Nigerian cinema has always been a mirror of the country itself—full of creativity, innovation, and constantly telling our stories. From early colonial films to Nollywood’s rise in the 1990s and today’s streaming era, the industry hasn’t stopped evolving. Yet, for much of this history, the women shaping these stories are rarely celebrated or recognized enough to show the full impact of the work they do.
But things are changing. As Nollywood grows into one of the world’s biggest film industries today, women are playing a bigger part in its success. More Nigerian women are taking their positions in directing, producing, writing, and leadership roles in the industry. Their work brings new insight to Nollywood; preserving our culture, sharing real human experiences, and showing what Nigerian film can achieve both at home and around the world.
Cinematic Vanguards is Culture Custodian’s International Women’s Day campaign to celebrate and document the women driving this change. From the veterans who laid the foundation for the younger generations, to the film makers and producers who are pushing boundaries of what Nigerian cinema can look like, these women have done more than make films. They are shaping the future of the industry by opening doors, mentoring new talent, and showing that Nigerian stories are richer and more diverse than we know.
Meet the women transforming Nollywood, many ideas, authentic stories, and creative decisions at a time:
Joke Silva
Joke Silva is a key figure in Nigerian cinema, she is recognized for her calm confidence and her strong dedication to storytelling in theatre, film, and television, and helping Nollywood grow over the years. Her work has played a big part in making the industry what it is today.
Silva chose her path in the arts, she studied English at the University of Lagos, and trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London, where she developed the discipline that shaped her acting career. She started in theatre before moving to film, with early roles in Mind Bending, Violated, and Owulorojo. Her performances quickly gained a reputation for her emotional depth and skill.
By the late 1990s, Silva’s work was recognized internationally. In 1998, she appeared with Colin Firth and Nia Long in The Secret Laughter of Women, a British-Canadian film. Still, she stayed dedicated to the Nigerian creative scene. Silva often talks about the need to build the local industry, saying filmmakers should “let home thrive, and when we are needed on the other side, let them come and invite us or we will invite them.”
Silva’s work has earned her many honors. She won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for Women’s Cot in 2006 and Best Actress in a Supporting Role for White Waters in 2008. In 2014, she received the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR), one of Nigeria’s top national awards for her contributions to the arts industry. Joke Silva’s lasting impact comes not only from her acting. She is a mentor, cultural leader, and one of the leading voices whose influence continues to shape Nigerian cinema.
Ladun Awobokun
At the December 17, 2025 Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards, Film One walked away with 9 wins, the biggest sweep of the night; including the much coveted Movie of the Year Award. The woman who oversaw the creative direction, content strategy, and operations that made this possible is none other than Filmone Limited’s Chief Content Officer Ladun Awobokun.
Awobokun’s journey at Filmone began in 2018 as Head of Account (Warner Bros. West Africa) before becoming Head of Distribution (Sales and Operations) a year later. Her efficiency in both roles, including management of studio relations, management and supervision of Nollywood titles, and representing the company at film markets festivals, and industry conferences, saw her become the company’s General Manager in 2023. Her leadership emphasised commitment, with a to-do culture and entrepreneurial spirit that spread across the company.
In this role, she led the successful rollouts of Warner Bros, Disney, and Sony releases. Ladun Awobukun also led FilmOne’s distribution of over 90% of Nigeria’s all-time top-grossing films, including the previous number one, A Tribe Called Judah, and the current number one, Behind The Scenes. She helmed marketing and positioning for other box office hits like Omo Ghetto: The Saga, Coming 2 America , and Wakanda Forever, making her one of the most important figures in the Nigerian film and TV industry and Anglophone West Africa, as a whole.
Kate Henshaw
Not many actors can claim to be iconic from their first Nollywood appearance, but for Kate Henshaw, whose debut came in 1994’s When the Sun Sets, this has been the case. Now, over 100 films and three decades into her career, she remains one of the industry’s most definitive faces, with impact beyond the screen.
Henshaw’s early years began in Lagos and Calabar where she had her primary and secondary education, followed by studies in Medical Microbiology at Lagos University Teaching Hospital. A brief career in medical lab science and modeling soon gave way to acting after her debut.
In 2011, she received the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) for her contributions to cinema. Beyond film, she has been active in advocacy around gender inequality, health awareness, and political participation. In 2014, she contested in the House of Representatives primaries under the People’s Democratic Party and was later appointed Special Advisor by the Cross River State Governor.
She has since supported causes addressing domestic violence, malaria, youth unemployment, and infrastructure, and participated in initiatives like the Lagos Food Bank Walkathon. Kate Henshaw’s career is a template for utilising celebrity status for social impact, while still maintaining a strong presence and evolving on screen.
Omowunmi Dada
As an actor, Omowunmi Dada moves between the possessive energy of Yoruba-language cinema and the polished aesthetics of global streaming platforms. From films, television and animated series including Omugwo, Oloture, Country Hard, Ada Omo Daddy, Jemeji, Tinsel, Married to the Game, Somewhere in the Dark, Sade and others, her transformative performance motivates conversation.
These roles have also attracted awards to her. In 2020, she won Best Actress in a Leading Role at the Best of Nollywood Awards. Two years later, she earned Best Supporting Actress at the AMVCAs for her role in Country Hard. In 2023, she was named a Global Artist in Residence at the University of Michigan, where she collaborated with the African Studies Centre and the Department of Afro-American and African Studies.
A vanguard of contemporary African cinema, Omowunmi Dada remains a leading figure whose career is defined by excellence, intention, and a commitment to global storytelling. Her impressive track record and versatility continue to captivate audiences and inspire fans with her talent and dedication to her craft.
Gbebumi Ejeye
Gbubemi Ejeye’s journey into Nollywood is a familiar story. Born Oritsegbubemi Temitope Ejeye, she studied and completed a law degree at Houdegbe North American University in 2015 to honour her father’s wishes. Pursuing a career in a gig-based and unpredictable industry in Nigeria, is enough discouragement. But, Ejeye completed the degree and returned to Nigeria to pursue her dream.
After completing NYSC, she worked with Lala Akindoju on Smart Money Woman 1, as an intern. Under Bunmi Ajakaiye’s guidance, she was introduced to Zulumoke Oyibo, one of the co-owner of Inkblot. Passionate Ejeye expressed her interest in acting but there were no available roles. But, her push and drive encouraged Ajakaiye to employ her as an admin staff. That employment signaled the beginning for the actress.
In 2018, she had her stage debut with Color Me Pink at Terra Kulture, a play centered on breast cancer awareness. This stage debut provided her with the opportunity to transition into the Nigerian film industry, Nollywood. She made her film debut in Rickety in 2019 and has since featured in standout Nollywood projects. In 2022, she played the role of Eniola in the second season of the Ndani TV web series Game On. Ejeye also gained recognition for her role as Adufe in the Netflix Original series Far From Home.
In 2023, she was announced as part of the cast for MTV Shuga Naija Season 5. In 2024, she starred in Farmer’s Bride as one of the main casts alongside Tobi Bakre, Femi Branch, Mercy Aigbe and others. Ejeye belongs to the generation of contemporary Nigerian actors who are pursuing their film-related dreams and wearing the garments of familiar and unfamiliar characters.
Fatimah Gimsay
When Fatimah Binta Gimsay was about to graduate from university in 2016, she reached out to producer-director Victor Sanchez Aghahowa and offered to intern for free. She was drawn to MultiChoice originals like Tinsel, Hotel Majestic, and Hush. Having grown up watching Asian films, Mexican telenovelas, South African soaps, and Nollywood classics, she had felt the impact of storytelling deeply.
In 2020, Gimsay wrote and directed her first short film, Why Am I Angry?, which follows three women from different backgrounds attending an online anger management workshop. Produced by Nne Nlemadim and starring Anee Icha, Teniola Aladese, and Genoveva Umeh, the film won Best Mobile Phone Film at the Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival (TIFF).
Gimsay once described herself as “claustrophobic, literally and figuratively.” This explains her drive and motivation. She resists being boxed, dislikes micromanagement, and inherited cynicism. Television remains Gimsay’s greatest training ground; she encourages women to step beyond writing and directing and try other roles like cinematography, production design, assistant directing, and other departments.
Temidayo Abudu-Makanjuola
Temidayo Abudu-Makanjuola is one of the Nigerian filmmakers shaping Nollywood’s global influence. As a producer and executive, she is known for blending commercial appeal with good storytelling and is dedicated to growing the scale, reach, and creativity of Nigerian film and television. As the daughter of media mogul Mo Abudu, Abudu-Makanjuola is familiar with cameras, scripts, and studio floors. Working within EbonyLife Media’s ecosystem, she developed her craft through hands-on producing, while learning the intricacies of development, financing, packaging and international sales.
She has led many high-profile projects that highlight Nollywood’s global growth. She served as executive producer on Òlòtūré, a thriller that later expanded into the Netflix series Òlòtūré: The Journey. The story centered on human trafficking and investigative journalism in Nigeria and beyond.
Her producing credits also include The Royal Hibiscus Hotel, one of the early contemporary Nollywood titles to secure a wide international audience, and The Wedding Party, a cultural reset that redefined box office possibilities in Nigeria. These films demonstrate her ability to balance glossy production values with unique Nigerian stories and cultures. As Nollywood continues its expansion onto streaming platforms and in international markets, Temidayo Abudu-Makanjuola remains one of the women shaping this transition.
Nora Awolowo
Nifemi Oreoluwa Racheal Awolowo, known as Nora Awolowo, is well on her way to being a Nollywood all-timer behind the camera. In 2025, at 26, she became the youngest Nigerian filmmaker to gross over ₦100 million at the box office with Red Circle. She had already established herself as a voice to watch on the scene.
She founded Rixel Studios and released her first documentary, Life at the Bay, and Symphonies. Life at the Bay screened at the Africa International Film Festival. Her work earned a win in the 2019 ‘25 Under 25’ Awards and a nomination in The Future Awards’ Film category. Her studio later produced the short film David, directed by Lota Chukwu. She also released Baby Blues: The Trials of Childbirth, which screened at international festivals, won awards, and earned her another Future Awards nomination. She worked on the Netflix documentary series Stories of a Generation – with Pope Francis.
In 2021, Awolowo began working on other Nollywood projects, serving as cinematographer on MTV’s Shuga (2023). She was commissioned by FIFA to work on Nigeria: The Debut, earning a nomination and eventual win at the African Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA) for Best Documentary. She went on to work on projects including Lisabi: The Uprising, What Are You Truly Afraid Of?, Dear Men, and Baby Farm, and received another AMVCA nomination for her cinematography on Lisabi: The Uprising.
Uzoamaka Power
Born Uzoamaka Doris Aniunoh, Uzoamaka Power loved reading from a young age. She studied English and History at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and later earned a Master’s degree in Creative Writing from the University of Birmingham.
Upon her return to Nigeria in 2017, she auditioned for MTV Shuga and landed the role of Cynthia, her first big screen role, introducing her to a wide audience. She reprised the role in MTV Shuga: Alone Together during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her career has since gained momentum, with roles in Ponzi (2021), which earned her recognition as a Box Office Breakthrough talent, and Diiche (2022), Showmax’s first Nigerian original limited series, which received multiple AMVCA nominations.
In 2023, she stepped behind the camera with Love Language, a short film she wrote, directed, and starred in. In 2024, she appeared in The Weekend, earning a Best Actress nomination at the Africa Movie Academy Awards, as well as With Difficulty Comes Ease and Phoenix Fury, which won prizes at AFRIFF. Beyond film, she is a published fiction writer, with her work Balcony edited and published by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
In 2025, she adopted the professional surname “Power,” which she says symbolises strength, resilience, and the energy she brings to her craft.
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