LAGOS — The African Film Finance Summit, which recently held at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos, celebrated Africa’s creative industry with glamour, dialogue, and recognition, as stakeholders mapped out strategies to grow the continent’s film economy into a billion-dollar enterprise.
One of the major highlights of the three-day event was the recognition of Her Excellency, Bishop (Dr.) Mrs. Eyoanwan Bassey Otu, First Lady of Cross River State, who was honoured with the Best Humanitarian First Lady award. The award, according to organisers, was in appreciation of her commitment to youth empowerment, her visionary support for talents, and her consistent humanitarian interventions.
The First Lady, represented by Associate Professor Esther Archibong, described the honour as “a call to do even more in harnessing the power of film and creativity as a tool for empowerment and development.”
Cross River State played a prominent role at the summit. The Office of the Special Adviser on Intergovernmental Affairs, led by Mr. Maurice Inok, FCAI, hosted the state’s participation, ensuring that Cross River was accorded a place of pride on the continental stage. Inok’s role, observers noted, reinforced the state’s long-standing status as a cultural powerhouse and creative hub in Africa.
Also lending intellectual depth to the event, Chairman of the Cross River State Carnival Commission, Sir Gabe Onah, presented a paper on the Calabar Carnival, highlighting how culture and creativity remain vital drivers of economic growth and global tourism.
Nkese Eneyo, Chief Press Secretary of Calabar South LGA, in a statement, described the summit as more than an event, but a movement “reinforcing the belief that Africa’s stories, told by its own people, can change narratives and transform economies.”
“With this recognition,” Eneyo added, “the Cross River First Lady once again emerged as a beacon of hope and support for the continent’s thriving creative youth.”
The summit ended with resounding applause, leaving participants inspired to work collectively towards transforming Africa’s film industry into a sustainable billion-dollar economy.
