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2023 Plateau International Film Festival Highlights Economic Growth and Employment Potential of the Film Industry
Film Producer, actor, director, and renowned Nollywood figure, Tony Goodman emphasized the significant economic potential of the film industry. He shared his insights during the closing ceremony of the Plateau International Film Festival (PIFF), which took place from October 13th to 15th, 2023, in Jos, Plateau State, under the theme “Film and Human Rights.”
In a groundbreaking shift from past editions, the 7th edition of PIFF adopted a non-competitive format, focusing on enhancing community engagement through a unique street film festival held across three venues: Secretariat Junction Under Bridge in Jos, RCM Abattoir near the Police Station, and the grand finale at Fwavwei Junction in Rayfield, Jos, Plateau State.
“Film festivals serve as eye-openers and avenues for transformative change, not only for the film industry but for the entire state,” said Tony Goodman. He urged the government to consider the potential of the film industry in contributing to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the state and to support it accordingly. “After two years of such support, they would see a significant improvement in the GDP, reduction in unemployment rates, and an overall boost in the economy due to the film industry and entertainment,” Goodman added.
Goodman also called for a revival of Plateau State’s lost glory in filmmaking and commended the organizers for their innovative approach to the festival. He encouraged investors to explore the opportunities presented by the film industry and events like PIFF.
Mr. Achor Yusuf, a film producer, director, and coach, underscored the importance of the street film festival in nurturing dreams among individuals unfamiliar with the film industry. He also noted that the festival provided a platform for fostering relationships and exploring technological advancements.
The festival enabled the celebration of diverse works and guided the direction of filmmakers, according to Yusuf.
Deborah Daniel Nyako, a filmmaker and past recipient of the festival’s Best Actress award, celebrated the 2023 festival for its role in networking and boosting filmmaking activities in Plateau State. She emphasized that despite the challenges faced by filmmakers in the state, they continued to create.
David Uro, a filmmaker, acknowledged the valuable community experience offered by the 2023 International Film Festival. The festival allowed people to meet renowned filmmakers and see their favorite actors, promoting inclusion and direct engagement with the art of film.
Uro acknowledged the historical significance of early Plateau filmmakers in establishing the state as a filmmaking hub, despite recent security challenges hampering its progress. He remained optimistic that Plateau State’s reputation in filmmaking would be restored in the future.
As the 7th edition of the Plateau International Film Festival concluded, Debrah Jalmet, the festival’s convener, highlighted the event’s role as a catalyst for social change, acceptance, and industry growth in Plateau State. She expressed her gratitude to the entire team of organizers, partners, and supporters for their efforts in making this year’s event a resounding success.
Jalmet urged local filmmakers to seize the opportunities presented and strive to restore Plateau State’s filmmaking glory, emphasizing the critical role of the film industry in the state’s economic and cultural development.
Fidelity Bank Plc has appointed Jonathan Ososuakpor as a Non-Executive Director of the bank, taking effect from 22 May.
The bank disclosed the appointment in a statement posted on NGX Group and signed by the Fidelity Bank’s secretary, Ezinwa Unuigboje, on Monday, noting that Mr Ososuakpor can achieve the bank’s strategic objectives.
According to the statement, the appointment has been approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria, while the Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, and Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria have also been notified about the appointment.
“The Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Jonathan Oniovosa Ososuakpor as a Non-Executive Director of Fidelity Bank Plc with effect from May 22, 2026.
“The appointment has been approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria, and notice of the same has been communicated to the Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, and Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria.
“The Board is pleased with the appointment and looks forward to working closely with Dr. Jonathan Oniovosa Ososuakpor to achieve the Bank’s strategic objectives,” the bank stated.
The bank said Mr Ososuakpor brings impressive cross-functional experience to the Board.
Profile
Mr Ososuakpor joins the Board of Fidelity Bank Plc with over 40 years of experience in the financial services industry, including Credit and Marketing; Retail; Consumer and Commercial Banking; Public Sector; Banking Operations; and Risk Management.
He enjoyed an illustrious banking career, which commenced in 1983 with Union Bank of Nigeria Plc and served in various capacities at notable financial institutions, including former Gateway Bank, Oceanic Bank, Ecobank Nigeria Plc, and Access Bank Plc.
Mr Ososuakpor held key leadership and management positions before he was appointed Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of AMJU Unique Microfinance Bank Limited in 2012, a position he held until he retired from the bank in July 2025.
He was Chairman of Universal Finance Consult & Investment Limited from 2007 to 2017, and V-Capital Consulting Limited from 2015 to 2025.
He currently chairs the Board of Directors of Top Rank Oil Services Limited, a leading multifunctional engineering company providing diverse services to the nation’s Oil and Gas industry, Public and Private Sectors.
Mr Ososuakpor holds a Bachelor’s degree in Banking and Finance, and Masters Degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Benin. He also has both a Master of Science and a Doctorate Degree in Economics from Delta State University, Nigeria, and a Master of Business Administration (Finance) Degree from Bangor University, Wales, UK.
His professional qualifications include Fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria; Institute of Credit Administration; Institute of Chartered Economists of Nigeria, and Association of Enterprise Risk Management Professionals.
He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria; Member of the Nigeria Economic Society, and Chartered Banker Institute, Wales, UK.
READ ALSO: Fidelity Banks first quarter revenue up by 38%
The new non-executive director is also a Certified Expert in Risk Management and a key resource person at local and international training. His areas of interest include Risk Management, Data Analytics, Monetary, Macro, and Microeconomics, Financial Inclusion, and Corporate Governance.
He has attended leadership and executive development programmes at world-class institutions, including the London Business School and United Nations Institute for Training and Research.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has released $3.9 million from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies and is establishing a continental Incident Management Support Team with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention to scale up response efforts to the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, disclosed this on Monday during an Africa CDC ministerial briefing, saying the national risk level in DRC had been raised to “very high” due to rapid transmission and the absence of vaccines or therapeutics for the rare Bundibugyo strain.
Mr Ghebreyesus said WHO made the decision last Friday following fresh assessments showing increasing transmission risks.
The WHO chief said the organisation was finalising a multi-agency Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan aligned with national response plans for DRC and Uganda, while expanding contact tracing, treatment centres, laboratory capacity and community engagement.
“So far, 101 cases have been confirmed in DRC with 10 confirmed deaths. In Uganda, five cases and one death have been confirmed, linked to cross-border movement,” he said.
According to him, WHO assesses regional risk as high and global risk as low, but warned bordering countries face high risk and should act immediately, according to the latest WHO update report.
He noted that the response had been complicated by insecurity in Ituri and North Kivu provinces, where fighting has displaced more than 100,000 people in recent months, worsening an already fragile humanitarian situation.
The WHO boss said that two security incidents at health facilities were reported in the past week, and distrust of outside authorities was hampering community-based interventions, according to the WHO field reports update.
He said building trust in affected communities was now one of the WHO’s highest priorities to improve outbreak response effectiveness and community engagement across affected regions in DRC and Uganda, which is urgently required.
“To address lack of countermeasures, WHO convened interim Medical Countermeasures Network last week and recommended prioritising two monoclonal antibodies for clinical trials,” he said according to WHO emergency response update report.
“The agency is also developing a trial for the antiviral obeldesivir as post-exposure prophylaxis for high-risk contacts in partnership with Africa CDC and the Collaborative Open Research Consortium on filovirus research.
“Discussions are underway with partners on candidate vaccines in the pipeline,” he said.
He said the evaluation of vaccine candidates and strengthening regional preparedness against Ebola outbreaks in DRC and Uganda was currently ongoing
Mr Ghebreyesus said he would travel to the DRC on 26 May with Chikwe Ihekweazu, executive director of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme, to directly review ongoing response operations.
He also thanked President Yoweri Museveni for cancelling Uganda’s Martyrs’ Day commemoration, which attracted up to two million people, as a preventive measure against further spread of the outbreak.
“We are facing an extremely serious and difficult outbreak. It will get worse before it gets better.
READ ALSO: Ebola: UNICEF raises concern over impact on children in DRC, Uganda
“But we know this virus, and we know how to stop it. With unity under the leadership of the governments of DRC and Uganda, and in close partnership with Africa CDC and all partners, we will stop this outbreak.”
According to him, WHO credited the governments of the DRC and Uganda for leading the response and said it remained fully committed to supporting them.
He urged neighbouring countries to strengthen surveillance, infection prevention and control, and readiness at points of entry to contain further spread.
(NAN)
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