The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Chidia Maduekwe

  • German to fund Masters Programme at National Film Institute

    The German Government is set to fund a Master’s Degree Programme in Archival Studies as the course is introduced at the National Film Institute (NFI), the training arm of the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC).

    Dr Chidia Maduekwe, Managing Director of the NFC, disclosed this in an interview with News men on Tuesday night, on the sideline of a reception dinner in Abuja.

    The reception ceremony was organised in honour of Maduekwe, as he was on March 20 inaugurated, along other members, into the board of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies ( NIPSS ) Kuru, Jos.

    Maduekwe said that in view of this, NFI will begin a post-graduate programme in its 2019 academic session in Archival Studies, the study and theory of building and curating archives, which are collections of recordings and data storage devices.

    He explained that the German Government, in line with its cordial relationship with Nigeria, has indicated interest and commitment to fund the programme within the first four years of its introduction in the film institute.

    ” In line with the existing bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Germany, and as part of technical collaboration between NFI and similar Germany institute, this programmed will be fully sponsored by the German Government.

    “This is part of our efforts at the NFC to attract international collaborations, especially in capacity building for Nigerian filmmakers,’’ he said.

    The NFC boss noted that the German Government had earlier sought to restore and digitised a Nigerian film ‘Shehu Umaru’, in line with modern technological advancement, using the expertise of the Arsenal Institute of Film and Video Archives Berlin.

    Read Also: German government invests 50m euros to train Nigerians in five years

    He explained that the film was successfully digitised and presented for screening at the 68th annual Berlin International Film Festival which held in Feb.

    “The German Embassy’s interest in the film stemmed from its story line, the rich Nigerian culture it portrays in addition to the dexterity and creativity of its production.

    “If there was no quality in that production, it would not be globally celebrated, as we are about to witness in Germany.”

    He added that plans were also in place between the Berlin Film Institute and NFI for capacity building programmes for young and established Nigerian filmmakers in line with the mandate of the Nigerian Film Corporation.

    Maduekwe noted that since Nollywood stakeholders, especially actors and filmmakers were spread across Nigeria, NFC was making arrangement to have functional offices across the six geo-political zones.

    “We have just established an office in the North East and South East, and plans are under way to establish south -south office, in addition to existing ones in Lagos and other parts.

    “This is part of efforts to bring capacity building to the people, because that is what we represent.

    “There are a lot of talented young people that can be developed to explore the creative sector.

    “When we capture and expose these young Nigerians, we are exposing them to the exponential deliverable of their capacities towards contributing to our GDP,’’ he added.

    NAN

  • ZUFF 2017: Organisers want more festivals to market Nigerian films

    ZUFF 2017: Organisers want more festivals to market Nigerian films

    Chidia Maduekwe, Managing Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation ( NFC ) and Chairman of ZUMA Film Festival ( ZUFF ) has called for more film festivals to attract investors and create market for Nigeria films.

    He made the call during an interview on Sunday night on the side line of events at the 2017 edition of ZUMA Film Festival held in Abuja.

    The eight edition of the Nigerian prestigious film fiesta, with the theme, “Feast on Films”, holds from Dec. 1 to Dec. 3 at the Jabi Lake Mall in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    According to Maduekwe, as the Nigerian film industry grows, it needs to be promoted as a viable investment option to both local and the international business communities, and film festivals are veritable platforms to be used.

    “We are aware of the tremendous impact of the Nigerian film industry on the economy of the nation, Africa and indeed around the world.

    “The enormous impact of Nollywood, as the industry is popularly called, is to be further strengthened through Film Festivals,” he said.

    He further explained that in order to effectively showcase Nollywood as a viable investment opportunity and alternative means of employment and wealth creation, the once biennial ZUFF, will be held annually.

    “This is to position the festival and bring it to par with others in Africa and other parts of the world, and to sustainably stimulate film production activities in the country.

    “We are also optimistic that negotiation for co-production deals, sell of film rights as well as investment opportunities will be explored.”

    According to him, the 2017 edition of the film festival was packaged to showcase Nigeria’s film industry, art, culture and tourism as alternative means of employment and wealth creation.

    “This year, we mounted a re-branded ZUMA Film Festival designed to explore the economic and audiovisual potentials of Africa’s largest motion picture industry

    Also, a report states that the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, who was the chief host, commended the organisers of the ZUFF and pledged Government’s support to the growth of the film industry. ZUMA Film Festival ( ZUFF )

    “Since diversification of the economy is crucial to this Government, the movie industry is a viable option, and government will give all necessary support to ensure that it does well,” he said

    A reports indicates that the ZUMA Film Festival, now in its 8th edition, is platform for Nigerian film practitioners to network with their counterparts from other parts of the world and thus stimulates co-production and financing opportunities.

    It presents the Nigerian film industry as a vibrant and viable investment option to Nigeria and international business communities

    The 2017 edition of the festival featured ‘Emerging Talent Film Exposition’, where top filmmakers and actors, including Kunle Afolayan, held master classes for young and upcoming actors.

    It also presented, among others, exhibition days like Lagos Day, Kano Day, Abia Day and Morocco Day, as well as ‘Celebrities Hangout”, where fans met and familiarize with film celebrities of their choices.

    Film stakeholders and investors within and outside the shores of Nigeria attended the film festival.

    NAN

  • Zuma film festival: Posthumous honour for Giringory, Sam Loco, others

    Zuma film festival: Posthumous honour for Giringory, Sam Loco, others

    The Nigeria Film Corporation (NFI) is to posthumously honour veteran actors and some living legends of the Nigeria Film Industry for their contribution to the growth of the Nigeria film industry in the country at this eight edition of the Zuma Film Festival scheduled to take place in Abuja between December 1st and 3rd, 2017.

    Managing Director of the Nigeria Film Corporation, Dr. Chidia Maduekwe who disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja said those to be honoured posthumously are James Iroha (Giringory Akabogu) of the New Masquerade fame, Oba Funsho Adeolu (Eleyimi) of the Village Headmaster fame, Sam Loco Efe, Kassimu Yero, Adeyemi Afolayan (Ade Love), Adamu Halilu and Hajia Amina Garba (Mama Dumba).

    Living legends of the film industry to be honoured during the three-day festival which will feature exhibition, beauty pageant and lecture include Sadiq Daba (Bitrus) of the Cock Crow At Dawn fame, Ola Balogun. Lamoji Ugorgi, Abdulkareem Mohammed, Brenda Shehu, Edward Fom and Femi Shaka.

    Dr. Maduekwe said those to be honoured will be inducted into the newly introduced Rock of Fame located at the Nigeria Film Parliament in Jos at an elaborate ceremony in the first half 2018, adding that the award of recognition will now be an annual event to recognize the contribution of Actors and Actresses to the development of the country.

    He said the NFI recognizes the different activities, sacrifices and roles of several resilient Nigerians who have contributed to the growth of Nigeria’s film industry, adding that the Labour of love and commitment to Nigeria’s development t of the industry will continuously b recognized and rewarded through the Nigeria Film Society.

    He said that the festival hitherto known as the Nigeria Film Festival was packaged to add value to the growth of Nigeria’s creative industry, pointing out that the economic value associated with hosting the festival, was enormous with the attendance expected to surpass that of the 7th edition.

    He said further that the festival is expected to explore and expand the economic and audio visual potentials of Africa’s largest motion picture industry, while expanding the potentials of the festival as Nigeria’s foremost film festival and position it within the domestic, regional, continental and global audio visual market.

    He said that the objective of the festival, has remained unchanged since it was first held in 1992, adding tHt each edition if the festival as witnessed a steady growth in terms of content, package and focus.

  • Ikpeazu promises N10m for films shot in Abia

    Ikpeazu promises N10m for films shot in Abia

    As part of the efforts to develop tourism sites and promote tourism potential in Abia, the state Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, has pledged N10 million as grant for any film shot in the state.

    Ikpeazu made the pledge when he received Dr Chidia Maduekwe, the Managing Director, Nigerian Film Corporation ( NFC ), his office in Umuahia.

    A statement signed by Mr Brian Etuk, the Head of Public Affairs, NFC, in Jos on Friday, quoted the governor as saying that the production ‘should be 100 per cent shot in Abia.’

    The statement said that the governor charged film practitioners to improve on the quality of their production so as to compete with the global market.

    It stated that Ikpeazu promised that his administration would participate in the capacity building offered by NFC, saying that Abia played a key role in the revolution of the market and sales of Nollywood movies which has had multiplier effects on the nation economy.

    “We have a policy to open up our market to genuine investors, private and public agencies amongst others through promoting `Make in Abia` instead of Made in Abia, proliferating more industries in the state,’’ the statement quoted Ikpeazu.

    The statement said, Maduekwe had commended the governor for approving office accommodation for the organisation’s South-East Zonal office in the state.

    It noted that Maduekwe said the gesture would create more employment opportunities for the youths, saying that corporation was also working toward establishing two more zonal offices in the North-East and South-South.

    The NFC currently has three zonal offices in Lagos, Kano and Abuja with headquarters in Jos, Plateau State.

    NAN

  • ‘Nigerian movies among the best internationally’

    ‘Nigerian movies among the best internationally’

    Dr. Chidia Maduekwe, the Managing Director of the Jos-based Nigeria Film Corporation, says Nigerian movies are among the best internationally in terms of contents, settings and acceptability.

    Maduekwe told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that many movie-producers and marketers were smiling to their banks because of impressive turnover from the sales of their videos based on quality and public acceptability.

    “There is no doubt that today Nigerian movie-producers are improving in the qualities of their home videos.

    “Take for example the “Wedding Party’’ or “1976’; these are blog busters that are raking-in hundreds of millions of naira for their producers, because they have better production qualities,.

    “They are promoting the corporate image of Nigeria positively before the international community, ’’he said.

    The expert, however, admonished the movie-producers that this did not mean that they had done exceptionally well.

    “The room is there to enhance on quality. We produce over 2,500 movies every year; quite prolific, and we can only up the ante by 15 per cent in terms of quality, most of those in the industry will be billionaires”.

    Maduekwe said that the Nigeria Film Corporation was ready to assist artists, movie-producers and marketers to improve on their knowledge by organising training and seminars for them on regular bases.

    “The Nigeria Film Corporation has a subsidiary, the Nigeria Film Institute, which is the foremost film institute in Africa for training of film prodcers.

    “Most of those people who are making waves in some of these blog buster-movies shot in Nigeria were trained at, and by the institute.

    “That will tell you the quality of capacity-building the film corporation has brought into the movie industry over the year.

    “Despite that, there are still rooms for growth and development for stakeholders in the industry by availing themselves of the regular training usually organised by the institute,’’ he said.

    Maduekwe said that the Kano State Government had bought into the institute’s training programme tagged the “Kano template’’.

    He said that under the arrangement, the Kano State Government signed an agreement with the institute to train 450 of its citizens in its various courses on a quarterly basis.

    He said that the institute was planning to replicate this concept across the country under the name: ‘Nigeria Film Institute Mobile Training Platform’.

    Maduekwe said that the institute would collaborate with the existing theatre art and film departments in various universities across the country to achieve the vision.

    He said that the institute would engage the services of professors in film studies from universities across the six geo- political zones of the country to enhance the capacity of people in each zone.

    “We will be organizing short courses for stakeholders in the movie-and film industry from time to time.’’

    The expert also disclosed that the institute in partnership with the British Council had started organising training for stakeholders in the film industry to further enhance capacity building.

  • Medicine for Movie: New Film Corporation boss undaunted by predecessor’s story of woes

    Medicine for Movie: New Film Corporation boss undaunted by predecessor’s story of woes

    The Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) was established in 1979 to help in the development of the film industry and offer training for professionals in the area of production and post production. TONY AKOWE who visited the NFC recently reports the problems that have bogged down the institution.

    The appointment of Dr. Chidia Maduekwe as the Managing Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) no doubt came as a big relief to staff of the corporation. Many of them have complained secretly, of the handling of the organisation by the management who did little or nothing to better the lot of the place and harness the potential available in the industry to turn film-making in the country into a great employment potential. Not even the training aspect of the corporation was adequately utilized to empower the youths to boost the entertainment industry in the country.

    Interestingly, the corporation which is saddled with the responsibility of ensuring quality film production in the country has had to grapple with series of problems over the years.  These problems, it seems, have hampered the corporation which also has a training arm by not playing the role it is expected to play in the nation’s movie industry. Former Managing Director of the NFC, Danjuma Dadu said the major problem facing the establishment has been lack of synergy between the corporation and stakeholders in the industry and the lack of money to provide the needed facilities for movie production in the country. Dadu lamented the lack of harmony in the film industry saying that disagreement among key players in the industry cannot move the industry forward. He attributed the lack of visibility of the corporation to lack of funds, pointing out that before 2015, the capital budget for the corporation was only N25 million which has however risen to N500million. He told the new Managing Director that one of the issues he must deal with is attracting people to the Nigerian film festivals, saying “we attend film festivals, but nobody attends our own.”

    A tour of the corporation revealed that despite the vast hectares of land available to it as a film village, the corporation is far from achieving its potential due to what many of the staff described as total lack of initiative by the Dadu-led management. At the proposed film village which is supposed to serve as the permanent site of the corporation, farming activities thrive on their land. The old structures on the land are begging for attention while two blocks of hostels have just been constructed by Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) through collaboration with the University of Jos, while another structure being constructed is said to be a constituency project. The Nation observed that there was nothing on ground at the site to suggest that the place will be put to use soon.

    Maduekwe is however optimistic that something good can still come out of the place.  He told The Nation that he intends to work with stakeholders in the industry to reposition the place to perform the role it was set up to perform. Though a medical doctor, he said he was coming into the industry with what he described as “medicine for movie”. He said he was conscious of the fact that nobody can tell the Nigerian story more than Nigerians, hence the need to harness the potential in the industry. He also told the staff members that for the corporation to achieve its mandate, they must change their attitude to work. He said his plan was to make the industry fashionable to be able to attract investors, saying “if it is fashionable to farm now, why can’t it be fashionable to make movies. I am not here to think that things are bad and so, we cannot move forward.  I am here to tell you that the NFC will work and surpass what the agriculture revolution has achieved in the country. We shall seek collaboration with professionals in the industry, stakeholders, relevant government agencies and investors, with a view to synergising appropriately and create the needed impetus to propel the industry to greater height. We will aspire to lead the industry from the vantage position of a government agency and use the platform as an enabler in a globally competitive industry. This way, film-making shall become a professionally rewarding calling and a profitable investment, impressive enough to attract credible foreign investments.”