Acclaimed Nigerian screenwriter and director Collins C. Okoh has been appointed to adapt Onyeka Nwelue’s celebrated novel, Kito, for the screen, with principal photography scheduled to commence in February 2027.

The appointment was announced by Blues & Hills Pictures Ltd, which is producing and overseeing the feature film adaptation.

Under a newly executed agreement, Okoh will serve as both screenwriter and director, taking responsibility for translating the novel into a feature-length screenplay and leading the film’s artistic and creative execution from development through production.

The production is expected to run for several weeks, marking a major step in bringing one of contemporary African literature’s compelling stories to cinema.

Okoh, who began his professional screenwriting career in 2017 as a ghostwriter, joined the Africa Magic television series “My Siblings & I” in 2019. In 2020, he co-wrote “Omo Ghetto: The Saga”, which went on to become one of the highest-grossing Nigerian films of its time.

He has since established an extensive filmography that includes “Finding Me”, “A Tribe Called Judah”, “To Be a Friend”, “Behind the Scenes”, “Red Light Diaries” and the Prime Video hit series “She Must Be Obeyed”.

His work has earned both commercial success and critical recognition. In 2024, he received an Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards nomination for Best Movie Writer for “A Tribe Called Judah”. He has also achieved the distinction of having three films simultaneously ranked among the highest-performing titles at the Nigerian box office for three consecutive years. In 2025, YNaija named him among its Top 100 Most Impactful People in Film.

As director and screenwriter of “Kito”, Okoh will have substantial creative authority over the adaptation, including screenplay development, casting recommendations, visual storytelling and the overall directorial interpretation of the novel.

Speaking on the project, Okoh said “Kito” presented an opportunity to explore questions of identity, belonging and the complexities of human experience through cinema.

According to him, “Kito is a deeply human story that speaks to identity, belonging, and the complexities of our shared experiences,” Okoh said. “I am honoured to bring this remarkable novel to the screen and look forward to creating a film that resonates with audiences both in Africa and around the world.”

Nwelue, the author of “Kito” and a representative of Blues & Hills Pictures Ltd, also welcomed the collaboration, describing Okoh as a filmmaker with the ability to connect stories with audiences across different levels.

“Collins Okoh has consistently demonstrated an extraordinary ability to tell stories that connect with audiences at every level,” Nwelue said.

He added that, “his understanding of character, emotion, and cinematic storytelling makes him the ideal filmmaker to lead the adaptation of Kito. We are excited about what this partnership will achieve.”

“Kito” is a Nigerian thriller that combines crime, psychological drama and social commentary to examine the consequences of abuse, prejudice and institutional failure.

The novel centres on a murder investigation that gradually exposes a deeper story of trauma, silence and revenge, revealing how unresolved wounds can shape individuals and communities over generations.

Set against contemporary Nigeria, the story explores the intersection of technology, organised crime and social stigma, presenting a world in which fear can become a commodity and vulnerable people struggle to obtain justice.

At the centre of the narrative is Ozoza, a morally complex protagonist whose journey challenges conventional ideas about victimhood, guilt and redemption.

Rather than offering simple answers, “Kito” confronts questions of accountability, violence and the cycles through which pain can reproduce itself. Its combination of suspense, emotional depth and social commentary provides the foundation for a cinematic adaptation aimed at both Nigerian and international audiences.

The film adaptation is expected to retain the novel’s central characters, themes and atmosphere while presenting its narrative world through a contemporary cinematic interpretation.

Blues & Hills Pictures Ltd will oversee the project through screenplay development, production and post-production, with principal photography scheduled to begin in February 2027.

Blues & Hills Pictures Ltd is producing and overseeing the feature film adaptation of Kito, guiding the project from screenplay development through principal photography and post-production.