Nile Cinemas has entered a historic management agreement with His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, to oversee operations at Ojaja Cinemas. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in the Ooni’s ambitious vision to deploy 1,000 screens across Nigeria within the next five years, beginning with sites in Ile-Ife, Akure, and Lagos.
The ceremonial signing of the agreement took place on October 29, 2024, with the Ooni of Ife and his wife, Olori Ronke Ademiluyi Ogunwusi, in attendance, marking the official handover of Ojaja Cinemas to Nile Cinemas.
During the event, the Ooni emphasised the initiative’s role in creating job opportunities for Nigerian youth, which he aims to support through the development of the 1,000-acre Ojaja Film and Talent City. Reflecting on his motivation, he shared, “I am not an expert, but I am using my platform as a monarch to create employment for Nigeria’s young and growing population. We cannot rely solely on the government, and that’s why I decided to establish the Ojaja Film and Talent City on 1,000 acres.”
The Ojaja Film and Talent City, located in Ile-Ife, was inaugurated on October 17, 2024, with former Minister of Works and former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, and Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, presiding over the ceremony.
The Ooni also expressed confidence in Nile’s leadership, specifically acknowledging Moses Babatope, Nile Group CEO, for his contributions to the industry: “Thanks to Moses Babatope, formerly of FilmOne, who helped revolutionise the film industry. They brought a fresh perspective, and I am confident in his expertise.”
Moses Babatope outlined the partnership’s transformative vision for Nigerian cinema, explaining, “We are building an entertainment ecosystem that will redefine how Nigerians experience cinema. Our vision goes beyond traditional cinema management, creating multiple revenue streams through strategic partnerships, premium experiences, and innovative content distribution. We’re paving the way for Nigerian cinema to not only meet but set global standards. This is the paradigm shift our industry has been waiting for, and Nile is ready to lead with major investments in technology, talent, and infrastructure.”
Other key Nile executives, including Biola Sokenu (COO), Dr. Bukky George Taylor (VP of Nile X Luxury Cinema), and Olalekan Oginni (Group Real Estate and Business Development Director), attended the signing.
This partnership includes immediate management of Ojaja Cinemas’ Ile-Ife and Akure locations, both of which will introduce premium viewing experiences and advanced content distribution systems.
Nile Cinemas is also broadening its footprint by integrating THC Cinemax in Ogba and Royal Roots Ikota into the Nile Cinema Chain, positioning the company to become the fifth-largest cinema chain in West Africa by December 2024, with four operational locations.
Former Commissioner for Arts and Tourism, Uzamat Akinbile Yussuf, praised the partnership, noting, “The integration of THC Cinemax into the Nile Cinema Chain is a strategic alignment of our vision for entertainment innovation in Nigeria.”
Greg Odutayo of Royal Roots Cinema echoed this sentiment, stating, “We trust Nile to deliver a world-class entertainment experience for Nigerians.”
