Business a.m.
Nigerian film industry veteran, Moses Babatope, has launched a new production and distribution studio, Nile Media Entertainment Group, with the aim of transforming African cinema.Named after the River Nile, the studio will focus on promoting African culture, creating top-quality content, and adopting sustainable practices.
With his background as co-founder of FilmHouse Group and managing director of FilmOne Entertainment, Babatope has helped bring African films to global audiences. Now, with Nile Media Entertainment Group, he is hoping to transform the African film industry by prioritising excellence and driving positive change.
The Nile Group consists of five subsidiaries: Nile Entertainment for local and international distribution, Nile Cinemas for luxury cinema experiences, Nile Motion Pictures for Nollywood film production, Nile Studio Lab for a Nigerian film village, and Nile Foundation for community development through film.
Babatope, in a move to drive the company’s development and break gender barriers, has established a female-led executive team.
Biola Sokenu, the executive director and group COO, has more than 20 years of experience in financial control and production accounting across the U.K., Nigeria, and the U.S., making her an ideal candidate to help spearhead the growth and success of the Nile Media Entertainment Group. Prior to joining Nile Group, Biola Sokenu led the financial operations at Fleet River Productions Ltd, where she managed the production of Netflix’s hit series, “The Diplomat” Season 2. Her impressive career includes managing finances for independent films and working in pivotal roles for AAA Entertainment, FilmOne Entertainment, and the BBC, giving her a unique blend of experience and perspective that will be invaluable to the growth and success of Nile Media Entertainment Group.
Lolu Desalu, with her 18 years of expertise in business strategy, brand building, and strategic partnerships, joins Nile Media Entertainment Group as executive director. Desalu brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from various roles she held at NPower, Incisive Media, TimeInc. London, and as the chief marketing officer at Filmhouse Group.
Abimbola Roli Craig, a lawyer-turned-filmmaker, has been appointed as VP production for Nile Media Entertainment Group. Craig’s impressive experience in the industry includes heading production at NdaniTV, where she co-produced several successful series, such as “Sugar Rush” and “Real Housewives of Lagos.” Additionally, she has produced “Glamour Girls” for Netflix, making it the first Nigerian film to reach the global top 10 list.
Bukky George Taylor joins Nile Media Entertainment Group as VP of Nile X, the luxury cinema arm, with 17 years of strategic communications experience. As founder of Robert Taylor Media and co-founder of Crawl Africa, the first tourism app on the continent, Taylor brings an entrepreneurial spirit and keen insight into marketing and business development.
Nowekere Alexis C.I Segun-Ojo brings her 13-year wealth of public relations and brand strategy experience to the table as GM of distribution and marketing for Nile Media Entertainment Group. With over 13 years of experience in public relations and brand strategy, Segun-Ojo is a key contributor to Nile Media’s growth. As the general manager of Nile Entertainment, Segun-Ojo helped shape and execute the company’s strategic vision, which resulted in the highest-grossing cinema marketing team in West Africa, responsible for executing successful campaigns for local and international films.
Babatope, the visionary behind Nile Media Entertainment Group, brings an impressive 20 years of experience to the table. During his illustrious career, he produced and executive produced over 40 Nollywood films and secured groundbreaking deals with entertainment powerhouses such as Disney, Netflix, Prime Video, and Warner Brothers while at FilmOne Entertainment.
In his commentary,Babatope, group CEO, Nile Media Entertainment Group, revealed the group’s vision to be the lighthouse of African storytelling, illuminating hearts and minds across the world with captivating films that celebrate diversity, inspire empathy, set a new standard for industry excellence, and foster cultural exchange. He further emphasised Nile Media Entertainment Group’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of storytelling in front of and behind the camera, forging meaningful connections between cultures and people through the power of cinema.
“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,” he added.
