Reps Speaker, Gov Nwifuru, Stakeholders Express Support for Establishment of National Institute for Film, Media Tech and Artificial Intelligence Ukawu

 

 

 

Stakeholders within the National Assembly and the creative industry have expressed support for the bill seeking the establishment of National Institute for Film and Media Technology Ukawu, Ebonyi State.

The bill which is sponsored by the lawmaker representing Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo Federal Constituency of Ebonyi State, on the platform of the Labour Party (LP) Hon. Kama Nkemkanma Kama went through public hearing organised by the House Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values at the House of Representatives on Wednesday May 7, 2025.

In his opening remarks, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon Abbas Tajudeen who was represented by the House Committee Chairman on Healthcare Services Hon. Amos Magaji, stated that “The bill is an initiative of the House intended to expand the creative industry for job creation, economic development and empowerment” of teeming Nigerian youths.

The Speaker noted that the establishment of the Institute is a timely response to the critical need to expand and help develop the capacities of millions of young Nigerians who daily develop interest in the creative industry as a source of livelihood.

According to the Speaker, “This National Institute for Film and Creative development has become imperative given the increased need for access to quality technical and vocational education in Nigeria.  It is further supported by the rising interest in young Nigerians in in the creative sector through various platforms such as Nollywood, music and the use or artificial intelligence for skit-making, content creation, comedy and  storytelling among others.”

The Speaker revealed that the creative industry has become a major source of income and forex earning for the country as “Many content creators reported income in excess of 1million dollars per annum from online sources including X, Tiktok, Google,  Facebook,  Instagram.”

The Speaker also used the occasion to announce to stakeholders in the creative industry that the House had to stand down an initial bill seeking establishment of a dedicated institute for the study of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and incorporated it into the bill under scrutiny. Rt. Hon. Abbas informed the stakeholders that the name under which the bill will be considered when it will be debated is “the National Institute for Film, Media Technology and Artificial Intelligence Ukawu, Ebonyi State.”

In his remarks, the Chairman, House Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values, Hon. Steve Olusola Fatoba said that the Public Hearing was organised to elicit the “critically needed input of relevant stakeholders and to accommodate citizen’s participation in governance, particularly in the lawmaking process.”

Hon. Fatoba reiterated the resolve of the House of Representatives to ensure that Nigerians are carried along in the lawmaking process.

According to him, “We are determined to ensure that our laws are enacted through participatory and transparent process.”

Also, the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, Rt. Hon. Ogbonna Nwifuru, who was represented at the public Hearing by the Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Moses  Ije Odunwa thanked the House of Representatives and the sponsor of the bill assuring them that “Ebonyi State was ready to host the institute as the state through his administration’s “Chatter of Needs” mantra has placed human capital development, youth empowerment and job creation at the centre of its policy.”

Also, in his contribution, a stakeholder and the lawmaker representing Onicha East State Constituency (the host community of the proposed institute), in the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Hon. Celestine Ogba thanked the Speaker and members of the House of Representatives for their support for the bill. The Ebonyi lawmaker echoed the position of the governor, informing the House that “Ebonyi State is the most peaceful state” in the Southeast and therefore a fertile ground for the establishment of the Institute. Hon. Ogba further noted that the Institute when established will “create critical opportunity for young Nigerians, especially in southern Nigeria to achieve their life dreams as Ebonyi is very accessible to all.”

Several Critical  stakeholders including the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Prof A. Amuda Kannike SAN, who represented the Director General of National Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies, Radio, Television, Theartre and Arts Workers Union, represented by Comrade Akpausoh Akpausoh; the Nigeria Press Council (NPC) represented by its Director of Research, Mr. Dan Edeh, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the Chairman of Onicha Local Government Area, Hon. Ikechukwu Ogbofia expressed support for the establishment of the Institute.

On its part, the Nigeria Film Institute, Jos expressed concerns on the possible overlap of responsibilities with its mandate.

The fears of the Institute were, however, dispelled by both lawmakers and other stakeholders who held that Nigeria with over 250 million population cannot be adequately served with one training institution. Stakeholders were also unanimous in support of the proposed institute in Ukawu Ebonyi State, reiterating the need for competition. They cited the fact that Nigeria started with one University in 1948, but today Nigeria has close to 200 universities cutting across federal, state and private ownerships.

The bill which was introduced in the House in 2024 scaled Second Reading on October 2024.

Speaking to journalists after the highly successful public hearing, the sponsor of the bill, Hon. Kama Nkemkanma Kama stated that the essence of the bill was to create opportunities for relevant skill development for” Nigerian and African youths that will take advantage of the various modern courses that will be taught in the institution when it is eventually established.”

The lawmaker expressed happiness that the Speaker of the House, Governor Ogbonna Nwifuru of Ebonyi State, his colleagues and critical stakeholders within the creative industry supported the bill.