The Electronic Media Content Owners Association of Nigeria (EMCOAN) has called on independent producers to prioritize creating child-appropriate content. The clarion-call was made during a recent press conference held at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
Former EMCOAN president and current Board of Trustees member, Jibeh Ologeh, while speaking, also called on all content producers to join EMCOAN and benefit from its support. She noted that independent producers previously faced unfair treatment from agencies and platforms, which often forced them to abandon content production.
Ologeh emphasized the importance of creating child-appropriate content to secure the future of media in Nigeria and Africa. She announced that she had discussed with the Director General of the Nigerian Broadcast Commission in Abuja, who promised to curate a fund for content producers focused on children’s programming. This initiative aims to protect children from inappropriate content and involve them in content production.
Highlighting steps taken to support young content creators, Ologeh referred to the NEMCEA Creative Academy, established by EMCOAN in 2022. Based in Lagos, the academy aims to train young individuals in content creation for television, radio, and online media, thereby securing the future of Nigeria’s creative industry. Successful graduates will participate in a one-year internship program with EMCOAN members and other media production companies dedicated to nurturing Nigeria’s creative future.
Adeniji Omiran, the newly elected EMCOAN president, opened the conference by praising NEMCEA as “an enviable brand that has come to stay.” He highlighted that this year’s central theme has been “carefully curated by in-house experts to address current industry challenges,” with the goal of “unlocking potentials and opening our eyes to opportunities.”
EMCOAN now promises to address these issues, allowing producers to distribute their content without paying for airtime and to enjoy the benefits of their work.
This year’s NEMCEA is scheduled for August 7-8, 2024, at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos. EMCOAN’s Omiran encourages everyone to save the date to gain insights from the “intellectual reservoirs” of the event’s facilitators.
Now in its third year, NEMCEA continues to serve a significant purpose for the Nigerian creative industry. For more information on how to participate, visit the official website.