AMAYO UZO PHILLIPS: MAN WHO CREATED AKI AND PAWPAW SPEAKS ON FIRST TIME HE SAW THEM

Amayo Uzo Phillips

Amayo Uzo Philpps

By Fred Iwenjora

Aki and Pawpaw is seen by many as most popular comedy characters in Nollywood history but few know much about the man who created the two characters and made them into a popular film.

He is Imo state born film maker and director, Amayo Uzo Phillips who is one of Nollywoods most respected.

In a chat with ECD recently, Phillips recalls that he was at NIKO Hotels one of the actors rendezvous in Enugu when Chinedu Ikedieze (Aki)and Osita Iheme(Pawpaw) met for the first time.

Said the graduate of theater Arts from the University of Jos popularly called High Priest by his friends and associates “Having met several actors, produced and directed several Nollywood movies in its history I see as most memorable the day I met with the characters and decided to write the scripts that became one of the most popular characters in Nollywood history: Aki na Ukwa better corrupted as Aki and Pawpaw.

“I still view it as divine because everything happened so fast. I had known Chinedu before then as a gregarious young man who either was still in IMT or had already graduated but he was a regular at Enugu movie arena trying his luck. But Osita told me he came from Aba to try his hands on acting since he felt he was talented. I remember vividly that I was directing a production and we were camped at Niko Hotels Enugu. It was about 10 am on that day and the crew was waiting for the location bus to take us out. I saw the two hug each other when they met and I think it was their first time of meeting.  It was a big spectacle to see the nostalgia with which they held unto each other and an idea struck me immediately to write a script for and about them.  I had to observe them for a few more days and wrote the script in three days. We also shot it in two and half days

Aki and Pawpaw

According to Phillips “I decided to write a simple comedy story of two little urchins and their several pranks in the neighborhood using their physical features as highlight. It was a mirror on my own rascally life as a child. Now let me shock you; Chinedu got N20,000 for the role while Osita got N15,000.

 “It was late popular movies marketer KASVID Chukwuka Emelifeownu that marketed it. He did not believe in the project originally so decided to release through his other label Soft Touch movies  and the rest is history. I don’t think any other comedy movie can beat the record Aki  na Ukwa has created in Nollywood.  It was titled Aki na Ukwa by KASVID even though I called it The Dwarfs in my script.

Aki and Pawpaw

“It was people who started to call it Aki and Pawpaw. It created a lifelong identity for Chinedu and Osita and I am really grateful to God for being associated with their rise to stardom” said the soft spoken director who has done many other movies including Peace Offering, a cross cultural production between Nollywood and Cameroons, Mosquito, and Shericoco…the movie that made Funke Akindele a big star in the east of Nigeria amongst numerous others. 

WHY WE HONORED PASTOR COMFORT LUWEI WITH INTEGRITY AWARD…BISHOP PRISCILLA OTUYA SPEAKS

                  *Pastor Comfort Luwei Receiving the IIFM Award from Bishop Priscilla Otuya

You must have heard or joined in the celebration of the life of renowned Pastor and founder of Faithful Women Intercessory Interdenominational Ministry PASTOR Comfort Luwei in the back to back awards she garnered in the past two months.

 But you may not have heard of the reasons she is so being honored.

Pastor Luwei was just accepting congratulatory messages after she got the Outstanding Leadership award from the Shepherd Bible College and Christian Center in Lagos when the Centre for Women of Faith in Leadership USA also reeled out her name as one of its revered honorees.

She received the Independent International Female Ministers (IIFM Leadership and integrity award)

Speaking with ECD recently, Bishop Priscila Onyemaechi Otuya, Nigeria Representative for the Center for Women of Faith in Leadership USA explained why Pastor Luwei was so honored.

According to Bishop Otuya, “Pastor Luwei has over the years selflessly and diligently pursued her love for the spiritual wellbeing of the family, the church and the nation as in the world at large. She has exhibited high sense of integrity all through the years. Her insistence on the intercession of wives for their families as a panacea for a great nation is well recorded. Activities of her ministry the famous Faithful Women Intercessory and Interdenominational Ministry which has helped women build their homes rather than scatter are well noted. So when an opportunity to honor deserving female soldiers of the Lord who are dong exploits, she only fitted our specification and no wonder our partners in the US endorsed her choice as soon as they received the nomination.

The IIFM Award ceremonies held at Dream world Africana Events Center Lekki Lagos with other international men and women of God from Togo, Ghana, Uganda, Canada also getting honors  

                                               *Happy recipient flanked by her champions

My family members and friends in Ethiopia now wear Nigerian dresses because of me -----Ethiopian Airlines boss confesses

By Fred Iwenjora

                                                            *Firiehiwot Mekonnen

Pretty and delectable Firiehiwot Mekonnen is the General Manager of Ethiopia Airlines in Nigeria.

Before rising to her new position, the mother of one was head of traffic and sales in Abuja.

In the wake of the news of Ethiopia Airline powering with an all female crew of pilots, engineers and cabin crew members in an international  flight from Boles International Airport Addis Ababa to Lagos,  she speaks of the massive  responsibility of managing  ET’s huge business of five daily flights to and from Nigeria  and her love and relationship with the country.

She also speaks about the new ET policy of empowering women to be the very best of what they could be and other issues.

What was your first impression about Nigeria upon your arrival?

My first impression about Nigeria was very nice and very beautiful. Nigerians are very enterprising people. They are very happy and bubbly with energy. I like that. They can start up a conversation with  you  even when they do not know you. 

Did you hear any stories about the country before your arrival?

Yes I heard a lot about Nigeria before my posting that Nigeria is Africa’s giant with lots of blessed resources. I also heard some crazy stories about how Nigerians act. I have since found out that most of the stories are exaggerated. Yes to some outsiders, Nigerians are different but Nigerians are one of the most welcoming people I have met.  

Did your real impression fit into the stories you heard?

In fact the impression I got once I came to Nigeria was different from what I heard. I came to really connect with Nigeria and Nigerians. I eat Nigerian food, dress in Nigerian attire, participate in different social gatherings. All these and others doubled my love for the country and its people who are really friendly. I cannot describe how it feels to attend Nigerian parties and events. It is so colorful.

Are there Nigerian foods, culture and tradition including fashion that you connect with?

I love Nigerian food. In fact, I go out with friends to Nigerian restaurants. I love the culture of friendship and family ties too. The attires are really different and I have quite a number of Nigerian national dresses because they are beautiful, colorful and graceful. I feel happy whenever I wear them. Even my family members and friends now have Nigerian dresses. I have been exposed to the richness of Nigerian culture and its people, Nigerian films (Nollywood) and the music. Do you know that Dangote has become a household name in Ethiopia since he built one of his factories in Ethiopia?

There are very few women managing many big organizations including airlines like you; do you see this development as a change from the norm and a win for women in the world and especially in Africa?

I see the world as continuously changing as to give more opportunity to women to become more leaders at the top of organizations and this is already proving itself by the way of increased productivity and improved efficiency Ethiopian Airline, the leading aviation group in Africa is taking the leading path in making this come true. One of the value statement of Ethiopian Airline is “ equal opportunity, employer committed to diversity and fairness” So you can see that this is happening already. ET has given women the chance to be pilots, engineers, ground handlers,  aviation instructors, regional and country managers. If you come and see the biggest aviation Academy in Africa is in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia you will see lots of women studying these fields from all over Africa countries.

*Ethiopian Beauties in the sky

ET did an amazing thing recently when it launched an all women crew; do you see this as also one of the winning ways for African women?

ET brought the all women operated flight to Lagos on December 16, 2017 to show that women can do anything and to show that Nigeria can be a leading country that empowers women . This all women operated international flight was the first in Africa and it got applause from all corners of the world. Again on March 8, 2018,  ET will do another all women operated flight to one of our new international destinations  Buenos Aires, Argentina. This is intended to inspire African girls. This very bold statement is very important.

Could you make an assessment of ET business in Nigeria and Africa in general?

ET the only SKYTRAX 4 star airline in Africa is now flying to five destinations in Nigeria everyday including to Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna, Kano and Enugu. It airlifted the highest number of international passengers out of Nigeria in 2017 according to NCAA analysis. This is history; that an African airline carried the highest number of passengers in another African country. We are happy that we were able to defend Africa in this rating. Even during the closure of Abuja airport, ET was the only international airline that agreed to fly Kaduna

Already we are seeking partnerships with other African countries to strengthen their capacity to thrive like us. We are doing this in Togo, Malawi, Zambia, and more recently in Guinea. We fly to over 100 destinations worldwide with the most modern fleet of Boeing B787, Dreamliner B777 and Airbus A350. With our vision 2025 strategy, we are opening up more international routes in the next six months including to Geneva Switzerland, Buenos Aires Argentina, Nosybe Madagascar, and Kisangani DRC

STELLA ODUAH IN BIG DILEMMA, SET TO DEFECT FROM PDP...WHY SHE'S YET TO START HER CAMPAIGN

                                                       * Princess Stella Oduah

As the buildup continues for the 2019 General Election, there are very strong indications that Senator Stella Oduah will soon defect to another party.

ECD sniffed from reliable sources close to her office of her plans to shift base from her PDP family where she made her mark and propelled to the Senate representing Anambra North.

However to which party she is headed is still unknown.

Oduah popularly called Adaezechukwu by her close associates had allegedly planned to decamp to APGA following a pact with Governor Obiano to support him during his reelection.

Obiano in return was to guarantee his cooperation for her return to the Senate during the General Elections in 2019.

However,  her current travails and several invitations by the EFCC over alleged financial misdemeanor during her reign as Aviation Minister seems to be leaving her in a big confusion and causing a delay over her choice of party and time of bailing out.

This dilemma stems from the fact that not joining Obiano as agreed will seem like a big betrayal to a pact well made while defecting to APC may be the tonic to deter the EFCC from whirling around her ears like stubborn mosquitoes.

Again it is alleged that some friends are also wooing her for the new grouping in the SDP led by Prof Jerry Gana and co. 

These problems as well as many others are said to be preventing her from starting her campaign to return to the senate where she seems not to have an immediate competitor.

Oduah has been very angry with her party PDP in Anambra and even took it to court before the Anambra election for trumping up former Secretary of Anambra state Government Oseloka Obaze as its flag bearer over and above other old members, an action that may have polarized the party across board.

She is said to also be miffed by the non cohesion in PDP at the moment especially in Anambra where aggrieved members are yet to be appeased since “Peter Obi hijacked the party” according to a source

An insider told ECD that “Madam has not been happy with PDP in Anambra of late and still has not calmed down concerning the political arrangement of her party. I think she is waiting for the right time to dump his folks in the umbrella party” the source concluded

The top class business woman from Akili Ozizor in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra state who played big in the oil and gas sector ran Sea Petroleum and Gas (SPG) for many years before the pull of politics dragged her away into its murky waters.

PETE EDOCHIE AT 71 ...20 AMAZING THINGS YOU NEVER KNEW ABOUT HIM

1.He was born March 7, 1947

2.He was raised in Kaduna so speaks fluent Hausa

3.He attended St John’s school Kaduna

4.His late father worked with the Nigerian Railways

5.He started work as a radio announcer,   broadcaster, sports commentator and journalist

6.He worked for Eastern Nigeria Broadcasting service, East Central state Broadcasting Service and then Anambra state Broadcasting service(Enugu and Awka)

7.He set up and was first Director of first FM station east of the Niger ABS Sunrise 96

8.He has the greatest collection of classical music that any individual or organization in Nigeria

9.He presented the most popular classical music programme on radio for many years

10His role of Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart gave him huge popularity and made the film win the Priced Pieces Award

11.His brother Tony also was a broadcaster

12.He is mentor to Kelvin Ugwu of FRCN, Iyke Agu of Magic FM Aba,  Helen Bassey Osijo formerly of Raypower/AIT,  Chris Agwo Odili(Snake), Gboliwe Iwobi Amakeze,  Ladygely Oby Okonkwo , Chris Ojukwu and a long host of others

13.He is an unrepentant Catholic who says 15 decades of the Rosary daily

14.He is one of Africa’s most talented actors

15.H.e is member order of the Niger

16.He produced a film; Avenge me Iwene my son..a film on Father Tansi

17.He is father to popular actors Linc and Governorship candidate, Yul Edochie

18.He is father to Leo, Adam, Linc, Eva and Yul

19.He got married to his pretty wife Josephine when he was 22 years

20.He has many grandchildren

MR FANS CLOSES OUTLET

                                                     * Fan Ndubuoke,.. Proprietor Mr Fans 

Signs are that popular eatery and entertainment spot Mr. Fans may have closed shop in Ejigbo.

To be seen at the eatery which hitherto was situated at the Iyana Ejigbo but later relocated to another expansive spot further down on Number 18 Ifoshi road is a closed gate and one or two security staff perambulating.

When ECD visited, the gate into the outdoor garden was permanently closed while the red colored railings of the dwarf gate into the eatery proper and the VIP bar have been turned into clothes hanger for washed clothes of the remnants of workers.

A car is seen parked inside the compound while another is outside the gates.

Also to be seen is a mattress at the entrance of the main eatery.

No statement has been made about the new development even as the remnant of staff remain mute to all questions. But many think that the closure of Mr. Fans in Ejigbo may not be unconnected with the low patronage and uncertain business climate generally being experienced in recent times

Mr. Fans is the brain child of popular sports journalists and administrator Fan Ndubuoke with branches across Nigeria.

The opening of the new and expansive Mr. Fans Ejigbo was a grand and memorable event which saw Nollywood stars including KOK , Victor Osuagwu etc on hand to spice up the event.

Dat Nigga Raw also performed at that grand opening. 

Several calls to Imo state born Ndubuoke who was former Manager of Heartland FC of Owerri did not go through however a reliable source say “ services has only been  suspended rather than closed”

Former Rivers state Governor Dr Peter Odili sets up first private medical University in Port Harcourt …To award 6 scholarships yearly

Celebrated Medical practitioner and former Governor of Rivers state Dr Sir Peter Otunuya Odili has given reasons why he set up the first private medical university in Nigeria.

According to Odili at the inauguration of former Head of state Gen Abdulsalam Abubakar as Chancellor of the fully equipped institution of higher medical learning it is “to provide excellent medical training for the production of world-class medical and health science professionals characterized by the core values of knowledge, discipline and humane service.

He declared “Firstly, PAMO University of Medical Sciences is the first private university of medical sciences to be established in Nigeria. Secondly, it has set a record in being the university that took the shortest time to plan and establish. It took only eleven months from submission of our “letter of intent” to the granting of an operating license by the Federal Government. Thirdly, PAMO University of Medical Sciences is the first private university of any type to be established in Rivers State”

Odili also said that “PAMO University of Medical Sciences (PUMS) is a citadel of excellence in the delivery of tertiary education in the medical and health sciences in Nigeria. The University represents the efforts of the PAMO Educational foundation and its Board of Trustees to make meaningful contributions to the development of medical education in Nigeria.

Three faculties including the faculty of Clinical sciences, Basic medical sciences and Allied health sciences already exists in the University Just as  calls for admission is already out for the 2017/2018 academic year at the school run by erudite Professor  Michael Diejomaoh formerly of the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology from the University of  Kuwait.

The institution is situated on a large and expansive location of 21 acres land at No 1 Tap road Elelenwo, Port Harcourt,

Members of the Board of trustees include General Abdulsalam Abubakar as Chancellor with Justice Umar Faruk Abdulahi, Justice Olufunlola Adekeye(RTD), Senator Abu Ibrahim and Dr Peter Odili as members and founder respectively. Registrar is Barrister Walter Imoedemhe.

Dr Peter Odili has long had a vision to take his dedication to medical excellence to the next level via high-quality medical education to impact on future generations.

He also sees the realization of this dream as a prelude to Nigeria taking its pride of place in global medical tourism.

By Fred Iwenjora

TONY NWAULU’S SEAT AT THE FEDERAL HOUSE UP FOR GRABS AS AARE TAIWO TAOHEED PLANS TO OCCUPY IT

                                                  * Hon. Taiwo Taoheed...his eyes on the prize

Indications are that former Executive Secretary of Oshodi LGA Aare Taiwo Taoheed may have thrown his hat into the contest of who represents Oshodi Isolo Federal Constituency 11 as jostling for the 2019 General Elections begins across board.Youthful, vibrant and upwardly looking Taiwo who started his meteoric rise in Lagos political circles in Isolo Oshodi in particular started from being a supervisor during the tenure of Hon Kehinde Bamigbetan as Chairman Ejigbo Local Council Development Area.

He later rose to serve as appointed Executive head of Oshodi where he was said to have contributed to the increment of internally generated revenue for Lagos state and worked for a cleaner Oshodi amongst other achievements on the seat.

Many think that as he now has his big eyes on the seat that Igbo born Tony Nwaulu is currently occupying, then the sky will be his limit as he has all it takes.

Since he posted his plans on Facebook and other forms of social media, positive comments have greeted his intention. 

The young man who just returned from a snowy vacation in the United States wrote; Together We Can and Together we will. Darkness cannot chase out Darkness...Only the Light can. Support me as we make history in Oshodi Isolo Federal Constituency II.IT IS POSSIBLE! 

Watch out for more

FINAL BURIAL FOR RENOWNED IGBO MUSICIAN PERICOMO NWANKWO OKOYE

                                                         *Late Chief Pericomo Okoye

Renowned Igbo musician,  culture exponent and awe inspiring performer Chief Pericomo Damian Azubike Nwankwo Okoye who died February 16 2017 is set for final burial.

Even though the real cause of his death has not been given, but there are plans that the man who grew to become one of the grandmasters of Igbo traditional masquerade music whose style popularized his peoples (Aro Ndizuogu) culture and tradition worldwide is set to get a befitting burial.

According to ECD investigation, a burial committee made up of close family members, friends  and other great men and women of Arondizuogu including popular economist and banker HRH Prof. Greene Nwankwo who was ably represented by Prof Chinedu Uba, has reeled out a weeklong funeral arrangement.

Those who are privy to the arrangement say Chief Pericomo whose over 40 years of many albums tell tales of his immense talents will be interred at his Ndiogbuonyeoma, Ndibeuche Village on Monday April 9, 2018. 

In a social media announcement jointly signed by Mazi Uche Ohia and Ikenna Aniche, a wake keeping  and night of tributes will kick start the funeral activities for the late Icon on Sunday 8, April 2018.

 Condolence visits will continue throughout the week after the traditional Ipa Ota ceremonies.

Born in 1948, Pericomo Nwankwo Okoye popularly known with many sobriquets like Ichie Mezuo rose to musical limelight in the early 70s after the civil war when he joined the choir of St Michaels Catholic church in his home town.

He later was invited by the then famous Njima cultural music Troupe where he became their lead vocalist and shinning light.

After an album release, Pericomo also called Alusi Makaja left the group following a disagreement and gathered the nucleus of his own Troupe which perfected the fusion of the metal and wooden gongs and drums, flutes and other percussive instruments to drum home his very poignant messages bothering on societal ills.

                                           *Pericomo before another superlative performance

 His first solo album was made in 1976.

 Many other uncountable albums followed on a yearly basis including the famous Ejezuo,  Isi na Udo ga adi in two volumes, Ekere Mgba, Izu kamma na nneji, Obudu Special, Ute Nti, Aja Egbu edi, Irigworugwo, High Tension  etc.

Others are Nduka Aku, Oderigwugwu, Ogbaghara, Awirigidi, Zuzugboizugbo zugbo and a host of others.

One of his famous tracks was Oga atakwu ta ya aja( concrete) where he sang about how evil men will get their due punishment.

The Ikeeji, the famous new yam festival that put Arondizuogu into the world map of tourism also enjoyed the patronage of Chief Pericomo.

It saw every native son and daughter of Arondizuogu return home with their friends and will certainly not be the same since his demise.

In his later years, he started being referred to as Lion of Africa after being cast in a Nollywood movie of that title.

By Fred Iwenjora

IGBO BIG BOY SURVIVES ASSASINATION ATTEMPT …..How he disarmed one of his assailants *We’re on top of the matter…Police

                                                        Mr Imohimi Edgal, Lagos CP 

The Police in Lagos is currently on the trail of four suspected hired assassins who robbed and beat to pulp, popular Igbo trader ( names withheld )at Ladipo auto market, Lagos leaving him for dead.

The incident happened at Okeafa Ejigbo, Lagos.

Eye witnesses say the suspected assassins stormed the young father of two’s residence in oke afa Ejigbo in the wee hours of the night and scaled the fence landing inside his sitting room.

Said  the source “for two hours, the killers ransacked the entire house asking about the N3m he had sold earlier in the day. They tortured the man and his family including a young wife and two children.

They beat him with all kinds of objects breaking his head leaving him in a massive pool of blood and carting away money and other valuables from the house.

However luck ran out for one of the assailants who was last to leave the apartment when the man whom they had left for dead sprang up like a lion and grabbed him after his men had successfully scaled the walls in escape.

The alarm was raised and the entire neighbourhood descended on the criminal. He also tasted a bitter dose of his own medicine as he was beaten to coma.

Sources at Ejigbo Police station say the Police is on top of the issue following up on the investigation to unravel the brains behind the assault.

ECD gathered that the arrested suspect who spent weeks at the hospital is currently assisting the Police in their investigation.  

By ECD Reporters