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In a major stride towards strengthening Pan-African creative collaboration, Kunle Afolayan Production (KAP) Group has entered into a strategic partnership with the Republic of Benin to transform the audio-visual and film production sector across the region.
The agreement, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), is designed to promote African storytelling, empower young creatives, and build world-class infrastructure that can compete on a global scale.
The signing ceremony was held at the KAP Hub in Lagos and represents a key milestone in KAP Group’s broader vision of forging impactful creative alliances across Africa.
Speaking on the initiative, KAP Group founder and CEO, Kunle Afolayan, explained that the collaboration is anchored on three core pillars: joint film production that highlights authentic African narratives, structured training programmes to equip young people with industry-relevant skills, and the establishment of a state-of-the-art Film City in Ouidah, Republic of Benin.
According to Afolayan, the partnership will help amplify African voices and create sustainable opportunities within the creative ecosystem.
“This collaboration is a defining moment for African cinema, where visionary leadership, cultural authenticity, and creative enterprise converge to project our stories, our people, and our creative strength to the world in the most compelling way,” he said.
A high-powered delegation from the Republic of Benin, led by the Special Adviser to the President, Sinatou Saka, represented the Beninese government at the signing. Other members of the delegation included Coline-Lee Toumson-Venite, Special Adviser to the President for Arts and Culture; Bassirou Ndiaye, Chief Executive Officer of SOPA S.A; Faissol Gnonlonfin, Director of Cinema and Performing Arts at the Agency for the Development of Arts and Culture (ADAC); and Meto Adoglo, Programme Manager for Storytelling at Sèmè City.
The delegation was received by key members of the KAP Group leadership team, including Executive Director ‘Seun Soyinka and Professor Tunji Azeez, Head of School at the KAP Film & Television Academy, alongside Kunle Afolayan.
Expressing the Republic of Benin’s excitement about the collaboration, Sinatou Saka described the agreement as a timely opportunity to deepen cooperation in the creative sector, particularly in human capacity development.
“We are finally happy to be working in partnership with Kunle Afolayan, especially in the area of capacity building,” she said.
As part of the official programme, the Beninese delegation is scheduled to tour KAP Group’s cutting-edge production facilities in Lagos, as well as the KAP Film Village & Resort located in Igbojaye-Komu, Oyo State. The tour, which runs from February 19 to 22, will provide the visitors with first-hand exposure to KAP’s production processes, training structures, and creative infrastructure.
Industry observers believe the partnership could significantly enhance the quality and reach of African film productions, while also fostering cross-border cultural exchange and economic development. By combining resources, expertise, and creative talent, the collaboration aims to create a unified platform for African stories that resonate both locally and internationally.
Beyond film production, the initiative is also expected to stimulate job creation, skills transfer, and youth empowerment, offering young creatives access to structured training and professional mentorship. The proposed Film City in Ouidah, in particular, is projected to become a regional hub for film, television, and digital content production, attracting international projects and boosting tourism.
With this agreement, KAP Group and the Republic of Benin are positioning themselves at the forefront of Africa’s creative renaissance, championing authentic storytelling, technological advancement, and sustainable industry growth. The partnership underscores a shared commitment to strengthening Africa’s cultural identity and ensuring that African narratives are told by Africans, for a global audience.
As implementation begins, stakeholders across the continent will be watching closely to see how this landmark collaboration reshapes the future of African cinema and creative enterprise.
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#NollywoodTimes
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