Joke Silva Urges Revival of Abandoned Tinapa Film Village to Boost Nollywood and Tourism
Veteran Nigerian actress and filmmaker Joke Silva has called for the urgent revival of the abandoned Tinapa Film Village in Calabar, Cross River State. She expressed concern over how the once-promising project — designed to position Nigeria as a global film and tourism hub — has been left to deteriorate despite its massive potential for the creative industry.
Speaking at a recent event focused on film development and cultural investment, Silva highlighted that the Tinapa Film Village could have created thousands of jobs and provided a world-class facility for movie production, training, and tourism. She urged both the federal and state governments to collaborate with private investors to restore and repurpose the film village, emphasizing that its revival would not only strengthen Nollywood’s infrastructure but also attract international productions to Nigeria.
The actress, who has been a strong advocate for creative industry reform, lamented the neglect of such vital projects that could transform the nation’s entertainment landscape. She called on stakeholders in the film, culture, and tourism sectors to work collectively towards ensuring Tinapa’s renaissance, describing it as a “sleeping giant” that holds the key to advancing Nigeria’s soft power and global image through film and storytelling.
