Forget the red carpets for a moment. The real buzz in Nollywood this Wednesday, July 30, pulsed through Ikeja, Lagos, where something genuinely foundational was being laid. The Association of Nollywood Core Producers (ANCOP), under the energetic stewardship of its National President, Mr. Theophilus Akatugba (who also founded the Lagos International Film and Cinema Convention), hosted a game-changer: the Producers-Writers Nexus. This wasn’t just another meeting; it felt like a deliberate, hopeful recalibration for Africa’s cinematic powerhouse.
Teaming up with the Screenwriters Guild of Nigeria (SWGN), led by the respected veteran Mr. Yinka Ogun, ANCOP, set the stage for a deep dive. The mission? To weld together the two bedrock pillars of great filmmaking – producers and screenwriters – under the resonant theme: “Crafting Stories That Captivate: A Rendezvous of the Screenwriters and Producers.”
A Gathering of the Tribes:
From the 9:00 AM kick-off, the air crackled. You could feel the collective intent in the room. Producers rubbed shoulders with writers, directors exchanged notes with actors, while academics, film school reps (including PEFTI Film Institute and MultiChoice Talent Factory), and cultural custodians added their weight. This was Nollywood’s brain trust, convened.
Setting the Stage: Story as Sovereign
Mr. Akatugba cut straight to the chase in his welcome. “Without a well-written script,” he declared, his voice firm, “you cannot make a good film—no matter how great your camera or cast may be.” His message was clear: intentional investment in the script, the story’s root, is non-negotiable. He paid homage to ANCOP’s guiding lights: the *Board of Trustees led by Chief Gabriel Okoye “Gabosky”, and founding president/current BOT Secretary, **Comrade Alex Eyengho. A special nod went to **Dr. Shaibu Husseini, the Executive Director/CEO of the *National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), for his crucial advocacy for structured storytelling.
Dr. Husseini’s Clarion Call: Substance Over Spotlight
Dr. Husseini’s keynote wasn’t just applauded; it resonated. He championed storytelling as the true bedrock – for film success and for defining Nigeria to the world. “What you are doing here today—building capacity among writers and producers—is both timely and critical,” he affirmed, before issuing a vital warning. He called out the growing trend of guilds chasing “international award ceremonies and superficial recognition tours.”
“These foreign trips may create headlines and photo ops,” Husseini stated pointedly, “but they do little to improve the quality of storytelling, production, or revenue streams in Nollywood.” His prescription? “Workshops like this are what should be the true legacy of guilds.” He also urged filmmakers to embrace the NFVCB’s digitized classification and championed reliable industry data as essential fuel for growth, policy, and attracting investment.
Mastering the Craft: From Pen to AI
The Nexus wasn’t just talk; it was deep learning. Mr. Yinka Ogun led a masterclass dissecting “Building Captivating Stories – From Concept to Screen,” emphasizing narrative structure, character journeys, and the essential spark of conflict. Then, Mr. Jimi Ojikutu sparked minds with “Character Development – The Place of AI,” exploring how artificial intelligence could be a powerful tool for ideation, character building, and efficiency, without sacrificing the human soul of creativity.
Panels That Dug Deep:
The conversation got richer in dedicated panels:
- “Developing Culturally Rooted Stories Through Strong Writer–Producer Collaboration” saw insightful strategies shared by Seunmanuel Faleye, Eki Faith Eboigbe, Osezua Stephen-Imobhio (Founder, African Indigenous Language Film Festival), Temitope Duker, and Theophilus Akatugba. The focus: preserving heritage through true partnership.
- “The Business of Storytelling – Funding, Distribution, and Rights in Nollywood” tackled the vital practicalities. Femi Durojaiye, Pat Oghre-Imobhio, Makinde Adeniran fta (National President, NANTAP), Comrade Alex Eyengho, Fidelis Duker, and again Theophilus Akatugba debated financing, protecting writer rights, and getting stories seen.
The Room Where It Happened:
The energy came from the people. Among the many influential faces were Mr. Tunji Okanlawon (ANCOP BOT Member), powerhouse producers *Fidelis Duker and Temitope Duker, director *Patience Oghre Imobhio, and leaders from across Nollywood’s guilds and associations. Their presence underscored the event’s significance.
ANCOP’s Engine Room & Future Vision
Making it all hum was ANCOP’s dedicated National Executive Committee: Mrs. Alex Eyengho (Treasurer), Benny Anagbaoso (Financial Secretary), Olanrewaju Cardoso (General Secretary), and Adenike Ayodele (Publicity).
Closing the day, Akatugba reaffirmed ANCOP’s mission: “We are focused on building a Nollywood that respects its writers, empowers its producers, and tells African stories with excellence and identity.” He promised more strategic guild collaborations and regular workshops, aiming for nothing less than a “story-first Nollywood culture.”
The Verdict: More Than a Meeting, A Movement
As attendees spilled out, the buzz wasn’t just polite chatter. Words like “transformative,” “insightful,” and “critically needed” filled the air. This Nexus felt different. It wasn’t just an event; it was a shared commitment, a blueprint being drawn in real-time. As one participant captured it perfectly: “This wasn’t just another industry gathering. It was the blueprint we’ve been waiting for.” Nollywood’s future, it seems, starts with the story. And in Lagos, that story just got a powerful new chapter.
Seunmanuel Faleye is a brand and communications strategist. He is a covert writer and an overt creative head. He publishes Apple’s Bite International Magazine.
