The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) has announced a partnership with the Catholic Church in Nigeria to promote a healthy screen culture and responsible media consumption. The collaboration was formalized during a visit by a delegation from the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, led by the National Director of Communication, Very Rev. Fr. (Dr.) Michael Nsikak Umoh, to the NFVCB headquarters in Abuja.
Dr. Shaibu Husseini, Executive Director of the NFVCB, welcomed the partnership, emphasizing the Church’s well-established structure that aligns with the Board’s mission in classification and media literacy. “Let it be known that you have found a willing partner because the Catholic Church in Nigeria already has a structure that supports and reinforces our work,” he stated. He reiterated the Board’s openness to collaborations that promote responsible media engagement among Nigerians.
Fr. Umoh, a U.S.-certified media expert, expressed appreciation for the NFVCB’s willingness to work with the Church, highlighting the potential reach of the initiative. “This singular gesture grants the Board access to a ready audience of about 30-40 million Catholics in Nigeria, over 4,000 parishes, and 59 Dioceses,” he noted. He added that the Catholic Bishops Conference has long been invested in the role of media in shaping society and is committed to ensuring that media content upholds moral and cultural values.
Dr. Husseini assured the delegation that the NFVCB has an active media literacy advocacy program that extends to schools, institutions, churches, mosques, and markets. He pledged to integrate the Catholic Church into the Board’s public enlightenment campaigns, particularly those promoting responsible media consumption.
Among the delegation were Sir Jonpaul Oshioke Umoru (KSM), Chairman of the Association of Movie Producers (AMP) in Niger State and Coordinator of the Catholic Artist and Entertainers Association for Kaduna Ecclesiastical Province, and Mr. Patrick Obi, Chairman of the Catholic Artists and Entertainers Association of Nigeria (CAEAN) in Abuja.
The partnership signifies a major step toward leveraging the influence of both institutions to promote values-based content and safeguard Nigeria’s media landscape.