The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) is set to celebrate 22 of Nollywood’s most influential actors and filmmakers, including Rita Dominic, Sam Dede, Ali Baba, Desmond Elliot and Eucharia Anunobi, who reach milestone ages of 50 and 60 in 2025.
The special recognition will take place during the 2025 Peace Anyiam‑Osigwe Nigerian Digital Content Regulatory Conference (PAO NDCRC), holding 18–19 November at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos.
According to NFVCB Executive Director/CEO, Dr. Shaibu Husseini, the initiative is meant to recognize outstanding practitioners whose careers have significantly shaped the Nigerian film industry.
He added, “Nollywood’s strength lies in the people who give life to its stories. Honouring those who have invested decades of excellence in the industry is both a responsibility and a privilege.”
The honourees, carefully selected for this maiden edition, also include Ngozi Ezeonu, Segun Aina Padonu, Ali Baba (Atoyota Akpobeme), Ahmed Sarari, Afeez Bello, Adebayo Tijani, Liliam Amah, Taiwo Adeleye, Seyi Siwoku, Jude Chukwuka, Kingsley Ogoro and former Directors Guild of Nigeria president Sir Bond Emeruwa.
Dr. Husseini explained that this tribute marks the start of a sustained culture of recognition in Nollywood. “We are starting with this select group, but this is only the first step. From next year, the honour roll will expand to include industry veterans turning 70 and above—those whose pioneering efforts created the foundations on which today’s Nollywood stands.”
This year’s conference, themed “From Volume to Value: The Future of Nollywood in the Digital Age,” will feature a keynote address by stage and screen queen Bolanle Austen‑Peters, whom Dr. Husseini praised for her “blend of artistic excellence, innovation, and business acumen that Nollywood must embrace in the digital age.”
