NAOMPON|3 June 2017
…everything you ask, we'll provide says Ayade
At the last re-basement of Nigeria's economy the Nigerian film industry dubbed 'Nollywood' added 1.4 percent, an equivalent of $7.2b to the country's gross domestic product (GDP), the managing director of the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), Dr. Chidia Maduekwe has said.
Maduekwe made this known, Nigeria, at a maiden edition of NFC zonal stakeholders interactive workshop held in Calabar of Nigeria on Friday.
The workshop, which held at the state's Cultural Centre was tagged "the need for a fresh impetus in job creation through motion picture production."
He further posited that under the current President Muhammadu Buhari's led government economic diversification agenda and the current economic growth and recovery plan the film industry was set to contribute 10% to the country's GDP.
In the MD's words: "At the last re-basement of the country's economy, it was an empirical fact that Nollywood added more than 1.4% to Nigeria's Gross Domestic Product or $7.2bn to Nigeria's economy; making it possible for it to emerge as the biggest economy on the continent of Africa."
"Under the current PMB administration economic diversification agenda, it is intended for Nollywood shall contribute upwards of 10% to the GDP under the current economic growth and recovery plan of President Mohammadu Buhari," he added.
The NFC solicited for support from Cross River Government to establish NFC zonal office and crash film schools in the state for the establishment of a viable motion industry in the South South zone.
In addition, corporation sought to revive studio Tinapa while utilising the beautiful landscapes the state has for movie productions.
In his response for Cross River Government, Cross River's culture and tourism commissioner designate, Mr. Eric Anderson agreed to make office space available for the establishment of NFC zonal office and also office spaces for all arms of the Nigerian Film industry guilds.
Anderson also urged NFC to make funds for the industry accessible by all for it only then that the industry will become more productive as envisaged.
He also called on the corporation to find ways of bringing peace to warring guilds in the industry.
On her part, Cross River's Association of Movie Producers chairperson, Agnes Williams identified access to funds as one of the major issues the film industry in the state was faced with while the DG of Callywood, Egor Effiok encouraged originality in all contents shunned from Nigeria as this represented the continent's uniqueness.
NAOMPON is Niger Delta Association of Online Media Practitioners of Nigeria
