By John Okeke
Nigeria and China have concluded plan to partner to improve the standard of films produced in Africa by improved capacity building and provision of high-resolution technology equipments .
Ambassador Chimezie Okeoma Ogu, Counsul General of Nigeria in Shanghai made this assertion while delivering his speech at the opening ceremony of the African Film Festival in Jiangsu.
He stated that both countries have mapped out ways to strengthen the movie industries as a collaborative efforts to promote the cultural exchanges between China and Africa. He canvassed that his host government should use Nigeria as a pilot scheme in this novel Belt Road Initiative project in Africa.
According to the Envoy, Nigeria has a ready infrastructures like film villages, seasoned and talented actors and more importantly the market to benefit both sides in this new cooperation between China and Africa.
Speaking on the industry’s contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Products, Ambassador Ogu stated that the New African Cinema has made the Nigerian film industry the third-largest film sector globally, surpassing that of the USA.
He applauded the two movies “Inale” and “Half of a Yellow Sun, for earning a nomination at the African Film Festival by protraying the great culture and heritage of the African people as well as depicting the struggles of Africa as a continent.
