THE WOMEN KINGS OF NOLLYWOOD - A Special feature on Female Producers

In the first series of Women Kings of Nollywood, we presented an impressive list of screenwriters and directors who played pivotal roles in fostering the industry's growth as a thriving source of entertainment.

The second series of Women Kings of Nollywood highlights a remarkable group of women who have made significant contributions to the industry as Career, Creative, or Executive Producers. These women have left an indelible mark and played crucial roles in propelling Nollywood's evolution into a prominent source of entertainment.

Many of these extraordinary individuals embarked on their journey in the industry as actresses, garnering fame and recognition. But at some point in their careers, they transitioned behind the scenes to take charge of the entire production process.

Since the inception of the Home Video era, women have consistently showcased their skills and potential to lead productions in Nollywood. Their continuous contributions have significantly propelled the industry's development.

Within the ‘then’ Yoruba sector, actresses have demonstrated equal potential, benefiting from the sector's communal structure, which allows actors to venture into production. One notable pioneer in female production in the Yoruba sector is Toyin Adegbola, also known as Asewo to re Mecca, who began production with a movie titled "Mayowa." Another significant figure is Laide Bakare, who adapted and produced a stage play titled "Ewe Oju Omi."

In the Yoruba sector of Nollywood, the communal structure has allowed practically every actor to produce a movie. However, only a select few have made a successful career out of it. Notable examples include Funke Akindele and Toyin Aimakhu Ajeyemi, featured in this series. Seasoned actresses Fathia Balogun and Iyabo Ojo also deserve recognition for their significant contributions as Producers in this regard.

These exceptional women dominate the industry as true colossi. They have helped define and reshape Nollywood through their passion and relentless efforts. They have become iconic figures whom audiences eagerly anticipate.

These remarkable women are the true Women Kings of Nollywood.

Ego Boyo

Ego Boyo was regarded as the first female producer when she released Violated in 1996; she also starred alongside Richard Mofe Damiji and Ajoke Silva. She formed a company, Temple Productions, and further produced other flicks, including Keeping Faith and 30 Days, In 2017, she experimented with a Silent Movie, A Hotel Called Memory 2017, earning five AMAA nominees. as well as an Audience award at the Black Star Film Festival

Toyin Abraham

Toyin Abraham Ajeyemi, previously known as Toyin Aimakhu, is a renowned actress, producer, and a prominent figure in the entertainment industry. She has built a remarkable reputation, becoming a household name with a remarkable filmography that began with the release of the blockbuster movie "Alakada" in 2013. The success of this film led to two subsequent instalments, namely "Alakada Reloaded" and "Fate of Alakada."

 Another notable achievement in her career was the release of "The Ghost and the Tout," which became one of the highest-grossing movies of all time. This success paved the way for a sequel titled "Ghost and the Tout too." Other notable contributions include  blockbuster hits "The Prophetess" and "Ijakumo." Ajeyemi's impressive body of work has solidified her status as an accomplished actress and producer.

Judith Audu

Judith Audu is an all-rounder: actress, writer, casting director, presenter, model blogger….etc. but with 20 full producer’s credits, two Associates ( Gold Statue, Nneka The Pretty Serpent Remake ) and two lines (Rattlesnake, Shanty Town) ,  It’s obvious how best to describe this ever-busy Amazon. 

In 2016, she made her debut as a full feature-length producer with the film "Just not Married." Following this success, Audu went on to produce notable films such as "Elesin Oba"and "Blood Sister." Her dedication and talent did not go unnoticed,when in  2019, Y Naija recognised her  as one of the '100 most influential individuals in Nigerian Films'.

To this day, Audu remains the go-to producer for major project movies, solidifying her status as a sought-after and influential figure in the industry.  

Bessing Egbe

 Blessing showed good artistic and dramatic expression and brilliant character development when she penned Two Brides and Baby, directed by Teco Benson, in 2011. On the heels of that, she wrote, directed, and produced the 2013 series Lekki Wives; it was an instant success and revealed Egbe's craftsmanship to the industry.   In 2022 she announced the Lekki wives sequel  - The Reunion - to mark the it’s 10th anniversary.  She was a 2022 member of the Nigerian Oscar Selection Committee. NOSC 

Jadesola Osiberu

Jadesola had no initial formal training as Producer or writer. The Electrical and Electronics graduate just had a passion, and vision to end up in Filmmaking. So while working in a bank as a Digital Marketing team member, she initiated and created an online media platform, Ndani TV, which produced The Juice, Gidi Up, and Rumour Has It. She later formed her outfit. Tribe 85 and ventured into the big league, Co-producing, writing and directing her debut, Isoken, in 2017. The movie earned a 100 million mark at the box office and the 2018 AMVCA’s Best Film West African  Best Director. 2018, also saw her penning directing  The Nigerian Trade, a crime thriller which was repackaged and retitled to The Trade and released in 2023. 

She recorded another box office success with Sugar Rush and topped it with a collaborative effort with veteran filmmaker Tunde Kelani to produce the blockbuster biopic, Ayinla.  In 2022, she wrote and produced another box office action drama, Brotherhood and her company Greoh Studios, signed a mega deal with streaming giant Amazon Studios. The 2023 crime action thriller, Gangs of Lagos was the first product of the deal. 

From her body of works, it’s clear that Jade is diverse and adventurous as a filmmaker but, more importantly, using those qualities to tell those stories that positively impact its viewers.

The ‘Nollywood Evangelist’ is definitely making an impact internationally; she was invited by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, AMAPAS to be a 2023 member in the Producer’s category

 

Funke Akindele

Well-known as an actress in the Yoruba sector,  Akindele was also honing her skill as a producer when her production, Ojo Ketala, was released. She also produced and acted in a few others, like Apaadi, earning three AMAA nominations in 2009. Her major crossover success came in 2008 with the blockbuster comedy, Jenifa, in which she also acted and produced under her production outfit, Scene One Production. From there, the law graduate created various instalments of Jenifa as a TV series before debuting on screen with Omo Ghetto in 2010. Ten years after the prequel, Omo Ghetto  - The Saga was released and became the highest box office-grossing movie for the year. With the addition of Your Excellency, Akindele is rated as the second-highest director with over a billion in revenue at the Nigerian Cinemas. In 2022 she announced her intentions to go into politics as a gubernatorial running mate while filming another great blockbuster, Battle of Buka Street. This film was released in 2002 and rated the 2nd grossing movie of the year. 

Emem Isong 

Isong is one of the early Nollywood producers and screenwriters for many Nollywood classics A University of Calabar Theatre of Arts graduate, Emen began her career in 1994 when she penned and co-produced Jezebel. In 1996 she churned out her first solo production, Breaking Point, before joining forces with  Remmy Jess Productions to produce a series of blockbusters such as Critical Decision, Darkest Nights, Games Women Play, Games Men Play, Emotional Cracks, Private Sin, and Shattered Illusion, to mention.  a few before owning and running the famous Royal Academy of Arts that paved way for a younger generation of Nollywood thespians. 

Isong is not just a prolific producer and writer of notable hit movies, she is also stands as an advocate and trailblazer for the continuous growth and progress of Nigeria's dynamic movie industry

Uduak Isong Oguamanam

Uduak has always had a business mind with an entrepreneurial spirit. Hence, it was no surprise that after a degree in Communication Arts and Russian Languages, she embarked on  a career spree first as a cabin crew member and then later moved into Capital markets and the telecoms industry. All the while, she has always been writing poetry and poems.  But when she realised the tremendous financial value in filmmaking, perhaps through her sister, Emen’s successful career as Producer and writer, the pragmatic Uduak gave filmmaking a try. Between 2007 and 2010, she penned seven drama movies, including Piece of Flesh, Through the Fire and Bursting Out, before joining forces with her sister to run The Royal Academy of Arts, where she produced her first flick, Okon Lagos, in 2011 and ever since has remained in the make-believe world as one of the Nollywood's Top Screenwriter Producers. 

Mo Abudu

As the Executive Producer and Head of EbonyLife TV & Films, Mo Abudu has played a vital role in bringing African stories to the global stage. Under her leadership, EbonyLife Studios has emerged as a driving force behind the new wave of Nigerian cinema, often referred to as the second generation of Nollywood. The studio has produced several blockbuster such as "The Wedding Party," a 2016 romantic comedy that held the title of Nigeria's highest-grossing movie for an impressive five years. Other successful films include "Fifty," "The Royal Hibiscus Hotel," "Chief Daddy," "Your Excellency," and "Oloture," a gripping drama that has been listed among Nollywood's top movies on Netflix.

In addition to their cinematic achievements, EbonyLife has created compelling drama series such as "Sons of Caliphate," "The Governor," "Castle & Castle" (a legal drama series), and "Ọjọ́ in D' House" (a sitcom comedy series). These shows have captivated audiences with their engaging storylines and production quality.

Mo Abudu's success as a media entrepreneur has garnered global recognition. In 2013, she became the first African to own a Pan African TV network, an accomplishment acknowledged by Forbes Africa. The Hollywood Reporter also named her one of the 25 most powerful women in Global TV in the same year. 

Mo's leadership and contributions have made her an influential figure in exporting African stories to the world. Through EbonyLife TV & Films, the ever smiling, Master degree holder in Human Resources has elevated African cinema, showcasing its talent, creativity, and cultural richness to a global audience.

Mary Remmy Njoku

Although passionate, Mary Remmy Njoku was almost an inconspicuous actress in her early days because she felt comfortable in the background and behind the scenes learning the ropes to be an executive and knew it would pay off one day.  From that obscure background, Njoku rose to become the founder and CEO  of the ROK TV Channels.

Through her platforms, UK, DSTV Africa, ROK2, ROK3 and ROKGH in Ghana, she has executive produced over 3000 hours of  ‘family-friendly content and entertainment’. In 2019, ROK studios were acquired by a French company,  Canal+,  but Mary Remmy Njoku is still ROKking the ship as the Managing Director. 

The remarkable achievements of these outstanding Amazons  are widely recognized and serve as a source of inspiration for those aspiring to attain similar success in Nollywood and beyond. The global community eagerly observes and greatly admires the Women Kings of Nollywood.

Jimi D Baldheaded Guy