The 2025 edition of the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) culminated in grandeur at the AFRIFF Globe Awards, hosted at the prestigious Banquet Hall, Oriental Hotel Lekki Lagos.
The evening celebrated excellence across Africa’s film, music, and public sectors, but the highlight was the Herbert Wigwe Award for Excellence—a beacon of transformative impact and leadership.
This year’s Award for Excellence recipients were an inspiring mix of creatives and changemakers: David Oyelowo, internationally acclaimed Hollywood actor known for
championing African narratives on the global stage; Flavour, one of Nigeria’s most beloved musicians and a cultural influencer whose music bridges generations; Governor Peter Mbah a reform-minded leader driving infrastructural and economic revitalisation in Enugu State and Hakeem Muri-Okunola, Principal Secretary to the President of Nigeria, widely respected for his administrative excellence and youth-focused initiatives.
Herbert Wigwe’s influence on AFRIFF was deeply personal and strategic. Under his guidance and support, the festival expanded its reach into talent incubation, educational partnerships, and international co-productions. He facilitated AFRIFF’s access to financial institutions, enabled training opportunities for young African filmmakers, and encouraged cross-sector collaborations that merged creative storytelling with business innovation.
His legacy is now embedded in AFRIFF’s evolving structure—one that goes beyond screenings
to include tech labs, masterclasses, and funding opportunities for emerging talents.
Beyond AFRIFF, Wigwe’s belief in the power of narrative as a developmental tool was evident in his involvement in education and youth empowerment.
He championed the
creation of Wigwe University set to become one of Africa’s premier institutions with a strong focus on leadership and creativity. His long-term vision was to cultivate a new
generation of Africans who could compete globally, not only in finance but in media, culture, and innovation.
The AFRIFF 2025 Globe Awards served as a reminder of that vision. The room was filled
with industry leaders, creatives, and public officials who shared in the celebration of heritage, innovation, and forward-thinking.
The Herbert Wigwe Award for Excellence, instituted in 2024, was created to honour the legacy of Herbert Onyewumbu Wigwe, the late Group CEO of Access Holdings. More than a recognition, it is a movement that celebrates individuals who embody bold leadership, visionary thinking, and catalytic action in their fields.
AFRIFF founder, Chioma Ude described the award as “a legacy tool to keep Herbert’s vision
alive—a man who passionately believed in Africa’s global potential, especially through the creative economy.”
She added: “Herbert supported AFRIFF not just with resources but with belief. He was a friend of the arts, an advocate of impact-driven storytelling, and a mentor to many.
He saw the festival as a platform to elevate African voices and insisted that culture and creativity could reposition Africa globally.”
The night ended with a magical performance by the Lord Urban Choir, whose harmonies serenaded the audience and wrapped the ceremony in warmth and inspiration
