Workshop on Engaging Nollywood
for Social Justice in Nigeria
BACKGROUND
• Nollywood has grown to
become one of
Nigeria’s delectable
and exportable
industries;
• Its scope and reach
from humble
beginnings is one of the
fastest social
development indicators
in the country
Successes of Nollywood
• Now the second largest
film industry in the
world
• job creation and foreign
exchange earner;
• Creating avenues for
influence and affluence
for youth
• Portrayal of Africa by
Africans
The Challenge
• Piracy
• It’s a veritable
vehicle for social
change
• But it could be
hijacked by
opportunists,
hence the need for
this workshop
Workshop Objectives
• To provide a forum for civil society
organizations working in the frontline of social
change to present their work to Nollywood
celebrities; and
• To generate discussion and exchange of
views between the two groups in order to
stimulate greater understanding of what
needs to be done to promote social change in
Nigeria
About Workshop Conveners
• The Ford Foundation and Champions for
Change (both USA both organizations) are
co-hosting this workshop;
• C4C promotes advocacy activities in the area
of maternal, newborn and child health
• FF works with NGOs and advocates in the
frontline of social change in the areas of
governance,
gender,
sexuality
and
reproductive health, and advancing public
service media
Definition of Social Change
“Any significant alteration over time in
behavioural patterns and cultural values and
norms”
“Social process whereby the values,
attitudes or institutions of society such as
education, health, religion and industry
become modified”.
Social change Question
The relevant question is: Are we happy the
current situation of development in all
spheres in Nigeria? If the answer is Yes,
then there is no need for this workshop.
However, if the answer is NO, as I am sure it
will be, then all of us must find ways to
change the situation of things.
Focus of this workshop
• The rising incidence of gender-based violence in
Nigeria
• Harmful traditional practices that place women
at high risks of death during pregnancy,
example: early marriage, female genital
mutilation and the low status of women
Workshop Deliverables
• A shared understanding
of Nigeria’s social
change needs with
special reference to
maternal and women’s
health, requiring
Nollywood focus
• The development of an
agenda for
collaborative
programming, going
forward
THANK YOU