Nigeria Film Corporation partners Chocolate City Group to transform National Film Institute

THE Nigerian Government and Chocolate City Group have announced a partnership to transform the National Film Institute (NFI) into a world-class film school and production center. The agreement was signed at the Cannes Film Festival, where the Nigerian delegation is making an impressive showing through the “Screen Nigeria” initiative.

The NFI transformation forms a key component of the Nigerian government’s growth plan, “Destination 2030: Nigeria Everywhere,”. The partnership with Chocolate City Group will completely revitalize NFI’s facilities, curriculum, and industry connections while establishing international exchange programs with leading global film institutions.

Currently operating with limited production facilities, the NFI has struggled to meet growing demand from Nigeria’s booming film industry. Despite training hundreds of professionals who now work in Nollywood, the institute’s infrastructure has limited its ability to provide hands-on experience with current technologies.

Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy Barr. Hannatu Musa Musawa spoke about the urgency of the upgrade: “For too long, our most promising filmmakers have had to seek technical training abroad. We’re investing in infrastructure that transforms raw talent into world-class professionals right here in Nigeria, creating both cultural and economic returns. This is precisely the public-private collaboration President Tinubu envisioned when he made the creative economy a pillar of our national development strategy.”

The institute will train 10,000 students over the next decade, with at least 2,000 graduates placed directly into industry jobs. Chocolate City Group will leverage its extensive network to secure sustainable funding and create pathways to employment across the global entertainment industry.

Reinforcing the importance of education to Nigeria’s creative future, Audu Maikori, Chairman of Chocolate City Group, noted, “We’re witnessing Nigeria’s creative renaissance, and education is the foundation that will sustain it. Reimagining film education from the ground up will ensure we prepare students for existing opportunities and empower them to create new ones while putting Nigerian storytelling on the world stage.”

The partnership announcement comes at a pivotal moment for Nigerian cinema at Cannes. The country celebrates its first-ever official selection with “My Father’s Shadow” while generating significant international attention with “Osamede,” a historical fantasy.

Highlighting the timing, Ali Nuhu, Managing Director of Nigeria’s National Film Corporation, said, “Our breakthrough at Cannes with films like ‘My Father’s Shadow’ represents what individual visionaries can achieve. This partnership ensures we’ll soon have thousands more filmmakers with the training and connections to follow in their footsteps.”