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Niyi Akinmolayan’s 2025 Vision: Building Nollywood’s strongest workforce yet

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Renowned Nollywood filmmaker and founder of Anthill Studios, Niyi Akinmolayan, has outlined his ambitious plans for 2025; one that prioritizes workforce development and the structural growth of the Nigerian film industry. 

In a recent report by Nollywire, Akinmolayan emphasized the urgent need to reshape Nollywood’s backbone: its crew and professionals.

For Niyi Akinmolayan, one of Nollywood’s most forward-thinking filmmakers and the founder of Anthill Studios, 2025 is more than just another year; it’s a mission. His focus? Strengthening the backbone of the Nigerian film industry: its workforce.

A pivotal year for Anthill Studios

Coming off a dynamic 2024 filled with solo and collaborative productions, Anthill Studios has made its mark with standout projects. The studio’s two major releases saw Hey You director Uyoyou Adia helm Casa de Novia, starring Anee Icha and Taye Arimoro, while Dolapo Adigun made her cinematic directorial debut with Criminal.

Beyond its in-house projects, Anthill’s co-productions were among the year’s biggest successes. Beast of Two Worlds (Ajakaju); a collaboration with Eniola Ajao’s Lighthouse Pictures and Filmone Studios; became the fourth highest-grossing Nigerian film, raking in ₦252.8 million.

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Meanwhile, Lisabi: The Uprising, the first instalment of a two-part historical epic produced alongside Lateef Adedimeji’s Al Notion Studios, emerged as Netflix Nigeria’s second most-watched title of 2024.

READ ALSO: Vibes, Marvel & Jollof: A look inside Filmhouse After Dark’s exclusive ‘Captain America’ Screening

The industry’s workforce crisis & the Netflix effect

Despite Nollywood’s rapid growth, it continues to grapple with a critical issue; a shortage of skilled crew members and industry professionals.

This problem is further compounded by the growing frustration of diaspora investors who lose money to questionable “producers” and inexperienced film crews.

Adding to the uncertainty was Netflix’s rumoured quiet exit from Nigeria, which was later debunked by the streaming platform.


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Reflecting on the industry’s lessons from 2024, Akinmolayan emphasized the need for self-sufficiency.

“I think the biggest lesson from 2024 would be that we need to be in control of our own destiny, especially in terms of distribution. We cannot just leave everything to our saviours from Silicon Valley. We need to be strategic about what we do for both Nigerian and international audiences.”

Building the Future: Connecting filmmakers with skilled crew

Anthill Studios is taking an active role in reshaping Nollywood’s workforce. Known for its commitment to training and upskilling, the studio plans to revive its in-house training programs in 2025. Previous initiatives, such as its post-production training and the free three-month director internship in 2023, have helped launch the careers of rising filmmakers like Barnabas Emordi, Dolapo Adigun, and Akhigbe “Akay Mason” Ilozobhie.

But Akinmolayan’s ambitions go beyond training. In 2025, Anthill Studios is partnering with a tech company to launch a new platform that connects filmmakers with vetted, skilled crew members.

“We believe that if we can strengthen and grow the talent pool of crew members and filmmakers, it will lead to better films and an expanded industry,” he shared.

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This platform will serve as a curated directory of top industry professionals, ensuring that filmmakers have access to reliable talent; a crucial step toward raising the industry’s professional standards.

Anthill’s 2025 roadmap: Expansion, partnerships & family content

Beyond workforce development, Akinmolayan’s 2025 plans include:

  • Ensuring a successful year for Anthill Family, the studio’s newly launched family-focused division.

  • Strengthening partnerships with distributors, exhibitors, and brands, including another collaboration with Eniola Ajao and Filmone Studios.

  • Exploring new story ideas and expanding the studio’s storytelling range.

  • Expanding operations beyond Nigeria, pushing Nollywood’s presence on the global stage.

Unlike many production companies that work on a project-by-project basis, Anthill Studios employs a significant number of full-time staff.

This structure enables the studio to focus on long-term growth and maintain consistent quality; an approach that sets it apart in Nollywood’s fast-paced ecosystem.

Akinmolayan’s vision for Nollywood isn’t just about making great films; it’s about creating an industry that can compete globally, both in storytelling and technical execution.

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With a growing workforce, a commitment to skill-building, and a drive to elevate family content, Anthill Studios is setting the stage for a stronger, more sustainable Nollywood.


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‘There is no forgiveness’: Seyi Law on why he can never support Peter Obi

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Nigerian stand-up comedian, Oluwaseyitan Lawrence Aletile, popularly known as Seyi Law, has said he can never support Peter Obi, presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections.

The funnyman made the revelation in a recent interview on the Teju Babyface show, saying the former Anambra State Governor can never have his forgiveness.

Seyi Law pinpointed the actions of Peter Obi’s supporters, the Obidients, as the reason why he holds a grudge against him.

He claimed Obidients insulted his wife and children because he backed President Bola Tinubu while Peter Obi stood by and refused to call them to order while also failing to admit that his supporters attacked those who did not support him.

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He argued that the former Anambra governor’s “failure” to condemn the actions of his supporters makes him “unfit” for his support.

Furthermore, Seyi Law likened the Obidient movement to a “cult” that doesn’t “support free thinking”.

He added that Obidients crossed personal boundaries by going after his family and it is one thing he finds “unforgivable”.

“The moment you cross that boundary from me to my children, mother, and wife, there is no forgiveness. That is why there is nothing on earth that Peter Obi can do that will make me support him,” Seyi Law declared.

“They attacked my children and my wife. As long as Peter Obi does not call them to order and he keeps denying that they are doing that, he will never get my support. Let Peter Obi wear the garment of Jesus Christ today, he will never get my support.


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“Hate or love me, my personal way of life is between me and God. Any organisation that does not support free thinking is a cult. I do not feel down at all because when you talk too much, I swear to you.

“One of the good things that God has done for me is that my anger does not last long. Personal anger for me does not last long. The only place it lasts long is when you leave me and attack my children, mother, and wife.”


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Portable turns trial into music, teases new single following Saheed Osupa ordeal

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After his recent release from detention. Street hop star Portable is back to doing what he loves which is making music that documents his reality.

The singer has teased a new song just days after being released from detention following his arrest over a criminal defamation petition filed by Fuji icon King Saheed Osupa.

In a post on his Instagram page, Portable teased the song titled ‘Oni Reason’ on which he alluded to his recent legal ordeal in Kwara state and claimed the journey of his life is divinely orchestrated.

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A post shared by Elizabeth Joyce (@portablebaeby)

The song follows his trend of making music from his legal trials and ordeals. Following his arrest by the Ogun State Police, who declared him wanted for assaulting government officials, Portable announced the EP ‘Most Wanted’.

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'Omo Baba Olowo' to 'Timeless': A ranking of Davido's 5 projects

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Davido is one of Afrobeats’ most prolific hitmakers, and he often brings this hitmaking ability into his projects.

Across his four LPs and 1 EP, the multi-award-winning era-defining star has delivered iconic hit records that played a considerable role in the commercial advancement and global expansion of Nigerian mainstream pop music.

Since making his chest-thumping debut album ‘Omo Baba Olowo: The Genesis’ in 2012, Davido has announced himself on the scene as a superstar whose spot in the summit of the game is won by sheer talent and hard work as opposed to the resources at his disposal, as many like to insist.

13 years since the release of his debut album, Davido is gearing up for the release of his 6th project and 5th album he calls ‘5ive’.

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As we await the highly anticipated album, this week’s Afrobeats Throwback Thursday takes a trip to Davido’s discography, where we will be ranking his projects.

This ranking his determined by the quality of the projects, their commercial success, and larger impact on Davido’s career and the ecosystem, and how well they have aged.

Here is a ranking of all of Davido’s 5 projects

5. Son of Mercy EP (2016)

Released in October 2016, Davido’s ‘Son of Mercy’ EP was a bold move by the superstar to break into the global frontiers.

Released under Sony Music, the project marked a period of bold display of ambition where Nigerian stars like Davido who has conqurted the African frontier sought for more.

Although ambitious, the project failed to connect with the American audience it was intended for, and it also failed to find tangible fans back home. Even Davido isn’t the biggest fan of the album.


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However, the 5-track EP delivered the hit record in ‘Coolest Kid In Africa’ featuring a fresh off the block Nasty C.

4. A Better Time (2020)

Davido’s third album, ‘A Better Time’, is the second from his Time trilogy and also the weakest.

While the project housed several hit singles, Davido struggled to combine them into a cohesive sonic offering.

A prolific hitmaker, Davido knows a hit song when he hears one and the lead single ‘FEM’ became not only the biggest song of 2020 but the unofficial soundtrack of the historic #ENDSARS movement.

The album also boasts of other hit records like ‘Jowo’, ‘The Best’ feat Mayorkun, and ‘Lala’ feat CKay.

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While ‘A Better Time’ held up Davido’s status as a generation hitmaker who morphs according to the time, it also increased scrutiny over his ability to make a quality album.

3. Omo Baba Olowo: The Genesis (2012)

On his debut album, Davido’s preoccupation was to deliver a volume of hit records that reinforce his growing stardom and signal his intention to dominate.

If there’s one thread that runs through the 17-track album, it’s hit songs.

From the daring chest-thumping opener ‘All of You’ to the love tune ‘Ekuro’, the party starting ‘Gobe’, and the iconic ‘Dami Duro’, Davido showed that, was he may lack in making sonically cohesive albums, he more than compensated for it with hit records.

2. A Good Time (2019)

It took Davido 7 years to release his sophomore album, and within that time, his stocks had risen to peak numbers.

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His superstar status was on full display in ‘A Good Time’, where he delivered the sonic cohesion listeners have often demanded while still retaining the easily digestible hit records that define his artistry.

Two years before releasing his sophomore album, Davido dominated the African pop scene with a breathtaking run of 4 singles, 2 (‘IF’ and ‘Fall’) of which he added on ‘A Good Time’.

The album had an exploration of different markets with Afrobeats hits, Dancehall joints like ‘Risky’ feat Popcaan, R&B in the form of ‘D&G’, global Pop with ‘Blow My Mind’ feat Chris Brown, and Amercian hip hop with ‘Big Picture’ featuring Gunna, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, and Dremo.

Although underappreciated, this album is Davido’s most rounded body of work and one of the rare moments he allowed himself to be more than a hitmaker.

1. Timeless (2023)

Davido’s fourth album and the third of his ‘Time Trilogy’ was one of the most anticipated in the 21st-century history of Nigerian music.

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The heavy personal loss that preceded it and the fact that Davido refused to release a lead single heightened expectations.

The five-time Grammy nominee delivered on this expectation with an album that restates his status as a hitmaker skilled in crafting hit records and a megastar embracing the depth and refreshing diversity of new talents.


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