NATA Documentary sparks infertility awareness in Nigeria as Huzzain Bello’s AMVCA-nominated film challenges stigma through education and dialogue

The NATA Documentary, directed by filmmaker Huzzain Bello, has opened a national conversation on infertility after its university debut at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), where students, academics, healthcare professionals and policymakers gathered to discuss misconceptions surrounding reproductive health.

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The screening of Not Addressing This Anymore (NATA), a 2026 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA)-nominated documentary, was held at the Afe Babalola Auditorium, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, UNILAG, as part of efforts to extend infertility awareness beyond annual campaigns.

The event followed Fertility Awareness Month observed globally in June and focused on encouraging young people to understand infertility as a medical issue rather than a subject surrounded by shame and misinformation.

At the centre of the documentary is a message that fertility challenges affect both men and women. Medical experts have consistently noted that male-factor infertility, including conditions such as low sperm count and azoospermia, contributes significantly to difficulties experienced by couples trying to conceive.

Despite this reality, cultural beliefs in many societies continue to place a disproportionate burden and blame on women.

Bello said the documentary was created to encourage empathy and replace silence with informed conversations.

“This screening was never just for the women in the room. Fertility is a shared experience, and the stigma surrounding infertility will only be broken when young men recognise that this conversation concerns them too,” he said.

The screening received support from the Director-General of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Dr Shaibu Husseini, who also lectures at the University of Lagos and helped facilitate the documentary’s presentation at the institution.

The university further integrated the documentary into academic engagement when the Pioneer Dean of the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, Prof Sunday Oloruntola, assigned students a written review of the film as part of their Continuous Assessment.

Beyond the screening, fertility counsellor Mrs Umo Akinselure, who featured in the documentary, led an interactive session where participants discussed reproductive health, fertility challenges and the emotional experiences of individuals and couples affected by infertility.

The programme was supported by The Bridge Clinic and Deen Consult Services, the latter serving as a co-producer of the documentary.

The partnership highlighted the growing role of collaboration between filmmakers, academic institutions and healthcare professionals in advancing public health education.

Following its UNILAG debut, the documentary is scheduled for a nationwide university tour, with confirmed screenings planned for Crescent University in Abeokuta, Babcock University and Nile University in Abuja during the October academic session.

Additional discussions are ongoing with other tertiary institutions interested in hosting screenings and conversations around infertility awareness.

Since its release, Not Addressing This Anymore has gained recognition within the film industry and social impact space.

The documentary was selected for the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) 2025, won the Social Impact Award at the Activists Without Borders Film Festival (AWBFF) 2025, and received a nomination for Best Documentary at the 2026 AMVCA.

The production team is now developing NATA into a feature-length documentary, with ambitions to take the conversation beyond cinemas and universities into homes, healthcare spaces and policy discussions across Nigeria.

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By combining storytelling, medical insight and public dialogue, the documentary is positioning film as a powerful tool for addressing sensitive issues and encouraging more informed conversations about infertility.