Amnesty office diversifies, to train beneficiaries in film making, others

The Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme and Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Prof Charles Dokubo, has declared that the programme was set to diversify its trainings by ensuring some of the beneficiaries are trained in art of filmmaking and other arts.

The coordinator, in a statement endorsed by his Special Assistant, Media, Murphy Ganagana, said that he was optimistic that training in the film industry will open a vista of opportunities for beneficiaries of the programme.

According to him, the Amnesty Office will recommend ex-Niger Delta agitators and other beneficiaries of the programme who are interested in film making and related trades for training at the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) Jos, Plateau State.

The statement quoted Dokubo as telling the Managing Director of NFC, Dr Chidia Maduekwe, during a courtesy visit to the Amnesty office, as saying that the movie industry provides an avenue to project Nigeria positively but also an opportunity to train Niger Delta youths.

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The statement quoted the Amnesty Coordinator as saying: “It was very exciting for me to know that such an avenue exists in Nigeria that will not only project our image abroad but will also train our own; those who have been affected by conflict in our region, so that they will be part of this training process. I am really happy that you came here, and I now know that an opportunity exists for my office and that we can always partner with you.

“I think we can get those who are really interested in movie making to be trained by your organization. I know that coming to meet me will open a vista of opportunities so that we can always key into it and move from there. It will not just stop here; we are going to move forward so that at the end, we are going to join hands and make sure our people are part of this programme.

“I have realized the value of training in the film industry. It’s a very good one and those who are interested in this type of profession, we will not hesitate to recommend them to you so that you can have a head start in training them and let them know that film making is not just about getting someone from outside; it’s a process where you learn. You have to read scripts; you interpret scripts, and you have to act scripts. It will be a very good meeting point for both of us and I will not forget your presentation in a hurry.”

The statement also quoted the NFC boss as soliciting partnership with the Amnesty Office on training and empowerment of beneficiaries of the Amnesty Programme in the film industry.

The statement quoted him as saying that the initiative was in line with the present administration’s commitment to youth empowerment, job creation and national security.

According to the statement training in film making and the arts will, among other benefits, offer a platform for empowering ex-agitators and youths in the Niger Delta on the path of self-reliance.

He said that such a training will also contribute significantly to the socio-economic development of Nigeria; expose indigenous cultures and tourism endowment of the Niger Delta region to the general public within and outside the country, increase investment and capital into the film sector and expose ex-agitators and youths to film markets, investors and business opportunities.

“The project will provide training and technical assistance to youth leaders in the Niger Delta and provide tailored opportunities for leadership development, community empowerment and bilateral exchanges across key areas of social mobilisation, civic journalism and community engagement”, the statement quoted Maduekwe as saying.