Nollywood’s Leading Storytellers of 2025
Stories shape how we understand the world, and in 2025, a remarkable group of writers carried Nollywood to new heights. Their work drew record audiences, set new box-office standards, and affirmed the central role of strong writing in the growth of the Nigerian film industry. The Nollywood Top 10 Writers 2025 list highlights the individuals whose scripts powered the year’s most successful films, each title earning more than twenty million naira and demonstrating the expanding potential of well-crafted storytelling.
At the forefront are Funke Akindele, Collins Okoh, and Uche Mordi, who share the top position following the extraordinary success of Behind the Scenes. The film closed the year with a combined box-office total of 1.320 billion naira, a figure that underscores the effectiveness of their collaboration and their command of character-driven drama.
Second place goes to Opeyemi Akinyemi (Ope Crodbo), whose work on Ori: The Rebirth, Abanise, The Ancestor, and Her Excellency generated significant attention and produced a cumulative return of 709 million naira. His range across supernatural themes and political drama set him apart in a competitive field.
In third place is Xavier Ighorodje, whose screenplay for Gingerrr resonated with younger audiences and delivered 522 million naira at the box office. His ability to merge energy, humour, and realism placed him firmly among the year’s standout writers.
The list also honours seasoned creators such as Toyin Abraham Ajeyemi and Tunde Komolafe, joint fourth place recipients for Oversabi Aunty, which closed at 480 million naira. Their work demonstrated a strong command of social comedy and audience-friendly storytelling.
Fifth place is held by Adebayo Tijani, whose film Iyalode: Her Excellency earned 432 million naira and presented a layered portrayal of authority, culture, and gender.
In sixth place, Afeez Adekunle received recognition for Ori: The Rebirth, which grossed 419 million naira and continued the industry’s growing interest in mythological narratives.
Seventh place goes to Ife Olujuyigbe, whose film Reel Love achieved 356 million naira and strengthened the appeal of contemporary romance on the big screen.
Eighth place belongs to Yinka Layole, whose contribution to Iyalode brought in 306 million naira.
Ninth place is shared by Moshood Yakub Olawale and Sunday Alabi Osibata, writers of Labake Olododo, which earned 264 million naira.
Finally, in tenth place, Jack Opukeme and Stephen Oluboyo round out the list with Owanbe Thieves, which recorded 205 million naira.
The ranking, compiled using Comscore data, reflects a year marked by diverse genres and fresh approaches to storytelling. From comedy to historical drama, and from romance to folklore, the writers on this list shaped the nation’s cinematic landscape with skill and imagination.
Their achievements will be examined in greater depth in the upcoming Nigerian Box Office Yearbook 2025/26, which will offer an expanded review of the films, creators, and industry trends that defined the year.
