In a bid to prepare young Nigerians for the evolving creative economy, O2 Academy Lagos has launched a groundbreaking partnership with the Federal Ministry of Education to train youths in Artificial Intelligence (AI) filmmaking and mobile content creation.
The initiative, supported by the World Bank under the Innovation Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS–TVET) programme, officially kicked off at the O2 Academy campus in Ojota, Lagos.
The training seeks to equip Nigerian youths with digital and creative competencies needed to thrive in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, bridging the gap between traditional film production and emerging AI-driven technologies.
Associate Provost of O2 Academy, Ucher Ozor, described the programme as a landmark step toward reimagining Nigeria’s creative industry.
“This is the first AI-focused training designed to empower Nigerian youths to stay relevant in the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” Ozor said. “We aim to upskill 100 participants initially, as part of a larger goal to empower 75,000 youths nationwide through AI and mobile content creation.”
Ozor noted that the academy’s collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education and the World Bank underscores the growing importance of technology integration in Nigeria’s film and media space.
Former President of the Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN), Victor Okhai, also lauded the initiative, describing it as a “game changer” for the country’s creative sector.
“This is a bold step in the right direction,” Okhai said. “O2 Academy’s strong industry relationships will open pathways for job placements and real-world experience. It’s encouraging to see the government investing in a sector that has the potential to rival oil in economic value.”
Okhai added that integrating AI into filmmaking signals the beginning of a new chapter for Nollywood, positioning Nigerian storytellers at the forefront of global creative innovation.
The programme’s launch reinforces the government’s growing focus on vocational and digital skill development as key drivers of employment and innovation among Nigerian youths.
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