The Directors Guild of Nigeria has unveiled an eminent five member jury for the maiden edition of the DGN Awards of Excellence, bringing together leading figures in filmmaking, broadcasting, arts administration and the creative industries from across Africa and beyond.
The jury comprises internationally respected professionals whose expertise spans filmmaking, film regulation, broadcasting, festival adjudication, creative enterprise and global content production. Their appointment reflects the Guild’s commitment to establishing the DGN Awards as one of Africa’s most credible platforms for recognising excellence in directing and filmmaking.
Heading the jury is Dr Shaibu Husseini, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Film and Video Censors Board, an acclaimed film critic, culture journalist and communication scholar. He has served on the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) Selection Panel and International Jury, the Nigerian Oscar Selection Committee, and was a voting member of the Golden Globe Awards.
Joining him is internationally acclaimed actor, producer and director Hakeem Kae-Kazim, whose stellar career performances and credits include Hotel Rwanda, Pirates of the Caribbean, Black Sails, Roots, 24, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and productions for Netflix, BBC, Disney and Amazon.
The jury also includes celebrated actress, filmmaker and entrepreneur Ego Boyo, founder of Temple Productions and the Tempio Media Advocacy Foundation. With more than three decades of experience producing award-winning films, and demonstrating the power of storytelling as a tool for social impact and cultural transformation. She has served on international juries including Cannes Lions Film Craft, the Gerety Awards, the CAHR Awards and AFRIFF.
Also serving is distinguished South African creative executive Themba Sibeko, a writer, producer and director with more than twenty five years of experience and over one hundred film and television credits. His remarkable career includes collaborations with Danny Glover, Isaac Hayes and Bill Duke, co-financing the Oscar nominated Hotel Rwanda, serving on the International Emmy Board, and contributions to acclaimed productions including District 9.
Completing the panel is Patience Oghre Imobhio, one of Nigeria’s most respected film and television directors and producers, bringing more than two decades of experience in broadcast production and filmmaking.
Announcing the jury, Uche Agbo, President of the Directors Guild of Nigeria, said: “The DGN Awards will be defined by credibility, professionalism and artistic excellence. We have assembled a jury whose integrity, experience and achievements reflect the highest standards of our industry. Their expertise provides a strong foundation for an awards platform that will celebrate genuine excellence in filmmaking.”
The DGN Award is the Guild’s flagship initiative to recognise outstanding achievement in directing, filmmaking, innovation and leadership within Nigeria’s screen industry. By assembling an internationally respected jury with strong ties across Nollywood, Hollywood and the wider African creative community, the Guild reaffirms its commitment to raising professional standards and advancing Nigerian filmmaking on the global stage.
