Broadcasting
Nollywood Partners AFI on Project 2020
Honourable Henry Moran, executive director of U.S. President Bush’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities has inspired the audience of Nigerian filmmakers, financiers, government officials and film association directors with an incisive presentation on the importance of the Nigerian creative industries.
Moran spoke a workshop to introduce the American Film Institute’s (AFI) Project 2020 to Nigerian filmmakers organized by Communicating for Change (CFC), a non-profit film and development media organization, in Lagos.
A veteran arts administrator and trained actor , Moran said, "It is a very complex world and filmmakers have a way of disaggregating information for us in unique ways, they give us cultural insights. I can go to Venezuela through that film and get to know the people."
"Project 2020 is set to promote cross cultural understanding – promote ways in which films help shape people’s understanding of each other and their cultures, promote greater appreciation of values inherent in democratic systems which we share – democratic systems in filmmaking such as freedom and tolerance," he informed.
"Of all the programmes I am working on in Washington D.C right now, this is my favourite and it has offered me the opportunity to connect with my old friend, Margie Reese and be here to explore the opportunity of crafting the particular programme within AFI Project 2020. This is a stunning country with a stunning industry and it reminds me of the early days of Hollywood."
Moran spoke from his experience in building bridges between AFI and the U.S. President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, the U.S. Department of State, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National endowment for the Humanities and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Introducing the AFI Project 2020, Rose Kuo, artistic director of the American Film Institute’s AFI Fest, explained that the institute is interested in displaying the best of Nigerian and West African films at this year’s festival coming up in November and outstanding Nigerian filmmakers would be nominated for a fellowship in the prestigious AFI 2020 Project.
"People participating in Project 2020 are invited into the programme. The review process begins now as the AFI Fest is about to happen in November. In the next week or two, we will start to examine which films might be possible candidates for AFI Project 2020 and a committee of people will break the list down to a manageable 2 or 3 dozens film which we will then. bring to Washington D.C and meet with several other cultural institution partners," she said.
Kuo and Moran emphasized on the need for the films to be new, on a qualitative level and acceptable to the majority of the cultures; well conceived, educate and promote cultural insight with well-crafted script, which encourages dialogue and excellent sound quality.
Sandra Mbanefo Obiago, executive director, CFC said, "The workshop was a wonderful opportunity for Nigerian filmmakers to network with speakers from the most elite film institute in the U.S, gain insight into global opportunities for marketing their films and discover what international distributors and festival organizers are looking for."
At CFC, we believe in strengthening the international reach of aspiring and established Nollywood filmmakers by facilitating such capacity building activities towards strengthening Nigeria’s creative industries," she concluded.
Other speakers at the workshop include Dr. Margie Reese, programme officer on Media, Arts and Culture of the Ford Foundation and Donna Blair, honourable consul general, U.S Consulate General.
The event was ignited with the screening of three films from previous AFI 2020 fellows from Mali, Rwanda and Venezuela, providing a good background for a rich dialogue session between the international arts and culture experts and participants at the workshop.
Mr. Tim Akano, New Horizons Chief Executive Officer, took centre stage at the Nigerian Information Technology Reporters’ Association (NITRA) annual end-of-year meeting on Thursday, December 18, 2025, recounting the company’s remarkable growth and reaffirming free IT training for journalists.
Tim Akano, New Horizons Chief Executive Officer, in a group photograph with NITRA Members
Speaking directly to IT media members at the company’s training facility in Lagos, Akano acknowledged the critical role journalists played in supporting New Horizons during its formative years two decades ago.
He detailed how the firm evolved from a handful of staff to one of Africa’s leading ICT skills training organisations, now employing about 500 staff across multiple training centres nationwide.
Akano Spotlights Youth Training, University Partnerships
Akano highlighted that New Horizons has trained over 500,000 youths, particularly tertiary institution students, equipping them with practical IT skills essential for Nigeria’s digital economy.
He announced recent partnerships with universities, including a new agreement with Afe Babalola University, to scale hands-on training programmes for students.
“This growth would not have been possible without the media’s support in documenting our journey,” Akano stated, pledging continued free IT skills training for media members to remain competitive in the evolving digital landscape.
Reciprocal Support Defines Long-Standing Partnership
The venue hosting the NITRA meeting underscored Akano’s generosity; NITRA Secretary Chidiebere Nwankwo secured the free facility after contacting him—a gesture consistent with New Horizons hosting multiple association events and training IT journalists since its inception 20 years ago.
Participants shared personal testimonies of Akano’s support, including veteran journalist Aaron Ukodie, whose daughter—an Accounting graduate from the University of Johannesburg—received NYSC placement and IT scholarship at New Horizons.
The Guardian’s Yemi Adeyemi recounted Akano accommodating his editor’s child for mandatory IT training after other firms declined.
Members praised Akano’s commitment to human capital development as evidence of deep appreciation for the media community that chronicled New Horizons’ success over two decades.
National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has launched the NIMC Pre-Enrolment Portal to revolutionise the National Identification Number (NIN) enrolment process, enabling applicants within Nigeria and in the Diaspora to capture biodata online prior to biometric verification at enrolment centres.
NIMC
Accessible via penrol.nimc.gov.ng, the platform allows users to fill enrolment forms, schedule appointments, upload supporting documents securely, and manage personal details directly, thereby slashing congestion, minimising wait times, boosting data accuracy and enhancing overall service efficiency at centres nationwide.
NIMC Director-General and CEO, Engr. (Dr) Abisoye Coker-Odusote, spearheaded the initiative as part of the Commission’s technology-driven strategy to fortify institutional performance, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda that emphasises digital transformation, efficient public service delivery and inclusive national development.
Dr Kayode Adegoke, Head of Corporate Communications, highlighted key benefits including simplified biodata handling, confidential data protection through robust security measures, reduced physical centre visits and heightened operational effectiveness, urging all prospective enrollees to adopt the portal for a faster, citizen-friendly experience.[conversation_history]
The move underscores NIMC’s mandate under the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007 to manage the National Identity Database, issue NINs and foster a reliable digital identity ecosystem vital for national planning, with users advised to complete pre-enrolment online before heading to selected centres for biometrics.
MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF), a Pan-African film and television training institution, has announced the opening of applications for its 2026 intake.
MultiChoice
The fully funded programme is open to African graduates aspiring to become directors, filmmakers, scriptwriters, producers and storytellers.
According to MultiChoice, the nine-month accredited curriculum combines online learning with intensive in-person training, and is designed to balance theoretical knowledge with practical immersion.
MTF academies are located in Kenya, Nigeria and Zambia, and serve aspiring filmmakers from 14 African countries. Since its inception in 2018, the initiative has trained 296 filmmakers, with graduates producing more than 42 movies aired on DStv, GOtv and Showmax platforms.
Organisers said alumni of the programme have gone on to establish over 50 production companies, while many continue to work within the MultiChoice ecosystem.
Graduates have also won accolades at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, Kalasha Awards, Uganda Film Festival and Women in Film Awards.
Applications for the 2026 intake close on Feb. 27, 2026. Interested candidates can visit https://apo-opa.co/3XW53oE for programme requirements.
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