Nollywood Industry Experts Tackle Contract Protection in Educational Series

Guguru Talent Management, home to stars like Uzor Arukwe, Omawunmi Dada, and Adunni Ade, hosted an educational event titled “Contract 101” in partnership with online publication What Kept Me Up on May 2, 2025.

The session brought together Nollywood professionals to explore the complexities of contract protection in the film industry.

Panelists included producers Chris Odeh (“Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story”, “Living in Bondage: Breaking Free”), James Omokwe (“Diiche”, “Osamede”), Chichi Nworah (“Slum King”, “My Fairy Tale Wedding”), and entertainment lawyer Lotanna Attoh.

The session was part of an ongoing series aimed at educating creatives about their rights and responsibilities in the business of film.

Topics ranged from intellectual property rights and distribution contracts to legal strategies for protecting creative work. The panel stressed the importance of hiring lawyer-producers with strong portfolios and clear contract structuring skills.

A major talking point was the controversial geo-locking of Nigerian films on streaming platforms. The experts clarified that these regional restrictions are often tied to specific distribution contract terms, not platform policies.

Omokwe emphasized the importance of working with “competent hands,” while other panelists discussed the obligations of distributors, including marketing and profit accountability.

On legal enforcement, Attoh noted that Nigeria’s strengthened copyright law now offers more protection for filmmakers, especially in digital infringement cases. However, he cautioned that litigation is often slow and not always the most viable solution.

The session ended with a call for more functional industry associations and collective advocacy to protect filmmakers, something the Nigerian film industry currently lacks.