By Aina Rebecca (Siwes student, OGITECH)
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State envisions Benin City as the epicenter of creativity within the next 5 to 7 years.
This proclamation was made during the 2023 Edo State International Film Festival board discussion titled Aggregation of films and culture: Edo State as a case to resolve.
The discussion, led by Victor Aghahowa from Multichoice West Africa, featured prominent panelists, including Governor Obaseki, Olubukola Oloyede of SONY Nigeria, Edu Okeke of Azure Edo, Alhaji Adedayo Thomas of the Censors Board, and Mary Njoku, founder/CEO of ROK Studios.
Addressing the question of Edo’s keen interest in film, Governor Obaseki emphasized the innate creativity of the Edo people.
He highlighted the need to support the flourishing creative sector and underscored the state’s commitment to providing facilities and equipment.
The Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub, a converted printing warehouse, symbolizes the government’s dedication to fostering artistic innovation.
Governor Obaseki emphasized Benin City’s unique advantage in power generation, foreseeing its rise as a creative hub backed by a 24/7 power supply.
The director-general of the Censors Board, Alhaji Adedayo Thomas, commended Edo as the only state initiating a film festival, emphasizing the importance of sustaining the Edo State International Film Festival.
Edu Okeke, Managing Director of Azura Edo, stressed the critical role of power in national development, lamenting Nigeria’s reliance on individual power generation.
