After studying journalism and film in London and working with the BBC, Eddie Ugbomah returned to Nigeria in 1975 to establish Edifosa, a film production company. He produced and directed more than a dozen films that addressed social and political issues, often rooted in real events.

His 1977 film, The Rise and Fall of Oyenusi, portrayed the life of a notorious armed robber, while The Mask (1979) combined espionage with cultural restitution, imagining the return of the Benin ivory mask. Ugbomah frequently cast himself in lead roles, using his on-screen presence to drive home the urgency and complexity of the stories he told.

His appointment as chairman of the Nigerian Film Corporation in 1988 further cemented his influence on the country’s film industry. By anchoring his stories in lived realities, he created films that resonated with audiences and helped define a new phase of Nigerian cinema.