Corruption in Nolllywood: The Diversions and Misappropriations of Grants and Loans in the Nigerian Film Industry

 

Corruption in Nolllywood: 

The Diversions and Misappropriations of Grants and Loans in the Nigerian Film Industry

The socioeconomic, sociocultural and political institutionalization of corruption in Nigeria has done collateral damage to the Nigerian society with widespread administrative incompetence in public service and political corruption is the cause of the maladministration in the Nigerian government.

Political corruption is the anathema of democracy and good governance in Nigeria with brazen corrupt practices from the local government to the Office of the President; from Alausa to Abuja. Every workplace is infected of the virus of the epidemic of corruption with corrupt and incompetent public officials posing and posturing as Smart Alecs, but they disregard the values and virtues of dignity, integrity and nobility.
There is widespread culture of conceit and deceit in the Nigerian society. Being fraudulent is no longer shocking!

Corruption is now widely reported in the Nigerian entertainment industry with several cases of unprofessional sharp practices during film and TV productions.
The entertainment industry has become a conduit for money laundering in the camouflage of international events and productions used for illicit transfers of funds and tax evasions.
We should not sweep the corruption in the entertainment industry under the red carpet.
Fraudulent activities should be exposed and reported no matter the rank and file of the entertainers and their sponsors.

The Diversions and Misappropriations of Grants and Loans in Nolllywood and the Nigerian Film Industry by  filmmakers with questionable integrity.

The recent statement by popular Nigerian comedian and film/TV producer, Bright Okpocha popularly known as "Basketmouth" that several millions of dollars given to some of the selected Nigerian filmmakers by Netflix for film productions were diverted and misappropriated (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/12/netflix-they-spend-10-on-movie-use-others-to-buy-cars-houses-basketmouth-slams-nollywood-producers) did not surprise me, because there have been previous reports on corrupt practices of filmmakers in Nigeria.
I have been informed about diversions and misappropriations of grants and loans for film and TV productions by the beneficiaries since 2001 to date.
The funds provided as soft loans with low interest rates by the Ecobank were misappropriated. The AccessNolly Fund of the Access Bank and NollyFund of the Bank of Industry (BoI) of Nigeria were diverted and misappropriated and the grants from the Project ACT Nollywood were also misappropriated by some of the beneficiaries. The film productions were compromised, badly done or abandoned.

A former Regional Audio-visual Attache at the French Embassy in Nigeria knew that some of the funds from the Fonds Images Afrique grants given for a short documentary film on Lagos and two other productions were diverted and misappropriated
See Nollywood and the French Connection on
https://nigeriansreportng.blogspot.com/2022/06/nollywood-and-french-connection.html

He gave me the details and I watched the documentary film.
"This is not Lagos", I said and smirked. But I did not report the disclosures. The same Regional Audio-visual Attache later told the director of the documentary film that he suspected me of being an American spy. I was amused.
I laughed and dismissed the suspicion. I have been identified sitting with certain Americans and a prominent Ghanaian politician on exile in Nigeria during an official meeting for a family planning project in Nigeria at the Eko Hotel and Suites on Victoria Island in Lagos, Nigeria. One of the Americans who was my namesake then was later accused of spying for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in Ghana by the military regime of Jerry Rawlings in the 1980s. I was only contracted as a public health illustrator through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
I have stopped communication with this French Regional Audio-Visual Attache who was later transferred to Burundi.
He told me that a particular young filmmaker misappropriated the funds given to him and used only the remainder to produce a feature that they rejected. But his colleague who did not misappropriate funds produced a good mystical romantic drama that was accepted by Canal France International in 2009 and broadcast to all television channels in French-speaking Africa under the title "La Métamorphose".

The details of the cases of the diversions and misappropriations, including the filmmakers involved are available.

- - by Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
The Publisher/Editor,
NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series,
First book series on Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry.
Distributed by Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other booksellers.

#corruption
#nollywood
#filmmaking
#filmmakers
#movies
#documentary
#netflix
#entertainment
#filmindustry
#profuction
#moneylaundering
#tax
#canalplus
#nigeria
#images
#banks
#loans
#grants
#funds
#america
#french

Nastassja Kinski Can Play Mary Slessor

 

Nastassja Kinski Can Play Mary Slessor

Since 1988, I have completed my comprehensive research for the historical film on Mary Slessor, the famous Scottish missionary and heroine and saviour of twins among the Efik and Ibibio tribes in now Cross River and Akwa Ibom States of south-south region of Nigeria.

I met with the Mr. Lai Arasanmi of blessed memory, who was the Manager, Programmes, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) , Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos whose resume included B.Sc. Broadcast Journalism, Bowling Green State University, Ohio, USA, 1975; M.A. Speech Communication; Cert. Public Entreprise Management, ASCON. Member: Nigerian Guild of Producers/Directors with several awards. But I abandoned the project and became an evangelist on the streets and public transport buses in Lagos.

There have been attempts of both film and TV productions of the dramatic life of Many Slessor. But none has been successful, because of poor research, poor characterization of her personality and erroneous art direction and production design. Jeta Amata's "Mary Slessor" was not well done in casting and storytelling as can be seen in the video on https://youtu.be/ospsnFdqsck?si=CQIjzAHamcCaFhA8.

Any "Mary Slessor" without her Scottish accent is wrong characterization and should not have been done.

In my research, I had access to copies of the letters of Mary Slessor, especially the personal letters to her sister.

Presently, no Nollywood actress can play Mary Slessor, because none of them has attained that standard of intellectual acumen and professionalism in acting historical figures of such magnitude.

Nastassja Kinski can play the leading role in the film adaptation of Mary Slessor.

I was convinced by her role as "Tess", the 1979 epic drama film by Roman Polanski, the film adaptation of Thomas Hardy's 1891 classic novel, "Tess of the d'Urbervilles". that was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture and won the Oscars for Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design.

Nastassja Kinski met Roman Polanski at a party in 1976.e He urged her to study method acting with Lee Strasberg in the United States and she was offered the title role of Tess. 

In 1978, Kinski underwent extensive preparation for the portrayal of the  English peasant girl and she had to learn and acquire a Dorset accent through elocution studies:

"I was given the book almost a year prior to read, I then had to transform myself and lose my German accent completely. I worked with a coach from the National Theatre in London, Kate Fleming. It was almost an intellectual voyage. I went to live in the countryside of the deep part of England, on a farm, did everything they did, and learned it. When the time came in Paris to do my test, it was with our director and our producers Claude Berri and Timothy Burrill, I had done a screen test with Roman prior to that, for Dino DeLaurentis, but now this was for Tess. Preparation is an amazing thing. It, somehow, after all the work, carries you if you are fully present, it carries you through like a bird, like big inner and outer wings."

Nastassja Kinski can undergo the same preparations for the role of Mary Slessor and I am convinced that even at the age of 64 years, she will bring out the great personality of the iconic Scottish missionary and also learn to speak the native languages of the Efik and Ibibio tribes she loved and lived with till her breath in their midst on earth.

The awesome life of Many Slessor would be most appreciated in the historical film based on the facts she documented in her dairies and letters.

Mary Slessor stands just outside Ikotobong court house, which can be seen with its thatched roof on the right side of the photograph. 

Mary Slessor with her adopted children.

Mary Slessor stands with a number of villagers outside her house in Ekenge

Pots in which twin babies were exposed due to the superstitions of the natives (photo c. 1880)

In 1889 the British Government established a Protectorate in Calabar and, on account of her unique influence, she was invited to take up the office of Magistrate and Superintendent of the district court. It had already become customary for locals to refer their disputes to her for settlement.

During her forty-year ministry in Africa, Mary Slessor contracted malaria (which never left her), as well as other fevers and health-wracking illnesses. She ministered to head-hunters and cannibals.

She interceded in inter-tribal warfare and she saved countless babies who were left to die in the jungle due to the superstitions of the natives. The birth of twins among the Efiks had always resulted in infanticide because they believed it was the result of a great sin by the mother and evidence of a curse. They would be abandoned in the jungle to wild animals. Mary rescued a number of twins and raised them herself, saving numerous lives. On one occasion she nursed a chief back to health, to the great relief of his wives, all of whom would have been sacrificed if he had died. They gathered around her to ask about her wonderful powers and she replied:

“I have come to you because I love and worship Jesus Christ, the Great Physician and Saviour, the Son of the Father God who made all things. I want you to know this Father and to receive the eternal life which Jesus offers to all those with contrite and believing hearts. To know Jesus means to love Him, and with His love in our hearts we love everybody. Eternal life means peace and joy in this world and a wonderful home in the next world. My heart longs for you to believe in Jesus, to walk in His paths, and to know the blessings of eternal life through Him.”

The natives said Mma Mary Slessor was a mother, a teacher, a court President, and a Consul of the Southern Protectorate of Nigeria who traversed the area as far as Arochukwu in Abia State preaching the gospel.

“Mary Slessor came from Scotland to Calabar and then moved to Okoyong. She stayed at Calabar and even built a wooden storey building house there but now they are trying to renovate that place.

“After that, She left Okoyong to Use Ikot Oku. From Ikot Obong village where you have the district court sign board to Use Ikot Oku where you have the bridge, that bounds Ibiono Ibom and Itu local government areas, her tombstone is about half a kilometre from here. 

“I have had her oral history from one of our longest Chiefs, Chief Etim Udoudo who reigned over 30 years. That man even sang the song the woman sang before she died. I have gotten the history from my grand father’s second wife, Adiaha Akpan Usung (nee Adiaha Akpan Ekarika). She told me stories about her. I have also gotten oral evidence from one of the twins that she nurtured, late Elder Mrs Ceecee Akpaninyang who happened to be my aunt.

“The woman stayed here and worked. She built her house on that hill, that was her base. According to Chief Udoudo, she used to move and she was carried on what was called ‘amake’, a sort of swing, where young men would put her on their shoulders and travel across this bridge through Arochukwu. The bridge links Atan, Onoyom to Arochukwu to Ikpe Ikot Nkon; that was the route she used to travel,” he said.

According to Elder Usungurua, it was during one of such trips that Mma stumbled on the Long juju shrine where people were used for sacrifice. Mma Slessor was said to have informed the British government of the activity there which led to the destruction of the shrine.

Her advance into Ibibios territory was aided by the fact that the British government was building roads in that region. “Get a bicycle, Ma,” government officials said, pointing to the road, “and come as far as you can. We will soon have a motor car service for you.” At fifty-seven years of age Mary gamely learned to ride a bicycle after a government official presented her with a brand new model from England.

The early months of 1909 found Mary covered with painful boils from head to foot. “Only sleeping draughts keep me from going off my head,” she related. She later became severely ill from blood poisoning. She was taken to Duke Town near the coast where members of the mission attentively nursed her back to heal. But after five weeks of such care she was eager to resume her ministry responsibilities inland, and did so before some officials and doctors thought it fully advisable.

Eventually her health declined to the point that the Mission’s doctor forbad her to travel by bicycle. Hearing of her need for an alternative means of transportation, a group of ladies in Scotland sent her a Cape cart, a basket-chair on wheels capable of being maneuvered along quite easily by two boys or girls.

In the closing years of her life Mary established churches and schools in the villages of Ikpe, Odoro Ikpe and Nkanga further up Enyong Creek. She carried out ministry at those locations unaided by fellow missionaries. To her deep disappointment, the Mission had already concluded that health conditions were not safe enough in that region to place other missionaries there. To the end, however, she continued to be assisted by several African girls who lived with her as foster daughters.

WOLE SOYINKA - ENI OGUN, An Accomplished Biopic on the First African Nobel Laureate of Literature

WOLE SOYINKA - ENI OGUN, An Accomplished Biopic on the First African Nobel Laureate of Literature

Joshua Ojo with Prof. Wole Soyinka.

Joshua Ojo's vivid biopic, "WOLE SOYINKA - ENI OGUN"is an outstanding historical film on the phenomenal life of the most lionized African writer, Prof. Wole Soyinka, the first African winner of the highly coveted Nobel Prize for Literature. 

This is the only one of the few films on the life of Soyinka to capture the essence of the spirit of the art and persona of his iconic genius in motion picture. And the first to be produced in his beloved mother tongue of the Yoruba language. The biopic produced to celebrate his 90th birthday is a must see and the film has been authorized by the Nobel laureate.

Official trailer

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1m_nA7r4CH50FjxHdNlvaixNv5F44GQI3/view?usp=drivesdk

It chronicled his trials as a fearless sociopolitical human rights activist and triumphs as an intellectual luminary of the literary world with critically acclaimed books of poetry, drama and prose for which he became famous and awarded the Nobel Prize in  Literature in 1986 for with his writings, Soyinka "in a wide cultural perspective and with poetic overtones fashions the drama of existence."

The cinematic beauty of the film with outstanding portrayal of Soyinka by the award winning Nigerian actor, Lateef Adedimeji and other accomplished actors, including Jide Kosoko, Femi Branch, Segun Arinze, Dele Odule, Funky Mallam, Haffiz Oyetoro, Bimbo Oshin, Joke Muyiwa and Olaiya Igwe showed the accomplishments of the director in the art direction with the production design, casting, characterisation, cinematography and soundtracks based on the historical facts of the celebrated author with important emphasis on Ibadan and other locations of his life and the political circumstances of his imprisonment in the Kirikiri Prison for 22 months during the Nigerian-Biafran war from 1967-1970.

"This is my most challenging film production so far. Because of the historical importance and significance of the legacy of Prof. Wole Soyinka, I have to make sure of the accuracy of the sets used for the period in the history of Nigeria. KIRI-KIRI PRISON was built from the scratch in the studios. Soyinka's house was equally built with over 98 percent of the set built by the crew, except for the scenes of the roads and the other scenes shot outside Nigeria," the director said.

"I did the casting myself, because I really wanted actors to look like the real characters in his life. For the production design, I took my time as well to draw and sketch out how I wanted them to look and the guys in that department brought life to it.

I've been to Soyinka's house, so it was easy for me to recreate it."

"I had an accident two days to shoot. I was given two options: either to cut off my right leg or I do an emergency surgery, which I did. And I went back to location a week after the surgery, with an ambulance on stand by everyday. I'll shoot for 2 to 3 days and rush back to the hospital for check-up. That was how we shot for two months to complete the principal photography."

The film certainly is an outstanding achievement in filmmaking in Nollywood and African Cinema. It will attract millions of Yorubas in Nigeria and the Diaspora; especially in Brazil where hundreds of thousands of people are devotees of the Yoruba OGUN traditional religion which Soyinka has celebrated in his life and works. Millions of others who have read his popular plays, novels and essays will be anxious and curious to watch the film subtitled in English and should be widely available in other popular languages for the global distribution.

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,

The Publisher/Editor,

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series,

The first book series on Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry.

#soyinka

#biopic

#life

#birthday

#wolesoyinka

#nobellaureate

#nobelprize

#literature

#writer

#author

#joshuaojo

#joshua

#filmmaker

#filmmaking

#yoruba

#brazil

#ogun

#religion

#art

#books

#travel

#history

#drama

#nollywood

#nigeria

#biafra

#war

#prison

#ibadan

#humanrights

#africa

The Road Map for the Nominations for the Annual Academy Awards for Nigerian Filmmakers

The Road Map for the Nominations for the Annual Academy Awards for Nigerian Filmmakers

There is a Road Map for the Nominations for the annual Academy Awards of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) and the route is common knowledge to those who truly know the criteria for filmmaking of international standards in the quality of the content and context of filmmaking and the benchmarks of the most coveted international awards and prizes for filmmaking.

Making the nominations for the almighty Oscars from the long list to the short list is beyond the mere selections of the official entries for different countries in the competition for the Best International Feature Film Category of the Academy Awards which is the most competitive, because of the challenges of competing with the best filmmakers from other countries you may not know their works.

In my own opinion, any film that has not made the Official Selections for the annual Cannes Film Festival, Venice International Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival and Sundance Film Festival should not be the official selection of Nigeria for the Best International Feature Film Category of the Academy Awards. Because in the history of the Oscars,most of the nominees and winners were in the Official Selections of the most highly esteemed and highest ranking international film festivals as I have listed them above. And only the majority of them that won the Palme d'Or of the Cannes Film Festival, Golden Lion and Silver Lion of the Venice International Film Festival, Audience Award of the Toronto International Film Festival, Golden or Silver Bear of the Berlin International Film Festival and Best Feature Film at the Sundance Film Festival made the nominees and winners of the Oscars. 

Any Nigerian filmmaker who cannot or has not competed for the best international awards in the global film industry should not be considered for the representation of the Official Selection of the entry for the Best International Feature Film Category of the Oscars.

Only the best should represent Nigeria, because only the best is good enough for us.

Nigerian filmmakers have not even won the prizes for the Best Feature Film at the annual Durban International Film Festival of South Africa, the highest ranking international film festival in Africa and only one Nigerian filmmaker, Newton Aduaka has won the Étalon d'or de Yennenga" (Golden Stallion of Yennenga) at the Ouagadougou Panafrican Film and Television Festival (FESPACO) for his critically acclaimed film, "Ezra" in 2007. 

The problem of Nigerian filmmakers is the fact that they don't like being told the truth and when you tell them the truth, they become upset and even stop communicating with you in their unprofessional and unintellectual attitudes. But the fact is majority of them don't even know that filmmaking is not for those who are intellectually challenged, because the Art of Filmmaking is beyond the mere craft of shooting a movie.

Majority of the filmmakers in Nigeria don't know what is Art Direction and many of them have not studied Production Design.

Many of them don't know what is the aspect ratio of a movie for the cinema and most of them don't know what is a shooting ratio.

They don't even know how to use lighting for storytelling; costume for storytelling; the nuances of

characterisation and music for storytelling in filmmaking.

I have advised the film schools in Nigeria to use nominees and winners of the Oscars for case studies in filmmaking to teach their students on how and why the nominees and winners got the nominations and won the Oscars.

The  Nigerian Official Selection Committee (NOSC) for the Oscars  should know that to make the nominations for the Oscars is more than the mere selection of the official entry.

Is there a budget for the promotion of the selected film?

Promotion for reviews in the highly esteemed and rated international news media such as the New York Times, Hollywood Reporter, Deadline Hollywood, Indiewire, Screen International, CNN, BBC and Underurrents of the  International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI)

Read How Much Does It Cost To Win An Oscar? - BBC News

Just two of the most high-profile attempts to influence what must be the most select group of voters on the planet, the 6,000 members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Estimates for the total amount Hollywood spends on Oscar campaigns range from $100m right up to $500m in a single year.23 Feb 2016

https://www.bbc.com › news › ent...

How much does it cost to win an Oscar? - BBC News

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-35613630

By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,

The Publisher/Editor,

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series,

The first book series on Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry.

Founder/CEO,

International Digital Post Network Limited,

Screen Outdoor Open Air Cinema (SOOAC),

Affiliate Partner, Cinewav of Singapore

" The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos" Selected for 2024 Berlinale Spotlight: World Cinema Fund at Around the World in 14 Films”

 

Nigerian Thriller, " The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos" Selected for 2024 Berlinale Spotlight: World Cinema Fund at “Around the World in 14 Films".

"From Nigeria's mega-metropolis Lagos comes The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos, which celebrated its world premiere in Toronto. The film by the seven-member Agbajowo Collective moves between thriller and magical realism. The story was inspired by the forced evictions and destruction of the fishing community of Otodo Gbame in 2017."

Read more on 
https://www.berlinale.de/en/2025/news-press-releases/257730.html

"UNFORGIVABLE", Selected Film for Women Against Rape (WAR) Campaign

"UNFORGIVABLE", Selected  Film for Women Against Rape (WAR)

Campaign for the 16 Days of Action Against Gender Based Violence rrom November 25th, the United Nations Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women to December 10th, Human Rights Day.

Selected Film:

"UNFORGIVABLE", Nollywood romantic drama directed by Osezuah Elimihe is currently streaming on 

https://theflickson.com/watch-video/unforgivable-2409052654s5ar1

#nollywood

#drama

#romance

#relationship

#sexuality

#genderbasedviolence

#rape

#sex

#prosecution

#religion

#war

#women

#humanrights

#campaign

#domesticviolence

#unitednations

#november

#december

Colour, Class, Glamour In Lagos As Tony Ezenna Stages Epoch Wedding For Son

Colour, Class, Glamour In Lagos As Tony Ezenna Stages Epoch Wedding For Son

By Ingram Osigwe

The guests were high and mighty in the society. And from all walks of life they massed in Lagos. They came to honour, rejoice and felicitate Sir Anthony Ezenna( Ijele Akokwa), Chairman/CEO of Orange Drugs as he staged a lavish wedding for his son, Ernest Ugochukwu Ezenna. The event will arguably go down in history as one of the most well-attended flamboyant social events held in Lagos in recent times.

Indeed, Saturday, the 10th of August 2024 is a day people living or transacting businesses within the Falomo, Ikoyi and Victoria Island axis in Lagos will not forget in a hurry as captains of industry, business Executives, manufacturers, professionals, the diplomatic community, religious clerics, traditional rulers, celebrities, politicians among others swarmed the areas for the Ezennas.

The society wedding kicked off at the Church of Assumption, Falomo where Ernest and his beautiful bride, Adaobi Amanda Nweke were joined in a holy matrimony in a mass co-celebrated by over 20 priests and five Bishops including the Archbishop Emeritus of Owerri Catholic Archdiocese, Archbishop Anthony Obinna, the Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha Archdiocese, Archbishop Valerian Okeke, the Catholic Bishop of the Sokoto Dioceses, the charismatic Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah, Catholic Archbishop of Lagos Archdiocese, Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins( represented), Catholic Bishop of Orlu Dioceses( the home Dioceses of the Ezennas), Bishop Augustine Ukwuoma, Very Rev. Fr George Ehusani of the Lux Terra Leadership Foundation, Abuja among others.

Delivering the homily at the solemn service shortly after Ernest and Adaobi were joined man and wife, Bishop Kukah urged the newlywed not to allow a third party into their affairs but to always strive to settle their differences themselves amicably.

He emphasized the place of prayer in marriage and implored them to make God and prayer the foundation of their union.

On his part, Bishop Ukwuoma who gave the vote of thanks on behalf of the clerics, described the Ezennas as a focused and Goldly family who has steadfastly served God and humanity. While praying for a happy and successful married life for Ernest and Adaobi, he admonished them never to depart from the ways of God but to make Him the centre of their marriage.

The wedding ceremonies later shifted to the Convention Centre, Eko Hotel & Suites for a classy, colourful reception which was chaired by the former Minister For Information, Chief Nnia Nwodo and skillfully compered by the ace comedian, Okey Bakassi and MC Orange. Sponsors of the marriage, Chief & Mrs Charles Anudu, CEO Swift Networks and Candel Company were on hand to identify with the couple.

Guests were lavishly treated to choice foods, wines and soul-stirring musical renditions at the reception amid glitz and glamour. The ambience of the hall became electrified with thunderous applause when the award-winning, talented musicians, Chinedu Okoli better known by his stage name Flavour N'nabania and Chibuzo Nelson Azubuike Ezege, who is known professionally as Phyno mounted the stage to serenade guests with some of their famous songs, songs that drew the new couple and their parents to the dancing floor.

Among the guests and array of VIPs and guests who graced the church wedding and reception respectively were the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi, His Excellency, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State represented by the Secretary to the State Government(SSG), Cosmas Iwu, Member representing Imo West Senatorial District in the Senate, Senator Osita Izunnaso, Member representing Imo North in the Senate, Senator Patrick Ndubueze, member representing Anambra Central Senatorial District in the Senate, Senator Victor Umeh, member representing Ideato North and South in the House of Reps, Hon. Imo Ikenga Ugochinyere, Hon Uchenna Harris Okonkwo representing IdeMili North/ South in the House of Reps.

Others include former Aviation Minister, Osita Chidoka, Deputy Speaker of Imo state House of Assembly, Hon. Amara Iwuanyanwu, Chairman of the Coscharis group, Dr Cosmas Maduka, Chairman/CEO Erisco Foods, Dr Eric Umeofia, Vice President, Ekulo Group of companies, Lady Ngozi Okonkwo, 

Chairman/ CEO, Embassy Pharmaceuticals, Pharm Nnamdi Obi, Chairman/ CEO, Tomez Group, Chief Tony Ezeani, MD, Fidelity Bank, Lady Nneka Onyeali-Ezeikpe, Chairman/ CEO, United Airlines, Dr Obiora Okonkwo, former governorship candidate in Anambra and chieftain of the Labour party, Valentine Ozigbo, governorship candidate of the Labour party for Lagos in last year's election, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, His Royal Majesty, the Obi of Akokwa, His Royal Majesty

Eze (Sir) Ikenna C. Okoli

(KSC) (MSI) (Okoli V.)

Agbakwuruibe III (who was the Royal father of the day) , Asian and European business partners and associates of Sir Ezenna.

Also among the dignitaries who witnessed the epoch wedding were also the Co- founder of Seplat, petroleum, Chief ABC Orjiakor, Chairman, Chicason Group, Chief Tony Chukwu, CEO, JI Ejison Group, Chief Joseph Ukeji, Chief Alexander Okafor,(Chicason),Former House of Reps member, Rt Hon Jones Onyereri PH.D, Attorney Okey Dike,CEO,Integrated Fisheries Co. Ltd, Chief Chineme Iheaku,King of Luxury in Nigeria and CEO, Julian’s luxury, Chief Julian Osula, Mayor of Abacity, Ide John Udeagbala, Director Embassy Pharmaceuticals, Vice Chairman Amuwo Odofin LGA,Lady Maureen Ashara, Hon Ngozi Udokoro,Chief Chidi Obi,  CEO of Don Pee Wine and Beverages Ltd, Dr Onyeka Ogbatu,  Chief Obinna Ashara, Chief Charles Ahize, Emperor Chris Baywood Ibe, Former member of PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Chris Eselu Uba, Chief Obinna Uzor( Gocuz)Chairman Cubana Group,Chief Obinna Iyiegbu, Celebrity Bar man, Cubana Chief Priest,CEO of Dozzy Oil, Chief Daniel Chukwudozie, CEO of Mainland Oil, Chief Kevin Onyebara, Chief Emma Udokoro,Mr Emenike Agu, Chief Chris Igwe, Former Nigerian Ambassador to Congo, Chief Greg Mbadiwe, Chief Fezel Felix Ezeamama, Chief Pele Ezeanyim, Hon ThankGod Okeke, Dr Clement Anozie, Commissioner of Transport Imo State, Hon Chika Abazu, Ikenga Umuchu, Chief Abraham Otti, Ikenga Ogberuru, Chief Henry Orabuchi.

Also in attendance were Chief Jeff Ukachukwu, Chairman KenBarth Pharmacy, Chief Mike Orji, Barr. Ike Onwuchuluba, Lady Georgelyne Chinwe (UGOSIMBA), Chief Isreal Orjiekwe,Pharm Steve Okoronkwo, Barr Okey Muomalu,Lady Rosemary Uneanya, Chief Okwudili Otti, Barr Chijoke  Nzekwe(Strongman), Mrs Chika Mgbemena, Akuenwebe na Akpo, Chief Jude Onyebuchi, Engr Chikata Egboluche , Chief Chuks Ibemere, Chief Chike Izuagba, Chief Tony Obinugwu, Chief Chijioke Awalite, Chief Francis Chukwudebelu, Chief Sam Ihionu, ZEOF Couture Boss, Hon Vitus Ebiliekwe,Barr Jideofor Ezeofor, Princess Kelechi Oghene,Nnukwu Agu, Hon Odera Onwudiwe, Chief Pamela Anyikwa, Chief Charles Ezenduka,Lady Maria Ihionu, Chief Ifeanyi Okpara, Mrs Ngozi Nwana, Chief Emma Eziokwu, Sir Isreal Egwuonwu, Chief Sam Anyanwutaku,Hon Love Udensi , flutist and former president of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria, PMAN, Tee Mac.

There were also Barr Adaku Akwiwu, 

Chief Chris Emenike(Christojas) 

Engr Chijioke Achigbu( Akashia), Hon Chidi Nwaogu, Chief Emma Konac Aniakor, Hon(Prince) Obinna Okwara,Okaka Urualla, Chief Ambrose Nwosu, Chief Sam Nwosu, Owelle Chukwudi Ofoedu, Chief Willie Obi, Barr Zutty Ekwueme, Pharm.Ernest Ezenna,Chief Joseph Okonkwo,Chief Azubuike Umunna, Chief Uche Offor, Chief Kennis Udokoro and Chief Joe Otiora,Lady Clara Okoro, Mr Bona Egboh, Barr Manda Eze -Echesi, Engr Ukoh Umah,CEO Onekobo Technologies Ltd, Hon Justice Emeka Uzoma of the Imo State Judiciary,Chief Chika Ukaigwe, Chief John Great Nwankwo, Prince Kingsley Opurozo, Chief Austin Okafor, Chief Tony Obiniugwu,Chief Jones Mbadugha, Mr Musa Mbithason,Dr Chizubelu Ejiogu, Chief Emmanuel Ginikanwa (Agbarusia Gburu Gburu na Akokwa),Chief Emeka Okoye, Mr Adrian Egonu,Mrs Nkonye Egonu,Mr Babtunde Akanni, Mr Rufus Ohiowere, 

Mr Hilary Ajuebon, Arch Paul Okwaraoha, Chief Model Ezeamama, Chief & Dr( Mrs) Jude Ringo Okeke, Mr Collins Steve Ugwu, Dear Body Cosmetics CEO, Ifeanyi Ogbunibala, Chief Ogoo Umeh, Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuka, Chief Stevenson Mbajiekwe, Mr Tony Okoye, Sir Orji Okoy, Chief Ifeanyi Okpara, Dr Amarachi Alilionwu, Chief John Ihebighi,Chief Ifeanyi Okafor and Chief Mike Umeh,Dr Mike Izuogu,Chief Curtis Ekwebelem among other prominent individuals.

In far away Hanover, Maryland, United States of America Ugochukwu and Adaobi had late June tied the knots traditionally, known in the Igbo culture as ngba nkwu nwayi ( wine carrying of a bride).

While Ernest, handsome and unassuming, is the son of Sir Ezenna, Adaobi, a quintessentially beautiful lady, is the daughter of another accomplished personality in the society, Chief Paul Nweke, a professional health worker in the US.

The array of dignitaries that graced both the traditional and Church wedding, observers say, underpinned the influence of the couple’s parents in society.

Many of the dignitaries – business associates and partners of the father of the groom- flew in from different parts of the world for the weddings in Nigeria and the US.

Ingram Osigwe is the media Adviser to Sir Tony Ezenna.