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Nigerian youth leader and mobiliser, Isaac Balami, has congratulated filmmaker and creative entrepreneur, Paulgold Olalekan Joseph, on his recognition as Best Producer – Nollywood Film at the 10th edition of the Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival (TINFF) in Canada.
Paulgold received the award for his work on The Specialists, a political crime thriller produced by AFRIGOS Films.
Balami, who has worked with the filmmaker, described the recognition as a well-deserved honour, noting that he has personally witnessed Paulgold’s professionalism, dedication and commitment to his craft.
He said: “I am truly delighted to see Paulgold receive this international recognition. Having worked with him, I can personally attest to his professionalism, dedication and consistency.
“Paulgold is someone who takes his work seriously. He pays attention to details and is always committed to delivering quality. His dedication to filmmaking and his willingness to put in the work required to achieve excellence are qualities I have personally witnessed.
“Beyond filmmaking, he has also demonstrated a strong commitment to mentoring and developing young talents. He has continued to invest his time and resources in people and in the creative industry.
“This award is therefore not just a recognition of one film. For those of us who have worked with Paulgold, it is a recognition of the years of dedication, discipline and hard work that he has put into his craft.”
Balami congratulated Paulgold and the entire team behind The Specialists, saying the recognition was also significant for Nigeria’s creative industry.
He added that the international recognition of Nigerian films and filmmakers would help further expose the country’s creative talents to audiences and industry stakeholders around the world.
The Specialists had earlier won Best Diaspora Film at the International Black & Diversity Film Festival in Ontario, Canada, while its original sound and music score also received recognition at the Global Music Awards in California.
The official TINFF 2026 nominations list also recognised Paulgold as a nominee for Best Director – International for The Specialists.
Written by Emil Garuba and Echobu Michael Garuba, the film features Sam Dede, Bimbo Akintola, Francis Duru, Baaj Adebule, Preach Bassey, Mbasiti Jesse and Mariah Ugbashi, among others.
The film was directed and produced by Paulgold and developed as a Nigerian production with international aspirations.
