Damilola Osikoya, CEO of Switch Visuals, is the woman who built the night 51,000 people broke a world record at the Black Market film screening. The event, held on Saturday at TBS in Lagos, drew the largest film-screening crowd ever recorded anywhere in the world, smashing a record that had stood since 2015.
Who Is Damilola Osikoya?
Osikoya is the CEO of Switch Visuals and was officially credited as Event Production Producer for the screening. Her role, however, went beyond the title. She brought sponsors and partners on board and was closely involved in how the budget was spent. According to Osikoya, “The logistics people see is the visible half. The funding is the half that made the visible half possible.”
She also runs Voyage Quest Travels, a travel company, in addition to her work with Switch Visuals.
The Event That Made History
The Black Market premiere was not just a movie screening; it was a live, unrepeatable event with 51,000 moving parts. Osikoya described it as having “exactly one chance to work.” The record-breaking crowd gathered at TBS, and the event was widely praised for its organisation and scale.
Nora Awolowo produced the film, while Osikoya built the event that allowed 51,000 people to experience it. Osikoya acknowledged the collaborative effort, thanking key partners including Zenith Bank, Oraimo, Johnnie Walker Blonde, the Lagos State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and Swoop.
Recognition and Thanks
In her shoutout, Osikoya said: “Nobody builds a night like this alone. To Zenith Bank, Oraimo, Johnnie Walker Blonde, the Lagos State Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Swoop, thank you for backing an idea nobody had tried before. And to Nora Awolowo and the Black Market team, thank you for giving us a film worth gathering for.”
The event has set a new global benchmark for film screenings, and Osikoya’s dual role in logistics and funding was central to its success. Her work with Switch Visuals and Voyage Quest Travels highlights her versatility in event production and travel management.
