The Kunle Afolayan Production (KAP), the film production studio of award-winning filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan, has opened applications for the training in film and television production targeting 300,000 young Nigerians over the next three years.
The training, which is in partnership with Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works, is targeted at people passionate about film and television production and open to young men and women across Nigeria between the ages of 20 and 35.
A statement by KAP said interested individuals can apply to register on the KAP Academy website (https://www.apply.kap.academy/) from Tuesday, March 15, 2022, ahead of the training that will formally commence in April 2022.
Recall that KAP Academy and Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works in October 2021 announced the landmark partnership to train young Nigerians in film and TV production.
Afolayan said the selection process would take into consideration a gender balance ratio to allow for adequate participation of women, while 40% of the trainees would be drawn from low-income backgrounds.
“The academy is focused on growing the next generation of skilled filmmakers through the tutelage of veterans and film professionals who provide hands-on experience in diverse aspects of filmmaking to enrolled students,” he said.
The training is coming at a time Nigeria is battling an unemployment crisis that the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said rose to 33% in the last quarter of 2020.
As the nation grapples with the unemployment crisis, the creative industry, according to global accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers, continues to see steady growth. PwC projected that Nigeria’s Entertainment and Media (E&M) industry’s revenue will rise from $7.68 billion in 2021 to $14.82 billion in 2025.
If adequately harnessed, opportunities in the creative sector will bring more young Nigerians into meaningful engagement. The partnership between KAP Academy and the Mastercard Foundation is expected to open doors of opportunities to young Nigerians in the vibrant creative industry.
To ensure inclusivity, KAP Academy said free tuition and smartphone devices will be offered to students from less privileged backgrounds as part of the support to ensure young people enrolled in the programme have access to the tools required for digital learning.
For successful candidates, the training will include ‘The Masterclass Series’ and two levels of certification from professional institutions in the areas of screenwriting, sound, editing, directing, cinematography and production design, among others, as well as practical hands-on training.
The KAP Academy will be leveraging smartphone technology for the training as teaching will be conducted through a learning app.
