Dare Babalola
The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) has praised Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, for what it described as forward-thinking efforts to reposition the state’s arts, culture, and creative economy as a catalyst for development.
The commendation was conveyed by the Executive Director/CEO of the board, Dr. Shaibu Husseini, during a courtesy visit by Ekiti State’s Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Rasaki Ojo Bakare, to the NFVCB headquarters.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday by the board’s Corporate Affairs Department.
Speaking during the meeting, Bakare underscored the state government’s commitment to the creative sector, highlighting its support for the epic film project Kiriji: The Ekiti-Parapo War.
He noted that the production, led by Lateef Adedimeji and Adebimpe Adedimeji, spanned over four months and involved more than 12,000 participants, including cast, crew, and service providers.
According to him, “Ekiti State Government played host to and actively supported the filming of Kiriji: The Ekiti-Parapo War. His Excellency supported the project as a strategic initiative to boost tourism, create jobs, showcase the state’s natural beauty, and preserve our rich cultural heritage.”
Bakare further disclosed that the state government has approved plans to convert the main filming location into a film village.
“I am happy to inform that His Excellency the governor has approved the proposal to turn the main location used for the film into a film village and we are already working on that,” he added.
He added that the initiative, alongside the establishment of an endowment fund for the creative sector, reflects the practical implementation of the administration’s Shared Prosperity Agenda, which prioritises inclusive growth, job creation, and sustainable economic expansion.
In his response, Husseini described the proposed film village as a transformative project capable of positioning Ekiti as a major hub for film production and cultural tourism. He noted that the initiative would attract investments and strengthen the state’s creative ecosystem.
The NFVCB boss also commended the approval of an endowment fund to support practitioners in the arts and culture sector, describing it as a strategic intervention that would ease access to financing and enhance content development.
He explained that the fund offers production loans at a single-digit interest rate of seven per cent, with a repayment period of up to 18 months.
Husseini further assured the Ekiti State Government of the board’s readiness to provide technical support and regulatory guidance to ensure the successful take-off and sustainability of the film village project, as well as other audiovisual productions in the state.
He reiterated the board’s commitment to partnering with state governments to promote responsible storytelling, preserve Nigeria’s cultural heritage, and unlock the economic potential of the creative industry.
