By Dipo Olowookere

The importance of the showbiz industry to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) cannot be pushed aside and as a result, Heritage Bank Plc has reiterated its commitment to the growth and development of the country’s creative industry.

In an assessment of the industry’s performance done recently, Nollywood defied recession and had grossed an amazing N1 billion from a record 50 indigenous movies in 2016- its best box office returns ever.

Group Head, Corporate Communications at Heritage Bank, Mr Fela Ibidapo, in a chat with journalists after the viewing of part one of a movie titled: A Soldier’s story return from the dead at Genesis Cinemas in Shoprite, Lekki, Lagos recently as part of activities to herald part two of the movie, noted that the bank prided itself in its ability to hand hold different sectors of the economy in order to nurture them and help them to grow, remarking that the bank’s participation in the recent Nigeria’s creative summit has further given it a boost as it is now more committed to supporting the entertainment industry.

Mr Ibidapo noted that the creative industry is one of the major contributors to the country’s GDP and Heritage Bank is committed to supporting it because it is part of the country’s heritage.

According to him the bank is proud of the entertainment industry and will continue to stand by operators in it by supporting them and watch them grow.

“We had worked with Mekloss Production & Frankie Ogar Film to produce the first edition of the movie -A soldier’s story return from the dead- and we are also committed to work with them in the production of the second edition of the movie,” he said.

He remarked that the Nigerian entertainment industry has come of age as there were now more exposures with many of them now showing in cinemas.

Producer of the movie, Mr Martin Gbados said they got support from Heritage Bank to make the first edition and they also felt they should still involve the bank in the production of the second edition which would involve a leading American movie star, Eric Roberts and other international and local stars such Akin Lewis and Segun Arinze among others.

Roberts is a Golden Globe Award three times nominee as well as two times nominee of Academy Award for his supporting role inRunway Train (1985) as well as a prolific film producer in the US.

Mr Gbados said the entertainment industry needed support from the Federal Government and investors to be able to produce films in the country so that much of the money that goes into film production could retained in the country.

The central theme of the A soldier’s story return from the dead is about the sacrifices that soldiers and other security agents make in the cause of carrying out their duties.

The film producer noted that, “We often limit the sacrifices to them but what about their wives, kids and families that they need to take care of in the home front otherwise they won’t be able to concentrate on their core assignments.”

So the overriding objective of the film is to bring the sacrifices of the people in those institutions to the fore so that people can appreciate and respect them.

It will be recalled that the Federal Government had commended Heritage Bank Limited for its commitment to the development and growth of the creative industry at the recently concluded two-day creative Nigeria summit with the theme: Financing the Film, Television and Music Industries; which was co-sponsored by the bank.