By Perekeme Odon
It
was celebration galore, an epoch of cultural glitziness, excitement and
exhilarating enthusiasm away from the average push and rush as family
and friends of the apex custodian of the Nigerian filmmaking body,
Directors’ Guild of Nigeria (DGN) decorated, invested and conferred with
a befitting honour on the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Oonirisa
Kabiyesi Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi as the Grand Patron of DGN
and the Imperial Majesty of Nollywood.
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Ooni of Ife Receiving A Certificate of Honour From Olorogun Fred Amata
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Nollywood
actor/director and incumbent President of the Directors’ Guild of
Nigeria (DGN), Olorogun Fred Amata, made the conferment to the Ooni of
Ife on Tuesday, December 18, 2019, at his Arole Oodua Enuma Palace,
Ile-Ife, Osun State of Nigeria as part of activities marking the guild’s
20th anniversary holding in March 2020 at the Federal Capital
Territory, Abuja.
During
the majestic visit to the Ooni Royal Palace, the entourage had
distinctive impressions about the Ooni, but one thing that immediately
strikes a first time visitor to the Palace is the Ooni's uncommon
affability and intellectualism. His love for his people is adequately
reciprocated, as the entire palace ground swarms with people of
different statuses and of various tribes and creeds.
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(l-r) Ijeoma Imo, Ngozi Ogbonna, Angela Philips, Kemi, Vivian Okoro, Stephanie, & Uche Iwuji
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The exclusive experience started with an opening prayer by one of Nollywood
finest award-winning director, Mr. Teco Benson (MFR) and followed by
the introduction of the delegates by DGN Founding President, Mr. Mathias
Obahiagbon.
Speaking
at the conferment ceremony, the DGN President, Olorogun Fred Amata
highlighted some pressing needs affecting the Nigerian movie industry
and said the guild had taken proactive steps to overhaul film production
in order to position it toward professionalism, entrepreneurship, and
competitiveness.
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DGN President, Olorogun Fred Amata Addressing The Ooni of Ife
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“I
am overwhelmed, privileged and honoured today to be leading a
delegation of famous people of Nollywood to this land of greatness and cradle of civilization. There are various other guilds and associations in Nollywood. Our purpose of coming here despite the fame we have achieved is to felicitate and identify with this great land and King in the service to our creativity, humanity, and provision of assistance to professional filmmaking in Nigeria. Thank you for accepting DGN as we
believe this synergy and bonding mark a new positive beginning for
continuous support and encouragement to better the guild and the
Nigerian movie industry.” He declared.
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(l-r) Chief Peddie Okao, Mr. Ralph Nwadike, Olorogun Fred Amata, Ooni of Ife, & Chief Zeb Ejiro
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Furthermore
granted was a brief speech by the DGN BOT Member, Chief Zeb Ejiro (OFR)
who upheld the action as colossal for the guild said; “I
bring greetings from the Board as its Chairman. This is a massive achievement for the Directors’ Guild of Nigeria because the guild is the creative arm of Nollywood that makes Nigeria the third largest film-producing nation in the world. Thank you and God bless you as we
will come again and again to meet your doors open.” He asserted.
The
President, Association of Movie Producer (AMP), Mr. Ralph Nwadike also
expressed his gratitude and admirations vis-à-vis the epoch-making
event. “My
father, you have made me proud for giving us a new name and height. It
is indeed a great honour for Nollywood to have a great King, Imperial
Majesty, Ooni of Ile-Ife as a Grand Patron of Directors’ Guild of
Nigeria. Thank you for making it possible for us to be here today and
let the world hear that Nollywood has come to stay.” He stated.
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(l-r) Osita Dr. Akposheri, Olorogun Amata, Ooni of Ife, Zeb Ejiro, Dr. Njoku, Uchenna, & Stephanie
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The
Oni of Ife, who rolled out various African cuisine and fanfare during
the ceremony which he tagged ‘Tonight Is The Night’ thanked DGN for the
honour bestowed him and tasked them to come up with an improved method
of taking the movie industry to another level.
“I
greet all members and executives of the Directors’ Guild of Nigeria. It
is indeed a great honour and adoration to have you here. You have shown me, love, peace, and a sign of togetherness. I don’t know who told you to come to make me your Grand Patron, because I am very happy to associate with you from today. I am a very active supporter of the movie
industry in Nigeria. I have supported lots of movie initiatives and
projects in Nigeria. Things I have been doing indirectly can be done
directly now.” He stated.
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(l-r) A. Yakubu, S. Azubuike, Chief P. Okao, T. Benson, Fred Amata, Ooni of Ife, R. Nwadike,
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& Zeb Ejiro
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The
Ooni went on to charge filmmakers for their relentless efforts in ensuring that the world has come to know us with our movies. “Everyone
is running after Netflix. Why can’t we have our own Netflix here? Why
can’t we have hubs where we can be downloading movies and think outside the box? I built a resort in Lagos. It is one of the biggest resorts in
Nigeria with about 250 hectares of land. My plan was to build a movie city before I became a King. Several movies have actually been done there. I have been thinking aloud that in this country we should have a
movie city like what they have in California. Even as a King I am trying
to build a film city that is called Ife Grand Resort and trying to take
it to another level.” He said.
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Ooni Of Ife In A group Pose with Nollywood
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Kabiyesi
commended members of the guild for the stimulating contributions made
and promised to help them since piracy and other vices affecting
filmmaking in Nigeria are fading out gradually.
“We
will definitely work together. Right now we are doing Moremi Theatre we
taking to Broadway in a few month's time. Now that you have given me
what I am very passionate about by bringing me on board as your Grand
Patron, I will also make sure that those powerful people in Nigeria are
brought on board with you. There are a lot of people that are getting
very much interested in the Nigerian movie industry. So it is
all-important for us to all sit down and see how to take it to another
level because I will support you wholeheartedly.” He affirmed.
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(l-r) Vivian, Uche, Ngozi, Olorogun Fred Amata, Ooni of Ife, Kemi, Stephanie, Angela & Ijeoma
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Present
at the event are DGN Founding Member, Mr. Sam
Azubuike, DGN Founding President, Mr. Matthias Obahiagbon, Leader of
DGN Benin Zonal delegation, Chief Peddie Okao, AVOA President, Ngozi
Ogbonna, Rycardo Agbor, DGN Financial Secretary, Dr. Tony Akposheri,
Davidson
Izegaegbe, Ricardo Agbor, Johnbull Negbenebor, Angela Philips, Vivian
Okoro,
Kemi Adekomi, DGN PH Zonal Coordinator, Dr. Sammy Ogunbiyi, Prince
Olayinka
Ibikunle, Prince Tunji Onochie Aderibigbe, AGN National Secretary,
Abubakar
Yakubu, Prince Olayinka Awosunle Christopher, and Mr. Kenneth Njoku.
Others include Ooni
of Ife Media Officer, Comrade Moses Olafare, Obafemi Awolowo University
Director of Business School, Dr. Prince Makinwa & HOD, Public
Health, OAU Prof. Olapeju Esimai, DGN PRO, Perekeme Odon, DGN
National Secretary, Uchenna Agbo, DGN Provost, Osita Okoli. Victor
Emeghara, Uche Iwuji, DGN PH Zonal Secretary, Fred Mayford, Ijeoma Imoh,
and Stephanie Osaghae.
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Palace Of The Ooni of Ife
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Olorogun Fred Amata & Ooni of Ife
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Olorogun Fred Amata & Ooni of Ife
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(L-R) Mr. Sam Azubuike, Teco Benson(MFR), Chief Peddie Okao & Mr. Ralph Nwadike
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Association of Movie Producers (AMP) President, Mr. Ralph Nwadike
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Award-Winning Movie Director, Mr. Teco Benson (MFR)
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AVOA President, Ngozi Ogbonna Performing Before The Ooni of Ife
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Actress Angela Philips Delivering A Movie Jingle Before The Ooni of Ife
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(l-r) Angela, Vivian, Kemi, Rykardo Agbo, Ngozi Ogbonna, & Ijeoma Imo
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| (L-R) DGN Founding President, Mr. Matthias Obahiagbon , Perekeme Odon & Ijeoma Imoh |
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DGN President, Olorogun Fred Amata In From Of The Palace Of The Ooni of Ife
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DGN National Secretary, Uchenna Agbo At The Palace Of The Ooni of Ife
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AVOA President, Ngozi Ogbonna & Director Victor Emeghara
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(l-r) Chief Zeb Ejiro, Dr. Ken Njoku, Olorogun Fred Amata & Mathias Obahiagbon
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(l-r)OAU Director of Business School, Dr. Prince Makinwa & OAU HOD Public Health, Prof. Olapeju Esimai
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Stephanie Osaghae & Vivian Okoro
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Actress Angela Philips
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DGN National PRO, Perekeme Odon & Olayinka Ibikunle
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DGN National Provost, Mazi Osita Okoli
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AMP President, Mr. Ralph Nwadike & DGN BOT Member, Chief Zeb Ejiro (OFR)
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Palace Dinning
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Rykardo Agbo & UniLag FM OAP / Actress, kemi Adekomi
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DGN Fin. Sec, Dr. Tony Akposheri & Founding DGN President, Matthias Obahiagbon
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Actor Rykardo Agbo
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Benin Zonal Secretary, Johnbull Negbenebor and Victor Emeghara
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AGN National Secretary, Abubakar Yakubu
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(l-r)Angela, Chief Peddie, Abu, Pere, Dr. Tony, Rykardo, Dr. Ken, Uche, Dr. Ogunbiyi, Fred & Uche
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Angela Philips and Fred Mayford
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([-r) AGN Nat. Sec. Abu Yakubu, Angela, Rykardo, Uchenna, Uche Iwuji, Fred & Dr. Ogunbiyi
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DGN BOT Member, Chief Zeb Ejiro (OFR) and DGNPresident, Olorogun Fred Amata
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Breakfast Time
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DGN National Secretary, Uchenna Agbo & DGN National PRO, Perekeme Odon
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(l-r) Perekeme Odon, Angela Philips and AVOA President, Ngozi Ogbonna
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(l-r) Vivian Okoro, Ijeoma Imo, Uche Iwuji, Angela Philips & Kemi Adekomi
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DGN Financial Secretary, Dr. Tony Akposheri
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(l-r) Perekeme Odon, Dr. Sammy Ogunbiyi, Dr. Kenneth Njoku & Fred Mayford
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(l-r) Ngozi Ogbonna, Teco Benson (MFR) & Olorogun Fred Amata
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(L-R) Dr. Ogunbiyi, Dr. Akposheri, Mathias, Teco Benson, Sam Azubuike & Fred Mayford
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Actor Rykardo Agbo & Ifeanyi Chimeh (Eshilo Visuals)
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DGN President, Olorogun Fred Amata & Davidson Izegaegbe
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Prince Tunji Onochie Aderibigbe and Johnbull Negbenebor
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Actress Angela Philips and Director Uchenna Agbo
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DGN PRO, Perekeme Odon and Award-Winning Movie Director, Teco Benson (MFR)
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DGN National PRO, Perekeme Odon
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DGN President, Olorogun Fred Amata Presenting A Certificate of Honour To The Ooni of Ife
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DGN President, Olorogun Fred Amata & HIM Ooni of Ile-Ife
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| DGN Port Harcourt Zonal Coordinator, Dr. Sammy Ogunbiyi |
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DGN Port Harcourt Zonal Secretary, Mr. Fred Mayford
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(l-r) Chief Zeb Ejiro, Olorogun Fred Amata, Comrade Moses Olafare & Yinka Ibikunle
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| DGN PH Coordinator, Dr. Sammy Ogunbiyi & Dr. Kenneth Njoku |
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DGN Founding President, Mr. Matthias Obahiagbon & Actress Ijeoma Imo
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