Nigeria’s entertainment sector stands as a vibrant tapestry of creative forces, particularly within the realms of music and movies.
The music industry, garnering increasing global recognition, parallels the cinematic prowess of Nollywood, proudly holding the title of the world’s second-largest film producer and boasting a substantial worth of $6.4 billion as of 2021.
Annually, Nollywood unfurls over 2,000 productions across diverse platforms. Its strategic collaborations with global movie streaming giants such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Showmax have positioned Nollywood to export its rich culture and values worldwide.
This global outreach is facilitated by compelling narratives crafted by some of Nigeria’s most talented producers and directors.
In the preceding year alone, the Nigerian box office demonstrated remarkable resilience by generating approximately N7.4 billion in revenue. This feat becomes even more impressive considering the challenges posed by diminishing purchasing power and inflation.
As March remains women’s month and commemoration of International Women’s Day, TheWitness highlights some of Nigeria’s exemplary female producers who stand as catalysts for inclusion and agents of growth within the dynamic Nollywood industry.
Ruth Kadiri is a Nigerian actress, screenwriter and producer. Tagged as the Queen of YouTube Nollywood, the female producer garners an average of 2 million views per movie hosted on the video platform.
Ruth Kadiri has made significant contributions as a screenwriter and film producer- with productions such as Mad Wife, Married and Diary of a Pregnant Wife. She has been involved in crafting compelling scripts for various Nollywood projects, showcasing her storytelling skills.
Before focusing primarily on production, Ruth Kadiri made her acting debut in 2003 with the movie “Boys Cot.” Since then, she has consistently delivered captivating performances across a diverse range of films. Her ability to embody various characters with depth and authenticity has earned her widespread recognition and respect within the industry.
Some of her notable works as an actress include roles in films like Matters Arising, Over the Edge, and “Husbands of Lagos.
Omoni Oboli stands as a preeminent figure in Nigeria’s film industry, despite facing a temporary hiatus from the industry due to family commitments, she has navigated the fast-paced landscape with success over the last two decades.
Oboli is not only a seasoned actress but also a trained digital filmmaker, having honed her skills at the prestigious New York Film Academy. Her creative energy is evident in a myriad of screenplays, including notable works such as ‘Fatal Imagination,’ ‘Being Mrs Elliott,’ ‘The First Lady,’ and ‘Wives on Strike.’
In 2010, Omoni Oboli clinched the Best Actress – Narrative Feature award at the Los Angeles Movie Awards and the Best Actress award at the Harlem International Film Festival.
In 2018, she took on the dual roles of star and director in the comedy film “Moms at War” which starred Funke Akindele and has produced many movies for cinema and various streaming platforms.
Notably, Oboli has leveraged the digital space, particularly on YouTube through her channel, Omoni Oboli TV. Hosting productions like “Marriage of Inconvenience” and “A Night in July,” she has amassed an impressive five million streams for her movies.
Toyin Abraham stands as a stalwart in the Nollywood realm, boasting an illustrious career spanning over two decades. Commencing her journey in 2003, she has not only graced the screen as an actress but has also ventured into directing and producing.
Her cinematic repertoire includes notable works such as “Ijakumo –The Born Again Stripper,” and the blockbuster “Malaika,” which emerged as one of the highest-grossing movies in December 2023, amassing N300 million—the pinnacle of her box office achievement yet.
Other notable movie pieces include “Fate of Alakada” in 2020, which garnered N113.2 million at the box office. Following this success, “Alakada Reloaded” also raked in N70 million.
She also produced, “Seven and a Half Dates(2018), and The Ghost and the Tout(2018).
Tope Oshin is a cinematic force, recognized for her role in producing noteworthy films like Up North, featuring Nigerian singer-Bankole Wellington. Acknowledged in 2017 as one of OkayAfrica’s Okay100 Women, Oshin stands as a highly decorated filmmaker, boasting a portfolio that spans over 7,000 hours of TV and film content.
Her directorial prowess shines through some of Africa’s most prominent drama series, including MTV Shuga, Tinsel, Hotel Majestic, Hush, Castle & Castle, and more, accumulating a staggering 750 episodes. Notable among her directorial credits are films like New Money, Journey To Self, InLine, Ireti, The Young Smoker,” and the groundbreaking December 2018 theatrical release, UpNorth.
Tope Oshin’s multifaceted role encompasses ShowRunner, Producer, and Lead Director of MTV Shuga Naija 4 (Season 8). Her producing credits shine with the highest-grossing Nigerian box office hits – The Wedding Party 2 and Fifty. A revolutionary documentary titled “Amaka’s Kin: The Women Of Nollywood” shows her commitment to spotlighting female directors in Nigeria.
Trained in Filmmaking at the Colorado Film School, Denver, and having studied Cinematography at Met Film School, London, Oshin is the proprietor of Sunbow Productions.
Jadesola Osiberu stands as a remarkable figure in Nollywood, transitioning from a background in software development career to writing, directing, and movie production. As the founder of Greoh Studios, she gained traction after churning out pieces such as Isoken (2017), Sugar Rush (2019), Brotherhood (2022), and the crime thriller Gangs of Lagos, the first Nigerian original film exclusively streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
In September 2022, Osiberu’s Greoh Studios inked a transformative three-year deal with Amazon, signalling a commitment to develop and produce original scripted TV series and feature films for a global audience. This collaboration positions her production house as a key player in shaping the narrative on a broader scale.
Osiberu initiated her venture into film production with the establishment of Tribe85 Productions in 2017, fueled by the mission to “tell African stories to a global audience.”
With nearly two decades immersed in acting and filmmaking, Mary Njoku has solidified her status as a powerhouse in the African movie industry.
Since her debut in 2004, Njoku has graced the screens in over 100 films and TV series, predominantly within “Nollywood” the Nigerian movie industry renowned as the world’s second-largest by production output.
In the last decade, Njoku has seamlessly transitioned from on-screen roles to a behind-the-scenes executive, playing a major role in shaping the creation and distribution of African content tailored for the streaming age.
In 2013, she took a bold step by founding ROK, a digital media company that operates four TV stations. Additionally, she established ROK Studios, a content production company catering to IrokoTV, a Nigerian streaming video-on-demand platform founded by her husband, Jason Njoku.
