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An Open Letter to Mr President over the appointment of an Engineer as DG NFVCB
His Excellency,
Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan
President & Commander-in-Chief,
Federal Republic of Nigeria
The State House
Three-Arms- Zone
Abuja
Dear Sir,
I write to commend Your Excellency for the recent appointments of illustrious and qualified Nigerians into leadership positions in Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies. These appointments are indeed commendable and evidently symptomatic of your readiness to engender far reaching reforms in the Nigerian socio-economic milieu. However, sir, like a sore thumb, one appointment sticks out; that of Engr. Danjuma Dabo as Director General of the Nigeria Films and Video Censors’ Board, NFVCB.
In the history of Nigeria, no industry has succeeded without the aid of the government like the Nigerian Movie industry popularly known as Nollywood. Nollywood, which you hosted to a state banquet recently in appreciation of the great work its practitioners and stakeholders had been doing to mark 20 years of its existence, currently employs at least 1million Nigerians directly and indirectly. It is perhaps the singular entity that has made very popular all over the world.
My faith in the greatness of Nollywood’s future is unshakeable. So is my faith in you Mr. President. I have followed your involvements with the entertainment industry with keen interest; from your days as Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State when you attended BOBTV in 2005 in Abuja to your wholesome support of the Africa Movie Academy Awards, AMAA, as a Governor and your constant interaction and relationship with industry stakeholders since you became President. The $200m entertainment fund scheme in conjunction with NEXIM Bank and the recent N3billion grant are great innovations that we know will galvanise the film industry especially to higher grounds.
The challenges before us may be numerous and the tasks daunting but that relentless, enterprising Nigerian spirit that led to the birth of our beloved Nollywood in the first place subsists in everyone of us and that’s why I’m hopeful of a bigger, better and brighter future.
It is in view of the foregoing that the appointment of Engineer Dabo leaves a bitter taste in the mouths of fans, followers, stakeholders and practitioners. In fact, Mr. President, the appointment is like moving two steps forward (with all you have done for the industry) and moving 10 backwards.
As much as I do not doubt the qualifications of Engr. Dabo as a successful Marine Engineer, I believe that what the industry needs at this period is a core professional who knows the industry in and out and who can synergise quickly with the new thinking of moving the industry forward as a substantive cash cow for the country.
Whilst there is no doubt that Engr. Dabo might perform in the long run, he would need enough time to understand the nuances and needs of the film industry. Unfortunately, the luxury of time is what we in the industry do not have. We are already on course but Engineer Dabo would make us lose traction.
Sir, on so many occasions, you have listened to our collective cries for a better Nollywood. We are aware also that you are sending a bill to the National Assembly to review the piracy law. Already, you are rewriting your name in Gold as the President who came and saw the power and potentials in NOLLYWOOD and did something tangible to make the industry work.
Thus, we count on you to reverse this appointment immediately and send Engr Dabo to an agency where his Marine Enginering skills and knowledge will be relevant to your Transformation Agenda.
Thank you sir
Seun Oloketuyi
Publisher, Best of Nollywood Magazine
Executive Producer Bon Awards
