Six years ago, Take One began with a simple but powerful belief: that African stories deserve to be told boldly, authentically, and excellently. Take One has remained committed to that belief in its quest to leave a lasting cultural impact.
As the company marks its sixth anniversary, Take One reflects on a journey defined by growth, reinvention, resilience, and an evolving commitment to supporting the Nigerian and African creative industry through storytelling, talent development, and creative excellence. What began as a vision rooted primarily in storytelling and film production has, over time, grown into a broader creative ecosystem operating across film production, actor development, and talent management.
From producing stories and creative projects to helping actors and creatives build professional visibility within the entertainment industry, Take One says the journey over the last six years has been shaped largely by listening, learning, and responding to the realities of the industry itself.
“In many ways, Take One evolved because we paid attention to the gaps we were constantly seeing around us,” said Heavens Obule, co-founder of Take One. “The goal was never just to create content. The deeper mission became creating opportunities, building people, and contributing meaningfully to the growth of African storytelling and creative talent.”
FROM STORYTELLING TO BUILDING A CREATIVE ECOSYSTEM
When Take One first started, talent management was not originally part of the company’s structure or long-term vision. The company’s primary focus at the time was storytelling. Developing creative concepts, producing visual projects, and creating stories capable of connecting with audiences emotionally and culturally.
However, as the company grew and interacted more closely with actors and creatives within the entertainment industry, a recurring challenge became impossible to ignore. Many talented individuals lacked proper representation, professional guidance, visibility, and support systems capable of helping them navigate the industry sustainably.
According to the company, this realization became a turning point. Take One began encountering actors and creatives with exceptional potential but limited access to the structure and management needed to position them professionally within a highly competitive entertainment space.
Rather than ignore the problem, the company chose to evolve with it. This led to the expansion of Take One beyond production alone and into a multi-arm creative company designed to serve different aspects of the entertainment ecosystem. Today, the company operates through:
Take One Talents
Focused on talent management and representation for actors, helping them navigate the industry professionally while connecting them with opportunities capable of elevating their careers.
Take One Productions
Focused on the development and production of original film and visual content rooted in relatable human experiences, African identity, culture, humor, emotion, and contemporary realities.
Take One Studios
Focused on helping actors and creatives present themselves professionally through industry-standard acting reels, monologues, headshots, and performance-based creative materials.
Each arm was developed not merely as a business expansion but as a direct response to needs observed within the industry over time. Together, these arms represent Take One’s larger mission not simply to participate in the entertainment industry but to contribute meaningfully to its growth and evolution.
The journey has come with challenges, uncertainty, reinvention, experimentation, and persistence. The realities familiar to many creative entrepreneurs and entertainment companies operating within Nigeria’s dynamic creative economy. Yet through every phase, one thing has remained constant. The commitment to growth, excellence, and authentic storytelling.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND CULTURAL IMPACT
Over the last six years, Take One has continued to make contributions across multiple levels of the entertainment and creative industry. These contributions go beyond productions and projects alone. They include:
Discovering and supporting emerging talents
Helping creatives improve professional visibility
Contributing to actor development
Creating original content
Building creative communities, and participating in the ongoing evolution of African storytelling.
Through its talent-focused initiatives and creative services, Take One has worked with aspiring and professional creatives seeking stronger positioning within the entertainment space.
The company has also continued to produce stories and concepts designed to resonate with younger audiences and contemporary African culture. Stories rooted in humor, relationships, identity, ambition, vulnerability, and everyday experiences. Beyond entertainment, Take One believes storytelling plays an important cultural role: shaping conversations, reflecting society, documenting realities, and creating emotional connections between people.
Abiodun Odu, co-founder/creative director Take One
In an era where African stories are increasingly gaining global attention, Take One sees itself as part of a broader generation of creative companies contributing to the expansion of African narratives and creative influence.
The company also recognizes the importance of digital platforms and new media in democratizing storytelling and creating opportunities for independent creatives to thrive beyond traditional industry gatekeeping. Over the years, this understanding has influenced Take One’s approach to both talent development and content creation.
A VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF AFRICAN STORYTELLING
As African entertainment continues gaining global attention, Take One believes the future of the industry will depend heavily on intentional investment in talent development, authentic storytelling, and stronger creative structures capable of supporting long-term growth.
The company says African stories no longer need to imitate foreign narratives to achieve global relevance, emphasizing that authenticity, emotional honesty, and cultural identity are increasingly becoming strengths within modern storytelling.
Take One also believes the industry’s future depends not only on creating stars but also on building sustainable systems around creatives. Systems capable of supporting actors, writers, filmmakers, and storytellers professionally and creatively.
“This anniversary means a lot to us because every year represents growth, sacrifice, learning, persistence, and evolution,” said Abiodun Odu, co-founder/creative director. “But more importantly, it represents purpose. And while we’re proud of the journey so far, we genuinely believe we are only scratching the surface of what is possible.”
Over the next phase of its journey, the company says it intends to continue expanding its storytelling capacity, strengthening talent representation, developing larger creative projects, and creating more opportunities for emerging creatives within and beyond Nigeria.
The company extends gratitude to every creative, collaborator, partner, client, supporter, and audience member who has contributed to the journey.
Heavens Obule co-founder Take One
Every project, opportunity, partnership, and milestone has played a role in shaping the company’s evolution. Take One also reaffirms its commitment to supporting African creativity and contributing meaningfully to the future of entertainment through storytelling, talent development, collaboration, and innovation.
The company welcomes future partnerships, collaborations, and opportunities aligned with its vision of building stronger platforms for African creatives and stories.
Because ultimately, the goal has never been simply to exist within the industry. The goal has always been to leave an impact on it, and six years later, that journey continues.