I’ve lost count of movies I produced – Ibrahim Yekini

Renowned filmmaker and actor Ibrahim Yekini has admitted that he has lost track of the number of movies he has produced over the years.

The sheer volume of films under his belt is so overwhelming that he hesitates to put an exact figure on them.

Early career mistakes in filmmaking

Yekini, popularly known for his work in Nollywood, confessed that his approach to filmmaking and marketing was not well-structured in the early stages of his career. He lacked formal agreements with marketers, which, in hindsight, affected his control over his own projects.

Reflecting on his past mistakes, he shared, “Back then, my priority was not making money. I just wanted people to see what I could do. Because of that, I overlooked important business aspects.”

Lack of ownership over his films

One of his biggest regrets is not having ownership rights over his earlier works. He revealed that he never signed master or contract agreements with film marketers, which meant he had little say over the distribution and longevity of his movies.

“I don’t own the master rights to any of the films I produced in the past. The reason is simple—I didn’t have the courage to tell marketers that we should sign a contract stating the film would return to me after six months,” Yekini explained.

Fear played a significant role in his decision-making at the time. He worried that insisting on legal agreements might cause marketers to reject his films, even though he had financed them himself. This reluctance led to a situation where he lost control over his own creative work.

How a disagreement led him to directing

Despite these early struggles, Yekini has evolved in his career. He later took charge of his filmmaking process, even stepping into the role of a director. He recounted how a misunderstanding with his former director, Don Richard, forced him to take on directing himself.

“Don Richard used to direct my films in the past. But at one point, we had a disagreement. I had shot a movie, and the marketers demanded a sequel. I couldn’t reach him, so I had no choice but to direct the second part myself,” Yekini said.

That decision marked a turning point in his career. Stepping into the director’s chair gave him more creative control and allowed him to shape his vision without relying on others.

Lessons learned and future plans

Today, Yekini is more strategic in his approach to filmmaking. He now understands the importance of legal agreements and business planning. His journey, filled with mistakes and lessons, has made him a more experienced and calculated filmmaker.

His story serves as a lesson for young filmmakers—talent alone is not enough. Understanding the business side of filmmaking is just as crucial for long-term success.

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