The Plateau State governor, David Jonah Jang has restated commitment of his government to strengthening the existing bond between the state and the Nigeria Film Corporation, NFC. This, the governor said was necessary because the film industry stands as one of the fastest growing revenue earner for both the state government and the nation in general, especially with the international exploit of Nollywood.

Miffed Jang however challenged Nigerian film makers to champion the re-branding of the country through their films insisting, the country has been portrayed mostly in bad light through the kind of films they produce.

He said, the situation where idolatry seems to be taking centre stage in most Nigerian films was unacceptable. He said, instead,film makers in the country must realise that immorality is an absurdity in our culture which explains why since the Nollywood started, western films have been on the decrease in our markets and even internationally.

Governor Jang was speaking when newly constituted board members of the Nigeria Film Corporation, NFC, led by its chairman; Bongos Ikwue paid him a visit at government house, Rayfield, Jos, yesterday (October 8, 2009).

According to Jang, the Plateau Film City project which the State government donated a piece of land was yet to take off and called on the new Board to accelerate the take off of the Plateau Film City project. He said, the Government and People of Plateau State have become proactive in ensuring that federal government establishments in the State are adequate assisted to achieve their mandates.

Speaking earlier, chairman of the board, Bongos Ikwue said they were in Jos to identify with the government of Plateau state as the host state to the NFC. Ikwue called on the governor to approve the implementation of the various promises to the Nigerian Film Corporation so as to fast track the development of the film agency.

Ikwue dispelled insinuations that NFC headquarters had been relocated out of Plateau State, saying that NFC has come to stay in Plateau state and there is no plan of moving the Corporation’s headquarters.

Ikwue also disclosed plans by the board to initiate a competition to be known as David Jang Initiative aimed at boosting competition amongst script writers and film producers.

He said such competitions would not only encourage good film production but shall go a long way in uplifting the financial position of both the script writer and the film producer and place them at par with their international counterparts.

Governor Jang praised the David Jang Initiative, and called for necessary action to be taken for its realisation without delay.