Veteran actress Joke Silva has called on the Nigerian government and stakeholders to revive the Tinapa Film Village in Calabar. She expressed concern about the neglected state of the facility, which was built to boost filmmaking, tourism, and entertainment in Nigeria.
Speaking in Abuja, Joke Silva noted that Tinapa was designed as a major center for film production, complete with world-class studios and housing for filmmakers. However, she lamented that the site is now underused and its amenities are deteriorating.
“It is sad to see Tinapa, which was created with so much hope, not living up to its original vision,” she said. “The film village had the potential to change Nigeria’s movie industry and offer jobs to many young people.”
Tinapa Film Village was envisioned in the early 2000s to help make Cross River a leading destination for creativity and economic activity. Unfortunately, years of neglect and insufficient funding have prevented it from achieving its mission.
Joke Silva urged that efforts to bring Tinapa back should focus not just on repairing buildings, but on reviving the dreams it represented for the film industry across Nigeria and Africa. She believes renewed investment and public-private partnerships could transform Tinapa, attract international investors, and create opportunities for thousands.
Her appeal comes ahead of the Cross River International Investment Summit, which will take place in London from November 17 to 19. The summit aims to attract investors, engage people in the diaspora, and highlight sectors like tourism, renewable energy, information technology, and creative industries tied to Tinapa’s founding goals.
Officials, including Mr Ignatius Oli, head of the summit’s planning committee, say the event will promote partnerships and sustainable growth for the state. The government hopes the summit will show Cross River’s readiness for new investments and bring Tinapa back to life as a film and tourism hub, generating more jobs and boosting the local economy.
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