By Balarabe Oshiafi
Following the successful conclusion of the 9th edition of Nollywood film festival in Germany and Europe awards, a wide spectrum of analysts and movie enthusiasts have urged the federal government of Nigeria to confer a national award on the founder of the yearly international entertainment event, Ambassador Isaac Izoya.
They opine that the private sector initiative has brought more respect and attraction to the nation than the work of most Foreign Affairs Ministers.
At the festival and awards ceremony, Nigeria again broke new grounds through the instrumentality of Ehizoya Golden Entertainment (EGE), one of it’s staunch allies and brainy Nollywood Director, Dr Henry Emeka Obidi, back to back directed six movies within a month of his stay over there.
This is unprecedented as even the Germans and Europeans confessed to “being astounded by the sheer astonishing stamina for hard work” of Obidi.
ExpressDay Newspaper’s investigation reveal that it’s the enabling environment over there, and which is so seriously lacking here, that helped the Nigerian movie “director to externalize his endowment”.
“If it were in Nigeria, irregular electricity will make that shooting stretch to six months”, a youth who craved anonymity told this reporter.
This year’s outing also witnessed the discovery and showcasing of some Nigerians in diaspora with acting talents by Ambassador Izoya.
“For instance, I met Chioma in Berlin and invited her and she showed up What a talent she turned out to be. The director was particularly impressed by her conduct”, Izoya enthused.
Continuing, he said: “When Chioma joined us from Berlin, she stayed in a five-star hotel at no cost to us. And she has produced two movies already. This is a huge discovery for Nollywood”.
The motto of EGE is “the show must go on”. Yesterday, the Nigerian crew of EGE and some of the awardees of the month-long multi-faceted outing, returned home.
In a departure video made available to ExpressDay, Obidi could be seen at the Airport in Germany expressing happiness and gratitude to Ambassador Izoya.
“It’s been a wonderful experience here in Germany. I enjoyed working with the crew. I got two awards and I’m especially grateful to the founder, Isaac Izoya.,he enthused.
Another talent who also won an award is Julius Amioje Amioje.
