Nigerian entertainment veteran Moses Babatope has launched a new media venture that aims to infuse more cultural representation into African cinema.
On Thursday, Babatope announced the formation of Nile Media Entertainment Group after successfully serving as the co-founder of FilmHouse Group and Managing Director of FilmOne Entertainment.
Nile Entertainment will build on Babatope’s success of bringing “Nollywood,” or Nigerian Hollywood, films to global audiences by supporting media and experiences that eschew industry excellence and sustainable practices.
Nile Media Entertainment Group will comprise five different but complementary businesses:
- Nile Entertainment, which distributes movies throughout Nigeria and around the world,
- Nile Motion Pictures, the production arm focused on Nollywood films,
- Nile Studio Lab, which will support the development of a film village in Nigeria,
- Nile Cinema & Nile X, a movie theater chain that aims to offer luxury experiences to audiences,
- Nile Foundation, a community development group that is focused on corporate social responsibility by driving positive and sustainable changes through film.
Babatope further announced the appointment of an all-female executive team that will oversee various initiatives within the Nile Media Entertainment Group:
- Biola Sokenu will serve as the Executive Director and Group Chief Operating Officer. She has served in various roles with production companies in Nigeria, Europe and the United States,and previously held roles at AAA Entertainment, FilmOne and the BBC.
- Lolu Desalu will serve as an Executive Director; she previously served as the Chief Marketing Officer of FilmHouse Group.
- Abimbola Roli Craig joins as the company’s Vice President of Production. She is a distinguished filmmaker whose movie “Glamour Girls” was the first Nigerian movie to reach Netflix’s Global Top 10 list.
- Bukky George Taylor will serve as the Vice President of Nile X, overseeing the luxury cinema arm of the business. She joins Nile Group from her role as Director at The Lagos Today newspaper.
- Nowekere Alexis C.I Segun-Ojo will serve as the General Manager of Distribution and Marketing. She brings more than a decade of public relations, brand strategy and strategic communications experience to the company.
“Our vision for Nile Media Entertainment Group is to be the beacon of African storytelling, illuminating hearts and minds across the globe with captivating films that celebrate diversity, inspire empathy, normalize industry excellence and foster cultural exchange,” Babatope said in a statement emailed to The Desk on Thursday. “We are dedicated to pushing the boundaries of storytelling, both in front of and behind the camera. Through our commitment to creativity, sustainability, and inclusivity, we aim to create films that entertain, enlighten, and empower audiences of all backgrounds. By championing diverse voices and perspectives, we seek to build bridges, spark dialogue, and cultivate a more compassionate and connected world.”
