By Prisca Sam-Duru

The MOU on audiovisual co-production agreement between Nigeria as one of the biggest movie exports in Africa and Brazil has been described as a landmark creative pack to power cross-cultural storytelling. The agreement signed in June 2025 is regarded as a major advantage for creatives, enabling partnerships in development, funding, and distribution of their works.

Few pressmen encountered the Acting Consul General of Brazil in Lagos, Nigeria, Mr. Celso de Arruda Franca, at a recent event at the German Consulate Lagos, during which he revealed what the MOU meant for both countries in terms of partnership, from the production of films to distribution.

According to Celso de Arruda Franca. “The MOU was signed in the spirit of cooperation among two global players of the Southern hemispheres. We want to see the real exchange of realities through films. So, we thought it would be to the advantage of both the Brazilian and Nigerian societies to know more about each other and mutually understand the concept of joining forces to create something different.”

Historically, there’s a cultural similarity between both countries, and film is part of it. Asked whether that was what informed the partnership, the Brazil Acting CG said, “It’s part of a broader strategic partnership that had been drafted under Nigeria’s president Tinubu and Brazil. There’s been an exchange of visits. For Brazil, Nigeria, and West Africa as a whole were part of the formation of our national identity. During the transatlantic slave trade, we received the cultural legacy of the peoples of West Africa; mostly Yoruba, though not only Yoruba. This way, we were able to preserve and say that in Brazil, we have elements of African culture; they are unique, and the movie industry can translate that into their audiovisual production.”

Regarding the challenge of funding for film makers even in terms of the MOU, Mr Celso de Arruda Franca stated that “Based on our experience in Brazil, we enacted a legislation which is a real incentive to the private sector to fund art projects- theatre, film, art exhibition in exchange of the payment of taxes. So instead of paying tax to the government directly, if a percentage of this goes into the art world like film industry or theatre productions, dance festivals, there will be a tax deduction. That is being implemented in Brazil, and it’s up to Nigeria society to discuss with their parliament to see if it is viable.”

On how to project more of the numerous cultural activities by the Brazilian mission in Nigeria, the Acting Consul general announced that at least three new diplomats would be arriving in Nigeria in April and June. This he emphasized would push more of the positive impact Brazil is making in Nigeria to the public.