Nigeria’s film industry recorded notable growth in 2025, with the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) approving and classifying 1,185 films within the year.
The figure, released in a statement by the NFVCB Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Ogbonna Onwumere, represents an increase over the 1,088 films classified in 2024, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Mr Onwumere attributed the rise to sustained industry growth and strong participation by filmmakers and distributors nationwide. He said the approved titles covered diverse genres and languages, reflecting both the strength of local productions and the steady inflow of foreign-language films for classification.
He stated that English-language films dominated approvals in 2025, followed by Yoruba and Igbo productions. Hausa films and other indigenous language titles appeared less frequently, although a broader mix of indigenous languages, including Nupe, Berom and Gbagyi, was recorded in September.
The director noted that foreign-language films, including those in Hindi, French and Japanese, were also among the titles classified during the year.
Analysis of audience ratings showed that films classified under 15 and 18 made up the bulk of approvals, indicating a strong focus on content for mature viewers. In contrast, films with family-friendly ratings such as G, PG and 12A were fewer, pointing to limited output in children’s and general-audience programming.
A monthly breakdown revealed that May 2025 recorded the highest number of approvals, with 173 films classified.
Mr Onwumere said the NFVCB remained committed to encouraging diversity and inclusivity in film production. He added that the board would continue to promote greater investment in family-oriented content and increased use of Nigeria’s indigenous languages, including through reduced classification fees for films produced in languages outside Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa.
