Nigerian film bureaucrats, practitioners to meet with Netflix’s executives in Amsterdam
Nigerian film bureaucrats, practitioners to meet with Netflix’s executives in Amsterdam
The delegation’s engagement with Netflix is expected to yield positive outcomes for the Nigerian film industry and pave the way for future collaborations.
Minister Mussawa and leader of the Delegation, Dr Husseini, ED/CEO, Censors Board
In accordance with Netflix’s recent decision to stop commissioning original content from Nigeria, the federal government has dispatched a delegation of Nigerian film workers to meet with the streaming platform’s executives at its corporate headquarters in Amsterdam.
Led by the Executive Director/CEO of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Dr Shaibu Husseini, the meeting “aims to discuss the impact of Netflix’s recent decision to stop commissioning original content on the Nigerian motion picture industry,” said a statement from the office of Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musawa, who appointed the delegation.
Last year, the Nigerian movie industry was jolted to a new reality when Netflix suddenly announced that it was reducing the volume of its operations in the country due to several factors, including the prevailing poor operating economic environment. Though it did not state it expressly, the streaming platform’s decision was widely conjectured by practitioners to have also been triggered by suspected “sharp practitioners” by some beneficiaries of Netflix’s investment, who “divert the money to personal uses”, according to some vocal members of the community.
Essentially, the meeting also aims to explore possible solutions that benefit both parties.
“The delegation’s engagement with Netflix is expected to yield positive outcomes for the Nigerian film industry and pave the way for future collaborations,” disclosed the statement.
Accompanying Dr Husseini on the mission are “some “esteemed stakeholders, including Charles Okpaleke, OON of Charles of Play Network, Group Managing Director of FilmOne Kene Okwousa, Filmmaker and Director Moses Iwang and President of the Film Distributors Association of Nigeria (FDAN) Joy Odiete.”
The statement continues, “The meeting with the streaming giant underscores the Ministry’s commitment to promoting Nigeria’s creative economy and protecting the interests of local content creators…
“As the Minister responsible for driving the growth of Nigeria’s creative economy, Barrister Musawa has consistently demonstrated her dedication to empowering local talent and promoting cultural exchange ¹. This meeting is a testament to her efforts to foster international partnerships that benefit Nigeria’s creative sector.’
