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THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 28, 2012
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VICTOR AKANDE E-mail: victor_akande@yahoo.com Tel: 08077408676 (SMS only)
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NEXIM is ready for Nollywood!
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N May 15, 2010, my article on this page dwelled on the effort by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) to develop the non-oil sector of the economy. And having realised how much the American, UK and Indian film industries contribute to their economies, the Nigerian motion picture industry was considered viable enough as one of the nation's export that needed to be well harnessed. The agony of Nollywood, a supposedly multi-billion naira industry, is like a derailed train which continues to attract the interest of the people who desire not just to get it back on track but also canvass urgent rescue operations. In that month of May 2010, the NEPC initiated a conscious campaign in the three major zones of the country through workshops that sought to collaborate with industry stakeholders to reposition the movie and music industry. The World Bank appeared to be the biggest ally in that attempt, but two years down the line, the story remains the same. The implication is that the agonies of filmmakers who believed that the NEPC's intervention may just put their woes to rest remain if not worse than ever. "Pure water is more expensive than Nollywood movies. I have done over 150 films and cannot afford a new car or house of my own. We can't shy away from global trends. My stand is on behalf of every other impoverished director. We stand for anything than can rescue us," said Lancelot Imasuen, a notable filmmaker, whose film Adesuwa won the Best Nigerian Film in this year's edition of Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) which held in Lagos last weekend. The president's announcement of a USD200 million intervention fund for the entertainment industry in 2011 opened another book of hope. Although in some quarters, including my humble self, it was received with mixed feelings, especially since the statement came during the electioneering campaign for the presidency of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. I had described jubilation in some quarter of Nollywood as a dance off-key. But true to the president's promise, NEXIM Bank, one of the custodians of the fund has began disbursement, with the first beneficiary being Black Ivory Communications, producers of Tony Abulu's film entitled Doctor Bello. "Ladies and gentlemen, in fulfilment of our mandate as the only statutory agency responsible for the promotion of non-oil export, we have identified entertainment (movies and music) as part of the five priority sectors for promotion under the services sub-sector." I love these lines from the NEPC's CEO, Mr. David Adulugba at the Lagos opening of the workshop series on May 14, 2010. But for whatever reason, that mandate did not come to fruition.
One institution has however taken the risk associated with funding an industry that has little or no structure -NEXIM, the Nigerian Export-Import Bank headed by Mr. Roberts Orya. The bank's mandate is to fund indigenous products for external markets; thus to ensure that it is no longer business as usual, Orya is determined to support properly constituted and duly registered corporate entities with satisfactory film business antecedents, evidence of feasible distribution outlets and verifiable financial records. Thus, Americabased Nigerian filmmaker, Tony Abulu becomes the first man to access the fund which many thought was a fluke. Now that the disbursement process has begun, it is not unlikely that every Tom Dick and Harry would want to start putting up a hurried proposal, just so the national cake will not finish. This is where I think they will start to fail, because the fund, I am meant to believe is not a national cake for all. The bank needs return on investment. Tony Abulu has been able to win because he has the US,
The agony of Nollywood, a supposedly multibillion naira industry, is like a derailed train which continues to attract the interest of the people who desire not just to get it back on track but also canvass urgent rescue operations UK and African market, judging by the success of his previous films; Back to Africa, American Dream and Crazy Like a fox. A filmmaker who depends on the home video outlets that is currently being dominated by Alaba Market pirates would never get the fund. The memory of Dove Media and Ecobank's crashed investment on Nollywood is still fresh in the minds of many corporate bodies. Roberts Orya may not be totally opposed to risk taking as a business man, but he is certainly not going to take a blind risk. Because for sure, if Doctor Bello and many like it succeed, Orya will be proud to beat his chest before the federal government and say this is possible. When this happens, there is no doubt that more fund will come in. Indeed, Orya is courageous to have blazed the trail. There is no doubt that the bank of Industry (BoI) will follow suit with domestic investment on Nollywood, but even BoI needs to be very wise in the process. There will be noise and discordant tunes, but a business man must remain astute. I would like to, for the umpteenth
time refer to the submission of Agape Solicitors, a group of solicitors from the United Kingdom who recently visited the country. The group stated that Nollywood loses no less than 800 million US Dollars yearly due to lack of proper distribution framework of Nigerian films in the United Kingdom. I recall that it is against this backdrop that the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) initiated a distribution framework that will not only reduce the incidence of piracy but also ensure returns on investment. The Censors Board should begin to harmonise its plan with this fund, most especially with the Bank of Industry, since going by Orya's mandate, NEXIM is meant to fund the Export end of the Nigerian entertainment industry, under which Tony Abulu's much desired Hollywood/Nollywood collaboration falls. Although the NEPC put the worth of the industry at 200 million dollars; a far cry from the Agape Solicitor's 800 million dollars worth of Nollywood, just for the UK market as at 2006. Perhaps, the 200 million dollars is the return on investment that the industry gets and not its actual worth; or should we say that the industry's worth has dropped because of the reduced number of films produced from 2007 to date? However, if what the industry loses is 800 million dollars according to Agape and what comes in is 200 million dollars according to the NEPC, then it is at least logical to say that the industry is worth a billion dollars per year. Whichever way we choose to look at it, it is encouraging that the NEPC recognises the fact that the industry is the second largest employer of labour in the country, going by UNESCO's report that over 200, 000 people are employed directly, while over a million are engaged indirectly. Orya said his bank's support is for full exploitation of the benefits accruable to the pool of creative talent through the monetization of their intellectual properties. He noted that with the global film entertainment market generating over US$86 billion in revenues in 2010 and with revenue streams largely from box office collections, it is pertinent that Nollywood begins to adopt strategies to participate in the global market space. Even though Nigeria is prolific in film production and with high expertise in low-budget film production, there is also need to locally enhance theatrical receipts and collections. The Indian Film industry, he said generated over US$1.9 billion revenues in 2011 with box office contributing about 79% of the share of revenue streams from over Indian 13,000 screens (Multiplexes / single screens). 70% of the revenues were generated locally with the 9% from foreign markets. Unlike the Nigerian market, Home video (VCDs, DVDs and Blu-ray Discs (BD) contributes only about 6% of these revenues.
WRITE TO US! Do you watch Nollywood movies? What do you think of the Nigerian motion picture industry? Send your review of any movie or short essay on any topic of your choice about the film industry in not more than 200 words. Send entries by e-mail to: victor_akande@yahoo.com or SMS your short comments to 08077408676
SNAPSHOTS
Rita Dominic dazzles at AMAA Awards!
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OLLYWOOD actress and current AMAA's Best Actress in a Leading Role, Rita Dominic was the cynosure of all eyes at the 8th edition of the Africa Movie Academy Awards held last Sunday at the Expo Hall of Eko Hotel and Suits, Lagos. Known for her impeccable dress sense, those who graced the occasion will tell you that she could have also clinched the Award for the Best Dressed Celebrity for the night because she was looking absolutely stunning. The icing on the cake however was when the actress and Glo Ambassador gave her speech after she had been presented
with the prestigious laurel on the continent of Africa; the AMAA Awards. “I didn't see this coming. I thank the jury for this great award. I thank the producer of the movie Shattered. I thank my colleagues, friends most especially my late parents who sent me through school to become what I am today. I thank my siblings for their support. They've been wonderful. And Kate, I thank you so much. I appreciate you all”. After her speech, everyone was full of admiration for this diva clad in a beautiful pink evening tube dress. The cameramen slugged it out downstage, as each of them struggled to get the best shot of the actress.
Eucharia Anunobi in Police Command…
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POTTED a few days ago at the Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja was Nollywood actress and newly ordained minister, Eucharia Anunobi. Astonished to see the star, this reporter accosted her but contrary to what many would think, she was not arrested by the police neither did she have any allegations to answer to. According to the thespian who reveals she was on a courtesy visit to the Commission of Police, Lagos State Police Command, Mr. Umar Abubakar Manko, “As a resident and citizen of Lagos State, I have decided to pay this
August visit to the new Commissioner of Police and his entire team, first to welcome him as a Commissioner in charge of policing the citizens of the State and secondly, to give myself and my services for use in any area that your office may deem fit both in my capacity as an actress and also an a minister of God”. A security Ambassador for the Nigerian Army, Eucharia was also seen inviting the Commissioner and his team to her programme, “God's Glamour Girls” which involves some well known Nollywood members like Stella Damasus and Oyeka Onwenu.