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| Afolayan signing as Air France Ambassador |
Nigeria’s award winning
actor and director, Kunle Afolayan on Wednesday, signed his major deal with Air
France, one of Europe’s best airlines, as its ambassador.
Afolayan
signed the international brand endorsement deal at the Lagos, Nigeria’s office
of Air France.
The exclusive ceremony was
witnessed by top executives of the airline, Nollywood and media luminaries.
Jean-Raoul Tauzin, General
Manager, Air France, said the decision to bring Afolayan on board as its
ambassador was borne out of the airline decision to forge a partnership
with the creative industry in Nigeria and connect Nollywood to abundance of
opportunities globally.
Speaking on the deal with
Nigeria’s top entertainment journal, E24-7, Afolayan, commended the unique
steps taken by Air France to get him on board.
He explained how the deal evolved:
“This journey started in Paris some weeks ago. The very moment they engaged me,
I just started talking about my passion and because they were part of the festival
in Paris where I met with the Vice President of Air France, Africa, I was just
talking continuously about films and what we can do together. When I got back
to Lagos, someone called and said let’s have a chat and there was a bond,” Afolayan
stated.
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| Afolayan with Air France hostesses |
The renowned director also shared a unique
experience with the airline before talks on the deal began. His words: “Air
France did something quite overwhelming for me. I was meant to go to Los
Angeles and those who invited me provided an Economic Class ticket. I tried
everything possible to upgrade that ticket, you know how it is with celebrity
status but I couldn’t afford to, because it was quite expensive. And as I was
making enquiries, I got a call from Air France that they were willing to
upgrade me all the way to Los Angeles. That ticket was not a sponsorship
ticket; they paid over One Million Naira to get it for me without signing
anything. That was before we had reached any agreement on our partnership. And
I said to myself, this means that these people (Air France) actually have the
interest of, not just me, but the Nigerian entertainment industry at heart.”
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| Afolayan's friends including Biodun Kupoluyi and Azuka Ogujioba at the ceremony |
As Afolayan’s speed up on
his next film project, The CEO, to be shot in exotic locations in Nigeria,
Ivory Coast, Kenya, Morocco and South Africa, it was said that Air France will
play significant role when the tape starts to roll in August.
All photographs courtesy of E24-7
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