By Ebiere Kekeboro
Diplomats from the European Union and member states on Monday visited the Kano Film Village to assess the impact of Kannywood on youth employment, education and economic opportunities in northern Nigeria.
The delegation, led by the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, included envoys and deputies from Denmark, Spain, Italy, France, Czechia, Finland, Belgium and Austria.
The team was received by the Executive Secretary of the Kano State Films and Video Censorship Board, Alhaji Abba El-Mustapha, alongside the Managing Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation, Ali Nuhu.
During the visit, the diplomats interacted with filmmakers, actors, producers and regulators, while observing the production of Hindatu, a film centred on a young girl determined to pursue education and become a medical doctor despite pressure for early marriage.
Speaking, Mignot emphasised the influence of storytelling in shaping societal values.
He said, “Stories have the power to inspire change. Films that promote education, opportunity and inclusion can spark important conversations and encourage positive change within communities.”
He added that the creative industry plays a critical role beyond entertainment.
“Creative industries are not only about culture. They are also about jobs, skills, entrepreneurship and creating opportunities for young people,” he said.
“Across Nigeria, young people are demonstrating remarkable talent and creativity, and industries such as Kannywood are helping transform that potential into livelihoods and economic opportunity.”
In his remarks, El-Mustapha said Kannywood had continued to promote positive social values while creating jobs across the creative sector.
He disclosed that the board had approved over 10,000 films, while supporting the industry through training programmes and stakeholder engagement.
“Our role is not only regulatory. We also work with filmmakers to strengthen professional standards, support capacity development and ensure that films contribute positively to society,” he said.
The delegation also toured the Kano Film Village, a production facility developed by filmmaker Abdullaziz Dansmall.
Dansmall said the facility was built gradually from proceeds of earlier productions.
“Our first major production was Gidang Haya. We used the revenue from that project to expand the facility over time,” he said.
“Our long-term ambition is to transform the site into a fully developed film village capable of supporting larger productions.”
Also speaking, Nuhu highlighted the economic significance of the film industry, noting that it is the second-largest source of youth employment in Kano after agriculture.
He, however, identified distribution challenges and limited access to production infrastructure as major constraints facing the sector.
He added that the industry had increasingly embraced digital platforms following the decline of the traditional DVD market.
The visit comes amid growing collaboration between Africa and Europe in the creative sector, including the Africa-Europe Partnerships for Culture initiative.
The €30m programme supports artist mobility, cultural exchange and partnerships between African and European creative professionals.