The Executive Director/CEO of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Dr. Shaibu Husseini, has hailed Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji for his bold investments in the state’s arts, culture, and creative economy, pledging the Board’s technical support for Ekiti’s emerging “film village” project.
The commendation came during a courtesy visit by Ekiti State’s Honourable Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Prof. Rasaki Ojo‑Bakare, to the NFVCB headquarters in Abuja. The two officials held wide‑ranging discussions on the state’s ongoing and planned initiatives to grow the film and creative industries as engines of development.
Prof. Ojo‑Bakare highlighted the state government’s support for the epic historical film Kiriji: The Ekiti–Parapo War, produced by Lateef Adedimeji and Adebimpe Adedimeji under their AL Notions Company. The movie, shot over four months across several locations in Ekiti, mobilised more than 12,000 people, including cast, crew, and service providers. The governor, he said, backed the project as a strategic move to boost tourism, create jobs, showcase the state’s landscapes, and preserve its cultural heritage.
He also announced that the governor has approved the conversion of the main filming site into a permanent film village, already being developed as part of his broader Shared Prosperity Agenda. The project, combined with a new state endowment fund for the creative sector, is intended to deepen local talent development, attract further investment, and position Ekiti as a hub for cultural and creative enterprise.
Dr. Husseini described the film village as a “transformative” initiative capable of positioning Ekiti as a preferred destination for film production and cultural tourism. He also praised the endowment fund, which offers production loans at a single‑digit interest rate of seven percent, repayable within up to 18 months, calling it a game‑changing intervention that will ease access to financing for creatives.
The NFVCB chief further assured Ekiti of the Board’s readiness to provide technical and regulatory support for the film village and other audiovisual projects in the state. He reiterated NFVCB’s commitment to partnering with state governments to promote responsible storytelling, safeguard Nigeria’s cultural heritage, and unlock the economic potential of the film and creative industries.
2026-04-23