By Stanley Nwanosike
Enugu – A Nollywood Film Producer, Ikenna Kizito-Lyida, has called on the Federal and state governments to use movies to promote the nation’s positive values and rich cultural heritage.
Kizito-Lyida, popularly called Kizito, made the call on Friday in Enugu in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He said that government at all levels could sponsor movies which highlight the country’s positive values to sway and re-engineer the mind-set of the people for the better.
Kizito said the film industry had lasting influence on Nigerians, especially the younger generation who make up the bulk of the population.
“Movies or films tell the Nigerian story better to the outside world.
“It could paint positive picture of cultural heritage peculiar to a state to the outside World, Nigerians in the Diaspora or even people lacking understanding of our cultural heritage,’’ he said.
Kizito said that government at all levels could look at story-lines of movies that promote popular and positive ideologies such as “peace and oneness’’ and sponsor such movies.
“It could be on various inter-cultural engagements like marriages, festivals, education and friendship among others,’’ he said.
Kizito said the government could create enabling environment for film production to thrive by earmarking land for movie/film shooting, as well as sensitising communities to cooperate with film producers.
Kizito recalled how a previous administration in Delta appealed and prevailed on hoteliers in the state to give 50 per cent rebate to all film producers and actors, using the state for their shooting.
“Other state governments could copy from this and create jobs and promote cultural heritage popular in their states.
“A situation where a film producer set up his or her props (stage) for shooting and be confronted with community youths (popularly called area boys) demanding for monetary settlement, is not encouraging.
“These community boys demand so much as settlement that most times it discourages the film producer from shooting his or her film in a given community,’’ Kizito said. (NAN)