The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Films Corporation, NFC Dr. Chidia Maduekwe has been honoured with the chieftaincy title of ‘ISHINKA’ Ohafia Ancient Kingdom.
The traditional title was conferred on him on Sunday by the Chairman, Ohafia Council of Monarchs, Ezie. Prof. E.U.L Imaga in recognition of his administrative prowess in repositioning the affairs of the NFC in the areas of manpower training, employment generation and harvesting of new talents in the film industry.
The traditional honour ABN TV gathers stands for valour and creativity.
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The event which took place at Achichi Elu, Ohafia, in Ohafia Local government area of Abia coincided with the foundation laying for NFC Cinematography Centre in Ohafia.
Earlier, Dr. Maduekwe had held a thanksgiving service at Saint Peters Presbyterian Church Ohafia for surviving multiple accidents and assassination attempts in the course of his political career.
This federal project facilitated by Dr. Maduekwe is not the first of similar educational edifice he is bringing to Ohafia in an effort to educationally empower the people of the area to effectively drive the economy.
Recall that in the early 90s, he was instrumental to the location of a Federal Government College in Ebem Ohafia.
These and more may have earned him the traditional honour by the Ohafia Council of Monarchs.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Maduekwe said the project was sited in Ohafia because of its rich historical story telling culture.
He revealed that the audiovisual centre was designed to provide innovative skills and training in trades like sewing, shoe and bag making hair dressing and information technology.
He added that the centre would also train film related organizations in Film production and the use of equipment; provide private and public organization in film skills trade and manpower.
He said, “Today (Sunday) is 2-1-22 it’s sounds like a code number, I think it’s a code number. The code number is saying that it’s time for us to reinvent, restore, realign ourselves for the deginity of man in Abia state.
“The project we are celebrating today is key to the economic development of the state because first of all Ohafia is an area that is inbuilt with a lot of cultural capability. If you know the history of this area, you will know that it’s an area with a lot of story telling. In story telling one needs to learn about the capacity to produce the narrative that’s it’s associated with it.
“It’s an area whereby children as a habit will always have their parents tell them stories before going to sleep. Also the diversity of this locality again makes it possible that if we put an audiovisual centre here it will be beneficial not just to the South East alone, but also to our neighbours in the South-South States because of the prosiminty we have with some States in the geo-political region.
“The project is already realizable because it’s been appropriated for, we must thank the honorable minister of Information ALH. Lai Mohammed and the National Assembly that has made the budgetry provision. We are starting with the 2021 budgetry provision already captured in the 2022 budget and even the five year rolling plan is all captured.
“It just like any other government institution, it will be captured on yearly basis. Besides I also want to let you know that our funding partners particularly the French and Germans are interested because we are handling the film intreprenual hub and those relationships with our foreign partners demands that the Nigerian economy is supported by training young people, migrating our youths from unemployment to where they are wealth creators.
“This is an important project that’s dear to the Federal Government and also dear to the heart of our funding partners. Recently Nigerian Communication Commission expressed interest to partner with us in building the intreprenual hub in the six geo-political zone and Abia is one of them and where we laid the foundation today is one of those centres. I do know that government’s interest in the creativity sector means that it’s well funded and appropriated for”.
Earlier in his remark, Senator representing Abia North Senatorial district, Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu who performed the foundation laying said it is part of the Federal Government’s efforts to spread development in the Southeast region.
The former Abia governor who was represented by the Executive Secretary Orji Uzor Kalu Foundation, Rev. Jemima Kalu urged the people of the region to support the federal government to give the region a sense of inclusion.
The event had in attendance dignitaries across the state including Hon Ifeanyi Uchendu, Deputy Speaker Abia State House of Assembly, Chief Emeka Wogu, Fmr. Min. of Labour, member representing Bende Federal Constituency, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, Chief Emeka Atuma, Hon. Atu Obioma, Rev. Jemima Ola Kalu, Chief. Amobi Ogah amongst others.
