The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) recently concluded the training of 40 SPY Police officers from North Central Nigeria to bolster the enforcement of anti-piracy measures in the country.
The 2024 SPY Training program, held in Lafia, Nasarawa State, also included selected personnel and stakeholders of the board.
Over the past five years, Nollywood has experienced significant growth, with numerous Nigerian films generating substantial revenue, particularly after being featured on the movie streaming platform, Netflix.
Under the new leadership of Executive Director Husseini Shaibu, NFVCB is poised to bring greater integrity and profitability to the Nigerian film industry.
The training program, titled ‘Empowering Staff for Effective Monitoring and Enforcement’, was inaugurated by Dr. Shaibu on behalf of the Minister of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa.
The Minister, speaking through the ED, emphasized the importance of the training initiative, stating that it aims to keep the SPY officers vigilant and enhance their capacity to monitor and enforce the Board’s regulations.
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Husseini highlighted the Board’s commitment to creating a conducive environment for the film industry’s growth and fostering community understanding and confidence in the classification systems and outcomes.
He also mentioned the Minister’s agenda to continuously empower and enhance the skills of the Board’s staff, providing necessary internal capacity through training, logistical support, information, financial resources, and leadership.
Challenging the 40 SPY officers from the North Central Zone and Abuja Headquarters, Husseini urged them to align with the Board’s vision of becoming a world-class classification and regulatory agency.
He emphasized that the era of idle SPY officers at the Board is coming to an end, hinting at an upcoming distribution protocol with platform owners that will significantly impact the Nigerian film industry.
During the event, Mrs. Bola Athar, Director of the Service Innovation Department, commended the Minister and Executive Director for approving the rotation of the SPY training to new locations.
Zonal Coordinator of the North Central Zone, Mrs. Margarita Oluwole, encouraged her colleagues to view the training program as a catalyst for greater achievements.
The Executive Director utilized the opportunity to inspect the Lafia Center Office and set targets for the centers to achieve by October, with reports to be submitted through the Zonal Coordinator.
