The Vice-Chancellor, Kwara State University (KWASU),
Prof. AbdulRasheed Na’ Allah, has inaugurated a committee to see to the
establishment of the Centre for Nollywood Studies at the university.
Prof. Na’ Allah stated this in his opening address recently
at the Conference on African Cinema, organized by the university, with the
theme: “African Cinema and the Supernatural”.
He said when operational, the centre would be charged
with the responsibility of highlighting the role and effects of Nollywood films
in the society.
Mr. Na’ Allah added that the planned conference was part
of the university’s ambition to build bridges between scholars and those who
promote culture outside the university.
He added that the goal was to reach deeply into the soul
of the immediate university community and tap into the rich human and material
resources of the nation.
The vice-chancellor said the essence of the centre would
be to redefine the progress made by the nation in terms of arts and culture for
the benefit of all.
“In 2010, the theme of the KWASU Conference on African
Cinema was Nollywood: A Natural Cinema”; this year, it is Nollywood and the
Supernatural.
He said the themes of both conferences showed the
commitment of the institution to the promotion of culture through cinema.
In his remarks, Prof. Onookome Okome, lecturer,
University of Alberta, Canada, said that the conference was aimed at exploring
how Nollywood could depict the supernatural and its capacity in resolving every
human problem.
“The implication of this belief in the supernatural
means that we do not take our material conditions into context and this means
that if we don’t work hard, we cannot live well,” he said.
Mr. Okome added that the centre would be a focal point
where the meaning and relevance of Nollywood would be studied.
The don added that that it would also update the
archives on Nollywood history and serve as an academic arm of the Malete Film
Village.
According to him, it will enable students of KWASU to
get theoretical and practical knowledge about Nollywood.
(NAN)
Source: Premium Times
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