Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has presented N200 million cheques to 37 beneficiaries of a special interest-free loan to filmmakers, under the State’s Creative Initiative (LACI), an initiative of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.
The governor said a nine-man committee comprising veteran filmmakers and some senior government officials headed by the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, was set up last year with the mandate of identifying struggling filmmakers, who could be empowered with grants and seed fund for film production.
Represented by Mrs. Akinbile-Yusuf, a pharmacist, during the presentation of the cheques to filmmakers at Glover Memorial Hall, Lagos Island, Sanwo-Olu said the aim of the initiative was to address financial challenges that inhibited quality film production in Lagos and Nigeria.
He advised the beneficiaries to make use of the loan and pay back at the stipulated time, to enable others be empowered.
Mrs. Akinbile-Yusuf, giving her opening remarks, said before the establishment of the revolving loan for filmmakers, the governor had made interventions aimed at ameliorating the devastating effect of the COVID-19 pandemic since the index case was reported in the country two years ago on business owners in the hospitality, entertainment and tourism sector.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Oyinade Nathan-Marsh, hailed Sanwo-Olu’s doggedness in transforming the entertainment and tourism sector, as well as keeping his electoral promises.
A veteran filmmaker and director, Mr. Adebayo Salami, popularly called Oga Bello, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, praised the state government and promised that they would utilize the fund and repay in time.
