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.

The Global Target Audience For Nollywood Movies and Series in Igbo and other African Content

The Global Target Audience For Nollywood Movies and Series in Igbo and other African Content in International Film Acquisition and Distribution

Using Culture and Strategy:

My market survey for a new Nigerian Igbo movie, "Infant at Heart" directed by Aguyi Ikeobi ND, a graduate of the London Film School and produced by Vera Kanu, a seasoned producer in Nollywood with famous Nollywood actor, Nkem Owoh and one of the most beautiful Nollywood divas, Monalisa Chinda in the leading roles has an estimated target audience of more than 100, 000 Igbos who will like to watch Igbo movies and can afford to pay for the tickets at the cinemas in Nigeria. 

There are also thousands of Igbos in Ghana, Cameroon and Gabon who are fans of Nkem Owoh who will be excited to watch it.

The Cultural Web 

There are more than 45 million Igbos in Africa and the Diaspora.
Nollywood movies still command hundreds and thousands of fans in West Africa and Central Africa.
The first Nollywood videos were actually videos of the popular Igbo TV series, "Masquerade" on the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) in the 1980s recorded on VHS tapes and watched on TV in Cameroon and Gabon.

See also Nigerian Home Videos - Festival des 3 Continents
https://www.3continents.com/en/programme/2003/home-videos-nigerianes/

The significance of cultural web is important for marketing strategy in the distribution of products and services, especially movies and TV series. 
Audiences first and foremost prefer content they can identify with and then are anxious and curious about content of other cultures.

Majority of the over 11 million viewers of "The Black Book", the 2023 Nollywood crime thriller film by Editi Effiong on Netflix were South Koreans who were anxious and curious to know what is "The Black Book".

The largest market for African movies and series are the Afro-Latinos: comprising some 150 million in the Americas.
https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/RL32713.html#:~:text=Afro%2DLatinos%20comprise%20some%20150,marginalized%20groups%20in%20the%20region.

Unknown to Canal Plus and other multinational entertainment providers, FRANCE 24 Español has already unlocked the market, but yet to provide the African movies and series they (Afro-Latinos) will be excited to see.

The Igbo were dispersed to colonies such as Jamaica, Cuba, Saint-Domingue, Barbados, Colonial America, Belize and Trinidad and Tobago, among others.
The Igbo language is still spoken in Cuba, along with the Efik language, but in a creolized version. In ceremonies of the Abakuá culture, you can see traces of the Igbo Culture.
These are populations waiting for  Igbo movies and series and other African content.

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,

Publisher/Editor,

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series,

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

The books have been printed in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America and distributed by Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other booksellers.

They are the highest priced book series by an African author and publisher. 

I Prefer Observational Documentary Style

 I Prefer Observational Documentary Style 

In documentary film production on people, places and other subjects, I prefer observational documentary style, because to me it is best to let the people involved to tell their stories; to show us their lives, societies and treasures without anyone giving a guided tour with a microphone or interviews along the way. The people are the best narrators of the narratives of their lives and living conditions and habitations in different perspectives.

Don't speak for them or tell us about them when they can speak for themselves and tell us about their lives. I want to hear: *we are.." and not *they are"; "I am" and not "he is" or "she is". 

A documentary film is not a news report. I mean reporting about a person, event or incident is not a documentary film. 

Michael Moore, the famous Academy Award winning American documentary filmmaker said it is best to produce a documentary film like a true life movie.

In the production of my first attempt in documentary filmmaking, "Lagos in Motion", there was no narrator. 

The camera was the storyteller; showing us the different places in Lagos, the largest megacity in Africa with the people in the city going about from place to place.

The "Reading in Motion" scenes show young Lagosians, Cynthia Agu and Celina Ideh reading novels by Bisi Daniels inside the car whilst on the road in Lagos city.

 In the cinematic scene of "reading in motion", there was no soundtrack. I simply showed the young Nigerian actress, Celina Ideh reading a book, the novel titled "Conspiracy of Lagos" by Bisi Daniels whilst sitting inside a car in motion on the road in the city. 

It is like a scene in a movie. 

- Ekenyerengozi Michael China

See "A Guide to the 6 Types of Documentaries"

Documentaries are a form of non-fiction film that attempts to document reality and capture the world as it is. They can vary drastically in the subject matter that is being portrayed as well as in the style that this subject matter is depicted. The different documentary styles were first laid out by Bill Nichols, a film critic, in 1991. Nichols characterized the types of documentaries as follows: 

1 Expository 

2 Participatory 

3 Observational

4 Performative 

5 Reflexive 

6 Poetic

 https://www.impactcreative.com/different-types-of-documentaries/#:~:text=A%20Guide%20to,Poetic

A New Book: Like Their Fathers, Like Their Mothers

COMING OUT SOON

One of the new books I have written so far.

LIKE THEIR FATHERS,LIKE THEIR MOTHERS

Definitely a must read on the Nigerian society.

This is following my previous books; "Diary of the Memory Keeper" and "In the House of Dogs" also on lives in Nigeria, excluding my other books, "Children of Heaven", "Scarlet Tears of London",  "Unveil Me My Love", "The Prophet Lied", "The Victory of Muhammadu Buhari" "The Language of True Love" and "Naked Beauty":((a romantic screenplay co-authored with Dr. Chika Christian Onu)

90 percent of my books are distributed by Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other booksellers.

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#diary 

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