Nigerian super star, Olamide is set to release his new single titled ‘Rock’ on May 14.
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The single will be the lead off his forthcoming June 2021 album ‘UY Scuti’.
UY SCUTI
Music: Olamide set to release new single
Covid-19: Live Broadway shows to return in September
Live Broadway shows will return to the stage starting September 14 after an 18-month hiatus to fight the coronavirus pandemic, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on Wednesday.
Tickets will go on sale beginning on Thursday and theaters will be allowed to fill 100% of capacity, Cuomo said. Broadway theaters are among New York’s biggest tourist attractions.
“Broadway is a major part of our state’s identity and economy, and we are thrilled that the curtains will rise again,” Cuomo said on Twitter.
NEW: Broadway shows will be ready to open September 14 at 100% capacity. Tickets go on sale starting tomorrow.
Broadway is major part of our state’s identity and economy, and we are thrilled that the curtains will rise again.
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) May 5, 2021
Live theater is one of the last sectors to come back after the pandemic because of the challenges of social distancing for actors on stage, for crews backstage and for audiences in cramped seating in old buildings.
While New York plans to lift most pandemic restrictions in two weeks, Broadway theaters need more time for rehearsals, marketing to draw crowds and other steps.
“Restarting Broadway is a complex endeavor,” said Charlotte St. Martin, president of the Broadway League, an industry group. “Today’s green light by the governor to put our shows on sale now for the fall is vital to our success.”
Producers will work with state authorities on what safety measures will be required. It is possible theaters will mandate proof of a coronavirus vaccination for audience members, New York budget director Robert Mujica said.
“Will people feel comfortable sitting right next to another individual without knowing their vaccination status?” Mujica said at a news conference. “What we do know from surveys is that the answer is no.”
With guidance from Governor Andrew Cuomo, Broadway shows in New York City will resume ticket sales in May 2021 for Fall 2021 performances. #NothingBeatsBroadway Read more: https://t.co/AdUcpJtx1H pic.twitter.com/8e6TAYm4FG
— The Broadway League (@BroadwayLeague) May 5, 2021
Thousands of actors, dancers, musicians and backstage crew were thrown out of work when Broadway theaters closed in March 2020. Some shows, including the hit musicals “Frozen” and “Mean Girls,” have said they will not return.
Thirty-one Broadway shows were in production when the shutdown began, including hits such as “Hamilton,” “The Lion King” and “Wicked.”
Each returning show will announce its re-opening date in the coming weeks, the Broadway League said.
More than 14.8 million tickets were sold for Broadway shows in the 2018-2019 season, bringing $1.8 billion in box office receipts, according to the Broadway League. Some 63% of those going to shows were tourists, from outside the United States or outside New York.
“It’s time to get back to work, and I can’t wait to be back on stage very soon,” said Sara Bareilles, songwriter and star of the musical “Waitress.”
Lagos Governor inaugurates committee for creativity
Lagos State Governor, Bababjide Sanwo-Olu has inaugurated a 9-member committee to drive creativity in the entertainment and tourism sector.
During the inauguration at Lagos House, Marina, Sanwo-Olu initiated an intervention project that would jump-start the transformation of the entertainment and tourism sector.
Nigeria is the second largest film producer in the world and Lagos is the centre of this huge creative enterprise.
To further support practitioners and enhance the sector as a significant contributor to our state and national GDP, today, I inaugurated a 9-member committee on… pic.twitter.com/IZ9177HlxP
— Babajide Sanwo-Olu (@jidesanwoolu) May 5, 2021
The nine -member committee on Film Production Empowerment is to fund youth creativity and entertainment activities.
This follows the disruption caused by the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) that negatively impacted entertainment and tourism in the state.
The committee’s inauguration came months after the governor set aside N1 billion seed capital to unlock the potential in hospitality and tourism businesses.
“The scheme is to support creative ideas of movie and entertainment producers, who are constrained by funds to bring their concepts into reality.
“Applicants are to be supported with funding based on the financial plans of their projects, the grant may be as much as N40 million for each beneficiary.”
The governor said entertainment and tourism are enablers of growth with huge potential for employment opportunities.
He said the sector was critical to achieving his administration’s youth development objectives, given its high rate of absorption of creative young people in its supply chains.
According to him, aside the N1 billion set aside for hospitality industry, the scheme is specifically targeted at the movie industry, which is known all over the world.
”This is a signpost of all pockets of intervention we have created for development of creativity and tourism sector.
”This is with the belief that we can further raise the status of our creative output and commercialise the returns to a level it can compete with Hollywood and Bollywood.
”We realised most of our film production experts and directors face a lot of funding impediments.
“We are intervening to close this gap and bring credible veterans who have knowledge and have demonstrated capacity in the industry to drive this project.
”That is why we carefully selected five key practitioners in the industry to lead.
“The committee will be supported by four government officials to limit bureaucracy for the committee to achieve its objectives,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu said the committee had been given the authority to disburse the support grants to movie producers who had fresh ideas and those whose stories were yet to be completed.
He charged the committee to work out its engagement modalities and administrative responsibility of selecting the beneficiaries of the scheme.
”As we roll out this scheme, we want to be able to help the industry around job creation and bring youths out of unemployment, using the creative industry.
”We also want to create entrepreneurs that will use their creativity to enhance the market shares of the sector.
”We want to support industry practitioners to raise capacity, support development of local content and discourage the action of taking proceeds from the industry out of the country, thereby denying local practitioners the benefits of their talents.
”We will not restrict your (committee’s) ability; we will give you leeway to do your job,” Sanwo-Olu said.
The governor said the intervention would galvanise the private sector into committing more funding to the industry for accelerated growth.
He said the scheme would unlock the potential of the Lagos coastline and turn it into a destination of choice in African tourism.
The Commissioner for Tourism, Mrs Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, said the committee members would set the conditions for accessing this fund and determine eligibility of applicants.
She said that they would decide on the amount that could be given to an individual applicant or group at a particular time.
”This intervention will make Lagos state to continue to retain its position as the hub of film making in Nigeria and as a city for the creative minds,” Akinbile-Yussuf said.
Richard Mofe-Damijo – a veteran filmmaker and Nollywood actor – is the Chairman of the nine-member committee.
Other industry veterans in the committee are, ace cinematographer, Tunde Kelani; a Film and Television Producer, Mo Abudu; Movie Director, Kunle Afolayan; and Peace Anyim-Osigwe.
The government officials in the committee are Adebukola Agbaminoja, Ferdinand Tinubu, Taju Olajumoke and Mrs Funke Avoseh (Secretary).
Mofe-Damijo said: ”We don’t have any excuse not to perform in this assignment.
“We will do everything in our capacity to ensure that result which the governor has envisioned comes to reality.”
Megan Markle wins UK copyright claim
A British court on Wednesday upheld Meghan Markle’s copyright claim against Associated Newspapers, the publisher of the Mail on Sunday and MailOnline, over its publication of a letter to her father.
The ruling by judge, Mark Warby means the Duchess of Sussex, as Markle is formally known, has now won every part of her legal claim against the newspaper group, which published a handwritten letter she wrote to her father Thomas Markle.
Warby said on Wednesday at a remote hearing lawyers acting for Queen Elizabeth II had assured him the copyright did not belong to the Crown so he was granting “summary judgement” over that remaining aspect of the case, too.
In February the High Court issued Meghan with a “summary judgement”, meaning she won her privacy and data protection rights claims against Associated Newspapers over the letter’s publication without having to go to trial.
Warby also ordered the Mail on Sunday to print a front-page statement acknowledging her legal victory.
But the judge said at the time her copyright claim needed further scrutiny because the newspaper group suggested Meghan did not fully own the letter’s copyright and members of the royal communications team helped her draft it.
Meghan’s solicitor, Ian Mill QC, said on Wednesday lawyers for the Keeper of the Privy Purse — the official responsible for the monarch’s private funds — had written “disclaiming any claim to copyright on behalf of the crown”.
Mill said he also received a letter from lawyers for Jason Knauf, previously communications secretary to the Sussexes, saying he did not write or help draft the letter.
The newspaper group’s lawyer, Andrew Caldecott, said it was “a matter of regret” that Knauf had not clarified this earlier.
Meghan’s letter to her estranged father was written a few months after she married Queen Elizabeth II’s grandson, Prince Harry, and asked him to stop talking to tabloids and making false claims about her in interviews.
Meghan and her husband, the Duke of Sussex, have successfully mounted further legal action over media breaches of their privacy since moving to the United States last year.
At the same time the couple have engaged with media on their own terms, giving an explosive interview in March to US chat show host Oprah Winfrey, in which they said unnamed royals had made racist remarks about how dark their son’s skin would be.
PDP Governors meet with Ayade
A delegation from the People’s Democratic Party Governors’ Forum, PDP-GF, has held a closed-door meeting with Governor Ben Ayade in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, south-south Nigeria.
The team, which was led by the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal also included his Delta and Enugu states counterparts, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
After spending about two hours inside Government House Calabar with Ayade, Governor Tambuwal, who is also the Chairman of the PDP-GF told some newsmen that the meeting “was a fruitful, peaceful and productive engagement with the stakeholders of Cross River.”
“We are here on the mandate of the PDP-GF, which was sanctioned by the National Working Committee, NWC, to come and engage with our dear brother and colleague, Professor Ben Ayade, the Governor and other stakeholders of our party here in Cross River on the issues of the Congresses held here in the state that became contentious.
Also Read: INEC fixes date for 2023 general elections
“We have engaged with them and from our discussions by the grace of God we will soon resolve the issues and the party will bounce back as one. There were lots of concerns about how the Congresses went about and every one of us is interested in restoring normalcy so that the family is brought back together and work together for the common interest of Cross River State,” Tambuwal said.
He hinted that the delegation would report back to the Governors’ Forum and NWC for further deliberation and action.
The visitors later took a tour of the industrial park where Governor Ayade showed them a frozen chicken line called Calachika, the Cross River State Instant Noodles, branded KISIMIE Instant Noodles complex and the feed mill.
Zainab Sa’id
PGF commends Plateau Governor
The Progressives Governors Forum, PGF has commended the Governor of Plateau State Simon Lalong for his contributions to the Forum and Nigeria.
The commendation was made in a birthday felicitation message to Governor Lalong and signed by the Chairman of PGF and Governor of Kebbi State, Abubakar Bagudu.
The Forum said the Plateau State governor’s contributions to matters of governance have been insightful and resolute.
“We, in particular, wish to acknowledge and commend your leadership, vision and commitment to a united prosperous Nigeria. Under the leadership of our party, APC, we acknowledge your contributions to our team of Progressive Governors through your insightful and resolute inputs to the processes of managing governance in Plateau State as well as the entire Northern Nigeria and at the national level.
“As Governor of Plateau State, through all the development initiatives being implemented by your APC-led government, you represent the shining light of our politics!
“Once more, as we rejoice with HE Simon Bako Lalong, we also reiterate our commitment to with the Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari to resolve all the nation’s security challenge,” the message read.
Zainab Sa’id
5G deployment policy ready for Federal Government’s approval – NCC
The Executive Vice-Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, says that policy attached to the deployment of 5G network services in the country is ready for Federal Government’s approval.
Danbatta made this known at signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) on clearing of C-band for deployment of 5G services in Abuja.
He said that all the issues associated with the safety of the technology had been adequately addressed in the country.
“First of all, issues associated with the safety of this technology have been adequately addressed. Nigerians have been sensitised on the safety of this technology with regards to health the security dimension.
“We have gone to the government and very soon they will come up with a statement on the date for the deployment of 5G services because the policy is equally ready.
“So the information of the state of readiness as we can see is satisfactory. We have the policy, we have the resource for the deployment of 5G services in the country.
“We have mobile network operators that are willing to bid for the available spectrum that will be used for the deployment of this subs to Nigerians. So our state of readiness is really high indeed,” he said.
The NCC Boss who intimated that the next step was for the spectrum to be allocated to the NCC by the National Frequency Management Council (NFMC), added that government would give approval for the utilisation of the spectrum to deploy 5G services in the country.
“Well the next step is for the spectrum in question to be allocated to the NCC by the National Frequency Management Council which has the honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy as chair.
“The minister is aware about this signing of the MOU, he has given his blessing and therefore we are not envisaging any problem at the level of the national frequency Management Council.
“We are assured of getting the approval for the utilisation of the spectrum to deploy 5G services in the country.
He further said that 5G would build on this momentum, bringing substantial network improvements, including higher connection speeds, mobility and capacity, as well as low-latency capabilities.
“We are glad that the Management of NigComSat and NCC have taken a bold step in the right direction to release contagious quantum of Spectrum in the 3.5GHz band for early deployment of 5G.
Danbatta, however, said that the 3.4 GHz -3.9GHz arel the best frequency allocated by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
He reiterated that the C-band was most suitable and appropriate for immediate deployment of 5G services taking into consideration availability of device ecosystem with 60-70 per cent of global commercial 5G network deployment currently in the band.
According to Him this was the importance of the spectrum for early deployment of 5G services in Nigeria and it cannot be over emphasised.
He disclosed that amongst the Frequency Spectrum bands allocated to 5G by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU, the C-band (3.4GHz – 3.9GHz) stands out because its balancing point between coverage and capacity provides the perfect environment for 5G connectivity.
The two agencies have been in discussions on how to relocate the operations of NG-1R to the standard C-band 300MHz (3.9GHz – 4.2GHz) potion of the band, which is more suitable in terms of Satellite service offering because end user terminal are cheaper there,
While leaving the non-standard C-band 400MHz (3.5GHz–9GHz) portion of the band for 5G use.
The cost of relocating the NG-1R is expected to be offset from the proceeds of the auction of the 5G Spectrum.”
“For optimal 5G service performance, an average of contiguous 100 MHz of spectrum in the C-band is required by an Operator.
However in Nigeria, only 120 MHz of the band (3.4 – 3.52) GHz is available for mobile services while the remaining 680 MHz (3.52 – 4.2) GHz of the band is used by NigComSat (NG-1R) satellites”.
Dr Abimbola Alale, Director General, NIGCOMSAT, appreciated all stakeholders that made the MoU a reality and added that she cannot thank them enough for their efforts.
Nnenna.O
5G will positively impact Nigeria’s Digital Economy – NCC Chairman
The Chairman Board of Commissioners, Nigerian Communications Commission,NCC
Professor. Adeolu Akande has stated that the full deployment of 5G technology in the country will have positive impact on the nation’s digital economy.
Speaking on in Abuja, at the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the NCC and the the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited, (NigComSat), on the full deployment of 5G, Profesdor Akande said, 5G will build on the successes of the previous generations of 2G, 3G and 4G and that spectrum plays a great role in the deployment of 5G.
“Spectrum plays a critical role in realising the full extent of these new capabilities. Thus, 5G’s full socio-economic impact is dependent on access to a variety of spectrum resources. These Spectrum will play a key role in meeting the demand for many enhanced mobile data services as well as new wireless broadband use cases such as remote object manipulation, industrial automation, virtual and augmented reality and next-generation connectivity for vehicles,” he said.
He emphasised that 5G will build on this momentum, bringing substantial network improvements, including higher connection speeds, mobility and capacity, as well as low-latency capabilities noting that ” In doing so, it enables new use cases and applications that will positively impact different sectors and improve efforts towards achieving Digital Economies.”
The Chairman applauded the two agencies for their foresight in the early deployment of 5G in the country.
“We are glad that the Management of NigComSat and NCC have taken a bold step in the right direction to release contagious quantum of Spectrum in the 3.5GHz band for early deployment of 5G. This type of collaboration seeks to ensure synergy amongst agencies under the Federal Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy,” he said.
On his part,the Executive Vice Chairman, NCC,Professor Umar Danbatta, said the 3.4 GHz -3.9GHz are the best frequency allocated by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
“Amongst the Frequency Spectrum bands allocated to 5G by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU, the C-band (3.4GHz – 3.9GHz) stands out because its balancing point between coverage and capacity provides the perfect environment for 5G connectivity. The C-band is most suitable and appropriate for immediate deployment of 5G services taking into consideration availability of device ecosystem with 60-70% of global commercial 5G network deployment currently in the band, thus the importance of this Spectrum for early deployment of 5G services in Nigeria cannot be over emphasised.”
According to him, “The two agencies have been in discussions on how to relocate the operations of NG-1R to the standard C-band 300MHz (3.9GHz – 4.2GHz) potion of the band, which is more suitable in terms of Satellite service offering because end user terminal are cheaper there, while leaving the non-standard C-band 400MHz (3.5GHz – 3.9GHz) portion of the band for 5G use. The cost of relocating the NG-1R is expected to be offset from the proceeds of the auction of the 5G Spectrum.”
He added that it would also go a long way in making positive impact on the Nigerian economy
“For optimal 5G service performance, an average of contiguous 100 MHz of spectrum in the C-band is required by an Operator. However in Nigeria, only 120 MHz of the band (3.4 – 3.52) GHz is available for mobile services while the remaining 680 MHz (3.52 – 4.2) GHz of the band is used by NigComSat (NG-1R) satellites,” he added.
He also used the opportunity to appreciate the Management of the NigComSat under the distinguished leadership of Dr. Abimbola Alale for demonstrating that the interest of our dear country is paramount to our organizational or personal interest.
In her response ,Director General, NigComSat, Dr. Abimbola Alale, appreciated all stakeholders that made the MoU a reality 5G adding saying she cannot thank them enough for their efforts.
5G Technology provides the platform for new and emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Data to improve the way we live and work.
Nnenna.O
Malian woman gives birth to nine babies
Halima Cisse, a 25-year-old Malian woman has given birth to nine babies, two more than doctors had detected during scans.
Read Also: Minister raises alarm on fresh doctored videos to malign him
This was disclosed by West African country’s top health official, it was reported that Cisse gave birth to the babies by cesarean section on Tuesday in Morocco after being sent there for special care.
“The newborns (five girls and four boys) and the mother are all doing well,” Mali’s health minister said in a statement.
Malian doctors, sent her to Morocco for the births because hospitals in Mali, one of the world’s poorest countries, are ill-equipped to provide adequate care for this extremely rare multiple pregnancy.
The private Ain Borja clinic in Casablanca, where she was treated, confirmed she gave birth there.
The clinic’s director, Youssef Alaoui said they were not expecting nine babies.
Cisse gave birth prematurely at 30 weeks and is now in stable condition after heavy bleeding for which she was given a blood transfusion. The babies have been placed in incubators, Youssef Alaoui said.
e-NHIS: NIGCOMSAT delivers mobile biometric enrollment kits to NHIS
The operation of National Health Insurance Scheme using contemporary information and communication technology (ICT) equipment has received a significant boost with the delivery of 37 customised Mobile Biometric Enrollment kit and 100 identity card printers to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Read Also: NHIS plans massive rewards to enhance performance
The Nigerian Communication Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) presented the full complement of the devices to the Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Prof Mohammed Sambo, in Abuja.
Delighted with the milestone, Prof Sambo said that the electronic platform will transform the entire operations of health insurance in the country from enrollment to access to care, adding that the device will enable the conduct of registration activities in rural areas and places where there is no electricity.
Tracing the history of the e-NHIS project, Sambo expressed gratitude to the President Muhammadu Buhari administration for breathing life into the project and the minister of health, Dr Osagie Ehanire for his unflinching support which facilitated Federal Executive Council (FEC) approval for the project.
Explaining features of the device, Deputy Manager, NIGCOMSAT, Mr Akin Morakinyo said that the kit is ruggedized tamperproof and waterproof IP67 standard comprising a laptop, fingerprint scanner, signature pad, HD webcam, thermal printer and 45000mah backup battery which can last eight hours without charge, adding that the device can work online and offline while its accompanying identity card printer can produce 1000 cards per kit per day.
General Manager, Human Resources (NIGCOMSAT)Alh. Idris Adamu, who led the agency’s team of experts, further explained that the enrollment kit will enable NHIS fulfill its partnership agreement with the Nigeria Identity Management Commission (NIMC) on the compulsory National Identity Number (NIN), adding that the kit was custom-made for the Scheme.
Adamu further explained that in the event of the kit falling from a 10-feet height it will suffer no disrepair, adding that the device was carefully designed to withstand intense physical pressure.
The automation of NHIS services is to come on stream later on in the year.