Nile Entertainment secures UIP mandate for Paramount and Universal theatrical distribution in Nigeria and Ghana, shifting from Silverbird Film Distribution effective February 27, 2026.
On 13 February 2026, Nile Entertainment — led by Moses Babatope — announced that it has been appointed theatrical distribution partner for United International Pictures (UIP) in Anglophone West Africa, specifically Nigeria and Ghana, effective 27 February 2026. UIP is the international theatrical joint venture owned equally by Paramount Pictures (Paramount Global, United States) and Universal Pictures (Comcast/NBCUniversal, United States). In territories where it does not operate directly, UIP appoints a local company to release films in cinemas.
The appointment transfers responsibility for Paramount and Universal theatrical releases in Nigeria and Ghana to Nile. The press release states: "UIP and Nile also acknowledge the contribution of Silverbird Film Distribution, which has supported UIP titles across the region for more than eight years." No reason is given for the change from Silverbird to Nile.
Nigeria is the largest commercial cinema market in West Africa, with consistent multiplex expansion over the past decade. As of 2025 regulatory and industry reporting, the country operates approximately 351 cinema screens across 93 physical cinema locations, with Lagos as the dominant box office city. Ghana's theatrical market is smaller, with fewer screens concentrated primarily in Accra. These two markets form the core of Anglophone West African theatrical revenue for Hollywood studio releases.
In Nigeria, FilmOne Entertainment serves as the exclusive theatrical licensee in Anglophone West Africa for The Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros. Discovery, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Empire Entertainment. Silverbird Film Distribution has served as the local partner for Paramount Pictures and Universal Pictures under the United International Pictures (UIP) arrangement. The February 2026 UIP appointment transfers one of the major Hollywood studio distribution mandates in Nigeria from Silverbird — among the earliest modern multiplex developments in Nigeria — to Nile Entertainment.
To be sure, Nile had already publicly structured itself as a vertically integrated media group across production, distribution, exhibition, and studio partnerships. Announcements in 2024 and 2025 positioned the company within cinema expansion, international production alliances, and consolidated operating divisions under the broader Nile Media/Nile Group identity. The UIP mandate is simply the previously articulated multi-division strategy continually in practice, not a new directional shift.
In November 2024, Nile Group announced a five-year ambition to deploy up to 1,000 cinema screens in Nigeria with a partnership connected to the Ojaja Film and Talent City initiative. In late 2025, Nile Cinemas expanded further by integrating former VIVA Cinemas locations in Ikeja, Ibadan, Ilorin, and Enugu.
Source: africanfilmpress.com