Zulumoke Oyibo
Zulumoke Oyibo | |
---|---|
Born | Zulumoke |
Nationality | Nigerian |
Occupation | Producer |
Notable work | Day of Destiny, The blood covenant, the Perfect Arrangement |
Zulumoke Oyibo Nigerian film producer, director, and media executive and one of the co-founders of Inkblot Productions[1] a leading film and television production company in Nigeria. Since 2015, Oyibo has produced and executive-produced numerous commercially successful and critically acclaimed Nollywood films. She made her directorial debut in 2024 with the psychological thriller The Betrayed. She is one of the women recognized in Variety Women's impact report 2022.[2]
Early Life and Education
Oyibo developed an interest in storytelling and film from a young age. She pursued a degree in law and was called to the Nigerian Bar after completing her studies at the Nigerian Law School between 2008 and 2009. Her legal background provided her with strategic and analytical skills that later contributed to her success in film production and entertainment entrepreneurship.
Career
Inkblot Productions
In 2010, Oyibo co-founded Inkblot Productions alongside Chinaza Onuzo, Damola Ademola, and Omotayo Adeola. The company quickly became one of the most influential studios in Nollywood, known for creating genre-diverse films that appeal to both domestic and international audiences. Inkblot has produced over 23 theatrical releases and multiple TV projects, many of which have ranked among the highest-grossing Nigerian films. Notable productions include The Wedding Party (2016), which became the highest-grossing Nollywood film at the time and was selected for the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) [9], as well as The Arbitration, The Set Up, Day of Destiny, and The Blood Covenant.
In December 2021, Inkblot signed a groundbreaking exclusive output deal [8] with Amazon Prime Video—the first of its kind in Africa—and also produced Netflix's first Nigerian original young adult series Far From Home, released in 2022.
Directorial Debut
In 2024, Oyibo made her directorial debut with The Betrayed, a psychological thriller exploring themes of secrets, betrayal, and emotional reckoning. The film stars Uche Montana, Gabriel Afolayan, Adunni Ade, Ibrahim Suleiman, Jemima Osunde, Vine Olugu, and Stephanie Zibili. With this debut, Oyibo became the third Inkblot co-founder to direct a feature film, joining Ademola and Onuzo in expanding their creative contributions beyond producing.
Advocacy and Initiatives
Zulumoke initiated The Inkblot Women In Film (IWIF) which aims to empower women working in the Nigerian film industry through mentorship, visibility, and advocacy.[3]She is also one of the co-hosts of Inkblot’s Meet & Greet, a podcast that features interviews with notable figures in Nigerian entertainment and offers industry insights for aspiring creatives and entrepreneurs.[4]
Recognition
Zulumoke’s contributions to Nigerian cinema have earned her several honors, including a feature in Variety’s 2022 Women’s Impact Report, which spotlighted influential women making global strides in film and media. She was also recognized by the Nigerian International Film Summit and the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture as part of the Eko Star Film and TV Awards for her achievements in advancing Nollywood.
Filmography
- The Department (2015)
- Out of Luck (2015)
- The Wedding Party (2016)
- The Arbitration (2016)
- My Wife and I (2017)
- The Wedding Party 2 (2017)
- New Money (2018)
- Moms at War (2018)
- Up North (2018)
- The Set Up 1 & 2 (2019, 2021)
- Love Is War (2019)
- Quam’s Money (2020)
- Charge and Bail (2021)
- Superstar (2021)
- The Blood Covenant (2022)
- The Perfect Arrangement (2022)
- Palava (2022)
- Far From Home (2022)
- No Way Through (2023)
- 840 Days (2022)
- The Betrayed (2024)
- Saving Onome (2024)
- Muri and Ko (2024)
- When Love Strikes (2024)
- Family Gbese (2024)
- A Lagos Love Story (2025)
As Director
The Betrayed (2024)
References
- ^ "Inkblot Productions marks 10 years of upscaling Nollywood". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2021-12-29. Retrieved 2022-12-14.
- ^ "Zulumoke Oyibo, Kate Winslet, Mo Abudu, Others Recognised In Variety's Women's Impact Report 2022". thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 2022-12-14.
- ^ Rapheal (2021-05-12). "Women group calls for better structure in Nollywood". The Sun Nigeria. Retrieved 2022-12-14.
- ^ "Naz, Zulu and Damola launch Inkblot meet and greet". Vanguard News. 2021-03-25. Retrieved 2022-12-14.