October 21, (THEWILL) – The governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, is confident that the Nigerian film industry can become a cash cow for the country if stakeholders play their cards right and maximise obvious opportunities. He told filmmakers recently that the creative industry is the perfect vehicle for Nigeria’s goals of diversifying the economy.
The governor noted that Nigeria is the dominant market on a continent whose share in the entertainment industry is rapidly growing globally. He said organising the industry properly would ensure great benefits for many creators who can export better content than what is currently available.
“If we go at this rate, with what is happening in the fossil fuel and hydrocarbon industry, the returns from film will be bigger than oil. Where does that money go to? Not to a few big companies, but to hundreds and millions of participants in the industry,” Obaseki said.
He said government at all levels has an important role to play by supporting creators and nurturing the industry to become more profitable.
The governor made this statement, ahead of the second edition of the Edo State International Film Festival (ESIFF) which is scheduled to take place in Benin City between November 30 and December 2.
Over 3,000 films have been submitted from 126 countries, with most of the entries coming from Nigeria, Iran, India, the United States and Brazil. Governor Obaseki said the festival and a planned film village in the capital city show the state’s eagerness to compete in the film space. He invited stakeholders to see Edo as a hub for their productions, promising an abundance of local talent and infrastructure.
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