s Gang had a 90-minute magazine format that tried for transgenerational impact,” Utomi said.

He explained that the programme featured multiple segments, including a senior panel he moderated, a junior gang hosted by Ubong Essien, a youth parliament guided by Austin Nweze, and Bullseye, a segment that engaged top policymakers on national issues.

Utomi announced that the programme would soon return, this time airing on YouTube and selected private television platforms.

The first episode, he said, would serve as “an ode to Patito’s Gang” while revisiting the issues that originally inspired its creation.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s worsening security situation, Utomi argued that warning signs had long been evident but were overlooked.

He noted that during the years when Patito’s Gang aired, Boko Haram appeared to many Nigerians as a distant and insignificant threat confined to Borno State.

However, he maintained that common sense and careful analysis suggested the danger would eventually spread if left unchecked.

“Now that what was feared has come home to roost, maybe we can press a reset button,” he said.

“If we can turn our back on how politicians driven by self-love have divided us, poisoned long-term friendships and replaced reason with emotion in the public sphere, redemption may come.”

The former presidential candidate blamed what he described as emotion-driven political choices and the failure of the educated middle class to challenge poor leadership for allowing insecurity, banditry and state capture to deepen across the country.

According to him, many of the crises currently confronting Nigeria were predicted years ago in a series of articles he authored with titles such as The Road to Somalia, Mogadishu Bus Stop and The Coming Anarchy.

Utomi lamented that despite repeated warnings, successive governments failed to take decisive action to address the structural causes of insecurity and social decline.

He pointed to recent reports highlighting rising insecurity, disease outbreaks, economic hardship and food insecurity as evidence of a nation under strain.

Among the headlines he cited were reports of growing insecurity threatening the education of millions of pupils, cholera outbreaks in Borno State, nationwide protest threats and worsening food affordability for ordinary households.

The economist also reflected on the personal and financial sacrifices involved in sustaining Patito’s Gang, describing it as one of the most rewarding projects of his public life.

“Even with Patito’s Gang being a major drain on my finances, it remains one of the more gratifying of my exploits,” he said.

Utomi recounted encounters with Nigerians in cities across the world, including Melbourne, London, Philadelphia, Dallas, Los Angeles, Paris and Kuala Lumpur, who told him the programme had shaped their thinking and worldview.

He revealed that despite initial scepticism about the programme’s ambitious format, it survived for several years before evolving from a 90-minute show to one-hour and later 30-minute formats.

According to him, the programme maintained its commitment to quality discourse and intellectual independence despite pressure from commercial and political interests.

Among the prominent figures who featured on the programme were journalists Onukaba Adinoyi-Ojo, Pini Jason, John Momoh, Remi Oyo and Reuben Abati, alongside professionals such as Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili and other leading voices in public affairs.

Utomi acknowledged that some Nigerians dismissed the programme’s message as mere intellectualism or “grammar”, but argued that the consequences of ignoring serious public debate are now evident.

“What makes the heart bleed is that I am on record that these times were on the way, in the hope that all would rally to prevent their advent,” he said.

With the planned return of Patito’s Gang, Utomi said he hopes the platform can once again contribute to rebuilding a culture of reasoned debate, civic engagement and national renewal.

LAGOS, Nigeria (NPA) — Nigerian music star Mr P‑Square has released the official video for his latest single, “I Can’t Look Away.” The visuals, which dropped earlier this week, have already sparked buzz across social media and music platforms.

Reacting to the excitement surrounding the release, the singer declared, in a post on his verified X handle on Saturday: “They thought I was joking when I said I was coming with fire! This is only the warm‑up. More madness loading… #OGForeverAlbumLoading.”

Fans are now eagerly anticipating the full rollout of his upcoming OG Forever Album, which promises higher‑energy tracks and visuals.

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) and Convener of the Concerned Creatives, Artistes and Entertainers Initiative for Tinubu, Emeka Rollas, has called for the sustainability of reforms introduced in Nigeria’s creative industry under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Rollas made the appeal on Thursday in Abuja during a news conference and the official unveiling of the initiative, which seeks to mobilise support for the continued development of the country’s creative economy.

He said the creative sector is receiving unprecedented government attention under the Tinubu administration and has been recognised as a strategic component of Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda.

According to Rollas, President Tinubu laid the foundation for the growth of Nigeria’s entertainment industry during his tenure as Governor of Lagos State, creating an environment that encouraged private-sector investment in entertainment, culture, tourism, media and other creative enterprises.

“Lagos became the preferred destination for film production, music recording, cultural festivals, fashion events and creative entrepreneurship,” he said.

Rollas noted that the President has since expanded that vision to the national level through policies and programmes aimed at strengthening the creative economy.

Among the administration’s key interventions, he cited the creation of the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, which he said has given the sector greater visibility and policy focus.

He also highlighted the establishment of the $100 million Creative Economy Development Fund, designed to improve access to financing for filmmakers, fashion entrepreneurs, designers, digital innovators, artists and other stakeholders in the industry.

According to him, the government has also commenced implementation of the $617.7 million Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) Programme, which is targeted at empowering young Nigerians and expanding opportunities within the digital and creative sectors.

“These initiatives, reforms and achievements need sustainability and continuity to ensure that Nigerians get the full benefits,” Rollas said.

He further revealed that the administration has approved the establishment of Renewed Hope Creative Villages across the country to provide infrastructure for training, production, innovation, collaboration and cultural preservation.

Rollas said the government has also invested in capacity-building programmes for young Nigerians in film production, fashion enterprise development and other creative disciplines, while advancing the review of Nigeria’s National Policy on Culture.

He commended the appointment of respected industry professionals such as Ali Nuhu, Shaibu Husseini, Obi Asika and Dr. Olayiwola Awakan into strategic leadership positions within government institutions, describing the appointments as recognition of competence and industry experience.

“On behalf of concerned stakeholders within the Nigerian creative industry, we acknowledge the efforts of President Tinubu and his administration in repositioning the creative sector as a major driver of national development,” he said.

Rollas added that the Concerned Creatives, Artistes and Entertainers Initiative for Tinubu has established structures across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to deepen stakeholder engagement and grassroots mobilisation.

He said the movement is anchored on civic participation, democratic responsibility and national development.

Stakeholders from both the public and private sectors attended the event.