Chioma Ude is one of Africa’s most successful business leaders and media executives having founded the Africa International Film Festival – AFRIFF, co-founded the Africa Foundation for the development of Motion Pictures, Arts and Culture – AFDMAC, a non-profit championing African voices in Film, Arts and Culture, and Lavida Africa Studios and Entertainment, a film and TV production company.

A serial entrepreneur, Chioma serves on the board of several companies in technology, Agriculture, Real Estate etc, focusing on new opportunities to improve the narrative about Africa. Her endeavors overall, are based on her belief that training and empowering young individuals, especially young women, will foster a greater, brighter Africa.

A passionate film lover and commentator, Ude turned her interest into action when she helped produce the Nigerian Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) UK Roadshow in 2007. She went on to oversee logistics for the 2008 African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) as well as create the novel concept of the AMAA Charity Benefit which she produced for two years. In 2009, Chioma was the local Nigerian producer for the ION International Film Festival (IONIFF), a global touring festival founded in Hollywood to promote global awareness and peace via art, culture, and film. In 2010, she founded the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF).

Under her vision the privately funded AFRIFF has grown into the most vibrant film festival experience in Africa and one of the most important film event dates on the continent since its launch in 2010. In its 12th edition in 2023, AFRIFF has grown its reputation as the energetic and vibrant hub for filmmaking connections, attracting over 10,000 international and domestic participants. Just as important, AFRIFF has trained over 10,000 young adults in film and television through beginner, intermediate and master classes with mentors from Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. These classes are provided during festivals free of charge as part of her mission to empower Africa’s youth.

Chioma’s goals for AFRIFF are to enable the African film community to establish bridges for partnership with international counterparts and help ensure that quality, professional expertise and global standards are met across the local industry, accelerating its sustainable development.

In 2019, Chioma cofounded LaVida Africa Studios and Entertainment.  Under the LaVida shingle, she has signed a landmark 50-million-dollar deal with Dentsu’s StoryLab to produce a catalogue of 10 scripted series and feature films.

Chioma’s additional business accomplishments include her role as Managing Director and CEO of JATA Logistics LTD where she expanded the company’s fortunes by moving its core focus from logistics services like travel management to business support services and events management—still a passion of hers today. From 2006 to 2009, JATA managed various investor fora as well as local and international IPO roadshows for companies including Interstate Data USA and Global Biofuels, growing the company’s net worth to millions of dollars.

Ude earned a degree in marketing from University of Nigeria, Nsukka.