Co-developing Regulatory Frameworks to Bring Africa’s Entertainment to the World

To empower regulators to design and implement policy for the success and impact of the industry, we focused on a collaborative mission to bridge the gap between rapid digital innovation and legacy frameworks. Often, the global response to the booming creative economy is to transplant regulations from other regions—solutions that may not be fit-for-purpose in an African context. We took a different path. Working closely with our partners, we established the Audiovisual Policy Academy, a platform designed not to prescribe outcomes, but to equip Nigerian regulators with the technical mastery to build their own forward-looking rules.

Our method prioritised sustained engagement over one-off training. Over the course of a year, we blended immersive in-person workshops with virtual learning and peer-to-peer exchanges, creating a “study group” environment where policymakers could dissect global best practices. By bringing in international experts and counterpart regulators, we moved the conversation away from abstract theory towards practical application, focusing on the specific mechanics of the digital economy. The objective was clear: to replace jurisdictional ambiguity with technical confidence, ensuring that the rules governing the sector are as innovative as the content creators themselves.

The impact of this approach has been transformative, creating a unified regulatory cohort that has fundamentally reimagined its role in the sector. Where there was once uncertainty regarding the complexities of digital business models and competition dynamics, there is now a high level of professional self-assurance. Regulators have successfully closed the knowledge gaps that previously hindered decision-making, emerging from the programme fully equipped to manage the delicate interactions between local players and global platforms.

This technical proficiency has driven a powerful shift in philosophy. The cohort has decisively moved away from protectionist instincts—such as relying heavily on quotas or bans—and has instead embraced an export-oriented mindset. They now view their primary mandate as helping local producers enter international markets, recognising that the true potential of Nollywood lies in its ability to serve as a global cultural ambassador that drives tourism and creates jobs.

Crucially, this long-term vision now extends to fiscal policy as well. Through deep engagement with the economics of the sector, participants have deprioritised the maximisation of immediate tax revenue, viewing it as a secondary concern compared to the vital work of fostering investment. The prevailing consensus is now one of collaboration; regulators are prioritising stakeholder engagement and consultation, understanding that a thriving industry requires stability and partnership rather than short-term extraction. By co-developing this capacity, we have helped lay the groundwork for a regulatory environment that supports local content while unlocking the immense global opportunity awaiting African entertainment.