Author Archives: Adedeji Adeyanju

At NECLive 2025, Ayo Mafoluku popularly known in the music scene as Ayo Maff — revealed that acting has always been a secondary passion, now finally coming to life with his debut on the big screen. Speaking during the panel session “Funding the Creative Enterprise Ecosystem,” he shared that years of shooting music videos inspired his interest in film. “I wanted to see myself in a movie,” he said. “I was happy to take this role and embrace the opportunity.”

Moderated by Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi, the panel explored essential considerations for creatives looking to protect and monetize their work. Ayo Maff’s story aligned with the broader discussion, which emphasized the importance of financial planning, legal protection, and risk management in building a sustainable creative career.

Ayo Maff’s transition from music to acting reflects the rising wave of multidisciplinary artists in Nigeria’s entertainment landscape. His debut marks a significant step in a growing ecosystem where musicians, actors, and filmmakers increasingly move across creative boundaries — supported by stronger financing structures, collaboration opportunities, and professional guidance.

At NECLive 2025, filmmaker Chris Ihidero reflected on one of the standout moments from his recent projects, describing his experience working with rising talent Ayo Maff as “amazing.”

Speaking during his session, Ihidero highlighted the artist’s professionalism, creativity, and energy on set — qualities that, he noted, significantly elevated the production experience.

He emphasized that collaborations like this continue to inspire his work and reinforce the value of partnering with young talents who bring fresh perspectives and authenticity to African storytelling.

At NECLive 2025, filmmaker Chris Ihidero shared a major milestone for his latest project, announcing that their new film, Never Far Away, achieved 1.2 million views in just six days.

He revealed that when the film was first released on the YouTube channel, the platform had just over 500 subscribers, but following the film’s explosive reception, the channel has now grown to more than 8,000 subscribers, a testament to the film’s impact and audience appeal.

Ihidero noted that this success underscores the rising demand for compelling African storytelling and highlights the importance of quality production, strategic distribution, and understanding audience behaviour in the digital age.

At NECLive 2025, filmmaker and media leader Chris Ihidero reflected on a long-standing commitment he made to his boss — to deliver 5,000 hours of content annually noting that this ambitious target will finally become achievable by 2028.

Speaking with conviction during his session, Ihidero explained that ongoing investments in infrastructure, creative talent, and production capacity are steadily shaping the systems needed to meet such a massive output goal.

He emphasized that reaching this milestone is not just about volume but about building a sustainable content ecosystem that empowers creators, strengthens distribution, and positions African storytelling for global relevance.

At NECLive 2025, filmmaker and storyteller Chris Ihidero made a bold declaration about his upcoming project, Aloma: Messiah Chronicles, stating that it “will be the most important film of 2026.”

In his session, Ihidero spoke passionately about the film’s vision, its cultural significance, and the depth of its narrative, emphasizing that Aloma: Messiah Chronicles is designed to challenge perspectives and spark critical conversations within and beyond the industry.

He noted that the project represents years of creative development, strategic collaboration, and a commitment to elevating African storytelling to new heights — reinforcing his belief that the film is set to make a defining impact when it is released in 2026.

At NECLive 2025, Kola Omotosho, a Top 5 finalist from the just-concluded Big Brother Naija Season 10 and a leading media strategist, highlighted the financial and structural challenges facing Africa’s content industry. In his session titled “The Business Side of Content Creation Is Struggling,” Omotosho examined how monetization, funding, and sustainable business models remain critical hurdles for creators across the continent.

Drawing on his experience as both a media professional and a reality TV star with a large audience following, he emphasized the importance of professionalizing content operations and adopting innovative approaches to revenue generation.

Omotosho’s insights underscored that while creativity is abundant, bridging the gap between artistic talent and viable business structures is essential for long-term growth and global competitiveness.

At NECLive 2025, Atinuke Babatunde, Head of Content at MultiChoice West Africa, revealed that MultiChoice identified 5 million illegal streams during the last season of BBNaija, one of Africa’s most popular reality shows. The season concluded with Imisi emerging as the winner.

Babatunde highlighted the challenges of content piracy in Africa’s entertainment industry, emphasizing the need for stronger measures to protect creative work and ensure that content creators and platforms are fairly compensated.

Her insight underscored the importance of enforcing intellectual property rights and the critical role of innovation and strategy in safeguarding Africa’s rapidly growing creative economy.

At NECLive 2025, Atinuke Babatunde, Head of Content at MultiChoice West Africa, teased an upcoming initiative set to “shake the industry within a few days.”

Babatunde emphasized that this new development reflects MultiChoice’s commitment to innovation and supporting Africa’s creative ecosystem. Her announcement generated excitement, signaling a major shift that could redefine opportunities for creatives and stakeholders across the continent.

The reveal reinforced the idea that Africa’s entertainment industry is poised for transformative growth, with leading players like MultiChoice driving change and expanding the possibilities for creative talent.

At NECLive 2025, music sensation Gaise Baba lit up the stage with an electrifying performance of his hit track “No Turning Back.” From the first note, the audience was on their feet, singing along and swaying to the infectious rhythm that has made the song a fan favorite.

Baba’s dynamic stage presence and energy brought a palpable excitement to the Landmark Event Centre, captivating industry leaders, creatives, and attendees alike. His performance not only highlighted his vocal prowess and showmanship but also underscored the growing influence of African artists on the global music scene.