Electronic Media Content Market and “The Awards” for Nigerian Entertainment Industry

The African continent is blessed with a variety of talents. These talents have been utilized to shape its film and television industry with the focus being on highlighting African stories and showcasing African ideas via audio and visual media.

As the giants of Africa, Nigeria has been championing this movement by being one of the biggest electronic media content markets on the continent. It has over 150 public and private channels and more than 350 independent media production companies at its disposal, along with global streaming platforms like Netflix, IrokoTV, Showmax, and Ndani TV at its beck and call. Despite all these, there is a glaring vacuum, one that The Nigerian Electronic Media Content Exhibitions and Awards (NEMCEA) hope to fill: an unorganized media market that effectively deals with the trading of Nigerian media content, film development, and production locally and internationally.

Another glaring vacuum is the shortage of reward platforms that celebrate practitioners and programs on radio, television, and online/social media. Nollywood seems to only recognize films made within and outside the country; they fail to acknowledge that the entertainment industry is quite vast, and it cuts across various borders.

NEMCEA aims to praise the creative minds behind Nigerian-made content. Mrs. Jibe Ologeh, President of the Electronic Media Content Owners Association of Nigeria (EMCOAN), who happens to be the organizers of the event, said, “The awards will recognize excellence in broadcast media production and encourage producers to strive for excellence.”  She further stated, “We also want to appreciate good content on TV, radio, and social media, aside from the regular film recognition.”

The three-day event will take place from the 29 to the 31 of August 2022 at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos State and it shall have three components: Content Market/ Exhibitions, Conferences/Workshops, and Industry Awards. Though the submission of entries is now closed, the Industry Awards will honor a slew of talents in six broad categories. Special Recognition Awards will also be given. A five-man jury committee, chaired by Nollywood actor and producer, Francis Onwochei will determine the winners of the different categories.

There is a projection of the attendance of over a hundred delegates from Africa, Europe, Latin America, and the USA who have the intention of buying content from Nigeria and distributing them locally and internationally.

Nigerian stories are raw and unapologetically beautiful with so much depth that is waiting to be explored. There is no better time to bring them to the limelight than now when there is such a global demand. Producers have been tasked by Mrs. Jibe to engage in storylines that portray Nigeria in a good light. “There are good stories to be told about Nigeria; do your research and you will find them.”