Nigerian Film Maker Niyi Akinmolayan Biography & Net Worth (See Details)

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Nigerian Film Maker Niyi Akinmolayan Biography & Net Worth (See Details)

Niyi Akinmolayan is a Nigerian film-maker, director and media consultant. He is best known for directing the highest grossing Nigerian film of all time, The Wedding Party 2, which starred Banky Wellington, Adesua Etomi and Enyinna Nwigwe; it was a sequel to the equally successful film The Wedding Party. 

Niyi Akinmolayan is a renowned Nigerian film-maker, director and media consultant, best known for directing the best selling Nigerian film of all time, The Wedding Party 2.

Akinmolayan hails from Ondo State, in South Western Nigeria.

Educational Background

He is a graduate in Electrical and Electronics Engineering at the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos.

His Career

At the early part of his professional career, Akinmolayan worked as a graphic designer, website designer, and an apprentice to Nollywood filmmakers. It was during this period, he began his journey into video editing, animations, after effects and visual effects.

The veteran made his debut film titled Kajola, released in 2010. It was an experiment in visual effects, but was panned by film makers and critics alike.

Akinmolayan also set up his production company, Anthill Productions in 2008, which provided the visual effects for the movie Kajola.

In 2014, he directed the Nigerian dance movie, ‘Make a Move’ which starred Ivie Okujaye, Tina Mba, Beverly Naya, Wale Adebayo, Victor Godfrey, Helga Sosthenes and Eno Ekpenyong. The movie was nominated for the 2015 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards for Best Movie (Drama).

In 2015, Akinmolayan also directed the movies ‘Falling’, featuring Adesua Etomi, Desmond Elliot and Blossom Chukwujekwu, and ‘Out of Luck’ which featured Linda Ejiofor, Tope Tedela and Jide Kosoko.

The movie was very successful and earned Akinmolayan a nomination for Best Director at the 2016 Nigeria Entertainment Awards. The lead actress Adesua Etomi, won the award for Best Actress at the 2016 edition of Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards for her role in Falling.

The highly creative and talented Akinmolayan has a long list of Nollywood movies produced and directed by his production company, some of which include:

• Kajola (2010)

• Make a Move (2014)

• Falling (2015)

• Plaything (2016)

• The Arbitration (2017)

• The Wedding Party 2 (2017)

• Chief Daddy (2018)

• The Set Up (2019)

• Elevator Baby also in (2019).

In December 2016, Akinmolayan released a short film titled Plaything a 3D animated movie, which was premiered at the FilmOne IMAX Cinema in Lagos to rave reviews.

In 2017, his movie The Arbitration featuring O.C Ukeje and Adesua Etomi was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Following the success of The Arbitration, Akinmolayan began a competition on his blog for prospective writers, receiving over 300 entries. It led to the production of the short film Room 315.

In 2017, due to the successful reception of Plaything, Akinmolayan produced an animated series in collaboration with Friesland Campina

The versatile filmmaker shot EbonyLife film’s ‘Chief Daddy’, which is currently in the cinemas. The movie was said to have grossed over N100 million since its release in December, 2018.

His Net Worth

Niyi Akinmolayan is indeed a household name in the Nigerian film and animation industry, rated one of the richest and most influential with a net worth of about $1 million dollars.