Anti-Piracy: Union Bank, Spring Bank Partner Nollywood
At last the much hyped Association of Movie Producers week has come and gone but not without leaving some positive indelible mark. The pre-event was a colorful road show that was held around Surulere on Monday 24th November 2008. Nollywood producers such as Norbert Ajaegbu, Zack Orji, Franka Brown, Sam Azubuike, Stanley Okoronkwo, Emeka Rollas, Chinasa Onyechere, Sam Azubuike, Emem Isong, Paul Obazele and others with masses of supporters came out en mass from Winnies Hotel were they converged, and trekked all the way to the National Theatre with yellow T-shirts, trains and drums. The banners were ascribed with bold lettering of NO MORE PIRACY.
It was glaring from the producers’ view, that piracy is one big major problem that producers face and the AMP week is an avenue of addressing this problem. One renowned producer Mr. Okechukwu Ogunjiofor who produced the first Nollywood film were he acted as Paulo, had expressed his distaste of piracy. According to him, piracy was what pushed him into the production of TV Soaps instead of producing home movies.
The producer of popular TV soaps such as Cyberia and rough edges lamented that, “From 2002 to 2003 when I saw the danger that the movie industry was heading into. Whereby I will make movies that are hit yet I would not get my money yet the once who are selling the movies are riding cars and building houses made me move on to TV series”. This problem of piracy as well as other topics such as Branding, Banking were well expounded at the seminar which started on the 26th at Hall 2 of the National Theatre.
The key note address was given by the first lady of Lagos State her Excellency Emmanuela B. Fashola. The first lady expressed her support and commitment to the association stating her zeal to partner with Nollywood the greatest and biggest African phenomenon. Explaining more on the theme of the event, Mr. Paul Obazele AMP president stated that Nollywood contributes largely to the nation’s wealth. “The industry not only provides wealth but also gives employment to large number of youths. But the government has not been too supportive despite the viability of the industry. Government should know that movie is the propaganda that America has been using to paint a good picture of their country.
Let the government come in let us paint this picture of a beautiful Nigeria for them, let us look at the situation were we can turn Nigeria into a tourist destination. Over the years, the nation has been plagued with so many things; as a lying nation, as a nation of 419, drugs and so many other things. But the film industry came and turned the perception of the world about Nigeria. So we are saying that it is now time for the Government to come and partner with us. It is time for the government to tell the world how good our military is, how strong our police is, how good our oil is, how good our government is…”
Still on the event, Mr. Zack Orji the president of the planning committee spoke on the need for government to partner with nollywood. Mr. Zack, Franka Brown as well as other top notch Nollywood actors showed their commitment to Nollywood throughout the week and especially at the rally were they trailed, some on legs, others in their cars at the streets of Surulere amidst the sun for four hours in their yellow t-shirts.
Some of the special guests of honours at the week long seminar included her Excellency Mrs. Onari Duke (former river state first lady), Senator Ita Giwa, Hon Ben Chuks Nwosu (former speaker Anambra State House of Assembly), Peace Fiberesima (CEO AMAA), Madu Chikwendu, Opa Williams, Zeb Ejiro, Zik Zulu Okafor, Mr. Okechukwu Ogunjiofor and many others.
The highlight of the occasion was when Union Bank listed out their partnership plans with Nollywood. The deed was a one billion Naira movie package to the association. Spring Bank also came up with the same one billion Naira movie partnership packages which started a beehive of excitement in the hall.
Top actress, Stepanie Okereke came all the way from Los Angeles for the event. The award winning actress spoke on her new film ‘True The Glass’ which is already making waves in America and the need to celebrate Africa through their films. She also expressed her commitment to the association and Nollywood at large.
The event ended with a dinner party and an award night at Terra Kulture in Victoria Island which also witnessed a whole lot of the cream-de-la-cream of the society. Indeed, the Nollywood event is the first of its kind by the association of movie producers and was massively supported by huge corporate bodies such as Union Bank, Sky Media, Zoom mobile, Spring Bank, Unity Bank, Chisco Motors, Adic Insurance, Haier-Thermocool, Atlantic overseas, so-safe waters, Pharmetex Nigeria Ltd, AMAA, Ali Baba, Julius Agwu, The Nigerian police and others.