The second and final day of the 5th Peace Anyiam-Osigwe (PAO) Nigeria Digital Content Regulation Conference, organized by the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), proved as packed and impassioned as the first, spotlighting discussions on audience growth, monetization, and gender equity and culminating in a grand honouring of veteran Nollywood practitioners.
Tuesday’s proceedings began with a presentation from Dr. Shaibu Husseini, Executive Director of the NFVCB, setting an aspirational tone for the day. He was joined on stage by conference anchors Isabella Adeniji and Sam Uche Anyamele, who introduced the day’s schedule and participants.
Shortly after, Naz Onuzo, CEO of Inkblot Studios, delivered the morning keynote, reflecting on the growth trajectory of Nollywood in the digital age and outlining the role of sustainable content production.
The first panel of the day, moderated by Judith Audu, brought together a cross-section of the value chain cinema operators, streaming platform executives, and film distributors. Panelists included:
• Cassandra Ojuigo Onwualu
• Patrick Lee, COO of Viva Cinemas
• Imade Osoubeni, Co-founder & Senior VP of Circuits
• Emmanuel Kalu Uduma, CEO of Smartmedia
• Funmi Onuma, General Manager, West Africa, Silverbird Cinemas
They explored strategies to expand Nigerian film viewership both domestically and internationally, tackling questions on the balance between theatrical releases, streaming, and distribution. Notably, Joy Efe Odiete, MD of Blue Pictures Entertainment, was slated to join but was absent.
Next came a fireside chat on Movie/Content Monetization featuring Barrister Ope Banwo, with Theophilus Elama as moderator. The conversation dove into licensing, revenue-sharing models, and the challenges content creators face when trying to monetize across platforms.
One of the conference’s most engaging panels followed, titled “Breaking Down Barriers: The Future of Gender Equitable Film Narratives.” Associate Professor Anwulika Agina (Pan-Atlantic University) moderated, while Zulumoke Oyibo (Co-Founder, Inkblot Productions), Yinka Ogun, Bunmi Ajakaiye, Kemi Adesoye, and Chichi Nworah (writer/producer) shared their experiences and visions. The discussion covered how to shift narrative power, improve representation, and create more inclusive stories.
A further panel moderated by Adetutu Laditan featured Chidi Nwokobia, Blessing Agofure, Abdulrazaq Abdullahi, Femi Durojaiye, Ijeoma Richards, and Moses Babatope. They addressed systems-level challenges facing Nollywood: regulation, capacity building, funding, and international partnerships.
Three additional breakout sessions followed, each with deep dives into key policy and business areas, before the conference moved into its closing ceremony.
The climax of the day came with a glittering reception at the Shell Hall, Muson Centre, where 23 seasoned film practitioners aged 50 and 60 were honoured by the NFVCB under Dr. Husseini’s leadership. The inductees represented Nollywood stars such as:
• Segun Arinze
• Ali Baba
• Rita Dominic
• Sam Dede
• Eucharia Anunobi
• Chief Steve Gukas
• Hon. Desmond Elliot
• AMB. Ngozi Ezeonu
• Ronnie Dikko
• Lillian Ama-Aluko
• Taiwo Adeleye
• Hafiz Bello
• Princess Teju Agunlejika
• Adebayo Tijani
• Chimdi Chiama
• Bond Emoruwa
• Chukwu Jude Chukwuka
• Francis Onwochei
• Dr. Ahmad Sarari, among others.
Dr. Husseini lauded the recipients for their decades-long contributions to Nigeria’s film industry, calling them “pillars of our collective cultural legacy” and highlighting the importance of preserving institutional memory as Nollywood evolves in a digital-first era.
The second day of the PAO Conference reinforced the NFVCB’s dual focus: regulating content for quality and sustainability, while also supporting creators in building globally competitive, monetizable storytelling. The range of voices from regulators to creatives, from financiers to gatekeepers, underscored a shared vision: for Nigeria’s film industry to generate value, not just volume.
