Tiwa Savage To Perform At King Charles III Coronation
Tiwa Savage To Perform At King Charles III Coronation
Nigerian music star, Tiwa Savage, will perform at the coronation ceremony of King Charles III.
King Charles III will officially be coronated on Saturday, May 6, at Westminster Abbey.
The coronation concert will follow on Sunday, May 7 at the Windsor Castle.
The ‘All Over’ crooner will join other international artists such as, Take That, Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, Andrea Bocelli, Sir Bryn Terfel, Freya Ridings and Alexis Ffrench.
According to BBC, the singer expressed her excitement, saying, “It’s truly an honour to be representing Africa and the Commonwealth at such an historic event. I look forward to joining the celebrations and bringing Afrobeats to Windsor Castle for the first time!”
JAMB begins release of UTME results Tuesday
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board on Monday said it would commence the release of results of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Board on Tuesday, May 2, 2023.
This was contained in the minutes of the meeting held at the end of an emergency management meeting held over the weekend in Abuja.
In the minutes which was made available to our correspondent on Monday morning, the board noted that the delay in the release of results was due to the fact that it wanted to ensure that all necessary screenings were concluded.
“The Board would be releasing the results of candidates, who have taken the examination so far on Tuesday, 2nd May, 2023. The Board had delayed the release to ensure that all necessary screening are concluded besides ensuring that the mean and standard deviation are reasonably obtained before
releasing these results.
“As candidates check their results on Tuesday, 2nd May, 2023, those who sat the examination but had challenges without being aware of such, would not see their results but would instead see their notification for rescheduled examination,” it said.
Similarly, the examination body also noted that three categories of candidates who missed their examinations had been rescheduled for mop-up examinations.
“All candidates, who could not sit the 2023 UTME within their scheduled time owing to no fault of theirs, would be rescheduled to take the examination on Saturday, 6th May, 2023.
Candidates under these categories are principally those who were verified at their centres but could not sit the examination; those who could not be biometrically verified, and those with mismatched data,”
JAMB rescheduled the conduct of the 2023 UTME from Tuesday, April 25, 2023, to Tuesday, May 2, 2023.
The board had informed Nigerians that it would be using some novel innovative methods in conducting the exercise with the aim of completely arresting incidences of examination infractions.
“This has been largely achieved as the exercise recorded the lowest reported cases of infractions but with equally emerging challenges on account of human negligence which led to some candidates not being able to sit the examination on the first day. This notwithstanding, out of the 1,586,765 candidates that indicated an interest in sitting the examination, only 80,166 are now outstanding.
“On the first day of the 2023 UTME, a number of candidates in some centres could not sit the examination as well as in some centres in subsequent days due to diverse reasons. Though a reasonable number of them have been rescheduled and have taken the examination, some are yet to take their examination.
“As part of the decisions reached at the end of an emergency management meeting held on Sunday, 31st April 2023, the Board has fixed Saturday, 6th May 2023, for all categories of candidates who have not sat their examination, as listed below, to take their examination,” the board said.
May Day: I’ll Pay Workers Living Wage — Tinubu
In what appeared a pledge to embark on wage increase in the middle of the year, President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has vowed to give more than a minimum wage to Nigerian workers, promising to give them a “living wage”.
“In the Nigeria I shall have the honour and privilege to lead from May 29, workers will have more than a minimum wage. You will have a living wage to have a decent life and provide for your families,” Tinubu stated.
The President-elect made the pledge in a statement issued Monday in Abuja on the occasion of this year’s Workers’ Day celebration.
Noting that workers would find in him a dependable ally and co-labourer in the fight for social justice, the President-elect also extended a hand of friendship to them, recalling decades of close collaboration between workers and nationalists as well as pro-democracy activists.
He said: “Since 1945 when the railway workers and 16 other public service unions led the first general strike to demand for better wages as a result of rising cost of living, the labour movement in Nigeria has always fought on the side of the masses of our country.
“It was no surprise that the labour movement added fillip, zest and energy to the struggle for independence by partnering with nationalists such as Nnamdi Azikwe, Herbert Macaulay, Ahmadu Bello, Obafemi Awolowo, Ernest Ikoli and Anthony Enahoro among others.
“The Nigerian labour movement was also not found wanting during our struggle for the restoration of democracy.
“The Nigerian Labour Congress and its affiliate organisations — NUPENG, Textile Union, PENGASSAN, among others — collaborated with the pro-democracy leaders and groups to restore democratic governance in Nigeria in 1999 after almost two unbroken decades of military dictatorship.
“On this special day, as your President-elect, I extend my hands of friendship to the Nigerian workers through the two central Labour unions – Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress.
“In me you will find a dependable ally and co-labourer in the fight for social and economic justice for all Nigerians, including all the working people.
“Your fight will be my fight because I will always fight for you. My plans for better welfare and working conditions are clearly spelt out in my Renewed Hope Agenda for A Better Nigeria. It is a covenant born of conviction and one I am prepared to keep.
“At this point, I must remind Nigerian workers that we all have a common battle to wage, one which we must win together.
“And it is the fight against poverty, ignorance, disease, disunity, ethnic and religious hate and all negative forces that contend against the stability and prosperity of our country.
“The days ahead will, however, demand better understanding and cooperation from all sides, because leadership will require that we take tough and hard decisions so that our people and all Nigerian workers can live more abundantly”.
Hollywood writers’ strike eclipsed their salaries
Hollywood faced a cliffhanger moment Monday as talks to avert a potentially catastrophic strike by thousands of TV and movie writers remained unresolved just hours before a crunch deadline.
Major studios and networks including Disney and Netflix are locked in talks with the powerful Writers Guild of America, which has threatened to order a walkout just after midnight Tuesday unless a new deal is agreed.
If a strike takes place, late-night shows could immediately grind to a halt, and television series and movies scheduled for release later this year and beyond could face major delays.
The last time talks failed, in 2007, Hollywood writers laid down their pens and keyboards for 100 days, costing the Los Angeles entertainment industry around $2 billion.
This time, the two sides are clashing as writers demand higher pay and a greater share of profits from the boom in streaming, while studios say they must cut costs due to economic pressures.
“I think everybody feels like there’s going to be a strike,” said one Los Angeles-based TV writer, who asked not to be identified.
“This is a deal that’s going to determine how we are financially compensated by streamers,” not just now but well into the future, they said.
Streaming ‘residuals’ –
Many of the issues are familiar to contract talks in industries around the world.
Writers say it is becoming impossible to earn a living, as salaries have flatlined or declined after inflation, even as employers reap profits and fatten executives’ pay checks.
More writers than ever are working at the union-mandated minimum wage, while shows hire fewer people to script ever-shorter series.
A key issue is reworking the formula that calculates how writers are paid for streaming shows, which often remain on platforms like Netflix years after they were written.
For decades, writers have been paid “residuals” from reuse of their material, such as television re-runs or DVD sales.
These are either a percentage of studios’ receipts for the film or show, or a set fee each time an episode is replayed.
With streaming, writers simply get a fixed annual payout — even if their work generates a smash hit like “Bridgerton” or “Stranger Things,” streamed by hundreds of millions of viewers around the world.
These amounts remain far too low for the global reuse of WGA-covered programming on these massive services,” says the guild.
The WGA has vowed to “improve these residuals so that writers share in the global success of the programming they create.”
It also wants to address the future impact of artificial intelligence on writing.
– ‘Challenged’ –
Unsurprisingly, the studios — represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) — have a different take.
They note overall residuals paid to writers hit an all-time high of $494 million in 2021, largely thanks to the boom in writing jobs driven by the explosion of streaming content.
That was up by almost half, from $333 million, a decade earlier.
They also dispute suggestions that studios are falsely claiming economic hardship to bolster their negotiation position.
Do you think that Disney would be laying 7,000 people off for fun?” said a source familiar with the AMPTP’s position.
“There’s only one [streaming] platform that’s profitable right now, and that’s Netflix. The movie industry… that’s a pretty challenged segment as well.”
After the spendthrift past few years, when rival streamers chased subscriber growth at any cost, bosses are now under intense pressure from investors to curb spending and deliver profits.
– ‘Picketing’ –
With the midnight (0700 GMT Tuesday) deadline looming, the two sides could agree to a last-minute deal, temporarily extend talks, or walk away and prepare for picket lines.
The industry fears a ripple effect.
Several other Hollywood unions have voiced solidarity with writers, including the actors’ SAG-AFTRA, and the directors’ DGA. Both will hold their own talks with studios this summer.
“The greatest amount of leverage we collectively bring to a strike action is the withdrawal of our labour,” the WGA wrote to members Sunday, in a message seen by Variety.
Picketing is a key tactic to demonstrate that we are all in this together, and that until a strike is resolved, it’s not business as usual.”
Kogi 2023: Dino Melaye should see us if he’s not ready to lose Nigerian witches & Wizard
Ahead of Kogi gubernatorial election slated for November 2023, a group under auspices of White Witches and Wizards Association of Nigeria has urged the flag-bearer of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State, Dino Melaye, to either see them or be ready to “lose” the poll.
The group’s spokesperson, Dr Okhue Oboi gave the advice in a statement on Saturday.
“We have met with the Igala, Ebira and Yoruba population in the state. We met Igala people in Idah, Ebira people in Obehira and Yoruba people in Kabba and listened to them.
We advise Dino Melaye to see us if he is desirous of realising his governorship dream. If he listens to our advice, he will laugh because the trees and waters of the confluence state will vote for him regardless of whether Governor Wike supports him or not.
“It will be in Melaye’s interest to see us too so he can smile. If he fails to see the witches and wizards, he will regret it because he will not win the election,” the statement partly read.
Ayra Starr skipped the American show and soon went to bed.
Singer Sarah Aderibigbe, aka Ayra Starr, is set to miss her shows in different cities of the United States over ill health.
In a statement on her Instagram story on Sunday night, the singer stated that her doctor had placed her on immediate bed rest.
She also apologised to her fans over her inability to attend her much-anticipate show
The Mavin star, however, promised to “be back in a special way” for her fans, as she appreciated them for their prayers.
The statement read, “DC, VA & Houston your girl is going through it. My doctor has advised I slow down, hence I’m on immediate bed rest.
So sorry I couldn’t meet every one of you as planned. I’m also sorry you feel let down but I promise to be back in a special way for you when we’ll have a magical time.
“I appreciate your prayers and well wishes #styvesdc #somethinginthewater #industryniteusa.”
Ayra Starr has been billed to headline the Industry Night Show in Houston on Sunday night.
She was also billed to perform at the Something In The Water Concert at Virginia city alongside ASAP Rocky, Busta Rhymes, and a host of other top stars.
FG To Atiku, Obi: Tinubu Won The Presidential Election Fair And Square
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has advised the opposition to stop their endless griping over the 2023 presidential election which they lost woefully, saying they know very well that they deserve to lose the election because of their overconfidence and complacency.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, the Minister said Mr. President’s analysis on the reasons for the opposition’s loss in the 2023 elections was incontrovertible.
He said the President deserves nothing but accolades for delivering undoubtedly the best election in Nigeria’s history, adding that the tempestuous but predictable reaction to the President’s comments by the opposition has shown them for what they are: shameless sore losers.
”President Muhammadu Buhari lived up to his billing by delivering a free, fair and credible election, and his legacy is assured. The President would rather lose his state and many of his party’s strongholds than tamper with the fidelity of the election, and that is why he provided a level playing field for all parties,” Alhaji Mohammed said.
He said the opposition’s overconfidence going into the election stemmed in part from the blitzkrieg of social media propaganda as well as faulty and procured opinion polls, which were apparently meant to hoodwink their foreign backers and a section of the international media into uncritically reporting that they were coasting home to victory, when they were indeed heading into the ravine of defeat.
The Minister said the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, won the presidential election fair and square, clinching the majority of the votes cast and surpassing the constitutionally-stipulated 25% of votes cast in each of at least two-thirds of all the states in the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
”Going by the results, none of the opposition parties met any of the conditions stipulated for winning the presidential election. They didn’t even come close, in spite of their pre-election grandstanding.
”They (opposition) keep leaning on some international observers to justify their fraudulent claim that the election was rigged. They conveniently forgot what Ambassador Johnnie Carson, the revered US diplomat who co-led the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and International Republican Institute (IRI) International Election Observation Mission to Nigeria said: that the APC candidate undoubtedly won the polls.
”They also forgot that the African Union Election Observation Mission to Nigeria said the atmosphere was generally calm and peaceful in 95% of the polling units visited,” he said, adding that it is on the strength of these reports that many nations, including the US and the UK, wasted no time in congratulating the victorious APC Presidential Candidate.
Alhaji Mohammed slammed the opposition for continuously seeking to mislead the world by clutching at the weak straw that results were not immediately uploaded onto the IReV Portal, as if the portal has any role to play in the collation of results.
”The opposition’s insinuation that the failure to immediately upload the result of the presidential election onto IReV affected the credibility of the election is a fraud. It is an act of blackmail and deceit by desperate individuals.
”The opposition Labour Party, in particular, will go down in the history books as the first-ever distant third-place finisher in a presidential election anywhere to have bold-facedly claimed victory,” he said.
StarTimes presents Hello Mr Right Sponsor
PayTV company, StarTimes, has announced Colgate, Indomie and Lush Hair as the headline sponsors of the second season of its popular dating show, Hello Mr Right.
Recall that the regional auditions for the show were held in Abuja, Port Harcourt (Rivers State), Ibadan (Oyo State) and Lagos, with a plan to round it off with a ‘grand audition’ in Lagos in May.
Hello Mr Right is a dating reality show that features single female contestants and male suitors competing for love and romance opportunities. The show, which will be hosted by a popular influencer to be announced soon, will start airing in June.
According to a statement sent to Sunday Scoop, ‘the show promises to be exciting with a touch of controversy as contestants go through various stages, tasks and other challenges to prove their compatibility and suitability for one another. The audience will also have the opportunity to vote for their favourite couples and influence the show’s outcome’.
As headline sponsors, Colgate, Indomie and Lush Hair have expressed their delight in partnering with StarTimes to bring quality content and entertainment to Nigerian homes. They also assured viewers of amazing prizes and giveaways throughout the show.
The show’s coordinator, Yemi Ogundeji, said, “We are excited to bring back the sensational dating reality show. I have no doubt that it will keep viewers glued to their screens as they witness the sparks and drama between the female contestants and their male suitors as they compete for love and romance.”