Sanwo-Olu, AFA scoop talents in Lagos

The Lagos State Government, through the Lagos State Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism under the supervision of Pharmacist Uzamat Akinbile Yusuf, has continued to engage experienced practitioners in forging a more robust system that not only boosts entertainment and tourism industries, but also support practitioners through varied activities.

One of the individuals that have continued to work through the vision of Sanwo-Olu for entertainment and tourism in Lagos state is leading African film practitioner Peace Anyiam-Osigwe.

The founder of the distinguished African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) and Chief Executive Officer of the African Film Academy, AFA – with much assistance and support from Akinbile-Yusuf – has been able to ensure the awards ceremony holds in Lagos for the next four years.

At the 2021 edition of the movie awards ceremony in Ikeja, the capital of Lagos state, Governor Sanwo-Olu pledged to host the entirety of Africa for the next four years. The Governor didn’t just accept to be the chief host of the awards ceremony, but did so with the sole aim of achieving his mandate, which is to grow the entertainment sector while marrying it with tourism.

By hosting AMAA for the next four years, the governor would be boosting the metropolis’ economy while opening up its tourism attributes up to representatives of over 20 African countries during the weeklong event.

Sanwo-Olu, through the ministry of tourism, arts, and culture, also teamed up with Anyiam-Osigwe’s Africa film Academy to grow talents from the grassroots up. Anyiam-Osigwe began quietly to build capacity in rural areas of Lagos that include Badagry, Epe, Alimosho and Ikorodu through an innovative programme and training, Film in a box, which she started over 19 years ago.

The capacity-building programme in form of training gave opportunities to several youths across Lagos – Alimosho alone recorded over 500 youths – to be trained in filmmaking, makeup, acting, editing, cinematography, and other sectors of the film industry.

The Africa Film Academy boss admitted that the form of capacity building empowered by the Lagos state governor is the first of its kind, which after completion will not only provide jobs for several youths, but also empower many to achieve their desired aims. She also noted that trainees at the programme will be encouraged with a support system that is put in place to ensure they easily get into the mainstream industry by learning through the eyes of established and successful practitioners.

Meanwhile, Lagos State has set aside N200m for an interest-free loan to be used and recycled by filmmakers. Budding practitioners, who are currently being trained under the film in a box programme, amidst other varied activities, are expected to benefit immensely from the fund in few years to come.

In the same vein, Akinbile-Yussuf expressed the readiness of the State Government to partner with filmmakers in the diaspora to produce world-class movies that will showcase the State and project it positively before the international community.

The Commissioner made this known while speaking during a recent Roundtable discussion with filmmakers at Oxford University, United Kingdom. She stated that the State Government believes that the proposed partnership with household names in the film industry will also create more jobs for creative youths who are residents of the State.