By Juma John Stephen
JUBA, 10 June 2010 (Gurtong) – Last week, famous international Nigerian actor Chinedu Ikodieze commonly known as ‘Aki’ was in Juba to launch a movie training institute in South Sudan.
During his visit to Juba, the actor and his team also met Government of Southern Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit, who pledged to support the movie industry.
“ I feel honored to have met the President since as a little child I had so many dreams and one of them then was to meet the president of any country and today I had the privilege to meet the President of South Sudan”, he said.
He added that they were keen on exploring talent in South Sudan having done the same in neighbouring Uganda.
“We have decided to extend the initiative to South Sudan to build a movie industry where people can get employed just like in the Nigerian movie industry. Apart from the oil, our movies are a big export and employs a good number of Nigerians”, said Ikodieze.
He added that by setting a movie production unit in South Sudan, the world would get to know that South Sudan enjoys peace and has diverse culture that can be harnessed to boost the economy.
A member of the delegation Chief Sam Loco Eife called upon South Sudanese to conduct a peaceful referendum in order to guarantee a brighter future.
Several residents thronged Home and Away Hotel in Juba where the Nigerian group performed before showcasing a family show at Nyakuron Cultural centre on Saturday, June 5.
The Nigerian film industry is the third biggest in the world.