Over three billion people across the world are using the internet to live better — Caesar Sengupta

Google Launches Android one in Nigeria

On Tuesday the 18th of August, Google Nigeria alongside its partners MTN Nigeria, Jumia and Infinix mobile announced the launch of Android one into the Nigerian market. 

The launch was done by introducing the new Android one enabled Infinix HOT 2-X510 phone as part of an on-going initiative to bring high-quality smartphones to millions of people in Asia, Africa and other parts of the world.

British-Nigerian Actor, David Oyelowo becomes the new James Bond!

Fans of British-Nigerian Actor, David Oyelowo will be pleased to know that the actor as been asked to be the voice of James Bond in Trigger Mortis; one of the upcominng thriller of Bond book written by Anthony Horowitz. 

The actor expressed his excitement about this new development, though the role is said to be just on the audio books. “I am officially the only person on planet Earth who can legitimately say: ‘I am the new James Bond’ – even saying that name is the cinematic equivalent of doing the ‘to be or not to be’ speech.” 

"It is an acting challenge as exciting to me as any I have faced on stage or screen. I get to play James Bond! It doesn't get much better than that." He tells The Guardian. 

Oyelowo, popularly known for his role as Martin Luther King, Jr. in Selma, will be narrating the new James Bond novel by Anthony Horowitz.

Intel Mentors Girls on Technology at Girls’ Home

As part of its continuous commitment to bridging the gender gap in technology, Intel’s spokesperson in Nigeria, Titilope Sonuga, paid a visit to Echoes of Mercy and Hope Foundation (EMHF) Girl’s Home to speak to the girls about Intel’s ““She Will Connect”” initiative, which is the global effort at empowering girls through technology.

While speaking to the girls at the EMHF home, Sonuga said that it was important to have an understanding of the several life transforming opportunities the Internet has made available to them.

See astounding artwork of 8 year old Nigerian-German female artist

This beautiful Nigerian-German 8 year-old Artist, Chioma Shannen Mayrschofer became the overall price winner in the VR-Bank’s Art- Competition held in her school in Germany.

Talking to Diamond Celebrities, Shannen said the winning came as a big surprise to her…

Commonwealth Short Story Prize announces regional winners

On the 28th of April 2015, Commonwealth Writers announced the regional winners of the 2015 Commonwealth Short Story Prize. Five writers from 5 Commonwealth regions were shortlisted. This year unpublished stories were entered by 4,000 writers from the five regions of the Commonwealth.

The regional winners will compete with each other to become the overall winner, which will be announced in London on 8 September.

Winners Emerge at the Omo’s Imagine and Achieve Grand finale

Amazing artistry was again demonstrated by Nigerian Children as the Omo Imagine and Achieve competition tagged “Unleash Your Potential” reached its truly grand finale after months of fascinating creativity.

Omo Brand Ambassador Funke Akindele; Brand Building Director, Unilever Nigeria, David Okeme; Omo Brand Ambassador Chioma Akpotha; winner of 1 million naira, from Army Children School, Abule Egba, Lagos, Imurang Salisu; Omo Brand Ambassador, Ali Nuhu & Category Manager Fab Cleaning, Unilever, Ibironke Ugbaja at the Omo Imagine and Achieve Competition grand finale in Lagos.

Imagination berth reality as 12 year old Imurang Salisu of Army Children School, Abule Egba, Lagos, won the grand prize of 1million at the grand finale in the creative art category amidst tears and excitement.

2015 Commonwealth Short Story Prize Regional Winners Announced

The Commonwealth writers organization have announced the regional winners of the 2015 Commonwealth Short Story Prize who will each receive £2500.

From a Shortlist of twenty-two writers, five writers have been declared the regional winners of the 2015 competition. The winners are;  Lesley Nneka Arimah(Nigeria), Siddhartha Gigoo(India), Jonathan Tel (UK), Kevin Jared Hosein(Trinidad) and Mary Rokonadravu (Fiji). 

The Chair of the Judges of Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2015, Romesh Gunesekera describes the process:

'We had a strong shortlist of stories from around the world that excited the judges and provoked a lively, stimulating set of discussions. The judges were looking for well-crafted stories that were compelling and original. The standards were high. We wanted stories that would engage us and make us rethink our notions of form, language and what mattered. The winning stories did all of that and more. Thank you, writers'.

Here are the regional winners and all five winning stories.

Chimamanda Responds to the Controversial Statement by Oba Of Lagos

Award winning Nigerian writer and our favorite feminist, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has shared her opinion on the controversial statement made by the Oba of Lagos, early this week.

Read her gracefully written response below:

The 2015 BN Poetry Award is open for entries!

Are you a Poet or do you love reading or writing Poems, then this is for you!

The BN Poetry Award is a Uganda-based award for unpublished poetry by African poets. The Awards was established in 2008. The call for submissions for this year’s award is now opened until May 2015, and the long-listed poets for the award will be announced later this year.

See the Panel of Judges for the 2015 BN Poetry Award after the cut.

Theatre Review: SaroTheMusical2

Easter edition, SaroTheMusical2; 100 Man Cast; Ran Through April 1-6. Show Duration: One Hour, 50 Mins.

A good musical has the tendency to excite its audience and put them in the middle of the narrative being portrayed. 

Theatre musicals offer a sincere expression of the characters’ emotional journey throughout the play. As compared to a movie, the audience shares a unique intimacy and responsiveness with the characters. 

SaroTheMusical2, a heartwarming story about four young musicians who migrate to Lagos from the countryside in search of better lives and careers, takes its storyline from the streets of Lagos and music from various African pop genres.

The proverbial hustle for success and love always makes for great drama as Laitan is reluctant to leave his love Rume, behind while still trying to achieve his dreams of being a musician in the big city. After an intense farewell between the lovers, the four friends begin their adventurous journey to Lagos without any knowledge of the city.