Ayodele Olalere
The Lagos State Government in partnership with African Film Academy (AFA), on Tuesday, graduated 890 film students trained in various aspects of film-making.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu who was the Special Guest of Honour at the event tagged ‘Film In a Box Graduation Ceremony’ which held at Lagos Theatre, LASU-Iba Road, Igando, Alimosho restated his administration’s commitment to collaborate with stakeholders in the entertainment industry to train and acquire skills that would create ecosystem to give livelihood to creative minds.
He further said his administration is committed to achieving its 30- year development plan which was recently unveiled at the 2022 Ehingbeti Summit as well as building an African film city at the Epe axis of the state, adding his government would ensure it uses entertainment and tourism to connect with the future.
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Governor Sanwo-Olu said that Lagos can be a one-stop shop in the world, and urged the graduates to harness the opportunities provided in the right track to ensure a better and greater Lagos as well as take the country to an enviable position.
Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, congratulated the graduards and promised that the academy would continue to monitor their growth and assist them to produce competent creative works in the industry.
She also said the concept had been expanded to develop the arts and culture for optimum performance to stimulate economic growth, skills and job creation to bridge the gap in the state creative industry.
The Chief Executive Officer, African Movie Academy Award, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, said although the academy was given the mandate to train 600 students, 890 students were eventually trained from Epe, Alimosho as well as Badagry.
She also said some of the students had gotten jobs already as they were also taught the business angle of film making.
She said the film they made “Akanji” would be shown in the cinema portraying Alimosho to the world and urged them to always be creative.
She thanked the government for equipping the hospital to respond to emergencies especially when a facilitator fell ill.
Renowned Filmmaker, Tunde Kelani, thanked the governor for his support for the entertainment industry in the state, adding the training was to get the young people to work as entrepreneurs.