- Chinese Firms Eye Animation Film Production in Nigeria
Nine Chinese firms are seeking collaboration with Nigerian firms, including telecommunications companies and Internet operators, for the production and distribution of animation films.
The nine firms expressed the interest in working with Nigerian collaborators at an event in Abuja on Saturday to mark the beginning of the Chinese Spring Animation Festival.
Speaking at the event, the Vice President, StarTimes, Ms Guo Ziqi, expressed the readiness of Chinese companies to expand the level of collaboration already existing between both countries.
She said, “The spring festival represents one of the most important traditional holidays for the Chinese. It is the reunion and celebration day for us. We are here to share the happiness with friends in Nigeria and strengthen the cultural exchange and cooperation between our nations.
“Under the strong support of the Ministry of Chinese Culture, the StarTimes Group, together with nine animation companies, is here to launch the Chinese Spring Animation Festival 2018.
“Together with Shanghai Toon ax Exoo Co Limited and the other animation companies, we are launching discussion and seeking partnership with all the media groups, animation firms and telecom Value Added Service operators. We hope to cultivate and nurture the animation industry in Nigeria.”
Also speaking at the event, the Executive Director, National Film and Video Censors Board, Alhaii Adedayo Thomas, said the animation genre had always fascinated both the young and old, hence the huge followership it had garnered over time.
He stated, “It is instructive to note that this year’s celebration includes a visit by Chinese animation companies to Africa for the first time. The visit will no doubt foster a closer collaboration between the Chinese animation companies and their Nigerian counterparts.
“The aspiration of the Chinese Spring Animation Festival is to further promote friendship of cultural exchange between China and Nigeria.
“In other areas, the activities of the Chinese Civil Engineering and Construction Company in road and rail construction in Nigeria have been enormous. These activities have improved the standard of living of Nigerians.”
However, he added, it was important for Chinese companies to help the Nigerian government to stem the tide of uncensored and unclassified films being replicated in China and exported to Nigeria.
Thomas said this would be better achieved if there was synergy between the National Film and Video Censors Board and its Chinese counterpart.
