The Story ⚡
Vincent Okonkwo and VSL Media are back in the awards conversation.
Tell Me More
Netflix streaming series The Covenant has earned a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) 12 for the performance of veteran actress Sola Sobowale, a recognition that arrives on the heels of a remarkable streaming run that saw the series maintain a Top 10 presence on Netflix Nigeria for over ten consecutive weeks.
The AMVCA 12 nomination cements what viewers already sensed watching the series: Sobowale’s work in The Covenant is the kind of performance that stays with you. Layered, commanding, and deeply felt, her turn has drawn comparisons to the finest work of her storied career.
The recognition is equally significant for VSL Media as a studio. This is the company’s third AMVCA nomination, following nods for Ponzi in 2022 and Passport in 2023. For a production company still in its early years, three nominations across three consecutive award cycles is a signal the industry is watching and taking seriously. Under the leadership of Okonkwo, VSL Media has earned its place at the table.
“A nomination like this doesn’t happen in a vacuum,” said Vincent Okonkwo, Executive Producer of The Covenant and Founder of VSL Media. “It reflects the strength of the story we told, the craft of every person on set, and the audience that chose to invest their time in this series. We are proud and grateful.”
The AMVCA remains West Africa’s most watched awards platform, drawing millions of viewers across the continent each year. A nomination in the Best Supporting Actress category places Sobowale among the most compelling performances in African television and film over the past year and signals that The Covenant is a series, and a performance, that the industry intends to remember.
That the nomination arrives after a sustained Netflix Nigeria Top 10 run makes the moment all the more significant. For over ten consecutive weeks, The Covenant held its ground on Netflix Nigeria, driven by word of mouth, cultural relevance, and the magnetic pull of Sobowale’s performance. It is the kind of momentum that studios and distributors dream of, and that only a handful of African titles achieve in any given year.
For Nollywood observers, the story of The Covenant is also the story of an industry that continues to expand its footprint. A series that earns mainstream streaming traction while simultaneously collecting awards recognition is doing exactly what African cinema’s most ambitious advocates have long argued it could do: compete on quality, travel widely, and leave a mark.
Sola Sobowale’s body of work has always occupied that space where entertainment and artistry converge. From King of Boys to The Figurine to some of Nollywood’s most beloved classic titles, she has consistently elevated every project she touches. That VSL Media chose her for The Covenant is a testament to Okonkwo’s instinct for casting, an area he has long identified as central to his creative process and commercial strategy.
Key Background
Vincent Okonkwo is an Engineer, Film Executive, and the Founder of VSL Media. A self described fast learner with a business background that predates his film career, Okonkwo has built a reputation as one of Nollywood’s most hands on executive producers, deeply involved in every stage of production from scripting and casting to promotion and distribution strategy. He created The Covenant and previously produced the box office titles Wildflower, Ruthless, Honey Money, Ponzi, and Passport, the last of which featured Mercy Johnson and Jim Iyke. His philosophy is rooted in the belief that passion and commercial discipline must coexist, and that a producer’s job does not end when the camera stops rolling. Under VSL Media, he has consistently demonstrated that intentional filmmaking can compete at the highest level of the industry.
VSL Media is a Nigerian film and television production company founded by Vincent Okonkwo, committed to telling commercially ambitious, story driven content for Nigerian audiences and the global market. Its credits include Wildflower, Ponzi, Passport, Ruthless, Honey Money, and The Covenant.
In Summary
The Covenant was directed by Dimeji Ajibola, whose vision shaped the series from the ground up. Ajibola, who passed away before the series reached the heights it now commands, leaves behind a body of work that continues to speak. The Director of Photography is Peter Moloto.
With Season 2 already shot and now in post production, Okonkwo is thinking bigger. The Founder of VSL Media has teased plans to film in South Africa and bring on board a South African lead actor, a move that would mark a deliberate expansion of The Covenant‘s footprint beyond Nigeria and position the series as a truly pan African production. For Okonkwo, whose philosophy has always centred on finding the balance between passion and commercial ambition, the direction makes sense. The Covenant has proven it can travel. Season 2 is about proving it can grow.
“I believe the sky is big enough for all to fly,” Okonkwo has said of collaboration within the African screen industry. Season 2 appears to be his most concrete expression of that belief yet.
