By Yemi Adebisi
Stakeholders in Nigerian film industry have been urged to use their talents to promote Nigeria’s image home and abroad.
Speaking at the closing of the just-concluded 4th Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), at Tinapa, Calabar, Cross River State, Special Adviser to the President on Research, Documentation and Strategy, Oronto Douglas, stressed the need for Nigerians to join hands to build a virile nation.
His words: “Nigerian and African filmmakers must therefore take up the challenge by promoting irresistible images of our societies on the screen, to show that our stories are also important, and also valid. We need more biopics on the heroes whose exploits have impacted on our societies. We need more films focusing on pivotal episodes in our history.
“We need more period dramas that examine the past, and more speculative films about the future. We need greater cross-pollination between the art forms.
“Why, for example, do we not have more film adaptations from the rich literature emanating from our world conquering writers?
“These are some of the issues I would like our filmmakers to consider, as this year’s festival comes to its glittering close,” he said.
Douglas assured the Nollywood stars of proactive support from the government encouraging them to see beyond ethnic or political interest in moving the country forward.
“Fortunately, we have a government that has demonstrated political will in helping the Nigerian Film Industry to attain greater heights. “Not only has President Goodluck Jonathan taken special interest in the development of the industry, he has been walking the talk by providing concrete support through grants and the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) so that the industry can become bigger and better for the benefit of Nigeria, Africa and the world.
“Evidently, no government has done so much for the industry in the history of Nigeria. This is because President Jonathan believes in the value that it adds to economic and cultural development,” he added.
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