*Says, My mission is to make Edo the next African film destination

By Benjamin Njoku

Ino Moses Jonah may not be a household name yet, but he is unquestionably a force to reckon with in the Nigerian film industry.

The Edo-born filmmaker’s journey began in theatre and storytelling before evolving into professional film and television production. A graduate of Mass Communication from Kogi State University, and trained in Film and Television Production at the NTA Television College, Jos, Jonah has steadily built a reputation as one of Nollywood’s dependable creative minds.
His portfolio includes work on productions such as “NANA,” “Gbege’ and “Mechanic Diary.” He has also written, directed, and produced cinema releases including “Almost” and “Akate.”
For Jonah, storytelling is more than entertainment, it’s a tool for influence.
“I have always been fascinated by storytelling,” he said. “I realized that through film, I could speak to people I might never physically meet. A filmmaker can take an audience into another person’s reality, expose an issue, preserve culture, educate people, and still entertain them. That power keeps me passionate.”
Through his company, Ojoru Media, Jonah is focused not just on making films, but on building opportunities for other creatives. His bigger vision is to position Edo State as a film destination in Africa. “Edo is rich in culture, history, locations, talent, and stories,” he said. “What we need is a stronger ecosystem: investment, production infrastructure, training, distribution, cinema expansion, and partnerships between government and the private sector. The creative industry can create thousands of jobs if we build the right structures.”
Jonah also echoes veteran filmmaker Tunde Kelani’s call for the industry to embrace technology. He has trained creatives on the practical use of AI in filmmaking. “AI can assist with ideation, research, script development, dialogue, and production planning,” he noted.
“My position is simple: AI should equip the storyteller to tell bolder and smarter stories, not replace the human creativity that makes storytelling meaningful.”

He believes film must also speak to society. In Almost, he addressed irregular migration and the struggles of young Nigerians. In “Akate”, he explored migration, betrayal, cultism, family, identity, and redemption, while centering Edo culture. “Akate was one of the biggest projects of my journey,” he said. “It was not just about making another movie. It was about telling an Edo story at a scale that could travel beyond Edo. I want audiences to see that stories from any community in Nigeria can compete and spark conversations nationally and internationally.”

For Ino Moses Jonah, the mission remains clear: “Tell stories that matter, build people who matter, and leave the creative industry better than I met it. Filmmaking is life, and in making a film, you must give the script the lens to life.”