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I am yet to understand why Nollywood seeks and
demands financial government intervention in its affairs- I don't even think
the government should regulate it. If government wants to help, it
should address issues that inhibit profit-making- piracy!
Acting and related industries are private
businesses meant for entertainment and profit purposes. I do not see the
government doling out intervention funds to doctors, teachers, bankers, bakers,
caterers, tailors, artisans... you get the drift. Nollywood teaches us little
or no morals, as we tend to reject "preachy" films and pick up bad
mannerisms. Otherwise Mount Zion Faith Ministry movies, Mainframe movies Oyin
Adejobi films would be block busters. I think Nollywood should approach financial
institutions to fund movies and survival of the fittest should take its course. Producers like Mainframe and Kunle Afolayan do not produce their high quality
movies on government funds.
This is why I was surprised when I read that there
is a 3 billion Naira grant for Nollywood "capacity building". First,
what capacity is being built? Capacity to act, direct or produce? Second
surprise is that the fund has caused a ruckus in Nollywood. Our art
practitioners are fighting over who has access to the fund! This fund shows how misplaced our priorities are. In 2010, there was a $200 million dollar grant to Nollywood. The only visible outcome of that grant is unsuccessful "Dr Bello". Yet the government has in its wisdom deemed it fit to add another 3 billion Naira ($18, 520, 800)
As much as we love Nollywood movies, this 3 billion
can be used to renovate 60 barracks (at 50 million naira each), build 300 block
of four flats housing units (at 10,000 million naira each), declare an
intervention in Accidents and Emergency units in Government hospitals across
the nation or fix the roads leading to the East.
Misplaced priorities.
Misplaced priorities.
I rest my case
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