NITDA to establish studio for Kannywood

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has revealed plans to set up a standard film studio to support the Kannywood film industry.

The Director General (DG) of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, who disclosed this during an interactive session with Kannywood stakeholders organised by PRNigeria Centre in Kano on Saturday, said the move was part of the agency’s initiative of ensuring stronger collaboration with filmmakers to harness digital innovation for the growth of the creative industry in the country.

He noted that film makers had a critical role in shaping public perception and national development.

He said, “Filmmakers are more impactful than even politicians in behavioural change. You should produce films that motivate people to build technology and not just focus on profit.”

The founder of Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), Yushau A. Shuaib, revealed that the NITDA Digital Centre at PRNigeria in Kano had trained over 2,500 students, mostly from Bayero University Kano (BUK), Yusuf Maitama Sule University and Kano State Polytechnic, free of charge.

He added that more than 50 journalists per state had benefited from training in Kano, Jigawa, Enugu, Lagos and Port Harcourt.

He stressed that the centre was keen on supporting Kannywood to achieve global competitiveness.

Earlier, the President of the Professional Film Directors Association of Nigeria, Nasiru B. Muhammad, lamented that Kannywood lagged behind due to an unfriendly operational environment.

He appealed to NITDA to provide translation and subtitling softwares to help filmmakers reach wider audiences.

He also called for greater government integration of the industry, saying filmmakers were often dismissed as mere entertainers.

During the meeting, two software developers presented their innovations; while Shuaib Agaka of PRNigeria demonstrated PRev, a human-augmented media intelligence software for journalists and PR practitioners; Abdullahi Sabo Mahuta on the other hand developed SchoolTra, an educational platform already adopted by over 200 schools nationwide.

Nigerians can now invest ₦2.5 million on premium domains and profit about ₦17-₦25 million. All earnings paid in US Dollars. Rather than wonder, click here to find out how it works.

Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.