By Benjamin Njoku

Ino Moses Jonah, a filmmaker and director whose work has shaped stories across film, television, and documentary, is on a mission to turn Edo State into a burgeoning hub for Nigerian cinema. After years on movie sets and serving as Senior Special Assistant on Film Projects to the Edo State Government, Moses has built strong ties with local creators and contributed to the growth of the state’s creative sector.

His latest project, “Akate The Movie,” continues to resonate with theatre‑goers nationwide. The film explores irregular migration, corruption, gender injustice, family loyalty, and human resilience—issues that also featured in his earlier commissioned works such as “Nana” (ROK TV Original), “Gbege,” and “Mechanic Diary.”

“Akate The Movie”, according to him,  unites mainstream Nollywood icons, Edo‑based veterans, content creators, comedians, and youth creatives, sparking renewed cultural pride among Edo audiences. Recently, the Akate team—led by Moses alongside lead actor/producer King Zina and comedian Funny P (HomeofLafta)—completed a record‑setting three‑cinema tour across Lagos, covering Blue Pictures (Onikan), Nova Cinema (Sangotedo), and Skymall Cinema (Lekki), drawing strong audience engagement for a regional film.

With Edo’s creative sector expanding organically, Ino Moses is now advocating for structured investment in film‑production studios, local cinema expansion, and creative‑training centres. He notes that the creative industry can employ thousands of young people while driving significant revenue for the state. As he puts it, “What we need now is coordinated support from government, private investors, and development partners to transform Edo into a major film hub.”