Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, joined industry leaders Sunday night for the Lagos premiere of Osamede, which received a standing ovation ahead of its October 17 nationwide release.
The film represents a shift in African cinema: a superhero story told entirely in Edo, financed independently by Nigerian capital, and opening theatrically across Nigeria, the UK, and North America within three weeks.
The Genesis Cinema screening produced the film’s second standing ovation. The first came at the October 10 premiere in Edo State, where the story is set during the 1897 British invasion of the Benin Kingdom.
Executive producer Lilian Olubi, a board member of the Nigerian Exchange, produced the film after proving audience demand through 12 successful stage runs.
Director James Omokwe, a multiple AMVCA-winning filmmaker, reflected on what made the production successful. “Lilian believed in this story when it was just a stage play,” Omokwe said. “She saw what it could become on screen and refused to let obstacles stop that vision. When your producer and your actors all believe that deeply, your job as director becomes about protecting that belief and translating it to film.”
Lead actress Ivie Okujaye Egboh trained for weeks with an Edo language coach before production began. “The production team refused to compromise on authenticity,” she said. “Every word had to honour the language and the culture. That commitment raised everyone’s performance.”
William Benson, who plays the film’s antagonist, praised the production environment.
“The professionalism was exceptional,” Benson said. “When a team creates that kind of environment, you’re free to focus completely on the character and the story.”
Olubi, visibly moved, addressed her cast and crew from the stage.
“You believed in this story when it was just a dream,” she said. “This film exists because of your commitment to excellence.”
The minister’s attendance signals federal recognition of Nigeria’s creative sector as economic infrastructure.
With over 17 million Nigerians in the diaspora and growing international demand for authentic African narratives, films like Osamede represent both cultural diplomacy and revenue opportunities across multiple territories.
Shot on location in Fugar and Ososo, Edo State, with extensive cultural consultation, the film follows a young woman who discovers ancestral powers through a sacred stone.
