During a widely circulated video interview with Feel Right News TV, veteran filmmaker Kunle Afolayan disclosed that he has invested over ₦8 billion into building his private film village in Oyo State. Afolayan discussed the monumental financial and logistical hurdles of executing large-scale cinematic projects in Nigeria.
In the same interview, Afolayan addressed why many Nollywood producers are increasingly shifting toward YouTube releases. He cited dollar revenue streams and flexible distribution models as the primary drivers behind the industry-wide pivot to streaming platforms.
Highlighting his ambitious endeavor, Kemi Filani News reported Afolayan stating, “I have spent over N8 billion on building a film village while navigating the intense struggles of independent filmmaking in Nigeria”. Pulse Nigeria added context to his industry analysis, quoting the filmmaker as saying, “Nollywood filmmakers are rushing to YouTube because of the dollar earnings”.
Afolayan’s massive capital outlay highlights the growing infrastructure gap in Nigeria’s creative economy. His shift toward building localized studio systems could pave the way for self-sustained production models across West Africa.
Source: Kemi Filani News — https://www.kemifilani.ng/entertainment/kunle-afolayan-spills-on-film-village, September 8, 2026
Photo Credit: The Guardian
