Kunle Afolayan-led KAP Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Republic of Benin to collaborate on film co-productions, youth training, and the proposed development of a Film City in Ouidah, signalling a cross-border creative partnership involving high-level government engagement in the audio-visual sector.
The MoU was formalised in Lagos at the KAP Hub following a presidential invitation from the Beninese government to establish a strategic partnership focused on strengthening film production capacity and creative infrastructure in the region.
A delegation from the Republic of Benin, including Special Adviser to the President for Media and Audiovisual Affairs Sinatou Saka and Special Adviser for Arts and Culture Coline-Lee Toumson-Venite, joined KAP Group executives led by filmmaker and CEO Kunle Afolayan and Executive Director ‘Seun Soyinka for the signing ceremony.
According to details shared in the official announcement, the agreement is structured around three key pillars: co-production of films, structured youth training across filmmaking disciplines, and the development, equipping, and operation of a proposed Film City in Ouidah.
The collaboration is expected to draw on the operational arms of KAP Group, including KAP Motion Pictures, the KAP Film & Television Academy, and the KAP Film Village & Resort.
The partnership follows earlier consultations between KAP Group and government stakeholders in the Republic of Benin’s audio-visual and cinematography sectors, where discussions reportedly centred on building sustainable frameworks for local content creation, technical capacity development, and positioning the country as an emerging hub for film and creative production.
During the official programme scheduled from February 19 to 22, the Beninese delegation is also set to tour KAP Group’s production facilities in Lagos and the KAP Film Village & Resort in Igbojaye-Komu, Oyo State, an integrated production and training ecosystem.
While financial terms, timelines, and specific project slates were not disclosed, both parties described the MoU as the foundation of a long-term strategic alliance aimed at advancing film production, creative education, and cultural exchange across the continent.
Speaking on the collaboration, Afolayan described the agreement as a significant step toward expanding cross-border creative enterprise and showcasing African stories to global audiences. Sinatou Saka, Special Adviser to the President of the Republic for Media and Audiovisual Affairs, also confirmed the government’s interest in capacity building through the partnership.
The development adds to a growing pattern of cross-border collaborations within the African film ecosystem, particularly as governments and private studios increasingly explore infrastructure development, co-production frameworks, and formal training pipelines to scale local industries and expand global reach.
If implemented beyond the MoU stage, the proposed Film City and structured training initiatives could contribute to regional production capacity and talent development, especially as African studios seek more integrated models that combine production, education, and cultural tourism within a single ecosystem.
