In Nigeria, the Lagos state government is cautioning filmmakers not to use obscenities, vulgar language, scenes of extreme violence, or negative African stereotypes in their films to prevent societal deterioration. According to NAN, Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, the state commissioner for tourism, arts, and culture, at a stakeholder conference recently hosted by the Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board (LSFVCB). The meeting’s theme was “Content Development as a Driver for Sustainable Growth in the Film and Video Industry.”
Akinbile- Yusuf believes that filmmakers must devise strategies to eradicate dysfunctional content and promote positive values to create a better society. “It is worth noting that obscenity, vulgar language, acts of excessive violence, and negative Africa stereotypes appear to be the norm of the day,” she said, forming a powerful platform of societal deterioration. Therefore, it is vital to come together and agree on the best methods to eliminate such dysfunctional content and demonstrate positive values for a better society.
“The time has come to move away from indecent content devoid of moral values and to instil our rich African culture and legacy in the film industry,” Akinbile-Yusuf noted that her statement is a conscious call to improve the quality of delivery and enhance the industry. As the nation’s economic hub, Lagos must transform the entertainment industry per global best practices. “We must endeavour to maintain a significant value chain that will enhance the fortunes of the industry,” she added.
According to the commissioner, content development has grabbed a significant share of the global market. She also stated that the state of Lagos would not back down or shrink from its responsibilities to harness an all-inclusive possibility of driving and supporting its full integration. Akinbile-Yusuf said that they had partnered with Ebonylife Academy and Delyork Creative Academy to train interested individuals in the creative industry on film production standards and content distribution.
“There are well-thought-out interest-free intervention funds, particularly for the film industry, that will help mitigate some of the industry’s challenges,” she added. “The entertainment and film industries are media influencers, and film production is a difficult endeavour that requires extensive physical and mental research.”
