Google has launched Storybook, a new feature within its Gemini app, aimed at providing a creative and interactive learning tool for Nigeria’s 39 million children aged six and under.

Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, communications & public affairs manager for Google in West Africa, said that the AI-powered feature transforms simple prompts, personal photos, and children’s drawings into customised, narrated storybooks, bridging a critical gap in early childhood education through technology rooted in storytelling.

This launch provides a powerful new creative tool in Nigeria, a country with a rich and deep-rooted tradition of storytelling.

With a young population that includes approximately 39 million children aged six and under, the need for engaging and accessible educational content is more critical than ever.

Storybook is designed to help bridge this gap by empowering anyone to create personalised learning experiences.

“It addresses a real need for parents and educators who are looking for fresh ways to captivate the minds of our youngest learners. The challenge is often making education interactive and personal.

Storybook allows you to place a child directly at the centre of their own learning adventure, which is key to holding their attention and helping them grasp new concepts,” he said.

image credit : howstuffworks

Language evolves, and Gen Z — born between the 1997 and 2012 — has introduced an entire dictionary of expressive, clever, and sometimes confusing slang.

These Gen Z slang terms dominate social media platforms, group chats, and online video game lobbies.

Here’s a breakdown of the phrases you’ll hear from this generation.

1. 1. No Cap: Used to express truth, “no cap” means someone is being honest or serious. If you say, “This new song is fire, no cap,” you’re saying the song is great (fire) and you truly believe it.
2. 2. Bet
3. Bet is a casual way of saying “OK” or “I’m down.” It’s a quick response that shows agreement or enthusiasm. You might use it instead of “sure thing” in real life or online.
4. 3. Simp
5. Originating in Black American hip-hop slang, simp became a derogatory term for a man perceived as overly subservient to a woman in the hope of winning her affection. Saying, “You’re such a simp,” carries negative connotations, especially in a romantic relationship context.
6. 4. Main Character
7. To describe someone as the “main character” is to say they carry themselves like the star of a movie. It’s both a compliment and a slight knock, depending on tone — often used in social media captions and stories.
8. 5. Glow Up
9. A “glow up” refers to a transformation — usually physical or stylistic — that makes someone look or feel better than before. This phrase is a great example of Gen Z’s thirst for self-improvement and style.
10. 6.Cringe
11. Cringe is used to describe anything awkward, embarrassing, or trying too hard. If your Baby Boomer uncle uses Gen Z slang words unironically, that might earn a “yikes” or a full-on “big yikes” from the group.
12. 7. Touch Grass
13. A favorite insult among Gen Z, to tell someone to touch grass means they’re online too much and need to get back to real life. It’s a witty way to say “log off and go outside.”
14. 8. Vibe Check
15. “Vibe check” is all about gauging someone’s mood or the feel of a space. Passed the vibe check? You’re cool. Failed it? Time to reassess your energy.
16. 9. Whole Meal
17. Calling someone a whole meal is a step beyond calling them attractive. It’s a bold phrase used to express approval or attraction: “She’s not just cute, she’s a whole meal.
18. 10. I’m Dead
19. When something’s really funny, Gen Z won’t just say “lol.” They’ll say “I’m dead,” meaning something is so funny it killed them with laughter, rather than just typing “lol.”
20. In other words, this is the Gen Z equivalent of using a crying-laughing emoji to show something is hilarious. It shows they’re expressing excitement and humor in a big way.
21. Source: HowStuffWorks

• Nollywood films cast

The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) approved a total of 151 films for the month of June 2025 against 53 films earlier reported erroneously.

The approval also revealed the growing consistency of top production houses like ROK Studios, Silverbird Distribution, and OSSYKing Movies, which featured prominently in this month’s listings.

Breakdown of classifications from the Censors Board website shows that 71 were classified as rated-18 years, out of the 151 films approved.

62 films were rated 15, thirteen movies got an age 12- rating, 3 films were marked ‘G’ for general viewing and two of the movies were classified PG (Parental Guidance).

This classification points to a growing shift toward mature, emotionally complex storytelling, with 18-rated titles accounting for nearly half of the approved films.

This classification underscores a noticeable dominance of 18-rated titles and English-language productions.

It also reflects the increasing pace of local film production across regions and genres.

English-language productions accounted for the bulk of the approvals, continuing their stronghold as Nollywood’s dominant medium.

However, a fair share of Yoruba and Igbo titles also made the list, reaffirming the role of indigenous voices in the cinematic landscape.

Notably approved indigenous-language films include Obim (Igbo), Iyawo Eniyan and Ajegunle Lawa (Yoruba) and Itene (Idoma).

There was no hausa-language films approved during the month, marking a recurring gap in representation from the North.However, Itene produced in Idoma, was one of the few from the Middle Belt.Among studios with multiple entries include ROK Studios had a strong presence with films like Perfect Wife, Strings of Love, Hidden Truth and My Sugar Daddy, primarily rated 15 and 18.Silverbird Distribution secured approvals for Rebirth of King Kong and Jurassic World Rebirth, both notable for their international appeal.

OSSYKing Movies had a consistent output with Stray Bullet, Palace of Torment, and The Cost of a Lie, all within the 15–18 range.

The Executive Director of the NFVCB, Dr. Shaibu Husseini reaffirmed the Board’s stance on guiding responsible storytelling and content regulation.

“We are committed to encouraging stories that reflect Nigeria’s values and cultural richness while ensuring public safety through proper classification,” he said.