Nollywood Mourns as Director Dimbo Atiya Dies at 49

Dimbo Atiya dies as Nollywood mourns the filmmaker celebrated for promoting northern culture and creating opportunities in Nigeria’s movie industry

Nollywood producer and director Dimbo Atiya has died, with colleagues and industry figures mourning the loss of a filmmaker widely recognised for his contribution to Nigerian storytelling and his efforts to showcase northern culture through cinema.

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The news of Dimbo Atiya’s death was announced on Thursday by Seun Oloketuyi, founder of the Best of Nollywood Awards, who confirmed the passing in a post shared on his Instagram page.

“Dimbo Atiya is dead. The top Nollywood director passed on this morning. Details later,” Oloketuyi wrote.

The announcement triggered an outpouring of grief from members of Nigeria’s entertainment community, with many describing Atiya as a visionary filmmaker whose work helped broaden the representation of northern experiences in mainstream Nigerian cinema.

Actor Mofe Duncan also reacted to the news, expressing shock and sadness over the loss.

“God no, not Dimbo. I’m devastated. One of the greatest minds of the entertainment industry,” Duncan stated.

Atiya was known for developing stories that celebrated cultural identity while connecting regional narratives with wider Nigerian audiences. His creative approach helped bring northern voices, actors and production talents into greater national visibility.

Beyond directing and producing films, Atiya played a significant role in nurturing emerging talent and creating platforms for professionals from the northern part of Nigeria’s entertainment industry.

His work was regarded as part of a broader movement to make Nollywood more inclusive by highlighting diverse cultures, languages and experiences across the country.

The filmmaker’s passing comes shortly after the death of actress Temitope Osoba, another Nollywood figure whose death also drew emotional tributes from colleagues and fans.

While details surrounding Atiya’s death remain undisclosed, tributes have continued to emerge from actors, producers and other industry stakeholders who described his contribution as deeply influential.

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The Nigerian film community is expected to continue celebrating his legacy as more tributes are shared in the coming days.