119 Youths Graduate From Ebony Life Creative Academy

Lagos State Government has once again demonstrated its commitment to the growth and success of youths with the graduation of 119 young and vibrant filmmakers from the EbonyLife Creative Academy, under the Lagos Creative Initiative (LACI), to fill the skill gaps of professionals in the creative industry in the State.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony held at EbonyLife Place, Victoria Island, Lagos, the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Pharm. (Mrs.) Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, congratulated EbonyLife for doing Lagos proud and making good use of funds for the training of the students consistently as well as sustaining it.

Akinbile-Yussuf, represented by the Director, Admin & Human Resource Department of the Ministry, Ms. Toyin Ogunlana, assured the EbonyLife team of the State Government’s continuous support, partnership and collaboration to give hope to the youths and engage them in such a laudable skill acquisition programmes.

According to her, Lagos State, in partnership with EbonyLife, has trained six sets of intakes, who have graduated and are deploying the acquired skills to excel in their chosen areas of expertise within the film industry.

In her words: “The Lagos State Government believes in you all and looks forward to seeing your best output in the industry. You have all been endowed with unique skills that will enable you to conceive, write and shoot your own movies as you deem fit”.

Also speaking at the event the Executive Secretary, Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board, Mrs. Bukola Agbaminoja, felicitated the graduating students and commended them for participating in the training programme.

“The feedback we getting as a government is encouraging and we are happy for you all. I see your films showing in Nigeria, Africa and the world at large, but the bulk of the work lies in your hands. Please, tell the story the way you want it to be told”, she advised.

Agbaminoja also informed the gathering that the Lagos State interest-free loans are still available for interested Film Makers and can be accessed through the Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board, adding that State Government is also building a Film City, designed to be a one-stop-destination for all filmmakers, on several hectares of land at Ejirin in Epe.

The Head of the Academy, Mr. Theart Korsten thanked the Lagos State Government for its continuous support to the school, noting that Lagos is the only State that contributes so much to the development of the sector.

While commending the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Korsten enjoined the graduating students to focus on their career paths and acknowledged the tenacity displayed during the 12-week intensive training programme.

He also informed that the third intake for the year comprising 128 students commenced classes on the 28th of June, 2022, adding that the 22 films produced so far are available on the Youtube Channel of Ebonylife Creative Academy.

The short films ‘Canvas’, ‘Father Forgive Me’, ‘Halimah’ and ‘The Funeral’, written, performed and produced by the graduating students of the Class of June 2022, were watched by the dignitaries and guests present at the ceremony,