Creative Industry
NIHOTOUR Gastronomy Event, Panacea to Promoting Nigerian Cuisines For Export-FTAN
NIHOTOUR: The Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), Chief Samuel Alabi has applauded the observance of the annual World Sustainable Gastronomy Day by the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) in the country as a sure way of promoting Nigerian array of exquisite cuisines for export to the global community.
Chief Alabi who stated this in an interview he granted Africa Travel Herald was a Special Guest and recipient of NIHOTOUR’s Fellowship Award at the just concluded 2022 World Sustainable Gastronomy Day hosted by the Institute in Abuja, noted that the event was unprecedented in the history of the industry, and in particular, the hospitality sector.
He said the food exhibition, couple with the skill acquisition programs embarked upon by NIHOTOUR across the country, is empowering the youths to export not only the skills they acquire, but the Nigerian cuisines in the form of establishing Nigerian Kitchen abroad.
The FTAN BOT Chairman, said he was amazed at the varieties of Nigerian dishes displayed at the exhibition booths of the six geo-political zones of the country packaged by NIHOTOUR, including the South West Zone where he came from, in his words; ‘I don’t know that we have varieties of food even from the South West that am from, I found out that there are cuisines that I have never seen before, I tasted them and they were wonderful.”
He concluded that the gastronomy day exercise was a worthwhile venture that government must support and promote it annually.
Speaking further to the Africa Travel Herald, he commended the foresight of the Director General of NIHOTOUR, Nura Sani Kangiwa, who, since inception as Chief Executive Officer of the Institute, came up with brilliant ideas and innovations that are putting the sector in remarkable limelight, adding that this is what you get when you put professionals in the right leadership position to head, because Kangiwa is a professional and active key player in the industry, saying ‘this is putting a round peg in a round hole’.
He said the remarkable successes and achievements of Nura Kangiwa as Director General of NIHOTOUR within the short period of his assumption has proved and made a case for the appointment of industry practitioners into key positions in the public sector, including the tourism and hospitality industry.
According to Chief Alabi, he said he was impressed with lots of things at the gastronomy day event, ‘The attendance of foreign embassies was very amazing.
The creative and ingenuity of the Mobile Kitchen was another awesome sight to behold; and above of all, the manner and way the Director General conducted himself, moving about his staff and guests to ensure prompt and orderliness with a degree of humility, noting that other CEOs would have sat bossily and watch things unfold just anyhow. ‘I must say am impressive and give kudos to NIHOTOUR to have made this happened
Creative Industry
Stephanie Linus, Juliet Ibrahim 8 others Appointed Jury Members For Zuma International Film Festival
Joel Ajayi
Ten-member 10 jury of reputable Nigerian and foreign filmmakers to adjudicate on all entries in the competitive category of the Zuma international film festival, 2024, scheduled to hold in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital from December 1st to 5th, which is jointly being organized by the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has been announced.
Announcing the constitution of the ten-member jury through a statement issued in Abuja (on Monday, November, 11, 2024); Brian Etuk, NFC’s Director of Public Affairs, said “the jury is most critical to the selection of winning entries and composition of the jury reflects the premium and niche of ZUMA International Film Festival, as one of the continents fastest growing international film festivals and market events”.
He said, this explains why membership of the jury includes both Nigerian and foreign film stakeholders who have in the recent past promoted authentic Nigerian and African resonate stories, and continue to contribute immensely to the growth of inclusive global film production.
Stephanie Okereke Linus, an A-list Nigerian actress, filmmaker, activist with lead appearances in over 100 movies, including an Afro-Hollywood, USA Filmmakers Award for Excellence, Reel Awards for Best Actress, and recently, the AMVCA Award for Best Overall Movie in Africa as well as recipient of the AMAA Award for Best Nigerian Film for her impactful work DRY was named as the Chairperson of the Jury.
Other members are Kenneth Gyang- director of This Is Lagos, Mojisola as well as Oloture Netflix’s Original from Nigeria; Aisha Halilu Abdullahi – a docu-drama and documentary specialist; Ishaq Sidi Ishaq – an actor, writer and producer of “Kamilu”,‘‘Wasila’’; Charles Novia – an avant-garde Nollywood filmmaker, scriptwriter, producer, director and creative entrepreneur; Hakeem Kae Kazim – a supremely talented actor, producer, director of great cinematic portrayal of George Rutugunda in the Oscar-nominated Hotel Rwanda, as well as playing leading roles in The Librarian.
The Triangle, and knack for creating feisty and deeply thrilling characters; Sihle Hlophe – director with multiple awards and over 15 years of experience; Ronya Man – an acting coach and creative arts specialist with handles on Lahira, SIN.
The Johnsons, as well as Juliet Ibrahim – a bilingual (French and English) speaking multiple award-wining producer, director, entrepreneur with over 100 movie appearances. Zaiyanu Tanko Waziri, a veteran filmmaker and broadcaster with over two decades of professional experience was also named as member of the jury.
In the statement, Dr. Ali Nuhu, NFC’s Managing Director & Chairman, Festival Organising Committee, on behalf of its partner, the FCTA, congratulated Stephanie Okereke – Linus for emerging as Chairperson of the Jury. Dr. Nuhu said that the Jury Chairperson and her team’s roles are critical to the overall success of the Film Festival brand, which no effort has been spared in its organization in terms of content, attendance and participation. NFC; Nuhu averred, remains committed to achieving the objectives of sustaining the positive narratives that Nigeria with a huge creative economy, is indeed the hub of film production in Africa.
Zuma International Film Festival 2024, the 14th in the series and themed: Digital Renaissance: Embracing The Future takes place December 1st – 5th at Chida Event Centre, Abuja Nigeria. Meanwhile, Etuk added that the online registration portal of the film festival has opened, and intending participants can register through the link :- https://zumafilmfest.com/zuff-2024-registration.
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