The British Council has officially pivoted to the next high-stakes phase of its Film Lab Africa accelerator, unveiling a cohort of 65 creative producers tapped to transform Nigeria’s burgeoning screen sector into a globally competitive powerhouse.
The announcement, led by Harry Kesiena, Programme Lead at British Council Nigeria, signals a strategic shift from ideation to hard-line production. The initiative, a vertical under the Council’s Creative Growth programme, is designed to bridge the gap between raw narrative talent and commercial viability in a market increasingly hungry for premium African content.
The Selected Producers: The New Vanguard
In an industry where “strong scripts need strong producers,” the programme has selected the following innovators to lead the charge:
- Group 1: Nimi Adekanmbi, ‘Tunji Enahoro, Abdulbasid Musa, Ade Oyeyipo, Adinoyi Godwin Omadibi, Ajala Isaac, Albrin Junior, Allen Agozie, Amarachi Williams E. and Amelia Oneh.
- Group 2: Aniefiok Essien Ufot-ekpo, Fumnanya Ochei, Tomie Ajiboye, Bis Oseni, Cheyi Okoaye, Chimezie Imo, Chinyere Ohuonu, David Oyedokun, Enobong Omon and Eric Nwanso.
- Group 3: Oluranti Femi-Oyekola, Arogundade Oluwayanmife, Omoteniola Israel Oyelumade, Onome Agesse Omo Esiri, Ose Casely, Phebe Tosan Atsemude, Precious Harry, Precious Iroagalachi, Precious Okpala and Sherif Olorunrinu Adekunle.
- Group 4: Solomon Ojochegbe Shaibu, Sonia John, Stephen Olushola Benjamin, Taiwo Ogunde, Tola Falonipe, Uchenna Ugwu, Ugochi Sonia Nwosu, Umar Gombe, Victoria Ene Okere and Vincent Egbe Ir.
- Group 5: Godwill Odilu, Ife Akinmoyo, Igboasia Chisom Lucy, Iyke Osoka, Joel Samuel Edeh, Mariya Bagudo (FL), Nanbam Jeltu, Nkeoma Umudu, Oguguah Denzel Ugochukwu and Olayemi Oshodi.
- Group 6: Zainab Baba Aliyu, Abubakar Sani Muhammad, Adetayo Adebowale, Damilola Kehinde, Emmanuel Izuoba, Ethel Neboh, Etta JoMaria, Ibukun Agboola, Imarhia Asemota and Lilian Orakwue.
- Group 7: Nixon Ayuba Wayas, Nosa Isibor, Ogochukwu Umeadi, Ojewale Ojediran and Ronald Yusuff.
“The focus is not only on talent, but on how writers and producers work together to move ideas into structured development and toward production,” stated Harry Kesiena.
The programme operates as a rigorous business incubator. Over the coming months, these producers will undergo a structured curriculum aimed at strengthening storytelling mechanics, production systems and project delivery.
In a direct attempt to professionalize the sector, they will work in tandem with scriptwriters to shape ideas into viable projects that are prepared for the realities of production.
Market Context and Figures
Nigeria’s film industry, popularly known as Nollywood, is a critical economic engine. According to recent industry trends, the sector contributes significantly to the national GDP, yet often faces hurdles in global distribution and technical scalability. Film Lab Africa Phase 2 addresses these bottlenecks through:
- National Reach: Coverage across all 36 states of Nigeria.
- Inclusivity: Specific mandates for inclusive access for persons with disabilities.
- Institutional Support: Delivery partners include EbonyLife Media, Iconic Steps and Elevating Content.
The programme is more than an educational workshop, it is a market-linking mechanism. By providing intensive labs, mentorship, and industry showcases, the British Council aims to build sustainable careers and help Nigerian storytellers engage global audiences.
“This collaboration is central to the programme,” Kesiena noted. “Strong scripts need strong producers. Strong producers need strong stories. This is how projects move forward and how a more connected, capable screen sector is built”.
As Phase 2 commences, the global film market currently seeing a surge in West African “Afrobeats-to-Screen” narratives, will be watching these 65 names closely. They represent the business infrastructure behind the next generation of African cinematic exports.
