Nigerian film industry archive expands as NFVCB launches first public compendium of Nollywood films from 1994 to 2004 to preserve Nigeria’s film legacy

The Nigerian film industry archive is set for a major boost as the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) prepares to launch its first official compendium of Nollywood productions.

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This move signals a significant milestone in the preservation of Nigeria’s cinematic legacy.

NFVCB’s Executive Director and CEO, Dr Husseini Shaibu, announced via LinkedIn that the first volume of a three-part publication will be unveiled in September.

Titled A Compendium of Film & Video Works Registered and Classified from 1994 to 2004, the book will document a transformative decade in the history of Nollywood.

For the first time, Nigeria’s prolific film industry will have a year-by-year public record of its productions.

This development comes as a relief to film historians, journalists, and cultural scholars who have long lamented the lack of a formal database tracking the evolution of Nigerian cinema.

“This archive is not just a list—it is a cultural resource,” Shaibu wrote.

“We are making history by formally preserving the creative contributions of Nigerian filmmakers over the past three decades.”

The Nigerian film industry archive project aims to resolve long-standing data gaps, particularly regarding the home video boom that defined the 1990s and early 2000s.

These years saw Nollywood rise from local markets to continental dominance, driven by mass-produced VHS and VCD titles that shaped popular culture across West Africa.

While Nollywood continues to expand globally, the absence of a central record has threatened the integrity of its historical narrative.

This compendium is expected to serve as a critical reference for students, critics, and researchers.

More than that, it reinforces Nigeria’s commitment to cultural memory.

By officially cataloguing the past, the NFVCB positions Nollywood for a more accountable and structured future, especially as digital streaming and international collaborations continue to reshape the industry.

“Without documentation, our stories risk being erased,” Shaibu added. “This work is about honouring filmmakers and safeguarding what they’ve created.”

The NFVCB plans to follow the first volume with two additional releases. These will cover subsequent periods in Nollywood’s development, gradually building a full picture of the industry’s output and growth.

As Nigeria’s film sector commands more attention on global stages, this archive will not only protect the past but also inspire the future.

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With this step, the Nigerian film industry archive becomes a living testament to the storytelling power that has defined one of the world’s most dynamic cinemas.