A I movie sparks conversation on smart city

 

A I movie sparks conversation on smart city

 

The Multipurpose Hall, State House, Marina, the official residence of Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu recently hosted a star-studded unveiling of Africa's first shot Artificial Intelligence-based feature movie Makemation. Like the film, the gathering was a convergence of tech experts, entrepreneurs and Nollywood stars of different generations who shared thoughts on how to build a smart Lagos.

The hall inaugurated in 2013 by former Governor Raji Fashola, was literally overrun by a large army of journalists including the online media, Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME, reports. 

 

The anxiety was palpable in the hall as guests were eager to watch Africa’s first feature AI film that spotlights the fast-rising impact of Nigerian youths particularly girls, showcasing how they leverage artificial intelligence and technological innovations to tackle some of Africa’s most pressing challenges.  

To whet the appetite of the guests, a trailer from Makemation was screened for few minutes providing insights to the thrust of the movie. Accompanying the Governor at this historic event were his wife, Ibijoke, three commissioners; Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Toke Benson-Awoyinka, Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Mr Olatunbosun Alake   and other aides. He charged young people to come up with their projects, pledging to support them the way he supported Toyosi Akerele-Ogunlusi, Creator and Producer of Makemation.

 “In this very hall, you get to meet some of your favourite actors. Some of you have contributed your time and money to this industry. Young and old collaborating together to build the creative sector. Lagos Colony has been in existence before creation of Nigeria. Today, you are on ground that has a lot history. I’m happy and truly excited that you can put this together-power of a vision.

“The future is now. Our role is to be an enabler, create the channel and you fly with it. It’s a Lagos success, not individual success. We have consistently prioritised the growth of our creative industry and believe that fostering creativity and innovation is crucial for our state’s development.

“By supporting initiatives like this, we aim to promote our talented filmmakers and artists while showcasing technology’s immense potential in storytelling. Together, we are building a vibrant creative ecosystem that entertains, drives economic growth, and positions Lagos as a leading hub for the arts in Africa,” the Governor said. 

To Sanwo-Olu, the creative industry is a game-changer, adding that 'we want to catch up with the rest of the world. We don’t have any excuse; the world is a single village. There’s a plan to ensure that we do big things.' 

Governor Sanwo-Olu commended the producer and cast of the film, assuring creatives of his willingness to collaborate on transformative ideas that project and develop the state’s creative industry.

The film is already enjoying global attention with an international teaser screening at the 2024 Global AI Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, while a private stakeholders’ viewing in Kenya will premiere nationwide on the 18th of April. It will be followed by a tour of tertiary and secondary schools across the country.

Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Toke Benson-Awoyinka, highlighted the state government’s sustained moves to empower creatives over the past six years.

She said that about 20,000 young Nigerians have received training in filmmaking, content creation and other creative fields through partnerships with institutions such as EbonyLife Academy, Gidi Creatives, AMA Creative Academy, and Delyork Academy.

Beyond skills development, Benson–Awoyinka said the government has also provided financial support to filmmakers, ensuring that Nollywood productions can compete on the global stage. “By investing in local storytelling, we ensure our narratives reach global audiences while creating jobs within the industry,” she added.

She hinted that there are efforts to move Lagos into digital innovation, citing a recent visit to San Francisco to engage with tech entrepreneur Ghazi Shami. “Our visit to San Francisco to engage with tech entrepreneur Ghazi Shami was a strategic step toward fostering strong digital partnerships. We aim to build a globally competitive workforce ready to dominate the creative economy,” she said.

Managing Director Nigerian Film Corporation, Ali Nuhu, commended Lagos State government’s support for the industry. “As part of the cast, I am excited about this project. The governor’s support is commendable. We now need the media’s backing to create buzz around this innovation,” he said.

Toyosi Akerele-Oguniji, a human development expert-turned-filmmaker, expressed her satisfaction with her team’s efforts in producing the first African feature film on Artificial Intelligence, Makemation.

Elated Toyosi said she dedicated three years of her life to researching, producing, and editing the ambitious film.

 “The future is here and you can see the way technology is radically transforming the world. AI is a career path I chose a few years ago while pursuing my PhD degree. My thesis was on ‘The Role of AI: National and Economic Security’. I am very passionate about the way AI is revolutionizing everything.

“The film is a convergence of generative AI and live action. It’s also important to take into consideration AI that works for the interest of humanity. We have this belief that the role of AI is to elevate humanity and not to eliminate the role of creativity and traditional filmmaking in this process. This is just the beginning. We are going to shoot six episodes of Makemation. My dream is to ensure that this film is going to be a definitive, creative material that will open the minds of young people in Nigeria and Africa at large to the possibilities of technology.

“I dedicated my life for the past three years to producing, researching, and working on the music, picture and editing. Nigerian films should showcase our indigenous innovations. This film is for the future. Success isn’t reserved for a select few," she said.

She described the film as a convergence of AI and action, noting that robots and AI will still depend on man, noting that Lagos is a city of possibilities and is capable of showing the best of Africa. "We cannot continue to consume the products of the West. Our films in Nigeria are made with love plus attention for details. This is the film for the future," she added. 

Starring top Nollywood actors such as Richard Mofe-Damijo, Tony Umez, Shaffy Bello, Ibrahim Chatta, Toyin Afolayan, and Ali Nuhu, Makemation explores the intersection of real life and AI, showcasing young people using technology to solve problems. 

The film, according to Toyosi, goes beyond entertainment and delves into critical themes such as STEM education, digital skills, financial literacy, gender equality, and accessible technology. The film also explores AI’s transformative power and its impact on the fourth industrial revolution. Toyosi said she started producing Makemation with her team in June 2022, with principal photography commencing in 2023.

Examining the impact of AI in building a smart Lagos, a panel discussion moderated by Tobi Ayeni spoke to many factors that would shape the new direction. In her contribution, Microsoft’s Country Manager, Olatomiwa Williams, stressed the importance of building young Nigerians with responsible AI skills and called for collaborative efforts between the government, tech hubs, schools, and private organisations to drive AI education. “This initiative is inspiring. With government support, we must focus on educating Nigerians on responsible AI use. Recently, Microsoft launched the AI tools specifically for women. For us, there is a lot of benefit by accessing the tools and skills," she said. 

Co-founder co-founder Livespot360, Dare Art Alade highlighted AI’s impact in preserving African culture and history, noting that technological innovation should be harnessed not only for entertainment but also for cultural preservation.

Prof Yinka Davies-West of Lagos Business School emphasised the need for tools and infrastructure in order to translate ideas of smart city into action adding that entrepreneur ship is already part of us. 

He identified policy, producers and consumers as part of the mix needed to digitise transactions. 

Iyinoluwa Aboyeji of Future Africa said talents in the creative sector must be identified before investing on them. According to her, tech that is being built in Lagos is powering the sector as it is a leading smart city in Africa. "Of the 100 investment in Nigeria, Lagos has 90 of it. Policy is more important and government should think of capturing and monetising intellectual property. We need to create the framework and Lagos represent the largest work force in Nigeria.