Dr. Shaibu Husseini, Executive Director/CEO of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), has commended Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji for his bold efforts to elevate the arts, culture, and creative economy as engines of state development.
The praise came during a courtesy call at NFVCB headquarters by Ekiti’s Commissioner for Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, Prof. Rasaki Ojo Bakare. Discussions covered key initiatives, including state backing for the epic film Kiriji: The Ekiti-Parapo War, produced by Lateef and Adebimpe Adedimeji’s AL Notions. Shot over four months across Ekiti locations with over 12,000 participants, the project aimed to promote tourism, jobs, the state’s landscapes, and cultural heritage.
Prof. Bakare announced Governor Oyebanji’s approval to transform the film’s main site into a film village—already in progress—and the launch of a creative sector endowment fund. These steps align with the state’s Shared Prosperity Agenda, focusing on inclusive growth and jobs via creatives.
Dr. Husseini hailed the film village as a game-changer for film production and tourism, likely attracting investments and strengthening the ecosystem. He also endorsed the endowment’s low 7% interest production loans (up to 18-month repayment) as vital financing for artists. NFVCB pledged technical aid, regulatory support, and collaboration to foster ethical storytelling, heritage preservation, and creative industry growth.
