In an era where Nigeria’s history risks fading into obscurity, filmmaker and founder of the Best of Nollywood Awards, Seun Oloketuyi, is taking bold steps to preserve the nation’s political legacy on screen.
Oloketuyi has announced plans to produce a biopic on the late former Lagos State governor, Lateef Jakande, titled Baba Kekere—a cinematic tribute to one of the most revered administrators in Nigeria’s history.
Jakande, fondly called “Baba Kekere” in reference to his political mentor Obafemi Awolowo, served as the first civilian governor of Lagos State from 1979 to 1983. His tenure is widely regarded as a golden era of governance marked by people-focused policies and infrastructural expansion.
During his four-year administration, Jakande delivered over 30,000 low-cost housing units, established the Lagos State University (LASU), and implemented a free education programme that produced generations of professionals across sectors.
Renowned for his modest lifestyle, he reportedly lived in his private residence and used his personal car while in office—symbolising a leadership style anchored on prudence and service to the people.
For Oloketuyi, documenting such a legacy is not merely a creative pursuit but a patriotic duty.
“Our young people do not have a sense of history,” he said. “After every biopic we produce, people call to verify events they watched. Our history is being eroded because we are not documenting it.”
Oloketuyi’s growing body of work has earned him the unofficial title “King of Biopics.” His previous productions include Last Man Standing, chronicling the Lagos political journey of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Yahaya the White Lion, centred on former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello.
He has also documented the lives of notable figures such as Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the late Awujale of Ijebuland, and Ibadan political strongman Lamidi Adedibu, with additional projects currently in the pipeline.
Through these productions, Oloketuyi is systematically curating a visual archive of Nigeria’s political and cultural evolution.
Beyond storytelling, Oloketuyi is also shaping the future of Nollywood. In partnership with Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye LCDA, he has launched a Nollywood Talent Development Training Programme aimed at equipping 100 youths with technical filmmaking skills.
The initiative is backed by the LCDA’s Executive Chairman, Hon. Seyi Lawal Jakande, son of the late former governor, reinforcing the link between legacy preservation and youth empowerment.
The programme offers aspiring actors and filmmakers within the LCDA a rare opportunity to gain industry-ready skills, with the application deadline set for march 5.
As production plans for Baba Kekere gather momentum, Oloketuyi’s mission goes beyond cinema. By resurrecting the stories of transformative leaders and empowering young creatives, he is forging a bridge between Nigeria’s storied past and its unfolding future.
In his hands, history is no longer confined to dusty archives—it is poised for the big screen.
