Characteristics of creative industries: Justification for the Nigerian film industry as a sector of creative industries

It is hardly in dispute that the Nigerian film industry has gained global visibility and has contributed significantly to Nigeria’s economic development. Since the release of Living in Bondage in 1992, the industry has grown rapidly, leading to Nigeria’s recognition as a global leader in film production. However, the industry is mostly tagged an ‘informal industry” admired for its original content and mass distribution. Though studies have highlighted film industry as a sector of the creative industry, there is no evidence on whether the film industry in Nigeria qualifies as one. This is aggravated by the absence of a policy statement that expressly indicates the sectors of creative industries in Nigeria. This paper addresses this issue by examining the Nigerian film industry through the lens of accepted characteristics of creative industry. The paper employs secondary data to provide evidence on how the industry fit into the creative sector. The findings indicate that the Nigerian film industry possesses the defining elements of the creative industries though it is struck with structural challenges. It recommends a lucid policy statement and strong intellectual property law enforcement for credible assessment of the industry’s contribution which will guarantee more investments, earnings, visibility and expansion of the industry and national economy.