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Raz Adeoti’s Son Of The Soil Movie Set For Us Cinema Release

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Award-winning filmmaker and actor Raz Adoti is set to reach an even wider audience as his action drama Son of the Soil prepares for its Netflix debut. Following a strong run in cinemas, the film will begin streaming across Africa on Netflix from March 1.

The transition from theatrical release to a continental streaming platform marks a significant step for the production. Having drawn attention in cinemas for its pacing and grounded storytelling, the film now moves into homes across the region, expanding its footprint and accessibility.

Son of the Soil centers on a former special forces soldier who returns to his roots, only to find himself pulled into a violent confrontation with a criminal network threatening his community. The narrative blends personal conflict with broader social themes, presenting an action-driven story shaped by distinctly African settings and sensibilities.

The production is notable for its disciplined stunt choreography, tight combat sequences, and a cast assembled with both screen presence and physical credibility. At its core, the film is built around themes of loyalty, justice, and the cost of confronting entrenched power.

Its arrival on Netflix underscores the growing appetite for African action cinema and the increasing visibility of locally produced stories on global platforms. For industry observers, the release represents more than a streaming date. It signals continued momentum for Nigerian-led productions seeking cross-border audiences.

With March 1 approaching, viewers across Africa will have the opportunity to experience Son of the Soil on demand. For the cast and crew, it is both a continuation of the film’s journey and a milestone in its broader cultural reach.

Raz Adoti’s Son of the Soil Heads to Netflix After Cinematic Success

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Award-winning filmmaker and actor Raz Adoti is set to reach an even wider audience as his action drama Son of the Soil prepares for its Netflix debut. Following a strong run in cinemas, the film will begin streaming across Africa on Netflix from March 1.

The transition from theatrical release to a continental streaming platform marks a significant step for the production. Having drawn attention in cinemas for its pacing and grounded storytelling, the film now moves into homes across the region, expanding its footprint and accessibility.

Son of the Soil centers on a former special forces soldier who returns to his roots, only to find himself pulled into a violent confrontation with a criminal network threatening his community. The narrative blends personal conflict with broader social themes, presenting an action-driven story shaped by distinctly African settings and sensibilities.

The production is notable for its disciplined stunt choreography, tight combat sequences, and a cast assembled with both screen presence and physical credibility. At its core, the film is built around themes of loyalty, justice, and the cost of confronting entrenched power.

Its arrival on Netflix underscores the growing appetite for African action cinema and the increasing visibility of locally produced stories on global platforms. For industry observers, the release represents more than a streaming date. It signals continued momentum for Nigerian-led productions seeking cross-border audiences.

With March 1 approaching, viewers across Africa will have the opportunity to experience Son of the Soil on demand. For the cast and crew, it is both a continuation of the film’s journey and a milestone in its broader cultural reach.

Diana Childs: The Rising Multi-Talented Defining Nollywood’s Next Chapter

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In celebration of Africa’s film industry standouts, Ranks Africa Spotlight shines a powerful light on Diana Childs, one of Nollywood’s most exciting rising forces, an actor turned producer and director who has carved out a lane that is impossible to ignore.

Diana Childs is not just participating in the industry. She is actively reshaping it.

A versatile filmmaker, actor, writer, producer, director, and executive producer, Childs represents a new generation of creators who understand that storytelling is not just about entertainment, it is about truth, emotion, and cultural impact. As the CEO of the Lagos-based powerhouse D C Productions, she has built a brand that has quickly become synonymous with visceral, unfiltered, and deeply human storytelling.

Hailing from a rich dual heritage of Osun and Akwa Ibom states, Diana Childs brings a cultural depth and dynamism to her work that resonates across demographic lines. She is also proudly self-funded, proving that with grit, vision, and what many would call reckless creativity, barriers are meant to be broken. In an industry where many wait for permission, Diana has built her own table and invited the audience to sit in.

Right now, Childs is capturing the zeitgeist with her latest release, Mirrors, a film that is as bold in its structure as it is in its narrative. Streaming now on Diana Childs TV, the film is a two-character tour de force starring Childs alongside Nollywood heavyweight Kunle Remi. Mirrors is not your typical romantic drama. It is unflinching, intimate, and emotionally claustrophobic in the best way. A deep dive into the architecture of marriage, it explores the highs, the crushing lows, and the silent in-betweens that define a decade of commitment.

The raw emotional energy of Mirrors traces back to a defining moment on set. On the very first day of shooting, the director Filmboy (Filmboythefirst) gave Childs a directive that became her new artistic mantra: “Act with reckless abandon.” Diana took it literally. In Mirrors, she strips away the vanity of performance and replaces it with something far more powerful, the ugly, beautiful truth of human connection. Her chemistry with Kunle Remi is electric, driven by a script that refuses to shy away from the topics society often whispers about. This is not romance as fantasy. This is romance as reality.

Before she captures hearts on screen, Diana Childs captures minds on the page. She famously quips, “I talk fast, but I write faster,” and that prolific nature has made her one of the most sought-after writers in the industry. Beyond her own productions, she has penned scripts for major players including Bolaji Ogunmola TV, Lady Laide TV, and the prestigious Royal Arts Academy.

Her writer-producer portfolio speaks to her range and ambition. One of her standout projects is 143, a romantic drama exploring the nuances of love, with the title referencing the pager code for “I Love You.” The film features a stellar cast including Tina Mba, Uzor Arukwe, and Baaj Adebule. Beyond the story itself, Diana used the premiere as a platform for impact, sponsoring tickets for Mass Communication students at UNILAG to remind them that their filmmaking dreams are valid. She has also delivered gripping work like Dinner is Served, a chaotic, high-stakes drama where a simple meal unravels secrets, starring Deyemi Okanlawon and Bolaji Ogunmola. Her filmography includes fan favorites like Flaws, Closer, It Happens to Men, and The Perfect Man, her debut feature.

What truly sets Diana Childs apart is what can only be described as the Real Life Effect. Her acting approach is so immersive that fans frequently blur the line between the actor and the character. Whether she is playing a woman on the edge of a breakdown or a lover in the throes of passion, she commits so fully that fiction begins to feel like documentary. She applies the same level of authenticity to her writing. Her characters do not just speak. They communicate the messy, relatable thoughts many people carry but rarely say aloud.

Diana Childs is building more than a filmography. She is building a creative movement through D C Productions, one that prioritizes raw honesty, emotional realism, and storytelling that leaves a mark. In a Nollywood era where many creators chase trends, Diana is doing something far more difficult and far more valuable. She is building a voice.

And as Africa’s film industry continues to expand globally, it is creators like Diana Childs who will define what the next chapter looks like.

Senate Approves Repeal and Re-Enactment of 2022 Electoral Act After Division on Electronic Transmission

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The Senate has approved the repeal and re-enactment of the 2022 Electoral Act following extensive clause-by-clause consideration and a formal division on Clause 60, which addresses the transmission of election results.

The most contentious issue during deliberations centered on the method of transmitting results from polling units. Clause 60, which relates to electronic transmission, was subjected to a vote after disagreement among lawmakers. In the final count, 55 senators voted to retain provisions that allow manual transmission of results in the event of network failure. The decision came despite opposition from some members who argued for stricter safeguards around electronic processes.

Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the session, supervised the proceedings as lawmakers debated amendments aimed at strengthening legal clarity and operational readiness ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Beyond Clause 60, discussions also addressed election timelines, identified legal inconsistencies within the existing framework, and examined areas requiring alignment with technological realities and judicial precedents. Several senators emphasized the need to balance technological innovation with practical contingencies, especially in areas with limited network coverage.

The re-enactment is intended to refine procedural ambiguities observed during previous elections while preparing the Independent National Electoral Commission for a more structured and legally coherent framework ahead of the next national polls.

With the bill now passed by the Senate, attention will shift to subsequent legislative processes and implementation measures designed to ensure that electoral administration remains both credible and operationally resilient in 2027.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Calls for the Establishment of an Africa-Owned Credit Rating Agency

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called for the establishment of an Africa-owned credit rating agency to address what he described as persistent mispricing of the continent’s risk by global financial markets, arguing that current assessments unfairly inflate borrowing costs for African nations.

In an opinion article published in the Financial Times, Tinubu warned that African countries are paying excessively high interest rates due to flawed external assessments by dominant international credit rating agencies such as Fitch, Moody’s and S&P Global Ratings. He noted that these agencies’ methodologies often fail to reflect local economic realities, contributing to what is known as the “Africa premium” — the gap between perceived and actual economic risk.

According to Tinubu, only three African nations currently hold investment-grade credit ratings despite projections by the International Monetary Fund that Africa will be the world’s fastest-growing region. This disconnect, he said, underscores structural flaws in how sovereign risk on the continent is evaluated.

An Africa-centric credit rating agency, Tinubu argued, would counter the limitations of the “Big Three” by providing on-the-ground, context-driven assessments that better reflect the continent’s economic fundamentals. He suggested that heavy reliance on distant, subjective judgments has led to unjust downgrades and elevated borrowing costs for African states.

The president also cited Nigeria’s recent economic reforms — such as improved data transparency and fiscal adjustments — as examples of how local progress is often overlooked by global raters.

Tinubu’s call comes amid wider debate about African financial sovereignty and efforts to improve access to international capital. Supporters say the proposal could help lower borrowing costs and attract long-term investment if implemented alongside robust data practices and transparent methodologies.

Nigerian Drone Startup Terrahaptix Secures $22 Million Led by Lux Capital in Major Funding Boost

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Nigeria’s fast-rising drone and defence technology startup Terrahaptix Inc. has secured an additional $22 million in fresh funding to expand its manufacturing and deployment of autonomous security systems across Africa. The round was led by U.S. venture firm Lux Capital, with participation from other strategic investors including Resilience17 Capital, an investment vehicle founded by Flutterwave CEO Gbenga “GB” Agboola.

This latest infusion brings the company’s total funding to approximately $34 million, just weeks after closing an $11.8 million round — a sign of strong investor confidence in African deep tech and defence innovation.

Founded in 2024 by young Nigerian entrepreneurs Nathan Nwachukwu and Maxwell Maduka, Terrahaptix is building autonomous drones, unmanned ground vehicles, sentry towers, and other advanced systems designed to secure critical infrastructure across the continent. The company’s technology is already deployed to safeguard assets such as power plants, industrial sites, and mining operations valued in the billions.

The new capital will be used to scale production, expand engineering and manufacturing capacity — including plans for a potential mega factory — and accelerate deployment to meet growing demand from government and defence clients. The funding round was completed in under two weeks, signalling urgent investor appetite for homegrown defence technology solutions.

At just over two years old, Terrahaptix’s rapid funding success highlights Africa’s emerging role in advanced technology sectors that go beyond software and fintech, and underscores global investor belief in African engineers building locally relevant solutions.

This development comes at a time when security challenges across parts of Africa — including counter-terrorism and infrastructure protection — are prompting governments and corporations to seek more responsive, context-aware technologies.

Terrahaptix’s latest raise marks a major vote of confidence in African deep tech innovation and could help position Nigeria as a hub for autonomous security manufacturing on the continent.

Timini Egbuson’s Love and New Notes Opens With ₦106 Million, Ranked Must Watch With 94%

Nollywood has recorded a major box office moment as Timini Egbuson’s Love and New Notes opens in cinemas with an impressive ₦106 million, delivering one of the biggest opening weekends of the year so far.

According to updates shared by the film’s team, the movie has already broken multiple records in just one weekend, including emerging as the highest-grossing Nollywood film of 2026 so far, the biggest opening weekend of 2026, and the highest single-day gross for a 2026 release. The film also ranked as the highest-grossing title of the weekend, confirming its immediate dominance in cinemas.

Beyond the numbers, the film is also gaining strong audience and reviewer momentum. Ranks Africa has rated Love and New Notes 94% and officially certified it as Must Watch, highlighting its emotional depth, strong performances, and standout storytelling.

With cinema conversations growing daily, Love and New Notes is proving to be more than a release. It is a moment.

The film is now showing in cinemas nationwide.

United States Freezes Assets of Eight Nigerians Over Alleged Terror Links

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The United States government has announced the freezing of assets belonging to eight Nigerian nationals accused of maintaining financial or operational ties to a terror-linked Islamic sect.

According to U.S. authorities, the sanctions were imposed under counterterrorism financing regulations designed to disrupt networks that provide material support, funding channels, or logistical backing to extremist organizations. The action effectively blocks any assets the individuals may hold within U.S. jurisdiction and prohibits American entities and citizens from engaging in financial transactions with them.

Officials stated that the measure forms part of a broader strategy to curb transnational terrorism financing. Asset freezes are typically accompanied by placement on sanctions lists administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, which restricts access to the global financial system where U.S. institutions or dollar-based transactions are involved.

While full operational details have not been publicly disclosed, enforcement authorities emphasized that the move targets financial flows rather than broader communities. Counterterrorism experts note that disrupting funding streams remains a central pillar in weakening extremist groups, as access to financial resources directly affects recruitment, arms procurement, and cross-border coordination.

Nigerian security agencies are expected to review the development within the framework of existing bilateral cooperation on intelligence sharing and financial surveillance. The action also reflects sustained international scrutiny of extremist networks operating across West Africa.

Further official statements are anticipated as investigations continue.

Governor Sanwo-Olu Hosts Lagos Spelling Bee Champion at Lagos House, Marina

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Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu today received Miss Etiyemonu Esther, the One Day Governor and overall winner of the 21st Lagos Spelling Bee Competition, at Lagos House, Marina.

Esther, a student of Lagos State Senior Model College Igbokuta, earned the distinction after emerging top among contestants in this year’s edition of the statewide academic contest. The Lagos Spelling Bee has become one of the state’s most respected platforms for promoting literacy, discipline, and intellectual excellence among secondary school students.

During the reception, Governor Sanwo-Olu commended Esther’s composure, clarity of thought, and dedication to academic pursuit. He described her performance as a reflection of the resilience and potential within Lagos youth, noting that her achievement extends beyond personal success to serve as inspiration for students across the state.

The “One Day Governor” initiative, traditionally awarded to the competition’s overall winner, offers outstanding students a symbolic leadership experience while reinforcing the importance of education in public life. Esther’s emergence as champion underscores the continued investment in nurturing academic excellence within Lagos State’s public school system.

Her victory has drawn commendation from educators and civic leaders who view such accomplishments as evidence of the state’s commitment to youth development. As she continues her academic journey, Esther now stands as a representative of scholarly distinction and disciplined preparation.

With her achievement formally recognized at Lagos House, Marina, the young scholar carries forward not only a title but the expectations and encouragement of an entire state.

Three South Africans Arraigned Over Alleged Killing of Nigerian E-Hailing Driver in Pretoria West

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Three South African nationals have been formally charged in connection with the death of Isaac Satlat, a 22 year old Nigerian e-hailing driver, in Pretoria West.

The accused, identified as Dikeledi Tears Mphela, 24, Goitsione Machidi, 25, and McClaren Mushwana, 30, appeared before the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court on Monday to answer to charges linked to the incident.

According to initial reports presented before the court, Satlat was killed on February 11 after responding to a ride request. The young driver had reportedly picked up passengers who booked his service shortly before the fatal encounter occurred.

Prosecutors outlined the circumstances surrounding the case during the preliminary court session, though detailed evidence is expected to emerge as proceedings continue. The matter has drawn public attention both within South Africa and among members of the Nigerian community, particularly those involved in the e-hailing sector.

Court officials confirmed that the case has been adjourned to allow for further investigation and legal preparation. Bail considerations and additional procedural steps are expected to follow in subsequent hearings.

The incident has renewed discussions about safety concerns facing e-hailing drivers, many of whom operate independently and often accept ride requests without prior knowledge of passengers’ backgrounds. Authorities have indicated that investigations remain ongoing as the judicial process unfolds.