…says being in the government won’t affect her career as an actress
Sultry Nollywood diva, Ini Edo may be courting government now, but she admits that her loyalty to the Nigerian movie industry is unwavering. With a recent appointment as the Special Assistant to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State on Tourism, and coordinator of the first ever Akwa Ibom State Festival, IbomFest, speaks on her position to positively impact on the Nigerian movie industry owing to her position in Government.
The beautiful actress emphatically stressed that she remains loyal to her career as an actor. In her words she says, “I would like to state that my stint in government won’t affect my career as an actress. Since my appointment to serve my State, I have been receiving calls from producers, and actors alike to extend their hands of fellowship in building the Nigerian project. Again, I have been invited to play different roles in the movie industry so nothing has changed,” she says.
On how her appointment would impact on the Nigerian movie industry, she says that it is an advantage to movie producers that one of their own has a government appointment. Although admitting that she is not the first to be so appointed, she is out to make a difference by contributing her quota to the development of the industry. “My work in Government is basically to assist my State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel in the area of tourism development. This entails how as a State we can harness the rich tourism potential into a world class money making venture that will also attract direct foreign investment into the State and increase tourist traffic into Akwa Ibom State”. As with all assignments, she faces her own challenges. Although the job may be daunting, she revealed that she has a recipe for scaling through.
“Certainly, nothing good comes easy but I still try to do my work religiously and I put in my very best to uphold the confidence reposed on me having been so appointed to serve my State,” Ms Ini Edo said.
Giving a highlight to her approach towards developing tourism in the State the actress stated that Governor Udom has a five-point agenda and among them, tourism is encapsulated in the industrialization drive. “I would like to state here that the Governor is very keen in developing the vast tourism potential that abound in the State and this has given strength to his endorsement of the IbomFest Heritage Festival which is coming up from 15th to 17th of December. For us, developing the tourism sector will increase tourist traffic to our State, increase the IGR and employ a lot of our youths and others of workable age,” the actress revealed.
The approach, in her view, will further enshrine the State as a tourism haven and destination of choice to discerning tourist and investors.
The ripple effect, she also believes, will see many unemployed youths engaged in different trades. In other to make the mission realistic, her office in partnership with a tourism consulting firm has commenced the training of younger citizens of the State to enable them fill in the blank spaces of those who would take guests around the tourism sites.
The Nollywood actress and SA to Governor Udom also spoke on the uniqueness of the Ibomfest. The Ibomfest which is themed “Our Culture beyond Borders” is unique in many ways, says the sultry actress. It is a festival to showcase our way of life, our natural endowments, our cultural heritage and our most widely celebrated cuisines. Every Local Government Areas in the State is blessed with huge deposits of Natural resources; all of these will be showcased to the admiration of spectators, tourist and visitors during the festival in December. IbomFest is targeted at inviting investors into the state to be part of the industrialization drive of government, so the festival is one of the many platforms to achieve this noble goal, the actress says.
