Pomp As Oboama Community Celebrates Kanayo, Others

Uzo Chikere and Edward Nnachi

Oboama Ezinihite indigenes resident in Lagos on Saturday, November 29, 2014 rolled out drums and red carpet in honour of their natives who have done well in their chosen fields of human endeavours prominent among whom is Nollywood top thespian, Chief Kanayo O. Kanayo. It was a day also elected to raise N100m for the construction of a Civic Centre by the Oboama Development Union, Lagos Branch at a grand event which held at Ajose Garden of Ikeja Club, Lagos.

It was in deed, a gathering of who is who in Mbaise, sons and daughters of the area, their friends and well-wishers including de cream de la cream in Nollywood, among others.

The event according to its organisers, was the first of its kind in the annals of the Oboama Development Union (ODU) in Lagos.

Oboama is one of the pioneer autonomous communities in Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA of Imo State. Together with her sister community, Umunama, they are historically and culturally acclaimed to be the Nna (father) of all original 13 autonomous communities that make up Ezinihitte Mbaise. Over the last years, the community has institutionalised a norm of recognising its various sons, daughters and friends who have done well in their various chosen careers and impacted on the development of their community.

The sons and daughters of Oboama community in Diaspora have also through their different communal associations identified with this norm in their activities.

It is in pursuance of this, that the Lagos State Branch of the Oboama Development Union on Saturday, found it necessary to recognise its members and friends who have distinguished themselves in their various chosen fields and impacted positively on the development of the community.

Kanayo Onyekwere Kanayo (MFR), a seasoned actor and Chairman, Board of Nigeria Institute of Hospitality and Tourism Studies, amongst other awardees were found worthy of this rare meritorious recognition.

According to the Chairman of the Oboama Development Union (ODU), Lagos State Branch, “Kanayo O. Kanayo, the chief awardee has been singled today for this grand reception for bringing honour and dignity to Oboama.

“Chief KOK is a grass-to-grace man who, by dint of hard work and perseverance rose to the pinnacle of his profession and became the master of the game. He was one of the pioneers of Nollywood and has remained a force to reckon with in the industry”. Osuagwu, said Kanayo’s kinsmen decided to honour and recognize him to further encourage wish him in his strides to better the lots of his people, adding that, “today proves that a prophet can indeed be recognised by his own people”.

The motivational comedian, Okey Bakassi was on ground to felicitate with his friend, KOK. However, the event’s venue and those in attendance became ecstatic with the entry of Osita Iheme popularly known as Pawpaw, and Victor Osuagwu, another Nollywood actor from the Imo clan at about 5.45pm. Their unexpected appearance at the place witnessed a tumultuous welcome by the Oboama Mbaise women, who sang and danced to native songs for them. At this point there was a barrage of photo shots from iphones, ipads, cameras, smart phones and any available device capable of recording images. The effervescent atmosphere at that stage and the conviviality was a proof of the Nollywood character of showing solidarity to one of its own on his day of glory in respect of his positive impact through his contribution to community development expressed in the art.

Apart from prominent faces in Nollywood, key media friends and well-wishers of KOK were on hand to rejoice with him. There was much to eat and drink.

Another interesting aspect of the event was the realisation that the traditional chief/ruler of Oboama Mbaise, Eze J.N. Amaefule who was equally the Royal Father of the day, journeyed all the way to Lagos   to witness the occasion. To many discerning minds, for the royal personage to leave his majestic palace for Lagos just to be part of this noble cause, underscored the importance of the event to the Oboama clan.

Chief Kanayo, had while responding on behalf of other awardees, thanked the entire people of Mbaise and prayed God to meet them at the point of their needs. According to him, with the cooperation of other awardees, all the children of Oboama will be afforded the opportunity go to acquire education just as he vowed that he would see that it was done.

Other recipients of the awards were, High Chief Emmanuel Ekejiuba Iroh, Chief Patrick Chudi Onyekwere, Messrs. Mac Ekechukwu, Emeka Martins and Mrs. Bernadine Amanze Azuka. Listed also as awardees are, Mr. Remigius Onyewuchi Amaefule, Mr. Ikechukwu Benedict Chikezie, Comrade Akoh Cyparain Ndubuisi and Chief Eugine  E. Ezenwa.  

A new Angel enters Nollywood

Uzo Chikere

Up-coming actress, Samuda Angel Samuel, SAS, has resolved to make her mark in the movie sector otherwise called Nollywood.

Her performance in over eight films such as Onuoma's Tears, Bitter revenge, Omosida, Faded, Sekem Babes among many others yet to be released, speaks volume of her talent.

 “I am gifted and talented”, the Ibiono Ibom Local council of Akwa ibom State- born artiste said in an interview recently, adding, “I am the second child to my dad and second to the last for my mum.” Angel Samuda is also a graduate of Modern Languages and International Studies, University of Calabar. 

Her growing up was fun, she revealed. “Growing up was fun and challenging to me because I grew up with my dad, a very strict and no nonsense man. It got to a point sometimes I got confused of not even remembering/knowing what or when to do, to avoid doing it wrongly. Having a flash back to my growing up, I always smile and thank my dad for the woman I have grown into. He groomed me in the right ways just like my mum should have done.”

She cut her teeth in Nollywood some couple of years ago. “It feels good, since it’s something I have always dreamed off, so to me it’s an achievement and dreams come true. I actually started acting proper about five years ago but decided to go professional, if you will call it that, this year. And the reception has been good. As you can see, I am beautiful and I have a good voice that Directors like, so the jobs keep coming. I am billed to act a lead (for the first time) in a movie that is going to be shot this Xmas period, so no holiday for me.”

 And how far is she willing to go in Nollywood? “I want to get to the peak of my dream, become a star and entertaining my fans and viewers like I have always dreamed off.”

She will however not go nude in a movie in her quest to achieve stardom. “Although acting is all about carrying my roles and interpreting them well, but NO I can’t go nude, I mean totally nude in a film, I am crazy no doubt, but the worse I can do is tease with a few sexy shots but not completely going nude, no matter the money,” she submitted.

Unlike most parents, Angel Samuda’s have reacted favorably to her acting career. “It’s normal and not a surprise to them because they are use to it‎. As a child, I have always told them I'll be an actress and a fashion designer. I started dancing and acting when I was five in school, church, theatre group in cultural centre even at NYSC camp. Then my dad use to tell me, “one after the other”… that I should focus on my education first before taking acting as a profession since it’s what I want. I love acting, I mean, it gives me joy and I feel good about it. So they are happy for me that am living my dreams.

The beauty of it all is that she is comfortable playing any role in a movie, “so far it has nothing to do ‎with nudity, I am so comfortable, and I will do my best to interpret it well to my viewers and fans out there.”

Dame Patience For Lady Mechanic Initiative 10^th Anniversary

Uzo Chikere

Despite none intervention by government agencies both at the federal and state levels in its efforts to empower young women through training as author mechanics, the Lady Mechanic Initiative School of Automotive Engineering will on Thursday celebrate  its 10^th anniversary in Lagos.

This was made known by the first lady mechanic in Nigeria and Executive Director cum founder of the initiative, Mrs. Sandra Aguebor at brief press parley held on Monday. The event which is billed to hold at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, she further informed is expected to be graced by the presence of Nigeria’s first lady, wife of the president who is the grand matron of the Lady Mechanic Initiative, Dame Patience Faka Jonathan as well as such state governors as Babatunde R. Fashola, Adams Oshiomole, and Ibikunle Amosu of Lagos, Edo and Ogun States respectively. To be in attendance also is the Kano State governor, Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso among other dignitaries.

Sandra who expressed joy and sense of fulfillment with regard to the sustenance of the project and the enablement it has provided for young ladies in the last 10 years, also stated that the event provide the opportunity to celebrate all those who had contributed in one way or the other to the training and empowerment of over 700 female mechanics in Nigeria.  

She howeverrevealed that her only regret was that governments and their agencies at all levels had not been forth coming in providing support for the initiative which has through its programs given hope to over 700 ladies who are presently earning descent livelihood as auto mechanics either on their own or as employees of automobile manufacturing companies.

She therefore called on governments at all levels to reconsider their position and collaborate with the initiative so as to widen the scope of its resolve to empower more women as well as reducing the rate of trafficking in ladies in the country.  

Highlight of the event will be the presentation of awards to the Governors in attendance for their women-friendly policies.

Actor of the Year award excites Aki

 Uzo Chikere

As he seems to be presently basking in the euphoria of the new media deal he signed Media Image Manager, Nollywood popular character, Chinedu Ikedieze (MFR) otherwise known as awhile back scored  another colourful feather to his cap.  Aki emerged Best Actor at the 2014 edition of Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards, NBMA held at the Ballroom of the Oriental Hotel, Lagos on Saturday November 15.

Aki who was unable to attend the event clinched the Best Actor award in the competitive category for his role interpretation of the character of Efe in Mnet’s sitcom The Johnsons. “I am happy I won, I thank the organizers for this honour. I understand that last Saturday’s edition was the fifth, I am happy I won. I assure my fans that I will continue to do my best to win more awards while I bring smiles to their faces,” the Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) national honours recipient said in a statement signed by his media company.

Queency Unleashes Woman Panadol Music Video

Uzo Chikere

As if the Nigerian beat scene is lacking in what can be described as quality musical videos and asking for more, another one which promises to inject vibrancy in the consumption of music through visual presentation was unleashed last weekend in Lagos by Queency Bernado.

The music video is the visual presentation of one of her tracks entitled Woman Panadol which the artiste said is a description of the woman as a care and cure provider to the husband, boyfriend or brother. According to Queency, “as a man, you cannot be successful without a woman beside you; every man needs a woman panadol.”

She further pointed out that she had been a woman panadol to her brothers, friends and father. She however disclosed that apart from it being showcased as a musical video, that in terms of content and presentation, her attitude comes to play prominently to position the work as unique among others in the market place.

As a reggae artiste who finds expression in its sub-genre called dance hall, and hailing from Idoma in Benue State, Queency confessed that she would like to be an outstanding female act from her part of the country since according to her no woman from there has been heard in the music industry.

Talking about her attitude, she said although, “I don’t know how to dance, I use my attitude on stage to portray what I have inside me”, adding when she is on stage, she becomes quite a different person a situation that she is even marveled about.

In a convivial atmosphere, which witnessed a large turn-out of friends, fans and revelers, Queency did not disappoint as she courageously performed some of the numbers from the up-coming album which also contains musical video that was unveiled, Woman Panadol to the admiration of those in attendance.     

 

Nollywood Artiste Inojie, Set To Join League Of Producers

Uzo Chikere 

NOLLYWOOD artiste, Charles Inojie, has concluded plans to produce his maiden movies after years of directing and acting. He explained his desire to try his hands on doing so from the early period of the coming year.

Said he: “Yes, I am going to try my hands on producing from early next year. So your information is very correct, but we are keeping the details very close to our hearts just yet. Discussions have reached top gear with potential sponsors and I do not want to preempt anything at the moment. Let me assure my fans however, that they are in for a great experience.”

The Edo State native agreed he had been very busy in the last couple of years. “Everyone knows me hitherto as the writer/movie director, but in the last four years or so, I embarked on a deliberate journey to expose the actor side of me to my teeming fans. Even though I had made minor appearances in some movies in the past, not many people knew that I was actually a lead role material. So I got to that point in my career when I could no longer continue to suppress my acting talents. I had to take the bull by the horn by going all out in front of the camera as a full-fledged actor, and believe me, the experience has been awesome.”

Charles Inojie has paid his dues in Nollywood. “Surely, I have paid my dues in every respect. Close followers of my rise from those humble beginnings to where God has placed us today would readily concede that indeed I have paid my dues. From whence I left the university as a graduate of Theatre Arts till date, Ihave literally navigated the lowest valleys of Nollywood right to its mountain tops. You would recall that I started out as a writer/Artistic Director, but over the years I have since earned full credits in well over 70 titles as director while appearing in leading role capacities in over 40 very successful movies.”

And since his journey into Nollywood till date, he believes the standard has risen. “Honestly speaking, the standards are higher today than they were a couple of years back. There's greater attention to details and I dare say producers are much more willing to get it right. I think the viewers too have become more selective about what movie they spend their monies on. So if you ask me, I would say whereas there are still a handful of quacks masquerading as filmmakers in Nollywood, most practitioners are more disposed to availing themselves opportunities of training and retraining.”

And what are the challenges in Nollywood? “The greatest challenge the industry faces still remains that of piracy. It is most regrettable that whereas anti-piracy laws exist, they are either obsolete or in most cases not enforced by the relevant law enforcement agencies. This scenario has given rise to a situation where common criminal reap where they did not sow. A case of 'monkey dey work, baboon dey chop.' We sincerely believe that if government should face these robbers of intellectual properties headlong, producers would have better returns on their investments and ultimately be in a position to engage more hands. I also think government should look seriously at the need for a regulatory body for the industry. That would help eradicate the current all comers affair situation that is largely prevalent in Nollywood.”

Inojie has a word of advice for government. “Nollywood has done well enough for government to take it much more seriously. I think it is time government established world class film schools across the country or better still fund specific universities to run training programmes in filmmaking. There is also the critical need for filmmakers to have access to soft loans and grants. I mean the type that would not only be accessible, but also deployed to practicing filmmakers.”

Being married Inojie said, “has added all round value to my life. My wife is my number one critic and she makes it a point of duty to see all my movies as soon as they are released. No doubt I'm a better person now than I ever was.”