By Ewa Innocent, The Sight News
Abakaliki: Ebonyi state government has expressed its readiness to partner the National Film and Video Censors Board.
Commissioner for Information and Orientation,Barr. Uchenna Orji, disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Abakaliki,after a closed door meeting with the Board, led by its Director General, Alhaji Adebayo Thomas.
Barr. Orji, who expressed delight over the Board’s visit,which he said was in line with the initiative of governor David Umahi,to create jobs, wealth,and ensure the reduction of unemployment in the state, added that his ministry would continue to interface with relevant agencies within and outside the country, including all necessary development partners to see how to tap into their programmes for the benefit of the state.
Orji, described Ebonyi state as specially endowed with young persons with talents,expressing the hope that with the entrant of the National Film and Video Censors Board,the state would further harness the strong foundation already built by governor David Umahi, in the area of wealth creation, job creation, empowerment and revenue generation for developmental purposes.
“We are doing everything possible as a ministry to interface with all necessary agencies,in and outside the shore of this country, with all necessary development partners, of course, the federal government of Nigeria. To see how we can tap into their programmes to ensure that our people benefit.
“We have interacted on how we can see their presence in Ebonyi state. Admittedly, it is only Ebonyi state in the South East that doesn’t have the presence of this board in the state. And so, we have offered our readiness to partner with the board”.
Earlier, the Director General of National Film and Video Censors Board, Alhaji Adebayo Thomas, explained that their visit was to inform the Ministry of Information of its intention to come into the state, explaining that there were lots of opportunities in the cinema industry that would benefit both the government and individuals,especially in the area of employment, tourism and internally generated revenue.
He further explained that 52 cinemas in the country made N4.4 billion between January and August 2019.
“Between January and August of this year alone,52 cinemas in the country made N4.4 billion and it was not made on the air. It was made on the land.
“The coming in of cinema alone is an employment. The tax that is going to be accruable to the state government is too much which they will inject into the society.
“The chains within the cinema,Popcorn sellers,transportation,children’s games and every other things you see in the modern Cinema,will create over 100,000 jobs,not to talk of multiplier effect”,he stated.
