Bolanle Austen-Peters, 8 Others Honoured At the 5th NFVCB’s PAO Nigeria Digital Content Confab

FUNSHO AROGUNDADE 

Visionary filmmaker and founder of BAP Productions, Bolanle Austen-Peters has led eight other elite stakeholders in the creative industry honoured by the National Films and Videos Censors Board, NFVCB, at the just concluded 5th Edition of the Peace Anyiam-Osigwe Nigerian Digital Content Regulatory Conference.

Austen-Peters, who was also the Keynote speaker at the highly successful two-day industry summit held at the expansive Shell Hall of the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos on November 18 and 19, was honoured by the NFVCB for her immense contribution to the growth of the Nigerian film industry.

BAP, as Austen-Peters fondly called, couldn’t hold back her joy as she received the award plaque and a large portrait amidst cheers and accolades from the teeming audience.

She expressed joy and gladness with the honour and promises to continue to do more in taking the film industry to greater heights.

Other luminaries honoured with awards included renowned filmmaker Femi Odugbemi, Joy Odiete, Funke Akindele, Moses Babatope, Chioma Ude, Cinemax, FilmOne, and Yemi Morafa’s directed rave movie, Gingerrr.

Leading the conversation on the theme: ‘From Volume to Value: The Future of Nollywood in the Digital Age’, Austen-Peters set the tone for the two days of powerful panels with stakeholders, regulators, creatives, industry leaders, academics, policy makers and investors across Nigeria’s creative economy in attendance.

The Culture cum arts connoisseur spoke on Nollywood’s next growth frontier, shifting from sheer output to real, sustainable value in a digital-first world.

The first day had panel sessions that delved deep into the growth, challenges and pathway to securing a more rewarding and globally accepted film industry.

The first panel session, moderated by seasoned journalist and former Lagos Commissioner, Mr. Steve Oluseyi Ayorinde, focussed on the theme: From Volume To Value: Future of the Motion Picture Industry In A Digital Age, had notables as panellists including Dr Busola Tejumola, Stephanie Linus, and Femi Odugbemi.

Three other sessions later took place on the first day of the conference.

The second day kicked off with a presentation by the Censors Board boss, Dr. Husseini after which the anchors, Isabella Adeniji and Sam Uche Anyamele took over the day’s proceedings.

Mr. Naz Onuzo, the CEO, Inkblot Studios set the tone for the first session of the day with a stimulating keynote speech.

The first panel session was moderated by Judith Audu and had panelists discussing the ‘Growing the Film Audience At Home And Abroad.’

Six industry figures across Cinema operators, streaming platform heads as well as film distributors were on the panel. They include Cassandra Ojuigo Onwualu, Patrick Lee (COO, Viva Cinemas), Imade Osoubeni (Co-founder & Senior VP, Circuits), Emmanuel Kalu Uduma (CEO Smartmedia), and Funmi Onuma (GM, West Africa, Silverbird Cinemas). Joy Efe Odiete, MD, Blue Pictures, was scheduled to be on the panel but was unable to make it.

The session was followed by a fireside chat with Mr Ope Banwo, a lawyer and digital content specialist on Movie/Content Monetization. It was moderated by a renowned broadcast journalist, Theophilus Elama.

Another panel discussion continued with discussants dwelling on “Breaking Down Barriers: The Future of Gender Equitable Film Narratives”. The session, moderated by Associate Professor Anwulika Agina of Media Studies, Pan-Atlantic University, had as panelists Zulumoke Oyibo, Co-Founder Inkblot Productions; screenwriters Yinka Ogun, Bunmi Ajakaiye, Kemi Adesoye, and writer and producer, Chichi Nworah.

The session generated so much engagement from the attendees before it was rounded off for the next session which had Chidi Nwokobia, Blessing Agofure, Abdulrazaq, Femi Durojaiye, Ijeoma Richards, and Moses Babatope as panelists. The session was moderated by Adetutu Laditan.

There were three other sessions afterwards before the highlight of day two, which also resulted in the closing ceremony.

A total of 23 film practitioners, who turned 50 and 60 years respectively were honoured and treated to a glamorous reception at the Shell Hall of the Muson Centre by the management of the NFVCB.

The practitioners include Taiwo Adeleye, Saheed Mohammed, Ronnie Dikko, Seyi Siwoku, Aquila Njamah, Bond Emoruwa, Chimdi Chiama, Segun Arinze, AMB. Ngozi Ezeonu, Hafiz Bello, Lillian Ama-Aluko, Dr. Ahmad Sarari, Francis Onwochei, Princess Teju Agunlejika, Adebayo Tijani, Sir Kingsley Ogoro, Hon Desmond Elliot, Ali Baba, Rita Dominic, Sam Dede, Eucharia Anunobi, Chief Jude Chukwuka and Chief Steve Gukas.

The fifth edition and the second since the emergence of Dr. Shaibu Husseini as the executive director of the Censors Board. The honourable minister for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musawa was represented at the summit by Notable actor and Director General of the Nigerian Film Corporation, Dr. Ali Nuhu.

Olori Temitope Enitan Ogunwusi was the Mother of the Day while members of the late Peace Anyiam-Osiwe family led by her brother, Dr Raymond Anyiam-Osigwe, and other siblings including George Anyiam-Osigwe, and Kennedy Anyiam-Osigwe were also in attendance.

Other notable participants were Stephanie Linus, Emeka Ossai, Mahmood Alli-Balogun, Saidi Balogun, Abdulrasaq Abdullahi, Makinde Adeniran, Femi Durojaiye, Uzodima Okpechi, Yinka Ogun, Patrick Lee, Emmanuel Kalu Uduma, Blessing Agofure, John Ukpa, Bunmi Ajakaiye, Imade Bibowei- Osuobeni, Blessing Ebiegieson, and Misola Iyun amongst several others.