Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: Nollywood

  • Funke Akindele’s “Behind The Scenes” breaks ₦200m opening-weekend mark

    Funke Akindele’s “Behind The Scenes” breaks ₦200m opening-weekend mark

    The Nation (photo on page)
    2025-12-16

    According to The Guardian, Funke Akindele’s film Behind The Scenes crossed ₦200 million in its opening weekend, citing FilmOne’s performance announcement and admissions figures.

    The report highlights how strong distribution, marketing and screen allocation can turn local titles into blockbuster runs.

    The next signal to watch is whether the film sustains momentum beyond opening weekend.

    FilmOne/Instagram reposts: “crosses ₦200M in one weekend…”

    Note: “A second mainstream outlet confirmation with a direct quote was not available in retrieved sources for this session.”

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: This strengthens the argument that Nollywood’s theatrical ceiling is rising if execution is tight. Watch week-two drop-off, piracy impact, and diaspora screenings that can extend the revenue tail.

    Source: The Guardian (Nigeria) — December 16, 2025 (https://guardian.ng/life/funke-akindeles-behind-the-scenes-records-over-%e2%82%a6200m-in-opening-weekend)

  • Funke Akindele’s “Behind The Scenes” smashes ₦200m opening weekend mark

    Funke Akindele’s “Behind The Scenes” smashes ₦200m opening weekend mark

    According to P.M. News, Funke Akindele’s latest cinema release, Behind The Scenes, crossed the ₦200 million threshold in its opening weekend, extending her run as one of Nollywood’s most bankable box-office names. 
    In the report, FilmOne Entertainment (the distributor) is credited with describing the performance as the biggest opening weekend of 2025 so far, with multiple opening-weekend benchmarks reportedly broken in the process. 
    TheNation’s coverage also reproduces a distributor caption praising Nigerian audiences for filling cinemas, framing the milestone as both a commercial win and a signal of sustained momentum for theatrical Nollywood releases in December. 
     • The Nation Newspaper (TheNationOnlineNG): “Behind The Scenes crossed ₦200M in just one weekend…” 
     • FilmOne Entertainment (Instagram, via distributor caption reproduced by The Nation): “We call her the Queen of Box Office for a reason!” 
    Analysis/Echotitbits take: This is a strong indicator that the “December cinema season” remains a major revenue window for Nollywood—if the legs hold beyond week one, expect more aggressive marketing pushes, piracy warnings, and competing studios timing their own releases to chase the same audience attention. 
  • Tonto Dikeh shares testimony of quitting smoking after 27 years, says the turning point came through faith

    Tonto Dikeh shares testimony of quitting smoking after 27 years, says the turning point came through faith

    Photo/Video credit: DCLImagery (YouTube)

    According to Punch, actress Tonto Dikeh narrated a personal testimony at Streams of Joy International Church, saying she quit smoking after a 27-year habit that began in her teens.

    The account was shared widely online as clips of the service circulated, with commenters debating addiction, healing, and the role of community support.

    Dikeh framed the story as a new chapter, urging people who are struggling privately to seek help and stay accountable.

    • Vanguard (website): “Nollywood star Tonto Dikeh has recounted… a personal breakthrough from years of smoking…”
    • TheCable Lifestyle (website): “Speaking during a recent Sunday service… Dikeh framed her story… as an act of thanksgiving.”

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: Celebrity testimonies can be polarizing, but they also open up real conversations about addiction, relapse risk, and where to find support. What matters next is follow-through—watch for whether Dikeh partners with credible wellness/mental-health or stop-smoking initiatives, and whether the discussion shifts from ‘viral moment’ to practical resources for the public.

    Source: Punch — 2025-12-15 — https://punchng.com/i-smoked-for-27-years-started-at-13-tonto-dikeh/

    2025-12-15

  • Mercy Aigbe lands BON Awards supporting-actress win as ‘My Mother Is a Witch’ gets major nod

    Mercy Aigbe lands BON Awards supporting-actress win as ‘My Mother Is a Witch’ gets major nod

    Photo credit: Premium Times (image on story page)

    According to Premium Times, Mercy Aigbe was recognised at the 2025 Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards for her supporting performance in ‘My Mother Is a Witch’.

    The recognition adds to a big night for multiple titles, with the awards rewarding both star power and craft across the slate.

    Fans quickly pushed clips and congratulations across social media, keeping the BON conversation trending into the next morning.

    • The Eagle Online (website): “BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS – MERCY AIGBE (MY MOTHER IS A WITCH)”
    • TheCable Lifestyle (website): “The 17th edition of the award ceremony… celebrated the outstanding achievements of the industry…”

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: For Mercy Aigbe, a BON acting win is not just bragging rights—it can translate into stronger negotiating power for future roles, higher demand for press tours, and renewed attention for the film itself. Watch for distributor/streaming pushes and award-season campaign positioning as Nollywood’s calendar shifts toward bigger international visibility.

    Source: Premium Times — 2025-12-15 — https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/nollywood/843149-bon-awards-2025-farmers-bride-wins-movie-of-the-year-as-seven-doors-sweeps-technical-awards.html

    2025-12-15

  • BamBam Sweeps Three Wins at Bestie Choice Awards as ‘Achalugo’ Buzz Continues

    BamBam Sweeps Three Wins at Bestie Choice Awards as ‘Achalugo’ Buzz Continues

    Exquisite Magazine (article image)
    2025-12-11 09:00:00

    According to Pulse Nigeria, Bamike “BamBam” Olawunmi added fresh wins to her 2025 run by taking home three honors at the Bestie Choice Awards, extending the buzz around her ‘Achalugo’ wave.

    The wins, tied to fan engagement and audience response, reinforced how YouTube hits and social chatter can translate into award-season momentum for Nollywood talent.

    Exquisite Magazine wrote: “Bam Bam… [took] home an impressive trio of wins—including Best Actress, Most Viewed Actor, and Favourite Ship alongside co-star Uzor Arukwe.”

    BellaNaija posted: “A well-earned moment for @bammybestowed at the Besties Choice Awards.”

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: Fan-driven awards thrive on visibility. Watch for BamBam’s next moves—brand deals, film roles and streaming projects—because public momentum often becomes leverage in casting and endorsements.

    Source: Pulse Nigeria — Dec 11, 2025 — https://www.pulse.ng/story/bam-bam-bags-three-wins-at-the-bestie-choice-awards-2025-2025121111512559865

     

  • Dayo Amusa elected into Actors Guild national leadership as vice president

    Dayo Amusa elected into Actors Guild national leadership as vice president

    Photo Credit: Dayo Amusa – The Nation Newspaper
    2025-12-14

    According to Vanguard, Nollywood actress Dayo Amusa has been elected as a National Vice President within the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) following the guild’s national election in Benin City.

    The report said the election produced a new national leadership team, with Amusa emerging as a key officer representing her zone in the guild structure.

    Daily Post also reported her emergence and described her as National Vice President Southwest.

    The Nation reported the same development and quoted her describing her emergence as a testament to her dedication to the guild’s growth and integrity.

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: Guild leadership influences welfare advocacy, dispute mediation and professional standards in Nollywood. Watch for Amusa’s agenda—especially transparency in guild processes, stronger member protections, and partnerships that improve earnings and working conditions across the creative economy.

    Source: Vanguard — 14 Dec 2025 (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/12/dayo-amusa-emerges-national-vice-president-of-actors-guild-of-nigeria/)

  • Funke Akindele and Iyabo Ojo Fly Out Together for UK Premiere of Behind The Scenes

    Funke Akindele and Iyabo Ojo Fly Out Together for UK Premiere of Behind The Scenes

    Photo Credit: Video via Instagram @funkejenifaakindele / @iyaboojofespris (screenshot)

    A light-hearted travel video of Nollywood heavyweights Funke Akindele and Iyabo Ojo has delighted fans as the duo jetted off to the United Kingdom for the international premiere of Funke’s new movie Behind The Scenes.

    The clip, posted on Instagram, shows the actresses laughing, chatting and filming each other as they head to the airport and board their flight. For many fans, the cheerful energy between the two women was just as exciting as the film itself, especially given how often Nollywood friendships and feuds become talking points online.

    Comment sections quickly filled with fans celebrating the support among the actresses and hyping the movie’s UK cinema run. Others joked that the UK was not ready for the duo’s combined “wahala” on premiere night, turning the travel vlog into instant Detty December content.

    Source: Instagram/ Instagram @funkejenifaakindele / @iyaboojofespris, reel highlighting Funke Akindele and Iyabo Ojo’s trip to the UK for the Behind The Scenes premiere.

  • Call Me Dr Lizzy: Actress Anjorin’s Honorary Doctorate Sparks Mixed Reactions

    Call Me Dr Lizzy: Actress Anjorin’s Honorary Doctorate Sparks Mixed Reactions

    Photo Credit: Photo via Gistmania / @lizzyanjorin_original

    Nollywood actress and entrepreneur Lizzy Anjorin has upgraded her public profile – and she wants everyone to respect it. The movie star announced on Instagram that she has been awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa, in recognition of her years of hustling, business struggles and entrepreneurial impact.

    In a lengthy caption, Lizzy described the moment as deeply emotional, saying the honour symbolises years of selling, grinding and surviving tough seasons in business. She stressed that the degree was not simply about classroom work but about resilience, discipline and real-life experience, and that the award is evidence that consistency is eventually rewarded.

    The real drama started when she boldly told critics and bloggers to address her properly as “Dr Lizzy Anjorin” going forward. That declaration triggered instant debate across Instagram, X and Facebook. Supporters flooded her comments with congratulations and hailed the gesture as long-overdue respect for a woman who built herself from the ground up.

    But others were not convinced. Skeptical users demanded more transparency about the unnamed university that issued the honorary degree and asked why she had not publicly shown official documents. Reports note that, as at the time of writing, Lizzy had not revealed the institution’s name, though her post continued to trend with thousands of engagements. She has remained unapologetic, defending her new title robustly and insisting that the recognition is both genuine and hard-earned.

    Source: Instagram/@lizzyanjorin_original, Gistmania – report on Lizzy Anjorin’s honorary doctorate and social media reactions.

  • Funke Akindele’s Fan Begging For A Phone Becomes Instant Meme

    Funke Akindele’s Fan Begging For A Phone Becomes Instant Meme

    Nollywood powerhouse Funke Akindele is currently on a major promo run for her latest cinema projects, but it is a random fan’s request that has stolen the spotlight on social media.

    In a clip that spread quickly across Instagram in September this year, a fan publicly begged the actress and filmmaker to buy them a phone. Rather than ignore the plea, Funke responded with her trademark humour, explaining that she cannot meet every personal demand while still encouraging fans to keep hustling and believing in their own journey.

    The exchange instantly became meme material. Users chopped her response into short skits, captions and sound bites, joking about how many people want celebrities to solve all their problems. Some praised her for keeping it real about boundaries, while others laughed that they would still try their luck if they saw her.

    All of this comes as red carpet photos from her recent movie premieres continue to dominate the timeline, proving that even when she is dropping life lessons, Funke Akindele knows how to keep both the box office and the banter busy.

  • Alex Ekubo’s Surprise Party Sighting Ends Months-Long Social Media Silence

    Alex Ekubo’s Surprise Party Sighting Ends Months-Long Social Media Silence

    Fans of Nollywood actor Alex Ekubo are breathing easier after colleague IK Ogbonna shared a rare video of him at a party, months after Ekubo quietly disappeared from social media.

    In the short clip, Ogbonna records himself at an event before turning the camera to reveal Alex sitting beside him. The actor smiles when he realises he is on camera and the playful moment quickly went viral, with fans expressing relief and excitement in the comments.

    Alex had stepped away from online platforms without any detailed explanation, which led to constant questions from his followers. His surprise appearance has now been taken as a reassuring hint that he is fine and living low key away from social media pressure.

    Under the reposted video, users dropped messages such as “We missed you, chief” and “King is back, even if it is soft launch.” Many are now calling on the actor to return fully to Instagram and reclaim his spot on Nollywood’s playful side of the internet.