Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has formally flagged off the Aba Made Film Project, titled “The Chronicles of Enyimba City”, with a vow to transform the State into a thriving hub for creative enterprise and entertainment.
Speaking during the ceremony held at the Aba Town Hall, Governor Otti reaffirmed plans by his administration to establish an entertainment village in the State.
The Governor disclosed that although several potential sites had been identified for the proposed entertainment village, only the best location would be chosen to ensure maximum impact.
He further explained that the proposed “Abia State Stadium Village project”, in Umuahia includes an entertainment component adding that discussions are open on whether to situate a separate entertainment village in Aba.
“I will refer you to my manifesto, the 2023 manifesto. I had indicated that one of the things I wanted to do was to set up an entertainment village in Abia State. That dream is still on.
“So the only issue now is that we are about starting the Abia State Stadium Village. It’s a village in itself. It does have also a games village and an entertainment village.
“It is going to be in Umuahia so we’ll have to discuss whether we want it in Abia. We can detach it and then bring it to Aba.
“I want the best for this industry”, Gov Otti stated.
The Governor lauded the resilience of the entertainment sector, especially their contribution to the long history of creativity associated with Aba.
He noted that Aba remains the birthplace of Nollywood’s early commercial distribution network adding that “the Nollywood you hear about today started right here in Aba”.
He reassured the Film Project Team of his administrations full backing assuring that the State Government would support the project to the end.
Governor Otti used the occasion to outline major infrastructural and social investment projects of his administration to include urban renewal, enhanced security, free education, improved healthcare, and a modern public transport system powered partly by electric vehicles.
The Governor noted that Abia was recently rated as the most affordable intra-city transportation in Nigeria, pointing out that his government doesn’t share money but will only use the money accruing to the State to work for the people.
In their goodwill messages, the Senator representing Abia South, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe represented by Mrs Uwaoma Olewengwa, the Speaker Abia House of Assembly Chief Emmanuel Emeruwa and the member representing Isialangwa North and South Federal Constituency Chief Ginger Onwusibe while appreciating producers of the Aba made film project for coming up with the project in support of the project -driven administration of Governor Otti, noted that the Governor has rewritten the story of the state for the better.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Mr Matthew Ekwuribe described the Aba Film Project as a catalyst capable of restoring Aba to its former glory, expressing optimism that the project would spotlight the rich cultural heritage and vibrant economic landscape of the Enyimba City to the world and thanked the Governor for his commitment to advancing the creative economy.
In a Keynote address titled; “Elevating Abia’s Image Through Cinematic Excellence”, foremost Nollywood actor, Chief Bob-Manuel Udokwu, described the Abia Film Project as a strategic cultural, commercial and creative initiative that goes far beyond filmmaking.
According to him, when executed with the right expertise and world-class production standards, the project has the capacity to boost Abia’s image, stimulate economic growth, and reposition the entire South-East region.
Chief Udokwu who lauded Governor Otti’s visionary leadership noted that the combined expertise of the team is capable of building a world-class film village in Abia State, which would serve as a permanent cultural and economic asset.
Speaking on behalf of other Nollywood artistes, Mr Chinedu Ikedieze commended the ongoing road infrastructure revolution in the State under the Otti-led administration and thanked the Governor for his love and commitment to take the State to greater heights.
The event, chaired by Dr Chima Anyaso and attended by prominent Nollywood Artists including, Joyce Kalu, Uche Elendu, Nkeiru Slyvanus, among others also featured a synopsis of the Aba-Made Film Project, The Chronicles of Aba, presented by the Project’s Technical Director, Dr Prospect Nlemchukwu.
