[12] For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. [13] Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

I pray that the word of God will continue to shape our lives to be who he wants us to be in Jesus Christ mighty name 🙏

Before Nollywood became the big film industry we know today, there were talented actors who helped lay the foundation for the Nigerian movie industry. One of them was Francis Agu, popularly remembered for his role as Ichie Million in Living in Bondage.

Francis Agu was born on 18 February 1965 in Lagos State to Fidelis and Virginia Agu, who hailed from Enugu-Ngwo, Enugu State. He was the seventh of eight children in a Catholic family.

He was an intelligent and quiet young man who attended Ladi-Lak Institute and St. Finbarr's College in Lagos before studying Mass Communication at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

Interestingly, acting was not where his journey began. While working at Nigeria Arab Bank, he developed his passion for the stage through the Yodrac Playhouse at St. Dominic's Church in Lagos. His talent was quickly noticed, and he went on to perform in several theatre productions.

Many Nigerians came to know him through the popular television series Checkmate, where he played Benny. However, his role as Ichie Million in Living in Bondage made him a familiar face across the country. The movie remains an important part of Nigerian film history and helped shape the home-video era that later grew into Nollywood.

Francis Agu was not just an actor. He also worked as a film producer and director, with productions including Jezebel, In the Name of the Father, A Divine Call, The Boy Is Mine and Body and Soul.

Sadly, his life was cut short. After falling ill in October 2006, Francis Agu died on 20 March 2007 at the age of 42.

Today, many people still remember him for the characters he brought to life and the role he played in the early days of Nigeria Nollywood.

Some actors leave the screen, but their work continues to live in the memories of those who watched them.

Francis Agu remains one of the faces worth remembering when telling the story of the early days of Nollywood. 🕊️

May his memory continue to live on.

#FrancisAgu #LivingInBondage #IchieMillion #NollywoodHistory #IgboHistory

This photo was taken on their wedding day on September 10, 1961, and the ceremony was held in the Chapel of Resurrection on the University of Ibadan Campus.

Both Christie and Chinua had met while they worked at the Nigerian Broadcasting Service Enugu.

As a sharp guy, Chinua Achebe had sent her gift, flowers, and magazines after she had an appendectomy.

Chinua Achebe's second novel, No Longer at Ease, was dedicated to her.

Truly, love is sweet and beautiful when you find the right person.

He probably would have surpassed any poet of his time had he lived. But the call to defend his fatherland would not let him.

Writing about his gallantry Brigadier Nwawo said:

"Chris Okigbo had distinguished himself early in the war in Nsukka where he was credited with destroying a Federal Armored car with an energy grenade"

Soyinka who saw him when he came to Enugu to hold some talk with Ojukwu wrote in You Must Set Forth At Dawn:

"It was while waiting for my transfer to a hotel that Christopher Okigbo drove in, kitted for war - albeit in casual civilian clothing, but complete with rifle and ammunition belt- screeched to a halt in front of the station. He was coming from the front, the excitement of battle still fresh in his eyes".

He said he watched him load some guns and ammunition into his car and drove off. That was perhaps the last time he saw Okigbo alive.

"That was the last time I would see my excitable friend and poet Christopher Okigbo alive".

copied

After years of encouraging children to use tablets, computers, and digital learning tools, educators and policymakers are increasingly questioning whether spending so much time looking at screens is helping young people develop the concentration, creativity, reading skills, and independent thinking they need for the future.

Technology certainly has its place in education, but there is something incredibly valuable about children holding real books, writing with pencils, learning without constant digital distractions, and spending more time interacting with teachers, classmates, and the world around them.

Perhaps real progress isn't about putting artificial intelligence and screens into every classroom, but finding a healthier balance where children develop strong academic skills, discover the joy of reading, experience nature, and grow into curious, confident individuals who can think for themselves.

While our forests face destruction, wildlife habitats continue disappearing, and communities struggle with pollution and water shortages, technology companies are racing to develop increasingly powerful systems that can produce artificial content in seconds.

There is something deeply frustrating about watching genuine human creativity become overshadowed by computer-generated images while the environmental costs of powering these technologies receive far less attention than the excitement surrounding their capabilities.

Perhaps real progress isn't about creating millions of artificial pictures of beautiful forests, oceans, and animals, but about investing our intelligence, money, and resources into protecting the real natural world before future generations are left with nothing but digital representations of everything we allowed to disappear.

I met Funke at Cool FM, and the presenter said, 'AY, Funke is also on ground. We need to interview you, and we also interview her. Would you like to go on air with Funke at about the same time?'

I said yes, let's run it together. Lo and behold, the programme started, and he introduced both of us. 'Caller number one, who would you like to speak to, AY or Funke?' The first, second, third, fourth... 17th caller, Funke.

At that moment, the presenter was already feeling sorry for me. He said, 'If you're still tuning in, we also have AY here.'

Another person called in and said, 'Hello, Funke. Is AY there? AY, when are you going to buy ticket for 'Everybody Loves Jenifa?” I said, “Ahhhahhh! I don't know this is how Funke is.'

God later came through, and the guy said, 'We're going to take this last call.' When they asked him who he would like to speak with, he answered and said AY.

He started praising me, saying he wanted to appreciate me for what I've been doing in the movie industry, making it to the Guinness World Records, featuring Funke Akindele in my movies, 'A Trip to Jamaica,' and supporting the comedy industry.

'Please, you're an icon. Don't let anyone intimidate you.' Last caller from Ikorodu!

If you see the way my shoulders rose while leaving the studio, because that one call meant a lot to me. On getting inside my car, my PA asked, 'Are you happy now? I was the last caller from Ikorodu...'"

- Comedian AY Makun recounts his experience promoting his cinema movie 'The Waiter' alongside Funke Akindele, revealing how a caller from Ikorodu made him happy.

Three months after she gave birth to him, she was okay, then she travelled to the North to meet her husband. Six months after, she d!£d mysteriously, without no good explanation.

We had to tell them to bring the child back. Since they couldn't take care of the mother, how much more a little child.

Ever since then, the father abandoned him andwent on to have other children. Where was the father when this boy was hawking around, from Ekiti to Osun State?

Where were they when he str&ggl£d to school himself through Yabatech?

If they have receipts of anything they did for him from infant, let them bring them out. Despite that, through good advice, this boy still called the father to come over from the North and started taking care of him.

When he had nothing, Toluwanisings' wife was the one who would look for garri and provide shelter for him.

The only thing is, he made some promises of completing a house for the father and other things, but he was unable to do so before he d!£d.

But that is not enough reason to be granting interviews and saying different things about your son..."

- Late gospel singer Toluwanisings’ maternal family makes fresh claims about his childhood struggles, alleges abandonment by his father.