Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos governor, has promised to support some freshly graduated students of the African Film Academy (AFA) with grants to help them start up in the creative industry.
Sanwo-Olu spoke on Tuesday when 890 state-sponsored youths graduated from the film academy.
The graduates and their works were presented to Sanwo-Olu after a six-week free intensive training.
The 890 youths were beneficiaries of the ‘Film in a Box’ programme by the African Film Academy.
The initiative, the academy said, was in partnership with the state government, to train and empower young people in the creative industry across three different centres including Alimosho, Epe, and Badagry.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony held at the Lagos Theatre, Igando in Alimosho, Sanwo-Olu restated his commitment to collaborate with stakeholders in the entertainment industry in acquisition and talent development.
The governor also urged the graduands and other creatives to take advantage of the Lagos States Employment Trust Fund and the State Film Fund to become self-employed and employers of labour.
The graduating trainees were tutored in acting, art directing, light and lighting, editing, sound production, and post-production, among others.
Some of the students that include Stephanie Eka, and Mayowa Akinleye from Alimosho, Cornelius Demayon from Badagry, and Sylvia Chinwendu from Epe chorused their delight to have been allowed to be part of the training.
Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, the commissioner for tourism, arts, and culture, said the initiative was to make the youth agents of change in the creative industry and break new grounds to enable them to become self-reliant.
In her remarks, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, CEO of the film academy, also commended the “doggedness” of the graduands and urged them to explore the creative industry with training received in the academy.
AFA is a premier organization that trains, empowers and creates a safe space for African creatives. The film academy is also the organisers of the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA).
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