Abstract
This paper assesses a portion of Nigeria’s national communication policy being policies on the film industry. Its perspective is that although the media policy appears comprehensive as it attempts to address its fundamental ideology and purpose being national development, promotion of national culture and the advancement of individual standards of living through film and its proceeds, the policy on film is monotonous, theoretical, and lacking in key challenging areas faced by the industry. Hence, the paper’s position that the policy is outdated, slow and grinding to a halt in applicability as it is addressing broad national film objectives and not focusing on the pressing issues and minute details that add up to ensuring that the broader objectives are achieved. In other words, the national policy as regards the film industry needs to be updated to address current film industry challenges, take cognizance of minute setbacks while enacting policies that will help avoid certain anti-national media policy ideology and guide in the implementation of the updated policy. Keywords: Nigeria Film policy, Nigeria’s National Communication Policy, Nollywood, Nigeria’s Film Industry DOI: 10.7176/JAAS/72-03 Publication date: May 31 st 2021
Highlights
Introduction and BackgroundThe relevance of media and communication cannot be far removed from Nigeria’s development and its colonial past
Scholars from within the academia have assessed different facets of Nigeria’s National Communication Policy and have arrived at bipolar or complex conclusions amidst insightful recommendations geared towards National growth and development, media infrastructural growth and capacity building as well as the improvement of standards of living of practitioners and Nigerians
The national media policy in line with its aims of national development and growth of the citizenry would ideally require a revisit if it must appeal as a more sensitive and applicable document tailored to fit and drive fundamental policy ideologies and developmental problems currently faced by experts and personnel in the film industry
Summary
This paper intends to assess a portion of Nigeria’s national communication policy being policies on the film industry. The national policy as regards the film industry needs to be updated to address current film industry challenges, take cognizance of minute challenges and policies that would help avoid certain anti-national media policy ideology and guide in the implementation of the updated policy Whereas this current media policy on film may have sufficed for the early post colonization era, this current dispensation as well as the realities of the film industry increasingly exposes the lacunas and weaknesses of the media policy focused on film. It shows that the policy currently lacks the pre-requisite to guide the development of a dynamic and changing industry such as Nigeria’s Film industry The exhibits for this argument highlight the practical and realistic trajectory of the film industry against the policies outlined on paper. Afterwards, key issues plaguing the policy will be highlighted and discussed; closely followed by an outline of realistic and observable issues plaguing the film industry which will be used to assess the policy dictates to see how robust the policies are in either theoretically guiding or addressing the current challenges faced by the film industry
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: International Journal of African and Asian Studies
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
