Multiple award winner, Yibo Koko is an entertainment guru, who has his hands across the industry. He is a filmmaker, art director, creative artist, and producer. For close to four decades, he has remained consistent with his craft and has also mentored many to realize their potential.
Born in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on February 2, 1967, Yibo Koko is a dance guru and is famous for creating the Seki Dance Drama, which tells the story of the Rivers State people through dance.
The drama was originally performed as Owu-Amapu-Ti and had its first showing at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos on May 27, 1998. ‘Seki’ has over the years become an identity, traversing different cultures to bring to the stage the spectacular colours and culture of the riverine Niger Delta region. It was the preferred choice for the 2018 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) opening performance.
Yibo Koko attended the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he graduated with a B.A. in Theater Arts. He thereafter attended the New York Film Academy, Oxford University, among other institutions.
In 2020, he was appointed as the Director General of the Rivers State Tourism Development Agency (RSTDA), by then Governor Nyesom Wike, a position he still occupies till date. Prior to that, Wike's predecessor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, appointed him as Creative Consultant to the Rivers State Ministry of Culture and Tourism. He conceptualised and designed the Rivers State carnival popularly called CARNIRIV in 2008. He was in charge of choreography for the state contingent at Abuja carnival in 2008 and 2009.
He is also a voting member of the Nigerian Oscar selection committee, former head of production at African Magic MNET West Africa and was also part of the Nigeria Got Talent Show as a judge alongside Kate Henshaw and Dan Foster.
He featured prominently as one of the top comedians of the Opa Williams’ ‘Nite of A Thousand Laughs’. He is famous for also
publicizing the musical comedy genre.
As a filmmaker, he is credited with movies such as ‘A Clean Woman’, which fetched him accolades including an Outstanding Achievement in Film Making Award at the 42nd Brooklyn Arts Council International Film Festival, Long Island University, New York, United States of America.
He is also the brain behind 'Three Tramps and the Law’, a story round four strangers whose quests for wealth crack the veneers of greed, lies, and deceit that lie in them.
Yibo, who is married to Kelechi Koko and blessed with three children, continues to be an inspiration to many young people seeking a successful career in the creative industry.
