By Funmilola Gboteku
The Lagos State Government, in partnership with Mo Abudu Organisation have given awards of recognition to some female personalities in the Nigerian film industry.
The Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, said in a statement in Lagos on Wednesday that the awards were given through the Eko Culture Series.
She said that the female gender in the industry had over the years excelled in areas that were initially dominated by their male counterparts.
Akinbile-Yussuf said the female personalities and TV Stars needed recognition for their contributions to the development of the countrys film and creative industry.
The commissioner said the acting, producing and directing capacity of female artistes, among others was commendable.
She said the recognition accorded to them was a lofty idea, adding that the celebration of stakeholders in the creative industry, like other professional bodies, would serve as a source of encouragement.
It is on record that Nigerias media and entertainment industry Nollywood is currently the second-largest film producer in the world in terms of the number of movies.
The feat is not just in terms of number of movies alone but more importantly how the personalities involved in these delectable stories have been able to change our society for the better and also exposed several societal ills, Akinbile-Yussuf said.
She said the state government would ensure the development of the industry through capacity enhancement.
The commissioner explained that this administration was currently in partnership with two renowned creative firms to train young creative stars in different areas of film production toward attaining world-class professionalism.
She said the training would help them compete favourably with their contemporaries across the globe.
The commissioner urged the award recipients to make conscious efforts to impact the lives of younger ones by transferring their knowledge to the upcoming television and TV stars.
The Chief Executive Officer, Ebony Life Place, Mo Abudu said there was so much talent in Nigeria and so much to be celebrated in the creative sector apart from the successes already recorded in film-making and television presentation.
She said the support and ambience provided by the state government had made film making and production a worthwhile experience.
It is a fact that politics and entertainment are the two major things influencing the world now.
The political class has now realised how powerful the entertainment industry is in influencing decisions of the masses, Mo Abudu said.
According to her, the award ceremony, was organised to recognise the hard work and dedication of women in the Film and TV industry.
Mo Abudu, however, noted that the award recipients only represented a fraction of other women that would be recognised in future editions of the Eko Star Film and TV Awards.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 65 Film and TV stars were presented with various awards at the event, including an octogenarian television presenter and actress of repute, Taiwo Ajai-Lycett (OON), who was presented with a special award of A Lifetime Achievement Like No Other.
Also, veteran actress, Mrs Joke Silva was given a special recognition award of inspiring people, among others.
Eko Culture Series, an initiative of MO Abudu and Lagos State Government, is a blend of entertainment and tourism conceived as a platform for showcasing different unique features of Lagos and its rich cultural experiences.(NAN)
Source: NAN News