Today, we celebrate the fathers who show up. The ones who may not always get the praise, who may not always say much, but who carry the weight of the world on their shoulders. Not all fathers look the same — and that’s the beauty of it.
There’s the Agbada-wearing man at every owambe, the life of the party who still manages to send his two sons to study medicine abroad and somehow pays their tuition on time.
There’s the keke driver with sweat on his back and fire in his eyes, hustling to keep his two daughters in school, dodging potholes and praying under his breath for strength.
There’s the tailor with nine mouths to feed, the security guard who never misses visiting day. And then, there’s the man who raises children he didn’t bring into the world, but gives them a world of love.
Fathers wear many faces. And Nollywood, thankfully, doesn’t shy away from showing us that.
A Father’s Love – When Fatherhood Isn’t About Blood
A Father’s Love is not your usual feel-good film. It asks us to rethink everything we think we know about fatherhood. The main character, David, loves his daughters fiercely — he calls them his “double blessings.” But when a painful secret about their birth comes to light, his entire world shakes.
A Father’s Love reminds us that being a dad isn’t about DNA. It’s about showing up. Staying. Loving loudly, even when the world expects you to be quiet.
The Black Book – When Love Turns to Pain and Vengeance
In The Black Book, we meet Paul Edima — a father who loses his only son to corrupt police brutality. The loss doesn’t just hurt him; it changes him. It drags him back into a past life, one he thought he’d left behind. A man who had become quiet, prayerful, and peaceful turns into a weapon of vengeance.
Afamefuna – When Apprentices Become Sons
In Afamefuna, Odogwu is not their father by blood, but by everything else. He teaches his boys business, history, culture — and most importantly, dignity. He feeds them, protects them, corrects them, and loves them. The film beautifully shows how the Igbo apprenticeship system isn’t just a business model; it’s a family.
Sometimes, fatherhood is in the mentorship. In the patience. In sitting at the same table to eat with the ones you’re raising.
Suky – A Father Fighting His Demons for His Son
Suky tells a story that stings. Adigun is a boxer who trains his son, Sunkanmi, to dream bigger. But beneath the boxing gloves and training sessions lies a secret, Adigun has been throwing fights for a dangerous gang. When his son discovers the truth, Adigun refuses to continue living a lie.
His refusal costs him his life. He’s ambushed and killed. But even in death, Adigun leaves something behind, the image of a father who tried to do better, even if too late. Suky shows us that fatherhood is often messy. Sometimes they fail. But many still try, with all they have.
To Every Real Father, Today Is Yours
We celebrate you, whether you wear an Agbada or a mechanic’s jumpsuit. Whether you’re at a school gate waiting for your child or across the world sending home money for school fees. Whether you raised your own kids or someone else’s. Whether you’re still trying to figure it out or doing the best you can in silence.
Fathers are not always perfect, but the good ones are worth celebrating. Nollywood, in all its beauty, continues to tell their stories, raw, honest, and full of heart.
Happy Father’s Day to all the real ones. You are seen. You are appreciated. You are loved.
