Nigeria Urged to Treat Entertainment Industry Like Crude Oil, Says Filmmaker Pascal Atuma

Renowned Nigerian filmmaker and entrepreneur Pascal Atuma has called on the Federal Government to elevate the country’s creative sector to the same strategic importance as crude oil, urging for policy and investment reforms that would unlock its full potential.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Saturday, Atuma stressed that Nigeria’s film, music, comedy, and broader entertainment industries have become powerful economic forces that remain largely underutilised by the state.

“They treat oil like it’s the only source of income,” Atuma remarked. “The entertainment industry is huge. The film industry is big. Look at music, look at football—we must start investing in the entire creative economy.”

Drawing attention to the current FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, he noted that quarter-finalist clubs earned as much as $13.1 million each—underscoring the financial capacity of global entertainment and its relevance to national development.

Atuma made it clear that unlocking the creative industry’s potential requires more than funding—it demands robust government policy and structural reform.

“In the United States, certain states are considered ‘union states’ because of well-defined structures. That opens the door to co-production treaties through official bilateral agreements,” he explained.

He encouraged Nigerian authorities to adopt similar mechanisms, adding that formalising guilds and associations for filmmakers and producers could help transform the local industry into a global contender.

Atuma also placed part of the responsibility on creatives themselves. “It starts with us. We must build proper industry structures. Once we’ve done that, we can push the government to support us like Canada does, where grants not loans are issued annually to qualified filmmakers.”

Pascal Atuma recently premiered his latest film Imported Wives, which features Nollywood stars Nancy Isime, Omoni Oboli, Joseph Benjamin, and Funky Mallam. The story follows a man who brings his wife from Nigeria to Canada, only for their relationship to unravel under the influence of other Nigerian women in the diaspora.

Inspired by recurring social issues, including cases of domestic disputes reported to UK police, Atuma sees the film as part of a larger conversation.

“We now have 16-year-olds who buy cars and houses for their parents. It’s become normal. Love is being thrown away in favour of financial liberation. Some people marry to migrate or escape poverty,” he said. “This film holds a mirror to those social realities.”

Atuma’s commentary reveals vast, untapped opportunities in Nigeria’s creative economy. By recognising the sector as a viable alternative to oil, Nigeria could catalyse private and foreign investment across content production, talent development, studio infrastructure, and streaming distribution. The global demand for African narratives is on the rise, and Nigeria, already a cultural powerhouse through Nollywood and Afrobeats, is well positioned to expand its soft power and export earnings. Structured policies such as tax incentives, production grants, co-production treaties, and training programmes would not only attract investors but also create jobs, boost tourism, and foster innovation across other sectors like fashion, gaming, and sports entertainment. With a growing digital population and a vibrant diaspora audience, Nigeria’s entertainment industry could become a cornerstone of the country’s diversification strategy.

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