“Nollywood Is Now A High Premium And Capacity Building Platform For The Teeming Youths Of Bayelsa” ….Gov Dickson Stresses

Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson at the weekend restated his administration's resolve to creating an enabling environment for private enterprises to thrive.

He stated this at the 10thedition of the Africa Movie Academy Awards, AMAA, which held at the Dr. Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre in Yenagoa, the State capital.

Represented by the Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah, he said the hosting of the event serves as a springboard and a veritable channel to showcase and promote the rich culture and investment opportunities of the State.

The Governor described Nollywood as the high premium and capacity building platform for the teeming youths of the state, noting that, it has moved from just an entertainment industry to an organization of wealth creation, which would make life more meaningful for the people.

Hon. Dickson, who commended the organizers of AMAA for their collaboration, stated that the dream of a new Bayelsa could only be realized with the support and partnership of the organized private sector.

The Governor maintained that, the synergy between AMAA and the state government in the last 10 years has yielded positive results, as it has aided the partnership with the Federal Government and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, (UNESCO), which have provided financial and technical support to the tourism industry as well as ensured the establishment of the Under Water Research imaging Centre in the state.

Earlier in her remarks, the Director General of the Bayelsa State Tourism Bureau, Mrs. Ebizi Ndiomu-Brown had said that, the event has provided a veritable platform to showcase the rich cultural heritage and explore the tourism potentials of the state.

She said the symbiotic relationship between tghe State and the management of AMAA has helped to expand the frontiers of tourism and the hospitality sector of the state's economy and commended AMAA for its consistency in charting a positive direction for the film industry in Africa.

Speaking the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of AMAA, Ms. Peace Anyiam Osigwe, posited that in the last 10 years, through sheer hard work of the board of Jurors, most African films have ended up in film festivals across the world.

According to her, African cinemas have survived against all odds such as poor funding and acknowledged the support of Governor Dickson and previous state governments for the honour done her and the continent's film industry in the last 10 years.

Meanwhile, South Africa carted away the highest number of awards in this year's AMAA awards followed by Nigeria.

Out of the over 25 categories in the academy awards, a Nigerian film actress, Clarion Chukwura in the film titled, Apaye won the Best Actress in a leading role, while a South African, Mthusi Magano clinched that of Best Actor in a leading role in the film, Of Good Report.

Patience Ozorkwo in the Nigerian film, titled, 'After The Proposal' won the category of Best Actress in a supporting role, while Thapelo Mofekeng from South Africa emerged winner of Best Actor in a supporting role.

A Nigerian actor, Bob Manuel Udokwu got the Special Jury Prize for his enduring contributions to the growth of the film industry.

Daniel Iworiso-Markson
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Bayelsa State