Why I Often Play Wicked Roles In Nollywood Movies – Patience Ozokwo 'Mama G'

Veteran Nollywood actress Patience Ozokwo, popularly known as Mama G, has offered insight into her decades-long career, addressing public curiosity surrounding her frequent portrayal of villainous and antagonistic characters.

​Speaking during a live-streamed interview hosted by content creator Carter Efe on Monday, the legendary actress clarified the reasons behind her signature film roles.

The interview clip quickly went viral across social media platforms, sparking widespread discussion among movie fans.

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”I think God gave me that niche,” Ozokwo stated, describing her recurring typecast as a “wicked woman” or antagonist not as a mere business choice, but as a divinely assigned calling.”

“I hate every ill because I don’t like injustice, war, and rancour. When you give me those roles, I try to bring everything in them,” she continued.

“If you are taking part in any of them, you have to be careful and know the end thereof, for the end justifies the means. Know what will happen to you if you live a terrible life, and know what you will gain if you are a good person.”

​The actress noted that her performances were carefully crafted to expose the consequences of bad behaviour, framing her portrayals of villainy as a form of social instruction through storytelling.

Ozokwor was born in the village of Amaebo, Ngwo in present-day Enugu State and attended Abimbola Gibson Memorial School in Lagos. She developed a passion for acting in primary school, where she took part in various stage plays. She later attended the Institute of Management and Technology Enugu (ESUT), where she obtained a degree in fine and applied arts. Before starting as an actress, she was part of a radio drama.

Ozokwor worked as an announcer and broadcaster with Radio Nigeria before becoming an actress. She rose to fame with her role in the 1999 film Authority and her first TV drama was a soap opera titled Someone Cares on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA. Since her breakthrough, she has appeared in over 100 Nollywood movies.

She starred in the Mo Abudu Netflix films Chief Daddy (2018) and Chief Daddy 2: Going for Broke (2022) as Madam Pat. In 2026, Ozokwor starred in the Dammy Twitch-directed romantic comedy Call of My Life alongside Uzoamaka Power and Nkem Owoh. The film earned 628 million Naira within 6 weeks of release and entered the list of Nollywood's Highest-grossing Films

The actress got married at the age of 19 but became a widow in 2000 following her husband's death from a terminal disease. She has three biological children and seven adopted children all of whom bear her name. She also has several grand children. Ozokwor is an ordained evangelist.

  

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Lagos Internship Beneficiaries Hit 8,000 As Sanwo-Olu Inducts 1,000

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said more than 8,000 young graduates have passed through the state’s Graduate Internship Placement Programme as his administration seeks to ease the transition from university to employment.

Sanwo-Olu made this known on Monday at the onboarding ceremony for 1,000 new beneficiaries of the GIPP, organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment at the De-Blue Roof, LTV Complex, Agidingbi, Ikeja.

The ceremony was attended by Deputy Governor Kadri Hamzat, represented by Musiliu Obanikoro; Chairman of the House Committee on Wealth Creation, Stella Osafile; Head of Service, Bode Agoro; Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Akinyemi Ajigbotafe; Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Lolade Aina; other senior government officials and representatives of participating private-sector organisations.

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The governor, who was represented by the Chairman of the Lagos State Civil Service Commission, Boladele Dapo-Thomas, said the programme was established to address the gap between academic qualifications and the practical experience increasingly required by employers.

He urged the latest beneficiaries to treat the internship as a pathway into the labour market rather than merely a short-term placement.

“Learn. Ask questions. Be punctual. Be disciplined. Be innovative. Wherever you are placed, bring value,” Sanwo-Olu told the graduates.

According to him, the experience gained during the placement could improve the beneficiaries’ employability, while their conduct and performance could determine the opportunities available to them after the programme.

The governor said many graduates encountered difficulties entering the workforce because, despite having academic qualifications, they lacked exposure to professional environments and the practical competencies required to function effectively in them.

He said GIPP was intended to close that gap by placing graduates in workplaces where they could acquire hands-on experience, develop professional competencies and build networks that could support their careers.

Sanwo-Olu said the number of beneficiaries recorded so far reflected the administration’s continued investment in youth employment and human capital development.

He, however, challenged the 1,000 new beneficiaries to take personal responsibility for maximising the opportunity provided by the state.

“Wherever you are placed, bring value,” he said, stressing that professionalism, integrity, consistency and initiative would be essential to making the internship meaningful.

The governor also urged participating employers to see the programme as more than an avenue for receiving temporary workers, calling on private-sector organisations to provide meaningful assignments, mentorship and opportunities for young graduates to develop relevant workplace skills.

He called for greater collaboration between government, businesses and development partners to expand internship placements and establish clearer pathways from internships to employment.

Sanwo-Olu said sustainable job creation could not be achieved by government alone, arguing that businesses had an important role to play in providing young people with the experience and competencies required to compete in the labour market.

He said youth employment and skills development remained priorities under his administration’s THEMES+ development agenda and that Lagos would continue to pursue programmes aimed at preparing young people for the changing world of work.

The governor also told the beneficiaries that their participation in the programme came with a responsibility to represent Lagos positively in their host organisations.

He said the state could provide the platform, but the outcome would depend on the beneficiaries’ willingness to learn, adapt, demonstrate initiative and contribute to their host organisations.

  

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Temitope Osoba's Candlelight: Speak Out On Personal Struggles, Nollywood Actress Daramola Urges Colleagues

Nollywood actress Foluke Daramola has urged her colleagues in the entertainment industry to speak out more about the personal struggles they face, warning that silence born out of shame or fear of judgement often leaves people to suffer alone.

Daramola made the appeal on Tuesday while speaking at a candlelight night held in honour of late actress, Temitope Osoba, at LTV 8 (Blueroof), Ikeja, Lagos.

The event, tagged “An Evening of Love, Music & Memories,” was organised by friends of the deceased actress to celebrate her life, creativity and contributions to the arts.

Speaking at the event, Daramola said many people within the industry battle personal issues silently, often putting up appearances that mask deeper struggles.

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“We don’t speak out, maybe because of shame or body shaming, but I feel we should speak out more. At the end of the day, when we speak out, we can be there for one another, because everyone is going through something different,” she said.

She noted that outward appearances could be deceptive, as people often present a composed front while dealing with difficult circumstances privately.

“Sometimes we wear clothes and put on a front like everything is okay, when it’s not. It’s difficult to open up,” Daramola said.

The actress called on colleagues struggling with personal challenges to confide in others, stressing that doing so could open doors to help, even indirectly.

“For those of us struggling, speak out, that’s how we can help each other. And to whoever you speak to, even if you can’t do anything yourself, please tell one or two people who can,” she said.

Daramola, however, acknowledged that individuals could not be entirely faulted for not showing up for others at all times, given that everyone carries their own burdens.

“We can’t blame anyone for not being there for us, because we all have our own personal issues. That’s the truth,” she added.

The candlelight night comes days after the death of Osoba, which was announced on August 5 by fellow actor, Alesh Sanni, who described her as his “dearest sister” in an emotional tribute shared on Instagram.

Osoba died at the age of 40, about two years after she first opened up publicly about her battle with breast cancer and sought support from fans and colleagues for her treatment. She had returned to the movie industry in August 2025, describing her recovery in an emotional Instagram post as a “life-changing journey” that reshaped her career.

The circumstances surrounding her death have since generated controversy on social media, with her fiancé, Prophet Itunu Onadeko, alleging that she died at a police station in Ikorodu, Lagos State, contrary to widespread speculation that she died from complications related to her cancer battle.

Her family has also pushed back against what it described as false and unverified reports circulating online, urging the public to desist from spreading misinformation that deepens their grief.

Osoba’s burial is scheduled to take place on Thursday, August 13, in Iperu Remo, Ogun State, with a funeral service at Saint James Anglican Church before her interment at Iperu Remo 

  

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American Cola Unveils Creative Basketball Court In Lagos, Blends Sport With Urban Culture

Planet Bottling Company, makers of American Cola, has unveiled a renovated basketball court in Ilupeju, Lagos, as part of an initiative aimed at promoting grassroots sports, youth creativity and urban culture.

The American Cola Creative Court was launched in partnership with the Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area, transforming an existing basketball facility into a multi-purpose community space.

The renovated facility is designed to serve not only basketball players but also young people interested in music, dance, fashion, content creation and other forms of creative expression.

 

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The initiative reflects the company’s efforts to create platforms where young people can develop their talents while strengthening connections with their communities.

The launch also featured the American Cola Courtside basketball competition, held under the theme “Basketball Meets Art”.

The competition brought together young players from different communities across Lagos, who competed in half-court and shoot-the-hoop contests.

The tournament, which began as a community sports initiative in 2024, has evolved into a platform for promoting grassroots basketball, community engagement and opportunities for emerging players.

Speaking at the launch, Naji Awada,
Marketing Manager Planet Bottling Company, said the renovation was driven by the need to revive interest in basketball and create opportunities for young players.

He said the project was intended to go beyond improving the appearance of the court by creating a space where young athletes could build relationships, develop their abilities and pursue their ambitions.

“When it comes to basketball, we are looking to do more, especially in different communities, to bring together all of the people under the same roof, which is the talent that mostly we miss because no one is giving them the right attention,” Awada noted.

He said the company hoped to extend similar initiatives to other communities and contribute to the development of basketball at grassroots level.

Planet Bottling Company’s Communication Manager, Franklyn Eluagu, said the partnership with Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye LCDA formed part of a broader effort to improve basketball facilities and support players in communities where the sport is popular.

“All the communities that play basketball, starting with Lagos, we’re identifying them and seeing what we can do as a brand to improve the conditions when it comes to the community and the court,” Eluagu said.

He said the company was also interested in supporting creative activities around the renovated facility.

“For those who love to create content, for those who love music, for those who love to dance, we made the court to look a lot better  and to ensure that for the communities, those who love basketball can find a place that they can come to and feel very welcome,” he said.

The renovated court therefore seeks to combine sporting activity with wider forms of youth culture, providing a venue where basketball and creative pursuits can take place alongside one another.

Young basketball players from communities across Lagos participated in the launch tournament and had the opportunity to use the newly transformed facility.

Officials from the local council who attended the event included the Leader of the House, Lekan Adeyi; Special Adviser on Sports, Shotanwa Ahmed; Supervisor for Special Duties, Kamoru Fajolu; Supervisor for Youth Affairs and Socials, Tosin Mabinuori; Senior Special Assistant on Sports, Ifeoluwa Jimoh; Senior Special Assistant on Social Services, Samson Temim; Senior Special Assistant on Media, Abiodun Shonibare; and Media Aide to the Chairman, Alayo Kehinde.

The project comes amid efforts by private organisations and community stakeholders to support grassroots sports and improve recreational facilities, particularly in areas where access to quality sporting infrastructure remains limited.

For residents and young athletes in Ilupeju, the refurbished facility provides a renewed space for basketball, recreation and creative activities, while the organisers hope it will help more young people discover and develop their talents.

 

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KAI Rescues Four Young Nursing Mothers, Babies From Dumpsite Along Lagos-Badagry Expressway

The Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps, popularly known as KAI, has rescued four nursing mothers and their babies from an illegal dumpsite in the Agboju area of the state.

The rescue was carried out on Monday during an ongoing inter-agency cleanup of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway corridor.

The Corps Marshal of LAGESC, Major Olaniyi Cole (retd.), disclosed this in a statement posted on the agency’s X handle on Tuesday.

Cole said the cleanup, which had been ongoing for weeks, was aimed at removing environmental infractions and hindrances along the corridor.

According to him, the operatives discovered young nursing mothers living in inhumane conditions at illegal dumpsites and shanties, prompting the agency to rescue them and provide medical assistance.

 

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He said, “The inter-agency cleanup of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, which has been ongoing for weeks now, is aimed at removing infractions and hindrances on that corridor, which has been successful.

“But, to our utter amazement, we discovered that there are young nursing mothers living in inhumane conditions in these illegal dumpsites and shanties, hence the need to rescue them, offer medical assistance before reuniting them with their families or the welfare authorities.”

Cole described the rescue as necessary to prevent loss of life, citing the condition of a newborn found in the area.

He said the women were living amid filth, poor air quality and hunger.

The rescued women were identified as “Fareedat Muyideen, 23, from Kwara State, with her two-year-old baby; Ayomide Ayomoke, 25, from Ondo State, with her 10-month-old baby; Amanda Oziema Abalihi, 20, from Anambra State, with her nine-day-old baby; and Chisom Ugo, 24, from Imo State, with her 11-month-old baby.”

The Corps Marshal appealed to the families of the women who might be searching for them to come forward, saying they were receiving medical attention and would be discharged when they were medically fit.

Cole also said LAGESC was working with relevant agencies to ensure the women’s rehabilitation and reintegration into society.

He urged parents to monitor their children, noting that some young people had been found to have left home for the streets due to alleged maltreatment.

Cole reaffirmed the Lagos State Government’s position against child abuse and warned that parents and guardians found culpable of neglect and abuse could face prosecution.

  

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How Man Was Beaten To Death In Agege Over Allegation Of Phone Theft

A young man identified simply as Azeez has been beaten to death by suspected cultists following a dispute over a missing phone at Oko-Oba in the Agege area of Lagos State.

A police source told PUNCH Metro on Sunday that the incident occurred on Monday, August 3.

According to the source, Azeez was involved in an argument with some of his colleagues over a missing phone after they attended a party.

The source said the argument later degenerated into an assault on Azeez by some of the suspected cultists, said to be his friends.

“We got a report that he passed away as a result of an assault on him by some suspected cultists said to be his friends. The argument was as a result of a missing phone,” the source said.

 

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The source added that Azeez later succumbed to injuries sustained during the assault.

Meanwhile, an anti-cultism advocacy platform, Naija Confra, in a post on Saturday, gave further details of the incident, saying it began on Sunday night, August 2, during a birthday celebration.

According to the platform, a fight broke out at the event, during which one Abela allegedly took a phone and handed it to Azeez.

The platform said trouble started after the owner of the phone began searching for it.

It alleged that when the owner and his friends confronted Azeez after the phone was found in his possession, he told them that Abela had given him the phone to keep.

“Abela, who was sitting there, denied Azeez, even when people saw him. Azeez would never accuse Abela, an NBM leader who is also a boss to him, if it was not true,” the platform claimed.

Naija Confra further alleged that the owner of the phone and his friends, unable to confront Abela, attacked Azeez before leaving the party.

The platform added that Azeez later confronted Abela over his alleged denial of giving him the phone, leading to another argument and subsequent assault.

It alleged that Azeez was taken to another location by suspected members of the Neo-Black Movement, where the attack was carried out on him.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, could not be reached for comments as calls made to her telephone lines were not responded to.

A text message sent to her had yet to be replied to as of the time this report was filed.

  

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Lagos Law Student Dies After Jumping From Four-Storey Building

The Lagos State Police Command has confirmed the death of a 23-year-old student of the Nigerian Law School, Faith Alayande, who reportedly died after allegedly jumping from the rooftop of a four-storey hostel building at the institution’s campus in Victoria Island, Lagos.

The state police PRO, Abimbola Adebisi, said the incident was reported to the police after the deceased was found unresponsive in the hostel premises on Friday.

Adebisi noted that the matron of the institution reported the matter and disclosed that another student and a relative reportedly found a suicide note written by the deceased student, prompting them to search for her.

She noted that before they could locate her, she had allegedly jumped from the rooftop of the four-storey hostel building.

 

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She said, “I can confirm the incident. The deceased reportedly wrote a suicide note and, before her hostel mate and a relative could locate her, she jumped from the rooftop of a four-storey building.

“The matron of the hostel reported the incident, prompting police operatives to visit the scene. Her body has been evacuated to a morgue for preservation.”

Also, a security analyst, Zagazola Makama, who shared details about the incident on X, disclosed that the deceased was found dead within the hostel premises on Friday by another student, who alerted the matron of the institution.

According to Makama, the Chief Matron of the Law School was said to have reported the incident at the Victoria Island Police Division at about 6:30am.

Makama noted that, upon receiving the report, the matron proceeded to the scene, where the deceased was found lying on the ground within the hostel premises.

Makama wrote, “A 23-year-old student of the Nigerian Law School has died in a suspected suicide incident at the school’s hostel in Victoria Island, Lagos.

“The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday, August 7, 2026, when the deceased, identified as Alayande Faith Ajoke, was found dead within the hostel premises.

“The Chief Matron of the Law School, Mrs Igbokwe Juliana, reported the incident at about 6:30am. Preliminary observations indicated that the deceased may have jumped from the rooftop of the four-storey hostel building.”

Meanwhile, the PPRO concluded that an investigation was ongoing into the incident.

This is not the first reported case of a Nigerian Law School student dying by suicide.

PUNCH Metro reported in December 2025 that a Nigerian Law School student, Ayomiposi Ojajuni, reportedly died by suicide after he was allegedly barred from writing the Bar Final examinations at the Yola campus in Adamawa State.

Ojajuni, a graduate of Olabisi Onabanjo University, was said to have received a series of queries from the school authorities and later discovered that he would not be allowed to sit for the professional examinations.

  

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Midnight Raid Leads To Arrest Of Hoodlums Along Lekki-Ajah Expressway

The Lagos State Government is intensifying its clampdown on public nuisance and street criminality following a targeted midnight enforcement operation along the busy Lekki–Ajah Expressway.

Disclosing the development in a post on his official X handle, which was accompanied by a video showing the arrested individuals, the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, confirmed the raid targeted “miscreants and hoodlums who have been constituting a nuisance and posing a threat to motorists and other road users.”

 

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The operation, carried out by operatives of the Lagos State Rapid Response Squad (RRS), was targeted at individuals who allegedly harass and intimidate motorists, extort money from them, and, “in some instances, damage vehicles when motorists refuse to yield to their demands.”

Reassuring residents, the agency affirmed that the “RRS will continue to sustain intelligence-led operations and enforcement actions against criminal elements whose activities threaten public safety and disrupt the free movement of people and vehicles across the State.”

However, members of the public remain skeptical about the arrests, with many expressing concern that there are insufficient rehabilitation centers for these men and predicting that some will soon be released due to influence and power.

  

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Toke Makinwa Unveils Daughter’s Face, Hides Father’s Identity

For a woman whose life has played out in the public eye for more than a decade, media personality and entrepreneur, Toke Makinwa, has once again shown that she draws a clear line between fame and privacy.

After months of curiosity from fans, Toke recently unveiled the face of her daughter, Yakira Eliana, as the little girl celebrated her first birthday.

Sharing photos of the toddler on social media, the excited mother wrote, “One whole year of you, and today, I finally share a little piece of my heaven with the world. The best part of my story, finally yours to meet.”

For the past year, Toke had only shared carefully cropped photos and videos of her daughter, revealing little more than her tiny hands, feet or silhouette. The decision sparked endless questions from fans eager to see the child.

However, while the birthday celebration put one mystery to rest, it also reignited another.

Soon after the photos surfaced, conversations online shifted to the identity of Yakira’s father, which Toke has continued to keep away from the public eye.

 

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The media personality has neither publicly identified the child’s father nor shared details about him, choosing instead to keep that aspect of her personal life private.

As expected, the development generated mixed reactions on social media. While many applauded Toke for protecting her family’s privacy and introducing her daughter to the public on her own terms, others said they remained curious about the identity of the little girl’s father.

Regardless of the differing opinions, Toke’s decision has once again highlighted the growing trend among celebrities who carefully choose what parts of their family lives to share online.

For now, fans may finally have a face to match with Yakira, but the identity of her father remains a private chapter that Toke has chosen not to make public.

Toke Makinwa is currently single. She was previously married to fitness entrepreneur Maje Ayida in 2014, but a Lagos High Court dissolved the union in October 2017.

She has publicly dismissed rumors of a secret remarriage or engagement, clarifying that viral event photos or celebrations were strictly personal milestones like birthday thanksgiving gatherings rather than weddings. 

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Customs Intercept Rifles, Cannabis Snacks Worth N374 Million At Tin Can Port

The Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted 140 pump-action rifles and cannabis-infused food products worth N373.8 million at the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr Bashir Adeniyi, disclosed this at a news conference while highlighting major enforcement operations carried out by the TinCan Island Port Command.

Adeniyi said customs operatives intercepted a container on July 8 carrying concealed knock-down components of pump-action rifles.

He said 140 rifles had so far been assembled from the recovered parts, while the assembly of the remaining components was still ongoing.

According to him, one principal suspect was arrested on July 31 at a bonded terminal while attempting to facilitate the container’s release.

He said financial and telecommunications evidence linked the suspect to the shipment.

The CGC said two suspects were in custody assisting investigations, while another principal suspect remained at large and was being tracked by security operatives.

 

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Adeniyi also said customs officers intercepted two 40-foot containers laden with cannabis-infused products concealed among imported goods, including vehicles, generators, batteries and fabrics.

He explained that the seized drugs comprised 8,720 pieces of Delta-8 cannabis pre-roll cookies weighing 17.44 kilogrammes and valued at N308.7 million.

He added that officers recovered 740 packs of cannabis-infused gummies weighing 515.2kg and valued at N40.7 million, as well as 873 cartons of cannabis-infused cookies in 442 packs weighing 309.4kg and valued at N24.3 million.

According to him, the total street value of the seized drugs is N373.8 million.

Adeniyi warned that the products were attractively packaged with flavours such as citrus, vanilla, pine and peach pie to resemble ordinary snacks and appeal to children, students and other young people.

He said unsuspecting consumers could ingest the products due to their deceptive packaging.

The customs boss commended the Area Controller of TinCan Island Port Command, Comptroller Joseph Anani, and officers of the enforcement unit for their vigilance and professionalism.

He reaffirmed the service’s commitment to securing the nation’s borders and prosecuting those involved in the trafficking of illicit arms and dangerous drugs.

Adeniyi also commended the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for its collaboration and urged Nigerians to provide credible intelligence to support anti-smuggling operations.

Receiving the seized items, the Commander of Narcotics, NDLEA TinCan Strategic Command, Mr Augustine Adewunmi, described cannabis-infused cookies, gummies and smoothies as an emerging threat to public safety.

Adewunmi said the products, imported from the United States, were packaged as vegan snacks with flavours such as citrus, vanilla and peach to deceive unsuspecting consumers.

He warned that the products were designed to appeal to children, students and club users, increasing the risk of accidental drug consumption.

The NDLEA commander said two suspects were in custody while investigations continued.

He urged parents, schools and members of the public to remain vigilant, warning that ingesting the products delivered concentrated cannabis directly into the body.

NAN

  

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