The Vice President of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, has emphasised the transformative power of digital technology in reshaping the African film industry, urging governments across the continent to embrace digital solutions to revolutionize cinema.
Speaking through the Honourable Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, Barr. Hannatu Musa Musawa, at the Zuma International Film Festival 2024, on Tuesday in Abuja, Shettima highlighted the ongoing digital revolution as a game-changer for content creation, distribution, and consumption in Africa.
Highlighting the administration’s policy framework, Shettima pointed to plans for developing Nigeria’s cinema as a flagship for creative economic growth. This, he said, would be achieved through institutional enhancements, infrastructure development, and leveraging international funding and partnerships.
He also revealed ongoing collaborations with the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy to provide the necessary tools for such expansion.
In his goodwill message at the event, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi CCIE, highlighted the transformative role of digital technology in driving Nigeria’s creative economy and entertainment industry.
He expressed confidence that leveraging digital tools and platforms would significantly elevate Nigeria’s status in the global creative economy, unlocking immense opportunities for growth and development.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation, Dr Ali Nuhu, called for collaboration and innovation to reshape the African film industry.
The event underscores the federal government’s commitment to using digital innovation to elevate Nigeria’s creative sector, making it a beacon of progress in Africa’s cinematic landscape.
