President of the Association of Movie Producers in Nigeria Zik Zulu has said that the Nigerian film industry has created over two million jobs in the last two decades.
Zulu, who spoke today in Abuja at an award ceremony for Friends of Nollywood said that the industry had also contributed immensely to the growth of the nation’s economy.
“Today, you have an industry that is worth over two billion dollars, employing over two million Nigerian youths, helping in a way to check the restive situation in the country,” Zulu said.
He said that Nollywood had championed the re-branding of the nation’s image in the international community.
“This is a department of life that has done a lot to change the impression and the image of this country positively,” Zulu said.
He called on government at all levels and the private sector to deepen their supports for the nation’s movie industry.
“I think the federal and state governments, and the private sector in Nigeria have to do more for Nollywood, because this is a department of this country’s life,” he said.
The Friends of Nollywood award was organized by the Abuja Chapter of the Association of Movie Producers in Nigeria.
It is an annual event intended to honour individuals who have assisted at ensuring the growth of the industry in different ways.
Highlights of the ceremony included presentations of awards to some prominent Nigerians including Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State and Dr. Eugene Juwah, Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communication Commission. [myad]
