Creative Industry

NFC Reaffirms Commitment to Preserving Nigeria’s Cultural Heritage, Hosts Archival Management Training Workshop in Jos

Published

2 months ago

April 12, 2025

By Joel Ajayi

The Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s cinematic and cultural heritage by enhancing its human resource capabilities. This was demonstrated through the successful hosting of a transformative and intensive training workshop in Jos, Plateau State.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday by Brian Etuk, NFC’s Director of Public Affairs, the workshop titled “Preservation of Audiovisual Materials and Archival Practices” was held from April 1st to 11th, 2025, at the National Film, Video and Sound Archive (NFVSA) – Jos.

The training equipped participants with advanced skills in film handling, scanning, digitization, archive management, and cataloging. It emphasized the adoption of global best practices in the restoration and preservation of fragile audiovisual materials.

During an assessment visit, Dr. Ali Nuhu, Managing Director/Chief Executive of NFC, emphasized the critical importance of preserving Nigeria’s audiovisual history. “Nigeria cannot afford to lose any of her vintage audiovisual records currently secured at the NFVSA in Jos,” he said. “NFC remains fully committed not only to preserving but also protecting the nation’s heritage.”

Dr. Nuhu commended the Arsenal Institute for Film and Video Arts (Berlin, Germany), Deutsche Filminstitut & Filmmuseum (Frankfurt, Germany), Goethe University Frankfurt, and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for organizing and supporting the training series.

He hailed the ongoing partnership with NFC as pivotal in positioning Nigeria as a global cinematic hub.

He further noted the Federal Government’s strong support in empowering the NFVSA as the country’s premier repository of audiovisual heritage.

Dr. Nuhu, represented by Mr. Edmund Peters, Director of Film Industry Support & Production Services, charged the trainees to apply their newly acquired skills to revitalizing and safeguarding Nigeria’s rich audiovisual assets.

Participants included staff from NFVSA, postgraduate students from the Master’s Programme in Film Culture & Archiving Studies, lecturers from the National Film Institute (NFI) Jos, students and faculty from the University of Jos, and professionals in film archiving.

Lead facilitators—Alo Paistik of Goethe University, Markus Ruff, and Lisabona Rahman of the Arsenal Institute—praised NFC’s proactive approach. “Engaging with NFC’s dedicated staff and other participants has been immensely rewarding. We are confident the skills shared will drive transformative progress in Nigeria’s archival and restoration efforts,” they noted.

The University of Jos, represented by Professors Husseni Tsaku and Nancy King (present and former Heads of the Theatre & Film Arts Department), also commended NFC and its partners for prioritizing archival excellence. They lauded the impact of the workshop on strengthening the university’s Master’s Programme in Film Culture and Archiving Studies.

At the certificate presentation ceremony held on Friday, April 11, 2025, participants expressed readiness to apply their new skills toward enhancing Nigeria’s archival capacity. “This workshop has reshaped our approach to archival practices. We are now better equipped to protect Nigeria’s audiovisual heritage,” said Mallam Idi Jimpy, a participant.

Now in its fifth edition, the Preservation of Audiovisual Materials and Archival Practices workshop continues to play a vital role in building the professional capacity of Nigeria’s archivists, empowering them to protect the nation’s cultural legacy.

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Creative Industry

NTDA, ITPN Sign Pact to Enhance Professionalism in Tourism Sector

Published

8 hours ago

June 6, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

In a strategic move to strengthen professionalism and build capacity within Nigeria’s tourism industry, the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) has forged a partnership with the Institute for Tourism Professionals of Nigeria (ITPN).

During a courtesy visit to the Authority, the ITPN delegation led by Mrs. Fatimah Obadaki, Chairperson, FCT Chapter emphasized the need for structured collaboration aimed at equipping tourism personnel with industry-relevant skills and enhancing service standards across the sector.

She highlighted that the visit was rooted in the institute’s mission to foster partnerships that promote high standards of service delivery and human capital development in the Nigerian tourism and hospitality sectors.

In his remarks, Dr. Olaleye Taiwo Famogbiyole, FITPN, Registrar of the ITPN, FCT Chapter, emphasized the pressing need to bridge the skill gap between academic knowledge and industry requirements. “The knowledge our graduates bring into the industry is no longer sufficient. We must adopt industry-recognized training programs to align university education with practical industry expectations. As an awarding body within the hospitality, travel, and allied trades ecosystem, we see a vital need to professionalize the sector,” Dr. Famogbiyole stated.

He further called for collaboration with NTDA in training staff in tour operations, tour guiding services and destination management. He proposed that NTDA staff be enrolled as members of the institute and benefit from its tailored training programs.

Dr. Famogbiyole also commended NTDA for its unwavering support of the National Tourism and Transportation Summit (NTTS), one of ITPN’s flagship initiatives. “NTDA has been a consistent and invaluable partner in the success of the NTTS over the years,” he noted.

In response, Mr. Ovie Esewhaye, Director overseeing the Office of the Director General of NTDA, welcomed the ITPN team and praised their resilience and commitment to professionalizing the sector despite prevailing economic challenges.

“At NTDA, we are repositioned for effective performance through strategic collaborations. We are open to partnerships that enhance the capabilities of our workforce. I pledge that all NTDA directors will be enrolled as members of the Institute and we will ensure our staff benefit from the various training programs offered by ITPN,” Mr. Esewhaye assured.

He further revealed that NTDA is undergoing a digital transformation and working towards ISO certifications to improve operational efficiency. “We want to be a benchmark for tourism standards in Africa,” he said.

Mr. Esewhaye reaffirmed NTDA’s commitment to the National Tourism and Transportation Summit and expressed willingness to participate in its upcoming edition. He also accepted ITPN’s invitation to participate in the Abuja Tourism Roundtable scheduled for July 2025, emphasizing, “As long as it has to do with promoting tourism, we will be there.”

The visit marked a significant step in strengthening institutional ties aimed at enhancing professionalism and capacity within Nigeria’s tourism sector.

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