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The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) has called on Nollywood stakeholders to eliminate the portrayal and glamorization of harmful substances, criminal acts, and rituals in their films and music videos. This charge was given by the Executive Director of NFVCB, Dr. Shaibu Husseini, during the National Stakeholders’ Engagement on Smoke-Free Nollywood held in Enugu on Tuesday.

Dr. Husseini emphasized the importance of maintaining ethical standards in the film industry, particularly in avoiding content that promotes smoking tobacco, ritual killings, and other criminal activities. He praised the efforts of the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) in organizing the event, acknowledging it as a significant contribution to corporate social responsibility within Nigeria’s creative sector.

Call for Ethical Content Creation

Addressing the attendees, Dr. Husseini highlighted the central role of the film industry in Nigeria’s entertainment sector. He urged stakeholders to prioritize the industry’s progress while taking bold actions to address and mitigate harmful content. He called for collaboration between public and private sectors to develop strategic partnerships that would support educational and sensitization initiatives aimed at combating unapproved and unclassified content.

“We are facing an industry emergency requiring bold and ambitious actions from all parents, guardians, and stakeholders,” Dr. Husseini stated. He underscored the necessity for innovative models to educate the public, especially mothers and youth, about the dangers of harmful content in films and music videos.

Commitment to a Smoke-Free Nollywood

Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director of CAPPA, reiterated the need for a Smoke-Free Nollywood. He urged stakeholders to work together to stop the normalization of smoking and to promote healthier lifestyles. Oluwafemi pointed out that smoking is still prevalent in Nigerian movies despite the Nigerian Tobacco Control (NTC) Act and the Tobacco Control Regulations of 2019, which ban tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorships in entertainment.

“We are at a point where we must stop the globalisation of smoking and instead promote a healthy lifestyle,” Oluwafemi stated. He commended Dr. Husseini for initiating the dialogue with industry stakeholders, emphasizing the importance of their role in creating a healthier screen environment free from the promotion of smoking and other harmful practices.

The engagement marks a significant step towards ensuring that Nollywood content adheres to ethical standards that protect viewers, particularly the youth, from harmful influences.