By Obas Esiedesa
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) Dr. Chidia Maduekwe has said that a comprehensive data on the operation of Nollywood is needed if the industry is to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
Maduekwe said such statistics would come from in-depth study and analysis of the Nigerian film industry.
He stated this during a campaign visit to the National Bureau of Statistics in Abuja.
The Nollywood is reputed to be one of the biggest film industries in the world, after the USA and India.
A statement from the Corporation’s Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Mrs. Juliet Archibong said Maduekwe reiterated the need for a comprehensive data of the Nigerian film industry as a prerequisite for productive synergy.
Maduekwe who stressed that statistics is the bedrock of any successful organisation, noted that diverse figures are being bandied about Nollywood without the imprint of the NBS.
He explained that for the film industry to align itself with the policies and programs of government and attain a level of standardization that would be globally attractive for foreign direct investment there is need to have a concrete statistics and organised data base.
According to him, the film industry is not only a huge employer of labour, but quite critical to the economic development of Nigeria, “especially with the current emphasis on non dependence on oil as the main stay of our economy”.
While applauding the seeming bare knuckled feat recorded by the industry players, he added that a comprehensive study, analysis and statistical evidence is needed for exponential growth.
In his response, NBS Director, Corporate Planning and Technical Co-ordination Department, Mr Simon Harry, who stood in for the Statistician General of Nigeria, Mr. Yemi Kale, applauded the decision by the NFC to seek collaboration with the NBS.
He described the entertainment industry as one crucial sector the country needs to pay attention to, if we must grow the economy beyond oil.
Harry observed that the lack of study and analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) of organisations was a thorny issue for the NBS.
He opined that the proposed collaboration between NFC and the NBS to have a statistical study and data of the film industry, with the attendant deliverables, should be sustained.
He pledged the support of the NBS in the realisation of the vision of the Managing Director of NFC to have an all inclusive and reliable data for the film industry.
