Leaders from Nigeria’s film, culture and creative sectors gathered in Lagos for the 5th Peace Ayiam-Osigwe Digital Content Regulation Conference, held in honour of the late filmmaker and industry icon.
The two-day event, themed “From Volume to Value: The Future of Nollywood in the Digital Age,” focused on steering Nollywood toward a quality-driven, globally competitive future.
In his opening remarks, the Executive Director/CEO of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Dr. Shaibu Husseini, unveiled reforms aimed at improving compliance, digital efficiency and monitoring within the industry.
He disclosed that film classification turnaround time has dropped to under 24 hours, with some approvals completed in as little as five hours.
He stressed that the board is reinforcing enforcement against unclassified online content as part of its commitment to building a knowledge-driven film ecosystem.
Husseini urged filmmakers, distributors and streaming platforms to adhere strictly to NFVCB regulations, warning that uploading or screening unclassified films violates provisions of the NFVCB Act.
He added that the conference would also feature industry awards and special recognitions to celebrate creative excellence.
Representing the Ooni of Ife, Olori Tsemi Tokpe Enitan Ogunwusi emphasized the need for cultural dignity and identity to remain central to Nigerian storytelling.
She called for increased support for young creatives, stronger intellectual property protection and expanded digital infrastructure to enhance Nigeria’s global cultural visibility.
Keynote speaker and filmmaker Bolanle Austen-Peters highlighted systemic challenges such as limited financing, weak infrastructure and audience tastes, which often push filmmakers toward high-volume production.
She argued that quality is attainable when supported by strong systems, better planning, stronger script development and long-term investment in production processes.
Representing the Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, the Executive Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation, Ali Nuhu, affirmed government support for policies promoting digital innovation, AI adoption and broadband-powered distribution.
Panelists jointly called for a unified approach to ensure Nollywood balances its vast output with cultural preservation, meaningful value creation and global-standard storytelling.
Reporting by Chioma Ezike,