Kodak’s Business Director for Europe, Middle East and Africa, Anja Weidel
A leading photography and multimedia company, Studio 24 has renewed its long-standing partnership with global imaging giant Kodak, marking the official return of Kodak to the Nigerian market through its modern brand extension, Kodak Moments.
At the same event, Studio 24 unveiled a major empowerment initiative targeted at young creatives, offering them training, scholarships and pathways to paid employment in the photography and digital imaging industry.
The two-day programme, which brought together media professionals, creative entrepreneurs and photography veterans, marked the launch of the Pix-Her Africa Project—an initiative powered by Studio 24, Canon Academy and Kodak Moments, and implemented by Kidpreneur Africa.
Unveiling both the empowerment programme and Kodak’s re-entry, the Team Leader at Studio 24, Christopher Oputa, said the scheme provides scholarships for teenagers aged 15 to 18, who will later transition into paid apprenticeships within Studio 24. Adults with passion but limited financial means will also receive support to start careers in the creative industry.
Oputa, who is also the MD/CEO of COLVI Limited, explained that the initiative was borne out of a shortage of trained professionals.
“In some countries, talent is created deliberately through strong apprenticeship systems. I saw it work, and we decided to start doing the same here,” he said.
He noted that Pix-Her Africa is designed to build a steady pipeline of new photographers, digital printers, editors, technicians and creative entrepreneurs who will support both Studio 24’s growth and the wider Nigerian creative industry.
The first day of the programme aligned with World Premature Babies Day, symbolising Studio 24’s commitment to nurturing young potential early. The second day focused on why Kodak selected Nigeria as the next frontier for its global expansion.
Although Studio 24 first partnered with Kodak in 1998, Oputa stressed that Kodak Moments represents an entirely new phase.
Unlike the legacy Kodak, which focused heavily on cameras, Kodak Moments brings cutting-edge production tools—instant printers, personalised gift-print systems, custom imaging technology and on-the-spot photo solutions.
“This is the first time Nigerians are getting direct access to Kodak’s modern printing technology—exactly the same machines used in Europe and America,” Oputa said. “These are not watered-down versions.”
He added that Nigeria’s photography market is massively underexplored. With a population of over 250 million people, he said the country represents a printing potential running into hundreds of millions of photos annually, especially when reliable technology is available.
Kodak Moments, he emphasised, is poised to modernise Nigeria’s photo-printing ecosystem and unlock new economic opportunities.
“Everything Kodak brings helps someone start a business,” he said.
Describing the Nigerian market as a “virgin territory,” Oputa said Studio 24’s role is to distribute Kodak technology, train users and help them become profitable entrepreneurs.
Reflecting on Studio 24’s survival for over 30 years amid drastic industry shifts—from film to digital cameras, to smartphones—Oputa said the company endured by reinventing itself and anticipating global trends. He believes the next big frontier is localising global-standard print technology in Nigeria.
Studio 24 now serves as Kodak’s official partner across West and Central Africa, positioning the company as a regional gateway for distribution, training and technical support.
“Kodak is physically back and here to stay,” Oputa said.
Kodak’s Business Director for Europe, Middle East and Africa, Anja Weidel, applauded Studio 24’s resilience, acknowledging that Kodak’s earlier retreat from several African countries was driven by global shifts in photography consumption.
For many young creatives at the launch, the biggest excitement was the promise of real jobs—not just certificates. Studio 24 plans to employ as many trainees as possible, while empowering others to become independent business owners.
“We are building the people we want to hire,” Oputa said. “And even those we cannot take in immediately will have the skills to start their own businesses.”
The event signaled the rebirth of two significant journeys: Studio 24’s sustained leadership in Nigeria’s photography industry and Kodak’s renewed commitment to the African market.
As the event wrapped up, Oputa delivered a clear message of confidence:
“Kodak is back. And this is only the beginning.”
