At a recent ceremony in Lagos, the [U.S. Consulate General in Lagos](https://lagos.usconsulate.gov/) honoured eight Nigerian filmmakers, actors and creative professionals for expanding commercial collaboration between [Hollywood](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollywood) and [Nollywood](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nollywood). The event, titled “Reel Connections from Hollywood to Nollywood,” recognised the contributions of both established and emerging talents.
The posthumous Creative Industry Legend Award was presented to the late Olu Jacobs, received by his sons. Other awardees included Chioma Ude, founder and Executive Director of the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF); veteran actor Richard Mofe‑Damijo; directors Kunle Afolayan and Bolanle Austen‑Peters; Inkblot Productions co‑founder Zulu Oyibo; producer Josh Olaoluwa; and Emmy‑winning visual‑development artist Uzoma Dunkwu.
[Brandon Hudspeth](https://www.state.gov/), the U.S. Consul General, praised Nollywood’s rapid growth, noting that the industry now supplies a steady stream of content, talent and investment prospects for U.S. companies targeting African markets. He added that Nigerian stories are reaching U.S. and global audiences through platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple TV+ and YouTube, opening new avenues for co‑production and market entry.
Hudspeth highlighted the lasting influence of U.S. government exchange programmes – the American Film Showcase, Global Media Makers and the International Visitor Leadership Program – in forging professional networks between Nigerian and American creators. “U.S. government exchange programmes are not simply about what happens during the exchange,” he said. “Their real impact is what happens when participants return home – the relationships they bring, the ideas they act on, the collaborations they launch, and the next generation they inspire.”
The ceremony also noted that Damijo is an alumnus of the International Visitor Leadership Program, while Afolayan and Austen‑Peters graduated from the American Film Showcase’s African Film & TV Leadership Initiative. Oyibo likewise participated in the IVLP, and Olaoluwa is a Global Media Makers alumnus.