PTV News Media

Tuesday 18 October 2022

Governor Bello Matawalle: A Step Too Far

The Zamfara state government has been condemned by the Directors' Guild of Nigeria (DGN) for shutting down various media outlets on Saturday, October 15, 2022, after their approval by the State Security Council.

The Guild's President, Victor Okhai, urged Zamfara State Governor, His Excellency, Bello Matawalle, to immediately reverse its decision to shut down licenced media organisations in the state, and pleaded with law enforcement agencies not to arrest and prosecute personnel of the affected stations found exercising their professional duties.

Mr. Okhai completely condemned the actions and said that we live in a country where freedom of movement and expression is guaranteed by the constitution. Every media organisation in Nigeria has the right to attend and cover any political rally held by any political party in any state.

"The state government has no unilateral jurisdiction to restrict or suspend any radio or television station on the grounds of banning all political activities in the state for security reasons. As a result, journalists are expected to carry out their professional responsibilities as enshrined in Chapter 2 Section 22 of the Nigerian Constitution, which states that "the press, radio, television, and other agencies of mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this Chapter (Chapter 2 of the Constitution) and uphold the government's responsibility and accountability to the people." He stated.

He said the governor has been sitting on a keg of gunpowder all this time, owing to the state's insecurity in addition to the brazen looting by foreigners and bandits of the resources and our collective patrimony in that state. I suppose he enjoys the state's veil of darkness so that evil can grow.

He hailed the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) for having categorically denounced the illegal action of the Zamfara State Government directing licensees of the Commission to cease operations in the state due to alleged violations of a government order.

The DGN President, implored the Commissioner of Police and Security Agencies in the state to disregard the request to prevent workers at the impacted stations from carrying out their proper tasks. Any aggrieved individual or institution that has a valid complaint about unprofessional conduct or action by any licenced broadcaster in Nigeria is advised to follow the procedures outlined in the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.

President Okhai recalled that the country is still reeling from the Buhari-led government's June 4, 2021 suspension of Twitter in Nigeria, as well as the National Broadcasting Commission's (NBC) recent decision to withdraw the licences of fifty-two (52) broadcast stations in August 2022.

"In a democracy like ours, which recognises the role of the mass media and freedom of expression for its citizens, for a state government to arbitrarily override a section of the Nigerian constitution and the National Broadcasting Commission-NBC code speaks volumes about the level of impunity the country has descended into."

Sunday 16 October 2022

Nigeria and the Academy Oscar Awards

In light of the recent media exchanges between the Nigerian Oscar Selection Committee (NOSC) and Nollywood filmmakers, which have expressed concern among Nigerians over the country's lack of representation at the 2023 Oscar, Victor Okhai, President, Directors' Guild of Nigeria (DGN), has recommended filmmakers focus on making and creating wonderful films rather than engaging in any internal conflict that would distract from this.

When the first Academy Awards ceremony was held in 1929 to honour films released in 1927 and 1928, no mention was made of foreign-language films. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) created the Foreign Language Film category in 1956 and invited film industries across the world to submit their best films. Since then, the Academy has given the IFF Award to a feature-length motion picture produced outside of the United States that has 80% or more non-English dialogue.

The Foreign Language Film Award Committee is in charge of overseeing the process and reviewing all films submitted. Following that, they vote by secret ballot to choose the five award nominees. The first recipient was the Italian neorealist film "La Strada," whose citation stated, "The high quality of this motion picture, brought to eloquent life in a country scared by war, is proof to the world that the creative spirit can triumph over adversity." The outstanding quality of this motion picture, brought to expressive life in a war-torn country, is testament to the world that the creative spirit can triumph over adversity," helped establish Federico Fellini as one of Europe's most influential directors. Similar awards were given out in subsequent years. In the following years, similar awards were given to seven other films.

During the early post-war era (1947–1955), eight foreign language films received special/honorary awards. Academy leader and board member Jean Hersholt argued, "An international award, if properly and carefully administered, would promote a closer relationship between American film craftsmen and those of other countries".

Eight foreign language films got special or honorary honours during the early postwar period (1947–1955). Jean Hersholt, a member of the Academy's board of directors, stated, "An international prize, if properly and carefully administered, would create a stronger interaction between American film professionals and those of other countries."

The International Feature Film award, in contrast to other Academy Awards, is given to the submitting nation as a whole rather than to a specific person (although the film's director does accept it on stage).

Since the Chineze Anyaene-Abonyi led Nigerian Oscar Selection Committee (NOSC), registered under the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as "The Oscar Selection Association of Nigeria," a cultural organisation whose aim is to recognise and promote the art of cinema by exhibiting Nigerian films and filmmakers to the Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, for the category of Best Foreign Film, the committee has submitted two Nigerian feature films to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Awards.

The academy's board of governors agreed on April 23, 2019, that the category would be renamed Best International Feature Film, commencing with the 92nd Academy Awards in 2020. It was stated that the term "foreign" was "outdated within the global filmmaking community," and that the new name "better represents this category, and promotes a positive and inclusive view of filmmaking and the art of film as a universal experience." This category will also allow animated and factual films.

Nigerian filmmakers approach their craft differently because they are all driven by the desire to win the Oscar rather than by the need to ensure that the films they are submitting to the International Feature Film (IFF) category of the Academy Awards are technically and artistically up to par.

To be eligible for the Academy Awards, a film must also meet a number of additional requirements, such as being dominated by the native language of the country it represents, being released during the calendar period mandated by the Oscars, having appropriate English subtitles, and having been seen in cinemas or theatres for at least seven days in the nation it represents before being shown on streamers like Netflix, Amazon, and terrestrial television.

In 2019, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences caused a stir by disqualifying the first Oscar entry from Nigeria's massive film industry. The submission of the film was seen as a watershed moment for the country's film industry, known as Nollywood. It's a film called "Lionheart," which is Genevieve Nnaji’s first directing debut that met every other requirement, and it was disqualified from the International Feature category because the 95-minute film "Lionheart" is largely in English, with an 11-minute section in the Igbo language. The decision prompted widespread outrage and criticism in the Nigerian, British, and American film industries, like Ms. Ava DuVernay, director of "Selma and A Wrinkle in Time," with many blaming colonialism rather than Nigerian filmmakers. Others sided with the Academy, arguing that the rules for the best international feature film applications are well defined.

The Executive Committee for the International Feature Film (IFF) category of the Oscars confirmed in January 2021 that Nigeria's official entry, "The Milkmaid," a Hausa language insurgency thriller produced and directed by Desmond Ovbiagele, was eligible after submission in December 2020, along with other contenders for the 93rd Academy Awards. Nigerians' expectations, however, were dashed once more when it failed to make the first shortlist of the 15 foreign films chosen for the International Feature Film category.

In a sense, the fact that European films are already produced in foreign languages gives them an advantage, especially those in languages like German, French, Spanish, or Italian, even though they are currently not in very good shape because they don’t have the places to distribute the films. Unlike Nigeria, that has a clear open market.

The fact that Nigerian films are not eligible for submission at the awards ceremony is due to a number of factors impeding international attention, including a lack of funding for collaborations and technical support from foreign institutions. Meeting minimum tech specs and strict adherence to the requirements for qualification and submission instead of whipping up sentiments remain a basic challenge.

Prior to the establishment of the Nigerian Oscar Committee in 2013, Nollywood productions frequently failed to meet the technical requirements of a cinema film due to the emphasis on home videos. However, with the emergence of multiple streaming platforms, they appear to be more promising, but it remains to be seen how far and sustainable the current trend will last.

The Nigerian film industry is attempting to demonstrate that it can compete favourably with other developing film nations throughout the world. However, even if the quality of Nollywood productions improve, an Oscar nomination or win is not certain as we continue to drag ourselves out there, especially when the Oscars are coming up.

The Oscars are merely a marketing game in which anyone who can attract attention can win. The quality of films at the Oscars will not depreciate, as good films will always stand out. National interests should take precedence over personal interests, as the Oscar is not the beginning and end of the world. Nigerian filmmakers should focus on making good films and, as much as possible, avoid dragging ourselves before the Oscars.

Nigeria is not the only nation embroiled in controversy over the submission of an ineligible film. Film critics and other interested parties are also upset and perplexed about Egypt's failure to submit any movies for the International Feature Film Award.

In nearly 75 years, just three African films have won the Oscar for best foreign feature, and despite the enormity of Bollywood's film industry, India has never won the award for best international film. The category is dominated by Europe. The last time a film representing an African country garnered a nomination was Kaouther Ben Hania's "The Man Who Sold His Skin," which represented Tunisia at the 93rd Academy Awards earlier this year. After being nominated with "Yesterday" the previous year, the South African film "Tsotsi" won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 2006, one of the few times the prize went to an African country. South Korea's entrant, Parasite, became the first international feature film winner and the first non-English film overall in 2020.

The fact that Nigerian films are not eligible for entry into the awards ceremony is due to a number of issues that prevent worldwide recognition, such as a lack of funding for partnerships and technical assistance from foreign organisations to give the film a global appeal following the subject it's treating and a lack of government support to fund the producers and directors to hit the international market. Making movies is an expensive endeavour, and like with any investment, a clear path to returns must be provided.

Few people are ready to accept the chance, especially given the abundance of safer ways to profit.

Can we begin by winning top film festivals, where we can compete on the global stage with the best? Can we focus solely on winning our at own top film festivals? The world, like our colleagues in music, accepted and applauded our stars before the Grammys. Quality comes first, followed by recognition. With the kind of production that has been coming out of the business in recent times, we are well on our way.

The Oscars will find us at the right time if we focus more on the work that we do. The recognition that we get from the work that we do is far more valuable than any validation that will come from any external source.

Sunday 11 September 2022

A Communiqué Of The Choba Academic Research Initiative (CARI)

A COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE CHOBA ACADEMIC RESEARCH INITIATIVE (CARI)

INTRODUCTION

This communiqué is one of the highlights of an extraordinary two-day retreat of the "Choba Academic Research Initiative (CARI)," which took place from the 26th to the 27th of August, 2022, at Mess-Tro Hotel and Resort, No. 10 Onugboji Street, Ahoada Town, Rivers state, Nigeria.

The Choba Academic Research Initiative is a group of forward-thinking individuals from around Nigeria, including academics, entrepreneurs, and civil servants. CARI is a non-religious, non-partisan, and non-tribal organisation that promotes inclusive peace, growth, and development in our communities through research-driven interventions. We are dedicated to achieving set objectives in the greater interest of society.

COMMUNIQUÉ TITLE

REINVENTING NIGERIA: ISSUES AND STRATEGIES

After a lengthy brainstorming session in which we critically analysed the current state of the nation and explored the possibilities of reinventing Nigeria, we reached some painful conclusions: Nigeria is at the crossroads between survival and death, with all the trappings of a failed or failing state. Simply put, Nigeria is at a precipice.

The extent of poverty, corruption, unemployment, misery, and division in this once prosperous and peaceful country is startling. This is a recipe for a further crisis of armageddonian proportions. The "we versus them" mentality is at an all-time high in our country's history. The emotional and cognitive references to Nigeria by Nigerians and other people around the world are completely negative and undesirable.

From being Africa's giant and hope, Nigeria is now known as the world's poverty capital, zoo, and other unflattering terms. The feeling and thinking by the majority of ordinary Nigerians is that because the country does not care for them, they, in turn, do not love and do not care about them. Patriotism is zero or near zero among Nigerians today, even the armed forces.

The wonderful life promised by democracy has remained elusive, and both leaders and the followers are to blame; the leaders have abused the trust, power, and privilege bestowed on them, while the followers have demonstrated bastardly levels of docility and helplessness.

Our ideas and claims to nationhood and constitutionalism are questionable and perverted. Not only is Nigeria a mere nation state, it is also not on the road to nationhood. The operational 1999 constitution is fraught with a lot of challenges, especially the fact that it is not the people’s constitution per se. This has hindered the possibility of having a system that is truly governed on the principles of the rule of law and democracy.

As we march towards the 2023 elections, the task before the contending parties and candidates includes, but is not limited to, the following:

Nigeria should be restructured immediately along the lines of true federalism. The very idea of the federating units of the country (states and local governments) queuing up in Abuja every month to share the national revenue, based on a warped sharing formula that has created disincentives for competition and efficiency, MUST stop forthwith. We believe that all and every president of Nigeria will fail unless Nigeria is restructured.

Constitutional, judicial and electoral reforms and the courageous cum consistent implementation are required to ensure a thorough and successful leadership recruitment process and system of accountability, and MUST be pursued with courage, dedication, and high patriotic verve.

We believe strongly that everything rises and falls on leadership, and a nation cannot rise above the quality of its leadership. The economy, education, health care, infrastructure, security, and other issues can only be addressed by competent and patriotic leadership capable of mobilising the people and resources of Nigeria for greater glory.

CONCLUSION

We are super confident and optimistic that Nigeria, like the phoenix, can rise again from the ashes of its self-inflicted ruin. Hence, we are calling on Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora to hearken and commit to the heaven-inspired national anthem of Nigeria:

“Arise, o compatriot

Nigeria’s call obey

To serve our fatherland

With love and strength and faith

The labour of our heroes past

Shall never be in vain

To serve with heart and might

One nation bound in freedom, peace and unity.”

Long live CARI

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria

Signed for and on behalf of CARI

Hon. Gift O. Worlu, MBA, PhD (Chairman)

Mr. Valentine Nwanze (Gen. Secretary)

Chief Ovunda Ihunwo, PhD (Convener)

Dr. Henry Dienye (Chairman, Communique Drafting Committee)

Prof. Friday Nwafor (Secretary, Communique Drafting Committee.

Prof. Emmanuel Emasealu (Member, Communiqué Drafting Committee)

Tuesday 5 July 2022

Drygin: Nigerian Afrobeats Sensation Takes World By Storm

By Perekeme Odon

Rauf Yusuf Damilare, also known as "DryGin Arole," is a fast-rising Nigerian sensational afrobeats hip-hop singer and songwriter whose name Drygin is so loud and larger than life in the bubbling city of Mainland Surulere, Lagos, where he commanded respect and superstar status as he lured many souls to his unique vocal world.

Drygin

The Oyo state, Ibadan-born artiste attended Surulere Baptist School in Lagos State, Nigeria, where he wrote his First School Leaving Certificate, and proceeded to Iponri Estate High School, Lagos State, Nigeria and obtained his West Africa Senior School Certificate in 2010.

Drygin decided to pursue a career in music after completing his primary and secondary education. Although he started his music career in 2008 as a singer in secondary school with a three-piece group called ‘Ywise J’ before eventually starting to write his own songs and rising to fame after releasing his first vibration single ‘Enu Ose’ in 2010, which received nationwide critical acclaim, and immediately thrust Drygin into the limelight, earning him top spots and slots in all the country's music charts.

He stamped his prominence following the release of another hit single, 'METAMORPHOSIS,' in 2016, which catapulted his sensational mastery of music to new heights, accompanied by a stunning video that aired on all TV and cable networks.

Drygin

Drygin, saw and conquered with many heartfelt and inspiring songs like; ‘Metamorphosis, Ase, Ahmen, Alubarika’ and more. Since Drygin Arole has risen to prominence, he has been a source of inspiration for many youngsters who listen to his music. His melodious voice is simply unsurpassed. His creative disciplines allowed him to have the perfect lyrics to keep his music ministry going.

He had a deep affinity for music as a child, especially Afro and inspirational music. He has featured in many songs together and has collaborated with various A-list artists in the Nigerian music industry such as Alhaji Abass Akande Obesere, Seriki, Terry Apala, Famous Igboro, Minjin and some just to name a few.

Drygin Arole

Drygin, as he is affectionately known, developed a love for music at an early age. According to him, he was inspired while listening to prominent Nigerian and other great African musicians. He never tried to hide the fact that he was greatly influenced by a select group of well-known musicians like Dagrin, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Olamide, Sarkodie, Wizkid, 2face, Lucky Dube, Michael Jackson, Davido, Kizz Daniel. Since then, his enthusiasm for music has increased and translated into various musical experiences.

When asked why music, he said, “I found out I was gifted in it so I had to explore it. It’s my life, my hustle, my world”.

Drygin Arole

The popular Nigerian singer Drygin (Arole) is here with the most anticipated social media club and street banger hit single of 2022, tagged M.M.T.E (Make Money Till Eternity), in collaboration with Nigerian Singer Dasmart, and was produced by Lance is widely accepted by his mainstream fans.

Friday 17 June 2022

Writers Converge in Lagos as IFBA, LSFVCB Holds Screenwriting Workshop

By Perekeme Odon

In light of the need for capacity building and a higher level of professionalism in the Nigerian motion picture industry, A 5-Day intensive Master Class in Screenwriting workshop by the International Film and Broadcast Academy, Lagos, Nigeria has distilled the essential elements from the world's best screenwriting programmes to create a super-intensive screenwriting workshop.

The workshop, which was a partnership between the International Film and Broadcast Academy (IFBA) and the Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board (LSFVCB), was held at 13 Simisola Street, Surulere, Lagos on June 13-17, 2022 and received over 100 submissions via email from aspiring screenwriters with little or no screenwriting experience who wish to improve their storytelling skills and explore the fine art of writing visual narratives.

According to the lead resource person, Mr Yinka Ogun, President, Screen Writers Guild of Nigeria (SWGN), and a screenwriting mentor whose credits include ‘Tinsel, Oloture (Netflix original), Your Excellency, The Royal Hibiscus Hotel, who openly expressed his respect for the organizers and Mr Victor Okhai was excited with the turnout and hailed the outcome. “They have been equipped to go out there and excel as storytellers. The sky can only be their springboard going forward."

Mr Ogun affirmed that “But hey, I have a lot of respect for Mr Victor Okhai as a practitioner, director and film proprietor. Screenwriting is getting better with each passing day. If more people dedicated their time to improving themselves personally, I think that we will soon arrive at a very good pace and soon have good writers."

A Session With Participants

With strict adherence to the rituals of writing and learning, the workshop concentrated on the professional development of various aspiring screenwriters in the film and television industry who can work in a fast-paced, high-pressure, focused and experienced environment to seasoned career writers, as recommended by Mr Victor Okhai, President of the Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN), and participants had the opportunity to develop a fully structured outline for a feature-length screenplay, including several completed scenes, and complete short.

Mr Kingsley Omoefe, former Vice President, Directors’ Guild of Nigeria and one of the participants who are not strange to IFBA organized workshop appreciated the moves taken by IFBA and LSFVCB to equip writers in the industry. “It’s quite an insightful, interesting and impactful programme which I benefitted a lot. It couldn’t have come at a better time than this time. Mr Victor Okhai is a perfectionist and wants everything to be done rightly, and that translates to whatever he’s doing. He did the best in the person of Mr Yinka Ogun, our resource person who is an experienced writer, and one of the best creative screenwriters in Africa. For LSFVCB to partner with IFBA shows how credible the institution is, and very important for Lagos state to want to take the creative industry to the next level.”

(l-r) Mr. Yinka Ogun, Mr. Victor Okhai & Mr. Kingsley Omoefe

2022 Overall Winner of Aforevo Nollywood Screenwriting Competition, and the N1 Million winner, Cosmos O. Abasi expressed his excitement about his participation while commending the organizers for their contribution to the success of screenwriting in the film industry in Nigeria.

“I thank the organizers, LSFVCB and IBFA for doing a great job to put this together, and I wish stuff goes into several other departments of filmmaking. The training has been novel, exciting, interesting, educating and sort of an eye-opener, because I’ve learned a lot about different kinds of pitch decks from the resource person, Mr Yinka Ogun, and our amiable DGN president, Mr., Victor Okhai. So now, I can conveniently say, I know how to pitch.” He stated.

The President of the DGN, Mr Victor Okhai, who was enthusiastic about the workshop, remarked that the method of storytelling through screenwriting is both an art and a science. According to him, the workshop is intended to be a quarterly event as we have several ongoing classes and master classes in directing, production, cinematography, art design, and costume and makeup.

“This workshop is supposed to be a quarterly event, as we have several ongoing classes and master classes on directing, producing, cinematography, art designing, and costume and makeup. We must learn the art of storytelling and master it, but you need to know how to package them so they can pitch them successfully to potential investors and platforms to get funding to the next level.“

(l-r) Mr. Yinka Ogun, Mr. Victor Okhai & Mr. Cosmas O. Abasi

The DGN President explained that human stories are stories that every human being can relate to, and if you know how to tell them well, regardless of the setting and location, people will relate to the story, exactly how you do it with some movies will never be forgotten even growing up as a kid.

“Screenwriting is both an art and a science. Everyone is capable of speaking, but not everyone can captivate an audience. Anyone can write, but everyone can write the kind of material that holds audiences captive for more than 90 minutes in a dark room. You cannot do magic if you have a brilliant director and a poor script. People will relate to a tale if it is told well, regardless of location or climate, much like with some films that you will never forget even as a little child. Human stories are stories that anyone can relate to.” Okhai stated.

Okhai also expressed gratitude to Mrs Bukola Agbamiloja, Executive Secretary, Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board and the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu for their proactive support for Nigerian filmmakers.

Saturday 11 June 2022

Lagos Agog As CDGN Debuts Culture and Fashion Exhibition

By Perekeme Odon

It was pomp and pageantry in Ikeja, the capital of Lagos as the Creative Designers Guild of Nigeria, CDGN, in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and the Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board (LSFVCB), hosted the first-ever cultural and entertainment exhibition in Nollywood, Nigeria, with the theme "Expanding Cultural Creativity Through Entrepreneurship."

The one-day event, held on Friday, June 10, 2022, at the CitiHeight Luxury Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos state, highlighted and showcased the exhibition of cultural designs and attires spanning different Nollywood movies, ethnic groups, beads, various forms of makeup, and African hairstyles, resulting in the existence of cultural diversity in Nigeria, as well as a renaissance of its fading cultural heritage due to the influx of western domination.

Mrs. Joy Osawaru-Akinyemi, the Lagos state chairman of the Creative Designers Guild of Nigeria, in her opening address, applauded them for attending. “I welcome you all to this great event, and I appreciated the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and the Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board for their cooperation in hosting the programme. The exhibition is about the way we are, who we are and the way we do our things. We Nigerians should love who we are and be ourselves. We need to go back to our culture and represent our ways of dressing and doing things. Each time you see or notice a piece of artwork, that beautiful dress, that traditional makeup in a movie, it is because our members made it happen, and through that, we have continued to preserve and promote our culture to the world through our arts.”

Mrs. Joy Osawaru-Akinyemi

Mrs. Akinyemi went revealed that the event was organised pursuant to the State Government’s commitment to repositioning the entertainment sector to fulfil its potential as a primary revenue generator and employer of creative talents, through entrepreneurship, as well as how young people can turn their creativity into significant wealth.

“Our creativity should be export bound and encourage tourism like how countries like India and China are doing, that is why we have the panelist session where we talked about creativity and entrepreneurship to the youths and students to know there is livelihood in creativity so as to have positive decisions. This exhibition would be an annual event to ensure that the youths are conversant with aspects of the creative industry that could be explored for wealth creation." She stated.

The Hon. Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Pharm. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Oyinade Nathan-Marsh, in her keynote address at the event commended Mrs. Joy Osawaru-Akinyemi and the CDGN for providing a one-stop culture and creativity exhibition to Nigerians, particularly Lagos residents, with all-inclusive facilities to cater to various interests in the arts and filmmaking.

Mrs. Oyinade Nathan-Marsh

“I greatly commend the Creative Designers Guild of Nigeria for the incredible work. Africa for the longest time has remained a giant and a leading voice when it comes to creative space, and the testament to this can be seen in the various creative arts that are being delivered from the continent daily, especially from Nigeria’s Nollywood. To say that Nollywood has become a significant contributor to Africa and global creativity is to put it very subtly. As the industry has become recognized as the fastest-growing movie industry on the continent, I am extremely pleased to join creative in the house today at this culture and entertainment exhibition, the maiden one.”

She stressed that the Nigerian movie industry has grown into one of the country’s greatest exports and also into national pride. As the economic hub of the nation, we must begin to blaze the trail and seek to transform the entertainment industry in accordance with global best practices.

She added that, “Most times, when we watch movies, we are overtly amazed by the actors and actresses, and we tend to forget the outstanding efforts of those behind the scene, like the costume designer, the makeup artist, hair stylist, prop managers, set designers, and everyone else who put an indescribable amount of energy and hard work to ensure our movies are top-notch and amazing. Progress is being registered in our cinematography and picture quality, storytelling method, script writing, special effect makeup and so many other aspects. And all this is all thanks to creative professionals that are here today.”

(l-r) Mrs Akinyemi, Victor Okhai, Kenny Brown, Paul Obazele

The Commissioner expressed her appreciation to the Guild for honouring her and deemed her deserving of the guild award for her services to the Nollywood audiovisual sector and efforts to promote the arts. She told them that she would not rest on her achievements, but would do everything she could to ensure that their joint vision for Lagos' broader arts and entertainment sector becomes a reality.

“My profound appreciation goes to the guild for honouring and deeming me fit to be a recipient of the guild’s award for the recognition of my effort in uplifting the art and my contributions to the audio visual industry in Nollywood. I assure you not to rest on my oars but continue to put in my best for the collective dream for the greater Lagos art and entertainment sector to be achieved.” The Commissioner stated.

A panel discussion for schools and educational institutions was the event's high point. Mazi Uche Anyamele moderated the session, and the panelists included, Mrs Iyen Agbonifo-Obaseki, production designer and former CDGN President, Mr. Patrick Lee, President, Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN), Ms Taiwo Ajai-Lycett, thespian and doyen of the art, Sewedo Nupowaku, Communications Consultant. Also in attendance at the panel discussions were Dr. Tony Akposheri, filmmaker/DGN Vice President, and Arc. Dr. Kuti Ezebiro, Architect, academic and public intellectual.

Mr. Yibo Koko & Millicent Jack

The panelists shared experiences and engaged in stimulating conversations about possible collaborations and partnerships between producers and cinema operators, against profanity, vulgar language, scenes of excessive violence and negative African stereotypes in films to guide against social decline.

Veteran Nollywood actor, Dr Tony Akposheri, encouraged the youth to explore their inherent artistic talent as a weapon for economic growth for themselves and the nation. He advised actors to explore more themes relating to love as opposed to rituals.

He said, "They should focus more on telling African history in movies to educate children and keep them abreast of the dictates of African culture and history."

Sewedo Nupowaku, a communications consultant, also urged the youth to explore the latest technology to promote the nation's cultural heritage. “We can make money off our culture, but what are we doing about it? How are we galvanizing ourselves to tell our stories with the latest technology, with well-crafted and welled research scripts? We can tell our stories as good as anyone else.”

Nupowaku emphasized that the idea of this workshop is for people to learn and know more about our heritage. They need to be more up-to-date with our history and show more interest so that they are very excited to support our heritage. “Our culture goes beyond the movies, the music, our dressings, books, and dancing. The young folks have already been short because, for a long time, history has not been taught in our classrooms.”

Mrs Nathan-Marsh Receiving An Award

Ms Ajai-Lycett caused a stir when she said people need to be careful about the health effects of skin bleaching as it affects the liver and could lead to skin or liver cancer.

“If we accept to maintain our natural skin and hair, we will be creative with them to improve our economy as a nation because there is a massive business in it for us, but we are unconscious of it. And what breaks my heart most is that celebrities are found in that habit of promoting skin bleaching and wearing wigs, and they go as far as selling it to the public, this is bad, and I advise that they desist from that bad habit. We do not need to imitate the western world; I advise that we remain black, bold and beautiful,” she said.

Dr Kuti Ezebiro, architect, academic and public intellectual, educated the audience on the economics of culture and the thriving entrepreneurship within it.

“Every great thing goes through three basic stages in life. The first stage would be an expression (argument), ridicule (antagonize) and discussion/reception (acceptance). Culture is economics, and unless we understand how culture produces economics, then we will continue to identify with relics. Culture in the real essence is the spirit that drives the expression that you see as aesthetics or activity. Unless we understand that spirit and affirm it, then we are all exhibitionists of relics. If you want to see African culture in terms of fashion, then we begin to look at the Zulus, Ghanaians, and maybe in Nigeria, the Tiv, and Yoruba for the Asoke.” He said.

The entertainment business, according to Dr Kuti Ezebiro, may reorient itself. When you genuinely comprehend the anthology of your being and that culture is the life stream that gives you your being, identity, and aspiration, you are truly an activist and protagonist of your own culture.

(l-r) Sonny McDon, Chuks Ejiofor, Blessing Agofure & Dr. Ighalo

Mr Patrick Lee, President, Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria and Cinema Owners affirmed that “We are unable to find movies that tell our history, culture and tradition. When I went round the exhibition today, one of the things that struck me was that when we show our movies or showcase them, these very important people in the background are never ever credited to a large extent to the work they delivered.”

The one-day event was not just about culture, but also entertainment through comedy, spoken words with cultural melodies and beats, and awarding of honours to deserving guild members and the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos, who have contributed enormously to the state's film industry.

CDGN National President Comrade Sele O. Sele recognized the people and organizations that contributed to the success of the event and stated that the event looks forward to a positive outcome in the near future.

In his vote of thanks, Dr. Bolaji O. Akinyemi acknowledged everyone and said, “If we really want Nigeria to be great as we all dream it should be, then we should be thinking Nigeria”.

Present at the event were gospel singer, Kenny Saint Brown, Millicent Tamunokuro Jack, 2022 AMVCA Best Costume Designer, Bishop Dr. Joseph Ighalo-Edoro, Paul Obazele, former AMP President, Yibo Koko, Director General/CEO Rivers State Tourism Development Agency–RSTDA, Theo Akatugba, President, Association of Nollywood Core Producers (ANCOP), Mr. Soibifaa Diminas, former Interim President (CDGN), Sonny MC-Don, AGN BOT, Mr. Victor Okhai, DGN President, Blessing Tunde Agofure, Chairman/CEO, BTA Investment, Chukwudi Ejiofor, Osezua Stephen-Imobhio, Mr. Tony Anih, former President SWGN, students of Starfield College, Lagos, and members of the public.