The Governor made the remarks on Monday during an inspection tour of movie production sites in Ado-Ekiti and Odo-Uro, Iyin-Ekiti, where key scenes of the film are being shot. He said the project transcends historical storytelling, noting that it strategically projects Ekiti State’s rich cultural heritage, natural landscapes and tourism assets to a global audience.
According to Oyebanji, the film provides a rare opportunity to showcase Ekiti’s rolling hills, dense forests, rocky terrains, eco-tourism sites and serene rural settlements, all of which offer naturally compelling cinematic scenery capable of attracting tourists and investors in the creative industry.
He explained that the Kiriji War, also known as the Ekiti–Parapo War, was a 16-year civil conflict fought between 1877 and 1893 among Yoruba sub-ethnic groups. The war involved Western Yoruba forces, mainly Ibadan and Oyo-speaking groups, and Eastern Yoruba allies, including Ekiti, Ijesa, Ijebu, Yagba and others, making it a defining episode in Yoruba history.
Speaking to journalists after touring the film locations, the Governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to preserving and properly documenting Ekiti history as a means of strengthening identity, education, economic development and tourism growth. He was accompanied on the tour by Nollywood producers and top government officials, including the Chief of Staff, Mr. Niyi Adebayo; Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun; Director-General, Bureau of Tourism Development, Ambassador Wale Ojo-Lanre; Director-General, Community Communications, Mrs. Mary Oso Omotoso; and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Prince Banji Adelusi.
Oyebanji clarified that while the Ekiti State Government did not directly fund the movie, he facilitated the project by mobilising the support of friends and associates who share a commitment to promoting Ekiti’s history and cultural heritage.
“Art, culture and tourism are central to our administration. A people without history are a lost people. What is being filmed here is part of our collective past, now being preserved for future generations. From what I have seen on ground, Ekiti people will be proud of this production when it is released, because we are telling our own story and showcasing our land to the world,” the Governor said.
He commended the producers, Lateef Adedimeji and Bimpe Adedimeji, alongside other stakeholders, for their dedication to authenticity, creativity and professionalism, assuring them of continued government support for initiatives that positively project Ekiti’s culture, values and historical legacy.
In his remarks, the film’s producer, Lateef Adedimeji, said Ekiti was deliberately chosen as the filming location to ensure historical accuracy and originality. He disclosed that about 500 actors are involved in the production, including many drawn from local Ekiti communities.
Adedimeji described Ekiti’s environment as peaceful and visually captivating, adding that filming across the state’s pristine tourism sites has enhanced the authenticity and visual depth of the movie. He expressed confidence that the film would complement existing historical records on the Kiriji War, allowing audiences to experience history in a vivid and engaging format.
The Kiriji War film, with major scenes shot in Ado-Ekiti and Odo-Uro, Iyin-Ekiti, is expected to further position Ekiti State as an emerging hub for film-induced tourism, where history, culture and nature intersect to drive economic and cultural growth.