The Executive Director of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Dr Husseini Shaibu, has advocated joint productions, co-production treaties and cultural exchanges to drive cultural and economic diplomacy between Nigeria and China.
Dr. Shaibu stated this in his keynote address at the dialogue on Nigeria and China cooperation, outlining a strategic vision for leveraging the film industries of both nations to promote cultural understanding and economic growth.
The event, held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) in Victoria Island, was organised by the NIIA, Trimm Network, Mesba Arts Studio, and the Consulate of the People’s Republic of China. It featured screenings of Nigerian films, including Memuna Yahaya’s Igala-language feature, ‘Tradition’ and Ijeoma Richard’s award-winning documentary ‘Uru Igba Boi’ on the Igbo apprenticeship system.
Shaibu, who is also the chief executive officer of the NFVCB, positioned film as a potent tool of “soft power,” capable of crossing borders to foster mutual understanding and build bridges between cultures.
He highlighted the parallel strengths of Nollywood, valued at over $6 billion as Africa’s most visible cultural export, and China’s film industry, one of the largest globally by revenue.
“Beyond their economic weight, both industries embody cultural memory, social imagination, and national identity,” stated Dr. Shaibu. “This intersection of economic strength and cultural influence makes the Nigeria-China partnership through film not only desirable but necessary—because it is at this juncture that cultural diplomacy becomes economic diplomacy.”
Shaibu outlined a multifaceted framework for cooperation, including cultural diplomacy through Joint film productions that explore shared human values and unique traditions, such as the Igbo apprenticeship system alongside Chinese philosophies of community.
He also advocated professional exchanges for filmmakers and students, and learning from China’s investment in regional-language cinema to strengthen Nigeria’s linguistic diversity.
On economic diplomacy, he highlighted the significance of formalising co-production treaties and joint investment schemes to create new markets, facilitate technology transfer, and build distribution networks across Africa and Asia.
Shaibu welcomed the recent visit of the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, to China, which initiated discussions on such joint investment schemes.
“When Nigeria and China collaborate through film, they are not just telling stories; they are shaping global narratives, strengthening bilateral relations, and contributing to peace and prosperity,”
Shaibu concluded, quoting Edward Said’s assertion that “stories are at the heart of what makes us human.”
The event brought together diplomats, cultural practitioners, scholars, and members of the press, serving as a significant step towards deepening the strategic partnership between Nigeria and China in the creative and cultural sectors.
