The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has officially inaugurated its National Secretariat in the Gaduwa District of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), while also launching the ‘AGN Super AP’—a new initiative aimed at improving access to guild services and member welfare.
The highly anticipated event drew a prestigious audience of filmmakers, actors, creative stakeholders, government representatives, and members of the diplomatic corps. The dual launch—the new secretariat and the AGN Super AP program—marked a major step toward professionalizing the operations of one of Africa’s largest cultural associations.
Speaking at the commissioning, AGN National President, Dr. Emeka Rollas, emphasized the importance of institutional infrastructure in transforming the guild’s operational capabilities and member services. “Today’s ceremony is yet another milestone that attests to the phenomenal transformation that the present leadership of the Guild has continued to unveil,” Rollas declared.
According to him, the newly opened national office will serve as a central hub for actors across Nigeria to access resources, lodge concerns, and receive welfare support. “We are determined to take our place of pride at the forefront of the evolution of the culture sector in Africa,” he said.
The ‘AGN Super AP’, unveiled alongside the secretariat, is designed as an all-in-one platform for actor registration, welfare services, and professional development. A prototype of the proposed AGN Galleria, a multi-purpose creative and collaborative space, was also showcased during the event.
Rollas used the opportunity to call on the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy to support the AGN’s drive to nurture young talents across Abuja. He particularly urged the Minister of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, to establish specific intervention funds for Nollywood actors, who he described as “the faces and voices of the industry.”
While commending the Minister for her existing creative sector initiatives, Rollas stressed that performers, not just producers and directors, require structured empowerment. “We appeal to the Minister to consider a performer’s intervention fund, especially for capacity building through AGN,” he said.
He added that Nollywood plays a critical role in curbing youth restiveness, creating jobs, and boosting tourism in the FCT and beyond.
Commissioning the secretariat, the Minister—represented by Mrs. Ugochi Akudo-Nwosu, Director of the Entertainment and Creative Economy Department—hailed the AGN’s efforts as pivotal for industry development.
“This milestone is a testament to the growth of the AGN and the reflection of the vibrant potential of Nigeria’s creative economy,” she said. “The creative industry is Nigeria’s new oil, a strategic platform to tell our stories, preserve heritage, and project soft power globally.”
She affirmed the ministry’s commitment to making Abuja a creative and entertainment hub through its Destination 2030 plan, which aims to boost tourism, generate jobs, and elevate Nigeria’s global cultural standing.
The unveiling of AGN’s secretariat and member services comes at a time when Nollywood is rapidly expanding its global reach. With Abuja now positioned as a new base of operations, the guild aims to decentralize opportunities away from Lagos and make the capital city a complementary center for film and creative innovation.
For many actors and stakeholders, the AGN’s expansion signals a renewed commitment to industry welfare, structure, and sustainability. As Nigeria’s creative economy continues to grow, institutional moves like these could define the next phase of Nollywood’s global relevance.