Empowerment! New film project to engage 500 Niger Delta youths

A new film project bankrolled by a group of individuals and hoteliers, expected to engage more than 5,000 Niger Delta youths in acting, has started auditioning in Delta and Bayelsa states.

The Audition Coordinator and Nollywood film producer, Mr Efekoha Ikimi, said in Yenagoa on Tuesday that the objective was to take talented youths of the Niger Delta out of the creeks and expose them to legitimate source of income and career in acting.

According to him, the project, which will last for one year, will see the production of 50 films, a soap opera and a featureless film. He added that the soap opera and the featureless film would be shown in cinemas across the country.

The Nollywood producer said “the project is a partnership arrangement with some hoteliers, television stations and private individuals.

“We plan to produce 50 short films, a soap opera and a featureless film; the featureless film and soap opera are going to be shown in cinemas across the country.

“It is going to be a one-year project; we are interested in grooming new talents and we will be engaging more than 5,000 casts from Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states.

“We are trying to do this because we have come to understand that the youths of the region will not be involved in criminality if they have legitimate source of earning income.

“They will not be involved and influenced negatively to carry guns if they are exposed to career opportunities,” he added.”Vanguard