Creative Industry
New Sheriff In Town: Wike Champions First Abuja Investment Summit & Expo 2023
Joel Ajayi
The maiden edition of the Abuja Investment Summit and Expo 2023 takes off in the Federal Capital Tuesday 14th – Wednesday 15th November, 2023, as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barr. Nyesom Wike champions the Annual event to unlock the abundant investment opportunities of the territory for greater economic and industrial growth of the city.
In a statement signed by MNIPR, MITPNDirector, of Communications Ahmed Mohammed Sule on Thursday in Abuja, stated that the Summit and Expo is coming on the heels of Wike’s resolve as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory to make a difference in improved infrastructure, security, and socio service provisions for inhabitants of the Federal capital city and its environs, against the backdrop of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Scheduled to hold at the Velodrome, Package ‘A’ of the M.K.O. Abiola National Stadium Abuja, the Abuja Investment Summit and Expo christened: ‘Unlocking the Investment Opportunities of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory is made up of two sessions; The Summit, which will be an interactive session to examine and explore critical areas of investment opportunities in the FCT by expert speakers and panel of discussants.
The other is the Exhibition aspect which provides the window for FCTA Mandate Secretariats and their Agencies, Departments, and Units, allied exhibitors from Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as Organized Private Sector (OPS) companies, firms and corporate organizations to showcase their businesses and projects with the view to attracting investors for a collaborative partnership to grow their respective sectors.
According to highlights made available to the press on the essence of the Summit and Expo, they include; the promotion and marketing of the Federal Capital Territory as a safe investment destination in Africa, the creation of a platform for networking, knowledge-sharing, and collaboration among investors, entrepreneurs, government officials and other stakeholders and the showcasing of the potentials of Abuja as an investment destination, in addition to portraying the city’s socio-economic and cultural strengths.
As an annual event of impeccable repute and global standards, organizers say the Abuja Investment Summit and Expo 2023 seeks to showcase the potential of Abuja as an investment destination, create a platform for networking and collaboration as well and promote economic growth that will boost Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and development in the city.
Adding that events and activities lined up for the two-day program are meant to awaken the economic potential of the Federal Capital Territory through the provision of a series of action-oriented and implementable dialogues with multi-faceted stakeholders invited as investors, speakers, panelists, and exhibitors to the Summit and Expo
Indicators from the Organizing Secretariat of the Abuja Investment Summit and Expo revealed quite a number of Ministers have signified their intentions to lead their Agencies and parastatals to the Summit and leverage the opportunities it presents to showcase their sectoral mandates in stimulating investments for the economic growth and development of not only the Federal Capital Territory but the country as a whole.
The Federal Capital Territory Secretariats as primary targets will be showcasing viable Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) projects offering opportunities for investors to leverage on the various business attractions from both the government and individual stakeholders who will be in attendance and to afford financing opportunities for credible investors to access funding for various sector involvements including InfoTech, Agricultural and Agro-processing, Oil and Gas, Mining, Road and Building Projects, Health, Transport, Tourism and Hospitality, Real Estate and Property development and a myriad of Infrastructural Development projects
Worthy of note, as posited by the Organizing Committee, is that the benefits to the FCT is that the Summit and Expo will help boost developmental activities in Abuja and its environs; create of over 500,000 job opportunities for the Abuja populace and its environs; drive the socio-economic growth of the Federal Capital Territory, which is a fundamental aspect of the ‘Renewed Hope’ mantra of President’s Tinubu’s administration
It is expected that the Abuja Investment Summit and Expo will objectively result in stimulating deals and securing transactions for the accelerated economic development of the FCT in industrialization and manufacturing, creation of economic zones and industrial parks, trade logistics for regional integration, structural transformation for private sector competitiveness, skill development and job creation among others.
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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