Kenneth Udeh from Abuja
The Nigerian Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, and the Nigerian Film Corporation, NFC has on Thursday inaugurated a joint Sub-Committee to organise the 2022 edition of Zuma Film Festival.
The Film Festival, which is the only National film festival organised by the Federal government will be hosted in Abuja Nigeria’s capital from 2nd-9th of April, 2022, at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, Nigeria.
Thursday’s inauguration was held at the Conference Room of the Honourable Minister, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), and was jointly performed by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola and Dr. Chidia Maduekwe, Managing Director/Chief Executive, Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC).
While Performing the inauguration in Abuja, the FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr Olusade Adesola who expressed delight over the choice of Abuja as the host city for the film festival, noted that the annual event offers Abuja the platform to rank anong elite film festivals hosts across the globe.
He highlighted the benefits of hosting the show among others, including job creation, revenue generation, boosting tourism, reduction of crime rate as well as the elevation of the status of Abuja as a leading entertainment capital city. Mr Adesola further assured the Nigerian Film Corporation of the Administration’s support for the partnership to host a successful film festival come April and charged the members of the committee to deploy their physical and mental resources towards the success of the festival.
Speaking before the inauguration of the Committees, the Permanent Secretary noted that FCTA’s decision to collaborate with the Nigerian Film Corporation and subsequently designate Abuja as the Official Host City of the Film Festival was deliberate and well thought out.
The action, among others, he said, was geared towards promoting SME development and up-scaling the Socio-economic well-being of residents of Abuja, and beyond. He assured of FCTA’s commitment to support the partnership and the committees, and as well ensure that the Festival is successfully hosted.
Speaking earlier, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Film Festival, Dr. Chidia Maduekwe said the 2022 Zuma Film Festival in Abuja would attract Diaspora actors and filmmakers that would create opportunities for them to share ideas with local film makers towards repositioning the Nigerian movie industry.
He said with the inauguration of the 15 Committees, preparations would be on top gear towards ensuring the success of the festival.
Maduekwe expressed hope that the Committee would vigorously pursue the implementation of all activities that are associated with preparations as well as the success of the show.
The MD of the Film Corporation said the aim of NFC since he assumed office has been to ensure sustained improvement and for the Film festival to grow in content and participation.
On the benefits of the partnership deal, Dr. Maduekwe said it would bring the Zuma Film Festival deeper into the global film festival platform of the International Federation of Film Producers Association, lFLAPF.
He then urged other agencies of government and parastatal to join the Nigeria Film Corporation on its progress journey.
According to him, the city of Abuja can be comparable with cities like Los Angeles- California and Asian Tiger cities and Durban in South Africa.
The Chairman of the Committee who is also the Secretary Social Development Secretariat of the FCT, Hajiya Hadiza Mohammed Kabir pledged the Committee determination toward ensuring a successful 2022 Abuja Film Festival.
She stressed that members of the Committee would swing into action immediately to meet up with the term of reference to which the festival is aimed to achieve.
The Zuma Film Festival creates direct and auxiliary jobs within the period it is held annually. One of its major outcomes and output is in supporting the Nigerian government’s policy of creating jobs to lift over 100 mill Nigeria out of poverty.