Adedayo Thomas, the executive director of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), has said Nollywood is the largest employer of labour in Nigeria.
Thomas divulged this in a statement made at his visit to the national secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Abuja on Friday, October 15, 2021.
He added that the Nigerian film industry can attract investors and boost the country’s GDP if it received sufficient attention.
“The film industry in Nigeria is currently the largest employer of labour with its exponential growth,” he said.
“In 2019, CinemaCon, the largest gathering of movie theater owners from around the world, celebrated Nigerian Cinema with an ‘Emerging Market Award. An award Nigeria still holds to date.
“Nigeria’s cinema was accorded the honour, following its three-year consecutive exponential growth.”
Thomas, according to NAN, pointed out that the number of cinemas in Nigeria increased to 62, from 20 cinema houses in 2017.
“The feat was achieved due to the commitment and determination of governments to economic diversification,” the NFVCB boss added.
“The film industry is the new oil that can attract investors, create jobs, and boost the nation’s GDP if adequate attention is given to it.
“The industry is no longer for entertainment alone, but it offered great opportunities in creating a lot of jobs for the youths.
“We always see new faces every day in the industry. Assuming this industry is not waxing stronger, joblessness would have pervaded everywhere.”