Nollywood stars visit Asaba film village, commend governor Okowa

TRACKING___The leadership of the Association of Movie Producers of Nigeria (AMP) has commended Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s quest to build a world class film village in Asaba, Delta State, even as contractors handling the project, which comes with Leisure Center, assures of February 2021 delivery date.

AMP members, who were in the state for their yearly general meeting yesterday said they were on a courtesy call on the Governor to express appreciation as he became the first to provide the industry with a well-structured base that can compete with their international counterparts.

Receiving the team, Governor Okowa thanked them for coming back home to contribute to the development of the state, while assuring them that his administration will partner with them to make Delta a tourism destination.

“I express my excitement that you are mainly Deltans because Deltans have done quite a lot in the movie and entertainment industry. “We thank you for returning home to conduct your elections, having contributed a lot to Delta. I am glad that you have gone to the film Village being developed alongside a pleasure park. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the pace with which we intended to work in that and we could have done better than it is now, but hopefully, it will be completed by next year. We are aware that most movies in Nigeria are shot in Delta and Asaba to precise.

“The importance of the entertainment industry in job creation and economic development of Delta State cannot be over emphasised. We will create a functional movie village and with time we will partner with the private sector to manage the film village. I welcome you to Delta and wish you well in your elections,” the Governor said.

President of the group, Ralph Nwadike, in his remark, said the movie producers were delighted with the world-class film village being built in Asaba, adding that Nollywood can now proudly declare Asaba as their home.

“We have been to the Asaba Film Village project and now we can boldly say we have a home and a base here. I am commending you, Mr. Governor with every zeal and zest, because we are indeed coming to the promise land. I say this with all seriousness because wherever we go all over the world as filmmakers, they ask us, ‘where exactly is Nollywood?’ Though Nollywood started from Zeb Ejiro’s office, there’s no place to say this is Nollywood, like they have the Bollywood and Hollywood in India and America. So, Asaba Film Village will be our own Canaanland. It is a promised land, it is not just a Nollywood city, it is a place where we can call home and we are really proud of what Governor Okowa is doing there,” he said.