I’m in competition with no one –David Nicholas, The Creek Producer

For fast-rising film producer and actor David Nicholas, success in Nollywood is driven by a simple personal conviction: to outperform his last record with every new project.

​Speaking during a recent interaction with newsmen, the creative behind the acclaimed film The Creek—a hard-hitting drama centered on struggles in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta region—revealed that his foray into filmmaking began as an outlet for his vivid imagination.

​”My journey into the creative industry began at a young age when I would act all alone at home, playing the hero, the villain, the producer, and the director all in one. As I grew older, that childhood interest evolved into a serious pursuit,” Nicholas said.

​He formalised his training at the PEFTI Film Institute, graduating as the best student in his academic cohort.

​”From there, I moved into professional filmmaking—taking freelance jobs, working with diverse crews, and learning through hands-on experience. As my career progressed, I had the privilege of returning to the institute as a lecturer, transitioning from a student of the craft to a mentor,” he said.

​His career trajectory built steady momentum through word of mouth. “One project consistently led to another; each job brought a referral, and each referral opened doors to bigger opportunities, greater responsibilities, and more ambitious productions. I am in competition with no one but myself.”

​Nicholas’s career reached a major milestone when The Creek was acquired for Virgin Atlantic’s inflight entertainment system. Over the years, he has collaborated with industry veterans and international figures, including Obi Emelonye, Toka McBaror, Sam Dede, Bucci Franklin, Hakeem Effects, Geoff Brown, and Jimmy Jean-Louis.

​Looking ahead, Nicholas aims to focus on socially impactful storytelling while contributing to the growth of Nollywood’s infrastructure.

​”I am drawn to stories with strong human emotions, social relevance, and commercial viability across genres like drama, thriller, romance, action, and docudrama,” Nicholas added. “Beyond individual projects, I want to help build systems and platforms that create opportunities for emerging filmmakers. Nollywood needs talented individuals, but it also needs stronger structures for training, collaboration, production, and distribution.”