Kate Henshaw to lead creative industry panel at CFCR

ONE of Nigeria’s leading actresses, Kate Henshaw, will lead the creative industry panel at the third Annual Chief Executive Officers and Business Leaders Forum holding on October 7.

The event is being organised by Train 2 Gain Nigeria and CSR Children, in collaboration with Ford Foundation, to find sustainable solutions to youth unemployment.

Kate, over 21 years experience in the film industry and over 70 Nollywood films to her credit, is also a producer and is expected to share her views on the sustainability of Nollywood, which has been hyped the nation’s second largest employer and the world’s second largest film industry, estimated at $5 billion a year.

However, questions have also been raised about Nollywood’s sustainability, for how long it could churn out low-budget movies and still generate a profit, efforts to combat piracy, and for how long the nation could depend on South Africa for high-end video productions.

Equally of concern is the question as to when the industry would begin to invest in skills training for young people interested in building a career and livelihood in the industry?

Joining Kate on the panel are former Senior Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Obi Asika, the pioneer of Lagos Photo Festival, Azu Nwagbogu, and Nigeria’s fashion mogul, Lanre da Silva Ajayi, all of whom will speak on their particular fields – fashion, the arts, entertainment industry and social media.

Other industry panels include dual vocational training, agribusiness and supporting entrepreneurs. Sponsors include Nestle Nigeria Plc, UBA Plc, Etisalat, Robert Bosch Limited and Chicken Republic, and supported by Jumia Africa, and the Tony Elumelu Foundation.