BIG BOOST FOR NOLLYWOOD FESTIVAL GERMANY 2022

 SHOWBIZ

__CONSUL GENERAL THROWS WEIGHT

By Fred Iwenjora

Nollywood Film Festival Germany and its sister event Nollywood Europe Golden Awards (NFFG/NEGA) got a very big boost yesterday  when the organisers and patrons of Frankfurt based Ehizoya Golden Entertainment led by Cultural Ambassador Isaac Izoya paid a courtesy call on the Consul General of Nigeria in Frankfurt, Germany, His Excellency, Ambassador Wahab A. Akande.

The meeting was to intimate His Excellency, Amb Akande of the grand plans for the 2022 edition of the festival, the first edition after the COVID 19 strike themed; Unlocking all possibilities.

Ambassador Akande (2nd L) flanked by Ehizoya tea

In his remarks at the meeting which held at the expansive meeting room of the consulate, Isaac Izoya flanked by Patron, Engr. Imade Iyamu and head of international relations Heidi Ivangs-Kariuki welcomed the new consul to Frankfurt and followed it up with a historical overview of the activities of Ehizoya Golden Entertainment e.V in the area of cultural exposition of Nigeria’s culture as in music, films and other formats like comedy over the years.

All in one

Izoya recalled the first integrations shows in Berlin which brought Nollywood super stars (Lancelot Imasuen, Ngozi Ezeonu and Empress Njamah) to Germany to perform and feature in ZERO YOUR MIND after the first Nollywood film ever produced in Germany titled SINNERS IN THE HOUSE shot in Germany and in Nigeria in 2002 and premiered March 1, 2003 in Berlin, Germany.

Cultural Ambassador Isaac Izoya and Ambassador Wahab Akande

Aside this, Izoya talked about his other films like, Love in Berlin, Home and Abroad, Run..But You Can’t Hide, Mrs Adam etc as well as the comedy shows that eventually toured over 18 EU cities in 8 European countries like Italy, Holland, France, Greece, Spain, Germany, Belgium and a host of other cities.

He talked about how these films later gave birth to Nollywood Film Festival Germany - NFFG as well as Nollywood Europe Golden Awards NEGA, platforms to showcase and reward excellence in the art of film making.

He did not stop until he noted the supportive role the Nigerian embassy and consulate always played in these activities adding that more of such support was expected especially in the upcoming 2022 event.

Said Izoya “there is no way I can forget Nigeria Embassy in Berlin and Consulate in Frankfurt am Main, Germany in all we have done in trying to use cultural activities to cleanse and project Nigeria image here in Europe. I remember Ambassador Baba Wakil, I remember Ambassador Rimdap, I recall how your predecessor Amb John Ejinaka took our matter personal. In fact let me here and now commend Nigeria Embassy in Berlin and the Consulate General in Frankfurt interest in what we do. We came here today to intimate you of the big plans we have for NFFG/ NEGA 2022 so you can also take it personal and give us maximum support. Apart from being the first event after the global issues created by Covid19, this event will be a bumper occasion featuring Nigeria’s big artistes and comedians aside from the film shows. We are already being inundated with films from Nollywood film makers who wish to make use of our platform to showcase and premiere their new films come July 29th and 30th of July 2022. 

This  edition is very commemorative because it coincides with the 20th anniversary of Ehizoya Golden Entertainment cultural expositions in Germany.”

When Ambassador Wahab Akande flanked by his lieutenants Head of Chancery  Ismail Ahmad, head of culture educaion and information Solomon Enejoh and Valery Lapang, head of economics, trade and investment took the floor, he was full of commendations for the activities of Ehizoya Golden Entertainment in the onerous task of laundering Nigeria’s image abroad making use of the much cultural diversity Nigeria is blessed with; films,  music and comedy.

He also commended the organisers for their tenacity of purpose and holding onto a vision and mission for 20 years undeterred by the many challenges that confront it.

Ambassador Akande pledged his unalloyed support for anything capable of projecting Nigeria’s positive image and interest NFFG/NEGA inclusive.

He said a committee featuring head of culture, education and information at the Consulate Solomon Enejoh and head of Economics, Trade and investment Valery Lapang will be put in place to liaise towards a very interesting event.