NIFS 2026 | Lagos Agenda | Aug 25

Ijeoma Onah

Founder, NIFS

Ijeoma Onah is a distinguished Film and TV industry executive with over 15 years of experience in aggregation, acquisitions, and distribution of local and international Film and TV programming across various platforms and territories. She has pioneered significant inroads for the African TV and Film industry by fostering international confidence in Africa as an emerging market. Her efforts in organizing professional B2B events in Africa, Europe, and North America have enhanced African participation at global events, driving business and revenue through rights licensing. She has been instrumental in mobilizing Nigeria’s Film and TV industry for major international markets, enabling producers, distributors, and broadcasters to gain critical experience and exposure. She bridges gaps locally and globally, offering guidance and advisory roles in the Film and TV business. With an extensive international network spanning Nigeria, Anglophone and Francophone sub-Saharan Africa, and beyond, she is a sought-after conference speaker and moderator, renowned for her deep industry expertise.

As the Founder of the Nigerian International Film Summit (NIFS) and Nigerian International TV Summit (NITV), She hosts annual B2B networking events in Paris, Los Angeles (at American Film Market), Lagos, London (at London Film Festival), Cannes (at Cannes Film Festival), and Toronto (at Toronto International Film Festival). These summits facilitate engaging discussions within Nigeria’s Film and TV ecosystem.

She served as Director of Content Partnerships and Strategy for Nigeria’s startup streaming services and later as CEO and Chief Content Officer of SuperTV, a Nigerian tech startup offering video-on-demand streaming with innovative zero-data technology on the MTN Network, until 2023. That year, she was appointed Vice-President of Creative and Cultural Industries at the Canadians Council on Africa. Currently, she is the Programs Director of the Africa Hub at the Toronto International Film Festival and a board member of the School of Media and Communications at Pan-Atlantic University (PAU) in Lagos.

Lawrence Akande

Head of Department of Film and Multimedia Studies, School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos

Lawrence Akande is the Acting HOD of Film and Multimedia, School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University, and the Festival Director of Pan-Atlantic University International Student Film Festival. He is a filmmaker and scholar of over ten years of experience, and a member of the Africa Movie Academy Award (AMAA) College of Screeners. Lawrence has worked on some films and TV commercials, such as Final Battle, Guilty or Not Guilty, Karma, Hainan Airlines commercial, and many others.

LordFrank

Actor | Voice Artist | Creative Entrepreneur

LordFrank is an actor, voice artist, and creative entrepreneur championing innovation in African entertainment. He leads DIDACTIK, a new platform redefining content distribution and monetization.

Irabor Okosun

Writer, Critic & Media Analyst

Irabor Okosun is a writer and critic whose work spans film analysis, media literacy, and industry commentary. He is known for thoughtful examinations of Nollywood’s storytelling patterns, audience expectations, and structural challenges.

Oris Aigbokhaevbolo

Award‑Winning Film & Music Critic

Oris Aigbokhaevbolo is one of Africa’s most influential critics, recognized for his award‑winning writing across film, music, and culture. His work appears in major international publications, and he is known for rigorous critique, ethical commentary, and deep knowledge of African cinema’s global trajectory.

Dami Dawson

Film Critic & Cultural Commentator

Dami Dawson is a respected Nigerian film critic whose work explores the intersections of cinema, culture, and audience reception. Known for sharp analysis and accessible commentary, Dawson has become a prominent voice in shaping critical discourse around Nollywood’s evolution.

Funmi Onuma

Film & Entertainment Thought Leader; Former GM, Silverbird Cinemas

Dr. Shaibu Husseini

Chief Executive Officer National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB

AA Presley

Media Personality

Blessing Ogbe

Film Distribution Manager, Nile Distribution

Pastor Emmanuel Iren

Founder, Narrative Entertainment | Lead Pastor, Celebration Church International

Emmanuel Iren is a filmmaker, creative director and executive producer committed to using storytelling to shape culture, challenge perspectives and spark meaningful conversations. He is the founder and creative force behind Narrative Entertainment, a film company focused on telling compelling, socially resonant stories that combine emotional depth with strong cultural themes. Through Narrative, he has led the development and production of projects including What About Us and Meltdown, exploring themes ranging from relationships and family to trauma, identity, healing and the complexities of the human experience. For Emmanuel Iren, filmmaking is more than entertainment; it is a means of influencing how people see themselves, their communities and the world around them. His work reflects a growing commitment to building stories from Africa that can travel globally while retaining their cultural and emotional authenticity. Beyond film, Emmanuel Iren is an author, songwriter and the Lead Pastor of Celebration Church International, a global Christian ministry. Across these different expressions, his work is united by a central conviction: **stories and ideas have the power to shape people, culture and generations.

Bisola Badejo

Head of Operations & Production, Narrative Entertainment

Bisola Badejo is a producer, business leader and the Head of Operations and Production at Narrative Entertainment, where she works at the intersection of storytelling, strategy and execution.
She has helped drive Narrative’s growth from individual film projects into a broader creative platform, overseeing production operations, partnerships and the systems required to take stories from vision to screen. Her work includes serving as a producer on Narrative projects and as an Associate Producer on Meltdown.
Beyond film, Bisola is the Chief Executive Officer of Celebration Church International, where she oversees the operations of a rapidly growing global organisation.
Her work is driven by a particular interest in building structures that allow vision and creativity to scale—connecting storytellers with the people, resources and systems required to bring important stories to life.

Joke Silva, MFR

Co-Founder, Lufodo Group

Joke Silva, MFR, is a prominent Nigerian actor and entertainment industry pioneer with a career spanning over four decades across theatre, film, television, and radio. She trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Arts in London and holds an English degree from the University of Lagos. A highly decorated artist, she has won five Africa Movie Academy Awards, a Silverbird Man of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award, and is a TAFTA recipient. Alongside her husband, Olu Jacobs, she co-founded the Lufodo Group, which manages production, arts education, and Glover Memorial Hall. Silva is also a dedicated advocate for social justice, women's empowerment, and human rights, serving as the president and founder of the Forum for Women in Film and TV and executive producing the project Mothers of Chibok.

Yolanda Ncokotwana

Head of Industry Development, National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF)

Yolanda Ncokotwana is a film and television executive whose career spans industry development, executive production, and strategic leadership. She began in broadcasting, rising from the production floor to Commissioning Editor at SABC Sport, before joining the NFVF in 2016. Since 2020, she has led the organisation's Industry Development mandate, driving its co-financing and co-production strategy, spearheading the Netherlands/South Africa co-development fund, and establishing the NFVF/Netflix co-production initiative, opening sustained global market access for African producers. As Executive Producer, she has backed titles including the Netflix slate Seriously Singles, Inkabi, Real Estate Sisters, and Prime. She represents South Africa at leading international co-production forums including Cannes, the Berlinale, and Annecy, positioning the country as a serious financing and production partner across the continent and globally. She also founded the NFVF Speed Dating initiative at DFM, growing it from 12 to over 55 international funders, broadcasters, and co-producers. Currently pursuing an MBA at GIBS, Yolanda combines deep industry knowledge with executive financial acumen to connect African stories to global capital.

Funmi Onuma

Film & Entertainment Thought Leader; Former GM, Silverbird Cinemas

Godwin Nzekwe

Founder & Creative Director, Prime Drive Studios

Godwin Nzekwe is a seasoned film and TV producer and director with extensive experience in the industry. As the founder of Prime Drive Studios, he recently produced the acclaimed short film Testimony Time, which has earned multiple nominations at various film festivals. Godwin is one of the screeners at the prestigious Ibadan Film Festival and is dedicated to creating impactful and inspiring content.

Biodun Stephen

Founder of Shutterspeed Project

Biodun Stephen is an award winning Nigerian filmmaker, writer, producer and the founder of Shutterspeed Projects, a film and media production company. She studied Philosophy at Obafemi Awolowo University before training in Film Production at the London Academy for Film, Radio and TV. Her filmmaking journey began with The Visit, which earned an AMVCA nomination for Best Movie – West Africa. Over the years, Biodun has written, produced and directed numerous films and series, including Picture Perfect, Breaded Life, Introducing the Kujus, Sista, Jọba and Wildflower. Her work is recognised for its heartfelt, character-driven storytelling, often drawing from personal experiences and the complexities of everyday life. With a career spanning film, television and digital storytelling, Biodun Stephen has established herself as one of Nollywood’s distinctive voices, using storytelling to entertain, inspire and explore the human experience.

Adetutu Laditan

CEO, Woof Studios

Tolu "Toolz" Demuren

Filmmaker & Cohost, Off Air with Gbemi & Toolz

Toolz Oniru-Demuren is an award-winning Nigerian media personality, broadcaster, producer and filmmaker whose career spans nearly two decades across radio, television and digital media. She began her career in 2005 at MTV Networks Europe in London before relocating to Lagos in 2009 to pursue broadcasting. She soon became the host of The Midday Show with Toolz on The Beat 99.9FM, one of Nigeria's highest-rated radio programmes, reaching over one million listeners weekly. Her success led to her becoming the first female Group Programme Director in Nigerian radio, overseeing Beat FM stations across Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Ibadan. Beyond radio, Toolz has hosted major television productions including Glo X-Factor West Africa and The Juice (Ndani TV), and in 2019 co-created and executive produced the AMVCA-nominated visual talk show and podcast Off Air with Gbemi & Toolz. She also introduced the Rookie of the Year category at The Headies Awards, wrote the popular Toolz' Thoughts column for BellaNaija, served as a ONE Campaign Ambassador, and hosted Afrobeats News on Capital Xtra UK. Today, Toolz is expanding her storytelling into film. She recently completed production on her directorial debut feature, In The Aftermath, a multi-perspective drama exploring grief, betrayal and impossible choices. The film marks the beginning of Toolzworks Media's slate of emotionally honest, character-driven stories with global resonance.

Brenda Fashugba

Founder and Convener of Women in the Arts (WIA) and Co-Founder of Lagos Fringe

Brenda Fashugba is a cultural strategist, producer and creative economy leader with over 15 years of experience shaping Africa’s creative and cultural landscape. She is the Founder and Convener of Women in the Arts (WIA) and Co-Founder of Lagos Fringe. Brenda was the pioneering producer of the Lagos Theatre Festival, helping grow it over five years into one of West Africa’s largest outdoor theatre festivals. She also spent over a decade as Resident Producer at PAWSTUDIOS Africa, producing over 150 theatre productions. She later served as Head of Arts, Nigeria and Regional Lead, Creative Economy, Sub-Saharan Africa at the British Council, leading initiatives that supported emerging creative entrepreneurs, strengthened industry ecosystems and fostered international partnerships across the region. In 2018, she was recognised as an Obama Foundation Africa Leader for her advocacy and work advancing opportunities for women and young creatives. Through WIA and her wider industry work, Brenda continues to champion inclusion, representation and sustainable growth across Africa’s creative economy.

Kene Mkparu

CEO Komworld Cinema

Kene Mkparu is the CEO of Komworld Cinemas and a respected film entrepreneur known for his leadership in cinema operations, film distribution, and market expansion across Africa.

Kene Mkparu

CEO Komworld Cinema

Kene Mkparu is the CEO of Komworld Cinemas and a respected film entrepreneur known for his leadership in cinema operations, film distribution, and market expansion across Africa.

Funmi Onuma

Film & Entertainment Thought Leader; Former GM, Silverbird Cinemas

Juliet Ibrahim

Actress , Filmmaker & President WIFT Ghana

Juliet Ibrahim is a bilingual celebrated actress, producer, director, humanitarian, and author known for her contributions to African cinema. Growing up in various West African countries, she was exposed to multiple cultures and languages. She debuted in the film industry in 2005 with "Crime to Christ," and gained fame with "Yankee Boys," leading to a successful career in Nollywood. She founded Juliet Ibrahim Studios, producing acclaimed films like "Number One Fan" and "Shattered Romance." Juliet is also known for her philanthropy, focusing on kidney disease awareness, education, and women’s empowerment. In 2018, she published her memoir, "A Toast to Life." Her multifaceted career and dedication to societal impact have earned her widespread respect and admiration.

Opeyemi Ajayi

CEO Cinemax

Ope Ajayi is a film distributor and producer who believes in telling relatable, thrilling and melodramatic African stories to a local and global audience. 

Ope has over 20 years' experience in business, finance, exhibition, distribution and production and He is also the Founder & CEO of Cinemax Entertainment, a leading distribution & production company in Nigeria.

Ijeoma Onah

Founder, NIFS

Ijeoma Onah is the Founder of NIFS, a leading platform for industry dialogue and market development. She drives strategic conversations that strengthen Africa’s film business ecosystem.

Biodun Stephen

Founder of Shutterspeed Project

Biodun Stephen is an award winning Nigerian filmmaker, writer, producer and the founder of Shutterspeed Projects, a film and media production company. She studied Philosophy at Obafemi Awolowo University before training in Film Production at the London Academy for Film, Radio and TV. Her filmmaking journey began with The Visit, which earned an AMVCA nomination for Best Movie – West Africa. Over the years, Biodun has written, produced and directed numerous films and series, including Picture Perfect, Breaded Life, Introducing the Kujus, Sista, Jọba and Wildflower. Her work is recognised for its heartfelt, character-driven storytelling, often drawing from personal experiences and the complexities of everyday life. With a career spanning film, television and digital storytelling, Biodun Stephen has established herself as one of Nollywood’s distinctive voices, using storytelling to entertain, inspire and explore the human experience.

Brenda Fashugba

Founder and Convener of Women in the Arts (WIA) and Co-Founder of Lagos Fringe

Brenda Fashugba is a cultural strategist, producer and creative economy leader with over 15 years of experience shaping Africa’s creative and cultural landscape. She is the Founder and Convener of Women in the Arts (WIA) and Co-Founder of Lagos Fringe. Brenda was the pioneering producer of the Lagos Theatre Festival, helping grow it over five years into one of West Africa’s largest outdoor theatre festivals. She also spent over a decade as Resident Producer at PAWSTUDIOS Africa, producing over 150 theatre productions. She later served as Head of Arts, Nigeria and Regional Lead, Creative Economy, Sub-Saharan Africa at the British Council, leading initiatives that supported emerging creative entrepreneurs, strengthened industry ecosystems and fostered international partnerships across the region. In 2018, she was recognised as an Obama Foundation Africa Leader for her advocacy and work advancing opportunities for women and young creatives. Through WIA and her wider industry work, Brenda continues to champion inclusion, representation and sustainable growth across Africa’s creative economy.

Tolu "Toolz" Demuren

Filmmaker & Cohost, Off Air with Gbemi & Toolz

Toolz Oniru-Demuren is an award-winning Nigerian media personality, broadcaster, producer and filmmaker whose career spans nearly two decades across radio, television and digital media. She began her career in 2005 at MTV Networks Europe in London before relocating to Lagos in 2009 to pursue broadcasting. She soon became the host of The Midday Show with Toolz on The Beat 99.9FM, one of Nigeria's highest-rated radio programmes, reaching over one million listeners weekly. Her success led to her becoming the first female Group Programme Director in Nigerian radio, overseeing Beat FM stations across Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Ibadan. Beyond radio, Toolz has hosted major television productions including Glo X-Factor West Africa and The Juice (Ndani TV), and in 2019 co-created and executive produced the AMVCA-nominated visual talk show and podcast Off Air with Gbemi & Toolz. She also introduced the Rookie of the Year category at The Headies Awards, wrote the popular Toolz' Thoughts column for BellaNaija, served as a ONE Campaign Ambassador, and hosted Afrobeats News on Capital Xtra UK. Today, Toolz is expanding her storytelling into film. She recently completed production on her directorial debut feature, In The Aftermath, a multi-perspective drama exploring grief, betrayal and impossible choices. The film marks the beginning of Toolzworks Media's slate of emotionally honest, character-driven stories with global resonance.

Blessing Jessica Obasi-Nze

Actor & CEO, Desperanza Studio

Jessica Obassi is a Nigerian actress, filmmaker and creative professional whose work reflects a passion for storytelling and the Nigerian film industry. With experience in front of and behind the camera, she has built a career grounded in performance, creativity and a commitment to compelling African stories. Jessica has appeared in Nigerian film productions, including Clueless, and continues to explore opportunities within the evolving Nollywood landscape. Her work as a creative extends beyond performance, reflecting an interest in the wider process of filmmaking and the power of screen stories to connect audiences and shape conversations. Known for her understated presence and dedication to her craft, Jessica brings a thoughtful perspective to the Nigerian creative industry. Through her work and creative journey, Jessica Obassi represents the growing generation of Nigerian creatives contributing to the development and visibility of African stories on screen.

ChinneyLove Eze

Director & CEO, ChinneyLove EzeTV

Chineylove Eze is a Nigerian filmmaker, actress and producer whose work spans storytelling, film production and the creative industries. She is best known for producing films including Hire A Woman and Devil in Agbada, the latter featuring Erica Nlewedim, Efe Irele and Linda Osifo. Recognised by Showmax among women making significant contributions to Nollywood, Chineylove has built a career focused on creating engaging stories and championing diverse talent within the Nigerian film industry.