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May 6, 2021

“It is a Privilege to Serve Lagos Again” Kunle Afolayan

There’s a new team in Lagos and they are out to jump-start the transformation of the Entertainment and Tourism sector in Nigeria. 

Following the disruption caused by the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) which impacted negatively on the entertainment and tourism sector, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu introduced an intervention project designed to fund talent development and creativity in the entertainment industry. 

To execute this project, a committee was inaugurated on the 5th of May, 2021 to drive the film tourism in Lagos and fund the youth creativity and entertainment activities. This committee comprised of five industry practitioners and four government officials.  

The industry veterans in the committee include multi-award-winning director and producer, Mr. Kunle Afolayan; ace cinematographer, Tunde Kelani; the film and television producer, Mo Abudu; Mrs. Peace Anyim-Osigwe and Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD) who was selected as the chairman of the nine-member committee chosen to drive the governor’s vision. 

The Government officials included in the committee are Adebukola Agbaminoja, Ferdinand Tinubu, Taju Olajumoke, and Mrs. Funke Avoseh (Secretary).

As a strong player in raising the capacity and enabling the development of the creative space in Nigeria, Mr. Afolayan has served as a member of diverse boards to enhance the industrial potential in Nigeria. Such boards include the Board of the Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture during Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode’s tenure, The board of the recently dissolved Lagos State Basketball Association, the Advisory Board of Bank of Industry (BOI), a member of the Advisory Group in Technology and Creativity, as well as an advisor to many other private organizations including being among the committee on the recent intervention project orchestrated by the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Kunle Afolayan during the inauguration of the Board of the Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture
Kunle Afolayan at the inauguration of the board of the recently dissolved Lagos State Basketball Association.

This intervention project is to support the creative ideas of movie and entertainment producers who are constrained by funds to bring their concepts into reality. Applicants are to be supported with funding based on the financial plans of their projects. The grant may be as much as N40 million for each beneficiary. The goal is to leverage idea and talent development to transform Nollywood into a brand that would compete favorably with advanced film industries, such as America’s Hollywood and India’s Bollywood

The committee has been given the authority to disburse the support grants to movie producers who have fresh ideas and those whose stories are yet to be completed. The Lagos State Governor charged the committee to work out its engagement modalities and administrative responsibility of selecting the beneficiaries of the scheme.

This intervention will enable the creative space in Lagos to further retain its position as the hub of filmmaking in Nigeria. And as a member of the committee on this project, we will ensure that this scheme is maximized to the fullest. 

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