Simon Peacemaker: Crafting stories beyond the screen

Before Nollywood knew him as Simon Peacemaker, Chibuzo Simon Onyimba was a dancer—one who owned a studio and lived for rhythm and movement in Enugu State. Entertainment was always the dream, even when life briefly pulled him in a different direction.

Relocating to Lagos came with high hopes and hard lessons. Financial struggles slowed his creative pursuits, even after releasing a music album. Marriage and family responsibilities soon took priority, pushing his artistic ambitions to the background.

Then came a turning point. A visit to the Lagos studio of his longtime friend, respected director Chris Eneaji, reawakened Onyimba’s love for storytelling. This time, the medium wasn’t dance or music—it was film.

Today, Simon Peacemaker is a respected producer and director with more than 50 film credits. His creative process is deeply personal, inspired by his environment, conversations with friends, family dynamics, and quiet moments of reflection. Ideas begin as voice notes or rough storylines before evolving through collaboration with writers.

Funding remains a constant hurdle. At one point, Peacemaker sold his car to finance his first film. Still, he pressed on—earning grants, partnering with NGOs, and attracting independent investors. His philosophy is simple: start where you are, prove your value, and the right opportunities will follow.

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His breakout moment came with Secret Room (2015), a film that earned five AMVCA nominations and won Best Actor for OC Ukeje. For Peacemaker, it wasn’t just an award—it was validation.

With over 40 films on ROK Studios (CANAL+) and a growing international audience through streaming platforms, Simon Peacemaker is optimistic about Nollywood’s future. His latest film, Losing You, explores marriage and faith, reflecting his belief that stories should heal, challenge, and inspire.

Some of his films are available on major streaming platforms. For instance, The Chase, starring notable actors Luke Ik Ogbonna, Gregory Ojefua, Collete Nwadike, Dan Ugoji, and many others, can be found on Amazon Prime Video. His movie Locked was released on Netflix in July 2020, and several of his other films are also available on popular platforms such as Tubi. Additionally, his movie The Bet was nominated in 2018 for Best Movie at the Nigeria Entertainment and Leadership Awards in London.

For young filmmakers, his message is unwavering: stay focused, find a mentor, keep learning, and never abandon your story.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.