As the movie industry – Nollywood develops, there is a Clarion call for more access to finance and for banks and finance houses to understand how movies work and their gestation period.
This was what led an integral body of the movie sector, the Association of Movie Producers of Nigeria (AMP), to pay a courtesy visit to the Managing Director of the Bank of Industry (BOI) at the bank’s Lagos office.
The delegation, led by the National President of the Association of Movie Producers of Nigeria, Amb. Dr. Queen Blessing Ebigieson, was accompanied by Shan Walker George, Mr. Anthony Chukumah and Miss Gloria Okafor.
The team was received by Dr. Olasupo Olusi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Bank of Industry.
Discussions centered on creating a pathway for AMP members to access loan facilities using intellectual property as collateral. The delegation presented the challenges filmmakers face in leveraging film rights, scripts, and other creative assets to secure funding for production and distribution, with particular emphasis on supporting Nollywood and the broader creative ecosystem.
Dr. Olusi acknowledged the proposal as a welcome and timely initiative for the growth of Nigeria’s creative economy. He noted that while BOI is supportive, the directive to accept intellectual property as loan collateral would require policy guidance from the Central Bank of Nigeria [CBN]. He advised the association to engage the CBN to initiate the process, assuring that BOI will commence implementation immediately once the appropriate instruction is issued.
Speaking after the presentation, Amb. Dr. Queen Blessing Ebigieson said: “We appreciate the MD’s open door and his understanding of what creatives need to scale. With CBN’s backing, this IP-collateral framework will unlock real financing for our members, strengthen Nollywood, and grow jobs in the sector.”
The Association of Movie Producers of Nigeria remains committed to working with government institutions and development finance partners to build a sustainable and bankable film industry.
