Chioma Ude is a prominent Nigerian businesswoman and media executive. After completing her education, she began her career as a sales executive at a trading company in Nigeria, where she worked for two years before relocating to the United States for an 11-year tenure. In 2006, she returned to Nigeria and took on the role of Managing Director and CEO at JATA Logistics Ltd. Under her leadership, the company expanded its focus from traditional logistics services, such as travel management, to encompass Business Support Services and Event Management, aligning with her personal interests.
Between 2006 and 2009, Ude significantly enhanced JATA’s profile, managing various investor forums and international roadshows, including those for the initial public offerings of major financial institutions like UBA and Bank PHB. Her love for film deepened following her involvement in the 2007 UK Roadshow for the Nigerian Film and Video Censors Board. This engagement led to her overseeing logistics for the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) in 2008, and she played a key role in establishing the AMAA Charity Benefit, which aimed to foster corporate social responsibility within the film industry.
In 2009, Chioma Ude and JATA produced the highly acclaimed film premiere of “Through the Glass,” created by Stephanie Okereke. She also served as the local producer for the ION International Film Festival in Port Harcourt that same year. In 2010, Ude founded the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), which has grown to become a significant event in the international film festival circuit, attracting global interest and support.
Revered as “The First Lady of African Media,” Ude has co-founded Envivo, a multimedia digital content delivery system, and continues to serve as the executive director of AFRIFF. As a serial entrepreneur, she actively seeks out new ventures to reshape the narrative about Africa, driven by her commitment to training and empowering young people, particularly women. In 2017, she and her partner established Envivo Communications Limited, which operates various subsidiaries, including nvivo Media and Envivo Education. The group also launched NVIVO TV, a secure video-on-demand platform. Additionally, Chioma is involved in philanthropic efforts, serving on the board of Innovatively, Nigeria’s leading incubation and acceleration lab for technology ventures.
