PAU partners Nollywood on Gender Equity Award

The university said the initiative reflects a growing recognition that traditional advocacy approaches have not sufficiently addressed persistent gender disparities, despite global observances such as International Women's Day.

It noted that the GEF category was conceived to move beyond symbolic gestures by encouraging films that offer nuanced and equitable representations of women across family, social, religious, educational and professional spheres, while challenging systemic discrimination.

Executive Director of the NFVCB, Shaibu Husseini, said the collaboration highlights the importance of stronger partnerships between academia, government and the creative industry, adding that it holds significant promise for the growth of Nigeria's film sector.

Providing further insight into the award framework, Agina, an associate professor of media studies and initiator of the category, said the selection criteria would prioritise productions that shape perceptions of gender equity in “non-tokenistic, nuanced and developmental” ways.

Founder of the Abuja International Film Festival, Fidelis Duker, welcomed the development, describing it as consistent with the festival's mission to deploy cinema as a tool for development.

The organisers said filmmakers from across Africa and beyond are invited to submit entries for consideration, noting that the partnership will also include industry training on equitable storytelling, as well as research and mentorship programmes to advance gender equity in film.