Information Minister Storms NFC to Lay Foundation Stones
By Fred Iwenjora
Published: December 16, 2007
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National Board for Technical Education is now set to accredit and confer on the National Film Institute the full rights to admit students into its Diploma programmes.

This was disclosed recently when the Executive Secretary of NBTE Engr. Nuru Yakubu Ph.D met with the Managing Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation and Chairman, Governing Council of the National Film Institute, Mr. Afolabi Adesanya last week.

According to Mr. Adesanya, who briefed the NBTE boss of the mandates of both the NFC and NFI, the nation as at today has no tertiary institution dedicated to the studies of film as a course. Similarly, that apart from the efforts of the NFI, no department or faculty exists in the any of the nation's Universities and Polytechnic that offer film studies as a course. What obtains he said, was that film studies have been subsumed under Theatre Arts and Mass Communication studies.

Mr. Adesanya said, for the film industry to continue to thrive in Nigeria, there was the need to deliberately empower existing institutions such as the NFI, and encourage the establishment of film studies in departments and faculties of tertiary institutions.

Responding, Engr. Yakubu, commended Mr. Adesanya for the efforts of the National Film Institute in filling the gap in film studies through the offer of Diploma programmes at the institute.

This noble effort should be totally supported, Engr. Yakubu said. He informed the NFC boss that, there was indeed the need to strengthen the programmes of NFI so as to ensure that the required manpower needed to sustain and develope the motion picture industry in the country is put in place.

Impressed by the achievements of the NFI whose graduates are making waves locally and internationally, Engr. Yakubu said the NBTE will immediately embark on the accreditation of the diploma programmes of NFI.

Accordingly, he requested for a setting up of a committee on the accreditation, and on film studies in Nigeria, while still assuring that, he would liaise with the management of Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) to ensure the development of film curricular for Nigerian tertiary institutions.

Engr. Yakubu also highlighted some of the programmes which are being embarked upon by NBTE to encourage vocation training and development in Nigeria.

The Vocational Enterprises Institutions (VEI) and Innovation Enterprises Institutions (IEI) are among them, which according to him are sector specific institutions designed to provide specialized training thereby preparing Nigerians to acquire practical and innovative skills needed to compete globally.

Engr. Yakubu, who was amazed at the tremendous inroad and impact created by "Nollywood" films across the continent and beyond, remarked that the NBTE will ensure that the NFI is fully encouraged and assisted to realize its mandate.

It will be recalled that, Mr. Adesanya had last month met with the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. John Okogie on the dearth or non-existent of any higher institution in Nigeria offering courses in film studies, and the urgent need to facilitate the development of film curricular for the nation"s tertiary institutions.

At the meeting, Prof. Okogie assured Mr. Adesanya that the NUC will indeed assist all institutions, including the NFI to realize their educational and capacity building mandates.

Meanwhile, California, USA based Prof. Jude Akudinobi a notable film scholar of international repute has applauded the efforts of the Nigerian Film Corporation in championing the development of a curricular for film studies for Nigerian tertiary institutions

"Your initiatives with the NUC......and establishing a Film studies programme at the NFI is, definitely, a winning hand", Prof. Akudinobi said. Further more; Prof. Akudinobi has already indicated his willingness to serve on the Curriculum Development and Advisory Committee.

The NUC, NBTE and the NFC have agreed in principle to partner in developing Film Studies Curricular for tertiary institutions in Nigeria in the New Year.

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