Lagos state Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has laid the first foundation block for the development of the $100 million Lagos Film City, an ecosystem of creative cinematography, tourism, leisure, entertainment and learning.
The project, being sited on 100-hectares in Ejinrin town in Epe Division, is a legacy infrastructure initiated by the Sanwo-Olu administration to harness local talent and creativity to create new economic opportunities for talented youngsters in culture and entertainment industries.
The State Government had sealed a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with entertainment investors facilitated by Del-York Group to develop the one-stop campus for learning, film production, post-production, visual effects, and other ancillary services that support the filmmaking process.
Sanwo-Olu said the occasion marked a significant milestone in his administration’s journey to creating a thriving film industry in Lagos that would have a global appeal, while contributing to the economic growth and cultural development of the State.
The Governor said: “It is our strong belief that the film industry has the power to transcend boundaries and bring people together. It has the ability to inspire, entertain, and educate. Through the magic of cinema, we can showcase the rich cultural heritage of Lagos, while telling stories that reflect our shared experiences, and amplify the voices of our diverse communities. This film city will serve as a canvas for these stories, providing a platform for our talented artists to shine on both local and global stages.”
Today, we kicked off a $100 million dream project, the Lagos Film City in Ejinrin, Epe, where we laid the foundation for this hub of creativity, entertainment, and learning right here in Lagos.
This project is in partnership with private investors led by the Del-York Group and… pic.twitter.com/yB6A9GZzrm
— Babajide Sanwo-Olu (@jidesanwoolu) October 18, 2023
A roll call of Nollywood veterans and notable theater practitioners that attended the ceremony included Adebayo Salami, popularly known as Oga Bello; Jide Kosoko, Tade Ogidan, Prof. Sola Fosudo, Adewale Elesho, Saheed Balogun, Kunle Afolayan, and Raymond Anyiam-Osigwe among others.
The event also had in attendance traditional rulers and members of the diplomatic community, who expressed their excitement seeing Lagos launching a world-class infrastructure to tap into the global entertainment market.