The recent television interview where a Nollywood practitioner accused producers of mismanaging 90% of production budgets while using only 10% for actual filmmaking has sent shockwaves through the industry. This kind of public denunciation, whether accurate or not, undermines years of progress in building investor confidence and securing funding from major players, including commissioning platforms and streaming giants.
The ripple effect is already being felt, with investors questioning the credibility of Nollywood as a viable industry for serious financial backing.
This incident highlights an urgent problem: the lack of a unified code of ethics and professional practice to guide industry conduct. In a regulated and ethical ecosystem, practitioners would understand that grievances about industry malpractice must be addressed internally, not aired in public spaces where they can harm the entire sector.
A unified code of ethics would not only establish professional standards but also outline proper channels for addressing disputes, ensuring accountability while safeguarding Nollywood’s collective reputation.
In the past 20 years, Nollywood has waited for the much-anticipated MOPPICON (Motion Picture Practitioners Council of Nigeria) to be implemented by the government, a framework envisioned to provide structure and oversight. However, this has remained a mirage, with no tangible progress made. This prolonged wait makes self-regulation—already a global best practice—not only inevitable but essential. The industry must take ownership of its destiny and adopt measures to regulate itself effectively without relying on external interventions.
Equally important is the need for specific codes of ethics tailored to each guild and association. Producers, directors, actors, writers, and other practitioners face unique challenges and responsibilities in their roles. Specific guidelines for each guild would ensure that their distinct needs are addressed while still aligning with the overarching ethical framework of Nollywood.
Nollywood is currently hampered by fragmentation, with multiple producers’ guilds, several directors’ guilds, and various actors’ associations operating independently. This duplication dilutes the industry’s capacity for self-regulation and creates inconsistencies in professional practice. Consolidating these guilds under one functional umbrella organization, governed by a unified code of ethics, is not just desirable—it is imperative.
In my personal opinion, the newly formed Federation of Nollywood Guilds and Associations should be adopted as the unifying umbrella organization for the industry. The fragmented and duplicated guilds must be collapsed into single, professional bodies that can speak and act with one voice. It is counterproductive and unsustainable to operate in a system of duplicated guilds, which only breeds division and anarchy. A unified structure will create clarity, foster professionalism, and ensure that Nollywood presents itself as a cohesive industry both locally and globally.
Such a structure would provide a professional environment where ethical behaviour is the norm, and every practitioner is held to the same standards of accountability. It would enable the industry to address sensitive issues internally, communicate with investors and stakeholders through authorized representatives, and maintain the confidence of commissioning platforms and streamers.
Now is the time to act. With one of our own serving as the Director-General and Executive Director of the National Film and Video Censors Board, the industry has a unique opportunity to implement these necessary reforms. Self-regulation rooted in strong ethical and professional standards is far superior to external government-imposed regulation.
Let us seize this moment to protect and strengthen Nollywood. A unified code of ethics and tailored guild-specific guidelines are not just solutions—they are the foundation for ensuring the industry’s growth, credibility, and global standing in the years to come.
***Teco Benson, MFR is a Nollywood veteran and respect director
