By CLIFFORD NDUJIHE
AS the Nigeria home video industry otherwise known as Nollywood hits 20 years, movie producers in the country are seeking a five billion Naira financial war chest to reposition the industry.

If repackaged, Nollywood, the third biggest movie industry in the world after Hollywood (USA) and Bollywood (India), could be a big revenue earner for the government, practitioners and other stakeholders, said Mr Zik Zulu Okafor, president, Association of Movie Producers , Nigeria (AMP).

Zik Zulu Okafor

Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Lagos Corporate Headquarters of Vanguard Newspapers, Okafor, who was accompanied by some AMP exco members, said currently some foreigners believe they could earn one million dollars per day watching Nollywood. He sought the support of all stakeholders including the media to reposition the industry.

“By September 2012, Nollywood will be 20 years old. We have to celebrate it. At 20, Nollywood must be able to arrest the attention of the world. That is why we coming with a programme. We call it: ‘Nollywood: two billion eyes on Nigeria.’ We must be able to put down N5 billion to repackage Nollywood, which currently employs two million people in Nigeria,” he said.

According to Okafor, whose team was elected in December 2011, “our vision is to do things right, set up revenue earners like galleria so that Nollywood people will earn a living. We are already telling the story of the mystery called Nollywood abroad and some foreigners believe they can earn $1 million a day watching Nollywood. So, they are interested.

With Okafor during the visit were Lilian Uchenna, Amah-Aluko (vice president), Mike Nliam (treasurer), Dan-Chris Ebie (publicity secretary) and Neville Ossai.

Receiving the team, Editor of Vanguard, Mr. Mideno Bayagbon, who led other senior editorial staff, assured the AMP of fruitful partnership in its efforts to repackage Nollywood.