YABATECH Partners Film Industry, Establishes Centre For Filmmaking And Production
Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) has entered into a strategic partnership with Threatremeter Nigeria Limited to establish and develop its Centre for Filmmaking and Production, in a move aimed at equipping students and other aspiring practitioners with industry-relevant skills for Nigeria’s fast-growing creative economy.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed at the College, brings together YABATECH’s academic and technical expertise and the professional experience of practitioners in Nigeria’s film and theatre industry.
The partnership is being championed by renowned Nigerian actress and theatre practitioner, Bimbo Akintola, through Threatremeter Nigeria Limited, with the company’s Chief Executive Officer, representing the organisation at the signing ceremony.
Speaking at the event, the Rector of YABATECH, Dr Engr Ibraheem Abdul, said the initiative was conceived to bridge the gap between academic training and the demands of the creative industry.
Abdul said the establishment of the Centre followed due institutional processes, including consideration by the Academic Board and approval by the Governing Council, stressing that the College was determined to produce graduates who would be relevant to industry rather than merely seeking employment.
According to him, the College deliberately seeks partnerships with industry practitioners because “we are not producing people that will work in the College; we are producing people that will work in the industry.”
He said the partnership would facilitate the exchange of knowledge between academic experts and industry professionals, thereby creating a practical-oriented learning environment where students would acquire skills directly relevant to the film and entertainment sector.
The Rector added that YABATECH’s renewed emphasis on industry partnerships was designed to end the perennial complaint that graduates were not adequately prepared for the workplace.
“We want to end the era of saying your products are not fit for the industry,” he said, noting that educational institutions and industry must work together to develop the skills required for sustainable growth.
Abdul said the creative industry constituted an important component of Nigeria’s economic future and that YABATECH, as a leading technical and vocational institution, could not afford to remain on the side-lines.
He expressed optimism that the Centre for Filmmaking and Production would position YABATECH as a major platform for developing the next generation of professionals in acting, directing, production and other areas of the creative industry.
The rector declared that the signing of the MoU marks another milestone in YABATECH’s drive to deepen collaboration with industry and expand its role beyond conventional technical education into emerging areas of the creative economy.
Earlier, the Head of the Centre for Filmmaking and Production, Dr. Akindele Omotosho, said the Centre was established to train students of the College and members of the public in filmmaking and production.
He explained that the Centre would provide training in areas including acting, directing and other aspects of film production, with participants expected to acquire professional skills and certification.
He noted that the film industry offered significant opportunities for business development and employment, adding that YABATECH was determined to harness the opportunities for the benefit of its students and the wider society.
In her remarks, Bimbo Akintola said she was honoured to partner with YABATECH on the initiative, describing education and skills development as essential investments in the future.
The actress, who expressed her passion for teaching, young people and filmmaking, pledged to deploy the resources and expertise available to her towards the success of the Centre.
She said the global growth and increasing recognition of Nigeria’s film industry made it imperative for the country to match its international visibility with quality professional training.
According to her, the Centre would be committed to bringing “the best of the best” into the training of aspiring practitioners.
“I am passionate about teaching. I am passionate about children. I am passionate about education. I am passionate about film. So, all my passions are in one boat,” Akintola said.
The Governing Council representative, Ambassador Saheed Balogun, described the partnership as the realisation of a vision he had advocated for the College.
Balogun, an actor and member of the College’s Governing Council, said YABATECH had enormous potential to become a major hub for Nigeria’s creative industry, particularly because of its strong foundation in technology and skills development.
He urged the Federal Government and other stakeholders to pay greater attention to investment in creative-industry infrastructure at the College, arguing that the initiative had the potential to generate employment, revenue and internationally recognised creative products.
Balogun also expressed confidence in Akintola’s ability to contribute significantly to the Centre, citing her experience in both stage and screen performance.
The event was attended by principal officers of the College, including the Deputy Rector, Administration, Arc Femi Lawal; Deputy Rector, Academic, Dr Engr Ismail Badmus; Registrar and Secretary to Council, Mrs Henrietta Adebola Badejo; and other senior officials.
