The
Nigerian movie industry, popularly known as Nollywood, is set to
promote the Agenda 2063 of the African Union (AU),the News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN) reports .
Mr
Emeka Rollas, National President of Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN)
stated this during a stakeholders interactive session with its members
and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission(AUC), Moussa Faki
Mahamat on Saturday in Abuja.
The AU Agenda 2063 is a strategic framework for the socio-economic transformation of the continent over the next 50 years.
It
builds on, and seeks to accelerate the implementation of past and
existing continental initiatives for growth and sustainable development.
According
to the AGN president,Nollywood films and stars are widely accepted
across Africa and beyond, adding they are veritable tools that should
be used to popularise the Agenda 2063.
He said: “Nollywood is ready for African Union and the Agenda 2063,so let the dialogue begins and the actions follow.
“I
have no iota of doubt that through our movies, our TV series, plus
our icons and stars as Ambassadors AU policies and programmes will be
well popularised.
“The
AU,through Nollywood will certainly be penetrating the boundaries that
separate our various countries, to speak to the soul of its people,
entertaining, and yet disseminating its messages,”he said.
Rollas
noted that the Nigerian motion picture industry was a major employer
of labour,and was also a platform where youths discover and realize
their talents.
He
added that Nollywood was a ready vehicle to realising the AU vision of
building Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage,
values and ethics.
He therefore emphasised that the industry players were ready for partnership with the AU towards polpularising the Agenda 2063.
“Nollywood
here in Nigeria, directly and indirectly employs over two million young
people in acting, production, digital marketing, distribution, cable
stations and so on.
“Together
with the African Union, we can begin to transform Africa, to realise
its huge potential and make every African proud of this awesome
continent.
“With
such collaboration, AU and Nollywood, and indeed the entire Africa
creative industry will open new frontiers in the economy of Africa in
terms of job creation, youth engagement and empowerment.
“This I believe is well captured in the African Union Vision 2063,”he said.
In
his remark, the AUC chairperson, Mahamat commended the actors and
filmmakers for their genuine interest to identify with the AU Agenda
2063.
He said that Nollywood was playing a leading role in the continent’s motion picture industry.
He
therefore expressed willingness that the AUC was ready for a
partnership with the Nollwood stakeholders towards popularising AU
programmes.
“The
Nollywood brand is a tool that should be used to popularised African
agenda because it is well known all over Africa and beyond.
“There
is no doubt that the African youths can realize their potentials within
the continent and make global impact because Nollywood has proved it.
“It is time for us to take advantage of what Nollywood has to offer Africa”,he said.
NAN
reports that the AUC Chairperson who was in the country for a working
visit, was accompany to the interactive session by some of his top
officials.
His
entourage included Prof.Sarah Anyang- Agbor ,the AUC Commissioner for
Human Resources, Science and Technology (HRST), and Mrs Ebba
Kalondo,Spokeperson to the Chairperson and Amb. Hadiza Mustapha,Advisor
Peace,Security and Governance to the Chairperson.
Some top Nollywood stars present at the meeting included, Ejike, Asiegbu,Patience Ozokwor, Francis Duru and Bruno Iwuoha.
Others included Agility Onwurah, Alvin Ahmed and other officials of the Actors Guild.
The event was climaxed with traditional dance by a Nigerian troupe, as well as performances by other artistes.
