From boardroom to Nollywood, Ekezie set to redefine Nigeria’s film industry

By Eniola Daniel

After 20 years in the banking sector, storyteller and creative, Ogochukwu Ekezie, has announced that she’s on a journey to redefine filmmaking in Nigeria and create movies that would stand the test of time: Elevate African storytelling through movies that not only entertain but also stir the conscience.

This is coming as she announced the launch of her studio, Red Sand Studios and a short film, Were (Mad).

Before founding Red Sand Studios, Ekezie spent the first act of her career as a business executive and CMO telling brand stories through award-winning campaigns that delivered results, won new audiences and penetrated market segments.

With over 25 years of experience and a track record of success as a seasoned professional, business executive and board member, Ekezie’s vision for Red Sand Studios is to set new standards for quality storytelling and professionalism in Nollywood.

Speaking on how she started her journey, she said: “I informed my parents about my decision to move to Nigeria after I graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park and told them my interest in opening a cinema but they told me that nobody watches movies in Nigeria but six months after I moved back to Nigeria, Silverbird Cinema opened.

“Red Sand Studio was birthed out of my passion for telling Nigerian stories; I believe that Nigeria has a lot of stories yet to be told and I think it’s the right time to tell them.

“When people ask what can be done differently, my response is the film industry has been making movies for decades. Still, technology is changing and the way we consume entertainment is changing. Fundamentally, I want to be able to tell our stories and tell them well. I want to tell our stories in a way that will transcend borders and barriers, and that is what Afrobeats has done for Nigeria; what we struggle within Nollywood is maintaining authenticity and executing our stories in the real essence of who we are.”