DG ART AND CULTURE MEET AND GREET WITH NOLLYWOOD NORTHERN EXCO

DG ART AND CULTURE PLATEAU STATE MEET AND GREET WITH NAN NORTHERN EXCO.

"We're equipping the Plateau with a state of the art indoor theatre so that creatives who utilise the space and its potential can comfortably be Major Competitors On the Global Stage"

** Says the art and culture foresight is a bold response to unemployment, poverty, other barriers to nation's progress **

Dr Ephraim Dankyes, the Director General of the Plateau state council of Art and Culture on Tuesday 9th of September 2025  in Jos plateau state affirmed his office's resolve to equip the creatives on the Plateau with the required environment that would enable them to compete effectively as key players on the global stage.

He listed areas in which the Governor Barrister Caleb Mutfwang administration intends to empower the cultural and artistic population to include a state of the art theatrical facility, technical desirables, entrepreneurship and the creative industries, even as he pointed out that the success of the Plateau becomes realistic "when its children go to bed guaranteed of their place in the changing world."

The Director-General who stated this when the northern national exco visited his office, noted that as a spectacular people, Plateau State is set and ready to take its place as one of the most creatively dynamic populations not just in Nigeria, but in the world.

The northern exco of the Nollywood Artistes Association of Nigeria led by Amb Hoom Suk Alex Jibrin in the presence of: Emmanuel Onu (Sergeant At Arms), Fredah Ibrahim (Secretary General) and Nankyer Jatau Hosea (Director of Socials) observed that such trajectory from the council is an invitation to rise to the challenge of Plateau state’s projection to be a key entertainment epicenter in Nigeria with an overwhelming majority of our citizens and creatives under the age of 21 creating and making value for money.

The Luka Bentu Indoor Theatre, according to Dr Ephraim Dankyes, will focus on three critical areas namely education and skills development, creative empowerment, and community and cultural engagement.

"Through world-class training in digital literacy, technical skills, entrepreneurship, and the creative industries, we will ensure that our youth are equipped to package, promote, market and value the diversity of cultural music on the Plateau to the global stage amongst other incentives.

"Initiatives are underway to support, mentor and to resource young entrepreneurs as well as creatives, while the establishment of value added exposure to opportunities will ensure access to the capital needed to turn ideas into thriving network of links," he declared.

Dr Ephraim Dankyes explained that the present refurbishment of the Luka Bentu Indoor Theatre is a bold response to Plateau state's human capital index ranking, unemployment and other barriers to the state's progress, assuring that on or before next two years, the Luka Bentu Indoor Theatre "will entertain, outsource and empower millions of young Nigerians.

"This is not just an investment for now; it is an investment in the future of our people and our nation".

He continued: "Yet, we must acknowledge the challenges that persist that present critical barriers to progress. These barriers reflect lives disrupted, dreams deferred, and futures left uncertain. The Luka Bentu Indoor Theatre and its theatre for development startegies will be our commitment to changing this narrative in the communities we shall take our entertainment to where real change is felt."

Also, the Sergeant At Arms of the Nollywood Artistes Association of Nigeria in person of Mr. Emmanuel Onu congratulated the Director General of the Council of Arts and Culture for a start-up in the right direction and organising the festival of arts scheduled for November to help associations affiliated to stage to screen endeavour to implement their potentials through the indoor theatre as self-employed and skilled youth.

The Director of Socials in person of Amb Nankyer Jatau Hosea also appreciated the operations of the office of the director general of the council of Art and Culture speaking directly to the aspirations of over 2 million plateau youths from the ages of 18 and 35 within the state's borders and across the diaspora who are hungry for knowledge, entertainment and opportunity that his office is providing.

“We know that creatives and their skills are the real currency of today’s global digital economy and that is why the indoor theatre is so important to the activities of the Nollywood Artistes Association. It is a launch pad for a new generation of Nigerian entrepreneurs, creators, professionals, and founders who can reach out all over the world comfortably seated from the indoor theatre Amb Hoom Suk Alex Jibrin, the national northern coordinator of the association stated.

The secretary general of the Nollywood Artistes Association, Fredah Ibrahim ended the meeting with a word of prayer and bid the working relationship of the  council with the creative sector to succeed beyond the nation's wildest immigration and beyond the expectations of detractors. 

Nollywood Artistes Media & Communications

(Office of The National Northern Coordinator NAN)

9th September, 2025

COPYRIGHT © NOLLYWOOD ARTISTES ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA NORTHERN OFFICE OF THE NORTHERN COORDINATOR

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED...NAN 2025 

KADIFF SHOWCASES AND HONOURS INDUSTRY ICONS

Kaduna International Film Festival Showcases Global Talent, Honours Industry Icons.
By Nollywood Center Kaduna | August 30, 2025

The Executive Director of KADIFF and Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Film Festivals Association, Audu Israel, who spoke on Saturday, August 30, 2025, during the closing ceremony of the 8th Kaduna International Film Festival (KADIFF), said the creative sector has the potential to generate billions of naira in revenue and create millions of jobs for Nigerians.

Represented by the State Commissioner of Youth, Art and Culture, Gloria Ibrahim, the Deputy Governor urged investors to tap into Kaduna’s fertile creative landscape.

“Film is not just a medium of entertainment but speaks to the conscience of people, shaping values, inspiring, and educating society. Our film and music industry contributes over ₦1.3 trillion to Nigeria’s GDP and employs more than 4.2 million Nigerians. These are not just numbers; they represent lives being touched, jobs being created, and communities lifted,” she said.

She stressed that the Uba Sani administration is committed to supporting the creative sector as part of its wider strategy to empower youth, stimulate tourism, and open doors for entrepreneurship.

Earlier, Audu Israel, revealed that more than 2,000 films were submitted from 50 countries including the United States, France, India, and Uganda. Out of these, 168 films were shortlisted by a nine-member jury for screening.

Israel noted that the volume of entries underscores the global acceptance of Nigeria’s creative industry. He added that this year’s edition also featured a skill acquisition programme that trained 200 youths in areas such as:
●Pizza,
●Yoghurt,
●Custard,
●Paint making, and
●Palm oil processing, with starter packs provided to participants.

As part of the festival highlights, merit awards were presented to former givernor of Kaduna State Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and to outstanding contributors to the film industry. Honorees included: 

☆Amb. Hoom Suk Alex Jibrin (DGN) from Jos, ☆Princess Farida Ndausi from Uganda, ☆kannywood's Hamza Talle-Maifata,

 ☆Amb. Stepnora Okere from Abuja, and

☆ film director Toka Mcbaror, alongside other notable awardees from across the African continent whose works were showcased during the screenings. 

In addition, Ugandan filmmaker Ayeny T. Steve continued to raise the flag high with his Nigerian-directed project Offshoot, which scooped two major wins:

Best Director – Steve Ayeny (Offshoot, Nigeria)

Viewers’ Choice Best Film – Offshoot (Nigeria) by Steve Ayeny

The five-day festival, which ran from August 26th to 30th 2025 ended with renewed calls for more investment in the Nigerian creative industry to boost its international competitiveness.