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European Union And UNDP World Premiere Of “Deafening Silence”
The European Union and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Nigeria have hosted a world premiere of the feature film “Deafening Silence” which is a result of the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative that advocates for gender equality and women empowerment in Nigeria.
The Spotlight Initiative aligns strongly with the Government of Nigeria’s gender priorities as well as the European Union’s and the United Nations’ Gender Action Points. The intervention is on gender equality, women’s empowerment, and combating SGBV and Violence Against Women (VAW).
“Deafening Silence” produced by the UNDP within the framework of the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative, leverages the power of storytelling to explore themes of Gender Equality, Gender Empowerment, and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in Nigeria. The film aims to foster deep and honest conversations around these critical issues, with the goal of incentivizing social change.
This transformative initiative is part of a broader gender norm result-chain intervention developed by the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative in Nigeria.
This film seeks to raise awareness and inspire action to combat GBV, promoting a society where gender equality and empowerment are fundamental values.
Speaking during the world premiere, H.E. Samuela Isopi, European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS said: “Art is a powerful tool to promote behavioural change, fight stigma and create awareness around negative social norms. It is therefore my hope that this film will contribute to promoting gender equality and prevent gender-based violence in Nigeria and build a more inclusive society”.
In her remarks Ms. Elsie Attafuah, Resident Representative of UNDP Nigeria, stated that “Deafening Silence” is more than a film. It is a comprehensive communication, media and visibility intervention designed to challenge biased gender norms and inspire transformative conversations.” She further added, “It harnesses the power of storytelling, communication, and mainstream media to catalyze societal change and promote gender equality.”
“Deafening Silence” is in three components: Film: A compelling, impactful, and thought-provoking movie that will spark broader discussions in Nigeria about gender equality, empowerment, sexual and gender-based violence, and violence against women.
This movie will captivate audiences emotionally and intellectually, providing a forum for critical debate and action. Limited Series (8 Episodes):
In collaboration with Netflix, episodes were created to delve deeper into the movie’s narratives and themes.
These episodes aim to educate viewers about the complexities of gender-based violence and empower them to effect positive change.
Television series: A three to five-year television series, beginning with a one-year series, will expand on the stories told in the movie and Netflix episodes.
It will advance the narrative, question traditional roles and expectations, and advocate for a more inclusive and equitable society.
The joint EU-UN Spotlight Initiative, funded by the EU, is a global, multi-year partnership between the European Union and United Nations to eliminate all forms of violence and harmful practices against women and girls by 2030.
It sought to pull together substantive work that has been done around GEWE and SGBV, leveraging on the power of storytelling and media to create a transformative impact in Nigeria, a country where gender-based violence and harmful gender norms persist.
In Nigeria, the Spotlight Initiative was implemented in five states: Sokoto, Cross River, Lagos, Adamawa, and Ebonyi, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and ended in December 2023
The EU and UN system in Nigeria will remain engaged in support to the Nigerian Government to promote gender equality, women’s empowerment and fight against gender-based violence.
James Faleke, a member of the House of Representatives and founder of the Tinubu Support Group (TSG), has officially picked up the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential nomination forms for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
The forms, which include the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms, were obtained on April 28, 2026, following a payment of ₦100 million. This move effectively kicks off the President’s campaign for a second term.
The APC National Organising Secretary, Suleiman Argungu, on Tuesday in Abuja, declared the process open and presented the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms to Faleke, who also serves as the founder of the Tinubu Support Groups.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has scheduled the Presidential and National Assembly elections for Saturday, January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will hold on Saturday, February 6, 2027.
The commission also announced that party primaries, including the resolution of related disputes, will run from April 23, 2026, to May 30, 2026.
INEC further stated that campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections will begin on August 19, 2026, while those for governorship and state assembly elections will commence on September 9, 2026.
More details later…
The Nigerian Naira maintained a steady yet cautious position against the US Dollar as the market opened for trading today, Tuesday, April 28, 2026.
Financial analysts are observing localised fluctuations in liquidity across both the official Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) and the parallel market segments.
Official Market (NFEM) Activity
In the early trading hours of the official window, the Naira showed resilience, trading at approximately 1,360.19 NGN per 1 USD. This follows a trend of minor adjustments as the FMDQ Securities Exchange records ongoing transactions from institutional buyers and sellers. The rate has seen slight volatility since the market opened, moving from an initial 1,359.23 NGN to its current level as demand and supply forces seek a daily equilibrium.
The Central Bank of Nigeria continues to monitor the official window closely, ensuring that the transparency of the “willing buyer, willing seller” model supports price discovery while mitigating drastic shocks to the local currency.
Parallel Market Trends
The informal parallel market continues to operate at a premium, reflecting the immediate retail demand for the greenback. In major cities such as Lagos, Kano, and Port Harcourt, currency dealers are quoting the Dollar between 1,480 NGN and 1,495 NGN.
The gap between the NFEM and the parallel market remains a focal point for economic observers, as it often indicates the level of unmet demand in the official sectors. Traders in the parallel market suggest that small-scale importers and individual travelers are the primary drivers of the current activity in the informal sector this morning.
Factors Affecting Today’s Rate
Today’s market performance is being influenced by several key macroeconomic factors. Global oil prices remain a significant driver, providing the necessary foreign exchange reserves to support the Naira. Additionally, internal market liquidity is being shaped by the clearance of corporate foreign exchange backlogs and seasonal demand for international payments.
As the day progresses, participants expect the market to remain within the current range unless there is a significant intervention or a shift in global market sentiment. Stakeholders are advised to keep track of the closing rates later today to gauge the definitive performance of the Naira for the midweek trading period.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has officially endorsed his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, as his preferred successor for the 2027 governorship election.
The announcement was made on Monday, April 27, 2026, during a meeting at the Lagos House, Marina, where Hamzat formally declared his intention to run.
In the past few weeks, Hamzat has received widespread endorsement from political and community leaders across the state during his various consultative visits.
Recall that the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, had expressed support for Hamzat’s governorship bid.
Also, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Senator representing Lagos East, Tokunbo Abiru; and former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and other stakeholders have endorsed Hamzat’s gubernatorial bid.
Details shortly…
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