Nollywood has grown over the years, largely thanks to the stories it now tells and the people crafting the stories. From ideation to world-building and character development, the screenwriters on our list have used their words to shape the Nollywood we see today.
Abdul Tijani-Ahmed
A writer, producer, and actor, Abdul Tijani Ahmed has made his mark on the Nollywood film industry. With projects like “Brotherhood”, “There is Something Wrong with the Bamideles”, and “Ricordi”, each taking a different shape from the last, it remains evident that Abdul Tijani Ahmed refuses to be placed in a box. He explores varying themes and genres while still ensuring the stories he tells are authentically Nigerian.
Dami Elebe
Head writer for the first Netflix young adult Nigerian series and the queen of web series, Damilola Elebe effortlessly carries Nollywood on her back. Time and time again, she has crafted stories and pulled us into fictional worlds that have us yearning for more. But series aren’t all she does. In 2018, she worked on two feature-length films, “Up North” (story development) and “From Lagos with Love” (screenwriter).
Fatimah Binta Gimsay
A TV producer, director, and screenwriter, Fatimah tells stories that are uniquely Nigerian. She’s recently released her first feature-length film, “Alli Eid Dinner”. She has created and developed popular TV series like Ndani TV’s “Game On”, “MTV Shuga 5” the 260-episode series “Covenant”, and most recently, African Magic’s “Slum King”.
Ifeanyi Barbara Chidi
If you’ve watched “Ajoche”, “Riona”, “Unbroken”, “Battleground: The Final Showdown”, and “Jemeji”, then best believe you’re already familiar with Ifeanyi Barbara Chidi’s work. With responsibility for over 50,000 minutes of TV under her belt, she is a force to be reckoned with in the industry.
Ifeanyi is a writer, director, and producer who’s served as a juror for the British Fantasy Awards in the Film and Television Category. She is also the creator of Showmax’s first Nigerian Original Drama series: “Diiche” – which premiered in September 2022.
Emmanuel ‘Mannie’ Oiseomaye
The 2022 AMVCA winner for Best Writer, Emmanuel Oiseomay,e is a talented writer with a flair for drama. He’s worked on projects like, “Reach”, “A Simple Lie”, Unscripted” and Enioluwa Adeoluwa produced, “All of Us” .
Toluwani Obayan Osibe
Winner of the 2020 Best of Nollywood Award for Best Screenplay, Toluwani Obayan strives to tell gripping stories with relatable, heart-wrenching characters. She’s known for films like “This Lady Called Life”, “Ponzi” and “Something Like Gold”.
Bunmi Ajakaiye
Bunmi Ajakaiye is the current PRO of the Screenwriters Guild of Nigeria. She’s also worked on the 2023 record-breaking film, “The Black Book”, the YouTube film that had everyone talking, “Selina”, “Sugar Rush” and “Progressive Tailor’s Club”, to name a few.
