By Adesina Wahab

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said the state government is setting up a $100 million Film Village to provide opportunities for people in the creative industry to polish their talents and make their works become globally known.

He stated this on Tuesday while delivering the 36th convocation lecture of Yaba College of Technology, YABATECH. The lecture was titled “Developing export alternatives for Nigeria’s economic recovery.”

According to him, the step would help in adding value to Nigeria’s export to the world.

The governor, who noted that despite the fact that Nigeria is doing well in entertainment, film industry and related sectors, the inability to add value before exporting is denying the country some revenue.

Sanwo-Olu noted that Nigerian music and films have become globally accepted and that there is need to encourage those involved by providing facilities to make their products compete favourably well across the world.

He added that his administration is investing in infrastructure and others to make the state the first that would come to mind when innovators are being sought.

“The creative industry is not left out. From the $100 million Lagos Film City currently under construction to the John Randle Center for Yoruba Culture and History, to the newly-revamped National Theatre complex in Iganmu (now served by a rail line), we are leaving no stone unturned in enabling and empowering Lagos to create and serve artistic and cultural excellence to the world.

“And, earlier this year, private investors broke ground on a 12,000-seater sporting and cultural venue here in Lagos, that will stand shoulder to shoulder with some of the most iconic venues around the world.

“All of the above are to show that when we talk about enabling a non-oil export economy for Nigeria, Lagos is and will continue to be at the forefront, going beyond lip service to very practical demonstrations of seriousness, through direct investments and public-private partnership,” he said.