Moses Babatope and his team at Nile Entertainment are carving out a dauntless path. Their mission is simple but significant: to be a conduit for creative Nigerian storytelling and to expand the scope of what Nollywood can be.
“I just want Nile to be that conduit, if you like, or medium or vessel for us to amplify the best of our work, the best of our creativity, and the best of our storytelling in our filmmaking,” Babatope says. His words carry the weight of intention, not just ambition. For him, Nile isn’t just a production studio—it’s a vehicle to preserve the legacies of Nollywood’s pioneers while creating space for the next generation.
Babatope’s path into film was far from conventional. “I’m an accidental careerist. I studied international finance at university,” he shares. “So I’ve kind of stumbled in and now found a really meaningful career and this is a blessing.” That serendipitous entry into the industry has only strengthened his commitment to helping others find purpose within it too.
Through Nile, Babatope is making space for storytellers who might otherwise be overlooked, particularly those who don’t fit neatly into genre trends. “We are that company that would take that risk, that would want to work with the willing. I always call it the coalition of the willing,” he says. “To develop our audience, to broaden their taste of the kind of films and stories we can tell.”
Nile has been behind projects that challenge the status quo—including films like ‘The Uprising: Wives on Strike 3’, ‘Reverse’, ‘Son of the Soil’, and most recently, ‘Red Circle.’ These titles speak to Nile’s growing reputation as a haven for genre-bending filmmakers and audiences hungry for something different.
While comedy has long dominated Nigeria’s box office—a fact Babatope acknowledges—he sees a clear shift underway. “The data still suggests that [comedy] is one of the most popular genres. But I also think we’ve come a long way as an audience,” he says. “We’ve seen a biopic top the charts. We’ve seen epics now come on strong. We’ve seen crime thrillers, one of which we’re watching tonight. We’ve seen action films now come up.”
For Nile, this evolution is not just about creating good films; it’s about cultivating a cinematic culture. “We have a role to play to show that our cinema is evolving. Not only in the filmmaking but also in the consumption, in terms of the audience,” he says.
Still, the road ahead isn’t without challenges. Marketing to niche demographics—particularly Gen Z audiences, many of whom are unemployed or have limited disposable income—remains an uphill task. But Nile is actively seeking innovative strategies to bridge these gaps. “We’re never resting on our laurels. We’re never folding our arms. We’re always looking for the next challenge,” Babatope emphasises. “How can we be different? How can we do it differently, but also successfully?”
That hunger for innovation was further fuelled by Babatope’s recent visit to the Cannes Film Festival, which marked a turning point in how global stakeholders view Nigerian cinema. “For the first time, there was a convergence of genuine interest in Nigerian storytelling, Nigerian film business, and Nigerian culture,” he says. “It’s the dawn of a new era; now we must grab it with both hands.”
But he remains clear-eyed about the opportunities and the risks. “Are we also at risk of a recolonisation if we’re not careful– disguised as interest?” he asks pointedly. It’s a delicate balance: harnessing international collaboration while maintaining creative sovereignty.
As Nollywood stands on the cusp of global expansion, Nile is positioning itself not just as a content producer but as a thought leader and cultural ambassador. Babatope’s vision is grounded in both reverence for the past and responsibility for the future. “I’m passionate about their legacies enduring and I’m also passionate about the next generation,” he says.
In a time when streaming uncertainties and shifting audience behaviours could easily destabilise creative efforts, Nile is focused on the long game—building an ecosystem that thrives on diversity, experimentation, and audacity. Nights like the premiere of ‘Red Circle’ are only the beginning.
“We want to push ourselves to be the innovators, to find creative ways of finding those audiences, or also training our audience to be open to diverse storytelling,” Babatope says.
Moses Babatope isn’t promising to fix Nollywood. He’s not making sweeping declarations. What he is doing — through Nile Entertainment—is making room. For different kinds of stories. For filmmakers who want to try something new. For audiences who are ready for more. And sometimes, that’s enough.
