Dare Olaitan, born November 28, 1990, is a Nigerian filmmaker, writer, producer, and director. He first gained recognition with his debut feature film Ojukokoro (2016), and has since worked on various films that explore crime, political drama, and horror thrillers. His films have received multiple nominations at the Africa Movie Academy Awards and Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards.
Profile Summary
| Full Name | Dare Olaitan |
| Date of Birth | November 28, 1990 |
| Place of Birth | Ikeja, Lagos |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| State of Origin | Lagos State |
| Partner | N/A |
| Children | N/A |
| Occupations | Filmmaker, Producer, Writer, Director |
| Net Worth | $200,000 – $500,000 |
Early Life and Education
Dare was born in Ikeja, Lagos. His father, Oladipo Olaitan, is the financial secretary of the Yoruba cultural organization, Afenifere.
He studied Economics and Business Management at Illinois Wesleyan University. It was during a final year project there that his interest in filmmaking began.
Although he had considered pursuing an MBA, he chose instead to study film at the Community College of Aurora (formerly Colorado Film School).
Career
Dare Olaitan began his career during his NYSC service year in Lagos at a film production company. His first major project was Ojukokoro (2016), a dark comedy crime thriller that earned nominations for Best Screenplay and Best Nigerian Film at the Africa Movie Academy Awards.
He continued to create films that tell gripping stories, such as Knockout Blessing (2018), which follows an ambitious female boxer caught in political corruption and was also nominated for awards. Later, he co-directed Dwindle (2021), a film about carjackers turned taxi drivers facing difficult challenges.
He produced Obara’M (2022), nominated for Best Movie West Africa at AMVCA, and wrote, produced, and directed the horror thriller Ile Owo (2022), which was released on Netflix and received nominations at the AMVCA.
Most recently, he worked on Ègún (2023), a supernatural office thriller inspired by famed horror filmmakers Guillermo del Toro and Robert Rodriguez.
Personal Life
Olaitan keeps his personal life private, and public information about his partner and children is not available. He credits filmmakers Guillermo del Toro and Robert Rodriguez as major inspirations.
Dare Olaitan Net Worth
Dare Olaitan’s net worth is estimated to range from $200,000 to $500,000, reflecting his career as a filmmaker, producer, and writer with several award-nominated films and growing industry presence.
Filmography
- Ojukokoro (2016): Writer, Producer, Director. A dark comedy crime thriller nominated for Best Screenplay and Best Nigerian Film at AMAA 2018.
- Knockout Blessing (2018): Writer, Producer, Director. Explores political corruption and was nominated for Best Nigerian Film and Best Visual Effects at AMAA 2019.
- Dwindle (2021): Writer, Director. Co-directed with Kayode Kasum about carjackers turned taxi drivers, received AMVCA acting nominations.
- Obara’M (2022): Producer. Nominated for Best Movie West Africa at AMVCA 2023.
- Ile Owo (2022): Writer, Producer, Director. Horror-thriller released on Netflix; nominated for Best Overall Movie and Best Picture Editor at AMVCA 2023.
- Ègún (2023): Writer, Executive Producer. A supernatural office thriller inspired by Guillermo del Toro and Robert Rodriguez.
Awards and Nominations
- In 2018, Ojukokoro was nominated for Best Screenplay and Best Nigerian Film at the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA).
- In 2019, Knockout Blessing received nominations for Best Nigerian Film and Best Visual Effects at the Africa Movie Academy Awards.
- In 2023, Obara’M was nominated for Best Movie West Africa at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA).
- Also in 2023, Ile Owo received nominations for Best Overall Movie and Best Picture Editor at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards.
These nominations highlight his recognition largely at AMAA and AMVCA across multiple films and categories.
