This year’s BOBTV - Africa’s leading Film and Television Programmes Expo, is scheduled to hold at the Ladi Kwali convention centre, Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Abuja from March 13 through to 16. It would recognise and reward distinguished individuals who have excelled in their various industries with the 2012 BOBTV Honours List Awards. The honours list includes veteran actress and director Joke Silva, Peace Fiberesima, Executive Producer of Africa Movie Academy Awards AMAA, and Pat Nebo, Production Designer.
Tagged “The Creative Industries: Nigeria’s Untapped Wealth”, BOBTV 2012 will also feature the cast of MNET’s much loved soap Tinsel, Matilda Obaseki, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Iretiola Doyle, and many others who are billed to attend this year’s Expo. The star actors are expected to have a one-on-one experience with their fans at a special autograph session. This year’s edition will also feature a special screening of ‘Big Daddy’ - the short film on rape, and a music fiesta to be hosted by Storm 360, followed by an after party which would be hosted by guest celebrities. Past editions have been hosted by the likes of the Bayelsa State Culture Ministry, Soundcity and Lagos State Tourism Board. The event is expected to attract over 5,000 delegates including content-makers, programme developers, and auxiliary industries practitioners from around the world. Students from different universities across the country will also go head-to-head in a competition showcasing their works and films; with the best university or student going home with the grand prize of N1m along with several production opportunities.
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, minister of finance, is slated to give the keynote speech at the opening ceremony on March 13. As the special guest of honour and chief speaker, she will be talking about the creative industry and transformation agenda of the current administration.
Entertainment lawyer Efere Ozako is expected to deliver the core lecture. Other keynote speakers includee Olusegun Aganga, Minister of Trade and Industry; Chinenye Uzoukwu, MD, INFOSOFT; Dan Molina of NBC America; Pat Nebo; Gloria Ene; Yibo Koko, Grace Babalola, Joe Mamelu, Anuok Bartard and Chris Ihidero, Film director and Producer, amongst others. ‘‘The speakers for BOBTV 2012 are intellectuals from within and outside Nigeria who would enlighten guests and participants on the need to work towards a change in the Nigerian entertainment Industries which is rapidly growing in Nigeria and Africa and achieve a strong and constructive Creative Economy in line with the world’s best practices by 2015”, said Amaka Igwe, executive producer, BOBTV. Currently in its ninth year, past BOBTV awardees include notable figures like Ben Murray-Bruce, Late Sam Loco Efe, Peter Igho, Nkem Owoh, Bukky Ajayi and many others.
