Renowned Nigerian filmmaker and entrepreneur, Pascal Atuma, has appealed to the Federal Government to grant the entertainment sector the same level of attention and financial support it accords the oil industry.
Atuma, speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise programme on Saturday, emphasized the growing global economic significance of the creative sector and urged Nigeria’s leadership to fully harness its potential.
“I want to say this directly to our government — they believe oil is the only viable revenue source. But the entertainment industry is massive,” Atuma said. “From film to music, comedy to football, there’s immense untapped wealth in the creative space.”
He cited the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup in the United States as an example of entertainment’s economic muscle, revealing that quarter-finalist clubs earn around $13.1 million each — a figure he said would be transformative if invested in Nigerian sports and entertainment outfits.
‘Good Policies, Not Just Money’
The filmmaker further argued that thoughtful government policies are key to unlocking the industry’s potential. He urged authorities to introduce reforms and incentives that would attract both local and international investment.
“It’s not only about financial support. Policies matter. In the US, for instance, some states have unionised film industries while others don’t. If our directors’ guilds and producers’ associations unite to build strong structures, Nigeria could position itself as a union-friendly filmmaking hub,” Atuma suggested.
Such a move, he noted, would open doors to lucrative co-production treaties and global collaborations, typically formalized through government-to-government agreements.
However, Atuma also challenged industry practitioners to play their part by organizing and professionalizing the creative space. “It starts with us, the filmmakers,” he stated. “When our structures are in place, we can demand what others elsewhere are getting. In Canada, for example, filmmakers access annual production grants — not loans.”
New Movie ‘Imported Wives’ Mirrors Real-Life Issues
Atuma, who recently premiered his new film Imported Wives in May, also shed light on the movie’s message and relevance. Starring Nollywood heavyweights Nancy Isime, Omoni Oboli, Joseph Benjamin, and Funky Mallam, the film tackles themes of love, migration, and shifting cultural values among diasporan Africans.
The story follows a Nigerian man who brings a wife from home to Canada, only for their marriage to crumble under the influence of other women in the diaspora. Atuma revealed the film was inspired by real events and a recurring social issue he first explored over two decades ago in his earlier film American Nurse.
“Recently, when UK police asked Nigerian women to stop involving them in domestic matters — and it went viral — I knew it was time to revisit the subject, but from a fresh perspective,” he explained.
Atuma hopes Imported Wives will provoke meaningful conversations about modern relationships and societal values. “Today, we see 16-year-olds buying cars and houses for their parents. Love is being traded for financial liberation, and some people now marry for migration or economic survival. We need to hold a mirror to society,” he concluded.
