NOLLYWOOD HAS COME OF AGE— FIDELIS DUKER

At this trying period the Nigerian movie industry, Nollywood, is facing criticisms from far and near, veteran director and president of the Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN), Fidelis Duker, says that the industry has come of age.

Though he did not dispute the fact that there are mediocres in the industry, Fidelis noted that Nollywood has improved tremendously in virtually all areas.

According to him, Nollywood has now improved in quality, content, equipment, personnel and other factors that can make a good film.

He said: “Of course, it's not debatable. It has come of age. You cannot compare the industry now with when Living In Bondage was shot in 1993 or when Alade Aromire was shooting those his films in the mid 80s, or when Ogunde shot Aye, Orun Moru and the rest.

“Even apart from that, people now live in good houses and ride better cars. The industry has got a professional limelight all over the world. Nollywood is a phenomenon,” he stated.

Fidelis Duker, who has been in the industry for the past 17 years, stated that Nollywood should not be judged by the number of international festival awards it has won, but because it has made a good statement in the country's economy.