The Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals has inaugurated the third edition of the SDGs Short Film Challenge to bolster storytelling as a tool for achieving the goals in Nigeria.

Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, SSA to the president on SDGs, said this while inaugurating the 2025 year’s SDGs short-film challenge on Thursday in Abuja.

The UN Information Centre and OSSAP-SDGs organised the SDGs short film challenge as an initiative to mobilise filmmakers to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs through storytelling in the country and beyond.

She said the initiative was designed for creatives to produce impactful “maximum 15-minute” short films that highlight developmental challenges, propose solutions and inspire action against poverty, illiteracy, gender inequality, climate change and social justice.

Ms Orelope-Adefulire said, “Beyond raising awareness, the initiative engages young people, sparks dialogue and positions film as a catalyst for advocacy and change.

“It also provides emerging filmmakers with opportunities for global recognition and professional growth.”

She stated that the success recorded by the initiative in the past two editions attested to the power of partnerships and creativity, urging young filmmakers to create films that aligned with the core principles of the SDGs.

She said the first edition, held in 2022, received 73 submissions, while the second edition attracted 2,250 entries from 119 countries and that the third edition would be expanded in terms of reach and impact to accelerate SDG implementation in Nigeria.

Mohamed Fall, UN resident coordinator in Nigeria, described the event as a call to action, a celebration of creativity and a rallying cry for sustainable development.

According to him, Nigeria is a storytelling powerhouse with the Nollywood industry, which is among the largest film industries in the world, reaching millions across Africa and beyond.

Mr Fall restated that the SDGs-film challenge embodied the UN’s vision of the role of the youth and digital innovation in driving the 2030 Agenda forward.

He further said that such a vision aligned with Chapter IV of the Pact for the Future, recognising youth and future generations as key architects of sustainable development. 

(NAN)