Akatugba now President of ANCOP, as Prof. Ossai emerges as Vice President

In what could be best described as a convergence of town and gown, the Association of Nollywood Core Producers (ANCOP) may have ticked yet another box in the historical trajectory of associations and guilds in Nollywood with the emergence of one of the industry's pioneers and veteran producer, Lagos State-based Theophilus Akatugba as the new President and Jos, Plateau State-based erudite scholar and Professor of Film Studies, Edward Sani Ossai, PhD, as the Vice President.

It would be recalled that through the platform of ANCOP, Nigeria, in 2011 became a member of the prestigious International Federation of Film Producers' Associations (FIAPF); the umbrella body for film producers in the world. Founded in 1933, FIAPF is to filmmaking globally what FIFA is to the game of football. 

In his acceptance speech video which has since gone viral, President Akatugba who has to his name classic films such as Irony, Blood on my Hands (1&2), Native, Dilema and Bloody Kiss, among several other productions including his pioneering TV talk show, Video View; promised to help in further deepening the ANCOP and Nollywood brands both nationally and internationally, even as he called for the cooperation of all and sundry in the association and industry generally.

In his own acceptance speech, the new Vice President, Prof. Ossai said: "I wish to thank my friends, creative colleagues and the ANCOP EC (Electoral Committee) 2022 for the confidence and trust you have in me. I will not fail or disappoint you.The singular honour of electing me into the office of the ANCOP Vice President is particularly overwhelming. Thank you all. In addition to working with the President to realise the goals of ANCOP and the Nigerian film industry, I pledge my support to all ANCOP members. So help us God."

Chairman of the ANCOP EC 2022 and veteran filmmaker, Sir Amayor Uzo Philips of the "Aki na Nkwa" fame, in his remarks said: "Once again, on behalf of the entire members of the ANCOP EC 2022, we thank the GA (General Assembly) of ANCOP for allowing us to serve the association in this key ad-hoc committee. It is an opportunity we did not take for granted. To this end, having successfully announced the results of the elections of the ANCOP NEC (National Executive Committee) 2022 and in line with the Constitution of ANCOP, we hereby take a bow as the ANCOP EC 2022 hereby stands dissolved. The BoT (Board of Trustees) of ANCOP will take up things from this point until the swearing-in ceremony of the incoming ANCOP NEC 2022. Once again, we thank you all for your understanding and cooperation."

A terse joint statement issued by one of Nollywood's pioneers and veteran producer, Chief Gabriel Onyi Okoye (Igwe Gabosky) of "The Battle of Musanga" fame and the current Vice President (Africa) of FIAPF, Comrade Alex Eyengho; Chairman and Secretary respectively of the ANCOP BoT, read in part, "A big congratulations to all members of the ANCOP EC 2022 for your selfless and zero-budget service to the association. May God continue to bless you all in your endeavours in life. Congratulations also to all those who have taking up the challenge to serve ANCOP at the National level at this point in time. The swearing in ceremony of members of the ANCOP NEC 2022 by the BoT shall take place in Lagos on April 29, 2022 by 6:00pm at a precise venue to be made public in the ANCOP invite which shall be extended to current Presidents of associations/guilds, key industry leaders/stakeholders, representatives of relevant government agencies/private organisations and media organisations among others"

Others who emerged from various State chapters as members of the ANCOP NEC 2022 with a two-year tenure in office are: Mr. Bernie Anagbaoso (The Director of Finance), Mrs. Matel Alex-Eyengho (The Treasurer), Mr. Cardoso Olanrewaju (The General Secretary), Mr. Umegbewe Eugene Jerome (The Director of Publicity) and Mrs. Ibinabo Anne Gad (The Director of Welfare). The only position still vacant is that of The Chief Whip, which the incoming NEC have been mandated to sort out. 

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