Kwara State is positioning itself as the next major destination for filmmakers in Nigeria, and its recent selection as the host for the 2024 edition of the Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards cements this ambition. Scheduled to take place on November 24 in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, the BON Awards is Nigeria’s longest-running and most significant film industry awards, traveling from state to state for the past 16 years.
States such as Oyo, Kano, Ekiti, and Imo have previously hosted this prestigious event, but Kwara’s Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has vowed to take it a step further by transforming the state into a major creative hub.
With the event set to bring over 500 Nollywood stars to Kwara, the state will showcase its world-class infrastructure, including the newly built Sugar Factory Film Studio. Governor Abdulrazaq emphasized that this facility, which will serve as the venue for the awards, represents just the first phase of a much larger vision to elevate Nigerian cinematography to global standards.
"We are mostly producing videos, but with facilities like the Sugar Factory Film Studio, we want to move to the next level of cinematography, aiming to win global film awards," Abdulrazaq said. He added that hosting the BON Awards will help market the state’s new creative infrastructure to industry legends and top film producers.
The Sugar Factory Film Studio is part of Kwara’s broader vision to establish itself as a hub for creativity and hospitality. The state is building a strong service economy to attract talent, and other key investments like the Visual Arts Centre, the International Conference Centre, and the Kwara Hotel are all part of this plan.
Olugbenga Titiloye, Managing Director of the Sugar Factory Film Studio, commended Governor Abdulrazaq for his investments, stating that they would not only attract film producers but also create jobs and boost the local economy.
Seun Oloketuyi, founder of the BON Awards, expressed his excitement about Kwara hosting the event, noting that the state’s peaceful atmosphere and commitment to the creative industry were key factors in its selection. He also mentioned that the November event would be an unforgettable experience for the hundreds of Nollywood stars who will be descending on Ilorin.
The governor's focus on creative infrastructure, alongside the presence of notable Nollywood stars like Yemi Blaq, Feyi Hassan, and Muka Ray Eyiwunmi, demonstrates Kwara’s serious commitment to becoming a central hub for filmmaking in Nigeria.
Kwara is indeed poised to become the filmmakers’ haven in Nigeria, and with the BON Awards just around the corner, all eyes are on the state as it takes its place at the forefront of Nigeria's creative future.