Veteran actress Joke Silva has called on stakeholders in Nigeria’s film industry to embrace professionalism by respecting the responsibilities attached to their various roles instead of trying to handle multiple positions at the same time.
She made the appeal on Thursday during the maiden edition of the NFVCB Masterclass Series held at the MUSON Centre in Onikan, Lagos. The event, themed Professionalism, Innovation and Sustainability, was organised by the National Film and Video Censors Board.
Speaking during the keynote session, Silva expressed concern over what she described as a growing culture in Nollywood where individuals simultaneously serve as producers, actors, directors and leaders of industry guilds.
According to her, such overlapping responsibilities often create conflicts of interest that weaken transparency and affect sound decision making within the industry.
She stressed that professionals should separate their personal business interests from the duties attached to the positions they occupy. Doing so, she said, would encourage fairness, strengthen collaboration and promote healthier growth across the Nigerian film industry.
Silva described professionalism, innovation and sustainability as the foundation on which Nollywood’s future must be built if it hopes to compete successfully on the global stage.
She explained that professionalism goes beyond talent, noting that it is the quality that transforms creativity into a respected and commercially successful industry. She identified respect for contracts, timely delivery of projects, financial accountability, protection of intellectual property and stronger industry guilds as essential standards every practitioner should uphold.
The veteran actress warned that failure to maintain these standards could discourage foreign investment, limit distribution opportunities and continue to fuel piracy, all of which pose serious challenges to the long term growth of Nollywood.
Filmmaker Femi Odugbemi also joined other industry leaders at the masterclass, lending his voice to ongoing conversations on building a more professional, innovative and sustainable future for Nigeria’s film industry.
