Leading film scholars and practitioners from across the globe are set to converge virtually on June 17, 2025, to celebrate foremost Nollywood film administrator Sir Madu C Chikwendu as he turns 58 and marks 36 years of distinguished service in the audiovisual ecosystem.
The International Film Administration Conference, announced on June 2, will spotlight his remarkable contributions to the growth and professionalization of Nigeria’s film industry. Organised under the theme “Transforming the Cinema Ecosystem in the Digital Era: Leadership, Innovation, and the Power of Administration,” the event promises to be a landmark gathering that bridges academia and industry practice.
Professor Osakue Omoera, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at Federal University of Otuoke, Bayelsa State, and President of the Film Educators Guild of Nigeria (FEGON), will deliver the keynote address. Brigadier General KA Vigo (Rtd), former 2IC of the Nigerian Defence Academy, will chair the occasion. The conference will unfold in two sessions, addressing critical topics including Collective Rights Management, Regulation, Advocacy, Copyright Administration, and other essential aspects of the film industry’s operational framework.
A major highlight of the event will be the public reading of excerpts from two forthcoming books authored by Madu C Chikwendu. The titles, “The Political Aesthetics of Nollywood: Histories, Ideologies and Cultural Narratives” and “Cinema, Soft Power and Neocolonialism: A Reimagination,” are expected to generate significant scholarly discourse on the cultural and political dimensions of Nigerian cinema. The full proceedings of the conference will be published in book form, marking the first publication of its kind dedicated to film administration in Nigeria.
Chief Convener, Professor Amanze Akpuda, a multiple AMAA jury member and highly respected film scholar, emphasised the broader objectives of the celebration. He noted that the conference aims to establish film administration as a serious field of academic study while recognising the often under-appreciated role of administrators in building a sustainable film industry. According to him, the event will inspire the emergence of a new generation of skilled administrators equipped for the digital age.
The gathering is also designed to strengthen the Town and Gown initiative, fostering closer collaboration between academic institutions and film industry stakeholders. By bringing together global experts, the conference seeks to share best practices and innovative approaches that can transform cinema ecosystems across Africa and beyond.
This milestone celebration of Sir Madu C Chikwendu underscores the evolving recognition of administrative excellence as a cornerstone of Nollywood’s continued global influence and sustainability in an increasingly digital entertainment landscape.
