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Heritage Bank Plc. has explained why it is so committed to the growth and development of Nigeria’s creative industry which is a major contributor to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The Group Head, Corporate Communications, Heritage Bank, Fela Ibidapo, gave the explanation recently after the viewing part one of a movie titled: A soldier’s story return from the dead at Genesis Cinemas in Shoprite, Lekki, Lagos , a show organised as part of activities to herald the second part of the movie.
Ibidapo noted that in an assessment of the industry’s performance done recently, Nollywood defied recession and had grossed an amazing N1 billion from a record 50 indigenous movies in 2016- its best box office returns ever, saying the bank prides itself in its ability to hold different sectors of the economy in order to nurture them and help them to grow.
Maintaining that the bank’s participation in the recent Nigeria’s Creative Summit has further given it a boost as it is now more committed to supporting the entertainment industry, he stressed that the creative industry is one of the major contributors to the country’s GDP with Heritage Bank committed to supporting it because it is part of the country’s heritage.
According to Ibidapo, Heritage Bank is proud of the entertainment industry and will continue to stand by operators in it by supporting them and watch them grow.
“We had worked with Mekloss Production & Frankie Ogar Film to produce the first edition of the movie –A soldier’s story return from the dead- and we are also committed to work with them in the production of the second edition of the movie,” he said.
He remarked that the Nigerian entertainment industry has come of age as there are now more exposures with many of them now showing in cinemas.
The producer of the movie, Mr. Martin Gbados, said they got support from Heritage Bank to make the first edition and they also felt they should still involve the bank in the production of the second edition which would involve a leading American movie star, Eric Roberts and other international and local stars such Akin Lewis and Segun Arinze, among others.
Roberts, who is a prolific film producer in the US. is also a three-time nominee of the Golden Globe Award and a two-time nominee of the Academy Award for his supporting role in Runway Train (1985).
Gbados said the entertainment industry needed support from the Federal Government and investors to be able to produce films in the country so that much of the money that goes into film production could be retained in the country.
The central theme of the film, A soldier’s story return from the dead, is the sacrifices that soldiers and other security agents make in the cause of carrying out their duties.
“We often limit the sacrifices to them but what about their wives, kids and families that they need to take care of in the home front otherwise they won’t be able to concentrate on their core assignments.,” the film producer said. “So, the overriding objective of the film is to bring the sacrifices of the people in those institutions to the fore so that people can appreciate and respect them.
It will be recalled that the Federal Government had commended Heritage Bank for its commitment to the development and growth of the creative industry at the recently concluded two-day Creative Nigeria Summit with the theme: Financing the Film, Television and Music Industries; which was co-sponsored by the bank.
