By JOSHUA OLOMU

Abubakar Yakubu, National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria(AGN), has called for empowerment opportunities and initiatives that support women in the Nigerian film industry.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Yakubu made the call at an event organised by the guild to commemorate the 2026 International Women’s Day (IWD) in Abuja.

The theme for this year’s IWD (March 8) is “Give To Gain”, focusing on investing in women through resources, education, and mentorship to create a stronger and more equitable society.

According to him, the AGN places priority on women as their contributions to the Nigerian motion picture industry have been profound and trailblazing.

He noted that women are naturally endowed with compassion, resilience, creativity, and rare ability to nurture dreams into reality.

The AGN helmsman therefore called for initiatives that support women in the industry to enable them strive and contribute more to the nation’s creative sector.

“Women remain pillars within our guild and ambassadors of excellence who continue to bring glory to our profession; their achievements remind us that when women are empowered, industries flourish and societies progress.

“However, as we celebrate, we must also remember our collective responsibility to support and uplift them, especially those among us who may be facing challenges.

“ I therefore humbly appeal to our distinguished guests, partners, and well-wishers to support the initiatives of the AGN aimed at empowering our indigent members and strengthening the welfare of our creative community.

“As we commemorate this important day, let us reaffirm our commitment to equality, dignity, and opportunity for women everywhere.

“Let us continue to create spaces where their voices are heard, their talents celebrated, and their dreams supported,” he said.

In her opening remarks,Oby Okafor, AGN National Women Leader, noted that women have always played key roles as Nollywood evolves into one of the largest film industries in the world.

According to her, empowering women in filmmaking is not only a matter of fairness; it is a strategic investment in the future of our industry and our nation.

“Women have played significant roles in shaping our industry. From acting, directing, producing, scriptwriting, costume design, makeup artistry, cinematography, and film editing, women have continued to demonstrate excellence and professionalism.

“Yet, despite these contributions, many talented women still face challenges in accessing opportunities, funding, training, and leadership positions within the industry.

“It is for this reason and in line with the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day, “Give to Gain,” that I wish to highlight a vision that is very dear to my heart-Empowering Women in Filmmaking in Nigeria.

“This initiative is designed to create greater opportunities for women in Nollywood by providing structured support systems that will help them grow professionally and economically.

“Our goal is not only to celebrate women but to actively invest in their future within the creative industry,” she said.

Okafor called for a gender-inclusive development for the film industry through capacity building and professional training for women who desire to become filmmakers, producers, directors, and technical professionals within the industry.

She also identified mentorship and networking, access to funding , gender-inclusive leadership of industry associations and critical collaborations with both government and private organisations as needed impetus for women to strive in the sector.

Earlier in her remarks, Mrs Titi Abubakar , founder, Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation (WOTCLEF) and mother of the day, lauded Nollywood actors for using their craft to promote peace and prosperity.

Abubakar, who represented Dr Zainab Haruna, former first lady of Adamawa State, expressed WOTCLEF’s readiness to work with the guild in its fight against human trafficking, child labor, and rights abuses.

Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, filmmaker and former Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, called on stakeholders, particularly in the private sector to invest in the creative sector in order to engage talented young Nigerians.

According to her, it is the government’s responsibility to provide an enabling environment and the right policies for creativity to strive, but individuals need to invest to create platforms and opportunities.

“We have the population and the talents, so individuals should show interest and invest in the sector so that our youths can be gainfully engaged,” she said.

The IWD celebration brought together actors , as well as filmmakers and other stakeholders in the creative sector.(NAN)

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