World Creativity Day: NFC Applauds Nigerian Filmmakers

The Nigerian Film Corporation, NFC, acknowledges the dedication, perseverance, creativity, and sacrifices of the nation’s filmmakers in driving the development and expansion of Nigeria’s creative economy, thereby positively influencing the country’s GDP.

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Dr. Ali Nuhu, the CEO of NFC, emphasized that the film sector’s vast contributions to employment, wealth generation, and content production for both small and large screens have been instrumental in driving the successful diversification of the nation’s economy.

He noted that Nigerian filmmakers have consistently and wholeheartedly undertaken film production and related activities throughout the country, leading to numerous domestic and international accolades, as well as increased interest in both direct and indirect investment inflows.

He mentioned that the aforementioned points were detailed in a statement released by Brian Etuk, NFC’s Director of Public Affairs in Abuja on Friday, April 19th, in observance of the 2024 World Creativity and Innovation Day (WCID). This day, celebrated on Sunday, April 21st, is designated by the United Nations to raise awareness of the pivotal role of creativity and innovation in human development. It serves as an opportunity to highlight the contributions of creativity and innovation to the growth of the global creative economy. Movie production continues to lead the nation’s creative economy, fostering employment, wealth creation, and the preservation of heritage.

The NFC Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ali Nuhu also expressed optimism that the 2024 WCID will offer another chance for Nigerian filmmakers to contemplate how they can harness the immense potential of creativity and innovation to craft storytelling narratives that foster positive morals, peace, patriotism, and resilience among individuals and communities, contributing to a stronger Nigeria.

He said, the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture & Creative Economy, by the present administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), including several other past initiatives by the federal government to include the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Science & Technology to drive innovations, the Ministry of Communications & Digital Economy to drive digital technology and access, funding access, research grants for Innovative Research, Local Content Development as well as the Ease of Doing Business Policies have continued to provide operational windows which the nations film industry has benefitted from.

As the world marks WCID 2024, NFC advocates for increased partnerships and collaboration amongst film stakeholders in forging ahead. “Creativity and innovation are resources that must be deployed in solving problems common to humanity”. The transformative power of creativity and innovation and their crucial roles in driving progress, shaping cultures, and inspiring positive change across all sectors in making the world a better place cannot be over emphasized. This explains the choice of “INSPIRE” as the driving force behind the theme of the day – “step out and innovate.”

While paying tributes to the nations veterans, legend and upcoming filmmakers for the positive contributions towards the growth of the film sector, Dr. Nuhu appealed that their commitment and determination in leveraging on creativity and innovation to promote the rich cultural heritage of Nigeria should continue to take the upward curve. Film, as a critical component of the creative ecosystem, he further said, has become a massive economic activity for national development.

The NFC, he assured will continue to promote the core values of the good people of Nigeria. In unlocking prosperity as the drivers of the film industry, the corporation’s determination in driving innovation, funding availability and access, collaborations and partnerships, value chain development, sustainable policy frameworks that will insulate risks, as well as upscale of film production levels, effective film distribution and digital exhibition channels, training, skills development and capacity building, enabling operational environment, effective offshore and seamless engagements co-productions among others, will be sustained.

NFC is mindful of the robust creative components of the Renewed Agenda of the present administration and is determined in providing timely, impactful services and interventions that promote new ideas, technologies, and innovative approaches to filmmaking. The rapidly evolving landscape of Nigeria’s industry, he said, must be supported through appropriate legislative and regulatory frameworks to enable the sector continue to play its significant role of driving progress, shaping cultures, and inspiring positive changes.

O.O