Igbowood Films has been launched in Abuja as part of efforts to promote the Igbo language, culture and identity through film and the creative arts.

Speaking at the inauguration the new executives of  Igbowood Films Abuja Chapter, the Special Adviser on planning and logistics to the National President Amb Julian Uchendu said  the inauguration  signals the beginning of a more coordinated and intentional entertainment ecosystem,  where talent is not just discovered, but strategically nurtured, positioned and exported globally.

According to her, the industry is moving into an era where storytelling will be backed by systems, planning and strong institutional frameworks.

“I see an industry that will no longer operate in fragments, but as a unified force capable of competing on the global stage while preserving our cultural identity,” she added.

Also speaking, the Mayor of Igbowood Films Abuja Chapter, Maureen Ebere Ilikanu, said the establishment of the chapter was aimed at uniting practitioners in the industry and creating a platform to address their challenges.

She explained that the chapter would hold regular meetings involving actors, directors, cinematographers and editors to deliberate on issues affecting the sector and channel unresolved concerns to the national body.

Ilikanu identified inadequate funding as a major challenge, stressing the need for sponsorship and support from government, private organisations and the diaspora.

“We have a lot of Igbo films to produce, but the financial aspect is a major challenge. We need sponsors and partners both within and outside Nigeria,” she said.

National Vice President of the organisation, Prince Edifani Nnaso, said the initiative was designed to preserve Igbo heritage and project it to a global audience.

Representing the National President, Dr. James Lockheed, Nnaso described Igbowood as more than an organisation, noting that it is a movement aimed at telling authentic Igbo stories and nurturing talents in the film industry.

He said the group had already begun building international collaborations with Igbo communities in the United Kingdom and Canada to strengthen its reach and impact.

According to him, Igbowood seeks to establish a distinct identity within Nigeria’s film industry while maintaining ties with Nollywood.

Nnaso disclosed that the organisation has established chapters in at least six states, including Ebonyi, Delta, Anambra, Rivers and Imo, with plans for further expansion.