Shaibu Husseini
Chioma Ude
Charles Novia
Biola Alabi
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Shaibu Husseini
A widely traveled Culture/film journalist and critic, Shaibu writes for Nigeria’s flagship newspaper-The Guardian. Reputed to be one of the most consistent documentarist of the Nigerian movie industry dubbed Nollywood, Shaibu, an alumnus of the International Visitors Leadership Programme (IVLP) of the United States Department of State is an astute commentator on arts and film development in Nigeria and the continent of Africa. Shaibu has written extensively on the state of the performance arts and runs columns on film/video industry in several newspapers and journals.
The Chair, for five years running now, of the College of Screeners of Africa’s premier film award-the African Movie Academy Award (AMAA) and a member of the prestigious AMAA jury, Shaibu has attended several conferences, workshops and film festivals and has sat on a number of local and international panels on film and allied matters including serving on the jury of a number of festivals and awards. He is author of Moviedom…the Nollywood Narratives- Clips on the Pioneers. His other books on film and specifically on Nollywood are in publishing.
Charles Novia
Charles Novia is generally acknowledged as an avant-garde Nollywood filmmaker. Over the years, he has been involved with Nollywood in various capacities as a Scriptwriter, Producer and Director as well as a foremost creative entrepreneur.
He's the first major Nollywood filmmaker to write a book on the workings of the film industry in Nigeria and the book; 'Nollywood till November: memoirs of a Nollywood Insider' since its publication in 2012, has been well received by critics and scholars of the film sector in Nigeria. He is married to Happy Novia, who co-produces with him and they have a lovely daughter, Nosakhare. He lives in Lagos, Nigeria.
Chioma Ude
The enigmatic founder and Executive Director of African International Film Festival (AFRIFF) is an ardent film lover. An avid film watcher and commentator, her passion for the industry grew more intense after her involvement in the production of the 2007 Nigerian Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) UK Roadshow. The ensuing relationship culminated in Chioma producing the 2008 Africa Movie Academy Awards and the institution of a brainchild of hers called the AMAA Charity Benefit. This novel initiative was designed to be an annual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) platform for industry practitioners and stakeholders to give back to society.
In 2009, Chioma went to become the local producer of the ION International Film Festival (IONIFF), held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State in Nigeria. IONIFF is a global touring festival originating from Hollywood, whose objective is the promotion of global awareness and peace through arts, culture and films.
She enjoys fund-raising for filmmakers and has produced some premieres for some of the best films in the Nigeria, an art that has set her on the right path for her new role as founder of AFRICA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (AFRIFF) which in its third year running is arguably the biggest film festival in the whole of Africa.
Biola Alabi
Biola Alabi the Managing Director of MNET Africa was named as one of the 2012 World Economic Forum Young Global leader and has racked up a slew of awards for her progressive and inspiring African vision over the last few years, including a prestigious 2013 AABLA win as West African Business Woman of the Year. She was also named one of the 20 Youngest Power Woman in Africa by Forbes Magazine. Alabi has spent the past five years increasing M-Net’s African portfolio, where she is responsible for driving the strategic growth of African indigenous content at MNET across the continent.
In 2012 Alabi led a restructure of the AfricaMagic channels, expanding the line-up from five general entertainment channels to eight themed channels. She has also overseen 5 editions of the popular reality series Big Brother Africa - Revolution, All Stars, Amplified, StarGame and the Chase. She was the driving force behind the 2013 inaugural Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards and the glittering Face of Africa Finale in Lagos in 2010.