Nollywood: Delta State to replicate Universal Studios in Asaba


BY TONY OGAGA EHRARIEFE
Nollywood is poised for transformation as the governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has disclosed plans by the state to set up a world class film village in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

Commenting, the state’s Chief Execu­tive Officer said the move was consistent with the state’s vision of building human capital in the state.

“The construction of the film village is in line with my administration’s hu­man capital development program and it would serve as encouragement and a spring board for the Nigerian motion picture industry and will help market Nigeria to the world,” Uduaghan said, during a courtesy visit paid him by veteran movie maker, Eddie Ugboma, at Government House, Asaba.

“Nollywood is playing a key role in Nigeria as far as entertainment is concerned. Most of the thespians in the country are from Delta State or have links to the state. Delta State has remained Nigeria’s entertainment hub and a choice destination for the motion picture industry. The film village has the potential to transform Delta State and indeed Nigeria by making it the Mecca of movie makers in Africa and beyond.”

Commenting on the potentials of the industry to transform the Nigerian econ­omy, Uduaghan continued: “Though we are an oil producing state, we are using the oil money to develop other sectors like tourism and agriculture because an oil economy is not sustainable; this is in line with the state’s Beyond The Oil project which seeks to diversify the economy.”

Uduaghan also added that the state will assist the veteran film maker for the celebration of his 74th birthday and 50th anniversary celebrations which will hold on December 19 through December 21. While Delta State will provide land for the project, it is being bankrolled by an American consortium. When finished, it would be in the class of Universal Studios, one of the biggest film villages in the world.