Nancy Isime has spent more than a decade as one of Nigeria’s most recognisable faces. With Loving Itohan, in cinemas nationwide from 6 November. She steps behind the camera for the first time. It is her very first project as an executive producer, made through her company, NIP Studios.
For a star of her profile, that is a big move. An executive producer shares in the risk and the key decisions, from story to casting to how the film is sold. It reflects a wider shift in Nigerian entertainment, where top talent increasingly wants a stake in the value it creates.
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The GREOH factor
The film comes from GREOH Studios, founded by Jade Osiberu, the filmmaker behind Gangs of Lagos, the first Nigerian original on Prime Video. In 2022, Osiberu became the first talent in Africa to sign an overall deal with Prime Video. GREOH has built its name on bold, audacious stories of every kind, from comedy and action to crime and drama.
With Loving Itohan, it turns that ambition inward to the complex emotions that make us human. The collaboration also continues Osiberu’s support of emerging voices, following Kayode Kasum (Sugar Rush) and Loukman Ali (Brotherhood), and now director Orobosa Ikponmwen.
A market that rewards the right story
Nigeria’s box office grossed N15.64 billion in 2025, up 28 per cent, with Nollywood taking almost half of all revenue. First-quarter admissions in 2026 hit a six-year high, and this year’s takings are projected to pass N20 billion. But with tickets costing more, audiences are choosier, and films live or die on word of mouth.
Why it has the makings of a hit
Loving Itohan starts out like a classic love story, then becomes something much bigger: a film about grief, family and the kind of love that survives loss. Those themes land in today’s Nigeria, where many families are under pressure, and a lot goes unsaid. Add Isime and Uzor Arukwe in the leads, a strong supporting cast including newcomer Obehi Aburime, and polished cinematography, and it is exactly the kind of film people recommend to their friends.
This is only the beginning. We can’t wait to see more from Nancy Isime and NIP Studios.
Loving Itohan is in cinemas nationwide from 6 November 2026. Directed by Orobosa Ikponmwen; produced by Emmanuel Izuoba; executive produced by Nancy Isime.
Head of Sports at BusinessDay Media, a seasoned Digital Content Producer, and FIFA/CAF Accredited Journalist with over a decade of sports reporting.Has a deep understanding of the Nigerian and global sports landscape and skills in delivering comprehensive and insightful sports content.
