The future of Nigeria’s motion picture industry got a boost over the weekend with the matriculation of 43 students by the National Film Institute, Jos.

The matriculation, a requirement for students of tertiary institutions, was jointly conducted by the National Film Institutes Jos and the University of Jos, both in Plateau State. The National Film Institute is affiliated to the University of Jos for her Degree Programme.

Speaking at the Matriculation Ceremony, Afolabi Adesanya, Chairman Governing Council, National Film Institute,  informed that  NFI has been able to transform from just providing ad hoc Skills acquisition programmes to awarding Professional Diploma in Film Arts and the Bachelor of Film Arts.

With these feats and many more, Adesanya, who is also the Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Nigerian Film Corporation, said, NFI has indeed met the expectations of the Federal Government of Nigeria, the founding fathers of the Institute, and the yearning of Nigeria’s motion picture practitioners, would be practitioners, in the provision of modern skills and techniques for filmmaking.

According to  Adesanya, NFI prides herself in her graduate students (Alumi)who have carved niches for themselves domestically and internationally, by winning levels at ZUMA Film Festival, FESPACO, AMAA, and Durban Film Festival.

Earlier the Vice Chancellor, University of Jos, Prof Hayward Mafuyai who was represented by Professor Irene Agunloye, congratulated the students for their admittance into the Institute. He craved for optimal behavior from the students so as not to bring the image of the Institution, their parents and sponsors to disrepute. The National Film Institute was established by the Nigerian Film Corporation in 1995.