Ace cinematographer, Tunde Kelani, has expressed gratitude to Nigerians for their goodwill over his recent appointment as Visiting Fellow to the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State.
In a message he shared early Monday morning, the renowned filmmaker thanked people for their love and solicited the support of his colleagues in the film industry to succeed in the appointment.
“To state that I have been overwhelmed by comments and felicitations by colleagues, friends, family and the Nigerian public on my appointment as Visiting Fellow to FUNAAB will be an understatement. I am grateful and appreciative. God bless you all,” he began.
The filmmaker added that the appointment will foster better rapport between the ‘Town’ and ‘Gown’: “It has been observed all over the world, universities are realising the disconnection between them and the industry. This disconnection is a sad case in Nigeria! Our universities train people for the industries yet both are not talking! My appointment and engagement with FUNAAB are to bring my decades of industry experience to train students in preparation for their entry to the industry plus arming graduates leaving the University with skills to create their jobs, rather than queue in the market. The Vice-Chancellor of the University deserves commendation for the bold step. And to my dear colleagues, this is an extension of our responsibilities. I shall need your experience and expertise in this assignment at appropriate times.”
It will be recalled that the Vice-Chancellor of FUNAAB, Professor Kolawole Salako recently announced Kelani’s appointment as a Fellow of the Institution in a landmark move.
Commenting on the appointment in a tribute entitled ‘Tunde Kelani: The Man Exceeds the Frame’, Professor Toyin Falola of The University of Texas at Austin, USA, noted that, “the appointment at FUNAAB will provide him with a unique opportunity to contribute to the diffusion of creativity, the linkages of sciences, technology and culture, and the training of future leaders in a dynamic world in an age of expanding possibilities.”
Born 71 years ago, Kelani is a leading light in Nigeria’s movie industry. The trailblazer is the Chief Executive Officer of Opomulero Productions, makers of movies including ‘Saworo Ide’, ‘O le Ku’, ‘Campus Queen’, ‘Arugba’, ‘Maami’, ‘Dazzling Mirage’ and ‘The White Handkerchief’ amongst others.