Lagos Graduates 372 Film Producers, Backs Them with N1bn Creative Fund

Dike Onwuamaeze

The Lagos State Government, in collaboration with the Ebony Life Creative Academy (ELCA), has trained and graduated 372 students in 2021 in cinematography and the art of film production.

The students were fully sponsored by the Lagos State Government, which also set aside N1 billion that could be accessed by the grandaunts to producing their own films and establish themselves in the industry.

Speaking during the recent graduation ceremony of the students, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Solomon Saanu Bonu, said that Sanwo-Olu is highly interested in this project because the fifth pillar of his administration’s agenda is entertainment.

Bonu said: “The students graduating today from the Ebony Life Creative Academy were proudly sponsored by Lags State Creative Industry Initiative (LCII). This is a programme the governor of Lagos State is using to look into the future of the youths in Lagos State without discrimination on the basis of their state of origin just to make sure that their future is secured.

“They decided to go into film making and the governor graciously approved that. They have gotten a platform now and should use it judiciously. Moreover, the governor has set aside N1 billion for them to access to establish themselves in the film industry.”

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Lagos State, Ms. Adenike Adedoyin-Ajayi, said that the determination of the students to endure the rigours of the training has shown that they would break even in their chosen area of interest.

She said: “Let me congratulate you and inform you that you are on the right part and in the right industry. The value chain in the industry is about 175, which is 175 opening for you in any area of your specialisation.

“Lagos State is not just the hub of economic activities in this country; it is also its soul of entertainment activities. The partnership of the Lagos State Government with the Ebonylife is to give you the leverage to succeed in this field.

“We are not stopping only at training you. We also have plans to support your dreams and help to nurture your creative ideas so that they can come to reality. The Governor in demonstration of his love for this industry recently approved a (N1 billion) special fund for this industry. You grandaunt’s are qualified for these special fund.”

The Head of the Ebonylife Academy, Mr. Theart Korsten, said that the students were trained in all processes of film making that would enable them to produce their own films.

The students, according to Korsten, were trained in screen writing, narrating course, cinematography, film producing, directing, acting class, post-production audio class, post-production sound class. These are the eight courses that we have at the school.

“Students that have projects can present them to Lagos State to access the N1 billion funding. It is really interesting, from industry point view, for Lagos State to get creativity booming in the state.”

One of the Grandaunts, Ms. Taiwo Omotosho, told THISDAY that her class produced four films during their training.

“The expectation is that we will be able to work on our own to produce more movies because the creative industry needs people like us who can bring new contents rather than recycling old ones. And I am very sure that this set is going to make the academy and Nigeria proud,” she said.