Niji Akanni: A Nigerian Filmmaker with a Vision
Niji Akanni Adeniji was born on August 12, 1962 in Abeokuta, Ogun State. He is a scriptwriter, co-scriptwriter, and director of many Nigerian films and reality shows.
Education
Akanni graduated from Obafemi Awolowo University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dramatic Arts and University of Ibadan with a master’s degree in Film Studies.
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Career and achievements
In 2012, Niji directed The Lion and the Jewel, a Nigerian play written by Wole Soyinka and first performed in 1959. That same year, he was an assistant director on the first season of Amstel Malta Box Office, a Nigerian reality TV show.
In 2006, he served as the Content Director on Big Brother Nigeria, which was the same year he co-scripted The Narrow Path, a 95-minute film directed by Tunde Kelani.
The film, which features Sola Asedeko and Khabirat Kafidipe, was adapted from The Virgin, a debut novel of Bayo Adebowale.
Abobaku won various awards, including Most Outstanding Short Film at the 2010 ZUMA Film Festival in Abuja, Nigeria; Best Costume at the 6th Africa Movie Academy Awards held on 10 April 2010 at the Gloryland Cultural Center in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. in Lagos, Nigeria at the 2010 TERRACOTTA Awards.
The film has won several prizes and it has been recognized at a couple of international film festivals.
