•The Executive Director, National Film and Video Censors Board, Dr Shaibu Husseini, (middle)poses with the EXCOS of ANCOP.The Executive Director, National Film and Video Censors Board, Dr Shaibu Husseini, is calling on Nollywood’s guilds to prioritise professional development and skills training for their members instead of focusing on foreign trips and award ceremonies.
According to a statement by Mr Ogbonna Onwumere
Director, Corporate Affairs, NFVCB, while speaking at a capacity-building workshop organised by the Association of Nollywood Core Producers (ANCOP), Dr. Husseini praised the association for focusing on enhancing storytelling. He stressed that strong narratives are essential for Nollywood to maintain its influence in Africa and expand its global reach.
“A good story, crafted with care and depth, is what sells a movie, crosses borders, and defines the soul of every production,” he said, adding that such workshops are vital for strengthening the synergy between writers and producers.
While commending the ANCOP workshop as a model for industry development, Husseini expressed concern over a “troubling trend” where some guilds are more focused on organising trips abroad that have little to no tangible impact on members’ careers.
“These foreign trips may create headlines and photo ops, but they do little to improve the quality of storytelling, production, distribution, or revenue streams in Nollywood,” he stated.
He emphasised that workshops focused on skills and knowledge transfer are the true legacy guilds should aim for.
Husseini also used the opportunity to remind filmmakers of their legal obligation to submit films to the NFVCB for classification, noting that the process has been digitised for efficiency. Bypassing the board, he warned, “violates the law and denies the industry vital data needed for policy formulation, investment, and global partnerships.”
He concluded by endorsing the ANCOP workshop and urging participants to maximise the opportunity, reminding them that they are “custodians of Nigeria’s stories—a responsibility that demands professionalism and pride.”
