Actors Guild Of Nigeria Meets With Chairperson Of African Union In Abuja (Photos)

The Actors Guild Of Nigeria recently held a stakeholders interaction meeting with the Chairperson of the African Union in the Federal Capital Territory .In attendance were several top members of the Guild led by its President Emeka Rollas.

Remarks by the President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, Mr Ejezie Emeka Rollas on the occasion of the visit of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, His Excellency, Moussa Faki Mahamat to Nigeria and meeting with key stakeholders in Nigeria’s creative industry at Sarius Palmetum and Botanic Garden  Abuja on Friday, 26th October, 2019.


NOLLYWOOD AND AFRICAN UNION:THE MUCH AWAITED PARTNERSHIP

Your Excellency, the Chairperson of the African Union commission, Mr Moussa Faki Mahamat, Your Excellencies here present, gentlemen of the press, distinguished ladies and gentlemen. Good evening.

Let me start by welcoming the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat to our great country, Nigeria. I must confess I feel really privileged to stand before you on this occasion to make remarks about this interactive session with stakeholders in the creative industry.  I speak on behalf of the creative industry but more specifically for Nollywood.

Your Excellency, there is an organization called Creative or Creative Associates International. It is based in United States. This amazing organization is dedicated to supporting people around the world to realize the positive change they seek. Some eight years ago, they visited Africa. Now, Creative wanted to see how to promote peace, education, youth engagement and so on in our continent. After two years of research on method and strategy, they came to one conclusion. And that is that the only element, the only thread that connects all Africans, one phenomenon found in every nook and cranny of Africa, and very palpable  in every home is Nigerian movie- Nollywood!

These men from Creative known for their on-the-ground development services, concluded that if you want to talk to the masses of Africa, if you want to promote an idea or policy, your best vehicle is Nollywood, our movies.

Today, Your Excellency, this home video industry, a testament to the genius of the Nigerian and triumph of the spirit has become an African phenomenon. The home video industry now booms in Africa and our people from home to the lounge, to hotels are hooked to it, consuming the content with ecstasy. Nollywood here in Nigeria, directly and indirectly employs over two million young people from acting,  production through digital marketing, distribution, online distribution, cable stations and so on. Nollywood has inspired many start- ups that also employs hundreds and thousands of Nigerians. This I believe is well captured in the African Union Vision 2063.

However, while an American agency, a foreign organization has seen the manifest socio-political and economic potentials of our motion picture industry, the African states are still engaged in  hazy dialogues about what to do with our creative industry and in particular the phenomenal Nollywood now in most African country. 


May I therefore call today, with all humility for the African Union to begin a clear, defined and sustained dialogue with the creative industry towards an enduring partnership on the African development project. This dialogue shall climax in a crystal agenda, and articulated programme of action on how best Nollywood and the creative industry can partner with AU to actualize the awesome potentials of this great continent called Africa.

I have no iota of doubt that through our movies, our TV series, plus our  icons and stars as Ambassadors, all illuminating the African Union policies, aspirations and passion for the development of Africa, the AU will most certainly  be penetrating the boundaries that separate our various countries, to speak to the soul of its people, entertaining and yet disseminating its messages.

Importantly, the AU and Nollywood, and indeed the entire creative industry would have opened new frontiers in the economy of Africa in terms of job creation, youth engagement and indeed empowerment.

I am most glad that in your letter, you stated that “to have a sustained development and transformation in Africa, the creative industry must be brought on board in all her member states”.

These words are kind and indeed inspiring. But we must go beyond words now and take concrete steps to begin to transform ideas into concrete realities.

Nollywood is ready- for African Union. Let the dialogue begin. Let the actions follow. Together with the African Union, we can begin to transform Africa, to realize its huge, manifest potentials and to make every African proud of this awesome continent. We look forward to some sort of collaboration with the Union and representations at continental functions particularly in the arts and culture (heritage) sector.

Thank you Your Excellency.

I thank you all.