Dayo Ajifowoke
Dayo Ajifowoke | |
|---|---|
| Born | Dayo Ajifowoke 16 February 1989 Lagos State, Nigeria |
| Citizenship | Nigerian |
| Education | Obafemi Awolowo University |
| Occupation | Film Producer |
| Years active | 2014 – present |
| Spouse | Ajifowoke Olamide Oladele |
| Children | 1 |
Ajifowoke Kazeem Dayo (born 16 February 1989) is a Nigerian filmmaker and producer[1] recognized for his contributions to African cinema through his company, Face of Africa Media Concept. His films, May 29[2][3] and Depth of Us,[4][5] have received international acclaim, screened on major airlines, and appeared on multiple global streaming platforms.
Early life
Ajifowoke was born and raised in Mushin, Lagos, Nigeria. He attended Oduabore Memorial Primary School and Ajumoni Senior Secondary School, both located in Lagos State.[6] After completing secondary school, he worked briefly with Harvest Food Limited before proceeding to Kwara State Polytechnic, where he obtained a National Diploma (ND) in Public Administration.
During his Industrial Training, he worked at Powergas Energy Resources, gaining experience in corporate administration and management. He later advanced his education, earning a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration and a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University Ile Ife.
Career
Ajifowoke began his professional film career after founding Face of Africa Media Concept in 2014, a production and distribution company committed to promoting authentic African stories globally.
He produced his debut feature, May 29 (2019), which won Best Film and Best Director at the Zuma Film Festival and also received an award at the Phare International Film Festival (Mauritius). The film is currently streaming on major platforms including AfrolandTV, Congatv, CircuitTV, AccelerateTV, RokTV, AirtelTV, and BingeReelzTV (USA), and was licensed for in-flight entertainment by Kenya Airways and Turkish Airlines.
In 2024, he produced Depth of Us, a feature film that was nominated for several awards and won Best Nollywood Drama at the Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival (TINFF).[7][8][9] Depth Of Us was a finalist at the YORA International Film Awards (Kenya) and International Black & Diversity Film Festival (Canada).[10] The film premiered on the airline Emirates and was officially screened at the Moonlight Film Festival, London, as part of Nigeria Week UK 2025.
Ajifowoke maintains a strong business partnership with Omax Media House, led by Amanda Chinda, who executive-produced Depth of Us, with brand integration sponsorship from Strix. He also collaborates with African and international filmmakers to promote co-production, mentorship, and global distribution of African content including films from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Cameroon, and South Africa.
Ajifowoke was honoured with a certificate of recognition by the Mayor of Brampton, Patrick Brown (Canadian politician) for his outstanding contributions to film, storytelling, and cultural exchange[11][12]
Awards and recognition
Dayo Ajifowoke is a movie producer. Ajifowoke's Depth of us won best nollywood drama at the Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival (TINFF) in September, 2024[13]
A list of Dayo's awards include
- Best Film and Best Director - Zuma Film Festival (2019)
- Best Feature Production - Phare Film Festival, Mauritius (2021)
- Best Nollywood Drama Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival (TINFF), Canada (2024)
- Finalist - YORA International Film Awards, Kenya (2025)
- Finalist International Black & Diversity Film Festival, Canada (2025) Official Selection Moonlight Film Festival, London (2025)
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Depth Of Us | Producer[14] | |
| 2020 | May 29 Film | Producer[15] |
See also
References
- ^ OlajideHatchYoung (2025-11-03). "Dayo Ajifowoke's 'Depth of Us' Wins Heart Beyond Africa -". Retrieved 2025-11-10.
- ^ "May 29 - Nollywire". 2023-07-05. Retrieved 2025-11-10.
- ^ May 29, Face Of Africa Media Concept, retrieved 2025-11-10
- ^ Nwafor (2025-11-09). "Dayo Ajifowoke's 'Depth of Us' Gains International Acclaim". Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 2025-11-10.
- ^ Depth of Us (2024) | Drama. Retrieved 2025-11-10 – via m.imdb.com.
- ^ "Ajifowoke Kazeem Dayo | Producer, Writer". IMDb. Retrieved 2025-11-10.
- ^ africanvoice (2024-09-21). "Nollywood drama 'depth of us' wins best drama at Toronto International Nollywood film festival (TINFF)". African Voice Newspaper. Retrieved 2025-11-10.
- ^ "Nigerian Cinema Dominates Nominations for TINFF 2024 Edition - Nollywood Reporter". 2024-07-12. Retrieved 2025-11-10.
- ^ BellaNaija.com (2024-07-06). "Sharon Ooja, Pete Edochie, Uzor Arukwe & Others Up For TINFF 2024 Awards | See Full Nominations List". BellaNaija. Retrieved 2025-11-10.
- ^ "Dayo Ajifowoke's 'Depth of Us' Wins Heart Beyond Africa". This Day. Retrieved 2025-11-10.
- ^ Abulude, Samuel (2026-01-23). "Brampton Honours Nigerian Filmmaker Dayo Ajifowoke For Global Impact In African Cinema". Leadership.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Admin. "Brampton Honours Nigerian Filmmaker Dayo Ajifowoke For Global Impact In African Cinema". reubenabati.com.ng. Retrieved 2026-02-16.
- ^ africanvoice (2024-09-21). "Nollywood drama 'depth of us' wins best drama at Toronto International Nollywood film festival (TINFF)". African Voice Newspaper. Retrieved 2025-11-10.
- ^ Ayo Onikoyi (2025-11-09). "Dayo Ajifowoke's 'Depth of Us' Gains International Acclaim". Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 2025-11-09.
- ^ "May 29 | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 2025-11-11.