This is unedited text of President Goodluck Jonathan’s
speech during the premiere of the movie ‘The Meeting’ last Friday October 19, 2012
at the Oriental Hotel in Lagos. The remarks of His Excellency, President
Jonathan at the premiere, as delivered by the Nigerian Minister of Petroleum
Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke.
REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PRESIDENT GOODLUCK EBELE
JONATHAN, GCFR, ON THE OCCASION OF THE PREMIERE OF A NOLLYWOOD FILM ‘THE
MEETING’, IN LAGOS, ON FRIDAY, 19TH OCTOBER, 2012 PROTOCOLS
1. Let me begin by thanking The Audrey Silva Company,
Rita Dominic, Mildred Okwo and the entire team for the fantastic work you have
done with The Meeting, which we have just seen. This movie will be much talked
about in our country and our continent in the weeks ahead.
2. What you have done with The Meeting, reaffirms an
indigenous progression in the movie industry that continues to inspire hope and
helps to set agenda for our arrival as a nation of great reckoning.
3. This year, Africa’s global brand, Nollywood
celebrates 20 years of an incredible run. From humble beginnings it is now
described as more prolific than Hollywood, and forecasts and projections on the
Nigerian economy are not complete without an exhaustive analysis on the
Nollywood effect!
4. No one can challenge that Nollywood stars are now
household names in our country and undeniably also,are mega stars in Africa.
This has not come easy and it was not the handwork of government.
5. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, Nollywood’s rise
is an exemplar of the power of Nigerian entrepreneurship. I believe that the
future of our country will be dependent on the pool of talented human resources
we are able to nurture and deploy to good use
6. It bears reiterating that the wealth of our country
is not in the oil or other mineral or forest resources, but in the creative
ability and talents of our people. In the creative industry therefore lies some
of our finest examples of the can-do-spirit of Nigerians.
According to The Economist:
7. “Kenneth Nnebue, a Nigerian trader based in Onitsha,
was trying to sell a large stock of blank videocassettes he had bought from
Taiwan. He decided that they would sell better with something recorded on them,
so he shot a film called “Living in Bondage” about a man who achieves power and
wealth by killing his wife in a ritualistic murder, only to repent later when
she haunts him. The film sold more than 750,000 copies, and prompted legions of
imitators”.
8. This story as narrated by the economist is not just
the story of the humble beginning of Nollywood.It is the story of how Nigeria
has come to be a major force in the African economy through hard work and
creativity. All over Africa, Nigerians are doing business and adding value to
their host societies and expanding and deepening the frontiers of continental
solidarity.
9. We must celebrate Nollywood not just because of its
great work in promoting our culture, but also on its contributions in the
development of our country. The economic outputof Nollywood is incredible,
especially in the area of employment generation, youth empowerment and wealth
creation.
10. Nollywood has the potential to employ more people
and grow the Nigeria economy even further if some of the fundamental funding
problems are dealt with. In 2010, we midwifed a two hundred million dollars
soft loan via the Nexim and BOI to help deal with the obstacles that prevent
the growth of this industry such as Piracy, Venture capital, a proper marketing
and distribution network, the capacity building of filmmaker so as to improve
quality and better production practices.
11. I have received reports of difficulties by
enterprising members of the creative industry in accessing this fund.While we
are working to put in place an effective framework to ease the bottlenecks in
accessing this facility, I recently directed the Coordinating Minister of the
Economy to create a new window under the YOUWIN Programme to allow in a
short-term basis, some quick funds to support members of the creative industry.
This stream of support will follow shortly.
12. I have maintained a candid and deep interest in
Nollywod and I will continue to support its growth. In 2008Through The Glass
premiered at the Pacific Design Center Los Angeles on the 18th of October, and
because of my commitment to the industry I was represented and gave what
encouragement I could to the producers of the movie.
13. Three years earlier in 2005 while serving as Deputy
Govenor of Bayelsa State, we supported the establishment of the first major
reward system for African Film Makers, the African Movie Academy Award (AMAA)
and today after 8 years it is Africa’s most prestigious award for filmmakers on
the continent. Nigeria cannot afford to take a back seat in this very important
enterprise. As a government, we will do all we can to support this industry.
14. In closing, let me also join you in remembering
Audrey Hepburn who inspired The Audrey Silva Company but is no more and also to
recognize Joke Silva a living legend for being an inspiration to you and many
in the industry particularly among the women.
15. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, my wish is that
this film will further inspire the industry to continue to grow from strength
to strength. It is clear for all to see that in her march to greatness, our
country Nigeria is unstoppable.
16. I thank you and do have a great evening.
Watch the movie trailer
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