The National Film and Video Censors Board has intensified efforts to deepen Nigeria’s creative economy with a strategic push to position Kaduna as a new hub for indigenous film development and capacity building.
This direction was unveiled during a high-level stakeholders’ engagement convened by the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Board, Shaibu Husseini, at the Federal Secretariat Conference Hall in Kaduna.
The session, which drew participants from film guilds, associations and representatives of the Kaduna State Ministry of Business and Innovation, served as a platform for robust discussions on regulation, professional standards and pathways to sustainable industry growth.
Stakeholders raised critical concerns about distribution, compliance and industry structure, with Husseini offering clarity on regulatory expectations while outlining opportunities for practitioners willing to align with evolving standards.
Central to the engagement was the announcement that Kaduna is being considered to host the grand finale of the Nigerian Indigenous Film Showcase, a move designed to decentralise opportunities and stimulate grassroots participation in filmmaking.
Husseini noted that expanding film activity beyond traditional centres would unlock fresh talent, boost local economies and strengthen Nigeria’s cultural storytelling across diverse regions.
He further disclosed that the Board is rolling out targeted training programmes aimed at equipping filmmakers with contemporary production, distribution and compliance skills required to compete in a fast-changing digital landscape.
On enforcement, the NFVCB boss warned that the era of unregulated film releases on digital platforms, including YouTube, would no longer be tolerated, stressing that all content must pass through approved classification processes.
In her remarks, Acting Director of Licensing and Documentation, Mrs. Rhoda Dandura, urged filmmakers to embrace responsible storytelling, with a focus on values that protect and positively shape younger audiences.
Husseini, in his closing remarks, reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to sustained engagement with stakeholders, pledging a return to Kaduna to consolidate progress and expand support frameworks.
Participants described the engagement as timely and impactful, expressing confidence in the Board’s balanced approach to regulation and growth, while Kaduna State officials pledged full support for hosting the showcase and advancing training initiatives for creatives across the state.