Showbiz
Osinbajo to Headline Creative Industry Financing Summit
**As FG Partners CNN, UNWTO
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Acting President, Mr Yemi Osinbajo, will declare open the Creative Industry Financing Conference slated for July 17 and 18, 2017, at the Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos.
Minister of Information and Culture, Mr Lai Mohammed, made this disclosure on Monday at a roundtable with practitioners in the creative sector in Nigeria.
At the meeting today, the Minister said the Federal Government has entered into a tripartite partnership with the CNN and the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to boost the Creative Industry in Nigeria, using the film industry as a pivot.
He said the movie industry would be used “as a lens through which we will project various aspects of the Nigerian Culture, Tourism and similar areas.”
”We are kick-starting the project with a 13-episode production showcasing the various stages in a movie production.
“These include the choice of location, which will allow us to showcase the various beautiful sceneries available in Nigeria; the choice of wardrobe that will show the rich options in the country’s fashion industry; the choice of sound track that will highlight our rich music genres, the casting that will showcase our abundant talents and the technical part that will provide the platform to show that there is no camera and other gadgets that we don’t have here.
”As part of the project, we will also run a programme on CNN showcasing the 20 Nigerians to watch in the Industry. The Nigerians to be showcased will be selected by the industry players themselves to ensure authenticity,” the Minister said.
He said the tripartite partnership, as well as the MoUs with the Tony Elumelu Foundation, the Bank of Industry and the British Council, were part of the efforts by the Federal Government to transform the Creative Industry to a Creative Economy.
Mr Mohammed said that he organized the Creative Industry Roundtable, which was well attended by industry players, to show the Federal Government’s willingness to work with the private sector in the transformation of the Creative Industry to a Creative Economy.
“This administration has no doubt that the plan to transform the creative industry to a creative economy must be driven by the private sector.
“After all, it is self-evident that the modest growth that has been achieved in the Creative Industry so far, whether in films, music or fashion, has been achieved in spite of the government.
“It therefore stands to reason that with the government providing the necessary enabling environment and the private sector in the driver’s seat, the transformation can be realized within a short time,” he said.
The Minister said the roundtable was not intended as another talk shop, adding that, “The stakeholders who are here are already aware of the problems mitigating against the seamless growth of the industry, hence I don’t expect us to spend quality time here today rehashing those problems. Instead, we should devote our time to seeking practical solutions to the problems we have earlier identified at many fora.”
Mr Mohammed reiterated his earlier statement that the Creative Industry is Nigeria’s new oil, saying statistics from other countries, including the UK and the US, attest to this.
“The Creative industry contributed £84.1 billion to the British economy in 2014. According to figures released by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, that was an increase of £7 billion on the year before.
“The figures also show that the number of jobs in the industry grew by almost 9 percent between 2013 and 2014 – almost double the rest of the economy as a whole (4.6 percent).
“One of the areas of strongest growth was in film, TV, video, radio and photography, which rose almost 14 percent.
”In the United States, the Creative Industry, including Hollywood and broadcasting, contributes more to the U.S. economy than previously thought, the government said in its first official analysis of the arts and culture sector’s economic value.
“The 2015 report from the National Endowment for the Arts and US Bureau of Economic Analysis shows arts and culture contributed more than $698 billion to the economy, which is about 4.32 percent of US goods and services,” he said.
Mr Mohammed said the deliberations from the roundtable would feed into a larger event, the Creative Industry Financing Conference, slated for 17-18 July at the Eko Hotel in Lagos.
“To highlight the importance attached to this sector by the Federal Government, no less a personality than the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, will declare that Conference open,” he said.
In a world where men are expected to have it all figured out, be strong, provide, and never fall apart, Stripped shows the reality that many don’t talk about.
A new drama series premiered on Africa Magic Showcase on Sunday. The limited series brings together a strong lineup of Nollywood stars, including Daniel Etim Effiong, Efa Iwara, Kunle Remi, Ian Wordi, and Mofe Duncan, in a story that dives deep into the pressures men face behind closed doors.
Stripped follows five friends whose lives are slowly unravelling. From career setbacks to relationship struggles and financial pressure, each man is pushed to the edge in different ways. In a desperate attempt to regain control, they take an unexpected path, stepping into the world of stripping at an upscale club.
Daniel Etim Effiong plays Kel, a former marketing executive now juggling survival and responsibility, while Mofe Duncan (Bolaji) battles to keep his business afloat. Efa Iwara stars as a music video director forced to confront a complicated personal life, Ian Wordi plays a conflicted architect, and a youth pastor caught between duty and desire, while Kunle Remi brings to life a determined hustler trying to rewrite his family’s story.
Their lives intersect when they are recruited by Yvonne, a sharp and calculated lounge owner, who introduces them to a world that challenges everything they thought they knew about themselves.
This series explores identity, pride, friendship, and the silent expectations placed on men. It also shines a light on the emotional weight many carry without saying a word, both vulnerability and moments of humour along the way.
With a strong supporting cast of equally complex female characters, the story unfolds across six episodes, building tension as secrets deepen and relationships are tested.
Watch Stripped on Africa Magic Showcase, available on GOtv Channel 8, with new episodes every Sunday at 8 PM.
To upgrade, subscribe, or reconnect, download the MyGOtv App or dial *288#. For catch-up and on-the-go viewing, download the GOtv Stream App and enjoy your favourite shows anytime, anywhere.
As the countdown to the 12th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) draws closer, fans across Africa still have a chance to do more than just watch, they can decide.
Voting is officially in its final days, and this is the moment for audiences to show up for their favourite actors, filmmakers, and stories that have made an impact over the past year.
The AMVCA has always stood out as an award platform that gives viewers a choice, allowing fans directly influence who takes home some of the biggest honours on the night. From standout performances to fan-favourite productions, every vote contributes to shaping the final outcome.
Voting is quick, simple, and free. You can cast your vote via the official AMVCA website or through the myDStv and myGOtv apps. Simply log in or create an account, select your favourites across the categories, and submit. You can also vote multiple times across these platforms to increase your support.
Voting for AMVCA 12 closes on April 26, 2026, at 9:00 PM WAT, and once that window closes, that’s it, no extra time and no second chances.
A lot of people wait until the last minute and either forget or run into issues trying to vote at the same time as everyone else. It’s always better to get it done early.
The awards night will come, the winners will be announced, and conversations will happen again, but between now and then is the only time you actually get to influence the outcome.
So if there’s someone you’re rooting for, or a project you genuinely believe deserves it, this is the time to show up.
Don’t just watch how it plays out. Be part of the reason it plays out that way.
For many aspiring filmmakers, the ultimate culmination of their cinematic dreams is to be able to live through the art form they love.
Filmmakers don’t just want to make a film. They want to build a career doing it. To achieve that, they need training that equips them with industry-relevant skills of the highest standard.
For the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF), this understanding is integral to all of its programmes. Academy graduates are equipped with the precise skills required by their industry, empowering them to become prime-time TV professionals.
Since MTF is a MultiChoice initiative, its three academies – in Lusaka, Nairobi and Lagos – provide training in the specific, high-demand technical skills needed by the industry-leading content producer.
MultiChoice, a Canal+ company, is the largest producer of authentic, original content on the African continent. “Africa’s most-loved storyteller” produced 5 340 hours of world-class local content in 2025.
MTF students are trained to these exacting MultiChoice standards. This leaves them well placed to excel in the industry once they graduate.
And excel, they do. MTF graduates speak with pride of the success they have found since leaving the highly respected hub of African film and television training.
Technical skills
Actor, producer, writer and storyteller Myde Glover went on from MTF West Africa Academy to host film festivals and win Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCAs).
He credits much of his success to the storytelling skills he learned at MTF, as well as the technical standards the MTF Academy sets.
“The storytelling skills I gained at MTF helped me become a better actor, producer and director. It helps me put the story first,” he says. “However, I was also taught the technical and delivery requirements for submitting projects to platforms like DStv, GOtv, and Showmax. I approach every project with those standards in mind, understanding that quality matters in every aspect.”
Glover says the three most important things for aspiring filmmakers to remember are teamwork, being open to constructive criticism, and staying focused on their goal.
“Strong collaboration improves the quality of any production, feedback helps you grow creatively, and focus ensures you see projects through without losing sight of why you started,” he says.
Lifetime network
Graduating from MTF provides filmmakers with a network that can last a lifetime. Alumni often hire each other as they evolve through their working lives, creating a self-sustaining ecosystem of skilled professionals.
Bahati Kajigi Benjamin from DRC found that MTF gave him the network he needed to tell stories close to his heart.
“My experience with MTF was incredible,” says Benjamin. “I formed a family with my fellow students, and we bonded deeply. We collaborated on numerous films and wrote one that is particularly meaningful to me, illustrating the struggles of my people.”
That film was titled The Canvas, a Zee World project.
Benjamin currently works as a camera operator and editor at Sauti Media Hub in Uganda, producing Kampala Creme, one of the top East African reality shows. He says he secured the position through a recommendation from a fellow MTF alumnus.
Benjamin says his time at MTF was invaluable in honing his skills in cinematography and colour grading.
“I gained extensive knowledge about camera techniques, lighting, and colour harmony in film, which I am currently applying in my role at Kampala Creme.
Benjamin appreciates the importance of paying opportunities forward. He recently shared his cinematography expertise on a three-month online platform called Film Chat, aimed at empowering up-and-coming African creatives.
His advice to young creatives is to never overlook the importance of marketing themselves, and to remember that filmmaking is a business.
“Funders want to understand more than just the script or story,” he says. “You should spend time discussing the financial aspects and the impact the film will create. This is what appeals to investors. Ultimately, it’s an investment for a return.”
Career transformation
MTF West Africa graduate Allen Onyige pursued his passion for human behaviour and storytelling at MTF after leaving university and working in live broadcasting. He describes his time at MTF West Africa as “transformative”.
“MTF refined my creative vision, strengthened my technical skills, and played a pivotal role in shaping my journey as a filmmaker,” he says. “The experience changed my life and set me on the path toward meaningful visual storytelling.”
He says understanding the business side of broadcasting was just as important as the creative skills he gained.
After he left MTF, his production company was commissioned by Africa Magic to produce several series and feature films, including Ikenna’s Trial, Sikiru, Elenini, Kadara, and Dear Future Me.
In 2024, Onyige won the Best Indigenous Language Series award at the AMVCAs for Irora Iya. He also served as director of photography on Grind, now on Amazon Prime. His documentary Sunset in Makoko was nominated for Best Documentary at the AMVCAs. He also worked as a cinematographer on the Emmy Award–winning documentary Mothers of Chibok.
Onyige says young people looking to build a career in film and TV should first look to learn the craft and business of filmmaking, but to master one specific skill. Secondly, he recommends being a team player who sets high standards.
“Be a man or a woman of excellence,” he says. “Integrity will get you jobs that talent alone may not be able to give you.”
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To learn more about the MultiChoice Talent Factory and how to launch a career in African film and television, visit https://
multichoicetalentfactory.com -
Applications for the 2027 intake are still open, and the closing date is 27 May 2026.
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