Nengi Diri may be young, but she’s not a rookie, and this is why the MAKEMATION team chose her to bring the film to life on paper.
I’ll tell you why in the next few lines.
It was very important for Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, the Executive Producer of the film, to get a young screenwriter on board.
Her vision for the film was to show the power of Artificial Intelligence in the hands of Africa’s successor generation. She also wanted to show the capabilities of young girls when equipped with the right tools—education—to take on the world.
It was hard to look past Nengi Diri for the task.
An accomplished young screenwriter
Our young superstar screenwriter has put in the work.
Inspired by her community of creatives in Rivers State, where she grew up, she left her STEM background to dabble in the art of storytelling. First, it was with blogs. Then, she moved on to brands—both non-profits and otherwise. Then, she broke into the audiovisual space as a screenwriter.
After building her resume with National Geographic, Channels TV, and Showmax at such a young age, she landed her biggest project yet. Rise Networks and Rise Interactive Studios handed her the reins to MAKEMATION, her debut Nollywood feature as lead writer.
Now, you’re about to witness the story of Zara Sodangi as brought to life by Nengi Diri in MAKEMATION.
“What I was tasked with was, ‘We have all of these things we want to address. How do we bring it to the everyday audience in a way that is easy for them to accept?’” Nengi began. “That’s where my storytelling comes in.”
She worked with Toyosi and Rise Networks to break down a lot of the technical jargon. The film’s language is relatable and fun, while educating the targets.
Nengi Diri shapes up to take over Nollywood with MAKEMATION
Her exceptional work has been seen in Kenya, Saudi Arabia and by the Lagos State Government. The US Consulate in Nigeria has also seen the film. Also, Luminate, one of the world’s biggest platforms for civic engagement, have co-signed it.
“I was able to pull it off with adequate research on the tech and AI aspects of the film,” she continues. “When you’re writing about subjects like these, you need to know enough. So, adequate research helped me incorporate those little details into the story itself.
“I also had a lot of help from the Rise Network team, and I’m glad to have written this story with Mrs. Toyosi, whose insights and my storytelling made this film work.”
Nengi Diri’s baby, MAKEMATION, will be in cinemas on April 18, 2025.
