NFC COLLABORATES WITH NTA TO SCREEN BABASALA, OTHER OLD TV SERIES

The Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) and Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) have collaborated to revive the old Television series of the ’80s and ’90s to the delight of all Nigerian lovers of quality television contents at home and in diaspora, this was announced during a historic presentation ceremony held in Abuja on Tuesday, 12th April, 2022.

In a release signed by the Director, Public Affairs Mr. Brian Etuk, “the restoration/digitization of the popular television series namely: “BABA SALA“, “AFTER THE STORM” and “DELICATE MATTERS” was undertaken by Ominimago, a German based Restoration and Archival company, through the existing partnership between the NFC and German Institutions, including Goethe University, Frankfurt.”

While presenting the newly digitalised contents, the Managing Director, Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), Dr. Chidia Maduekwe reiterated the determination of NFC to secure the nation’s rich Audiovisual and Cultural heritages through the archiving process, utilising the assets of the National Film, Video & Sound Archive in Jos (Recently designated the nation’s national repository for Audiovisual), and the Master Degree programme in Film Culture & Archival Studies of the National Film Institute/ University of Jos.

According to Dr. Maduekwe, “NTA has volumes of Nigeria’s heritages which need to be protected, and Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) and the Nigerian Television Authority(NTA) have committed to ensuring that the collaboration/partnership that exist between both agencies is sustained.”

Dr. Maduekwe equally praised NTA for always providing platforms for the seamless operationalisation of the partnership/collaboration between both agencies, which among others led to the restoration and digitization of the listed series at no cost to the NTA.

In his response to the historic presentation of the restored and digitized Nigerian popular, and iconic soap operas/television series of the early ’80s and ’90s shot on Betacam and VHS, Mallam Yakubu Mohammad, NTA’s Director General, commended NFC for taking the lead in securing the nation’s Audiovisual Heritages through the archiving process.

The Director General, Nigerian Television Authority, Mallam Yakubu Mohammad promised to strengthen NTA’s partnership/collaboration with the NFC. He further reiterated NTA’s confidence in NFC’s capability and other enablement in the development of Nigeria’s film industry.

According to the release, the presentation of the digitized television series, preceded by a sneak preview, was witnessed by Mr. Wole Coker, Executive Director Programmes, NTA; Mallam Saliu Dambos, Executive Director Marketing, NTA; Mr. Edmund Peters, Director, Production & Industry Support Services, NFC and Brian Etuk, Director, Public Affairs of NFC.

Meanwhile, accolades have started pouring in on the new initiative of NFC/NTA. A renowned filmmaker and documentarist, Mr. Femi Odugbemi, described the development as “Commendable strides! Salute to both NFC and NTA for making the digital archiving of our cultural assets a priority.”