The Executive Director and CEO of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Dr. Shaibu Husseini, has expressed optimism about the future of the Nigerian film industry. Speaking on Lagos Television’s “The Conversation,” Dr. Husseini highlighted the industry’s progress in 2024 and outlined his projections for 2025.
Dr. Husseini recognized the significant impact of social media on the film industry and described it as a double-edged sword. The Executive Director stated,
“While it has created opportunities for youth participation and content creation, it has also perpetuated piracy and other social vices.” He highlighted the need for education and awareness about the implications of piracy.
He advocated for deliberate collaboration and capacity building to bridge the gap between Nollywood and other major film climates. “To compete with the international film industry, collaboration between Nigerian producers is necessary,” he stressed. He cited the example of the Hollywood film “The Wedding Party,” produced by four major production companies.
The CEO also announced plans to establish a screenwriting laboratory to enhance the skills of local writers.
Dr. Husseini stated that the establishment of the proposed production laboratories will reduce the challenges faced by most Nigerian films in other countries.
According to him, the Board no longer censors films, but rather classifies them. This largely places the responsibility of rating the film entirely on the filmmaker, because the Board rates based on the film's classifiable elements. For example, some Muslim countries may not allow the screening of films with certain levels of nudity in their jurisdictions.
However, he was optimistic that the establishment of production labs would improve the skills of filmmakers. He acknowledged that despite all these challenges, Nollywood had an extraordinary year in 2024.
Specifically, the CEO stated that the Nollywood movie, 'Queen Latifah', grossed over N800 million at the box office outside of the Christmas season. Other films he mentioned that are successful include Kunle Afolayan's 'Anikulapo', Bolanle Austeen Peters' 'House Of GAA' and 'Funmilayo Ramsome Kuti', Funke Akindele's 'Tribe of Judah', Bright Okpocha's 'A Ghetto Love Story' and '7 Doors' by Femi Adebayo.
The NFVCB chief attributed the industry's success to the hard work and dedication of filmmakers as well as government interventions. He revealed that the Honorable Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Lawyer Hannatu Musa Musawa, has secured funding that can be easily accessed by interested parties to obtain grants for their productions.
Dr. Husseini also highlighted the contributions of the NFVCB to the growth of the industry, particularly in the area of film development.
He revealed that the Honorable Minister approved a proposal by the Board to grant a two-year exemption to investors interested in opening a minimum of five community cinemas. This initiative aims to increase the income generation of the film industry and bring cinema closer to the people at an affordable price. As the industry looks ahead to 2025, Dr. Husseini expressed optimism about its growth potential and global recognition.
He highlighted the need for trained professionals in different aspects of film production and encouraged stakeholders to take advantage of government interventions and NFVCB initiatives to develop the industry.
Furthermore, it identified financing, poor production quality and censorship restrictions as the main challenges facing the industry.
However, he expressed confidence that these challenges will be addressed by 2025.
The CEO stated that in 2025 there would be improved financing mechanisms for stakeholders, greater collaborations with streaming platforms, a greater number of cinemas and training programs for young people interested in film production.