HOMEVIDA Films to Address Issues on Child’s Right

As a giant step to combat societal issues on child’s right, public harassment and domestic violence, the Nigeria Integrity Film Awards (HomeVida) has shown commitment and advocacy in promoting core integrity values and positive messaging by educating and empowering the public on legal rights through films.

At a press conference organised as part of the activities of the 8th Nigeria Integrity Film Awards in partnership with U.S, Agency for International Development (USAID), HomeVida Administrator, Mr. Samuel Umejiaku noted the organisation is focusing on tackling corruption in the society through films. “We are preaching citizens engagement and participation in government and how that could help tackle social issues such as corruption, underage marriage and others. We work with agencies to use film to promote values. Corruption is the focus this year,” he said.

A film producer, Mrs. Omoni Oboli, whose movie ‘Wives on Strike’ was shortlisted for the award, said the movie was produced to address societal issues on how child’s rights and domestic violence in the society can be address. “People will say they don’t want to go to the cinema to watch a movie on child right. It’s not only about child right but also about accountability in government. Child right issue is very serious and close to my heart. I can only imagine what these young girls face out there. It’s a very sad situation where a lot of them loses their life or rather get injured emotionally. These are issues that need to be confronted we are addressing the issue of domestic violence and women in government,” she said.

Speaking on piracy, Oboli noted the fight with pirates cannot be fought individually but with the intervention of the government because according to her, the pirates are fully armed. She said “Piracy is a big topic that involves a lot of stakeholders. When there Is demand and no supply, its leads to piracy. The pirates are dangerous because they go about with harmful weapons. To be sincere, it is only the government that can fight them because only the government is more powerful; of course we will protest and we have been protesting but the government needs to intervene.”

A filmmaker, Mr. Ishaya Bako, whose film ‘ Silent Tears’, was also shortlisted for award said the movie was intended to address rampart gender based violence in the society

“It’s a documentary about gender-based violence. We have issues of women being harassed publicly and it caused us sleepless nights.