Another first for Lagos as Gov. unveils Africa’s first AI feature film

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has unveiled Africa’s first feature film on Artificial Intelligence, titled Makemation, on Sunday. Speaking at the unveiling in Marina, Sanwo-Olu said the AI film, produced by human development expert, Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, will make its cinematic debut in Lagos on Friday, Apr. 18. He praised the producer and cast, assuring creatives of his willingness to collaborate on transformative ideas that project and develop the state’s creative industry. Sanwo-Olu reaffirmed the government’s commitment to investing in essential infrastructure that will enable the creative sector to thrive. “This production highlights the power of collaboration. We need more partnerships like this. Our role is to enable and create platforms for you to excel. “This is the most innovative industry. See this government as a partner in shaping the future we all desire,” he said. Producer Akerele-Ogunsiji said the film explores themes such as STEM education, digital skills, financial literacy, and gender equality. She noted that Makemation, starring Richard Mofe-Damijo, Tony Umez, Shaffy Bello, Ibrahim Chatta, Toyin Afolayan, and Ali Nuhu, examines the intersection of real life and AI. The film also explores AI’s transformative power and its impact on the fourth industrial revolution, she explained. “Viewers will see young people designing bras that detect breast cancer. We must move beyond consuming innovation and start building our own. “Nigerian films should showcase our indigenous innovations. This film is for the future. Success isn’t reserved for a select few,” she said. Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Toke Benson-Awoyinka, highlighted the government’s efforts to empower creatives over the past six years. She said the ministry has trained nearly 20,000 young Nigerians in filmmaking, content creation, and other creative fields through strategic partnerships. Institutions such as EbonyLife Academy, Gidi Creatives, AMA Creative Academy, and Delyork Academy have collaborated on these initiatives, she added. She stressed that technology is key to the industry’s future, with Lagos positioning itself as a leader in digital innovation. “Our visit to San Francisco to engage with tech entrepreneur Ghazi Shami was a strategic step toward fostering strong digital partnerships. “We aim to build a globally competitive workforce ready to dominate the creative economy,” she added. She noted that the government has provided grants to filmmakers to support high-quality productions capable of competing internationally. “By investing in local storytelling, we ensure our narratives reach global audiences while creating jobs within the industry,” she said. Ali Nuhu, Managing Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation, commended Sanwo-Olu’s support for filmmakers. “As part of the cast, I am excited about this project. The governor’s support is commendable. “We now need the media’s backing to create buzz around this innovation,” he said. Microsoft’s Country Manager, Olatomiwa Williams, stressed the need to equip young Nigerians with responsible AI skills. She advocated for collaborations between tech hubs, government, schools, and private organisations to expand AI education. “This initiative is inspiring. With government support, we must focus on educating Nigerians on responsible AI use,” she said. Livespot360 Co-Founder, Oluwadamilare Art Alade, highlighted AI’s role in preserving cultural heritage. Makemation features Nollywood stars, tech experts, public officials, and social media talents in an unconventional mix. The four-quadrant family drama blends pop culture, research, and AI into an engaging, high-tension, and comedic masterpiece.

Lagos To Inaugurate Largest Food Logistics Hub In 2024 -Sanwo-Olu

Lagos To Inaugurate Largest Food Logistics Hub In 2024 -Sanwo-Olu

The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has disclosed that the first phase of the largest food logistics hub in West Africa will be inaugurated in 2024 to boost food security in the state. Sanwo-Olu stated this while addressing journalists at the grand finale of the 2023 World Food Day celebration at the Nigeria Police College, Ikeja, Lagos. The governor, accompanied by Ms Abisola Olusanya, State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Oluwarotimi Fashola, Special Adviser to the governor on Rice Initiative and members of the state executive council inspected various agricultural produce and product on display. Farmers from the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas participated in the fair. The programme tagged: Farm Fair, Shop, Eat and Learn” is to commemorate the 2023 World Food Day with the theme: “Water is Life, Water is Food, Leave No One Behind”. The World Food Day is an annual celebration by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations on Oct.16, to encourage action on food insecurity. “A part from the middle level markets that we are building, we are building the largest food logistics hub in the whole of West Africa. “You were part of the ground breaking ceremony which we did last year and I want to inform you that before this time next year, we should have finished the phase one of the project. “It is the largest logistics hub in the whole of West Africa, you can take a trip there independently and see for yourself, the amount of work that is going on there. “That logistics food market is supposed to be the central hub where all sort of food in Lagos will come in, it has cold storage and dry storage and all sorts. “Our plan, if you remember that two years ago, we flagged with our five-year plan, it will now take them to the middle level market; we have built about three of them and we are building additional five. “The middle level markets will now take it from main hubs before it now goes to last mile, the corner show markets and the markets that all of you see in the state,” he said. The governor said the state had a robust integrated plan that would ensure food sufficiency and food adequacy in Lagos. He noted that the plan became important because food security globally was becoming an issue. “We have a robust integrated plan at ensuring that food sufficiency, food adequacy in Lagos is secured because food security globally is becoming an issue. “For us as a government, we need to be able to help the market, we need to be able to help the farmers and we need to help our citizens. “That’s why I have come here personally to come and celebrate with them, to come and celebrate them and to come and say it to them that we will not leave them alone. “We will continue to bring about infrastructure and funding to ensure that the theme for this year leave know one behind,” he said. The governor encouraged more people to go into rice cultivation to sustain the state’s rice mill in Imota, Ikorodu. “We are looking for paddy rice growers in Lagos because we have the biggest rice mill and we are also collaborating with other states. “Our rice mill still needs a lot of paddy. It does not matter the quantity of tonnes of paddy that they grow, we will buy it off them. “The same thing with other paddy growers in the country and we need to begin to ensure that food is also affordable and accessible. “We know that the price of food has gone up but with intervention like this, that brings market closer to the consumers, am sure that all of the produce that have been brought here today will be picked up and bought-up,” he said. Sanwo-Olu said that his administration was committed to encouraging farmers, while assuring that farming was important to his administration to ensure that food was affordable and accessible for all. “I am here this afternoon to give them all the encouragement, to show to the world that Lagos can begin to show the way for urban farming. “We do not have a lot of land but the little one that we have, we are encouraging our farmers to continue to support the need of the citizens because we know that we need to grow what we eat and eat what we grow. “We can collaborate with other neighbouring states and other parts of the country to bring all of these produce to Lagos because the population is here. “For me, it is to continue to encourage of the Ministry of Agric and all of their officers, extension workers and project managers to continue to help and hold these farmers. “Especially in the aquaculture farming, piggery, fishing, poultry and all of the other areas in which we can excel. “It’s another year of celebration to celebrate them, to thank them, and for the media to know that farming for us is important. Earlier, Ms Abisola Olusanya, State Commissioner for Agriculture, said farmers and farmers’ groups with exceptional produce would be recognised and awarded prizes at the event. Olusanya noted that farmers, fishermen, and processors from the entire length and breadth of the state participated in the celebration. She said that the farmers had put in a lot of work in their different value chains to feed Lagosians and as the saying goes, “no farmer, no nation”.  Dr Femi Oke, the Chairman All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Lagos and South-West Zone, said insecurity, flooding and poor funding pose a great danger to food security in the country. Oke urged the federal and state governments to increase budgetary allocation to the agricultural sector to increase funding to farmers. He also called for reduction in interest rates for farmers and agro processors to reduce the price of food commodities. “It is not too conducive for a farmer to

Tribunal Victory: Jandor, Rhodes-Vivour Should Join Me In Building Lagos -Sanwo-Olu

Tribunal Victory: Jandor, Rhodes-Vivour Should Join Me In Building Lagos -Sanwo-Olu

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has described the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal judgement as a victory for all Lagosians, even as he called on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Abdulazeez Adediran, and Mr Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party, to join hands with him in building Lagos. Sanwo-Olu said this while addressing newsmen at the State House in Ikeja, after the11-hour judgment by a three-man panel led by Justice Arum Ashom at the Roseline Omotosho Court, Ikeja, Lagos. The panel in its unanimous decision, dismissed the two petitions filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate Abdulazeez Adediran, and Mr Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, his Labour Party counterpart. The governor lauded the judges for doing a good job, adding that they gave a well thought out and detailed judgment. Sanwo-Olu said the verdict was a call to greater service while assuring that his government would continue to work harder to deliver dividends of democracy to the people “It was a long, tough process but we are grateful that the voice of people of Lagos was heard and upheld. “The deputy governor and I are very privileged and thankful to residents for standing for and by us. It is a victory for all, no winner, no loser. “It is, however, an opportunity for more work and service. Therefore, we will continue to work harder to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people,” he said. The governor called on other candidates to join hands together to build a Lagos of their dreams. According to him, “l extend, again, an olive branch to my fellow contestants to join us in building the Lagos of our dreams. “If they have the passion to serve, we can work together because there is room for everyone to contribute meaningfully to the Lagos we all desire to see.” Reacting, Mr Olagbade Benson, Senior counsel to the Labour Party (LP) candidate, said the tribunal in his wisdom had delivered the judgment to the best of their knowledge. He advised all members of the party to stay calm and respect the rule of law. “The tribunal has done their part and we cannot ask for more. Therefore, we encourage every member of the Labour Party and all OBIdients to stay calm and obey the rule of law.” The tribunal chairman, Justice Arum Ashom in his lead Judgment had dismissed the petition filed by Rhodes-Vivour on grounds that it lacked merit. On the oath of allegiance to the United States of America by the deputy governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, the tribunal held that being a citizen of Nigeria by birth, his oath of allegiance to United State does not prevent him from contesting election. The tribunal, therefore, affirmed the declaration of INEC of the election of Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat as the governor and deputy governor duly elected. On his part, reacting to the judgment, Mr Austin Akpomreta, defense counsel to the PDP governorship candidate explained that the next line of action would be taken after reviewing the judgment with his client. The election petition tribunal had also declared as dead on arrival, a petition of Adediran against Sanwo-Olu’s election. The tribunal held that evidence before it showed that the petition lacked merit. Adediran had contended that Sanwo-Olu was wrongfully nominated and sponsored by the APC and, therefore, was not qualified for the election. However, Justice Mikail Abdullahi, while reading the tribunal’s decision on the matter, held that the position did not form part of the grounds for disqualification for election into the office of a governor, under Sections 177 and 182 of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended). The tribunal also declared that it had no powers to inquire into the primary election of the APC which produced Sanwo-Olu, adding that the issue was a pre-election matter which did not fall under its jurisdiction.  

Tribunal: US Immigration lawyer testifies against Lagos Dep Gov Hamzat

Tribunal: US Immigration lawyer testifies against Lagos Dep Gov Hamzat

A United States Immigration lawyer, Mrs. Olubusayo Fasidi, on Thursday, said that Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat to the took oath of allegiance in the U.S. to renounce Nigerian citizenship. Fasidi, a Nigerian, testified before Lagos State Election Petition Tribunal. She was led in evidence by Dr Olumide Ayeni (SAN), counsel to the petitioner, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party. The witness told the tribunal that Hamzat, the third respondent in the petition, also applied for naturalisation as contained in Forms 8CFR/337 and N400. Ayeni tendered the documents to the three-man tribunal but counsel to all the respondents objected, saying that the reason for their objection would be included in their final written addresses. During cross-examination by counsel to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr Eric Ogiegor, the witness said that an individual could enjoy dual citizenship. She, however, said that she was not aware of the provision of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution that dealt with dual citizenship. She said that she was subpoenaed before the tribunal to explain U.S. law and not Nigeria’s Constitution. Mr. Bode Olanipekun (SAN), counsel to Hamzat and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, asked the witness to disclose the jurisdiction and date Hamzat applied for naturalisation but she said she would not, because the information was protected by the Privacy Act of 1974. The All Progressives Congress (APC) counsel, Mr Norris Quakers, asked the witness if she was aware that Hamzat disclosed his American citizenship. The witness replied in the affirmative, and Quakers thereafter argued that the witness addressed issues of law and not those of facts. The tribunal led by Justice Arum Ashom, while admitting all the documents in evidence, ordered counsel to the respondents to include their objections in their final written addresses. The other members of the tribunal are Justice Mikail Abdullahi and Justice l.P. Braimoh. The tribunal adjourned the case until June 26 for continuation of hearing. Earlier, Ayeni presented result sheet from polling units in nine local government areas of the state to establish differences in some areas, against what is recorded on INEC’s Form EC 40A. Counsel to INEC, Sanwo-Olu, Hamzat and APC objected to the admissibility of the Form EC 40A, reserving reasons until their final written addresses.