Celebrities
Stars Shine at Inaugural Lagos Film Festival 2025
Published
8 months agoon

Funke Akindele, Femi Adebayo and Nollywood elites honoured as TGMAAN hosts the maiden Lagos Film Festival, spotlighting Nigeria’s cinematic future.
Nollywood legends, emerging filmmakers, and key government figures gathered at the KICC Dome in Maryland, Lagos, on 29 August 2025, for the first-ever Lagos Film Festival — an initiative by The Golden Movies Ambassadors of Nigeria (TGMAAN).
Also read: Musawa Vows Review of NTDA, NIHOTOUR Acts Amid Backlash
The maiden edition of the festival, sponsored by LAPO Microfinance Bank, delivered a dazzling mix of red-carpet glamour, industry dialogue, and prestigious awards, all geared towards reinforcing Lagos’ standing as a growing cinematic powerhouse in Africa.
Nollywood in Focus: Panels and Perspectives
The event featured vibrant panel discussions focused on the future of Nollywood, with insights from:
- Fidelis Duker – Founder, Abuja International Film Festival
- Anita Edward – Tribe Nation Film Distribution
- Omotayo Queen Inakoju – EbonyLife Studios
The conversations ranged from film funding and distribution challenges to streaming strategies and talent development, offering a much-needed roadmap for young creatives and policymakers alike.
Award Highlights: Nollywood’s Finest Recognised
The festival concluded with an electrifying awards ceremony where top talents were honoured:
- Best Box Office Movie – Funke Akindele
- Outstanding Movie Prize – Femi Adebayo
- Best Co-Director – Tunde Olaoye
Tributes to Icons
- Trailblazer Awards – Fidelis Duker and Ade Ajiboye (‘Big Abass’)
- Veteran Honour – Charles Novia
- Oldest Active Actor – Pa Kola Olaiya
- Most Consistent Contributor – Nike Wellington
These recognitions served as a heartfelt celebration of the legacy and continued evolution of Nigeria’s film industry.
The event attracted high-level dignitaries, reaffirming governmental support for the creative economy. Notable attendees included:
- Dr. Shaibu Husseini– Director General, NFVCB
- Hon. Solomon Bonu
- Hon. Otunba Babatola Faseru
- Hon. Laide Bakare – Represented the Governor of Osun State
Their presence underscored growing governmental interest in transforming Nigeria’s film industry into a major economic driver.
By championing initiatives like the Lagos Film Festival, TGMAAN aims to position Lagos as Africa’s leading film destination, leveraging the city’s talent pool, infrastructure, and storytelling prowess.
Also read: FTAN Demands Broader Input in Nigeria’s Tourism Policy Review
With a successful debut, the Lagos Film Festival is poised to become an annual cultural highlight, blending entertainment, industry networking, and visionary thinking.
Related
You may like
Celebrities
Nollywood actress Allwell Ademola succumbs to heart attack
Published
4 months agoon
December 29, 2025
Nollywood actress Allwell Ademola dies at 43 after reportedly suffering a heart attack at her Lagos home, prompting widespread grief in the film industry
Related
Celebrities
JUST IN: Agura of Gbagura joins his forefathers at 61
Published
3 years agoon
June 15, 2023By
Lanre
Oba Sabur Olajide Bakre, Agura of Gbagura Egba Land has joined his forefathers.
According to information made available to Freelanews, Oba Sabur joined ancestors on Wednesday at a Lagos hospital where he was rushed to after his health condition deteriorated.
Recommended articles
- Monarch flees palace as subjects protest alleged mysterious deaths
- Reno Omokri writes on culture of respect in Yoruba people
- Ooni Hails Hilda Baci For Breaking Guinness World Record
- For the records: Enduring Legacies of Oba Lamidi Olayinwola Adeyemi III, Alaafin of Oyo By Prof. Akin Alao
Administrative secretary to the Agura Palace confirmed the incident.
Oba Bakre, 61, was installed in 2019 by former Governor Ibikunle Amosun.
Otunba Gbenga Daniel freelanews
It was further gathered that the remains of the Monarch arrived Abeokuta on Wednesday night, for possible internment on Thursday, according to Islamic rites.
A message from the administrative secretary to the Agura Palace, Chief Razaq Adesola Obe reads, “The Osi of Egbaland and Balogun of Ibadan Township Gbagura Abeokuta has mandated me to inform you that His Royal Majesty Oba Dr Saburee Babajide Bakre Jamolu 11, the Agura of Gbagura has joined His ancestors today 14th June, 2023.
“May Kabiyesi’s soul rest in perfect peace.”
The 9th Agura of Gbagura, Jamolu the Second, was installed at Oke-Iddo, Abeokuta on 21st May 2019.
Related
Celebrities
Gani Adams @53: Four best uni. students get N200k each
Published
3 years agoon
May 2, 2023By
akonitvAareonakakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams has restated his commitment to raising the standard of education in Nigeria.
Speaking at his 53rd birthday anniversary where he played host to prominent dignitaries in Ikeja, Lagos, Iba Adams stated that it has been his dream to support brilliant and indigent students across Nigeria.
The Yoruba generalissimo also disclosed that he had been offering scholarships to the best students in the tertiary institutions for the past five years, especially during the annual birthday celebration.

He added that such a gesture had also helped the beneficiaries in securing a better future for the students.
“We started the initiative under the Aareonakakanfo Scholarship Award and the intention is to give the little I have in the form of a donation to the educational development of the students that are brilliant in their respective disciplines across the southwest and beyond.

“Each of the students is entitled to a certain amount of money and over the years, the feedback has been awesome.
“It is my own way of giving back to society. We say the young ones are the future of tomorrow, yet we didn’t give them the opportunity to grow, the educational standard drops by the day, and many of the Nigerian youths are now involved in uncomplimentary deals.

“Looking at the bleak future, I have decided to change the ugly narratives by seeking the best way to raise the standard of education in the country and offer the youth and the students the best through this initiative.
“Our education sector is comatose, the future is bleak and there is an urgent need for intervention that is why we need to intervene and I am happy that I rise to the occasion at this critical time to salvage the ugly situation in the education sector.
“The four brilliant students from four tertiary institutions to be awarded this year are: Akinsanya Ganiyat Adedoyin, from Lagos state university, Samad Abidemi Abdul Hamid, from Kwara state university, Khadijat Oladipupo, from the University of Ibadan, and Adegbite Victoria, from Olabisi Onabanjo University.”
“We have their datas and that of the previous beneficiaries so that we can monitor their progress at every point in time.

“It is my joy and my heavenly spirit usually aligns with helping the poor.”
Speaking about the birthday ceremony, Iba Adams stated further that it is an annual event that has become a tradition.
He added: “People all over the world come together to celebrate with me on the special occasion.
“That is how it has always been in the past 25 years.
“Every year, I gather people from all walks of life to rejoice and celebrate with me on the special occasion of my birthday.

“It is a special day for me and I am always happy to see how people come from all over the world to celebrate with me.”
Prominent royal fathers, business tycoons, eminent personalities, and dignitaries from Nigeria and abroad were present at the event.
Related

Who is Dr. Precious Isogie, The Unbreakable Smile Behind the Service?

The Trinity of State Decay (II): Inside the Loop of Insecurity

The IBADAN DECLARATION by Nigeria’s leading opposition politicians…
Trending
Business3 years agoOoni of Ife Discusses Business and Peace Initiative in Kenya
Culture3 years agoThe Four Igbo Market Days and Their Significance In Omenala ÌGBÒ
Events3 years agoGlamour, glitz as B’obagunwa Omo’ba Obinrin Akile Ijebu celebrates New Year party (Photos)
Culture3 years agoOutrage as Ezendigbo of Ibadanland confers chieftaincy title on Olubadan
Events3 years agoOnitoomu of Ito-Omu installs two new chiefs (Video, Photos)
Events2 years agoEgbe Bobasete: The New Fashion Sensation Elevates 2024 Ojude Oba Festival (Video, Photos)
Events3 years agoLaminisa I, HRM Oba Dr. Lawal, marks 15years on throne
Paranormal3 years agoBlack Cat Superstition: Good and Bad Luck Beliefs









