By Emmanuel Ogbodo
Renowned Nollywood Filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan has called on the Nigerian government to provide financial grants and infrastructural support to rejuvenate the country’s movie industry.
Speaking at the 2024 Zuma Film Festival, jointly organized by the Nigerian Film Corporation and the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Afolayan stressed that government funding is crucial for empowering filmmakers to focus on creative storytelling rather than struggling with financial constraints.
Afolayan recalled the Project Nollywood Act during the Goodluck Jonathan administration, which allocated grants to filmmakers.
While some used the funds responsibly to produce movies, others squandered the opportunity.
He urged the government to revive similar funding initiatives with stricter accountability measures to boost the industry’s growth.
Highlighting the operational challenges faced by his production company, Afolayan revealed that he has relied on generators for power over the past three years—a situation he described as unsustainable.
He appealed to the government to invest in alternative energy solutions, such as solar power, which would not only enhance productivity but also benefit the entire Nollywood ecosystem.
Afolayan also expressed concern about unconfirmed reports of Netflix scaling back its partnerships with Nigerian creators.
He warned that such developments could have serious implications, as many filmmakers have relied on the platform to earn revenue in dollars.
To mitigate this risk, Afolayan advocated for the creation of a dedicated Nollywood distribution platform, which would reduce dependence on international streaming services like Netflix and YouTube.
“Relying on external platforms is risky,” he said. “Policy changes on their end can destabilize income streams for our filmmakers and actors.”
Despite the challenges, Afolayan remains optimistic. With robust government support and strategic industry-led initiatives, he believes Nollywood can surmount its obstacles and continue to thrive as a global leader in African cinema.