Tunji AZEEZ, is a Professor of Theatre, Film and Cultural Studies, co-founder and former Acting Head, Department of Theatre Arts and Music, Lagos State University, Lagos, Nigeria. He has a B.A (Hons) in Dramatic Arts from Obafemi Awolowo University with specialization in scriptwriting and directing and M.A and PhD in Theatre Arts from the University of Ibadan. He is a versatile writer, content developer and director whose feet bestride the stage, screen, and radio. Some of the organisations he has consulted, written or developed contents for include, BBC Media Action, Flints Production, M-Net Africa Magic Original, 32 FM, Voices for Change, Goldmyne Productions, Centre Stage Productions, Media Concepts International Studios, SMAT Media, (producers of MTV Shuga 5 &6) Aardschap Foundation, Netherlandsand, the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) and many others.
As a scholar-artist, he is one of the few people who combine theory with practice. This has earned him invitation to give talks at fora with industry players. He has also served as a resource person to young artists and budding filmmakers. Thorough his troupe, Optimom Arts Konsotiom (OAK) he trained many young people who are today major names in Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
He has published extensively on film, theatre, gender, cultural studies and development communications both locally and internationally. His latest co-edited work, Inside Nollywood: Issues and Perspectives on Nigerian Cinema is a major contribution to scholarship on the Nigerian film industry. He is a fellow of the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS), fellow of the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP), Fellow, Institute of Policy Management Development, Vice President, Society of Nigeria Theatre Artists (SONTA) the umbrella body of all Theatre, Film and Media scholars in Nigeria and winner of several research and travel grants.
He is currently consulting for KAP Film and Television Academy as Head of School. His vision is to see the school become the destination of choice for anyone seeking training in the various art of film and television production.