REPORT ON THE COURSTEY VISIT OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALHAJI ADEDAYO THOMAS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, EMBASSY OF THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA, LAGOS ON WEDNESDAY 2NDAUGUST 2017.
The Executive Director of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB),
Alhaji Adedayo Thomas visited the Department of Commerce and was received by
the Commercial Counselor of the U.S. Mission to Nigeria Mr. Brent Omdahl at the
United States of America Embassy, Walter Carrington crescent, Victoria Island,
Lagos on Wednesday 2nd August, 2017.
Mr. Omdahl expressed his appreciation for the visit and sought to know exactly
from the Executive Director what the NFVCB does.
The ED explained the functions of the NFVCB as the regulatory body of the movie
industry in Nigeria. Speaking further, he explained that we look into movie content
and advice owners on what things to remove that may cause disaffection such as
treasonable acts, hate speech etc.
The Board is also particular about things that may
misrepresent the country. He also informed Mr. Omdahl that we examine movies
and classify them with the appropriate ratings.
He educated them on the different
ratings. For instance, he explained that RE which stands for Restricted Exhibition
is for movies for a particular audience such as for educational purposes.
The visit was witnessed by a Commercial Specialist of the US embassy, Mr.
Chamberlain Eke who commented that he sees the 16 VL ratings on DSTV and
was wondering why the rating was not mentioned.
The ED replied that the DSTV ratings are from South Africa and the Board is
looking into ways of standardizing the ratings.
The ED also spoke about the Board facilitating co-production of Nollywood i.e.
with producers, marketers and distributors. He informed the US officials that the
Board also attends festivals and that part of the reason for the visit was to encourage the U.S. to invest, not necessarily financially, in Nollywood as
tremendous opportunities abound in the Nigerian movie industry.
Thomas also informed the officials that the creative industry contributes 1.42% of
Nigeria’s GDP and comes second to oil. He said that the Board is looking into how
best the embassy can link the industry with investors to help grow our GDP
percentage.
Both Mr. Omdahl and Mr. Eke made comments on pirated movies being seen
Everywhere.
The ED informed them that he has met with the Inspector General of Police and
two of his deputies and given them the Board’s demands. He stated that when
ready, the Board would have over thirty-two (32) police units on standby for raids.
He also stated that the Board is very particular about protecting intellectual
property rights.
The ED, Alhaji Adedayo Thomas further stated that as a regulatory body, we do
raids of unclassified and pirated movies. He noted that many movies that are being
imported do not pass through the Board.
He said the Board will prosecute the
importers once caught as a task force has being set up to rid the market of
unapproved movies.
He informed US officials that the Nigerian government is set
to fight piracy as only recently the government set up a team of creative industry
players who will collaborate with the police to fish out pirates and deal with them.
Mr. Omdahl observed that there are only very few cinemas in the country.
The ED replied that this is an area which needs investments and that the Board can
help with creating an enabling environment and all that is needed in building
cinemas and that even though there are a lot of people who are not genuine he can
assure the officials that if the investors go through the Board, it will help
authenticate genuine private investors who are interested in building cinemas.
Mr. Eke recalled that the embassy in the past had collaboration with Film and
Video Producers and Marketers’ Association of Nigeria (FVPMAN) to organize an
event for movie producers interested in film equipment. He stated that he had met
with Mr. Zack Orji who told him that there were some producers interested in used film equipment. He promised to introduce the ED to someone based in the U.S.
who is seriously promoting Nollywood.
The ED pointed out that there are many guilds in the industry with different
interests other than equipment, such as content, distribution and in dealing with the
industry they should not just pick on one, but should involve others too. He noted
that he is not biased towards any guild and is therefore neutral in the Industry.
Mr. Omdahl commented that events that would draw the attention of filmmakers
would help identify who is interested in content, equipment, distribution etc.
The ED also requested for trainings and exposure of NFVCB staff in relation to the
business of film by the U.S.
Mr. Omdahl replied that the Department of Commerce does not have such
programmes but the Public Affairs Divisions has programmes and advised the ED
to email a short description of what his request is which will be subject to further
discussion.
Mr. Omdahl told Mr. Eke to look into the next Cine Gear programme in the U.S.
which is an annual event held at Paramount Studios every June.
Mr. Omdahl commented that events that would draw the attention of filmmakers
would help identify who is interested in content, equipment, distribution etc
Mr. Eke suggested that movies be taken off DVDs to reduce piracy but the
Executive Director told him that people in the villages see it as a thing of pride to
have a DVD player so taking movies off DVDs would affect them greatly.
The ED also said that taking movies off DVDs will still aid piracy, hence until the country
is fully developed, movie distribution cannot go digital.
The Executive Director of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB),
Alhaji Adedayo Thomas visited the Department of Commerce and was received by
the Commercial Counselor of the U.S. Mission to Nigeria Mr. Brent Omdahl at the
United States of America Embassy, Walter Carrington crescent, Victoria Island,
Lagos on Wednesday 2nd August, 2017.
Mr. Omdahl expressed his appreciation for the visit and sought to know exactly
from the Executive Director what the NFVCB does.
The ED explained the functions of the NFVCB as the regulatory body of the movie
industry in Nigeria. Speaking further, he explained that we look into movie content
and advice owners on what things to remove that may cause disaffection such as
treasonable acts, hate speech etc.
The Board is also particular about things that may
misrepresent the country. He also informed Mr. Omdahl that we examine movies
and classify them with the appropriate ratings.
He educated them on the different
ratings. For instance, he explained that RE which stands for Restricted Exhibition
is for movies for a particular audience such as for educational purposes.
The visit was witnessed by a Commercial Specialist of the US embassy, Mr.
Chamberlain Eke who commented that he sees the 16 VL ratings on DSTV and
was wondering why the rating was not mentioned.
The ED replied that the DSTV ratings are from South Africa and the Board is
looking into ways of standardizing the ratings.
The ED also spoke about the Board facilitating co-production of Nollywood i.e.
with producers, marketers and distributors. He informed the US officials that the
Board also attends festivals and that part of the reason for the visit was to encourage the U.S. to invest, not necessarily financially, in Nollywood as
tremendous opportunities abound in the Nigerian movie industry.
Thomas also informed the officials that the creative industry contributes 1.42% of
Nigeria’s GDP and comes second to oil. He said that the Board is looking into how
best the embassy can link the industry with investors to help grow our GDP
percentage.
Both Mr. Omdahl and Mr. Eke made comments on pirated movies being seen
Everywhere.
The ED informed them that he has met with the Inspector General of Police and
two of his deputies and given them the Board’s demands. He stated that when
ready, the Board would have over thirty-two (32) police units on standby for raids.
He also stated that the Board is very particular about protecting intellectual
property rights.
The ED, Alhaji Adedayo Thomas further stated that as a regulatory body, we do
raids of unclassified and pirated movies. He noted that many movies that are being
imported do not pass through the Board.
He said the Board will prosecute the
importers once caught as a task force has being set up to rid the market of
unapproved movies.
He informed US officials that the Nigerian government is set
to fight piracy as only recently the government set up a team of creative industry
players who will collaborate with the police to fish out pirates and deal with them.
Mr. Omdahl observed that there are only very few cinemas in the country.
The ED replied that this is an area which needs investments and that the Board can
help with creating an enabling environment and all that is needed in building
cinemas and that even though there are a lot of people who are not genuine he can
assure the officials that if the investors go through the Board, it will help
authenticate genuine private investors who are interested in building cinemas.
Mr. Eke recalled that the embassy in the past had collaboration with Film and
Video Producers and Marketers’ Association of Nigeria (FVPMAN) to organize an
event for movie producers interested in film equipment. He stated that he had met
with Mr. Zack Orji who told him that there were some producers interested in used film equipment. He promised to introduce the ED to someone based in the U.S.
who is seriously promoting Nollywood.
The ED pointed out that there are many guilds in the industry with different
interests other than equipment, such as content, distribution and in dealing with the
industry they should not just pick on one, but should involve others too. He noted
that he is not biased towards any guild and is therefore neutral in the Industry.
Mr. Omdahl commented that events that would draw the attention of filmmakers
would help identify who is interested in content, equipment, distribution etc.
The ED also requested for trainings and exposure of NFVCB staff in relation to the
business of film by the U.S.
Mr. Omdahl replied that the Department of Commerce does not have such
programmes but the Public Affairs Divisions has programmes and advised the ED
to email a short description of what his request is which will be subject to further
discussion.
Mr. Omdahl told Mr. Eke to look into the next Cine Gear programme in the U.S.
which is an annual event held at Paramount Studios every June.
Mr. Omdahl commented that events that would draw the attention of filmmakers
would help identify who is interested in content, equipment, distribution etc
Mr. Eke suggested that movies be taken off DVDs to reduce piracy but the
Executive Director told him that people in the villages see it as a thing of pride to
have a DVD player so taking movies off DVDs would affect them greatly.
The ED also said that taking movies off DVDs will still aid piracy, hence until the country
is fully developed, movie distribution cannot go digital.
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