The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Ebonyi State Chapter, has called on the government to ensure strict implementation of policies concerning piracy and copyright protection in Nigeria.
This call was made in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital by members of the organization who came from different parts of the country to observe series of activities organized by the state chapter of the the guild which was aimed at reviving the organization in the state.
In an interview, the Ebonyi State secretary of the guild, Mr. Nkwonta Victor, observed that a lot of intellectual properties owners who are supposed to be making ends meet from their talents, have unavoidably continued to live from hand to mouth as they are normally robbed by individuals who pirate and plagiarize their works for selfish interest.
Mr. Nkwonta called on the government to ensure stiff punishment of copyright law violators, to serve as a deterrent to others, stressing that the entertainment industry in Nigeria is capable of engaging the youths meaningfully if properly harnessed and secured from the hands of criminal elements in the society.
He also identified other challenges facing AGN in Ebonyi State to include lack of indigenous executive producers or sponsors of movies, and as such depend on outsiders for their productions.
However, he expressed hope that if the state government should help and establish a movie support fund with the kind of aesthetic environment in Ebonyi that the state would soon raise super stars that are fit to feature everywhere in the world.
Earlier in her remarks, the State Chairman of the guild, who doubles as the SA to the governor on solid minerals, Hon. Mrs Ezeugo Ngozi Chika, described AGN as an organization charged with the responsibility of building the society, stressing that the members of the guild are role models who showcase their talents to meet the entertainment needs of members of the society.
She noted that the essence of the three days programme was to awaken the consciousness of the members of the guild and other actors or creative individuals to be more focused and determined in their talent hunts by providing them with the opportunity of coming together to harness their potentials as a possible means of making them self reliant.
She thanked the State Governor, Engr. Chief David Nweze Umahi for providing them with the enabling environment for the programme and also called on Ebonyians especially the youths to engage themselves meaningfully by joining the creative industry instead of waiting for job opportunities.
Other participants who spoke during the grand finale of the AGN week, including the national director of guild services, Mr. Anigbo Clement (aka AB Cow Boy), and the former Chairman of the guild in Ebonyi State, Ambassador, Chief Brown Obianhu, expressed happiness that the event helped in bringing their members together to share ideas and pleasantries with one another, and stressed that entertainment industry is very vast with the capacity of accommodating as many as are willing and committed to make a difference in life.
Some of the special guest at the event who were also given meritorious awards for their outstanding contributions in the society, including a Lagos based business woman popular known as Nwanyi bu ife, and the Board Member, National Library of Nigeria cum Board Member in the National Horticulture Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan, Oyo State, Barr. Princess Tonia Ojiugo Adol Awam, thanked the executives of AGN especially their State Chairman, Hon. Mrs. Ezeugo Ngozi Chika, for organizing the epochs making event, and encouraged the members of AGN to always give helping hands to the upcoming ones, so as to continue to impact positively on the society.
They expressed gratitude for considering them worthy to be conferred with the awards, and promised to always support the programmes and activities of the guild.
The event which started with road walk, commenced on Friday 16th April 2021 and ended on Sunday, 18th April, with other highlights including: road walk, football match competition between the guild and RATTAWU, interschool quiz and debate competition, Nollywood pageantry, coronation of Igwe and Lolo of AGN, among other interesting packages.
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