By JOY MBACHI

The Anambra government has called on film makers and producers to avail themselves of the state serene environment to produce their movies.

Mr Don Onyenji, the state’s Commissioner for Culture, Tourism and Entertainment, said this when he spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Awka.

He said that the state was a safe haven for film production which if well harnessed would ensure jobs creation for the teeming unemployed youths.

“The miracle in the security growth and development being witnessed presently is enthroned by the leadership skills of Gov. Charles Soludo.

“Film makers fled from Anambra state to other states years back for their productions due to insecurity and infrastructure decay.

“The story is now different, I ask players in the nation’s motion picture industry to leverage on the transformational leadership of our governor to return to the home of Nollywood to shoot their movies.

“We now have what it takes to grow the business of entertainment more than before, our youths with their creativity has embraced entertainment world in a positive manner that will boost the venture in the state,” he said.

Onyenji assured the film makers that there was nothing to fear as the state had been fully developed to accommodate such venture as a result of the interest shown by the governor in youths’ social engagement and development.

He said that apart from improved security situation, the government had firm partnership with Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) to provide uninterrupted power supply.

“When there is constant electricity supply, every business thrives to level up desired developmental goals in all sector of the economy, film making inclusive.

“We have lots of magnificent buildings, leisure parks as well as heritage sites for film makers to choose from for their movie productions, adding that government is working industriously to boost film infrastructure in the state.

“We in the past had the first session with Anambra based entertainers tagged” Meet and Greet 1.0” while the second session of Meet and Greet 2.0″ with entertainers was underway.

“These moves in development of the entertainment sector simply will be a veritable platform to empower and promote young entertainers in the state, so we urged seasoned film makers to make haste.

“Nigerian Nollywood started from Anambra state as in the days of the movie “Living in Bondage”, which featured the likes of Bob-Manuel Udokwu, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Kenneth Okonkwo and a host of others,” he said.

He added: “We can start again in a higher scale to create new ideas that could develop our economy, as well as celebrate pioneer actors in the Nigerian movie industry.

“If movies were shot in the state today, many of our youths who are talented will be discovered and introduced in the venture to reduce poverty through job creation.

“There are beautiful natural sites for film making like the Owerre-Ezukala Waterfalls, Ogbunike Cave, Agulu Lake and other heritage sites that abounds in the state.” (NAN)

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