The Walt Disney Company Africa has partnered with FilmOne, a Nigerian entertainment company, for the distribution of its filmed content in West Africa the first of its kind in the region.

In a statement, the company said the deal means FilmOne will be granted exclusive right to distribute Disney film slate in Nigeria, Ghana and Liberia.

It added that the agreement, which was effectively from September 1, was further indication of the company’s commitment to the West African cinema market.

According to the statement, the deal covers titles from all of the Walt Disney Studios divisions including Walt Disney Pictures, and Walt Disney Animation Studios.

Others, it added, include Pixar, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, 20th Century Studios, Searchlight Pictures and Blue Sky Pictures.

Kene Okwuosa, Moses Babatope and Craig Shurn, directors of FilmOne Entertainment, confirmed the agreement in a joint statement.

“We are proud to be Disney’s film distribution partner for West Africa and see this as the beginning of an exciting new chapter for both companies in the region. Our expertise and knowledge of the market, coupled with the unrivalled quality of Disney’s titles, will drive box-office growth for many years to come,” they said.

Also speaking, Christine Service, Disney Africa’s senior vice-president and general manager, expressed confidence that the deal would further strengthen its presence in West Africa.

“With their in-depth knowledge of the region and expertise in bringing theatrical releases to fans, we are thrilled to welcome FilmOne as our distribution partner for this territory,” Service said.