Rogers Ofime Biography
Rogers Ofime is a Nigerian born, Canada based filmmaker, television producer and director whose work has shaped the landscape of Nigerian television and film for more than two decades. He is widely recognised as the producer behind some of the longest running and most watched series on the continent, including the landmark daily soap Tinsel, the family sitcom The Johnsons, and the Showmax telenovela Wura. His approach to multi camera studio production, consistent storytelling and large scale project management has set benchmarks that many later productions have followed.
Rogers Ofime Early Life and Background
Born on 10 March 1973 in Lagos State, Nigeria, Ofime grew up in the Ebute Metta area of Lagos. He completed primary education at St. Paul’s Primary School in 1985 and secondary school at Iponri Grammar School in 1991. From a young age he showed interest in performance. At six he was already running errands and appearing alongside the late Sam Loco Efe, an experience that sparked a lasting love for theatre and storytelling.
He pursued formal training at Obafemi Awolowo University, earning a Certificate in Drama in 1994 and a Certificate in Music in 1996. In 2000 he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Dramatic Arts. He later obtained a Master of Arts in Theatre Arts from the University of Ibadan in 2004, completing the programme at a high academic standard. Years later, after relocating, he added a certificate in Business Administration from Robertson College in Canada in 2016. Mentors such as Tade Ogidan and Erika Klopper played important roles in guiding his early professional steps. He has also cited Richard Mofe Damijo among those whose work inspired him.
Rogers Ofime Career Journey
Ofime entered the industry in 2001 as a television production manager in Lagos, handling movies, series and commercials. By 2005 he had joined the South Africa based company Sky Sweeper Films, where he produced successful television commercials. The experience opened doors to larger opportunities.
In 2007 M Net recruited him to produce the daily soap opera Tinsel for the Africa Magic platform. The project required coordinating a crew of about 120, 15 recurring actors and hundreds of supporting performers. Tinsel became one of the most viewed series across Africa, airing in dozens of countries and establishing Ofime as the first Nigerian producer to deliver a multi camera, studio based daily soap in West, North and East Africa. The show has continued for many seasons and remains a reference point for long form Nigerian television.
He went on to executive produce The Johnsons, a popular family sitcom that ran for over a decade. Other series under his watch include Hotel Majestic, Hush, Zone 222, Till You Are 16 and The Mystic River. In 2013 M Net tasked him with leading the Africa Magic Original Films initiative, which resulted in the production of roughly 180 telefilms over three years and provided opportunities for many emerging cast and crew members.
Ofime later founded Theatron Media Incorporated in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and has served as executive producer at Native Media. Through these companies he has continued to deliver both television and feature projects while maintaining strong ties to the Nigerian industry. He has also directed episodes and series, including work on Coloré, a French language production filmed in Congo, and more recent titles such as Chronicles.
His willingness to push technical and logistical boundaries has been consistent. For Hush he insisted on shooting in 4K at a time when many Nigerian stations still broadcast in standard definition. For Conversations in Transit he oversaw a production filmed almost entirely on a moving train, described as a first of its kind in Nollywood. More recently he has executive produced Wura for Showmax, an adaptation of the South African series The River that has become one of the platform’s most watched Nigerian dramas.
Rogers Ofime Notable Works and Achievements
Tinsel remains his most defining credit, both for its longevity and for the production standards it introduced. The Johnsons brought sustained comedy success and multiple awards. Feature films such as Oloibiri (2016), which explored the historical and environmental impact of oil discovery in the Niger Delta and starred Olu Jacobs and Richard Mofe Damijo, earned international recognition, including Best Movie West Africa at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards and awards at the San Diego Black Film Festival and NAFCA in Los Angeles.
Voiceless (2020), a Hausa language film addressing trauma linked to insecurity in northern Nigeria, won Best Indigenous Language Movie or Series at the AMVCA and further awards for picture, direction and screenplay at other festivals. Other credits include Zero Hour, Hijack ’93, Kanaani and Conversations in Transit. Across television, features, short films and documentaries, Ofime has been involved in thousands of episodes and dozens of projects.
His awards list includes the TAVA Outstanding Producer award for Tinsel, multiple AMVCA wins across comedy, drama and indigenous categories, and recognition from international festivals for both narrative and documentary work. He has also been honoured by the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners for contributions to the arts.
Rogers Ofime Personal Life
Ofime is married to Olabimpe Ofime. The couple met at university and have been married since 2002. They have two children. The family resides in Canada, where he continues to run Theatron Media while remaining active in Nigerian productions. In recent years he has also been involved in organising the Black Film and Music Festival in Manitoba, aimed at supporting Black creatives through workshops, networking and showcase opportunities. He holds an Associate Fellowship in Media Production at Bournemouth University in the United Kingdom.
Away from the cameras he has spoken about the importance of telling African stories with care and technical ambition, arguing that local audiences deserve productions that educate and entertain while reflecting their realities.
Closing thought
Rogers Ofime’s career shows what sustained attention to craft, large scale organisation and belief in Nigerian stories can achieve. From early days assisting on sets in Lagos to producing series that reach audiences across Africa and beyond, he has helped raise the bar for television production on the continent. His body of work continues to influence new generations of producers and viewers who expect consistency, scale and substance from Nollywood screens.
Quick Facts
Real name: Rogers Ofime
Date of birth: 10 March 1973
State of origin: Lagos State
Occupation: Film and television producer, director
Years active: 2001 – present
