It’s shameful that Nollywood does not have a benefitting home – Mr. Ibu

Popular Nigerian comic actor John Okafor aka Mr Ibu, says lack of standard structure in Nollywood was worrisome.

Ibu, who spoke with newsmen in Abuja, said that it was a shame that the world’s secondlargest movie industry lacked standard structures such as headquarters building and modern film studios since its establishment over 20 years ago.

He said that practitioners in the industry would benefit more from “Structured Nollywood,” rather than financial aid from the Nigerian government.The Federal Government last year released N420.2 million tothe Nigeria film industry popularly called Nollywood, to improve and support aspiring practitioners.

The money under the “Project Act Nollywood,’’ is the second payment to the sector under the present administration, to help 105 film distributors.Government had earlier approved N1.8 billion for disbursement to 106 beneficiaries.Mr Ibu said he was opposed to such funds due to its inaccessibility.

He further alleged that most actors, actresses and producers in Nollywood do not benefit from such funds due to selfish interests of those in charge of the dissemination of such funds within the government agencies.“We expect such money to be dispensed appropriately by the Ministry of Information and Culture; such money go into the hands of those not connected with what we are doing”.

He explained that rather than give Nollywood such money that would not be utilised adequately; government should provide the industry with a plot of land to enable stakeholder build befitting structures and generate money internally.