T he global cinematic landscape is undergoing a tectonic shift. For decades, African cinema and Nollywood in particular was defined primarily by sheer output and the relentless hustle of creators working against systemic friction. Today, however, a new vanguard of multi-hyphenate filmmakers is rewriting that playbook. These are not merely artists with a camera; they are media entrepreneurs, institutional architects, and cultural strategists who recognize that a great story is only half the battle. The other half is the infrastructure required to carry that story across oceans, languages, and digital borders. ‎At the vanguard of this movement stands Izu Okafor a filmmaker, producer, and cultural architect operating from Imo State, Nigeria, whose career embodies the modern synthesis of artistic vision and rigorous business acumen. ‎ From Creative Roots to Institutional Impact ‎To understand Izu’s trajectory is to understand the evolution of contemporary African media. Armed with a...

T he Federal Government says it will no longer tolerate criminal acts in schools, warning that any student found guilty of kidnapping will be sent out of school. Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, made this known on Monday while meeting with leaders of the Federal University of Lafia in Nasarawa State. A statement signed by his media aide, Ikharo Attah, quoted the Minister as telling heads of universities, polytechnics and colleges to take firm action after investigations. “Bad habits grow when we ignore them. Any student who is found to have planned or joined in kidnapping a fellow student will be dismissed. Our schools must not shelter criminals,” Alausa said. He urged Vice Chancellors, Rectors and Provosts across the country to step up internal security checks and work hand-in-hand with the DSS and other agencies to keep students safe. The Minister noted that most campuses in Nigeria are still safe. But he said recent cases of abduction involving students outside school ...

A n Ibadan-based TikTok user has denied filming the revered Oloolu masquerade and faulted reports claiming she died after the incident went viral. According to a report by 'Vanguard Newspaper', the woman, named Wasilat, addressed the issue on Monday during Lagelu FM’s 'Ibi Aye N Lo' show with host Adesoye Omotosho. “I am alive. I never recorded the Oloolu masquerade. God forbid I’m linked to it. I did not film Oloolu,” she said. She narrated that last Thursday in the Oremeji area, she visited her shop but did not open because the area was already closed. She said she noticed a crowd and an Amotekun vehicle, so she captured the scene and uploaded it. She stressed that the Oloolu masquerade did not use that route. “All the comments on TikTok told me to take it down. By Friday, some people came to my shop,” she stated. “I don’t know where that story came from. Only God will judge.” The video triggered debate online after clips emerged of the creator taking part in cleansi...

A female TikTok user in Ibadan was taken for traditional cleansing after she recorded a procession linked to the annual Oloolu Masquerade Festival. According to a report by Punch Newspaper , videos of the woman performing rites at the Oloolu family compound surfaced online last weekend and drew wide attention. Chief Adeola Oloko, spokesperson for the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, said the woman did not film the Oloolu masquerade itself but Alawo Oloolu, a figure associated with the tradition. He stated that custodians of the compound confirmed she captured the procession on a street in Ibadan. Oloko explained that after the video was posted, the woman’s family noticed she became ill and reached out to the traditional leaders for help. “After she posted it, she felt her blood was drying up. Her family immediately contacted the Oloolu people, and they attended to her according to our customs,” he said.   “Women are not permitted to see Oloolu. We have made that cl...