The Ekiti State Government has promised to make the state a destination of choice for entertainment and tourism.
Governor of the State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who was represented by the Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism, Prof. Rasaki Ojo Bakare, stated this at the Best Of Nollywood (BON) Awards, which held in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital on Saturday.
The governor, who expressed excitement at hosting the event, said it reflected what the state was doing to encourage the entertainment and tourism industry.
“We are happy to have the celebrities and icons of the entertainment industry and everybody who is part of the great show in Ado Ekiti.
“In Ekiti State, we are doing a lot to position our state as a destination of choice for entertainment, events, conferences and everything that is creative. That is why when Mr. BON, Seun Oloketuyi, approached us to host this event, we were very delighted and excited because it flows with what we are currently doing in the state.
“Recently, we signed an MoU with one of the leading filmmaking companies in Nigeria – Native Media, led by Rogers Ofime, to shoot five epic films in two years. For the whole of 2021, the ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism in Ekiti State, will be busy working on this collaborative effort, up till the first six months of 2022.
“We are investing massively in our tourism sites and Best of Nollywood Awards keys into our vision in the state. We want to congratulate Seun Oloketuyi, for being able to pull this through. We will always stand with him on this project. For Nollywood as an industry, we want to ask them to be with Ekiti State, all the way.
“We see them as partners in progress. We have creative people here, and we want to turn the creative energies of our people into real wealth. We are going to partner with them.” he said.
The Ekiti State Dance Company gave a superlative performance at the show, which drew Nollywood stars from Lagos.
The BON awards proper saw Charles Okpaleke’s ‘Living in Bondage: Breaking Free’, the sequel of a 1992 classic of the same title, emerge one of the biggest winners of the night.
It won the Movie of the Year, Director of the Year award for Ramsey Nouah, Movie with the Best Use of Special Effects and Movie with the Best Use of Makeup awards.
Kayode Kasum’s ‘This Lady called Life’ also took home the Movie with the Best Screenplay Award, Best Use of Food in a Movie award and Movie with the Best Production Design Award.
The two movies also jointly won the Movies with the best Editing Award. Other winners at the awards include Bling Lagosians, Unroyal, The Sessions and ‘Dear Affy’ amon others.
Here is the complete list of all the winners:
Best Actor in a Leading Role (English) JKA Swanky – Living in Bondage (Breaking Free).
Best Actress in a Leading Role (English) – Omowunmi Dada – The Sessions.
Best Actor in a Supporting Role (English) – Alex Ekubo – Bling Lagosians.
Best Actress in a Supporting Role (English) – Bimbo Ademoye/Bisola Aiyeola – Sugar Rush.
Best Actor in a Leading Role (Yoruba) – Ibrahim Yekini – Lucifer.
Best Actress in a Leading Role (Yoruba) – Adebimpe Oyebade – Agbelebu Jade.
Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Yoruba) – Femi Adebayo/Kelvin Ikedua – Lucifer.
Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Yoruba) – Abiola Adebayo – Agbelebu Jade.
Best Actor in a Leading Role (Igbo) – Francis Duru – Mboputa.
Best Actress in a Leading Role (Igbo) – Happy Julian Uchendu – Mboputa.
Best Child Actor – Molawa Onajobi – This Lady Called Life.
Best Child Actress – Amarachi Onwe – Secrets.
Movie with the Best Social Message -The Session.
Movie with the Best Comedy – Dear Affy.
Best Short Film – Pole Girl.
Best Documentary – Tame The Serial Killer.
Movie with the Best Special Effect -Living in Bondage (Breaking Free).
Movie with the Best Screenplay – This Lady Called Life.
Best Use of Nigerian Food in a Movie – This Lady Called Life.
Best use of Costume in a Movie – Unroyal.
Best Use of Make-up in a Movie – Living in Bondage (Breaking Free).
Movie with the Best Sound – Unroyal.
Movie with the Best Soundtrack – Colours of Deceit.
Movie with the Best Editing – This Lady Called Life/ Living in Bondage (Breaking Free).
Movie with the Best Production Design – This Lady Called Life.
Movie with the Best Cinematography – Bling Lagosian.
Best Kiss in a movie – Laura Fidel/Kunle Remi- Pole Girl.
Most Promising Actor of the Year – Denola Grey – Bling Lagosians.
Most Promising Actress of the Year – Aisha Mohammed – Colours of Deceit.
Revelation of the Year (Male) – Swanky JKA.
Revelation of the Year (Female) – Bolaji Ogunmola.
Director of the Year – Ramsey Nouah – Living in Bondage (Breaking Free).
Movie of the Year – Living in Bondage (Breaking Free).
