Lagos State Film & Video Censors Board

PRESS RELEASE

AMBODE REITERATES COMMITMENT TO THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE ENTERTAINMENT SECTOR

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has reiterated its commitment to the growth and development of the entertainment sector. He made this known in Lagos yesterday at the unveiling of the new mobile app platform, AfrigoldTV.

He said the entertainment industry has the potential to create employment and wealth stating that heavy investment in the sector would bring further excellence to the State.

Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, who was the special guest of honour at the occasion, stated further that the entertainment industry would continue to be an indispensable partner in his Administration drive to build a social and cultural identity for the Nation. ‘We are promoting the sector in order to consolidate community and national pride, positive social values, tourism and economic development.

Whilst admitting that today’s multiplatform environment has made competition inevitable, the Governor praised the conception of AfrigoldTV as a viable online streaming platform stating that it would provide opportunities for empowerment which is consistent with the State government policy of encouraging creativity and entrepreneurship as a way to developing the economy.

The Governor, who was represented by the Executive Secretary, Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board, Mr. Bamidele Balogun, however, observed with dismay the nonchalant attitude of practitioners in the creative industry towards their obligations to the state in respect of registration as practitioners and obtaining film shoot permit. He, therefore, appealed to them to perform their obligations to the State Government.

The Chairman of the occasion, Chief Ifeanyi D**e, also praised the proprietor of AfrigoldTV for her enterprising spirit and encouraged actors and producers to improve the standard of their movies. He appealed to the State Government for more support.

Earlier, the former Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan in his address appealed to producers to minimize the use of juju and negative vices in their movies. He said he looked forward to Nigerians telling their own story, projecting the image of the country positively while encouraging standard and merit.

AFRIGOLDTV is an online streaming platfrom established by Mrs. Oby-Olebara Uzoukwu, an actor and a movie producer who has produced over 200 movies for AFRIGOLDTV alone. She also has an academy where she trains actors and movie producers.

Many notable film actors, producers and media entrepreneurs were in attendance amongst who were Patience Ozokwor, Ejike Asiegbu, Ngozi Orji, Jim Iyke, Seun Akindele, Benedict Johnson, Derenle Edun and Seye Kehinde, publisher of City People magazine.

Adepeju Adeyemi
CPAO
08-08-2018

PRESS RELEASE
GOV.AMBODE HARPS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY
Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode says the State Government will continue to accord the creative industry priority attention. He made this known at the launch of OPA MOSE at Oregun on Friday.
Gov. Ambode, who was the special guest of honour at the launch of Movie, OPA MOSE; Graduation of students from the Theatre Academy,25years on stage and Birthday celebration by Mr Abraham Cole,a renowned Yoruba Film Producer.
The Govenor who was ably represented by the Executive Secretary ,Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board, Mr Bamidele Balogun says that ‘’The entertainment industry is an indispensable partner in our drive to build a social and cultural identity for our nation’’ Speaking further he said foreigners who wants to understand Nigeria better must as a necessity listen to our music and watch our films.
Mr Balogun harps on the importance of the Entertainment industry as a veritable tool to the image and identity of the country whilst reiterating State Government commitment to the growth and development of the sector which is reflected in the State’s overriding policy objectives.
He stated further that the State will continue to promote the sector in order to consolidate community and national pride, positive social values, tourism and economic development.
According to him, the entertainment industry alone has the potential to create employment and wealth. He commented the Host and the stakeholders for their doggedness, tenacity of purpose and sense of dedication and enterprise.
Whilst admonishing them to fulfil their obligations to the State by registering as practitioners and obtaining film shoot permit, he assured them of the resolute to accord the industry as a priority.
The Host, Mr Abraham Cole pledged on behalf of his colleagues their loyalty and support to the State Government whilst appealing for further assistance from the State.

ADEPEJU ADEYEMI
CPAO
23rd/08/2018

PRESS RELEASE
LSFVCB INSPECTS CINEMAS
The management of the Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board (LSFCB) on Monday went on inspection of cinemas as part of its over sight functions to enforce compliance with the regulations and guidelines governing the operations of cinemas in Lagos State.
The Executive Secretary, Mr. Dele Balogun who led the management team of the Agency noted that part of the statutory responsibilities of the Board was to register, license and classify cinematograph works and premises and prescribe safety measures on exhibition premises amongst other functions.
Mr Dele Balogun admonished cinema owners on the need to comply with safety standards in establishing cinemas in order to uphold and meet international best practices. He noted that the administration of His Excellency, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode was focussing attention on cinemas as part of the total commitment to the development of arts and creativity.
Speaking further, he stated that some of the safety items which must be in place were at least one entrance and one exit in every hall, fire extinguishers, fire stands and functional air conditioners to prevent suffocation.
The Executive Secretary frowns at opening of cinemas or branches of existing cinemas without due consultation and formal registration with the State Government through the Agency for inspections and payment of necessary financial obligations.
Mr. Balogun also stated the need for cinemas to strictly adhere to the age specifications on viewing of films in order to prevent children being exposed to immorality.
On hand to receive the Board were the management of the various cinemas visited among which were Ozone, the Filmhouse and Genesis Deluxe Cinemas.
It would be recalled that the Aency,which was established in 2004 during the Administration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,is charged with the responsibility of regulating the film industry in the State in which cinema registration is a part.
There are Thirteen Cinemas currently operating in Lagos State.

ADEPEJU ADEYEMI
CPAO

PRESS RELEASE
LASG TRAINS YOUTHS IN MOTION PICTURE PRODUCTION
As part of its commitment to reduce poverty amongst the youth in the State, the Lagos State Government in partnership with Nigeria Film Corporation (NFC) has commenced a special training programme on motion picture production for over 200 youths in the State. The training programme, which has participants drawn from all the Local Government and Local Council Development Areas in the State, would be for one week.

Speaking at the opening ceremony on Monday, the Honourable Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, who was represented by the Executive Secretary, Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board, Mr. Dele Balogun, said the State Government has always been receptive to empowerment initiatives that would engage the youths for productive exploits.

He disclosed that film making is one of the viable fields of human endeavour that one could engage in as a means for living stating that the objective of partnering with the Nigerian Film Corporation was to support individuals with such aspirations to achieve their dreams using the platform provided by the Nigerian Film Corporation.

Mr. Ayorinde stated that the State Governor, His Excellency, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode remains strongly committed to capacity building, entrepreneurship and sustainable youth development adding that he is passionate about engaging and empowering the youths of the State towards living a good life. This, according to him, was the reason why the Governor embraced the initiative. He believes that with the training, the youths would become more useful to themselves as well as to the society at large.

He said ‘Nobody is useless but lack of productive engagement makes them otherwise. He therefore encouraged the participants to utilise the opportunity provided them by paying attention to details emphasizing the benefits inherent in the training.

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation, Dr.Chidia Maduekwe in his opening remarks expressed his appreciation to the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode for the confidence repose in the Corporation and the opportunity given to them to mount the training programme in the State. He also praise the State Government for creating an enabling environment for everyone to be engaged.

Dr. Maduekwe whilst adding that the Governor has helped them in actualizing part of their mandates, said NFC was determined to sustain the relationship with the Lagos State Government in order to achieve its policies of youth entrepreneurial engagement, which according to him has become a national issue in the last few years.

Speaking on behalf of other participants at the training, Miss Adekunbi Odusoga, thanked the State Government for the opportunity given to them and explained that they have gained tremendously within the few days that the training started.

AdepejuAdeyemi
CPAO

27th, March 2018

CANNES 2017

LSFVCB BURN PIRATED AND UNCLASSIFIED CONFISCATED FILMS

Some illegal movies and equipment worth more than =N=10million were yesterday burnt by the Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board. The movies included pirated and unclassified local and international movies as well as duplicating machines which were seized in a recent raid in some parts of the State.

Speaking on the exercise, the Executive Secretary of the Board, Mr. Dele Balogun, said raiding and burning of all confiscated illegal movies was being done to discourage people dealing in such items to desist from doing so. It would be a continuous effort to rid the State of the sale of such items as those that were caught for the burnt films had been prosecuted.

He disclosed that the Agency had clamped down on sellers of pirated and unclassified films in Ijora and Ikorodu recently during which items such as Nigerian pirated, pornographic and unclassified movies were confiscated. It was a product of a monitoring exercise carried out prior to the raid.

Mr. Balogun said the State Government had been inundated with complaints from artists about the problem of infringement of their intellectual property rights and we are aware of the possible consequences of this problem on the entertainment industry as a whole. Besides, some individuals sell films that did not pass through the process of censorship which are all products of piracy.

Whilst the State Government was concerned about this trend, especially as artistes were not getting maximum benefits from their works, he stated that one of the ways to assist the industry was to intensify effort against the practice and sale of such items.

Whereas Nigerian artistes and bodies in the entertainment industry have a role to play in the fight because some of their members are involved in the practice, I wish to commend the Yoruba Movie Producers and Marketers Association of Nigeria (YOVIPMAN) who had collaborated with the Board in the past on this campaign, Executive Secretary said. He, therefore, encouraged other bodies to emulate the gesture so as to sustain the war against sale of illegal movies.

He reiterated the State Government commitment to the growth and development of the entertainment industry and assured that as a regulatory body in the sector, no stone would be left unturned to achieve this objective.

Reacting to the complaint of harassment during film shooting by Area Boys, Mr. Balogun reminded practitioners in the film industry on the need to always obtain film shooting permit from the Agency for any shooting within the State stating that operating on the side of the law was better than working against it. He assured that obtaining such a permit is a guarantee against such harassment.

It would be recalled that the agency carried out a series of raids last year in some areas in the State including Oshodi, Iyana-Ipaja, Agege, Ijora, Orile Iganmu and Obalende where a number of people were not only arrested but prosecuted and their properties confiscated and burnt to serve as deterrent against the continuation of the illegal practice.

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Recently,the LSFVCB carried out enforcement against illegal and pirated movies in some areas in the State.These pictures are the results of the enforcement exercise.

The renewal of memorandum of understanding (MOU) between National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) and Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board (LSFVCB) on Thursday,10/09/2015 at Ikoyi,Lagos.