Nigeria’s film industry recorded another major milestone in 2025 as the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) approved and classified 1,185 films within the year.
The figure represents a noticeable increase from the 1,088 films approved in 2024, signaling steady growth in Nollywood and increased activity among filmmakers across the country.
The disclosure was made by the Director of Corporate Affairs of the board, Ogbonna Onwumere, in a statement released on Wednesday and monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
According to Onwumere, the rise in approvals reflects the industry’s resilience and creativity.
“The increase in film approvals reflects sustained growth in Nigeria’s film industry and a high level of activity among filmmakers and distributors nationwide,” he said.
He explained that the films approved in 2025 cut across different genres and languages, highlighting the vibrancy of local productions as well as the steady submission of foreign-language titles for classification.
On language distribution, Onwumere revealed that English-language films dominated the approvals.
“Yoruba and Igbo films followed, while Hausa and other indigenous Nigerian language films appeared less frequently,” he noted.
However, he added that there was broader representation of indigenous languages such as Nupe, Berom and Gbagyi, particularly in September 2025, which he described as encouraging.
The board also observed a trend in audience ratings for the year.
“Data revealed a strong concentration of films classified under 15 and 18 ratings across all months, suggesting that most of the films approved in 2025 were targeted at mature audiences,” Onwumere said.
He noted that family-friendly classifications such as G, PG and 12A were fewer, pointing to limited production of children’s and general-audience content.
A monthly breakdown showed that May 2025 recorded the highest number of approvals, with 173 films classified within that period.
Reaffirming the board’s commitment to industry development, Onwumere said the NFVCB would continue to promote diversity and inclusion in film production.
He added that the board has reduced classification fees for films produced in indigenous Nigerian languages other than Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa, in a move aimed at encouraging more submissions and preserving local cultures through cinema.
With the steady rise in film approvals, industry watchers say Nollywood’s growth trajectory remains strong, even as calls increase for more family-friendly and children-focused content in the coming years.