Renowned filmmaker Tony Abulu has expressed sharp criticism over the execution of high profile creative industry gatherings in Nigeria, characterising many big budget events as superficial exercises that fail to address the core challenges facing African content creators.
Reflecting on his attendance at the recent Creative Africa Nexus event alongside his Chief Operating Officer, the veteran producer highlighted a growing disconnect between lavish event organisation and actionable outcomes for the sector.
Abulu noted that despite significant financial investments, including estimated production costs in the range of one million US dollars, the practical benefits to local industry practitioners remain minimal.
"Nigerians spent a minimum of two hours in the hot sun trying to get accreditation," Abulu shared. "The panels were talk shops that did not bother to address any Nigerian creative industry issues. Nigerians left the event with nothing gained."
He argued that capital directed towards high stakes panel sessions and official accolades could yield far greater impact if redirected into direct industry funding, structural development, and production support.
"With one million dollars, we can jumpstart the entire Nollywood if we are smart," he added. "But it seems either no one knows what to do, or no one cares."
Abulu further pointed to a pervasive preference for performative optics over practical problem solving across regional industry initiatives, warning that relying on theoretical discussions rather than structured execution will continue to delay meaningful progress for the Nigerian film ecosystem.
His remarks reflect a broader ongoing debate within Nollywood regarding the effective allocation of institutional funding, state sponsored creative initiatives, and the tangible returns delivered by international trade platforms to grassroots filmmakers.
