President Jonathan: I’ll Use Nollywood To Transform Nigeria’s Economy

March 21, 2015 – President Jonathan: I’ll Use Nollywood To Transform Nigeria’s Economy

As the build up to the presi­dential election which holds on March 28 gathers momen­tum, President Goodluck Jonathan has declared that Nollywood has the potentials to trans­form the Nigerian economy and provide jobs if well harnessed.

The president articulated this position during the question and answer session at an event tagged The Showbiz Interactive with GEJ, held on Sunday, March 15, at Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos.

Responding to a question on why he is passionate about Nollywood, Jona­than said: “You want to know why I am quite passionate about the entertainment industry? First, I feel that the entertain­ment industry, just like sports is impor­tant. Secondly, the industry has been a kind of boost for tourism. We have not yet exploited the potentials and I see big op­portunities. Entertainment like sports is a unifying factor. As a boy who grew up in the village, whenever we had a dance, people didn’t quarrel. So, entertainment unites.

“In Bayelsa State, we have been promoting the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA). If we encourage the entertainment industry it will do better. I have noticed that if we encourage the entertainment industry, that is the Nolly­wood family, we would really be pushing this country forward because before this time, Nollywood and the entertainment industry in general was not producing much but now, in terms of our GDP, it is contributing over 1.4 per cent growth annually. So it is a sector that I am so passionate about and want to encourage because it will create a lot of jobs for young people as well as adults who are in business. I think we should make the industry bigger as we progress.”