Emeka Ike, the National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, on Saturday called on the Federal Government to probe the utilization of the N3 billion Nollywood Intervention Fund. Ike alleged that the money had been “hijacked by a cabal” to the detriment of the film industry.
The AGN president told newsmen in Yola, Adamawa State that the film industry had not benefited from the grant. According to him, the few beneficiaries of the fund had not invested anything into the industry, but are rather buying houses in Abuja and Lagos.
Ike further claimed that most of the 247 actors said to have been trained at the cost of N899 million abroad from the fund, could not be traced.
Ike said: “What the cabal does is to bring faces for Mr President; that’s what they did in the last administration, they are scavengers, and I am begging us here today to expose them.”
Ike advised the government to always relate directly with associations in the film industry such as AGN, ANTP and Kannywood, instead of individual actors.
The AGN president said he was in Adamawa to participate in a programme organised by the state Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, to encourage youth on self-reliance.
He said that the film industry has the potentials to boost the nation’s economy, if properly funded.
The AGN president said he would strive during his tenure, to address problems of sexual harassment, all forms of indiscipline and exploitation in the film industry.
Nollywood Observer 