The Nigerian film industry, known as Nollywood, needs a reliable supply of skilled actors to sustain its growth. Experts at a recent forum discussed ways to create this pipeline through better education, funding, and collaboration.
The August edition of the SMC Filmmakers’ Forum focused on ‘Forging the Talent Pipeline for the Film Industry.’ Panelists included Atinuke Babatunde, academy director of the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF), Western Region; Ronya Man, creative producer and acting coach at RMA Productions & Training; and Joke Silva, co-founder of the Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts.
They highlighted the need for government policies to start creative training early. Silva pointed out that current programmes are scattered and limited. University courses exist but often miss the practical experience graduates need for jobs.
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She called for structured performing arts education from primary school, with graded certifications in music, dance, and drama. “How do we compete globally when we have people who are studying performing art courses from grade one to six in other parts of the world?” Silva asked. By secondary school, students abroad often have certifications, she said.
Silva suggested adding a year of hands-on training at accredited academies in Nigeria as part of university programmes.
Silva urged the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to shift vocational curricula toward industry needs, reducing theory and increasing practice. This would help to produce workers ready for global competition.
Many young Nigerians want film jobs but lack skills. Silva warned that quick, large-scale training can be shallow. “What that has created is what I call a lot of grass and not very luscious grass that needs incredible watering,” she said. She stressed the importance of lifelong learning to build on basic training.
Funding remains a barrier. New entrants often cannot afford tuition, transport, or housing. Man said training programmes need external support.
“You have to have outside funding because the talents can’t pay for their training, and you have to provide accommodation because they cannot commute every day, especially in Lagos,” she explained.
Silva shared that Lufodo received Netflix funding in 2023 for actor and writer training but still sought extra money for participant transport.
The panelists agreed on stronger ties between training institutions, producers, and managers.
Gaps persist in technical roles. Babatunde noted that there are shortages in sound and editing. “If you’re looking for a great sound person, you will still struggle because it’s an area where we don’t have a lot of people,” she said. Training should highlight these less visible jobs beyond acting or cinematography.
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Beyond skills, talents need industry knowledge. Man said understanding business, networking, and soft skills like punctuality and teamwork is key. “It’s how to move in the industry that is just as important as the actual artistic skill,” she added. Silva re-echoed this, saying that film work requires collaboration, but soft skills training is often overlooked.
The forum underscored that policy changes, funding, and partnerships could fill these gaps, ensuring Nollywood’s long-term success.
