The Office of the First Lady, led by the Coordinator, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani, has reinforced the State Government’s interest in projecting the State’s rich culture and heritage.
This was in an engagement with the National Film and Video Censor Board, Benin Center, at the Government House, Benin City.
While addressing the representatives, Mrs. Anani emphasized the importance of showcasing the State’s culture and heritage through film and movie productions, noting that it’s an excellent way to share our stories.
‘Edo State is a land of culture. It’s a land of deep heritage; we have many stories to tell. The museum itself tells many stories that we can project. I would love to see more projections of our culture, letting our children know that we have a story to tell. Let’s tell our own stories and showcase our rich heritage.’
Mrs. Anani also stressed the significance of movie classification and ratings, which help protect children from unsafe media content.
She further stressed that safety on set should not be compromised, as many actors and actresses have lost their lives during movie production.
Also speaking at the meeting, The Leader of the delegates and head of the Benin Center, Mr. Fred Elakhe, explained the roles of the Association and its mandate. ‘The NFVCB is an agency under the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, with the mandate of regulating the Film and Video industry in Nigeria.’
‘We observe that movies have gone beyond entertainment and information to shaping cultures. The way we dress, speak, or even raise our children has been affected. That’s why we’re committed to protecting our young ones from the negative effects of movies.’
Mr. Elakhe also explained how their classification system has been broadened to prevent child abuse and molestation, promote religious tolerance, and foster unity in the nation.
The meeting ended with Mrs. Anani unveiling the “Project Healthy Screens” aimed at producing movies that conform to all legal laws and feature healthy contents, especially for children.
