KEY POINTS

• Meet the game-changers transforming Nigerian media and entertainment in 2024.
• Innovative storytelling and digital strategies showcase Nigerian creativity worldwide.
• From film to music, these talents redefine global entertainment standards.

The entertainment industry in Nigeria is imbued with a very high level of creativity. A new generation of entrepreneurs is revolutionizing storytelling, music, cinema, and digital content creation as the industry continues to expand in 2024.

These pioneers are proving people wrong by employing cutting-edge technology and hooking the audience with engaging stories as they take on the industry’s future direction.

1. Funke Akindele

Funke Akindele was born on August 24, 1977, in Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria. She obtained her first degree in Law at the University of Lagos, however the lure of storytelling have had her placed in the theatre for decades. Her success story started with I Need to Know, a program she hosted as a sitcom from 1998 to 2002 under the sponsorship of the United Nations.

She rose to prominence after creating the character Jenifa, and a television series named Jenifa’s Diary. This has formed a solid part of her work since 2015 when the show started being aired across the country.

With about 636 million naira, her 2020 movie Omo Ghetto: The Saga grossed the highest amount of ticket sales in Nigeria’s cinema. Not only has her movies, Your Excellency (2019) and Moms at War demonstrated the ability of a woman to simultaneously play the role of the actress and producer, same has been proven with her other hits.

Funke’s production company, Scene One Productions, has slowly changed the way stories are told in Nollywood by making movies, TV shows, music, and content for the internet that appeal to a wide range of people. 

One of her most well-known projects is She Must Be Obeyed, a highly acclaimed new sitcom that is available on Amazon Prime. Her movie, Omo Ghetto: The Saga, got her two outstanding awards which includes Best Actress in Comedy and Best Movie in West Africa.

In 2023, Forbes named her one of Africa’s 30 Under 50. She also won the 2024 Excellence in Media Award for her outstanding media skills and ability to tell captivating African stories.

2. MO ABUDU

Born on September 11, 1964, in London, United Kingdom, Mo Abudu is a producer, television host and philanthropist and sometimes referred to as the “Oprah of Africa.

Her background in media and entertainment began after a successful career in the oil and gas industry as well as human resources. It was an urge to rewrite the African story and tell it as it is that led Mo Abudu, a Master of Human Resource Management from University of Westminster to take the brave step into the media.

With the inception of EbonyLife TV in 2013, the first global black entertainment and lifestyle network in Africa, Mo Abudu’s influence started blooming. Under Mo’s guidance, EbonyLife has created innovative initiatives, including Moments with Mo, Africa’s first syndicated daily chat show, which has been compared to Oprah Winfrey Show.

The film triumphs Mo Abudu has produced and executive-produced include The Wedding Party series (2016, 2017), which set Nigerian box office records, and Fifty (2015).

In 2020, through an innovative partnership with Netflix, Mo set a historic record when EbonyLife Media became the first African production company to acquire a multi-title arrangement with the streaming juggernaut. 

In 2024, she helped to bring to screen the great playwright Wole Soyinka’s Death and the King’s Horseman, which is now streaming on Netflix and being widely applauded. 

Apart from her contributions to movies and TV, Mo Abudu has expanded her influence on the growth of talent. She oversaw the founding of the EbonyLife Creative Academy, in partnership with the Lagos State Government in 2024. 

Mo Abudu ranked on The Hollywood Reporter’s list of the “Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Global Television” and Forbes Africa’s “Most Powerful Women in Africa.” These honours stress her impact on global media and her innovative contributions to African film.

3. Dami Adenuga 

The passion and the rigidity of work put in her by Nigerian well-known media strategist, talent manager, and entrepreneur, Dami Adenuga have altered the entertainment industry of the nation in terms of creativity. With media strategy, public relation, and talent management to triumph over a fiercely competitive industry, the chief executive officer of DAW Empire Limited has equally boosted the opportunities of many Nigerian artistes.

From 2012 Adenuga venture into the entertainment business with the zeal to learn about media ethic and the emerging new world of digital media. In the year 2014 the growth in his career was quite noticeable when he took up the position of the PR Manager for the pop artiste, D’banj.

Adenuga planned courses of action and leadership helped have largely enhanced his control in the entertainment industry in 2024. A leading promoter of Africa’s music and culture DAW Empire particularly through the Afrobeats music festival program has attracted much commendation and attention.

As the Head of Media and Communications for the Kogi State Social Investment Program Agency, Adenuga has shown his capacity to use media expertise outside of the entertainment sector to support government initiatives.

Adenuga has been honoured at various occasions and this is irrefutable evidence of his input. He was awarded Entertainment personality of the year during maya awards 2018, and in 2020 

Asides working in his career, Adenuga is also very passionate in mentoring young minds and motivation in the entertainment business. More, proving his skills for captivating an audience and expanding Nigerian entertainment industry outreach, he has actively participated in planning countless large events that would gather thousands of people.

4. Marilyn Oma Anona-Usobunandu

By her relentless commitment to value-oriented content and human capacity building, Marilyn Oma Anona-Usobunandu, sometimes known as OMA, has fundamentally changed Nigeria’s media and entertainment industry in 2024.

Having a scientific background, OMA moved to media and communications and became known as a flexible professional—television host, writer, public speaker, social entrepreneur. OMALIVivingSHOW LIMITED, a media and social venture aiming on addressing social concerns and empowering Nigerian youth, is its founder.

With the OMALIVATINGSHOW UNSUNG HEROES AWARD AND ENTreprENEurship CONFERENCE, OMA advanced notably in 2024. November 16, 2024 saw the seventh iteration of this event held at Destination by Gidanka in Abuja. This platform honors those who help society grow and provides young Nigerians with entrepreneurship training so fostering a culture of excellence and creativity.

With the goal of inspiring and helping aspirational young Nigerians to realize their dreams, the Face of OMA Living Show 2024 empowerment contest offered a star award of one million Naira. This project shows OMA’s will to reduce unemployment and poverty by encouraging young people to be self-sufficient and to develop their talents.

The efforts of OMA have been much praised. With 17 honors now, she acknowledges her social impact and dedication to media quality. Her influence and reach have been highlighted by some  of her works been featured in several newspapers in Nigeria, BBC, as well as other international media.

Besides journalism, she works as Group Head of Communications, Journalism and Public Relations in GIDANKA (Smart Residences) in Abuja, which underlines her multiple versatility.

Her speech during the 7th edition of the OMALIVATINGSHOW UNSUNG HEROES AWARD AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP CONFERENCE 2024 highlight a deep awareness of OMA’s influence.

5. Edgar Eriakha (Check Edgar)

Edgar demonstrates flexibility in acting, scriptwriting, voice-over performance, and comedy. He attained notoriety through his inventive phone call pranks, utilizing social media sites, especially Instagram, to display his content. 

His distinctive capacity to modulate his voice has become a cornerstone of his brand, giving him the epithet “The Voice of God.” A notable breakthrough occurred in 2020 when his prank including two vocal personalities went viral, garnering over 25,000 followers within one day.

In 2024, Edgar broadened his artistic portfolio by initiating the podcast “Why Am I Still Single?” This series explores issues of love, relationships, and the intricacies of Nigerian culture, profoundly engaging with millennial and Gen Z audiences. The podcast’s success has cemented Edgar’s status as a storyteller and a significant figure in modern Nigerian media.

In addition to digital content, Edgar’s entrepreneurial drive resulted in the development of “CheckOut—The Ultimate Daring Game,” an interactive card game intended to enhance social events. This foray into gaming highlights his dedication to expanding entertainment platforms and improving audience interaction.

Edgar’s contributions have been acknowledged. His satirical blog series, comprising “1000 Ways to Make Money in Nigeria” and “In Other News,” has received extensive recognition for its perceptive analysis of Nigerian life. Moreover, his partnerships with prominent Nigerian comedians like Broda Shaggi and Officer Wos have significantly enhanced his impact in the entertainment sector.

Edgar has been acknowledged in multiple Nigerian media channels for his influence in transforming digital entertainment. He boasts of over 700 subscribers on his YouTube page.

6. Obi Asika

Obi Asika was born on the 3rd of October 1968 in Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria. He has devoted most of his time in nurturing the Nigerian media and entertainment industry. Obi studied Law from the Warwick University from 1987- 1990.

He returned to Nigeria in the mid 1990s and began Storm 360, an indigenous music firm that boosted the Nigerian music business. Storm 360, under his stewardship began discovering and nurturing a host of talented artistes that later helped place Afrobeats on the global stage, these include Naeto C, Ikechukwu, Sasha P, General Pype and Yung6ix.

Beside music, Asika co-founded Dragon Africa–a strategic communications agency that has its operating base in London, Lagos and Accra.

Asika was appointed by the President elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu in January 2024 as the Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC). 

As a director, producer, and performer Askia has been able to propagate Nigeria’s rich cultural values at group and international shows. He was also significantly involved in the planning of 36th National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) at Abuja.

The NCAC under the direction and supervision of the Asika sponsored the 17th International Arts and Crafts (INAC) Expo, for its Networking Nigerian Crafts to the World programme, which provided artists with the opportunities of meeting buyers from other countries and other arts specialists. 

7. Tola Akinrele 

Through sound strategies and effective innovations, the interiors and cultural magnate, Tola Akerele, has reformed Nigeria’s media and entertainment sector. For over two decades, Akerele’s work depicts a good balance of modernistic feel integrated with arts and culture of Africa.

Bogobiri House, an Afrocentric hotel, co-founded by the artist in Lagos is an example of her desire to develop more African art.

She also founded iDesign Art, an Internet resource created for consumers to find affordable but beautiful artwork for homes while promoting newly emerging designers and artists.

Akerele was appointed the Director-General of the National Theatre which is Nigeria’s premier cultural organization in January 2024. Due to her wide knowledge of the organization and dedication to arts, she was welcomed enthusiastically for her position. She has greatly revived the National Theatre by presenting several programmes documenting Nigeria’s cultural history. An example is the program themed “Rebranding Boundless Opportunities: Festival of Unity” It was a huge event aimed at joining the nation together by its culture.

The input that Akerele has provided has earned her many accolades. As the vice president of the Interior Designers Association of Nigeria (IDAN), her strategic input has immensely assisted the company grow rapidly. Her interior design specialty involves the design for the 48th anniversary of the National Theatre in 2024.

Through Akerele’s influence, the institution was able to pay homage to its glorious history and highlight its contribution to the growth of Nigerian art and culture.

The public and stakeholders in particular have recognized her leadership in charting the National Theatre to new corridors of achievement.

8. Ali Nuhu

A native of Maidugiri, Borno State, Nigeria, Ali Nuhu Mohammed arrived into the world on March 15, 1974, and has remained a force to reckon with in Nigerian’s Kannywood, the movies produced with Hausa language. Nuhu began his movie acting in 1999 and has received much acclaim for his versatility, and versatility in acting both English and Hausa films.

Audiences noted his thrilling deeds in movies like “Sitanda”(2006) and “Mansoor”(2017), and become mad about him as a Nollywood and Kannywood monarch. He has also diversified his experience to directing, producing, script writing and choreographing and he assisted the production of 500 movies.

In January 2024, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recommended Nuhu to be the Managing Director of Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC). In this capacity, he has been significant in creating and implementing regulations to improve the Nigerian film sector. 

Under his direction, the 14th Zuma Film Festival (ZUFF) was held in Abuja as a venue to promote the Nigerian creative economy and cultural values. More than 3,120 films were entered for the festival, proving the vibrant and dynamic core of Nollywood.

Over his career, Nuhu has won several awards and honors. His dedication to promote Nigerian culture through movies has enthralled viewers and established Nollywood as a major player on the scene.

Nuhu is known for his commitment to family given his career successes. Ali Nuhu constantly changes the Nigerian media and entertainment scene in his several roles as actor, director, and currently Managing Director of the NFC, therefore fostering development, creativity, and industry pride.

Visit Ali Nuhu’s official YouTube channel to have a better understanding of his work and achievements.

9. Sam Onyemelukwe

Having earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Southern California, his career started at The Walt Disney Company in Burbank, California. He returned to Africa in 2009 and joined MTV Networks at Viacom Media in Nigeria as the Business Development Manager, where he oversaw campaigns for well-known clients including LG, Coca-Cola, and Cadbury.

Onyemelukwe became a market leader in West Africa when he acquired a master license for Trace TV across the continent in 2011. On DSTV, he started well-known TV shows such as Trace Naija, Trace Jama, and Trace Gospel, as well as STV Music on Startimes, therefore strengthening Afro-urban culture all throughout the continent.

Promoted to Senior Vice President of Global Business Development for Trace in 2022, Onyemelukwe has been instrumental in increasing Trace’s global footprint. Through Afro-urban influences, his work includes connecting businesses, organizations, and development groups with young African audiences to teach, entertain, and empower.

Onyemelukwe’s skills were crucial in helping to plan the first Trace Awards & Festival in Kigali, Rwanda, in 2024 This event honored African and Afro-inspired singers, producers, businesspeople, and achievers from Africa and the diaspora.

Onyemelukwe has also actively participated in discussions supporting Africa’s creative economy. He highlighted the worldwide influence of African popular culture and the support of African creatives in developing world narratives and trends during the “Africa Breakfast Convos” hosted during the 79th United Nations General Assembly in 2024.

Onyemelukwe has an ideal foundation for his interests in the media and entertainment industries with an MBA and a Master’s in Information Technology from Boston University.

With his creative leadership and commitment to expanding Afro-urban culture, Sam Onyemelukwe—who boasts of more than seven thousand plus followers on Instagram—is changing media and entertainment in Africa, therefore enabling development and innovation.

10. Anthony Ogbama 

Anthony Ogamba, a renowned communication and multimedia professional, was major key player in shaping the Nigerian media and entertainment market in 2024. Ogamba brings to the creative industry knowledge and skills built in public relations, media strategy, and technology.

Anthony Ogamba’s many diverse strategies, his contribution to promoting innovation, his backing of fresh talent, to mention but a few, and his advocacy for combining technology with creative expression have all made an immense impact on Nigeria’s media and entertainment business.

Ogamba was also recognized as the Young Practitioner of the Year during the Media Nite-Out Awards given in 2023. All these awards are a befitting attestation of his commitment towards the perfectly unique career field of public relations and media.

In 2024, Ogamba published a pivotal work entitled “Shaping Tomorrow: The Convergence of Entertainment Technology in Nigeria and Beyond in 2024,” in which he talked about how Nollywood had become digitally active, streaming was taking great strides, how Afrobeat was having a universal effect, and how there was the introduction of artificial intelligence when it came to advertising.