Richard Mofe-Damijo


Richard Evans Mofe-Damijo, popularly known as RMD, is a Nigerian actor, writer, producer, lawyer, and former journalist. He served as Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Delta State from 2009 to 2015. Mofe-Damijo won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2005. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 12th Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2016. In 2024, he was honoured with the Industry Merit Awards, alongside Iya Rainbow at the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards.

Early life

Mofe-Damijo was born in Aladja, Udu Kingdom, in present-day Delta State. He attended Midwest College, Warri and Anglican Grammar School, where he was a member of the drama club. He studied theatre arts at the University of Benin, and later studied law at the University of Lagos, graduating in 2004.

Career

After graduating from university with a theatre arts degree, Mofe-Damijo appeared in the soap opera Ripples as a police inspector but gained more popularity as villain Segun Kadiri in a rival soap Checkmate. Before then, he had a stint as a writer with the daily newspaper The Concord, and magazines Metro and Quality. Out of Bounds was the first film for which he received a writer and producer credit. In 2005, at the maiden edition of the Africa Movie Academy Awards, Mofe-Damijo won the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. On 5 January 2017, he hosted the 2016 GLO-CAF Awards alongside Nigerian journalist Mimi Fawaz. On 8 December 2021, he received a Black Star Honor at the Rhymes on Da Runway in Accra, Ghana.

Political career

Mofe-Damijo was appointed as Special Adviser of Culture and Tourism to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, in 2008. He later served as Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Delta State from 2009 to 2015.

Personal life

Mofe-Damijo was married to Mary Ellen 'MEE' Ezekiel, a journalist, publisher and talk show host. After her death in 1996, Mofe-Damijo married Jumobi Adegbesan, a television personality. She later left broadcasting for the corporate sector. RMD has five children.

Awards and nominations

YearEventPrizeResult
20095th Africa Movie Academy AwardsBest Film In Nigeria
20122012 Best of Nollywood AwardsSpecial Recognition AwardWon
20152015 Africa Magic Viewers Choice AwardsBest Supporting Actor
201612th Africa Movie Academy AwardsLifetime Achievement AwardWon
20172017 Africa Magic Viewers Choice AwardsBest Actor in Leading Role
2017Africa Movie Academy AwardsBest Actor in Leading RoleNomitated
2017Nigeria Entertainment AwardsBest Supporting ActorNomitated
2018Nollywood Travel Film Festival AwardsMost Outstanding IndividualWon
2021Net HonoursMost Popular ActorNomitated
2022Exclusive Men of the Year Africa AwardsContinental Film IconWon
2023Africa Magic Viewers' Choice AwardsBest Actor in a Drama, Movie or TV SeriesNomitated