The National Films and Videos Censors Board (NFVCB) has announced plans to mark the 30th anniversary of the creation of the regulatory board.
Dr Shaibu Husseini, the Executive Director and Director-General of the National Films and Videos Censors Board revealed in a recent media parley that the board will be 30 years in June, 2024 and there are plans to present three different publications, detailing three different decades of progress made by the board and the film industry in Nigeria.
Shaibu explained that the three publications will contain all the necessary details of films that have been classified and censored by the board since it was created.
The Film scholar and critic, who was appointed just a few weeks ago, had hit the ground running, unveiling bumper programmes to transform the film regulatory agency.
He also stressed that he has been meeting with stakeholders of the Nigerian film industry on issues of classification and censorship, and is poised to right the wrongs in the industry.
In the presence of top management staff of the board including Mrs. Alonge Oyadiran, Director Planning, Research and Strategy, Ms Deborah Malgus; Director Film Censorship and Classification; Mr Ogbonna Onwumere, Director Corporate Affairs; Barrister Uju Emagah, Director/ Zonal Coordinator; South West Zone; and Barrister Hassina Nasiru, Director, Head, Legal department, the NFVCB boss stressed the need for the regulatory body to get accurate data in ensuring the film and TV industry moves to the next stage.
The established film critic and member of several film award boards stressed the need for filmmakers to show responsibility in carrying out their duties. He noted that if filmmakers were responsible enough to avoid contravening the laws, the NFVCB has no reason to enforce any law because dragging a stakeholder to court doesn’t help the board in its outlined objectives.
On his appointment, Shaibu hinted that his passion for film, and everything that he has done for the industry might be responsible for his appointment, and he owed the stakeholders of the Nigerian and African film industries, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy of Nigeria. In this light, he acknowledged that the onus is now on him to ensure he makes the board much better than he met it, being a creative himself.
Speaking further, Shaibu said that he wished to further empower and put to good use the 465 staff of the NFVCB, six zonal offices, and 26 state centres to ensure that within his tenure and beyond, the board functions effectively to contribute its quota to national development.