Meet the Owners of Nigeria’s Largest Cinemas

Nigeria’s cinema landscape has witnessed remarkable transformation in recent years, driven by the resurgence of Nollywood films and the expansion of multiplex chains across the country.

According to industry data, the Nigerian box office more than doubled from N7.36 billion in 2023 to N15.64 billion in 2025, with projected revenue hitting N20 billion by the end of 2026 as operators focus on monetisation and premium experiences.

Nollywood productions now command nearly half of all box office revenue, accounting for 49.4 per cent of total takings in 2025, just ahead of Hollywood titles, signaling the growing commercial appeal of local storytelling.

Amidst this growth are the owners of Nigeria’s largest cinema circuits, from international-style chains like Silverbird and Filmhouse to pioneering independent exhibitors.

These operators not only screen blockbuster international films but also increasingly support Nollywood titles that draw local audiences.

As cinemas expand from Lagos into secondary cities and adapt with digital ticketing and varied formats, the sector illustrates how Nigerian cinema culture continues to evolve, blending global content with homegrown creativity and entrepreneurial leadership.

9. Olusegun Obasanjo: Founder OOPL Cinemas 

Founded under the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), OOPL Cinemas serves as a premier entertainment venue within the library’s cultural and leisure complex.

The cinema operates three sites, generating N312.5 million in revenue, accounting for 2% of gross box office (GBO) and 2.3% of admissions in 2025, demonstrating strong audience engagement despite its relatively small footprint.

Olusegun Obasanjo is a central figure in Nigeria’s political, military, and cultural history, notable not only for leading the country as both a military ruler and a democratically elected president, but also for building enduring national institutions.

Born around 5 March 1937 in Ibogun-Olaogun, Ogun State, Obasanjo rose from a modest farming background to become a senior army general, a key actor in ending the Nigerian Civil War, and later Nigeria’s Military Head of State from 1976 to 1979.

His voluntary handover of power to a civilian government in 1979 set a democratic precedent rarely seen among military leaders of the era.

The idea for the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) was first conceived in 1988, long before Obasanjo’s return to power.

The vision remained dormant until a decade later, when he emerged from imprisonment under military rule to become Nigeria’s second elected Executive President in 1999.

Shortly after assuming office, he established the Office of Presidential Libraries (Libraries, Research and Documentation) to translate the OOPL concept into reality.

Prince Adeyinka Afonja is a Nigerian entrepreneur and visionary behind Ace Mall, one of Southwest Nigeria’s leading indigenous retail chains. He began his journey in 2012 with a small provision store in Akobo, Ibadan, driven by a goal to fill gaps in local retail and leisure services.

Under his leadership, Ace Mall has expanded across cities including Bodija, Oluyole, Owode, Iseyin, Abeokuta, Ijebu Ode, Osogbo, Ile-Ife, Ogbomoso, and Ilorin, offering a diverse mix of retail, services, and entertainment.

Ace Cinemas, the entertainment arm of Ace Mall, rounds out the top cinema circuits with five locations, generating N82.8 million in revenue and accounting for 0.5% of gross box office (GBO) and 1% of admissions.

Ojaja Cinemas is a boutique cinema located at Ojaja Mall, offering a curated and intimate movie-going experience.

The Lagos site features four screens across four rooms with a combined seating capacity of roughly 500, including the Red Room (180 seats), Blue Room (180 seats), and an 18-seat VIP section.

Unlike large multiplexes, Ojaja Cinemas focuses on quality, comfort, and specialized viewing experiences, showcasing top box-office releases.

Ownership of the cinema rests with Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, also known as Ọjájá II, the 51st Ooni of Ife and a direct descendant of Odùdùwà, the legendary founder of Ile-Ife.

The cinemas operate under the broader cultural and economic initiatives of his House of Oduduwa Foundation, which aims to promote youth employment, entrepreneurship, and the preservation of Yoruba culture.

In November 2024, Nile Cinemas, led by Moses Babatope, signed a landmark management agreement to oversee operations at Ojaja Cinemas.

This partnership positions the chain for significant expansion, as the Ooni envisions deploying 1,000 screens across Nigeria over the next five years, starting with sites in Ile-Ife, Akure, and Lagos.

Moses Babatope is a leading figure in the Nigerian and African film industry, with over 20 years of experience spanning cinema exhibition, film distribution, and production.

He is the Group CEO of Nile Media Entertainment Group and the co-founder of both Filmhouse Group and UK-based Talking Drum Entertainment Limited.

Babatope has produced and executive-produced over 40 Nollywood titles and brokered major international deals with Disney, Netflix, Prime Video, Sony, and Warner Bros., contributing to the growth of West Africa’s film market.

He previously co-founded and managed FilmOne Entertainment, overseeing theatrical release strategies for more than 60 films annually and handling licensing for major studios in English-speaking West Africa.

Under his leadership, FilmOne secured co-production deals that produced instant box office successes, including The Wedding Party franchise, which became the highest-grossing Nigerian films of all time.

In exhibition, Babatope leads Nile Luxury Cinemas, a premium cinema chain focused on intimate, high-end viewing experiences.

Tayo Amusan is the Managing Director of the Persianas Group, the parent company that originally owned and developed Viva Cinemas.

A pioneer in Nigeria’s modern retail and commercial property sector, Amusan founded Persianas Group in 1990 and has spent more than three decades building large-scale retail destinations that blend shopping, leisure and lifestyle.

VIVA Cinemas operates multiple locations in Nigeria with a total capacity of approximately 3,000 seats spread across 20 screens. As of 2019/2020, they operated five locations featuring 4K projectors.

Their network has since expanded to 8 locations through a partnership with Nile Cinemas in 2025.

Leveraging over 25 years of property development experience, Amusan led the development of The Palms Shopping Mall, a landmark 45,000-square-metre mall on the Lekki Peninsula that helped redefine organised retail in Nigeria.

Under his leadership, Persianas Group grew into the country’s largest indigenous commercial retail developer, with six malls across Lagos, Ibadan, Kwara and Enugu.

As part of a broader mall-anchoring strategy, Amusan oversaw the launch of Viva Cinemas, positioning cinema exhibition as a key traffic driver within Persianas’ retail assets.

Viva Cinemas expanded into multiple Nigerian cities, operating modern multiplexes with a focus on accessible, high-quality movie experiences.

While Persianas later entered a strategic operating partnership with Nile Cinemas in 2025, the Viva Cinemas brand remains a core part of Persianas Group’s legacy in entertainment-led retail development.

EbonyLife Cinemas, located at EbonyLife Place in Victoria Island, Lagos, contributed over N1 billion to gross box office revenue in 2025, making it a standout independent cinema chain in Nigeria.

The venue features five screens with a total capacity of 438 guests, including an exclusive VIP cinema with 28 seats, while the remaining four screens accommodate 108 guests each.

The cinema is part of the EbonyLife Group, founded and led by Mo Abudu, one of Africa’s most influential media moguls.

The group includes EbonyLife Media, EbonyLife Place, and the EbonyLife Creative Academy, a Lagos-based film school. EbonyLife Cinemas exemplifies Mo Abudu’s vision to showcase African stories, combining premium cinema experiences with strategic programming.

In 2025, the brand announced expansion to London, aiming to screen African films internationally and elevate African content on the global stage.

Founded in 1980, Silverbird Group rose to prominence with the launch of Silverbird Cinemas, now one of West Africa’s largest cinema operators.

The chain runs 10 locations across Nigeria, Ghana and Liberia, operating 65 screens with a combined seating capacity of about 9,919.

Its cinemas are spread across key Nigerian cities, including Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Uyo and Yenagoa, and are known for delivering Hollywood and Nollywood blockbusters with premium formats such as 3D and 4DX.

Silverbird was the first cinema brand in West Africa to introduce 4DX, launch a 12-screen multiplex, and operate cinemas across three West African countries.

Beyond cinemas, Murray-Bruce expanded Silverbird into broadcast media with Rhythm FM and into lifestyle entertainment with the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria pageant, which became the country’s leading national beauty competition.

Under his leadership, Silverbird achieved milestones, including serving 10 million customers within six years and winning Africa’s Best Cinema Brand of the Year at the African Brand Congress in 2014.

A trained accountant turned diversified entrepreneur, Orazulike built Genesis Cinemas as part of the wider Genesis Group, which he founded in 1991 with interests spanning hospitality, real estate and food services.

In 2008, Orazulike led Genesis Group’s expansion into entertainment, launching Genesis Cinemas at The Palms Shopping Mall.

At the time, introducing a modern, luxury cinema experience in Nigeria was considered a high-risk move in a market where cinema culture was still developing.

The Lekki location proved successful and became the foundation for a rapid rollout across major cities, including Abuja, Port Harcourt, Owerri, Asaba, Enugu and Warri.

Under Orazulike’s leadership, Genesis Cinemas has grown into a major West African exhibition chain, operating 12 locations with 47 screens and a combined seating capacity of more than 4,700.

The brand is known for its premium positioning, combining regular auditoriums of about 130 seats with smaller, high-end formats such as VIP screening rooms with as few as 21 seats.

In 2011, Genesis Cinemas made regional history by becoming the first cinema in West Africa to screen a 3D film, The Green Hornet.

Orazulike holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Nigeria and completed executive training at Harvard Business School.

In recognition of his contributions to business and the creative economy, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree by the University of Port Harcourt in 2015.

Genesis Cinemas holds the second-highest revenue position with ten sites, earning N3.01 billion. With a 19.3% GBO share and 16.4% of admissions.

1. Kene Okwuosa: Group Managing Director Filmhouse Cinemas 

Kene Okwuosa is the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Filmhouse Group, Nigeria’s largest cinema and film distribution platform.

A film producer and exhibition executive with more than two decades of global experience, Okwuosa sits at the centre of Nigeria’s modern box office economy, overseeing Filmhouse Cinemas, FilmOne Entertainment and FilmOne Studios.

He co-founded Filmhouse in 2012 alongside Moses Babatope, securing early financing from the Bank of Industry under a federal creative-industry intervention programme introduced during the administration of former president Goodluck Jonathan.

With an initial N200 million loan, the partners opened a modest three-screen cinema in Surulere, Lagos. After a slow start, the site gained traction and became a launchpad for rapid national expansion.

Under Okwuosa’s leadership, Filmhouse has grown to 12 cinema locations across six Nigerian states, accounting for an estimated 26% of all cinema ticket sales in the country.

By 2018, Filmhouse had become Nigeria’s largest cinema chain and the third largest in Africa by scale.

The company operates premium formats including IMAX, MX4D, D-BOX and private VVIP screening rooms branded as “Cubes,” and developed West Africa’s first IMAX cinema, now ranked among the top-performing IMAX locations globally.

Through FilmOne’s distribution and production arms, Okwuosa has overseen some of Nigeria’s biggest box office titles, including The Wedding Party, A Tribe Called Judah, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Barbie.

He is a member of Nigeria’s official selection committee for the Academy Awards and holds degrees from London Metropolitan University and University of Greenwich, with executive education from INSEAD.

Filmhouse Cinemas dominates the market with twelve sites, generating over N4.07 billion in GBO. Holding a 26% revenue share and 21% of admissions, it is the clear industry leader. Its massive scale allows it to capture the largest audience segment