The Vice Chancellor of the Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu
University (COOU), Professor Joseph Okafor has called on government of all tiers to
see to the actualization of a film village for the south east, been a project
that will serve as one of the instruments to be use to preserve Igbo cultural
heritage.
He said though the project is long overdue but urged
government and private individuals to
mop-up resources to see to the realization of the project.
He stated the at the COOU cultural day celebration,
organized by the school department of art and culture in Igbariam, stressed the need for
Igbo culture and language to be preserved.
The university don lamented about the people approach towards their culture and language, which according to him is gradually eroding, while western
culture and language is what the people are now celebrating.
Proressor Okafor urged parents
and guardians to ensure the sustainability of Igbo language is taken as a priority.
He said : “Film village Is actually overdue because, if you
look at movies that depicts various social-cultural problems and moral problems
in Nigeria, featured in the films, and there are means through which we can teach
our children what is able and what is good”.
“So if government supports the film village, production of
the films will be easier and people will be able to their and more production
will happen and it will encourage moral lesson in the public”.
“I want to call on government of all tiers in the south east
and beyond, not leaving out private investors to ensure that south east get at
least one film village, where it culture and tradition will be promoted.
“The construction of such project in the south east is long overdue
and I urge all and sundry to contribute to the actualization of this dream
project for south east, its indeed overdue for us to have a film community our
own we will call film village, where tourists will come to watch and will be
taught our language and culture ”. He added.