Co-creator of hit Disney series Iwájú to mentor Herts students

A Herts alumnus who co-created the acclaimed, original Disney+ series Iwájú, is returning to the University of Hertfordshire to mentor and support students, alumni and staff.

Hamid Ibrahim, who studied 3D Animation and Visual Effects at the University between 2014-2017, will be joining Herts as their next Entrepreneur in Residence (EiR). In this role, he will mentor University start-ups, enhance knowledge exchange opportunities, offer guest speaking and strengthen Herts’ entrepreneurial support for its community, to help members launch or start their own businesses.

The remarkable entrepreneur started his career at visual effects heavyweights Moving Picture Company, working on feature films including the remake of Disney’s The Lion King. Next, he set up and became Chief Executive Officer of entertainment company Kugali Media, which specialises in telling stories inspired by African Culture using comic books, art, animation and augmented reality.

It was through Kugali that he collaborated with Disney to create Iwájú. An animated, family, sci-fi series set in futuristic Nigeria, it integrates elements of African, Eastern and Western styles developed by Hamid and his Kugali team to explore themes of inequality, class divide and challenging the everyday status quo. The first original animated series from Walt Disney Animation Studios since it was founded in 1923, it aired to great acclaim in February 2024, receiving three Emmy nominations at the 2024 Children’s and Family Emmy Awards.

Kugali also have a number of other exciting projects in the pipeline, including launching two graphic novels Akanni and Runeless under the imprint ‘Kugali Ink’ with Disney publishing this year. Akanni by Jessica Tagbajumi, is a science fiction tale following a young freedom fighter, while Bill Masuku’s Runeless is about two best friends in search of highly valued runes in their runeless society.

During the one-year mentoring role, Hamid will support students, alumni and staff interested in launching their own venture or those at the early stages of their start up journey, through one-to-one mentoring and also through talks, masterclasses and workshops. Using his own unique entrepreneurial expertise and experiences, he will also help Herts members identify barriers to success and provide ways to help them build their confidence.

Hamid said: "I accepted the honour of joining the EiR programme because the world is evolving at an unprecedented pace. Traditional teaching alone no longer suffices; students need real-time insights from those navigating these rapid changes. Partnering with the University also grants access to invaluable resources, including their cutting-edge research capabilities, which align perfectly with Kugali’s mission to push the boundaries of innovation.”

Professor Kate Asante, Director of Lifelong Learning and Employment said: “We are thrilled to welcome Hamid as our third 'Entrepreneur in Residence'. Hamid is a highly successful entrepreneur with extensive expertise in VFX and animation, having worked at the pinnacle of the entertainment industry. Hamid is an inspiration, and in this role, he will engage and collaborate with students to share his expertise and experiences – and no doubt inspire the next generation of creative entrepreneurs.”

The University’s EiRs are always held by Herts alumni turned successful entrepreneurs in start-up accelerators. Hamid succeeds the University’s former EiRs Raphael Sofoluke - founder and CEO of UK Black Business Show, UK Black Business Week, Birmingham Black Business Show, the Black Tech Achievement Awards, speaker and author - and Suzanne Meenan, a high-performing, biotech business advisor with a background in R&D, who has also held commercial roles at Roche, GlaxoSmithKline and NHS England, as well as running her own consultancy, Suzanne Meenan Consulting.

To find out more or work with any of our Entrepreneurs in Residence please contact the Student Enterprise team at enterprise@herts.ac.uk. Find out more about Herts’ enterprise support.