Promote Rivers as Nigeria’s investors’ destination – Wike tells moviemakers

Apparently having provided a good host to African movie actors, producers, creative writers and directors, who gathered in Port Harcourt at the weekend for this year’s annual African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has asked the motion picture personalities to promote the state as a credible investors’ destination in Africa, with attendant economic benefits.

It would be the first time the prestigious African movie awards was coming to the Nigerian oil capital.

The highly elated Wike, while declaring open the 12 edition of AMAA in Port Harcourt on Saturday night, said the array of mega-stars, international journalists, businessmen and Federal Government officials, have seen first hand that Rivers State was safe for investments, contrary to what he termed were sponsored negative media reports to the contrary.

“We have tackled insecurity with decisive steps in conjunction with the nation’s security agencies, so much so that Rivers State has now become one of the safest places to visit, live and do business in the country. As a result, we have been hosting several local and national events to the joy and applaud of the organizers, participants and visitors.

“For instance, three weeks ago, we successfully hosted the National Convention of the People’s Democratic Party – Nigeria’s current leading opposition party, with delegates from the 36 states and other local and international observers. Today, we are hosting AMAA. In the next couple of weeks, we shall be hosting the national conferences of the Magistrates Association of Nigeria (MAN) and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

“We have received several delegations from foreign missions in Nigeria and international organisations at bilateral and multilateral levels,“ Governor Wike said, amid applauds from the movie acts.

Highpoint of the 2016 AMAA was the conferment of Lifetime Achievement Awards to Joke Silva, her husband, Olu Jacobs, Tony Akposhere and Richard Mofe-Damijo – all A-rated acts in Nigeria’s movie industry, otherwise called Nollywood.

According to governor Wike, the latest successful hosting by the state “show that our efforts to improve local security are yielding the desired results as Rivers State has, once again, resumed its position as a destination of choice to both local and foreign direct investments.”

He went on to assure that his administration was determined to leverage on its current review to position the State, also called ‘Treasure Base of the Nation’ on the tourism world map.

“As a Government, it is our pleasure to be the hosts of this year’s AMAA presentations. Apart from its intrinsic value, the event has rekindled important social and economic benefits to the State. Accordingly, we are utilising this opportunity as a platform to showcase the business and tourism potentials of the State to the world.  We invite AMAA and our visitors to tell the story of Rivers State to the investing public at local and international levels,” he said.

The governor outlined what he called profits available to would-be investors to the state, to include enjoying good investment returns from a strategic location.

“Rivers State occupies a strategic place in the economy of Nigeria. It is the epicentre of the hydrocarbon industry, and the nation’s second largest economic unit. Port Harcourt remains a leading commercial enclave and one of the fastest growing cities in Africa,“ Governor Wike stated.

He described AMAA as Africa’s most prestigious motion picture award; while congratulating the winners of the different categories of awards. He urged them to continue to promote quality movies across the continent.

The governor led other dignitaries to present awards to winners. Other prominent Nigerians who presented awards include: David Mark, former Senate president, Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, wife of the Rivers State Governor, Suzzette Eberechi Nyesom-Wike, the deputy governor, Ipalibo Harry Banigo and former governor of the state, Celestine Omehia.

Top Nigerian musicians, Harry Song, KCEE and Yinka Davies thrilled the audience at the awards ceremony.