We Value, Appreciate the Nollywood Industry Because It Helps Brand Asaba – Asagba Prof Azinge

His Royal Majesty, the Asagba of Asaba, Asagba Prof Epiphany Azinge, SAN, has said his kingdom will continue to encourage the Nollywood industry to grow.

He stated this when a renowned philanthropist, Sonia Patterson, led a delegation of Actors and Actresses to the palace to pay him homage.

Asagba Prof Azinge said he valued and cherished the Nollywood industry because it had helped to export Asaba to the outside world, pointing out that the community had always been in love with the industry and had taken steps to protect its interest when it mattered most.

His Majesty recalled that when the Film Village was to be established, and the prospects of having it sited outside the state capital were high, the people of Asaba waded in to ensure that it was sited on their land because they believed that it would help to brand the town.

The Asagba disclosed plans by the community to acquire 350 acres of land for a California – based Asaba son, whom he described as a leading light in Hollywood and had done exceptionally well as a producer and actor, to enable him and his team replicate their mind-blowing industry in Asaba.

He applauded and appreciated the creative minds of script writers, the dexterity and kills of the actors and actresses, noting that the ability to interprete scripts and demonstrate them in their performances, was not an easy task.

The highly distinguished traditional ruler thanked the delegation for the visit and appreciated Sonia Patterson for the noble and lofty heights she had attained in her philanthropic gestures in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

Earlier in her remarks, Sonia Patterson, a Jamaican, said she was at the palace to pay homage to the Asagba and to let him know about her philanthropic activities, which had taken her to Lagos, Owerri, Enugu and now Asaba, where an award ceremony was being planned for October this year.

Patterson said she had the mindset to do good to children, the elderly and the Nollywood industry, stressing that she derived joy from her philanthropic gestures, aimed at putting smiles on the faces of people, without expecting any reward in return.