The duo of superstar actors, Omotola Jalade-Ekehinde and Ali Nuhu; and filmmaker, Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen, are the recipients of the Best of Nollywood Awards 2017 Special Recognition award, the organisers have announced. The event holds Saturday, December 16th at the Cultural Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State. The chief host is the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.
Speaking on the choice of the awardees, Seun Oloketuyi, executive producer, BON Awards, said, “We are glad to announce Omotola Jalade Ekehinde, Ali Nuhu and Lancelot Oduwa-Imasuen as recipients of this year’s Special Recognition Awards. You would concur that they deserve it for their achievements and contributions to the industry.” In the last decade, Oloketuyi said, “No actor from the North has broken barriers and crossed over to the mainstream of Nollywood like Ali Nuhu. Apart from that, he has inspired an entire generation of Northern youths to see a career in Nollywood. He is a true and constant Northern legend, not just a star.”
Describing Omotola as perhaps Nigeria’s biggest cinematic export, Oloketuyi said, “There was no contest in her choice in spite of her relatively young age. Here is a lady who broke into the industry before she turned 18 and two decades after, is still a veritable box-office face in an industry known for ephemeral stars. It goes beyond luck. The recognition from TIME Magazine as one of the Most Influential 100 people in the world in 2013 is a pointer to her relentless artistic enterprise and ingenuity. And we at BON Awards are happy to be associated with such iconic actor.”
In the same vein, Oloketuyi spoke glowingly about Lancelot Oduwa-Imasuen who he describes as a director’s director. “Lancelot’s longevity and relevance in Nollywood is the stuff of legends. In spite of the incursion of younger, technology-savvy directors into Nollywood, Lancelot has evolved and attained a pied piper status of sort. He deserves the recognition like the others.”
Over the years, the BON Awards Special Recognition has been received by among other actors, Liz Benson-Ameye, Nobert Young, Pete Edochie, Adebayo Salami and Kasim Yaro, a legend in the Hausa entertainment industry.
Oloketuyi further said, “Apart from honouring the stars and stakeholders of Nollywood every other year, we have also taken it upon ourselves to recall the sacrifices and strides of those elders whose arts and artistry have catalysed the growth and global acceptance that Nollywood enjoys today. We don’t want to wait until these veterans are dead to give them posthumous awards, which is why we have decided to celebrate them while they are still alive and active. Besides, this year’s honourees are a source of inspiration to young actors across Nigeria and beyond.”
