Nigeria seals landmark Brazil film pact as Ali Nuhu hails partnership

From Kenneth Udeh, Abuja

Nigeria’s film industry has recorded another major milestone on the global stage with the recent signing of a landmark Nigeria–Brazil Audio-Visual Cooperation Agreement, described as a “great leap” for trans-border film investment, growth, and cultural exchange.

Speaking after the historic signing ceremony held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Dr Ali Nuhu, Managing Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), praised the deal as clear evidence of Nigeria’s rising influence in the global creative economy and its “transformative storytelling capabilities”.

According to a statement issued by Brian Etuk, NFC’s Director of Public Affairs, the agreement, signed under the Nigeria–Brazil Strategic Dialogue Mechanism (SDM) and witnessed by Nigeria’s Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima and his Brazilian counterpart Mr Geraldo Alckmin, aims to unlock huge opportunities for reciprocal film production, distribution, skills exchange, financing, and talent development.

“Nigeria and Brazil share deep-rooted cultural identities that resonate across the world, from tourism and music to visual arts,” Dr Nuhu noted, adding that the collaboration will “transform audio-visual content development and cross-border offerings” for both nations with large Black populations and vibrant creative sectors.

Implementation of the agreement is already underway, with the NFC and Brazil’s Agência Nacional do Cinema (ANCINE) working to roll out post-signing protocols, a joint procedure handbook, and operational frameworks to ensure immediate benefits for filmmakers.

This fresh partnership, Dr Nuhu stressed, aligns with Nigeria’s broader “Nigeria Everywhere” and “Nigeria: Destination 2030” initiatives to cement the country’s leadership in the global creative economy. He reassured stakeholders that the NFC will ensure that Nigerian filmmakers and industry players fully harness the benefits, much like the ongoing Nigeria–South Africa film cooperation deal.

“This is another giant step that shows the government’s commitment to supporting our filmmakers and expanding Nigeria’s cultural footprint worldwide,” said Brian.