ALI NUHU CLOCKS TWO YEARS IN OFFICE: PROJECTS A BETTER 2026 OUTLOOK FOR NIGERIA’S FILM INDUSTRY
A better outlook of improved quality of films, increased domestic and international distribution and exhibition windows, access to funding windows, film equipment and infrastructure availability, film training, capacity building, and other film production enablement that will positively enhance Nigeria’s film industry’s outing for the year 2026 has been projected by Dr. Ali Nuhu, who clocks two years on January 12th 2026 as the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC).
According to Nuhu, purpose driven measures emplaced and successfully executed by the NFC within the last two years, including advocacy programmes, projects, partnerships, collaborations, entrepreneurial skills development, training, capacity building, including the alignment of her operations with those of the federal government and the ministry of art, culture, tourism and the creative economy, will positively impact and greatly influence the nation’s 2026 creative outlook, especially its overall growth and contributions to the nation’s economy. Nuhu listed as impressive, outcome of conversations between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, Jamaica, Iran, Brazil, Canada, China, India – high volume creative economy countries- on the institutionalization of formal and reciprocal film co-production agreements, which Nigeria needs for the expansion of her direct and indirect foreign sectoral investment. Nigeria’s art, culture, music and especially film he said, will continue to provide incredible opportunities for talented Nigerians to dominate the global creative ecosystem, with huge returns on investments, job and wealth creation higher records.
Affirming his projections of a better outlook for year 2026, Nuhu averred that efforts to review the obsolete NFC enabling Act of 1979, through the recently reintroduced draft Nigerian Film Commission Bill which has passed second reading at the Federal House of House of Representatives; consultation/stakeholders engagements on the review the National Film Policy, which has long exceeded its 10-year stipulated policy review threshold; resuscitation of the Draft National Film Archive Policy, to optimize operations of the National Film Video Sound Archive – Jos, as the National Repository and ensure the preservation of the nation’s rich audio-visual heritage which will soon receive the concurrent endorsement of the National Council on Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, as well as the development of a 5-Year Strategic Plan (2025-2030) for the Nigerian Film industry; commenced in the outgone year, all of which are expected to be concluded in year 2026, were actions undertaken to strengthen Nigeria’s film sector capabilities, and empower its operators and stakeholders to be able to function optimally.
With an impressive Training and Capacity Development Performance Index of 2,553 and 5,128 persons who received various forms of trainings, skills development and capacity building in film production and other creative enterprises, from across the faculties of the National Film Institute, Jos and NFC’s Consultancy Services respectively, “we should expect a considerable and positive increase in the number of skilled, upcoming and professional filmmakers and content creators”.
The NFI, Nuhu further said, was undergoing strategic repositioning, which will be completed soon, and expressed the Corporation’s profound appreciation to the National Universities Commission (NUC), the National Board for technical Education (NBTE), two key regulatory bodies, as well as the University of Jos, for aiding the NFI to effectively offer learning, training, and capacity building opportunities for Nigerians.
For the obvious reasons that Nigerian movies, through the ingenuity and resilience of her filmmakers, have become major weapons for social cohesion, peace, harmony and economic growth, Nuhu assured that, the NFC will continue to partner, support and engage all stakeholders, including film guilds and associations across the country, in charting pathways that will aid the accelerated development of Nigeria’s creative ecosystem. He listed the annual Zuma International Film Festival (ZUFF) and the SHOOT! Training Series as NFC’s major contributions to Nigeria’s and by implication, Africa’s and global creative economic growth, with highly significant and incontrovertible impact, especially within the digital content space. Given the measureable impact and inestimable value they add to economic diversification and national development, NFC will continue to mount contemporary audio-visual content creation events and engagements – ZUFF and SHOOT! Series inclusive; empower attendees, participants and trainees with digital creative skills, intellectual property protection; content monetization skills and competences.
NFC will not shutter on its commitment and determination in providing the enabling environment for the continuous growth of Nigeria’s film industry through skills and capacity development improvements, access to funding opportunities, film equipment, film infrastructure provision and empowerment initiatives, transformative and impactful film sector advocacy programs and projects, including value based film co-production facilitations, that ultimately aligns with reviving, promoting, and advancing accelerated creative, political, economic stability and growth. for Nigeria. With the effective and efficient deployment of its capabilities, the positive projections of a better and impactful 2026 outlook for Nigeria’s film industry are possible, attainable, achievable and sustainable.
Brian Etuk
Director, Public Affairs
