Governor Ademola Adeleke has warned that Osun State will not be a haven for film pirates.
Adeleke, who made the declaration in Osogbo, the state capital, during a courtesy visit by a delegation of Nollywood stars, stated that anyone caught will be prosecuted and jailed accordingly.
The governor, who on the occasion was presented with the hosting rights for the 2023 edition of the Best of Nollywood, BON, Awards, billed to be held in Osogbo on December 22, said: “Piracy must end in Nollywood. Pirates can’t be benefitting from the sweat and blood of filmmakers.
“The choice of Osun to host the 15th edition of the awards is a great move by the organisers because this administration understands the impact of the entertainment industry in Nigeria.
“Therefore, I assure you that there will be no haven for piracy perpetrators in Osun. Anyone caught will be prosecuted accordingly. My nephew, Davido, and my son, B-Red, visited me recently, and we talked about the industry and the BON Awards. My dream was always to have a solid policy for the entertainment industry.”
While appreciating the governor for the opportunity, the founder and convener of BON, Seun Oloketuyi, urged the Nigerian government to leverage the entertainment industry to assist in its work and the enlightenment of the populace.
“The industry should be utilised to its full advantage. Countries around the world use this industry to market their nation, and I believe this can also work for Nigeria,” he said.
