Daniel Etim Effiong is a celebrated Nigerian actor, filmmaker, scriptwriter, and former chemical engineer whose dynamic journey spans both creative and technical disciplines. Born and raised in Jaji, Kaduna State, he grew up in military-influenced environments across Benin City, Lagos, and Abuja, shaping his disciplined approach to storytelling and performance.

Academically, Daniel earned a Chemical Engineering degree from the Federal University of Technology, Minna. He then made a bold transition from oil & gas engineering into the creative arts, pursuing training in filmmaking and directing at AFDA Film School and the University of Johannesburg, South Africa.

Daniel initially built his career in media as a content producer for NdaniTV. He soon gained prominence on-screen with roles in Nollywood hits such as Gidi Up, The Men’s Club, Plan B, Castle & Castle, and Òlòtūré. His film work includes standout performances in Plan B (earning an AMVCA nomination), the intense psychological thriller Kofa, for which he won Best Actor at AFRIFF, and more recently, Jolly Roger, Fish Bone, and Still Falling.

Further enhancing his creative footprint, he directed the acclaimed short Prey (2017), the powerful documentary Skin (2020), and in 2025, debuted his feature film The Herd, a crime thriller rooted in Nigerian experience, which premiered at Cannes’ Marché du Film.

Daniel’s personal journey, marked by resilience, transformation, and artistic excellence, has firmly established him as a versatile and influential voice in Nollywood and the broader African film industry.