Patience Robinson, Kaduna
The new Vhairman of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Kaduna State chapter, Toka Mcbaror, has called for a renewed era of unity, inclusion, and professionalism as he unveiled his administration’s vision for the state’s film industry.
Delivering his inaugural address yesterday at the Polo Signature Hotel in Kaduna, Mcbaror issued a stern challenge to stakeholders, producers, and directors to move beyond regional and religious divisions in favor of building a globally competitive guild.
The ceremony, which saw a robust turnout of industry leaders including representatives from the national AGN body, legal counsel, and key production heads, served as a backdrop for Mcbaror’s critique of the status quo.
He addressed the perceptions that have fractured the guild, declaring that the time for labels like Christianwood or Muslimwood must end.
”The AGN is a national body that covers everybody. We are all inside the AGN, and it is a Kaduna-wide movement,” Mcbaror noted.
The Chairman expressed his displeasure for the current state of the industry in the state.
He questioned the guild’s readiness to compete on a national stage, citing the lack of trained professionals capable of standing alongside Nigeria’s industry giants.
”If a top actor like Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD) were filming in Kaduna today and needed peers for his cast, could we point to members within our guild who are trained, ready, and capable of playing that role professionally?
“It is a shame that we often have to look outside the guild or even outside the state to find that talent. We have enough potential, but we lack the professional cohesion to harness it.”
The most significant shift in the new administration’s agenda is the move toward financial independence.
Mcbaror warned against the tendency for guild leaders to prioritize seeking government contracts over fostering the craft of acting.
”Everybody has been calling me since the election, telling me that I now have access to the government house to get something for the guild.
“We should not misread our purpose. We should be looking toward the legislative arm specifically, the Speaker of the House, only to push for laws and litigation that protect us and improve our industry, not for personal handouts,” he added.
According to him, the goal is to move the industry from a hobbyist approach to a self-sustaining business model where members can celebrate professional milestones rather than relying on external contracts to survive.
Mcbaror described the guild as a seed that requires constant watering, nurturing, and protection from birds that seek to hinder progress.
”If in three years, when the next election arrives, we are still where we are today, then that is gross failure,” he concluded.
In his remark, the National Officer of the Guild, Johnson Erakpotobor, viewed the film industry as one of Nigeria’s largest employers of labour.
He urged governments at all levels to increase investments in the creative sector.
He opined that a stronger collaboration between government and the guild would stimulate tourism, expand the state’s economy and create employment for thousands of young Nigerians.
On his part, the Secretary of the Kaduna State chapter, Kayode Ayodele, pledged transparent administration and effective communication within the guild.
He also appealed to the government and public individuals to support the establishment of a world-class film village in Kaduna.
He expressed confidence that Mcbaror’s experience as an award-winning filmmaker would attract investments and greater opportunities to the state.
The Public Relations Officer, Aaron John, invited young people with acting talents to join the guild, assuring that the new leadership would provide a platform for discovering and nurturing raw talents capable of competing globally.
He shared that the administration is focused on projecting Kaduna’s creative potential to the world through innovative film productions.
