MBO Capital Management Limited (MBO Capital) and its creative investment arm, MCM Entertainment, hosted the second edition of its Film Financing Conference on 17th April 2026 at the Landmark Centre in Lagos. The event convened investors, filmmakers, and industry stakeholders to advance discussions on film as a scalable asset class.
With over US$10 million deployed across the creative economy and 38 Nigerian film titles since 2017. The conference featured a series of panel discussions, each addressing key building blocks necessary to foster Nollywood’s path toward global competitiveness.
The opening session, “Distribution and Marketing”, moderated by Nicole Chikwe featured Saninye Alasia, Beverley Agbakoba – Onyejianya, Gbolade Okeowo, and Michael Williams. Discussions centred on strengthening the Nigerian film industry’s local and international distribution channels, while also examining the relationship between effective marketing strategies and revenue generation.
Addressing the relationship between a film’s budget and its commercial success, the second panel, titled “Optimising Big Budgets for Nollywood Movies”, featured Naz Onuzo, Laju Iren, and Seni Saraki, moderated by Abimbola Craig. Panelists explored whether higher production budgets directly translate into commercial success and whether the local market can sustain large-scale film investments.
The widening structural deficit within the industry was addressed during the third panel session, “Building Infrastructure Around Nollywood,” featuring Isioma Idigbe, Nora Awolowo, and Chuka Ejorh, which was moderated by Chioma Onyenwe. Panelists challenged stakeholders to move beyond “quick-fix” solutions and pioneer the development of permanent production hubs and studios.
The conference concluded with a fireside chat moderated by Lala Akindoju and featured veterans Joke Silva and Iretiola Doyle, who voiced their thoughts on building an industry that endures, reflecting on the importance of building an enduring, investment-ready, and globally competitive Nigerian film ecosystem.
Collectively, the discussions underscored the Nigerian film industry’s growing potential as an investable asset class and reaffirmed the need for stronger industry structures to support long-term growth. Through initiatives like the Film Financing Conference, MBO Capital continues to champion sustainable investment and innovation within Nigeria’s creative sector.
MBO Capital Management Limited is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Nigeria and is authorized to act as a Private Equity Fund Manager.
