The Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Dr Husseini Shaibu, has called for deeper collaboration between Nigeria and China through film, cultural exchanges, and co-production treaties to strengthen bilateral relations.
Shaibu made the call in Lagos while delivering the keynote address at a dialogue on Nigeria-China cooperation, held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island.
The event, organised by the NIIA, Trimm Network, Mesba Arts Studio, and the Chinese Consulate, featured screenings of Nigerian films, including Memuna Yahaya’s Igala-language feature Tradition and Ijeoma Richard’s award-winning documentary Uru Igba Boi on the Igbo apprenticeship system.
According to Shaibu, film is a powerful tool of soft power capable of crossing borders and fostering mutual understanding. He stressed that the combined cultural and economic strength of Nollywood—valued at over $6 billion, and China’s billion-dollar film industry provides a unique opportunity for joint productions that advance cultural diplomacy and create new economic markets.
Shaibu urged formalising co-production treaties, professional exchanges between filmmakers, and learning from China’s investment in regional-language cinema to promote Nigeria’s linguistic diversity.
He praised the recent visit of the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, to China, describing it as a positive step toward realising joint investment schemes.
“When Nigeria and China collaborate through film, they are not just telling stories; they are shaping global narratives and strengthening relations,” he said.
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