US Mission Honours Olu Jacobs, RMD, Kunle Afolayan, Five Other Nigerian Creatives
Consul General Hosts Burna Boy, Explores US-Nigeria Creative Partnerships
The United States Mission in Nigeria has honoured eight Nigerian creative industry leaders for their contributions to strengthening partnerships between Hollywood and Nollywood, recognising the growing international reach of Nigerian films and talent.
The recognition took place at a reception organised by the US Consulate General in Lagos under the theme “Reel Connections from Hollywood to Nollywood”. The event brought together filmmakers, actors, government officials, industry stakeholders and alumni of US government exchange programmes.
The highlight was the presentation of a posthumous Creative Industry Legend Award to veteran actor Olu Jacobs, whose career spanned more than five decades across Nigerian theatre, television and film, as well as international cinema. His sons, Olugbenga and Olusoji Jacobs, received the award on behalf of the family.
US Consul General Brandon Hudspeth paid tribute to Jacobs, describing his career as one that helped define Nigerian cinema and strengthen connections between the Nigerian and American screen industries.
“Olu Jacobs’ life embodied the kind of creative exchange that continues to connect Nigeria’s film industry with the United States and the world,” Hudspeth said.
Other honourees included Richard Mofe-Damijo, popularly known as RMD; Chioma Ude, founder and executive director of the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF); filmmakers Kunle Afolayan and Bolanle Austen-Peters; Zulu Oyibo, co-founder of Inkblot Productions; producer Josh Olaoluwa; and Emmy Award-winning visual development artist Uzoma Dunkwu.
According to the US Mission, several of the honourees are alumni of US government exchange programmes, including the International Visitor Leadership Program, Global Media Makers and the American Film Showcase’s African Film and Television Leadership Initiative.
Hudspeth said Nollywood had become an increasingly important source of content, talent and investment opportunities for American companies seeking to engage with African markets. He noted that Nigerian productions and creative professionals were reaching international audiences through streaming services and digital platforms, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+ and YouTube.
He also highlighted the lasting impact of exchange programmes in building professional networks and encouraging collaboration between Nigerian and American creative communities.
“U.S. government exchange programs are not simply about what happens during the exchange,” Hudspeth said. “Their real impact is what happens when participants return home — the relationships they bring with them, the ideas they put into action, the creative collaborations they build, and the next generation they inspire.”
Meanwhile, Hudspeth welcomed Grammy-winning Nigerian superstar Burna Boy to the US Consulate General in Lagos to discuss opportunities for expanding collaboration between the American and Nigerian creative economies. Their discussions explored ways to translate the cultural ties between both countries into economic opportunities through commercial partnerships among US and Nigerian studios, record labels and streaming platforms, stronger intellectual property protection, artist and industry exchanges, and investment in creative infrastructure.
The recognition comes amid growing opportunities for Nigerian filmmakers, actors, musicians and producers to expand international partnerships, access wider distribution networks and attract investment. The engagements underscore the US Mission’s efforts to strengthen commercial links between the two countries’ creative industries and translate cultural influence into economic value.
