Chris Odeh has built a career around bringing stories to life, combining production expertise, creative leadership and a commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s film industry. A filmmaker, producer and entrepreneur, he is the Senior Producer of Sozo Films and has worked across television, cinema and documentary production. With credits spanning some of Nollywood’s notable titles, including Living in Bondage: Breaking Free, Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story, Aki and Pawpaw, Nneka the Pretty Serpent and Tòkunbò, Odeh has established himself as a versatile production professional with an extensive body of work.
His journey began in television, where he worked as an Associate Producer on Moments with Mo, the talk show created by media entrepreneur Mo Abudu. He subsequently contributed to programmes including Healthy Living with Dr Ketch, Chapters with Toyin Poju Oyemade and The Nancy Isime Show. His transition from television into feature filmmaking broadened his experience across production formats, allowing him to work on projects with different creative demands, budgets and audiences. His academic background in mechanical engineering also provides an interesting contrast to his eventual career in the creative industries, illustrating a professional journey shaped by a shift from technical training to visual storytelling.
Odeh’s filmography reflects the range of his production experience. He served as line producer on Living in Bondage: Breaking Free and Oloibiri, and took on producing roles across projects including Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story, Nneka the Pretty Serpent and Aki and Pawpaw. His work has been associated with productions recognised by major African film awards, including the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, Africa Movie Academy Awards and Africa International Film Festival. Beyond individual credits, his career demonstrates the importance of experienced producers in coordinating the creative, operational and commercial demands that bring ambitious film projects to the screen.
His latest major production, Agbara Nla: The Return, has brought renewed attention to his work. Produced by Odeh in collaboration with Mount Zion Film Productions, Sozo Films and Circuits, the film reimagines the influential 1993 Christian classic created by Mike Bamiloye for a contemporary cinema audience. Ahead of its nationwide release in October 2026, the film generated more than ₦71 million from single day previews, attracting over 12,100 admissions. According to its theatrical distributor, Nile Entertainment, the performance established several box office milestones for Nigerian and faith based cinema. The achievement highlights the commercial potential of established Nigerian stories when supported by contemporary production and theatrical distribution.
Beyond producing films, Odeh is invested in developing the next generation of African storytellers. Through COAL360 and initiatives such as the Masterclass with Chris Odeh, he has supported emerging creatives through training, mentorship and industry engagement. He also convenes the African Film Forum, which creates opportunities for conversations and collaboration between filmmakers across Africa and Europe. In 2024, he published Before You Say Action, a practical guide for independent filmmakers, extending his contribution from film production into professional development and knowledge sharing.
Chris Odeh’s career reflects the expanding responsibilities of the modern African film producer. Beyond delivering individual productions, he is building businesses, supporting emerging talent and contributing to the structures that enable African stories to reach larger audiences. As Agbara Nla: The Return introduces a landmark faith based story to a new generation of cinema audiences, his work reinforces the producer’s role in connecting creative vision with execution, distribution and long term industry development.
