Artificial Intelligence is transforming Nigeria’s visual storytelling industry by making filmmaking more accessible, reducing production costs and expanding opportunities for independent creators, filmmakers and creative professionals have said.
They noted that while AI is changing the way stories are developed, produced and distributed, the technology remains a complementary tool rather than a replacement for human creativity, with originality, emotion and authentic storytelling continuing to define impactful visual content.
Speaking on the growing influence of AI in filmmaking, Onesiphorus Enwerem, Founder and Creative Director of ONIZ Creative, described visual storytelling as the process of communicating emotions and information through imagery, lighting, composition, movement and performance rather than relying solely on dialogue.
He said Nigerian storytelling had traditionally been driven by expressive dialogue and lengthy conversational scenes, but audiences were increasingly developing a stronger appreciation for cinematic elements such as visual composition, colour grading and emotional cinematography.
According to Enwerem, AI has lowered barriers to high-quality production by helping creators generate concepts, develop storyboards, edit content faster, improve audio quality, remove distractions, create subtitles and pre-visualize scenes before production begins.
“AI is making high-quality filmmaking more accessible. It won’t replace creativity, but it significantly expands what small teams can achieve,” he said.
He explained that AI had become particularly useful during pre-production and post-production stages, assisting with script development, scheduling, editing, colour correction, audio enhancement, visual effects, subtitle generation and marketing materials.
Enwerem added that automation of repetitive tasks had reduced production expenses, allowing smaller production teams and independent filmmakers to create professional-quality content with limited resources.
However, he stressed the importance of ethical considerations, including copyright protection, transparency and respect for original creative works, as AI adoption continues to grow within the industry.
He said he regularly used AI-powered tools such as ChatGPT, Adobe Firefly, Midjourney, Runway and artificial intelligence features integrated into Photoshop and Lightroom to improve efficiency while maintaining creative control.
“I don’t believe AI will replace filmmakers. I believe filmmakers who understand AI will replace filmmakers who refuse to learn it. “The future belongs to creatives who combine technology with authentic human storytelling,” he said.
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Enwerem advised aspiring filmmakers and content creators to focus on mastering storytelling fundamentals, including lighting, sound, directing and editing, while embracing AI as a tool to enhance their creative process.
“Don’t wait until you have the perfect equipment; start creating with what you have while continuously learning,” he said, adding that consistency, professionalism and curiosity would remain valuable despite technological changes.
He also called for increased government support for the creative sector through grants, subsidised training programmes and initiatives aimed at helping emerging filmmakers acquire industry-relevant skills.
Similarly, documentary filmmaker and creative entrepreneur Jerry Laz, said AI had created new opportunities for filmmakers by making professional production tools more affordable and accessible.
“AI has levelled the playing field for creatives and filmmakers. The approach to AI shouldn’t be fear. It should be something that you embrace,” he said.
Laz said AI now supports several aspects of filmmaking, including scriptwriting, storyboarding, editing, voiceovers, visual effects and content distribution.
He added that AI-powered tools had made services such as transcription, editing and visual effects more affordable, enabling documentary filmmakers to process large volumes of interview materials and streamline production workflows.
According to him, AI should strengthen creativity rather than replace the emotional connection that makes stories impactful.
“Don’t be over-reliant on AI that you lose the essence of your story. “It is already here. It doesn’t make sense to fight it. Embrace it, use it intelligently and continue learning,” he said.
Laz, who has produced documentaries for international organisations, including United Nations agencies and humanitarian groups, said the future of Nigeria’s creative industry would depend on the ability of filmmakers to combine emerging technologies with meaningful local narratives.
He encouraged young creatives to continue developing their skills and adapting to new technologies to remain competitive in an evolving global creative landscape.
NAN
