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How I will reposition National Troupe–Director

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5 years ago

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The Artistic Director of the National Troupe of Nigeria, Mr Ahmed Mohammed, says he will reposition the troupe through sustained engagement of artistes and private public partnership.

Mohammed, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of the troupe, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)  in Abuja.

“Over time, the number of artistes in the troupe has been dwindling.

“Basically, we don’t have the dancers. When we look at the troupe,  we are looking at musicians,  dancers and we are looking at people who are able to act.

“This is because we also do stage drama showcasing some life changing experiences in Nigeria.

“We look our own peculiarities and who will be able to project certain cultures in a very good light.

” We don’t have that kind of team.  I think for the past two, three years, we  have not had that kind of team.

” Now that I’m here, I’m trying to look at how I will reposition the troupe.

“Part of what we are to do is that we  are going to do auditioning. That auditioning could be at the zonal levels within the country.

“From there,  we will get the best out of the best.

“This will give us the kind of artistes and pattern we want and we will ensure that they have required resources and tools to work with like  costumes, ” Mohammed said.

According to him, the troupe is also focusing on those already engaged in theatre such as members of art councils in states.

“We will fish out talents from those groups. We will camp and train them.  And then we move around to perform in places where we are requested to go and perform.

“We also seek partnerships with the private sector and government agencies because they always have engagements and want us to perform there.

“We also have children’s programme. One of our objectives is to ensure that we seek for talents among children and build their capacity in theatre so that we can catch them young.

“In other words, we are talking about culture and the need to really groom our children to understand the way we live.

“We used to organise competitions and winning schools were given some prizes.

“I know that after some years,  we were not able to do that due to paucity of funds and because some of our staff that are responsible for that kind of engagements have left the service.

“Most of them are civil servants and they are not replaced. This  is part of what I’m trying to do to ensure that we have the right people at the right place to be able to do the right things  for us,” he said.

The director, however, stressed the need to have vehicles that would convey members of the troupe for engagements across the country.

“We don’t even have a vehicle that can convey artistes conveniently from one point to the next.

“When I went to the headquarters, I discovered that most of the vehicles are grounded.

” The other vehicles we have were  bought over 15 years ago. So, they are almost getting obsolete.

“There is need to have vehicles on the ground to ensure that we are able to move within this country comfortably. These are parts of our challenges.

“Again, you know the National Theatre is being renovated now.  So, the National Troupe does not have an office of its own,  we are under the National Theatre.

“We are now residing within the Artistes’  Camp which is also not in good shape,” Mohammed said. (NAN)

 

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Funke Akindele Sets December 11 Release Date for New Movie, ‘The Four’

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2 weeks ago

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August 10, 2026

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Funke Akindele and her team
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Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has announced December 11, 2026, as the cinema release date for her highly anticipated movie, The Four: No One Fights Alone.

Akindele made the announcement on Monday, August 10, via her Instagram page, describing the project as the 2026 movie from Funke Akindele Network (FAAN TV).

“IT’S GO TIME! On your mark… Get set… GO! The relay is ON, and the Funke Akindele Network movie for 2026 is officially… THE FOUR,” she announced.

The filmmaker added that the movie would be showing in cinemas nationwide, with FilmOne Entertainment handling its distribution.

The Four is an emotionally driven drama centred on friendship, motherhood, resilience and the strength of ordinary women. The film explores themes of courage, faith, sacrifice and loyalty while showcasing elements of Nigerian culture through music, fashion, language and tradition.

The movie boasts an impressive ensemble cast, including Akindele, Bisola Aiyeola, Chioma Akpotha, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Timini Egbuson, Lateef Adedimeji, Ali Nuhu, Uzor Arukwe, Ronke Oshodi Oke, Antar Laniyan and Wunmi Toriola.

Other cast members include Waje, Afrobeats artiste Shoday, Samuel Banks, Kolapo Omotosho and Ayomide Iwasokun.

The new production adds to Akindele’s growing list of successful film projects, following popular titles such as A Tribe Called Judah, Everybody Loves Jenifa and Behind The Scenes.

Through her productions, Akindele has remained a prominent force in Nigeria’s entertainment industry, delivering commercially successful stories while promoting Nigerian culture and providing opportunities for emerging talents.

The Four: No One Fights Alone is scheduled to hit cinemas nationwide on December 11, 2026.

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Rema The “Calm Down” Crooner, Releases Teaser for “TEA”

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3 weeks ago

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August 6, 2026

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The  “Calm Down” crooner, Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, has released a teaser for his forthcoming single, “TEA,” scheduled for release on Friday.

The Ace Nigerian Afrobeat star, shared a 26-second preview of the track in a post on his verified X handle on Wednesday with the caption “TEA Friday”

The teaser features Rema riding a motorcycle at dusk while previewing the song, which is produced by American record producer, Mustard.

The announcement marks Rema’s first single of 2026 and has sparked excitement among fans ahead of its official release.

The teaser has attracted reactions across social media, with many fans expressing anticipation for the collaboration between the Nigerian singer and the U.S. producer.

Rema, known for the global hit “Calm Down”, was born in Benin City. He rose to prominence after signing with Jonzing World in 2019 and has since become one of Afrobeats’ leading global stars.

REMA had his debut album, “Rave & Roses”, released in 2022, while his second studio album, “HEIS”, was released in 2024.

The forthcoming single follows Rema’s release of “Goals”, the official FIFA World Cup 2026 soundtrack, and further underscores his growing global influence in Afrobeats.

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Roy Murray-Bruce Appointed Chairman of Silverbird Group

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3 months ago

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May 21, 2026

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Roy Murray Bruce
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The founder of Silverbird Group, Ben Murray-Bruce, has announced the appointment of Roy Murray-Bruce as the new Chairman of the organisation, succeeding him after decades of leadership at the helm of the company.

Ben Murray-Bruce made the announcement on Thursday through his official X handle, where he described Roy Murray-Bruce as a seasoned leader with more than four decades of experience in corporate leadership, governance, and strategic development.

According to him, Roy Murray-Bruce previously served as President of Silverbird Group and played a major role in the growth and expansion of the organisation across several sectors, including television, radio broadcasting, cinemas, retail, and property development.

He also credited Roy Murray-Bruce with contributing significantly to the development of Cineplex culture in Nigeria and other parts of West Africa, helping position Silverbird as one of the leading entertainment brands on the continent.

Ben Murray-Bruce expressed confidence in the new chairman’s ability to lead the company into another phase of growth and innovation, stating that the organisation would continue to uphold its tradition of excellence and industry leadership across Africa.

Silverbird Group remains one of Africa’s leading diversified conglomerates, with business interests spanning media, entertainment, hospitality, real estate, and strategic investments across Africa and the United Kingdom.

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