Opeyemi Akeem Megida, a young filmmaker from Ejinrin, Epe, Lagos State, is fast becoming a rising voice in Nigeria’s film industry after benefiting from two major scholarships that helped transform his childhood passion for storytelling into a professional career.
In 2022, Megida won a scholarship from the Lagos State Government to study Digital Filmmaking at the Del-York Creative Academy.
Two years later, he was selected by the Mastercard YAPPI (Young Africa Professionals and Innovators) programme, for a course in Post-Production at the same institution.
“These scholarships changed everything for me,” Megida said. “They gave me access to professional training and helped me believe that I belong in this industry, even though I didn’t start with any formal film education.”
Before these life-changing opportunities, Megida had taught himself the basics of filmmaking by moving from one production set to another, attending free seminars, and volunteering on projects, often for no pay.
“I started from the street level,” he said. “I learned editing just so I could understand what happens behind the scenes. I didn’t have money for film school, but I had passion and curiosity.”
Megida’s journey has been anything but smooth. After completing secondary school at Government College, Ketu-Epe, financial difficulties prevented him from continuing his education immediately. Undeterred, he decided to learn a skill.
“I wanted something that allowed me to tell stories and entertain people,” he said. “Filmmaking was the perfect path for me.”
His interest in film began at an early age. “As a child, I would perform the Egungun dance for my aunt whenever she visited. I loved entertaining people,” he recalled. “Later, I became fascinated by the effects in home videos. I would sit and wonder: how did they do that?”
Now armed with formal training and practical experience, Megida has set his sights on building a meaningful career that balances creativity with commercial viability.
“As a director, you want to bring a creative vision to life. But to be an executive producer, you also need capital. Some directors even take loans to fund their projects,” he noted. “So it’s important to make stories that are not just beautiful but also marketable, stories people will want to invest in.”
To strengthen his understanding of public service and leadership, key themes in his films, Megida enrolled in the National Diploma programme in Public Administration at The Polytechnic Ibadan.
“I believe that understanding how society works helps you tell better stories,” he said.
He is especially drawn to issues affecting Nigerian youths, including drug abuse, cybercrime, and economic hardship, and believes film can help change the narrative.
“We can’t ignore the problems facing young people today. But I also want to show the richness of our culture, our values, and our resilience,” Megida said. “There are so many untold stories in Nigeria, stories that can shape minds and inspire change.”
The young filmmaker credits industry veterans like Tunde Kelani, Abbey Lanre, Adebayo Tijani, Emem Isong, Kunle Afolayan, and Kemi Adetiba as major influences.
Looking ahead, Megida said he is committed to telling impactful stories that reflect the Nigerian experience.
“I won’t be distracted from telling stories that matter,” he said. “I want to create films that make people think, feel, and act, stories that celebrate who we truly are as Africans.”
With his eyes set on directing, producing, and ultimately building his own studio, Megida says his journey is just beginning.
“I believe in myself,” he said with quiet conviction. “And I believe the world will soon see what I’m capable of.”
