To support the state’s entertainment sector, the Plateau State Government has announced that it will soon begin the National Film Village’s foundation-laying ceremony.

The Commissioner of Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Joshua Ubandoma Laven, gave reporters a tour of the project sites on Friday in Kuru and Mararaban Jama’a in Jos South LGA. He said the film village would be the first of its kind in Africa and would act as a creative hub for up-and-coming artists in the state and beyond.

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The aim of the Film Village

According to the commissioner, the venture, which will include cutting-edge recording and film studios, is anticipated to revolutionise the local and global landscapes.

In addition, he claimed, it would create space for fair wealth distribution and offer a stage on which Plateau youth could grow and present their talents to a worldwide audience.

In addition, he stated that as part of its all-encompassing strategy for the state, plans have been finalised for the development of Smart City Housing Units for low-, middle-, and high-income earners in sustainable housing developments.

The governor has instructed them to make sure the proper sites are secured so that the developers can arrive as soon as possible to start work, the speaker continued. He described Governor Caleb Mutfwang as a proactive governor who demonstrated his words with deeds.

“We want to develop a state-of-the-art film village, the first of its kind in Africa here. Wycliffe Jean is coming on the 28th of December, 2023 for a peace concert and then perform the foundation laying ceremony of the Film Village. The governor has gotten the commitment of all developers to hit the ground running.” 

“Governor Mutfwang in line with his vision to transform the state wants to change the narrative of Plateau State being the home of Civil Service and to show that Plateau is still the destination for entertainment, peace and tourism.” 

“The Film Village and Jos Smart City projects when completed will generate huge revenue for the state. The development will further boost tourism and bring the State to National and International limelight. Indeed, Plateau will be the headquarters of entertainment in Africa,” he said.

The State Government is prepared to get started right away to make sure that these projects with timelines are activated within the allotted time, according to Commissioner of Lands and Survey Town Planning Peter Nyam Gai, who made these remarks. He implied that they are talking about Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to boost the economy.

On his part, Arch. Hart Bankat, General Manager of the Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMBD), expressed satisfaction with the two sites selected for the projects, stating that they are in keeping with Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s directive to carry out the larger Jos master plan.

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Support from Haitian rapper, musician, Wyclef Jean

On December 28, 2023, Wyclef Jean, a rapper and musician from Haiti, is scheduled to visit Plateau State. His purpose was to organise a peace concert and establish the groundwork for the revolutionary National Film Village.

The goal of this film village, the first of its kind in Africa, is to serve as a creative centre for up-and-coming artists from the Plateau and throughout the continent.

It is anticipated that the National Film Village project will fundamentally alter both the domestic and international entertainment scenes.

It will have state-of-the-art recording and film studios, promoting fair distribution of wealth and offering a venue for young people from the Plateau to display their talents internationally.

Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Joshua Laven, explained, “We want to develop a state-of-the-art film village, first of its kind in Africa here. Wyclef Jean is coming on December 28, 2023, for a peace concert and then lay the foundation for the Film Village. The governor has got the commitment of all developers with a view to hitting the ground running.”