The filmmakers of the Nollywood crime thriller “Black Market,” Damilola Osikoya and Nora Awolowo, have been congratulated by President Bola Tinubu for breaking the Guinness World Records (GWR) for the largest attendance at a film screening in a single location.
Thousands of moviegoers flocked to Lagos’ Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) for the Saturday nite film screening.
Following the screening, the British reference book officially recognized 51,000 viewers as the qualifying attendance for the record, confirming the accomplishment.
Additionally, on October 4, 2015, they surpassed the previous record of 43,624 people set by Iglesia Ni Cristo for their movie “Felix Manalo” at the Philippine Arena in Ciudad de Victoria, Philippines.
In a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, the special adviser to the president on information and strategy, Tinubu described the record as evidence of the talent driving Nigeria’s creative industry.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu congratulates Nigerian filmmakers Damilola Osikoya of Switch Visual Production and Nora Awolowo of Rixel Studios on achieving the Guinness World Record for the largest attendance at a film screening,” the statement reads.
“The record was achieved with the screening of Black Market in Lagos on September 26, 2026. President Tinubu celebrates the filmmakers for their creativity, enterprise and ambition, describing their achievement as further evidence of the extraordinary talent driving Nigeria’s creative industry.
“The President says Nigeria’s creative economy is building businesses, creating jobs and opening new markets for Nigerian talent, while film, music, fashion and art carry the country’s stories and culture to audiences worldwide.
“He says the achievement of Black Market shows what is possible when Nigerian creativity is matched with enterprise and scale, and reaffirms his administration’s commitment to creating more opportunities for young Nigerians to build livelihoods and globally competitive businesses from their talent.
“President Tinubu commends everyone involved in Black Market and wishes the team greater success.”
Congratulations to the Black Market filmmakers on this remarkable achievement. Their creativity, dedication and teamwork have earned them a place in the Guinness World Records and brought pride to Nigeria’s film industry.
