Media personality Toyosi Etim-Effiong has expressed pride in her husband, actor Daniel Etim-Effiong, as he officially marks his directorial debut with the feature film The Herd.
In an emotional Instagram post on Monday, Toyosi shared a photo of herself and Daniel while reflecting on the journey that led to his first feature-length project.
“When I met @etimeffiong and asked what his plans in life were, he said pretty straightforwardly, ‘I want to make films.’ He was getting a Masters in Filmmaking at the University of Johannesburg in SA and I was getting a one-year diploma in Producing at New York Film Academy in New York, so his dream didn’t scare me. In fact, it seemed like we were very much aligned,” she wrote.
Toyosi went on to highlight his years of preparation and growth, recalling his work directing commercials for brands such as Shell, Unilever Project Sunlight, Cadbury’s TomTom, Veet, Dettol, Jik, and Harpic.
She also praised his documentary and short film projects, including the AMVCA award-winning Skin and Crimson: Your Cup of Tea, which earned the Komla Dumor Award for Storytelling 11 years ago.
“I say all this to show that Daniel as a director didn’t just ‘come from nowhere’. There is a foundation and it’s a solid one. The Herd is the first of many blocks to be placed on this foundation and I’m ridiculously proud of him,” Toyosi added.
The Herd is a crime thriller set in South-West Nigeria that delves into themes of family, loyalty, and generational conflict. The film was also showcased at the prestigious Marché du Film during the Cannes Film Festival.
Beyond their careers, Toyosi and Daniel often make headlines for their marriage. In January, Toyosi defended her husband against online critics, insisting he could “kiss any actress he wants on set” without it affecting their home. Daniel, in turn, admitted in an interview that it hurts to see his wife criticized simply for being herself.
