Osezua Stephen-Imobhio: The Man Behind the Stories, the Screens and the African Dream

For nearly four decades, he has lived many lives in African entertainment—producer, television executive, entrepreneur, musician, industry leader and cultural advocate. Now, his work is increasingly focused on keeping Africa’s languages and cultural identity visible in a rapidly changing digital world.

“Africa must not allow AI to learn Africa without Africa.”

For Osezua Stephen-Imobhio, the statement captures a concern shaped by nearly four decades in African media: as technology transforms how stories are created, translated, distributed and preserved, African voices must remain part of that transformation.

It is a fitting reflection of a career that has moved from television and film production to music, industry leadership, policy, cultural advocacy and continental film networks.

A veteran producer, entrepreneur, cultural strategist, festival director and musician, Stephen-Imobhio has worked across major Nigerian media platforms including NTA, Galaxy TV, MITV, Rivers State Television, PRTV, Independent Television, Super Screen, EKSTV, HiTV, MyTV, Africa Magic, M-Net and Rok TV among others.

At 60, he remains an active force in the creative industry.

THE PRODUCER BEHIND ODUMA CREATIVE WORX

At the heart of his production career is Oduma Creative Worx Ltd., the independent film and television production company he runs with his partner and film director, Patience Oghre Imobhio.

Oduma has produced content across genres, including the family series Household, comedy series Angelina and the Yoruba comedy series Ojúlé Kefà. The company has also produced programmes for major platforms including Africa Magic/M-Net and Rok TV, as well as productions for individual clients.

The company reflects Stephen-Imobhio's evolution from content producer to creative entrepreneur, combining storytelling with the business of developing and delivering television and film content.

FROM PRODUCER TO INDUSTRY BUILDER

His influence extends beyond the production set.

Stephen-Imobhio served two terms as President of the Independent Television/Film Producers Association of Nigeria (ITPAN), advocating for independent producers and contributing to industry development.

He also served on the Presidential Review Committee for the Motion Picture Practitioners Council (MOPPICON) Bill and the 4th National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Code Review Committee.

These roles placed him within important conversations about the structure, regulation and future of Nigeria's creative industry.

AILFF: PUTTING AFRICAN LANGUAGES ON SCREEN

His cultural advocacy found a distinctive platform in the African Indigenous Language Film Festival (AILFF), which he founded and directs.

AILFF celebrates indigenous-language cinema while creating space for conversations around cultural preservation, technology, audience development and the African creative economy.

In an era of artificial intelligence, the festival's focus on language and cultural ownership has taken on added significance, particularly as new technologies increasingly influence translation, dubbing, archiving and storytelling.

FROM NIGERIA TO THE CONTINENT

Stephen-Imobhio's work has also taken on a continental dimension.

As Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Nigerian Film Festival Association (NFFA) and Nigeria's Country Representative for the Film Africa Network (FAN), he is involved in efforts to connect Nigerian practitioners with filmmakers and creative professionals across Africa, encouraging collaboration, co-production, exchange and distribution.

His career has consequently crossed several boundaries—television and film, business and culture, entertainment and policy, Nigeria and Africa.

THE HIGHlife CONNECTION

Away from production and industry leadership, Stephen-Imobhio is also a Highlife singer and advocate of African heritage music.

His connection to music adds another layer to his understanding of African culture, particularly the role of rhythm, language and performance in preserving memory and identity.

THE NEXT ACT

At 60, Stephen-Imobhio continues to develop film and television projects through Oduma Creative Worx, expand AILFF and strengthen African industry networks.

His current interests sit at the intersection of indigenous-language cinema, digital distribution, artificial intelligence, cultural archives, creative-economy development and continental collaboration.

From television producer to entrepreneur, industry leader, festival founder and cultural advocate, his career reflects a life spent at the intersection of storytelling, enterprise and African cultural identity.

And the next chapter is already taking shape.