In a bold move to reposition Nigeria’s creative sector as a global force, the Nigerian Government has partnered with Chocolate City Group to transform the National Film Institute (NFI) into a world-class film school and production hub. The collaboration is expected to generate two million jobs and contribute $100 billion to Nigeria’s GDP through the creative and tourism sectors.
The landmark partnership was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy and Chocolate City Group. The agreement was concluded during the ‘Screen Nigeria’ event at the Cannes Film Festival in France, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria’s cultural diplomacy.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Ministry described the initiative, tagged “Destination 2030: Nigeria Everywhere”, as a strategic component of the government’s plan to revitalise the creative economy.
“For too long, our most promising filmmakers have had to seek technical training abroad. We’re investing in infrastructure that transforms raw talent into world-class professionals in Nigeria,” said Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy. She added that the partnership aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of making the creative economy a core pillar of national development.
The National Film Institute Under the agreement, will undergo extensive upgrades to its infrastructure, curriculum, and industry partnerships. Plans include launching international exchange programmes with top global film schools, boosting intellectual property protections, and supporting talent development across small-scale live arenas and global content distribution platforms.
The initiative will be implemented through the Creative and Tourism Infrastructure Company (CTICo), the Federal Government’s new vehicle for investment in the creative and tourism sectors.
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Currently operating with limited production capacity, the NFI has trained many of Nollywood’s leading professionals, but struggles to meet evolving industry demands. The revitalised institute aims to train 10,000 students over the next decade, with at least 2,000 graduates placed in jobs across Nigeria’s growing creative industries.
Audu Maikori, Chairman of Chocolate City Group, underscored the importance of education to Nigeria’s creative resurgence. “We’re witnessing Nigeria’s creative renaissance, and education is the foundation that will sustain it,” he said. “Reimagining film education from the ground up will ensure we prepare students for existing opportunities and empower them to create new ones—while putting Nigerian storytelling on the world stage.”
The announcement comes at a historic moment for Nigeria’s film industry, which celebrated its first official selection at the Cannes Film Festival with the films “My Father’s Shadow” and “Osamede.”
Ali Nuhu, Managing Director of the National Film Corporation, said the timing of the partnership was symbolic. “Our breakthrough at Cannes with films like ‘My Father’s Shadow’ shows what visionary individuals can achieve. This partnership ensures we’ll soon have thousands more filmmakers with the training and global links to follow in their footsteps.”
Abuchi Ugwu, CEO of Chocolate City Music, noted that the partnership builds on two decades of experience nurturing Nigerian talent. “Our goal is to create an ecosystem that supports creatives from concept to career,” he said.
The government and its partners believe the project will not only advance Nigeria’s global cultural footprint but also stimulate broad-based economic growth by anchoring a thriving creative economy.
