Nigerian television and cinema producers gathered in Lagos last Friday, for the first television/cinema of YouTube, a one -day workshop designed to equip the country’s main narrators with new strategies to reach the global audience in the digital age.

Organized at the Google office in Lagos, the event brought together broadcasting, production companies and Nollywood creators for deep immersion in how the industry can take advantage of YouTube tools to optimize the content long, export stories and build sustainable online businesses.

The sessions presented case studies throughout Europe, Middle East and Africa, including attention to the Four and Fanatiks channel, together with practical training on content optimization and the participation of the audience. The discussions also explored the rapid growth trend of connected television, with new data that show that more than 2 million Nigerians now see YouTube on the screens of their rooms.

The opening of the event, Tarek Amin, director of YouTube in the Middle East, Africa and Türkiye, highlighted the importance of the moment:

“The old doors are going down. We are in the midst of a constantly evolving media panorama, and Nigerian creators are in the heart. For the first time, producers can avoid the traditional system and connect directly to the global public. Its content can travel from a study in Lagos to a living room in London or New York. This is about the property, about building a direct relationship with fans, and on sustainable businesses. Globe

Nigeria’s entertainment industry is one of the fastest in the world, driven by a youth and digital population. The YouTube platform reflects this change: the observation time in Nigeria grew more than 55 percent year -on -year as of October 2024, and more than 70 percent of the content visualization produced by Nigeria now comes from outside the country.

Miebaka Anga, manager of strategic partners on YouTube, also served as a facilitator during the sessions. “This is a great opportunity to get practical with our partners,” said Anga. “We are not only providing a platform; we are providing strategies and experience to help them navigate this new media environment and achieve their commercial objectives.”

Also read: FG Hikes Passport Tares in 100%

Among the prominent voices in the event was the star and producer of Nollywood, Bolaji Ogunmola, who shared his perspective on the importance of adapting to changing visualization habits. In a comment, he said: “As filmmakers, the screen no longer means the cinema or television. For many Nigerians, YouTube is the new television. It is where the public discovers stories, shares them and builds fandoms that reach the edges.”

The event concluded with a network session in which producers discussed new association opportunities and strategies to climb the Nigerian narration on global platforms.

Lagos TV/Cinema Day follows previous initiatives led by YouTube, such as the YouTube Foremakers event in 2024, Nollywood’s celebration in 2023, the background of YouTube Black Voices and Training Programs in Africa, all part of the broader YouTube commitment to empower African creators with the tools to reach the new audiences and Cultivate your business.

Watch the best Gistzone TV videos