By Akinwale Kasali
Veteran Director and Filmmaker, Ambassador Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen, has said ‘Film in Edo’ a project initiated by Market Development in Niger/Delta, a UKAids and Edo State government with partnership from Benin Film Academy will generate over 5,000 direct and indirect jobs in few years for unemployed Nigerians.
Imaseun said he is determined to portray Nollywood to the world, which has seen him in some parts of Europe and Asia countries, selling the Nigeria Movie contents to them.
At a movie location in Edo State where one of the 10 selected movies from 10 lucky winners who emerged from UKAids Films in Edo competition, and were given a matching fund to produce feature films in Edo is currently being shot, Imasuen said the project is aimed at stimulating the development and sustenance of quality film production within Edo state and Nigeria as a whole, and has the capacity of creating over 5,000 jobs in the State, other Niger/Delta region and Nigeria at large.
Imaseun stressed further that It is going to be a sustainable development, in which unemployed youths will eventually be taken off the roads.
“Benin Film Academy, a project I established in partnership with Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, will be a grooming ground for most of this young Nigerians who have decided to do something meaningful with their lives. It is worthy to note that since this project started, there have been massive support from all our host communities and those in authority.
“Films in Nigeria and Edo State In particular was created for everyone wanting to come to Edo State to film and produce whatever contents and over 1,000 upcoming and established actors, actresses, costumiers, producers and technical crews within the Niger/Delta States are currently on various movie locations with a direct job while thousands of other indirect jobs are being created” he said.
10 winning movie scripts will be shot in Edo State this year. The 10 were the successful ones picked after the just concluded Edo State, Pitch-Win And Shot Competition.
