Nollywood’s missing children series: I’m angry the way children are treated in our film profession, by Zeb Ejiro

THIS is a very important topic that I’m really interested in it. I’m one person who has been fighting this issue for so many years now. When it comes to making children the main characters in a film, I’m believe so much in it, and I’ve been trying my best. And Nigerian Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) is right in pointing out this gap – the absence of children in Nollywood films.

One major reason is sponsorship. Most multinationals are interested in series that have to do with adults or teenagers. When you make a movie for children you don’t get sponsors. I have a powerful TV series for children that I have been looking for sponsors for God knows how long now, and this something that will entertain children, help guide children, make children see themselves as heroes and change the narrative of how children see themselves and how they are brought up in this country. But where are the sponsors? It’s difficult because parents need to watch those programmes; the excuse is that they’re doing it for parents, because it’s parents that should patronise those products. But they forget that Cartoon Network is not enough; we need programmes for children, so they are cut off totally from the local filmic sensibility.

Another major problem is that government parastatals are not concerned when it comes to children’s programming. They will always tell you there is no budget and that they don’t have the money. Sadly, these same government agencies have money to do other things, but the money make movies or series for children they claim they don’t have. Some ministries like arts, culture and creative economy, youths and sports, women development, etc should put money aside for children’s programming. In fact, every ministry should have something to do with children and make budget for movies or series about children for children.

The Ministry of Defense needs to put some money aside for children’s movies, because when children watch those movies, they will be guided and not be able to go into banditry and anti-social behaviour. The Ministry of Youths and Sport need to put money aside, so that children have early orientation about their own sporting talent and training towards it. Is it National Orientation Agency (NOA)? It ought to put money aside for movies that canvas good behaviour and reward for it and punishment for criminal behaviour. It’s part of its orientation of children to be responsible adults using the power of film. NOA Is supposed to put money aside to make movies for children.

And when it comes to the cinemas, no exhibitor will take such movies, because of lack of children audience. Where will they show it? That’s the problem.

So, that is what is happening in this country. Children are forgotten, and it’s so sad. And we wonder how our children are anti-social? I did a movie for children years back titled Just a Night; it was a hit. There was no cinema back them; only marketers who sold the movie in CDs. But that period is gone now. So, these are the problem. I’m angry the way children are treated in our film profession. Everybody tells you they don’t have money no matter how good a children’s film idea is; the multi-nationals say they don’t have money to make movies for children. The TV stations say they don’t have money to make films for children. Ministries tell you they don’t have money to make films for children.

And as a producer if you use your own money to make such movie, how do you get your money back? So, the major area is sponsorship.