The entertainment industry in Nigeria has grown to become a cornerstone of Nigeria’s national economy which according to Pricewaterhouse Coopers’ 2016 report employed about a million workers and accounted for about 2.3percent ($600 million) of of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) with over 2500 movies produced annually, Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of Nigerian House of Representatives, has said.
This is just as Minority Leader of the House, Ndudi Elumelu, said Nollywood ranked as the second largest movie industry in the world and the largest in Africa, providing over one million direct employment and much more business openings in the sectoral value chain, within and outside the country.
The duo of Gbajabiamila and Elumelu made the assertions at the opening of a two-day Leadership Master Training for Nollywood Celebrities and Stakeholders in the Movie Industry on Friday at the GOTNI Leadership Centre, Abuja.
The Speaker assured the celebrities and stakeholders that the 9th House of Representatives is ready to develop and advance practical, proposals to advance the cause of the entertainment industry and ensure that the industry continues to contribute to the socio-economic advancement of Nigeria.
Gbajabiamila said with adequate investment, a supportive regulatory environment, better training and capacity development, Nollywood will grow beyond Nigeria’s present dreams and surpass its highest ambitions.
“It falls to all of us, in government, in the private sector and across society to identify the ways we can help the industry reach the heights we all know is possible. Through this event, the GOTNI Leadership Centre is meeting part of the training and capacity development needs of the industry, and I salute their efforts.
“The focus of this Leadership Master Class for Sustainable Creativity and Innovation is apt, particularly at this moment in our national history when the challenges we face require leadership, creativity and innovation in bounds.
“In the last year and a half, because of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the global reduction in economic output, every sector of Nigeria’s economy has experienced a precipitous contraction. The entertainment industry, reliant as it is on shared experiences of cinemas, concerts, award events and other such, has been particularly hard hit”, he stated.
On his part, Elumelu said, though there has been a serious decline from the 2.3% GDP contribution recorded in reports released in 2016, to 0.27 in the first quarter of 2019, with concerted effort and cross fertilization of idea in trainings such as the one held, the industry will surely rebound.
“The movie industry is a critical hub of our national unity. Nigerians are passionate about the movies you produce as it sees their personal and shared challenges, struggles, anxieties, aspirations and achievements in the lives of the characters you aptly portray.
“In the same vein, our movie industry, more than any other social platform, remains critical in molding of character and modeling the trajectory of social preferences and predilections, especially among our youths, women and children.
“Moreover, the outside world sees our nation from the plots, setting and narratives of the movies you produce and make decisions one way or the other from what they watch. It is therefore imperative that we deliberately ensure that the movies we produce project our nation in good light”, he added.
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