Ali Baba, Steve Ayorinde, others attend film festival
The 2026 iRep International Film Festival at the weekend witnessed a historic moment, with the screening of ‘Gateway City: Badagry-The Future of Lagos’. The Film Producer/Director and Festival Director Badagry
The 2026 iRep International Film Festival at the weekend witnessed a historic moment, with the screening of ‘Gateway City: Badagry-The Future of Lagos’.
The Film Producer/Director and Festival Director Badagry International Film Festival, Mr Viyon Awhanse, in a statement yesterday said the documentary served as a blueprint for intelligent creativity.
He said the documentary had evolved from a film project into a national movement, garnering over four million views, following a high-impact digital session with Arise TV’s Rufai Oseni.
Awhanse said: ‘’The screening attracted ‘Who’s Who’ of Nigeria’s intellectual and creative sectors.
“In attendance were industry icons and thought leaders including Comedy Legend & Social Commentator, Ali Baba; former Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Steve Ayorinde; and Co-Founder, iRep, Makinde Soyinka.
“Others are renowned filmmaker Femi Odugbemi, culture communicator Jahman Anikulapo, Dean of Arts and Humanities, NYU, Abu Dhabi, Prof. Awam Amkpa; Dean of School of Tourism, Film, Performing Arts and Culture Studies, Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Prof. Tunji Azeez; and TV/Film Producer, Henry Alabi.
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‘’Representing the grassroots and administrative heart of the project was Badagry Local Government represented by the Supervisor for Tourism and Creative Economy, Prince Seyon Akran.
“Akran’s presence underscored the project’s alignment with local governance and the preservation of Lagos’ coastal heritage.”
He said the film had successfully moved Badagry from the periphery of discourse to the centre of the future of Lagos.
‘’With over four million organic views and the validation of the nation’s creative elite, the SMA Movement, under Dr Samuel Mawuyon Ajose, is proving that cultural preservation is the ultimate political and social capital.
“The production team and the SMA Movement wish to extend a special thank you to the iRep leadership and the entire festival community.
“Our support and the prestigious selection of ‘Gateway City: Badagry’ have provided the vital platform necessary to spark this national conversation.
“This collaboration is making a profound, measurable impact on the preservation of our heritage.
“The SMA Movement continues to leverage this digital explosion to position Badagry as a global tourism hub and a pillar of the Lagos State developmental agenda,” he added.
Awhanse said the documentary would be submitted to international festival platform, national and international TV platforms in due course.
