Brussels: Organisers of the annual Nollywood Cultural Heritage Festival say plans are underway to stage the cultural fiesta in Belgium and other cities in Europe.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Chief Agility Onwurah, founder of the prestigious festival, stated this when he led his team on a courtesy visit to the Belgian Embassy on Monday in Abuja. He mentioned that the Nollywood Cultural Heritage Festival stakeholders are working to strengthen ties with international partners to showcase Nigerian cultural heritage globally.
The festival, scheduled to hold from Oct 2 to 12, aims to position Nigeria as a culture, tourism, and film destination, leveraging Nollywood’s potential for global recognition. Onwurah highlighted that the festival will feature a tour of major cities in Europe, including Brussels, to promote cultural exchange, artistic exposure, and international goodwill.
‘Our team will attend cultural performances, visit historical landmarks, interact with local communities, and experience the rich heritage and traditions of each destination,’ said Onwurah. The festival seeks to bridge cultures and inspire future storytelling, with participation from key stakeholders, including those from the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) and other industry leaders. It will offer stakeholders connections with international filmmakers and industry professionals, fostering collaboration and opportunities for growth.
The Europe trip will be led by the National President of AGN, Dr Emeka Rollas, among other stakeholders. Pieter Leenknegt, Belgian Ambassador to Nigeria, warmly welcomed the initiative and reiterated his country’s commitment to deepening cultural diplomacy with Nigeria through film and culture. He lauded the initiative and expressed his commitment to work with the organisers in actualising their plans.
Other members of the delegation on the visit to the embassy included Abubakar Yakubu, National Secretary of AGN, Linda Ekezie, Project Manager for the Europe Tour, Ifeoma Okeke-Ozude, Chief of Staff to President of AGN, and Grace Amah, veteran Nollywood actor.