Lagos unveils first AI film starring Richard Mofe-Damijo, others

The Lagos State government has announced the release date of Africa’s first Tech/AI themed feature film “Makemation” featuring Richard Mofe-Damijo, Shaffy Bello, Tony Umez, Ibrahim Chatta, Toyin Afolayan, and Ali Nuhu, among others.

Makemation is Africa’s first feature film that spotlights the fast rising impact of its youth, especially girls.

It showcases how they leverage artificial intelligence and technological innovations to tackle some of the continent’s most pressing challenges.

Makemation is a coming of age drama that takes a deep dive into the life of a young girl from a low-income community in Lagos. A journey fraught with twists and turns, but despite the hardships, she is brilliant, determined, and unstoppable.

A feature film that promises to pull it’s audience into a stream of emotions while provoking thought. It merges with a universal theme of hope further highlighting how innovation can catalyze change—transforming poverty from an enduring issue into a challenge of the past.

A statement released by the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Sunday, said the film will be aired in cinemas across Nigeria on Easter weekend, April 18, 2025.

Sanwo-Olu believes that prioritising the growth of Nigeria’s creative industry is crucial for Lagos State development.

“We have consistently prioritised the growth of our creative industry and believe that fostering creativity and innovation is crucial for our state’s development,” he wrote on his X handle.

According to the Lagos State governor, supporting initiatives like this does not just promote talented filmmakers and artists but also showcases the immense potential technology has in storytelling.

“By supporting initiatives like this, we aim to promote our talented filmmakers and artists while showcasing technology’s immense potential in storytelling,” he said.

He further stated that this move will be a catalyst in building a vibrant creative ecosystem that entertains, drives economic growth and positions Lagos as a leading hub for arts in Africa.

“Together, we are building a vibrant creative ecosystem that entertains, drives economic growth, and positions Lagos as a leading hub for the arts in Africa,” he wrote.

Makemation examines the intersection of human experience and artificial intelligence.