Nollywood Directors, Producers and other critical stakeholders in Nigeria’s entertainment industry have been assured of a strategic move and policies by President Bola Tinubu’s administration towards empowering them and solving challenges posed by lack of funding and the piracy monster to the sector.
Minister of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, Hajia Hannatu Musawa, made this known in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on Friday, during the public launch of a book titled: “My Nollywood Experience,” written by Hon.Kehinde Soaga, a member of the Director’s Guild of Nigeria (DGN).
Hajia Musawa, who affirmed that the President Tinubu-led administration treasured the invaluable contributions of Nollywood and the entire spectrum of the Nigerian entertainment industry, announced that in addition to a massive creative sector empowerment to be launched by the Federal Government, there is a new move to help tackle and resolve the age-long puzzle of piracy for creative entrepreneurs in the country via the soon-to-be concluded comprehensive National I.P Policy which will cater for infrastructural support, legal frameworks and economic incentives for Nigerian creative sector players.
Corroborating the announcement by the Minister, the Special Assistant to the President on Creativity, who also doubles as a Special Adviser to the Minister on Films, Music and Entertainment, Baba Agba, revealed that the moves by the Federal Government towards developing a comprehensive national I.P Policy into codified form has reached an advanced stage which may be concluded in a couple of weeks, after which the protection of copyright and intellectual property rights of members of Nigeria’s creative sector will become legally enforceable.
The Minister further revealed that her presence, as a Special Guest of Honour at the launch of the book “My Nollywood Experience” written by a member of the Director’s Guild of Nigeria, Honourable Kehinde Soaga, was a testament to the premium placed on the contributions of Nigerian Creatives, especially those in Nollywood to the socio-economic life of the country and Nigerians in general.
Similarly, the Executive Director, National Films and Videos Censors Board (NFVCB), Hon. Shaibu Husseini, who was ably represented by Mrs.Patrick-Ukpe Adenike, commended President Tinubu’s administration for its commitment to the growth and transformation of the Nigerian creative industries into a more profitable business community.
The newly launched book, “My Nollywood Experience,” was reviewed by an erudite Associate Professor from Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), Dr. Femi Adedina, who noted that the author deserved to be celebrated for taking the pains to document his well over 40 years of varied experiences in the Nollywood industry as a film director as well as a Television host known for creating the “Lagos Na Wah” and “How una Dey?” TV shows.
The Minister launched the new book with an undisclosed sum of money, pledging the support of the Presidency, the Federal Ministry of Arts Culture and Creative Economy as well as the government of her state of origin, Katsina State, to encourage the creative ingenuity and contribution to knowledge by the author.
The book launch which attracted the presence of the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Ogun State, Hon. Sesan Fagbayi; the Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC), Corps Commander Fashakin Akinwunmi; the Commandant, Ogun State,Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), Commander Seni Ogunyemi, also brought together some of Nigeria’s Nollywood veterans, filmmakers, and other entertainment professionals and eminent Nigerians from different walks of life served as forum for the celebration of the industry’s past and vantage point to project into the future of the industry.
The National Head, Celebrity Special Marshals (CSMs) of the FRSC Unit, Julie Chi-Nwaoha and other CSM members like Chief Akinremi popularly known as Chief Kanran, Dr.Hafiz Oyetoro,(Simply Saka) and CSM Olufemi Orunsola participated actively in the book launch in solidarity for the author who is the pioneer State Coordinator of the Celebrity Special Marshals in Ogun state.
Some of the veteran Nollywood players present at the book Launch were: Pa
Moses Omilani Adubi, popularly known as Egunleti, the Governor of Ogun State Chapter of Theatre Arts Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN), Mr. Owolabi Ajasa, the Publicity and Research Secretary of TAMPAN, Hon.Femi Solaja as well as Old Students of Egbado College who all graced the occasion to celebrate one of their own.
Earlier in his welcome address at the Book Launch, Hon.Soaga noted that “The film industry has evolved significantly, but the contributions of our veterans and pioneers have been largely overlooked over the years”, adding that he remains an optimist about the capacity of the President Tinubu led administration to transform the Nigerian creative sector into a huge GDP enhancing sector of the country’s economy.
Soaga also solicited more recognitions for the invaluable impacts of Nollywood on Nigeria’s cultural and social fabric, calling for the establishment of a Hall of Fame to honour Nigerian creative icons, including those who have died, emphasizing that the creative sector feels neglected despite its significant contributions to the nation’s development.
He therefore called for the government to fully tap into the industry’s vast potential, noting that the establishment of a separate ministry for the creative sector by President Tinubu is a positive step forward in the country.
Hon. Kehinde Soaga took advantage of the occasion to lead a Nollywood Think Tank group to present a Proposal by the group to the Honourable Minister for onward transmission to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Other highpoints of the Book Launch was the special presentation of awards to deserving individuals among whom was the Honourable Minister of Arts Culture and Creative Economy, former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun(CON,FCA) and other prominent Nigerians who have contributed positively to the Nollywood Experience of the author within the last four decades.
