Ekiti State government has begun moves to establish a film village along the Ikogosi warm spring tourism corridor in furtherance of its
renewed efforts aimed at boosting its internally-generated revenue base.
The initiative is also part of the determination of the government to promote tourism and entertainment industries and to attract industry players across the globe to the state.
Wife of the state governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, disclosed this while receiving the report of a committee set up to drive the project, in
her capacity as the chairperson of the state technical consultative committee on arts, culture and tourism development.
The committee is chaired by the Assistant Director, Abuja Film Village, Princess Badewa Adejugbe-Williams, while the state Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Ayodele Jinadu; and Director-General, Abuja National Carnival, Prof. Ojo Bakare, are among the members.
Thrilled by the industry put into the report, the governor’s wife described the proposed project as a stepping stone towards massive
employment generation aimed at banishing poverty in the land.
Although Ekiti is not an oil producing state with fat income, she said that the state could tap its vast natural endowments and beautiful
scenery to generate income. The governor’s wife said, “I have seen many beautiful places in the world by the grace of God, but I’ve not
seen a place that is more beautiful than what we have here in Ekiti.
“Since we are not a state that is blessed with oil, we can be thankful to God that we have these beauties of nature, which we can harness to generate income.”
She assured the delegation that the Governor Kayode Fayemi-led administration would ensure that the film village became a reality,
given its commitment to the development of tourism potentials across the state.
The governor’s wife stressed that the facilities currently being developed at the Ikogosi Warm springs would complement the needs and expectations of the proposed village.
The commissioner added that the village would be sited in Ipole Iloro, a contiguous town to Ikogosi and Efon Alaaye, where a beautiful
valley, village path and waterfall were located.
Jinadu explained that the committee studied the Gambian, Ghanaian, South African, Indian, as well as Abuja and Ososa, Ogun State, film village models in arriving at its report on the proposed Ekiti project.
Last modified: April 29, 2012
