Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has called for a positive projection of Nigeria’s culture and image to the outside world by players in the nation’s entertainment industry.
The speaker said players in Nigeria’s movie industry, popularly known as Nollywood, have a critical role to play in not only shaping the society for the better but also influencing how the nation is viewed by the outside world through the content of their trade.
Gbajabiamila made the call in his address at the opening of a two-day Leadership Master Training for Nollywood Celebrities and Stakeholders on the platform of Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) in Abuja on Friday.
He said, “Beyond the questions of economics and profit, there is the issue of the critical role of Nollywood in influencing culture, defining national character, and promoting national identity.
“You also have a responsibility to tell the best stories of our beloved country. I do not propose to turn you into cheerleaders for a Nigeria that does not exist. But the stories of men and women thriving through adversity and innovating for prosperity needs to be told, and it falls to you to tell those stories.
“I hold in my heart a fundamental belief that our highest aspirations for Nigeria can only be achieved by the combined effort of patriots working together to make real the vision of a prosperous and peaceful country.”
Speaking earlier, the Minority Leader, Ndudi Godwin Elumelu, said “the much- needed strategic multi-sectoral efforts to guarantee the desired rebound and repositioning of the movie industry in Nigeria, though long overdue, has begun.”
