By Terna Chikpa
The President and Chief Creative Officer of Fedmas Studios, Dr Sam Idiagbonya, has called for strategic collaboration, constructive criticism and joint production models among stakeholders to address the high cost of equipment and infrastructure deficits confronting filmmakers in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Idiagbonya, a medical doctor and filmmaker, made the call during an interactive session on the operational realities and economic prospects of Nollywood in the nation’s capital.
He said that although Abuja offered significant advantages for filmmaking, the rising cost of production equipment, limited training facilities and fragmented creative efforts continued to hinder productivity in the industry.
The filmmaker stressed that working in isolation was no longer sustainable in modern filmmaking, noting that teamwork and constructive criticism were essential to improving production standards.
He said, “The future of creativity is collaboration. You cannot do this alone. I could write a script for a month, and my team could spend weeks criticising it.
“That criticism is necessary. If somebody has a better idea, you should be able to listen.”
Idiagbonya said filmmakers needed an enabling environment that supported innovation, technical development and shared access to high-end production equipment.
“Creatives need the freedom to experiment, fail, criticise and try again. Then there are infrastructural deficits. Equipment is expensive, training remains a challenge, and filmmakers need more opportunities to justify investments in equipment,” he said.
While highlighting the challenges facing filmmakers in Abuja, the certified director and screenwriter said the city had distinctive advantages that could support the growth of a thriving film industry if properly harnessed.
He identified relatively stable electricity in some areas, a serene environment, hotel facilities, accessibility and ease of movement as assets filmmakers could leverage through organised platforms and partnerships.
“Abuja is a plus. We have relatively stable electricity in many areas, a serene environment, good hotels, accessibility and relatively easy movement. The problem is that we don’t always take advantage of these advantages,” he added.
Idiagbonya urged emerging filmmakers in the FCT and the northern region to prioritise skills acquisition, continuous professional development and partnerships across creative disciplines.
He said such efforts would help transform the region’s creative potential into a viable industry capable of generating employment, attracting investment and exporting locally produced films to wider markets.