Funke Akindele’s Anti-Naira Abuse Message Is Commendable – NOA

Funke Akindele

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has hailed Nollywood actress Funke Akindele for promoting respect for the naira in her movie, “Behind The Scenes.” The agency recently had its say via a press statement signed by its director general, Lanre Issa-Onilu, and Nigerians have been reacting.

Describing the creative decision as a commendable contribution to changing public attitudes towards the naira, Lanre said that Funke’s action aligns with the Federal Government’s campaign for responsible civic behaviour and compliance with laws regulating the proper use of the naira.

NOA concluded by appreciating the moviestar for her role in promoting public awareness through entertainment.

It read, “The NOA commends you for your recently released movie ‘Behind the Scenes particularly for the thoughtful and patriotic inclusion of a message promoting respect for the national currency.

We wish to acknowledge you as a role model and applaud your deliberate effort to highlight the importance of preserving the dignity of our national currency by discouraging the practice of spraying and trampling on the ₦aira at public functions.

As you are aware, the ₦aira is not merely a medium of exchange but a symbol of our national sovereignty and collective identity. Your influence as a leading figure in Nigeria’s creative industry has significantly amplified this message, contributing to public awareness and behavioural change in an engaging and impactful way.

The Agency recognises the vital role of the entertainment industry in shaping societal values and attitudes. Your work exemplifies how film can be effectively utilised as a tool for national reorientation, and we encourage you to continue leveraging your platform in support of initiatives that promote civic responsibility and national pride.”

WOW.

Nollywood is a sobriquet that originally referred to the Nigerian film industry. The origin of the term dates back to the early 2000s, traced to an article in The New York Times. Due to the history of evolving meanings and contexts, there is no clear or agreed-upon definition for the term, which has made it a subject to several controversies.

The origin of the term “Nollywood” remains unclear; Jonathan Haynes traced the earliest usage of the word to a 2002 article by Matt Steinglass in the New York Times, where it was used to describe Nigerian cinema.

Charles Igwe noted that Norimitsu Onishi also used the name in a September 2002 article he wrote for the New York Times. The term continues to be used in the media to refer to the Nigerian film industry, with its definition later assumed to be a portmanteau of the words “Nigeria” and “Hollywood”, the American major film hub.

Film-making in Nigeria is divided largely along regional, and marginally ethnic and religious lines. Thus, there are distinct film industries – each seeking to portray the concern of the particular section and ethnicity it represents. However, there is the English-language film industry which is a melting pot for filmmaking and filmmakers from most of the regional industries.