Twenty-one years ago, I embarked on a journey to establish what is now renowned as Nigeria and Anglophone West Africa’s most enduring Film Festival.
Throughout these past two decades, my commitment and fervor for this project, which my partner (wife) and I deeply believe in, have been unwavering.
Reflecting on the nostalgia of all those who contributed to this remarkable odyssey, it is evident that our path has been challenging and demanding. Despite moments of temptation to halt our endeavors, witnessing the anticipation of young filmmakers for each upcoming edition propels us to persist on this arduous road.
The inception of the film festival was motivated by several pivotal reasons:
1 At the outset, Nigeria lacked a film festival, whereas today, there are more than 39 film festivals scattered across various regions of the country.
2 Twenty-one years ago, Abuja and Nigeria as a whole had a deficiency in dedicated commercial cinema screens, but presently, there are an impressive 350 screens situated nationwide.
3 Initially, Abuja was primarily recognized as a political hub rather than a thriving filmmaking center. We envisioned that a film festival could bridge the gap between Nollywood and the political sphere, thereby giving birth to the Abuja International Film Festival.
In essence, the last two decades have been characterized by a resolute dedication to our passion, a testament to the transformative impact of the film festival on the cinematic landscape of Nigeria.
Yesterday, I participated in a panel at the 2024 ABUJA BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT SUMMIT focusing on investment prospects within the entertainment subsector of the FCT.
During the discussion, I highlighted accessible opportunities that can foster industry growth. I underscored the pivotal role that technology currently plays—and will further play—in propelling Abuja’s and Nigeria’s entertainment landscape.
Looking ahead to the 21st Abuja International Film Festival in two weeks, we are committed to advocating for investments that will amplify and scale the festival’s reach and impact in the future.
