The Bachelor of Film Arts Degree programme of the National Film Institute (NFI), Jos, has been endorsed by the nation’s apex regulatory body for university education, the National Universities Commission (NUC). This is further to NUC’s approval of the Institute’s affiliation to the University of Jos.
A letter from the office of the Registrar, University of Jos, dated March 22, 2010, signed by Mr. C. B. Langpoe, conveying the endorsement/approval for the affiliation, was addressed to Afolabi Adesanya, Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Nigerian Film Corporation and Chairman Governing Council of National Film Institute. The Registrar drew the attention of the authorities of the Nigerian Film Corporation to the outcome of the evaluation visit to the National Film Institute, Jos, carried out jointly by officials of NUC and UNIJOS from November 10 – 12, 2009, with a view to assessing the human and material resource capacity of the National Film Institute (NFI) to run a degree programme.
The approval, the letter further stated provides that the University of Jos shall henceforth be involved in all matters of admission of students, who shall bear the University’s (UNIJOS) matriculation numbers.
Reacting to the approval, elated Afolabi Adesanya said that he was happy that the Nigerian Film Corporation has been able to secure NUC’s approval of NFI’s affiliation to the University of Jos, and the endorsement of the Degree Programme in Film Arts. He commended authorities of the NUC and UNIJOS for the approval, saying “the management of the Nigerian Film Corporation will continue to, and indeed strive to implement, sustain and improve on the requirements for the endorsement/affiliation”.
Adesanya praised the Federal Government for the provision of funds for the various infrastructural developments and acquisition of state of the art film equipment especially within the last five years which he said “contributed immensely to the successful accreditation/affiliation exercise”.
Particularly, Adesanya listed some of the film equipment and infrastructure that aided the affiliation exercise to include the installation of an FP model 16mm & 35mm cine projector at the National Film Institute, the constructed and commissioned Sound Stage complex (2009), Administrative Block (2009), Still Photography Laboratory (2008), Cyber-cafe’/Bookshop/Canteen (2008); acquisition of latest models of Arriflex cine cameras and various sizes of prime lenses(2009),Digital Colour Analyser(2009), 16mm and 35mm Dry & Wet Printer and the two (2) Blocks of 100 bed-space Students Hostel, to be commissioned soon among others.
It will be recalled that, the first set of graduates of the National Film Institute were last in February 2010 mobilised for the one year compulsory National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC).
The National Film Institute, Jos, was established in 1995 by the Nigerian Film Corporation to provide training and capacity building of highly specialised manpower for the fast growing Nigerian motion picture industry.
The Institute, in addition to the Bachelor of Film Arts Degree programme also runs a two (2) year Professional Diploma Programme in Film Studies, Professional Certificate/University Outreach/Implant Programme. The Institute also engages in workshops, seminars, conferences, researches and documentation in the film and sound.
Brian Etuk
Head, Public Affairs
