When C’river Governor Was Honoured By Organisers 0f Abuja Filmfest
TOP Nollywood Stars attending the just held Calabar Carnival joined the organisers of the Abuja International Film Festival (AIFF) to honor the Executive Governor of Cross River State Prof Ben Ayade with the AIFF Special Recognition Award. It will be recalled that the award was announced on 25th of October 2019 during the 16th edition of the festival. According to the Festival Director, Mrs. Temitope Duker, the governor was selected for the award based on his strides in developing the creative economy in the state, which includes film, music, and literary arts amongst others. She also commended the Governor for sustaining the Calabar Carnival and Festival, which as she noted has had a ripple effect on the tourism landscape of the State. In accepting the award, Governor Ayade expressed his appreciation to the organisers for considering him for the award. He mentioned that he has been supporting the film industry even before he became a governor and he will continue to do so in any opportunity he has to support. He further mentioned that he believes in the industry and young people’ and only earlier in the year he had funded a film which was his way of supporting the growth of the Nigerian movie industry. He further reiterated his support for the industry by promising to fund the production of 6 films in 2020. The Governor commended the organizers of the Abuja International Film Festival for sustaining the Film festival for 17 years and made a donation of N5million Naira to the festival. The award presentation which took place at the Governor’s Lodge Calabar as part of the 2019 Calabar Carnival and Festival had in attendance top Nollywood Personalities that included the Festival Project Consultant Segun Arinze, Politician and Actor Desmond Elliot, Veteran Actress Ngozi Nwosu, Actors Charles Inojie, Francis Duru, Monalisa Chinda and Ninolowo Omobolanle amongst several other government functionaries that included the State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism Mr. Eric Anderson. The Abuja International Film Festival is the longest running film festival in Anglophone West Africa. It aims to celebrate outstanding work in video film in Nigeria and also celebrate Nigerians who contribute to the development of the industry. This is why the Governors was recognised.