BEM, SINGER, SONGWRITER, GUITERIST RELEASES ART WORK FOR BRAND NEW SINGLE, "I REMEMBER". BRAND NEW SINGLE, "I REMEMBER".

BEM RELEASES ART WORK FOR BRAND NEW SINGLE, "I REMEMBER".

What inspired you to write this piece of music?

I actually began writing this song about 14 years ago. For some reason, I could not bring myself to finish it till the ending of 2019; which is kind of ridiculous when you hear the simplicity of I REMEMBER. Generally, I would say the motivation for the song began as self-reflection and was finished based on the appreciation of others whose lives were going through similar dramatic changes. It is in this spirit of shared experiences that the song was also made; with a group of friends involved.

Was writing I REMEMBER in response to something significant that happened in your life?

When I woke up on my 30th birthday the opening lines came to me and, for a while, I figured it was because i had hit a milestone in my life. In the time that has passed, the heart of the chorus has always rang in my ears, especially at those times when my life has literally ground to a halt or when some unspeakably good thing has occurred. There have been quite a number of them, and for some time I have been weary of increasing difficulties for many people across the world. We thought it would help to position I REMEMBER now so that people could reconcile with the memories of the past and those they are about to create; good and bad.

Where were you when you wrote and recorded it?

I was in Abuja when I started writing I REMEMBER. Last year, I moved to Gboko, #Benue state to run my late father's farm and that is where I put finishing touches to it. There was an urgency I felt to hit the studio and this is contrary to my practice. I like to take at least one year to perform new songs before different audiences and work out the kinks before I even think about recording. Anyway, I called up my friend, Emmeo Ogwuche, and we got to it when he came into Makurdi  from Lagos. We got a number of friends together and made it work.

What are the ideas behind I REMEMBER?

Anyone who has lived for a significant amount of time has very likely asked this puzzling question "Why am I here"? There are no easy answers but what has come to my knowledge is that simple reflection and appreciation for past and present circumstances can help you see something of a foundation of your life, get a grip on what is truly important, and move forward with power. For me, it was recognizing the preservative influence of God in my life in spite if my many mistakes.

What is the connection between you, your instruments, band mates, and collaborators?

If I were to put my answer in one word, it would be #guitar. After my voice, the guitar is my next favorite instrument and, just like people, each guitar has its own unique voice and personality. It is also a refreshing experience when the same guitar spews out different ranges of expression handled by different players. This intriguing fact has bound me to the people I enjoy making music with the most.

COVID-19: Nigeria is heading towards recession, says Finance Minister

Nigeria’s finance minister, Zainab Ahmed, says the coronavirus pandemic and falling oil prices are set to force the economy into negative growth.

Ms. Ahmed made the comments after the National Economic Summit meeting in Abuja on Thursday.

“On the economy, COVID-19 has resulted in the collapse in oil prices,” she said. “This will impact negatively, and the impact has already started showing on the federation’s revenues and on the foreign exchange earnings.

“Net oil and gas revenue and influx to the federation account in the first quarter of 2020 amounted to N940.91 billion.  This represented a shortfall of N125.52 billion or 31% of the prorated amount that is supposed to have been realised by the end of that first quarter.”

She added that the economic contraction will multiply the misery of the poor.

“The crisis will only multiply this misery,” she said. “The economic growth in Nigeria, that is the GDP, could in the worst case scenario, contract by as much as -8.94% in 2020.  But in the best case, which is the case we are working on, it could be a contraction of -4.4%, if there is no fiscal stimulus. But with the fiscal stimulus plan that we are working on, this contraction can be mitigated and we might end up with a negative -0.59%.” (Channels TV)

Multichoice To Begin Auditions For Big Brother Naija Season 5

A new season of the fan-favourite reality show, Big Brother Naija is reportedly hitting the airwaves sooner than Oanticipated.

According to several social media posts shared by African Magic on Wednesday, May 20, it stated that its fifth season, the BBNaija show will run an online audition process from May 20 till May 30.

This time, the auditions for Big Brother Naija which is sponsored by Multichoice will be done entirely online. 

Interested participants are required to partake in the online audition that kicks off today, 20th of May 2020, and wrap up on 30th of May 2020. 

If you think you have what it takes to be a Housemate this season, then don't hold back! You are expected to record a two-minute video of yourself, stating why you should be picked to be a Housemate in season 5 of Big Brother  Naija  Only after recording your video, then you need to fill out the online registration form and upload your video below. 

Please answer all questions on the form fully and honestly. If it is discovered that you have been deliberately untruthful or have withheld information relevant to your character or your past, you will be disqualified from the selection process. 

The online audition is free and open to interested male and female participants, who are of Nigerian nationality with a valid Nigerian passport, and must be at least 21 years of age by June 1, 2020.

To enter the Online Auditions

Click Here.

While a launch date is yet to be confirmed, the upcoming show is expected to ride on the success of previous highly successful editions. Top on the list of questions is how organizers plan on managing the mammoth crowd that its auditions attract especially amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Following the success of the fourth season of Big Brother Naija, MultiChoice Nigeria has announced that the fifth season of the show will premiere in July 2020.

Lagos State Government and other stakeholders on Wednesday enumerated the way forward for tourism growth in Lagos State post-COVID-19

Lagos State Government and other stakeholders on Wednesday enumerated the way forward for tourism growth in Lagos State post-COVID-19.

The stakeholders spoke during a virtual zoom meeting organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, with the theme: “Resetting the Tourism Sector in Lagos State”.

Speaking, veteran comedian Atunyota Akpobome, popularly known as “Ali Baba” said that for the state to be properly positioned for growth, there was the need to put in place the needed infrastructure that would drive tourism.

He also advised on organising competitions around entertainment, tourism, and culture to attract tourists into the state which would also drive the entertainment economy.

“What to be done is to ensure that the needed infrastructure are put in place to drive tourism, like building high-rise sites where people can view some segments of the state.

“We need more art galleries; when President Macron of France visited Lagos, he asked for where local fabrics are sold, we should have places where our local fabrics, arts and crafts are constantly exhibited,” he said.

Also, a Hotel Consultant, Dayo Adesugba, advised the state government to create tourism lottery and special funds for tourism stakeholders as a way to revitalise the industry post–COVID-19.

He said the state government must also think of upgrading tourism sites within the state which were not attractive enough to woo tourists.

Adesugba said that security had been an issue of concern to most tourism practitioners, adding that the state government needed to work on beefing up security to rekindle the confidence of tourists.

“We need to rekindle that sense of security in every intending tourist just by making sure we have effective tourism security personnel in place.

“There should be training and retraining of tourism practitioners and also creation of tourism fund to assist those engaged in small and medium scale tourism businesses to remain in business post–COVID-19,” he said.

Bankole Bernard, former President,  National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies [NANTA], drew the attention of the state to the untapped potential of religious tourism dominant in the state.

He also called for proper tourism education for Lagos residents to understand what tourism means as most people lacked tourism knowledge 

Minister Inaugurates Post-Covid-19 Committee For Creative Industry 19th May 2020

PRESS RELEASE

Minister Inaugurates Post-Covid-19 Committee For Creative Industry

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has

performed the virtual inauguration of the Post-Covid-19 Initiatives

Committee for the Creative Industry, with a call on all members of the

industry to support the committee in the interest of the industry.

“The Committee's membership, as announced two weeks ago, has now been

expanded to include as many sectors as possible. This is to ensure a

fair representation,'' the Minister said while inaugurating the

committee in his office in Abuja on Tuesday.

''However, while the committee cannot accommodate all members of the

industry, it is certain that all members will benefit from its work. I

therefore want to implore the entire industry to support this

committee. This is no time for

division. All hands must be on deck so the industry can rebound,” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed described the Creative Industry as a very critical

sector of the nation's economy and a major plank of the economic

diversification policy of this Administration.

He said that in view of the devastating impact of Covid-19 on the

Creative Industry, it has become imperative to have a collective and

government-supported approach in dealing with the immediate, short and

long term economic stimulus and initiatives for the industry, in order

to mitigate the effect of the pandemic on the sector.

“Two weeks ago, I announced the establishment of this committee. In

doing so, I said the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted negatively on the

nation, and that the Creative Industry has been particularly hard hit,

considering the fact that it is an industry that has

people-interaction at its core. I also said that instead of addressing

these problems piecemeal, we should do so holistically for a more

positive outcome”, The Minister said.

While commending members of the Committee for their sacrifice and love

of country, he urged them to do justice to the assignment, which will

culminate in suitable recommendations that will help the industry to

thrive and expand.

In his response, the Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Ali Baba,

expressed the appreciation that the Creative Industry has been given a

pride of place under this administration because of its huge

contribution to the diversification of the nation's economy.

He assured that members of the committee will work in unison to

represent the entire creative industry and not just their respective

sectors.

The Committee’s Terms of Reference are: Assess the expected impact of

the pandemic on the industry in general; advise the Government on how

to mitigate job and revenue losses in the sector as well as to create

succour for the industry small businesses; suggest the type of

taxation and financing that is best for the industry at this time to

encourage growth and advise the Government on any other measure or

measures that can be undertaken to support the industry.

Members of the Committee are:

1.     Ali Baba - Comedy, Film and TV (Chairman)

2.     Hajia Sa'a Ibrahim - Broadcasting Organizations of Nigeria

(BON) - Vice Chairman

3.       Bolanle Austen Peters – Film and Performing Arts

4.       Charles Novia – Television and Independent Producer

5.       Segun Arinze- Actor and Producer

6.       Ali Jita – Actor and Musician

7.       Baba Agba – Film Director

8.       Kene Okwuosa – Cinema and Distribution

9.       Efe Omoregbe – Record label and Collective rights management

10.       Prince Daniel Aboki – Radio and Film

11.     Chioma Ude – Streaming

12.   Olumade Adesemowo – Television and Platform (FreeTV)

13.   Dare Art Alade – Livespot Entertainment

14. Oliver Enwonwu - President, Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA),

15. Alhaji Saleh Rabo - President, Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria

16.  Bala Hassan - Booksellers Association

17   Ali Nuhu - Kannywood

18   Tajudeen Owoyemi - Hotels

19. B.M. Dzukogi - Association  of Nigerian Authors

20. TY Bello - Photography

21. Lanre Da Silva Ajayi - Fashion

22. Anita Eboigbe - Secretary

Segun Adeyemi

Special Assistant To The President (Media)

Office of The Minister of Information and Culture

Abuja

19May2020