Tosin Dara, the Chief Executive Officer and Creative Director of Ibumedia, received the honour during the 39th International Conference and 40th Annual General Meeting of SONTA, held at Lead City University, Ibadan, from August 18 to 21, 2026.
The conference was themed “African Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Performance, Film and Sustainable Futures,” bringing together academics, theatre practitioners, filmmakers and other professionals within the creative industry.
With over a decade of experience in filmmaking, cinematography, documentary production, editing and multimedia storytelling, Tosin Dara has established himself as a creative professional with a growing footprint in Nigeria’s visual storytelling industry.
His work extends beyond commercial production, with experience in documentary filmmaking and international initiatives, including the United Nations Youth Climate Change Video Project. He has also contributed to capacity building in multimedia storytelling for journalists.
However, the award ceremony became more than a celebration of Tosin Dara’s professional achievements. It also became a moment of appreciation for the teachers and mentors who helped shape his journey.
Among those who joined Tosin Dara on stage to receive the honour were his former lecturers and mentors from the Department of Performing Arts and Film, University of Ilorin, including Professor Jeleel Ojuade, Professor Sunnie Ododo, Professor Abdulrasheed Adeoye, Dr. Olapeju Shuaib, Dr. Arinde and Dr. Shina Adegbite. Also present were the SONTA Local Organising Committee Chairman, Dr. Adebayo Badeji and the secretary Dr. Ebe Samson as well as Tosin Dara’s fellow colleagues and senior members of the Performing Arts community.
Expressing his gratitude, Tosin Dara acknowledged the significant role his teachers and mentors played in preparing him for the creative industry.
“I am deeply grateful to my teachers and mentors from the Department of Performing Arts and Film, University of Ilorin, who were instrumental in shaping my journey and grooming me for the creative industry.”
He added that having them join him on stage made the recognition particularly meaningful.
“Having them join me on stage to receive this honour made the moment even more special. This award is not just a recognition of my work, but a celebration of the people who invested in me and helped shape who I am today.”
The recognition also comes as Tosin Dara prepares for a new phase of his career, with plans to expand his involvement in film production through More Brains Film, a film-focused venture he has been developing alongside Ibumedia.
Through More Brains Film, Tosin Dara intends to put greater focus on film production and the development of original screen stories, building on his experience as a cinematographer, filmmaker and multimedia producer.
The planned expansion aligns with the focus of the 2026 SONTA conference, which explored the role of African indigenous knowledge systems in performance and film and their relevance to sustainable creative futures.
For Tosin Dara, the Creative Industry Icon Award therefore represents more than an individual achievement. It is a recognition of his journey, the mentors who contributed to his development and the possibilities ahead as he seeks to make a deeper impact in the Nigerian film industry.
He also expressed appreciation to SONTA, the Department of Performing Arts, Music & Film Studies, Lead City University and the Local Organising Committee, for finding him worthy of the honour.
As he continues to build Ibumedia while expanding More Brains Film, the award marks another significant milestone in Tosin Dara’s journey from a student of the performing arts to a filmmaker, cinematographer and creative industry entrepreneur.
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