Serial digital entrepreneur and Chairman, Zinox Group, Dr. Leo
Stan Ekeh, has predicted that the Nigerian movie industry also known as
Nollywood is the continental’s next biggest wealth creator, reports ITREALMS.
He made this declaration at the 6th edition of the
Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) held at Eko Hotel & Suites on
Saturday September 1st, 2018.
The Zinox boss – who was on hand to present the award for the best
overall movie to Kenyan producer, Phoebe Ruguru for the movie 18 Hours, alongside Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu,
Regional Director, M-Net West Africa – affirmed that the wealth-creating
potential of the Nigerian movie industry is huge, noting that the industry’s
capacity as the next goldmine will manifest in the second quarter of the 21st
Century.
“I just thought I should encourage the superstars, the upcoming
superstars, the script writers and the producers. I think you have about 76
months to emerge in the second quarter of this century where you become the
mega wealth producers of Africa.”
While congratulating the winners and the not-so-lucky nominees,
Ekeh who pledged a dozen Zinox Whizkid
tablets to the winners of the best overall movie category for donation to any
school of their choice, urged stakeholders in the industry to stay on course
and continue to interprete their roadmap and vision in order to ensure clarity
of purpose.
“You are in a profession that you do not have to retire from. The
older you get, the more quality assignments you get and the more money you
make. So, I want to congratulate everyone and wish you a century filled with
wealth,” he enthused.
In a chat with the media on the sidelines of the event, Ekeh
further urged the government of Nigeria and other African leaders to focus on
the movie industry in view of its immense employment generation opportunities
and capacity for wealth creation.
“The movie industry in the 21st Century is the biggest
knowledge business and wealth creator and this is why I think the Nigerian
government and African leaders should focus on it for job creation and wealth
generation.
“Considering the rapid pace of technological advancements, a
number of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Robotics,
among others, will take the place of many employees in the manufacturing
industries, hence we need to leverage on the immense opportunities in the movie
industry to empower our youth and boost the economy.”
Informally referred to as Nollywood,
the Nigerian film industry reportedly produces about 50 movies per week, second
only to India’s Bollywood—more than Hollywood in the United States. Although
its revenues are not on par with Bollywood’s and Hollywood’s, Nollywood is believed to generate an impressive
$590 million annually and one of Nigeria’s largest employer of labour with over
a million people in its fold.
Uj. N. Dominic/GEE
No comments:
Post a Comment