THE ceremony at the office of the Deputy Governor, Kwara State last Friday morning was brief. But the import was impactful as it touches on one of the very essence of governance – creation of job opportunities for the teeming youth population in the state.

Even the chief host, Governor AbdulFatai Ahmed represented by his deputy, Elder Peter Kisiri captured this in his opening remarks before the inauguration of the Board of the Malete Film Village, a project being driven by the state university.

"It is my great honour and privilege to be here today for yet another important milestone in the short but very impressive history of the Kwara State University (KWASU)," the governor stated.

The inauguration of the Board of the Malete Film Village, he continued, "is another testimony that the vision of making KWASU our foremost institution in expanding the frontiers of knowledge, nurturing the university to world class status and, at the same time, retraining its local relevance is truly on course."

According to the governor, "the establishment of Malete Film Village, the board of which is being inaugurated today, presents another significant opportunity for KWASU to fulfill its mission. The Film Village initiative will not only involve training students to acquire highest level skills and expertise required in the business of filmmaking; it will also generate a whole chain of professionals – film directors, scriptwriters, broadcasters, film journalists and critics, cameramen, music recording artists, and television personnel of all descriptions – which will improve the overall quality of the rapidly growing Nigerian film sector. With this, the University places itself in good stead for making her mark in one of the largest industries in Nigeria – the Entertainment Industry."

Governor Ahmed listed the tangible benefits of the project to include boosting the local economy and placing Kwara on the creative industries map, globally.  "It will provide an international standard film-production infrastructure for international film-production and collaboration, attract tourists to the state (as the state is already appearing constantly in movies) and also create an enabling environment for Private Sector participation through the Private-Public Partnership platform," he said.

To him, the project should be seen as a strategy to strengthen innovative approaches to partnership building, resource mobilisation, youth empowerment and development.

The governor therefore urged members of the Board to "ensure scrupulous implementation of the plan, work in partnership with private entities and other stakeholders, at home and abroad, to make Malete Film Village Limited a reality, the way we have dreamt it.

"I also urge you to bring your wealth of experience to bear in the accomplishment of this assignment which you have been entrusted with. Accountability and Transparency – both personal and collective – are therefore crucial, given Kwara State Government's zero tolerance to opacity," he admonished just as he pledged state government's total commitment to the growth and development of the university and its numerous projects including the film village.

Earlier, the VC, Prof. AbdulRasheed Na'Allah, who also doubles as the chairman of the board announced the names of other members including Col. Babatunde Ishola (rtd), who is also Chairman, Film Village Investment Mobilisation Committee; Senior Special Adviser to Kwara State Government on SME's, Alhaji Lukman Adam; Provost, College of Humanities, Management and Social Sciences, KWASU, Prof. Abiola Irele; film actor and producer, Alhaji Adebayo Salami; film producer, Tunde Kelani; and Board Member, National Film Corporation (NFC), Mrs. Sandra Obiago.

In his remarks, Prof. Na'Allah had thanked Almighty Allah for the success so far attained in less than three years' existence of the university.

Some of its modest achievements, the VC stressed, included the establishment of the Centre for Entrepreneurship which enhances our Internally Generated Revenue by the production of KWASU water, KWASU kulikuli, and other initiatives such as KWASU bread which is in the pipeline.

"I am also pleased to inform you that after three years of establishment, we have commenced a post-graduate Diploma in Environmental Health and Safety which is being coordinated by the Centre for Ecological and Environmental Research Management and Studies (CEERMS) in collaboration with Environmental Health Officers Registration Council of Nigeria (EHORCON).

"Also, the University has won the UNESCO Chair for Alternative Energy. As the University for Community development, the Centre for Community development has been working closely with the indigenes of Malete and nearby village, teaching them how to make soap, fish farming thereby empowering the community. The Malete Film Village is therefore another strategic initiative in this regard.

"This project will present the opportunity for filmmaking in Nigeria which is an economic gold mine yet to be quarried to its full potential. Malete Film Village Ltd intends to vigorously mine that economic gold," he asserted.

The unique features of the project, he enumerated, included Ultra Film Production Facility, Amusement and Theme Park, Amphitheatre, film festivals, investment and initiative activities, Film/TV/Radio School and computer training centre.

"It will be an ultra-modern filmmaking and entertainment village that will be a pacesetter in Africa. Given a growing population for home videos and film production, locational advantage, provision of state-of-the-art facilities, other infrastructural support and a management that will cut across both academia and practice which are drawn from home and abroad is expected to provide the project the needed edge for success," Prof. Na'Allah explained.

According to him, the ease of entry into the filmmaking profession calls quality into questions. "Majority of the products in the market, and ipso facto the artists, due to poor training, cannot compete in the international market and thus face the threat of overcrowding and global competition," the VC decried.

He is however optimistic that "the Malete Film Village will assist to cover this gap at a reasonable cost to the producers and the artists, while ensuring that their output meets with global standards."

Expanding opportunities for productive economic activities for all Kwarans especially from the community, he insisted,  "is an overarching priority for the State Government. The drive to ensure the economically active population is fully and gainfully employed is being pursued at three levels: ensuring education is not about certification but strengthening human capital to generate employable skills; Expanding physical and social infrastructure that have the greatest potential to enhance productive capacity, connect production centers to their markets; and make citizens, not the government, the mainstay of our development.

"To Malete Film Village initiative, being part of a sector with huge potential for future growth, has great potentials to make significant contributions in all the aforementioned three areas. I strongly believe too, that the strategic location of Malete Film Village will make it a Film Village of choice for film producers at home and abroad while also generating important externalities that improve the overall quality of life of the Malete people and its inhabitants."

He expressed the joy that the project "has a huge potential to significantly enhance the livelihood of the entire people in Kwara State by creating numerous opportunities for them to earn income through direct labour, farming, fishing, supplying and hospitality services. In addition, it will bring about the provision of modern amenities for the villagers as it combines arts, culture and heritage, film production and education."

In what appears like lying a solid foundation for the project, Prof. Na'Allah said, "with a total budget of N2,705, 388,537 ($17,348,223.25) and a production level of 100 films in a year, or 50 films in the first year growing at 10 per cent per annum, the project can either break even in the first year or at the end of the third year, thus attesting to its viability.

"In this connection, I want to emphasise that in the pursuit of the economic and social benefits of this initiative, given that KWASU is the University for Community development, we ‘do no harm' to the community fabrics. The work we do has a direct effect on the communities and the people. It is work best done with their involvement and participation. It is only with this real intention that we will create a meaningful partnership and sustainable relationship."

He ended his speech with the assurance that the "Film Village does not, and should not be seen as fostering attitude and behaviours that are incompatible with our cultural values and social mores. Rather, it should be the veritable vehicles for promoting the attributes of hardwork, industry, transparency, integrity, faithfulness, selflessness, fortitude, rectitude, peace and social cohesion."