Film:A Feast For Nollywood Legends Holds In Benin City

Film:A Feast For Nollywood Legends Holds In Benin City

Film:A Feast For Nollywood Legends Holds In Benin City

Lagos will not host the 2015 edition of
Legends of Nollywood Awards (LNA). The
acclaimed entertainment city of the
continent has lost the hosting right of the
annual award to the state described as
‘Heart Beat of the Nation.’ The city of
Legendary arts, Benin City, Edo State,
has been picked to host the awards
slated for December 11 and 12, 2005. It
will be the first time that the three-year
old award will be held outside the
National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.
Although no reason was given for the
decision of the organisers to changed the
host city, a source close to the organisers
hinted that the decision to move the
award is not unconnected to the offer of
support from some corporate bodies
including the Edo Broadcasting Service
and Best Western Homeville Hotel,
Benin city.
However, founder of Legends of
Nollywood Awards and Managing
Director, Royal Pictures Limited, Mr.
Paul Obazele, stated that the decision to
take the award to Edo State is in line
with the vision to “make LNA a
travelling award and an award that will
be held close to the legends of Nollywood
themselves.”
The actor and former President,
Association of Movie Producers (AMP)
said this year’s edition would be held
with support from Zenith Bank Plc,
Etisalat, Network Oil & Gas, Best Western
Homeville Hotel, Silverbird, NTA, AIT,
AfricaMagic, Edo Broadcasting Service,
Independent Television, Inspiration FM,
Rhythm FM 93.7, Smile Communications,
Indomie, Viju Milk, GlaxoSmithkline,
Cornerstone Insurance, Kissmix, Nexim,
Bisquit Cognac, Nanet Suites, Revival
Assembly Church and in conjunction
with the coalition of Nollywood guilds
and association.
“The award is planned to be a two-day
event. Apart from rewarding
practitioners for their contributions to
the growth and development of a
vibrant film industry, the award has,
from the 2014 edition, been refocused to
reach out and celebrate the less
privileged and physically challenged
some of whom do not have the
opportunity to relax and watch these
television and movie stars we are
celebrating as much as they would like to
see them,” Obazele, who is also current
President, Edo Film Makers Association
(EFMA), said.
He also stated that the award body will
be extending a hand of fellowship to the
International Christian Center (ICC),
Home for the Needy, Uhogua, Edo State,
which is currently housing some
internally displaced persons (IDP’s) in
Nigeria as part of the outreach’s
objectives for the award.
“If you were at the award ceremony last
year, you will see how excited our
physically challenged brothers and
sisters were when they met face to face
with legends like Patience Ozokwor
(Mama Gee), Nkem Owoh and Alex Usifo.
They also got branded gifts from them. It
is this kind of good feeling that we want
to achieve again with our proposed
partnership with ICC and other
organizations in Edo State and its
environs,” he said.
On this year’s awardees, Director of
Operations, Legends of Nollywood
Awards, Mr. Zack Orji, said that 28
legends would receive the LNA crest this
year. The veteran actor gave the names
of the awardees to include Hajiya Latana
Ahmed, Bimbo Manuel, Yinka Ogundaisi,
Wale Fanu, Tunde Oloyede, Laolu
Ogunniyi, John Nwaobi, Dejumo Lewis,
Aso Douglas, Sola Fosudo, Zulu Adigwe,
Ralph Nwadike, Ramsey Nouah, Opa
Williams, Sunday Omobolanle, Ayo
Mogaji and Yinka Davies. Others include
Sani Muazu, Ngozi Nwosu, Bourdillon
Bodio, Chris Obi Rapu, Alhaji Kasimu
Yaro, Kunle Bamtefa, Dr. Ola Balogun,
Danladi Bako Spacs, Mr. Sunny Irabor,
Senator Ben Murray-Bruce and Chief
Raymond Dokpesi.
According to Orji, “The awardees
emerged out of a rigorous selection
process and you can agree that they are
worth celebrating for their contributions
to the development of Nollywood”.
In addition, 10 veterans were selected by
the organising committee and yearning
Nigerians that these set of great legends
sign autographs and give out gift items
to the less privilege, physically
challenged and internally displaced
persons and also have dinner with them.
They are Kanayo O. Kanayo, Patience
Ozokwor, Zack Orji, Ramson Noah,
Omotola Jolade, Charles Inojie, Desmond
Elliot, John Okafor (Mr. Ibu), Eunice
Omoregie and Johnbull Eghiauriwa.

Screen and stage matriarch, Mrs. Taiwo
Ajai-Lycett receiving her award from Mr.
Sadiq Daba and Angela Phillips in a
previous edition of Legends of
Nollywood Award. see picture below: