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The Executive Director/CEO of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Shaibu Husseini, has commended the Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, for what he described as bold, visionary, and innovative strides in repositioning the arts, culture, and creative economy sector as a critical driver of development in the state.
The commendation was delivered during a courtesy visit by the Ekiti State Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Rasaki Ojo Bakare, to the NFVCB headquarters, where both parties held extensive discussions on ongoing and forthcoming initiatives within the creative industry.
Speaking during the engagement, Professor Bakare underscored the significance of the state government’s support for the epic film project Kiriji: The Ekiti-Parapo War, as well as its deliberate investments in the creative sector, including the establishment of an endowment fund. According to him, the Ekiti State Government hosted and actively supported the production of the film, which was produced by Lateef Adedimeji and Adebimpe Adedimeji under their AL Notions Company.
The production, which spanned over four months, was filmed across multiple locations within Ekiti State and engaged more than 12,000 individuals, including cast members, crew, and service providers. Professor Bakare noted that Governor Oyebanji’s backing of the project was a strategic intervention aimed at boosting tourism, creating employment opportunities, showcasing the state’s natural endowments, and preserving its rich cultural heritage.
He further disclosed that the state government has approved a proposal to convert the principal filming location into a film village, adding that preparatory work on the project is already underway. According to him, both the proposed film village and the creative sector endowment fund represent practical expressions of the administration’s Shared Prosperity Agenda, which prioritizes inclusive growth, job creation, and sustainable economic expansion through the creative industries.
In his response, Dr. Husseini particularly praised the approval for the conversion of the primary filming location into a film village, describing the initiative as transformative and capable of positioning Ekiti State as a major destination for film production and cultural tourism. He noted that the project would catalyze further investments and significantly deepen the state’s creative ecosystem.
The NFVCB boss also lauded the approval of the endowment fund designed to support operators in the arts and culture sector. He described the fund as a strategic intervention that would enhance access to financing for creatives and stimulate content development. The facility provides production loans at a single-digit interest rate of seven percent, with a repayment tenor of up to eighteen months.
Dr. Husseini further assured the Ekiti State Government of the Board’s readiness to provide the requisite technical support and regulatory guidance to ensure the successful take-off and sustainability of the proposed film village, as well as other film and audiovisual productions in the state. He emphasized that the NFVCB remains committed to partnering with sub-national governments to promote responsible storytelling, preserve Nigeria’s cultural heritage, and unlock the vast economic potential inherent in the film and creative sectors.
