Relevant Education for Sustainable Human Development in Nigeria: Nollywood’s Advocacy in Selected Video Films

Abstract

In human development, conscious efforts are made to enlarge people’s choices to enable them live a healthy and prolonged life, acquire knowledge, and have access to resources needed to earn a decent living. Obviously, sustained improvement in African human development still falls short of those experienced in other regions. Progress in African human development is majorly driven by education as against the experience of other regions where other factors dominate. Nollywood, the Nigerian video film industry, has played an active role in advocating the need for relevant education for all ages in Nigeria. This work attempts a discussion of Nollywood’s education advocacy for sustainable human development through the reading of selected films. The concept development communication is relied on for conceptual foundation; while the theory of knowledge gap hypothesis is adopted for theoretical backing. The methodology adopted involves documentary research and extensive viewing of relevant films which culminated in content analysis of the viewed films. It is observed that Nollywood has not performed so poorly in advocating education as the major sign post for human development in Nigeria. Yet, a lot more still need to be done. It is recommended that Nollywood filmmakers pay serious attention to the sociology of their craft. Government and the educational sector should sponsor educational films through concept placement options. The general public, particularly the academe, should see and explore the positive aspect of Nollywood rather than continue to treat the industry with contempt as was the case with the Onitsha market literature – the consequence of which we are still facing.