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Behold Nigeria's Hidden Paradise
(This Day - Lagos) |
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Practitioners in the fledging Nigerian film industry gathered in Abuja to celebration the second edition of a fast growing film and television market initiative. The occasion became a veritable ground for the world unveiling of a new Nollywood video documentary - titled Bayelsa: The Hidden Paradise produced by Peace Anyiam-Fiberesima's P M Global Media.
The about 27 minutes documentary focuses on core investment areas in the state, especially the state's tourism potentials. Within its limited duration, Bayelsa: The Hidden Paradise takes the viewer through the state's young, but fascinating history.
http://usaforafrica.org/catalogue/dvd.htm
The documentary shows the first site where oil was discovered in Nigeria. The site of the Nigeria's first oil well in Olobiri in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state - Olobiri Well No. 1 reportedly drilled in June 1956 and about 12,000 feet in depth, is being developed by the state through its Ministry of Information, Culture, Tourism & Strategy as the nation's first oil museum and a centre for petroleum history.
The documentary also highlight potential tourism sites like the Slave Dungeon in Akassa. Like the "Point of no Return" site in Badagry, Lagos, the Slave Dungeon, according to the narrator, is the final trail of slaves and palm produce from Akassa to the "New World". There also remains the old rail tracks, which the narrator says, "are still functional"; the Royal Niger Company Palm Storage facility, The Commonwealth Grave of Nembe British War or the Akassa War, Statuette of King Frederick William Koko who waged the famous Akassa raid of 1895 against the British in 1895 among others. The film also records relics of pre-colonial and colonial architectural structures that are tourist delights today. They include the Mungo Park House, Portuguese styled houses, cobbled streets, an ancient Church bell and more importantly, the over 100 years old trading post of built by British merchants in Akassa by the bank of the Atlantic ocean during the slave and palm oil trades. The house is said to be one of the oldest light house in West Africa.
Bayelsa: The Hidden Paradise also focuses on the state's cultural heritage as expressed in the peoples' festivals, dances, religions, customs, fashion, food, occupation, music, among other socio-cultural engagements.
The documentary also takes the viewer on a voyage through the advancement the state has made in the commercial activities and provision of socio-economic infrastructures. Special attention is placed on water transportation which is fast changing from engine-powered wooden boats to state-owned ultra-modern and convenient mass transit ferry boats across the state. In the area of energy provision, Bayelsa State is unrivaled. The viewer cannot but envy the state as the narrator announced Bayelsa State as the only state in Nigeria today where there is uninterrupted power supply "From sun up to sun up."
Bayelsa: The Hidden Paradise also highlights the state government's giant strides in the areas of education, healthcare, youth empowerment, environmental protection and preservation, housing, job creation and many more development oriented issues.
Following the rousing applause that greeting the film's premiere, a highly elated Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Goodluck ....... who stood in for the state's Chief Executive, Chief D. S. P. Alamieyesiegha expressed that the film has truly shown the world that "Bayelsa State indeed Nigeria's Hidden Paradise waiting to be tapped."
Chief Goodluck who enjoined Nigerian filmmakers to continue to strive to portray the good image of the country in the films, added that "Bayelsa: The Hidden Paradise will go a long way in helping the state to actualise its dream of making the state an investor's dream paradise."
He expressed the State's readiness the host the upcoming African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) billed to hold in the State capital in the succeeding weeks.
"We are ready to host you and your international colleagues who are billed to attend the event. Aside this, we want to make the state, Nigeria's film headquarters. Towards this end, we are throwing our doors out to you people to come and explore the state for your locations. Added to this, we are determined to build Nigeria's first film village in the state with your support. In Bayelsa State, we a committed to celebrate the arts and creativity. I want to tell you that state has a lot to give to Nigeria, Africa and the world at large."
The State's Commissioner for Information, Culture, Tourism & Strategy, Mr. Douglas Oronto corroborated saying, "The government and people of Bayelsa State are determined to make the state an investors' haven. More importantly, the government is serious with the planned establishment of a film village in the state. We will be able to give you details when you all come for the African Movie Academy Awards," he said.
Oronto added that the state is a perfect setting for film locations. "Aside the serenity of the environment, the picturesque nature of our landscape will also be found very useful by professionals."
Earlier, while the four-day film and television market open inside the Ladi Kwali Hall of Abuja Sheraton Hotel and Towers, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, chief Chukwuemeka Chikelu announced a four-point initiative aimed at the development of the film industry.
The Minister disclosed that the long talked about practitioners council for the film industry (Motion Picture Practitioners Council of Nigeria - MOPPICON) will soon be inaugurated, adding that a committee will also be set up to co-ordinate the review of national film policy. Chikelu disclosed further that the Ministry has almost concluded arrangements to begin paying for and screening of Nigerian movies weekly on Nigerian Television Authority - NTA. More importantly, the Minister announced to the delight of practitioners present that "President Olusegun Obasanjo has thrown his weight behind the development of a first class film village to service our film industry."
An elated Chikelu stated further that the Ministry is working with the Nigeria Film Corporation (NFC) to renew, revamp and reposition the Nigerian Film Institute (NFI), Jos with a grant of N20million for the provision of new facilities and better environment. "It will be a fitting facility for training of professionals," he said. |
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