🇳🇬NigeriaWest Africa
Head Judge Joke Silva addresses Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards nomination concerns
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
Joke Silva, Head Judge for the 12th Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards, addressed concerns regarding the nomination process for the 2026 edition. Following the unveiling of the nominees list in March, which saw films like Gingerrr and The Herd receive nine nominations each, and To Kill A Monkey eight, some fans and actors expressed disappointment over omissions. Silva explained in an interview with Guardian Life that non-voting categories were reviewed by professionals with deep understanding of film, performance, and technical execution. She stated that award decisions can be subjective, with final nominations determined through a grading process by multiple judges. Silva admitted that even she was surprised by some projects not making the final cut despite their quality, attributing it to the aggregate of scores. Her comments come amid criticism, including actress Lilian Afegbai's public disappointment over her exclusion from the Best Supporting Actress category for her role in To Kill A Monkey. Silva defined an award-worthy performance as deeply embodying a character to the point of believability. Despite the debates, Silva expressed pride in the growth and quality of Nollywood productions, noting that the volume of strong projects submitted reflects the increasing standard of African film and television storytelling. This year's awards feature 32 categories, including 18 jury-voted, 11 audience-voted, and three special recognition awards, with new categories for Best Ind
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, has criticized the Nigeria Democratic Congress NDC for not presenting a clear vision or manifesto for Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections. Onanuga stated on his X handle that he searched the party's website twice to review its manifesto and governance plans but found no accessible manifesto. He noted that the NDC, which he described as a platform for former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, had no downloadable content on its "Our Manifesto" page, despite inviting visitors to click and read it. Onanuga alleged that the party, registered in February, only displayed six policy "nuggets" described as pillars, which he felt sounded more like platitudes. PUNCH Online's checks confirmed that while the NDC website lists six core policy pillars, the manifesto download page contains no actual policy document. The presidential aide called on NDC national leader Senator Seriake Dickson to unveil the party's vision and mission for Nigeria. These comments follow Obi and Kwankwaso joining the NDC after leaving the African Democratic Congress, with Dickson positioning the party for an "ideological battle" in 2027 against the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Must ReadLoyalists of former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar have announced their support for former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, for the 2027 general election. This endorsement was made during a coalition meeting in Abuja on Friday, attended by members of the Obidient Movement, Kwankwasiyya Movement, and the Coalition of Atiku Support Groups Initiative. Habibu Muhammed, spokesman for the Kwankwasiyya Movement, stated that the movement aligned with Obi due to his proven leadership and commitment to national development, emphasizing that 2027 would bring a "political revolution" where the common man would determine leaders like Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. Muhammed highlighted leadership as a matter of proven performance and track record, citing Kwankwaso's achievements in education and governance. He added that the Kwankwasiyya Movement accepted the need to support another region for national balance and unity, concluding that Peter Obi is an exceptional leader they wish to follow. Obinna Okorie, National Coordinator of the Coalition of Atiku Support Groups Initiative, appealed to Atiku Abubakar to support Obi's presidential ambition, explaining that the decision followed a review of Nigeria's political dynamics and Obi's national appeal. Yunusa Tanko, National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, welcomed the growing opposition alliance, asserting that efforts to divide the coalition had failed. These
Adejobi Adeloye, Founder of the Doctors On Call Health Support Initiative, announced plans to train 10,000 Nigerians in emergency response, telehealth coordination, and healthcare support services. This initiative aims to strengthen emergency medical intervention and reduce preventable deaths across Nigeria. The announcement was made in Abuja during the unveiling of the “NovaDOC Integrated Emergency Response and Digital Health Ecosystem,” a new healthcare initiative designed to improve emergency response to road crashes, trauma cases, and other medical emergencies. The training program will equip participants with practical emergency response skills and create employment opportunities. Additionally, 1,000 certified facilitators will be produced to sustain nationwide emergency response training through the initiative’s digital learning platform. The NovaDOC ecosystem was developed to address gaps in Nigeria’s emergency healthcare system, particularly delayed responses in rural communities and along highways. The system combines emergency medical kits, telehealth services, emergency alerts, and responder coordination. Four categories of emergency healthcare kits—Car Kit, Wall Kit, Mall Kit, and Plane Kit—are tailored for different environments, equipped with life-saving supplies and linked to the NovaDOC platform. The digital platform will connect emergency responders, healthcare facilities, and Nigerian medical professionals in the diaspora for real-time consultations and guid
Adamu Atiku, son of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has announced his intention to run for the Adamawa South Senatorial District seat in the 2027 general elections under the African Democratic Congress. The former Adamawa State Commissioner for Works and Energy Development stated that his decision followed extensive consultations and encouragement from constituents and stakeholders. He noted that he had initially remained silent despite calls from supporters to focus on reflection and consultation. Adamu highlighted the overwhelming confidence placed in him and the demand for experienced and people-oriented representation. He confirmed obtaining his nomination form, signaling the formal start of his campaign for the Senate seat. He described his ambition as a people-driven movement focused on promoting unity, progress, and quality representation in the district. This declaration comes weeks after Adamu resigned from the cabinet of Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, following the governor's defection to the All Progressives Congress. This development further involves the Atiku political family in the ADC, following the former Vice President's move to the party.