Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has pledged to provide financial support in the form of grants to newly graduated students of the African Film Academy, helping them to launch their careers in the creative sector.

This announcement was made on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, during a ceremony where a total of 890 youths, sponsored by the Lagos State Government, celebrated their graduation from the African Film Academy.

The graduates showcased some of their projects to Governor Sanwo-Olu after completing a six-week intensive training program, which the governor expressed his support for.

These 890 youths benefited from the ‘Film in a Box’ initiative, a collaboration between the African Film Academy and the Lagos State Government designed to train and empower young individuals in the creative industry at three locations: Alimosho, Epe, and Badagry.

The training covered various disciplines, including acting, art direction, lighting, editing, sound production, and post-production.

The graduates, visibly enthusiastic about the Lagos State Government’s initiative, expressed gratitude for the support and committed to ensuring Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s reelection in the upcoming gubernatorial elections. Notable graduates, including Stephanie Eka and Mayowa Akinleye from Alimosho, Cornelius Demayon from Badagry, and Sylvia Chinwendu from Epe, shared their excitement about participating in the training.

During the graduation ceremony at the Lagos Theatre in Igando, Alimosho, Sanwo-Olu reiterated his administration’s dedication to working with industry stakeholders to cultivate skills that will support the livelihoods of creative individuals.

He also encouraged the graduates and other creatives to leverage the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund and the State Film Fund to become self-employed and create jobs for others.

Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, stated that the initiative aims to empower youth as agents of change in the creative sector, enabling them to achieve self-sufficiency.

She highlighted that the initiative has been expanded to enhance arts and culture for better performance and stimulate economic growth through skills development and job creation within the state’s creative industry.

Akinbile-Yusuf congratulated the graduates and assured them that the Lagos State Government would continue to monitor their progress and support them in producing quality creative work.

Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, the CEO of the African Film Academy, praised the determination of the graduates and encouraged them to utilize the skills acquired at the academy to explore the creative sector.

She noted that while the original goal was to train 600 individuals, the Academy exceeded expectations by training 890 students across Epe, Alimosho, and Badagry, with some already securing positions in the creative and film industries.

Anyiam-Osigwe also mentioned that during their training, some students created films, including “Akanji,” which is set to be screened in cinemas to showcase Alimosho to the world.