Femi Odugbemi (b. 24 May 1963) is a Nigerian writer, filmmaker, television producer and the founder and executive producer of Zuri24 Media, a content production company in Lagos, Nigeria.
Odugbemi attended Government Demonstration School, Onitolo for his primary education and Apostolic Church Grammar School for his secondary education all in Surulere.[2] At 16, Odugbemi set out to study broadcast communication with specialisation in film, radio and television production at Montana State University (MSU) from 1979 to 1984.[2][4][5] While in the US, he worked as a producer at KUSM Channel 9 in Bozeman, Montana.[1] Odugbemi was posted to Kaduna for Youth Service program to work at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Kaduna where he worked from 1985 to 1986.[6]
Career
After graduating, Odugbemi returned to Nigeria and worked briefly at the Nigerian Television Authority before proceeding to work as a radio and television producer at Lintas Advertising and deputy creative director at TBB-McCann. He wrote plays, documentaries and commercials in these positions.[1][3]
Odugbemi was the president of the Independent Television Producers Association of Nigeria (ITPAN), the chair of the Lagos International Forum on Cinema, Motion Pictures and Video in Africa from 2002 to 2006. He was also appointed to the Steering Committee of the Motion Picture Council of Nigeria (MOPICON) by the Minister of Information and Communication in the same year.[1]: 125
He is a member of the adversary board of the School of Media and Communications, Pan African University, a member of the board of Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts (LAPA) and the international advisor and consultant of the Orange Academy, Lagos.[1]: 125
In March 2010, Odugemi co-founded the iRepresent International Documentary Film Festival with Jahman Anikulapo and Makin Soyinka. He is also the founder of Dvwork Studios and the executive producer and chief executive officer of Zuri24 Media.[3][7] Odugbemi served as the pioneer director of the Multichoice Talent Factory for West Africa from 2018 to 2022.[7] He received the Film Excellence Award from the Society of the Performing Arts of Nigeria in November 2013, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Nigerian Film Corporation in 2018.[11]
Odugbemi has produced movie such as Marako (2006),[19]Abobaku (2008), a 16mmcelluloid film directed by Niji Akanni. The film served as Nigeria's entry into the MNet's New Directions project in 2008,[20]Gidi Blues (2016),[21]4th Estate (2017),[22]Code Wilo (2018)[22] and The Eve (2018);[23] documentaries such as:[7][1]Life in Lagos (2003), Bar Beach Blues (2004), Oui Voodoo (2005), Metamorphosis (2006), Ibadan-Cradle of Literati (2008), Bariga Boys (2009), Oriki (2010), Change Today (2010), Keeping Hope Alive (2010), And the Chain was Not: The Story of Freedom Park Lagos (2010), The Orange Chronicle (2010), Nigeria Good People, Great Nation (2011), A Beautiful Life: Tribute to Tavo Aderinokun (2011), FAGUNWA: Literature, Language and Literalism (2013), MAKOKO: Futures Afloat (2016), Unmasked: Leadership, Trust and the COVID-19 (2021).
