UNVEILED: Sahara Group’s ‘grooming film extra-preneurs with Kunle’

Sahara Group has announced the official launch of a film competition, ‘Grooming Film Extrapreneurs with Kunle’, to commemorate its 20th year anniversary.

Speaking on Thursday at a media briefing held at the corporate head office of Sahara Group, Ikoyi, Lagos, Anthony Youdeowei, managing director, Sahara Group, explained that the competition is the group’s contribution to the development and growth of the Nigerian economy.

“This is the beginning of a venture that we hope will outgrow us,” he said.

“We believe the competition will create a hub of young entrepreneurs who will be associated with Sahara Group. We believe they will contribute to the economy and build a country we are all proud of.

“Today, we are starting with the film competition. Ultimately, we will have a hub of Sahara scholars. Ours is to create the environment where they can grow. This project will grow and evolve as we go along. It is to commemorate our 20th anniversary.”

Also speaking at the event, Bethel Obioma, head, corporate communications, Sahara Group, said the essence of the competition is to groom film ‘extra-prenuers’ who will not only consume wealth but be wealth creators.

“An extrapreneur,” he explained, “is an individual who applies himself creatively in his/her area of expertise and looks out for opportunities to connect with people driven by similar interests to maximise productivity and expand the scope of growth and sustainability of the businesses created.”

He said that Sahara Group decided to involve famous filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan, as the lead faculty in the judging process because of his track record in changing the face of the Nigerian film industry.

“Kunle Afolayan, multiple award-winning filmmaker and producer and foremost entrepreneur in the film industry is working with Sahara Foundation to achieve the goal of discovering budding stars that will light up local and international film festivals with their creative productions,” Obioma said.

“Kunle and his team will work on the entries to shortlist the first 20 and ultimate winner of the competition. In alignment with the concept of extrapreneurship, the winner will undergo a six-month mentorship programme with Kunle Afolayan, a platform that will give the individual access to first-class and practical tutelage in film making.”

For the maiden edition of ‘Grooming Extraprenuers with Kunle’, interested participants can submit a 15-minutes docu-film on the life of an entrepreneur(s) with the theme ‘My Nigeria, My Platform…Nigeria through entrepreneurs’ eyes’.

The entry can be submitted on Sahara Group’s website.

The project is open to young filmmakers across the nation who must not be more than 35 years old. Out of the entries, the top 20 will be selected, out of which an overall winner will emerge.

“This theme is a concept targeted at redefining the perception of Nigeria as a country around the globe,” Obioma added.

The project will be used to shape a narrative for Nigeria that captures our enterprise and productivity as a people. Entry opens on July 1s, 2016 and closes on July 25, 2016.

Each entry will highlight the story/work of young Nigerian entrepreneur(s) and how it is helping to provide sustainable solutions, create employment and promote socioeconomic development in the nation.

Afolayan described as “a dream come true”, the chance to be part of the initiative.

“I believe this is just the time for me to give back. I see this as a very key partnership between Sahara Group and Kunle Afolayan,” he said.

“Making film is one craft, making money is as essential. If you are able to combine the two, you will be a rich filmmaker This is one of the things the winner will learn from me during the internship.

“The winner will also be able to work with me on any project I am working on during his internship with me. I look forward to this partnership on a bigger scale.”

Babatomiwa Adesida also explained that ‘Grooming Film Extraprenuers with Kunle’ is part of Sahara Group’s PSCR Initiative under the Sahara Foundation.

“The extrapreneurship platform will help Sahara drive integrated economic empowerment programmes through strategic partnerships and support for innovative as well as scalable business ventures,” he said.

“Over the next four years, Sahara Foundation plans to directly affect 12,000,000 beneficiaries and also create value through the identification, development and maintenance of relevant stakeholders through which beneficiaries can grow and sustain businesses. This will be achieved through skills acquisition training, mentoring and access to a network of committed stakeholders.”

Further information about this initiative, kindly send an email to [email protected],” Obioma added.Afolayan said