The Kano Indigenous Languages of Africa Film Market and Festival (KILAF24) has received 511 films from 66 countries which 35 are from Africa showcasing the rich cultural diversity of the continent.

This announcement was made by Malam Abdulkareem Muhammad, Head of KILAF and CEO of Moving Image, during the third day of KILAF24 and the official launch hosted by Gwani and ACF members.

Muhammad revealed that the films came from a wide array from African countries, include Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Rwanda, and Benin Republic. “The countries represented include Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Rwanda, and Benin Republic,” he stated.

In Nigeria, apart from films in Pidgin, Igbo, and Hausa, there were submissions in minor languages such as Igala. “In Nigeria, apart from Pidgin, Igbo, and Hausa, films are also done in minor languages like Igala,” Muhammad added. He also noted the arrival of the Rwandan contingent, which further highlights the festival’s pan-African appeal.

Muhammad emphasized the importance of KILAF24 in encouraging the youth to produce films in their indigenous languages. “The idea of KILAF24 is to sensitize our youth who are in the film industry to produce films in their indigenous languages. This initiative aims to keep the languages alive and prevent them from being eliminated,” he explained.

The festival serves as a platform to foster social relevance between academics and practitioners, supporting an environment conducive to intellectual discussions. The partnership between BUK and Moving Image, which began in 2021, has been instrumental in making the annual conference a success. “Moving Image has gone the extra mile to ensure that the conference holds annually,” Muhammad noted.

Participants at the conference were drawn from different parts of Nigeria and other African nations, highlighting the event’s significance in promoting indigenous language films and cultural identity.

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Maitama, has ordered the remand of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) until December 10. The decision was made by Justice Maryann Anenih during a hearing on Wednesday.

Justice Anenih’s ruling came after Bello and his co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, pleaded not guilty to a 16-count charge filed against them by the EFCC. The charges include conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and possession of unlawfully obtained property linked to an alleged N110 billion

The House of Representatives has directed its Committees on Finance, Petroleum Upstream, and Petroleum Downstream to investigate allegations of financial irregularities by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

The probe follows reports from the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation, and Fiscal Responsibility Commission, which claim that the NNPC withheld N8.48 trillion in purported petrol subsidy payments. Additionally, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) report alleges that the NNPC failed to remit $2 billion (approximately N3.6 trillion) in taxes to the Federal Government.

The committees are tasked with verifying the total cumulative amount of unremitted revenue, labeled as “under-recovery,” from the sale of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) by the NNPC between 2020 and 2023.

This investigation comes amidst growing concerns about transparency and accountability in the management of Nigeria’s oil revenues. Lawmakers have expressed the need to determine the accuracy of subsidy claims and ensure compliance with remittance obligations to prevent revenue leakage.

The committees are expected to report their findings to the House within a stipulated time frame, with recommendations for corrective actions and policy reforms to enhance fiscal accountability in the petroleum sector.