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US Consulate Honours RMD, Kunle Afolayan, Six Others for Strengthening Hollywood-Nollywood Link, Posthumously Honours Olu Jacobs for Driving Global Nollywood Expansion
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Published 10/14/2026 11:25:45 PM
US Consulate Honours RMD, Kunle Afolayan, Six Others for Strengthening Hollywood-Nollywood Link, Posthumously Honours Olu Jacobs for Driving Global Nollywood Expansion
Sunday Ehigiator
The United States Consulate General in Lagos has honoured celebrated Nigerian actor Richard Mofe-Damijo, popularly known as RMD, award-winning filmmaker Kunle Afolayan and six other creative industry leaders for their contributions to strengthening professional and commercial ties between Hollywood and Nollywood.
The recognition was presented at an event themed, ‘Reel Connections from Hollywood to Nollywood’, which brought together leading figures from Nigeria’s film and television industries, government officials, creative industry stakeholders and alumni of United States government exchange programmes.
The event also featured the posthumous presentation of the Creative Industry Legend Award to veteran actor, Olu Jacobs, in recognition of his career spanning more than five decades and his contributions to Nigerian cinema and international filmmaking.
Speaking at the event, the US Consul General, Brandon Hudspeth, described Nollywood as a growing source of content, talent and investment opportunities for American companies seeking to expand their engagement with African markets.
He noted that Nigerian stories and creative talents were increasingly reaching audiences in the United States and other parts of the world through streaming services and digital platforms, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+ and YouTube.
According to him, the expanding reach of Nigerian productions was creating new opportunities for collaboration, investment and access to international markets.
Hudspeth also highlighted the role of US government exchange programmes in building professional networks and strengthening relationships between Nigerian and American creative communities.
He identified the American Film Showcase, Global Media Makers and the International Visitor Leadership Program as initiatives that had connected Nigerian creative professionals with American filmmakers, producers, institutions and other industry leaders.
“U.S. government exchange programs are not simply about what happens during the exchange,” Hudspeth said.
“Their real impact is what happens when participants return home; the relationships they bring with them, the ideas they put into action, the creative collaborations they build, and the next generation they inspire.”
The US Consul General said such relationships had helped establish professional connections that continued to generate creative collaborations beyond the duration of the exchange programmes.
Paying tribute to Jacobs while presenting the posthumous award, Hudspeth described the late actor as one of Nigeria’s most celebrated screen personalities, whose career helped shape the country’s film industry and strengthen its connections with international cinema.
“Olu Jacobs’ life embodied the kind of creative exchange that continues to connect Nigeria’s film industry with the United States and the world,” he said.
Jacobs built a career spanning theatre, television and film, earning recognition for his performances in Nigerian productions as well as international cinema. His contribution to the industry, the consulate said, reflected the possibilities created by exchanges between creative communities across borders.
Other recipients of the recognition included Chioma Ude, founder and executive director of the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF); Kunle Afolayan; and Bolanle Austen-Peters, both of whom are alumni of the American Film Showcase’s African Film and Television Leadership Initiative.
RMD, an alumnus of the International Visitor Leadership Program, was also honoured alongside Zulu Oyibo, co-founder of Inkblot Productions and another alumnus of the programme.
The remaining honourees were award-winning producer Josh Olaoluwa, an alumnus of Global Media Makers, and Emmy Award-winning visual development artist Uzoma Dunkwu.
The recognition highlighted the contributions of Nigerian actors, filmmakers, producers and other creative professionals to expanding the international reach of Nollywood and strengthening its relationships with global entertainment industries.
The consulate said the relationships built through exchange programmes remained important to fostering collaboration, developing creative talent and connecting the Nigerian film industry with international markets.
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Jobberman Nigeria, Nigeria’s leading career development and recruitment solutions company, has launched ‘Her Next Move’, a campaign designed to empower young Nigerian women with practical skills and confidence to pursue career opportunities and participate more fully in the workforce.
Through free online training, the initiative supports women aged 18 to 35 as they prepare to enter the workplace, advance into better roles or explore freelance and gig work.
Built around the message ‘Your Future. Your Skills. Your Move’, the campaign places female inclusion at the centre of career development, encouraging women to take an active role in shaping their professional futures. It connects the ambition to progress with an accessible starting point: learning skills that can help women prepare for their next opportunity.
‘Her Next Move’ recognises that career progress looks different for every woman. For a graduate, it may mean preparing for a first job. For a woman already working, it may involve developing the skills to take on greater responsibility or pursue a new role. For another, it may mean understanding how to navigate freelance work and participate in the global gig economy. The campaign brings these aspirations together through a shared emphasis on learning, preparation and action.
This Initiative by Jobberman in partnership with Mastercard Foundation promotes two courses: Jobberman Soft Skills Training and Becoming a Successful Global Gig Worker. Both courses are free, with a free certificate upon successful completion.
Jobberman Soft Skills Training focuses on workplace readiness, helping participants build the professional skills needed to navigate work and prepare for career progression. Becoming a Successful Global Gig Worker introduces participants to the demands and opportunities of freelance and gig work, supporting women interested in exploring career paths beyond traditional employment.
By making the training and certification available at no cost, ‘Her Next Move’ reduces the financial barrier to participation and encourages more young women to invest in their professional development. Its focus extends from raising awareness of learning opportunities to helping participants follow through and complete their chosen course.
To bring the campaign to life, Jobberman is working with young creators who are sharing personal stories about ambition, career transitions and the role of learning in their journeys. Through videos, social media posts and follow-up conversations, the creators encourage young women to reflect on their own goals and identify the practical steps they can take towards them.
These stories are intended to make career development relatable, connecting everyday aspirations with opportunities to learn. Across the campaign, the question “What is your next move?” invites women to define progress for themselves and begin preparing for it.
‘Her Next Move’ reinforces Jobberman’s and Mastercard Foundation’s commitment to supporting career development and expanding access to learning for young Nigerian women. By combining free skills training with relatable storytelling and encouragement to take action, the campaign seeks to help more women feel prepared to pursue their ambitions.
