GEJ, While Twenty Times More Expected
The Federal Government, President Goodluck
Ebele Jonathan have awarded another N150m
to Nollywood, and it was not the first time for
the industry to receive such.
On March 3, 2013, President Goodluck Jonathan
organised a dinner at Marina in Lagos to
celebrate Nollywood at 20. On that occasion, he
announced a N3billion grants geared towards
supporting the nation’s foremost movie industry,
Nollywood.
But ever since the announcement, a sharp division
has risen among the members of the umbrella body
of actors and actresses, Actors Guild of Nigeria
(AGN), with key players having different stance on
how the money should be disbursed.
What happens to the fund? It’s obvious it has been
squandered. While practitioners suffer from lack of
funds and humiliation in the quest to produce films,
some people are busy working to ensure that the
money lands in their bank account.
Currently, Nollywood stars operating in the
country’s film industry under the recently launched
Capacity Training Fund of the Presidential
Intervention scheme called “Project ACT Nollywood,
“with an objective to help the industry make
further progress on a more solid foundation.”
The Federal Government said on November 20,
2013, Wednesday, it awarded various grants adding
that this was in line with President Jonathan’s vision
for the industry.
The training portion of the Capacity Building Fund
valued at about N150 million is dedicated to
training and skill acquisition for Nigerian movie
practitioners in all competences along the value
chain of Nigeria’s movie industry.
Paul Nwabuikwu, the Special Adviser to the Minister
of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the
economy has acclaimed that the beneficiaries of the
grant emerged after the applications submitted by
the practitioners were processed and found to have
met the qualification for the training and skills
acquisition programme
The training programme covers script writing,
directing, film production and production design,
special effects, lighting, sound effect, HD
techniques, acting, cinematography, make-up,
editing, etc.
The grants, which are currently being processed,
would enable the practitioners receive high quality
training in accredited institutions to improve their
competences in various areas of film craft.
She said another N150 million has been set aside as
grants to existing Nigerian-owned private institutes
that offer training courses, programmes and
technical certification in the movie industry.
The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and
Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala,
expressed satisfaction with the development and
appealed to individuals or more applications from
qualified practitioners.
Hopefully, it works fine.
