Thirty-three years after The National Endowment for the Arts Act was established, the dreams of the artists community remained unfulfilled no thanks to lack of political will of the government to walk their talks. Last Thursday in Lagos, the Federation of Registered Guilds and Associations in Nollywood led by Dr. Victor Okhai renewed the call for amendment of the Act establishing the National Endowment for the Arts as well as a comprehensive review of the National Film Policy to reflect today’s realities and the dynamic nature of the industry, Assistant Editor Arts OZOLUA UHAKHEME reports.
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Representatives of 18 registered guilds and associations in Nollywood, under the auspices of the Federation of Registered Guilds and Associations in Nollywood, have called for the establishment of Endowment Fund for the Arts to provide financial backing for ambitious projects and emerging talents in the industry. The federation also called for the comprehensive review of the national film policy to reflect today’s realities and dynamic nature of the industry.
Its Chairman, Dr. Victor Okhai who spoke in Lagos, said to attract investment and grow the industry, policies that will promote a conducive environment for growth must be implemented. He disclosed that the federation will, among others, advocate for tax holidays from government, making it easier for new and existing productions to thrive.
“Imagine a Nollywood where every talent, from actors to directors, from scriptwriters to set designers, can thrive and reach their full potential. A Nollywood where our stories are told with authenticity, where our culture is celebrated and where our industry is recognised for its excellence on the world stage. This is the vision of the federation,” he added.
Continuing, he said: “We are not just here to celebrate our unity, but to pledge our commitment to work in harmony. To quote Barack Obama, “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” With The Federation, we will seize every opportunity, transform our dreams into reality, and shape the future of Nollywood.”
He noted that the federation will intensify efforts in engaging government and financial institutions on pertinent challenges within the industry, pledging the federation’s commitment toward repositioning the industry. He added that the federation is not just coming on board to celebrate ‘our unity, but to pledge our commitment to work in harmony.’
According to Okhai, the federation is more than a name as it is their opportunity to work closely with government bodies and organisations both locally and internationally. By forging these partnership, he said, the federation will enhance ‘our creative economy, secure better opportunities for our members, and establish Nollywood as a global powerhouse.’ He stressed that the unity of the federation will drive job creation, foster innovation and creates opportunities that were once unimaginable.
He observed that the industry has faced numerous challenges, but it is in ‘our challenges that we find our strength. Together, we will overcome obstacles, advocate better conditions for all our members, and ensure that the world recognises the brilliance of Nollywood. We will leverage our diverse talents and experiences to create a more robust and dynamic industry.’
“Let us move forward with determination and purpose, knowing that our unity is our greatest asset. Together, we will write the next chapter of Nollywood’s story, a story of collaboration, innovation, and success,” he said.
Responding to questions on film distribution, Okhai noted that the industry did not have enough distribution outlets and platforms that enhance abundance space for appreciation of the movies. According to him, the easiest way to reflate the economy is to fund movie making.
On quality of production, he said: “Ife we are not good, we won’t be accepted by the different platforms showing Nollywood films. In fact, there is room for big and small movies that provide jobs for the people. The small filmmaker of today, will be big filmmaker of tomorrow.”
He recalled that Nollywood, which has grown to become a global phenomenon, was born out of a small-scale grassroots movement, ascribing the feat to the power of determination and unity.
“A true-life story that epitomises our potential is the international success of The Wedding Party. This film, produced by a diverse team of talented individuals from various parts of Nigeria showcases how collaboration within Nollywood can lead to groundbreaking success. The Wedding Party not only broke box office records but also put Nollywood on the global map, proving that when we come together, we can achieve extraordinary feats,” he added.
The National Endowment for the Arts Act was established in 1991 to support creativity and creatives for the promotion of cultural heritage and knowledge in Nigeria. Ever since then, the Fund never witnessed practical efforts at the implementation. Instead it has been one promise after the other by subsequent administration.
Recalled that the Ex-Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohamed had assured the artists community of government readiness to amend the act establishing the fund.
“We have decided to amend the Act establishing the National Endowment for the Arts so it can better meet the demands of the sector, which has been greatly impacted by the pandemic,” he said. According to a statement by his spokesperson, Segun Adéyemí, the minister said the move is to support every medium and area of creative activity in the art, culture and heritage sector as well as to foster professional excellence in the sector in the age of pandemic. He said the government would work with the National Assembly for early amendment of the Act to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on the sector.
Since the global public health crisis (COVID-19) hit Nigeria in February 2020, businesses around culture and creative production have been the worst. Cinemas, pubs, social gathering outlets have been forced to close or comply with the physical distancing guidelines in a bid to contain the pandemic.
The minister said with social distancing, ban on mass gathering, and travel restrictions globally, the sector has become the worst hit because the entire industry is audience-centred. He said in Nigeria, the impact has been particularly devastating due to the importance and the relevance of the sector to the national economy.
“The Nigerian creative industry is large, diverse, dynamic and critical for economic growth, development and diversification,” he said.
“It is the biggest job creator after agriculture, with particularly great opportunities for women and the youth.”
“The Industry also contributes between 2.5 and three per cent to the nation’s GDP. “I have no doubt that the measures we are putting in place will yield positive results in sustaining the creative industry in Nigeria in the days to come,” he said.
But today, the amendment to the act is yet to be done by the government. Worst still, not many stakeholders got the federal government palliatives meant to cushion the pandemic hardship.
Okhai who was in company of representatives of some guilds and associations said: “Today, we make history. Today, we become pioneers of a movement that will contribute to the growth of our nation’s creative economy. With The Federation, we are not just participants in an industry; we are leaders, visionaries, and champions of our culture.”
