Dr. Shaibu Husseini, PhD
Executive Director / Director-General
- Chair, AMAA Selection Committee (16 yrs)
- Oxford Blavatnik Alumni
- Golden Globes Voter
- Post-nominals
- PhD, MNIPR, RPAFT, AFGO, ND
- Appointed
- 12 January 2024, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
- Assumed office
- 6 March 2024
- Correspondence
- dgoffice@nfvcb.gov.ng
- Head office
- Room B913, Federal Secretariat Complex Phase II, Abuja FCT
Dr. Shaibu Husseini, widely known as “Mr. Nollywood”, is the Executive Director/CEO of the National Film and Video Censors Board. He was appointed on 12 January 2024 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and assumed office on 6 March 2024.
A culture journalist, film critic and scholar, he spent more than three decades at The Guardian Nigeria, rising to Editor-at-Large on the Culture, Theatre & Film desk. He is a Senior Teaching & Research Fellow in the Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos, where he earned his MSc (Distinction) and a PhD with a doctoral thesis on the structure of film production companies in Nollywood.
He has chaired the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) Selection Committee for 16 consecutive years, is an international voting member of the Golden Globe Awards, and has served as an official consultant to the Berlin International Film Festival. At NFVCB he has moved the Board from a censorship posture to a progressive classification model and led the full digitalisation of its classification operations.
Nigeria's film regulatory framework can rank among the best in the world. We have the talent, the legislation, and now the strategy. NFVCB is determined to reduce bureaucracy, embrace technology, and make our services accessible to every stakeholder across Nigeria.
Areas of expertise
- Film Policy & Regulation
- Film Criticism & Curation
- Nollywood Documentation
- Creative Economy Development
- Cultural Administration
- Theatre & Performing Arts
- Journalism & Broadcasting
- Public Relations & Advertising
- Mass Communication
Key achievements at NFVCB
How the Board has changed under the current Executive Director.
From censorship to classification
Shifted the Board's institutional approach from censorship to a progressive classification model.
Fully digital operations
Led the full digitalisation of all NFVCB classification operations.
Content standards campaign
Launched a nationwide, NGO-backed campaign addressing harmful depictions on screen.
A national workforce
Empowered 465 staff across 6 zonal offices and 26 state centres.
Nigerian films at the box office
Facilitated a period in which Nigerian films outperformed foreign titles at the local box office.
Industry collaboration
Deepened engagement with producers, skit makers, cinema operators and partner agencies.
Anti-piracy partnership
Partnered with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on anti-piracy initiatives.
Sub-national film infrastructure
Pledged technical support to the development of the Ekiti State Film Village.
Scholar, critic, cultural administrator
More than three decades across journalism, the academy, the performing arts and film.
Career
- 2024 – present
Executive Director / CEO
National Film and Video Censors Board
- 30+ years
Editor-at-Large, Culture, Theatre & Film
The Guardian Nigeria
Senior Teaching & Research Fellow
Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos
Director of Dance & Music; Head, Strategic Communication Unit
National Troupe of Nigeria
- 2011 – 2015
Secretary, Governing Board
National Theatre / National Troupe
Special Assistant to the Director General
National Theatre / National Troupe
Pioneer Artiste & Member
National Dance Troupe of Nigeria
Contributor / Broadcaster
Mainland FM 98.3, Village Square Programme
Film industry leadership
International Voting Member
Golden Globe Awards
Official Consultant
Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale)
Selection Committee Chair (16 consecutive years) & Jury Member
Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA)
Former Member
Nigeria Oscar Selection Committee
Board Member
Mainframe Film Institute
Board Member
In-Short International Film Festival
Board Member
Bank of Industry Nollywood Fund
Panelist, Creative Economy track
NECLive 2025
Education
- Thesis: “Structure of Film Production Companies in Nollywood”
PhD, Mass Communication
University of Lagos
- Distinction
MSc, Mass Communication
University of Lagos
- First Class
BSc, Mass Communication
Lagos State University
International leadership programmes
AIG-Public Leaders Programme
Blavatnik School of Governance, University of Oxford
International Visitors Leadership Programme
U.S. Department of State
Awards & honours
- 22 February 2025
Fellow of the Theatre Profession (FTA)
NANTAP, conferred at Glover Hall, Lagos
- 2014
Recognition Award
Nollywood Film Festival, Germany
Publications
- 2010
Moviedom: The Nollywood Narratives
Monograph chronicling Nollywood's formative era
- 2024
Three Decades of Film Classification
NFVCB publication marking the Board's 30th anniversary
Notable remarks
“We should no longer be doing analogue at a time when we should be talking about digital.”
On institutional modernisation
“The Golden Globe appointment is the highest imprimatur for my career as a culture journalist and critic.”
On the Golden Globe appointment
“Since the reward for hard work is more work, I commit to continue working tirelessly to promote and advance the cause of theatre and film arts in Nigeria.”
On assuming office
In line with the Federal Government reform programme with respect to the services delivery contract, it is my pleasure to present this revised NFVCB Service Charter for clients of the board. Our goal is to ensure that NFVCB operates a world class film regulatory agency with established best practices and appropriate service standards.