Nigerian filmmaker, producer and director Dimbo Atiya is dead. His passing has thrown the entertainment industry into mourning, with colleagues and fans paying tribute to his life and career. The cause of his death has not been made public.
Colleagues Pay Tribute
Actor Mofe Duncan confirmed Atiya’s death in an Instagram post on Thursday. Calling the loss devastating, he described the late filmmaker as one of the industry’s brightest talents.
“God no, not Dimbo. No!!! No!!! No!!! I am devastated. One of the greatest minds of the entertainment industry,” he wrote.
Soon after the announcement, tributes poured in from actors, directors and other members of the film industry.
Among those who reacted was actress Sophia Alakija. She described the news as “one hell of a shock.” According to her, Atiya was “a gem” and “one of the most genuine to have walked the earth.”
Reflecting on his support for her career, she wrote, “One human I could bear my chest and say was genuinely proud of me. He started believing in me since 2017 and never stopped.”
Director Taiwo Shittu also shared an emotional tribute. Recalling one of their last conversations about an important project, he wrote:
“We saw and spoke to each other more this year than any other year. I still remember the last thing he said to me when we spoke about the project I was working on, and he knew how important that project was to me, and his exact words were ‘I’m here if you need me for anything. Rest in, Dimbo Atiya. You made your mark here.”
A Lasting Legacy
Known for promoting northern Nigerian culture through film and television, Atiya produced more than 500 television episodes and five feature films.
His credits include Sons of the Caliphate, The Plan, Halita, Still Falling, Drawing Strength, Strong and War: Wrath and Revenge.
In 2022, he won the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) for Best Africa Magic Original Drama Series for producing Halita. The award recognised his contribution to Nigerian television.
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