The Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture in partnership with EbonyLife Acadamy has trained no fewer than 119 youths in filmmaking in the state.
Mrs Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Lagos.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony for the filmmakers, Akinbile-Yusuf, congratulated EbonyLife for doing Lagos proud and appreciated it for making good use of available funds for the training of the students.
Akinbile-Yusuf was represented by Ms Toyin Ogunlana, Director Administration and Human Resource Department of the ministry.
She assured the EbonyLife team of the state government’s continuous support, partnership and collaboration to give hope to the youth and engage them in such a laudable skills acquisition programmes.
“Lagos State, in partnership with EbonyLife, had trained six sets of intakes who graduated and were deploying the acquired skills to excel in their chosen areas of expertise within the film industry,” she said.
She said this was made possible through the Lagos Creative Initiative (LACI) to fill the skill gaps of professionals in the creative industry in the state.
“The Lagos state government believes in you all and looks forward to seeing your best output in the industry.
“You have all been endowed with unique skills that will enable you to conceive, write and shoot your own movies as you deem fit,” she said.
Also, Mrs Bukola Agbaminoja, Executive Secretary, Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board, felicitated the graduands and commended them for participating in the training.
“The feedback we are getting as government is encouraging and we are happy for you all.
“I see your films showing in Nigeria, Africa and the world at large, but the bulk of the work lies in your hands, please, tell the story the way you want it to be told,” she said.
Agbaminoja said that the Lagos State interest-free loans were still available for interested filmmakers and could be accessed through the Board.
She noted that the state government was also building a film city, designed to be a one-stop-destination for all filmmakers, on several hectares of land at Ejirin in Epe.
The Head of the Academy, Mr Theart Korsten, thanked the state government for its continuous support to the school, saying that Lagos was the only state that contributed so much to the development of the sector.
Korsten enjoined the graduating students to focus on their career paths and acknowledged the tenacity displayed during the 12-week intensive programme.
He said that the third intake for the year comprising 128 students commenced classes on June 28, adding that the 22 films produced so far were available on the Youtube Channel of EbonyLife Creative Academy.
The short films: “Canvas”, “Father Forgive Me”, “Halimah” and “The Funeral”, written, performed and produced by the graduating students of the Class of June 2022, were watched by the dignitaries and guests present at the ceremony.