In The Herd, Effiong delivered one of his strongest performances yet as Gozie, a man kidnapped alongside his newlywed friends on their wedding day, a story that reflected Nigeria’s worsening insecurity challenges. His layered portrayal of Gozie resonated with audiences and critics alike, cementing his position as Africa’s leading actor of the year.
South Africa’s Thapelo Mokoena secured second place for his roles in Bad Influencer and Skeleton Coast, while Nollywood’s Bucci Franklin took third with his performances in Kemi Adetiba’s To Kill a Monkey, which explored the darker sides of poverty and friendship, and The Drop.
Bolaji Ogunmola earned fourth spot for Summer Rain and her record-breaking thriller Gingerrr, a Nollywood heist film about three women. Timini Egbuson rounded out the top five, recognized for his roles in Reel Love and Gingerrr.
Other notable actors in the top 25 include James Gardiner (The Party, The Devil is a Liar), Genoveva Umeh (The Herd, Baby Farm), Uzor Arukwe (Thin Line, The Party), and Nigerian stars such as Uche Montana, Mercy Aigbe, Jesse Suntele, Nancy Isime, Thando Zondi, and William Benson.
Nigerian actors dominate the rankings, occupying 18 of the 25 spots, further reinforcing Nollywood’s growing influence and consistent output in African and global cinema. Effiong’s recognition as number one highlights the strength and range of talent emerging from Nigeria’s film industry this year.