-Presidency insists on choice
The appointment of Engineer Danjuma ‘Dabo’, as the new Managing Director of Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), by the Federal Government last Thursday, has continued to generate mixed reactions from filmmakers, even as the identity of the new man remains sketchy.
Dabo who was named among six other appointees, has created much anxiety at the Jos Headquarters of the Corporation, since no one seems to have a clue about him. Many had expected the acting MD; Mr. Tekena Benibo to succeed his former boss, Afolabi Adesanya, whose tenure expired last year. Staff of the Corporation had waited since Friday last week for the resumption of the new man, who is yet to show up.
A statement by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim said the new officers are expected to resume immediately.
Since the announcement last Thursday, some stakeholders in the film industry have continued to criticise Federal Government’s choice of an Engineers for the apex film regulatory body. A three-page petition to President Goodluck Jonathan by some guild heads, stated that “the film Industry does not need a political appointee, with no experience whatsoever in film making, broadcasting, performing Arts or any creative expression, to administer the apex regulatory agency.” The industry, they said “requires an administrator with passion, zeal and total dedication to the development of the film Industry. Industry requires an administrator who knows and feels the pains of the Nigerian Film maker, who knows where the shoe pinches, who knows the whys and the hows of the challenges of production, who knows the practicability’s of the vast potentials of Nollywood.”
Thus, the group said it is rejecting the appointment of Dabo, describing it as a putting a round peg in a square hole. They said the appointment of an administrator outside the industry is an inglorious disregard for the experienced filmmakers, some of whom have put over 20 years of their creative life into the film Industry.
But notable filmmaker, Amaka Igwe sues for caution, pending the time that the full identity of the new MD is revealed. Igwe noted that the appointee’s engineering background could be related to film or broadcasting. The filmmaker who is indifferent about the issue, urged her colleagues to crave anyone who can bring positive change to the film industry irrespective of the person’s background. She said the film sector did not achieve much success even when its kinds were at the helms of affairs.
Veteran filmmaker, Eddie Ugboma was also of the opinion that past Managing Directors of the Corporation did not achieve much success with the film industry. He however noted with disdain, the Federal Government’s choice, pointing out political undertone as one of the reasons the film sector is not progressive.
But strong indications emerged yesterday that the Presidency is calling the protesters’ bluff and insisting on its choice of the new man, and that he may resume today.
Unconfirmed report however says the correct name of the appointee is Danjuma Wurim Dadu, a Lecturer 2, at the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria since 2010. Dadu, also an old student of the institution was of the Class of 1981. He attended Baptist High School, Jos from where he graduated in1977.
A Phd degree holder, Dadu is of the Department of Building, Faculty of Environmental Design at the University and hails from Riyon Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Dadu’s thesis include: An Evaluation of Bassa Volcanic Deposit as Potential Natural Pozzolan: Report on Chemical Characteristics 2010; Effect of Jos Plateau Volcanic Deposits on the Physical and Mechanical The Professional Builder 2012 and Properties of Non Cohesive soils Stabilised with Cassava Starch. 2009.
Among the conference and seminar papers delivered by the lecturer are: ‘An Evaluation of the Pozzolanic Characteristics of Jos Plateau Volcanic Deposits for the Production of Blended Cement. Presented at 41st Annual General Meeting/ Conference of NIOB organized by Nigerian Institute of Building , 2010’; ‘Evaluation of the Pozzolanic Activity of Kajuru Pumice Tuff As Sustainable Cementitious Materials For Cement Blending Presented at 4th West Africa Built Environment Research (WABER) Conference organized by Laryea,S., Agyepong, S.A., Leiringer, R. and Hughes, W., 2012’; ‘Investigations into the Pozzolanic Activities of Volcanic Deposits from the Jos Plateau: Interim Report on Chemical Characteristics. Presented at 4th West Africa Built Environment Research (WABER) Conference. organized by Laryea,S., Agyepong, S.A., Leiringer, R. and Hughes, W., 2010’ and ‘Jos Plateau Volcanic Deposits as Sustainable Cementitious Materials for Partial Replacement of Portland Cement In Concrete Mixtures Presented at 4th West Africa Built Environment Research(WABER)Conference organized by Laryea,S., Agyepong, S.A., Leiringer, R. and Hughes, W., 2011
