BIFIF organisers promise fun-filled sporting activities

Posted : 06 October 2023

The organisers of Badagry International Film Cultural & Sports Festival, also known as BIFIF on Thursday said that part of the 4-day programme would be fun-filled sporting activities.

The Founder/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) BIFIF, Viyon Awhanse gave the update at an exclusive in Lagos.

The maiden BIFIF festival to be hosted in ancient Badagry town with the theme: `Once Upon A Time' is expected to run from Oct. 25-28 across the designated centres.

Speaking on the essence of the programme, the founder of BIFIF, Awhanse revealed that film festivals had become an important part of cultural innovation and the development of the society.

He noted that with the rise of digital technology, film festivals have become more accessible to people around the world, especially in Nigeria and Africa.

``The BIFIF, is a platform to showcase unique stories around the Badagry town away from the negative stories being peddled about the border town.

``The festival will afford the participants to opportunity of a shared knowledge, allowing the participants to gain access to different cultures and ideologies that abounds in Badagry because we have about 30 dialects.

``Our theme for this maiden edition is `Once Upon A Time' and will focus on exploring issues of history, spirituality, identity, tolerance, education, resilience, equality, unity, and empowerment,'' he said.

On the role of sporting activities infused into the programme, Awhanse declared that the participants would be taken through fun-filled games to keep them fit and relaxed.

``We have sports activities such as Beach Football, Beach Volleyball and Coastal-line marathon which is open to all participants.

``We are having the Coastal-line marathon because of the attention it would generate for the subsequent edition of BIFIF. We want to create an attraction to let the world know about the rich coastal line landscape that Badagry town is blessed with.

``The sports activities are open to all would-be participants, all they need to do is to register online at our website www.bifif.com, thereafter, we will provide everything needed including the information.

``This is our maiden edition, so, sports will be like a cameo appearance because it will serve as a template for what will happen next year.

Awhanse who is also TV/Film Producer added that the marathon was open to all participants to help them keep fit and also enjoy the coastal line beauty associated with Badagry town.

``This year will be open to all, but in the coming years, we will redesign the sports aspect as a competition and we are in touch with the World Athletics (WA) to see how we can register the marathon as a calender event.

``The projection is that the subsequent ones will attract A-list athletes such as Jamaican, Usain Bolt and Haile Seliase of Ethiopia, imagine those stars coming to Nigeria? That is the vision.

``When the sporting activities would have become a competition, then we will introduce prize money, so this year's edition will only serve as a template for next editions which will be bigger.

``The sporting activities will just be a day before the gala night," he said.

Awhanse also added that the subsequent edition would feature unique sporting programmes such as Boat Regatta and Fishing Sports.

Speaking on the security and other logistics attached to the festival, Badagry-born film/tv producer explained further that adequate arrangements with the various security agencies have been put in place.

``We are in constant touch with various security agencies and we have written to them.

``We have written to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the letter to the Nigerian Custom Service (NCS) is also on its way, also, we have written to the Directorate of State Security Service (DSS) and of course, the Nigerian Police Force Public Relations Officer (PRO) is from Badagry.

``We wrote to these security agencies because we don't want our participants to be harassed by them aside the Governor's consent letter which will also go a long way to help us.

``We have also sought partnerships with various hospitality centres in Badagry for a rebate in the hotel bookings which will come as a first-come-first-serve basis,'' Awhanse said.

He also motioned that BIFIF would mark a tremendous cultural milestone in the history and development of Badagry with a hope of attracting businesses and investments to the ancient, former slave trade harbour point town.

``We also have a film to be premiered on Africa Magic Station that will tell a good story about Badagry because all the acts in the film are indigenes who have yet to feature in any film before, they are all trained for the film.

``This film festival will attract a considerable progress towards stimulating economic growth, investment opportunities, and boosting tourism in Badagry region.

``Badagry is a good spot to shoot films because we have at several times hosted many film locations with good memories,'' he said.

BIFIF organisers promise fun-filled sporting activities

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