PROTOCOL
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It is my great pleasure to welcome you all to the 5th edition of the Peace Anyiam-Osigwe Nigeria Digital Content Regulatory Conference. It is both an honour and a privilege to stand before you today as we gather to explore a theme that sits at the heart of our industry’s future: “From Volume to Value: The Future of Nollywood in the Digital Age.”As we reflect on how far we have come as an industry, it is important to acknowledge the vision that gave birth to this conference. Since its establishment in 2021, the Peace Anyiam-Osigwe NDCRC has served as a unifying platform for industry professionals, thought leaders, innovators, and operators. Named in honour of the late iconic writer, filmmaker, and producer Peace Anyiam-Osigwe in 2023, this conference was designed to foster collaboration, knowledge exchange, and responsible innovation, especially in a fast-evolving digital landscape. Distinguished guest, ladies and gentlemen, it has now been a year and eight months since I assumed office as the Executive Director and CEO of the NFVCB. In that time, we have worked with purpose and determination to strengthen the regulatory foundations of our industry while enabling creativity, innovation, and global competitiveness. Our journey has been both exciting and instructive, marked by significant milestones. For instance:We have enhanced regulatory efficiency, including the introduction of a quick comeback time for film classification, enabling filmmakers to obtain certificates swiftly and distribute their works without unnecessary delays.We have strengthened compliance and enforcement, ensuring films meet statutory standards and that audiences—especially young people—are protected from harmful or unclassified content.We have advanced a major institutional priority: the shift from censorship to classification. This philosophy is at the heart of our bill currently receiving attention at the National Assembly, which seeks to officially re-designate the NFVCB as a classification organization—simply, “The Classifier.” This transition reflects our belief in empowering audiences, supporting creative freedom, and providing clearer guidance rather than restricting expression.Through capacity-building programmes, workshops, and stakeholder engagement, we have empowered filmmakers, distributors, and content creators to meet local and international expectations.We have fostered collaboration and digital innovation, leveraging technology to improve licensing, distribution processes, and the protection of intellectual property.We have expanded our media literacy initiatives, equipping audiences to critically evaluate the content they consume while strengthening international partnerships for exchanges and intellectual property protection.These achievements are the result of the hard work of the NFVCB management and staff, the cooperation of industry stakeholders, and the resilience of the Nigerian creative community. I invite everyone to kindly join me in giving the Board’s team a well-deserved round of applause.Despite this progress, our industry continues to face challenges that demand urgent attention. One of the most pressing is the unauthorized uploading, streaming, and distribution of films on online platforms, especially YouTube and other digital channels, without recourse to the NFVCB for classification or licensing. This practice is a clear violation of the law establishing the NFVCB. Sections 2b&e, and Sections 25,28 and 33(1) of the NFVCB act makes it an offence to upload, distribute, stream, or exhibit films or video works without recourse to the NFVCB for classification and or licensing. Regrettably, many practitioners—and even some telecommunications companies—continue to distribute unclassified content. This must stop. We appeal to all filmmakers, distributors, digital platforms, and Telcos to comply fully with the law. As we look to the future, our commitment remains firm: to build a Nollywood that is responsible, forward-looking, globally competitive, and anchored in a strong regulatory culture. We are deepening our digital licensing systems, enhancing enforcement structures, and expanding capacity-building initiatives to make compliance easier, faster, and more transparent.Today’s conference gives us the opportunity not just to reflect on our strides and challenges, but to collectively shape a vision for the future—a future where Nollywood no longer measures success in sheer numbers, but in value: value for audiences, value for investors, value for creators, and value for Nigeria.Before we proceed, I wish to express my profound appreciation:To the stakeholders of the motion picture industry who have received me with so much warmth and supported me and my team To the Honourable Minister of Information and Culture, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa for her unwavering guidance and support;To the Chairman of the House Committee and the Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, for graciously accepting to e special guest and to chair this event;And to Olori Temitope Enitan-Ogunwusi, we say thank you for accepting—at very short notice—to be our Royal Mother of the Day.As part of today’s activities, we will be presenting five industry awards, along with three special honours: Box Office Champion, Audience Choice Award, and Emerging Distributor Award and three special recognition awards for service to the industry especially in the area of distribution, exhibition and internalization of the brand Nollywood. These awards recognize the creativity, excellence, and impact of individuals and organisations that continue to push Nollywood forward.In addition, we are immensely proud that on Day 2 of this conference, we will be celebrating some of the brightest stars and most enduring legends of our industry—icons who turned 50 and 60 in the year 2025. These individuals represent the strength, longevity, and brilliance of the Nollywood story. Their contributions have inspired generations, elevated our narratives, and shaped the identity of Nigerian cinema. Honouring them is not just a celebration of age, but a celebration of impact, legacy, and extraordinary commitment to the craft.As we reflect on the work before us, I wish to reaffirm a principle that has guided our efforts: collaboration remains at the heart of our success. Our work as regulators, creators, distributors, and partners is interconnected. Together, we must continue to forge partnerships, share knowledge, and support solutions that balance creativity with responsibility.Once again, welcome to the 5th Peace Anyiam-Osigwe Nigeria Digital Content Regulatory Conference. I wish you all productive deliberations, insightful conversations, and an inspiring two days ahead.Shaibu Husseini, Ph.D Executive Director/CEO National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB)
Shaibu Husseini, Ph.D Executive Director/CEO National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB)
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