A delegation of Indian investors through the Nigerian Indian Business Council has approached the Federal Government and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) with the aim of collaborating to complete the Millennium Towers and invest in the medical sector too.
Information and Culture Minister, Alh. Lai Muhammed who led the delegation of Indian investors to the FCTA on Tuesday called on the investors to look at the possibility of establishing a Film city within the Cultural Centre.
He said “I want to say that our efforts of wooing investors is yielding fruits because after the last visit, we had enquiries from some serious investors and this time around, I’m here with the members of the Nigeria India Business Council.
“The NIBC is made up of Nigerian businessmen and Indian businessmen and they’ve been here to look at where they can invest in areas of power, infrastructure, and medicine and of course, they also came with their investors from the creative sectors – from the film industry.”
He said that the investors have shown a lot of interest in the Nigerian creative industry and are looking closely at the establishment of film schools and studios very similar to what is obtained in Bollywood in the Cultural Centre.
In the words of the Minister, “I think from what we’ve discussed, there is a lot of encouragement coming from them because one of the things that are unique here… they have shown interest in the studios and the films schools.
“We will continue the conversation and see whether we can actually attract investors that will come and help us to finish this iconic edifice of the Millennium Tower and Cultural centre.”
On his part, the FCT Minister who was represented by the Executive Secretary, FCDA, Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmad urged the investors to take a critical look at the project, which makes up the cultural spine of Abuja with a view to opening the windows for more investment in the nation’s capital.
Malam Bello stressed that the Millennium Tower project was very dear to the FCT Administration and is optimistic that when completed it will not only open up the FCT and boost tourism and commercial activities but would also yield a lot of financial benefits for investors.
Speaking after a tour of the Millennium Tower a member of the delegation and Creative Producer in Bollywood India, Aasia Abbas expressed excitement at the benefits of investing in the FCT’s cultural edifice.
She said: “We feel there is so much potential and it is definitely worth investing in. I see a big future for the Nigerian film industry with so much content. Nigerian musicians are already world famous now and there are so many of these artists who are going to America and recording these songs. Why can’t they record it here? The talent is there, so all you need is a good studio.
“The idea is to harness the talent here and to keep it here and then to make it like a global platform so that you can have Nigeria to stand on a global platform and you can have people and students from all over Africa coming here, studying, learning, developing and producing contents. People go to America, the New York Film Academy. Why shouldn’t they come to Abuja Film School?”
Also present during the tour were the Nigerian High Commissioner to India Ambassador Ahmed Sule, the Director General Nigerian Film Corporation Dr Chidia Maduekwe, the Director General, National Gallery of Art, Mr Ebeten Ivara, the Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister, Malam Bashir Mai-Bornu and other senior officials of the FCTA and Federal Ministry of Information and Culture.
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