Entertainment industry cannot survive without lawyers, says Nollywood
During the Entertainment session of the conference, artists producers, directors and key Nollywood actors and actresses, addressed varying issues underlying economic growth within and outside the industry.
Producer and Director, Mildred Okwo, who spoke on the topic, “Expanding the frontiers Of Nollywood decried the lack of entertainment lawyers and advisers to service the industry, “I don’t know why we don’t have lawyers in the entertainment industry. No entertainment industry can survive without lawyers. Today, 95% of those who sign our contracts are non- lawyers and have no idea of the law. I think this is really sad and will not develop the industry or the economy,” she said.
On her part, actress, director and producer, Stephanie Okereke-Linus, condemned the piracy rate in the industry and the market, calling on lawyers at the conference to wake up to their responsibilities by ensuring that perpetrators were brought to book. She said, “The law needs to clear the ground, piracy is frustrating distribution.
She continued, “One critical thing we should also look at is what will come out of this relationship, that is, our being here today. I want to believe that you lawyers have my back and those of other actors and actresses”, She said.
Kate Henshaw-Nuttal, who was also a participant at the conference, alerted the audience to the ongoing-privatisation of Nollywood’s brand and patents. She described as unacceptable, saying, “We need you lawyers to stand up to the task, come to our aid, we just can’t comprehend these prolonging of cases in court.
Pleading further she said, “We need the capacity to approach all areas of entertainment. I don’t want a situation where someone has to force me to learn what I don’t want to simply he has the ‘money”.
Advising members of the industry, Group Head Legal/Company Secretary, Silverbird Group Adefunke Adeyeye, noted that entertainment was a tool for enhancing economic growth.
“Every strategy for national growth should incorporate the entertainment industry because the industry has become a major socio-economic force for national growth”.
“Although there are various factors militating against the growth of the industry, on the whole, giant strides have been made in this century, for the socio-economic development of the industry and the Nigerian economy”. She explained.
Citing ,“Section 3 (1) of the Copyright Act, which according to her, protects literary works. Adeyeye said, “the laws that exist on Intellectual Property infringement are not entirely effective. The Nigerian government needs to recognise the industry as being with strong potentials and value its contribution to national growth,” she explained.
The Entertainment Segment of the conference organised by the SBL Committee on Sports and entertainment was attended by key stakeholders of both industries, including Dr. Supo Olusi, Special Adviser to the Hon. Minister of Finance, & facilitator for the project, A.C.T Initiative: Financing Nollywood”, Obi Asika, Founder Dragon Africa, and Storm 360, and Tuface Idibia.
Judith Amarachi Ugoh