Bolanle Olukanni Unveils Cast for “The Founder”, New Comedy TV Workplace Series

The Story⚡

Bolanle Olukanni has announced the lead cast for The Founder, her upcoming comedy TV series.

Tell Me More

In an enthusiastic post on social media, Bolanle Olukanni shared her joy over completing the casting for The Founder, calling the process a miracle and expressing gratitude to the actors for embracing the project and infusing it with comedy. 

Bolanle Olukanni’s debut scripted series as executive producer combines established acting talent with a timely story about technology and ambition.

Written by Lola Olukanni and executive produced by Bolanle, the show explores ambition, innovation, and everyday challenges in Nigeria through humorous storytelling.

The principal cast bringing these characters to life includes Akah Nnani, Izzy Besta, Shine Rosman, Olumide Oworu, Kelechi Brule, and Constance Owoyomi. With production now underway and additional roles filled through recent open casting calls, the series promises relatable humour drawn from real-world startup experiences.

Key Background

Bolanle Olukanni is a Nigerian television host, producer, actress, documentary filmmaker, and women’s rights advocate. Born in Nigeria, she grew up across several countries due to her father’s diplomatic career and earned a double Bachelor’s degree in Communications and International Studies from Loyola University Chicago in 2011.

She rose to prominence co-hosting Moments with Mo on EbonyLife TV and Project Fame West Africa, later hosting shows like THE JUICE on NdaniTV. Her acting credits include Isoken, Shuga, and The Smart Money Woman. As a producer, she co-founded Sage & Walls and directed the acclaimed 2017 documentary God’s Wives about Nigerian widows.

Olukanni is deeply involved in advocacy, founding the God’s Wives Foundation to support widows and single mothers, and co-founding the natural hair care brand Wash & Go. She is currently the executive producer and showrunner of the upcoming comedy series The Founder.

Tangent

Here are three typical workplace TV comedies from Nollywood:

Visa on Arrival (Accelerate TV)

This series is set in an airport immigration and visa office, following officers as they handle eccentric travelers and internal drama. What makes it unique is its episodic structure, featuring rotating guest stars as passengers, which allows sharp satire on Nigerian bureaucracy, cultural clashes, corruption, and societal quirks in a high-traffic public service environment.

Rumour Has It (Ndani TV)

Centered on a gossip blogging and vlogging company (Rant HQ), it follows ambitious young professionals navigating media scandals, office rivalries, and personal lives. Its uniqueness lies in exploring the chaotic world of online celebrity gossip and digital media in Nigeria, blending workplace ambition with ethical dilemmas and romantic entanglements in a creative industry setting.

Bottomline (Ndani TV)

A classic office comedy depicting the daily antics in a generic Nigerian corporate workplace, involving staff dealings with appraisals, thrift contributions (ajo), break-time drama, and hierarchy issues. What stands out is its relatable focus on universal yet culturally specific office tropes—like family-like colleague bonds and petty power plays—delivered through sharp ensemble performances and timely humor.

In Summary

The show is slated for release in 2026, with ongoing updates, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and more announcements coming soon. 

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