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Minister Lauds Nigerian Film Selected for 2021 Oscars

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Alhaji Lai Mohammed, minister of Information and Culture, has lauded the emergence of ‘The Milkmaid’ as Nigeria’s representative in the International Feature Film category of the 2021 Oscars.

Minister Lauds Nigerian Film Selected for 2021 Oscars

In a statement issued in Abuja, the minister said the film is a testament to the progress which the local film industry has made in the areas of professionalism and international competitiveness, while also highlighting Nigeria’s potential as a viable destination for cutting edge film productions.

He pledged government’s full support for ‘The Milkmaid’s’ success at the 2021 Oscars, and urged all Nigerians to fully support the film’s quest for a noteworthy run at the 93rd Oscars.

The film was selected by the 12-member Nigeria Official Selection Committee (NOSC), having followed and met the prescribed procedures by the United States’ Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).

The selection of ‘The Milkmaid’ was officially announced on December 1st, 2020 by the NOSC, headed by Chineze Anyaene-Abonyi, a filmmaker and education administrator.

Written, produced and directed by Desmond Ovbiagele, ‘The Milkmaid’ is a Hausa language-based thriller spotlighting insurgency and extremism, especially as they affect women and children in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The film, which recently garnered eight nominations at the 2020 Africa Movie Academy Awards. narrates the story of a Fulani milkmaid who confronts extremists in a rural African community in a quest to locate her missing sister, and details how efforts to recapture her disrupted past became complicated.

The film, while supremely entertaining, simultaneously sensitizes and facilitates insights into the predicament of victims of insurgency, especially women and children, thereby contributing to ongoing efforts aimed at eradicating extremism from the society.

Technically crafted to the highest international cinematic standards, The Milkmaid showcases the natural beauty of Nigeria’s topography such as the Mambilla Plateau in Taraba state, while highlighting the richness of the subregion’s colourful Hausa and Fulani cultures.

Dr. Oluseun Sowemimo, executive producer of The Milkmaid, is a US-based Nigerian surgeon.

 

 

 


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NCC, MCSN Collaborate on Copyright Enlightenment

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The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) in collaboration with Musical CopyrightSociety of Nigeria (MCSN) organised a stakeholders’ engagement and awareness event in Kaduna on November 20, 2024.

The event, themed “Enjoy Music, Respect Copyright, Protect your Business,” according to the State Coordinator, NCC Kaduna office Mrs Rukayya Yeldu was aimed at educating music users about copyright laws and the importance of paying royalties to support musicians in the creative industry.

Mrs. Yeldu in her address at the event noted that copyright laws help protect the livelihood of musicians and other stakeholders while emphasising that paying royalties is both a legal and moral duty for business operators in the creative sector.

Director-General, MCSN Mr. Mayowa Ayilaran in his presentation spoke about MCSN’s role in the creative sector and encouraged business owners to obtain proper licences for the music they use.

 


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90% of Global Constituents Support AI Agents in Public Service, Salesforce Finds

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Public trust in government has been lagging for years but new Salesforce research reveals AI agents could help rebuild it.

Constituents around the world agree there’s room for improvement when it comes to government service. Forty percent struggle with government interactions, and over a third are unsure of available programs. However, the research indicates overwhelming public support for AI solutions — with 90% of global constituents saying they’d use an AI agent to engage with their government.

The arrival of AI agents presents governments with an exciting opportunity to strengthen public trust by streamlining services and speeding up response times. And in the face of tightening budgets, agents can augment public servants and better serve their constituents — without having to add headcount.

“It is clear from our research that there is a need for AI solutions like Salesforce’s Agentforce that help governments streamline and scale services to better meet the needs of their constituents,” said Nasi Jazayeri, EVP and GM of Public Sector at Salesforce.

“As global leaders gather in Davos, we have a tremendous opportunity for the public and private sectors to come together and explore how major advancements in technology like AI agents can improve how governments support citizens.”

Public calls for improved government service

  • 40% say it’s difficult to interact with the government when they have questions or need help.

  • Less than half of survey respondents find it easy to understand what public services (42%) and public assistance programs (46%) are available to them.

  • Top service delivery improvements desired by global constituents include:

    • Reducing the number of steps to address needs

    • Responding to their needs faster

Constituents eager to engage with agents

  • 90% of global respondents said they’d use an AI agent to interact with the public sector.

  • Constituents in Brazil, Spain, Singapore, and Italy are among the most willing to use AI agents to interact with the public sector, providing these countries with the opportunity to be trailblazers in the agentic AI era.

  • 20% of German and American respondents say they’re very likely to use an AI agent to help fill out government forms (e.g. filing taxes, completing applications).

  • Three factors global respondents said they prioritised when considering using AI agents in the public sector:

    • 24/7 access to information and services (47%)

    • Helping them efficiently access government resources (44%)

    • Reducing the number of websites and steps needed to address their needs (40%)


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NCC, NBTE to formulate IP Policy for Polytechnics, Technical Institutions

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The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has expressed its commitment to partner with the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) for the creation of a robust Intellectual Property (IP) Policy tailored for Polytechnics and Technical Institutions across Nigeria.

This collaboration was agreed upon during a courtesy visit by the Director-General, NCC, Dr. John O. Asein to the Executive Secretary NBTE, Prof. Idris Muhammad Bugaje, in Abuja. The visit aimed to enlighten NBTE on the mandate of Commission and areas of possible collaboration.

Dr. Asein, represented at the meeting by Director Nigerian Copyright Academy (NCA), Mrs. Funmi Adewale and Director Planning Research and Statistics (PRS), Mr. Collins Nweke, emphasised the importance of a functional IP Policy and the need to incorporate Copyright Education into the curriculum of Technical Institutions.

The ES-NBTE who was represented by the Director, Abuja Liaison Office, Dr. Yahaya Bande gave assurances that the proposed partnership will yield results and lauded NCC’s initiatives of raising public awareness about IP and Copyright, emphasising that such efforts are crucial for enhancing the nation’s economic development.

The Commission’s representatives presented copies of the Commission’s publication “What Is Copyright” and “Copyright Act 2022” to the Executive Secretary, NBTE.


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