I’ve invested more than N8bn in my film village and need government support, Afolayan says

Kunle Afolayan says the resort he built with more than N8bn of his own money could close because it has never had electricity from the grid.

The Nigerian filmmaker and entrepreneur made the appeal during an interview with former Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun on the Nidacity podcast. He said KAP Village had relied on diesel since it opened, but the rising cost of fuel had made the arrangement impossible to sustain.

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I believe so much in this country. We haven’t had electricity in KAP Village since the beginning. So we’ve been running on diesel.

“I believe so much in this country. We haven’t had electricity in KAP Village since the beginning. So we’ve been running on diesel,” Afolayan said. He recalled warning that the resort might have to close, even after a friend offered to supply diesel on credit. “It’s still not sustainable,” he said.

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It’s still not sustainable.

Afolayan said he was now discussing alternative energy options and had already spent about N200m on green energy. That investment, however, was not enough to supply the whole resort. He argued that government agencies should provide support, noting that some businesses receiving grants had invested far less than his establishment.

The filmmaker also described the practical problem that led him to add accommodation at the site. During production of “Anikulapo,” the cast and crew had to stay in people’s homes because the film village lacked sufficient rooms. Actors Sola Sobowale and Bimbo Ademoye brought mattresses and freezers from home, he said. Afolayan subsequently built 100 rooms to make the production team more comfortable.

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So I had to build 100 rooms in the film village to make everyone comfortable.