By; BASHIR BELLO, ABUJA
Following the favourable environment created by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Abuja is fast becoming a choice tourist destination in Nigeria.
Minster of State FCT, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, dropped the hint at the press conference on the 2022 Zuma Film Festival, held at the FCDA Conference Hall, Area 11, Garki Abuja on Thursday April 28, 2022.
“Indeed, Abuja is rapidly garnering a reputation as a pleasant tourist destination with its rich cultural mix, beautiful sights and a bustling entertainment industry. It is reputation we intend to sustain using the Zuma Film Festival as a springboard.
” The collaboration between the FCTA and the NFC will not only ensure a bigger and better Zuma Film Festival but will also provide residents of Abuja investment opportunities in the nation’s creative economy,” he said.
The minister said that he is delighted to address the media on the forthcoming Zuma Film Festival organised by the Nigeria Film Corporation (NFC) and Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), with the theme “Show the Money”, scheduled to hold between 1st and 7th of May, 2022 here in Abuja, our beautiful national capital city.
“I wish to thank you most sincerely for coming to this event as it has further brought to the fore the importance of the mass media in our efforts at developing for our country a capital city of which we all will be proud.
“Gentlemen of the press, the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the FCTA and the NFC for which Abuja will be the host city and indeed home of the foremost film festival in Nigeria over the next 10 years, is one we intend to take utmost advantage of and ensure the growth of the Nigerian creative industry with Abuja right at the center of it all,” he assured.
Speaking further, he disclosed that they intend to continue to leverage on windows of cooperation that exist within the creative and tourism sectors in the country and also harness the opportunities created by this festival to develop the abundant local talents in the FCT.
“I therefore, thank Nigerian Film makers for the rising profile of Abuja as a location of choice for our local films thus enabling us to benefit from the tremendous value chain that comes with this.
“We also commend their ingenuity in putting the Nigerian film industry on the global map with very limited resources, making it third only to Bollywood and Nollywood,” he said.
The minister also expressed deep appreciation to all their partners, as well as members of the fourth estate of the realm for their support for the Zuma Film Festival.
“We intend to use the collaboration between the FCTA and the Nigeria Film Corporation to further ensure sustainable development of our indigenous film industry with the ultimate aim of making Abuja, the film and creative hub for Africa using the Zuma Film Festival as a catalyst to attain these dreams.
” I therefore enjoin you all to be a part of the Zuma Film Festival and give it all the publicity it deserves and help us build an enduring film production and viewing culture in Nigeria,” he said.
He therefore, invited all residents of the FCT and visitors to take advantage of the Sallah holidays to come out enmasse for the festival and also experience the rich cultural mix that is Abuja.
