Plateau State Government has said it is set to commence the foundation laying ceremony of the National Film Village in order to boost the entertainment industry in the state.
Taking newsmen around the project sites on Friday in Kuru and Mararaban Jama’a in Jos South LGA, the Commissioner of Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Joshua Ubandoma Laven, said the film village is going to be one of its kind in Africa, and that it will serve as a creative incubator for emerging talents in the state and beyond.
The commissioner said the venture is expected to also revolutionize both the local and global landscapes, featuring state-of-the-art music and movie studios.
He said it would also make room for equitable wealth distribution and provide a platform for scaling up and showcasing the talents of Plateau youth on the global stage.
Moreover, he said, the state has also concluded arrangements for the construction of Smart City Housing Units for low, middle and high-income earners for sustainable housing developments in its comprehensive approach in the State.
He said Governor Caleb Mutfwang is a proactive governor who matches words with actions, adding that the governor has directed them to ensure appropriate sites are secured so that the developers can come in as quickly as possible to commence work.
“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.
In his remarks, the Commissioner of Lands and Survey Town Planning, Peter Nyam Gai, said what this implies is that they are talking about Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to boost the economy, stressing that the State Government is ready to hit the ground running to ensure that this projects that have timeline are activated within the specific time.
The General Manager Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMBD) Arch. Hart Bankat, on his part, expressed satisfaction with the two sites secured for the projects, saying it is in line with Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s mandate to implement the greater Jos master plan.