Igbowood film industry debuts to sustain culture

From Idu Jude, Abuja

The newly inaugurated leadership of the Igbowood Film Industry in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has promised to champion the promotion and sustenance of the Igbo language and culture through the cinema industry.

The effort was made as part of a campaign to preserve the Igbo culture and language, which some stakeholders fear is nearing extinction.

The leadership stated that for this to come to fruition, it will embark on a project to build a multi-billion-naira Igbowood Village across the 36 states of the Federation and in the FCT.

Speaking during the inauguration over the weekend in Abuja, the National Vice-President, Prince Edward Ifeanyi Nnaso, who represented the National President, Hon. Dr James Ikezuo, highlighted that the new organisation has come to stay. He stated it is meant to establish the war against the survival of the Igbo language and culture across the whole world through the exportation of film materials.

He further said that many countries, like India, China, and Japan, earlier realised the damage colonialism had done to their existence but chose to revive it through the exportation of their language to other nations.

“Today, we want to make our own contributions in erasing the stigma that Igbos can no longer speak their language. We want to revive it by telling our own stories and ensuring that the next generation learns without tears. The Chinese teach mathematics with their language, and they have the best technology, talk of the French, the Koreans and Japanese, the Indians, and Malaysia. It has been proven that teaching a child in their mother language is the best way to learn,” he said.

Consequently, he said the inauguration of the FCT executive is a joy that has established that the project succeeds for the greater Igbo Nation.

Meanwhile, Prince Edward, on behalf of the nascent organisation, expressed hope that the Igbowood project in the next few years would hit the international market with expected collaborations with industry billionaires.

Part of their efforts is to build an Igbowood film village in the FCT, where filmmakers will pay to film their work. “We have Hollywood studios in America, well built for script writers, actors, and every worker in the industry. So you don’t need to search for plots or film locations that are suitable for your script. We are calling for the first sponsorship to make that possible, and we are hoping that the industry will be great,” he added.

Also speaking, the Abuja Igbowood Mayor, Maureen Ebele Gilbert, in her inaugural speech, prayed for strength with a resolve to work in harmony with other executive members to achieve results.

“We have just been inaugurated, and the ball is now in our court to deliver. The next step is to roll out our agenda, so that people will start feeling the pace of Igbowood through its new productions. Our films in the movie industry will certainly be different from what you used to see, and that includes the message of storytelling that no one can tell except the Igbos will be top-notch,” she said.

However, the FCT Igbowood Mayor has called for investors and stakeholders of Igbo extraction to see reason in investing in the Igbo project for the sustenance of their culture.

Adding her voice, the Assistant Mayor of Igbowood FCT, formerly based in the United States, Linda Obasi, stated that her primary aim is to offer help to Igbo youths across the globe. “This is what I am bringing to the table as an executive. I am always cautious of my background, and sustaining the culture must start from the youth imbibing the culture of their ancestors, and could include mastery of their mother tongues,” she said.

The newly elected officials include Maureen Ebele Gilbert as the FCT Igbowood Mayor, Linda Obasi as Assistant Mayor, while Mr Ralph Okechukwu Edu serves as Chairman of the task force, with Chukwudi Peter Eze as the Assistant task officer. Obiamaka Jenifer is to serve as Treasurer, while the Assistant Treasurer is Grace Ngozi Ozoemena. Nwangere Reginald is to serve as Director of Communication.

Also elected was Nneka Edward, who is to serve as Chief Welfare Officer, while Chiamaka Nwakamma is the Director of Guild Services (DGS), and Barrister Bryan Ukaegbu is to serve as legal adviser.