Governor vows to position Abia as entertainment, tourism hub

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has vowed to restore Aba to its historical status as Nigeria’s “Cradle of Entertainment” by transforming the state into a premier hub for filmmaking, tourism, and creative enterprise.

Otti made the commitment on Monday while receiving a delegation of Nollywood practitioners led by producer Francis Ifeakandu, who is working on a new film project titled The Chronicles of Enyimba City, an Aba-based production currently in casting stage.

The Governor said his administration remains committed to supporting initiatives that promote Abia State’s culture, tourism potential and economic development through the creative industry.

“I am always careful about the promises I make. I assured you of support, and that support remains available,” Otti said.

“Government will continue to provide an enabling environment and work with stakeholders to ensure that initiatives capable of promoting Abia and creating opportunities for our people succeed.”

He added that plans are underway to establish an “Entertainment City” in Aba, designed to provide world-class infrastructure for filmmakers, creative professionals and investors.

According to him, processes such as land acquisition and compensation have already begun.

Otti also recalled his personal experience in film production in the 1990s, noting that he understands the challenges and opportunities within Nigeria’s entertainment industry.

Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Francis Ifeakandu, described the project as one of the largest film productions in Africa, saying it aims to promote Abia’s culture, history and tourism potential to global audiences.

He said auditions were conducted across all 17 local government areas of the state as well as in neighbouring states, with the production featuring over 2,000 cast members and structured into six seasons with five episodes each.

Ifeakandu commended the Governor for ongoing infrastructural transformation in Aba, noting that members of the team were impressed by visible developments during their visit.

Veteran actor Obi Okoli, who grew up in Aba, also praised the changes in the city, describing them as remarkable and transformative, while actress Sharon Ifedi expressed surprise at the level of infrastructural development compared to her earlier experiences in the city.

A member of the production team, Prof. Uwaoma Uche of Gregory University, Uturu, described the film as a panoramic storytelling project on Aba’s origin and cultural significance, noting that the city played a foundational role in the growth of Nollywood.

The delegation expressed optimism that the project would revive Aba’s historical place in Nigeria’s film industry while creating jobs and attracting investment into the state.