A former President of the Motion Picture Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MOPPAN) and prominent actor, Alhaji Sani Mu’azu, has described the appointment of Ali Nuhu as the new Managing Director of the National Film Corporation (NFC) as being synonymous with renewed hope for growth for the film industry in Nigeria.
Mu’azu was reacting to the appointment of the popular actor as the new helmsman of the NFC by President Bola Tinubu on Friday.
In a social media update, the Jos-based artiste noted that Kannywood, which is Nuhu’s primary base, “is agog with celebrations as one of its own just got appointed by President Tinubu.”
Going down memory lane, he said: “Since the inception of the Nigerian Film Corporation, NFC, many Nigerians had held the helm of affairs of the corporation, which started with Mr. Brendan Shehu to Dr. Hyginus Ekwuazi, Afolabi Adesanya, Dr Danjuma Dadu and finally Dr. Chidia Madueke, (but) none of these persons truly came from Kannywood. This may explain the reasons for the backwards motion of the industry.”
According to him, Nuhu’s appointment is “synonymous with renewed hope for growth for the industry in general, not just Kannywood, because, just like me, he is one of the few crossover top actors that work on the two sides of the divide.”
Mu’azu is one of the few northern actors featuring prominently in southern Nigerian movies, known as Nollywood.
He added: “Ali Nuhu understands the challenges confronting the growth of the Nigerian film industry generally and, in formulating policies for its growth in this age and time, he will definitely ensure that Kannywood is carried along. Just what Kannywood wants.”
He congratulated both Ali Nuhu and Kannywood on the development.
