Director General, Nigerian Film Corporation, Dr. Danjuma Dadu made the revelation in Abuja while holding talks with the Indian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Ramalal Ghanashyam.
The discussion is expected to culminate in a memorandum of understanding between the Nigerian Film Corporation and the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting of India on skill development and training. Dadu explained that both countries will sign the MoU very soon.
He was optimistic that the quest to partner the Indian Embassy in Nigeria will rob-off on the structure and guidelines being developed by the Nigerian Film Corporation to address the growth of the sector and promised Nigeria’s support and participation in the Indian Film Week which will kick off March 31 – April 6, 2014 in Abuja.
He said that the proposed Film City in Jos and the Multimedia Film Centre in Abuja will draw from the India experience adding that Nigerians will not forget in a hurry the incursion and influence of Indian movies which featured in most of the cinema theatres across the country in the 70s.
In his remarks, the Indian ambassador noted that the film industry has contributed immensely to the development of India, noting that though there are over 118 different languages, the only language that has unified the people of India is film.
Film, he said has been instrumental to the growth of the Indian economy adding that there are deliberate attempt to ensure that films are produced for all age groups on a sustainable basis. He said that children films are supported and promoted to enable them influence children who will lead India in the future.
He explained that the Nigerian film industry, has carved a niche for itself, calling on practitioners to sustain the tempo of film production especially those that will positively influence the attitudes of youths towards a brighter future for Nigeria.
He promised that India will participate in the forthcoming ZUMA International Film Festival holding in Abuja, Nigeria from May 4-8, 2014.
