The motion picture industry in Nigeria, otherwise known as Nollywood, recently added a new feather to its cap with the establishment of Project Nollywood. The new production outfit is fashioned after top-notch production company Dream Works SKG, owned by Steven Spielberg, Jeffery Katzenberg and David Gaffen, all leading moviemakers in Hollywood.

And as a formidable movie company charged with the vision of producing quality Nollywood movies, the quartet behind the outfit, namely: Chico Ejiro, Fidelis Duker, Charles Novia and Fred Amata, recently received the support of Ecobank Plc, which promised to finance four chartbusters by the group.

The movies which are expected to hit shelves soon in Nigeria and other African countries include, Caught In The Middle, a romantic comedy, 100 Days In The Jungle, an action packed adventure, Senseless, a gripping drama full of suspense and Letter To A Stranger, a fascinating yet intriguing romantic drama.

Speaking on their historic partnership with Ecobank at a recent parley, Duker said it was in line with the bank's renewed vision of investing heavily in the entertainment sector and its firm belief in the fast growing Nollywood, already ranked third globally and first on the African continent.

"These movies will give birth to a multi-million naira distribution network solely financed by Ecobank with over 2,000 staff strength employed and ready to market these movies across the length and breadth of Nigeria and beyond. It is projected that within the first six months of release, the movies will hit over five million copies thus making up for Nigeria which promises to take about 70 percent", he disclosed

While shedding more light on the partnership, Ejiro hinted that Ecobank equally approved and funded the business plan for Project Nollywood, aside making available millions of naira for the production and worldwide distribution of the four movies. "Ecobank believes that only banks can jumpstart the potentials of Nollywood, as can be seen from the multi-billion dollar Hollywood in America, which is massively backed by American banks. They have pledged to continue to support Nollywood as well as other areas of the entertainment industry," he added.

Also, Novia, another producer, said it was the first time in the annals of the Nigerian motion picture that four top producers would agree to come together and form a vibrant entertainment company. "I want to re-state it here that ours is a company with the sole aim of producing quality Nollywood movies that would give maximum entertainment and enjoyment.”

These four movies would be elaborately premiered and launched before being released into the markets both nationally and internationally. We are proud to be associated with this epoch-making venture and we want more of such from other corporate bodies," Novia pleaded.