Uche Agbo, the President of the Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN), has criticised the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA). He said the awards are now focusing more on fashion and red carpet appearances than on the quality of films and storytelling.

According to him, this shift is taking attention away from the hard work of filmmakers and the true purpose of the awards.

Agbo noted that while fashion is good, it should not become the main attraction of the event. He believes the AMVCA was created to celebrate excellent movies and talented people in the film industry. Many directors and movie makers now feel the glamour is overshadowing the creative efforts that go into making good films.

The DGN president called on organisers to return the awards to its original goal of honouring outstanding films and contributions to Nollywood. He stressed that the red carpet should support the event and not steal the spotlight from the movies and their creators. This, he said, would help the awards regain respect within the industry.

Many industry stakeholders have reacted to his comments. Some agree that too much emphasis on fashion and celebrity lifestyle is changing the image of the AMVCA.

Others believe both fashion and film content can exist together if properly balanced. The discussion has sparked conversations about the future direction of major awards in Nollywood.

This criticism highlights ongoing debates about the priorities of big entertainment awards in Nigeria. As the AMVCA remains one of the most watched events in African cinema, many are watching to see how organisers respond to calls for more focus on films and creativity. Uche Agbo’s statement has opened fresh conversations on what the awards should truly represent.