Nigeria’s Consul-General in New York, Amb. Abubakar Jidda, has described Nollywood as one of the country’s strongest economic and diplomatic assets, saying its global influence extends far beyond the oil and gas sector.
Jidda made the remarks on Sunday at the North American special screening of Kalakiri, a socio-political blockbuster hosted at St. John’s University in New York.
“Nollywood gives Nigeria wider global visibility and demonstrates that Nigerians are industrious, innovative and exceptionally talented,” he said.
He said the Federal Government was strengthening the industry through initiatives aimed at providing a more robust regulatory framework while enabling creators to leverage their intellectual property for financing.
According to him, the creative industry remains one of Nigeria’s most effective platforms for youth empowerment, job creation and economic diversification.
Jidda noted that Nigerian music, fashion, culture and Nollywood have become globally recognised symbols of the country’s soft power.
He cited recent performances by Nigerian artistes at the FIFA Club World Cup as further evidence of Nigeria’s growing cultural influence on the global stage.
The envoy urged Nigerians in the Diaspora to invest in the country’s creative economy, describing the sector as “a goldmine many people have yet to fully appreciate.”
Speaking on Kalakiri, Jidda said the film chronicles Nigeria’s difficult transition from prolonged military rule to constitutional democracy, helping preserve the nation’s democratic history while projecting positive narratives internationally.
“We did not simply inherit democracy. We built it through challenges, strengthened institutions and successive democratic transitions,” he said.
Kalakiri is adapted from Prisoner of the Kalakiri, a stage play written by Nigerian academic and playwright Prof. Chudi Uwazurike.
The film’s director, award-winning filmmaker Chika Onu, said the production explores themes of democracy, political repression, justice, freedom and national rebirth.
The cast includes Segun Arinze, Nancy Isime, Charles Okocha, Caleb Richards, Aisha Mohammed, Akume Akume and more than 100 leading Nollywood actors.
Executive Producer Obi Emekekwue said the production generated employment for more than 500 people, including actors, writers, technicians, artisans and other production personnel.
“We engaged over 100 actors and hundreds of production personnel, demonstrating Nollywood’s enormous capacity for job creation,” he said.
Emekekwue, a former North America Bureau Chief of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who later served with the United Nations and the African Export-Import Bank as Director and Global Head of Communications, said the film was deliberately released around June 12 to coincide with Nigeria’s Democracy Day.
“The story revolves around political emancipation and democracy, making June 12 the most appropriate period for its release,” he said.
He explained that North America was chosen for the special screening because of its large Nigerian and African Diaspora population, many of whom could personally relate to the historical experiences depicted in the film.
Emekekwue added that Kalakiri would be submitted to major international film festivals, while discussions were ongoing to secure distribution through leading streaming platforms, including Netflix, to reach wider global audiences.
The North American screening attracted diplomats, including Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, former Chief of Staff to late President Muhammadu Buhari, academics, members of the Nigerian and African Diaspora, students and film enthusiasts.
Source: NAN
