Vanessa Obioha
Nollywood figures Richard Mofe-Damijo, Kunle Afolayan and Chioma Ude were among the honourees at the US-Nigeria Creative Industries Reception and Awards held at the US Consul General’s Residence in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The reception, themed ‘Reels of Connection: From Hollywood to Nollywood’, celebrated individuals whose work has shaped Nigerian storytelling locally and globally, including through US government-funded exchange programmes.
The new US Consul General, Brandon Hudspeth, acknowledged the talents within Nigeria’s creative industry and the growing partnership between Nigeria and the United States, particularly in film and television.
“This is a natural partnership, and nowhere is this partnership more alive than in the film and television sector. This embodies the strength of this partnership, and we see it in the people who are around us today. Some of these individuals are builders of the strongest bridges that link our two countries,” he said. Hudspeth said the US Mission would continue to champion partnerships that open up American markets, capital and audiences to Nigeria’s creative industry.
He added that the next chapter of US-Nigerian relations “won’t be written by the government alone. It will be written by storytellers and creatives.”
The event also paid posthumous tribute to the late Olu Jacobs, whose celebrated career helped bridge Nollywood and Hollywood. His sons received a Legend Award on behalf of their father. Mofe-Damijo received the Cinematic Icon Award, while Ude was honoured as Global Film Visionary. Afolayan received the Excellence in Storytelling Award, while Bolanle Austen-Peters was presented with the Creative Vision and Cultural Impact Award.
Other recipients included Uzoma Dunkwu, who received the International Excellence in Animation Award, as well as Josh Olaoluwa and Zulu Oyibo.