The Federal Government of Nigeria and the United Nations have rolled out the third edition of the SDGs Short Film Challenge and Awards with the aim of empowering young Nigerian filmmakers to leverage the instrument of storytelling as a veritable platform for advocacy and sustainable development.
It was launched on Wednesday at the UN House in Abuja, where the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, observed the strength of film as a vehicle of social transformation. She added that the 2025 edition will have more training programs, collaborations with the industry, and a three-day SDGs Film Festival to screen excellent entries.
Highlighting Nollywood as a major economic engine, Orelope-Adefulire called on young Nigerians to tap into the job creation and social impact potential of the film industry. She also commended Nollywood icons for their support since the commencement of the challenge, noting that some have been appointed SDG Ambassadors for such efforts.
Showing alarm at increasing representation of ritual murders, violence and adverse content in recent movies, she called on filmmakers to create stories about learning, work and goodness that can change the world.
“Let us change our world through film,” she said. “Let’s mold out-of-school youth and make them realize that education and hard work are the sole instruments to eliminate poverty.”
The UN Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall, termed the challenge as greater than an event and referred to it as “a celebration of creativity and a rallying cry for sustainable development.” He also appreciated Nollywood as the largest storytelling industry in the world and appealed to young filmmakers to develop such essential issues as climate change, gender equality, and poverty through their movies.
With the number of entries increasing from 73 in 2023 to 2,250 from 119 nations in 2024, the competition has attracted international attention. The competition in 2025 will give rising creatives mentorship, training, and exposure, placing film in an unheralded position as a driver for national development.
UNFPA Deputy Representative, Francis Kuawu Koessan, challenged the contestants to seize the opportunity, exhorting them: “Nigeria needs your support. Don’t hold back. Just do it!”
Applications are now online, and applicants must provide a 15-minute video presenting their most innovative ideas in solving the SDGs. August 21 to 23, 2025, will be the grand finale and award ceremony.
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Olawale Moses Oyewole is an adept writer who stays on top of current events and curate informative and engaging articles for his readers. He is a digital strategist who help brands gain online visibility.
