NSUK, Kaduna International Film Festival Partner to Advance Student Capacity Building in Creative Industry

As part of its commitment to strengthening industry-academia collaboration and producing globally competitive graduates, Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), is set to partner with the Kaduna International Film Festival (KADIFF) to enhance student capacity building in filmmaking and the creative industry.

The partnership initiative was unveiled on Monday, 29 June 2026, when the Vice-Chancellor of NSUK, Professor Sa'adatu Hassan Liman, received a high-powered delegation from KADIFF led by its Director-General, Mr. Israel Audu, on a courtesy visit to the University.

The visit provided an opportunity for both institutions to explore strategic areas of collaboration aimed at equipping students with practical skills, industry exposure, and entrepreneurial competencies required to thrive in the rapidly evolving global creative economy.

Speaking during the meeting, Mr. Audu explained that the proposed partnership is designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and professional practice by exposing students to the technical, artistic, and commercial aspects of filmmaking.

He disclosed that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) being proposed would focus on three critical areas: capacity building through hands-on training, professional film production experience, and participation in festival activities; technology transfer and research to integrate academic scholarship with contemporary filmmaking techniques; and commercialization, which would equip students with knowledge of film distribution, marketing, and content monetization.

The KADIFF Director-General noted that the festival has maintained productive collaborations with institutions such as Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Kaduna State University (KASU) and Kaduna Polytechnic. He expressed optimism that a similar partnership with NSUK, particularly through the Department of Theatre and Cultural Studies, would further promote talent development and innovation in Nigeria's creative industry.

Responding, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sa'adatu Hassan Liman, described the proposal as a welcome development that aligns perfectly with the University's vision of integrating academic excellence with practical skills acquisition and entrepreneurship.

She reaffirmed the University's commitment to producing graduates who are not only academically sound but also equipped with relevant professional competencies that will enable them to become employers of labour and valuable contributors to national development.

To ensure the timely implementation of the collaboration, Professor Liman directed the Institute for Strategic Development Communication (ISDEVCOM) and the Department of Theatre and Cultural Studies to immediately engage with the KADIFF team to identify areas of mutual interest and prepare a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding for execution.

The Vice-Chancellor expressed confidence that the partnership would significantly expand opportunities for students, strengthen practical training, foster research and innovation, and further position NSUK as a leading institution in creative arts education and industry engagement.

The meeting was attended by the Acting Director of ISDEVCOM and former Head of the Department of Theatre and Cultural Studies, Dr. Daniel Cikada, alongside other principal officers of the University.

The visit concluded with the presentation of official University souvenirs to the KADIFF Director-General by the Vice-Chancellor, symbolising the University's appreciation and commitment to a mutually beneficial partnership, after which both parties posed for a group photograph to commemorate the occasion.