The Consul-General of Nigeria in New York, Amb. Abubakar Jidda has described Nollywood as one of Nigeria’s most valuable economic and diplomatic assets, saying the film industry has become a powerful tool for projecting the country’s image beyond oil and gas.
Jidda made the remarks at the North American special screening of Kalakiri, a socio-political blockbuster, hosted at St. John’s University in New York on Sunday.
“Nollywood gives Nigeria wider global visibility and demonstrates that Nigerians are industrious, innovative, and exceptionally talented,” he said.
The envoy disclosed that the Federal Government was strengthening the creative industry through policies that provide a more robust regulatory framework and enable creators to leverage intellectual property as a financing tool.
According to him, the creative economy remains one of Nigeria’s strongest platforms for youth empowerment, job creation, and economic diversification.
He noted that Nigerian music, fashion, culture, and Nollywood have evolved into globally recognized symbols of the country’s soft power, pointing to recent performances by Nigerian artistes at the FIFA Club World Cup as further evidence of Nigeria’s growing cultural influence.
Jidda 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.”
Highlighting the significance of Kalakiri, the Consul-General said the film chronicles Nigeria’s difficult transition from prolonged military rule to constitutional democracy, preserving the nation’s democratic history while promoting positive narratives globally.
“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.
Directed by award-winning filmmaker Chika Onu, the film explores themes of democracy, political repression, justice, freedom, and national rebirth.
The production stars 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 project generated employment for more than 500 people, including actors, writers, technicians, artisans, and production crew.
“We engaged over 100 actors and hundreds of production personnel, demonstrating Nollywood’s enormous capacity for job creation,” Emekekwue said.
A former North America Bureau Chief of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Emekekwue, explained that the film was intentionally released around June 12 to coincide with Nigeria’s Democracy Day celebration.
“The story revolves around political emancipation and democracy, making June 12 the most appropriate period for its release,” he said.
He added that North America was chosen for the premiere because of its large Nigerian and African Diaspora population, many of whom could relate to the historical events depicted in the film.
Emekekwue further disclosed that Kalakiri would be submitted to major international film festivals, while discussions were ongoing to secure distribution through leading global streaming platforms, including Netflix, to reach a wider international audience.
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 movie enthusiasts.
SOURCE: NAN
