Top 10 Best Movie Directors in Nigeria

No doubt, Nigeria has created some of the best movies in the world in recent times and this has made the country’s entertainment industry become more widely appreciated. From getting features on international magazines/sites to making Netflix originals to featuring international filmmakers, the industry’s works speak for themselves.

These feats are however impossible without the efforts of key personalities in the movie industry. Some of these personalities include the screenwriters, camera operators, production designers, wardrobe managers, and our focus for this article, Directors.

Nollywood is blessed with some of the finest movie directors who are recognized both within and outside Nigeria. They have created high-grossing movies over time and have made a name for themselves among the list of the best movie directors in Nigeria.

A movie director is often mistaken for a movie producer. However, a director guides the cast and crew members in a movie towards the realization of the vision of the film. A producer, on the other hand, comes to the scene before the director and often chooses the director. The director guides the cast and crew based on what the producer has created.

That said, let’s see the top 10 best movie directors in Nigeria at the moment, both new and legendary.

Best Movie Directors in Nigeria

10. Mildred Okwo

Okwo began her career in Nollywood as far back as 2006 with the film, 30 days. The Theatre Arts graduate equally studied Law at the Whittier Law School, Orange County, California, USA.

Mildred’s movies have won a lot of local and international awards. Some of her directorial works include:

• La Femme Anjola (2020)
• Suru L’ere (2016)
• The Meeting (2012)

9. Ishaya Bako

Bako is one of the youngest movie directors in Nigeria. He attended London Film School after bagging his first degree from Covenant University in Nigeria.

The Kaduna-born director scripted and directed the award-winning “Braids on a Bald Head”. He also won the Best Short Film Awards at the 8th Africa Movie Academy Awards.

His movie, “The Royal Hibiscus Hotel” was screened at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival, a great achievement for the Nigerian movie industry. He equally co-wrote the 2018 film, “Lionheart”. 

Some of his other works include the political drama, “4th Republic” and “Road to Yesterday”.

8. Jade Osiberu

Next on our list of Best Movie directors in Nigeria is Jade Osiberu. The Sagamu princess is one out of many Nigerian filmmakers who had no educational background in filmmaking. She studied Computer Systems Engineering at the University of Manchester and worked with her degree for a while.

She took up filmmaking later on, directing the web series, Gidi Up. Her award-winning directorial movies include:

• Sugar Rush
• Isoken

7. Tade Ogidan

Tade Ogidan is known for the award-winning Gold Statue and Dangerous Twins. He founded OGD PICTURES, LTD, a film production company based in Nigeria.

Ogidan and his production team have worked on other Tv projects such as “Behind the Seige”, “Crime Fighters”, The Intern”, “Teju Babyface Show”, and “The Next Titan”.

He has worked with several big names in the industry and is a notable movie director in the Nigerian movie industry.

6. Niyi Akinmolayan

Niyi Akinmolayan is famous for his directorial work on The Wedding Party 2. After Kemi Adetiba’s remarkable work on the initial film, the film producers decided on a change in director for the sequel.

Most of Akinmolayan’s movies are high-grossing and this has established him as one of Nigeria’s finest directors. Although he started out as a graphics designer, he has directed several other works including:

• Falling
• Chief Daddy
• The Setup
• The Arbitration
• Kajola

Niyi is the founder of Anthill studios, a post-production outfit based in Nigeria.

5. Akin Omotosho

Akin Omotosho is a South-African-based Nigerian movie director. He was born and brought up in Nigeria before finally moving to South Africa with his parents.

He studied Speech and Drama at the University of Western Cape and began his journey into the entertainment industry there. Like many of his counterparts, Omotosho started acting before finally venturing into directing.

He started a production company (T.O.M Pictures) along with two others in 2003. He directed the television series Jacob’s Cross on Africa Magic, M-Net, and SABC between 2007 and 2013.

His latest directorial work is Disney’s “Rise”.

4. Funke Akindele

Funke Akindele is one of the most respected filmmakers in the Nigerian movie industry. Before venturing into politics, Funke directed a couple of blockbusters including two cinema releases.

Funke first stepped into the limelight as an actor before trying her hands at producing. As a producer, she has many movies to her name.

The actress-cum-politician is popularly known to have directed two high-grossing cinema releases including “Your Excellency” and “Omo Ghetto the Saga”. 

Top 3 Best Movie Producers in Nigeria

There has to be a top 3 in every top 10 so here you go!

3. Tunde Kelani

Tunde Kelani is the oldest man in the game! The ace movie director is a mentor to many other filmmakers on this list. The 74-year-old filmmaker is known to produce movies that promote Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage.

His works are often educating as much as they are entertaining. Kelani is equally notable for the adaptation of literary materials into movies. Some of his adaptations include “Ko se Gbe”, “Thunder Bolt”, “The Narrow Path”, “Dazzling Mirage”, and “Maami”.

He gathered experience at the London Film Shcool, which led to his prowess in the industry and he has gained respect for his works over the years.

Kelani is known for other works such as the most recent “Ayinla“. 

2. Kemi Adetiba

Kemi Adetiba is known to have directed some of the best movies in Nollywood. The filmmaker whose works have appeared on platforms like Channel O, MTV Base, Sound City TV, BET, and Netflix, is undoubtedly one of the best in the game.

She is responsible for directing movies like The Wedding Party, King of Boys, and King of Boys: The Return of the King. Although she studied Law at the University of Lagos, Adetiba enrolled at the New York Film Academy where she sharpened her filmmaking skills.

Kemi Adetiba is also known for directing music videos for Nigeria’s finest artists including Tiwa Savage. She has bagged numerous awards for her works.

1. Kunle Afolayan

Kunle Afolayan is another legendary movie director known for movies such as Irapada, The Figurine, October 1, Mokalik, and Citation.

He equally took a course at the New York Film Academy before going into full-time filmmaking. The director who has been active since 2005, shuffles producing, Directing, and acting.

Afolayan is the CEO of Golden Effects Pictures, a film and production company based in Nigeria. Many of his movies are currently on Netflix.