Nollywood stars on parade
A Nite With Nollywood Stars Celebrities, was supposed to be a fun-filled event, but it turned out to be an interactive session with the media. Evelyn Osagie reports.
The atmosphere was relaxed and inviting as entertainment reporters met with key-players in the movie industry in Lagos.
Tagged: A Nite With Nollywood Stars Celebrities, Nollywood icons and the media sought ways of partnership to move the industry forward.
The all-night event organised by the Association of Movie Journalists of Nigeria (AMJ), was attended by ace producers such as Zeb Ejiro and Madu Chikwendu, Actors Guild of Nigeria’s Vice President, Hakeem Rahman; a foremost movie and television star, Ngozi Nwosu; Jerry Amilo; ace comedian Oke McAnthony, popularly known as Oke Bakassi; Dozie Eboh; Rita Anigogu; Nobert Ajaegbu, and Hogan Bassey Jr.
According to Ejiro, media’s role in the development of any country cannot be overemphasised. “A failed nation means we have a failed Fourth Estate of the Realm. The development of any nation is in the hand of the media,” he said while calling for close partnership with the press.
He said: “And the media has played a great role in the development of the movie industry. There is need for close partnership between the media and the industry players for more development to occur.”
Journalists were advised to cross-check their facts before rushing to the press.
Nwosu, popularly known as Ije Kpoms, for her role in Ikuku, said she was bitter with the media, particularly a Lagos-based newspaper that published an unconfirmed report about her health last year.
“The paper went to town with a very untrue story about my ill health last year without making any effort to contact me. They said I had leukemia and HIV/AIDS whereas my medical report confirmed I was suffering from an acute pile which made me to lose a lot of blood. My doctor advised that I trimmed down for quick recovery. I was so devastated when my attention was drawn to that report. I wondered why a fellow man would be so wicked to put such a story in print when he knew that what he wrote was very far from the truth,” Ngozi lamented before the large audience which comprised Nollywood practitioners, musicians, comedians and other celebrities.
Highlights of the event which was attended by Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr Umar Manko, as special guest of honour included a panel discussion on the topic, “Fostering a better relationship between film makers and the media”, Star on Hot Seat, and scintillating performances by music acts.
The peak of it was the handing over of the mantle of leadership of the Association to Sunny Okim, former Senior Editor of HINTS magazine and foremost entertainment journalist popularly known as the Grandmaster (of Nigeria’s movie journalism). Okim will serve as the association’s interim president for six months during which period he is expected to organise a credible election to usher in a new executives.
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