Onoja Commends Mercy Johnson on Inikpi Movie, Kogi Arts Development - By Mohammed Yabagi & Victoria Pleroma

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The Chief of Staff to the Kogi State Governor, Hon Edward Onoja has commended veteran Nigerian actor, Mercy Johnson Okojie for developing the State arts and culture through the movie industry.

The Chief of Staff said the Inikpi Movie which is currently being shot in the state by the Kogi born actor would expose the history and culture of the people to the outside world.

Mrs Mercy Johnson Okojie, who is the Senior Special Assistant to the State Governor on Entertainment, Arts and Culture, is shooting a film on Princess Inikpi, a legend in Igala history in an outskirt of the State capital with other recognised Nigerian actors.

Onoja, who was impressed with Mrs Okojie for her commitment in moving the entertainment industry in the state forward, thanked her and assured her of the state government support in ensuring that the movie is successfully shot.

Onoja expressed his gratitude to her in an unscheduled visit to the Inikpi movie location in the Lokoja on Wednesday where the actor was playing host to other top Nollywood actors. During the visit, Mrs Johnson introduced the up and coming stars of Kogi origin she discovered during her talent hunt to the Chief of Staff.

The Chief of Staff who described Mrs Okojie as a woman of her words, said “you don't just discover talents for the sake of it; you need to put them into some practical use to see if the choices can really bring out something for the global audience. Very clearly, I've seen that it was not just all talk, but actions have also matched the talk.”

Onoja told the actor and her colleagues that the Inikpi Movie would be the beginning of new things that would come out of the state, stressing that the rich literature and history of the state would attract many actors to the state.

He added that the unity of the country would be strengthened in the confluence state through the entertainment industry.

The veteran actor, Mrs Okojie, had earlier expressed gratitude to the present administration of Governor Yahaya Bello for the level of support she has been receiving since she resumed office as his Senior Special Assistant.

She said the Yahaya Bello-led government has been a breath of fresh air in the efforts of the state to make headway in the Entertainment sector, and expressed the belief that the state would soon begin to generate high revenue from the sector to augment its current Internally Generated Revenue.

The actor, who averred that the talents available in the state could be compared with the very best in the country, said her Talent Hunt project has helped in exposing many young men and women to the lucrative opportunities in the sector.

Her words: “The entertainment Industry in Kogi State cannot thank the present administration enough for the level of support it has continued to receive. I am optimistic that in no distant time, the sector would be one of the mainstays of the state’s economy.

“The potential is huge, what was needed was the enabling environment and thank God the state has a government that is ready to put in the required efforts that would stimulate the growth,” she concluded.   

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Veteran Actor, Sam Dede thanked the Chief of Staff for visiting the location and expressed gratitude to the state government for its support.

“The time of oil is gone, now people are thinking about how to also enjoy and put money into their pockets. We enjoy what we do here and at the same time, we serve a purpose,” he added.

Mrs Okojie arrived in Lokoja about a week ago with Saheed Balogun, Paul Obazele, Sam Dede, Odunlade Adekola, amongst others to shot the movie of the Princess, whom in Igala tradition was sacrificed alive to save her people from invaders. The movie director, as reported is Frank Rajah Arase