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In a groundbreaking move to foster collaboration between two of the world’s largest entertainment industries, the Government of India has extended an invitation to Nigerian content creators and entertainment stakeholders to participate in the inaugural World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES), set to take place in May in Mumbai.
India Seeks Stronger Ties with Nollywood
During a recent visit to Nigeria, Shri Prithul Kumar, Joint Secretary of the Government of India and Director General of the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), met with key players in Nigeria’s creative industry, urging them to seize the opportunities the summit presents.
At an interactive session hosted at the Indian High Commission in Abuja, Kumar praised Nollywood’s growing influence in the global entertainment sector and emphasized the potential for cross-border partnerships.
“Nigeria is a powerhouse in the entertainment industry, and WAVES is the perfect platform for filmmakers, producers, and investors to network, collaborate, and trade content on a global scale,” Kumar stated.
Bollywood Meets Nollywood: A New Market Opportunity
One of the key highlights of the discussion was the proposal to dub Nigerian films into major Indian languages such as Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu, thereby expanding Nollywood’s reach into India’s vast cinema market.
“Just as Korean and Japanese content have gained traction in India, Nollywood has the potential to do the same,” Kumar suggested, adding that WAVES could serve as a launchpad for Nigerian films in Indian cinemas.
The summit will also feature a Buyers and CEOs Forum, allowing creators to buy and sell intellectual property rights, secure distribution deals, and form cross-border partnerships. Kumar revealed that WAVES will become an annual event, ensuring consistent global engagement between Nigeria and India.
Nigeria’s Creative Industry Sees a Turning Point
Reacting to the proposal, Mr. Obi Asika, Director General of Nigeria’s National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), described the summit as a potential game-changer for Nollywood.
“WAVES could help us break into untapped markets like India,” Asika said, stressing the need for Nigeria to learn from India’s structured entertainment ecosystem and leverage private-sector investment for sustainable growth.
He urged major Nigerian media companies such as MultiChoice, Filmhouse, Chocolate City, and Mavin Records to explore collaborative opportunities with India.
The Abuja event attracted top industry figures, including Dr. Mohammed Bulama, Director General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), who described the initiative as a significant step toward expanding Nigeria’s global entertainment influence.
With Nollywood’s ever-growing global appeal, the upcoming WAVES summit could open doors for Nigerian filmmakers and artists to tap into one of the world’s largest entertainment markets, marking a new era of collaboration between Bollywood and Nollywood.
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