MORGANABLE LIFE & CULTURE / FILM
MTN Nigeria has partnered with Nollywood filmmaker Omoni Oboli to release seven Christmas films on YouTube, in a move aimed at promoting Nigerian storytelling and making local entertainment easier to access.
Akure —
MTN Nigeria has partnered with Nollywood filmmaker Omoni Oboli to release seven Christmas films on YouTube, in a move aimed at promoting Nigerian storytelling and making local entertainment easier to access.
The project will bring festive stories to audiences through Omoni Oboli TV, the filmmaker’s YouTube channel.
The films were unveiled at a Christmas Movie Mixer hosted by MTN Nigeria at its rooftop facility in Lagos.
The event attracted actors, filmmakers, content creators and other professionals in the entertainment industry.
It also provided an opportunity for the partners to discuss the role of digital platforms in helping Nigerian productions reach more viewers.
A PARTNERSHIP BUILT AROUND ACCESS
MTN’s General Manager of Consumer Segments, Idowu Adesokan, said the collaboration reflects the company’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s creative economy.
He explained that connectivity can do more than provide internet access. It can also support creativity, innovation and business opportunities.
According to Adesokan, Nigeria’s creative industry has the potential to entertain audiences, create jobs, build businesses and take local stories to international viewers.
Therefore, MTN sees its work with Omoni Oboli TV and YouTube as part of a wider effort to connect audiences with Nigerian content and give creators more room to grow.
The partnership also builds on MTN’s strategic relationship with YouTube. Through this arrangement, promotional campaigns can direct viewers to creators’ channels and help them discover locally produced programmes and films.
As a result, the collaboration is not limited to making the movies available. It also aims to increase awareness of the channels carrying them.
Oboli said the partnership would make streaming more affordable for her audience. She pointed to MTN’s YouTube data bundles, which allow subscribers to watch online videos at a lower data cost. She said viewers could stream a full film with a few hundred naira, making it easier for more people to enjoy the productions.
CREATORS AND JOBS
Oboli also linked audience growth to the financial health of the film industry. She explained that more views can increase creators’ earnings through advertising and other platform revenue. Those earnings can then support future productions and create work for actors and production teams.
The filmmaker stressed that the success of a movie affects more people than the person who produces it. Actors, writers, editors, camera operators and other crew members depend on film projects for income.
Therefore, she regards filmmaking as a serious business with responsibilities to the people who contribute to each production.
YouTube consultant and independent strategic adviser Berene Jankovich-Besan also discussed the opportunity for Nigerian films to reach audiences beyond the country.
During a fireside chat at the event, she said themes such as love, betrayal, romance and success help viewers connect with characters and stories.
She noted that some Nigerian films attract viewers outside Africa. She referred to figures suggesting that international audiences account for between 30 and 40 per cent of the viewership of some movies.
Although the figure does not apply to every production, it points to the potential reach of Nigerian storytelling.
Jankovich-Besan said YouTube and MTN want promotional campaigns to direct traffic to creators’ own channels. By displaying channel names in marketing materials, the partners hope viewers will find the original pages, watch more content and subscribe. This approach could help filmmakers build audiences that return for future releases.
THE SEVEN CHRISTMAS STORIES
The seven films will explore themes associated with the festive season, including love, family, forgiveness, sharing and togetherness.
Oboli said she wanted the productions to help audiences embrace the Christmas spirit and reconnect with the people around them.
The titles are Seasoned With Love, Christmas on Budget, Memories on the Rooftop, Promise Me December, A Bride for the Season, Christmas Between Worlds and Short Sweet 2.
The range of titles suggests different story settings and situations, although the partners have not released detailed plot summaries for every film.
The project has been in development for about four to five months. Oboli said scriptwriters worked on the stories before production moved forward.
She also explained that she prefers to keep movie titles private until release dates approach because some unauthorised YouTube channels may use announced titles to mislead viewers.
The first film is scheduled to premiere on November 13, with the remaining releases forming part of the Christmas programme. The partners have not provided a complete release timetable for all seven titles.
Viewers should therefore follow Omoni Oboli TV and the partners’ official channels for confirmed dates and viewing details.
A GROWING DIGITAL AUDIENCE
The partnership arrives as online video continues to create new ways for Nigerian filmmakers to distribute their work. YouTube allows creators to publish films without relying solely on traditional cinema screenings or television schedules. It can also connect productions with viewers in different countries.
However, digital distribution comes with challenges. Data costs, access to suitable devices and competition for viewers’ attention can affect how widely a film travels.
Jankovich-Besan identified affordability and device access as important issues for digital adoption in Nigeria. MTN’s data bundles are intended to address part of that challenge.
At the same time, a successful online release depends on more than a distribution deal.
Creators must produce engaging stories, promote their channels and give audiences reasons to return.Viewers also need reliable internet access and information about where to find official content.
Ultimately, the seven-film project will be judged by audience response, viewership and the opportunities it creates for Nigerian creatives.
Its focus on affordable access and local storytelling gives it a purpose beyond seasonal entertainment.
As the November 13 premiere approaches, viewers will be watching to see how the films capture the mood of Christmas and how the partnership supports the growth of Nigerian content online.
