Dr. Charles Okwuowulu

About Dr. Charles Okwuowulu

Charles Okwuowulu, PhD, DGN, is a Senior Lecturer and the Head of the Theatre Arts Department at Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu Alike, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. He teaches film courses in the Department of Theatre Arts, an area where he did his Masters and PhD. Immediately after his Bachelor’s Degree programme in Theatre Arts from the prestigious University of Nigeria Nsukka, Charles Okwuowulu, determined to practice in the Nigerian film industry (popularly known as Nollywood), proceeded to acquire more practical training with key Nollywood studios and filmmakers, offering him the opportunity to learn practical film directing, cinematography, and editing.

Consequently, he established Cardin Studio in Owerri, Imo State, wherein he edited and produced numerous films, music videos, and documentaries, and provided technical support for the Theatre Arts Department, Imo State University. He equally collaborated with Orient Television (Imo State-owned TV station) for two seasons of partnership in film training, where numerous youths underwent training in different aspects of filmmaking. His temporary engagement with Imo State University motivated him to proceed for his Masters’ Programme at the University of Port Harcourt in 2008, wherein he was equally temporarily engaged to provide technical support to students in the areas of cinematography and editing. Following satisfactory delivery of his temporary job offer, he was offered a pensionable appointment in the Department of Theatre Arts at the University of Port Harcourt in April 2011. This endeared him to thoroughly teaching practical courses in film, an area he has a passion for.

In 2012, he enrolled for his PhD in film studies, shortly after his Master’s Degree in the same area, and acquired his PhD in 2016. As a film scholar, he had observed that a great lacuna existed in the fusion of film theory and practice, as most film scholars do not have the requisite film practical background. As a result, he devised the "Uniport-Nollywood Workshop," which aims to bridge the gap between film scholarship and practice. In the workshop, film scholars and practitioners were brought together for a robust discourse geared towards developing the Nigerian film industry. Following the huge success of the workshop in 2017, it was again replicated in 2018 with much more resounding success. Charles Okwuowulu’s zeal for the fusion of film theory and practice has benefited his students immensely over the years.

Following an offer as a Senior Lecturer at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike, Ebonyi State, Nigeria, in August 2018, Charles Okwuowulu left the University of Port Harcourt as a lecturer. Charles Okwuowulu initiated, organized, and hosted the 2019 edition of the Ebonyi-Nollywood workshop, a film workshop that brought many filmmakers to Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike, Ebonyi State for interaction with Theatre Arts students and lectures. He has also produced two films with theatre arts students in AEFUNAI: Lost Soul and Tara Diary.

As an academic, his research interests are in auteur, mis-en-scene construction, and narrative techniques in Nollywood and African Cinema, an area he has over thirty international and local publications on. He has presented papers at numerous conferences and workshops on African film narratives. He has equally written, produced, edited, and directed many Nollywood films, musical videos, and documentaries, which have equally won many awards.

Charles Okwuowulu is a member of the following organizations: Society of Nigerian Theatre Artistes SONTA; Directors Guild of Nigeria DGN; National Association of Nigerian Theatre Practitioners NANTAP; Association of Nigerian Authors ANA; and the National President of Catholic Artistes and Entertainers Association of Nigeria CAEAN. He plays the keyboard (piano) very well and was the band leader in the University of Port Harcourt Theatre Arts Band troop from 2013 to 2018.

Charles Okwuowulu is married to Chinwe and the marriage is blessed with three children, two boys and a girl.