Sanwo-Olu Kicks Off Construction Of $100m Lagos Film City Project

Govt, Private Investors Partner To Deliver Multipurpose Entertainment Campus In Ejinrin

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu laid the first foundation block for the development of Lagos Film City on Wednesday. This project aims to create an ecosystem of creative cinematography, tourism, leisure, entertainment, and learning. It is being built on a 100-hectare land in Ejinrin town, Epe Division. The Sanwo-Olu administration initiated the project as a legacy infrastructure to harness local talent and creativity in culture and entertainment industries to provide new economic opportunities for talented youngsters. The Lagos State Government signed a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreement with entertainment investors facilitated by Del-York Group to develop the one-stop campus for learning, film production, post-production, visual effects, and other ancillary services supporting the filmmaking process. Indigenous entertainment partners such as Ogidi Studios and EbonyLife Cinema will work on the project to bring the Governor’s vision to reality. During the groundbreaking ceremony, Ejinrin, a coastal boundary town, became a beehive of activity. Alhaji Adebayo Salami, popularly known as Oga Bello, Prince Jide Kosoko, Tade Ogidan, Prof. Sola Fosudo, Adewale Elesho, Saheed Balogun, Kunle Afolayan, and Raymond Anyiam-Osigwe, among others, were among the Nollywood veterans and notable theater practitioners that attended the ceremony. The event also had in attendance traditional rulers and members of the diplomatic community, who expressed their excitement seeing Lagos launching a world-class infrastructure to tap into the global entertainment market. Sanwo-Olu noted that the occasion marked a significant milestone in his administration’s journey to creating a thriving film industry in Lagos that would have a global appeal, while contributing to the economic growth and cultural development of the State. He said the film industry has the power to transcend boundaries and bring people together. It can inspire, entertain, and educate. Through the magic of cinema, Lagos can showcase its rich cultural heritage, tell stories that reflect its shared experiences and amplify the voices of its diverse communities. This film city will serve as a canvas for these stories, providing a platform for Lagos’s talented artists to shine on both local and global stages. When completed, there would be no need for filmmakers to take their creative contents out of the country for final production of their works. All required infrastructure and equipment needed to produce globally accepted cinema production would be available in the Film City. Sanwo-Olu appealed to residents of the host community to support the project, noting that the Film City would turn around fallow assets of the town to create wealth for its inhabitants. Through the project, Lagos would tap into the global entertainment GDP, create job opportunities for young cinematographers, stimulate economic growth, and attract more foreign investment into the sector.

Commissioner for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, noted that the idea to embark on the Film City project was initiated during the Governor’s transition period in 2019. She added that the project required committed investors and partners to bring it to life. She said the commencement of the project’s construction further testified to the commitment of the Sanwo-Olu administration to invest in infrastructure and create an enabling environment for the creative economy to thrive in Lagos. “The Lagos Film City will have a spiral effect on Lagos’s profile as a tourist destination of choice beyond the entertainment sector,” the Commissioner said. Linus Idahosa, the founder of Del-York Group, stated that the Governor’s allocation of private equity to investors in the project development demonstrated his appreciation of critical partnerships required to execute the vision and enhance growth in the creative sector. He added, “It takes strategic collaboration between the Government and stakeholders to advance the country. The creative energy we are about to harness through the Film City project will determine the future of this country.” Oba Rafiu Balogun, the Elejinrin of Ejinrin, described the Film City as the “first modern project” to be initiated in the town decades after the colonial masters left. He added that the event marked a new era for the natives, and the talents and endowment deposited in Ejinrin could now be enhanced for national development. The monarch thanked the Governor for choosing to locate the project in their town. Femi Adebayo, a renowned movie star, spoke on behalf of Nollywood. He stated that the project represented the collective enthusiasm of theatre practitioners and the creative community. He emphasized that the infrastructure would enhance professionalism in cinematography and entertainment.