The First Lady of Kwara State, and Chair, Nigeria Governors Wife Forum (NGWF), Professor Olufolake Abdulrazaq has said the forum is looking to collaborate with the Kaduna Film Festival (KADIFF) in the production of short films addressing their key thematic areas of focus including gender equality, and sexual and gender-based violence.
Abdulrazaq who spoke at the screening of two award-winning films from KADIFF, Bring Me Flowers (Best Shirt Film), and Lula da Andalu (Best Indigenous Feature Film), at the Mexican Embassy in Abuja, said the aim of the collaboration is not just to promote issues of interest to women, girls, children and youths, but further the forum’s thematic areas, as well as spread some positive vibes.
She said by working with the forum, the festival is automatically connecting with the 36 states across the country, and further ensure easier persuasion of the private sector to support the festival.
“He (founder of KADIFF, Audu Israel Kashim) already has some sponsorship with some of the first ladies and some governors. I think, however, we will also be able to talk to the private sector and send them short snippets of our themes, and what we are trying to achieve, our sponsorship among other things to spur them to join this cause,” said Razaq.
Responding to the screening of the short film, Bring Me Flowers, the Ambassador of Mexico to Nigeria, His Excellency, Alfredo Miranda, said the film was not only ‘moving’ but touched on the issue Kidnapping, one which is a shared reality of both Nigeria and Mexico.
He, however, noted that international cooperation for development shouldn’t focus on ‘copying is done in another country to adopt in another’ rather focus on opening channels of communication to learn what others are doing, and why they are successful.