Executive director of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Dr Shaibu Husseini, has commended the Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, for what he described as bold and innovative steps in developing the arts, culture and creative economy in the state.
The commendation came during a courtesy visit by the commissioner for arts, culture and creative economy of Ekiti State, Rasaki Ojo Bakare, to the headquarters of the National Film and Video Censors Board, where discussions were held on ongoing and planned creative sector projects.
Bakare spoke on the state government’s support for the film project Kiriji The Ekiti Parapo War and other investments in the creative industry, including an endowment fund. He said the project was supported by the state government and filmed across different locations in Ekiti.
According to him, the production, led by Lateef Adedimeji and Adebimpe Adedimeji, popularly known as Mo Bimpe, under AL Notions Company, involved more than 12,000 people including cast, crew and service providers over a four month period.
“His Excellency, the Governor, supported the project as a strategic initiative to boost tourism, create jobs, showcase the state’s natural beauty, and preserve our rich cultural heritage. I am happy to inform you that the governor has approved the proposal to turn the main location used for the film into a film village and we are already working on that.”
He added that the film village and endowment initiative reflect the state’s Shared Prosperity Agenda focused on growth, job creation and expansion of the creative economy.
In his response, Dr Husseini commended the plan to convert the filming location into a film village, describing it as an initiative that could position Ekiti as a destination for film production and cultural tourism.
He also praised the approval of an endowment fund for creatives in the state, noting that it would improve access to funding and support content development. He said the fund provides production loans at a seven percent interest rate with repayment over up to eighteen months.
Dr Husseini assured the state government of the board’s readiness to provide technical and regulatory support for the film village project and other audiovisual initiatives.
The National Film and Video Censors Board is the federal agency responsible for regulating and classifying films and video works in Nigeria.
