Entertainment
Showcasing Seven Bankable Nollywood Actors
Nigeria movie industry popularly called “Nollywood” is the world’s third largest movie industry after Hollywood of America and Bollywood of India. The multibillion dollar make belief industry has created great opportunities for the cast and crew. In Nigeria alone we have millions of people who love Nollywood movies and that is the source of their wealth.
The industry also creates employment for many unemployed youths, generates revenue to government as well as wealth and fame for the hardworking practioners.
This week we present to you, seven of the most bankable actors whose exploits in the industry have turned them to celebrities and they are living the life to the fullest.
Richard Mofe Damijo: RMD as he is popularly called, is a Nigerian A-List actor who has featured in many block buster movies throughout his acting career, not to mention a good number of endorsement deals from the biggest companies in the country. He is certainly on top of his game.
Some of his favourite movies are: Amala, Diamond Ring, Violated, Hostages out of Bound, and Keeping Faith, etc.
John Okafor: Since his role in “Mr Ibu” in 2004, his acting career took off, meanwhile the name Mr Ibu stuck. His comedic touch to his roles had made him a household favourite. He is one of the biggest actors in Nollywood.
Among his favourite movies are: Mr Ibu in London, 9 Wives, Mr Ibu, Police Recruit, Keziah, Most Wanted, Kidnappers, Love Wahala, Desperate Poor Man, etc.
Desmond Elliot: Desmond Elliot has starred in and directed many Nollywood movies before venturing into politics back in 2014, but before politics he was arguably one of Nollywood’s most famous faces and still is. Some of his movies are: Unveil, Tatu, Esohe, A Time to Hill, Prophet Nebu, Perfect Strangers, 3 Is A Crowd, Atlas, Hire a Man, The Silver Spoon, etc. It’s no wonder he made the list.
Nkem Owoh: Also known as “Osuofia”, Owoh has become one of the main faces in Nollywood since the 80s. His comical roles have taken him far and wide with many roles as well as making him one of Nollywood’s most bankable actors.
He has starred in: Spanner, Osuofia in London, Stronger Than Pain, True Story The Master, Ukwa, etc.
Jim Iyke: Apart from being one of the most sought after Nollywood actors, Jim Iyke also has a number of other business ventures that have made him quite rich, from a water company to a clothing line. The business main-actor has done well for himself. He is also fondly called the Nollywood bad boy.
Among his popular movies are Last Flight To Abuja, American Driver, Between Kings and Queens, Games Men Play, Palace War, etc.
Ramson Nouah: He is Nollywood’s Lover Boy. Nouah soared to fame from his romantic roles. Acting since 1993, he has established himself as an A list actor and also made himself quite a fortune.
He has featured in: My Wife and I, Deranged, Body Language, Death of the Sheik, The Accidental Spy, (all in 2017), etc.
Yul Edochie: He is the son of veteran Nollywood actor, Pete Edochie. He has starred in numerous Nollywood movies including Wind of Glory, Rain of Hope, The Bride Is Mine, Testimonies of Pain, The End is Near, Olamma, The Cripple, etc.
Funke Akindele’s Behind The Scenes becomes Nollywood’s highest-grossing film of 2025, earning ?1.77bn in under four weeks.
Multi-award-winning actress and producer Funke Akindele has done it again, and this time, the numbers speak louder than applause.
Her latest film, Behind The Scenes, has officially emerged as the highest-grossing Nollywood film of 2025, pulling in an astonishing ?1.767 billion in less than four weeks.
The Tide Entertainment reports that Funke Akindele Makes Box Office History as Behind The Scenes Crosses ?1.77bn
Earlier in its release cycle, the film’s distributor, FilmOne Entertainment, revealed that Behind The Scenes smashed five opening-weekend records, including the highest single-day gross ever recorded on Boxing Day, with ?129.5 million in one day. That announcement already hinted that something unusual was unfolding.
Reacting to the milestone, FilmOne described the moment as both surreal and communal, crediting audience loyalty for pushing the film to the top spot once again as the number-one movie of the weekend. And that sentiment feels accurate. This wasn’t just ticket sales; it was momentum.
What makes this achievement even more striking is that Behind The Scenes is Funke Akindele’s third film to cross the ?1 billion mark. Before now, there was A Tribe Called Judah, and then Everybody Loves Jenifa, a film that didn’t just open big, but went on to become the highest-grossing Nollywood film of all time. At this point, it’s no longer a fluke. It’s a pattern.
Part of Behind The Scenes’ success lies in strategy. The film enjoyed advanced screenings on December 10 and 11, quietly building curiosity and conversation before its nationwide release on December 12. By the time it officially hit cinemas, audiences already felt like they needed to see it.
Then there’s the cast. The film brings together a lineup that feels deliberately stacked: Scarlet Gomez, Iyabo Ojo, Destiny Etiko, Tobi Bakre, Uche Montana, and several others. Familiar faces, strong fan bases, and performances that kept word-of-mouth alive long after opening weekend.
Still, beyond timing and casting, there’s something else at work here. Funke Akindele understands Nigerian audiences. Their humour, their pacing, their emotional buttons. She doesn’t guess, she calculates, experiments, listens, and refines. That understanding has slowly turned into box-office dominance.
Behind The Scenes crossing ?1.77 billion isn’t just another headline; it’s confirmation. Funke Akindele has moved from being a successful actress to becoming one of the most reliable commercial forces Nollywood has ever produced. Three-billion-naira films don’t happen by luck. They happen when storytelling, business sense, and audience trust align.
And right now, that alignment seems firmly in her hands.
Popular Nigerian music stars, Adekunle Kosoko, widely known as Adekunle Gold, and his wife, Simi, have become parents again this time to twins.
The award-winning singer shared the joyful update on his Snapchat story on Wednesday, confirming the expansion of their family.
“Asked God for another child and he blessed me double,” she wrote.
While the couple has not yet disclosed the gender of the newborns, the announcement has sparked an outpouring of warm wishes from admirers, fellow celebrities, and industry colleagues.
Speculation had intensified in December when Simi posted a video on Instagram accompanied by the caption, “From my baby, for my babies.”
The clip showed her with a growing baby bump, fueling anticipation that another child was on the way.
Their latest blessings arrive just weeks after Simi highlighted a scene from Adekunle Gold’s newly released music video, “My Love is the Same,” further stirring excitement among fans.
The Tide Entertainment reports that Adekunle Gold and Simi who tied the knot in 2019 after a long history of friendship and musical synergy remain one of Nigeria’s most admired entertainment power couples. Both artistes were once signed to X3M Music before soaring into mainstream acclaim.
The pair welcomed their first child, Adejare Kosoko, fondly called Deja, in May 2020.
After closing out 2025 with the release of “Praise the Lord” featuring Magnito, Jesse Flames enters the new year with renewed clarity and purpose, continuing to build a body of work rooted in intention rather than noise. In a moment where Afrobeats is moving faster and louder than ever, his approach remains measured and deliberate, prioritizing meaning, craft, and longevity over momentary attention. The official music video arrives January 10.
Following the momentum of his breakout single “FLEX,” “Praise the Lord” represents a shift from celebration to grounding. Reflective and soulful, the record centers gratitude, growth, and perspective, capturing a quieter confidence that resonates beyond a single moment.
“This song is about recognizing the full picture,” Jesse shares. “The work people see and the work they don’t. The lessons, the setbacks, the growth.”
The collaboration with Magnito, a respected voice in Nigerian hip hop known for his sharp lyricism and cultural authenticity, adds depth and weight to the record, reinforcing its themes of resilience, faith, and self reflection.
Released in December at the height of Detty December, “Praise the Lord” became a natural soundtrack for both celebration and reflection as the year came to a close. With the video arriving in January, the record takes on new meaning, opening the year as a tone setter rather than a reset.
Born in the United States, raised in Festac, Lagos, and now based in London, Jesse Flames brings a global perspective to his sound, blending Afrobeats, hip hop, and melodic soul into something sleek and intentional. His music reflects lived experience and cultural nuance rather than trend chasing.
The Tide Entertainment reports that with over 11 million streams, performances at O2 Brixton Academy and OVO Arena Wembley, and coverage from The Guardian and Business Post Nigeria, Jesse’s rise has been steady and self made. Looking ahead to 2026 and 2027, he is preparing for collaborations with Ice Prince, M.I Abaga, and Smurlee.
“Praise the Lord” ft. Magnito is available now on all streaming platforms.
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