Jerry Ossai, also credited as Ikechukwu Jerry Ossai, is a Nigerian visual effects artist, filmmaker and director. He built his career through self-directed training in animation and visual effects before working on major Nollywood productions.
His visual effects credits include Banana Island Ghost, God Calling, Breath of Life and Jagun Jagun 2. He later expanded into directing, taking on projects such as Our Best Friend’s Wedding, Off the Menu, 3 Working Days and the supernatural thriller Ms Kanyin.
Ossai’s career stands out because he developed technical skills behind the camera before moving into storytelling as a director. His experience in visual effects continues to influence how he approaches filmmaking, particularly when a story requires complex visual sequences.
Jerry Ossai’s Early Interest in Animation and Filmmaking
Ossai developed an interest in visual storytelling at a young age. He enjoyed drawing comics and became fascinated by the possibilities of animation and computer-generated imagery.
His interest in three-dimensional animation grew after watching Jurassic Park as a child. Years later, his elder brother introduced him to 3D Studio Max, a software application used for 3D modelling and animation. That experience encouraged him to explore visual effects more seriously.
Ossai did not follow a conventional film-school route into the profession. Instead, he spent nearly five years teaching himself. He used the free internet connection at a cybercafé in Surulere to study tutorials and develop his technical abilities.
His early learning process required patience and experimentation. Access to computers and learning materials was limited, so he had to make the most of the resources available to him.
How Jerry Ossai Entered the Film Industry
Before securing major film credits, Ossai worked on television commercials, creating graphics and visual effects for advertising agencies. These projects gave him practical experience and helped him understand how to deliver visual work for professional clients.
He also collaborated with his brother, Mex, a visual artist and video director. Their creative work connected them with other professionals interested in graphics, animation and video production.
Ossai gradually expanded his skills beyond visual effects. He learned camera operation and explored cinematography, editing and directing. This broader experience helped him understand how different departments contribute to a finished production.
His entry into feature filmmaking came through his collaboration with BB Sasore and Nemsia Studios. He worked with longtime visual effects collaborator Gbenro Odugbemi on Banana Island Ghost, released in 2017. The project introduced his visual effects work to a wider Nollywood audience.
Jerry Ossai’s Visual Effects Work in Nollywood
Ossai has contributed to several Nigerian films and television productions. His notable visual effects credits include:
- Banana Island Ghost (2017)
- God Calling (2018)
- A Naija Christmas (2021)
- Breath of Life (2023)
- I Do Not Come to You by Chance (2023)
- Jagun Jagun 2 (2026)
He also worked on visual effects for the television series To Kill a Monkey.
One of his most discussed contributions came through God Calling. Its trailer featured a woman falling from the Third Mainland Bridge, a sequence that many viewers initially found convincing. The scene attracted attention because the visual effects made the event appear realistic.
For Ossai, that response demonstrated what visual effects could achieve when filmmakers used them to support a story rather than simply create spectacle.
His work involves more than operating software. He studies the script, breaks down individual shots and determines which elements require practical filming and which need digital creation. He also considers lighting, colour, camera movement and other details that help visual effects blend naturally into the footage.
The Challenges of Visual Effects in Nollywood
Ossai has spoken about the difficulties facing visual effects professionals in Nigeria. The work requires technical knowledge, preparation and enough time to produce convincing results. However, some productions do not allocate sufficient budgets or schedules for the process.
Visual effects artists may need to complete demanding work with limited resources. This can affect the quality of the final result and place additional pressure on the people responsible for delivering it.
He has also challenged the assumption that visual effects are inexpensive or easy to produce. Although software makes certain tasks possible, convincing results require planning, technical skill and careful execution.
Ossai believes better preparation and investment would help Nigerian productions make fuller use of visual effects. He also sees technological developments, including artificial intelligence, as potential tools for expanding what local artists can achieve.
Jerry Ossai’s Transition into Directing
Ossai’s interest in directing developed from his desire to tell stories of his own. After working behind the camera for several years, he began directing projects that allowed him to apply his understanding of cinematography and visual effects to complete narratives.
One of his early directing projects was Our Best Friend’s Wedding, a 2017 web series. He also directed episodes of Off the Menu, which ran between 2019 and 2020.
He later directed 3 Working Days, a 2024 film that further established his work as a feature-film director. His technical background gives him an understanding of how complex scenes can be planned and executed, but he has explained that directing also requires him to appreciate the work of actors and other crew members.
The transition taught him that filmmaking depends on communication. A director must communicate a clear vision and help the production team understand how their individual contributions serve the story.
Jerry Ossai and Ms Kanyin
Ms Kanyin is one of Ossai’s notable directing projects. Released in 2025, the supernatural horror film reimagines the Nigerian urban legend of Madam Koi Koi.
The story follows Amara, whose attempt to obtain examination questions leads to a series of events that awakens a vengeful supernatural presence. The film features Temi Otedola, Michelle Dede, Kanaga Eme Jnr, Natse Jemide and other Nigerian actors.
Ossai directed the film and also contributed to its story and cinematography. Its release on Prime Video brought the project to streaming audiences beyond its initial Nigerian release.
The film demonstrates his interest in genre storytelling and gives him an opportunity to combine visual technique with suspense and atmosphere. It also shows how his career has developed from creating individual visual effects shots to directing an entire production.
Jerry Ossai’s Filmmaking Approach
Ossai approaches visual effects as a storytelling tool. He believes the technique should make a scene more convincing and help audiences engage with the story. The goal is not simply to display impressive digital effects.
His directing experience has also strengthened his appreciation of collaboration. A film depends on the combined work of performers, cinematographers, editors, designers and other crew members. Clear communication helps these professionals work towards the same creative objective.
He remains interested in projects across different genres. For him, the deciding factor is whether visual effects can help tell a compelling story in a convincing way.
Conclusion
Jerry Ossai has built a distinctive career in Nollywood by combining technical visual effects work with directing. His self-taught journey led to contributions on films such as Banana Island Ghost, God Calling, Breath of Life and Jagun Jagun 2.
His directing work, including 3 Working Days and Ms Kanyin, represents another stage of that development. By bringing visual effects knowledge into his approach to filmmaking, Ossai continues to work across different parts of the production process.
