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Tag: National Film and Video Censors Board

  • Nigerian film contents rank among world’s best -NFVCB boss

    The Executive Director, National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Mr Adedayo Thomas, has ranked Nigerian film contents as one of the best in terms of value in the industry worldwide.

    Thomas made this known during a two-day training of North East NFVCB staff on Tuesday in Bauchi.

    He said that foreign investors travelled into the country to seek contents for their movies, saying that most foreign movies had Nigerians as part of their team.

    Thomas also said that the industry created the largest employment in the country with increasing number of cinemas from 19 to 42 and screens from 20 to over 140 from 2017 to date, while more are still being expected.

    “The film industry creates the largest jobs in Nigeria from the various positions in film setting to cameramen, sound lighting, among others,’’ he said.

    The NFVCB boss said there were emerging technologies employed by stakeholders to improve on film contents and production, hence, the need to meet up with such trends.

    READ ALSO: Nigeria’s NFVCB joins South Africa, others to harmonise African content

    Adebayo called on participants to judiciously use the knowledge gained during the training to enhance productivity among the organisation and various departments.

    He cautioned against sale of unlicensed and unclassified films in the market, saying that anyone found wanting would be sanctioned accordingly.

    Similarly, the board would also conduct a sensitisation programme for 100 youths each in Bauchi and Darazo Local Government Areas on classifications of films on May 14 and 15.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the workshop is: “Film and Video Works in the New Horizon”.

    The resource persons were drawn from the academia and film industry practitioners to train participants.

  • Nigeria, France sign agreement on movie distribution

    THE National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) and the Alliance Francaise have signed an agreement to showcase and distribute the two countries’ movies through the “French-Nigerian Film Distribution Conference.”

    The agreement was signed during a courtesy visit by Mr Jerome Pasquier, Ambassador of France to Nigeria, to the headquarters of the NFVCB on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Mr Adedayo Thomas, Executive Director of the board and Mr Arnand Durnon, Director of the Institute Francaise signed the agreement on behalf of the two organisations.

    Speaking at the event, Thomas said that the collaboration was to present a platform where investors, producers, distributors and other stakeholders in the motion picture industries of both countries could meet for mutually beneficial deals. He noted that this would encourage and promote the distribution of Nollywood movies in France. He explained that both parties have conceived ‘French-Nigerian Cinema Days’, to screen and showcase the two countries’ movies, as part of the distribution conference scheduled to hold later in the year.

    “Our Nigerian distributors would be more than happy to collaborate with big time French distributors such as Pathe, Studiocan and Bacfilms as planned in the coming collaboration conference,” Thomas said.

    “The French distributors take delight in releasing movies from many different nationalities, whether big or small, as it is their belief that the French moviegoers love movies from around the world.

    “France prides itself as a country of moviegoers with over 5,000 screens, while in Nigeria, we are proud to say that we have achieved 200 screens, from 39 in the last two years.

    “Its film industry is acclaimed to be living ‘La vie en rose’ (life in roses), that its Nigerian counterpart would love to attain.”

    The Executive Director, however, decried the high rate of piracy as a major bane facing the evolving Nigerian moving industry, especially with the emergence of digital distribution platforms. He, therefore, solicited for technical support from France to make the sector strive with piracy effectively nipped.

    “Let me not pretend that all is well with the industry as we have serious piracy issue in Nigeria, though piracy is not directly within the regulatory purview of the NFVCB,” he said.

    “Secondly, with the pervasive nature of ICT, online distribution/exhibition of movies has created regulatory nightmare for us at the NFVCB.

    “France, no doubt, has experience in handling these issues and we therefore solicit technical support from you in tackling these issues.”

    In his remarks, Pasquier said he was delighted at the partnership, adding that it was a common ground for both countries to grow their film industries and also strengthen bilateral relations.

    “The film industries in France and Nigeria are contributing a lot to their economies, and this agreement will further present opportunities for both countries,” he said.

    “This will bring better relationships, not just between the two countries government, but between their citizens as well.

    “Private investors of both countries will sure benefit from this collaboration, in terms of investment in distributions and marketing of films.”

    The NFVCB is a Federal Government body that regulates the films and video industry in Nigeria. The board is empowered by law to classify all films and videos, whether imported or produced locally. It is also the duty of the Board to register all films and videos outlet across the country, as well as keep a register of such registered outlets, among other functions.

  • Unclassified films: Censors Board seeks cooperation of Police

    THE National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) wants greater cooperation and partnership with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), to enhance its fight against unclassified films and video works.

    Executive Director of NFVCB, Mr. Adedayo Thomas, said this when he led his management team on a visit to AIG David Folawiyo of the  Department of Training and Development (DTD) at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

    According to Thomas, the visit was to congratulate Folawiyo on his recent elevation, noting that he “has been very supportive to the board in its enforcement operations, since his days as Police Commissioner.”

    He lauded the Nigeria Police for its crucial role over the years, in supporting the operations of the NFVCB, a key regulator of the film industry across Nigeria.

    He however added that the increasing growth of the Nigerian motion picture industry has also made the enforcement and compliance operations of the board more tasking, which made collaboration with relevant stakeholders imperative.

    “The Nigeria Police has been part of the reasons why the NFVCB is standing tall in regulating our film industry, and we are quite appreciative of this and have not taken it for granted.

    “Our enforcement raids across the country, including tough places like Alaba International Market, Lagos, have been made successful with the help of the police.

    “While appreciating your support, we would also like to request your support in providing training for our officers as Special Constabularies in other to boost our enforcement drive.

    “We need to regulate what goes out for public consumption, as we have been fighting against the distribution of films and video works not licensed and classified for distribution in Nigeria,” he said.

    Responding, Folawiyo who assured that the board’s request would be considered, said: “Once you formally request, we shall be very willing to get your officers trained, and to also give you slots to make your officers available for the Avance Detective Course.”

    The Executive Director and his team also visited and felicitated with Taiwo Lakanu, DIG in charge of Supplies and Logistics, who also assured the board of a cordial working relationship.

  • Nigeria’s NFVCB joins South Africa, others to harmonise African content

    NATIONAL Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB)-Nigeria, the South African Film and Publication Board (FPB), and similar industry regulators across Africa, are seeking a collaborative approach to harmonise regulation of creative content in the continent.

    This was a deliberation by heads of the agencies and policy makers at the “Harmonisation of Content Regulation in Africa Summit” which held from March 18 to March 20 in Sandton, South Africa.

    Leading the Nigerian delegation, Mr Adedayo Thomas, Executive Director of the NFVCB, made a presentation on “Harmonisation of Content Regulation in Africa: A Case for The Movie Industry.”

    He identified harmonised capacity building program across Africa , proper management of content ‘travelability ‘, a well-defined censorship and classification and cyber safety as factors that needed adequate attention in movie content harmonisation.

    According to Thomas, although African countries have individual legislative frameworks that govern the way they regulate content, there was need to form a common front because of diversity of cultures and values.

    “There are certain capacity building programme that must be harmonised if Africa is to make headway in this modern age of technology,” he said.

    “One of such capacity building program is a good focus on script writing in order to stimulate and advance skills development to meet the current needs of the film industry. In storytelling, especially, our own story should instigate action for economic development, and If a certain level of harmony is achieved at this level, production will follow suit.”

    The NFVCB boss, however, charged content regulators across the continent to embrace a harmonised regulatory framework.

    “In essence, a harmonized and regulatory framework on content regulation is the bedrock on which every other issue will stand.”

    He therefore urged African content developers to give national interest and security, human right and dignity and children’s safety utmost consideration in creating their works.

    Dr Maria Motebang, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the FPB, in her welcome address, said that countries can no longer operate in isolation in content regulation because of the ‘travelability’ of content over the internet.

    “We believe that in a continent as diverse and unevenly developed as ours is, we can gain more by leveraging each other’s strengths to ensure the protection of our children and the vulnerable peoples within our borders,” she said.

    “Developments in the Internet and Communications Technologies have reshaped the world we live in so significantly, as online streaming of entertainment content, notably online gaming is fast approaching mainstream film industry in revenue generation.

    The event, which was hosted by the FPB, also had in attendance industry regulators and stakeholders from Kenya, Malawi, Swaziland and Lesotho, among other delegates.

  • 250 filmmakers benefit from NFVCB grant in Ogun

    In its empowerment programme across the country, the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), has extended a start-up grant to 250 young film entrepreneurs in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

    The two-day event which began on Wednesday, February 6, 2019 at the Rontex Hall, Imowo Road, with a training session by seasoned industry practitioners and theatre arts lecturers offered participants insights into a successful career in filmmaking.

    Anchored by Associate Professor Tunji Azeez of the Lagos State University (LASU), facilitators include, Professor Olu Obafemi of the Department of Theatre and Performing Arts, University of Ilorin; Professor Shola Fosudo of the Department of Theatre and Music, Lagos State University; Professor Rasaki Ojo-Bakare of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti; and Professor Ayo Akinwale of the Department of Theatre and Performing Arts, University of Ilorin.

    In his opening remarks, Executive Director of NFVCB, Alhaji Adedayo Thomas, said that the initiative was a deliberate effort by the NFVCB to bridge the gap between established industry players and upcoming ones across Nigeria.

    He noted that all similar interventions and support efforts by either government or investors had been directed more at established names in the industry, with little or no support for new entrants.

    “As the key regulator of the Nigerian motion picture industry, the board has decided to bring practical knowledge of how to be successful in the sector to these passionate youths.

    “As part of the empowerment initiative, we have brought experts from the academia and seasoned practitioners in the industry, to train these youths to enable them build a successful career in the sector.

    “We do  not only  train them but  we are also giving grants to 250 selected ones, as part  of our efforts at assisting stakeholders in the industry, especially the young ones.

    “This is to enable them start something or go for more practical training in filmmaking business, by attending filmmaking courses in acting, script writing, directing and production,” he said.

    The training in Ijebu-Ode was the fifth in the series, following previous outings in Amuwo-Odofin, and Oshodi in Lagos; Port Harcourt in Rivers State, and Nnewi in Anambra State.

    Adedayo explained that the board, under his watch would ensure that every Nigerian film-stakeholder got motivated, irrespective of geographical divide.

    “The NFVCB has operational offices in the six geo-political zones of our country, and from January we began this empowerment programme for all the zones.

    “We decided to come to Ijebu-Ode, a town in the South-West for inclusiveness, outside the usual focus on state capitals.

    “From that point, we shall follow-up on these beneficiaries to ensure they are well guided and mentored,” he said.

    Professor Obafemi who spoke on Why Film is Key Aspect of Development advocated infrastructural and resource development of the industry, urging government to take seriously, its economic diversification agenda, by enabling the creative industry to the degree of providing 30 percent of the country’s workforce.

    Ojo-Bakare, while speaking on Exploring Dance and Music for a More Effective Film Industry in Nigeria, emphasise the need to use more kinetic energy to generate interest of film lovers, averring that verbal narratives, being a cultural attitude, is the problem of most Nigerian films. He decried situations whereby dialogues override actions, just as soundtracks also break suspense, adding that dance and music, could be injected to break unnecessary dialogues, using the Bollywood example.

    Akinwale, whose talk at the event was centered on motivation, explore the theme: Film and My Life. The veteran artiste who disclosed that his children and cousins are also doing well in the film industry, noted that he had maintained passion and self-discipline on the job. He urged beneficiaries of the NFVCB grant to utilize the fund judiciously.

    The seminar which was attended by several other film practitioners had the president of Theatre Art and Movie Producers Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN), Bolaji Amusan, aka Mr. Latin as rapporteur.

    Mr. Latin who was full of praise for the Executive Director of NFVCB, Alhaji Adedayo Thomas wanted the seminar extended to film associations, confessing that he learnt new things from the session, and that he was not ashamed to admit this despite his years of experience in the film industry.

  • Censors board boss donates campaign office to PMB

    Executive Director of National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Alhaji Adedayo Thomas has donated a campaign office for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Thomas, who is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, opened the campaign office in his Oshodi constituency amid pomp, on January 13, 2019.

    Declaring the house open, Director General of President Mohammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation, Lagos State, Hon. Oyinlomo Danmole, who was supported at the event by the Elewu of Ewuland, Oshodi, Oba Shakirudeen Adesina, urged party members to ensure victory for the President.

    He said victory for Buhari would ensure continuity of the All Progressives Congress (APC) developmental stride across the state.

    The APC chieftain said it would be counter-productive for members to relent in the re-election bid given the few weeks to the first election.

    “This is the time for all to work, to be much committed than before in ensuring President Buhari wins the election. You have been toiling too hard, but it will not make sense if you relent now that the election is weeks away.”

    A two-part event, Thomas, also flagged off PMB’s campaign in the constituency with 1000 trained grassroots foot soldiers who are to drive the campaign for the President.

    At the unveiling of the office named, “PMB House” located on 135 Oshodi Road, Thomas said the office would serve as a center and engine room for Buhari’s campaign.

    According to him, the President deserves re-election having championed the infrastructural revolution of the country, adding that there is no state in Nigeria that is not experiencing infrastructural development, courtesy of the President.

    He said the 1000 foot soldiers had been trained to bring on board many more Buhari supporters, adding that Buhari had already won re-election even before the poll was conducted.

    He noted that the Buhari’s effect had taken spread to the creative industry which he heads with billions of investments being made on a daily basis.

    “Let me tell you the biggest cinema in the entire Africa is coming into this country to sign a Memorandum of Understanding and work starts immediately,” he added.

  • Workshop: Filmmakers, security agencies praise NFVCB

    The drive by the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) towards sanitising the film industry of unclassified film and video works began this year, with a three-day workshop, at the Elomaz Hotels, Maryland, Lagos.

    The event, which had about 156 participants, was made up of security agencies such as the Nigeria Police, Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Immigrations Service (NIS), Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Department of State Services (DSS), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Nollywood guilds and associations, and staff of the NFVCB.

    Tagged ‘Strengthening Enforcement Against Unclassified Film and Video Works’, activities began in earnest, after participants were divided into four groups for deliberations and drafting of working documents, proposed for the National Assembly, through the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

    Hosted by the Executive Director of NFVCB, Alhaji Adedayo Thomas, and chaired by the Commissioner of Police, Ahmad Gimba Mogaji, who was represented by DCP Ayodeji Ogundele, the forum also had Mrs. Chioma Azosiri, Assistant Superintendent of Customs and an Intellectual Property Rights Officer, as well as notable film practitioners, including ace cinematographer Mr. Tunde Kelani; President of Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Mr. Ralph Nwadike; President of Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN) Mr. Fred Amata; and Lagos Chairperson of Creative Designers Guild of Nigeria, Mrs. Joy Adeyemi.

    Others are veteran actora Adebayo Salami, aka Oga Bello and Keppy Ekpeyong Bassey; filmmaker Niji Akanni, theatre art educator Tunji Azeez; comic actor Adewale Adeoye, aka Elesho, and film marketer Tunji Ojetola among others.

    Speaking at the opening ceremony, DCP Ogundele noted that the workshop was “designed to bring all major stakeholders in the film, video and musical works together, interact with each other, exchange ideas and bring on board the solutions to major challenges the industry is facing now and to envisage likely future occurrences.”

    He said President Muhammadu Buhari was very keen of the creative industry, and interested in the outcome of the workshop.

    According to Ogundele, the “NFVCB has been in collaboration with the Nigeria Police and has made good efforts which have resulted in huge number of arrests of criminals in the industry, especially in 2017 and 2018.”

    In his opening remarks, Adedayo said that compliance on the agency’s mandate became necessary, as the NFVCB’s Act and classification decisions of the Board are often breached by some ‘stakeholders’.

    “There is need for the NFVCB to step up its game in order to combat this menace and rid the market of anything unwholesome and unclassified as well as ensure that its various licensees play by the rules,” he said, adding that, “It was the desire for compliance that made me, shortly after assumption of office last year, to personally lead enforcement team into the notorious Alaba market where we made a lot of seizures of unclassified and unapproved movies.”

    The NFVCB boss noted that the workshop is expected to, among other results, build the capacity of the staff on issues of compliance and enforcement; produce a manual on issues of monitoring, enforcement and compliance issues; sharpen the skills and competence of the enforcement officers; expose the attendees to new trends and global best practices for compliance and enforcement matters; and have a working document to interface with the stakeholders in the industry with a view to letting them know that it is no longer business as usual.

    He averred that the working documents by the four groups will be incorporated into strategic action plan towards policy documents on the issues under review.

    Participants were full of praise for the NFVCB’s ED, describing him as visionary, proactive and accessible to film industry stakeholders since assuming office.

    They noted that this was the first that the movie industry was engaging a wide spectrum of security agencies on issues relating to anti-piracy.

  • Nigeria’s Adedayo Thomas appointed to Pavilion Afriques Board

    Executive Director of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Alhaji Adedayo Thomas has been appointed to the Advisory Board of Pavilion Afriques/ African Film Forum, Director of Operations – Prudence Kolong, announced in a press statement issued in France on December 2, 2018.

    According to Prudence, “Thomas has strongly put Nollywood further in the map of world film market which can no longer be ignore in the West. He has championed the need for Africa’s content, harmonization and exposure.”

    The NFVCB boss, he said, was unanimously chosen among 25 others, for his effort in the film industry within a very short period.

    “We therefore congratulate Nigeria for this and looking forward to working with Mr. Thomas and his team at NFVCB in the drive for a more viable African market and development,” he said.

    Recall that recently, Thomas was among representatives of three African countries that started an alliance meant to push the creative endeavors of filmmakers on the continent.

    Tagged the African Film Forum, the countries – Nigeria, South Africa and Namibia were presented by leaderships of film agencies in their respective countries, including Adedayo Thomas of NFVCB, Philip Molefe of National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) and Marinda Stein of Namibia Film Commission respectively who last converged at this year’s edition of Toronto International Film Festival.

    In a similar vein the rationale behind the Pavilion Afriques is to create a unique venue for movie trade and promotion that, at the same time, outlines the diversity of African cinema to film professionals across the globe.

    Located in one of the famed white tents of the Festival de Cannes and nested within the Marche du Film section, the Pavilion Afriques is to become an exclusive promotional venue where film industry stakeholders meet, discuss, trade, make deals and take advantage of the unique atmosphere of the Festival de Cannes.

    By showcasing and promoting organizations vested in the African film industry, The Pavilion Afriques proposes a unique insight into the potential for growth and project development across the continent and within the diaspora.

    The Pavilion Afriques is designed as a unique networking platform aimed at providing stakeholders with an unprecedented access to the African film industry resources and professionals.

  • ‘Film, music, video retailers not under Censors Board’s control’ – Supreme Court

    The Supreme Court has declared that the powers granted the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) under its enabling Act did not extend to the regulation of the activities of retailers of film, music and video products.

    In a unanimous judgment of a five-man bench, the apex court held on Friday that the NFVCB has no powers to compel film, music and video retailers to register with it before operating.

    Justice Kayode Ariwoola, in a lead judgment, read by Justice Paul Galinje,  said the nation’s regulator of the film and movie sector was without the powers to control the operations of the retailers of such products, because neither do they own viewing centers nor charge fees for the viewing of such video, film or musical products.

    The apex court said it would require the amendment of the NFVCB Act to address the apprehension of the board and the problems it sought to address by seeking to control the activities of the retailers of film, video and music products.

    Read Also: N2.4bn fraud: Court awaits Supreme Court’s decision on Innosson

    The Supreme Court judgment was on an appeal marked: SC/395/2012 filed by the NFVCB against the 2012 judgment of the Court of Appeal, Akure, which upheld the 2004 judgment of the Federal High Court, Osogbo, given in favour of the retailers.

    NFVCB had raided some retailers of film, video and music products in Osogbo, Osun State, claiming they were operating illegally having not registered with the board.

    The retailers, led by Akinola Adegboyega and two others, approached the Federal High Court to challenge NFVCB’s claim.

    The Federal High Court held in their favour, a decision the NFVCB appealed at the Court of Appeal, Akure.

    The Appeal Court dismissed the appeal for being unmeritorious and upheld the decision of the Federal High Court.

    The NFVCB further appealed to the Supreme Court, an appeal which the apex court decided on Friday against the appellant.

  • NFVCB seizes pirated films worth N200m

    NFVCB seizes pirated films worth N200m

    The National Film and Video Censors Board ( NFVCB ) said it seized uncensored, unclassified and pirated films worth about N200 million and arrested 12 suspected pirates between March and December, 2017.

    Mr Adedayo Thomas, the Executive Director of NFVCB made the disclosure in an interview in Lagos on Wednesday.

    Thomas said that pirated items were confiscated at Alaba International Market, Lagos, Kubwa, Banex Plaza and Wuse Market in Abuja, as well as Benin City in Edo and Kaduna.

    He explained that the seized items include; DVD’s, CD’s, Production equipment and copies of several pirated films.

    “The board has scaled up its enforcement activities for the New Year and are intensifying efforts to make this evil business of pirates becomes unbearable for those that have seen it as a means of making quick money.

    “The board will ensure total sanity and get rid of pirates in the industry, while the right owners of works enjoy the fruit of their hard labour,” he said.

    According to him, the 12 suspects arrested in Lagos and Abuja would soon be charged to court for prosecution.

    Thomas said that such action would serve as deterrent to others thinking of going into such business and prevent such illegal products from selling in the market at the expense of genuine ones.

    The Executive Director added that the action was part of the board’s enforcement operations in sanitising the Nigerian market of illegal films.

    He explained that the board had lined up nationwide raid against uncensored, unclassified and pirated films to ensure that such products were completely removed from the movie market.

    The NFVCB boss noted that the motion picture industry was not all about entertainment, but a big business that must be encouraged and protected to grow and bring profit to its investors.

    Thomas said that the creative industry was acclaimed to have contributed 1.4 per cent to Nigeria’s GDP and can do more.

    He commended the Bank of Industry ( BoI ) and Tonye Princewill, the executive producer of film “79 for supporting the board to discharge its mandate effectively.

    Also Read: NFVCB confiscates pirated materials worth N150m at Alaba Market

    “Bank of industry (BoI) support the Censors Board with the sum of N500,000 and three powerful motorcycles, while Tonye Princewill gives the board N500,000 to repair its abandoned operational vehicle used for raiding of pirates on the street.

    “BoI and Tonye Prince will have been supporting any drive that would enhance the commercial viability of the films and creative industry.

    “Recently, BoI gives two powerful motorcycles to the board as part of machinery needed to carry out its work smoothly.

    “I am indeed grateful and happy towards their gesture, and I appeal to other stakeholders, individuals and philanthropists to support and partner with the board to be effective and efficient in discharging its mandate, ” he said.

    Thomas said that BoI was a major financier of the creative sector, having invested heavily in the development of infrastructure and movie production in the country.

    NAN