The Bank of Industry (BoI), as part of its support for the growth of the creative industry in Nigeria, has promised to add six more cinemas to the existing ones.
This was revealed by Joseph Babatunde, the bank’s Divisional Head, Large Enterprises, Lagos, during an interactive session with Nollywood stakeholders at the ongoing Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), which took place at the Silverbird Galleria, Victoria Island, Lagos.
According to Mr. Babatunde, the gesture from the bank is on the heels of the success story of Filmhouse Cinemas, one of the beneficiaries of the bank’s NollyFund scheme. He revealed that BoI has assisted six companies that plan on opening cinemas across the country.
Responding to a question on what the bank is doing regarding investing in cinemas, Babatunde said the bank is not unmindful of the need to expand. He also revealed that the bank is already expanding to Owerri, Port-Harcourt and Calabar.
“We started with Filmhouse,” he said. “But after Filmhouse, we have empowered not less than other six companies that are involved in providing cinema houses.”
This revelation overall, felt like some good news to the audience comprising of delegates from 35 African countries and 25 non-African countries. The session had top Nigerian film practitioners such as Kunle Afolayan, Gabriel Onye Okoye (Gabosky), Sunny Mcdon, Albert Egbe (Mr. B), Joke Silva, Funlola Aofiyebi, Ramsey Nouah, Mildred Okwo, Rita Dominic, Charles Novia, Mahmood Ali Balogun, Andy Amechi among others.
