Mr Jasper Johnson, the Executive Chairman of Afro International Film Market and Festival (ALFMF), Nigeria on Friday said that the global arts festival would soon stage its debut performance in Nigeria.
This is coming decades after the second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture “Festac 77”, held in 1977.
Johnson, who made the disclosure in Abuja at the inauguration of the media launch of the festival, said that the decision to host the festival in Nigeria was because of the West African nation has the largest film industry in Africa.
According to him, Nigeria’s film market potential globally, is currently second to that of India.
“Nigeria is the home of the continent’s biggest stars in the creative industry.
“Consequently, Nigeria is the international destination to host what will soon become Africa’s largest creative industry event,’’ he said
Johnson said that the festival would provide the enabling environment for Nigeria’s creative industry to benefit from the economic value chain of the industry, and boost the nation’s earnings.
He also said that the festival would create employment opportunities for Nigerians, adding that it was also a platform to discover talents.
“The five-day festival will provide opportunity for creative artistes, professional film makers, equipment manufacturers and the target audience of creative industry to interact,” Johnson added.